Sip and Shop Sunday [Fiesta Halloween]

Happy Sunday!  It has been the quintessential beautiful fall weekend here in Indy!  Absolutely gorgeous!  So today, we're sipping on Honeycrisp Sangria and shopping Halloween.



I popped over to see dear friend KF the other day and she was just putting out her Halloween decor. I just have to share these adorable plates by Fiesta.

She has a wide selection of patterns and has them displayed all around the house in little vignettes, replacing hanging plates, and has little ramekins holding candies.  

Spooky Skeletons

They are the perfect way to add a little Halloween subtly.  I would have loved to have snapped a few pics for you, but she was just too embarrassed, saying things weren't tidy enough.  (If only my house was as "nontidy" as hers....) 

Boo Cats

She found her plates and ramekins at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and enjoyed using her coupons, too!

We usually decorate for Fall and kind of gloss right over Halloween, but these just too cute.

Happy Halloween Decorating!

*This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting The Happy Little Hive!

Pumpkin Love

We love all things pumpkin in this hive and are so excited that along with fall temperatures comes all sorts of pumpkin goodness.  I picked up several cans of pumpkin this weekend and am anxious to whip some old favorites!  Our top three favorites (at the moment) are:

Homemade Pumpkin Latte



Pumpkin Crisp



Pumpkin Dip



We love the non-edible pumpkins, too, like this easy DIY monoram pumpkin.



We will also be cooking up some brownies, soup, and some other goodies, so stay tuned.  What's your favorite pumpkin goodie??

Happy Fall!

Sip and Shop Sunday [Throws]

As the weather begins to turn we're slowly changing our hive around from light and airy to warm and cozy.  The easiest way is adding throws.  We keep our home pretty chilly, so not only do they add the look of coziness, they're necessary, too.

So this morning we're channeling fall and sipping Salted Caramel Mochas....

....and shopping for throws.

Plaid
Love the plaid and that it can be monogrammed!

Herringbone
Believe it or not, this one is $10!!

Perfect for Christmas

Electric Heated Throw

While this might not be the prettiest option, it's probably the coziest.  Hubby and I have been debating adding a heated throw to our collection.  

While I'm not quite ready for winter, I sure do love the change of season.  We will, however, be keeping Florida in our prayers and continue to pray for the recovery in Texas.  Hoping the weathermen are wrong - like they often are.  

Happy Sipping and Shopping!

You've Been Boozed [Version 2]

As Halloween is quickly approaching, You've Been Boozed is back, but with a new look. (See the first printable here.)  I again snagged a few Halloween coozies from Target's Dollar Spot (this time including Frankenstein), grabbed a fall six pack, some candy, and voila...you've been boozed.

It's so fun to surprise our friends with this fun little, adult version of a Halloween treat.  Please feel free to print your own tags and spread the cheer yourself!

Happy Almost Halloween!

Sip and Shop Sunday [Fall Boots]

 

SIP

Fall is the perfect time of year to sip on some Honeycrisp Sangria.

 

 

SHOP

I've been searching for the perfect pair of boots for the last few years, and y'all these are it!! My sweet brothers have been trying to convince me of that for years.  Blundstone finally came out with a ladies' line and the boys finally convinced me to give them a go.  Ironically enough, I went with a unisex pair from the Australian company, since they're a little lower than the women's boots.

Just trust me when I say they're not masculine in person.  I didn't believe it either myself, until I slipped them on my feet.  The smooth sole (not hiking tread) makes all the difference for this pair.  I'm envisioning wearing these with everything...they're just that comfortable....maxi skirts, cuffed jeans, and leggings.  

This gorgeous red pair caught my eye, too.  So pretty.

 

Or maybe this women's burgundy pair with the adorable tartan plaid side panels.  They're a steal. 

 

Years ago my dad and brothers spent forever trying to talk me into getting a pair of Tevas.  I respectively declined, as I was determined they were ugly.  My dad gifted me with a leather pair that I fell in love with (and that I may or may not still, to this day, wear).  I've been calling the Blundstones "Teva 2.0".  They've been trying to talk me into them for years, and I have a feeling they'll be on my feet all winter long.

Happy Shopping!

(Affiliate links included in this post.  Thank you for supporting The Happy Little Hive!)

Friday Five [Fall Love Edition]

Last year Hubby and I didn't have much of a fall or winter.  The days and seasons were a long blur of hours sitting by his hospital bed praying desperately.  How good God is that things are so very different this year.  Truly a miracle and not a day goes by that I'm not grateful from the very bottom of my heart.

All that to say that I'm truly excited about fall this year!  I can hardly wait for crisp mornings and evenings, gorgeous fall leaves, something yummy cooking slow and low on the stove, and snuggles on the couch.  Sounds pretty perfect.

So without further ado....here are five things I'm looking forward to this fall:

ONE
Several years ago Hubby and I  started making bucket lists for the seasons.  Such a fun little way of taking stock of all that you'd like to do.  You can find last year's printable version here.

 

TWO
Although it's a bit too early for pumpkins, our fall wreath will grace the door this weekend.

THREE
As I mentioned earlier, there's so very much for which to be thankful.  The daily act of giving thanks brings that all into focus again.

 

FOUR
As the cold weather starts to set in, so does the desire for soups and stews, a favorite in this hive.  Especially this bean soup with kale.  Yum-o!

 

FIVE
The change of season has inspired a new little series, too....Sip and Shop Sunday.  Last week featured homemade pumpkin spice lattes and fall dresses.

Wishing y'all terrific weekends!! 

Today I'm linking up with:

Oh Hey Friday! / High Five for Friday / 5 on Friday

Happy Friday!

Labor Day Sales

Woohoo for the long weekend!  Sunday is my favorite day of the week....usually all the chores are complete and it's a quiet, relaxing day.  But a Sunday of a three day weekend...the ABSOLUTE BEST!!  It's been a quiet little morning watching Sunday Morning, Fixer Upper, and shopping some Labor Day sales.  They're the perfect little excuse to pick up some fall pieces, either for your wardrobe or your hive!

Friday Five [All Things Pumpkin]

Happy Friday and Happy September!!  I woke up yesterday thinking it was Friday.  Thank goodness today actually is, and a long weekend to boot!  Looking forward to squeezing the last little bit of time in at the pool.

In honor of the release of the pumpkin spice latte and the fact that fall is just around the corner I'm sharing five of my favorite pumpkin goodies.  Let's get right down to it....

Pumpkin Crisp

Unfortunately this post got lost in the commotion of Hubby's unexpected hospital visit, but it's just too yummy to overlook.  I'm hoping y'all will give me a pass and say that all things pumpkin are good through January...please just go with it :)!

What's for Dinner [Spooky Quick Chili]

Several years ago a sweet friend shared Weight Watcher's Taco Soup recipe with me.  Over the years we've modified the recipe (a lot) and use it as a quick chili recipe.  Add spooky white cheddar ghosts (simply cut free hand from slices) and you've got a perfect meal for a chilly Halloween evening.

Deconstructed Pumpkin Pie aka Pumpkin Dip

This recipe has been popping up all over Facebook and loving all things pumpkin I couldn't wait to try it.  Taking into account said pumpkin love, I slightly adjusted the recipe, increasing the amount of pumpkin and spices.  It comes together quickly and would look utterly adorable served in a hollowed out mini pumpkin.  The perfect Fall dish for parties, tailgating, and celebrations!

Happy Hour [Honeycrisp Sangria]

Last year Bestie KB and I tried out a Honeycrisp Sangria recipe from Pinterest...and it. was. awful.  It sounded terrific, cinnamon and spices, apples, wine.  It truly sounded like a grown-up fall in a cup.  The only problem was all the spices settled in the bottom of the glass.  It was just kind of funky.  BUT, I did use it as inspiration while throwing this together.  And this version is pretty darn yummy, if I do say so myself.

Fall Inspiration

Although the weather is in the 90s this week, my mind keeps wandering to one of my favorite seasons right around the corner, fall.  I'm holding out on whipping up some homemade pumpkin spice lattes and pulling out the fall decor, but that doesn't mean I'm not dreaming deciding on what I'd like to do this season.....

I'm still loving the monogram pumpkin I made last year....

Giving Thanks

The older I get, the more I fall in love with Thanksgiving.  I love being with friends and family for the sole purpose of expressing gratitude.  I love that there isn't pressure to come up with the perfect gift.  I love the constant reminder remember all for which we are thankful.  And yes, I love the food.  Ha, ha! 

As a little daily reminder for this month of gratitude, I whipped up a couple printables on Picmonkey.  It was my very first attempt at this, and hopefully I will improve over time, but for now, these fit the bill perfectly. 

This first sheet took the place of our monogrammed chevron pumpkin in the kitchen.  As much as I love it, it was just a little too Halloweeny.  We use a dry erase marker on the glass of the picture frame to record our daily notes of gratitude. 

I have been using the second printable as tags to attach to little goodies for dear friends and family.  And as a bonus having them readily available has encouraged me to give a little more this season. They might also make an appearance at Thanksgiving dinner. 

Now, if I've done this correctly, you should be able to save the picture and print for your own use.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed it works ;)!

Happy Thanksgiving Season!

You've Been Boozed!

Last fall we came home to a little sweet surprise on our doorstep.  We had been "boozed".  So. much. fun.  Our sweet friends had left a little goodie bag, including an adult beverage, and some little yummies.  As Halloween is approaching, I just knew I had to get in on the action and leave some little surprises on doorsteps myself.  I left a couple off last week and have one more delivery to make today.

Ramblings

Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend some QT with my Koumbara.  It had been way, way too long.  We ended the day with a little nightcap.  The Moscow Mule might just be my new favorite.  It was delish!  (And of course I'm a sucker for presentation....the copper cup just may have sealed the deal.)

Boo! ~Spooky Bat Cave~

I've never really been a big fan of Halloween.  Every year my Brownie troop went to the Children's Museum Haunted House, and every year my mama would ask if I was sure I wanted to go....because every year I would chicken out, stand outside, and not go in.  (Side note: Brownies didn't last too long, as all we ever really did was sell cookies and go to the darned haunted house...I mean my brothers' Boy Scouts troop did things like sailing in Key West, canoeing in Maine, and hiking in New Mexico....but, I digress....)

More Fall Love

The older I become, the more I appreciate fall.  I truly fell in love with the season at IU when the campus was just stunning.  I genuinely appreciate the change of season, and although I'm not a fan of winter or cold weather, would miss the changes if we lived elsewhere. 

Yesterday I shared some fall touches around our little hive.  I have just a few more images to share with you today that didn't quite fit into the blue and white love fest.  I kept with the theme of bringing the outdoors in to create a cozy and natural feeling. 

Mini white and orange pumpkins......

Blue and White Love on The Pink Pagoda

The Pink Pagoda is hosting The Blue and White Bash today.  If you've never visited her blog before, it is spectacular.....all things blue, white, and chinoiserie....truly stunning!  So much so, that I'm really, really nervous about participating.  I'm no where near as talented as the incredible ladies that are linking up.  I decided though that my love of blue and white is just as strong, so I'm going to go for it!

Homemade Pumpkin Latte

It might be cliché, but I love drinking pumpkin lattes in fall.  (I love anything pumpkin, truth be told.)  I do not, however, like spending $4+ at a certain coffee shop with those green and white cups.  This year I was determined to make my own PSL so that I could enjoy it when ever and as often as I like.