Thanks for all your great ideas! I ended up making:
* Caramel Apple Bars (recipe at the end of this post)
* Pumpkin Pie (recipe here)
* Cheese and Crackers
* Mixed Nuts
* Hot Apple Cider

It turned out great, and so fall-ish! I also found a bunch of fall decorations, and bought a pot of mums, and used those to decorate the table and was very pleased with the result. I picked up a couple reed diffusers from Target which really scented the room with fall-ish scents. Our apartment looked very festive and seasonal!

Here are some pictures I took when I was done cleaning. (I took pictures of the entire apartment as well which will come in a separate post!) As always, click the pictures to make them bigger.

The table. I used my gold tablecloth, and decorated it with fake fall-colored leaves, some mums, and fall-themed plates and napkins I found at party city. Last year I picked up some placecard holders from a clearance rack and they were so perfect that I was dying to use them. I decided to write on index cards what each dish was. I thought it was a nice little touch. :-)

Caramel apple bars (recipe below). Paul made them, and I thought they were sooo tasty!!

Paul’s famous homemade pumpkin pie.

The cracker and cheese platter. In addition to the placecard holders, I also bought some maple leaf-shaped cookie cutters from the clearance rack last winter. I used them to cut the cheese into leaf shapes which I think turned out wicked awesome (ha! look, I’m from New England! or at least married to one… Paul’s going to shake his head sadly at me, hehe).

In the kitchen I had a crock pot with hot apple cider steeping with cinnamon sticks, orange and lemon peels, and miscellaneous spices. I am glad we have mugs that are red and gold colored, because they fit in with the whole theme. In the living room, I put a bowl of nuts and a glass pumpkin filled with candy corn. I thought it looked really awesome!

I’m trying to focus on the positive part of the night because… Well, what happened was almost everyone cancelled on me last minute. I did have one person show up for a little while which was awesome! I enjoyed hanging out with her. But when she left and I looked around the apartment, realizing I had spent the entire day cleaning and cooking, I just couldn’t help but cry from exhaustion, frustration, and disappointment. So I call this the party that wasn’t.

(I’m still upset, if you can’t tell. I’m no good at letting things roll off my back.)

Recipe for Caramel Apple Bars:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1-3/4 cups flour
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4-1/2 cups coarsely chopped peeled tart apples (about 3 medium)
3 tablespoons flour
1 bag (14 ounces) caramels

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix brown sugar, butter and shortening in large bowl. Stir in 1 3/4 cups flour, the oats, salt and baking soda. Reserve 2 cups oat mixture; press remaining oat mixture in ungreased rectangular pan, 13×9 inches.
2. Toss apples and 3 tablespoons flour; spread over mixture in pan. Heat caramels over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted; pour evenly over apples. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture; press lightly.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. For 36 bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows while warm. Store covered in refrigerator.