Favorite Video

Hi ya'll. I was just watching a YouTube video, and thought I'd share it with you. It's one of my all time favorites, and it may or may not involve a Justin Bieber song. It start up a little slow, but keep watching! My favorite parts are at 4:15 and at 5:15

Fall Decor Bucket List

I love seasonal touches around the house, especially natural ones. Fall is fabulous for this: pumpkins, leaves, acorns, and pine cones abound. And, they're mostly free. Especially if you're a freak like me and lug hand fulls of tree branches home from morning walks with Leo. My current dilemma is if I want to BUY acorns for my decor use (along the same lines as buying rocks- super lame), or if I want to surrender my dignity, make like a squirrel, and scavenge them off the sidewalks next to a busy street. They're the only acorns I've found

*Note to self: Plant an oak tree so that in 40 years, I won't be having this dilemma. 

Along the same lines as my fall cooking bucket list, I'm trying to celebrate bigger and enjoy fall more. For me, that includes craftiness and decor around the house. Here are the projects I'd like to take a crack, at least in some shape or form, this fall.

 Mason Jars with Candles and Acorns

Hurricane Vase with Acorns

Pumpkin Painting

Twig Candle Holder

Rustic Wood Box

Pumpkin Cloche

Pressed Leaf Display

Fall Porch Decor

Fall Branches

Pumpkin and Candle Centerpiece

Incorporate Lights into Decor

Fall Cooking Bucket List

Source

One thing I'm trying to do this year is to celebrate bigger, seasons included. I always anticipate fall: changing leaves, cozy sweaters, pumpkin recipes, corn mazes, skinny jeans and riding boots... I love it!

However, it's one thing to anticipate seasonal things, and it's another thing entirely to do something about it. I sometimes feel let down at the end of a season because I was too lazy or busy to act on any of my idyllic ideas. I'm hoping that with some planning, this year will be different. I want to be intentional about enjoying another beautiful Minnesota fall. So, I've created a "Fall Cooking Bucket List."

I love trying new recipes, but never seem to actually make any of the fall-themed ones that I've found. My game plan is to make one bucket list recipe per week. There are 14 weeks between September 1st and Thanksgiving, and I have 14 recipes to try. If I'm feeling particularly daring, I'll throw recipe #15 into the mix: Apple Cider Caramels. I'm a little wary of this one- me and candy thermometers don't play well together.

Without further ado, here are the recipes:

Baked Pumpkin French Toast

Apple Pancakes

Spiced Pumpkin Scones

Apple Cider Floats

Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Pumpkin Fluff Dip

Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping

Pumpkin Poppers

Crock Pot Baked Apples

Baked Apple Pie Egg Rolls

Ultimate Caramel Apples

Apple Cider Caramel Cookies

Butternut Squash Risotto

Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Quinoa

Apple Cider Caramels