pumpkins Archives - One Delightful Life

If there are sure-fire things that remind me of fall, I’d have to say they are: autumnal home decor, pumpkin anything, spiked apple-flavored cocktails, and yummy game day foods! How about you? What says “fall” to you?

Depending on where you live, the weather may not feel like fall even if it is mid-September. Sometimes it’s still hot (upper 90s here in Kansas) in September! After using my list of 4 Ways to Set The Mood for Fall, you’re sure to come around to my way of thinking.

It’s Fall Y’all: Decorate Your Home DIY Style

Look around your home. Pull out all of your gold, yellow, reds, and white dishes and decorative items. Then, combine them with a few purchased store-bought decorative items and let your creativity run wild! Don’t forget to check your pantry for dried beans, grains or whole fruits in the same color palette! Even a pile of oranges in a bowl or towers of yellow or brown dried pasta in clear jars can say “fall” to when added to your seasonal kitchen decor.

Want to see how I decorated using a items I already had plus purchased ones? Get inspired (and learn how to paint plastic pumpkins!) >> Click here.

See that cute white pumpkin? I bought super cheap at a craft store and simply painted it white!

Crisp Fall Day Cocktail

Why not keep with the autumnal-theme party going by making my Crisp Fall Day Cocktail that is BIG on apple flavor?! Thanks to the cider and flavored liqueur – it’s applicioius! Partial to Louisburg Apple Cider since it’s located in my beautiful home state of Kansas, you can use any brand. This cocktail is super simple to make and doesn’t require fancy bartender tools either.

Tip: This cocktail can also be made into a large batch if you need to serve a crowd at Thanksgiving (just multiply its ingredients). Don’t forget to add a pretty straw to each glass before serving!

If serving cocktails at a fall party, remember to add decorative items to your drink station.

Smoked Jalapeno Poppers with Gorgonzola and Buffalo Sauce

If the weekend’s ball game is on, I’m eating tailgating (totally NOT heathy) appetizers like these spicy, bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers. We like to smoke our poppers on our Traeger using hickory or apple wood pellets, but you can easily grill these off until soft on a propane grill or even using a grill pan on the stove top. This recipe is over the top rich in flavor because of the cream cheese, bacon, and added buffalo sauce, so you’re going to want a ice cold beer or mocktail to wash it down.

If you want to really crisp up the bacon, smoke the poppers on the grill and finish them in the oven on broil for a couple of minutes.

Decadent Poached Pears Made with Cabernet and Apple Cider

Some people may not be ready to let summer go just yet, so this recipe pleases everyone because it includes cold ice cream AND fall flavors like cinnamon, pear, and apple cider. Dinner guests are always impressed by this dessert since it looks like something you would find on a restaurant menu, and you’ll love it because it’s super simple. Preparing it is as easy as peeling the pears, simmering the liquid ingredients with the spices, and poaching the pears. Everyone loves this dessert!

When serving, pour a bit of the wine/apple cider reduction into a bowl, add a poached pear, two scoops of double vanilla ice cream, and a cinnamon stick to make it pretty.

Do I have you crushin’ on fall yet? :: wink :: I hope these posts help you to set the mood for fall in your home and give you fun recipe ideas to celebrate with friends whether you’re watching sports on TV or relaxing with a cocktail in front of the chiminea. I hope you have a fantastic fall! For a BONUS fall-themed post, check out my Salted Caramel Apple Martini recipe.

Any Kansan will tell you that one of the many reasons we love our “flyover state” is because of its ever-changing seasons. For me, a mental shift occurs when I see the towering wild sunflowers basking in the afternoon sunshine. And the shift in outdoor temperature signals one thing: time to decorate our home for autumn.

Because I love to decorate, I tend to incorporate new items each season and this season is no exception. My new fav addition this year is this hand-painted wooden sign on the mantel made by From Mama’s Porch purchased at The Vintage Rhinestone. It set the tone for the rest of the room from the Pumpkin Spice melts giving it a seasonal fragrance to the napkins on our dining room table.

I took a note from designer Joanna Gaines and turned my antique book backward this year and topped them with little ceramic birds. These little guys make a year-round appearance in our home because we (and by we I mean my pilot boyfriend) is obsessed with birds. Why? Say it with me…”because they FLY.”

Create height and layers in your decorating to give it dimension. Turning antique books backwards is all the rage right now. — Create height and layers in your decorating to give it dimension.

I’m a big believer in decorating with bargain finds or crafting items with a bit of do-it-yourself ingenuity. These plastic pumpkins were way too bright for the neutral earth tones of our home decor so I simply painted them with Martha Stewart acrylic paint.

I'm pretty sure real pumpkins don't come with bright neon yellow stripes. Am I right? — I’m pretty sure real pumpkins don’t come with bright neon yellow stripes. Am I right?

Cover the stem with blue painter's tape prior to painting. — Cover the stem with blue painter’s tape prior to painting.

I like how the brush's bristles made for a natural texture. — I like how the brush’s bristles made for a natural texture. Allow the paint to dry overnight, turn over once dry, and paint the bottom of each pumpkin. After they dry, remove the tape, and ta-da!

I added one of these pumpkins with some blinged-out gourds to an antique toolbox with picks nestled underneath it all. The rustier the metal the better, which contrasts well with our leather ottoman.

But I don’t limit my decorating to the living room. It spills out into other rooms of our home and of course, the front porch too. You know, someone once asked me if our dining room table is always set as if we’re expecting dinner guests any minute. Why, yes it is and I love it too. These cream-colored chargers came from the Dollar Store, plates on clearance from Pier 1, and I can thank my friend’s garage sale for the copper napkin rings.

What reminds you of fall? One of my fondest childhood memories is taking a hay ride with my scout troop pulled by a tractor through the woods with hot chocolate in hand.

If I inspired you to love fall as much as I do, give my new seasonal recipes at try including a delicious Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Cocktail and my Apple Cider Pecan Muffins with Walnuts and Caramel Drizzle Topping. Are these muffins for breakfast or dessert? Who cares! They’re that scrumptious.

It’s fall y’all! Have a thankful, fun season of celebrating.

4 Ways to Set the Mood for Fall

It’s Fall Y’all: Decorating Your Home For Autumn DIY Style