When the colder months arrive I really enjoy embracing a more rustic interior feel. There are numerous accents available and loads of Cash Back to be earned. There are so many ways to bring the feel of fall inside your home in really simple ways. Will you be decorating for Autumn?

1. Stay cozy with a Dillard's Dip Dye Throw

2. Store your outerwear in a festive way with Cost Plus' Branch Coat Rack

3. Rudolph inspired Antler Candleholders from Bellacor

4. Take some inspiration from the forest with Linens 'n Things' Birch Candles

5. Rustic picture frames from Macys

1. Kohls is offering a FILA Sport Yoga Mat

2. Art Bin Top Box from Wolf Camera

3. White Peach Bamboo Candle from Linens N Things

4. Conair Ionic Straightner from Drugstore.com

5. Kohls+Food Network Polka-Dot Dessert Plate

6. Clarisonic Skincare Brush from Sephora

I will concede that Halloween decor is a serious guilty pleasure of mine. Being able to earn Cash Back through Ebates makes creepy, scary decor much easier to justify. Here's to a spook-tacular Halloween!

1. Spider Cupcake Holder from Crate and Barrel

2. Happy Halloween Metal Plaque from Bed, Bath and Beyond

3. Skull Stein Glass from Urban Outfitters

4. Skeleton Hands Servers from Cost Plus World Market

5. Black Paper Crow from Cost Plus World Market

Join us to discuss all things Halloween. From candy to costumes, and parties to pranks, we will chat about our favorite spooky traditions!

Have you noticed? Fall is in the air!

While I haven't made the big switch in my closet yet, I've been loving the shorter days, crisper air and heartier foods that have started to emerge as of late. 

Call me crazy, but I'm one of the few people I know who prefers a cool, cloudy day over a hot & sunny day! There's just something so comforting about being able to finally layer your clothes to take a hike (or pirate walk in our family) with your kids outside and then run inside to cuddle under a blanket and drink hot cocoa! After all, you can always put more clothes on, but there's only so many you're allowed to take off!

Ok, so I guess when it comes down to it, a lot of my favorite things about fall revolve around family and fashion. And as a frugal girl, I love Ebates when it comes to stocking up on fall fashion finds! Not only can I shop my family's favorite stores like Gap & Old Navy through Ebates, but I make my budget happy with that extra cash back bonus :) That means that I get to spend more time enjoying the cool weather with my husband and kids because of my smart online shopping, but we also get to do more because I'm able to keep more money in our pockets! What's not to love about Fall?!

1. My favorite faux wrap dress from ASOS

2. Comfortable and bright Haute Hippie Silk Blouse from Nordstrom

3. Purple pants from Nordstrom can add just the right amount of pop

4. Deep red shoes from Target to finish off a look

5. Stay warm and look cool in a green coat from Kohls

Bloomingdales is offering 20-50% on items for the home. Plus get 3.0% Cash Back

The *entire* Jos. A. Bank. site is buy one get two free! Plus get 8.0% Cash Back.

Bath and Body Works is having a Halloween sale which means up to 75% off AND $1 shipping on any $25+ order! Use code 1DOLLARSHIP. Plus get 3.0% Cash Back!

Get 10% off an order of $25+ at the BedBathStore.com using code CLEAN10. Plus get 6.0% Cash Back.

The Children's Place is offering 25% off an order of $50+! Use code A4F2011. Plus get 2.5% Cash Back!

Frames Direct is offering 15% off sunglasses! Use code SUNPROMO. Plus get 6.0% Cash Back!

philosophy is offering a free Think Pink gift set with any $65+ order! Use code graceful. Plus get 5.0% Cash Back!

Yoox is having their Sample Sale - up to 90% off! Plus get 3.5% Cash Back!

1800Baskets is offering 15% off Halloween Gourmet Baskets! Use code BOO15. Plus get 6.0% Cash Back!

Get 15% off all Power Amps at Guitar Center! Use code POWER15. Plus get 4.0% Cash Back (hurry because this special offer expires today)!

I just love this time of year, the trees are changing colors, the apples and pumpkins are ready to pick, and we can't forget all the great baking for Fall and Halloween. Candy Corn is a long time favorite of many people, our family included. Last year I made Homemade Candy Corn, and let me tell you, it's amazing! It takes a little work, but it's totally worth it!

What's the next best thing to Candy Corn? Well...Candy Corn Cookies of course!

I changed a recipe I found in the Taste of Home Baking Book for Boneyard Cookies, added a little orange coloring and dipped the ends in white and yellow chocolate. And to send the Candy Corn Cookies over the top...I added some Apricot Preserves in the middle and made them into Candy Corn Cookie Sandwiches!

1 cup powdered sugar {confectioners' sugar}

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup cold butter, cubed

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

2 cups flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

4-6 drops of orange coloring {depending on how bright you want the cookies}

Apricot Preserves

White Almond Bark

Yellow Wilton Candy Melts

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch

Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg

Beat in the extract

Combine the flour and salt

Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mix well

Add the orange coloring, mix well

Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic and place in fridge to chill at least 1 hour

Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

After dough is chilled, remove from fridge and roll out onto a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thick

Cut with a Candy Corn shape cookie cutter

Place on a cookie sheet and bake for about 6-8 minutes

After the cookies are cooled, spread Apricot Preserves on one cookie and top with another

Melt white almond bark in microwave for about 30 seconds, stir until smooth

Dip the tip of the cookie sandwich in chocolate, let excess drip off and place on wax paper to set

Repeat process for yellow ends

Enjoy!

You can find Liz on Hoosier Homemade where she shares her yummy baking creations, decorating ideas and LOTS of cupcakes! Check out her new blog, Pocket Change Gourmet, where her and her hubby share budget friendly recipes with a little bit of flair. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook for lots of tips and ideas to help you Make Your House a Home!

Happy baking!

This recipe makes one loaf but can be doubled.

Bake @ 325 for 60 minutes

2 cups all- purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup sugar

1 egg, well beaten

2 tbsp butter or margarine, melted

2 tbsp hot water

1/2 cup orange juice

(2 large oranges) 

1/4 cup orange zest

(I just zest the two oranges) 

1- 1 1/2 cup fresh cranberries

Sift together the dry ingredients together into a large bowl.

Mix together the egg, melted butter, hot water, orange juice and orange zest in a medium bowl and mix well.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir, just until moistened.

Fold in the cranberries. Bake about 60 minutes at 325 degrees oven in a well greased loaf pan.

Enjoy!

 

Forget the rose petals, harnessing the natural beauty of fall can make for a much more interesting and unique walk down the isle. Collecting an assortment of colored leaves is easy if you live near trees, but it can be hard to guarantee that the foliage will stay bright. Personalized fall leaves are a better option, as they are made from a high quality silk material that captures the beauty of natural leaves and are guaranteed to look great on the wedding day.


Incorporate the colors and atmosphere of the fall season during the reception. Set the table using fall themed photo coasters, personalize them by adding individualized shots of the Bride & Groom.  They are practical and make for a nice party favor at the end of the night. Maple leaf place card holders are an excellent choice for formal dinner settings and coordinate well with rich table linens in reds or golden yellow.


The fall season is known for its chilly air and is an excellent time for wedding hosts to explore different types of wines that will warm the body and the soul. If your event will have an open bar, provide the bartender with attractive wine cork candles, which keep empty bottles fresh in a chic and truly original way. Kids attending your wedding day celebration will love to select treats from fall leaf candy dishes, just place them on the dessert table or around the room. 


Are you inspired?  You could win a $250 Beau-coup Gift Voucher to help you decorate your Fall event.  Just check out the Fall Wedding Favors section at www.beau-coup.com, choose your favorite favor and post here why you like it and how you would use it.  You could be our one lucky winner.  This contest will be open through October 14th 2011. Good luck!

We are getting things started with our Fall Kickoff Live Chat today at 4 PM PST. Please join our discussion on all of our favorite Fall things!

I love the Fall.  Love the Fall.  Did I mention that Autumn is my favorite season?  The air turns crisp (or if you live in Southern CA, crisp compared to the summer), the leaves turn amazing, spectacular colors (but if you live in Southern CA, you might have to wait until December or January for the wonderful bursts of color), and it seems like everyone instinctively knows that NOW is the TIME to enjoy the outdoors.

 

I've lived in the North East and the North West, which just might be where my love of Fall was solidified.  The leaves, oh the leaves and the colors they burst forth every Autumn left me running for the window every morning first thing when I woke up just to see how they changed over night.  Now that I live in Southern CA where we don't really have traditional seasons, I still find myself searching the trees for that burst of color that lets me know that Autumn has arrived.

My love of Fall comes with a few traditions, and Fall just wouldn't be Fall without doing these 6 Fun Activities:  

1.  Take a Drive and look at the Fall Foliage.  There is nothing like driving through Fall Foliage  and stopping off for a treat!

2.  Go Apple Picking.  All across the country, I think that every family should be flocking to apple orchards.  It's such a fun way to spend the day, and a wonderful way to show kiddos and adults alike what it's like to pick one's own apples, and not from the grocery store bin. either.  Once you've got those apples home, well, the sky is the limit.  Apple sauce, apple crisp, apple pie?  So many yummy things can be made with apples.  Add a little cinnamon  and it's officially a Fall treat!

3.  Enjoy local corn mazes:  Growing up I never experienced a corn maze.  I missed out.

4.  Hop on your bike and go for a ride:  The temperature is usually perfect for a nice ride and what can be better than enjoying the great outdoors on a leisurely bike ride?  It's scenic and good for you!  Plus, the kids love it.

5.  Make a pumpkin pie from scratch:  Use a real pumpkin, not canned puree and see how much fun it can be.  Be warned though, it takes a bit more time.  

6.  And last but not least, go shopping:  It's a great time to find deals on end of summer clear outs, plus the holidays are right around the corner.  The holiday money crunch is a whole lot better when you spread the buying out over the course of a few months!  Don't forget to use Ebates for cash back on your purchases and to find additional deals to maximize your spending power!

 Bio:  Angie is a word loving, book devouring, designer jean obsessed mama to 5. She's also a sunshine hoarding, organizationally devout, stringer of letters, words and paragraphs, who loves a great deal.  She writes about her tales of motherhood, otherwise known as "tales from under the big top" at Seven Clown Circus.

Stila Eyeshadow from beauty.com

Kitchenaid Pro Stand Mixer from Chefs.com

OPI Nail Polish in Traffic Stopper from Sephora

Rose Gold Love Knot Ring from Max and Chloe

Michael Kors 'Runway' Rose Gold Watch from Nordstrom

Fiona Paxton Beaded Bib Necklace from ASOS

Wrap Dress from ASOS

1. Vince Camuto Military Shirt from Nordstrom

2. Robert Clergerie Laced Shoes from Yoox.com

3. Balenciaga Blazer from Yoox.com

4. Peg Pants from ASOS

5. Merona Convertible Shirt Dress from Target

6. Woman's Conary Top from Target