Happy Halloween

Friday Feature: Halloween cards

It isn't too late to pick up some Halloween cards to send this year! Here are just a few great picks from Etsy.

Halloween Card - You're My Very Favorite Boo - I Love You Card by Rowhouse14

Halloween Card Boo Skeleton Hand-Stamped Slider Greeting Card by MyStonebridgeDesigns

(the head slides back and forth!)

 Funny Halloween Card // Cute Witch Cards // Happy Halloween // Dark Humor // Don't Be Such a Witch by EuclidStreetShop

Halloween card - Pumpkin with mustache, jack-o-lantern, I mustache you a question by JillyBearDesigns

Pop up Haunted House Halloween Card Haunted Halloween by CardNotions

Halloween Cards, Candy Corn - Halloween Card / Candy Corn / Topical / Punny / Awkward / Funny / Cute by sillyreggie

Halloween Card - Boo Halloween Cat by finedaypress

Do you like to send cards for holidays?

Friday Feature: Halloween Party

I'm not actually having a Halloween party this year, but I thought it would still be fun find some Halloween party items on Etsy for those who are having parties. Enjoy.

Printable Halloween Party Invitation - Itsy Bitsy Not So Scary Spider Party Design - Halloween Invitation - Trick or Treat - 4x6" OR 5x7" by doodleprints

Black, White, and Orange Striped Straws, Halloween Straws from OutsidetheBoxPapers

EAT DRINK and be SCARY Sign / Halloween Party Sign / Halloween Decor by TheGingerbreadShoppe

Halloween Party Banner, Scary Glitter Decoration, Haunted House Bunting Flags, Eco Party Garland, Photo Prop by stitchinnetka

Halloween Mug by DawnDavareDesigns

18 Photo Booth Props Halloween Mustache on a stick - DIY - do it yourself party pack by PartyHQ

Personalized Halloween Party Favor Tag - Cute Girly Ghost or Boy Ghost - DIY Printable PDF File Download by partypapercreations

Are you having a Halloween party or attending a party this year?

being the Morton Salt Girl

Happy Halloween!

I did think to take a few pictures of the set up for our Halloween party over the weekend. Of course I did not think to take any pictures during the party. I should concede the fact that I get too busy playing host to worry about pictures and hand my camera over to Jake. That didn't happen this year. A few other people took pictures so I may get them at some point.

You got a lot of commentary from me about my decorations this month, so I won't get into that again. I used some of my black tablecloths for craft fairs for the dining room table. We already owned all of the party supplies that we needed from previous events this year.

We also served hot food in the kitchen. This is a rundown of the menu:

• Fresh fruit. During summer, I usually serve a variety of fruits, but I kept it simple with grapes this time.
• Raw vegetables with hummus.
• Crackers and cheese. We have been somewhat obsessed with smoked gruyere for the past few years and had a couple blocks on hand so I served that.
• Pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese cinnamon frosting. I meant to dye the frosting orange but I forgot. This recipe was still just as amazing as I thought that it would be.
• Milk chocolate and dark chocolate candy packs with the googly eye toppers.
• Barbecue pulled chicken sandwiches. I coat chicken thighs with a chicken rub and put them in a slow cooker for 6.5 hours on low. The chicken will shred really easily. Then I mix it with barbecue sauce and heat it through on high for 5 to 10 minutes. (Sometimes we also make Kristy's Caesar variation.)
• Macaroni and cheese. This was primarily in case we had kids in attendance, which we did not. The adults still enjoyed it.
• Hot cider. I more or less followed this recipe. This was one of the biggest hits of the party. For Jake's birthday, the biggest drink hits were Sprecher beer and root beer so we did those again, too.

We ended the party with a fire in our backyard fire pit and made s'mores. I haven't had s'mores in years, and it was pretty amazing.

And as promised, I did make sure that I got a picture of my Morton Salt Girl costume.

I did not thrift any of this so it was a little bit of an investment, but I will be able to wear all of these pieces on their own and pull it together again for future costume events. My best advice about creating this costume is so shop for yellow shoes and dresses in the spring and summer. I had no problem finding a coat, but it is really tough to find any footwear (even boots) and dresses that are yellow in the fall. Target had the white tights. None of the stores that I checked carried plain white umbrellas, but I found a white umbrella online that was marketed as a wedding umbrella.

We get a lot of trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood and passed out six bags of candy on Sunday. All in all, it was a much more eventful and fun Halloween than I've had in years.

How is Halloween 2012 going for you? 

quick Halloween food ideas

If you're looking for some Halloween foods for today or tomorrow, you probably don't want anything too involved. All of these ideas are right up your alley. Enjoy!

Googly Eye Goodie Bags from Madigan Made

Candy Corn Cupcakes from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Great Pumpkin Cake from Kraft Foods

Halloween Mummy Potatoes with Meatballs from Once Upon a Cutting Board

Halloween Muffin Tin from Another Lunch

Apple Bites from Family Fun

Tombstone Cookies from My Recipes

Pumpkin Veggie Tray from Taste of Home

Monster Cello Bag Treats from Cute Food for Kids

Owl Cupcakes from One Charming Party

Newest Articles:

Winter Photo Ideas
Winter Greeting Cards: Homemade Card Ideas to Make

Saturday Link List: easy Halloween decor

Welcome to another special edition of my Saturday Link List!

Can you believe that I haven't written any articles about Halloween decor? Maybe I will next year. I had to go to Pinterest and my favorite blogs for this topic today. All of these decor ideas are simple and can come together this week before Halloween. Enjoy!

Chandelier Bats from Designer Digital Details

Halloween Scrapbook Paper Frames from Little Pink Dollhouse

Burlap Halloween Wreath from Craftaholics Annonymous

Glitter Cone Ghosts from Delicate Construction

Ribbon Pumpkins from The Autocrat

Candy Trees from Better Homes and Gardens

Halloween Printable Subway Art from Not So Idle Hands

Happy Halloween Banner from Easie Peasie

Candy Corn Bottle Vases from The Swell Life

Jack O'Lantern Luminary from a Plastic Soda Bottle from Jamie Brock

If you need some more DIY Halloween ideas, check out my Halloween DIY 2012 Pinterest board.

Create your own link list and grab a button for your post or simply spread the word on your blog.

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Did I feature your work here?  Grab a button for your blog or web site!

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Did you use one of the resources, tutorials, or recipes from my link list?  Leave me a link in the comments or send me an e-mail (randomcreative28@gmail.com) with your photos and stories.  I would love to post them here.

Stay tuned next week for a set of brand new November recipes!

Friday Feature: black cats

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up with me this past week for my Friday Feature link up!  Here are just a few of the great finds that were featured.  Click on the photos to check out the item listings, blog posts, etc.

With Halloween coming up this week, I decided to put together a black cat feature. Enjoy!

12 oz cup black cat (blue green) Made to Order / Pick Your Color by CircaCeramics

Cat print scarf black cat chiffon casual long shawl belt in beige by prototypedesign

Primitive Wood Sign With Black Cat - Beware of Cat by scaredycatprimitives

2 meters Black Cat Halloween 7/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scrapbooking, Crafts from PunkyAunts

Vintage Lucky Black Cat Teapot with ribbon bow from littlebluewolf

BLACK CATS - Halloween Block by LittleJoysStudio

Black Cat Salt and Pepper Shakers by LennyMud

I don't like to make a lot of rules for my link ups, but if you link up, please visit and comment on at least one other post.  No one benefits from linking up if we don't all support each other.  Thanks!

Grab a link up button!

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Were you featured? Grab one of these, too!

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