Fall is a magical season filled with crisp air, colorful leaves, and the perfect excuse to indulge in cozy family activities. If you're looking for a delightful way to spend an evening with your kids, consider hosting a themed dinner and movie night centered around the beloved children's book, "Room on the Broom" by Julia Donaldson. Get ready to embark on a spellbinding adventure combining creativity, delicious treats, and quality family time.

Invitations:
Build anticipation by crafting invitations that mirror the book's enchanting theme. Include whimsical language and imagery, inviting your little guests to join a magical journey with the characters from "Room on the Broom."

Dress the Part:
Encourage the children to dress up as their favorite characters from the book, whether it's the friendly witch, the cat, the dog, the bird, or the frog. This adds an extra layer of fun and immersion to the experience.

Themed Dinner:
Create a magical menu inspired by the characters and events in "Room on the Broom." 

Here is an example menu: 
Witch's Brew Punch: A non-alcoholic, fruity punch with floating ice cubes shaped like stars or broomsticks.
Wizard Hat Sandwiches: Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches into wizard hats made with kid-friendly ingredients.
Broomstick Pretzels: Dip pretzel rods in chocolate and add bristle details with small strips of licorice.
Magic Potion Cupcakes: Decorate cupcakes with edible decorations resembling potions and magical spells.

Movie Time:
Settle in for the main event by screening the animated adaptation of "Room on the Broom." Ensure you have a comfortable viewing area with blankets and pillows for the kids to snuggle up in. As the enchanting tale unfolds, encourage interaction by providing small props related to the story, such as toy broomsticks or stuffed animals representing the characters.

Craft Corner:
After the movie, engage the kids in a craft activity inspired by the book. Make mini broomsticks using craft sticks and twine or create witch hats using construction paper. This hands-on experience allows kids to express creativity and create a keepsake from the magical evening.

A Room on the Broom-themed dinner and movie night is the perfect way to infuse a touch of magic into your fall family activities. Combining a captivating story with delicious treats, creative decorations, and interactive elements, you help create lasting memories that your children will cherish. So, gather your little witches and wizards for an enchanting evening of fun, laughter, and togetherness!

My pantry and freezers stay well-stocked and translate into our favorite go-to meals. Fall crisp, and cool weather inspires me to cook hearty meals such as soups, stews, and other yummy dishes simmering in the crockpot all day. If I can grow vegetables in our garden, we can enjoy the fruits of our labor or visit a local farmers market for fresh, local produce. Dedicating one night a week to a fun family movie night with a coordinating menu is a wonderful way to get the kids involved in menu planning.

​Once I have my list of meals, I have a calendar that I use and save each month as a reference for future meals. I make sure to match meals with specific dates based on what we have going on as a family. Planning a complicated dish that takes ages to cook would be best suited on a night when we have time to prepare it with family.
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Menu planning may seem like a lot of work, but it saves me loads of time and money! I am not wasting time staring at the shelves in my pantry trying to decide what to eat or camping out on Pinterest trying to get inspired. I love saving money by only buying what we need and about 90% is in bulk. One of the most important reasons we meal plan is to make sure we are making healthy food choices. We may eat out once or twice a month, but typically we have a plan, and the right ingredients at home, therefore, spending money outside of our home is unnecessary, which is excellent for our tummies, thighs and wallets.

Most importantly, menu planning is about finding what works for you and your family, balancing routine and freedom, healthy and comforting, affordable, and treating yourself. Let’s feed ourselves and our loved ones delicious, healthy, homemade food. Feel free to share your favorite recipes for another monthly menu.
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Happy menu planning, preparing, creating, and sharing!  To download my November menu, click on the calendar shown above. 

​​​​Autumn is just around the corner here in Northeast Georgia, and thankfully our last bit of summer finally got a break from those record-breaking June temperatures!  Many things we enjoy as a family does not necessarily include the commercialized pumpkin patches or small-town fall vendor-style festivals.  Our family gets excited year after year thinking of the delightful memories in store during this beautiful autumn season.  Bucket lists are a great way to organize all the fun fall activities you do not want to miss on a crisp, breezy fall day!

I hope you enjoy my list, and let me know your favorite things to do during this beautiful season by commenting below.