Best Ever Popcorn Balls

These are a fun fall treat for a group of kids! (ok, I admit, I ate one too)

5 quarts popped popcorn

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/4 cup margarine

2 teaspoons cold water

2 5/8 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup marshmallows

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, margarine, cold water, confectioners' sugar and marshmallows. 
 
2. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil.
 
3. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, coating each kernel.
 
4. Grease hands with vegetable shortening or oil and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls.

Citronella Candle in a Coconut Shell

We love to eat dinner outside when the weather is nice, but unfortunately the flies make it un-enjoyable certain times of the year.  We have to keep a citronella candle lit on our table and when we burn them down to nothing, its easy to make another one!

Here's what you'll need:

Large aluminum can with the label removed to melt your wax

Large pot of boiling water

Large chunk of basic household or candle wax

Cheese grater

Candle wicks with wire (the kind with the little metal circle on one end)

Coconut shell or glass jar (or anything really)

Citronella oil

Glue

Gather your materials together and grate the wax into the aluminum can.

Boil water in a large pot and carefully place the wax can in the pot of water to melt.  Keep stirring the wax to help it melt.

Meanwhile glue the wick inside the coconut shell.

Once the wax is all melted, add a generous amount of citronella oil and stir again.  Carefully pour the melted wax into your coconut shell or jar.

Let it sit undisturbed a couple of hours until it is completely set.

That's it!  A cute citronella candle for our picnic table!

Maple Cinnamon Frosting

I am so glad I found this AMAZING frosting, it is soooooo good! I followed this recipe for the frosting. The link also includes directions for cider and donut cupcakes. I didn't have time to make these to go with the maple cinnamon frosting, so I used a yellow cake mix, followed the directions on the box, but used apple juice instead of the water it called for.

I think the end product was very tasty. I decorated the cupcakes with yellow sprinkles and a small touch of nutmeg. Perfect for a fall birthday (like our family had) or a harvest party!

Grandma's Old Hutch

Just a peek inside my kitchen... I've just finished painting my Grandmother's old hutch to try to update it and make it match a little better in my home.

 

Grandma's old maple hutch before.

Old hutch updated!

And for Halloween... some scaaarrrry silhouettes on my white plates.

All it took was some black paint and some new pulls to bring my grandmother's maple hutch from the 1950's into this century.  Now it matches my kitchen table!

Painted Rock Pumpkins

This is a really easy, cute way to decorate your front porch for Halloween without your jack-o-lanterns rotting before the day arrives!

First we found some large river rocks and the kids painted them orange.
Then I hot glued some cinnamon sticks onto the tops.

Lastly, we painted the faces and some lines to make them look more realistic.

Now you make some!

Fall Leaf Stained Glass

I helped the kids make this beautiful craft this morning after we took a walk to collect some fall leaves.

First we decided on a pattern for the leaves.  Next, we cut a large square of clear contact paper and layed it sticky side up, then pressed each leaf onto the sticky paper.  Then we cut another square and enclosed our leaves inside the two sheets. 

We made a frame for it out of construction paper and hung it in a sunny window.  Isn't it pretty?  I love fall.