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Hi Reader,
Halloween is just two weeks away, and somehow October always seems to pick up speed right about now. The calendar fills, the to-do list grows, and I have to remind myself (again) that a cozy season doesn't have to be a busy one. π
This week I've been missing my daughters more than usual, maybe because we finally have true fall-like weather here in the Ozarks and it's my favorite kind of weather.
That set me to thinking about the people we love who are far from home and how a little box in the mail can say "you're not forgotten" better than almost anything.
So this week's goodies are simple: a boo box for your college kid or even a young or not-so-young adult (with a shipping deadline coming up fast!), a chocolate pumpkin cake with a mystery name, a few cozy favorites from the recipe box, and a quick question for you below.
Grace over perfection, friend. The ordinary days are holy ones too.
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Cozy Season Magazines ππ¦
Home Sweet Halloween is here, and it's all about a cozy, not-so-spooky October. It's 61 pages of porch decor on three budgets, pumpkins three ways, a kid-friendly Boo Board, easy trick-or-treat night dinners, no-sew costumes from the closet, crafts for little hands, and a 17-page printable pack. There's even a "Grace for the Season" page for families who'd rather skip Halloween night altogether.
And because Thanksgiving sneaks up on all of us, Home Sweet Thanksgiving: A Companion Guide for the Gathering Season is now open for pre-order. Inside you'll find make-ahead sides and desserts, tablescape ideas, a simple hosting plan, kids' traditions, gratitude pages, a holiday budget plan, and what to do with all those leftovers. It's expected by October 31, and you'll be able to download instantly the moment it's ready.
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From the Recipe Box
β Recipe of the Week: Vintage Choctaw Bread (Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake)
Mrs. Jeanne Fitton of Anderson, Missouri signed this recipe card "Choctaw Bread," but it isn't bread at all. It's a cocoa-and-pumpkin bundt cake, gently spiced with cinnamon, and nobody seems to know where the name came from (there's no note on the card to explain it). What I do know: it mixes up in about five minutes with no creaming, and the card tucks in a Neufchatel (or cream cheese, like I use) spread almost as an afterthought. Don't skip it!
Get Jeanne's recipe β Vintage Choctaw Breadβ
More cozy favorites from the recipe box:
- βSpecial Benjamin House Potato Soup β Betty Crist gave costumed tours of her 1872 National Register home, and her soup gets creamy with no cream at all. This is what we're having for our first real fall weather dinner tonight!
- βOld-Fashioned Zucchini Bread β someone penciled a star on Lavern's page, and it makes two loaves: one to keep, one to freeze
- βOld-Fashioned Homemade Egg Noodles β Julann's terse little card trusts the cook, and the thick hand-cut noodles simmer into a gravy-like finish
If you try any recipes and like them, please leave a rating or review!
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New on the Blog: A Boo Box for Your College Kid π»
If you have a college student far from home this October, a little Halloween box in the mail is one of the sweetest ways to say "we're thinking of you." I rounded up 25 dorm-friendly ideas: sweet treats, cozy comforts, fall-scented self-care, dorm-safe decor, a section just for the boys, and a budget DIY boo box. I also covered the practical stuff, like dorm candle rules, how to pack homemade cookies so they arrive whole, and when to ship.
Heads up: aim to ship by October 20 so it arrives in time for Halloween.
Note I totally think this is still fun to send to a young adult or even a full-blown adult!
βRead: 25 Best College Halloween Care Package Ideas β
There's a free printable too: a care package note and an October bucket list to tuck inside the box. Send me the free note + bucket list ββ
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With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, tell me ‡
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From the Shop
Home Sweet Autumn is for anyone who wants fall to feel full in the good way, not the frantic way. Its 80 pages walk with you from September through November, with a 13-week devotional and scripture cards, eight fall recipes, 30 ways to gather with family, and a Thanksgiving planning timeline so the big day doesn't sneak up on you. Grab the digital edition for $11, or the print + digital edition for $17 with free shipping.
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And that's a wrap on updates for another week here at Home Sweet Homemaker.
I hope your weekend is slow and sweet, with a pumpkin cake in the oven and someone you love close by (or a care package on its way to them).
Grace over perfection, always,
P.S. Are you sending a boo box to a college kid, grandkid, or someone far from home this year? Hit reply and tell me what you're tucking inside. I'm always interested in what interests YOU!
A Note About Ads: Some of my emails are sponsored by brands for products that I actually use and/or highly recommend based on other factors, such as their quiality, reputation, and value. Some provide compensation to Home Sweet Homemaker based on readers clicking on the ad to see what it's about and some are based on signing up for or purchasing the product in the ad. I never want anyone to buy something they don't need or at least want to try! But I appreciate any clicks or purchases that helps Home Sweet Homemaker fund the team and feed the plethora of cats and dogs around here! π |
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