{Real Parties} An Apple Harvest Birthday Party

Fall is almost over, but I just had to share this DARLING apple harvest party with you! Katie Nguyen Wells of Petite Social styled the most adorable birthday party for a recent client. The party was held in a beautiful open field and near a large oak tree. Katie used nature as the backdrop to the styled tables.

The children's table was so quaint. The color scheme used, kraft and red, is an all time favorite of mine! Katie incorporated burlap as well which I LOVE.

{I think I might have a slight addiction to burlap!}

The kraft paper lunch boxes held a delicious, fuss-free lunch of wrapped sandwiches, chips and fresh fruit served in mason jars.

Each little party guest took him a goody bag filled with items from a scavenger hunt and apple harvest themed cookies by JP Creatibles.

What a pretty and simple homemade cake!

And the mason jar arrangements added the perfect amount of charm and frill to the party!

Don't you just love the homemade feel of this party! Be sure to visit Petite Social's website for more party inspiration!

Vendors:

Petite Social - event styling + photography

JP Creatibles - custom cookies

Sweet LuLu - milk glasses + straws + twine

PaperMart - kraft lunch boxes

The Homespun Hostess - burlap bags (which held the cookies)

{Fall} Personalize Your Pumpkins With Nailheads

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that fall is coming to an end. If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home this year, here is a simple and modern way to dress up your doorstep (or anywhere else in the house that needs last minute fall decor).

Step 1:

Gather your supplies: pumpkin, railheads, a pencil and decorative ribbon.

Step 2:

Think about your design before you draw it on the pumpkin.

Step 3:

Draw your pattern onto the pumpkin (you could use a stencil too).

Step 4:

Once your design is drawn on the pumpkin, start inserting the railheads one by one.

(line them up so they are touching on both sides)

Step 5:

Finish up your design or letter and there you go! You have a modern update to a traditional pumpkin!

Tip:

You can use railheads on any type of gourd - not just a pumpkin!

Images by Ellenzilla Photography

A big thank you to Kelly Lyden of The Party Dress for featuring my DIY tutorial in the latest issue of her magazine!

{Recipes} Quick Turkey Chili, Bacon Cornbread & Pumpkin Pie Popcorn

The weather is beautiful in Houston right now and today we are enjoying our first cold snip! To 'celebrate' the change in weather, tonight I plan to make Turkey Chili (the recipe is so easy & yummy!), Bacon Cornbread (a splurge, for sure!) and I just might try out this mouth watering Pumpkin Pie Popcorn I found on Pinterest.

Click the titles to find the recipes

Quick Turkey Chili

{image via Real Simple}

Recipe note: I like to leave out the chipotle chile in adobo, only because I do not like spicy food.

Bacon Cornbread

{image via Simply Delicious}

Pumpkin Pie Popcorn

{image via Family Bites}

Happy Fall Y'all!

{Fall} Decorating With Corn

Indian Corn Garland

{via BHG}

Fall has only just begun, so you have plenty of time to spruce up your home with a little fall decor. This Indian Corn Garland is an easy DIY project that would look perfect on a mantle, draped across a buffet or dessert table or even hung over your front door.

Directions {From BHG}

* Cut rope two feet longer than the area in which you intend to hang the garland.

* Then twist screw-eye hooks (with openings about the same size as the rope diameter) into the tops of mini ears of corn, one per ear.

* Bend corn husks into loops and hot-glue the pointed ends together.

* Thread the husks and ears onto the rope and hang.

Candy Corn Garland

{via Woman's Day}

Here is a different kind of corn garland; a garland using candy corn! This would be a fun project to include the kids on. And I'm sure everyone wouldn't mind eating a few while working!

Directions {From Woman's Day}

* Thread monofilament fishing line (found at hardware stores) onto a needle and poke it through the candies, avoiding areas where the colors meet - corn breaks easily at these points.

* Hang using cloth tape.

{Fall} What I Plan to Bake This Fall

October is here and it finally feels like fall! October signals the beginning of the holiday season which is my absolute favorite time of year. It's no secret that I love all things sweet. Here is my "baking to do" list for the next few months...

Pumpkin Parfaits

{via Gourmet}

Autumn Brittle

{via Adventures in Cooking}

Apple Bundt with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze

{via A Farm Girl's Dabbles}

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bars

{via Recipe Girl}

Pumpkin Pound Cake

{via Sing For Your Supper}

Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread

{via Sunny side Up in San Diego}

Pumpkin Butter Thumbprints

{via Nook & Pantry}

Mini Pumpkin Pies

{via Make and Takes}

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

{via Dashing Dish}

Pumpkin Pie French Toast

{via Closet Cooking}

Candy Corn Rice Krispy Treats

{via Baked Perfection}

Candy Corn Bark

{via My Baking Addiction}

Hungry yet?!

** All recipes were found via Pinterest **

{Recipes} Pumpkin Pound Cake

{via Sing For Your Supper}

Fall is officially here {although it does not feel like it in sweltering Houston} and I have been itching to make all sorts of yummy fall goodness! My mouth has been watering at all of the delicious recipes floating around Pinterest. Over the weekend, I baked this Pumpkin Pound Cake from Sing For Your Supper blog and I thought it was delicious! It was dense and moist and not too sweet. Better yet, it was a cinch to make!

{via Sing For Your Supper}

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pound Cake

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

In a large bowl, combine sugar and oil until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, cloves and pudding mix; add to egg mixture alternately with pumpkin, beating well after each addition.

Transfer to a greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-6o minutes (depending on your oven) or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serves 12-16.

S'mores Loving

Today is National S'mores Day! Where do they come up with these days? But hey, I'm not complaining! S'mores make it on my top 5 desserts and just might be my #1 favorite! Here is a compilation of favor ideas, sprawling dessert tables and delicious recipes all including S'mores. What could be better?!

FAVORS

{via nicole Macaluso}

An elegant presentation of take home s'mores. The calligraphy is beautiful and really dresses it up!

{via Oh Happy Day}

I sure would be happy if someone hand me a s'mores kit on my way out of a party!

{via Oh Happy Day}

{via Twig and Thistle}

Great modern way of packaging all of the fixings for the yummy treat! This way, you can make more than one. Yes, please!

{vía Once Wed}

Adorable packaging!

DESSERT TABLES

{via Postcards and Pretties}

This table is so simple, but looks so chic and perfect for a small gathering at home. Easy for anyone to create!

{via Cookie Creatives}

This table is filled with options from strawberry to lime marshmallows and dark and white chocolate...

{via Cookie Creatives}

{via Posh Pixels Design Studio}

A cute and rustic table with a Western feel. Perfect for a party at a farm or ranch!

RECIPES

S'mores Cupcakes

{via Homemade by Holman}

S'mores Cupcakes

{via Bakerella}

S'mores Rice Krispy Treats

{via Glorious Treats}

S'mores Pops by Glorious Treats

{via Glorious Treats}

S'mores Cookies by Glorious Treats

{via Glorious Treats}

S'mores Bars

{via Love in the Oven}

Run, don't walk to the grocery store and grab these ingredients to make yourself a s'mores treat! I just love this dessert. And not only because it tastes so good, but for the casual and down home feel it gives. Another plus! S'mores are inexpensive and everyone loves them!

Happy National S'mores Day! Until next year...

{DIY} Pie in a Jar

{image via Paiges of Style}

Lately, I have had an obsession with pies in a jar! I haven't made them yet, but I plan to and just placed an order for these tiny mason jars. The recipes seems easy, just maybe a little time consuming. But so worth it in the end! Take a look at the following DIY Pie in a Jar recipes from some fabulous blogs...

Our Best Bites provides a full tutorial complete with step by step instructions, pictures and a scrumptious basic recipe for any fruit filling.

Green Wedding Shoes shares beautiful photography and a styling idea for the cute pies. They also provide step by step instructions and an easier recipe using store bought pie filling.

Paiges of Style is a favorite blog of mine and I always enjoy her tutorials! Paige shows how easy it is to make pies in a jar and I love the way she packaged the favor!

I'm really looking forward to trying these little goodies out!