pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins

lately, i’ve been talking a lot about the “changes”. as many of you know, there have been a lot of changes over here on the blog. this summer jr. style joined us as our new cameraman and videographer.  he’s helped me revamp our YouTube channel. we’ve introduced several new series, including fashion flash, style secrets, and fashion squared. my daughter in law, kelly, has also joined the blog and helped redesign our aesthetic across all of our channels. but as you know, although change is good, it can be exhausting. thank goodness it’s Fridays with Oscar! so let’s all kick back, relax, and jump into fall with pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins. hop into a comfy fall outfit and enjoy a  pumpkin spice cocktail and savory pasta with Oscar and me.

fall fashion:  outfit of the day

the weather in Athens is finally turning. after a record heatwave, we’re headed into a cool(er) weekend. since it’s Friday—and since the name of the game is to relax—i’ve chosen a comfy halogen sweater purchased at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in July. similar sweaters are available here, here, and here. fall fashion and style is just as much about comfort as it is chic elegance. 

to offset the length of the sweater just a smidge—and to keep my lines clean—i’ve chosen a pair of high-rise toothpick jeans from J. Crew.  you can see the same denim styled differently here and here.  

animal prints are in this year in a big way. anyone who follows this blog knows how much i love them. and i’ve given the outfit a little oompf by pairing it with a pair of laney wedges from Talbots (see how i’ve worn prints this year here and here.) wedges are a great alternative to heels as they give height but also have extra support for your tootsies.

denim | similar sweater | similar sweater |similar sweater | shoes

tablescape: pumpkin patch

last week, i refreshed my porch for fall. if you missed it, you can catch it here.  today, i’m moving inside. i put together a tablescape for fall inspired by a pumpkin patch.  i hope that it will get your creative juices going in preparation for Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

notice that i’ve mixed glass and steel pumpkins with fresh ones i picked up from Trader Joe’s.  much like floral design, mixing synthetic with organic creates visual interest.

how fun are these pumpkins?  you can pick up a similar mercury pumpkin here and here and a similar glass one here and here. 

and these place settings just the cutest? fall cannot be complete if your home and wardrobe are not replete with plaid. you can find the placemats and napkins at Pier 1.

similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | placemats | napkins | bee glasses | silverware | plates

entree: pumpkin alfredo with butternut squash ravioli 

kelly chose our entree this week.  it’s a pumpkin alfredo with butternut squash ravioli.  i picked up the pasta from Trader Joe’s.  (stay tuned for my upcoming post on how much i love, love, love TJs.) but the alfredo sauce is totally homemade.  and it is d-e-l-i-s-h.  

i can tell you with certainty that of all the recipes we’ve rolled out over the past few months, this one was the biggest hit with my kiddos.  my oldest could not get enough.  he ate more than his share, and is asking for more next week! 

white dinner plates | bee water glasses | similar kate spade casserole dish

cocktail: the white pumpkin 

in case you missed it, last week i made an apple cider mojito. in the spirit of fall—and pumpkins—this week i’ve got something totally new and totally fun: a white pumpkin cocktail.  this is a rum based drink with almond milk as a mixer. (but you can imagine substituting the almond milk for regular milk and/or cream.)

coupe glass| cocktail shaker

 this cocktail looks almost as good as it tastes.  it’s 5PM somewhere, isn’t it?    

all right, gang!  that’s a wrap for this week.  it is my hope that with all the changes you may or may not be going through this fall, that you too are finding some time to relax.  carving out time for ourselves is important.  what does that look like for you?  do you throw on a movie or pull out an old book?  do you go for a hike in the park near you, or do you prefer a friday afternoon cocktail?  let me know in the comments below. 

oscar, jr. style, kelly and i wish each of you a lovely weekend! cheers to friday.

Kelly Djalali

is our 40s+ fashion & food contributor. She posts a Daily Look on Tuesdays, writes about Fashion on Thursdays, joins Beth for Fridays with Oscar and shares a new recipe Sunday evenings.

She’s 47, 5’0, and a petite 0/XS.

Kelly also has a food blog called Djalali Cooks, which you can find by clicking the world icon below.

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