Etsy Shop: 25% off Halloween

I have marked my Halloween items down, stock up for next year!  Each item has already been reduced 25%.

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Halloween Costumes

Josh and I have always done some sort of couples costume for Halloween.  Some years we have them planned out, only to change them at the last minute.  Our first Halloween, we had only been dating for a little over a month.  I was still in college, and our short-lived tradition was to rent a two story hotel room and have our party there.  

2006: Bonnie & Clyde

2007: Football Player & Referee.  We're cheesy and we like it.

When we got married, our parties changed.  College days were over and we packed my family into our little apartment, hovered over bowls of chili and mummy dogs.  We dressed up our dogs and sang karaoke.

2008: Brangelina.

In 2009, we purchased our fixer upper.  I was making the infamous chili while my dad and hubby were painting around me.  That was our first night in the house. 

2009: Classic Halloween..Zombie & Witch.  The angel on the end is my Gramma.

Last year, my plan was to do Romeo & Juliet from the Baz Luhrmann version of the movie.  I even bought the angel wings.  But Romeo's costume looked half-assed and so we ran out late at night to search for something.

2010: Snow White & Dopey

This year, I'm going to be Sophia from the Golden Girls.  My husband wouldn't go along with the act, so he and his brother are going to be Dale & Brennan from Stepbrothers.  I've got my Gramma's duster, I borrowed a wig from the Cancer Center, I bought huge glasses from the Dollar Store and I am ready to rock it.

Window Shopping at Pottery Barn for Halloween

Pottery Barn is a little out of my price range these days, but a girl can dream right?  Here are my favorite picks for Halloween:

Pottery Barn

Fall Feelings

Although the forecast is depicting summertime weather, I am in a fall state of mind.  My closet is free of warm weather clothing and ready to be stuffed with sweaters and boots.  I'm in the middle of the household deep clean to get ready for fall & Halloween decor.  I've made pumpkin bread, white chicken chili and sipped hot chocolate.  All with the air conditioning on.  :(  

I've already figured out where I will put my Christmas tree this year, double checking with a measurement.  Should I use a smaller tree and decrease the fire hazard or shove our over sized tree in the corner and hope for the best?  But first!  Halloween.

The menu, the costume, the decor!  I have costume ideas but haven't settled on anything.  I took Martha Stewart's QUIZ and she thinks I should be a Glampire:

 

My best friend thinks I should be Snooki:

What I do know is, I'll be making my Grandma's chili and mummy dogs:

The first weekend in October is going to be a great way to kick off my favorite month.  Friday October 1st is Belleville, IL Chili Cook Off.  We go every year and I'm hoping for nice chili eating weather!  

Saturday October 2nd is another Stories Unfold show at 

Cicero's 6691 Delmar Blvd. | University City, Mo. 63130 | 314-862-0009

That guy in the middle is so hot! ;)

Back to cleaning!

Halloween Nostalgia

Halloween decorating with nostalgic vintage items...so lovely!

Images courtesy of BHG.com

Halloween Finds

deadspider

raggedykinfolk

funkyshique

lilyandlulu

Some of my favorite Halloween items, all found on etsy!

Halloween Goodies & Supplies

Just added a few Halloween goodies to the shop. Will be posting more throughout the month! Use the crepe paper to make your own Halloween creation & the tags to attach to a yummy treat bag. Only 55 days left...I can't wait!

Check out my other creations here.

Halloween Results

Here are the results of our Halloween projects!

Jack O Lanterns carved by Josh:

Lucy & Ella in their tutus made by me:

My mom made their bows in aboout 5 minutes. Wish I had those skills!

The food:

Caramel apples dipped in chocolate and pecans.

Chili with cheese cut with a cookie cutter.

Mummy dogs. Tried adding mustard eyes but it looked like a cyclops!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

GHOSTS
I am almost afraid of the wind out there. The dead leaves

skip on the porches bare, The windows clatter and whine.

I sit here in the quiet house. low-lit. With the clock that

ticks and the books that stand. Wise and silent, on every hand.

I am almost afraid; though I know the night Lets no ghosts walk

in the warm lamplight. Yet ghosts there are; and they blow, they

blow, Out in the wind and the scattering snow.- When I open

the windows and go to bed, Will the ghosts come In and stand at

my head?

Last night I dreamed they came back again. I heard

them talking; I saw them plain. They hugged me and held me

and loved me; spoke Of happy doings and friendly folk. They

seemed to have journeyed a week away, but now they were

ready and glad to stay.

But, oh, if they came on the wind to-night

Could I bear their faces, their garments white Blown in the dark

around my lonely bed? Oh, could I forgive them for being dead?

I am almost afraid of the wind. My shame! That I would not be

if my dear ones came!

-Fannie Stearns Davis

(1884-1966)

Half-Ass Halloween Banner How-To

I started making this Halloween banner from supplies I had laying around. Unfortunately, I left my blinds open and the next day when I went back to finish the banner, the orange pieces (just construction paper) had faded. :( Hence, the "half-ass" quality of this tutorial.

1. Decide what you want to spell out on your banner. If you don't have much time, you can do "Boo", I chose to do "Trick or Treat".

2. I used a scalloped square punch on orange construction paper, approximately 2x2 inches. I would recommend using cardstock and if you don't have a punch you could just do clean lines or use fancy scissors.


3. I used black cardstock with silver sparkles for the second layer, cut the same amount but slightly larger so there is a border around the orange.

4. I used a punch on the corners but it is not necessary.

5. I didn't have an alphabet stamp set that was large enough, so I just handwrote my letters. You could use stickers, cut outs, etc.

6. I did not have to glue my orange pieces because of the punched corners, but you might need or want to.


7. Here are all of the pieces laid out.


8. The next step would have been to select a third coordinating paper and cut it twice the length and slightly wider, again making sure there would be a border.

9. Fold third piece in half, and insert a length of ribbon spacing out each piece to your liking and glue in place.

10. Finish by affixing the lettered pieces to the ones attached to the ribbon. Display and enjoy!

Fabulous Finds--Monster Mash

jellibat--$28

aksarbenlove--$17

identity seven--$50

fancy--$3.50

Martha Stewart--Halloween Workshop

I just received the first installment of Martha Stewart's Halloween Workshop 2008. If you love Halloween like I do, you might want to check it out! The newsletter lasts for 8 weeks and includes ideas for costumes, decorations, recipes, etc.

Sign up here