Easy Fall Foods | Crock-pot Chili, Low Carb Pumpkin Muffins, Semi-homemade Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Do you save certain recipes for certain times of year? I know I was waiting all September for it to finally get cool enough to make a pot of chili! Once October hit, I was ready to break out the pumpkin foods--I don't like pumpkin drinks though.

I served a big pot of chili just last week to some of my Junior League ladies. We had a little potluck night with the exec girls as we went through boxes and sorted event supplies. Everyone brought a little something, and it really made for a nice and easy fall get-together that you could replicate!

We had chili and baked potatoes with all the toppings, cornbread muffins, and a few different desserts to round it all out. Afterwards, the girls were asking for my chili recipe so I wanted to share:

Crock-pot Chili:

1 lb ground beef (or venison if you've got a freezer full like I do!)
2 16 oz cans of Bush's Best Chili Kidney Beans Spicy Chili Sauce
2 16 oz cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of sweet corn
1 10 oz can of Rotel Hot Diced Tomatoes With Habaneros
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
1 mild chili seasoning packet

Cook the ground meat with half of the packet of mild chili seasoning (especially if venison) until well done. Drain. Add with rest of ingredients in crock pot. Cook on high for four hours, or low for six to eight. Serve with sour cream and Tillamook Mexican 4 Cheese Blend.


Another fun fall recipe is my favorite easy "healthy" pumpkin muffins. Easy, because no measuring. Healthy, because they're much lower in carbs and sugars than regular muffins but just as delicious!

Low Carb Pumpkin Muffins

1 15 oz can of pure pumpkin puree
1 box of Pillsbury sugar free yellow cake mix
1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice
Semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, but I mean, come on)

Mix all ingredients until smooth. Grease muffin tin. Bake in regular muffin tin for 18-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes roughly 16 muffins.

And if you're looking for something not so healthy, but oh so delicious, my friend Kim shared an easy "semi-homemade" pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe that was easy and fun to make! I honestly felt so accomplished after rolling these up and baking them successfully. And they made the house smell too good!

Semi-Homemade Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

3 packages of crescent rolls (4 rolls per container)
1 15 oz can of pure pumpkin puree
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice

Lay dough on lightly floured surface, pinching together the seams. Mix pumpkin, brown sugar, and spices. Spread with half of the pumpkin mixture, and sprinkle with cinnamon to taste. Tightly roll lengthwise, and slice into 2 inch sections. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz block of cream cheese, softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla
4 tablespoons of melted butter

Mix ingredients thoroughly with mixer. Add milk by the tablespoon if you desire a thinner, more glaze-like texture. Ice cinnamon rolls quickly after removing from the oven while still warm.

There is enough frosting and pumpkin puree mix to save and make a second batch for your neighbors or next weekend!

Share your favorite recipes in the comments so I can try something new this weekend!

Fall Home Decor Ideas

Post Contains Affiliate Links

I may or may not have had my fall decor out since the end of August. I justified it by saying we had a football game almost every weekend in September {Hail Southern!} is true, but it really just makes me happy. Plus, doesn't the house seem to stay cleaner when there is some festive decor out and about?

I don't really love the traditional fall colors of orange, yellow, and red inside my home since so much of my home is a neutral color like gray, white, and brown. So I try to find some pieces that bring in a more rustic, fall vibe without being orange leaves, pumpkins, and scarecrows everywhere.

I ordered these buffalo check pillow covers from Amazon, and I'm so glad I did! I actually ended up buying a second set to have more pillows in this pattern! The 20 inch case fit my over sized pillows perfectly. I'm sure I'll leave these out at least through Christmas since I incorporate the buffalo check in to my main Christmas tree as well. The quality was great with these--very thick and you couldn't see through the fabric at all. They're a woven material that doesn't stretch though, so be careful when putting the pillows in!

I really love this neutral fall wreath, too. I have one similar that I picked up at TJ Maxx last fall. The white pumpkins and sunflowers really make this for me. I think these colors really pop on my blue door.

A few other Amazon favorites include my two favorite fall candles: Nest's Pumpkin Chai and Bath & Body Works' Marshmallow Fireside. The combo together is fabulous, and I truly believe the Pumpkin Chai is probably the best pumpkin scented candle ever. I also like these decorative galvanized buckets to sit the grocery store mums in. They add a little bit to the front porch which is nice.

TJ Maxx is also a great stop for fall decor, and I picked up these ceramic pumpkins this year. They have tons of sayings, sizes, and colors, and make the cutest little collection! What are your favorite fall decor items?

Fall Wedding Guest Dress

This post does contain affiliate links. I may make a small commission based off of clicks or sales. 

A few weeks ago, we attended my college roommates' beautiful wedding in Roswell. Everything was absolutely perfect, including the weather, which is typically miserable at best early in August in Georgia. I had picked up my dress a few months prior in TJ Maxx just for this occassion because I loved it, but I also loved it for many southern formal events. It got me thinking a little bit about formal attire during the late summer/into fall in the South. It's hot. It's going to be hot until the middle of October at least, but sometimes you want to look more fall-y and not sweat to death.

While I couldn't find my exact dress, I did find this similar one in navy which would work well for August/September. It's such a light, flowy fabric, but the flowers make it fun, and the length a little more formal. I will probably pair my dress with a fun black denim jacket like this one that I just ordered in the fall for a different, more edgy look.

My friend Michelle attended a gala last weekend in this beautiful one shoulder black dress that I had to share, especially after she mentioned it was on Amazon for under $35! I was floored--it's amazing. And it comes in some great fall colors too.

Mint boutique in Dublin has some great options as well, but I really love this green lace midi dress. The color is perfect for fall {also available in a blush rose color!}, and it's a light material that could be paired with a beautiful wrap or jacket as it cools off in October and November. 

I'm obviously a fan of the lace midi dress, since that's what I wore to a wedding last October, too! A midi dress is a great choice regardless of the weather, and definitely fits well in a dressier setting. Plus, who doesn't want to get a little dressed up every now and again?

What I bought from the #Nsale

Now that it's over, I feel like I can safely mention the #Nsale. I'm not an LTK girl {LiketoKnowit bloggers are pretty popular on Instagram, and make commission off of sales. While I do use affiliate links, I don't use LTK} and while I get it's some bloggers livelihood, it can be a tad bit overwhelming to have it blasted across all channels for three weeks.

I didn't shop a lot, but I did pick up a few things from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. There were some good deals out there, and some great steals on designer pieces if you were looking for that dream item. I am more into staples that I can wear season after season, to work and to play, so I didn't get anything super exciting, but did love and hate a few things.

As you can tell, I definitely had a bit of a theme going on. I love gray so much for fall and winter {and my house, and allthethings} and when I saw this gray coat on blogger Brittany @loverlygray I knew I had to order it. Perfect balance of structured jacket but fun swinging movement, plus it was on sale for $100 off! Unfortunately, this lightweight wool blend Kenneth Cole coat was unlined making it the itchiest most uncomfortable piece of clothing I've ever put on my skin! I was really disappointed, but it had to go back. If you want to try it {IMO, don't.}, definitely go down a size. It runs large.

I ordered the gray Caslon Two Pocket Knit Blazer because I knew it would be a great work piece and it was a great price. It still is, even post-sale. It's the perfect transitional weight for cold summer offices into cooler fall days, and can be dressed up or down. I can't wait to pair it with dark jeans and loafers for a casual fall look.

During the sale/after the wool coat debacle, I fell in love with this other Caslon piece, but it was never available in the gray color in my size! The day after the sale ended {boo...} it popped up in my size, so I just bit the bullet and ordered it. Super glad I did, because if you know me you know I basically wear my robe around the house 24/7. This jacket feels just like my robe! It's so soft and cozy but not heavy at all. It looks really similar to the wool jacket and felt like a good replacement.  The asymmetrical zipping adds a funky element that can kind of dress it up, making this the perfect travel/office/life jacket.  I'm so glad I bought it, even at full price. It comes in three other colors, too.

On to the boots. Both the hubs and I needed new boots, so I got these black Steve Madden booties for me. I usually run between a 7.5 and 8 in shoes, and I'm glad I ordered the 8. Even though I know the leather will stretch some, they are a little tight, but I also have very wide feet. Best part? The rubber sole and heel makes them practically silent. These come in two other colors, too.

For CJM, we ordered this beautiful pair of Chelsea boots. I loved the leather color and the plaid detailing on the gore. These boots were even more beautiful in person, but ran a little big {the toe is longer/more pointed in person} so they had to be returned. Thankfully, Nordstrom always offers free shipping and returns, which makes shopping the sale even easier!

What did you buy from the #Nsale? 

Weekend Recap: October

Have you ever had an entire month overwhelm you? *Raises hand*

October.

Everyone's favorite month.

Bye...

Birthday month! So fun, right? My October was too much fun, and I was more than ready for a slow down in November to start this week.  Last month I worked a lot, traveled a lot, and went to a lot of concerts. It was one of the most challenging, rewarding, and eye opening months on record!

October started off with just a lot of preparation for the rest of the month, but things quickly picked up with our trip to Biloxi, Mississippi, for some of our friends from CJM's time in Savannah during pharmacy school. We flew out on the Thursday before the wedding and came back the Monday after. Seeing friends we haven't seen since graduation last year was so sweet. We all danced too much, stayed up too late, and played too hard; but it was a blast!

 

Friday let me explore the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino while CJM golfed with the guys. Such a beautiful place! Great shopping, food, and drinks, and of course the giant casino and clubs, there really was something for everyone. Friday night featured the rehearsal dinner at the Biloxi Welcome Center which was stunning. An evening of dancing later, and wedding day was here! Such an amazing event for an amazing couple.

Dress: Target | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Tassel Earrings: Lisi Lerch 

Dress: BooHoo | Earrings: Lisi Lerch Ginger in Gold 

Sunday CJM and I rented a car and drove into New Orleans. We were so close and neither of us had ever been there before, and were able to meet up with a couple that knew the area incredibly well! We got to see the highlights, and eat our fill of oysters at the Royal Sonesta's Desire Oyster Bar and beignets at Cafe du Monde.

The following week featured my busiest work week of the year including a community event for over 1,000, a music video project, and my birthday to top it all off. But the really icing on the {birthday} cake? The surprise tickets to the Eagles concert on my birthday from my amazing husband! We had so much fun! He sneakily told me we were going that afternoon, and drove us to Atlanta that evening for the best concert. Of course, we had to get The Varsity to eat on the way home.

Eagles at Phillips Arena in Atlanta--thanks, Kim, for the great shot from your amazing seats! 

Chicago at the Macon City Auditorium--thanks to Tara for her awesome pic, too!

The last full week of October saw more work business, a wonderful Chicago concert in Macon {who are we? Two concerts in one week?!} and a weekend visit from the in-laws featuring a football game and oyster roast. Needless to say, we have been practicing for holiday meals and celebrations all ready!

November is going to be busy, too {birthday month for the hubs!}, but I'm looking forward to a little bit 'cozier' schedule heading into the holidays.

Cozy Home

Why is it always true that you "need a vacation from your vacation?"

We went out of town last week for a wedding in Biloxi, Mississippi, and between that and the busiest work week of the year topped off by my birthday, I'm tired! But so thankful to have a cozy home to relax at when I get the chance.

I actually put out my fall decor during Hurricane Irma...something about hurricanes makes me want to clean and get everything pretty. I didn't add a whole lot of new fall items this year since I'll be doing a major Christmas overhaul, but it was really fun to find new locations for some of my sparkly fall faves. Follow along with my mini fall tour starting in the kitchen, going through the dining room, and ending up in the den.

Kitchen

Dining Room

Living Room

Fall Front Porch

I absolutely love having a front porch. One of my favorite memories from childhood was countless hours sitting on our front porch swing reading a book, and as I got older, rocking in the wicker chairs while talking to my mom. Someday I'd like to add a front porch swing to the end of our porch, too, and maybe a rocking chair or two. 

For now, we've got a few pumpkins and mums ushering in the slightly cooler weather. Waking up and stepping out into cooler temps each morning really helps freshen my mind and get me focused on the day. On the weekends, I'll make a pot of coffee and sit out on the front porch with the pups enjoying the breeze and the beautiful fall light. 

I don't really decorate for Halloween, but apparently we live in a big trick-or-treating neighborhood. While I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to dress up as, I have no idea if I need to add something "Halloween-y" to the front of the house? Nothing scary, but if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! 

Wreath: TJ Maxx | Hanging Basket Stands: Kmart | Mums in Galvanized Buckets: Home Depot