Joyous Notions: Five Days of Fall Day 1 - Guilt-Free Creamy Pumpkin Mousse -Inspiring Creative Homemaking

Welcome to day one of our fall blog hop! Our hop will consist of several things: giveaways, fun posts, and an opportunity to leave your link to your fall post! Please share the hop with your friends!

Make sure to follow the guidelines for the hop. Make sure to thank the link participants when you visit their blog! And always read to the very bottom. You never know what you might find.

Enter below to win today's giveaways! Go through the Punchtab steps at the bottom of the post, and the more steps you complete, the more entries you get! Also, don't forget to leave links to your fall blog posts on our Fall Blog Hop! *Rules for participating in blog hop*

Today's Giveaways:

2013 Seasons at Home Magazine Issues (3) (Joyous Home)

Character Building for Families (Character Corner)
This is a 165 lesson, 12 topic Bible/character education study for parents and children of all ages. Each lesson takes about 20 minutes. Read more...

How about a great set of stainless steel measuring cups? Given by our first guest blogger! (MarmeeDear & Company)

Today's post is from Martha Greene of MarmeeDear & Company! She has a wonderful Pumpkin Mousse recipe to share and a printable card for your recipe box. Be sure to visit MarmeeDear's site! She has always had encouraging things to share! Thank you Marmee for being our guest today!!

Are you trying to keep off extra pounds? Do you still want to indulge in all the comfort foods as the season changes into chilly days, and swirling leaves float down to the ground?

I have switched our family over to a new food lifestyle after educating myself with the
Trim Healthy Mama plan.

I made a guilt-free creamy and tasty pumpkin mousse that will remind you of pumpkin pie - minus the crust. It's simple and fast, (simple clean up too!) and ready to eat as soon as it is thoroughly chilled.

Paired with Carrot Bars (made in a 8x8 cake pan from the Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe from HealthyIndulgences.net) it makes a guilt-free dessert that the whole family can enjoy!

The best part is it is all made in a hi-speed blender and only messes up one bowl! Pour it directly from the blender into the serving bowls and chill! Or pour into one glass serving bowl and cover and chill and spoon at serving time into individual bowls. This is best served ice cold straight from the refrigerator with a nice fluffy mound of whipped cream!

Creamy Pumpkin Mousse

Dump into blender and blend on hi-speed until smooth and creamy:
12 oz. block cream cheese
1 – 15 oz. can LIBBY’S 100% Pure Pumpkin
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup almond milk (SILK Brand unsweetened)

1 Tbsp. vanilla flavoring
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

3 heaping Tbsp. coconut sugar
3-5 tsp. TRUVIA

Make your own TRUVIA here { http://healthyindulgences.net/2012/02/truvia-sweetener-review-how-to-make-your-own-truvia-substitute-in-bulk-much-cheaper/ for a bargain price!

Blend in a heavy duty blender on high speed for at least 2 minutes. Taste and adjust sweetener to taste.

Chill thoroughly and serve topped with whipped cream and Carrot Bars.

Enjoy a printable recipe 4x6 card for you and a friend by clicking here: http://marmeedearandcompany.com/FreebiesPDF/bloghop.fall.2013.pdf

Are we done yet today? How about an easy craft for fall decor?

Paper Chains! This old-fashioned craft is easy and makes pretty decor for any room. Children love making paper chains. Find different pictures such as acorns, trees, turkeys etc., or trace cookie cutters.

1. Cut a full-size sheet of tissue paper in half lengthwise. Cut out a shape, pumpkin, leaf, etc.

2. Lay the shape on the edge of the tissue paper and mark the width of the shape with a light pencil mark.

3. Accordion fold the tissue paper the width of the shape. lay the shape on the folded tissue paper, and cut around the top and bottom of the shape, leaving the sides connected (important for your chain to connect!)