Autumn Themed Kid Eats

Now that the kids are back in school I am anxious for Fall to come swoop down and cool off Georgia. With the sweaters and boots, apples and pumpkins... *sigh* There is just something so comfy and cozy about that time of year, its my absolute favorite!

With that said I found some really cute Autumn themed Kids Eats that my kids would love and I think would be easy enough to try. Here's my little mash up that I will reference in the soon coming months. You can follow my creations on Instagram by searching the hash tags #Livingaspecialkindoflife

Ok, now how fun does this look? Sugar cookie dough, separated, a little food dye in each, then roll them together. Thanks for the great idea: www.whilehewasnapping.com

I think this looks super yummy. I love some fresh popcorn made on the stove (none of that yucky bag stuff!) And what a great reason to dress it up! You can find the super easy recipe here (3 ingredients!): 

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/easy-candy-corn-recipe/

How cute are these? I cant figure out what the leaves are made of, maybe fondant? The stem looks like Rolo's or maybe Tootsie Rolls. And not only can they look like little pumpkins but can make them TASTE like pumpkin too? I might have to try this out sooner than later!

http://www.essentiallyeclectic.com/2013/09/pumpkin-spice-krispie-treats-festive.html

My husband LOVES chocolate covered pretzels, so maybe this one will be more of a treat for him :) It seems to be just some white chocolate, food coloring and sprinkles. Simple enough! I found the great idea at:

http://swanky-chic-fete.blogspot.com/2011/09/halloween-party-favor-ideas.html

Duncan Hines actually has a whole page dedicated to Fall/Thanksgiving food ideas that are really cute! This is one of my favorites. Super cute and my kids LOVE cupcakes! Take a look:

http://www.duncanhines.com/s/thanksgiving/

I think these cute little "acorns" would be the perfect mess free fall treat to send to school with the boys! This cute idea comes straight from Hershey's website, check it out: 

https://m.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=8805&name=KISSES-Acorn-Treats

I think this pumpkin cake is so cute. I love pumpkin pie so much, but have not actually tried any of the pumpkin flavored cake mixes they have during the Autumn season. This image comes from the JC Penny website and I having trouble finding out what its made of. I think the "cake part" of a pumpkin could be the same as what you make for a pumpkin roll recipe. Maybe baked inside a jello mold (x2, one for the top and one for the bottom) and the middle layer the pumpkin roll filling. Maybe some type of butter creme frosting tinted orange with food coloring?  

Have any cute Fall recipes? Do share! Find me on Pintrest!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Halloween has now passed and the Super Hero costumes are all hung in the closet. Sadly, but not surprisingly, the Mall is already jamming Christmas tunes.....
BUT FYI: It's still Fall, Ya'll!

Roman and Noah are Batman and Robin
Lydia and Sophia are Super Girl and Spidey
Mom and Dad are just plan crazy

This and that from around the house :)

Burlap Pumpkins made by the one and only :)

Kitchen message board

Fabric leaves hanging from the chandelier

Simple: glass jars and a little bit of fall foliage

Yes, I like chalk board paint :)

Fernbank Museum Of Natural History

767 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, Georgia 30307

Last month we took the kiddos to check out Atlanta's Museum of Natural History. I was so excited because right now all the kids (minus the baby) are into dinosaurs. So of course we let them dress up as dinosaurs as we paraded around the museum :) The museum was very nice. There were 3 levels with 2 large dinosaur replica bones in the center. The front of the museum also had 2 large dinosaurs that you could see from outside. The actual dinosaur exhibit was slightly disappointing  as it was only one small section in the "Walk Through the History of Georgia" section of the museum. As we made our way through the museum, Daddy and I tried to look at some of the exhibits as the kids seemed less than thrilled.... but once we made it to our final stop -the children's play area, we were in the gold again. Maybe I would bring the kids back if one of the traveling exhibits were about dinosaurs, but other than that, probably not. It was enjoyable and only about 1/2 kid friendly.

Piedmont Park

400 Park Drive NE

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Not too long ago we visited one of our now favorite Atlanta spots- Piedmont Park. Never had we gone during the autumn months, and since today was so beautiful, we decided to pack a picnic and drove the 30 minute drive from our Atlanta suburb home. (Living in Atlanta you quickly learn 30 minutes is actually not far at all. Weird.)

What Central Park is to NYC, this Piedmont is to Atlanta. Its wide open spaces and winding walkways are filled with cyclists, roller bladders, strollers with babies and couples holding hands. Blankets are sprawled out randomly over the hills for couples and families to have picnics and read books, all while admiring the absolutely beautiful fall scenery... lots of pups and their owners walking around, as well as soccer games and kids tossing around a foot ball in the background. The skyline is filled with tall buildings that stand in the distance giving your eye such a great contrast to take in.

Did I mention the fall scenery??? 

A huge fishing pond is surrounded by white washed architecture at the center of the park. We also appreciate the various trees, from palm trees, to beech nut, to even bamboo, each are marked letting you know what type they are. Just so much beauty! 

Be prepared-  every person who walks by will great you with a friendly "hello" (something I'm still getting used to, but LOVE) and let me say this is the absolutely cleanest park I have ever been too. You do have to pay for parking and I'm assuming that those funds help keep this park so gorgeous. I cant wait to return, walk a path we haven't yet and enjoy this pocket of Atlanta again!

P.S. You never know who you can run into at Piedmont park. Last Spring we were here and ran into Marc Hall from Casting Crowns. We got to talk to him and his wife for a bit and even got to participate in his promo video for Casting Crowns hit song "Courageous." I thought it was the coolest day ever. Their albums have seriously changed my life. 

The Christian Pumpkin

Through the years I have taught all different age groups at church, as well as daycare. I love pumpkins, I love fall and these are some of the lessons I've used over the years based on the age group! "The Gospel Pumpkin" was one that was fun to do with my toddler class. We would pre cut the shapes and have the kids glue them their paper as we went through the poem. I also think this would make a great felt board story for circle time :)

The Gospel Pumpkin

I am a Jack O' Lantern 

My light will shine so bright. 

For I am a Christian pumpkin 

My symbols tell what's right.

My nose is like the cross 

on which our Savior died. 

To set us free from sin 

We need no longer hide.

My mouth is like a fish 

The whole wide world to show

That Christians live in this house 

And love their Savior so! 

The story starts at Christmas

My eyes are like the star 

That shone on Baby Jesus 

And wise men saw from far. 

My color it is orange 

Just like the big bright sun 

That rose on Easter Day 

Along with Gods' own Son.

And so on Halloween 

Let's set our pumpkins out 

And tell the trick or treaters 

What Gods' love is all about! 

Author Unknown

With my 4-6 year old Sunday School class we enjoyed this Pumpkin themed lesson called "The Pumpkin Prayer." Just demonstrate on a large carving pumpkin and have the kids watch and/or help. Have them pray this prayer, as well as give them a copy to take home.

The Pumpkin Prayer

Dear God,

As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer:

Open my mind so I can learn about You;

(Cut the top of the pumpkin)
Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do.
(Clean out the inside)
Open my eyes so Your love I will see;
(Cut the eyes out in heart shapes)
I'm so sorry for turning up my nose to all you've given me.
(Cut a nose in the shape of a cross)
Open my ears so your word I will hear.
(Cut the ears shaped like the Bible)-we did rectangles
Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near
(cut the mouth in the shape of a fish)
Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle inside and light it)

At a chapel service I attended the youth pastor shared a message on how a pumpkin is like a christian. Here is the meat of that message. This would be great for elementary school kids.

How A Christian is like a pumpkin:

"God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you may have gotten from the other pumpkins. Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

1. Take a pumpkin. "You aren't a pumpkin, but all of us are something like one. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you may have gotten from the other pumpkins." Talk about how a pumpkin is like us: it has an outside and an inside. The outside is what people see. The inside is like our soul or our heart. A pumpkin left to itself will soon rot and die. We will die some day too." 

2. Carve out eyes and a small "o" shaped mouth.  As you make the holes and pull out the pieces of rind, ask people what they see inside (yucky stuff). "This is what we look like to others and what we are like when are hearts are not changed. The hearts of men are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live (Ecclesiastes 9:3). How can we get rid of this icky stuff?" 

3. "God is the only one who can change our heart. But in order for God to change our heart we must become open to him." Carve an opening in the top of the pumpkin big enough to put your hand through. You might want to quote Revelation 3:20: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 

4. Put in your hand and pull out the insides. "God scoops out all the yucky stuff inside of us. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, impurity, and greed." Talk about the cross and how Jesus was willing to become messy for us, so that we might be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:25b-27). 

5. "But if we leave a pumpkin with just the insides taken out, then it's just hollow. We need to have a light inside that will truly make us alive! Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' Add a light to the inside of the pumpkin. "When Jesus lives inside of you, you can glow! You will want to be kind and honest. You will want to please God, to help others, and to tell other people about your Friend and Lord." 

6. At this point you might want to carve the mouth into a smile! "God carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Happy Fall, Ya'll

...I mean, Guy's

PS- here is a great link to share this message with you congregation prior to service. click on this to view on SermonSpice.com  

Autumn Banner

I've been seeing so many of these burlap banners all over Pinterest, and of course I just had to make one!  I had some left over burlap from my last project, so why not :) The type of burlap I was working with was made of heavy fibers, and when handled too much would come apart. So i decided to use some card stock and Modge Podge to keep my triangles in tact. With a sharpie I carefully wrote out "Give Thanks" and tada! Super easy. Super cute!  A nice touch in my entryway :)

Fall Sewing Project

Finally finished my little master piece :) I haven't sewed anything in a while and
decided to scoop up some scrap fabric and get creative.

Free hand, I made the leaves, tree trunk and letters. I 

added some "messy" embroidering as well as a little 

sparkle with gold thread.  

The backing is burlap and the whole tapestry is tacked 

onto cork board. I love how it turned out! 

A great addition to my fall decor!