Can you believe it?
The first official day of fall here in the United States is tomorrow.
I love the autumn season. The crisp crunch of leaves beneath my boots. The spicy and loamy scents that waft on the afternoon breeze, and the pumpkin and spice scents that waft from my oven. The sounds of fans cheering at high school football games, and the brilliant array of colors as the leaves change from green to crimson, tangerine, and gold.
As the days grow shorter and we tend to spend more time at home, it’s a perfect time to host a get together, whether it’s inviting a friend over for lunch, or the whole gang over for a bonfire.
In what seems like a lifetime ago, I used to work for a direct sales company that was all about making entertaining at home easier and more enjoyable for the hostess. I learned so many tips and tricks for entertaining that really do simplify things, I thought I’d share a few today.
THEMES
One of the easiest ways to entertain is to pick a theme for your gathering. It makes everything from decorations to food choices so much simpler.
For an autumn party theme, send out invitations shaped like fall leaves or use stationery with a pumpkin or apple theme.
Bring the colors of the season into your home using shades of crimson red, burgundy, sage and earthy greens, golden yellow, and deep orange. Use accent pillows or throws to really create that warm and cozy atmosphere we associate with fall. (Side note: you can easily recover a pillow using a swatch of felt since the edges won’t fray. Cut a piece big enough to cover the entire pillow and glue the edges or simply connect the edges by stitching with a piece of thin ribbon.)
Decorations for your party can be something as basic as a few potted mums, bundles of wheat tied with raffia bows, or a pile of mini pumpkins and squash. You don’t have to get carried away with something fancy.
Your meal can be simple as well. Make a big pot of stew (check out Cheryl’s recipe for hamburger stew) or a filling casserole. Finish the meal with a pumpkin or apple dessert.
If you want the party to be a more hands-on experience, do a fun activity before the meal like apple picking or visiting a pumpkin patch.
Or host an autumn bonfire. Serve up hot dogs, potato wedges and mulled cider.
Here’s a list of party ideas from A to Z:
Apples
Back to School
Crafter’s Gathering
Decadent Desserts
End of Summer
Foliage & Fun
Game Night
Harvest Festival
Indian Summer
Jubilee
King’s Castle
Leaves & Laughter
Maze Daze
Nature’s Splendor
Oktoberfest
Pumpkins
Queen for a Day
Rag Time
Scarecrow
Tailgate
Under the Umbrella
Vintage
Wiener and Marshmallow Roast
X-ray Vision/Superheros
Yearbook
Zebra – everything is black and white
SCENTS
If I thought I could get away with it, I’d burn pumpkin scented candles all year long. Just think about walking into a home where the scents of pumpkin, apple, cinnamon or spices fill the air. It makes you think about fall and hayrides and pumpkin pie and all sorts of wonderful, comforting experiences.
The main thing to remember as you fill your home with the scents of fall is to stick with one scent at a time.
If you’re burning a sweet pumpkin candle in the kitchen, don’t light a heavily spiced candle a few feet away in the family room. Before you know it, you’ve got warring scents and quite possibly a headache.
DECOR
If you are looking to bring the autumn season into your home, a great place to start is by going outdoors. What fall leaves, branches or natural items, like grasses, pinecones or nuts, can you bring indoors for an inexpensive accent to your decor?
Use neutral tones highlighted with fall colors, focusing on the vivid jewel tones of autumn like rich red, warm gold, brilliant orange, deep green and pops of purple. This is not the time or the season to go all beige. Think bold, warm and rich when you are choosing accent colors.
Create a fall welcome at your front door by placing pumpkins on steps, a twiggy wreath around an exterior light or baskets filled with bright fall flowers like mums.
Use fall scents like pumpkin, cinnamon and apple throughout your home. Whatever scent you choose, make sure you stick with it consistently so you don’t have scents overpowering each other. No one wants to walk into a scent war-zone!
Fill bowls or baskets with nuts or pinecones for a fast fall accent. Place large leaves between a serving tray and a piece of glass (or a clear glass pate). You can use this as a centerpiece, serve warm mugs of cider on it or leave it on the coffee table as a conversation piece.
Keep your focus on warmth. Warm colors and cozy fabrics create a fantastic sense of welcome.
FLAVORS
If you are a pumpkin maniac (hand waving in the air), here are a few ideas to add pumpkins to your menu if you choose a pumpkin theme (or just really love pumpkin!).
• Make a simple pumpkin soup by adding about four cups of chicken broth to a 28-ounce can of pumpkin. Cook until bubbling and let simmer then stir in about 3 ounces of Feta cheese, season with salt and a pinch of nutmeg.
• Use canned pumpkin as a thickener. Add it to any type of chili or stew that needs a little thickening.
• Substitute canned pumpkin for half the fat in quick breads. This works well with cinnamon, citrus and chocolate. Or make your taste buds extra happy and make a loaf of pumpkin bread.
• Add canned pumpkin to half your cheesecake filling. Swirl it into the filling, but don’t mix, before baking to get an awesome design and incredible flavor.
• Mix canned pumpkin into softened ice cream then refreeze for a quick pumpkin dessert. Serve with gingersnaps and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
• Mix a heaping spoonful into grits, top with grated Parmesan cheese and a tiny dollop of butter.
• Mix canned pumpkin with one part apple cider and two parts ginger ale for a fun beverage.
You could also make pumpkin polenta, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin muffins, roasted pumpkin wedges, pumpkin roll or pumpkin seeds.
However you decide to entertain this fall, just remember to enjoy the experience and not get too wrapped up in the details. It’s all about connecting with your friends and loved ones that truly matters!
Speaking of connecting, I hope you’ll join me and the rest of the Love Train authors for a “welcome autumn” celebration tomorrow. The fun begins at 8 a.m. Pacific Time (9 Mountain, 10 Central, 11 Eastern). It will be a day full of fun, games, giveaways, and more!
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What’s your favorite way to entertain?
Casual? Rustic? Elegant? Classy? Whimsical?
Or if entertaining isn’t your thing,
what’s your favorite autumn flavor?
Post your answer for a chance to win a digital copy of my newly released
collection of two autumn-themed sweet cowboy romances,
and a digital copy of my Savvy Autumn Entertaining guide!
