There’s just something about this time of year that is simply magical for me; the crisp air, the delightful smells, the fun family activities. Summer is great and all but fall holds a special place in my heart,  along with good food and fun crafts, which is why I’ve decided to combine all three for you today!

With this beautiful weather we’ve been having, I have been spending a lot of time outside with my daughters. They’ve noticed the colorful leaves that are (already) falling off the trees in our yard. Since they decided to start a little collection, and I love all things crafty, I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to use the leaves for a little craft project.  So we made placemats!

All you need is clear contact paper, fresh autumn leaves (not crunchy because those break easily and won’t look as nice), and scissors. Cut the contact paper to the size you want your placemat to be. It’s better to cut a piece a little larger than you want the placemat to be in case you need to trim some of the edges off.

Think about how cute (and inexpensive) these would be to make as part  your Thanksgiving table settings too! It might even make you a little more motivated to get out there and rake your leaves? Maybe?

Now let’s talk food…

For the past 4 months I have been working hard to change my lifestyle by eating much healthier and exercising a lot more. I’ve tried many new recipes with my family over that period of time, some of which were a hit and others…well…not so much. A friend of mine shared this recipe with me and it was a winner with my family and so I’d like to pass it along to you lovely people. It’s not complicated and yet impressively delicious!

Spaghetti Squash & Shrimp

Ingredients:

-Large tomatoes sliced

-Fresh garlic (minced)

-Extra Virgin Olive Oil

-Cooked Spaghetti Squash (You can go here for more information on how to cook spaghetti squash)

-Salt & Pepper

-Parmesan Cheese (2-3 tbsp – or more!)

-Shrimp

Directions:

Sauté minced garlic (I used 3 cloves) in 2-3 tbsp of olive oil.

Add sliced tomatoes  and parmesan cheese and simmer on low heat.

Then add shrimp and your spaghetti squash.

Add salt & pepper to taste.

Enjoy!