Bringing the Tastes and Scents of FALL to Our Home

Now that I’m not pregnant anymore I have more energy to invest in homemaking. Recovering from the birth after nine months straight of extreme tiredness was like coming out of a cave. Whereas before I couldn’t focus on much more than the basics (main homeschool subjects completed: check — children mostly clean: check — my family has some sort of sustenance: check), I’m thrilled to be able to expand into unnecessary but totally fun things like creating a Fall atmosphere in my home!

Here are some neat Fall ideas to try.

Let’s start with this Pumpkin Pie Sip from the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook:

I made this for my husband and I the other day, and we both just loved it! This delicious drink is perfect for sipping on crisp autumn evenings while having some much-needed alone time.

Yes, I’m starting back up with Trim Healthy Mama again. Last year I shared with you how I started this journey through my post, “How I’m Slimming Down and Feeling Better with Trim Healthy Mama.” Happily, it was very effective! I lost a bit of pudge around my waistline in the first ten days, and by incorporating brisk walks along with the THM eating plan was able to continue the pattern. I might have seen even more results if I had kept going, but then I experienced the return of my cycles and soon after became pregnant. Which is just fine; we love our new little baby, so the weight gain was absolutely worth it! But now, I’m ready to give THM another try. And of course I’ll be posting about my experiences, so make sure you check back for more on that topic later on!

(Note: THM can be used while pregnant, too. However, since I wasn’t feeling well I decided the easiest thing to do was put THM on hold for awhile so that my husband could take over cooking meals for me temporarily.)

The great thing about the THM recipes is that they use no sugar and no wheat. This is important for those of us wanting to lose pregnancy weight, but it’s also helpful for those who just want to be healthier. Their recipes can be used for the whole family, not just for mamas.

Pumpkin Pie Sip

(Makes 1 quart) [Can be served either iced or hot. I prefer hot and am giving you directions on how to make it that way.]

2 rooibos tea bags

boiling water [enough for 1 quart, which equals about 4 mugfuls]

1 tablespoon pumpkin puree (not pie filling) [I use 2 tablespoons]

1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice [I use 1/2 teaspoon]

1 to 2 dashes vanilla extract

1 to 2 generous pinches Mineral Salt

2 to 4 doonks Pure Stevia Extract [each doonk is 1/32 teaspoon], or

2 to 3 teaspoons Super Sweet Blend,

or to taste

1/2 teaspoon coconut oil, or 1 teaspoon MCT oil

1 teaspoon Pristine Whey Protein [I didn’t use this for the drinks you see in the picture. Using this makes the drinks frothier. I would have used it if I had it, but I ran out. 🙂 ]

I steep the tea bags in the water, in the blender with the lid on.

After about five minutes (but while the water is still hot), I remove the tea bags and add all the other ingredients.

Then I blend it for about 30 seconds.

Note: If you don’t have the Pristine Whey Protein or MCT oil, you can substitute 1/4 cup unsweetened almond or cashew milk.

Pour into two cute mugs and enjoy with your spouse! (or another person, or you can be greedy and keep it all to yourself, ha, ha).

*[Please note that I’ve simplified the original wording from the “Pumpkin Sip” recipe.]

~~~

I also like this spicy tea on chilly Fall days:

Taste of FALL Thieves Tea

(makes one mugful)

Hot water

1 drop of Thieves Essential Oil blend

1 tablespoon raw honey

1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar

Stir all ingredients together. Sip slowly while this tea is still steamy hot!

(Thieves is a combination of Rosemary, Eucalyptus radiata, Clove, Peppermint, Lemon, and Cinnamon. These are all very healthy and immune boosting: perfect for colder Fall weather!)

~~~

Another element that helps create a refreshing Fall atmosphere in our home is diffusing therapeutic-grade Essential Oils from Young Living, a healthy alternative to synthetic fragrances.

Here are several homemade blends I’ve tried lately that we all really enjoy!

Blend #1

5 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (either radiata or globulus)

5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

Blend #2

5 drops of Clove Essential Oil

5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

Blend #3

4 drops of Pine Essential Oil

3 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (radiata or globulus)

3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil

Blend #4

5 drops of Wintergreen Essential Oils

5 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil

And of course, Thieves Essential Oil blend smells great all by itself!

~~~

Finally, these adorable little baskets were fun and easy for my children to make. Though not an example of the “tastes” nor the”scents” of Fall, they do make colorful centerpieces for the dining table! The baskets are memorable (because my children made them themselves), they don’t take up a lot of room (they’re stackable and fit nicely in any kitchen cupboard for next Fall), and are a convenient spot for all those colorful Fall leaves my children are always bringing inside.

I got the idea for these baskets from Sonlight’s Worldview program last year. I saved them to use as our Autumn adornment this year. My kids were delighted to get them out again!

Here’s how you can make them at home with your children, too:

~~~

I love that I have the chance to savor all the different seasons of the year, just as I can savor all the different seasons of life! Whether pregnant, caring for a newborn, or managing a toddler, God has a beautiful and important purpose for each phase we go through.

If you try any of these simple ideas, I’d be thrilled to hear about it! And if you have any of your own ideas for how to create a warm, inviting Fall atmosphere in the home, please share below in the comments!

(I took this picture today on our walk to the park. Maple trees are gorgeous in Autumn!)