In honor of Falls first day...

:: RECIPE ::

This recipe is so easy! I used to be very intimidated by making squash soups, but I have found it doesn't have to be hard. This is one of my go to recipes. I've used it several times now. 

This time around I bought some homemade pumpkin bread from a local health store to go along with the soup... BEST decision ever! ;) 

 I toasted the bread with grape seed oil on it. 

The bread  was perfect for dipping in this soup. 

Link + [http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-and-acorn-squash-soup/detail.aspx]

:: My recommendations/experience with this recipe:: 

• You don't have to use butter for cooking the onions - I use coconut oil. 
• I ended up cooking my squash about 15 mins longer than the recommended time.
• HIGHLY recommend slowly adding in the broth as you blend, in order to achieve desired consistency. I've made the mistake and used the suggested amount and it made my soup more runny than I would have liked. 
• This recipe calls for acorn squash too, but I've never personally used acorn squash with this recipe. To compensate - I select a LARGE butternut squash. 
• Slowly add sugar in order to achieve desired taste. I usually end up using LESS than the recipe calls for, but Kevin would use MORE if it was his call. ;P Everyone's different. 
• Recipe calls for cinnamon, and this time I didn't have any so I used Pumpkin spice and it worked well!
• I garnish mine with avocado. 
• It's also good garnished with a dollop on sour cream or plain yogurt added. 
• OH! and don't forget to save your butternut squash seeds! You can bake them and eat them for a snack! 

Almost forgot to mention that I've been adding 5-6 drops of Lemon Essential Oil to my water. 

So good and refreshing! 

I've also been putting the Lemon oil on my feet. It's supposed to help/prevent dry feet. I'm a runner and my feet get so bet up from it, so I'm excited to see how this helps and it has so far. I can tell it's healing them! I took a "BEFORE" picture and after I've used it consistently for a few days I'll take a "PROGRESS" picture and I'll post about it. 

For now, here are some Lemon Oil tips that can be helpful if you do use Essential Oils ::

Link + [http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/essential-oils/singles/lemon-essential-oil]

Enjoy!

Fall in love with Fall

It is always bitter sweet for me when Fall arrives. I LOVE summer, so saying goodbye is hard, but welcoming the beauty and crispness of the Fall makes it all the more easier. 

I've never decorated our fire mantel for the Fall, but this year is different. 

Seeing all the cute mantel's my friends have decorated has been inspiring. 

I found some cute free Fall printables online for my decorations. 

[pictures below]

Here is the website I found mine at & a few other websites you can choose from!

:: The two printables I used ::

Autumn-paint-chip-fall-printable

We-are-like-pumpkins-free-fall-printable

:: Some others to use ::

12 Free Fall Printables

Free Fall Printables

And this one I thought was extra neat. 

This blogger used linen on card stock to print her Fall printable.

Printing-on-linen-tutorial-free-fall

Here's a tour of the Fall decor sprinkled around our house this year. 

 

Mantel BEFORE : So boring!

  

Mantel AFTER : So much more cheery!  

Found this guy at Michael's, along with some of the other Fall decor on the mantel.  

Frames from Ikea

  

I added this fabric that I found at a yard sale & hot glued the gourd to the frame.  

Pumpkin candelabra from Wal-Mart. 

 

Fall hand towels from Wal-Mart.

HAPPY FALL! 

Muffins made easy...

So, I'm not your average "I love to" bake or cook type person. I don't thrive on finding the best recipe or the best home cook meal like some ladies do. I keep it healthy, I keep the cook time short, and the meal simple. That's how it's done. 

Don't get get me wrong, I LOVE people who can cook well, and who's passion is cooking! I love food, and I love them for sharing their amazing food! I just don't like being the one to make that amazingness happen. ;)

Anyways, my friend Martha is one of these "I'm-amazing-I-can-cook-you-anything-if-you-want-me-to" type girls (she among many of my other friends). Martha has a blog where she posts recipes {check her out here: http://martarosa.wordpress.com/}, and she recently told me about this pumpkin muffin one that ONLY includes 4 ingredients! 

4, yes 4. OR 3 if your lazy like me. 

Now that's my kind of cookin! 

I was going to attempt to make these muffins a few weeks ago, but there was a pumpkin shortage here in the burg, and again I'm not adventurous enough to go out searching and searching if it's not at WalMart or Kroger. So get this, finally WalMart had the canned pumpkins, but none of the cake mix I needed! GUH! Thank goodness for Food Lion though, they had the mix {I should give FLion more credit than I do}.

Anyways, I thought it would be fun to take some pictures of this muffin adventure since the recipe is SO STINKIN EASY! 

It's delicious too! I bet everyone else already knows this recipe though, but hey I didn't!