Author: Megan

With fall now officially in full gear, I believe, one of the most essential components of adding fall to your home is to bring the sights and smells from outside in.  There is no better way to do this than through burning a candle.  I have recently had the opportunity to try these candles from the 320 Sycamore Candle Company, and these candles are everything and more  to help transform your home through scent!

These candles are individually hand poured pure soy candles with 100% pure cotton wicks with no zinc resulting in less smoke and black soot.

These soy candles do not contain paraffins or any other additives, and since soy candles burn twice as long as other wax candles you know you are burning a clean candle in your home!!!

Right now the fall scents are on full display and when I tell you these candles smell like the real thing. The blackberry plum is such a unique blend that I knew I had to try it for myself and it’s a scent that can be enjoyed throughout the year.  Whether you are preparing for a Fourth of July party or decorating your Christmas tree this scent is truly universal!

Now, I love coffee, but I especially love candles that smell like coffee.  The espresso latte candle, smells like a real expresso coffee waiting for you to drink.  When candles smell and burn like the actual product you know they’re great candles.  I have been duped in the past with other candles claiming to be a specific flavor and trust me they were not.  Also, when candles are burning permeating throughout your house you want it to be warm and inviting not nauseating and suffocating.

You can immediately see the pride this company has in their products, by the way these candles arrived at my house.  320 Sycamore Candles come very well secured in the mail and you know there was extra precaution taken to ensure your products arrive safely.  The other great thing about these candles are the various sizes you can choose from with unique scents that change with the seasons to keep the scents fresh and really fun!

You can check out these amazing candles on Etsy and see for yourself! Shop 320 Sycamore Candles

These also make perfect gift-giving ideas this holiday season.

Happy Fall!

Are you looking for a healthy savory snack to munch on and not feel guilty about?

One of my favorite snacks for the holiday season has been my mom’s Chex mix.  BUT the major problem with her recipe was gluten, gluten and dairy!

So it quickly became a snack that I was no longer able to eat or at least that’s what I thought.  Until I realized  I could substitute the major offending ingredients, like wheat cereal, and even corn cereal (I just never liked corn cereal) and butter with ingredients like using only Rice cereal and adding coconut oil in their place now making it safe and tolerable for me to eat.

Chex Mix is a snack that can be enjoyed anytime.  For me this is a snack I always enjoyed during Christmas but I am loving it during this time of the year.  There are many different ways to make Chex mix and substituting ingredients for seasonal ones can be just as delicious!  Chex Mix, for me is a satisfying and delicious, snack that can be either savory or sweet but always crunchy definitely able to please everyone!

So when I first made my initial batch I decided to use the crock pot.  Luckily, I was stirring the cereal every 10 minutes because my batch was starting to burn.  Plus, the crockpot versions, at least for me the taste was not the same.  The Chex mix seemed not all thoroughly baked and I obviously needed more moisture in the crockpot to effectively and thoroughly bake all the cereal.

Needless to say I dumped the first batch and went back into the kitchen.  I made a brand new batch but baked my Chex mix the way I know my mom and countless others make it using the oven which yielded the results, the flavor, the texture I was looking to achieve.

I wanted to share my ‘experiment gone wrong’  with you all because in failure that is also how we learn not to repeat it!  However, I’m not saying there aren’t probably really good versions using the crockpot, but for me I was not about to throw out another batch of a failed recipe in the garbage.   Plus, I don’t mind sharing with everyone what worked for me and what did not.   I love my crockpot for many, many recipes, but not for making my non-traditional traditional Chex mix!

Enjoy!
XOXO

Megan

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. Garlic powder
• 1 tsp. Onion powder
• 1 ½ tsp of Brown Sugar
• ¼ tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1 tsp. Chili Powder
• 1 tsp. Paprika
• ½ tsp. Pepper
• 1 ¼ tsp Salt
• 9 cups Rice cereal
• 1 ½ cups pretzels, gluten free

Condiments

• ¼ -½ cup flavorless coconut oil
• ¼ cup  Coconut Aminos (options)

Nuts

• 2 Cups salted peanuts
• 1 ½ cup cashews (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine cereal, nuts and pretzels.
2. Preheat oven to 250 degree and line baking sheet with parchment paper
3. In a separate bowl, combine the coconut oil, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, brown sugar and the optional coconut aminos and mix these ingredients thoroughly and then drizzle over cereal.  Mix gently using a spatula until the cereal is all evenly coated
4. Place on parchment paper as evenly as you can and bake for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes
5. Let cool then store safely in any air tight container.

Fall is coming!!!  When school starts I have my Fall décor up and ready.  Many people, okay really my mom is the only one, who asks ‘You put fall decorations up in August?’ And yes, yes I do because by the end of October my Christmas tree is up and I celebrate Christmas as a season not just as a Holiday.  My theory is…If Hallmark can start so can I!

It’s not that I want rush away one beautiful season into the next I just very much appreciate and quite frankly, LOVE that I have always lived in an area of the US that actually experiences 4 seasons.  I absolutely love what each season has to offer.  To be completely honest, I do not think I could ever live in an area that has one maybe two seasons…I just enjoy too much what each season offers and represents and I believe it keeps me grounded.

I am definitely ready for those crisp fall days, weekends for Penn State football, and having my windows open allowing for any  cool fall breeze to come in.  After awhile, between air conditioning and having the heat on, I need to open up the windows and let nature in and air out the stillness.

Out of all of the seasons there has always been something uniquely hopeful perhaps even  magical about the anticipation of fall which in turn gets me very VERY excited for Christmas.  The change in temperature is preparing us for the next season.

When I buy decorations for any season for my home I try to buy an item that is timeless and something I won’t get sick of my the following year or two.   I love adding the pops of pumpkin orange and sunflower golden yellow to any room.  It adds an additional warmth without going overboard.

These adorable wooden pumpkins and candy corn were made in a shop back in my hometown but my husband, who can make and do pretty much anything of which I am so grateful he is amazing at what he is able to do, has also made me similar pieces including other decorations for other special holidays.

I am also, redecorating my 3-tiered serving tray I got at Kirklands and again this is just me using the same piece throughout the year.  Practical and functional.

Every year when I am shopping and going in and out of stores it always amazes me of just how much stuff there is in general…not to mention the very cute seasonal decorations per year, per every store.  That is a lot of stuff.  Which is why I oftentimes try to buy decorations or anything else really, to buy a timeless and functional piece.  If I have doubt or hesitation or if I feel like I’m trying to sell it to myself then I will not buy it.  Otherwise I would have to add on to our house for just storage for my decorations for each season and holiday.  Um no thank you…I can not stand clutter.

I wrote a blog several months ago about decluttering and organizing your home and it’s still very much applies to all things home.  From going through clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and of course decorations.  This year was no different.  My supply of Fall harvest décor really isn’t that large or extensive but I knew I had a few items I wasn’t using and really was kind of over displaying.  So what better time to go through and purge those items while I’m decorating for a new season.  That way you are know what you want and you know what you can set aside in a pile to sale, donate or throw away.

I hope you all are in the spirit of preparing for all things Fall, pumpkins, Cooler weather, campfires,  apples and cinnamon, and watching nature’s beauty during this glorious time of the year.

Happy Decorating!

Megan