Fall Fashion Under $50

With a fresh, new season almost upon us, I wanted to take an opportunity to refresh the blog and share a few new posts! We’ve been busy behind the scenes planning and prepping for lots of great new content, so stay tuned!! Below, you can check out some of the most adorable items for Fall Under $50 on Jane.com, one of my favorite partners!

What are your Fall Fashion staples? I tend to gravitate towards items that are cute AND comfy - how about you?

WILD THING DOLMAN CARDIGAN

The Wild Thing Dolman Cardigan is so versatile and would be amazing for travel.

$25.99 plus $5.99 for the first item and $2.99 for each additional item. US only. Seller usually ships within 6 business days. Ships no later than Wed, Aug 28.

This Sherpa Pullover comes in 4 colors, and is a timeless closet staple. It will match so many outfits and excursions this Fall.

$26.99 plus $3.99 for the first item and $2.99 for each additional item. US only. Seller usually ships within 2 business days. Ships no later than Tuesday, Aug 27.

Awe, these Fall-Themed T-shirts are really adorable and I have several other designs from this company. They really last forever, and they fit like a dream! Great for the pumpkin patch, too!

$14.99 plus $3.99 for the first item and $1.99 for each additional item. US only. Ships no later than Thu, Sep 5.

This Boho Flag Bunting is SO cute! I would love to decorate my home with this.

$14.99 plus $3.99 Shipping for the first item and $2.29 for each additional item. US only. Seller usually ships within 5 business days. Ships no later than Thu, Aug 29.

These popular, side-cut booties are amazing. They would really dress up an outfit with little effort, a big plus in my opinion!

$34.99 plus Free Shipping. US only. Seller usually ships within 2 business days. Ships no later than Wed, Aug 28.

Happy {Almost} Fall! Enjoy!

Creamy Tomato, Basil, Parmesan Soup Recipe

A delicious, homemade version of a classic tomato soup recipe. This will be the only tomato soup recipe you will ever need. With lots of tomatoes, a creamy base, and a hint of parmesan, this soup is sure to please! We even doubled the recipe, and finished the soup in a matter of days. Keep reading to get the recipe, below!

Luckily, I used this recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch and I was thrilled with the outcome!

FIND THE ORIGINAL RECIPE HERE

The weather definitely turned to fall/winter today. Last night, it began to get pretty chilly but definitely bearable. This morning, the high was about 45 degrees, and I am super happy to welcome cooler temps with this soup recipe and lots of others. Perhaps loaded baked potato soup will be next!

Ingredients (serves 8)

  • 2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes , with the juice

  • 2 tsp olive oil, if using stovetop method

  • 1 cup carrot , finely diced

  • 1 cup onion , finely diced

  • 1 cup celery , finely diced

  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste

  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves (Tbs fresh oregano)

  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves or more (or 2-3 Tbsp dry basil)

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

  • 1½ cups half and half (or whole milk)

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

For the Stove Top (This is the method I used):

  1. Add diced tomatoes, carrots, onions, celery, tomato paste, chicken broth, oregano, and basil to a large soup pot. Bring to a gently boil and cook for several minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Alternately, I cooked the onions for a few minutes with 2 tsp olive oil, then add carrots, celery, and seasonings to cook until carrots are a bit tender.

  2. In a separate pot, prepare the roux. Add butter to the pot over medium low heat and allow to melt. Stir in the flour and whisk together constantly for about 10 minutes or until the roux is a nice golden brown color. Slowly add 1 cup of the soup from the other pot to the roux--it will start to form a thick paste.  Slowly add another 3 cups of warm soup to the roux. Whisk together until smooth. Add the roux mixture to soup pot and stir to combine. Note - the rue + soup mixture was thick at first, but when added back into the larger soup pot, everything turned out extremely well!

  3. Pour soup into blender (you may need to do this in batches, depending on how big your blender is)

  4. Purée until smooth. Return to soup pot.

  5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, half and half (or milk), and salt and pepper. Add additional oregano and basil if needed, to taste. Stir well. Cook for a few more minutes until warmed through. Enjoy!

For the Slow Cooker:

  1. Add diced tomatoes, carrots, onions, celery, tomato paste, chicken broth, oregano, and basil to your slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.

  2. About 30 minutes before the soup is ready, prepare a roux. Melt the butter over medium low heat in a skillet and add the flour. Whisk together constantly for about 10 minutes or until the roux is a nice golden brown color. Slowly add 1 cup of the soup from the slow cooker to the roux--it will start to form a thick paste.  Slowly add another 3 cups of warm soup to the roux. Whisk together until smooth. Add the roux mixture to the slow cooker and stir to combine.

  3. Pour soup into blender (you may need to do this in batches, depending on how big your blender is)

  4. Purée until smooth. Return to the slow cooker.

  5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, half and half (or milk), and salt and pepper. Add additional oregano and basil if needed, to taste. Stir well. Cover and cook on low for another 20-30 minutes or until warm. Enjoy!

Vegetarian Pot Pies Recipe with Amy’s Kitchen

Thank you Amy’s for sponsoring this post. #StartWithAmys this Soup Season.

With cooler weather on the horizon, it’s time to incorporate comfort food that will make you happy about what you are serving and eating. For over 30 years, Amy’s Kitchen has been cooking up vegetarian meals made with high-quality ingredients. As fall quickly approaches, it’s time to get your soup on!

I found a unique way to incorporate three varieties of Amy’s Kitchen soups into a Vegetarian Pot Pie, and I hope you love it! Since Amy’s Soups already taste delicious on their own, I was able to allow those flavors to shine, while simply complimenting them with a few more veggies and a flaky, puff pastry woven lattice crust. This dish can be made as individual pot pies, or as one large casserole – it’s completely up to you! And, feel free to use this lattice technique, or simply use a full sheet of puff pastry crust right across the top.

This homemade, vegetarian dish is waiting to be served at your next weeknight dinner, holiday meal, or even as a make-ahead meal that can be frozen and baked in just a short time, making dinner exceptionally easy AND delicious!

The phrase “comfort food” definitely comes to mind with this dish. It’s filled with an array of veggies, plus Amy’s Organic Cream of Mushroom Soup, Organic Chunky Vegetable Soup, and their Organic Vegetable Barley Soup. This dish is literally brimming with vegetables, you are going to love it. Even super picky eaters will enjoy this food. It’s a great idea to stock up for the cooler months with Amy’s soups! Keep a few soup cans stashed in your pantry (or desk!) for those times when you want something tasty that will warm you up as well. I always feel better after a warm meal, and these soups make an exceptional meal all on their own!

I love this cream of mushroom soup - it could surely be enjoyed on its own, warmed up with a handful of oyster crackers in the bowl for some crunch. I have never found a cream of anything soup that I am happy with. I have found that most canned cream soups are all way too thick and just full of unnecessary ingredients, and I have found too some have a sort of strange aroma. This has always turned me away from using condensed cream soups, but now I have a newfound hope thanks to Amy’s Kitchen! The Cream of Mushroom Semi-Condensed Soup worked super well for the base of this recipe, and would even be super delicious heated and enjoyed on its own, or with a handful of soup crackers.

I have fond memories of my mom making chicken pot pie many, many times as a child. She would use a traditional recipe that incorporated chicken and a small portion of veggies. It was always amazing, but as I grew older, and realized the importance of eating plant-based, I knew I needed to adapt a few of my most treasured family recipes into vegetarian versions.

Luckily, all of Amy’s products contain high-quality ingredients. That is extremely important for me, and I am so happy I have made a small lifestyle switch to considering each and every ingredient in the foods I eat and prepare for those I love. At Amy’s, they choose the best ingredients for each recipe. They cook with ingredients that people use in their own kitchens and trust, like carrots, beans, flour and spices! They don’t use a lot of starches and thickeners (which I do notice when I open their soups and other foods. They rely instead on slow simmering and cooking to develop soups and creamy sauces. This is very apparent as I was using the Amy’s Cream of Mushroom soup, it’s a really smooth texture without being overly thick, like other cream canned soups.

PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW - RIGHT CLICK TO SAVE OR PRINT

INGREDIENTS:

1 can Amy’s Organic Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 can Amy’s Organic Chunky Vegetable Soup

1 can Amy’s Organic Vegetable Barley Soup (any of their other vegetable soups will work well too)

1 sheet of puff pastry

½ red onion - chopped

1-2 cloves garlic – minced

1-2 TBSP olive oil

½ of a red potato – chopped into very small pieces

1 c. broccoli – chopped into small pieces

½ c. corn (frozen or canned)

½ c. frozen peas

2-4 TBSP seasoning (I use a mixture of low sodium seasoned salt and a Greek spice blend)

1 TBSP butter or butter alternative

3 TBSP flour

salt

Optional 1 egg for egg wash (simply use which to stir up one egg in a small bowl)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.)   Sautee olive oil, onions, and garlic, and 1-2 TBSP seasoning for 2-3 minutes. Once onions are soft, add potatoes and cook at medium heat for about 3 minutes with the pan’s lid on. Carefully stir the potatoes once during cooking, and replace lid.

2.)   Add 1 cup broccoli, corn, and frozen peas, and simmer another 3 minutes. Add up to 2 tsp more seasoning at this point, and stir to coat all veggies.

3.)   Turn off heat, and transfer all veggies from skillet to another heat safe bowl and set aside. Do not clean or wipe out skillet yet.

4.)   In this same skillet, melt 1 TBSP butter. Once melted, stir in 3 TBSP flour, and stir until combined. This helps to thicken the sauce. It will look “chunky”, but that’s ok!

5.)   Add 1 can of Amy’s Organic Cream of Mushroom soup, and stir to combine. Turn heat back onto medium, and add the bowl of veggies back into the skillet. Stir to combine, and heat for 2-3 minutes while stirring, to combine and thicken everything.

6.)   Preheat oven to 400 degrees for Transfer into prepared baking dish(es) – make sure to spray them with non-stick spray first!

7.)   Time to do the crust! Either place one sheet of puff pastry across the top of the baking dish and trim the sides and cut vents at top, OR use the lattice technique I have shown in this post!

8.)   To lattice: cut ½” or 1” strips out of your puff pastry sheet and weave them across the top of the pie. I start by placing three strips vertically, then working on weaving in the three horizontal strips. From there, I can then place the remaining strips of puff pastry into the top of the pie. Cut excess dough hanging over sides of baking dish, and if you want, use your fingers to gently press the dough strips down onto the baking dish so it does not move while baking.

9.)   Brush top of pie with an optional egg wash, and bake small pies for 17-22 minutes or one pie for 25-35 minutes. The puff pastry need to be pretty crunchy on top to ensure that the dough touching the filling is not doughy.

What a fun and comforting vegetarian meal to make for your favorite people! Perhaps you could even surprise a busy family with a frozen version of this pie, and they can enjoy a vegetarian meal in a less than a half hour of baking time! Enjoy!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

S'mores + Fall Fashion #LiveInLayers

If you love being outdoors but don't enjoy being layered up in thick, uncomfortable clothing, then you might want to give Cuddl Duds a try! Cuddl Duds is more than just a clothing brand, it's a lifestyle brand that enables comfort in every shape and form.

I feel most at home outdoors, and among nature. With cooler weather FINALLY here, I am excited to expand my Fall/Winter wardrobe with pieces that will withstand a few adventures. I am all about clothing that is comfortable, high performing, and flattering. Cuddl Duds checks all the boxes! These clothing fit extremely well - nothing was too tight or too lose, just perfect. 

Perfect for a walk in the woods, a day with friends, or cuddling up on the couch with a good magazine or movie, these clothes are really wonderful. 

BONUS RECIPE: Pumpkin Sugar Cookie S'mores (Video)

Watch the video above to get the recipe details.

The smell of a pine forest on a cool day ALWAYS makes me happy! I love getting out for some fresh air.

The shirt was probably my favorite of all the pieces. It's SUPER soft, nice and stretchy and unlike a lot of similar styles of shirts, this one fit exceptionally well. Sometimes, I find that more form fitting shirts like this can be tight under the arms, but I was able to wear this shirt all day while moving around and had no issues at all! These clothes would be amazing for traveling, since they would not wrinkle and the shirt would take up hardly any room in your luggage. I really appreciate high quality clothing that is lightweight but is still warm and comfortable! I just love multi-use, multi-occasion clothing pieces that are so versatile like these ones.

Below, you can see the fleece hooded jacket, which is going to be perfect to bundle up on a chilly day soon.

Do you have any fun plans for the Fall? What are some of your favorite ways to enjoys a crisp autumn day?

Here are a few more goodies from Cuddl Duds! 

Friendsgiving Decor Ideas

I am so excited about the idea of a Friendsgiving and I wanted to share some of my favorite inspirations for decor ideas. Excited to bring you upcoming posts about what to wear to Friendsgiving and also some recipe ideas too. For now, here are some creative ideas I found around the web, and hope to use as inspiration for my decor as well! How would you decorate for your friends this season?

An inexpensive utensil wrap idea, would be getting sheets of felt, and wrapping them around the utensils and then finishing them off with some raffia! You may already have the materials. (source).

As always, Pizzazzerie has the best decor for all seasons. Here is a cute bar cart idea that she created. I would love to use the colors in her photo, above, to use as inspiration for my Friendsgiving party! 

And these cups are just divine! Love the fonts, and turkey shape as well - nice designs! (above)

Above, DIY Show Off created this adorable drink station, which is perfect for guests - you never have to take time to refill their drinks - that's priceless! 

Lastly, although this decor would take a little bit of time, it would be a fun project! Make your very own real-leaf decor by simply spray painting leaves in metallic copper, letting them dry, and then tying them to strings. Found on Nicest Things. 

Cozy Fall Inspirations

It's getting chilly, so now is the time to add some warmth and coziness to the house! Here are some of my favorite items, a wish list of sorts! I always gravitate towards wood tones and chocolate browns (maybe it's my two chocolate-colored dogs that drive most of my decorating decisions??). I also love tying in some rustic, white pumpkins, warm candles, cute pillows, a cozy throw blanket or two, and new linens! Find the links to everything below the image! Enjoy, and Happy Fall!

Plaid Blanket  //  Candle  //  Rustic White Pumpkin  //  Hello, Fall Pillow  //  Nuts For Fall Kitchen Towel   //  Plaid Bowl  //  Copper Mugs  //  Kate Aspen Copper Bottle Openers  //  Cork Leaf Coasters 

What colors are you using in your home this Fall? I am all about hearing everyone's favorite go-to color schemes, or ones they are wanting to test out for the first time this year. 

The Must Have Booties For Fall - the Orena Bootie by Franco Sarto

Finding that perfect pair of shoes that goes with literally every outfit is such a challenge. When you do have that pair of shoes in your closet, it makes life easier and makes your outfits so polished. Shoes can definitely make or break an outfit, and these Orena Booties by Franco Sarto multi task. 

I’m sharing #DSW in my life as part of a Designer Shoe Warehouse sponsored series for Socialstars™. All opinions and content are my own. #MyDSW.

Super excited to bring you another post for DSW! It's been so fun styling these suede booties for Fall. I love refreshing my wardrobe with versatile items that last forever, and these booties not only look adorable, but are definitely way more comfortable than other similar styles I have tried. They're absolutely gorgeous! Last week, I shared a post where I styled the Orena Bootie by Franco Sarto with a cute printed dress with 3/4 sleeves. This time around, I wanted to pair dark, distressed denim with them. 

I also wanted to bring a bit of that New Western flair into the outfit, so I chose a Southwest-inspired bracelet and necklace that has turquoise and red details. The fringe cardigan is also amazing, and was so super soft.

The booties featured in this post are the Orena Bootie by Franco Sarto, available at DSW. Check out all of the amazing shoes in the Western Edge section of their site. Keep an eye out next week as I share another way to incorporate these gorgeous shoes into another fun outfit. 

Peanut Butter + Yogurt "Smoothie" Bowl

I was recently challenged to create something containing a certain cinnamon-flavored peanut butter. I tried the stuff, and it was kind of interesting. I have never imagined a combo like this, and it was pretty good. But, I also had it in my mind to create something like a smoothie bowl that was topped with all sorts of tasty and nourishing things like pumpkin seeds, granola, crushed peanuts, and a few other things. I also love those smoothie bowls I see that have edible flowers on top, and this recipe was the perfect opportunity to "scout" my neighborhood for marigolds to top the smoothie bowl with. 

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1.) For the base: Mix 2 parts vanilla yogurt to 1 part cinnamon (or any flavor) creamy peanut butter. Make sure everything is combined well. Pour into bowl and smooth top with spoon. 

2.) Top with your favorite trail mix (I used a mix of pumpkin seeds, raisins, and sunflower seeds). I also crushed up some peanuts and then sprinkled those in the center, then also added a handful of granola. Lastly. I topped the smoothie bowl with marigolds, for a cute touch of edible flowers. That's it, enjoy! Have fun with your food :)

For the marigolds, I actually looked at 3 different places, and the only flower really available right now is mums. They're all looking gorgeous as ever, but when we visited local farms a couple of weeks ago (post coming soon...), I saw lots of marigolds. I guess it's way too late into the year to find marigolds at any stores, so thankfully as I was driving home, I saw marigolds out of the corner of my eye! I hope the people who grew them don't mind I borrowed just a few :)

#SoFabSeasons - TONS Of Great Apple Recipes For Fall

Apples are such a huge part of the landscape and economy here in southern Illinois, and I love how versatile apples can be - in recipes, decor, and DIY projects. Have you created anything from apples lately? 

You may remenber my Baked Apple Donuts that I created for this apple-themed post roundup for #SoFabSeasons.
photo donut 1.jpeg

One of my favorite things that brings up memories of fall is Apples! Do you remember apple picking with your family? How about all of those those tasty fall recipes for everything from fresh apple fritters to hot apple cider! We are excited to share with you this collection of amazing apple themed posts from many of our outstanding members here in the Social Fabric community. We know that you will enjoy them and hope that you can create some new fall memories for yourself and the ones you love.
SoFabSeasons Apples  
DESSERT RECIPES (* denotes recipes used in graphic)

*Lily the Wandering Gypsy - Fresh Apple Donuts with Bacon, Caramel Pecan Glaze

Home and Garden Cafe - Apple Pie Coconut Ice Cream

*Joy's Life - Apple Pie Dessert Pizza

*Kitchen Concoctions - Toffee Apple Pie Cookies

The Bandit Lifestyle - Delicious Apple Fritters Perfect for Fall

Roasted Beanz - Easy Crustless Almond Raisin Apple Pie

Wondermom Wannabe - Clean Eating Apple Crisp with Caramel Sauce

Anti June Cleaver - Mini Dutch Apple Pear Pie to Get You Ready for Fall

Basic N Delicious - Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake

Mostly Homemade Mom - Caramel Apple Pie Fudge

Little Blog in the Country - Pressure Cooker Canned Apple Pie Filling

Diana Rambles - Apple Spice Dump Cake

The Tip Toe Fairy - Apple Plum Skillet Cobbler

Five Marigolds - Sweet and Savory Salted Caramel Apple Dip

Intelligent Domestications - Apple Cinnamon Roll Cake & Apple Cream Cheese Icing

Home Maid Simple - Easy Apple Crisp

More or Less Cooking - Best Apple Fritter Coffee Cake

My Big Fat Happy Life - Skinny Caramel Ice Cream

* An Alli Event - Apple Bundt Cake with Praline Frosting

Tobin's Tastes - Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip

Ginger Casa - Delicious Apple Cranberry Pecan Crumble

Sweet Sensations - Apple Cobbler with Oatmeal Muffin Crust

A Labor of Life - How to Make Delicious Apple Roses

Julie Is Coco and Cocoa - Fried Cinnamon and Sugar Apple Rings

Polka Dotted Blue Jay - Mini Carmel Apple Bites

Finding Sanity in Our Crazy Life - No Bake Oatmeal Apple Pecan Cookies

Being Tazim - Strawberry Apple Crumble Vegan and Dairy Free

Upstate Ramblings - Caramel Apple Cake

Rebecca Lately - Baked Apple Recipe

Simple Food 365 - Light and Fluffy Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Mama Plus One - Homemade Apple Cider Donuts

Bento Lunch (dot) net - Caramel Apple Pudding Parfaits

MORE APPLE RECIPES

Broken TeePee - Salmon and Rice Noodles on Apples, Carrots & Zucchini

Revel & Glitter - Autumn Cranberry Apple Pear Salad

* Happy Go Lucky - Bacon Cheddar Apple Dip

Honest and Truly - Delicious and Easy Mini Apple Pancakes

Smiling Notes - Healthy Apple Pie Oat Pancakes

Creative Southern Home - Apple Bread

Beyond Mommying - Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese

Momcrieff - Apple Pancake Rings for Breakfast or Snack

Tiaras and Tantrums - Favorite Autumn Apple Snacks

Injenious Life - Gluten Free Applesauce Muffins

Everyday Party - Simple Caramel Apple Cider

A Paper Arrow - Apple Bread for the Fall

Happy and Blessed Home - Delicious Apple Recipes

Mom Saves Money - DIY Dehydrated Apple Rings

Gluesticks Blog - Baked Apple Chips

Life With Lorelai - Caramel Apple Crumbly Bread Recipe

Ava's Alphabet - Baked Apple Pancake

Life with Lovebugs - Spiced Applesauce and Oatmeal Muffins

For the Love of Crust - Homemade Crockpot Apple Cider

Oat & Sesame - Maple Your Applesauce

Southern Mom Loves - Cheddar and Apple Goldfish Snack Mix Recipe

My Life Cookbook - Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Bread (Gluten Free)

ACTIVITIES

Tales of Mommyhood - Apple Picking Favorite Family Activity

Mama Luvs Books - Apple Picking in Rhode Island

Kori at Home - Apple Tot School Unit with FREE Printables

Jenny at Dapperhouse - DIY Apple Basket Sorting Game

To & Fro - Tips for Apple Picking with Your Family

CRAFTS

Little Mama Jama - Apple Stamping Sensory Activity for Preschoolers

Creative Ramblings - Fabulous Fall Wood Apple Sign

Woods of Bell Trees - Quilted Apple Pillow

For What It's Worth - Apple Themed Party with DIY Apple Craft

The Kennedy Adventures - Paper Plate Apple Craft

Babs Projects - Apple Scented Potpourri Pouches

Great Contradictions - Apple Themed Candy Bar Wrapper Printables

BEAUTY

* Momerish - Apple Pie Sugar Scrub Perfect for Fall Pampering

Can you believe all these incredible Apple themed posts? Bookmark this page so you can come back and try out all the recipes, crafts and activities with you and your family! Check back next month when Social Fabric features posts with a pumpkin theme. You can always search the hashtag #SoFabSeasons to find more of what you're looking for!

The adidas Sneakers I Love For Fall with DSW

I am absolutely thrilled to present you with our latest collaboration - with a company that I love so very much! I’m sharing #DSW in my life as part of a Designer Shoe Warehouse sponsored series for Socialstars™. All opinions and content are my own. #MyDSW

As the weather {finally} starts getting chilly, as much as I love my sandals, I get so excited to wear regular shoes! I love the fact that sneakers are trending so much right now, and I also love the trend of more cropped length jeans with freyed hemlines. The combo of a new pair of sneakers and these jeans makes my heat go pitter patter :) 

These adidas NEO Courtset Sneakers are available on DSW, and I love that the toe box is roomy. I really need to be able to wiggle my toes when I'm wearing sneakers (especially with socks on), and these are perfect. 

I absolutely love the bright, white details on top of the Navy Blue sneakers. They also come in a grey and white color way that is gorgeous! 

I shot some of these images at Twig Floral Design in Carbondale, IL. It's a cute store, with tons of home decor items.

Top 10 Booties For Fall - Starting at $25

SO excited for Fall! Yesterday kind of seemed to mark the first day of cooler, Fall temperatures, which I am thrilled about! So sick of wearing shorts and dresses at this point, and I am super excited to wear leggings, boots/booties, and long sleeves. The southern Illinois heat and humidity really kicked my butt this year, so it's my time to enjoy the weather again {finally}!!!

So, I rounded up some of the cutest booties around, and you can click on the images to shop any of them. Prices start at $25.00 and go up from there. Enjoy!!!

Fresh Apple Donuts With Maple, Bacon, Caramel Pecan Glaze!

So, these fresh baked apple donuts turned out great. I adapted this recipe, from A Latte Food just a tiny bit, and they worked out so well. I loved each of the steps involved in this project. I also substituted buttermilk with vanilla yogurt (it worked out great!!). 

This is actually the first time that donuts have actually worked for me. Last time, they did not rise much, they were kind of bland, and I basically put the donut tin in the back of the cabinet to be forgotten for a while. 

But, I was recently invited to join a little blog post link up with some other bloggers, and the only requirement for #SoFabSeasons was that it had to do with apples. Well, off to Pinterest I went, and within minutes, I knew that donuts had to go down.

This was also my first time really making a glaze for donuts, and it turned into more of a caramel because I heated the mixture a bit too long, bringing the sugars to kind of caramelize. Oh well, these are amazing, and I loved topping them with an unexpected ingredient - bacon bits and pecans. That bacony flavor really goes so well with the other flavors, that I am so happy I added the bits. 

Another great thing about living in southern Illinois is that you don't have to go very far to find an apple (or peach tree) orchard. I photographed these apples, below, one day after I visited Flamm Orchards. I am sure they have been picked by now, because this was shot maybe 2 weeks ago :)

Donuts

  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 2 Tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp butter

And, here are the apple crates at Flamm Orchard. I would LOVE to get one of those for a photography prop/surface! 

Maple Glaze

  • 2 Tbsp butter

  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Apples

  • 1 large apple, chopped finely
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping

  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 package bacon bits

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. (APPLES) On med-low heat, cook apple filling mixture for about 3-4 minutes. Pull off heat and allow to cool.
  2. (DONUTS) Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease a 6-count donut pan liberally with baking spray.
  3. In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt together.
  4. In a second bowl, whisk egg, buttermilk, sour cream, and vanilla extract together.
  5. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add in the wet ingredients. Gently mix the batter until combined.
  6. Add in melted butter and apples and mix until combined.
  7. Spoon the batter into the donut pan, evenly distributing the batter between the 6 donut cavities (you may have enough batter to make 7-8 donuts).
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts are lightly golden and 'spring' back when touched.
  9. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.
  10. (MAPLE GLAZE) Melt butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon over low heat. Once melted together, pull off the heat. Sift in powdered sugar, and whisk until fully combined. Allow to cool for 8-10 minutes so the glaze can thicken. You want to work kind of quickly on this step, because the glaze can cool kind of quickly, and thickens. 
  11. Dip each donut into the glaze and immediately sprinkle with chopped pecans. The elongated-shaped dish shown in white, is one I got at IKEA, it was the perfect shape. Allow to cool on a wire baking rack.
  12. Enjoy!

PIN IT FOR LATER...

Fall Favorites with Sahale Snacks - Great For A Fall Adventure

I am so excited that the leaves are changing colors a little bit, and our yard is sprinkled with fallen leaves. Around this time of year, I yearn for Fall adventures here in southern Illinois, and always make sure to bring a bag packed with snacks, bottled water, and a cozy blanket. I love bringing travel sized Sahale Snacks® on my adventures, they're great for grab and go snacking.

Where are your favorite go-to, local places to visit during Fall? Mine would have to be some of our local orchards (Rendleman Orchards and Flamm Orchards are my top picks) here in southern Illinois, Rendleman even has a very nostalgic pumpkin patch - where you can use a red wagon to transport all of your hand-picked pumpkins to the checkout station. J

I’m sharing #SahaleSnackers in my life as part of a Sahale Snacks® sponsored series for Socialstars™.

Another place I love visiting would be one of our wineries, that also serves hand crafted apple cider (life-changing!!). And, when the weather cools down a bit, we love hiking through the Shawnee National Forest (Pomona Natural Bridge is a short hike, but incredibly majestic). I have learned to never leave the house without a snack, so the Raspberry Crumble Sahale Snacks®, and the Pomegranate Vanilla Flavored Cashews would make a great snack, while adventuring to fun places this Fall. 

I like keeping a couple of these grab and go sized packages of Sahale Snacks® in my car, just for spur of the moment adventures, or of course, days when I run a million errands. Just a couple bites of a snack like this will keep me going. 

I also love bringing along a notebook, so I have somewhere to collect my thoughts, project ideas, but have to admit, love snacking while I journal :)

Where will you take your Sahale Snacks® this Fall? 

Fall Tailgating + Football Party Tips!

I cannot wait for Fall, and one fun part of Fall is tailgating! Football season, and cooler temperatures make a great excuse to get together with friends and enjoy some good food and drink! Below, are some ideas on making your tailgating and football parties so much more elegant and grown-up. Most of these ideas, from some of my favorite bloggers, are just creative DIY ideas, that don't have to be expensive or time consuming. So, let's get ready for some football...

Serve Drinks From A Pumpkin (Waiting On Martha) - You can simply add some ice to a hollowed-out pumpkin and add beer, or line a smaller pumpkin with a plastic container and add dip for chips or veggies! Learn how Waiting On Martha styled an adorable tailgate party of her own here. 

Use Eco-Friendly Plates (Food 52) - If you must use disposable plates and food holders, there are more Eco-friendly options like these compostable wooden hot dog trays and more from Food52.

Create A Hydration Station (Style Me Pretty Vault) - Provide guests with inexpensive drinks like fruit-infused water, lemonade, and tea. Learn more about this incredible party, in the Style Me Pretty Vault Files.

DIY Flannel Napkins (Hey Wanderer) - Follow this cute DIY Tutorial from Hey Wanderer, or simply cut or rip a couple of yards of inexpensive plaid flannel fabric into 16" x 16" squares to provide guests with something more substantial thank those flimsy paper napkins. 

Style Me Pretty & Author Ngoc Nguyen Lay really know how to tailgate in style! This image, below, really shows a great overall party setup! Incorporating vintage items like an ice cream cone holder (used for fries and veggies in the photo), Picnic baskets, metal buckets, and pom-poms makes this setup look elegant instead of over the top. Learn more, here. 

Serve Elegant & Unexpected Treats (Happy Wish Company) - I just love how these macarons, cup of strawberries, wooden utensils, cloth napkin, and sandwich in a spotted paper party favor bag. Find fun party ideas like this one, from Happy Wish Company! 

I'm hoping to put together my own set of Tailgating Ideas in an upcoming post, so stay tuned!!

Fall Favorites with Toad&Co

A little while back I visited a pumpkin patch and chose the most perfect pumpkin ever! I wanted to stop at Rendleman Orchards so many times, and was so happy I finally did! The season is about over mid-November, but during the summer and fall, you can visit their adorable shop, The Farmer's Market, and get apple cider donuts, amazing apple cider, all sorts of other food and gift items, and more. If you are looking for the best pumpkins in southern Illinois, look no further! You can pick your own, or choose one they have all ready for you at the shop. 

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

The best part about this day was the fact that I got to sport some Toad&Co clothing!  I have loved Toad&Co ever since they had a totally different name (Horny Toad). I found a pair of their shorts at some cool shop on one of our travels, and as soon as we got back home I ordered two more pairs. I have such a hard time finding shorts and pants that fit me properly, that aren't super short, but aren't unflatteringly long. Toad&Co came through for me, and I love them for it. 

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

One of the items I am wearing here, is the Women's Printed Lean Leggings in Falcon Brown Print. These leggings have not pilled yet, which is amazing. Make sure to get your size, rather than sizing up. I am kind of curvy, so I ordered one size larger than I thought. These have a very forgiving fit, so just make sure you go with your normal size. The material is beautiful, I love the different shades of brown together, and the print is cute. They're very versatile! 

The shirt I am wearing is the Intermezzo Pullover, in Tyrian Purple. It has two pockets on the front, which I love, and a secret pocket that has a hidden zipper to keep small items like cash, cards, or a house key. This would be a great go-to shirt for a million different reasons. It's warm, but breathable, which is a must for me. 

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

I reached out to them a little while ago, to let them know how wonderful their items are, and they graciously sent me some things to review. I was extremely happy when the package arrived at my door. These clothes fit extremely well, and wow, are they well-made! No pilling at all, and I have been wearing them pretty regularly.

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

Cabbie even helped me out, modeling for this project :) She really doesn't like the camera at all. We point the thing at her, and she looks away, or even just plain gets up and leaves. This day, I think she really had a lot of fun at the pumpkin patch, so she humored me for just a few photos.  

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

I just love these clothes! They were perfect for a day out, picking pumpkins. 

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

These leggings are great, super comfy and NOT see-through like some out there! I have worn them with my taller boots a lot, too, and they are so cute. 

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy
Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

Have you ever worn anything by Toad&Co? If so, comment below and let me know what you have! 

Toad & Co. + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

Be sure to check out the Intermezzo Pullover, and the Women's Printed Lean Leggings. They go together so well, it's an outfit match made in Heaven! A special thanks to Toad&Co. for being so awesome! 

And, look for another upcoming post where I feature a few more of their items, soon! 

CHECK OUT TOAD&CO

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7 Can Soup Recipe

Here is a super easy soup recipe, and requires 7 cans of soup and tomatoes, and a few other ingredients. It tastes amazing! 

7 Can Soup Recipe - SO good!!!

INGREDIENTS

- 2 - 28 oz. cans of diced tomatoes

- 1 - 15 oz. can black beans

- 1 - 15 oz. can pinto beans

- 1 - 15 oz. can garbanzo beans (I used half the can in this recipe)

- 1 - 15 oz. can corn

- 1 - 15 oz. can sweet peas

- 1 or 2 - 32 oz. containers of beef broth - depends on how much broth you like in your soup.

- 1/2 Lb. bacon

- 1 medium yellow onion

1 Lb. ground beef

- 3 Tablespoons olive oil, salt and seasoning to taste.

- sour cream and finely shredded cheese to top soup.  

INSTRUCTIONS

1.) In a large soup pot, begin to heat oil. Add chopped onions, bacon, ground beef, and salt/seasoning. Open and drain cans EXCEPT FOR TOMATOES - while you are waiting. Stir often. 

2.) Once beef has browned, add in all 7 cans, and broth, and stir. everything together and add more seasoning. Taste as you go! 

3.) Let simmer for about 30 minutes, and you're ready to serve! The house smelled amazing because of this soup! 

4.) Serve with a dollop of sour cream and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Crackers would also be good! 

7 Can Soup Recipe