Seasonal Trends Archives

Guide to Autumn Flowers

With autumn comes cool weather, warm colors, and – surprisingly – lots of different flowers. From asters to pansies, there are plenty of easy-to-grow plants that can make a wonderful addition to your fall garden.

Here we share care tips for autumn flowers along with décor suggestions that will really make your home and garden pop this season!

Brighten up your patio with chrysanthemums

Replace your fading summer annuals with bright chrysanthemums, or plant them in containers for your patio or porch, or in hanging pots. Varieties include pom-poms, old-fashioned daisy-like blooms, tall-growing or mounding, and even huge spider mums. They come in an array of colors to complement your décor as well: white, yellow, orange, red, red-orange, lavender, purple, and even multicolored.

Since they’re perennials, chrysanthemums should be planted in the spring or summer in cooler regions so that they have time to develop their shallow root systems. They are often sold in garden centers as short-season annuals for fall planting. In warmer regions, many varieties of mums can be planted in either the spring or fall and grown as perennials. When temperatures drop, a layer of mulch around the plants helps them to winter over.

Chrysanthemums require full sun for five to six hours per day and fertile, well-draining soil. Space the garden-planted mums 2 ½ to 3 feet apart to give them air circulation, and water them well, allowing them to dry between watering to give the soil a chance to drain. They don’t like wet feet and will develop root rot if kept in water. Be sure the containers and hanging pots have drainage holes to keep the plants healthy.

Attract butterflies to your garden with asters

The star-shaped asters sold in garden centers are bright purple, pink, or blue with yellow centers and rows of delicate, narrow petals. They are great in containers or in your garden, and are irresistible to bees and butterflies.

Asters are perennial flowers that can be planted in the fall in both cool and warm regions. Some varieties are mounding, and others grow 3 to 4 feet tall and may require staking to keep them upright. Plant them in containers or in a sunny spot in your garden — one with at least five to six hours of full sun per day, since they tend to get leggy in part shade. They thrive in well-draining, fertile soil, spaced 2 ½ to 3 feet apart for enough air circulation. Asters are susceptible to powdery mildew, so water the soil underneath them, being careful not to soak the leaves or flowers.

Add a splash of color to hanging pots with pansies

Pansies are among the most cheerful fall flowers.

Pansies, the autumn flowers with cheerful little faces, are cool-weather plants that are among the first sold in the spring and fall. They come in white, yellow, peach, blue, dark red, and bicolor. Pansies are easy to grow and add a splash of color to containers, hanging pots, and your garden as edging or bedding plants. They are perfect for beginning gardeners.

Pansies are perennials that are often grown as annuals. They are best planted in the early spring and fall in cool regions, and as late fall and winter plants in warm regions. They like full sun but need to be protected with part shade in warm regions.

Pansies thrive in fertile, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. They need to be watered consistently and deadheaded to keep them blooming. To grow them as perennials, add a layer of mulch that will shelter their roots in the cold weather and help them winter over.

Bring imagination to your backyard with celosias

Celosia flowers have been said to look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book! Wool flower, cockscomb, dragon’s breath, and wheat celosia are some of the fanciful names for different species of these flowers, each of which has a unique form. They add brilliant spots of red, orange, yellow, pink, or purple to your late summer and fall garden, and their striking shapes make them excellent accent plants for your flower beds or containers.

In warm climates, they are tender perennials but are usually sold as annuals everywhere. Celosias love full sun and need at least six hours per day. They are finicky about water and prefer slightly moist but never wet soil. Root rot can be a problem, so be sure to lighten the soil with plenty of organic matter to keep it well drained.

An animated ad for 1800flowers.com's fall collection

Decorate for the season indoors with crotons

Crotons, or garden crotons, are shrubs grown for their interesting foliage splashed with multicolored red, green, and yellow.

These plants are perennial in very warm climates but can be grown successfully in the fall outdoors in temperate climates while the weather is still warm, usually in containers.

The perfect situation for crotons is a warm and humid environment with bright, indirect light, such as on a porch or in the dappled shade. They are great houseplants and can be brought in when temperatures outside fall below 50 degrees. If you have enough indoor light, the kitchen or bathroom might be the best spot for your plant. Use a well-draining potting mix and water regularly to keep the soil moist but not wet. Leaf drop on these plants comes from too cool temperatures, drafts, and low humidity, so keep it warm and mist regularly.

A word of caution: All parts of croton plants are poisonous if ingested and irritating if the sap gets on skin. Keep your plant away from children and pets to be on the safe side.

Maintain a staple bloom with marigolds

These bright, layered blooms add a delightful pop of fall to any garden, with varying hues of yellow, orange, red, and maroon. Marigolds are a signature autumn flower for their sunny appearance as well as their mild maintenance needs. They will thrive in well-drained soil and stay lively into frosty conditions. These annual blooms should be planted in the spring as the frost clears. Marigolds are a sturdy selection for the fall months and won’t drain your energy in the garden.

Keep in sunny with black-eyed Susans

As summer transitions into fall, the temperatures drop and the sun sets earlier in the day. While fall is known for its darker colors, you can still sustain a bright glow with the rich yellow petals of the black-eyed Susan. These annual and perennial blooms are reminiscent of a sunflower but are actually a part of the aster family. The sunflower-daisy hybrid begins to bloom in June and continues to attract bees and butterflies through October. The black-eyed Susan is one of the most common wildflower s in North America, as it can tolerate a variety of soil conditions.

Don’t forget about hydrangeas in the cooler months

Hydrangeas thrive in the spring, summer, and fall months. This flower has many varieties that bloom at different times and in different conditions. Keep a look out for the macrophylla variety, whose larger leaves and cone-shaped flowers differentiate it from other types. This beautiful pink-and-blue bloom will contribute to the fall foliage for which the season is so well known. The color of the flower depends on the acidity of the soil in which it’s grown. To tinker with the color, add sulfur or aluminum sulfate to promote a blue bloom or dolomitic lime for pink.

Family Reunion Crafts: DIY Rag Garland

A family reunion is an opportunity to gather with loved ones to celebrate being together and to create those small, in-person moments we hold so dear, and we will remember for years to come.

Whether your family reunion includes relatives from near and far or friends who are like family, engaging in a fun activity together can make for some happy memories. This DIY rag garland can be used as personalized décor or a take-home gift that will make the day extra special.

DIY rag garland

Garlands are an easy and inexpensive way to add a festive atmosphere to your celebration. They can also be customized to fit any theme, which makes them great for holidays, baby showers, and birthday parties. For a summertime family reunion, I went with an Americana theme, using red, white, and blue bandanas, and plain white cotton fabric. For your project, feel free to use any colors you and your family enjoy.

What you’ll need

Fabric
Yarn, ribbon, or twine
Scissors
Permanent marker with an ultra-fine point (for personalization)

How to make the garland

Start by deciding the length and size you want for your garland, and cut your yarn or twine accordingly. Remember to leave enough yarn at either end for hanging.

Cutting the fabric strips

diy garland with girl and woman holding garland

Since you’re using bandanas, you need to cut them into strips. Each bandana is a 20-inch square, and each strip is 3 inches wide by 20 inches long, so you will have eight strips that are 2.5 inches by 20 inches.

To make it a easier to cut strips that are the same size, start by folding the bandana in half. Then, fold it in half again, and then in half one more time. Next, run a hot iron over the folded bandana.

You now have cutting guides! Don’t worry about being exact. That’s the beauty of a rag garland — anything goes! Remember to cut all your strips before assembling the garland.

How to attach fabric strips to yarn

To attach the fabric strips to yarn, fold the fabric strip in half and place it under the yarn.

Then, take the bottom of the fabric and bring it over the yarn and through the fold at the top of the strip.

Next, pull the strip through to form a top knot.

Tying the fabric on in this way keeps it more controlled and neater.

You can see the difference above. It all depends on the look you want as well as how much time you have to spend putting the garland together. The simple knot goes much faster.

Make it special with personalization

Your family is one of a kind, so why not make your garland just as unique by personalizing some of the fabric strips?

If you’d like to move things along quicker, make the garland before the reunion using only red and blue bandanas, leaving space to add the white ones during the event.

DIY garland with bandana strips and markers

At the reunion, set up a table with permanent markers (ultra-fine tip are best) for coordinating colors and the white bandana strips. You can also include plain white cotton strips made from an old pillowcase, if you have a lot to say and need more writing space.

Encourage attendees to personalize a strip with names and dates, a quote, a word — whatever they feel represents them and their family. To help, assign a family member to attach the personalized strips to the existing bandana garland throughout the day.

Want to make it extra special? Save the garland for your next family reunion and continue to add new strips to it as the family grows and changes through the years. That way, it’s sure to become a cherished part of future family celebrations.

6 Tips for Planning a Family Reunion

A successful family reunion gives attendees the chance to create new memories in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. But anyone who’s ever planned such an event knows how much work goes into coordinating all the moving parts. If you’re thinking of organizing a reunion for the first time and are feeling overwhelmed about where to start, have no fear. We’ve gathered the best family reunion ideas from expert planners to ensure your event runs as smoothly as can be.

Plan far in advance

If this is your first time planning a reunion, start a year in advance. This ensures you have time to get the word out, send out surveys, and coordinate committees, locations, and venues. It will also maximize your attendance, as it will allow your family members to plan their vacations around the reunion.

When deciding on a date, list several options, keeping in mind that one single date is unlikely to work for everyone. “The perfect date does not exist. Someone will always have a conflict,” says marketing specialist Dianne Turgeon Richardson. “Just like planning a wedding, you have to pick the best date you can and let attendees figure out their own schedules.” Survey for a date that has the maximum potential, and then stick to it.

Enlist help

Assembling a team will take some of the stress off your shoulders. Think about committees that can handle different aspects of the reunion, such as lodging, food, venue, and activities.

Entice finicky folks to come with good food.

Genevieve Tyrrell

Artist and writer

This will be especially helpful if most of your family is traveling for the reunion. “Try to have the folks who live in the location [of the reunion] do the planning,” says Wendy Downey, a nurse who has been planning family reunions for decades. “Long distance can be very costly because of the travel, not just for the event.”

Give them something to do

Just because you’re all related doesn’t mean that everyone will know each other. An icebreaker event early on will help guests discover connections and encourage conversation. Though you’ll want to plan fun events, such as family trivia or a slideshow, don’t overwhelm your guests. For most people, the best part of getting together is the chance to sit down and catch up.

Family reunion ideas with eating dinner outside

That said, don’t worry too much about alluring family members with a schedule of events. After all, the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. “Entice finicky folks to come with good food,” says Genevieve Tyrrell, an artist and writer with family across the U.S. “Maryland steamed blue crabs was our thing.”

Keep it flexible

A successful family reunion should be accessible, allowing family members of all walks and in all stages of life to attend. It should also be relatively affordable. Backyard BBQs are family reunion staples for good reason — they’re easy and can be pot-luck style, with guests bringing their favorite dishes to cut down on costs.

Being flexible also means planning for the weather. Just take it from Stacey Kucharik, owner of publishing company Polished Print. “We planned a big reunion five years ago in a backyard, decorated with hundreds of pictures (some very old), and (inevitably) it down-poured,” she says. “We had invited 150 people, and there wasn’t space for everyone inside, so many people left.” Make sure that if any part of your plan falls through — even parts that are out of your control, such as the weather — you’re prepared with an alternative idea.

Picture of Celebrations Passport banner ad

Travel smart

If you’re planning a reunion to which most people will have to fly, make sure travel arrangements are coordinated. “Try to book nonstop,” says Michelle Justiniano, a flight attendant. “If you need to book a flight that has stops, make sure you have plenty of time between flights. Thirty minutes from one gate to another may be challenging if you’re seated in the back of the first plane and need to get to another concourse.”

Weather can also be an issue with air travel, especially in the spring or summer, so give yourself plenty of extra time between flights.

Consider outsourcing the help

Family reunion ideas with family playing games at the beach

If the reunion planning starts to become overwhelming, consider hiring someone to take care of the little things. “My family gets together at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun,” says Diana Chhour, a technical support analyst with a large family. “The resort has a coordinator to schedule reservations at restaurants.” Such conveniences minimize the hassle and take stress out of having to worry about every last detail.

“My family hires a whole countryside hostel just for us,” says Dan Underwood, who lives in London and has a reunion with his Scottish family every few years. Renting out an entire villa just for your guests, with staff onsite to plan meals and events, can make the weekend comfortable and relaxing.

Whether you’re expecting a few members of your extended family or hundreds of relatives, trying these family reunion ideas will ensure your next get-together is an enjoyable and memorable experience.

How to Plan a Family Reunion on a Budget

A family reunion is a great way to get everyone in your clan back together again. However, when you consider the cost of a venue, travel, meals, and entertainment, even a modest event can cost thousands of dollars. How can you plan a family reunion that will be long on shared memories but easy on the wallet?

We’ve got you. Here are seven tips for planning a fun, memorable family reunion on a budget.

Get started early

Chances are your family members are spread far and wide. Between the distance, work commitments, and family schedules, pulling something together at the last minute is unlikely.

If there’s one thing worth splurging on, it’s the services of a good photographer or videographer to preserve the memories for years to come.

Marie Bostwick

Author and former event planner

“People’s vacation calendars are set far in advance, so start planning early,” says Marie Bostwick, a former event planner and New York Times best-selling author of historical and women’s fiction. “That will help boost attendance and give attendees who are traveling long distances a chance to find the most affordable flights and accommodations.”

Create a family reunion page on Facebook Groups

People stay in contact in different ways, and you’ll go crazy trying to satisfy everyone’s communication preferences. Plus, even if you wanted to make tons of phone calls, you probably have relatives in different time zones, and mailing printed invitations can eat up your budget.

With a Facebook Group page, you’ll save time, money, and stress by having all your reunion communication in one place. Use it from the start to discuss dates and locations, and keep it going throughout the planning process as the date of the event draws closer. For any relatives who aren’t on Facebook, make sure you keep them up to date via email.

Set a budget

You can’t stick to a budget if you don’t have one. After you’ve discussed dates and locations, you need to line out a budget.

Cheap family reunion ideas with a budget sheet

“The most important thing is to consider the means of most attendees,” Bostwick says. “Younger or older family members may not have the finances to participate in extravagant reunion activities.”

Some basic details you’ll need to know to create a loose budget are:

How many people are coming?
Will it be catered or potluck?
Where will it take place?
Will you establish a set attendance fee for each guest to cover expenses?

Plan for off-season discounts and ask about group rates

Many venues offer steep discounts during their off-season. What about renting a large beach house in January? Or a ski villa in June?

You’ll still find plenty of things to see and do during the off-season, and the prices will be lower and the crowds smaller. Another way to grab some low-cost deals is to book your reunion during the week rather than on the weekend.

Airlines and hotels typically have group rates that allow you considerable savings. However, not all online booking sites post a group rate, so make sure you call the hotel manager or airline directly and ask about one — the savings may be worth it.

Choose an affordable location

The focus of any family reunion is to spend time together, and you don’t need to book a lavish location to do that.

“Many cities and towns rent out space in parks — many with attractive meeting venues — at a very reasonable cost,” Bostwick says. “Check with the local parks and recreation departments to see what may be available. Most such public venues will allow you to do your own catering, which can be a huge savings.”

Cheap family reunion ideas with happy family having barbecue

In addition to local and state parks, a few other ideas are:

Picnic pavilion with grills at a local park
Campground at a lake or beach
Church retreat center
County fairgrounds
Picnic area at a theme park or zoo

Provide your own entertainment

Depending on your venue, your entertainment might be built right into the location.

“You can save on expenses by choosing a reunion location with water and sand,” says family reunion expert Marilynn Stewart, who runs familyreunionhelper.com. “If you have those two ingredients, your family will have lots of fun, and you don’t have to spend lots of money on activities.”

Cheap family reunion ideas with four adults on a scavenger hunt

Some other ideas for making your own entertainment are:

Karaoke contest
Talent show
Improvisation games
Softball or kickball tournament
Scavenger hunt

You should also consider asking a musically talented family member to play live music or serve as DJ during your event.

Save on food expenses

For reunion meals on a budget, “divide costs between family members,” Bostwick says. “Food can be a huge cost, so do a potluck for one meal.” She suggests providing the meat for dinner and assigning out the sides.

If travel makes a potluck challenging to pull off, create a self-serve sandwich, taco, or burger bar, with plenty of creative toppings and fixings, and add an ice cream bar for extra fun.

What reunion expenses are worth splurging on?

When it comes to most aspects of a family reunion, you have the option to go the inexpensive route, but there are a few places where it pays to spend some money.

“If there’s one thing worth splurging on, it’s the services of a good photographer and/or videographer to preserve the memories for years to come,” Bostwick says.

If you’ll have a lot of children at your event, renting a bounce house is totally worth it, Stewart believes. “This may seem like a big expense, but for less than $200, you have an activity that will keep kids busy for six hours or so,” she says.

Toronto Baker Dishes on Her Favorite Fall Flavors

fall flavors with Fran Murray relaxing on the couch

“I don’t know if it’s the crisp breeze or the changing leaves, but I just feel so alive in the fall,” says Food Network contestant and baking entrepreneur Fran Murray. This 41-year-old mother of four is simply mad about autumn — it’s the season in which she got married, and it’s her favorite time of year to bake.

She says fall has the “perfect weather for taking walks in cozy sweaters.” It’s also when Murray infuses her work in the kitchen with many of her favorite fall flavors. “I’ve had an obsession with warm spices for as long as I can remember,” Murray explains, “so baking in the fall brings me so much joy.”

Murray, who resides in Toronto, finds it particularly rewarding to share what she whips up as displays of affection to her friends and family. “I take baking as a catalyst to infuse love and encouragement in the hearts of the folks that I encounter.”

That sentiment goes back to her earliest childhood memories of being in the kitchen with her mother in Jamaica. There, she would watch as her mom made batches of Jamaican black cake, a rich fruit dessert filled with raisins, prunes, and currants, and soaked in dark rum and red wine — for months (!) — before being eaten.

“I can still recall the smells of that cake, and the happiness that it brought to folks in the community was just amazing,” Murray says. “That’s what stuck with me — that baking isn’t just the mechanical part or a skill set but the love in a product you can share with others.”

Use that herb harvest in your baking

One of the highlights of the fall for Murray is being able to include her herb harvest from the summer in her baking. While locally grown and fresh herbs are still available, fall is a great time to freeze herbs in individual serving sizes for use in cooking and baking throughout the colder months. With the last of the harvest you don’t freeze, Murray suggests incorporating herbs like basil and thyme into shortbread and amaretti cookies to add new flavors to these classic desserts.

The fall flavor trifecta: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

Warm spices epitomize the scents and tastes of fall. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are three of the most beloved spices of the season. “They just hit the taste buds differently. They make you feel cozy inside,” Murray says. “It’s like they give you a warm hug.”

Murray recommends doubling, and sometimes even tripling, the cinnamon in typical fall baking recipes. “Don’t be afraid to add warm spices to all your desserts,” she says.

Just a reminder, though: Don’t skip the cloves. Although they may not be as widely used as cinnamon, they are an essential part of fall flavoring. “Anytime you use cinnamon, add an eighth of the amount of cloves,” Murray says. “A little goes a long, long way, and you will notice the difference.”

Spice things up this fall

For simple desserts that need a little something extra, such as sugar cookies or vanilla cupcakes, Murray has a quick and easy flavor booster: simple syrup. Boil up a batch (one part sugar, one part water) and keep it in the fridge so you always have some on hand when the need arises. (It’s also an essential ingredient in many cocktails.) “Add some cinnamon, some nutmeg, a little clove, and some lemon zest to that simple syrup, and then just baste it onto a dessert to infuse all that delicious flavor.”

Fruity fall goodness

Fall is all about the fruit, right? Apple picking, cranberry stringing…and did you know pumpkin is actually a fruit??? Poaching or grilling apples and pears makes for an easy dessert that Murray seasons with those beloved warm spices. She also delights in pairing them with citrus zests. “My family thinks I’m crazy, but whenever they reach for a citrus fruit, I’m like, ‘Wait, I have to zest it first!'”

She freezes the zests of limes, lemons, and oranges in little baggies that she’ll use throughout the fall in cakes, pies, sugar cookies, shortbread, and cupcakes. “Add orange zest to your pumpkin latte — it’s insane what’s going to happen to your taste buds.”

Chocolate never goes out of season

One of Murray’s favorite staples for fall baking is chocolate, but you might be surprised how she uses it. “Chocolate pairs with everything in the fall,” she says. “When I bake my apple pies (obviously adding my double dose of nutmeg and cinnamon!), I pour chocolate syrup over them.” She says the sweetness from the apples mixed with the autumnal warm spices marries with the rich chocolate to create the perfect flavor union.

It’s that kind of experimentation that Murray says makes fall baking so much fun. “Use traditional desserts and add your own twist to them. I always say, you don’t have to be a master chef to whip up yumminess and release your creativity.”

What I Love About Fall: It’s Back to Baking Season

For our “What I Love About Fall” series, we asked people of all walks of life to share personal stories that illustrate why they’re passionate about autumn. In this installment, writer and baking enthusiast Jackie Rupp recounts a neighborhood pie party she once hosted this time of year.

My oven stays off during the summer, when I focus more on grilling and lighter meals. With cooler temperatures arriving here in my hometown of Philadelphia, I’m getting ready to once again fire up the oven and get creative with some fall baking.

Fall is a great time to start exploring new baking recipes before the rush of the holiday season begins. I love making cakes, pies, and cookies, and I am starting to challenge myself by experimenting with baked vegan desserts (chocolatey vegan brownies, anyone?). But the best part to me is sharing and gifting my baked creations.

Neighborhood pie party

Pre-pandemic, I moved to a new neighborhood and wanted to get to know more people in my area. I decided it would be fun to host some neighborhood dessert swaps, during which I could meet new people and make new friends. I created events on my neighborhood groups on social media and got a great response. Who doesn’t like baked goods, right?

My favorite event was our pie party. I hosted a group of about a dozen women, most of whom I’d never met before. I couldn’t believe how generous everyone was with their time and energy. My entire kitchen island was covered with pies of all kinds: apple, cherry, lemon, pecan. We didn’t know what to slice into first. (We also learned that wine goes amazing with pies, by the way, so don’t be afraid to pair yours with a glass of white or red, or even a little bit of bubbly.)

The funniest part of the evening was when one woman, who did not have time to bake, confessed to picking up a store-bought pie on her way over. That led to several other guests making confessions of their own: “Yep, my pie was store bought, too.” It was nice to realize that I’m not the only one that sometimes has grander baking plans than my schedule allows me to pull off.

No one cared, of course.

We were all grateful to just have an evening to ourselves, where we could sit around with the smells of cinnamon and clove in the air and enjoy conversations while eating absurd amounts of pie. We had so many leftovers, but that was our goal. We divvied up all the pieces into slices, and everyone got to take home several varieties.

An apple pie inspired by a Philly institution

One of my favorites was my French apple pie à la mode inspired by our hometown Tastykake brand. For those not familiar with this local favorite, it comes in little rectangular pie tins and is ubiquitous at convenience stores here in Philly. It’s your standard apple pie but with a generous amount of raisins added in. As a kid, this felt so exotic to me. I thought this must be how the royals in the French court ate their apple pie. I have no idea of the exact lineage, but where the pie goes from good to great is the addition of a crunchy vanilla icing layer on top.

To achieve this icing on a full-sized pie, I used a simple sugar cookie glaze. It’s just a mixture of milk and powdered sugar to which I add a tiny drop of vanilla. Essentially, you can use any of your favorite cookie glaze recipes. You can even spice it up for fall by adding nutmeg, cinnamon, or a little orange flavor.

what I love about fall with French apple pie a la mode

The key to icing the pie is doing it only once it is completely cooled. Although I do love my hot apple pie, this icing won’t hold up to that type of heat. It’s super easy to get the right consistency: If it’s too runny, just add more sugar or thin it out with warm water.

This year, I’m thinking of hosting another pie party, this time outside, around our firepit. It’ll be BYOB (bring your own…blanket), and I picture us sipping warmed spiked…I mean spiced apple cider and digging into some more delicious pies.

Is it fall yet? Because I’m ready to bake.

This Fall Dessert Board Will Bring the Autumn Vibes Into Your Home

“I’ll bring dessert.”

When going to a party, how many times have you opted for that easy out? All you have to do is stop by your local bakery section, pick up a tray of frosted cookies or mini cupcakes, and you’re all set, right?

But this scenario is not without its problems. Most cookie trays have a monotonous color scheme. The themes are also rote, usually limited to ideas such as football in the fall or flowers in the spring. On the palate, these kinds of cookies typically ring just one-note: super sweet. In the end, they’re like the substitute player who sits at the end of the bench and only comes into the game if it’s a blowout: utterly forgettable and eminently replaceable.

Instead, opt to make your own vivid fall dessert board that’s like the star quarterback, drawing people back to them again and again. With advice from Sarah Sutton, co-owner of Bite Into Maine, and Dewey LoSasso, corporate chef of Bill Hansen Catering, and using the autumn line from Cheryl’s Cookies, bacon-cheddar popcorn from The Popcorn Factory, and a multitude of products from Harry & David — including the Dried Fruit & Nut Tray, Milk and Dark Chocolate-Covered Cherries, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Crackers, and Signature Chocolate Truffles — I created these five easy steps to make a fall dessert board that’s sweet, savory, and offers plenty of textural contrast.

1. Choose your shapes, colors, and theme

“I prefer to use a long rectangular board for food displays in general because I feel like you can better tell a visual story with the linear shape,” Sutton says. In this case, I wanted to narrate New England’s leaf-peeping season, a popular time of year that not everyone is lucky enough to experience.

fall dessert board with small dishes on board

Sutton, who is based near Portland, Maine, suggests using red as an accent color. “Being in New England, we are blessed with an abundance of maple trees that turn an intense red in the fall,” she says.

fall dessert board with popcorn and chocolate covered cherries

LoSasso adds that a recessed board with handles “takes care of spillage.” Based in vibrant Miami, he advises, “fall doesn’t mean dull. Think gold and amber and gold leaf and glitter.”

fall dessert board with close-up of chocolate-covered cherries

Keeping their comments in mind, I chose a recessed black tray for easy portability. I also employed glittery red, gold, amber, and brown maple leaf-topped toothpicks to make “kebabs” out of dried pears, peaches, Mediterranean and California apricots, dates, prunes, and chocolate-covered cherries. Then, I placed these in small colored dishes, one green and one orange, catty-corner to each other.

2. Remember seasonal holidays

LoSasso loves incorporating Halloween and Thanksgiving themes with pumpkins and gourds, which he hollows out and uses to hold things. He likes boards that are “vessel-oriented,” meaning they feature containers or receptacles that create different vertical layers to keep the eye interested, and recommends experimenting with everything from shot glasses to mason jars to produce this effect.

fall dessert board with melted candy corn

I needed such a vessel for the popcorn, so I created a candy “cornucopia.” To do this, I melted 10 ounces of candy corn on parchment paper in the oven at 300° F for 15 minutes.

fall dessert board with adding leaves and popcorn

After it cooled enough to handle, I wrapped it around a pint glass and let it harden. (You can leave the glass or remove the glass; I kept it for better structural maintenance.) Then I overstuffed it with bacon-cheddar popcorn and roasted salted cashews. I set the cornucopia with the opening toward the middle of the tray so that I could control the spill, which I directed toward the pear-gorgonzola cream cheese torta. Behind that, I set a small dish filled with the crackers.

3. Contrast sweet with savory

At this point, I had a diagonal line of savory items intersecting the board. Sutton says, “It’s all about balance. Even with a sweet board, it is great to have some additional savory flavors to cut through.” These set the scene for the Cheryl’s cookies, with which I covered almost all the remaining spaces.

fall dessert board with Cheryl's cookies

The flavors in the Cheryl’s fall line range from pumpkin and cinnamon to peanut butter and chocolate, all of which, LoSasso says, complement the bacon notes in the popcorn. The shapes and styles are diverse — some are bars, others are round and frosted, and still others are traditional chip-style cookies. The variety led me to both stack them and to lean them, interspersed, in a fallen domino-style effect.

Because Cheryl’s cookies arrive individually packaged, you can experiment with your layout without damaging any single cookie before you commit to a particular design.

4. Fill the remaining spots

I completed the tray with a small, white, decorative bowl, brimming with roasted, salted pistachios in the shell. “Salt enhances the taste and flavor of sweetness. Crunchy nuts and dried fruits can add another texture to the palate,” Sutton says.

fall dessert board with nearly complete board

I could have also used natural almonds and scattered the pistachios on the table. LoSasso recommends using whole nuts as a part of the tablescape.

5. Think about the tablescape

Finally, I added more dried fruit and chocolate-covered cherry kebabs to cover any little holes. I also highlighted the truffles in a complementary dish that curved around the tray. Then, I scattered some maple leaves (you can use real or fake ones, depending on where you live) around the table, and added some cocktail napkins and utensils that offered a rose-gold leaf theme for just a bit more shine.

While you may not be able to make it to Vermont or Maine and view the golden light of the sun striking the red maples in person, you can re-enact the seasonal changes with your very own fall dessert board. All it takes is about an hour — the same amount of time it would take to drive to a store, pick up a generic cookie tray, and drive back again.

How to Host a Bridal Shower

Planning and hosting a bridal shower is a great way to show your support for the bride-to-be. But it can be a lot to take on, and nobody wants a frazzled host the day of the event. (You’ve heard of bridezilla? Hostzilla is just as ferocious!) You’ve worked hard to create a fun and memorable day for the bride, and you should enjoy it, too.

Organizing a bridal shower isn’t a cake walk (although cake should probably be involved), but following these five simple steps will make the celebration extra special and let you relax and enjoy your time with the bride-to-be.

Choose a color scheme

Bridal shower table set with plates and utensils and bouquets of flowers.

The first thing to do is decide on a color scheme for the event. This can be based on the bride’s favorite color or inspired by the wedding colors — just make sure it’s what the bride wants. (That’s a good rule to follow for all the planning, actually.) For this particular bridal shower, we went with a lavender and blush theme since it’s a great end-of-summer color combo that can easily transition into fall. It’s also a unique color palette that will make the bride feel like one of a kind — which, after all, she is.

Send out a gorgeous invitation

First impressions are everything, and when it comes to alerting the masses about a soiree, the invitation is of the utmost. Whether it be paper or electronic, the invite sets the tone for the rest of the event. Make sure your invitation flows with your theme and contains all the info your guests need to know: location, date, time, registry, even theme (if there is one).

Set your table

The table is the main attraction at a bridal shower, so you really want to shine here. Follow your color scheme and use pieces that complement it. I chose a lavender plate, gold flatware, an apricot-colored napkin, and simple glassware.

Bridal shower table setting with menu, flowers, glasses and utensils.

Bridal shower menu on a table surrounded by artisanal paper and dried orange slices.

Bridal shower wine tasting menu on a table.

Once you have those key elements down, layer in the details. We added two gorgeous menus for food and wine, and beautiful place cards. These are the little details that your guests will remember.

Bring in the decor

Flowers instantly bring bright colors to every event. Add alluring blooms to your table and place them throughout the venue, like at the dessert table and bar, since those will be the most visited areas.

But don’t stop at flowers! Balloon arches are a showstopper and bring a fun pop of color to your party while adding a festive flair.

Food and drink

Any host knows that keeping your guests happy means having a steady flow of delicious bites and beverages. Instead of serving a full multi-course meal, I made these personal charcuterie cones and a delectable grazing board full of fine meats and cheeses for guests to nibble on while drinking an amazing selection of wines. This type of menu allows for more socializing.

Bridal shower with a table full of appetizers and several bottles of wine

We also offered mouthwatering desserts for guests to simply grab. I love doing the desserts this way, as it allows your guests to share and mingle throughout the party. Sometimes we add a cake, but we always love to have small bites for guests to easily enjoy.

Back-to-School Care Packages

Boarding school and college students are returning to campus, and as they settle in to their new residences, they may experience bouts of homesickness. After a summer of enjoying home-cooked meals and snacks on demand, these bright young minds now must fend for themselves.

Fortunately, we have several ideas to make the switch to dorm life easy, homey, and delicious.

Care packages for boarding school students

For many students, this will be their first time living away from the structure and comfort of home. For parents, this shift to your kids being on campus may be fast-tracking your empty nest syndrome.

care packages with student eating cookie

If you’re missing your kids before their suitcases are even packed, think about sending them a care package to arrive after their first few weeks of school. It’s a simple yet thoughtful way of saying “I’m thinking of you,” with a selection of baked goods you know they like.

For the eater who likes a little bit of everything, an assortment of sweet and salty, fruity, and crunchy snacks will hit all the right notes. Packed in a sturdy wood box, this signature gift becomes the perfect solution for desktop storage, giving the recipient a convenient place to tuck away books and school supplies when the snacks run out.

Is your student crazy about popcorn? Send a trio of classic flavors — butter, cheese, and caramel — with a personalized message or family photo to show you care.

Care packages for college students

While making the adjustment from home life to dorm life is hard for any undergrad, the shift is an even bigger shock to the system for incoming freshmen.

To help ease this transition, arm your first-year college student with wholesome snacking options, such as fresh fruit and classic cheeses, to keep their energy up for long days and even longer nights.

As the days grow shorter and nights grow cooler, it’s increasingly important your child gets the nourishment — both physical and emotional — they need. This array of easy-to-heat, homemade-inspired soups will help stave off those seasonal colds and midterm blues.

And for those weekends when you wish you could be there tailgating together, send a celebratory snack box that says “Go team!”

Make their dorm feel like home

It can be hard to make a dorm room feel like home, so sending your child some home décor should brighten their living quarters.

Home goods

Personalized items are a must. From welcome signs to wreaths to picture frames, there are lots of ways to add character to their little home away from home.

Flowers

Since most dorm rooms and apartment complexes won’t let you paint the walls or hang picture frames, students have to find other ways to add some color to their bedrooms (besides the usual Pink Floyd posters). That’s where flowers come in! Even a small bouquet can add new life and a pop of color to any room.

Plants

In addition to flowers, plants are a great way to inject some vitality into a living space, and they’re also helpful for maintaining good air quality. Even if your student doesn’t exactly have a green thumb, you can still find them an option that requires little maintenance, such as a succulent or cactus.

Journal

Ask any college graduate about their time in school and they’ll probably tell you it was “the best time of my life.” Keep the memories they make in college alive and with them forever by jotting them down in a personalized journal. You can adorn the cover with something as simple as their name to something as personal as a family photo, so they’ll always know it’s theirs.

Something cozy

Winter is only a few short months away, and the walk to class in the cold and snow is no easy feat. Make their journey a little easier by sending a comfortable pair of Good Day™ Socks. With their signature message of “Gonna Be a Good Day™” inscribed on the toe, you can bet these socks will always make them smile — even during finals week!

Spa gifts

Dorm bathrooms aren’t exactly known for their elegance, but the right shower products can turn even a communal bathroom into a relaxing oasis. After a hard day of tests and projects, treat your scholar to a little relaxation with a premier spa gift basket in a number of favorite scents.

If sending a care package has you envisioning long lines at the post office and packing peanuts everywhere, don’t fret — we’ll do the heavy lifting for you. The 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. family of brands offers nationwide shipping, including next-day delivery on many items. If you plan on sending care packages throughout the year, the Celebrations Passport gives members unlimited free shipping for 12 months for a low one-time fee.