Halloweekend

Have a great Halloween and a spooktacular weekend! Don’t forget about the giveaway, ends November 5th.

A Poem for Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner, it crept up on me very fast this year.

We all know the love of chalkboard paint around here is huge (yes I’m speaking for all you ladies). So get your paint cans ready…

 

I found some scrap sheet metal laying around,  trimmed it down to size then spray painted with chalkboard paint. I was worried about my lines not being perfect or some what perfect so I used a ruler and a black sharpie to make lines on the board. The lines turned out well and you hardly notice them.

Haunted House There’s a house upon the hilltop We will not go inside For that is where the witches live, Where the ghosts and goblins hide Tonight they have their party All the lights are burning bright, But oh we will not go inside The haunted house tonight The demons there are whirling And the spirits swirl about. They sing their song to Halloween. “Come join the fun” they shout. But we do not want to go there So we run with all our might And oh we will not go inside The haunted house tonight. -Jack Prelutsky

I’m happy with everything that came together even though I wasn’t going for the black and white theme. The night of our Halloween party I’ll use the buffet as a bar…that way our guests can read the poem as their waiting for drinks.

Enjoy your weekend!

This project is linked to: DIY Show Off – Fall Festival, Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk, and debbiedoos

Fall Favorites – Questions & Answers

Who doesn’t love this time of year. The weather here is just now starting to feel like fall. I even heard a chance of rain before the weekend is over, how exciting is that?

So tell me, what are your Autumn favorites? 1. Favorite drink of choice? 2. Scent, you know the one you can’t get enough of? 3. Family activity? 4. Most adored holiday? 5. Essential clothing item, the one you can’t leave the house without? 6. Living room must have? 7. Favorite grub, food, or chow? 8. Time of day?

1. Drink: Hot apple cider! Especially when its straight from a local apple orchard. When visiting Apple Hill during the fall months I must stop for a hot cup of cider. Mmm, I can taste it now!

2. Scent: Cinnamon! There’s something about the aroma of cinnamon that makes me feel warm and cozy.

3. Activity: An afternoon at the park with the dogs and my man. I’m a fan of spending the afternoon in the park, bundled up in warm clothes playing fetch with the dogs. I know the dogs love it too, especially when they can run through the leaves and those darn muddy puddles.

4. Holiday: Thanksgiving. Amazing home cooked food with never ending variety of side dishes, and don’t even get me started on the desserts…along with the company of family and friends! What more do you need? 

5. Clothing: Cuddly (sometimes oversized) soft sweaters. I can never have enough!

6. Living room: Candles. We unfortunately don’t have a fireplace in our home so candles are a must. I just love the ambience of a wood burning fireplace, however for now candles must do.

7. Food: I’m a devoted soup lover. I enjoy making homemade soup on a regular basis during the fall and winter months. Sometimes I’ll get a wild hair in July!

8. Time: Dusk. The sunsets are truly beautiful this time of year.

Now its your turn, answer the 8 questions in the comment section below!

Halloween Lanterns & Art

First off, thank you for all the lovely comments about the pillows from last week. Since then I’ve been a busy bee getting this house ready for our Halloween Party.

Halloween is vastly approaching, and I’m scrambling to get the house ready for the Holiday parties, I’ve been a little behind this year!

I made these cheap and easy Halloween lanterns to light up the entrance, but later decided they turned out cute enough to use inside. So I’m sure I’ll make more!

This tin-can lantern project is from Martha Stewart.

They were so fun and simple I used tin-cans from all my canned goods in the pantry! Just wash them and peel the labels off, fill with water and freeze.

  

Lay the frozen can on a bag of rice, then using a nail and hammer make faces or letters on the side.

Aren’t these little guys cute? I definitely plan to make more and line my walkway with them, they are especially spook-tacular at night when the candle is flickering.

Now did you see that dictionary art hung on my wall? I found free clipart online and printed Halloween inspired pictures onto the dictionary pages.

I bought the frames from the thrift store for a buck, then painted them white!

Alright, I need to get back to cleaning house and decorating! Enjoy your week.

These projects have been linked to: The DIY show off project parade and Saturday Nite Special

Whimsical Mummies

Ready to get your hands sticky? Its October and I’m ready to pull out my Halloween & Autumn décor along with some crafts.

I tend to like my Halloween and Autumn decor to blend in with my soundings. My living room colors are rust red and blues, I’ll simply use darker jewel tones of blue and orangie reds.

Recently I made these little guys!

These paper mache mummy heads are so simple and cheap to make, as long as you don’t mind getting your fingers a little sticky.

Start by making the paste.

Its only flour and water, mix the two until there's a consistency of pancake batter.

Cut cheese cloth into random strips and lay on the skull. I purchased these premade cardboard heads from the craft store for $2! Generously brush on paste to secure the cheese cloth.

Layer the cheese cloth over and over until the skull is completely covered.

Allow to dry for a few hours.

Remember those candle sticks? You probably can’t tell from the pictures but I painted them again. This time, a darker brownish red, the Tuscan red from the crackle paint was a little off.

These mummy heads are almost done, they just need a whimsical touch.

That’s where glitter comes in!

He’s much happier now!

How do you decorate for Halloween and Autumn?

This project is linked to The DIY Showoff - Project Parade & Thrifty Decor Chick

Hello Autumn

Its the first day of fall! Isn’t just wonderful? I’m ready for cashmere scarves, warm soup and the cool weather. And…we can’t forget Halloween.

What are you looking forward to this fall?

L is for Love

Is it already February? Guess I’m a day or so behind with the kick off of Valentines goodies. The stores are filled with beautiful bouquets and treats, I went grocery shopping yesterday and just couldn’t help myself.

I’ve never really decorated for Valentines day, so this is all very new to me. I’m not a huge fan of red and/or pink in my home. I usually keep everything neutral, with some added blues and greens. A little here and there couldn’t hurt for the next 14 …err 12 days I suppose.

With some left over paper and letters from another project I decorated my tin vase, and added some bright red tulips!

 

And I just had to make some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!

Well, this is my Valentines Day decor! Can’t say I’ll do much more decorating, maybe some baking here and there.

How do you decorate for Valentines day?

Here's to 2010

...and the next decade.

Its really here! 2009 seems like it was here and gone. I'm very excited for 2010, 2009 was just a so-so year for me. I feel like things are really going to turn around and start heading in the direction I want. I hope this year will have many interesting and great adventures ahead, I wish you all the best in 2010.


photo courtsey of: The Associated Press

Snow days of December

Talk about behind on posting! To get you up to speed this is what’s been going on.

Snow in the city. Yes I said it! It was the second week in December, when I woke up at 5:00am to a sheer blanket of snow outside. A little chaotic around town and even more up the hill where it snowed 2-3 feet in some places (overnight).

 

After the roadways were cleared and everyone’s power was restored it was time to celebrate my little brothers 17th birthday. Along with some homemade chopino and polenta!

Passing down the family’s secret recipe to the younger generation.

My dad and grandma adding the final touches.

Chris and Jason, soon these toughies will pledge to the Italian Mafia. :) Do the show any resemblance to our relatives (New York, 1942)?

Christmas is in just a few days and New Years thereafter. Merry Christmas!

The Secret Christmas Competition

So sorry for the lack of posting! But you have to forgive me…its December 1st after all.

My rubber maids and cardboard boxes made it down from the attic within the last few days. The house has been a little bit of a wreck with my entire down stairs filled of boxes. Today is the first day it actually feels like Christmas around here. Despite not having a tree, which is a sore subject in our household at the moment. We finished the outdoor décor (for the most part), next week I’m sure the inside will be finished too.

Our house is the razzle dazzle of not just the block, but our entire gated community. (We have a secret decorating contest going on amongst our neighbors…but I don’t think they know about it yet).

Last year Christmas was just weeks after we moved in, so we barley hung lights. Even then we out did the neighbors. There wasn’t one wreath on a front door, nor a strand of glistening lights. This year we figured there might be some competition, so we planned for a month straight to get everything just right! The exterior is amazing and I still have many other decorations to add. And the neighbors around here, let’s just say they may have a wreath on their door…maybe even a “Happy Holidays” doormat. But before I get a head of myself I guess I can give my neighbors this…it’s only December 1st.






Happy Holidays everyone!

Eager for Christmas

With Halloween over, I’m jumping in gear for Christmas and completely bypassing Thanksgiving (just not the food). I’ve had my harvest decorations up since the end of September…so I’m ready to take them down. I used to get upset with stores displaying Christmas décor and playing the holiday music right after Halloween. I felt like companies were trying to rush the Christmas holiday.

This year is a little different; I already know where I want to hang every velvet bow and exact location to hang the lights outside, centerpiece and table linens I want to display…even down to the wrapping paper. I think this is because the past 3 years I’ve been moving around Christmas time. I hate packing and unpacking, then having to decorate for Christmas. We moved into our house this time last year, so we ended up buying a tree, hanging a few ordainments and that was that.

This year is a new year, and I’m very eager to kick off the Christmas season. Here is some of my Christmas inspiration.


Photos courtsey of: Country Living


Photos courtsey of: Better Homes and Gardens


 

Photos courtsey of: Country Living



Photos courtsey of: Martha Stewart and Country Living

And don’t worry, you wont find my house lit with Christmas lights, or see a big wreath on my door in the middle of November. But, I’m not saying I wont be out there Thanksgiving night after dinner.