Today is the first day of Autumn. While I am sad the summer flew by, I am so excited for Fall. The leaves turn, the weather gets crisp, and it is a sign the holiday season is not far behind. I also love Fall because it is a fun time to entertain. Here are some reasons to celebrate this season:

• Football is here! Whether it’s your alma mater playing in a college conference or your favorite NFL team is on Monday Night Football, it’s great to get friends together to watch teams battle it out on the gridiron. Football parties do not need to be fancy — casual is better — which it all the more easy to pull something together.
• Fall picnics. Pack a picnic basket and cooler with your favorite snacks and drive to the country for an afternoon. Many wineries allow the public to picnic on their property which can be a beautiful backdrop as you snack and sip.
• Thanksgiving. Turkey. Pumpkin pie. Hot apple cider. Can it get better than that? It’s fun to set a formal table, break out the china, and put together a special feast. We’ll talk more about that as November approaches.

There is so much to celebrate this Fall, so don’t let the season fly by without stopping to spend quality time with friends and family!

1) Create a menu plan.

The menu plan template I created includes the item (recipe/dish), ingredients, where I will buy each ingredient, when to prepare it, what serving vessel I will serve it in, and any additional notes I might have. I print the plan out and use it as my shopping list as well as a guide on Thanksgiving day. Each year I save the document and my chicken-scratch notes to remind myself of what I served that year, which recipes worked, and other lessons learned. The document doesn’t need to be complicated or pretty, it just needs to work for you.

2) Label your serveware.

I generally set out my serveware a day or two before the meal to make sure I have all of the right vessels and to determined how they will work with my tablescape. Once I’ve pulled out all of the vessels, I use post-it notes to label what item will go in what vessel. This not only helps me stay organized, but it is also helpful if you have family who are helping you set out the items — they’ll know where everything goes.

3) Keep recipes and notes in a clear folder.

Once I have determined my Thanksgiving menu, I put all of the recipes in a clear folder along with my menu plan. I take it with me when I go shopping. Before I leave the store I not only check my menu plan/shopping list but I also scan the ingredients on the recipes themselves to make sure I have not forgotten anything. (I hate having to make two trips to the store!)

The clear folder is also helpful because it keeps the recipes clean and visible  when cooking. If something spills on the folder, wipe it off and keep on going! No crinkled or smudged paper to deal with next year when you are pulling out your recipes.

I prefer the reusable tabbed clear folders like these. I write the event in pencil and then erase and reuse for my next event.

I am always looking for non-floral decor alternatives for weddings and other events. My husband and I went on a hike today in Great Falls and everywhere I turned I found inspiration for Fall decor!  My mind is now spinning with ideas for incorporating natural elements — like pinecones, greenery, branches, and acorns — into designs.

In fact, I worked on an event recently where a team of us collaborated on nature-inspired centerpieces — we filled clear vessels with pears and apples and used acorns and pinecones as filler. I can’t take credit for the design, but it looked great!

Below are a few images that are inspiring me to go out and collect all of the pinecones I can find — then I’ll be prepared for Fall decorating next year, too!

DIY pinecone wedding bouquet via Once Wed

pinecone boutonniere via Martha Stewart

Rustic pinecone monogram via Martha Stewart

pinecone escort card table via Martha Stewart

pinecone monogram via Martha Stewart

pinecone wreath via Country Living

gilded pinecone placecard via Country Living