Top 10 Fall Crafts for Boys

I'm the mom of two boys.
I love crafty things.

They (for the most part) hate any craft that last longer then 10 minutes Scratch that.....8 minutes.

My boys want to be running around the house tearing stuff up or outside playing football with their friends. They don't want to be in having craft time with mom.

So here is a list of my top ten favorite fall crafts that I've found on Pinterest that are perfect for boys. They don't require much time, you might get a little messy making them and you can always tell them how much Grandma would love to have something they made.

1. Paper Plate Pop-Up Turkey - this one is super easy and if you have a kid that loves to color, this is right up their alley.

2. Homemade Window Clings - love this one. The boys get a little messy (which mine love) and they get a cool thing to hang up in their windows! Win-Win in my book.

3. Leaf Art - Another one that I love. Make it a treasure hunt for your boys to find the biggest leaf they can. Paint it, press on paper. Done. Great art to hang on the wall.

4. Thanksgiving Potholders - quick and easy and a cute reminder of how little they once were.

5. TP Tube Turkeys - I always love crafts that are so easy, you already have all the supplies in your home! This is one of those super easy crafts!

6. Indian Corn Craft - I like this one because they can paint and learn a little too.

7. Painting Pine cones - this is the best...because there are no rules. Just paint and have fun. Plus searching for the perfect pine cones would be a fun game too.

8. Leaf Rubbing - there is nothing new about leaf rubbing. Just plain old fun for little kids.

9. Upcycled Bird Feeders - I remember doing these as a kid. Again - no rules. Just let their creativity flow as they paint or color their new bird feeders.

10. Pumpkin Moon Sand - the best part about this is to let the kids help making the moon sand too. Playing with something you just made is all about being a boy!

Enjoy that short window of time you have crafting with your boys!! I know I always do!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin-Top Cookies

My boys and I were in doing a little bit of grocery shopping today and - as always - they wanted to go back by the bakery department for a free cookie.

(Why don't they give moms free cookies too??)

They usually are giving out sugar cookies...which are completely fine and very tasty. But today they were handing out Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

What?!

My kid love everything pumpkin. My youngest goes so far that instead of having a birthday cake, he wants a pumpkin pie! Needless to say, the kids gobbled up those cookies in no time.

I got one VERY SMALL taste and that was it. No sharing with mom today.

I decided that I would make a batch of them myself. I found on Pinterest, some cookies that looked soft and muffin-toppy looking like the ones at the store. They were from Cha-Ching on a Shoestring. I changed it up just a little to adjust to the way my family eats...they are beautiful and delicious and you should definitely try them!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Adapted from Cha-Ching on a Shoestring)

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour (I use a 50/50 mix of white and whole wheat flour)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp milk (I use vanilla almond milk)
1 tsp vanilla (or almond)
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine pumpkin, egg, applesauce, sugar, vanilla and milk together. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and baking soda together. Combine your dry ingredients into your wet. Stir just until combined. Add chocolate chips.

Drop from tablespoon onto greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Let cool on wire rack.

Makes 24-30 small cookies. I like mine monster-sized and it gave me 12 of them. Enjoy these. They won't last long.

Notes:

* You can add walnuts if that's what your family likes - about a half cup (but you might want to decrease the amount of chocolate by a half cup too - but I always say "The More the Merrier!")
* You could make this a great vegan recipe just by swapping out your egg for either a flax egg or one banana. (And, of course, using vegan chocolate chips.)
* Don't skimp and not grease your cookie sheet, since these cookies have no butter they will stick.
* These cookies freeze really well. Just make sure and let them cool completely first.

Linking up to: A Life in Balance, Daisy Cottage Designs, Dwelling Happiness, Elizabeth Joan Designs, Keeping It Simple, Uncommon Designs, I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Easy Spicy Pumpkin Bread

I thought it was the funniest thing,

the other day my oldest son Ashton

said he had been in the mood from some my Pumpkin Bread

and could I make some for him.

 

Of course, I can't turn down such a sweet request

so I made up these two beautiful loaves for the boys.

 

 

Both loaves were completely gone

within three days!

 

These kids (and the hubby)

love some pumpkin bread!

 

DIY Fallen Leaves Placemat

I'm so happy that fall is finally here!

It really is my favorite time of the year.

 

I bought several sweaters during the spring and summer and I finally get to wear them.

I am so excited!

 

 

 

New Tablescape - You Choose It!

I need a new table scape!

My table looks boring right now

and I need your help!

I know,

it's sad looking, right?

I've had this up since July and did have some flowers from the garden in the jar.

But for at least the last few weeks,

it's empty and looking pretty horrible.

I know there are plenty of you out there are prefect at this kind of thing..

so I thought I'd enlist your help

I took pictures of everything I have to work with.

Here are all the placemats/runners that I have

And I pulled things I thought might look night on the table from all over my house...

Help me figure out which combination of items 

would look good together!

Here's what I came up with in the mean time...

Please leave me your combinations in the comments!!! I can't wait to hear your ideas!

Sam