Fall Pumpkin

A super cute, super EASY way to give your home that extra special, personal touch.... 

Chalkboard Message Pumpkin. 

Here's How:

1. Wash your pumpkin and let dry.

{I used dish soap and a wet paper towel. I did not submerge the pumpkin in water.}

2. Cut out a template the shape you want your message board to be.
{I found this label template HERE. After printing it and cutting it out, I taped it on my pumpkin.}

3. Trace around your template.

4. Paint with Chalkboard paint.

5. Do steps 1 through 4 as many times as you want!

6. When your chalkboard paint is dry, message away!

{'Boo!' was on our front porch for the Tricker-Treaters!}

{'Welcome' your guests in such a fun way!}

{'Give Thanks' is a perfect saying for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday!}

{Home Sweet Home}        {We made one 'Get Well' Pumpkin to give as a gift.}

Here's a few tips:

- When changing your message, wipe lightly. If you rub hard, you run the risk of the chalkboard paint coming off. 

- Pick out smooth pumpkins. The more the ridges, the harder it is to write on the chalkboard.

- If your pumpkins are staying indoors, be mindful of where you set them. If they are on a wood surface, I suggest placing something to protect your wood under the pumpkin.

- Read your chalkboard paint instructions on the length of time to allow your paint to dry before writing on it. I waited 24 hours.

- You can paint your message board without using a template.

{Although the traced template line made painting with chalkboard paint easy.}

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies

Did you know that Saturday was National Pumpkin Day?

We celebrated by taking the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.

It was the Little Pumpkins first time!

Even though it was chilly, my Big Pumpkins had fun too!

 In honor of National Pumpkin Day I'm going to share with you my new FAVORITE pumpkin recipe.

These blondies are very easy to make, but I guarantee it's more fun with little helping hands!

 (I love the perfectly placed chocolate chips!)

These are as good as they sound, look and smell! They are super moist and the perfect dessert or snack.



Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies
{from Carmel Potatoes}

What You'll Need:

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 1/4 cup chocolate chips, divided

Here's How:

Preheat oven to 350*. Line bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking pan with foil. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt. 

In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture will look curdled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in 1 cup of the chocolate chips.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips over the batter.  Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan.

Lift the blondies out of the pan and peel off the foil. Cut into squares and devour!

Not Too Late For Fall Wreath

I received an email the other day with the title: 

"Not too late for fall"

Well THANK GOODNESS!

I put out my few fall decorations (inside my house) yesterday. 

{Better late than never!}

My mums, 

that have been sitting in the garage waiting to be planted for almost a month, 

on the other hand...

it is too late for them!

So... I'll stick with artificial flowers this fall!

I recently got a special visit from my oldest friend. 

Not that she is old, but I've known her my entire life. 

We are alike and different in the perfect combination.... when we see each other, even after months of being apart, we can pick up our friendship like we just hung out the day before. 

She's one of my bestest friends and extra special to me because were are family. 

Here we are this summer, holding each others' 3rd baby...

We decided to get crafty when she visited a couple weeks ago.
We pinned fall wreaths like crazy and came up with a combo that we liked.

To start, we took a trip to Hobby Lobby to purchase grape vine wreaths, burlap and flowers.

We started by bunching the burlap roll into little sections and secured with floral wire.

Then we placed the burlap onto the wreath to get an idea of how we wanted the burlap to lay...

When we liked how it looked, we attached it to the wreath with the same wire....

Next came the flowers {attached using hot glue}.

To make the bow, we used this technique:

VERY simple and easy. You can follow these instructions as well.

Then we came to a stopping point. Or at least, I did. My original idea was to add my last initial but the one I purchased was too big.

My cousin's initial was the perfect size.
After spray painting it with chalk board paint, it was the PERFECT addition to her wreath.
It will be so easy to change her 'Welcome' wreath to a 'Thank You' wreath or a 'Happy Birthday' wreath... the possibilities are endless!

I finished my fall wreath with a chevron burlap bow (made the same way as the one above) and a small burlap bunting that I painted with the letters F-A-L-L.

And meanwhile, in the living room....

{love time with family}

Happy FALL y'all!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Did you think I fell off of the face of the planet?
Well, I didn't and the great excuse for my absence....  life is happening too fast!

We're already into the second day of FALL 2012.
So exciting!
(Christmas is right around the corner.)
But, before it gets snowy, here are a list of things we do in the fall....

- Apple Picking

(taken last year)

- Pumpkin Baking

(found here)

- Pinterest Craft Making 

(seems like I never get this one crossed of my to-do list)

(found here)

- Scarves!!!! 

(found here)

- Mini Fall Vacation

- Apple Baking

(found here)

- Pumpkin Carving

(found here)

- Fall Decorating 

(I need to get on this! I'm already 2 days behind!)

- Fall Clothes Shopping 

(I'm particularly excited about the polka-dot trend!)

(found here)

- Family Pictures

(taken two years ago)

- Crockpot Slow Cooking

(found here)





What fun fall things do you have planned????