Spiced Scents

For some reason when it starts to get cold outside I want my house to smell like spiced pumpkin or apple cider.  Last year I made a big pot of wassel just so I could simmer it everyday and make my house smell warm and cozy.  These scents make me happy and give the impression that I’m cooking some great, spiced treat.  I like to fool my visitors into thinking that I’m cooking – wow, that’s sad.  Last year I bought a “stick wick” candle, it has a wooden stick and sounds like a crackling fire when it burns, it’s fun until you’re home alone and you hear this quiet crackle and can’t figure out where it’s coming from.  I love William-Sonoma’s spiced candles and soaps but remember that although they will give the impression of freshly cooked goods nothing replaces the smell of actual fresh-out-of-the-oven treats (sometimes we just prefer the easy candle).

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

I love that they still play this in primetime television.  It is a classic and you know what they say about classics, they never go out of style - no matter how old you get or how the times have changed.  If you haven’t tuned into The Charlie Brown Halloween special it is time to join the rest of us on October 28^th and 29^th on ABC.

Halloween Pages

Time to talk about scrapbooking and putting down on paper all these great fall memories you are making.  The key to making amazing fall or Halloween pages is all in the paper.  This is the time to take that great bold paper and create the loudest page you can!  I like using the typical Halloween colors like orange, green, brown, purple, black and white (or cream) as a neutral.  Here are some Halloween pages I created so you can get inspired and click on the links below for the perfect patterned paper.

SEI's Eerie Alley

Cosmo Cricket's Haunted

Bo Bunny's Whoo-ligans

Anna Griffin's Esmerelda Halloween Kit

My Minds Eye's Blackbird

C-A-N-D-Y

Okay, so you’ve all heard me talk about my obsession with candy (see "Sweet Factory" post) and this time of year you can’t expect me to avoid the subject!  Well I saw this on Martha Stewart’s website and just fell in love.  Nothing can be better then matching holiday candy in perfect glass jars.  I have seen similar candy displays at weddings and I just love the happiness it brings me (and I’m sure it brings happiness to others too).  Who says you have to wait for a wedding to have a candy bar…not me!  I think this is perfect for the month of October, we have to get our blood sugar up so as not to shock our bodies on the 31^st.  Who’s with me?

Hiking

I don’t know if many people think of hiking as a fall activity but I am all about it.  Going up to the mountains or being in nature when the air is crisp and the leaves are changing is one of my favorite things.  I like to plan a hike to some hot pools that way when you get to the end of the hike you get a nice warm up before heading back.  Plan to go earlier so you don’t get stuck in the dark and make sure you bring a sweatshirt, some hand warmers and your camera other than that you’re set.  I did this hike last fall and it was so pretty.

Fifth Water Waterfalls and Hot Spring

A Cold Night In

I love a night in with friends when it’s too cold to leave the house.  Here are my musts for the perfect night in.  Invite some friends over and enjoy...

1. Ugg Boots
2. Pictionary
3. Taco Soup
4. DVD of Favorite TV show (season 1)
5. Brownies
6. Camera

 

Song of the Day (Halloween Version)

I can’t help but laugh every time I here this song.  The way Bobby Pickett sings this is just hilarious!

Monster Mash

Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers

New Kit!!!

I am so excited for our new fall kit.  It’s perfect for those pictures you took of the fall leaves and we must document this years famous Halloween costume.  Everything comes pre-cut to size with step-by-step instructions, all you have to do is put it together.  Go ahead and order yours today and get ready to get crafty.

CLICK HERE to see more of our pre-cut kits and for purchasing info.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

When I was 14 some of my friends and I were hanging out on Halloween (according to my mom we were too old to go trick-or-treating) when a neighbor lady called.  She had planned an elaborate scavenger hunt all over town for her teenage daughter and some friends, somehow they couldn’t do the scavenger hunt.  The lady had spent so much time planning that she wanted someone to enjoy it hence she invited my friends and I to participate.  We talked my mom and a friend’s mom into driving and separated into two teams and off we went with our first clue.  I specifically remember one clue where we found ourselves at the local mall looking for Waldo in a sea of people.  When we had finished the scavenger hunt we congregated back at my house for hot coco and donuts.  To this day I have never had such an awesome and unique Halloween.

I would love to recreate this someday for my friends.  I wonder if I could get the details from that childhood neighbor…

“Go to where on mid-summers night a display of patriotism explodes in the sky. There you will find my secret treasure buried in the sands of youth.”

Put On Something Warm

I love digging my warm, comfy sweaters out of the closet because it’s finally cold enough to wear them.  Long ones, short ones, big ones, little ones – oh they are all great.  Talk about fashion that is not only functional but looks great too!  Layering is always the key to a great sweater outfit and to keeping warm (I learned that the hard way when I moved from St. George, UT (hot desert) to Logan, UT (mountain valley) and was cold all the time – I just didn’t know how to layer.  Here are some sweaters on my wish list this fall.

Take A Drive

It’s become a tradition that my husband and I take a drive the first weekend in October.  We like to see all the changing leaves and discover new beautiful places in the state of Utah.  It really is refreshing to explore your own surroundings.  We like to pull over here and there, walk around and take pictures.  It is the simplest thing that doesn’t cost a thing (except the gas) and it is really enjoyable.  What a perfect activity to begin the fall season.

October

I love the fall; the smell in the air, the color of leaves changing, the warm sweaters and hot drinks.  Is there anything better than October and the welcome change from summer to fall?  Well in my mind October is the time try new things and pull out our creative sides.  So this month I will be talking about some of my favorite fall activities, food, music, games and much more.  I’m excited…hope you are too!