Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!  Here's my little pumpkin all ready in his costume.  He has 3 favorite shows he likes to watch and Jake and the Neverland Pirates are one of them.  :)

We already went to a Halloween party, and now it's time to go to the mall and Grandma's house.  He has fun going out, but I don't give him too many sweets yet.   Most of his candy will be shared with mommy and daddy, and substituted for fruit snacks.     

Happy Halloween!!!

Beautiful and Light Table Settings

Beautiful table settings create the whole mood of the event.  Here are 3 that I found that I absolutely loved.  They are just so amazing.  It's a close call, but my personal favorite is the last one.  The light turquoise color just gets to me.  It's such a pretty color.

courtesy of  Merci New York

 

courtesy of Style Me Pretty

courtesy of House of Turquoise blog with guest blogger Heather from Vivid Hue.

 I love all of these tables and the great part about them is that they would be easy to recreate a similar look to your own event.  Which one is your favorite?


  

Craft: Painted Plastic Animals

Today's post is how to turn your cheap plastic animals from this:

into this:

First of all, if you don't already have any plastic animals, but want to do this project, buy the cheap ones.  You don't need the more expensive ones because you're going to be painting over them.

Then you can spray paint your animals any color you want.  I love the gold paint!  Silver would be a nice option as well.  To see the full instructions go to Babiekins Magazine by clicking here.

My son is still too young for these, but when he's a bit older, I want to make these for him.  They are just too cool!

Free Printable: November Calendar

Happy Friday everyone!  Here's the November calendar.  I got it done a little early so you can print it out and put your appointments on it now.  Plus you have time to share it with whoever you think might want one too.  I'm thinking about doing a batch of calendars together so it can be even easier to get appointments put on them.

 Have a great weekend!

                                     CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR NOVEMBER CALENDAR

Portofino Mirror

Have you seen this mirror? I just love it.  It's the Portofino Mirror by Ballard Designs.  I've got to get it for my living room! It doesn't really match what I have in there currently, but I would love to update that room anyway- it certainly needs it!  This mirror would make it so worth it!  Here's a closer look at it:

This mirror could look great will all sorts of paint colors.  But I'm liking a similar color to the first photo.  I love ivory couches and a pale blue wall would look pretty with the ivory/neutral tones.  In fact, I think it would look nice with the nursery paint color (Blue Grass by Benjamin Moore) that I just featured a few days ago.  Remember this room?

Homemade Halloween Oreos

Here are some homemade Oreos I found on a wonderful baking site, called Bakerella, that I like to check in on from time to time.   There are so many fun and creative ideas on the site.  You should go there just to check out the super cute cake pops.

These oreos look better than store bought ones.  And I'm sure they would be- they're homemade!  If only I had more time.... Sigh...  I hope to try and make these one day.  But what's even better than homemade oreos?  

Homemade CAT oreos!  I love this idea and it's what made me really want to share them with you.  If you make your own oreos, you could use any shape you'd like, as long as you have the cookie cutter for it.

If you follow the instructions, the cookies will be crunchy, similar to the store bought ones.  However, you can bake them for a little less time to make them a bit softer.  To get the instructions, click here to go to Bakerella's site.

Cheese "Dessert" Table

Who wouldn't want a table like this?  I am in love with this table.  Maybe it's all the cheese.  Yum!  I love cheese and could eat it every day.  It's one thing I never get tired of.

As for the setting, the rustic table is absolutely perfect.  It gives the setting a whole Tuscany feel to it.  And I love the use of cake stands with the glass coverings for the cheese.  Even the simple food cards with silver stands add just the right touch.

This table was created by Sunday Suppers for a Martha Stewart feature.  It was created as a wedding cheese dessert table that anyone can recreate.  Click here to go to the site and see more details.

Creepy Monday: Purple Victorian Halloween Party

Today is not Manic Monday, it's Creepy Monday.  Halloween is coming up quick and I wanted to share one last party... 

This Halloween themed party is pretty- well for a Halloween party.  It's creepy yet pretty.  I love how they added purple. It's a nice twist on the traditional Halloween colors. And I absolutely love the monarch butterflies in this table setting.  I love butterflies though, so I would love them no matter what party they were put in. 

The party was styled by Sweets Indeed.  Click here to go to their site and see the rest of the delightfully creepy details.

Adorable Gumball Necklace Party Favors

Aren't these too cute for a girl's birthday party?  They look like real necklaces, but those are actually gumballs on the necklace, not beads.  It's a great idea for party favors.  The flower gives it that extra pretty touch.

Rebekah from A Blissful Nest created these necklaces, which are featured on Project Nursery.  They look super easy to make too.  I like cute, yet easy to make crafts that I know I could make without difficulty.  Click here to get the instructions.

Halloween Sale + Sneak Peek

First thing's first: the Halloween sale is now going on now through Sunday 10/21!  Get 25% off your entire Halloween order at my Etsy shop.  Just enter Halloween25 at checkout. 

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY ETSY SHOP!

 

Now for the sneak peek.   It's going to be an arctic party, perfect for winter birthdays.  Here's the penguin cupcake topper above.  This set will also feature a polar bear with a scarf.  I designed it for a boy's party, but may add a purple or pink option as well for the girls. 

"Blue Grass" Baby Boy Nursery

When I saw this contemporary style nursery, I knew I had to share it with you.  I love the soft and soothing feel to it.  It's a wonderful room for a new baby boy.  

With all the pictures lined up beautifully on the wall above the dresser, it's no wonder this room was created by photographer Kerianne Brown for her little boy.  The mobile is so cute, and I bet you could create a diy version similar to it.

The paint color is so soft and looks amazing in the nursery- what a great color to set the feel of the room.  It's called Blue Grass by Benjamin Moore.

Go to Somewhere Splendid's website to see more pictures by clicking here.

Cat and Bat Cookies

I saw these cookies while browsing on the Martha Stewart site for Halloween decorations.  These will go perfect with my bat and cat cupcake toppers and invitations. Plus they're just plain cute.

Have fun making your own batch of chocolate cookies, click here to get the recipe.  It makes 40 to 50 cookies, so you will have plenty to share at your Halloween party.

Don't have Halloween cookie cutters?  I just saw them on Amazon for a good price: Martha Stewart Collection Halloween Cookie Cutters.  

DIY: Flower Garland

Here's something fun and festive to brighten your Monday.  It's a nice little change to the regular pom poms you see online.  It would be perfect for a little girl's party. 

You could use them for really about any party theme.  That's one of the nice things about the diy part- you're able to customize the colors to whatever you want.

They look so easy to make and you don't need many supplies.  This idea came from Jenny of  Hank and Hunt  which she created for You are My Fave's website. Click here to get the instructions.

Italian Sodas

These look sooo delicious!  I am going to the store right after this post to pick up the ingredients.  I've never had Italian sodas, but they look amazing.  Don't you think these would be a super cute addition to a party table as well?

You can see the recipe for them in the picture, but I got it from a site called Sugar and Charm.  To get all the details not on the recipe, as well as more amazing ideas from the site, click here.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Let me know if you've ever had these.  I'm so excited to try them!

Fall Party: Owls and Raccoons Theme

This party caught my eye.  It's such a fun party for the fall.  It has the colors of the fall leaves but the bright blue, orange and green also adds brightness into the decorations.  Doesn't this table just look perfectly set up?  I love the tiny hay barrels, they're a cute added touch.

You must check out these costumes the young guests got to wear.  Aren't they adorable?   They must have had so much fun with these!

 This party is decorated by Courtney Portner and was featured on Amy Atlas' blog.  Check out all the incredible details including the party table by going to Amy's site : Sweet Designs.

Super Easy and Cheap Halloween Decoration

 

Create a super easy and super cheap way to decorate your porch or sidewalk leading up to your house.  The only things you use are brown paper bags and flame-less candles.  You can cut out your own spooky (or not so scary) message; it can be customized to your style.  So have some fun with it and get creative!  Get the how-to on Martha's site by clicking here.

Talking Pumpkins

Have some fun this Halloween with a talking pumpkin on your porch.  Carve your pumpkin, including a hole in the bottom to put an old baby monitor inside.  The parent's unit is the one you put inside.  Then you or your kids can talk into the baby's unit whenever party guests or trick-or-treaters come near.  This cute idea is from Martha Stewart's site.  Click here to get the full instructions.

Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites

Don't these look so delicious?!?!  These cheesecake bites are covered with a chocolate ice cream shell, made from scratch.  In fact, everything's made from scratch - the crust, the filling, and the ice cream shell.

I found this on Handle the Heat's website.  There are several other recipes that Tessa, the owner, has posted that I want to try too.  She said the cheesecake bites are so addicting, and I totally believe her.  I can't wait to try them out!  I got my recipe printed, click here to get your copy.

Interior Design: A Stunning Entrance

Look at this amazing entryway!  Are you just staring at it, taking it all in?  I mean, it looks like an amazing Bali resort where you can relax and all of your cares will just melt away. I love the water by the entrance, they huge chandelier and the straight through the house view that shows the landscape of L.A.

Yes, this is a HOME, not a resort.  It's the entrance to Jennifer Aniston's home, which has been featured on Architectural Digest.  AD has an amazing selection of beautiful homes, including those of celebrities.  To see more pictures of Jen's beautiful house, click here.

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!

Spooktacular Halloween Party

Have you seen this dessert table, created by the one and only Amy Atlas?  This is such a perfect looking Halloween table. Everything looks so stylish and classy.   Don't you just love the whole backdrop- the vase, the branches, the paper fans... so creative. 

If you don't know who Amy is, she's a celebrity event planner who is known for creating amazing dessert tables.  She has a book out on parties called Sweet Designs: Bake It, Craft It, Style It.

The book contains how to instructions for you to create your own perfect looking parties, including the one above.  You can take a peek inside the book to see some of the great parties she has to offer. 

 Click here to get your copy!

Pay Day for Halloween

Do you like to decorate with candy corn but don't like the taste?  I've never liked them personally.  My mom used to mix them with salted peanuts and I liked them then.  They taste a lot like a pay day candy bar. 

Just add about 3 times as many peanuts as you do candy corns to get the mix right.   Now you can decorate all you want with candy corns.... as long as you have peanuts on hand.

Decorating for Fall

Simple ideas and updates can be used to decorate your home for the fall.

1.  I love the mantel in the first picture... talk about perfection.  I would love mine to look just like that!  I fell in love with this picture since the minute I saw it.  The garland is amazing.  Just adding it could make your home more fall worthy.  I found it here at Centsational Girl's website.

2.  Who doesn't have a few extra hurricane glasses sitting around?  I know I do.  They are a super easy way to add a little decoration during any time of the year.  Found on Elle Interiors site.

3.  The last picture is from Martha Stewart's website.  It's simple, yet elegant.  Anyone could make a similar table setting in their home which is why it's so great.  

Halloween Invitations

Here are the 2 Halloween invitations I've designed to go along with the cupcake toppers I showed you last week.  I've also made food signs, which I will be featuring in a post next week.

The first invitation may have a few familiar graphics, they're from the October free printable calendar I shared.  If you didn't get the calendar yet, click here.

Click here for the bat invitation 

Click here for the candy corn invitation