Our Tiny Nest

2 In Nesting

Nesting

Nesting on this beautiful Saturday morning in mid September.

Get yourself a cup of coffee, maybe my homemade pumpkin cold foam coffee, and enjoy some light reading and inspiration this weekend.

Whew, how was your week? It felt like a whirlwind here! I’m looking forward to doing some fun fall things with family and friends this weekend. And then I will be a baking machine! I signed up to be classroom parent and have some baking to do for Open House on Monday! I’m still not sure what I’m going to make yet. I’m sure it will be a last minute decision 🙂

Have you listened to my Hot Girl Autumn playlist yet? Also can I just say, that I love making playlists. I wish that could be a job. Along with naming nail polish colors.

Who’s excited for the Hocus Pocus sequel? Some friends and I will be getting together to share some ideas for the most epic Hocus Pocus watch party in the next few weeks. But did you know that there is a Hocus Pocus coffee blend? I KNOW!!!

The other day in Instagram stories (if you’re not already following me on IG, click here) I asked for some of your favorite movies/shows for spooky season and these were your recommendations:

The Haunting of Hill House
The Others
Room 1409
The Changling
What Lies Beneath
HalloweenTown
Black Mass
The Conjuring
All the Halloween movies

It was a great week on the blog-

Did you see my pumpkin baked brie recipe? Oh my gosh it’s soooo delicious, easy to make and looks super cute and festive for fall get togethers or Thanksgiving.

This week I also took part in a Fall blog hop. I shared how to make these easy pumpkin topiaries and the most gorgeous faux ornamental cabbage so need to worry about having a green thumb. You can see all the details and more fall decor inspiration from my friends here.

And now for some recipes, decor and inspiration from my friends on the web-

I am obsessed with this DIY bubbling cauldron from Aurelie Erikson. Perfect for Halloween!

These layered peanut butter fudge brownies are all I can think about thanks to Niky from the House at Silverado.

So if you don’t already follow my friend Heidi from Eleanor Rose Home she is one of my favorites. Not only did she DIY these really pretty decoupage pumpkins, but she is also a finalist in the Cottages and Bungalows Brand Ambassador Contest. You can vote here! We’re rooting for you Heidi!

How delicious does this apple walnut bundt cake look from Cindy at Mornings on Macedonia? I think I need this with my afternoon coffee.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

September 17, 2022 By Nicolle

10 In DIY/ home/ home decor

Fall front porch decor that isn’t mums

This post contains affiliate links

One of my favorite things to do in fall is decorate my front porch. I love front walkways filled with pumpkins in various colors, fall florals and greens. This year I decided to do something a little different and use all faux so no rotting pumpkins Scroll down to see this year’s fall front porch decor that isn’t mums. I’ve got a DIY pumpkin topiary and a faux cabbage arrangement.

Tons of fall inspiration

Today I am teaming up with some blogger friends of mine to bring you some more fall inspiration for a Fall Is In The Air Blog Hop. We’ve got tablescapes, mantle decor, fall hutch decor ideas and more ideas for your home so if decor is your thing, you’re going to want to tag along.

If you’re coming over from Kristy at Kristy Mastrondonas, welcome! I hope you will like it here and decide to follow along for more! Kristy definitely has an eye for decor and a way of bringing people together doesn’t she? Thank you for inviting me to participate in today’s party Kristy!

Pumpkin Topiary

There’s just something that I love about a pumpkin topiary. I’ve been looking at various ones but for a single stack it’s easily over $100. Perfect example, this one below for over $130.

So I decided to DIY a pumpkin topiary myself. I gathered some pumpkins in different colors and sizes and got to work! I simply just pulled the stems off, added a ring of super glue and stacked each pumpkin on top.

This one topiary cost me about $54 to make, so I got two for still less the price of the one above! And the best part, it’s faux so it won’t rot. I can use year after year.

That’s a smart investment if you ask me 🙂

I’m linking some similar things below so you can recreate it!

Faux Cabbage Arrangement

Ornamental cabbage or kale is so beautiful in baskets on the front porch. I did some real cabbage last year but of course, it didn’t last long. So I decided to search for some faux cabbage. Leave it to Amazon to pull through.

At first when I got these in the mail I wasn’t so sure.

But once you open them and fluff out the leaves it is so lush! And this basket is perfect!

Tip – I put some rocks in the bottom to weigh it down and clipped the bottom of the stem of cabbage so that it fits nicely.

Linking the basket and cabbage below

For more fall front porch ideas, click here to check out this one from a few years ago!

And if you’re using real pumpkins, click here to see how to make your pumpkins last longer.

As always, I love to see what you create! So be sure to tag me in your photos on Instagram @ourtiny_nest!

Be sure to sign up below so you don’t miss any more decor ideas or recipes, they’ll come right to your inbox.

Next up, head on over to Crystal at Sweet Valley Acres for more pumpkin decor!

Kristy -Kristy Mastrandonas, Nicolle – Our Tiny Nest, Crystal – Sweet Valley Acres, Tracy-Tracy’s Haven

Kylie – Trueman’s Treasures, Rose – Jenny Wren Design, Missy – Sonata Home Design, Susan – Hen and Horse Design

September 14, 2022 By Nicolle

26 In food/ Recipes

Pumpkin baked brie

Warm and gooey pumpkin baked brie is an easy appetizer that you’ll want to make all fall long and through the holidays!

If you’ve been following for awhile you know that the way to my heart is with cheese. In fact, bread and cheese are my love language. This past weekend it was in the high 70s/80s but it was the first football Sunday and I was craving all the fall comforts. So I lit a candle, played my autumn playlist (click here for the playlist) and made myself a gooey wheel of baked brie filled with warm pumpkin apple butter.

So what is baked brie exactly? First you bite into this crispy, flaky puff pastry that is filled with oozing brie cheese, melted to perfection. It’s really good paired with some crackers or apples and the addition of the warm pumpkin butter makes this perfect for the fall or the holidays. Scroll down for my delicious pumpkin baked brie recipe.

Pumpkin Baked Brie

Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry
1 wheel of brie cheese
pumpkin butter (if not homemade, store bought is fine. Props if you channeled Ina Garten while saying this. Apple butter would work good too!)
Baker’s twine
1 egg
1 sage leaf
1 honey pretzel twist

Directions:

1.) Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

2.) Line a baking dish with parchment paper and roll out the puff pastry sheet on top.

3.) Spoon about 3 tbsps of pumpkin butter onto the center of the puff pastry.

4.) Place the brie cheese wheel on top of the pumpkin butter spread.

5.) Draw a circle with a butter knife around the cheese, leaving about 2 inches of dough around the border.

6.) Bring the edges of the puff pastry dough to the top so that the whole wheel of cheese is covered.

7.) Cut 5 strings of kitchen twine in equal length and lay out on the parchment paper in a spider’s web formation.

8.) Place the dough wrapped cheese on top of the twine and bring up each opposite side of twine, tying in the center.

9.) Make an egg wash with 1 egg and water, whisk it together and brush over the top of the puff pastry dough.

10.) Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or so, until the dough is golden brown.

11.) Remove from the oven, cutting and discarding the twine.

12.) Place a honey pretzel twist on top for the stem and sage leaf.

13.) Serve immediately with crackers, apples and some nuts.

I love to see what you create! So if you make this, be sure to take a photo and tag me on Instagram @ourtiny_nest!

Linking the twine and this cheese board below

Be sure to sign up below for more recipes right to your inbox!

For more fall inspiration and recipes check out

This easy fall centerpiece

Homemade pumpkin cold foam coffee

Apple cinnamon french toast casserole

And for the holidays

This delish Irish cream which makes awesome gifts!

My sweet potato casserole & other Thanksgiving recipes

This effortless Thanksgiving place setting

Pumpkin Baked brie

Crispy flaky puff pastry dough is filled with warm pumpkin butter and brie cheese melted to perfection. This makes a great fall or holiday appetizer served wtih some crackers, fruits and nuts.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 8 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Course Appetizer

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry dough
1 wheel brie cheese
3 tbsp pumpkin butter or apple butter homemade or store bought
1 egg
1 sage leaf
1 honey pretzel twist

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a baking dish with parchment paper and roll out the puff pastry sheet on top.
Spoon about 3 tbsps of pumpkin butter onto the center of the puff pastry.
Place the brie cheese wheel on top of the pumpkin butter spread.
Draw a circle with a butter knife around the cheese, leaving about 2 inches of dough around the border.
Bring the edges of the puff pastry dough to the top so that the whole wheel of cheese is covered.
Cut 5 strings of kitchen twine in equal length and lay out on the parchment paper in a spider’s web formation.
Place the dough wrapped cheese on top of the twine and bring up each opposite side of twine, tying in the center.
Make an egg wash with 1 egg and water, whisk it together and brush over the top of the puff pastry dough.
Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or so, until the dough is golden brown.
Remove from the oven, cutting and discarding the twine.
Place a honey pretzel twist on top for the stem and sage leaf.
Serve immediately with crackers, apples and some nuts.

September 12, 2022 By Nicolle

0 In Nesting

Nesting

Nesting on this 80 degree day in September.

So it happened. My baby Dude Man started kindergarten this week. He made us so proud. His week was so action packed he fell asleep on the bus on the way home yesterday.

Now that school is back in full swing, if you’re looking for some easy meal ideas, check these out! I even have a quick recipe for sheet pan breakfast sandwiches.

What I watched this week – lets see, I finished Virgin River and I’ve been binging old episodes of Gilmore Girls on Netflix. I never watched it while it was on the air but it’s kind of cute. Also if you’re looking for a suspenseful or creepy show, we’ve been watching The Devil in Ohio on Netflix.

On the blog and in my Instagram stories this week we talked about:

My pumpkin spice snack mix. It was such a hit last year and the perfect combo of sweet and salty.

I also shared this easy fall centerpiece idea with things you probably already have at home.

You know when you’re driving and that song comes on from your youth that you used to belt out and you start reminiscing and going down memory lane? Well for me it was hearing “Never Ever” by the All Saints and it inspired me to put together this Throwback playlist on Spotify. I collected some of your favorites too! I’m sharing it here if you’d like to reminisce about the 90s and early 2000’s.

And drumroll please… announcing the winner of our Summer Reading Challenge –

So many of you participated and either rediscovered your love of reading or discovered a new love. That makes me so happy because that was my goal! Our winner though is Chantal Intonte @chantalintonte who completed the cover all and read an impressive 26 books!I hope you all enjoyed the challenge and I’m thinking of doing something similar to get us through the long winter months, what do you think?

And now for some inspiration from some of my friends.

You’ve seen those Pottery Barn dupes with the terracotta pumpkins by now. But how about the same concept but as a glowing pumpkin garland? I just discovered Ann from @Rekindleddsigns and this DIY is probably my fave of the week!

Another one of my favorites that I recently started following is Ana from @SunriseValleyFarm. She’s been sharing so many fun Halloween and fall inspired things daily. These outdoor ghosts are super cute! Also check out her concrete pumpkins!!!

I love following Leslie from my 100 Year Old Home. Her and I both are loving the orange/pink color palette for fall and I love this pumpkin wreath DIY she created.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!