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If you’ve been thinking about hosting a party this fall, but aren’t sure where to start, just jump right in!

Pick a fall theme, center your invitations, decorations and food around it and enjoy! See, doesn’t that sound simple? That is because it is!  Entertaining at Home doesn’t have to complicated and themes are a great way to make a party so much easier on yourself.

Without further ado, here is a list of fall party theme ideas from A to Z!

Apples

Back to School

Crafter’s Gathering

Decadent Desserts

End of Summer

Foliage & Fun

Game Night

Harvest Festival

Indian Summer

Jubilee

King’s Castle

Leaves & Laughter

Maze Daze

Nature’s Splendor

Oktoberfest

Pumpkins

Queen for a Day

Rag Time

Scarecrow

Tailgate

Under the Umbrella

Vintage

Wiener and Marshmallow Roast

X-ray Vision/Superheros

Yearbook

Zebra – everything is black and white

As always, if you need help with a theme, have questions or comments, please leave a post here or email me directly. I look forward to hearing from you!

Berry Crisp

Raspberry Crisp

Here’s a recipe for a quick and easy crisp that can be used with a variety of fruit. It works well with everything from apples and peaches to berries.

Since I love raspberries (and it was what I had at the 11th hour when I decided to throw this together) that is what I am featuring today.

Start with your basic ingredients.

Mix a heaping spoon of cornstarch and some sugar into the berries. Let this rest for about 10 minutes. Note - I am using frozen berries, so just pretend they are fresh. They'd be so much prettier!

Mix up your crumb topping while the berries are resting and then sprinkle it on top of the berries. Bake and try to keep yourself from self-destructing while waiting for the crisp to get done.

Enjoy the finished crisp warm with a scoop of melting ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Berry Crisp

3 cups of raspberries (you can use any type of berry or fruit)

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon corn starch

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup butter – softened

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix corn starch and granulated sugar with berries. Let rest for about 10 minutes.  I mix this right in the baking dish – using a square 8-inch pan. While the berries are doing their thing, mix the remaining ingredients together with a pastry blender, food processor or a fork. You want the mixture to have a crumbly texture. Sprinkle on the berries and bake until fruit bubbles and topping is a golden brown.

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping.

Enjoy and Happy Entertaining!

Shanna

Little Things Matter

My Wednesday Shout-Out this week goes to Todd Smith of Little Things Matter.

I first became acquainted with his work through facebook and then discovered his great website.

If you are looking for a daily dose of wisdom and inspiration, Todd does a fantastic job of providing both.

You can check out his website here.

Enjoy!

As we head into the Labor Day weekend, many of us are dragging our feet, knowing that it is a final bid goodbye to summer. Even though summer doesn’t officially end until later in September, Labor Day signifies the closing door on summer time fun and the beginning of fall routines and responsibilities.

Go wring all the fun you can out of these final days of summer time bliss.

10. Blow Bubbles. Doesn’t matter if you have kids or not, go blow a few bubbles and see if a few worries and cares don’t float away with the soapy orbs.

9. Go on a Picnic. It doesn’t matter if you make something elaborate, run by the deli or grab take-out, pack a blanket and your loved ones and head for a park or picnic area you haven’t visited this summer.

8. Host a bonfire. Make sure you follow local ordinances and keep a hose handy. And don’t forget to have plenty of S’mores supplies on hand.

7. Eat a popsicle. It’s cold and sweet and perfectly delightful. Indulge and enjoy. Have a contest to see who can make theirs last the longest.

6. Pick fresh fruit. Scan the classified ads or ask around for the best “U-pick” fruit location and then go pick something. You’ll be glad you did when you bite into that fresh off-the-tree fruit!

5. Take a hike or a bike ride. Go somewhere off the beaten path and really look around you. Take in the scenery, the smells, the sounds. It won’t be long until fall paints an entirely  different canvas.

4.Take photos. Although the moments won’t last, the photos and memories will. Take photos of your family and friends enjoying the last days of summer in all their joy and silliness.

3. Eat watermelon. Take it outside and let the kids munch to their heart’s content, with juice running down their chins and onto their toes. I dare you to join them! There is summer sweetness packed in every juicy sweet bite.

2. Make homemade ice cream. There is nothing like making your own ice cream and enjoying each cool, creamy bite of frozen confection. You can find tips on hosting an ice cream social here and a recipe for great chocolate ice cream here.

1. Enjoy a sunset. There is nothing quite as spectacular as watching the summer sun sink into the west. The pinks, oranges and golds that fill the sky can be breathtaking. Go sit outside and watch nature’s beauty descend. If you are of a mind to keep up the gazing, throw down a blanket and watch the stars.

Take time to really enjoy these last days of summer. You’ll be so glad you did.

Happy Entertaining!

Shanna