The Mom's Cheat Sheet » autumn

I Love Fall!

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:20:45 +0000

Bye-bye shorts and Sonic limeades, hello corduroys and apple cider!

I don’t know about you, but I love fall. It’s just the right weather for my favorite jeans and sweater, the leaves on the trees are spectacular, and Starbucks brings back the Pumpkin Spice Latte. What’s not to like?

Each year, I think to myself that it makes no sense for fall to be my favorite season. Everyone loves spring and summer, right? And winter is magical because of snow, hot chocolate by the fireside, and Christmastime. So what’s all the fuss about fall? Well, I love it, and reading the post below makes me realize why.

I was reading A Mom Two Boys today, and I really enjoyed her list, “Sure Signs It’s Fall.” What about you? What’s your favorite part of fall? Is it a break from the heat, fresh apples from the farmer’s market, or the kids being back in school?

Check out this great list and see how yours compares!

Sure Signs It’s Fall [A Mom Two Boys]

Cute Fall Tradition with Kids

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:48:46 +0000

Growing up, we had The Money Tree in our front yard. It was a small little tree that occasionally grew money – pennies, nickles, dimes, etc. Sometimes we’d come home from school and find the coins scattered around it, and (even though I was old enough to figure it out) it was a fun, mysterious little tradition.

I love family traditions, and since fall is one of my favorite seasons, I can see why I enjoy an idea like The Magic Pumpkin Patch. This is just one of the many great ideas you can find at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, a blog I like to follow. If you enjoy pumpkins and seeing your kids smile, then you’ll love the Magic Pumpkin Patch!

Fall Tradition – Magic Pumpkin Patch [Balancing Beauty and Bedlam]

Organizing Your Closet for Fall

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:17:40 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting to the point where I open up my closet and realize that I need to be reaching for a long-sleeved shirt, rather than the t-shirts hanging there. However, all of my summer stuff is still out, and soon I’ll need to switch it over for my warm-weather clothes. This isn’t a very exciting thought, though, since my closet has become a bit of a mess over the summer. Over the last few (very busy) months, I’ve gotten a bit lazy in where I put things, and it’s starting to look a little chaotic in there.

The good news is that this presents an opportunity for me –and for you. Sure, my closet is a mess, but what better time to tackle it than when I already have a reason to get in there? As I’m switching my summer for my winter clothes, I need to find some better ways to store my stuff. I was browsing one of my favorite sites, and came across some tips to help.

31 Ways to Make Over Your Closets [Real Simple]

Less Really Is More

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:24:59 +0000

We’ve all heard of “spring cleaning,” but I haven’t really given much thought to “fall cleaning.” It makes sense, though. After a summer of fun, there is plenty of stuff around here I could toss – grass stained kids’ clothes, that old baby pool that is too dirty to save, and of course we still have a garage full of stuff that needs to sorted through. And let’s not forget that, though they are still a ways away, the holidays are not too far off. Before long, you’ll be rearranging stuff in your house to make room for seasonal decorations, new toys for the kids, and perhaps family in town. It’s good to get a jump before the chaos hits, and go ahead and clear out the stuff you don’t need.

Not convinced that “fall cleaning is worth it? Check out The Simple Dollar’s post today.

Addition by Subtraction: The Benefits of a “Fall Cleaning” [Simple Dollar]

Pumpkin Cookies

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:58:37 +0000

Fall is just around the corner – you can smell it in the air. After you bake these cookies, you’ll really be able to enjoy the scents of the fall season! These are simple to make, and absolutely delicious. Have your kids join in the fun – what would baking be without a messy toddler icing cookies?

For the cookies:

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1-15oz can of real pumpkin

1 stick of butter, melted

2 ¼ cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spoon the cookie dough onto a baking sheet, about 2-3 Tbsp (not too close, as the dough will spread while baking).

For the frosting:

3 oz cream cheese

6 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp milk

2-3 cups confectioners sugar

Mix together in a medium bowl.

Bake cookies for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. When the cookies are cool, spread the frosting over them.

These cookies are perfect for baking on a cool, crisp autumn day. As simple as they are to prepare, they never fail to impress friends and family. They’re perfect for a family get together, a snack for the preschool class, or a nice afternoon at home with the kids.

- Grace

Harvest Peach Pork Chops

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:36:33 +0000

I made this last night for the first time, and I simply must share the recipe. I was amazed at how good these were, and my house smelled amazing the entire day. If you are looking for something easy, tasty, and fit for fall, then look no further!

4 – 5 Pork Chops

Pepper to taste

29-oz can cling peach halves (Reserve ¼ cup of the juice)

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground cinnamon

8-oz can tomato sauce

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Sautee the pork chops in a frying pan for a few minutes, lightly browning them on both sides.
While they are cooking, mix together the ¼ cup peach juice, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon, tomato sauce, and vinegar.
Place the pork chops in a crock pot, and arrange the peaches on top. Make sure and pour the peach juice around the chops as well.
Pour the sauce on top of the chops.
Cook on low for 5-6 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.

I also suggest making this meal for company. Consider this –

It’s in a crock pot, so you won’t have to worry about cooking right before friends show up. (See my post on Being A Good Host – How to Make Your Guests Feel Welcome)
Your house will smell like autumn. There is nothing like cinnamon, cloves and peaches to make a home welcoming for friends.
The presentation is quite pretty. Put a pork chop in a plate, put a few of the spiced peaches on top of it, and drizzle some of the sauce on top.
Serving a meal that is in tune with the season is a great way to kick off Autumn with your friends. Enjoy!