For your Halloween Entertainment

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

"Eat, drink and be scary."

I have been waiting and waiting and WAITING for this day! I love Halloween for so many reasons. I love carving pumpkins, making popcorn balls, seeing cute kiddos dressed up in costumes, handing out candy, Halloween parties and just all the magic that fills the day! I remember being a little kiddo on Halloween and walking around the neighborhood with my dad to collect candy from all my neighbors. Halloween night was always filled with excitement for me. I remember walking the streets, feeling the cold October air against my little, chubby cheeks, sensing some kind of mischief in the air and looking up at the moon in hopes that I might see a witch fly across it on her broomstick. Sometimes, I still find myself looking up at the moon on Halloween.

Now that I'm growing up and really shouldn't go trick or treating anymore, I have learned to love Halloween for the kiddos. Every year, my work passes out candy to children that belong to The Children's Place, which is a nurturing, caring place for the very youngest victims of abuse, neglect and other childhood traumas. I feel my heart well up just at the sight of these little children and the happiness that each piece of candy brings them. Today, I saw the cutest little 2-year-old boy dressed up as a skunk with a bow tie. I told him he stunk and he just looked at me like "Look who's talkin'." I deserved it.

I hope everyone has a magical, frightfully fun and very safe Halloween. And if you get a chance, look up at the moon and think of me.



~ Boo (My nickname given to me by my dad)

Here's to a better day

Quit Clownin' Around

"To me, clowns aren't funny. In fact, they're kind of scary. I've wondered where this started and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus, and a clown killed my dad."
~ Jack Handy

The other night, I began thinking about other things that scare me and I can't believe that I actually forgot to mention clowns. I hate, no, LOATHE clowns. Ever since I was 4 years old I have hated clowns, and really, I bet I hated them before that. I remember watching Bozo the Clown when I was little and I always felt like something was just not quite right about that guy. Then, when I was 4 years old, I had my adenoids taken out and I was put under anesthesia. I had the most horrible dream. All the doctors and nurses were no longer human, but clowns chasing me around on a carousel with scalpels. THEN, my boyfriend heard that I had a fear of clowns so he had me watch Stephen King's "It," and then I became afraid of sewers and draining systems. "It" was Bozo on anesthesia. That clown is so happy and evil, not to mention, he has razor sharp teeth...That just ain't right!







I feel wrong posting these images...that is how much I despise "It."

Did I mention I don't like Ronald McDonald? Yuck.

Boo!

I hate scary movies and I especially hate all of the Saw movies. Saw V came out on theatres today and you can bet that I will not be going to see it. Blake has made me go to almost every movie and the last one was it for me. I don't like blood and guts, and seeing people in excruciating pain. I also don't like zombie movies, which Blake also makes me watch with him. 28 days later and 28 weeks later are two of my most hated movies ever, next to all of the Saw movies.

I would much rather watch Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which I still find scary. Ichabod Crane is one creepy and silly looking character. I'm almost disgusted by him in fact, but Ichabod Crane in Tim Burton's movie, Sleep Hollow, is Johnny Depp so I'm in love. I don't know if it's Johnny Depp's British accent, messy hair, revolutionary clothing or his pale skin that makes my heart thump, but whatever it is, I love it. I even love him in Pirates of the Caribbean when he's wearing eye liner. Anyway...scary movies. I hate them and I really hate the Japanese scary movies such as "The Ring," "The Grudge," or "Shutter." Even Hello Kitty kind of scares me.

Corn Maze & Pumpkins!

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air." ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne


I finally, finally went to a corn maze and a "pumpkin patch" this past weekend...eek! I made Blake go with me and he had fun! I think he was even suprised by how much fun he had! The corn maze was made into the shape of the White House! It was intense and had 10 checkpoints that asked trivia questions about the election, and if you found all the checkpoints and answered the questions somewhat correctly, then you were placed in a drawing to win a bike. Blake and I only had an hour, but we found 5 of the 10 checkpoints...pretty impressive, if I may say so.

Not only was the corn maze awesome, but it was also a beautiful fall day! The corn maze, Shryock's Farm, didn't have a pumpkin patch this year, due to worms (goo!), but they did have a wagon full of pumpkins. So, Blake and I both bought a pumpkin!

We went home that evening for an MU vs. Texas watch party, only to be disappointed by such a disgraceful game of football on MU's part...I'm still so frustrated that I don't even want to blog about it, let alone think about it! Thank God we had sangria to drown our sorrows:) Nothin' cures the MU Blues like a bowl of chili, pumpkin cupcakes and a glass of sangria...yummo!

Shryock's Farm & Corn Maze


Blake & I in the Corn Maze!


This is a map of the Shyrock's Farm Corn Maze we walked through! It was intense!

Good Grief!

"Charlie Brown is the one person I identify with. C.B. is such a loser. He wasn't even the star of his own Halloween special. " ~Chris Rock

38 Degrees of Coldness

"Come said the wind to the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows and we will play.
Put on your dresses scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

I woke up this morning to a freezing cold apartment - 55 degrees to be exact. I am against turning on my heat, especially when it suppose to get up to 70 degrees this weekend! Tip toeing across the floor and rubbing my goosebumped arms, I made it to the bathroom to catch a quick shower. I didn't want to get out...that's how cold I was! I quickly grabbed a towel, shivered for about 2 minutes and went on with my morning.

As I stepped outside, it was even colder, like 38 degrees cold! The sun was shining, the air was crisp and the smell of burning leaves filled the air. Fall has officially arrived. I am ok with mornings like this, in fact, I embrace it. But once snow starts falling, then I start to get a little pissed off. I'm cool with snow for Christmas, but then it needs to stop. Once 12 a.m. hits on December 26th, winter should be over and welcome home spring! Too bad life doesn't work that way...I bet, if God were to do it all over again, re-create the world, I bet he would make winter shorter. Unless of course, he likes the cold and snow, and then I could see him making it even longer than it already feels. All I'm sayin' is, I hope heaven has 70 degree weather and my mansion comes with its own heating and cooling unit.

Does it have sugar in it? Then, yes!

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."

Speaking of candy corn, my sorority created the best candy corn mix appropriately called "Theta Mix," which consisted of candy corn, M&Ms and peanuts. If I can remember correctly, you are suppose to eat 1 candy corn, 1 peanut and 2 M&Ms together to make it taste like a Snickers. I love Theta Mix...mmm!

Groovy Pumpkins

"Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October’s days."

I came to a very exciting realization the other day. I am the "Buddy the Elf" of Fall. I was typing up a list of weekend plans to send to my boyfriend yesterday. The list read something a little, exactly like this:

• Walk around campus and take pictures of the fall foliage...yes, foliage
• Pumpkin patch, hay ride and corn maze
• Carve Pumpkins
• Drink Apple Cider
• Make Apple Pie
• Roast veggie dogs and smores
• Rune 5 miles - that will be by myself, I'm sure!
• Watch football and make a homemade pizza
• Haunted houses
• Winery, perhaps?
  

I could literally hear Buddy's voice in my head saying "First we'll make snow angels for a two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookiedough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle." I am actually ok with this and I'm flattered by my realization. In fact, I'm even worse at Christmas time. "Elf" is my favorite movie and I probably watch it every day in December. But in October, I've been watching "Practical Magic" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" I have come very close to purchasing "Hocus Pocus," but I just can't rationalize spending $10 on that movie, although it is a classic.

I found out yesterday, that they are bringing back the movie "A Nightmare Before Christmas" to theatres, but in 3D! I think I peed in my pants a little from the news. I then found that Marilyn Manson, who normally creeps me out to no extent, has re-made the song "This is Halloween" and it too is successful at creeping me out. Watch below and be creeped out with me!


Yikes. Moving on, I found some really "groovy" pumpkins that I felt the need to share. I think I might try these out on my pumpkins this weekend!

The Great Pumpkin

Linus! It's the Great Pumpkin...err, wait. Oh no, no. It's just a pumpkin that weighs 1,528 pounds...no big deal.


No joke...do not adjust your computer screen! Pumpkin grower Thad Starr of Oregon won this year's weigh-off in Half Moon Bay, Calif. His pumpkin weighed 1,528 pounds. It took a forklift to raise the competing pumpkins onto an industrial scale. Besides bragging rights, there's a prize of $6 a pound. That means Starr won more than $9,000. He says the secret to raising his great pumpkin: good soil and "we really pamper them."

Mmm...that pumpkin could make a whooooole lotta pie, AND pumpkin cupcakes. "Pumpkin cupcakes?" you ask. Yes, pumpkin cupcakes. It is my new invention. Spice cake mix OR carrot cake mix, 1 can of real pumpkin (not the filler) and a 1/2 cup of water. Pour into a cupcake pan, bake for 18 minutes and shizam! pumpkin cupcakes! 1 cupcake is under 100 calories, has 1 gram of fat and fiber = 2 weight watchers points...delish.

Blisters, Calluses and Candy Corn?

Freckles and Snake Bites

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
- Albert Camus

Did you know that Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites? And that pumpkins are 90% water AND that they are a fruit? Bet you did not know that:)

I have continued crafting and have found a few new crafts as well as some fun, interesting twists on Pumpkin Carving/Decorating:

Pumpkin Sconces

Carving starburst patterns into small pumpkins and fitting them with tops radiate soft lighting that cast flickering shadows up the wall.

Pumpkin Lanters

Cut zig-zags, diamonds, circles, etc. into your pumpkins to brighten up the pathways for trick or treaters!

Franken-Pumpkin


Shrunken-Apple Heads

(Looks like a grouchy, old irish man!)


Tissue Paper Bat Garland

A Rough Halloween for Trick or Treaters

Dang that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac!

Deck the Fall with Bats and Pumpkins

"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"
~ Humbert Wolfe

Ok, I know...lame title, but I just can't help myself! If you are judging right now, you apparently don't understand...no....APPRECIATE my fascination with all that is fall. I love it. I have decided to spread this love to my humble abode. So, I researched some arts and crafts for Halloween, and this is what I found...and you can bet that I will be doing this over the weekend and I will be taking lotsa pictures! And maybe, just maybe, I will post them and provide you with some mid-day entertainment:)



Coffee Filter Vampire Bats

What you'll need:

• 1 basket type coffee filter
• Purple and black watercolor paints
• Paintbrush
• 1 miniature wooden clothespin
• Black or purple acrylic paint
• 2 small wiggle eyes
• White scrap of paper
• Scissors
• White craft glue
  

How to make it:

1. Paint the clothespin either black or purple acrylic paint and set aside to dry.
2. Cut coffee filter in half.
3. Paint one half of the filter with black watercolor paint and the other half with purple watercolor paint. Let dry.
4. When filters are dry, place the purple half on top of the black half so that they line up. Pinch the filter with your fingers, gathering the paper in the center of the straight edge.
5. Open the clothespin and clamp the gathered end of the filter inside the clothespin. Add a dab of white glue in the clamp.
6. Use scissors to cut half circles from the rounded wings to resemble a bat’s wings. Use the color differentiation between the black and purple sides of the coffee filter as a guide.
7. Cut jagged edges along the circular side of the half circle to further define the shape of the bat wings.
8. Glue two wiggle eyes to the front of the clothespin.
9. Cut two small triangular fangs from white paper and glue to the clothespin “jaws”.
   

Tips:

• Attach these cute bats to curtains, plants, anywhere they will grab onto.
• Suspend these bats from the ceiling by tying a piece of fishing line to the clothespin and pushing a thumbtack into the ceiling.
• Instead of purple, try red for a different look!

Sparkling Spiders

What you'll need:

• Styrofoam ball, approximately 4” in diameter
• Purple acrylic paint
• Sponge applicator
• 2 large wiggle eyes
• Hot glue
• 9 black chenille sticks
• Colorful craft gems OR purple sequins and sequin pins

How to make it:

1. Using the sponge applicator, paint the entire Styrofoam ball and allow to dry completely.
2. Use eight of the chenille sticks for legs. To do this, at the bottom of each one, bend into a foot, about 1” long. Bend at the “knee” about halfway up the stick.
3. When the ball is dry, insert the chenille sticks into the body, four on each side.
4. Cut the last chenille stick in half, and then cut one of those halves in half again. Bend the quartered chenille stick to create a “feeler” (officially known as a “palp,” for those budding scientists) about ½” long and place one on either side of the face (on either side of where the mouth would be).
5. Hot glue the wiggle eyes onto the spider’s face.
6. Decorate the spider’s back with purple sequins, securing them in place with sequin pins. Alternatively, especially with younger children, you can glue colorful craft gems to the back instead.
7. Adjust the legs so that the spider stands on its own.

Tips:

• Sequin pins are tiny and can be hard for younger children to manipulate. Using craft gems is a great alternative. Craft gems can be found in any discount department store or craft supply store.
• Sponge applicators can be found by the paintbrushes in any craft supply or discount department store. They are also available at building supply stores as they are commonly used for applying stains and varnishes.
• Styrofoam is very porous and can take a little while to dry. Plan something fun during drying time so that the children aren’t impatiently waiting at the table to begin the next step. This is also a good time to cut and bend the chenille sticks.

Love

Autumn reminds me of one of my favorite quotes of all time, found in the pages of a "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" :

“Promise you won’t forget about me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred.”

There is so much beauty in those few words. Beauty I really needed to hear today.

Autumn Bundles

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly
changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."
~ Henry Beston

I love fall and I love sweaters, especially cardigans, which are in style this season...woot, woot! I also am a big fan of the high socks paired with a skirt, which is also in season! Man, fall not only brings out creativity, but also fashion! This is my time of year where I just love clothes! I love all the fall colors, I love the fabrics and I love the way the colors look and the fabrics feel against my skin.

Here are a few of my current faves for the season:

The perfect weapon to keep hair from blowing in your face during the blustery, fall days!

Protect your legs from the crisp air with these fall colored tights!

Wheat = fall harvest...enough said.

I'm all about comfort during the fall and this sweater looks sooo cozy!

Wool skirt...mmm:)

Another comfy cardigan!

This shirt makes me want to go on a hayride and carve pumpkins!

It's all about the fabrics, people.


Burnt Orange Cords, saweet!

High socks + Dress + Moccasins = Can't get anymore "fallish" than that!

High boots...woot, woot!

Wrap around belt? PRAISE JESUS:)