Thanksgiving Table Scape

Hello there!!

Thanks for stopping by the Host Nest! Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and the grocery stores are packed with shoppers prepping for there big meal! It is hard to compete with such yummy food at Thanksgiving, but if you are hosting dinner you're probably spending just as much time planning the table scape as you are the food!! 

Although I have never hosted Thanksgiving dinner, I have hosted lots of fall dinners and planning the table is one of my favorites.  I love to pull items from around my house to create a new and original look for the table and dining room. (I just have to remember to redecorate where I took the items from) ;) 

Here is a simple table scape that I create for a small thanksgiving get together.

 

I'm such a fan of the neutral color plate that most of my items in my house are cream and tan, but I'm slowly adding more color to my style. To add a little color to my table I place a fall leaf table cloth over the table. I set the table with my cream china, and then I finished of each place setting with a colorful napkin. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! 

Michelle 

Fall Pennant Banner



Hello All!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!! :) Are you hosting any Thanksgiving festivities this holiday season?? Here is an easy fall craft to finish off your holiday décor. I made this Fall pennant banner to add a little extra décor to my home. Below is how I created it:

First, pick out the two different paper patterns and wooden letters (you could also use stickers, paint, or print them onto the paper).

Once you have chose your paper, cut the paper into the pennant shape, with one paper slightly larger than the other. In order to get the pennants even, I created a template to use on each one.

Once I had all the pennant pieces cut out, I used two sided tape to tape them together. I then flipped over each pennant and taped twine to the back of them. After the banner was assembled, I added the letters. I choose to paint the wooden letters ahead of time, and they added some color to the banner. Again, I used two sided tape to attach the letters.


I love making these banners because you can create something new and creative each time!!!

Here is how my banner turned out........

This sign instantly adds a touch a fall to you home!! I Hope you enjoy creating your own banner. :)

Happy Decorating!!

Michelle

Caramel Corn Treats

Hello, Hello!!

Although the weather is getting colder and the stores have Christmas music playing, it is still Fall time in my book. For me, fall is not over until Thanksgiving, and I can't even begin to think about the Christmas season until after then. (However, I did break my rule and have a peppermint mocha latte this week & it was so yummy!!) Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season and I am so excited for it to be here, but I want to enjoy every moment of fall!!

One yummy fall treat that I love is caramel corn! It is so easy to make and I love snacking on it all season long! I decide to make this yummy treat for Daniel's Brother and Sister-in-Law when they came down to Bloomington to go to the IU football game. I thought it would be a yummy snack for them to have while they cheered on the Hoosiers!!



Begin with the caramel corn popcorn. You can make it at home or buy the caramel corn already made from the store, which is what I did here. Once you have the caramel corn, choose the candy you would like to add in. I chose to us chocolate chips and candy corn. The candy corn adds a fun punch of color to this yummy treat!

Since I am making this as a treat from someone, I found these fun fall treat bags at Michael's to put it in and used twain to tie it.

And here is the yummy Carmel Corn Treat....

Whether you are going to a fall gathering, Thanksgiving dinner, or even a game football game, this caramel corn is a great treat to give to friends and family!!

Enjoy!!

Michelle

Fall Wreath

 In the spirit of Thanksgiving I made a last minute trip to "Michael's." The place was packed because all fall/Halloween items were on sale. I have wanted to experiment with wreath-making, so I bought some items to make a wreath for extra Thanksgiving decoration. I started simple (bows and sparkled wire twigs) for the wreath.

I started with a natural wreath. It was $4.99 at Michael's.

I bought two types of wide-wired ribbon. Each spool of ribbon was $0.79... Each bow took about an entire spool of ribbon. 

I also picked out various wired accessories to place onto the wreath. They were all on sale ranging from $0.59-$1.79

Next, I visually decided where to put the items by placing them on top of the wreath. Don't wrap the wire around the wreath until you are certain where you want the objects. Also, make sure to place the bows on last. Bows are easily smashed when wrapping other items around the wreath. 

Below is the semi finished project. After looking at it, I would like to add some pine cones and a wooden letter...but, my glue gun is out of glue :)  When I do some more work on it I will update the new picture. Here is my fall wreath for now. OH... and the best part is it only cost a total of $12.81!!!

Hope you enjoy, 
xoxo, Katherine

Pumpkin Choclate Chip Muffins

Hello!!

Sooo... I am a huge fan of pumpkin, and I love trying new pumpkin recipes.  One of my all time favorite pumpkin recipes is Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. I first tried this last year when I saw it on Pinterest. It is extremely simple, which is what I was going for during my first year of marriage!! ;) I knew these muffins were a hit with my hubby when he came home and ate three in a row!! (And he never does that!!)

Ingredients:

• 1 (15 oz.) can of Pure Pumpkin (Not pumpkin pie filling)

• 1 "Spice Cake" Cake mix box

• 1 Tablespoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice

• (Optional) Chocolate Chips - add amount according to  personal preference

Instructions:

Mix the pumpkin, spice cake mix, pumpkin pie spice, and chocolate chips together in a bowl (Do not add any other ingredients for the spice cake mix).

Use cupcake holders in the cup cake pan (this makes clean up a lot easier!)

  

Spoon batter into pan and bake for 15- 20 min.

Let cool for 5 minute

I love baking these throughout the fall.  They are great for breakfast during busy weekday mornings!! They also make a great fall-time dessert for any gathering!

These muffins are fabulous just the way the are, but adding Cream Cheese icing takes these to a whole new level!! :)

Enjoy!!

Michelle

Pumpkin Patch

Hello!!

It is almost Thanksgiving, which means delicious food and hosting family!! :) If you are entertaining family this holiday, you are probably prepping your home for the upcoming festivities. One of the first things your guest will see is your front porch. Decorating with pumpkins is a simple way to add curb appeal.

I love decorating pumpkins! In order to make my pumpkins last the entire fall season, I chose to paint the pumpkins instead of carving them (also reducing the mess!!). I began this tradition a few years ago and realized I could keep my pumpkins out through Thanksgiving!! 

My Pumpkin Decor:

Once I brought the pumpkins home, I gathered my supplies and began brainstorming fun design ideas to paint on the pumpkins.

For a glittery pumpkin, I first painted the entire pumpkin white and allowed it to dry.  Next, I painted an F (for Fuller) on the dry pumpkin.  I used white paint for the F, and then sprinkled the glitter over the wet paint immediately.

  

I am in love with the chevron pattern, so I had to use this design on one of the pumpkins. I used painters tape to create the lines, and painted the whole pumpkin dark brown.

Once painted, I let the pumpkin dry over night. The next day I removed the tape and had to touch up the chevron design a little to make nice clean lines.

For another pumpkin I free handed the word "Welcome" and then added polka dots around it.

 Here is the final product:

I had so much fun painting these pumpkins and love that I can keep them out all season long!

Happy Fall Ya'll!!

Michelle

Apple Crisp

Hello Everyone!!!

Welcome to the Host Nest! We are so glad you stopped by to see us! Our blog is all about home-decorating, entertaining, cooking, gift-giving, and our journey of living life to the fullest! Visit the "About us" page to read the story of how we became friends, why we are blogging, and discover the girls behind the Host Nest. We hope you stick around awhile and enjoy the ride! :)

Since our idea to blog all started with an Apple Crisp recipe, we decided to share this yummy recipe with you first! It is a perfect dessert for the fall! Whether you serve it after a week night dinner or after a Thanksgiving feast, this yummy dessert is definitely a crowd pleaser. (Its also great to start off your day at a morning brunch!!!)  This is actually a fairly healthy version of the dessert!

Ingredients:
3 lbs of apples (we used 8-10 small to medium apples)
1 cup of Old-Fashion Oats
3/4 cup of All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup of Brown sugar (packed tightly)
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of Salt
8 Tablespoons (1 stick) of unsalted Butter, cold cut into cubes
2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice
Caramel (optional)

Begin with washing 8-10 apples (or 3 lbs.)

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Slice the apples and soak them in 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice. This will help keep the apples from browning.

Mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and butter. (It is best to mix together the dry ingredients, then add the oats, and last adding the butter.) The easiest way to mix all these together is using your hands. It may get a little messy, but it is the easiest way. 

Once all the items are combined, you should have a crumble mixture as seen below. Set this aside, until it is time to top the apples with it.   

The apples should soak in the lemon juice mixture for about 10 minutes (or while the crumble mixture is being made). Drain the apples and place them in a 9X9 glass pan.

*** I usually drizzle a little caramel sauce over the apples to add a little extra sweetness! :)

Then add the oat crumble on top of the apples. Spread the mixture evenly over the apples, using a fork to break up any large crumbles.

Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 45-55 minutes! (As this bakes, you're house will smell so great!!) 

 Once it is done baking, let cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!!!

This is such a yummy and easy receipt! It is a perfect treat for fall!!

Happy Baking!

K&M