Ole Miss Football + Free Popcorn Box Printable

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It's GROVE SEASON!! Okay, okay, I realize this post is more targeted to graduates of Ole Miss or people interested in attending a game there, but I had to share. If you've never heard of Ole Miss, let me introduce you to the number-one tailgate in the country, home of William Faulkner, and a town full of amazing restaurants and charm. 

My family moved to Mississippi when I was in high school. I was sure when we moved, as soon as I graduated from high school, I was going back to Florida...until I visited my sister at The University of Mississippi. I fell in love. Girls and guys dress up in their Sunday best for game day and walk from tent to tent to enjoy libations and finger sandwiches. Walking down the Walk of Champions, the intoxicating smell of bourbon and fresh cut grass hits your nose while you drown in a sea of blue and red. 

{ image source: flikr.com - user: akmcafee9}

While not every tent is extravagant, they all have their quirks. Here in the grove, you can find chandeliers hanging from the tops of tents, topiaries in the shape of the mascot, and looks right off the runway worn by the beautiful students and graduates. Outside of the grove, the "square" houses top-ranked restaurants that have gained national recognition for their menu offerings. It's easy to get around the square as each bar, restaurant and shop are right next door to one another, making for an amazing mingling experience.

{ image source: www.thedailysouth.southernliving.com }

If you're looking for another activity that is a little more laid back, check out Taylor, MS. Only a fifteen minute drive from Oxford, this tiny town practically revolves around one spot: Taylor Grocery.   Fried catfish, okra, and a brown bag with a bottle of whatever you please to drink, Taylor Grocery is a crowd favorite. Get there early, or you can plan on waiting for up to 2 hours to snag a table at this hole-in-the-wall.

Eat or we both starve.

Taylor Grocery

William Faulkner's home and grave are located in this quaint little town. As a tradition and Ole Miss bucket list item, students imbibe on the grave sight and leave their bottle for Faulkner, as Faulkner was a known bourbon fan.

Whatever you're looking for, you can find it here in Oxford.

To download this game-day popcorn box, click the link below. 

Free Download:

Ole Miss Popcorn Box

Game Day Popcorn Box

Thanksgiving Bar Cart Styling

For years now, I've been looking for a bar cart. Our home has been making the move from ultra traditional to transitional slowly but surely. Two years ago, we both inherited tons of antique furniture from our families. Many of these pieces are timeless and would be extremely expensive for us to buy on our own, but they definitely make the house feel dark which in turn makes it feel small. I've been working on mixing in lighter pieces to try and brighten the place up and give it a more modern look. 

While doing my weekly Target run, I found this great bar cart by Smith & Hawkin on sale! I just love the color of the wood. My original plan was to put it on our back porch because it is so casual looking,  I didn't think it would match our home. After styling it with my Thanksgiving pieces, it fit right in to our dining room and looks beautiful.

This year we needed a self-serve drink area because our usual "bar" set up (our sideboard) will be displaying our desserts.

To give this bright bar cart a fall feel, I added fresh tree branches from the yard, a slab of wood with exposed edges to act as a serving tray for the drinks, and a faux antler. For a pop of color and added flavor, I added cinnamon sticks to glasses of oaky Chardonnay. 

I want my guests to feel comfortable to serve themselves, so I added several bottles of wine, dessert plates, and wine glasses. My brother-in-law always brings his favorite bottle of bourbon to share with the family, so I left the decanter empty to pour it into after he arrives.

I am just swooning over these leaves! I originally planned to put eucalyptus sprigs in the vase but then changed my mind when I realized it needed more color. I love neutral fall decor, but to truly feel like the season, I still enjoy adding small pops of color.

What are you adding to your bar cart for fall?

Fall Home Tour

Some seasons are worth decorating the house for. Lucky for us, we live in a part of the country where fall really shines. The weather might not always cooperate, but the foliage around Georgia in the fall is absolutely beautiful. 

One goal of mine this season was to set up a fire pit sitting area. We live on about an acre, so we have a lot of yard to utilize. My father-in-law surprised us while we were out of town and purchased a black fire pit for our yard. I was thrilled! I had been shopping for one, and considered buying copper for the beautiful color, but after reading several negative reviews, decided black would be the best option for us. I have enough home maintenance as is, and I didn't want to add anything more to my list!

It can get really intimidating browsing Pinterest and seeing a catalogue of over-the-top, gorgeous fall decorations. It's enough pressure as-is to host fall parties or Thanksgiving without shopping and styling your home on top of it all. One easy way to give your home fall charm is using items you already have on hand. Use a cozy blanket and pillows to put on outdoor benches, chairs, or outdoor dining sets.

I scored when our grocery store had a 2-for-1 special on heirloom pumpkins. The great thing about the pumpkins is that I can repurpose them to my sideboard for Thanksgiving! I added the two to my front door step for now and placed a mum in a basket I already owned. To protect the basket, I placed two grocery bags under the plastic container the mum came in and some newspaper around the sides. I found a battery-operated candle at HomeGoods to put in my copper lanterns. It came with a timer, so I set the candle to come on at 6:00 pm when the sun starts to set and go off at 10:30 pm so I don't waste the battery. This has been great for a mindless way to add instant charm to your front door each evening!

This year for Halloween, my husband and I went as Bob Ross and his "happy little tree." It was a hit! As part of my costume, I purchased the garland that is now on my mantle. I highly recommend waiting until the days leading up to Halloween to purchase any fall decor at Michaels because they slash the prices. I got this pretty garland for just $4.00.  

Eucalyptus leaves are great for making a simple and easy garland for your table. I just placed a few branches down my table and added a couple of mini white pumpkins and the table instantly transformed. I found these branches at Trader Joe's (gosh, I love them) for only $2.00. I plan to use these for my Thanksgiving centerpiece as well. 

A few simple additions can make a huge impact! Remember that you don't have to go above and beyond to achieve a cozy, well-decorated fall home. If you don't want to shop for items, forage your neighborhood for magnolia leaves, maples, and pinecones to decorate with! These natural beauties will do the work for you.

P.S.

Here was our costume...HA!

Hosting a Fall Soiree + Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

IT'S FINALLY FALL!

I love spending time outside when the fall air turns chilly and crisp. The fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves turning hues of yellow and orange, baggy sweatshirts and of course, pumpkin spice lattes. What's not to love? 

If you're like me, you love to host a great dinner party at home. Ever since we received our new outdoor dining set, I envisioned myself hosting a fall dinner with all the likes of fall: pumpkin beer, a heavy red wine, and great company. If you're planning on having an outdoor dinner party, read on for my no muss, no fuss tips for throwing together an effortless and cozy look.

Decor

First things first: decide on a color scheme. Find a fall item you love to set the color palate for your table. I decided on using the colors from my favorite tartan scarf to inspire my scheme. In an effort to keep my look cozy and relaxed, I placed pillows at the backs of every other chair and added a few blankets. Don't worry if they don't match perfectly, as this will make your table look more effortless. Providing blankets will also allow your dinner guests to linger and stay warm as the sun goes down. 

Drape your table with a beautiful floor-length tablecloth, like this one from Market Linen to add an extra element of warmth.

For the place settings, keep things simple. I used classic white dinnerware and added a pop of color using gold flatware that can be found for as low as $2.00 each at Target. As a simple and affordable alternative to napkin rings, tie twine around the napkins for a rustic look.  

A good hostess knows that guests can get embarrassed to ask for more, so to keep the evening carefree, place several bottles of wine on the table and your stockpot. Guests will be able to easily help themselves to seconds without disturbing the dinner conversation.

Food & Beverage

My next tip is to serve a large portion and a meal that will stay warm. I used my stockpot from Le Creuset to serve my soup in because the stoneware keeps soups and stews warm for up to an hour. You don't have to serve an elaborate meal to have a great dinner party. Something as simple as fresh bread and soup is such a comfort that your guests will feel satisfied. In an effort to have plenty of food and keep everyone warm, I made classic chicken noodle soup and served a crunchy french baguette with each bowl. 

Keep your guests in mind. Is anyone a beer drinker? What about those who only prefer their bourbon on the rocks? Remembering your friends' and family's preferences will show that you were mindful of them while planning the evening and leave a lasting impression. More over, it will keep everyone at the party in a pleasant mood as they imbibe their favorite drink. 

I tend to serve more red wine in the colder months, as they pair better with heartier dishes. However, as a sommelier candidate, I also recommended an unoaked Chardonnay to pair with the soup as they are a great match.  

Chicken Noodle Soup

Preparation:  15 min

                  Cook Time: 30 min  Total Time: 45 min                       

Ingredients

        

          2-3 chicken breasts (depending on size of the breasts)

          1/4 cup white wine

          3/4 cup chopped white onion

          2 cups of rotini noodles

          4 tbsp butter
          2 tsp chopped garlic

          3/4 cup chopped carrots

          3/4 cup chopped celery

          1 1/2 -2 (32 oz) containers of chicken broth (depending on how chunky vs soupy you like it)

          1 tsp fresh lemon juice

          2 tsp Italian seasoning
          1 bay leaf

          2 tsp chopped italian parsley

          Salt & Pepper to taste

      

Instructions

1) Over medium heat in a large stockpot, melt butter. Add your chopped onion and wine and allow to simmer for 2-

    3 minutes. 

2) Add chopped vegetables, bay leaf, garlic and chicken broth, raising the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.

3) Once the broth is boiling, add in your raw chicken breasts and allow them to cook all the way through.

4) While chicken is cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil and add the noodles.

5) After 25 minutes, your chicken should be cooked thoroughly. Take them out of the pot and place them onto a 

    cutting board. Lower the soup's heat to low/medium. 

6) Cut through the middle of your chicken breasts. If they are cooked thoroughly, begin cutting each breast into 

    cubes. (If they need more time, add them back and turn the heat back up.) Once finished, add them back to the 

    soup.

7) Add lemon juice, noodles, italian seasoning and salt & pepper. Stir until combined. 

8) Serve immediately. Place a piece of french bread on a plate next to each bowl. 

Apple Picking - Our New Tradition

Fall is here! 

What is it about this season that makes me swoon? Pumpkin spice lattes? Cozy sweaters? Doing away with bikini body worry? I'd say D, all of the above. 

As soon as Labor Day passed, I threw on a flannel and begged my husband to go apple picking with me. About an hour north of our home is a small town, Ellijay, that has tons of farmland. It's a cute town with a downtown area that has a few delicious local restaurants. People visit this humble town not only because it is home to Georgia's Apple Capital, but also because of the scenic views, log cabins for rent and Carter's Lake.

We picked one of the more active apple farms to visit, B.J. Reece Orchards. For a small price, you can pick apples, milk a cow, watch pigs race and so much more. It's the kind of thing you'd expect to see in a small agricultural town. People from the community and surrounding areas flood the rows of the orchards and pick apples for their family recipes or to enjoy alone.  

 We took our dog, Laila, with us to roam through the trees. Needless to say, she had a pretty good time. 

The trip up to Ellijay was fun, but short lived. There are only so many apples a person can realistically eat. We left with a half bushel and I'm still working on an idea of a recipe to make with them. Perhaps apple fritters? Homemade apple cider? 

Going to the apple farm will definitely be part of our new family tradition as husband and wife moving forward. Even though I didn't milk a cow {totally bummed}, we still had a great time. 

What fall traditions do you and your family have? Let me know in the comments!