Milk Jug Monsters

I admit that I have a love affair with crafting supplies. I find it hard to resist a new roll of washi tape, a cute ink stamp or pages of beautiful paper.  But it is also very satisfying to be able to craft something from my stash.

I was recently challenged to come up with some fun (and inexpensive) decor for our school book fair. The theme is monsters, and one of the ideas from Scholastic was for Milk Jug Monsters. With two growing boys in the house, we are never short of empty milk jugs, so I set a couple aside.

Make Fun Halloween Treats with Healthier Kids' Snacks

 
It's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about kids' snacks for upcoming Halloween parties. Halloween and candy seem to go hand-in-hand, and I admit to fishing out all my kids' Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. But these days, schools and organizations are looking for healthier and allergy-friendly alternatives to traditional Halloween candy, and truth be told I am too.

Spooky, No-Carve Pumpkin Idea

Sometimes carving pumpkins for Halloween can seem a bit over-whelming. For years now, besides our one carved pumpkin, The kids and I make a rat-infested pumpkin to display Halloween Night as well.

All you need is a great shaped pumpkin - you can make it big, small, oblong, round . . .whatever. You could even nest 2-3 together.

You'll need a tool to punch or drill holes into the pumpkin. A Drill with a wide bit will work,  my carving kit came with a circle puncher, so I use that to punch out circle plugs of pumpkin (it works almost like a corer). I have to widen the holes a little bit so my rubber rats fit. I found rubber rats at the Party store. I wanted ones that looked realistic.

Then you just arrange it. Have some of the rats digging in, some coming out, leaning against it, on top - whatever suits your fancy. Our trick-or-treaters always comment on these no-carve pumpkins, no matter how fancy my carved pumpkin is!

Once Halloween is over, I pull out the rats for next year and leave the pumpkin for the squirrels to enjoy.

catch you soon -

Spooky S'mores Halloween Treats

I am going to blame Pinterest for an over-load of ideas for a special classroom treat for Halloween this year. I let Owen look at ideas I had pinned, and then we worked our own interpretation of Spooky S'mores to share with his class.

I had a hard time finding Ghost Peeps this year - I think a lot of other moms were inspired too. But I did find these adorable Halloween colored Peeps, so I decided to use them. (You could also use the pumpkin Peeps or even just plain marshmallows)

Here's what you need:

• Sandwich Bags
• Peeps or Marshmallows
• Graham Crackers
• Chocolate Bars (we used small Hershey Bars)

I liked the idea of a decorated "bag-tag" with instructions for making the s'mores, so I used Word and created squares that we could cut out. I also dug into my papercrafting and scrapbook supplies for some material to make Halloween tags to put on each bag.

We used three paper punches I had on hand to make the tags, and Owen punched them all out and glued them together.

What types of spooky treats are you making this year?

catch you soon -

Menu Plan Monday - 2013 Week 44

This week is Halloween. It's always a challenge when it falls in the middle of the week, and that's when my Crockpot comes in handy. Even though the kids have half-days, it's tough to fit everything in, like school events, pumpkin carving and Trick or Treating, not to mention dinner.


My plan for the last several years has been to make a big batch of chili in the Crockpot so that it's ready to eat when people are hungry. I also whip up a batch of Mummy Dogs, so the kids can eat something before they head out trick or treating, and typically re-heat one up when they get back.

It's easy, low-mess and filling . . .perfect before sending your little ghosts and goblins out into the neighborhood.

So here's what else is on the plan for this week:

Monday - Dad's working late, so it's Breakfast for Dinner
Tuesday - Ham Steak, Potatoes and Broccoli
Wednesday - Shrimp Scampi over Linguini
Thursday - Big Batch Chili with Cornbread and Mummy Dogs (our Halloween tradition)
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

I've linked up my menu plan with I'm An Organizing Junkie. Check it out for more ideas and inspiration, or to link up your own meal plan.

catch you soon -

Turning Butternut Squash into Halloween Ghosts

Looking for an easy, inexpensive and fun Halloween craft? Then let me tell you how to turn ordinary butternut squash into adorable spooky Halloween ghosts.

I did this several years ago, and got so many complements on them. That touch of white on my front step really added some fun to the usual fall colors. All you need is white and black paint, paint brushes or sponges, and butternut squash.

This is super easy, and kids as young as 2-3 can do this with some grown up help.



What have you crafted for Halloween this year?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at A Life in Balance for Motivational Monday.

#vlogmom | Tricks or Treats

In honor of Halloween, this week's #vlogmom prompt comes from Michelle over at Honest and Truly.  Michelle asked us, "What are your kids dressing up as for Halloween and why?"



Here we are last night, getting ready to Trick or Treat after surviving Hurricane Sandy with only a 24-hour power outage and three days off from school.

What did your kids dress up as?

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Looking for an Alternative to Sugary Treats with Halloween?

With so many kids with food allergies and sensitivities - I have always offered  an alternative to candy to my trick or treaters. (I give out candy too).  But when Ryan was just a baby, and we brought home a plastic pumpkin filled with candy he couldn't (and I wouldn't want him) to eat, I realized you need to have some options.

So each year I pick up some bubbles, erasers, or play-doh to hand out to babies, toddlers and kids that don't want (or can't have) candy.

This year, I learned that the American Dental Association partnered with PopCap on a Stop Zombie Mouth campaign, to offer free trading cards and game codes instead of candy. HOLLA!  The American Dental Association (ADA), the leading source of oral health-related information, and PopCap Games, a leading digital games creator and a division of EA, have partnered to raise awareness of the importance of kids’ oral health in addition to providing a fun alternative to sugary treats on Halloween night.

And the BEST part? YOU can do it too!!  To give away PopCap’s hit Plants vs. Zombies instead of sweets for Halloween this year - you can download free game coupons (redeemable for the full PC/Mac edition of Plants vs. Zombies) at http://stopzombiemouth.com.

So give kids something they can enjoy LONG after Halloween is over, and something their Dentist will be happy about too!

catch you soon -

note - I was given packs of cards to hand out for Halloween to facilitate this post.  As always, all opinions are my very own.  For additional information, please see my disclosure page.

How-To: Make Spooky Eyeballs for Halloween

Looking for something different to bring to the classroom Halloween party?

How about these Spooky Eyeballs!

What you need:

• Powdered Doughnuts (enough for 1-2 per person)
• Gummy Lifesavers
• Chocolate Chips
• White Icing
• Red Gel Icing or Red Shoestring Licorice

What you do:

1. Set up your doughnuts, and put a drop of white icing int he hole of each one.
2. Put a chocolate chip in the center of a Gummy Lifesaver and put it on top of the doughnut (use the icing to secure it), flat side up.
3. Make "veins" with Red Gel Icing or Red Shoestring Licorice cut to fit.

These were a real hit when I brought them into school.

catch you soon -

How To: Make Halloween Goodie Bags

Halloween is right around the corner.  If you need something easy (and green too) to put your treats in, then these homemade goodie bags are for you.  Inspired once again by Martha Stewart. Here is my version of her Boo Bat and Moon bags.

What You Will Need:

• Brown Paper Lunch Bags 
• Yellow Cardstock
• Black Ribbon
• Circle punch or cutter
• Alphabet Stamps & Ink
• Black Marker
• Hole Punch
• Your favorite Glue or Adhesive 

What You Do:

• Stamp half your bags with the word "Trick" and half with the word "Treat".
• Cut out 1 yellow cardstock circle for each bag and attach with glue about half way down bag (where you will fold).
• Fill your bags with treats (you can make some bags tricks if you want to).
• Fold down the top half of your bag.
• Punch 4 holes in the yellow circle - 2 sets of 2 holes, close together.
• Take a length of black ribbon, thread the two ends up through one set of holes and tie a knot.  Trim to bat wing length.  
• Repeat with the other pair of holes.

That's all there is to making your own environmentally friendly Halloween Goodie Bags.  These bags are great for school parties or to give out on Halloween Night.

catch you soon -

How-To: Turn Butternut Squash into Ghosts

Here's an inexpensive and easy Halloween Craft.

Get some Butternut Squash.  Be sure they "stand up".

In addition, you'll need white and black acrylic paint and a brush or 2.

Paint the squash with the white paint, all over.  Once they dried, I laid them down and painted the bottom.  Covering the entire squash keeps it from rotting.

After the white paint dries, paint some large spooky black eyes.

That's it - I arranged mine in a planter on my front stoop.  You could put them in a window box, lined up on your step or anywhere else that needs a little spooking up.

catch you soon -

How-To: Make Mummy Dogs

A few years ago we started a family Halloween Tradition.  We put on a big batch of Southern Living Chili in the Crockpot for the adults, and I make Mummy Dogs for the kids.

My thinking is that this way - there is food available for anyone to eat - when they are hungry - before or after Trick or Treating (or both!).

A few people on twitter asked about my Mummy Dogs - so I'm sharing with everyone.

What you Need:
Hot Dogs
Refrigerated Crescent Rolls (any brand - I used Trader Joe's this year)
Non-stick Spray
Mustard or Ketchup for eyes
Optional - Cheese

What To Do:

Set your oven to 375 degrees and spray a baking sheet with Non-Sick Spray.

Unroll the Crescent Rolls, but keep them in the rectangle shape - in other words, don't separate the triangles.

Cut each rectangle into 10 strips - lengthwise - I used a pizza cutter.

Wrap 5 strips of Crescent Roll around each hot dog, simulating the wrappings of a mummy - be sure to leave a little space for eyes.  If you smush the dough together in places, it adheres better.  If you like cheese dogs, you can include a strip or 2 of cheese.

Place your Mummy Dog on your sprayed pan.

Bake approximately 15 minutes.

Let them cool for a minute, and use mustard or ketchup to dot on 2 eyes.

Serve and enjoy!

Do you have any Halloween food traditions?

catch you soon -

halloween...the recap. . .

so yesterday was Halloween. . .and since it was Sunday, and we were lucky enough to have off from school on Monday, we made it a whole day affair.

we started off making a big batch of Southern Living Chili in the Crockpot and some cornbread for the side.

after that is was on to decorating the house. . .the kids swept the leaves off the front porch while John and I hung up the spider and lanterns.

next on the agenda - pumpkins.  we decided to do three (since one had a moldy spot). 

All in all they came out pretty well. . .

Our biggest pumpkin had the most gorgeous seeds, so the kids separated them out and John roasted them up.

Of course once dusk came, it was time for the main event - Trick or Treating.  There was a LOT of excitement this year.

Hope you enjoyed your Halloween, please post a link to your celebration and/or pictures int he comments section - I'd love to see them.

catch you soon -

decorating. . .halloween style. . .

do you love Pottery Barn?

I do. . .I pour over their catalog - wishing for a million dollars and ginormous house.  I particularly love the fall catalog - I love their styling for fall (Halloween and Thanksgiving) decorating.

This year, I noticed I nice Trick or Treat Banner. . .it was cute.  I thought - hey, I'm a paper crafter, I could make that.

But I didn't. . .

Then I saw some other crafty people on the web made them - and some even had kits for sale. 

So I got out my supplies and some halloween paper from my stash and within 2 hours, I made this:

Everytime I look at my fall mantle - I fall more in love with this banner. . .I have an idea for a Happy Birthday one too. . .so stay tuned.

What is your favorite Halloween Craft that you've made?

catch you soon -

How-To: Make Spooky Zombie Fingers

Zombie Fingers

I made these today for Kelly's awesome playgroup Halloween Party! I wanted to make something Halloween-ish, but was very busy today and didn't have a lot of time. Behold Family Fun magazine. . .and a quick trip to Genaurdi's.

Take String Cheese, cut a little ridge out of one end for the "nail".
Chop green pepper strips into finger-nail shaped pieces.
Press Green Pepper "nails" onto Cheese "Fingers".
If you are feeling creative - you can cut lines for "knuckles"

A healthy and spooky treat for Halloween.

The boys had a great time, and i think the grown-ups did too. thanks Kell!

catch you soon -