* Favorite things of FALL *

There is no other season like FALL! The cool, crisp breeze, the beautiful leafs changing colors to burnt orange, bright red and amber yellow {ha....that's my name ;) }, mums, pumpkins and gourds, dried corn stalks, sweatshirts, campfires, scarecrows, toasted marshmallows, Indian corn.....I could seriously go on forever. I thought I would share a couple different things just to bring in Fall!

 

 
 
First, I love the smells of fall.....cinnamon, pumpkin, cloves, apples......and here I am rambling again
I always make this little stovetop simmer potpourri, it's easy and will make your house smell heavenly.

                 

Cut up 1 Orange and 1 Apple....Put them in a small saucepan with about 3-4 cinnamon sticks, a pinch of cloves and about 2 TBS of vanilla {Mine is homemade...which we will get to in a minute}

Cover it all with water and sit on your stove on simmer...within a couple minutes your house will smell AMAZING!

 

 

Another favorite of mine about Fall is....THE FAIR! The rides, the parade night and the fried food...well ALL the food! As I get older and think back....the memories of being a kid and riding the rides over and over and over again. Being there for hours and still not wanting to leave when Mom said it was time to go. Wanting to play every single game and Mom kept saying no we have spent enough money already. Being a teenager and walking around every single evening like you were the coolest thing out there. Sitting on the wall by the Elementary School, watching all the people walk by being completely awesome. {Well at least you thought you being completely awesome ;)} Then as a adult, taking YOU'R child in to start a whole new generation of memories! Watching my son ride the kiddie rides with his little buddies, eating the best fresh cut fries around and playing games that are way to expensive for the cheap little toy that you get....but yet you do it anyway just to see that smile on his face! You will spend lots of money, eat lots of fattening food and spend many evenings/days there....but those memories you will cherish forever. That one time of year!

   

 

Ok, so you know how expensive Vanilla extract is.....wellllllll why don't you make your own!!?!??! It's super easy and you can make a MUCH bigger quantity for less! Ready...here we go!

 

All you need is:

Vodka

Vanilla Beans

Jar w/ a lid

 

Take about 6 vanilla beans and split them in half, length wise, and put them in your jar. Pour vodka overtop, seal jar and set in a cool dark place for about 2 months.  Every once in a while shake up your bottle; the vanilla beans will infuse with the alcohol to make a wonderful extract.

 

Enjoy every moment of Fall you can!! :)