Have you started making your Christmas Cookie Party plans for the season? We definitely have! 

We are a big fan of the Family Cookie Decorating Parties as well as Cookie Exchange Parties... but we wouldn't dream of having a cookie/baking party without some adorable holiday inspired aprons! 

Here at Kitchen Glam, we have already started preparing for the Holiday Season and have released our first batch of Christmas Themed Aprons (Towel Aprons). Be sure to swing by our Etsy website to snag one of these adorable aprons while we still have them. (Just think of what a cute hostess gift they would make for a Holiday Party host as well!)

Family Leaf Crafts and Pumpkin Decorating

We can't believe it is already been a week in October! Fall has certainly arrived with the weather cooling down significantly and the leaves changing colors all around us. Today, we'd love to share with you some great ideas that we have come across this past week for some great fall family crafts and some fabulous ways to use pumpkins in your fall decorating!

There is nothing we love more about fall than the changing colors of the leaves! So this fall, we want to celebrate the fall colors/leaves with some fun leaf crafts! This website gives plenty of ideas... from turning the fallen leaves into crazy leaf creatures, creating leaf confetti, or using leaves and paint to make colorful leaf prints.

Another of our favorite ways to decorate is with pumpkins! Now that the pumpkin patches are all filled up with this year's crop, here are 5 great ways to use these gourds/or imitations of them in your Fall Decorating: (Click on any of the photos to be taken to a website with directions)

1. Patterned Paper Pumpkins - Make these great decorations using patterned card-stock and twine.

2. Glitter Monogrammed Pumpkins - Make these with your initials - or spell out a word with a few!

3. Painted Patterned Pumpkins - Use paint to make bold stripes or chevron on a pumpkin or three.

4. Ribbon Decorated Pumpkins - Use ribbon or trim to make a pumpkin stand out!

5. Bejeweled Pumpkins - Make these pumpkins using jewels from Michael's and other embellishments. (This would also make a beautiful decoration/centerpiece for a Fall Wedding)

We are loving all of these ideas and can't wait to use some of them for decorating our homes this Fall!

5 Fall Squash Recipes

One of my favorite things about the fall is the revival of squash recipes. I just love cooking squash of all kinds - it's delicious, nutritious, and certainly brings about the fall spirit. 

Today I would like to share 5 squash recipes that each require a different kind of squash - most people are familiar with butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squashes... but I would also like to include some of the not so familiar for cooking - pumpkin and buttercup. To get to the individual recipes, simply click on the photo to be redirected!

1. Twice Baked Butternut Squash - I LOVE butternut squash and this recipe looks simply amazing. A must try for the fall this year!

2. Roasted Winter Squash with Brown Butter and Sage - a fall squash classic!

 3. Lasagna-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash - this year will be my first time cooking a spaghetti squash... I am very excited to try it out!

4. Coconut Curry Pumpkin Soup - I've never cooked with pumpkin before... but this sounds delicious! Coconut curry is already amazing and I'm sure the pumpkin adds a delicious touch to it!

5. Buttercup Squash Casserole - this recipe is essentially a squash-mashed potato type dish, but seasoned with sweetness (brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chives) = yum!

I've already got two of the five squash in my kitchen cupboard... can't wait to try all of these recipes this fall! What is your favorite squash recipe? How about most unique squash recipe?

5 DIY Fall Decorations

Today we would like to share some great Fall Décor Ideas that you can make yourself! We are totally in love with these DIY Fall Decorations and can’t wait to try them out for ourselves. Simply click on the photos to be taken to their DIY instructions.

1. Fall Halloween Owls – these adorable owls would look great on a mantle or on a table in your front entry.

2. Fall Leaf Candles – with the use of some twine, make these candles for your home to really showcase this seasons colorful fall leaves.

3. Fall Burlap Wreath – this wreath is super cute, festive, and easy to make!

4. No Sew Burlap Pumpkins – here is another burlap project! We LOVE these pumpkins and will definitely be making some for our homes!

5. Twig Coasters – nobody can have enough coasters for their home. These crafty coasters really bring the Fall feeling indoors and are super easy to make!

What make-it-yourself projects will you be making this fall?

Fall Simmer Pot Recipes

Looking for more ways to celebrate the fall? 

Apartment Therapy has this great posting all about bringing the smells of the seasons into your home with these 5 Simmer Pot Recipes. All you need are some cinnamon sticks, vanilla, orange peels, cloves, and other spices. Simply collect the items needed for the recipe and then just simmer all the ingredients in water on your stove. Soon you will have your entire home smelling like the most wonderful scents of the season!

Here are the ingredients you need for 5 Simmer Pot recipes. For more information, visit Apartment Therapy's Website!

Recipe #1
Cinnamon sticks
Apple peels
Orange rinds
Whole cloves

Recipe #2
Peel from 1 lemon
Peel from 1 orange
2 bay leaves
3 cinnamon sticks
2 Tablespoons whole cloves

Recipe #3
A few drops vanilla
Orange peels

Recipe #4
1 cup dried lavender
1 tsp anise
1 Tablespoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
1 Cinnamon stick

Recipe #5
5 bay leaves
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon

Hope you enjoy! We can't wait to get one of these simmer pots going at our homes this week!

10 Fall Must-Do Activities

Can you believe that as of yesterday, the Fall Season has arrived for 2014? We are SO excited! There is nothing we love more than the smells of Fall, enjoying the colorful leaves, and participating in some great Fall activities. To celebrate the beginning of the season, here are 10 Fall Activities we believe to be an absolute MUST!

1. Go Apple Picking at a Local Apple Orchard - there is nothing better than a freshly picked apple!

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2. Visit a Pumpkin Patch - in later days, we will have some really fun and festive fall pumpkin decorating ideas to share with you.

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3. Decorate your Porch for the Season - pumpkins, gourds, lanterns, hay... we'll take it all!

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4. Make a Scarecrow - this was always a childhood favorite thing to do.

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5. Go for a Fall Hike or Drive - spend some time out enjoying the most beautiful season of the year.

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6. Rake Leaves... and Jump in Them - another family favorite activity.

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7. Make Spiced Hot Cider or Visit a Cider Mill - one word... YUM!

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8. Participate in a Corn Maze - during the day for a family fun activity... or at night for a spooky adventure.

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9. Go to a Wine Tasting - a great Fall date night idea!

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10. Make a Homemade Apple Pie - the perfect thing to do with all those freshly picked apples. And don't forget to don one of our Fall Themed Apron while your baking - perfect for the season! (Click on the photo of the apron to go to our listing on Etsy.)

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We hope that you all have time this season to get out and enjoy the fall weather! What other activities are on your list to do this Fall?

St. Patrick's Day Party Invitation Idea

I may be a little old fashioned, but when planning a party with friends, I think that sending a paper invitation to your guests adds a really nice touch to your party. 

We are holding a cards and games kind of get together, so I created an invite that has the feel of a playing card.

I first created the card template on my computer and then printed it on these card that I got from Michael's. 

Finally, I created these middle clovers on a scalloped background using scrapbook paper, and put small sticker shamrocks in the corners of the card. 

What kind of party will you be hosting this year?