Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Today is a very very busy one for us. I get to divide my time between two classes, dress up, provide snacks and help with games. The little one will be trick or treating among the local assisted living centers and the big one will be having a costume parade. Both have parties and fun festivities. I cant wait. 

I love this holiday!

Hope your day is great!

BOO!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

~ Spooky Spider Chandelier ~


One of the fun things we did while decorating this year was a Spider Chandelier. We took a hula hoop from the dollar store, black streamers, black ribbon and a large bendable spider, and just wrapped and tied it all around the hula hoop. The pictures do not do it justice though. It turned out really great. It would be even better with lights, but I couldn't figure out how with the area it is hanging in. My girls love it and are inspired to do one for every holiday. 

Have a great day!
; )

Monday, October 29, 2012

~Halloween Decorating... Spider House~







Our theme every year is always the same. What can I say, we love spiders.  My girls start begging for spider webs in September. (Probably thanks to the retail establishments : ).

We threw in some pumpkins and mice as well.

Happy Monday!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Mummy Dogs...

Yummy! I love theme food. 

Boo! 

Today we are heading to a Fall Festival. Fun!!!

Hope you have a very bootiful Saturday.

; )

Friday, October 26, 2012

Pumpkin Carving...



Can I say how happy I am that my girls are at the age where they can clean out and carve the pumpkins. Thanks to age appropriate carving tools and kits. I love this. Especially for my big girl. She loves to carve the more intricate patterns. I love it. 

We are in Halloween push mode now. Its all on for this holiday. 

Hope your day is great!

; )

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Mercury Glass




Hello, happy Sunday! I have been quietly drinking my coffee this morning, looking at Pinterest and have decided that I need more mercury glass in my holiday decorating. I love the old glittery appeal of it. I have a few pieces. But some larger statement items would be great as well.

This weekend we have been doing a lot of different things. We have done some more decorating, carved some pumpkins, did some baking and have really gotten a jump on our Craft fair preparations. 

I actually feel like I accomplished alot. Now to relax a little before another busy week. 

Have a great day!

; )

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Working On Craft Fair Goodies...





Recently, my Hubby and I decided to try our had at a local craft fair. So we have been gearing up and creating lately. One of the ideas I had was to use the huge lot of vintage music paper that I have been stockpiling for the last few years. There are some great ideas for using it online. I think we will be making some banners and some ornaments, as well as some other goodies. Lots of vintage this year, as well as repurposing. Hope your day is great. 

: )

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Yummy Soup Ideas For a Cold Day....

Today is a really blustery cold day. Some snow, some rain. Perfect day for hanging out inside and cuddled up in the chair, eating soup. Our whole family has been sick this week. Yuk. I hate being sick. Mostly because time really doesn't slow down for Mom. I admit that along with being sick, my heart has been heavy this week as well. Here in Colorado, a 10 year old little girl was abducted and murdered. This is such a horrible crime and such a waste. I am very saddened and sickened by this, and that as a mother I hope and pray I never have to experience what her poor family has to go through. It has put a dark cloud over me. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

Sorry for the sadness on this Saturday. Hope your day is positive. May you hold your loved ones close to you, and maybe have some soup. 

; )

Slow Cooker Ham & White Beans

1 lb package dried northern beans
ham bone, hocks, shanks or diced ham (about 1 pound)
2 tsp onion powder
6 cups water
salt & pepper to taste


Rinse and sort the beans for any pebbles. Add the the rinsed beans, onion powder, salt, pepper, and ham to the crock pot. Add water. Cover and cook on low about 8 hours, until beans are tender. Remove ham bone, shanks or hocks and pull off the meat. Add meat to the crock pot and mix. Serve with cornbread.






Sixteen Bean Soup/ Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 package (12 ounces) 16-bean soup mix
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1 Spice Islands® Bay Leaf
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

  • Set aside seasoning packet from beans. Sort beans and rinse with cold water. Place beans in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 to 4 hours or until beans are softened. Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid.
  • Return beans to the pan. Add contents of bean seasoning packet, onion, garlic, salt, chili powder, pepper, pepper sauce, bay leaf and water. Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until beans are tender. Add tomatoes and lemon juice. Simmer, uncovered, until heated through. Discard bay leaf. Yield: 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Paper Pumpkins...



Hello. Happy Tuesday. We had a very fun but busy weekend. I just wanted to post these pics of cute paper pumpkins that the girls and I made last weekend.

These are super easy to make. Just gather strips of construction paper in your choice of colors. And either tape, stapler, or gluesticks. Make a starburst shape, attaching all together in the middle. Then fold up opposite ends until they all meet in the middle. Then just cut out and tape on some leaves. We put curly pipe cleaners on top for stems. 

Easy and fun. My 4 year old didn't have any trouble either. Good for the whole family.
Hope your day is great. 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Pumpkin Crafts



Hello. Happy Saturday. It is really cold here. 19 degrees outside. Brrr. I am up early. Lots to do. We have family coming into town today and I need to clean and prep. Just a quick post about these cute pumpkin craft ideas. 

Love them. 
Must try them out when things quiet down. 

Have a great weekend. 

; )

Friday, October 5, 2012

Lalaloopsy Cake...

Here is my attempt at a Lalaloopsy cake. Baby girl was obsessed with a princess cake at the store, but wanted lalaloopsy. So I improvised. I think it turned out pretty cute. 

Have a great day!

Lalaloopsy Party Fun





Today we are having a small birthday party with some good friends. Our theme for this year is Lalaloopsy. This is also my baby girls costume for Halloween this year. It is a really fun theme. Lots of colors. 

Have a great day!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Yummy Fall Ideas...


Happy Thursday!  I am in Birthday prep mode and only had a moment to post these and just say .... YUMMMY.

I really want to make these soon. 

Hope your day is great. 

(by the way, thanks to Pinterest for the images)

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Holiday Outfits....


Doing a little holiday outfit shopping while waiting for my big girl to get out of school. I love this time of year. 

; )

Changes in Blogging and Decorating Styles...

I was looking back today at my former blogging and decorating styles. Its always amazing to me how much these things change. My early attempts at blogging were interesting. The pictures were small and the comments long. As I have been blogging longer, I find that the pictures are telling more of the story. I don't know if that is good or bad, but it is different. Also, I noticed that I have gone through many different decorating stages. I don't know if that says something negative about me, maybe I am wishy washy or indicisive or just like so many different styles of decorating that my creativity is squashed by my lack of decorating resources. Either way, I am sure I will continue to change and evolve and like things differently each and every moment. And I think thats ok. Thats what keeps life interesting. 
 
Hope your day is great!!!
; )

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

~ Some Fun Fall Favorites ~

 My awesome wooden pumpkin, by a local carver here in town...
check them out at  http://woodzwayz.tumblr.com

 Ikea Lantern... In Black!!!

 Candle holder from Yankee Candle... Love it!

 Autumn Mix... 

Slatkin and Co. Leaves Candle. Yummy!

I have been putting some Fall decoration out and am trying to keep it simple this year. By the time Halloween is over I am usually overwhelmed by the fall and Halloween decor. So this year I am trying to move into it slowly. I havent done much Halloween decorating. Sticking to fall mostly. I like to get through my Baby girls birthday first. So after next weekend, watch out. I will be covering everything in spider webs. My simplicity can only go so far. 

Have a great day!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Tilda and Modpodge...




This weekend, we had some fun with Tilda paper and modpodge. Well, the girls painted halloween wood cutouts and I modpodged some stuff. It turned out great, I am really happy with the result. Now to hang them up... after Halloween ofcourse. 

Have a great day!