Falling for Winter

Better late than Never!

2010-01-10T15:11:00.006-05:00

I apologize for not posing almost the entire month of December. I thought I still might share some of my Christmas decorations with you all, even though Christmas is over. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I love old fashion looking Christmas decorations. They look like old Christmas cards. I use this a lot throughout my house. The Santa below is probably over 30 years old. My Granny hung him very year and I love him.

A few pictures of the kitchen.

Here's another old Santa from my Granny's house.

The bottom lights on my Christmas tree went out by the time I took these pictures. Sorry! I will be shopping for a new tree this year!

Merry Christmas to All!

2009-12-07T20:43:00.001-05:00

Sorry I have not posted new Christmas pictures. I hope to have some up within a few days, so please check back. In the meantime, I hope you all are enjoying the month so far.

Happy November!

2009-11-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

So Halloween is officially over...I took down my decorations last night. I always get sad when I have to take down decorations for any holiday. The great thing about taking down Halloween decorations though is that it means Christmas decorations go up soon! I leave Fall decorations up until the weekend before Thanksgiving, then I decorate for Christmas.

Here are a few great tips for putting away your Halloween and Fall decorations:

Group boxes or storage bins by room. For example, put all your decorations for your living room in the same box, so you don't have to search in three boxes for one room.
Make an inventory list for each box and place it on the lid. That way, you know exactly what is in the box without opening it.
My sister in law had a great idea. Last year she put a pumpkin spice candle in with her Fall garlands. When she got the garland out this year, it had a wonderful pumpkin spice scent. Make sure you wrap the candle in paper or plastic so it does not melt on anything.
Dust/clean everything before you put it away.

Follow these very simple tips, and it will take you no time at all to put everything up next year! Countdown to Halloween 2010 has begun!

Fall Tour of Homes

2009-10-08T14:38:00.009-04:00

Here's a a second round tour of my home with my Fall and Halloween decor. Please enjoy!

Starting in the entrance...

A little closer look... This is actually a chalkboard with little pumpkin magnets. I got it for $5 at Homegoods. I love that store!

The kitchen...

Its a little hard to see, but I have pumpkins and gourds in the colander beside the rooster and a fall towel under the bakery sign.

I put my pumpkin cookbook in my cookbook holder. I haven't made anything out of it, but I love to look at it!

Dining Area...

These little boxes are some of my favorite decorations. I put orange lights in the glass bowl under the pumpkin and gourds.

Living Room...

Jaxie (my little dog) wanted to get in on the fun!

For Fall...

For Halloween...

Patio arrangement

2009-09-22T20:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Fall!

Go Gators!

2009-09-12T15:54:00.004-04:00

I had to share this. My dog Jaxie watching a Gator game with her new collar and scarf. They won by the way, 56 to 6!

Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

2009-09-12T15:36:00.008-04:00

Long title but but easy to make.

2 packages of chocolate chip cookie dough
8 oz soften cream cheese
3 eggs (I use Egg Beaters)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan. Spread 1 package of cookie dough evenly in bottom of pan.

Mix cream cheese, eggs and vanilla.

Spread over cookie dough.

Crumble second package of cookie dough over cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Cool and cut into squares before serving.
Note: I used a glass baking dish and the bottom layer of cookie dough did not cook through. I put mine back in for another 15 minutes. I consulted with my Mom (a wonderful baker) and she recommended using a non-stick metal pan.

-Recipe adapted from Goose Berry Patch- Christmas Throughout the House

2009 Fall Decorations- Finally Done!

2009-09-05T22:35:00.020-04:00

So I'm finally getting to sit back with my Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino and enjoy my Fall decorations. My wonderful husband and I put up everything in between watching the first day of college football! Go Gators!
I made a few changes from last year. I wanted to keep everything simple. The only things remaining are the front porch and patio. They will probably get done on Monday or Tuesday. Well, I hope you like them. Please leave your comments and suggestions.

Starting in the entrance...

A little closer look... This is actually a chalkboard with little pumpkin magnets. I got it for $5 at Homegoods. I love that store!

The kitchen...

Its a little hard to see, but I have pumpkins and gourds in the colander beside the rooster and a fall towel under the bakery sign.

I put my pumpkin cookbook in my cookbook holder. I haven't made anything out of it, but I love to look at it!

Dining Area...

These little boxes are some of my favorite decorations. I put orange lights in the glass bowl under the pumpkin and gourds.

Living Room...

Jaxie (my little dog) wanted to get in on the fun!

I added pumpkins and gourds to this area. Something new this year.

Come back soon for outdoor decorations.

September 1st- Here we go...

2009-09-01T17:40:00.013-04:00

So... September is finally here! I was so excited to get up this morning and change to a new month on the calendar. It probably helps that I have the Susan Branch, Heart of the Home, calendar. Her drawings are absolutely beautiful. All the months are beautiful, but September is my favorite.

Although I live in Florida, and the weather has been almost unbearable the last few weeks, we had a cloudy, rainy day today. It stayed in the low 80's. It was still very humid, but it did feel better. We are lucky if we get cooler weather in October! Although it may be hot, I plan to decorate for Fall this weekend. I put a lot into my Fall decorations and I want to enjoy them as long as possible. I will post some pictures when everything is up and complete.

I am in the process of making my wonderful sister-in-law a Fall wreath. Here's what I'm starting with.

Here's Jaxie checking everything out. She loves Fall too! Her birthday is September 16th. My little Fall baby!

Here's what I have so far...I need to finish this weekend. Although I like the simplicity of what I have, I think it needs a little more. I'll post the final pictures soon.

Well, September IS finally here. Before you know, Christmas will be here too. I hope you are making preparations now to ensure your Holiday season is stress free. If you are decorating for Fall soon, ENJOY! If you not, Why not??? I challenge everyone to celebrate the Fall season by decorating your home with a few seasonal touches. Just a few fall leaves or pumpkins here and there, can make a difference. Check back soon for pictures of my decorations.

What are you doing to prepare for Fall

2009-08-12T18:42:00.003-04:00

So as I was browsing one of my favorite new site, Magical Holiday Home, someone posted their Fall To Do list. I started thinking about everything I needed to do to get ready. My plan is to start decorating Labor Day weekend. Here are a few things I will be doing in the upcoming weeks to get ready.

Take inventory of my Fall decorations and determine if I will be adding or changing anything this year.
Gather all my Fall candles and make sure I have enough for every room.
Do an overall house cleaning. I try to go by The Fly Lady's Basic Plan.
Start testing new fall recipes. I love baking with pumpkin! I have a few recipes I can't wait to try out. I'll make sure to post them if they're good.
Stock up on baking ingredients.
Reorganize my pantry.
Bring out all my favorite holiday dish towels. I'm obsessed with dish towels.
Start putting together an overall plan for the entire Holiday season.

The most important thing I want to do this year is stay stress free. I'm thinking I will keep a rolling to do list. I like to hand write everything. There is something so empowering about crossing something off a list. There are so many great resources on the internet to help you prepare for the Holidays. Here are a few that have really helped me.

- http://ourhomefortheholidays.com/forum/index.php
- http://magicalholidayhome.com/
- http://organizedchristmas.com/
- http://www.flylady.net/

Be sure to also check out the other wonderful blogs on my sidebar. Everyone shares their creative ideas.
How are you getting ready?

Great Ideas for the Holidays

2009-08-04T18:57:00.004-04:00

I wanted to share on of my favorite things that starts September 24: Better Homes and Gardens' 100 Days of Holidays Newsletter. Once you sign up, you receive great craft and recipe ideas by email. There are slideshows and "how to" videos. Its a great way to stay motivated and creative during the Holidays! Follow the link below to sign up, its free.

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/holiday-slide-shows/100-days-of-holidays-newsletter/

Having house guests for the Holidays? Here are a few tips to make them feel welcomed.

2009-07-27T20:01:00.005-04:00

- Make sure you have a nice, clean, cozy bed.
- Add lots of pillows for extra comfort.
- Try to decorate the guest bedroom and bathroom for the season.
- Have plenty of candles on hand.
- Fill a small basket with the following: light snack, bottled water, candy or gum, lotion, and maybe a magazine.
- Make sure they have room to spread out their luggage.
- Fill the bathroom with all the necessities: towels, bath cloths, body wash, shampoo, lotions, extra toothbrush and toothpaste just in case.
- Always make sure to wake up earlier than your guests and make sure to have something ready to eat.
- Always have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand - everyone loves to indulge during the holidays.
- I also like to have something freshly baked and ready at all times.
These are just a few small ways to ensure your guests will feel welcomed and at home.

Okay...Back to a Little Fall- 2008 Halloween Decor

2009-07-22T19:43:00.024-04:00

Our Halloween dinner. Chili with spider webs. (Actually sour cream) Spooky!

New Twists on Classic Recipes- Round Two

2009-07-18T16:25:00.004-04:00

Here's a great twist on a sugar cookie. The only bad thing is that you will want to eat them all!

Spiced Sugar Cookies

1 pouch sugar cookie mix
3/4 teaspoons ground allspice
3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup (one stick) softened butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup powered sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients. Stir in softened butter and vanilla until soft dough forms. Shape teaspoons of dough into balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 12-14 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Roll into powdered sugar and let sit for 15 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar again. Makes about 3 dozen cookies. Enjoy!

Here are a few of my creations from last year. I love making wreaths for family and friends.

2009-07-15T20:15:00.015-04:00

One of my favorite things to make during the holidays is a wreath. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a festive, holiday wreath on a front door. I actually have wreaths on every door in my house during Christmas. The one's above were made last year with my Mom and Granny. My Granny used to be a florist and now she is our official bow maker!

New Twists on Classic Recipes- Round One...

2009-07-14T20:27:00.005-04:00

Bread Pudding (with pumpkin)
This is a great way to turn a classic recipe into a holiday favorite! Take your favorite bread pudding recipe and make the following additions:

Instead of white bread, use one loaf of cinnamon swirl bread. If you like raisins, get cinnamon-raisin swirl bread.
Add a can of pumpkin, 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, and 1/2 cup of maple syrup.
Follow the rest of your classic recipe and bake.
Top everything off with a drizzle of glaze (powdered sugar and milk).

Here's a recipe:
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
1 loaf (16 ounce) cinnamon raisin or cinnamon swirl bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup cream
4 eggs (I use Egg Beaters)
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 can pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350. Spray casserole dish with non stick cooking spray. Toss cubed bread and pecans in casserole dish. Whisk milk, cream, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup and pumpkin in a bowl. Pour over bread cubes. Let soak for 1 hour, occasionally pressing down. Bake for 1 hour or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.
Glaze-Mix together powdered sugar, milk and maple extract to make the glaze for the top. Drizzle over bread pudding before serving.

Bread Pudding (muffins)
Instead of baking your bread pudding in a casserole dish, use a 12 cup muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. This way everyone has their own serving. I use cinnamon bread and I add maple syrup to the recipe. You can serve this for breakfast or brunch. Be sure to serve with extra maple syrup. It almost turns into a variation of french toast.

Pumpkin Bread (with chocolate chips)
Take your favorite pumpkin bread recipe and add two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips. It will turn into a fabulous dessert!

If anyone would like a complete recipe, please let me know.

Check back for Round Two...

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas decorations from 2008

2009-07-13T22:07:00.000-04:00

How to get your 5 senses ready for the Seasons

2009-07-13T20:52:00.001-04:00

So, how do you get your 5 senses ready for the Holidays?
Sight: Beautiful decorations, dimmed lighting, candles, candles, candles!
Sound: Music of course; Fall- Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Michael Buble
Christmas- The Greats Dean, Frank, Nat, Bing, Ella
Smell: Baking, Candles, Christmas trees, spices, warm cider
Touch: Cozy fleece blankets, warm puppy dogs, sweaters
Taste: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, Pumpkin Bread, Turkey, Ham, Dressing, I could go on and on....
Check back, I'll be posting some recipes...

Where to Find Inspiration

2009-07-13T08:36:00.000-04:00

Some of my favorite reads to help with Fall and Halloween planning are below.
- Autumn by Susan Branch Heart of the Home
- Any Gooseberry Patch Fall and Halloween Books
- Halloween- Better Homes and Gardens

Fall Decorations; As promised, here are a few pictures of my 2008 Fall decorations. Please share your thoughts.

2009-07-13T08:21:00.000-04:00

Inspiration

2009-07-11T20:36:00.001-04:00

So the stores are gearing up for my favorite time of year. I can't help just walking in every few days to see the new stock of fall merchandise. It stirs up that great , exciting feeling I get each year: Fall and Winter Holidays are drawing near!

When do you start your decoration? Below is the outline I will use this year. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Fall Decoration: Labor Day Weekend
Halloween Decorating: Last weekend of September
Christmas Decorating: Weekend before Thanksgiving

I have started to review pictures of last year's decor to determine if anything needs to be changed. Come back, I'll post pictures. Please share your thoughts and decorating expertise. I'm always looking for new ideas!