With a few quick tips and tricks you can transform your home into an autumn wonderland BEFORE you have to tackle Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving menus; and I’m not even going to mention Christmas shopping lists.

Go Shopping!

The best places to pick up a few inexpensive fall decorating items is your local craft stores and variety stores. Both will have a great early selection of colorful items you can easily implement into your existing décor and whip up some instant fall.

• Colorful fall candles
• Fall colored ribbon
• Artificial fall bushes
• Colored glass
• Pumpkins, gourds and mini pumpkins
• Twig wreaths in various sizes
• Bath towels in complimenting fall colors
• Fall colored kitchen towels
• Cozy colored throw pillows that coordinate with your bedroom

Family Room

Once you’ve picked up a few supplies it’s time to introduce these elements into your existing décor. Start by replacing everyday candles with fall colored candles. This is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to add fall color without rearranging anything. Next, take the artificial bushes and cut them up into stems. Use these stems to add a touch of color to shelves and tables by tucking them under knick-knacks, around small pictures and into house plants, and if you have any silk flower arrangements, tuck fall leaves into those as well.

Dining Room

Pumpkins and gourds aren’t just for outside. Use a pumpkin as a centerpiece for your dining room table. Arrange fall leaves in a circle and put the pumpkin right on top, instant center piece. Use mini pumpkins as shelf and table accents. Put a basket full of gourds on the seat of a side chair or on the floor next to it. Display single fall leaves in china cups in your china cabinet.

Kitchen

You can add mini pumpkins to the counters around other displays and a basket with mini pumpkins and gourds for the table. Tuck a few fall leaves into the basket for some added color and interest. Replace old kitchen towels with new fall colored ones. Add warm colored chair cushions to the kitchen chairs or bar stools in you have them,

Bath

New guest towels in complimentary fall colors tied with some warm fall ribbon or colored rope give the bathroom a whole new look; layer bath towels with hand towels for an added dimension. If you add a few fall candles, this is all your bath will need.

Bedrooms

Adding fall color to a bedroom can be as easy as adding a few complimentary colored throw pillows to the bed. A nice cozy throw in a dark color can add fall charm to a chair. A fall wreath on the wall above the bed can really add a spark. Every master bedroom needs a few candles so get a selection in fall colors and fragrances and your bedroom has just been transformed into a wonderful fall getaway.

In just a few hours while the kids are at school you can transform your home from summer to fall. Clean as you go and you’ve accomplished 2 chores at one time. Now all you need to do is whip up a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies or some pumpkin bread. When everyone returns home from a long day they’ll be amazed at the transformation.

Don’t miss out on another season of fun filled memories. Take a little time and create a home filled with the sights sounds and smells of fall. It’s quick and easy and is worth the little time and money used to create a cozy seasonal home.

If you decide to brew your own green tea, how can you be assured you’re getting fresh green tea leaves that will give you the best taste? While some people purchase loose green tea leaves online, you can’t be assured that you’re getting the freshest, highest quality product when you buy by mail or by computer. If you have a local tea or coffee store in your area, visit and spend some time breathing in the scent of fresh green tea leaves to determine their odor. Another place to find loose leaf, fresh green tea leaves is at some natural food markets.

When you buy loose leaf tea from tea stores, you may be offered the opportunity to smell the leaves before purchasing. The best way to do this is to close your eyes and take a deep breath to inhale the full aroma of the tea leaves. You should be able to characterize the aroma as sweet or grassy in nature. If you detect no aroma at all, chances are the tea leaves are old and you’ll want to avoid buying them. You nose can be an excellent indicator as to the freshness of green tea leaves.

An even better indicator of whether you’re dealing with fresh green tea leaves is taste. If you’re buying your tea from a tea or coffee store, you may be given the chance to sample the tea before purchasing. If you’re allowed a sample, check the color of the tea before tasting. Higher quality green teas tend to be a light green in color. If the tea you’re considering brews up golden or brown in color, you know you’re dealing with a lower quality green tea. But don’t rule it out based on color. Some people enjoy the more robust flavor of green teas of lesser quality.

When you taste a green tea sample, the tea should taste clean. The best green teas usually strike a balance between grassy green undertones and astringent qualities. Higher quality green teas should taste light and clear, not bitter. The more green teas you sample, the more skilled you’ll become at detecting their quality and freshness.

Choosing fresh green tea leaves can make an enormous difference in how your cup of tea tastes at home. Try to buy only the freshest product when possible and you’ll develop an even greater appreciation of this remarkable drink.