Happy Halloween!!

Yeah, I know...a little late in posting Halloween. Oh well! We went over to our friends, the Wildes for a fun little Halloween party and then after we went trick-or-treating. It was a fun night with friends!

Here are all the kiddos: top: Noah, Annalee, Aliza. Bottom: Lilly, Addalynn, Mavery, Caden, Connor, Grace, Evan, Jake
We thought it best to just let them act goofy since that was all we were gonna get.

This little guy just loves his thumb...At first he couldn't find his thumb because his costume got in the way...we figured it out eventually:)

Evan, Cden and Ben goofing around.
They attached a wagon to the Lawn mower and had a hay ride. The kids LOVED it!
Doughnuts on a string...have to eat it with your hands behind your back.

I just have to laugh at this picture! Look at that look on Connors face! too funny!
The spread...you know parties are all about the food!!

Oreo Truffles

I love, LOVE making these things. They are so easy and taste amazing. You can make them for any occasion and do whatever...just look at Bakerella:)
Oreo Truffles

1 pkg Oreo cookies

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

Chocolate (milk, white, vanilla, dark, Andes mints (which happen to by my favorite)...whatever works)

Mix Oreos and cream cheese in a mixer until well combined. Roll into a ball...I use my baller, so I'm not messy, put on a cookie sheet lined with Parchment paper. Add a sucker stick if you want. Put in freezer until set.

Melt chocolate according to directions and dip the truffle in, let it drip a bit, and put back on the parchment paper. Put back in the freezer until set up. Put in bags and tie a ribbon around them and pass them out and let people think you spent all day in the kitchen:)

Candy Corn Cookie Bark

This stuff is Crazy Good. It is such a yummy concoction that you just have to eat more to figure out what it reminds you of. Ben thinks it is Frosted Animal Cookies. I just like the sweet and salty mixture. Either way...it is good. I have already made it several times this Halloween and I plan on making more for all the holidays coming up. You could easily substitute M&M's for candy corn or whatever...be creative;)

Candy Corn Cookie Bark

from: RecipeGirl.com

14-16 whole Oreos, broken up

1 1/2 c. mini pretzels, broken into pieces

1 lb. white chocolate (chocolate wafers or almond bark)

1 c. candy corn

brown and orange colored sprinkles

Place waxed paper on large cookie sheet.Spread cookies, pretzels and about 3/4 cup of the candy corn into a 9x13 inch rectangle on the waxed paper.

Place chocolate in glass measuring cup and heat in microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes. Stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds until melted and smooth.

Drizzle melted chocolate immediately over cookie mixture, spreading with spatula (if needed) to coat evenly. Top with reserved candy corn and colored sprinkles. Work quickly before chocolate hardens.

Place into refrigerator until firm. Remove and gently break apart into small pieces for serving. Store in airtight container.

Yield: about 2 dozen pieces.

Halloween Crafts

Just wanted to share the love of some cute Halloween crafts that I have done lately.

This is a darling little countdown that I've seen all over the place. You need (2) 4x4's and another slab of wood to fit them, grab some vinyl (you will need 2: #1, #2 and make sure the #3 and 0 are on a different block.), 6 different sheets of paper and modge podge the paper and then add the vinyl. Voila...cuteness
I made this several Halloween's ago at my friend Gwens for a little craft night...love LOVE love it. It is a paper mache house that I got from Hobby Lobby and then you just put cute paper around and modge podge it:)
EEK letters, again, 3 pieces of wood (duh) and vinyl letters and modge podge (what would I do without this stuff???)

Candy Corn Popcorn

Ever heard of Candy Corn Popcorn? Well, let me be the first to introduce it to you! It is pretty amazing!! I am in the PTA and we made it for the kids classes for Halloween...this lady, Michelle, invented it. Once you try it, you really truly cannot stop eating it! Sorry I'm late in posting this, but hey, you can get candy corn all year round, you can make it any time you want! Thanksgiving would be good as well!

It's called Candy Corn Popcorn because the orange goo is really melted candy corn. I had no idea that stuff actually melted...here is the proof!

This is what we made for the kids classes. Caden already opened his hand, I had to wrestle it out of his hands so I could take a picture of it. But this isn't anything new, just a reminder you can do this next year!


Candy Corn Popcorn

2 c. Candy Corn
1/4 c. Karo Syrup
2 bags of popped natural pop corn**

Melt together, bring it to a boil, and drizzle it over your SALTED popped pop corn.
**If you want to use the popcorn machine, you can do that as well...you'll know how much popcorn you will need to get the right consistency. It isn't like caramel corn where it is drenched in caramel...just look at the picture!

Harvest Party Mix

I just wanted to share this fun little mix. Perfect for Halloween!! My Mom's co-worker gave me this recipe, and I have made every year since. Hope you enjoy it! Hope everyone has a fun Halloween tonight! I can't wait to take some of the candy and experiment with some yummy treats!

Harvest Party Mix

11 oz. package twisted pretzels
10 1/2 oz. pkg mini peanut butter Ritz Crackers
1 c. dry roasted peanuts
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. white Karo Syrup
2 TBS vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
10 oz. pkg. plain M&M's (that's what the recipe calls for, but I think that Reeses Pieces would taste better...)
18 1/2 oz. pkg. candy corn

Combine pretzels, crackers and peanuts in a large bowl. Mix sugar, butter and Karo syrup in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes then remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda. Mix will foam. Pour this over the pretzel mix, stirring until well coated. Place into a greased 15x10" baking pan. (I put foil on the bottom and sprayed it with Pam, that way it was easier to clean up!!) Bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. break apart while warm; add M&M's (or Reese's Pieces) and candy corn. Cool before storing in air tight containers. Makes about 16 cups.

SpOoKY BrOWniES

My Mom sent me this idea...I thought it was so cute! What a perfect idea for a Halloween Party!

SpOoKY bRoWNieS

1 box brownie mix (or make some Homemade)
Frosting (again, homemade or store bought)
Large Marshmallows
Black gel/frosting (the kind in the little tube)

Make your favorite brownie and cut into squares (my friend Brandi taught me a little trick...if your brownies are still warm and you want to cut them, cut them with a plastic knife, not the usual utensil, they make the perfect cut!!)

Glue the marshmallow down with a dot of frosting.

Melt the frosting in the microwave for 30 seconds to get it to pouring consistency. Pour about a tablespoon of frosting over each marshmallow and pipe on the eyes and mouth with black frosting.

I have yet to make these, I'm saving them for Halloween. As soon as I make them I will post my picture, until then, this is the picture I was sent...Maggie-Pie is the genious behind the cute-ness, so check her stuff out! I just wanted to post it so you can make them for your trick-or-treaters!!

Can I Have This at MY Halloween Party??

Have you all ever heard of Amy Atlas? Well, you need to check out her pictures. Pure inspiration! I love how everything is placed, the detail of everything, including the backdrop! I think my favorite part would be making all the goodies!

Costumed Candleholders

Wanted to share another little Halloween craft I did...Pumpkin Candleholders. Of course it is from Martha...They were really easy to do, you just have to make sure that the hurricanes you use are flat, strait up and down, no curves. Otherwise the tissue paper will not stay down flat! Also, make sure you have a really good exato knife...there are some tight corners you will have to cut out!

You can also see the Halloween banner that is peaking out. I got it at Hobby Lobby, but for all of you who can sew...have at it! I have seen lots of banners lately, the scrapbooked ones are so cute! That may be a project for another day...

Leave Me a Message!!

I found this cute idea from Mish Mash...I saw this picture frame on her blog and thought they were adorable! (If you have not been to her blog...have fun looking! Give yourself a good couple of hours to get through all her great ideas!) Then my mind started thinking...I could do a Halloween theme, Christmas, Valentines Day, St. Patty's Day, Easter, B-day, An Everyday one, etc...So, I am in the process of making one for the different holidays and I keep it right by my phone so I can take down messages and give myself different reminders!
I found the 10x10" frame at Michaels for $5. I found the paper and ribbon at Hobby Lobby. I inked the edges of the paper to make it stand out a little bit more. You don't have to dress them up too much because you want to leave enough room for messages.

BOO!

This is just a fun little craft that I did last year, but since my blog did not exist then, I get to post it now! I got the letters at this amazing store called Recolections, unfortunately they closed down:( You can find paper mache letters at JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby. Get creative on how you make each letter! First step you have to do is paint the letters, I chose black. Then I had an orange glitter paint I painted on top to give it some bling.
I do not know why this picture is this way...everywhere else it is the right way, it just wants to make me mad...sorry! Anyway, all the letters were chalked with orange. I used lots of ribbon and some cute Halloween buttons that I found. This O has orange glitter for some of the stipes
This O is a fun spider web, chalked the edges, lots of ribbon. Once all the paper is on, modge podge it so it can have "the look".

Glitter Bones

It is officially Fall, which means that I can start decorating for Halloween!! Yes, I have decorated already. I get really excited for holidays:) So, I wanted to share this cute Martha craft!
I got the bones and skulls from the Dollar Store. You gotta love that place! (As a side note, I went to Pottery Barn after I bought all the supplies and saw that they were selling the big skull...for $20! I told the lady that I was making them and she said I should just take them back and buy these! Well...as tempting as it was....$20 or $1.50??? $20 or $1.50??? I stuck with the $1.50. I think I made the right choice...)
All you have to do is Modge Podge the bones and then sprinkle it with glitter. Once it is dry, dab some more Modge Podge on top of the glitter and glitter some more. You really need the second coat of glitter, espcially on the green ones.
I have enjoyed these little guys...gives an extra spooky effect. Happy Haunting!