Pumpkin Patch Visit

Hi there my friends! How are you? I hope you are enjoying Fall. We have had a glorious, sun filled October, so of course, a visit to the local Pumpkin Patch was in order! I captured some shots of Claire among the piles of pumpkins. The autumn light has been so very pretty! Grace, thankfully, jumped into the last one too! (She was very busy visiting with all the animals on location so it was hard to pull her away!)

“I want this one!”

After a little hunting, we found four lovely pumpkins. One for each of us. Of course, we also managed to go home with fudge, fresh pumpkin donuts and homemade berry jam. Yum! I didn’t grow up going to a Pumpkin patch for Halloween but I’m happy this has become a sweet tradition for our family.

What traditions do you have in your family for this time of year?

Enjoy the rest of the week.

xo,

Ivy

P.S. I am still working on my Brené Brown homework. I will be sharing it with you soon, I promise. By the way, her book = TOTALLY life-changing!

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Pretty Rooms: Fall inspired

Behind our house, the light in the forest is changing. A beautiful and subtle shift where the sun no longer rises high overhead but instead dances among the trees, dipping the garden in gold. The once vibrant purple hydrangea now bow their heads, weary, faded and burnished with bronze. The first leaves are beginning to fall. What a magical time, what a gorgeous season.

I want to spread this loveliness throughout the house. Little touches of fall. Nothing over the top…just subtle hints that celebrate Autumn. Inspiration was needed. Here are some my favorite fall looks for the home…

I love how soft shades of chartreuse are used on this mantle….this would work well for me, since I have blues and greens through out my living and dining room…

I am also kinda in love with white pumpkins…so pretty and they go with everything!

How cozy is this room? Lovely!

This candle idea is genius! Simple strips of tissue paper wrapped around glass hurricanes…brilliant! Instructions here.

Are you feeling the Fall Love? How will you be decorating your home this Autumn?

xo,

 

For more fall ideas for the home and to see all these images go here.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello friends,

Tonight my brother came over to make pumpkin pie with Grace.

It was so sweet. He patiently measured out each ingredient and then allowed her to add it to the bowl. With her tiny hands, she carefully emptied each cup or spoonful, making sure she didn’t spill a drop. I stood back to observe the magic and take pictures…

Grace didn’t like the sound of the mixer but managed a smile for me.

The pumpkin pies won’t win any prizes for beauty but they tasted delicious and my brother and Grace got to bond.  I’m so thankful to have him living here in Portland! It means so much to me that Grace will grow up knowing her Aunt and Uncle.

I hope tomorrow, your family and friends will experience the delight of preparing delicious food together! Being surrounded by those we love is something I will always be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

xo,

Halloween Pumpkin Face Mask

The past couple of nights we’ve been gutting the pumpkins we harvested and carving them up for our Jack ‘o’ Lanterns. It’s a bit of effort but Grace loves the process. She diligently picks out the pumpkin seeds so we can roast them. What to do with all the pumpkin innards? How about a DIY Pumpkin Face Mask?

Pumpkins are full of enzymes and Vitamin A that exfoliate, soften and smooth your skin, so why not pamper your skin after the trick or treating is over. (You can slather this mixture from head to toe!)

Here’s the recipe I found via Spa magazine.

1 small pumpkin
1 cup yogurt
Juice from 1 lemon
1 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. ginger (freshly grated, preferred)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

To Make:
1. Cut the pumpkin, removing skin and scooping out pulp.  Place the flesh in a pot with a small amount of water.

2. Cook the pumpkin until mashable with a potato masher.

3. Remove from heat, mash pumpkin, and add yogurt, lemon juice, honey and spices. Use while still warm.

To Use:
1. Sit in the tub or shower and slather the warm pumpkin mixture all over your dry body and face. You may apply to your hair too, if you like.  (Make sure hair is clean.)

2. Rest with the mixture on your body for 10 minutes.

3. Rinse off with warm water.

4. Pat the skin dry and follow with an application of your favorite body and face moisturizer.  For hair after rinsing, follow with your favorite conditioner.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

xo,

p.s. Can’t be bothered making your own pumpkin mask? Try this ready made concoction from Sephora.

Gorgeous pumpkin photo via Shaun Ingham

Related Articles

• Use All Of That Carved Pumpkin (doyourpart.com)
• Pairing wine with pumpkin (pour-favor.com)

Pumpkin Patch Delights

Hi there.

We are back from Texas and I’m happy to be home.

Before our trip, we went out to a pumpkin patch and had a perfect Fall day.

Thought I would share these pics with you before Halloween is over! Time is seriously going too fast…

I have to admit this was my first visit to a pumpkin patch and well, I was kind of enchanted. Highly recommend it.

Have a beautiful Thursday.

xo,