Recipes
As we approach Halloween during this pandemic, I’m still trying to focus on fun and creating normalcy around our home as much as possible. We hope to still safely do some trick or treating if it is okay to do so. Regardless, are house is shaping up to provide all kinds of Halloween excitement. I know my kids always love when the spooky decorations come up from the basement, so I’m not holding back with any decor (like I ever do ;)) Most of the house I’ve geared towards their Halloween interests, witches and spiders. But for this blog post I thought it would be fun to imagine I was hosting a Halloween dinner party with fancy cocktails and a table full of friends. I miss the days of having friends over and inside our house. I hope we can get back to that soon. So here it is a simple yet sophisticated halloween tablescape with a yummy chili recipe at the end!
For this Halloween tablescape idea I wanted it to lock classic and sophisticated with brass and pops of black and white. I gathered all the black and white pumpkins I could find around the house. My black and white chargers and then I wanted to use the creepy cloth as table cloth for texture and a spooky layer underneath. Once I layered a black runner down the middle and overlapped my creepy cloth. I worked down the center of the table with my varying pumpkins sizes.
To add some height on the table I used mini cake stands to give the pumpkins varying heights. You could also use ramekin dishes turned upside down. I love the mix of textures the pumpkins add to the table from marble-ized (found at Target a few years back) to a sherpa pumpkin (Target this year) and a mix of some others found at Christmas Tree Shops. To also add more classy spookiness I mixed varying heights of brass candles sticks. I wish I could have found black candles that would have been a nice contrast, too.
Next, I added my chargers then layered my pretty new dishes that I’ll link below. I love the grayish tone they feel so cozy and a bit more formal. I tied some napkins up so they were in the shape of ghosts. Then I teared some old book pages out and used those to write names on them. Super easy and affordable you just have to practice your lettering a little bit.
I wanted to add a few other layers into the tablescape down the center so I mixed in some Spanish moss which I think looks kind of creepy. I also added those mixing lab bottles. I love these around Halloween for decanting wine or just using for water at the table.
If you are wondering what to serve for a halloween dinner or gathering here is a super yummy and easy fall chili recipe. The pumpkin just adds a very subtle sweetness that I love to bring out a bit more with a little additional bbq sauce in the chili.
PUMPKIN TURKEY CHILI RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey (or beef)
- 1 cubed sweet potato
- 2 cups sliced carrots
- 1 14.5 oz can pumpkin
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomato
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomato
- 2 tables spoons cumin
- 2-3 tablespoons chili powder
- salt and pepper seasoning
- 1/4 cup bbq sauce
Feel free to add kidney beans or your bean of choice to the recipe. I left ours bean free.
Directions:
In a large pan on medium heat brown your turkey meat. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from pan and saute your chopped onion until soft. Add to crock pot and combined the remainder of ingredients. Let cook on low for 8 hours. Taste test to see if you prefer any additional season or chili powder.
Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or bread. I sprinkled ours with some cheese. Enjoy!
Hope you enjoy this post and be sure to let me know if you get any inspiration or try this recipe!
Jordan
Shop this post:
Pin for Later:
read the full post >
It feels like an eternity ago that I was a Teacher. I always wanted to become either an Interior Designer or an Art Teacher. I taught art for almost 10 years before staying home with my own two littles. It’s crazy to me that now, in my own JorDecor way, I’m pursuing my other passion and sharing that pursuit with all of you. Art and creativity will always be at my core, creating and helping others create whether it be something you hang on your walls or the cozy look of a space itself. Creation comes in many forms, it is about releasing an expression, emotion, idea or vision. Teaching elementary art was one of the most fun jobs. I loved the amazement on kids faces when I taught them a new technique or introduced them to an artist or material they never heard of before.
As my own kids school year is now coming to an end I’m feeling nostalgic to all those end of year feels on the other end of it, as a a teacher. I can related to how much those teachers are SOOOO ready for a break. I also recall how exhausting it was, how the children become like your own. You care for them, help them not only in subject matter but teach them about social skills, manners, kindness, acceptance and so many other valuable things on a daily. I recall by the end of the year being drained; mentally, physically and emotionally. Summer is the time when teachers restore themselves, renew their spark for education and regain the energy to do it all again the next year.
So this is why I have such an appreciation for my kids teachers and all teachers. At the end of the year I try to make a little something special as a “Thank You” and as a “go enjoy your time off” because let’s face it, they’ve earned it. This year I wanted to create a little pampering kind of gift. One of my favorite gifts from a student was a simple manicure gift card (and the inspiration for this years) I remember using it right after school on that last day of classes and treating myself. It was the perfect start to summer. Back in my Art Teachers days I never got my nails done because they were always covered in paint, sharpie or clay. It was such a thoughtful and kind gift to receive.
The second gift idea is for the male teachers but it also doubles as a Father’s Day Gift too! I’m also going to include the cards that I made so you can print your own if you’d like. *read the end to get my tips on printing
SPA TEACHER GIFT IDEA
Click to download and print my cards to attach to your gift.
I created these adorable “Mani Thanks” gift cards. For a Teacher Assistant or specialist if you wanted to do a little something and add the tags to a clear mini gift bag with a color polish and a clear top coat and then a little facial treatment- it’s the perfect little thank you. For the Teacher if you wanted to also add a gift card to a local spa that would be amazing any teacher would love a little end of year pampering session. I also found these adorable beach hats that say “Vacay all Day” and then tied the gift card around with the cute “Mani Thanks” around it with ribbon.
GOLF TEACHER GIFT IDEA (OR FATHER’S DAY GIFT)
Click to download and print my cards to attach to your gift.
For the guys how fun is this Golf themed gift card idea. Find a local golf place and grab a gift card to hit balls and add it to this cute little bucket of balls. I grabbed a bag of recycle balls that were a bit more affordable and some t’s.
I used the shredded paper to lift the balls up so I didn’t need to use as many. Then put the T’s in the center to hold the gift card in place. But play around with the presentation to create something that works for you.
Recommendation for printing- cardstock paper works best. When you go to print, select 6 copies to a page and it will shrink the photos down to the size you need. If you use these I’d love for you to tag me so I can see how they turned out.
Thank you guys for stopping by and happy almost SUMMER!
Jordan
Shop the Supplies:
read the full post >
Hey Friends!! Happy almost Turkey Day! I thought it would be fun to kick off Friday and the weekend leading into a holiday week with a fun drink recipe. Let me just state that I don’t typically share recipes with you guys, so this is a little new for me. However, I hope you don’t mind! It’s fun to share something new, as a way to share my excitement for the holidays.
I’m a huge fan of Moscow Mules in the colder months especially, something about the spicy aromatic ginger flavor that I just LOVE. However sometimes they can be a little filling and to be honest I’ve been trying to watch the drinking intake as of late. Not that I over indulge all the time, I just find Moscow Mules to be STRONG and heavy 😉 aka lots of calories. So if you are trying to watch the calories over the holidays this is a festive and fun drink that is so easy to make, flavorful and light. Basically this means, if I switch to this version, I can just eat a second piece of pumpkin pie 😉
What inspired this drink idea you might ask? I’m a huge seltzer drinker, basically its all my husband and I drink besides water and on the weekends well wine/beer. So we always have quite a stock pile of seltzer in the house. I look forward to finding the new Polar Seltzer flavors each season in the grocery stores- they’ve inspired lots of cocktails for me over the years. I recently came across their new flavor Ginger Lime Mule. I was so excited because I immediately thought… this is my new holiday cocktail mixer! So obviously I stocked up on the flavor haha. But before we can start mixing up the yummy drink you need to order the classic copper metal mugs!
I think one of my FAVORITE parts about these drinks is the pretty copper mugs. You can find them in a variety of sizes, finishes and shapes. Copper mugs quickly take on the temperature of whats inside and keep the drink icy cold and refreshing! I’ve listed a few below that caught my eye.
MOSCOW MULE MUGS:
Get your drink station ready….
INGREDIENTS:
Titos Vodka (My favorite)
Polar Seltzer – Ginger Lime Mule
POM-Pomegranate juice
Limes (a bunch)
Ice
DIRECTIONS
Next up, fill your Mule cups 1/2 way with some ice- crushed ice is best but it’s okay if not. After that, squeeze a half of lime and drop it into the drink. I add one shot of Tito’s Vodka, then finish off by filling with the Polar Seltzer Ginger Lime Mule. If you’d like to add a little extra sweetness, do a splash of POM juice or you could also add a splash of gingerale if you wanted to enhance that ginger flavor. Stir well!
To dress it up, use the other half of the lime to cut a wedge for the side. Add a cute stirrer or straw in a festive color to dress it up or float pomegranates or cranberries, or even add some too the stirrer. I even though a sprig of rosemary would be pretty too. Be creative dressing up the cup to make it feel really festive! Sip and enjoy. Also, it goes with out saying but always drink responsibly. Uber or stay put for the evening 🙂
DRESS UP YO’ DRINK!
I hope you like it this skinny spin on an old classic! Do you have any go too drink recipes you enjoy this time of year?
Have a great weekend!
Cheer,
Jordan
Pin For Later:
read the full post >
