Fun Family Outings

On October 13th at 9am, make your way to Wild Willow Farm for their 5k and Chili Brew Fest. There will a cook off, home brew competition, live music, kids activities, and of course the 5k. This is a great event for all ages with activities that your whole family can enjoy.

The smell of chili wafts through the air. A craft brew is waiting to wash it down. You are wandering the grounds of a San Diego farm to the sound of bluegrass on a clear October day…

The premier Wild Willow Farm 5K & Chili Brew Fest unfolds Saturday, Oct. 13, at 9 a.m. This harvest season celebration features a chili cook-off and homebrew competition, plus a 5K trail run/walk. Live bluegrass music, farm tours, garden workshops and kid-approved farm fun add up to a great fall day with options for everyone. Get to know this San Diego Roots sustainable farm and education center. Funds raised at the event will help keep the efforts of Wild Willow up and running.

For more information about how you can participate in the Chili Cook-Off, Homebrew Competition, or Wild Willow Farm 5k or to volunteer, go to http://sandyfeetevents.com/wild-willow-farm-5k/.

For more information see 10News.

 

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Fall Decorating on a Dime

 Even if it is still warm outside, changing over to fall decorations can help you get in the mood for the season.  Here are some great affordable ways to change over your summer decorations without spending and arm and a leg. 

1. Switch out bed linens. As soon as the nighttime temperatures cooperate, ditch the summery coverlet for a heavier comforter or duvet. It's also a good time to turn your mattress, wash or replace any pillows that need it, and get your bed ready for snuggling down in colder weather. To save a few bucks, pick some cozy fall-hued fabrics, and make your own duvet! See our tips for more information: Tips for Sewing Your Own Duvet.
 
2. Consider switching out wall art. If you're like me and love to constantly rearrange artwork on your walls, make this a good time to try something new. I have lots of light, summery prints and illustrations that I'll trade out for a wall hanging--I have lots of quilts my grandmother made that would be perfect hanging over my mantle for the fall season. For a neat quilt-hanging idea, see How To: Hang a Quilt Artistically.

3. Add some candles--especially the fall-scented kind! Nothing says cozy like the glow and flicker of a flame; and for me, nothing says fall like apple pie and pumpkin scented candles in my living room and kitchen. It's an easy — and cheap — way to celebrate the scents of the season; I always pick out 5 or 6 little candles to kick off the first cool afternoon. Rather go a more DIY route? Check out 5 Simmer Pot Recipes To Make Your Home Smell Like Fall.

4. Rethink your throws and pillows for the sofa. I like to use some of my old quilts on the couch this time of year, and I'm also thinking about covering some of my throw pillows--maybe that worn out pair of corduroy pants would make a fantastic pillow cover! See How To: Sew an Envelope-Back Pillow Cover for ideas on making your own covers.

5. Ready your fireplace. If you use your wood-burning fireplace, give it a good clean and arrange some logs and kindling nearby. Or if you're like me, and have an unusable fireplace, give it a little glow of its own. Last year I arranged pumpkins and white lights; birch logs would also be nice! If you've also got a sealed-up fireplace, get some ideas with this post on Sprucing Up An Unused Fireplace.

6. Prepare doorways with a mud tray for boots. When the wet weather strikes — along with mud and lots of leaf litter — you'll be grateful you did! Here are seven boot trays to get you inspired: Practical to Pretty: 7 Boot Trays.

7. Speaking of doorways, try a new wreath — indoors or out! Use some bittersweet, or tuck leaves into a grapevine wreath. For some more ideas, see 5 DIY Ideas for Fall Wreaths.

8. Treat yourself to a new thermal mug and a fresh selection of teas. You could even make yourself a tea station, ready to go when the urge to indulge strikes. Need more direction in the tea department? Check out Tea Time: Everything You Need for a Perfect Cup.

9. Spruce up your table with some fall-hued table linens or fabrics. Dark, rich fabrics can add lots of warmth to the dining table. For inspiration, see our Table Linens for Fall Roundup.

10. Bring the outdoors in. I love to decorate with twigs and branches, and dried flowers from the end of summer. Bittersweet and chrysanthemums are also great ways to bring the fall colors indoors; for more ideas, see Setting the Autumn Table with Plants.

For more information see Apartment Therapy.

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Pirates are Invading San Diego

AHOY there!  Do you and your family love Pirates?  Then, this is the weekend for you.  The San Diego Pirate Festival is this weekend.  Pirate themed entertainment, vendors, and food all at your fingertips throughout the weekend.  Just hope you do not walk the plank!

A fair dedicated to swashbuckling and merriment returns this weekend but moves to a new location in Vista.

This second annual event is all about battles and treasure hunts and plenty of rum. Expect to find swashbucklers both mean and nice, wenches and even mermaids during the two-day festival.

And if you don’t have your own skull-and-crossbones bandanna, don’t worry, there will be plenty of vendors on hand to keep you properly attired.

Details: San Diego Pirate Faire. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista. $7 to $15; free for kids age 4 and younger. goldcoastfestivals.com

For more information see UT San Diego.

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Padres Annual Beer Festival

The Padres beer festival will be held this Friday September 7th, and it is free with your ticket to the baseball game.  The festival takes place inside the park before first pitch.  Local breweries to national wide names will all be available for you to try.

Baseball and beer are summer pastimes keeping steady pace into fall.

On Friday, head to Petco Park for the Padres Beerfest before our San Diego Padres take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:05pm.

The beer festival will showcase craft brew from local favorites and giants from across the nation. On the list of participating breweries are San Diego staples Stone Brewing Co., Karl Strauss Brewing Co., Ballast Point Brewing Co., Alesmith Brewing Co., and Green Flash Brewing Co. which is also hosting its Treasure Chest Fest on Saturday. More breweries making the trip to San Diego include Rogue Brewery from Newport, OR, Blue Moon Brewing Co. from Golden, CO, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. from Paso Robles, New Belgium Brewing Co. from Fort Collins, CO, and Primo Brewing & Malting Co. from Honolulu, HI, among others.

Details: Padres Beerfest, Friday, September 7. Admission is free with your game ticket. The festival will take place within Park at the Park before the first pitch at 7:05pm. For more information, visit padres.com

For more information see UTSanDiego.

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