Happy September!!! Today is a special day because it's Elle's 3rd birthday, and the day I always find myself getting into the fall spirit. So what if we're supposed to wait until September 21st to official say it's fall? So what if it's still above 100 degrees in Phoenix? That can't stop me from making my home look like fall, my taste buds enjoying fall treats and making plans for fall gatherings around chili and cornbread.

Today, I'm sharing with you a collaboration with Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market - a biannual event in Arizona that brings vendors that sell unique, vintage pieces. Many of their vendors carry unique serving-wear and dinner-wear, and with fall approaching, Coley and Lindsey decided to choose "gather" as their theme for this September's market.

To get everyone in the gather spirit for the upcoming event (September 19-20), we came together to create some inspirational place-settings for your future fall and holiday gatherings. All of the pieces that we used are items that the vendors are currently selling at this fall's market, so if you see something you like be sure to get your ticket to the event and snatch it! Also, be sure to follow Junk in the Trunk on Instagram because they will be sharing more details on how you can win tickets and buy the items featured in the shoot.

Desert inspired Fall Setting - We don't really have leaves that change color and fall off of the trees here in Phoenix. If that does happen to the occasional tree it's during the months of December and January. Instead, we have cool nights perfect for bonfires and backyard gatherings. We loved this idea of using cacti and decor trends of brass and deep blues to create an inviting table-scape that made you feel at home.

Kid-friendly Entertaining - You might be at the stage in your life when your friends have little ones that they bring to your dinners. A way to make them feel special all while using plastic dinnerwear is to place a piece of candy along with a name tag, so they know that they were thought of. Also, line your table with craft paper as your table cloth so that they can draw while they wait for their food. We took the liberty and drew in utensils for fun. You can also place a vintage toy for them to play with like a pin wheel or a truck for more character.

A stylish & budget conscious table-setting - Maybe you're throwing a "friendsgiving" this year, and you really don't have much to spend for decorations. Try using a bundles of wheat, rosemary and apples to make your table design feel like fall. We also used old flour sacks for placemats. Scraps of burlap from a fabric store would work just as well rather than spending $8.00 a pop on a placemat. It doesn't need to be elaborate to look pin-worthy.

Red & green can look cool - I'm a fan of white minimalist holiday decor because the combination of red and green really bothers me. I know that's a bit silly, but seriously, those colors not only don't mesh well with one another, but they clash with the color pallet of my home. However, if you throw in black, white and gold we found that red and green can actually look cool.

For more ideas on entertaining, make sure to follow my "Entertaining in Style" board on Pinterest.

Photos by Gina Meola Styling by Coley & Lindsey of Junk in the Trunk and Alex Evjen of AVE Styles

We can all probably agree that men and women think differently even when it comes to food. When I think about cooking a romantic meal for two I think of things like wine, chocolate, cheese and bacon wrapped dates. When Ryan thinks about a tasty, romantic meal he thinks of steak, chili, potatoes and beer. So, since Valentine's is all about showing your loved one that you care for him or her, I decided I would should you what I would cook for Ryan. It's super, duper easy - cheddar and green chile cornbread with a slow cooker tortilla soup. CHEDDAR & GREEN CHILE CORNBREAD preheat over to 400 degrees.

Ingredients: 1 box of Jiffy corn mix 1 egg 1/3 cup of milk 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese 1 4 oz can of diced green chiles

Combine the first four ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix so all ingredients are combined, but leave the batter a little lumpy. Pour batter in a greased 8 x 8 pan or pyrex dish. Sprinkle chiles on top of the cornbread. You can make a heart or spell out a message if you would like.

Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Make sure sides are golden brown and that a toothpick comes out clean when you poke the center of the bread. Let stand 5 minutes and serve with butter.

You can make this bread a day ahead of time, but it tastes best first out of the oven.

SLOW COOKER TORTILLA SOUP 2 cans of Rotel with lime diced tomatoes 5-6 pieces of frozen chicken tenderloins 1 48 oz box of chicken broth 1 can of black beans drained and rinsed 1 yellow onion diced 4 cloves of minced garlic 1 4 oz can of green chiles 1/2 cup of frozen corn 2 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder 1 1/2 teaspoons of cumin Salt and pepper to taste

Mix ingredients together and cook on low for 10 hours. Pull out the chicken tenders and shred with two forks. Place back into the crockpot and stir. Serve and garnish with your favorite toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, lime and/or cilantro.

I hope you enjoy this easy meal anytime of the year. You really can't go wrong when making this dish. I promise! If you're looking for more ideas to serve for Valentine's Day, please check out these other recipe ideas:

Savory crepes with creme brûlée by Friday We're in Love Panang curry with chocolate croissants by Freckles in April Smothered ranch chicken burritos with apple nachos by Deidre Emme Lasagna soup with sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls by Along Abbey Road Leige waffles with bacon and eggs by Nothing Comes of Nothing Make-ahead French Toast with bacon and fruit by Everyday Reading Pork chops with roasted broccoli, drop rolls and f'zhookie with ice cream by A Prioritized Marriage