A Cosy Autumn Bucket List

A cosy moodboard. Most photos by me, others from unsplash.

My favourite season has finally come! The cloudy days, the leaves flying with the wind, the super cute outfits and, of course, Halloween! I'm thrilled! 🍂

Portugal is usually warm and sunny until the end of Autumn and sadly we don't have pumpkin patches like those in the UK and US were you can go with family and friends to pick your own pumpkins. However there are just so many other fun activities we can do to enjoy the season!

I've put together a list of my favourite Autumn activities so you can get some ideas to make the beast of the season!

Play a Cosy or Spooky Game
In my case it's Final Fantasy VII. I always save this game for cloudy Autumn days because I love the moody locations, how mysterious the story is and I love a scene where you explore a creepy lab and suddenly there's this spooky music in the background.
Farmer's Market
Go visit a local market to get some seasonal treats. In Portugal we have seasonal events where you can buy products from local producers like honey, fruits, vegetables, biscuits, cheese and enchidos (cured and smoked meat sausages as we call them here).
Pumpkin Carving Date
Make sure to set enough time for this, because it takes longer than you expect to carve a pumpkin ahah, but this is the perfect date activity for those rainy days when you both just want to stay at home. And if you're like me and you're terrified of setting the house on fire, those led candles are a great alternative to traditional ones and won't burn your pumpkin.
Make Apple Cider
You can try the American Cider (non-alcoholic), or even learn how to brew the European sparkly cider (also called hard cider by Americans). Both are delicious, but if you have kids or want a non-alcoholic beverage, the first type will leave your home smelling of delicious sweet apples and heart-warming spices. You can drink it hot or cold once it's made.
Bake Fruit Pies
The season is perfect to try all sorts of pie recipes. The staples are Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie, but you can try with different fillings too. Plum Pie is a great choice, but just a reminder baked plums taste a bit sour, so don't cut down on sugar for the recipe or try to remove their skins prior to baking.
Self-Care Day
We already know the importance of having self-care days, so let yourself be lazy for once, put on an hydrating face mask, paint your nails a darker colour, light up a candle, read a book and just chill out.
Autumn Picnic
Here's a suggestion for a picnic menu filled with Atumn treats: dry nuts, fresh grapes (you can get those without seeds), apple and cinnamon cake or bread with pumpkin jam and cheese, apple cider for the beverage or you can use a thermo flask to bring some comfy hot tea.
Visit Local Parks or Forests
Even if you don't have cute pumpkin patches near you, there's always a cute local park or forest that you can visit. Bring your camera to take photos of all the leaves and trees changing colours. You can even try birdwatching too since there might be different species to see during the season.
DIY Autumn Decor
Instead of buying new Autumn decor this year, why not upcycling something you already have or try to DIY some cute decor? Maybe make a few garlands or you can even make spooky figures with polymer clay, crochet or papier mâché.
Organize your Wardrobe
When the days finally start to get chilly I love to store all the Summer clothes and take out the knitted sweaters, jackets and boots. It's the perfect activity for a rainy Sunday afternoon with some nice music playing in the background.
Autumn Hike
The weather is getting perfect to explore trails in the nature. You can do it as a couple, with your family or a group of friends. Don't forget to study the terrain and map beforehand, bring a first aid kit and all the essentials. Some popular trails even have a rating of how long and difficult it is. Oh! And you can even combine it with the Autumn picnic idea!
Go for a Walk in the Rain
No one likes rain when they have to commute to work and get their clothes soaked or the traffic is a mess. But when it's really quiet and rainy it gets kinda pretty too. If you live in a busy city like me, Sunday mornings or afternoons are perfect for a walk in the rain because it’s so quiet at those hours. Put on your fave rain jacket, boots, umbrella and go take a walk in a park or enjoy the empty streets. Finish with a warm bath, a nice cup of tea and cookies once you're back at home.