Fall Cupcake Toppers

Dress up your fall cupcakes with these cute dessert tags! Just right click on the image and click "Save Image As..." to download.

Oh-So Yummy Halloween Treats!

Halloween is only a few days away! Here are a few quick and easy Fall and Halloween treats you can make for parties this weekend.

1) Bat Marshmallow Pops

2) Candy Jack-O-Lantern Bowls

3) Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cookie Acorns

4) Rice Krispies Treat Pumpkins

5) Cookie Eyballs

6) Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffles

7) Witch Hat Cupcakes

8) Gourmet Caramel Apples

Family Costume Ideas

With Halloween being only ten days away, it's crunch time for families that haven't decided on their costumes yet. Here are some fun and cute costume ideas for the family.

Breast Cancer Support Card

Support your friends and family that are battling breast cancer with this week's free printable.  Right click on the image and choose "Save Image As..." to download.

Love the design on this card? Buy the shirt here.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Help Yourself While Helping Others

October is breast cancer awareness month! We're doing our part to support the cause by donating $2 for each breast cancer support shirt purchased through our site. Last year we raised $4,500 and our goal for this year is $5,000. Visit our website if you would like to purchase a breast cancer support shirt.

Did You Know?

An active lifestyle can help prevent breast cancer! This month companies across the country are supporting breast cancer awareness by donating proceeds from their active-wear.

Gaiam Forever Pink Yoga Mat

$1 from each purchase supports breast cancer research. ($21.98)

 BFFLBag

20% of net profits are given to cancer charities. ($55)

Gorjana Born to Run Bracelet

20% of the proceeds will benefit the Pretty In Pink Foundation. ($50)

New Balance 1765 Sneakers

Proceeds are donated to the Susan G. Komen organization. ($119.99)

Under Armour's Alpha Bra

Part of a line for its Power in Pink program, which will donate at least $500,000 to breast cancer charities.

International Frugal Fun Day!

This Saturday is International Frugal Fun Day. The goal is to spend less than $5 a person while still having a great time. We've put together a list of some of our favorite (and very cheap!) things to do.

1) Try out the DIYs and printables from our blog!
2) Ride the kiddie rides in front of stores.
3) Go to the mall and try on fancy dresses for fun.
4) Go to the $1 movie theater.
5) Go to car dealerships and test out cool cars with no intentions of buying them.
6) Go window shopping
7) Visit a local museum.
8) Take a bike ride.
9) Play board games at home.
10) Have a scavenger hunt.
11) Have a water balloon fight.
12) Have a picnic.
13) Go fishing.
14) Do volunteer work.
15) Have a contest to see who can find the funniest Youtube video.

Itsa Painted Pumpkin Patch for Fall!

Get creative with your home decor this fall with painted pumpkins! This is a great Saturday project to do with friends or family.

What You'll Need
 Newspaper
Paint brushes
Acrylic paint
Fun stencils
Spray paint (if you want to change the color of the entire pumpkin)

There are endless possibilities, colors, patterns, and themes you could incorporate. Here are a few of our favorites!

Our Favorite Fall Treats!

We're all sad about the end of summer, but happy that fall is finally here! Our Itsa Girl Thing team can't wait to sink our teeth into our favorite fall treats. Here are some tasty treats that you can try to make at home.

Salted Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients

1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup salted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup whole almonds (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large, lidded saucepan, warm 3 kernels with the 1 tablespoon oil. If you don't have a pan large enough to handle about 12 cups of popcorn, make in two batches
3. Once those three kernels pop, add the rest of the corn kernels to the pan and shake to coat with oil. Put the lid on the pan.
4. Pop the corn, shaking the pan occasionally until the popping slows.
5. Empty the popped corn into a large mixing bowl, and try to pull out as many unpopped kernels as possible so they don't end up in the mix.
6. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter then mix in the sugar, maple syrup and 1 teaspoon salt.
7. Once the sugar is completely moistened, increase the heat to medium high and bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat to medium.
8. Boil for 3-4 minutes without stirring.
9. Add baking soda and vanilla to the caramel mixture, stirring until you have a thick, even, glossy sauce.
10. Slowly pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn, while stirring the popcorn (it'll help to have two people). Optionally, add the nuts to the popcorn at the same time as the caramel sauce. Continue to stir the popcorn and the sauce until it's all well coated.
11. Divide the popcorn between the two baking sheets  and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt on top, then place in the oven.
12. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so.
13. Allow popcorn to cool completely, or use buttered fingers to clump the popcorn and nuts together to form bunches if desired.
14. Enjoy!

Source: http://12tomatoes.com/2014/01/snack-recipe-salted-caramel-popcorn.html

Pumpkin Donuts with Sour Cream Glaze

Ingredients

Donuts:
1/2 cup canola oil, plus more for greasing the pans
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pure pumpkin puree
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
sour cream glaze:
3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Sprinkles optional.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350* F. Lightly oil two 6 compartment donut pans. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not over mix.
3. Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each compartment of the prepared pans. Bake until the donuts are golden brown and spring back lightly when touched, 12-14 minutes, cool in pan 15 minutes. Then transfer to metal rack to cool completely.
4. Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, sour cream, and lemon juice in small bowl. Drizzle over the donuts. Scatter on the sprinkles, and then add sprinkles if desired. Let glaze completely set before serving.

Source: http://prettyplainjanes.com/2014/09/17/pumpkin-donuts-with-sour-cream-glaze/

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Yield: enough pumpkin spice mixture for 7 or 8 homemade lattes

Ingredients
for the pumpkin spice mixture
1 15-oz. can pumpkin puree
2 c. whole milk
1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 T. pure vanilla extract
1 T. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. ground dried ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. allspice
to assemble the pumpkin spice latte
strong coffee
slightly sweetened whipped cream
cinnamon
dark chocolate shavings

Directions

to make the pumpkin spice mixture:

1. In a blender, combine all the pumpkin spice mixture ingredients. Puree for about 30 seconds. If you want a smoother mixture, puree for a couple minutes, or until the mixture is to your desired consistency.

to assemble the pumpkin spice latte:

1. Pour 1/2 cup (more or less, depending on your preference) of the pumpkin spice mixture into a large mug. Microwave for about 20 seconds, then add 1 cup of hot strong brewed coffee and stir. Top with a nice lofty pile of sweetened whipped cream. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. And if you're looking for extra deliciousness, top with chocolate shavings. So pretty!
2. Pour the remaining pumpkin spice mixture into a quart jar or similar sized container and top with a lid. Store in the refrigerator. When ready to make another drink, shake the jar well and repeat the assembly of the pumpkin spice latte. The pumpkin spice mixture will keep well for up to 1 week in the refrigerator

Source: http://www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com/2012/09/07/pumpkin-spice-latte-homemade-recipe-for-1-week-of-yummy-drinks/

Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

Ingredients

Flaky Phyllo Cups- (buy in frozen section)

1.5 cups mashed sweet Potato

.5 cup White sugar

tsp. vanilla

1 egg

1/2 cp melted butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Filling

1. Combine mashed sweet Potato, White sugar, vanilla, egg and 1/4 cup melted butter
2. Pour into the Phyllo cups 1/2 full.

Crust

1. Combine rest of the melted butter, Pecans and Brown Sugar.
2. Sprinkle over filling until fully covered.

 Baking

1. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes
2. Let cool for 15 minutes.

Fall Bucket List

Right-click and choose "Save image as..." to download!

Turn Your Old T-Shirts into Aprons!

T-shirt season is almost over! Turn your old t-shirts into cute aprons with this tutorial.

Place the t-shirt with the front side up.

Cut off the arms.

Cut from one shoulder to the other while leaving the collar intact.

Cut off the area that is now hanging off the front of the shirt.

Cut up the side of the shirt while leaving three to four inches for the apron straps. Then cut across to leave one long strap in the middle.

Cut half way up the strap. Then cut across to make the strap for one side of the apron. Cut from here to make the strap for the other side of the apron. Your apron is done!