Autumn Treat Mix with Printable Tag

Fall time is always a favorite around here!  The colors, the smells, wearing warm layers, walking in the leaves and dare I say pumpkin spice?  Just look what I found in the grocery store...

It was just what I needed to make a fun Autumn Treat Mix to give neighbors and friends!
Have you seen these Cheerios in your grocery stores? Here's an affiliate link to order a box online. 

This candy coated treat mix is a favorite in our house.  But it comes with a warning!  Do not make alone. You need an accountability partner...someone to make sure this treat gets delivered.
As soon as you make this, bag it up immediately with the cute tag tied on and physically walk...no run! it over to your neighbor's home.  Failure to do this will result in excessive eating and having to make another batch!  You think I'm joking?  I don't joke.

OK, warning has been issued.  If you're ready to accept this mission, gather up a few more 'fall' sweets and you're ready. 
Here's what I used:
8 cups popped popcorn
2 cups Fritos corn chips
2 cups Pumpkin Spice Cheerios
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup fall M&M's
1/2 cup candy corn

Mix together all these ingredients.

Melt one package of white Candiquik in the microwave.  This vanilla candy coating is the glue to all the ingredients...and the addictive formula that makes it impossible to stop eating!

 Can't find Candiquik in the stores?  Affiliate link- Click here

Pour melted vanilla candy into the mixed ingredients.  Stir to coat evenly.  Let dry.

Print out Autumn Treat Mix tags on cardstock.
Trim and hole punch. 

After the white candy coating has dried--give it 3-4 minutes.
Fill cellophane bags with the mixture.
Use a small piece of jute to tie on the tags.

Deliver to your friends and neighbors, NOW! 

Click here to download your own Autumn Treat Tags.

Need some more snack mixes to try?
Click here for 10 more!


Here's another version without the vanilla coating.
Have a Corny Halloween


And another version.
Candy Coated Popcorn


Happy FALL!

 

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Empty Nester Gift

Oh friends...our time with our kids is so short!  Yes, I know you don't want to hear that when you're knee deep in toddler-hood or even in the middle school moodiness...ugh.  However, both my kids are now in high school and I'm feeling the crunch to spend every possible moment soaking up their presence, teaching them every skill they still need for life, and smothering them with love and attention--- which of course you know they appreciate so much?!? 

 (I'm sure you can read between the lines, here.)

So, when my friend was feeling sad and lonely from sending off her baby to college, I just had to take her a little bit of love.  
(Note:  Some may want to include a bottle of wine and a box of tissues with this gift.)

It's a quick and easy little 'thinking of you' gift to give to any empty-nester.  It takes just a few supplies, starting with a craft nest.

I don't know if you've ever been shopping for craft nests before, but there are a ton to choose from--even when it's not spring!
Take a look at these affiliate links from Amazon. 

Place Dove chocolates (playing on the bird theme) and/or
Baby Ruth candy (playing on the baby theme) into the nest.
Sugar Babies candies would also work.

Print out one of the empty nester tags onto cardstock.  

Click here to print your own tags.

Trim tag and tape onto a wooden skewer cut in half.
Stick skewer into the nest.

Hand deliver and love on your friend. 

Here's a few more gifts for friends dealing with hard times.



Cheer Up Gift



When the Trial is Over Gift


Foot and Toe Surgery 'Punny' Card



Hip Surgery Gift




Lap Band Surgery Cards



And maybe you're now looking for some college care package ideas?  Take a look at these:
Stick With It!                                 College Blues
           

Orange Survival Study Sack        Brighten Up Your Semester!
          


SMART Gift Bag                      Caramel Apple Dippin' Kit
         


SNAP To It!                                        Bear Themed Care Package
      

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50th Anniversary Candy Gift

This summer my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! 50! Yikes! Doesn't that sound like such a huge number?! They didn't want anyone to make a fuss over them. No party, no big bash, no family cruise, no special trip...I mean, really? I wanted to do 'something', even if it was just a small token of love.

I decided on a few small things to celebrate.
(Affiliate links are in this post to help you locate items.)

First, I decorated up one of my favorite party decor items--my Lightbox from Heidi Swapp.  These simple boxes really add to any celebration, all you have to do is change up the letters.

Then, of course the chalkboard needed some anniversary signage and balloon love. You can find LOVE balloons, here.

Next, I baked up some sugar cookies. Number cookies placed tightly together on a cookie sheet, bake into beautiful double digits.
Get number cookie cutters here.  

I ordered this 50th anniversary frame and put in my parent's wedding picture and current picture side by side. Aren't they the cutest?

I wanted to give my parents a 'gold' gift to go with 50 years--you know how you're supposed to give gold for the 50th, right?  Well, the more I got thinking about this, the more I realized they really needed a 'silver' gift...as in silverware!  After 50 years, one should really try to update their wedding gifts, if you know what I mean? I searched for a box of 50 pieces of silverware, and found it--perfect!

And then I decided to get a little crafty.
50 candies wrapped up in 50 memories.

Of course this idea could work for any big number, not just 50.
To make your own:  you'll need 50 Hershey's Miniatures chocolate candies, a glass jar, paper, tape, a pen and of course 50 memories!

Take a piece of scrap paper and make a template that folds around the miniature candy bar. You want the paper to cover the label completely. Once satisfied with the template, cut out 50 pieces of scrapbook paper the same size. I used pretty double-sided paper, but it's not necessary.

Now, the hard part! Coming up with 50 memories!  You would think this would be a breeze, but I was a child for most of these years of my parent's marriage! Some years were definitely harder to come up with memories, than others.
Write the year on the top of each paper label, then write something that happened during that year. It helps to make a list on notebook paper, first--then write on the papers.

Memories included family births, trips, new jobs, moves, special happenings, school changes, etc. etc.

Once all the memories are written down, it's time to wrap them up.
Wrap each memory around a chocolate bar. Fold tightly and secure with a small piece of clear tape.

Place candies in a jar and add a tag with instructions to peel off the labels and read them.

My mom ended up putting these candies in my dad's lunch for about a month.  He was told to bring home all the labels so she could read them.

Here's some more posts you might enjoy.

Sweet Anniversary Gift-- A drink for every year.



A Rustic Wedding Reception

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