My Favorite {2 Ingredient!} Pumpkin Muffins

Easy recipes are pretty much the only recipes I do.  And this one is definitely that with only 2 ingredients!  I've made this tasty {& pretty healthy} fall treat with both chocolate cake mix & spice cake mix, & it's yummy either way!  If you like more chocolate-y flavors, than I suggest trying a chocolate or devil's food cake mix.  However, this go around I'm using a spice cake mix.  I found the pumpkin flavors come through even more when you use this mix as opposed to a chocolate one.

Here's what you need: a spice cake mix {or chocolate if you like} + a 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin {note: NOT pumpkin pie filling}.  That's legitimately it.

Preheat the oven to 325° F.  Add muffin liners to your muffin tin or simply spray your bare muffin tin well with a non-stick baking spray.  Add the cake mix powder & the pure canned pumpkin together in a large bowl & stir well {until you don't see any more cake mix powder}.  Scoop the mixture into your muffin tin & bake for about 20 minutes.  Insert a toothpick into the middle of some of your muffins to see if it comes out clean - if it does they should be done!

I hope you enjoy these easy-peasy pumpkin muffins with your family this season!

P.S.: The pumpkin makes them so moist!    

Transitioning Into Fall Fashion

The in between of summer & fall can be tricky in the style department, especially if you live in a place where the temperatures say heat wave long into the autumn months.  That's me right now in Georgia for sure!  Here's a few tips to start dressing for fall without sweating it up!

Tip 1: Fall Colors in Warm Weather Styles

There are certain colors that just feel fallish.  Some of my current faves are shades of rusty burnt oranges, rich gem toned plums & dark teals, mustards, navys, and deep coral-y scarlets.

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My jumpsuit is from A New Day via Goodwill for $2.99!

Tip 2: Plaid in Warm Weather Styles

In my opinion, nothing says classic fall like plaid.  However, a tartan-esque sweater dress may not be on the bill right now.  Thankfully, if you dig a little you can find loads of pretty autumn perfect plaid in more summery styles.

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My top is Ann Taylor Loft via Clothes Mentor.

Tip 3: "Open" Style Boots

These are what I mean by "open" boots.  Yes, they've got cutouts, bare heels, peep toes, & the like - all for allowing some extra breeze & air flow perfect for transitioning into the season.

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P.S.: Here's a link to my Pinterest style board - it's not all fall fashion, but a lot of my recent pins are!

Decorating for Fall {Ideas & Inspo to Make Your Place Cozy + Fallish}

Ever since my 1st little solo apartment back in the day I've loved decorating for every season + every holiday.  It's just part of my DNA, I guess.  Fall, which just happens to be my most favorite season, is definitely no exception.

If I could sum up fall in just one word it would be cozy.  There's a crispness you can feel as the weather turns hints of chilly.  Bonfires, hayrides, corn mazes, and all manner of get-togethers bring us closer to one another & keep our spirits toasty warm.  Soft worn flannels, chunky knit sweaters, & sleek leather boots make their comeback to our closet space.  Coziness in every sense of the word seems to reign supreme!

I want my home to be like that - a haven of cozy - year round, but none more so as when September rolls around bringing with it sweet ole' autumn &, riding on its coattails, the promise of winter & Christmas & merry anything & everything.

Here are just a few ideas that I use to make my home cozy + ready for fall!  I hope you find some inspiration for your place, too!

This blanket ladder from Dan is one of my all time favorite birthday gifts from him {even if I did pick it out & he just paid the tab}!  We got it at a local artisan/antique market for around $30, & while it's not old in the least, I love the extra wide rungs and wood stain {& the price was pretty darn good, too}.  Fall is the perfect time to pull out your blankets + keep them handy - whether in an over-sized basket, casually draped over a couch, or on a blanket ladder like this one.

Twinkle lights always amp up the cozy factor in my opinion.  These are from Target's Dollar Spot several years ago, but they always seem to have a current version or two each season around the $3 price point; so be sure to check your local store. 

You can flip this little metal sign from Target's Hearth & Hand by Magnolia collection to say either "Let's Stay In" or "Let's Go Out."  I'm channeling my inner Joanna Gaines & thinking she would say be a homebody.  This is the perfect time of year to stay in your fixer-upper + be cozy!  A trio of vintage Nancy Drew mysteries fit nicely between the legs of our lamp just waiting to be read some spooky evening.  The little faux black pumpkin was a super easy upcycle with a bit of matte black craft paint + chalk.

You'll spy quite a few of these small felted pumpkins/gourds scattered about my place this autumn!  I snagged them at Target's Dollar Spot earlier in the month.  They were only a dollar a piece!  Faux or real, pumpkins are always a good idea!

While our apartment doesn't boast a mantelpiece, I've tried to work around that a bit by adding a couple floating shelves next to our wall mounted TV.  These are one of my favorite places to decorate each season.  The gold leaf {on the wall}, blue glass bottle, & rattan keepsake box are all thrifted {though I know the 1st 2 items originally came from Target}.  The velvety pumpkin is from Walmart a year or 2 ago & the sprig of faux wheat was $1 from this year's Target Dollar Spot!

I saw this quote floating around the Internet a couple years ago & turned it into a Word document + printed it out.  It's super simple, but it's one of my favorite things to bring out each fall - sometimes it ends up in a frame, sometimes it just finds a place on a miniature easel, or gets hung up with a bit of washi tape.

I made this glowing-eyed black cat last year {read more on that here}, as well as the bunting.

While this isn't strictly a fall thing {I have it up year round with different knickknacks}, this bamboo steamer I turned into a mini shelf adds a bit of texture to a wall space, which in turn adds coziness.  I love to hang unexpected things on walls.  I have several bamboo steamer shelves, art hung from wooden pant hangers, woven art wall hangings, a little feathery white owl on a perch, & some antique-looking keys to name a few.

I keep it pretty minimal in the kitchen - the extent of it being a pair of white ceramic squirrels {again from Target's Dollar Spot a few years ago}, black & white striped straws in a jar by our coffee/drink station, + my chalkboard sign I update every season {or whenever I feel the whim}.  Never underestimate the power of smell when making your home autumn ready!  Whether it's a scented candle, a plug-in, a spray, whatever - just make it something you love that makes you feel in the fall spirit.

I don't know if you're like me in this, but it takes awhile for me to be completely "finished" decorating for a new season {if I even ever get there}.  It will likely morph & change as the holidays differ & the days get deeper into the heart of my most favorite season {&, let's be honest, I go shopping or thrifting again or DIY something new}, but I've got a start that I'm happy with {or can change pretty easily if I change my mind}.  This cozy making decor stuff is definitely an ongoing process!  Give yourself grace, sister.  Ain't none of us down here in the business of perfection & some things in our homes are beyond our mortal control.  Love what you got + make it your own.  A big budget is not necessary for coziness, my friend - & I just may be the most frugal of all.

What are some tips + tricks you use to make your place cozy & ready for fall?

My Favorite Fall Decor Finds {Under $15!}

1. Opalhouse wreath hanger - $12.99

2. Bullseye's Playground felt pumpkins - $1 each in store or 

$8 for a pack of 8 online

3. Spritz 18" harvest basket - $8

4. Ways to Celebrate 11" glass pumpkin cloche - $10.98

5. Better Homes & Gardens reversible pillow - $12.87 {this pillow has more of a plaid look on one side & a buffalo check/gingham look on the other}

6. Mainstays small open lantern - $6.86 {this comes in a medium size that's only a dollar more}

Have you found any amazing fall decor deals this season?  Leave me a comment below!  I'd love to hear from you!

Autumn Bucket List // 2019

☑ Meander through a corn maze. // 10/27 {Rock Ranch}

☑ Visit a pumpkin patch. // 10/5

☑ Decorate the house for the season. // 9/19 {pretty much all of September off & on again}

☑ Take a scenic drive to see the fall colors.

☐ Go hiking &/or camping.

☑ Dress up on October 31st. // 10/31 {We were Yoshi {me} + Mario {Dan}.}

☑ Make our birthdays special. {My husband & I both have fall b-days.}

☑ Bake something pumpkin-y. // 11/23 {Click here for the easy 2 ingredient recipe!}

☑ Go to a fall festival/fair. // 10/31 {we volunteered at our church's fall festival}

☑ Shop some fall yard sales. // 9/28/19 {+ several other dates}

☐ Light a fall scented candle.

☑ Go star gazing. // 9/21/19

☑ Make crock pot soup. // 11/2 {vegetable chicken noodle}

☑ Build a blanket fort, add some twinkle lights, put in a movie, cuddle up, & have a date-night-in.  // 9/6/19

☑ Go out for a donut date & try their seasonal treats. {I'm thinking apple cider & pumpkin flavors!}  // 9/8/19 + 9/30/19

☑ Put a fall wreath/sign on the front door. // 11/23 {better late than never}

☑ DIY some fall decor. // 11/3 {We went to a free watercolor pumpkin class at our public library!}

☐ Continue our tradition of making a "thankfulness tree." {Click here to see just how easy it is!}

☐ Try my hand at making candles.

☐ Take some fall photos.

☑ Go for a walk & collect some colorful fallen leaves.

☑ Have friends/family over. // 11/23

☐ Watch some nostalgic Charlie Brown specials.

☑ Browse through an antique store or two. // 9/28/19

☐ Add some Mellowcreme pumpkins as a festive touch to fall desserts. {I know they are so sugary, but I just love 'em!}

☐ Enjoy the {slightly where I am} cooler temps & eat outside.

What's on your autumn bucket list?

PB&J // That's You & Me

 

Life's been crazy busy lately {obviously since I'm just now posting our Halloween costumes 😥}.  More on that later in another post, but I wanted to share what we dressed up as this year... PB&J!

Last year I DIYed our costumes {we were Oreos} & had so much with it, but this year I knew it just wasn't going to happen {unless I wanted to make myself completely crazy} {which I didn't}.  So, we headed to Goodwill instead & happened upon these adorable PB&J costumes that looked like new!  We snagged both for about $12!  We created a PB&J themed tic-tac-toe game for our church's fall festival using felt & enjoyed a sweet Halloween night.

Dollar Store Upcycle // "Spooky" Cat

Dan + I are definitely cat people.  Even though we don't currently have one, we both grew up with pet cats around & I know Dan would love to have one one day {I tell him we have to be out of debt first & in our own home, 'cause I'm not adding a pet fee to our monthly apt. payment, that's for sure #sheworkshardsavingmoney}.  Anywho, I saw this adorable wooden cat at the dollar section at Target this year & thought it should come home with us, 'cause it was only a buck, people!  The wooden cat came unpainted with 3 little mini paints + a paintbrush.  I was able to make use of all the black paint that it came with to cover the cat + it's little stand front & back.

Next, I took a strand of battery powered orange maple leaf twinkle lights from the Dollar Tree & a bit of washi tape & secured two of the leaves behind the cat's eyes so they would give off a spooky cat-like glow.  It's the perfect addition to our home for October!

It's Officially Fall, Y'all!

Fall is hands down my favorite season.  Why?  'Cause it's got all my favorites in it, of course!  There's cooler-ish weather {#southernlife}, colors transforming the landscape all bright + bold, pumpkin everything, crisp mornings, boots + sweaters, my birthday, & the heralding in of all things holiday!  I can't get enough of it!  What do you love about fall?

Once Upon an Autumn Day...

 

I'd been dreaming of taking wedding pictures on this lovely piece of railroad track for over a year now.  Last Saturday, we got our wedding things back on & finally made it happen!  Click here for more of the story on the misadventure {& adventure} of that lovely autumn day!

Autumn Snapshots {Part 2}

DIY Thankfulness Tree

Whether you're hosting a gathering this week & need something simple + festive to spruce your place up, or you're just looking to start a new tradition at your house, this DIY couldn't be simpler. 

Gather small branches & twigs from outside, arrange in a canning jar, & hang decorative tags with blessings written on.  Place a small decorative plate or basket {or whatever you wish} with more tags + a Sharpie or two so guests/family can add their own to the tree.

Praying your Thanksgiving is full of moments where you stop & count up all your blessings!

"Every good & perfect gift is from above..." -James 1:17

Autumn Snapshots {Part 1}