The Ultimate List of Fall-Inspired Drinks

There's something about season-inspired foods and drinks, especially fall, that makes me giddy. I just want to fill my pantry and fridge with all the fall things. Well once I have my spices and apples and pumpkin . . .what should I do with them? Make a yummy fall inspired drink of course!

So whether you are planning a festive fall gathering, or just looking for a tasty treat to enjoy to celebrate the season, here is a round up of 53 of the Ultimate Fall Inspired Drinks. Enough to last you the entire fall season. Cheers!

5 Trader Joe's Pumpkin Products to Put in Your Cart Right Now

Are you a Trader Joe's Shopper? I am spoiled and have not one, but two Trader Joe's close-by my home, and it's where I do a good bit of my shopping for my weekly meal plans. I can always count on them for innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting food. You still have to read labels, but I love the variety of foods with no added sugar or preservatives. It really helps with my goals to eat healthier.

Because they keep a lower inventory to help keep prices lower, Trader Joe's stocks Seasonal Items, and right now it's all about that Pumpkin. Every aisle has pumpkin on it in some form.

A First Glimpse at Fall from Aventura Clothing

Welcome back to another weekly fashion post. Each week, I like to share some of my own looks with you, to inspire you to reach into your own closet and find something fabulous to wear! The weather around here finally feels like fall, and I couldn't be happier! Fall fashions are my favorite, and when I got the Ambassador Look Book for Fall from Aventura Clothing, I squealed out loud.

The textures, the colors, the layers - it's all so awesome!! And now that the temperatures have taken a dip, I can pull out my fabulous selections and give them a test drive. This past weekend, I picked out a khaki skirt and a peasant blouse for a shopping trip with my teen. I really pushed my fashion envelope and paired riding boots with a pair of boot socks.

 Boots - Bandolino  | Socks - Target

Fall Scarves

There is a distinct feel of fall in the air around here this week. And I am more than ready for fall fashions. This week, let's talk a little bit about scarves. Scarves have been in style for years, in one form or another. They can make a big impact on your fall style, and you probably have a stack of them in your closet already.

So there are several different kinds of scarves, but blanket, infinity and long, seem to be getting the most press lately. Let's take a look at some scarf styles I have in my closet, and how they may apply to your own fall wardrobe. For consistency, I styled them all with a simple pair of dark denim boot cut jeans and a white long-sleeved t-shirt.

Creating a Casual Look | What I Wore

This week for what I wore, let's talk about casual options for the MidLife Mom. Yoga pants are great, don't get me wrong, but some days we want to feel a little more fashionable and take it to the next level. For me, that typically means jeans or leggings. Nothing fancy, just a step up from yoga pants.

I shared a few weeks ago about my awesome trip to J Jill and their Pure Jill line. The pieces in that line are a great option for casual and comfortable outfits that work for any age. In fact the shirt I'm sharing today is from that line as well (that was part of a sponsored post - just to be completely transparent with you).

This shirt is quickly becoming a favorite. It's effortless, and that's key in our busy lives. I've washed it, and it turned out great. It looks great with a pair of black leggings - my favorite pair are a 5-pocket pair from White House Black Market; and also with skinnies, like I wore it here:

Top - J Jill - The Crinkle Tunic from the current Pure Jill Collection

Scarf - J Jill - Infinity Scarf from the current Pure Jill Collection

Jeans - Ann Taylor - Modern Skinny in black, this year

Boots - Bandolino, very old

Bag - Kate Spade (my favorite), last year

Necklace - Tiffany

Earrings - Stella and Dot, several years old

So here's a simple and comfortable outfit that's great for volunteering at school, running errands or having lunch with a friend. It's age appropriate, yet still on-trend. You could switch out the scarf and boots to vary up the look too.

What's your go-to comfortable outfit right now?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up to The Pleated Poppy and to Get Your Pretty On - check them out for more outfit ideas and inspiration

 

Spooky, No-Carve Pumpkin Idea

Sometimes carving pumpkins for Halloween can seem a bit over-whelming. For years now, besides our one carved pumpkin, The kids and I make a rat-infested pumpkin to display Halloween Night as well.

All you need is a great shaped pumpkin - you can make it big, small, oblong, round . . .whatever. You could even nest 2-3 together.

You'll need a tool to punch or drill holes into the pumpkin. A Drill with a wide bit will work,  my carving kit came with a circle puncher, so I use that to punch out circle plugs of pumpkin (it works almost like a corer). I have to widen the holes a little bit so my rubber rats fit. I found rubber rats at the Party store. I wanted ones that looked realistic.

Then you just arrange it. Have some of the rats digging in, some coming out, leaning against it, on top - whatever suits your fancy. Our trick-or-treaters always comment on these no-carve pumpkins, no matter how fancy my carved pumpkin is!

Once Halloween is over, I pull out the rats for next year and leave the pumpkin for the squirrels to enjoy.

catch you soon -

Fall Fashion - MidLife Mom Style | What I Wore #ootd

Welcome to another MidLife Mom What I Wore post. Getting dressed is hard, even on the best day, and when a fashionable woman (like you and me) turn a "certain age," great clothes can be a real challenge. We don't want to dress too young and we certainly don't want to dress too old.

So that's where this post series comes in. I share with you, my outfit choices and how you can adapt them for yourself, based on your own body, style and budget. I strongly suggest shopping your own closet to create fun new outfits.

This week I'm sharing two versions of my fall "uniform." Basically my favorite jeans and t-shirts, styled with cardis, jackets and scarves. Unless I'm heading to a work meeting or event, that's pretty much what I put on (if I take off my yoga pants).

In this first outfit, I'm wearing 2 of my favorite pieces: a cashmere swinging cardigan and my black booties. I have this same style cardigan in a dark grey and I wear it all the time. It's warm, fashionable and comfortable. Total win - right? And the black booties are perfect, so last year I had to get them resoled. I'm not one for the current buckles and "junk" on boots. I prefer classics.

Cardigan - Lord and Taylor (my favorite place to splurge on cashmere!)

T-shirt - Lord and Taylor

Jeans - Ann Taylor Modern Skinny Jeans

Scarf - Talbot's

 Boots -  Old - black booties

This second outfit, I picked out to be a little fallish for Pumpkin Math in second grade. I also didn't want to worry about getting pumpkin all over myself =). Again, simple pieces from my closet, thrown together for a cohesive look. The t-shirt has 3/4 length sleeves, which can be difficult to wear sometimes, but under a cardigan, it doesn't matter.

Cardigan - Lord and Taylor Cashmere (look for sales and coupons for the best deal!)

T-Shirt - Ralph Lauren

Jeans - Lee Jeans

Boots - very old brown booties

Necklace - Tiffany

So there you have it - a couple of basic fall outfits that will take you just about anywhere (no black tie or fancy dinner please!). Easy pieces that you probably have in your closet right now!

So, what are you wearing this week?

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This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On - both great sites for outfit ideas.

Fall Dresses | What I Wore #ootd

Confession time: I'm not a huge dress person - not a fan of my upper arms, nor bare legs. But Fall Dresses are the BEST dresses (they generally cover my upper arms AND can be worn with tights!) And it seems like the last few seasons, I've been adding some great dress options to my wardrobe.

We all know that we need to have a LBD in our closets. But it doesn't hurt to have an OGD (One Great Dress) either. A OGD is a dress that can be styled a few different ways and fits you to a T. A dress that makes you feel great AND look great.

I wore two such dresses last week. The first one is casual and comfortable. I wore it with a pair of footless tights from SPANX. This cute grey dress is from Aventura. I recently discovered this brand through some friends, and am loving their casual and comfortable approach to style.

Dress - Aventura - Current Season

Tights - SPANX

Shoes - Aerosoles (old)

Necklace - Ann Taylor

Earrings - Kate Spade

The second one, I wore to my friend's Book Launch. I found it on the sale rack at White House| Black Market in early spring, and I needed to have it. The simple cut hangs just right because of the weight of the fabric. That can be an important part of finding a well-fitting dress. If the material is too flimsy, it can get "caught" on your curves, making it look not so nice. It's a simple dress that can be dressed up or down. I went middle of the road with boots and chunky silver jewelry. (Please excuse the older picture - but I promise it's the same outfit)

Dress - White House|Black Market (last spring)

Boots - Ann Klien (old and need replacing)

Bag - Kate Spade

Necklace - Ann Taylor

Both dresses are easy to wear and comfortable, making them both winners in my fashion book.

Are you wearing any great dresses this fall?

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This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy, Jo-LynneShane and at Get Your Pretty On - check them out for more style ideas!

Fall Home Tour 2014

Better late than never - right? I love to decorate my house for fall. Fall is my favorite season and I like to go "all out" in my home decor, but still keep is simple and casual. I actually do three layers of fall decorating.

The basic pieces are going to be up from October 1st (or earlier) until Thanksgiving Day. Then I add in "Halloween" pieces, like ghosts, jack-o-lanterns and my Trick or Treat Banner the week before Halloween. Those things come down the day after Halloween, and I put up some Turkeys and Corn that I have.

One of my favorite ways to decorate is with real pumpkins and gourds. These are pretty inexpensive and easy to find. As soon as they come out, I start buying a few each trip. I like white and traditional orange pumpkins the most, and they all need to have a nice stem. Owen collected a bunch of acorns on a recent outing to a local state park. I put them all in a Dollar Store glass vase, and wrapped some twine around the neck.  Another example of inexpensive and easy fall decorating.

My parents have a flock of turkeys that live in the field behind their house, so the kids find a lot of turkey feathers in their yard. We collect them, and display them in my grandmother's iron stone pitchers.

Last year, we took a family trip to the Corning Glass Museum, and Ryan made a blown glass pumpkin. I bought one from one of their glass blowers as well, and these are a great addition to my pumpkins - they can really catch the light on a sunny day. Those are lentils in my votive candle holders. Coffee beans add a nice rich brown color also.

You can find some great free holiday printables on the web. One of my favorites is subway art. Each season, I find one to put in this frame. I've also collected small ceramic pumpkins from the Dollar Store over the years, and I spread these around on the mantle, tables and book shelves.

Outside, I use a combination of real and fake pumpkins and mums around my front porch and walkway.  As much as I dislike using fake pumpkins, the real ones sometimes rot before the season is over OR the squirrels eat them. On Halloween night, I add luminaries and jack-o-lanterns for a spooky touch.

So there's a quick Fall Home Decor Tour of my home. I like to keep it simple with traditional colors and objects.  I'm planning to add some touches of burlap, so I'll keep you posted on any updates! I may even try covering my own pillows!

What are your favorite ways to decorate for Fall?

catch you soon -

Spiced Apple Cider - An Easy and Delicious Fall Cocktail

It's apple cider season. One of my favorite things about the fall, is apples and apple cider. I can still remember as a little girl, stopping at Sunny Slope Orchards with my grandfather to pick up apples and apple cider. While he was making his purchases, I would help myself to a paper cone cup of fresh apple cider, straight from a dispenser right in the warehouse.

A few years ago, I discovered a way to make my apple cider a little more "grown-up" with the addition of spiced rum - YUM. This is a great warm, fall drink. I make them every Halloween, while the kids are out trick or treating.

Casual Fall Outfit Idea | What I Wore #ootd

Fall weather is finally here, and I admit that fall is my favorite fashion season of all. I love the look of scarves and boots, without the hassle of a coat. Adding a scarf can make a simple, casual outfit look a little bit fancier.

This weekend, we hit up Clover Market - my favorite outdoor vintage market. It was a fabulous day - sunny, with a crispness to the air, so I pulled out my favorite spring purchase, a polka-dot sweatshirt.

I am NOT a sweatshirt and jeans kind of girl, but I admit to owning a couple and styling them up with own personal touches.  Case in point:

Jeans - NYMJ

Sweatshirt - Coldwater Creek

Shoes - Aerosoles (old)

Bag - Kate Spade

Necklace - Tiffany

Earrings - Kate Spade

Bracelets - Alex and Ani, AnnikaLane, Tiffany

When we left the house, it was still pretty chilly, so I threw on a scarf for an added bit of warmth and a pop pf color.

What fall clothes have you broken out already?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On.

Animal Print for Fall | What I Wore #ootd

It seems that animal prints never really go out of style. I am still kicking myself for missing out on a great animal print Kate Spade Bag during last week's sale! A great animal print accessory can be an easy way to update your look for fall.

Think about topping your favorite t shirt and jeans with an animal print cardi, then add ballet flats and a nice bag. Or add a pair of leopard flats and a black jacket to the same t-shirt and jeans. Swap out a black skirt or pants and you've already got four potential fall outfits!

I have been eyeing a pair of Steve Madden leopard print slip on sneakers for a while now. They're totally out of my fall fashion budget, but a girl wants what she wants - right? Imagine my surprise when I ran into Target to grab a forgotten item, and spied these on the shelf - ON SALE no less!

I scooped them up for $19, with visions of how to style them for fall dancing in my head. My first attempt, was this outfit for the Phillies Game with Activation ReACT.  Simple, comfortable and casual - perfect right? The animal print is nice with a touch of red.

Jeans - Coldwater Creek 

T-Shirt - Eddie Bauer

Shoes - Target (right now - quick!)

Necklace - StudioJewel

Bag - Vera Bradley

Bracelets - AnnikaLane, Alex and Ani, Tiffany

Will you be trying some animal print this fall?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On

 

Fashion Friday - Fall Dresses

I am a big fan of dresses for fall fashion choices.  I love the versatility of dressing them up or down, and pairing them with my favorite fall accessory - boots. Fall dresses come in a variety of material from a jersey-knit to a merino wool, and in all your favorite fall colors.

Recently, I've taken two of my favorite dresses and paired them with tights and boots - one for a nighttime look and one for a daytime look.

For daytime, I love this pop of pink dress from Ann Taylor. I wore it in the summer time with a pair of black patent heels, but to "fall it up", I added black tights and my favorite black heeled boots. The fabric on this dress is amazingly comfortable, and I love the faux wrap and tie on the side. It was a little chilly, so I threw a ruffled black cardi over the dress.

For evening, I love this grey dress, surprisingly also from Ann Taylor. There is nothing to it, it's comfortable and with a great pair of tights (I like the Tight End Tights from Spanx), is perfect for dinner, a show, or girls night out. I wore a simple long strand silver necklace and a bracelet stack, but you can dress it up with fancy jewelry, or a sequined shrug or wrap. The great thing about this dress is that it works great for a daytime event as well.

Both dresses have classic style and easy fabrics, good options for fall dressing and changeable looks. Some other fun looks with a fall dress can be to add a denim jacket for a casual daytime look (or rocker look for evening) or switch out the boots for a maryjane or spectator type of heel.You can also add colored tights for a pop of color.

What's your favorite way to wear a dress in the fall?

catch you soon -

This post is linked up for #FashionFriday - check it out for more fashion inspiration.

Turning Butternut Squash into Halloween Ghosts

Looking for an easy, inexpensive and fun Halloween craft? Then let me tell you how to turn ordinary butternut squash into adorable spooky Halloween ghosts.

I did this several years ago, and got so many complements on them. That touch of white on my front step really added some fun to the usual fall colors. All you need is white and black paint, paint brushes or sponges, and butternut squash.

This is super easy, and kids as young as 2-3 can do this with some grown up help.



What have you crafted for Halloween this year?

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This post is linked up at A Life in Balance for Motivational Monday.

Wordless Wednesday - Fall Picture at the Pumpkin Patch

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My Top 10 Fall Favorites

Fall is my favorite season. I'm not shy about it either - there is just something about it . . .the minute those back-to-school supplies hit the shelves, I start to get ready.

The hard part, is waiting until the last week of September, when Fall officially arrives. But good things come to those who wait, and Fall is full of very good things.

Here are my Top 10 Favorite Fall Things:

Changing Leaves - The trees look so pretty as they turn to oranges, yellows and reds.

Halloween - There's something about dressing up and pretending that is just so fun.

Scarves - The perfect time is when you can wear a t-shirt, jacket and scarf, before it gets too cold.

Mums - I love my tulips in the spring and peonies and hydrangea in the summer, but when the Farmer's Market is stocked with pot after pot of colorful fall mums, it just looks like a Fall quilt.

Open Windows - It seems simple, but it's refreshing to turn the AC off and get a breath of fresh, crisp Fall air.

Back-to-School - Even though it's not officially Fall, when the kids go back to school, it signals the beginning of the season.

Apple Cider -  I can remember getting apple cider as a little girl from Sunny Slope in NJ with my grandparents. It's so crisp, delicious hot (and spiked)  or cold.

Boots - I love my flip-flops, but seriously the day I pull on that first pair of boots - heaven on a stick.

Pumpkins - There is something about this vegetable that I adore - green ones, orange ones, white ones . . .I just love them in all their shapes and sizes.

 and the number 1 Fall thing I love?



What are your favorite things about Fall?

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Easy Ways to Decorate Your Home for Fall

I confess, I am a seasonal decorator. I like to change up my interior, based on the season. If you remember, I shared my summer mantle, and now it's time to bring out the fall things.

If you want to add a little seasonal flair to your home, it doesn't have to take much time or money (of course it can, should you want to go that route - be sure to share!) Now I'm going to share a little of my OCD/Type-A tendencies with you . . .are you ready?

What I Wore - Urban Explorer

This past weekend was filled with glorious fall weather. We took advantage of it, and headed off into the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. If you've never been, this quaint borough is filled with charming shops and restaurants and is a delightful 2 mile stroll from top to bottom. There are also a few fun playgrounds tucked in, and an ice cream shop too.

I was feeling fall-ish, so I wanted to put together a comfortable outfit with some layers, as the weatherman said it would warm up in the afternoon. I love the orange color of this cashmere cardigan for fall.

Cardigan - Lord & Taylor

T-Shirt - Eddie Bauer

Jeans - Lee Jeans

Shoes - Converse

To add more fun and practicality, I added my Kate Spade microfiber backpack and some simple silver jewelry.

We had a great time, and I felt stylish and comfortable all day.

catch you soon -
 This post is linked at The Pleated Poppy

How-To: Make Spooky Eyeballs for Halloween

Looking for something different to bring to the classroom Halloween party?

How about these Spooky Eyeballs!

What you need:

• Powdered Doughnuts (enough for 1-2 per person)
• Gummy Lifesavers
• Chocolate Chips
• White Icing
• Red Gel Icing or Red Shoestring Licorice

What you do:

1. Set up your doughnuts, and put a drop of white icing int he hole of each one.
2. Put a chocolate chip in the center of a Gummy Lifesaver and put it on top of the doughnut (use the icing to secure it), flat side up.
3. Make "veins" with Red Gel Icing or Red Shoestring Licorice cut to fit.

These were a real hit when I brought them into school.

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How To: Make Halloween Goodie Bags

Halloween is right around the corner.  If you need something easy (and green too) to put your treats in, then these homemade goodie bags are for you.  Inspired once again by Martha Stewart. Here is my version of her Boo Bat and Moon bags.

What You Will Need:

• Brown Paper Lunch Bags 
• Yellow Cardstock
• Black Ribbon
• Circle punch or cutter
• Alphabet Stamps & Ink
• Black Marker
• Hole Punch
• Your favorite Glue or Adhesive 

What You Do:

• Stamp half your bags with the word "Trick" and half with the word "Treat".
• Cut out 1 yellow cardstock circle for each bag and attach with glue about half way down bag (where you will fold).
• Fill your bags with treats (you can make some bags tricks if you want to).
• Fold down the top half of your bag.
• Punch 4 holes in the yellow circle - 2 sets of 2 holes, close together.
• Take a length of black ribbon, thread the two ends up through one set of holes and tie a knot.  Trim to bat wing length.  
• Repeat with the other pair of holes.

That's all there is to making your own environmentally friendly Halloween Goodie Bags.  These bags are great for school parties or to give out on Halloween Night.

catch you soon -