Happy Halloween

May you enjoy listening to Halloween-appropriate tunes from the 80's (think Ghostbusters & Thriller) as much as I will.

Happy Halloween to all!

photo via La Vie Claire magazine

Pumpkin Patchin'

During the last week of our CSA, the farm offers all participants free reign in their pumpkin patch...much to the kids' delight. Each family member is allowed to choose one pumpkin, any pumpkin, and this makes for quite the search. It was a gorgeous Fall day and we enjoyed this short n' sweet activity to its fullest. The nearby corn field made for some great hide & seek as well. (Oh the stories their Mom has to tell about hiding out in corn fields :)

Afterwards we stopped at nearby Day Farms and picked up some freshly picked apples and a few more gourds for the front steps...all well-priced and perfectly delicious. All in all a great day.

Puffed Sleeve Blouse

This gorgeous puffed sleeve blouse is on sale at Banana Republic stores for a mere $23.99. It's unavailable online, sadly, but if you live near a BR, I'd call and see if it's in stock. Describe it to the staff as above, and mention it's portrayed in one of the 30 Decade ads if they seem at a loss :)

Good Luck!

* Last night the Trolley Square store had one left in a size XL

Surprise!

The doorbell rang around 7 p.m. Sunday evening. I thought it was my brother-in-law dropping by to pick up some cheesecake I promised him. Alas, it was not my brother-in-law. What I found was quite different--8 people on my doorstep bearing cupcakes, balloons, flowers, favors & lots of good wishes.

I had no idea...
...and I had the BEST time. All the time and effort put forth was positively overwhelming. Magnolia Bakery cupcakes (thank heavens for the internet!), flowers in gourds, pumpkin seed party favors, white and mocha-colored balloons accented with chartreuse green napkins, and chocolate covered strawberries. Does it get any better? I daresay not.

Thank you all so very much. xoxo

Picture Day

7 something: the kids quietly come in and recruit Dad to get up with them...he relents and I'm relieved :)

8:08 a.m. the Husband runs into the bedroom and says, "Steph, it's 8:08!". I'm thinking, 'this is not good...I have to leave for carpool in 7 minutes'.

I rush downstairs and one child is dressed and the other still in her pajamas. I inform her we have 5 minutes to get ready to which she replies..."Mom, it's Picture Day today".

AAAHH!

I gather my wits. 6 minutes to spare.

Okay, so you want to wear a dress? Perfect. I think there might be one dress not in need of a good ironing.

Then, the hair situation. This is the tough part as she took scissors to her head 5 weeks ago and things haven't been the same. Thankfully, cute tatertot clip (love those!!) to the rescue and "bangs" are nicely gathered to the side of her noggin.

Pfew. We made it.

Did anyone else have a similar picture day experience or is it just me that was wholly unprepared?!

La Mer

I really do miss living by the ocean. While I prefer the Pacific, I'd take the Atlantic again any day. There is something about residing near water that feeds my soul.

I've decided this is just what I need on my inspiration board to bring a little serenity into my life. I immediately feel peace when I look at this little work of art...and it completely appeals to my soft spot for artists who mix polaroids with other media, as shown here. The effect is way cool :)

Candy Corn

The other day my youngest daughter spilled her little bag of jelly beans and candy corn (gifted from her Nana) all over the kitchen floor. What did I do? I ran around quickly gobbling up all candy corns (leaving the Jelly Bellies for her eating pleasure) before she had a chance to get to them first. I know, I know. I'm such a good Mom.


In honor of this fun Halloween treat, a few candy corn ideas from Matthew Mead for your viewing pleasure:

Candy Corn Freezes

Candy Corn Favors (you can download templates here)

All you need for the favors are glassine envelopes, tape, and a little ribbon. What a fun thing to give away on Halloween Night if you don't have hundreds at your door :)

Etsy Pick of the Week: Simple Song

I was recently reminded of this etsy shop I've had marked as a "favorite" for some time now. These adorable labels are definitely on my mind for the holidays....and of course everything letterpressed.

{via amy sharp via petit elefant}

Hipster Family

If "funky" is your name and being "hip" is your game (sorry, I couldn't resist!), check out a recent family portrait Justin photographed here. I'm thinking this might be the year you have the coolest Christmas card EVER.

You can find Justin Hackworth here as well as his latest photographs here.

Simplifying Christmas

I'm not one who enjoys the over-commercialization of Christmas. I want to gag when I see tacky Christmas paraphernalia at Home Depot in early October. Seriously? I don't like it because I know it's motivated by profit-making, and not-so-much that they love to share the spirit of Christmas and are full of goodwill towards men.

But, I know there are many-a-mother who like to plan ahead and so for those mothers, I'm sharing a few ideas gleaned from two talented women. I just couldn't resist sharing these fantastic ideas on how to simplify Christmas, especially important in these years of economic instability.


My sister Cherilee is planning a "Craigslist Christmas". What does that mean? Well, that means that every person will give and receive something/s they find on Craigslist. Lucky for her, Seattle's Craigslist is a goldmine and boasts ample selection. It's a great way to recycle, to be able to offer someone else a little cash in exchange for an item, and to keep the gift-giving budget at a very reasonable level. I think it's a grand idea, especially if you are located in a major metropolitan area where Craigslist offerings tend to be better.

Another idea, offered by Danyelle, is to give 4 gifts to each person for Christmas. One is something they can wear, another is something to read, the third is something they want, and the final gift is something they need. Each gift has the appropriate tag attached. This idea not only encourages less spending, but better spending as well as the gifts tend to be more thoughtful. She began this lovely tradition last year (you can read about it here) and I'm happy to report it turned out to be total success. You can read about the outcome here.

I hope you all have a beautiful, simple Christmas that is full of goodness and love. Hopefully you'll find some merit in these ideas as well!

How to Fold a Napkin into a Bud

This napkin trick is my classic standby for entertaining. It looks time consuming, but isn't really. Often, attending to little details makes guests feel extra special...unless of course you do what I did last night and ask your guests to fold their own napkins because you're in a time crunch :) Next time I'll try to plan my time a little better!

Start with the top left corner and "read" the photo like a book moving left to right. Follow each step and in about one minute, you'll have yourself your own pretty napkin bud. The great thing about this little trick is that you don't have to have a perfectly ironed napkin (see photo!). It just gets all wound up anyway!




































1. Lay out a square, cloth napkin on a flat surface; rotate it so its diamond shaped

2. Fold in one corner to the center

3. Fold in the opposite corner to the center; make the two corners slightly overlapped

4. Begin rolling into a one-inch fold.

5. One inch fold!!

6. Turn about two inches of the end to the side at a right angle.

7. Roll like a cinnamon roll

8. Keep rolling, the bud is beginning to take shape.

9. Leave about 2 inches at the end

10. Turn end to the side at a right angle leaving some length to tuck.

11. Tuck under into one of the creases.

12. Voila! A flower bud awaits.

Interiors, No.2

Loving these delightful interior shots of a Birmingham home, owned and decorated by a young boutique owner. The spaces are warm, uncluttered, peaceful and exude a whole lot of personality.

photographs per BH&G's special decorating issue

Cozy Grey Dress

I've got Anthro gift cards burning holes in my wallet. They've been there for months and want to be spent :)

I really love this dress, but alas I have too much grey and black. Need. To. Add. Color.

But, if you need a classic dress in a pretty neutral gray, this is a pretty choice.

Birthday GIVEAWAY Winner

First off, thank you for all the sweet wishes. Wow, talk about feelin' the love. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I wish I had more than one of these sets to share. You all deserve it! But alas, I have one....darn it!

Okay, according to random.org, the lucky reader is "hairyshoefairy" who said, "What a fun thing to do! Happy Birthday!"

Yeah for you! Please contact me so I can mail you the Cath Kidston Mix n Match Stationery Set.

Enjoy this perfect Autumn weekend everyone!

Autumn Fun for Kids

A few family fun activities you may not know about...enjoy! Autumn is the BEST.

Red Butte Gardens, Once Upon a Time Storybook Garden after Dark
until October 30 Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 6-9 p.m.

Discovery Gateway, Spooktacular
Friday, October 31 (noon - 9 p.m.) $6 per child

Day Farms, Pumpkin Patch Rides
until October 27th M-F (4-7 p.m.); Sat (1-7 p.m.)
$5 per person for the hayride, includes 1 pumpkin

* unique gourds
* fresh apples & onions
* pumpkins & corn stalks

Birthday Giveaway

My step-Grandma introduced me to a sweet little tradition a few years ago.

On her birthday, she gave everyone in attendance to her party a dollar for every year they were...mind you there were several grown adults at this party. I watched her give out several hundred dollars to people and you could tell she just loved watching their delight. She gained a lot of happiness from giving to others, even on her own birthday.

I'm not giving out money today...sorry :) Instead, I'd like to share something else fun with all you weekend readers. Here is a little something that is sure to brighten your day--a Cath Kidston Stationery Set from the always fabulous Chronicle Books.

Like all other giveaways, simply leave a comment on this post and I'll post a winner later tonight. I'll keep this giveaway live until 10 p.m. After that, I'll post a winner...unless I'm still out partying it up :)

Have a lovely weekend!

xo

Modern Succulents

You don't have to live in Phoenix to display succulents...anywhere is just fine! The best part of succulents is their low-maintenance nature. If you forget to water...no big deal. They like it like that.

I spotted some gorgeous succulents recently at locally-owned Cactus & Tropicals. After watching one of the talented staff members put together a modern display in a large square glass vase, complete with contemporary-looking white polished river rocks, I became sold on the idea of succulents.

If you want to start off with something simpler, something you could easily do yourself, check out this look from Housemartin. In the past my favorite sources for polished river rocks are Pottery Barn and Big Lots :)

For a few tips on how to grow your own succulent garden indoors, click here.

third photo via housemartin

Deal o' the Day

Menu of the Week

Salsa Verde Braised Pork with Tortillas & Salad (slow cooker version)

Herb Crusted Salmon with Roasted Lemons, Herbed Roasted Potatoes, Fresh Fruit, Salad

Winter Squash Soup with Rosemary Corn Muffins

Chicken Piccata with some kind of vegetable :)

Asian Noodle & Herb Soup (a Donna Hay recipe so I don't have a link sadly)

Dessert: Apple Pie (version is tbd--will keep you posted)

In My Dreams...

...my children all have bedding from Serena & Lily. Sigh...

Displaying Keepsakes in a Simple Way

Imagine your family embarking on an Autumn hike. You take some great pictures, have some great laughs, pick up a few pine cones and all in all enjoy quality family time. How do you document something like this...let along display it?

This is the perfect way.

Take a simple mason jar or similar jar from IKEA. Place a cropped photo inside. Add a few rocks, pebbles, pressed leaves, or that pine cone you (or your child) picked up along the way. If you really want to go the extra mile, add a little leather tie (see above) or some ribbon might be nice as well.

I think I might put together something like this for my oldest daughter. Last month we gathered some pine cones and took a lot of photographs while hiking as a family in the Uintas. She will totally dig it.

via Better Homes & Gardens, September 2008

Wallpapering Small Spaces

The whole wallpaper trend is in full force. If you want to dabble in it, but don't want to really commit, try wallpapering a small space, like this bathroom (or a small section of your kitchen like Joslyn did here). You won't have to look at it all the time, it will make you happy for the few minutes you are actually in the bathroom, and it's easy to remove should you tire of the pattern.

If you're renting, or don't care for the wallpapering process as a whole, check out Jordan's post here for everything you need to know. I would pay extra for an easy-breezy application and removal process!

photo per Maison Design magazine

Coconut Tapioca Pudding

I made this yummy dessert the other night when I had to come up with something easy and quick, but with ingredients I had on hand (as in no butter and few eggs). I'm not kidding when I said "easy" folks. This took about 10 minutes to prepare...total. Granted, preparing the garnishes might take a few extra minutes but not more than 10 minutes are required there either. It's a keeper if you love coconut like I do.

I served the coconut tapioca pudding with toasted coconut, fresh pineapple, a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, and a little lime zest. Next time I'll serve this with an Asian-inspired meal and perhaps substitute mango for the pineapple. I'm also tempted to infuse the pudding with some cardamon too...

If you have any other ideas feel free to share!

Coconut Tapioca Pudding
adapted from Everyday Food

2 large eggs
2 cans coconut milk
3 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 TB quick-cooking tapioca
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Garnishes:

1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted (place on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes on 350)
fresh pineapple chunks
lightly sweetened whipped cream
lime zest

In a medium to large saucepan, lightly beat eggs. Add the coconut milk, milk, sugar and tapioca; whisk to combine. Set aside about 10 minutes to soften the tapioca.

Stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat; stir in pure vanilla extract. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let pudding cool for about an hour or until cool. Refrigerate pudding for several hours or overnight.

Whisk pudding just before serving. Divide amongst glasses or bowls and garnish with pineapple, cream, toasted coconut and lime zest.

Enjoy!

Downeast Outfitters Warehouse Sale

I love J.Crew styling...but not so much their prices. Today, I found the best of both worlds...J.Crew clothing for cheap, cheap, cheap. Is your heart racing yet?

Downeast Outfitters is hosting a Warehouse Sale at Thanksgiving Point {in the barn} this week and is offering up hundreds of boxes of J.Crew samples and overstocks. We're talking swimsuits for $5, heavy coats for $15, and these cute galoshes for $10.

Hours:

Wednesday - 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Thursday- 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. (an additional 20% will apply to your purchase on Thursday!)

If the following applies to you, I'd head down there asap:

* you wear a size 7 in women's shoes
* you have a little girl age 4 or 5
* your husband wears a size medium shirt

P.S. There are no fitting rooms available (just a full-length mirror) so wear a fitted top to make trying things on a little easier and more accurate.

Framed Calendars

With the end of the year approaching, it's time to begin thinking about what you are going to do with that beautiful calendar adorning your wall. It's also a good time to consider what you'd enjoy next year too.

Designer Herman Yu came up with a brilliant and beautiful idea here. She used PB's Wood Gallery Frames to showcase cropped portions of last year's calendar. Isn't it gorgeous? Plus, it's a super simple look to achieve as well.

If you aren't familiar with these frames, they are an excellent bargain for the price point. In order to make hanging them easier, I bring them to a professional framer and for a couple of dollars, they will wire it up nice and easy.

idea via Herman Yu via Sunset

SNL Clip

Thankfully, when we are having a tough day, we can always rely on SNL for comic relief. Don't they say that laughter is the best medicine? This one had me in stitches...

Gussied Up Gourds

I'm seeing exotic gourds all over the place these days--at nurseries, farms, in my CSA box and even Target of all places. I picked up a few specimens at Rosewood Gardens on 3300 S. and attempted an Autumn arrangement of sorts. I dressed them up with some satin ribbon from The Lace Place on Highland to add color and texture. I attached ribbons with pearl pins for a clean look.

So go ahead, and make your own arrangment, and if you end up uploading them, send me a link :)

Clothing Sale

I've come to an all-too-realistic conclusion. My body may not ever recover from having children :) Luckily, the three musketeers are worth it!

I have a few designer pieces that don't fit anymore and I would love to pass them along to people who love them like I do. Some are brand new (I was feeling optimistic!) and some have been worn once or twice. They are all freshly dry cleaned, pressed, and from a pet-free & smoke-free home.

You can find a few of them up for grabs here on ebay. If you're local, I'll reimburse you for shipping should you win and we can arrange a local pickup.

p.s. thank you Joslyn for the bright idea!

Mandate & Seraph Press

Next to Bi-Rite Creamery* in the Mission district of San Francisco (some of the most delicious ice cream I've ever consumed) is a lovely flower shop that also features hand-picked wares that are sure to please just about everyone (look for the bamboo boxes outside). I am certain I could find a gift for just about anyone in this well-designed space. While browsing I was drawn to their fantastic array of letterpressed cards and found that many of them were of the same label...Utah's very own Seraph Press.


Coincidentally, the Husband recently asked their sister company, Mandate Press, to create some letterpressed business cards. If you or someone you know (husband? father? brother-in-law?) is interested in letterpress calling cards or business cards, you are welcome to a $10 discount at Mandate Press starting today! Yeah! Never underestimate the power of a first impression, which often comes via this important little piece of paper. I think you'll be surprised at how reasonably priced they are too, especially for letterpress. I was pretty shocked. As an added bonus they bring good luck and help one win raffles with their weightiness (they sink to the bottom and everyone knows people dig for the bottom!). It worked for the Husband!

Just use coupon code "modo" during checkout for a $10 discount on your order.

* If you're in the area of San Francisco's Bi-Rite Creamery, try the Balsamic Strawberry and Caramel Sea Salt flavors, though not necessarily together. All the ice cream is made from all natural ingredients...no corn syrup in this joint. Take advantage of the free samples too before making your decision. Yum.

Some beautiful pictures of the antique presses at Mandate, courtesy of hip photographer Justin Hackworth...also a Mandate fan.

Menu of the Week

Only cooking four meals this week (although one is for 15 people) as I intend to serve leftovers one night, go out another, and enjoy a family dinner (that I'm not making!) on Sunday. Woo-hoo!

Parmesan Souffle, Sauteed Zucchini & Onions (from the farm), Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar

Mustard Roast Chicken with Vegetables

Pecan-crusted Sole, Salad, Bread

French Lentil Sausage Soup (double batch), Salad, hearty country bread, pineapple wedges

Last Minute Opening for Dessert Cooking Class Tonight

Spot filled...thank you!

Due to a little gal who isn't feel well and an out-of-town daddy, one of my guests is sadly not going to be able to make it to tonight's Dessert Cooking Class. If you are able to come by at 7:30, with 4 hours notice(!), please contact me at stephmodo@gmail.com. It is going to be a decadent evening to be sure :)

You can view details about this particular class and we'll be making here.

H is for...

....helicopter...my favorite from E's recently-returned-home "ABC Book".

And a close second..."Z is for Zebra"...clearly indicating we need to visit the local zoo more often :)

Easy Organizing Tip #18

Do you have dead space in your entry way or mudroom? Use it up by drilling in sturdy hooks for extra storage. I added one hook for a handbag and then an additional hook for my children's backpacks and coats, making everything they need within reach. During the morning chaos that hangs out here MWF, I find myself grateful we took a few minutes to install these stylish, yet functional hooks. Retrieving everyone's backpacks and coats off the higher hooks is one less thing I don't have to worry about as we run out the door.

On my first trip out and about to pick up hooks, I went to Anthropologie and bought a couple. Then, I came home and realized I couldn't handle the price tag and returned them (this happens a lot when shopping at Anthro). I decided to go "budget" and headed to Home Depot instead. Score!

You can view more easy organizing tips here and here.

Zara Kids

I've mentioned Zara Home Kids before (fabulous!!), but did I mention they have a children's clothing collection too? Recently discovered in France, this store is now in my top 5 and I cannot wait to hit it again...with more than ten minutes to shop. If you love Zara Woman, you'll love the kids' line. It's to-die-for cute and priced around Gap prices, although it can be more depending on the day's exchange rate.

While we have our own Zara stores in the US, we do not have Zara Home or Zara Baby. Maybe someday? Until then, look for cute Zara clothing on Ebay and if you're lucky enough to head to Europe or the UK, hit it there too.

You can see the inside of a Zara Kids store here if you're curious :)

China Girl

Oh the temptations at Tea right now.

p.s. Neylan, I wish you still worked there :)

Abby's Walk

A wonderful cause to mention today...

My sweet sister-in-law Abby is raising money for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure. This organization is outstanding and consistently raises millions of dollars all in the name of finding a cure for Cancer. Abby wants to contribute to this cause so that someday, others won't have to suffer from cancer...like she did when she was 25 and pregnant with her second child. What a nightmare it was for her! Especially being in a foreign country, with very little support surrounding her and her little family. Talk about tough times.

While Abby is cancer-free today, many are not. She set an ambitious monetary goal and is almost there...but not quite. So many people have been generous with their time and money with the hope that goals will be met, and ultimately, a cure will be found. If you care to donate a few dollars to this admirable foundation, you can do so here.

Have a great day and buy "pink" to support this amazing cause!

White

I'm all about white today.

Love this white kitchen with pops of warm woods and greenery. The open shelving is such a great idea if you have all white dishes.


And these white pumpkins are so beautiful to me lately. For the first time in years I prefer these to their traditional orange counterparts. See a lovely white pumpkin arrangement (via Design Delicious via Sunset) here.

pumpkin picture via La Vie Claire

kitchen picture via Domino

Pleated Knit Jacket

Once again a total sucker for dressy knits...

Since the addition of Todd Oldham to the design team over at ON, I find myself, for the first time in a few years, interested in their collections at times. These days you can often find a great, savvy piece that is also super well-priced.

My latest love is this pleated black jacket. It's super soft, has great lines, and is lined nicely on the inside. I don't love how they style it here but hopefully you get the idea. I love that you could pair this jacket with a dressier skirt, perhaps a tweed or houndstooth, but then also with a pair of casual jeans and boots.

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake

Undoubtedly, this is the best version of pumpkin cheesecake I've ever come across. Talented Kelli (formerly of Tangled & True) made it and shared it with the Husband and I this past weekend. Boy, did we enjoy it...for dessert, then breakfast, then dessert again! It's to-die-for!

I thought it a lovely alternative to the traditional pumpkin pie. I can't wait to make it myself. I highly recommend you adding this to your Thanksgiving repertoire...

photo via Williams Sonoma

Cupcake Cups

Loving these new colors of "cupcakes" from Rose & Radish. We brought one home from San Francisco for our daughter earlier this year (in lieu of a tacky t-shirt!) and I've been pleased with it ever since. It looks so cute on her nightstand or wherever she displays it. Sometimes I even find it outside covered in dirt, but hey, at least she's using it!

I'd like a few for me though...these colors are positively happy.

Napa Wedding

It's not an everyday occurrence for us to attend "black-tie preferred" weddings...especially those with a Napa Valley address! This made for a very special evening--one that we'll remember forever.

I felt rather economic as I prepared for this wedding...I decided to borrow a dress from a dear friend (thank you Ali!), wear jewelry from my Mom's wedding last year and don some fancy hosiery I bought in Paris a few years ago (great, sturdy hosiery in France!). That left only shoes to purchase...and lucky for me, I found Pour La Victoire patent leather heels on sale for $58. Cha-ching.

All in all it was a great weekend...although, I could've lived without my little guy heading to the hospital for one night while we were away. What are the odds? Seriously. Thank heavens for good friends & family.

Gwyneth's Kitchen

I love everything associated with Gwyneth...even movies with bad reviews :) That girl emanates some serious style...

See other pictures from her home here (via 6th Street Design School).

Update: See Gwyneth's website here . It's just as stylish as she is! (thanks Jenni!)

Planning a Halloween Party...Grown Up Style

Last year I hosted a Halloween Party, just for adults, and I must say I enjoyed it more than almost any other party I've ever thrown. It was so unexpected to turn a holiday, typically targeted towards children, into something for us grown ups to enjoy as well. I want to share with you a few ideas right now (versus on Halloween or the Eve of), just in case you decide to host your own get-together. It's not too late to start planning!

Invitations...a great way to set the tone for the party:

I found some letter pressed invitations at Tabula Rasa that I loved. Nice and over sized and weighty. I didn't see the same ones there this year but they had some nice selections still. If you're not local, this is a good place to start.

Food...something buffet friendly:

I made two sheets of lasagna, a large salad, and provided a few different kids of artisan breads to eat alongside. It's funny though, I have no recollection of what I served for dessert! However, if I were doing it again this year, I'd offer a plate of these dressed up Petit Ecolier cookies (in dark chocolate) per Matthew Mead. They are too cute.

Another idea is to serve two pots of soup...maybe a Lentil Sausage Vegetable Soup and a Corn Chowder...accompanied by a nice salad & bread. You can make the two batches of soup the day before (soup tastes better the next day anyway), thus making your party prep that much simpler.


Decorations:

I hit a wholesale decor store called Tai Pan Trading Company and picked up a few ghoulish candle holders and tea lights for a great price. I also found some velvet black candlesticks at a little store in Gardener Village that were pretty classy too. Last, I used a glass terrarium as a vase, some branches, and polished river rocks to make a homemade centerpiece. I hung scalloped tags stamped with insect graphics from the branches. It was super easy.

There are a myriad of ideas out there for Halloween centerpieces...the hard part is choosing! Something like this, or this might be fun too. I know Snippet & Ink is technically a "wedding blog" but I find that some of the ideas featured carry over into everyday entertaining as well. This post is a must-see.

Music...I downloaded a grouping of "spooky tunes" on Itunes to accompany our party the whole evening through. These are some of the songs I found, but I know there are other great ones out there too. If you have any additional suggestions, feel free to share!

I decided to make each couple a copy of the playlist as part of their favor. There are so many cute ways to present a customized cd but if I were doing it again this year, I'd use some of Muji's kraft brown cd envelopes. Then, I'd find a cute sticker from Paper Source, or something from Etsy (in case you can't tell, I {heart} Etsy bigtime). These and these are my favorites. Oh, the power of a cute label.

Anyway, on to the playlist:

Superstitious, Stevie wonder
Abracadabra, Steve Miller Band
Trick or Treat, Otis Redding (favorite!)
Black Magic Woman, Santana
Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead, Ella Fitzgerald
Thriller, Michael Jackson
Spooky, Atlanta Rhythm Section
Witchy Woman, the Eagles
Moondance, Van Morrison
Ghost, Indigo Girls
Harvest Moon, Neil Young
Witchcraft, Frank Sinatra
Moon over Bourbon Street
Monster Mash, Robert Walsh

Pumpkin Carving:

I've always wanted to make those elaborate pumpkins adorning the cover of MS Living every October it seems. But, with kids I don't ever feel like an hour {plus} long carving party is feasible. Enter adult Halloween Party activity :)

I purchased the pumpkins about 3 days before the party and hired some teenagers in the neighborhood to carve them for me ahead of time. That way, guests could participate in the best part of pumpkin carving...the carving itself. This saved a lot of time and mess and allowed everyone to get their creative juices flowing. We provided carving tools and sample pictures for inspiration. I was so happy we did this...hopefully they were too :)

Favors...a little memoire for your guests to take home:

Besides the Halloween CD I made these "broomsticks" per Martha. I loved this project...very easy and very cute. Plus, they look pretty all lined up and almost act as a part of the overall Halloween decor. I made a few modications to the directions that you can read about here.

Marta offered some fabulous Halloween tags last year, which I attached to complete the look. She did a magnificent job. Lucky for me, I have a few leftover to use this year...

If you are keen on a few more ideas, see Chelsea's suggestions here.

One last thing, if you have children, don't forget to book your babysitter in advance!

Happy Halloween...a few weeks early :)

Triple Threat

...that is one way to describe our trio of desserts last night!

Last night marked the debut of my very first cooking class based entirely around desserts. Why didn't I think of it earlier? :) I had the pleasure of meeting several amazing women and their company made it a truly enjoyable evening. Like we all said in the 90's..."what a blast".

I'm excited for No.2 next week!

Tatertot GIVEAWAY Winner

...and the winner of the 4 Tatertots is:

Katy who said, "adorable hair accessories. beautiful hair color too."

Lucky you! (and your kids!) Please email me with your contact information.

I'm off to snatch up a few Tatertot clips myself. Who can resist? Have you seen the latest goodies for Halloween? They are too cute to pass up. You can see them here.

Blue Eyes

Oh how sweet my littlest gal is when she isn't screaming (any tips regarding that would be greatly appreciated!) And how convenient it is to have a talented sister-in-law, who is also a photographer, babysit my children :)

Thanks Caroline for the beautiful pictures.

p.s. Can you come over in the morning and do her hair everyday too? So cute.