13 Nights of Halloween is Here!

ABC Family's 13 Nights of Halloween is officially under way starting tomorrow night (although, for me, it should be 15 nights with the start of Harry Potter). The line up includes, Switched At Birth and Pretty Little Liars Halloween Specials, The Mummy, Adam's Family, Adam's Family Values, Beetle Juice, Edward Scissor Hands, Scooby Doo, Scooby Doo 2, The Haunted Mansion, The Sorcerer's Stone, and Monster House. Of course, one movie that has become a Halloween must watch is being featured several times is, Hocus Pocus. One movie that seems to be missing from the line up is the beloved Casper. Why it is not on the list is strange, but hopefully it will be featured on another channel line up.

So, get ready to have fun and enjoy some good family Halloween movies (just avoid the showings of the 3rd Poltergeist).

Autumn Craft: Leaf Wreath

Autumn Leaf Wreath

A leaf wreath is a great craft for adults and children. This wreath is particularly easy, made for children, and can be used as a hanging wreath or a wreath around the base of a candle.

Materials:

• 1 paper plate (such as Dixie)
• Tape or glue or glue gun
• A variety of autumn leaves, real or fake
• Hole puncher
• 1 autumn colored ribbon

Directions:

1. Collect a variety of colored leaves from a walk or grab some fake leaves from a craft store. Dry the leaves using a paper towel.
2. Cut the center of the plate out (don't worry about rough edges, they will be hidden by the leaves).
3. Use a hole puncher to make a hole close to the top of the plate.
4. Using the backside of the plate, place the larger leaves on first using glue, double sided tape, or a glue gun (if using glue, let dry before moving on to the next step).
5. Take the remaining leaves and create layers for volume and to hide any evidence of a plate behind the leaves.
6. String a ribbon through the hole, let the glue dry and hang in windows or on a door, or use at the base of a pillar candle.

Kids love doing this craft, and it is a great craft to use in schools or as a way to introduce leaves and autumn colors to young kids.

Children's Halloween Books

Halloween Books For Young Kids

Halloween is an exciting time for children, and teaching them about the season through books is a wonderful way to prepare them for the exciting evening. Here is a list of books that have been fun to read to our kids.

1. My First Halloween by Tomie DePaola
2. Baby Snoopy's Pumpkin by Charles M. Schulz and Tom Brannon
3. A Pumpkin For Pooh by RH Disney, Frank Berrios, and illustrated by Gus Alavezos
4. Halloween ABC (Little Golden Books) by Sarah Albee and Julia Woolf
5. The ABC's of Halloween by Patti Reeder Eubank
6. Clifford's First Halloween, Clifford's Halloween, and Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween (Clifford the Big Red Dog)
7. The Night Before Halloween by Natasha Wing
8. Little Scribbles: Halloween Fun with Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano and Susan Banta
9. What Is Halloween? by Michelle Medlock Adams and illustrated by Amy Wummer
10. Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer Barrett O'Connell
11. Haunted Castle on All Hallows Eve by Mary Pope Osbourne (great for 7 year olds)
12. The Best Halloween Ever! by Barbara Robinson (another great one for 7 up)
13. There Little Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bat by Lucille Colandro
14. The Berenstein Bears: The Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstein
15. The Littlest Pumpkin by R.A. Herman and Betina Ogden

These are some of our favorite books. Anothe one is soon to be The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, a timeless classic. Happy reading!

Halloween Wars

Okay, ways to tell Halloween is near: Halloween stores pop up everywhere, leaves start changing, stores set up the seasonal beer and candy, and advertisements for Halloween specials appear. I am happy to say, a commercial for Halloween Wars on Food Network on Oct. 7th.

So enjoy the upcoming Halloween season, throw up some autumn lights, light some autumn candles and enjoy the magic of fall.

How to Celebrate Fall

Celebrate Autumn

Autumn is finally here, and it is time to get ready to celebrate the season! Here are a few ways for individuals and families to celebrate:

1. Go on an autumn hike
2. Have a family picnic under the falling leaves
3. Go on an early autumn camping trip (before it gets too cold), and take some apple cider and pumpkin bread along for the journey (as well as some sweet potatoes to cook in the fire).
4. Stock up on pumpkins-you can never have enough this time of year.
5. Make autumn treats such as pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, or apple pumpkin pie
6. It's Corn maze and Hayride time! Go find a local corn maze, be it family friendly or spooky and have fun.
7. Go to a football game and enjoy the smell and feel of autumn.
8. Use pumpkins, apples, and autumn foods and leaves to decorate inside and out.
9. Start reading books related to autumn or Halloween, for those with young children, read some great age appropriate books to get them ready for the season.
10. Pack up the family and go on an autumn Sunday drive.

There is so much to do this time of year, so get out and enjoy the beautiful season! Happy Autumn!

Beers For Fall

Autumn Beers

Here is a list of personal favorite beers for autumn, whether cooking or drinking:

• Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Sam Adams Octoberfest
• New Belgium Saison Harvest Ale
• Sierra Nevada Autumn Tumbler
• Pumking
• Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Bruery Autumn Maple
• Dogfish Indian Brown Ale
• Buffalo Bill's Brown Ale
• Pipeline Porter

These are a few I have tried, the first 7 are great for tose who like seasonal flavor, but not super heavy. The last 3 are darker, but still good for the autumn months.

One to add: Blue Moon Caramel Apple Spiced Ale (YUM!)

Season of Pumpkins

Even though it is not September 22, it is officially autumn! Strictly due to the fact that pumpkins are showing up in stores and around town. That's right, Autumn 2012 is drawing near. Also, for those who have not visited a Starbucks recently, the pumpkin spice latte is back along with a box of 5 packets of pumpkin spice mix to make your own pumpkin spice coffee drink. To add to all this, halloween candy is filling up the stores, along with fall magazines, candles, and colors. Even so, for me, the sign of autumn is the sight of pumpkins. Happy Autumn!

50 Ideas for Pumpkins

Pumpkins
50 Creative Ideas

Pumpkin is the official food of Autumn, and it should be enjoyed throughout the season. I have written numerous blogs, recipes, craft, and decorating tips on how to use pumpkins during this season. Here is a list with links (some of which have more than one tip and recipe) of ways to enjoy pumpkins.

Recipes:

1.  Pumpkin Spice Latte (an Autumn Favorite)
2. Pumpkin Coffee
3. Pumpkin Scones
4. Pumpkin Pancakes
5. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin
6. Pumpkin Brownies
7. Pumpkin Soup
8. Pumpkin Sandwich
9. Pumpin Cappucino
10. Pumpkin Bread (seasonalfoodsandweeknightmeals.com)-this is an outstanding recipe
11. Pumpkin Pasta Bake
12. Pumpkin Mac-N-Cheese
13. Pumpkin Pie Stuffed Apples
14. Pumpkin Ice Cream (simply mix softened vanilla ice cream with 2 cups pumpkin pie mix, some cinnamon and a few pinches of brown sugar-optional)
15. Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwich
16. Pumpkin Milkshakes
17. Pumpkin Cupcakes
18. Pumpkin-Cranberry Soup
19. Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffins
20. Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats (mix the treats with some pumpkin pie mix, sprinkle with cinnamon)

Crafty Pumpkin Ideas

1. Candy Bowl
2. Flower Pot
3. Painted
4. Soup Bowl
5. Candle Holders
6. Cornucopia
7. Use tape to make shapes and paint over it, let dry and remove tape
8. Spray paint pumpkins of different sizes and shapes, use them inside and outside
9. Use pumpkins as Place Settings
10. Drill patterns into a pumpkin
11. Create a pumpkin face using food
12. Make pumpkin aliens by placing skewers in a pumpkin with styrofoam balls with eyeballs stuck to them. Use different sizes for effect.
13. Pumpkin Scarecrow



My son found a leaf and traced it and left it in front of the pumpkin for me to celebrate the 1st day of Autumn.

14. Pumpkin Tree-use a sharp tool to make holes throughout the pumpkin, find twigs with leaves large enough to fit into holes

Carving Ideas


1. Pac Man
2. Pirates
3. Jack-O-Lantern
4. Celtic Symbols
5. Snoopy Face (side profile is really easy and cool)
6. A Pumpkin!
7. Owls
8. Witch Face
9. Moons and stars
10. A Haunted Mansion made out of multiple pumpkins
11. The Milky Way
12. Sports Logos
13. "Bob" from Monsters vs. Aliens (super easy to carve)
14. Ghosts
15. "Happy Halloween"
16. Creepy Eyes

These are all ideas, along with craft thoughts, that are simple and fun. All can be found at suite101, hubpages, and soon, autumnglo blog spot. I also have lots of craft ideas for kids making many pumpkin and autumn items on suite101. No matter what, just enjoy some pumpkins during the season.

Halloween Candy

Ways to tell autumn is near....the arrival of Halloween candy to the grocery stores. Each year is just as exciting and tempting as the next when witnessing the laying out of the Halloween candy. While walking through WalMart, I spoted Milky Way Caramel Apple candy (YUM!) and more. Even though, fall is not officially here, Halloween Super Stores are popping up, the weather has began to cool down, leaves have already started to change and fall, Halloween magazines are coming into the stores, and it's not even Labor Day weekend! Even so, it's safe to say, autumn is on its way.

Fall Decorating Ideas

Decorating for autumn is as simple as changing the pillows on the sofa. Here are a few decorating ideas that are easy and inexpensive.

• Change the pillows and curtains to autumn colors. Add an autumn throw to a chair or sofa in the room and enjoy the colors.
• Autumn colored flowers and leaves add fall color and accent to any room.
• Autumn scented candles.
• Hurricane jars filled with leaves, gourds, or Halloween candy.
• Go to discount stores or local artists to find autumn pictures and hang them throwout the house.
• Place pumpkins at entry ways, hallowed out, filled with candy, flowers, or leaves.
• Use scarecrows and pumpkins at entry ways, on shelves, or on fireplaces.
• Place baskets with Indian corn, gourds, and sunflowers (or autumn colored flowers) on the fireplace or at an entry way or even on a table.

These are just simple ideas to bring a little fall indoors.

Disney Store 2012 Halloween

It is official, the Disney Store has it's Halloween items out for all to see. Making it another sign that Autumn is just around the corner. The best part about Disney's Halloween shop opening is, online shipping is free thru Thursday with any purchase of a Halloween item.

On top of the excitement of Halloween items, backpacks and back to school items have been reduced! Which makes it a great time to buy more school items.

Autumn 2012 Countdown

32 days till autumn and leaves are already blowing off the trees in some areas. A cold front has come through and temperatures went from 90s to 80s and now low 70s, mid August. It is pretty nuts, but an honest relief after so much hot weather, and now that football season is close to being underway, many are ready for fall to officially start.

Halloween stores are beginning to pop up, summer fashions are going on sale to make room for fall fashions (after labor day), and autumn decor is starting to come out in many stores (Target, K-Mart, Hallmark, Dollar General, Kohls, and more). It is certainly drawing near.

Countdown To Autumn

It is 34 days until the official start of fall. However, signs of the highly anticipated season is everywhere. Football is getting ready to kick-off with many preseason games, there is an autumn like breeze and chill in the evenings, autumn home decor and candles are coming out in stores, and in some places leaves are starting to blow off of trees. Fall is definitely around the corner, along with the excitement of the upcoming holiday season.

For those who cannot wait for the season to start, go on out and start decorating for the season. After all, the earlier one starts, the more one can decorate. If it's autumn food one is craving, go ahead and bake some apple, pumpkin, or pear bread or make a pumpkin spice cappuccino. No matter what, enjoy the anticipation of fall, along with some football.

Fall Sugar Cookies

Autumn Sugar Cookies

While preparing a recipe for peach bread (that is also good in autumn), I realized I could change the bread dough and create a drop sugar cookie dough that would be perfect in the autumn and for the holidays.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1-2 tablespoons cinnamon (depending on ones preference)
• 1/2 teapsoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• about 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger (optional)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons softened butter
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Prehat oven to 350.
2. Combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, ginger, and salt in a medium bowl, set aside.
3. Place the white sugar, brown sugar, softened butter, and egg in a mixing bowl and mix on medium for about 1 minute.
4. Pour in the remaining ingredients and mix on medium for 1 minute till combined.
5. Form teaspoon size balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Cook for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes before placing on a cookie rack.

These would be great with some hot tea or apple cider on a lovely fall day.

Autumn is Near

Autumn seems to be in the air in the mountains of North Carolina. The past few days have featured cool breezes, cool evenings, blowing leaves, and cooler nights. Coul this be the sign of an early fall and cold winter? For those of us who love the autumn and winter seasons, lets hope.

For those longing for autumn early, check out some delicious recipes. In fact, grocery stores have began putting some fall magazines on the shelf. With autumn only a few weeks away, soon signs of change will begin and before long Halloween and Thanksgiving will appear. For those looking to see some fall color, try taking a trip to Historic New England or plan on taking a drive in mid to late October along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smokey Mountains.

Overall, lets prepare to celebrate autumn.