Our First "Feels Like Fall" North Carolina Weekend
Happy Monday, friends!
It was such a perfect Fall weekend in North Carolina.
For the first time in what seems like a century, the daily high temperatures were more Fall-like (70s on Saturday, low 80s today) — and the morning temperatures were even more amazing. I started the fire and had coffee on the patio table Saturday morning; the breezy cool air was heavenly! I could definitely get used to this weather. I don’t see any 90s in the extended forecast, so I hope (and hope and hope and hope) that the good weather is finally here to stay.
Saturday was a day of fun for Alex and me. We went to a local farm for a Fall hayride and pumpkin picking session. Before we got to the farm, we stopped at a local drive through coffee shop (trying it for the first time) and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint. Alex had a spiced chai tea latte and I had the most amazing pumpkin pie latte made from fresh local pumpkins. I have never done the whole PSL thing from Starbucks, so I can’t compare what I had to what the Starbucks fans go wild over in the Fall; however, I do know that my pumpkin pie latte was absolutely the best non-black coffee drink I have had in a long time. Local friends, visit The Morning Jump if you pass it by!
Now, let’s talk pumpkins. Is there anything more fun in the early part of Fall than going to a pumpkin patch? I know you can pick up pumpkins at the store or farmer’s market, but there is something exciting about walking around the patch to find the perfect pumpkins. Alex always looks for the perfectly round orange pumpkins, while I prefer the white, colorful, and super warty pumpkins.
But let’s be real, the best part about pumpkin patch pumpkin picking includes snapping all sorts of silly photos. Alex and I have already silly personalities on a daily basis, but you put a pumpkin in our hands and watch out, silly overload is coming. These were a few of my favorites. And yes, I can balance a pumpkin on my head. But only for a few seconds, ha!
We picked up a total of six pumpkins and threw in a few small gourds too. I would call it a very productive afternoon of pumpkin picking. Do you go to the pumpkin patch and pick out your own pumpkins, or do you buy them from the store or farmer’s market?
I finished off Saturday with a little retail therapy. I was shopping for a few new interior/exterior decorations for the house. We didn’t decorate the house much last year (due to the new puppy), but this year I’m really feeling like decorating again. Here’s a small roundup of my favorite pickups from my shopping trip.
Hobby Lobby
I made a quick stop to Hobby Lobby and picked up a few interior decorations. First, this scarecrow was too cute not to grab. It’s a nice, happy decoration that will get a spot on our fireplace mantle for the season. Next, I grabbed some (fake) fall flowers to change out my summery lavender flowers in our entry way vase. I found these simple ones and grabbed a small brown glass vase as well.
I also found this cute kitchen towel — I’m such a lover of cute, punny sayings. And cats. And when cute, punny sayings meet Halloween cats, sign me up! Who thinks Klein (our orange tabby cat) should get dressed up in a pumpkin costume for Halloween this year?
Last pickup from Hobby Lobby was this cute “Beware” sign. Fitting, since we have two little monsters of our own. I’m going to stick it outside our house with the hay bale and pumpkins.
Wait, what?
Home Goods
Home Goods is right next door to the Hobby Lobby in my town. So, after leaving Hobby Lobby, I stopped by Home Goods to look at their bedding. I ended up buying a new comforter and soft, fuzzy throw blanket to change up the one we have in our master bedroom. Aside from the new bedding, I grabbed a 3-pack of pumpkin themed kitchen towels while I was standing in the check out line (they always get me there). The detail is super cute on these towels and the material feels really durable.
Kohl’s
My last stop of the night was at Kohl’s. I went in with the intention of buying Sonoma branded Fall candles, but came out with a little more than just that. In my cart at the checkout line I had four candles, two packs of wax melts, a couple diffusors for our bathrooms, a new pumpkin coffee mug, and another set of kitchen towels.
I’m a sucker for good Fall candles. I’ve done Yankee Candle, I’ve done super generic off brand candles, but I’m telling you right now, Sonoma branded candles from Kohl’s are my without-a-doubt favorite at this time of the year. I picked up Falling Leaves (my personal favorite), Crisp Fall, Fall In Love, and Pumpkin Spice. They smell so good and fill the entire room, so I always buy a few extra at the end of the season to stash away!
The real winner of the night was this super cute pumpkin mug. I think it was $7.99 before my 20% off coupon, but I knew I needed it as soon as I saw it. When I’m not drinking coffee out of my YETI (in the first photo of this post), I love to drink my coffee from smaller mugs. I used the pumpkin mug Sunday morning and it’s cute and perfect — definitely one I’ll be drinking out of a lot for the next two months.
It was a successful weekend full of good times, good laughs, and lots of smiles. It felt so nice to get outside and spend some quality time with my favorite company.
A couple weekend highlights:
Sipping lattes from The Morning Jump
Taking a quick hayride and snagging some perfect-to-us pumpkins at Gross Farms
Stopping by Railhouse Brewery for a sampling of beer
Having a classic Sunday brunch with Bloody Marys & mimosas at Latitude 35
Taking cute photos all weekend long
And to conclude the weekend, we took the cutest photos of Mogul & Klein!
Enjoy!
JB