The air is crisp, leaves are changing colors and falling and fall is in the air. There is just something about this time of year. It starts getting darker earlier and I have to say that I love it. By this time in the year I am ready to slow down and spend some time in the evening relaxing.
I wanted to share some ideas I have come across for making your home comfy and warm this autumn season.
1. Decorate your home. Pumpkins, acorns, pine cones, and leaves strategically placed through your home gives it that cozy feeling. It also creates an atmosphere that says welcome. Candle light is always a favorite. Place a candle in the center of your table and light them at dinner. It is calming. You can use coffee beans or ground unmade coffee to help hold candles. If you have a mantel (we will in our next home and I am so stinking excited) decorate it with mini lights and all kinds of fall decor. There are tons of photo’s on the Internet that can give you ideas.
2. Get together your favorite recipes, sit down at the table and plan your menu’s. Pick out old and new tasty creations to try. Invite some friends over for coffee, hot tea, or cider and swap recipes. What a great time to catch up and fill your recipe bin. Stews, casseroles, roasted veggies, pumpkin crunch, homemade apple butter, main courses and hearty breakfasts. Fill up those recipe books.
3. It is time to clean out the freezer and fridge so you will have room to make and store meals, holiday cookies, and homemade gifts. Also remember to clean out that pantry. Look at expiration dates and half used bags of rice, cornmeal, flour and such.
4. Stock up. When you go to the grocery pick up a few items that you know you will be using this holiday season. This helps keep your budget in check because you are not spending your entire grocery allowance on baking and cooking items. Pumpkin, spices, apples, hot chocolate, cranberry sauce, flour, cooking spray, chocolate chips. Start picking up plastic containers and ziploc bags too.
5. Go through closets and donate unwanted items. There is always someone that can use something. Coats, mittens, scarves, snow boots…look at what you have, what you don’t need and think of someone to bless with it.
6. Look for pumpkin patches and apple orchards in your home town. These are great day trips. I know that the pumpkin patches in our town offer hay rides, greenhouses, homemade goodies, some have petting zoo and than everyone gets to pick their own pumpkin. I have heard that we have a great apple orchard that makes fresh, hot apple fritters on Saturdays. Yum Yum
7. Count your blessings daily!! Remember to look at each day as a gift. In some way or another we are all blessed. Pray that God shows you how you can bless others. Cultivate a thankful heart. Each day write down 2-3 things your are thankful for. It could be as simple as the crisp morning air. The beautiful sunset. Stop and be aware of your blessing and praise Jesus for what he has done.
Hopefully you have some ideas to get your home in order so you can enjoy and relax this holiday season. My next post is going to start a series of posts about the ways we can create a fun, creative, peacefull and memoriable holiday season. I really want to learn from one another and so please feel free to post ideas, recipes, thoughts.
