7 Scrumptious Seasonal Soups

We can’t deny it any longer, it’s starting to get cold. That extra sweater you’d wear in the morning but ditch at noon is staying on longer and longer, your open-toed shoes have moved to the back of your closet, and you’ve even brought out your scarf once or twice. As the days get shorter and frosty temperatures continue to greet us, most will begin to feel the overwhelming urge to snuggle up with a good book, blanket, and a cup of tea. We know everyone loves getting cozy when it’s cold, so we thought we’d share some simple and delicious soup recipes to tide you over this season. Check ‘em out below and stay warm!

Sausage, Potato & Spinach – One pot is all you need to enjoy this savory goodness. These tasty ingredients combine in about 30 minutes to create the perfect weekday meal. You could also try doubling the recipe and make a week’s worth of lunches. Yum!

Image via Damn Delicious

Red Lentil – This vegan soup is one seriously hearty dish, and it also clocks in at about 30 minutes of cooking time. One of the reasons we love making soup so much is that is it super easy to make. Chop veggies, add broth and a few spices, then leave it on the stove and do whatever you need to do for half an hour. Another amazing weekday dinner!

Image via The Kitchen

Chicken Pot Pie – You will need a slow cooker or crockpot to make this dish, so if you don’t have one skip along to the next recipe. (That said, you probably should get a slow cooker because they are amazing.) Anyway, this cross between a soup and a stew is amazing. It’s rich, warm, and just what you need on a cold day.

Image via Baked By Rachel

Kale & Chickpea – Expecting guests with dietary restrictions? This soup’s for them, (unless they’re allergic to kale or chickpeas!). All kidding aside, this dish is vegan and gluten free, making it a good choice to serve your food conscious guests. Plus, it’s absolutely delicious!

Image via The Washington Post

Roasted Vegetable – This is a pretty classic recipe, but we just had to share it. Roasted vegetable soup is a staple dish during the winter. It’s easy to make, lends itself to lots of variations, and can feed an army if you’ve got enough vegetables!

Image via Savory Lotus

Carrot, Ginger & Potato – Do you love rich, creamy soups but are worried about what they’ll do to your waistline? Then this recipe is for you! Enjoy all the flavor and richness of a cream-based soup and stick to your diet!

Image via Averie Cooks

Mulligatawny – Add a little spice to your seasonal soup rotation with this eastern dish. Its complex flavors will impress every dinner guest, but it’s pretty easy to make. Mulligatawny is fun to say and twice as good to eat!

Image via The Wanderlust Kitchen

We hope these soups help keep you and your family warm and cozy through the fall and all winter long. Make sure to share your favorite fall dishes with @HomeShows on Twitter and Instagram – we’d love to see what you cook up!

Looking for more ways to get your family and your home ready for fall? Visit the Marketplace Events Home Show nearest you! Discover the latest trends in home decor and design, get expert advice, see your favorite home and garden celebrities, and more. Right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets to the Marketplace Events Home Show of your choice when you connect with us on Facebook. Visit our Facebook Ticket Deals and save big!

Read More

Five Fabulous Fall Decor Ideas

What shape is your fall decor in? That’s right, we said the f-word. With September 23rd’s arrival it’s official: fall is here. We’ve already talked about simple chores homeowners can do to protect their properties from the effects of cooler weather, but the start of fall means more than home maintenance – it’s also time to update our decor.

It’s too soon for most to go full on Halloween in their space, (if you have, no judgement from us – we’re big fans of this spooky holiday), but many will wait until closer to the 31st to light their jack-o-lanterns. So what do you do in the meantime? We’ve compiled a list of cute and clever fall decor ideas you can incorporate into your home to help get everyone in the autumnal spirit.

Pumpkin Planters – We are absolutely loving this succulent pumpkin combination. The vibrant orange of the pumpkin goes so well with the rich greens and reds of the succulents and the earthy moss they sit on. This simple craft makes for a lovely centerpiece but is also sturdy enough to be placed on your porch or walkway. What a nice way to welcome fall into your home!

Image via Simply Happenstance

Branch Out! – How cute is this foliage-inspired craft? This is a fun project for the whole family to tackle and the end result is a truly unique piece to display in your home. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Image via Happiness Is Homemade

Chalk-Gourds – Prefer to paint, rather than carve, your pumpkin? This DIY should be right up your alley! Instead of applying a scene or face to your gourd, use chalkboard paint. This way you can write messages and draw designs again and again (all the way through to Thanksgiving!).

Image via Better Recipes

Gorgeous Gourds – Set an autumnal moods in any space with these sweet candle holders. We all already know how fun it is to create displays with fall gourds; image what you could do with them if they were candle holders! Adding a little seasonal spice to your table setting will be a breeze with these guys!

Image via Revel

Autumn Address – The mail carrier will always be able to find your house (and will leave it with lots of fall spirit) when you incorporate this playful pumpkin into your porch decor! We’re especially fond of this project because you can leave it out for so long since it’ll work well with Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations.

Image via In My Own Style

We hope these ideas help you get your home ready for fall. And for more decor ideas and inspiration make sure to visit the Marketplace Events Home Show nearest you. We’ve got events happening all over North America – see what’s happening in the US and Canada. 

Don't forget, if you tackle one of these or your own fall project we'd love to see it! Make sure to share your latest crafting and DIY endeavors with us on Twitter and Instagram!

Read More

5 Essential Front Porch Pieces for Fall

Fall is upon us and with the season comes a myriad of new ways to decorate your home. Who doesn’t love mixing things up now and again? One of our favourite places to makeover in fall is the front porch; with good reason too! There’s so much room for creativity and originality, which makes this project so interesting (and fun). In this article we share with you the five aspects of porch decorating we just couldn’t live without!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins and More Pumpkins

Nothing quite says fall like a huge, orange pumpkin on the stoop. That being said, this fall try a new spin on the old classic. Spray paint your pumpkins gold, white or black to make them stand out or use several different sized pumpkins for a less uniform look. The possibilities are endless.

Image via Home Stories A to Z

Rustic is the New Chic

The ‘rustic’ trend looks like it’s here to stay, so why not incorporate it into your porch decor this year? Adding rustic pieces can accomplish a homier, more relaxed look that will welcome just about anyone! Use natural pieces such as hay bales, dried cornstalks and pinecones or include some bigger items like distressed urns and furniture, apple baskets, or even a straw welcoming mat. 

Image via Country Living

Lead the Way with Lanterns

Whether they are paper, metal or glass, lanterns always pull together a porch space beautifully. Try hanging the coloured paper lanterns in all sorts of shapes and sizes from the roof above your porch to create depth in the space and catch the eyes of your guests. Glass lanterns look wonderful with candles or sticks inside. Place these on your porch beside your pumpkins or hay bales to make the space look polished.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Wreaths are Vital

Your door is what every person sees first when looking at your porch. Make sure it's looking its best by putting a festive wreath on it! You can find wreaths made of almost everything that makes us think of fall, from leaves to pinecones, to mums. If you're craft-oriented, try making your own. Just make sure it ties into the overall theme of your porch before spending much money; things can get pricey!

Image via Refresh Style

Don’t Forget to Leave Some Leaves

Coloured fall leaves are arguably the first things on everyone’s mind when fall is mentioned. Bring your childhood nostalgia of jumping through piles of leaves to the forefront of your home by adding a scattering of leaves across your porch. Add them to baskets or bouquets for the perfect finishing touch to any space! 

Image via Sweetopia

For more home decor and advice make sure to visit the Ottawa Fall Home Show! It's the place to discover the latest home and garden trends for this season. This exciting event is taking over the EY Centre September 24-27, 2015. 

Don't have tickets yet? Right now you can get 2-for-1 on Facebook. Treat a friend or family member to the show - we can't wait to see you there!

EY CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24- 27, 2015.

Read More

Fall Maintenance: 4 Chores to Protect Your Home

Although it might not feel like it at the moment, fall and cooler temperatures are on the horizon. Summer’s reach may seem to extend into September, but before we know it leaves will be begin to fall, the wind will start to pick up, and sweaters will become a necessity.

Before fall hits in full force, consider taking care of the following home maintenance items. These are simple chores that can go a long way in protecting your home and your family during the cooler months. Completing them now, while they are less of a hassle, as opposed to in the future when you may be faced with turbulent weather and other obstacles, is a smart move.

Gutters

It’s a good idea to clean your gutters or eaves every few months. Dirt and debris can easily accumulate in these spaces over time, preventing water from properly flowing through them. Gutters exist to collect precipitation and move it away from the home. When rain can’t move through your gutters it will spill over onto your roof, which can cause leaks and water damage. Long story short, cleaning your gutters regularly can save you a lot of money and frustration.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Cracks/Windows

If you don’t seal foundation and window frame cracks in your home you may notice autumn’s cooler temperatures sooner than your neighbors. Caulking cracks not only helps to keep warm air in and cold air out, it also helps protect your space from rodents looking for a winter home. Fall is the time when our furry frenemies start looking for places to survive the winter. Help make sure you aren’t unsuspectingly sharing your space by sealing cracks – or as rats/mice see them: entryways!

Image via Apartment Therapy

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors

We encourage readers to test their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms on almost every maintenance blog we write. Here’s why: it’s really important! These devices save lives, yet they are so easily overlooked. To help make sure they’re functioning properly they should be tested every month, and their batteries should be changed twice a year. 

Image via Bob Villa

Pro Tip: Change your smoke detector batters when you change your clocks for Daylight Saving’s time. It happens twice a year, and you’re already going around your home resetting the clocks – it’s the perfect time to get it done.

Organizing Storage

Seasonal changes are the perfect time to get some organizing done. As you put away your summer clothes and bring your jackets and boots out of storage, why not switch other storage items around? You can restructure your storage spaces to bring upcoming holiday decorations to a more accessible spot, and move summer stuff to the back. It’s also a great time to assess your stuff. What summer items did you use or wear this season? What stayed on the shelf? Get rid of unused or unwanted items while the memories are fresh, instead of during spring cleaning when you’re excited about the potential of using/wearing these things during the warmer weather.

Image via Brit + Co

Once your maintenance is complete, it’s time to update the inside of your home for fall. Get decor ideas and inspiration to help refresh your space at the Marketplace Events Home Show nearest you. Connect with us on Facebook to see what events are happening in your area and get exclusive ticket discounts. Happy Fall Y’all!

Read More

Favorite Things About Fall

You can't deny it any longer, as of September 23rd it's official: summer is over. That's right folks, it's finally fall. For some of you, this change of seasons might not be your favorite. We can understand that, summer is sunny and relaxing and fall is busy and cold. But fall doesn't deserve the rap it gets - it just has a hard act to follow. In fact, there are a lot of really great things that happen between September 23rd to December 21st. Don't believe us? Check out the top six things we love about fall.

1. Colors - Fall is a season that inspires rich hues and deep, earthy tones. We love spring pastels and summer's bright palette, but fall brings out such luxurious colors.

Image via House & Home

2. Decor - Seasonal interior and exterior decorations begin with fall and continue through the winter. Creating charming table settings, front doors, porches, and entryways is a great tradition. We know you can't wait to light your jack-o-lanterns and then deck the halls.

Image via House and Home

3. Fashion - There's something comforting, comfortable, and chic about sweater weather.

Image via Cabinology

4. Pumpkin Spice - Add it to lattes, muffins, bagels, donuts, cakes, pies, ice cream, bread, whatever you can think of really...it's all good!

Image via Dessert For Two

5. Holidays - Trick or treaters and being thankful are some of the best parts of fall. Too much candy, too much turkey, too much fun.

Image via Country Living

6. The Capital Home Show! - We can't mention fall without talking about the Capital Home Show. Planning a home renovation? Looking for some tips to help spruce up your space? Need some inspiration for your new home? The Capital Home Show is full of home design, decor, and renovation experts and celebrities, service providers ready to give you advice and discounts, educational demonstrations, and so much more! The home and garden event of the season takes over the Dulles Expo Center September 25-27, 2015.

Fall is a season we love, so we have to ask: what are you favorite things about fall? Did we miss something on our list? Let us know on Twitter on Facebook!

Did you know that connecting with us on social has lots of perks? Not only will you get the inside scoop on upcoming events and celebrities lifestyle tips, you'll also get exclusive access to ticket discounts. Right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets to the Capital Home Show on our Facebook ticket deals. Click here to learn more.

DULLES EXPO CENTER

SEPTEMBER 25-27, 2015.

Read More

5 Ways to Get Your Home Fall Ready

As the days get shorter and the weather gets chillier, we find ourselves craving a cozy, warm place to put up our feet and enjoy some warm cider. That being said, since you’ve put so much work into making your home fresh and bright for summer, chances are the cozy factor just isn’t all there at the moment. Here are some of our favourite ways to get your home fall ready this year!

Get Your DIY On

This fall season we’ve found two super easy ways to put your own cozy spin on candles. These two DYI fall candles are a quick fix for some desperately needed fall charm in any room of your home. 

Cinnamon Glow: Start with a cylindrical candle (the scent of the candle is all up to you but we suggest trying vanilla). Carefully, with a hot glue gun, start attaching cinnamon sticks around the outside of the candle. Tip: Try placing them at different heights for a more rustic look. Once the candle’s sides are covered, finish it off with a twine bow. Ta-da!

Image via Home Stories A to Z

Twig Out: Time to venture into the great outdoors! Start grabbing all sorts of twigs from outside; small, big, misshapen, all are welcome! Grab a glass container that will fit the candle you’re planning on using and start clipping the twigs so they’re roughly the same height as the container. Once your twigs are ready, start hot gluing them to the outside of the container. Place a candle inside (try a pumpkin spice scent for the ultimate fall touch) and watch how the light peaks through the openings in the twigs. Instant fall sanctuary.

Image via Useful DIY

Play Up the Accents

A great way to switch things up in your home without breaking the bank is to change your accent colours. We suggest trading in your bright, summer colours for some warm, earthy tones. Colours like orange, brown and red are go-to fall colours but why not switch it up this year by including forest greens, deep purples and warm greys in the mix? Include these fall hues by trying some new pillow covers, vases, plates or even lamp shades! 

Image via Mix and Chic

Switch Up Those Fabrics

Fall is the perfect time to start adding some new prints and textures into your home. A great way to incorporate this new twist is to switch out your drapes, pillows and throws. Fabrics like tweed, velvet and plaid are perfect for the fall season! As a final touch, why not try a faux fur throw or a quilt for some added comfy, charm? 

Image via House Beautiful

Table Runners Are Essential

Table runners are often forgotten in the fall decor mix-up. Adding a runner with a fall print can pull together every small detail and bring a polished look to your dining room. Try adding some little pieces to your table on top such as leaves, gourds and candles to make the whole table warm and eye-catching.

Image via A Pumpkin & A Princess

Don’t Leave Out The Bathroom

For an easy way to bring fall into the bathroom, switch up your towels! Instead of the traditional white, try some of the fall colours mentioned above. Focus on the little, important details too such as a fall-scented soap or some new candles on the counter. Every detail matters!

Image via The Huffington Post

Without further ado, let’s get decorating! For more tips and the latest trends, visit the Ottawa Fall Home Show September 24 to 27, 2015. Don't have your tickets yet? Right now you can get 2-for-1 on Facebook. Don't delay, take advantage of this exclusive offer today!

EY CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2015.

Read More

This or That: Thanksgiving Centerpieces

With November in full swing there’s one thing on the minds of Americans: turkey. There are just a few short weeks until Thanksgiving – are you ready? You might have your menu planned, your shopping list written, and your guests RSVP’d, but we doubt your table’s set. Finding the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner can be a tricky task. There are a lot of requirements to fill: size, style, and more.

Of the choices below, which would you seat friends and family around? Does one feel more festive than the other? Do you prefer Option A’s colorful theme? Or are you more partial to Option B’s simplicity? Which one makes you want to say all the things you’re thankful for?

Option A

Image via SAS Interiors

Option B

Image via Karin Lidbeck-Brent

Our Choice:

Although both centerpieces are beautiful, (you really can’t make a wrong choice in our opinion), we prefer Option A. One of the best things about fall is the colors. While there’s much to be said about subtlety, it’s hard to deny the rich reds, oranges, and greens featured in Option A.

Which would you rather have? What will your Thanksgiving table look like? Are you big on place settings or is the food really the main event? Let us know below!

Read More

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Decorating Between Halloween & The Holidays

It’s November, which means that pumpkin you carved a few weeks ago for Halloween is starting to stink. Now it might not have fully collapsed in on itself like ours did, but we’d be surprised if it wasn’t already fairly rotten. You know what you have to do. You may have gotten attached because you did carve it and all, but it’s time to get rid of your pumpkin. However, in doing this you’re opening up a whole new can of worms: what should take its place? For most of us it’s too early to put up the holiday decorations – that comes after Thanksgiving. So how do you transition away from Halloween without going full blown winter wonderland? Consider our ideas below for late fall decorations. These seasonal pieces should have your decor covered until turkey day.

Pine Cone Garland - You don't necessarily need a mantle to decorate with these guys. We love the idea of hanging them around a door frame or banister.

Image via The Sweetest Occasion

Monogrammed Wreath - The rich colors in this wreath are beautiful and luxurious, plus the monogram adds a personal and welcoming touch.

Image via Rantings Of A Creole Princess

Fall Doormat - Try getting a burlap or plain doormat and jazzing it up. You could do a leaf print like they did here or a turkey one for Thanksgiving.

Image via Life Is A Party

Glittery Leaves - All that glitters isn't gold, but we think these leaves look great. Hang them inside or out.

Image via 6th Street Design School

Wooden Tags - Don't want to hang a wreath? We think these creative tags are a very original replacement for the traditional door decoration. And we love the message!

Image via that's my letter

We hope these ideas help you to fill the gap between Halloween and the holiday season. If you already have post-Halloween decorations up we've got to ask: what are they? How do you celebrate the end of fall? Let us know! 

Read More