Pumpkin Carving Birthday Party!

There were pumpkins to paint (or carve.)

There were surprise balls. (I'll share my how to with you soon!)

There were decorations. (I made this Happy Birthday sign myself- see my instructions on how to make your own here.)
There were cupcakes- I never even want to LOOK at a cupcake ever again. (Or at least till the next party!) I used the easy how to in this book and used their suggestion of adding a cup of canned pumpkin to a regular yellow cake mix to give it extra flavor. We also served ginger snaps, apple cider, pumpkin seeds and popcorn. My lovely friends and family all pitched in and brought tons of delicious autumn-y things to share as well.

And there were costumes! Chicken, meet Kangaroo. Kangaroo, meet Chicken.

Have you been to any fun fall parties lately?

Last Minute Halloween Costumes

Here are two more cool, easy last minute Halloween costume ideas that don't involve 6 inches of cleavage and stripper heels. No Sexy Blanks this year, or ever again. Thanks Martha!

This Medusa costume is genius. And think of the fun you'd have playing with Greecian-esque make-up! (And you could practice for your Project Runway audition tape by turning a bedsheet into a pretty toga. Bonus!)

Maybe I'm the only wierd-o who happens to have spainish moss, Faux feather birds AND long white feather false eyelashes on hand at any given moment, but those shouldn't be too hard to track down at the craft supply store. I love the eccentricity of this bird's nest chapeau, especially the way they played it up with the frosted make-up.

What are you doing to celebrate this year?

Pumpkin Party Favors

This year, I'll have the pleasure of celebrating my birthday in Minnesota with my family and lots of dear old friends. Instead of a million separate birthday dinners, I thought it would be fun to throw one giant bash. I've rented a rec center and started menu planning with my mum (Butterbeer will be served in honor of Mr. Harry Potter and thanks to the no booze rule of the public park service!) I'm also planning to have everyone carve or paint a pumpkin.

I found these great miniature faux pumpkins on super clearance after Thanksgiving last year, and I thought they would make fun party favors. I painted little eyes and mouths on them with acrylic paint and now I can't stop smiling every time I pass them. Aren't they funny?

Do you carve a pumpkin every year? I heard there might be a pumpkin shortage this year because of all the severe weather in the northeast. So get yours early!

Roasted Carrot Soup for a Halloween Menu

If Ina Garten has taught me anything, it's that roasting makes everything delicious. (Also, don't be afraid of half pound increments of butter!) Yes, roasting is an extra step, but it adds such richness of flavor, especially to vegetarian dishes.

I used this recipe, but went ahead and tossed in half a head of garlic (still in it's paper skin) and the onions into the roasting pan with the carrots. The broiler worked it's magic on all of them in no time flat and I saved myself a step. (After the broiler has made it nice and soft, just squeeze the smooshy garlic out of it's paper into the broth. And don't try to resist eating one clove whole. It's turned sweet and buttery by now. Eric and I love to spread it on bread just like that.) I also added some leftover celery to the stock after it had simmered with the ginger.

I served it with a dollop of plain greek yogurt (I find this a more versatile ingredient than sour cream and tend to use them interchangeably. I like the thickness and slight tang of it.) and blue corn tortilla chips. Thyme and freshly ground pepper make for a lovely garnish. I will definitely be making this again. It was hearty, rich, delicious and beautiful to look at. I think it would make a nice addition to a Halloween menu with those colors too, don't you?

What's cooking at your house tonight?

Beautfiul Animal Masks for Halloween: An Antidote to "The Sexy Blank"

Have you started thinking about Halloween yet? I am planning an elaborate Flamingo Costume which I won't get to wear. I'll be attending my best friend's Zombie Bride themed Bachelorette Party. (We've all found old wedding gowns to douse with fake blood and the Maid of Honor is doing all our zombie make up. Then we're going to hit the town looking for BRAINS. And cocktails. And fun.)

But if you are on the lookout for a beautiful costume,I've just stumbled across Sundries and Plunder which specializes in beautifully crafted leather masks of animals and birds.

White Swan Mask from SundriesandPlunder

Eric and I have an ongoing joke that ladies have only one option for Halloween. We call it "The Sexy Blank" because you can be anything, as long as it's sexy. Sexy Mouse. Sexy Maid. Sexy Nurse. Sexy Witch. That's really the most important requirement in mass produced costumes for grown women. Ugh.

I like these as an alternative. You could wear a pretty outfit and an extraordinary mask and be completely in the spirit of the holiday.

Owl Masks by SundriesandPlunder

Cardinal Mask from SundriesandPlunder

Are you planning on dressing up this year? Decorating the house? Carving a pumpkin?

Morning Ritual: A Monster Mug for Mister and Missus

I snapped up a pair of these monster mugs from Lenny Mud and they make me smile every morning. Because this is exactly how I feel before my first cup of Joe. It's not the caffeine per say, since I often end up having only a few sips and then leave it to get ice cold on a tabletop somewhere. It's the bleary eyed ritual of it. Sending the beans whizzing that sharp, dramatic zip through the grinder. Cleaning out the filter. Pouring the fresh grinds in. Adding the water. Listening to the whole mess begin to gurgle happily. And then that delightful smell that tells you the day is about to begin. I wouldn't do without that.

What's your morning ritual? Does it involve coffee?

Etsy Stories: Witchy Woman

You may be just getting around to thinking about Halloween but Imelda, that otherworldly lady down the street with the snow white skin, raven hair and scarlet lips, has been preparing all year. See Witchy Woman live on Etsy here.

Her collection of Wax Seals are at the ready to seal up the invitations for the spooky soiree she's planning.
She'll fill her assortment of cast iron Candleabras with steadily dripping candles to cast a ghostly light.

Her collection of artwork tends toward the macabre, as in this Poison Apple photograph, so she won't need to resort to anything as garish as fake cobwebs in the windows.

Her sinister pistol necklace is always around her neck, and that secret blade has come in handy more than once.
Her perfume has a fragrance of cloves and a touch of cauldron smoke about it.

Only the bravest kids in the neighborhood trick or treat at her door.

She favors eccentric black Hats like this one. No cliched cones for her.

A sparkly Dress worthy of Stevie Nicks.


A pair of sexy Fishnet Pumps complete the ensemble. Do you have anything spooky planned for this Halloween?