Fall Archives

FALL HARVEST CHEX MIX

September 23, 2021

This fall harvest Chex Mix is not your mother’s Chex mix

I grew up with the classic Chex Mix with pretzels, cocktail peanuts, the Kroger version of the rice and corn cereal and the Wheat Chex® cereal (because the Wheat did not come in the Kroger brand).

And, lots of Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder and onion powder because my mom loved the seasonings.

So when I discovered there was a whole world of Chex Mix combos that included chocolate, pumpkin spice and M&M’s it was like discovering Netflix.

And just like Netflix I binged my way through the weekend with a bowl of Chex Mix filled with candy corn and chocolate M&M’s.

This recipe is the perfect combo of sweet and salty and then add the pumpkin spice! Who knew?

Yes those are Bugles nestled between pretzels and peanuts coated with a brown sugar and pumpkin spice flavored melted butter goodness.

Tip: I am going to save you four mintues walking up and down the chip aisle. The Bugles are located near the Pringles. Look up.

FALL HARVEST CHEX MIX RECIPE

FALL HARVEST CHEX MIX

The perfect combination of cereal, pretzels and peanuts with M&M's and candy corn.

Print Recipe

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Ingredients

4 CUPS CHEX RICE CEREAL OR GENERIC
3 CUPS MINI PRETZELS MINI PRETZEL STICKS WOULD WORK
3 CUPS BUGLES NEAR THE PRINGLES
1 CUP DRY ROASTED PEANUTS
1/2 CUP M&M CANDIES
1 CUP HARVEST MIX CANDY CORN

PUMPKIN SPICE COATING

1/2 CUP BUTTER
1/2 CUP BROWN SUGAR
2 TSP. VANILLA
3 TBSP. PUMPKIN SPICE

Instructions

1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 275. PREPARE WITH BAKING SHEET FOR EASY CLEANUP. TRUST ME
2. IN LARGE MIXING BOWL COMBINE THE CEREAL, PRETZELS, BUGLES & PEANUTS
3. IN GLASS BOWL, MICROWAVE BUTTER AND BROWN SUGAR FOR 1 MINUTE (ISH).
4. REMOVE FROM MICROWAVE, STIR IN VANILLA & PUMPKIN SPICE
5. POUR PUMPKIN SPICE MIX OVER THE CEREAL MIX AND STIR TO COAT
6. POUR ONTO PREPARED BAKING SHEET & BAKE FOR 30 MINUTES, STIR AFTER 15 MINUTES (IT'S MORE LIKE A GENTLE FOLD BECAUSE THE PAN IS FULL).
7. REMOVE FROM OVEN AND COOL COMPLETELY. TRUST ME.
8. TOSS THE M&M'S AND HARVEST MIX CANDY CORN

The most difficult part of this recipe is waiting for the cereal, pretzels, peanuts and Bugles to cool.

This is when the magic happens. Once cooled you toss in the M&M’s and Harvest candy corn mix.

Tip: The seasonal M&M’s went fast at our Kroger. I missed out on the fall theme M&M’s and ended up sorting the browns and oranges for my version of the Harvest M&M mix.

It was a tedious task, but someone had to do it. #snarkasm

I usually double this recipe and ship it to my college age boys. It is a great idea for a care package party.

Thank you for stopping by today! I would love for you to pin this image for reference!

Thank you for stopping by today. If this recipe makes you thirsty here is a fun fall refresher.

Please check out my other recipes for fun seasonal ides like these

laura

FALL FIREPLACE MANTEL

August 24, 2021

It’s here! Sharing my fall fireplace mantel for this month’s Pinterest Challenge.

It’s time for this month’s Pinterest Challenge hosted by Cindy and her Texas-based blog.

It’s all about a fall fireplace mantel as we head into the end of August. Yes, it is time for pumpkins and hay bales.

If you are stopping by from Niky’s blog welcome to Everyday Edits.

This month’s fall mantel Pinterest challenge is from Janelle’s blog.

I am so excited to share in this fall mantel challenge because we just finished remodeling our family and living rooms.

We built a fireplace mantel and library wall in our living room last winter. And, when I saw this month’s challenge from Janelle it was like looking in a mirror.

FALL FIREPLACE MANTEL

Janelle’s mantel had some great elements and I equally loved her coffee table in front of her mantel.

Fall Fireplace Mantel

fall sign
stems
glass hurricane
lantern
candlesticks
pumpkins

The best part is so many of us have all of these accessories just waiting to celebrate the fall season on the mantel.

I loved this month’s Pinterest Challenge because ahead of the fall season I did something at Hobby Lobby I never do.

I bought this sign in July. Yep, it was on sale and I loved the sign with its copper colors and engraved print.

The rest of my accessories were from the basement archives ;0). I updated my fall stems last year (also from Hobby Lobby). I added them to a glass hurricane and called it fall!

Some of you may recognize the base of the pumpkin as it was in a challenge last year when we had the cloche challenge. I love the base as much as the top half of the cloche! So other than the sign (and the cost of the fireplace mantel) there was no expense for this challenge. Thank you for stopping by today! Please check out Barb’s take on this fall mantel challenge. I can’t wait to see all of the fall mantels!

Please pin if you like!

Before you go here is a weekend project to update your fireplace.

HOW TO DECORATE PICTURE WINDOWS

October 29, 2020

picture windows and ledges are valuable real estate for fall decor

We are in year three of replacing our windows. The expense of our new windows is like having a fourth child in college along with our other two. Windows are pricey, but just like education, they are an investment (in our house).

We decided to replace a few of our twenty-year-old windows with picture windows.

We love love, love the unencumbered views the picture windows offer. The line of sight does not stop with a grid. Before there were picture windows there were these on the windows. That decision is what ultimately lead to the decision for new windows.

With four strategic picture windows in our basement, living rooms and dining room we appreciated the additional light and views.

But… you knew there was going to be a but…

With the holiday season, I try to include the basement in the pumpkins and twinkle lights. But usually, the basement gets the decor leftovers.

But that freshly painted window ledge was begging for a little something to celebrate the fall season.

As a Realtor, I see spaces like niches and ledges as valuable real estate in tiny bungalows and condos. My dad only sees clutter.

HOW TO DECORATE PICTURE WINDOWS

One thing you need to know about me besides this– is I love to shop my house for the tiny spaces and corners. You know the little corners of the house that get overlooked or forgotten.

I found everything I needed to add a little fall decor to the new windows and ledges in this bin of unwanted fall decor items.

The windows needed a little fall decor and I was happy to give them some much-needed attention.

The key to decorating windows is you want it to be a relatively low profile in the window so it doesn’t distract from the views. Or the squirrels who love to camp on our front deck and drive Chloe and Elliott crazy!

Oh and that lantern? I snagged the last one in the Hobby Lobby clearance section.

And, then I needed to show a little love inside the dining room picture window. This the ledge where all of the mix-matched pumpkins and acorns land.

It’s like the Island of Misfit Toys, but the window ledge is more like a peninsula.

And if you are curious about how to clean your windows you can check out Bob Vila window cleaning tips.

FALL KITCHEN DECOR IDEAS IN AN HOUR

October 2, 2020

It has been almost a year since we remodeled our kitchen. This time last year we returned from dropping our son off at college. We packed the contents of the kitchen and moved everything to the pool table to the basement. My coffee station was in the bathroom and the toaster was on a ping pong table. What a difference a year makes. Very excited to share a little fall kitchen decor ideas with you. And, if you only have an hour… then let’s roll!

And, now this year? I am so excited to share my fall kitchen decor ideas. These are easy and affordable ideas. I made a commitment this year to invest in pumpkins. I love real pumpkins, but by the end of September, the squirrels have had a buffet on my front porch. And, the bears.

FALL KITCHEN DECOR IDEAS

Sink Space

If you have a corner kitchen sink you have valuable real estate around the faucet. I snagged a few stems from Hobby Lobby and used this hack to add some height around the sink.

Counters & Ledges

There is no such thing as too many pumpkins this time of year. I plan to add a few extra pumpkins to the windows to make them their own little corner pumpkin patch.

If you have a small window above your sink plop a pumpkin on the windows sill.

Instant smiles.

Quiet Corners

I love these glass pumpkins. Yes, these white pumpkins are glass. I painted them a few years ago and never looked back.

Glass makes me nervous so I tucked this into a quiet corner next to the pantry.

It’s not as busy so the pumpkins should be safe.

Kitchen Island or Mobile Cart

No matter how big or small your kitchen, islands, or a mobile “island” cart takes center stage in the kitchen.

I go back and forth with really tall arrangements and shorter ones. Right now I have something that is smaller to take advantage of the views into the backyard.

Add a Pumpkin

The simplicity and cost of a pumpkin is the easiest thing to do to celebrate the season.

Last year on a trip to Minnesota to visit our son at college we made a stop to leave pumpkins at their rental house.

Wreath

Add a wreath to the interior side of a back door. I shared this post on how to dress up the backside of the front door.

Why should the squirrels and bears get the benefit of the wreath on the outside of the door?

Bring the wreath inside! This HomeGoods find added some attention and pop of color to our Dutch door.

Thank you for taking a moment out of your day. Sign up for upcoming giveaways or future blog posts here (only once a week).

If you want some fall decor for the season here is a little eye candy.

If you purchase from thefollowing links I may earn a few cents.

Apples Make a Play for Fall Tablescapes

September 12, 2019

Do you think apples resent the popularity of pumpkins this time of year? If apples had feelings and egos do you think they would want to just go bat-apple crazy on the pumpkins? Maybe, shove them down a few steps on the front porch. It must be tough when Starbucks clearly favors pumpkins. And, why do pumpkins sit on the front porch? This article might answer those Google worthy pumpkin questions. Apples can multi-task just like pumpkins. Until now, apples were the quiet ones on the counter; watching and waiting for their time. And now? Apples make a play for fall tablescapes.

This time of year the pumpkins get all the attention because at some point in history they took over our front porches. Pumpkins elevated their brand when they went from pies to porches to tablescapes.

It turns out apples were making a play for fall tablescapes, too.

With a crispness in the air the apple harvest is in full force!

And, with gorgeous shades of reds, yellows and greens, apples finally earned a place on the fall tablescape.

What a great way to enjoy their colors on the fall tablescapes before they end up in a cobbler or pie.

And, with fall apple harvest in full swing apples are a budget-friendly decor staple.

The only suggestion I have is you tell your family not to eat the shiny, red apples until you are done taking photos!

Sidenote: When is it appropriate to order a pumpkin spice latte? Labor Day? Looking for fall decor items check out my favorites here.

disclosure: The product was provided to me by Stemilt’s SweeTango® in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure page for more information.

Garage Sale Wreath Makeover

September 6, 2019

Here’s a post before my rebrand. With redirects and pins, I have had to repost a few favorite projects. This garage sale wreath makeover is a seasonal favorite and cost me under $5.00.

Garage Sale Wreath Makeover Before

Because it was one of my original posts, I don’t have the before photos but imagine a really dusty, cobwebbed and feather filled wreath that I picked up for a $1.00 at a garage sale.

The wreath’s smell did not hit me until I had it in my car. I would have passed on this wreath if I had detected the damp, basement smell.

I am so happy I did not sniff the wreath and I am thrilled I had the windows down on the drive home!

But, I am telling you finding this tired, worn-out wreath was destiny. Dusty destiny, but destiny.

What I loved about this wreath, sitting on the driveway, was the size of the grapevine and its potential.

Makeover Details

removed the picks that were broken or beyond the makeover
placed the wreath outside to air out
sprayed the wreath with vinegar & water. repeat. repeat.

Because this was a garage sale find I stayed with the thrifty budget and used the miscellaneous leaves that fall off the garland. You know the leaves and pinecones and sticks that fall to the bottom of the box or storage tub? I just grabbed a few of those and fresh pinecones and either glued or tucked them into the wreath.

It was an instant makeover. I paid $3.00 for the wreath.

The size of the wreath takes up the width of the front door which I love. My motto: go big or go home.

With garage sale season in full gear, take a second look at those dingy wreaths, crafts and accessories.

Thanks for stopping by today! Please join this brand new private Facebook page with before and after finds from garage sales and Goodwill. Are you on Instagram? You can find me here and I’ll follow you back.