pretty fall entertaining

I LOVE TO entertain any time of the year, but there’s something special about gathering in a cozy, beautiful space when the leaves start to fall and the temperature drops. I guess it’s my nesting instinct kicking in or me wanting to hold on to the beauty of the season before the holiday rush comes barreling at us, but something just makes want to create a warm spot to host friends and family to gather with big hearty bowls of soup and gooey treats. With that in mind, I’ve ‘gathered’ some really inspired, beautiful handmade things from Etsy that have me ready to invite all of you lovelies over for a warm meal. The rich texture, color and natural beauty of the season begs for handmade and there’s no better one-stop-shop for beautiful things made with love than Etsy. They’d all be gorgeous on your own table any day of the year and they’d also make stunning holiday or host/ess gifts if you’re lucky enough to be invited somewhere cozy for a warm bowl of hearty soup. You can also see Etsy’s own picks for Fall Decor Essentials for more ideas. Enjoy, lovelies. I’ll save you a seat. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Pretty Fall Entertaining

>> 194 Gift House hand-makes some really unique and stunning Wooden Salad Servers and little serving spoons in several pretty shapes. >> $17.99

>> These Leaf Name Tags are such a pretty detail and allow you to decide where everyone sits at the table. After dinner, they can either be saved for next year or given to your guests as party favors. They come in a bunch of pretty leaf shapes, too. >> $4.50

>> These smooth concrete Pumpkin Tea Light Holders would be so pretty on a table or in the bathroom >> $19.99

>> The ornate detail of these handmade Acorn Jars is so beautiful. They come in 4 different sizes to store anything from salt to cookies. >> from $48

>> Lovely cotton flour sack Block Printed Napkins will add such a pretty touch to your table. >> $40

>> I love the little pop of color these hand-made Concrete Salt Cellars add to the table. >> $14.50

>> Ooh I love the organic edge of this hand-built Rustic Ceramic Serving Bowl, It would be a serious show-stopper on your table. >> $65

>> These Brass Salad Servers are hand-forged from solid brass in Nova Scotia and GORGEOUS, I love the unique, pretty shape [she makes really pretty jewelry, too]. >> $125

>> I love the unique proportion of these handmade Short Taper Candles and the colors are perfect for fall. >> $25

>> These Natural Sisal Placemats are hand-braided and beautiful on a table for the holidays or any other day of the year. >> $45

MORE IN… holidays + special occasions

gifts for swifties + football fans

IN HONOR of everyone’s favorite power couple, I put together a little collection of things for your favorite Swiftie or Football Fan of any age. They’d all make sweet gifts on their own or as a little bundle. Some are awesome stocking stuffers or party favors, too. Love you to the moon and to Saturn, lovelies. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Gifts for Swifties

> This hardcover Personalized Journal is inspired by 1989 and has Taylor’s advice on the back for extra motivation. They also have a cute Personalized Mug to match. > $22.50

> LOVE this Swiftie Beaded Strap that you can use on your own bag or with one of their clear bags in several colors. So cute. > from $60

> How cute are these Taylor-inspired Butterfly Wings All-Star Chuck Taylors? Love. > $75

> This cute Swiftie-Inspired Makeup Bag comes in two sizes that are both perfect for cosmetics, beading supplies + other loose stuff > from $15.75

> This big pack of 100 Taylor Swift Vinyl Stickers is perfect for laptops + water bottles and for sharing with friends > $9.99

> These Song Lyric Pencils are such a cute reminder anywhere you go + a great gift to share with friends > $14

> Oh I love this In My Play Dough Era Kit, it's brimming with adorable charms and bits to fold into the sparkly play dough and can be personalized, too > from $27.95

> Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography is so cute + collectible at any age > $5.99

> This cute album-inspired Canvas Tote is perfect for shopping, sleepovers or practice and comes in a few different versions > $19.99

> Sequins and Sparkle is just one of Melsy's original art print illustrations celebrating Taylor’s costumes > from $25

> Make the most adorable cookies for your Swiftie friends with this sweet Friendship Bracelet Cookie Kit > from $10

> Blow your friendship bracelet-makers mind with an eye-popping 20,000-Piece Bead Kit in every color under the sun + letters, too > $27.99

> 96 Facts about Taylor Swift also has fun little quizzes and spaces for journaling > $6.99

> These awesome Taylor Swift Mad Libs are perfect for a sleepover or for party favors > $5.99

gifts for football fans

> Take your tailgate fully next-level with Yetii's NFL Collection, which allows you to fully customize your drinkwear AND cooler > from $20

> A Custom Airbrushed Football is a very cool keepsake gift for your football player or fan > $65

> Keep your Bubbly or Olipop cold with a S’well End Zone Drink Chiller > $20

> You can't get much closer to the action than playing College Football 25 for PS5 with super realistic graphics > $69.99

> I gifted these Personalized Gatorade Bottles to my son’s buddies and they loved them and can now tell whose bottle is whose at practice > $16.99

> Keep the game going even after dark with these adjustable LED Flag Belts > $39.99

> Catch like a pro and look cool doing it in Nike Vapor Jet Football Gloves in both adult and Youth sizes > from $40

> This adorable fuzzy Palm Pals Football is cute for fans of any age > $9.99

> Go Long! Football Dice Game is fast-paced fun for any fan of the game > $13.99

> Keep your tech protected in style with a Football AirPods Case > $8.99

> Pottery Barn Teen x NFL is the coolest collection of football-themed decor, bedding and backpacks for any major fan [there's NBA + MLB, too] >

> This Pop Charts Pro Football Stadiums Poster an awesome decoration, but is also a scratch-off, so you can track which places you’ve visited > $24.99

> Test your fan’s knowledge with he NFL Gridiron Trivia Challenge > $39.99

> A Tangle Nightball Light Up Football is so fun, comes in 4 colors and lights up when thrown or caught > $29.99

> My youngest LOVED these Football Guys. It's two whole football teams, a ref, a goal post and a felt field for setting up plays [there are Hockey, Soccer, Basketball and Baseball Guys, too]. > $29.99

> Get your fur baby fans into the action, too, with a Nerf Squeaky Football Dog Toy > $11.99

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our favorite halloween books

WHEN MY boys were teeny, we started collecting books for each holiday. It has been a super sweet ongoing tradition and I just love pulling out the books each season, signaling the start of the holiday hoopla. Thank GOODNESS my big guys are still willing to read some picture books with their mama; I’ll be truly devastated when they start to roll their eyes at me when I bust out the holiday books. For now, I’ll cherish each snuggle and giggle and “ooh, I remember that one!” We have amassed a truly awesome collection of Halloween books and I wanted to share a big pile of my favorites and a few that are on our list. Some are sweet, some are spooky, but they’ll all get you excited about the season. If you have any favorites, please do share! I’ll keep adding to our collection until we’re solidly into the eye rolling phase. xo

:: Dia de los Muertos is an excellent explanation and celebration of this colorful holiday with the most awesome illustrations. ::

:: How to Make Friends with a Ghost is sweet and adorable and touching and has really pretty illustrations, too. ::

:: Of course The Scariest Book Ever isn’t even the tiniest bit terrifying, but a scaredy ghost thinks it will be. It’s super adorable and has the brightest, happiest illustrations. ::

:: I absolutely love the fantastic illustrations in Bone Soup. It’s a clever story about using your wits to get what you need and bring people together. ::

:: A World Full of Spooky Stories is a big gorgeous collection of scary stories from around the world, some you may have heard and many that you probably haven’t. ::

:: Skeleton for Dinner is a super cute story about a BIG misunderstanding between friends that ends sweetly. ::

:: The Hallo Wiener is a story about how the tables turn when a small dog saves the classmates who bully him. It’s written by Dav Pilkey, author of Dog Man and Captain Underpants, so you’ll get bonus points from the start. ::

:: Uh oh, Wolfboy is super hangry. This funny book has a surprise ending and THE most awesome ‘illustrations’ made entirely of clay. It’s visually fantastic. ::

:: Popcorn is one in an adorable series of Frank Asch Bear Books. It’s about what happens when you have too much of a good thing. ::

:: Sara Conway’s illustrations in Ghost Afraid of the Dark are SO sweet, plus the cover glows in the dark, which is always a hit. This is a cute story about being brave enough to face your fears. ::

:: I LOVE No Such Thing, it’s part adorable seek + find book and part sweet story about denying that something is right in front of you. ::

:: Bear's Spooky Book of Hidden Things is just THE most adorably illustrated seek + find book ever. My big boys still love going through it together. We also love the Christmas and Springtime versions. ::

:: I LOVE Nobody Likes a Goblin and Ben Hatkes’ gorgeous, detailed, adorable illustrations. While not a true Halloween book, it’s a sweet story about friendship and being brave in the face of perilous adversity AND has goblins, skeletons and witches, so... ::

:: I Need My Monster is a funny, suspenseful story about imagination and unlikely friendship. ::

:: If you love the Crayons’ silly banter as much as we do, you'll appreciate The Crayons Trick or Treat, a wee little book about them trying to learn about this important holiday ritual. ::

:: Gustavo the Shy Ghost is a really sweet story about finding the courage to make yourself seen. ::

:: Creepy Pair of Underwear is another spooky, funny story in the ‘Creepy Tales’ series, filled with mystery and bravery. ::

:: Lonely Planet Kids Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts cleverly teaches kids the story behind the most famous monsters and mythological creatures around the world with some bonus geography in there, too. The illustrations are really fun. ::

:: Creepy Carrots is a funny book about what happens when you get a little greedy. The illustrations are awesome. ::

:: Peanut Butter & Brains is just a really cute and fun story about staying true to yourself even if others don’t get it right away ::

:: Bonaparte Falls Apart is an adorably illustrated story about the power of friendship to help you keep it together. ::

:: That greedy pug is at it again in Pig the Monster. He’s rudely trying to steal everyone’s candy until he’s reminded that dogs can’t eat chocolate and he learns his lesson in the grossest way. ::

:: Room on the Broom is the most awesome now-classic story of inclusivity and friendship and adventure. I just love all of Julia Donaldson’s books. ::

:: Love Monster and the Scary Something is the cutest darn book about being super brave and facing your fears. ::

:: Bonesville is a big gorgeously designed and illustrated book that teaches kids about every bone in their little body while they try to solve a very perplexing Bonesville mystery. ::

:: Monster Needs a Costume is an adorable story about trying something new. It’s super cute for little littles. ::

:: Trick or Treat, Crankenstein is the newest in this series that we love for its relatable grumpy main character and truly awesome illustrations. It’s about what happens when nothing goes the way you’d hoped. ::

:: Ready, Steady, Ghost! shows us that everyone can be brave no matter your size. ::

:: Ok, so Ed Emberley's How to Draw Monsters isn’t a book per se, but it is a favorite. Learn how to draw all of the season’s spookiest characters in Emberley’s iconic style. ::

:: I just love the vintage-feeling illustrations in Ghosts in the House! It’s a simple, super sweet story about how to solve a potentially spooky problem. ::

MORE IN… holidays + special occasions

double maple mummy cookies

SO PART of me can’t believe it’s almost Halloween and the other part is like ‘didn’t we do that 3 weeks ago?’ Maybe it’s because there has been Halloween stuff in the stores since July or because our weather has been so spectacular that it still feels like we’re tiptoeing away from Summer. In any case, my boys had their last Flag Football games of the season yesterday and it felt like treats were in order, so I figured I’d stick with the spooky theme until the bitter end. I saw these Runamok x Lenox Bakery Maple Mummy Cookies the other day and they looked so fun + yummy [and EASY]. And it turns out they are even better [and easier] than I expected, like SO so delicious that we might need to just give them all away. My boys were gushing and my little woke up this morning asking if he could have a cookie for breakfast [um, no, but I love the enthusiasm for my baking]. And if you leave off the goofy eyeballs, they’d be a fantastic treat anytime of the year, like maybe right next to the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.

THIS RECIPE calls for Runamok maple syrup, but obvs use whatever kind you like. I will say, the Cinnamon + Vanilla infusion I used in the glaze was next level and I’m guessing any of Runamok’s Infused [Cardamom would be amazing] or Barrel Aged syrups would be super delicious. I modified the original recipe slightly to accommodate my family’s dietary needs and it worked perfectly. SO, if you still need a fun + scrumptious treat for this season or the next [or the next], give these little mummies a whirl and enjoy eating them with your favorite ghouls + ghosts [or little turkeys]. xo

Double Maple Mummy Cookies Recipe

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE cookies…

• 1/2 cup butter

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup [I used Runamok Sugarmaker’s Cut]

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 eggs

• 2 1/3 cup flour (I use King Arthur Measure for Measure GF)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• candy eye balls

FOR THE glaze…

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1/3 cup maple syrup [ I used Runamok Cinnamon + Vanilla Infused]

• 1-2 teaspoons milk (I used almond, but you could probs just use water, too)

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350

• With a stand or hand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar and light brown sugar

• Add in the eggs, maple syrup + vanilla

• Mix in the flour + baking soda

• Line a baking sheet with parchment and scoop the batter into little ping pong-sized balls

• Bake for about 10 minutes or until they have just started to brown at the edges. Remove from the oven to let cool. 

• Make the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, maple syrup and milk until well combined, then drizzle it on the cookies to make the cutie mummies. I started with 1 tsp of almond milk and then added a bit more to thin it enough for drizzling.

• Add the candy eyeballs if you’re making mummies

• Gobble them up with your favorite ghosts and ghouls [or little turkeys]

MORE IN… recipes

thanksgiving + autumn books

THANKSGIVING is such a lovely holiday. I mean, a day reserved just for cooking and eating with family and friends is a total winner in my book. I love hearing about other family’s traditions and the dishes they HAVE to have on their holiday table [def sweet potatoes with marshmallows here]. Plus there’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Westminster Dog Show and football… I love it all.

IT FEELS to me like the wealth of super amazing books that perfectly illustrate the lovely tradition and sentiment of Thanksgiving are a bit trickier to find than with some other holidays. Maybe it’s something to do with an adorable [only in books] farm animal being eaten at the end or the controversial history of the holiday that just makes it tough to honor properly? BUT, never fear, I totally have you covered. Our little family def has a few really beloved favorites that are meaningful and funny or sweet and help start a conversation about gratitude and enjoying family and friends [plus a few more that I have my eye on]. I also included a few really lovely books about nature and the magical season change. As always, if you know of some Turkey Day gems, please share them in the comments so we can add to our collection. And Happy Thanksgiving, lovelies. I’m so grateful for you. xo

thanksgiving + autumn books for kids

> Bear Says Thanks is our hands-down FAVORITE Thanksgiving book. We really love the whole series of ‘Bear’ books, they’re all so charming and lovely. And the perfect lilting rhyming aside, this is just the sweetest story and it beautifully captures the real spirit of the holiday.

> ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving is such a cute + FUNNY book from the creator of the super popular Dog Man and Captain Underpants series’. It follows the rhyming structure of its original counterpart, but has a VERY different ending. See what happens when a class full of kids on a farm field trip discover the fate of their new feathered friends. And of course Dav Pilkey’s illustrations are so fun and whimsical.

> Fans of Bruce will love this wee, funny Thanks for Nothing. The mice are SO thankful for everything that they accidentally leave nothing left to celebrate with.

> Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie is a super inclusive, interesting and cool story that both teaches you about the origin of some of your favorite Thanksgiving desserts AND gently encourages ‘particular’ kids to try something new.

> Holly's Thanksgiving Wish is a super cute book about following your dreams with the loving support and encouragement of family and friends. It has a fun rhyming style and adorable illustrations.

> Poor Fletcher is concerned about all of the leaves falling from the trees. When winter comes he gets a sweet surprise in Fletcher and the Falling Leaves.

> Learn about the puppeteer who invented the original balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Balloons Over Broadway. With incredibly detailed collage illustrations, this cool book really shows the genius behind the beloved tradition.

> I love Tomie dePaola [I mean, who doesn’t?]. Strega Nona was one of my absolute favorite books growing up. Strega Nona's Harvest has the beloved Italian grandmother teaching you about the season’s bounty and what it takes to get there.

> I am Thankful is an inclusive book about the true spirit of gratitude. It also includes a little section to practice your own gratitude.

> A sweet simple story about gratitude for nature that ends with all the ingredients needed for you to make an apple cake at home. Apple Cake: A Gratitude is super sweet for littles especially.

> The Leaf Thief is just about the cutest way ever to learn about the changing of the seasons. The illustrations are so adorable.

> Cynthia Rylant is known for her poetic + peaceful stories. In November is about nature’s seasonal cycles, people gathering together and family.

> Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn is such a sweet celebration of nature in all of its transitional glory.

> Thanks for Thanksgiving is a cute, simple book that highlights everyday things to be grateful for, like puppies and piggyback rides and rain boots. But MOSTLY for family. There’s a page in the back for kids to write their own list of things they’re thankful for, too.

> Ok Peppa Pig Day of Giving Thanks is just adorable. It’s a super sweet story about being thankful for the little things in nature. The end is pure Peppa and very cute, especially for little fans of the Pig family.

> The Scarecrow is a really precious story of unlikely friendship and defying expectations. The illustrations are very detailed but serene.

> Turkey is terrified when Moose comes looking for him for Thanksgiving dinner. A Turkey for Thanksgiving is a sweet story about friendship and a big misunderstanding.

> We are So Thankful is a guided gratitude journal that provides prompts for you to talk about what you’re grateful for each day.

> In true Peanuts style, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is about friendship and being together with a few of the gang’s silly snafus and life lessons along the way.

> Gratitude is my Superpower teaches kids that happiness is about simple things like family and friends and that gratitude is always in their hearts.

MORE IN… little kids + big kids