A most spooktacular craft for your littlest pumpkins!

Property of The Entertaining House

I'm reposting one of my favorite crafts. This was a project I would do with the children when they were very young. I know many of you still have very young children and I wanted to share this with you. It's perfect for a young child who doesn't have much dexterity or attention span as it can be a fairly quick project.  Of course, for the older set, you can get as creative and detailed as you wish.  What's more is that this fun craft couldn't be more simple and the end result is spectacular. What's best is that children of all ages (2+) will delight in making their own Jack-O-Lantern Luminary.

You can find most of the necessary tools in your home, and if not at your local arts and crafts store, drug store and florist.

You'll need one small and inexpensive floral vase. Check your basements and attics. These are the kinds that Teleflora send their smaller floral bouquets in. You may find that you have dozens of these! These can be found at flower shops, craft shops and your floral department in your grocery store for about a dollar. 

You'll also need a large paint brush (per person). I actually prefer the foam variety for this craft.

You'll need some orange tissue paper that you will cut up into squares and some black construction paper cut into three triangles.

Finally you will need some Mod Podge or other craft glue that dries clear and acts as a glue as well as a varnish.

Directions:

Using your brush paint a section of the vase with your craft glue. Paste the cut out pieces of orange tissue over the glue making sure that there is no clear glass showing through. It is fine for the tissue paper to overlap. It makes a really pretty effect. Paint over all the tissue paper again with the glue. When the vase is covered with tissue paper and glue apply the three black triangles so that they resemble two eyes and a mouth. Paint over those as well. Let dry overnight.

When your luminary is dried you can either place a small tea light in the center or a battery operated votive.

Note: Your fingers will get dirty and glue-y and sticky. This is fine. This is perfect to ensure that every piece of tissue paper is properly covered. Your younger child (2 or 3 year old) may only have the patience to cover half of the vase so you may want to finish it up for him.

Happy Hauntings!

Property of The Entertaining House

Property of The Entertaining House

Property of The Entertaining House

This project was first posted in 2008... Boy I've been blogging a long time and boy has The Entertaining Hose evolved since then! 

Jessica

Simply Spooktacular :: Stylish notes on family-friendly Halloween ideas

via Fun Like Me

I've never been one for the gore of Halloween. Sure, I went to all the obligatory movies in my youth where nightmares come alive, boys in hockey masks came back to haunt year after year after year after year. Truth be told I hated them all. I sat in the movies with my eyes hidden by my hands, jumping more in anticipation of what was to come next then what actually came next. I've never favored the costumes of grim reapers and headless horsemen and all those bloody, and in my opinion stupid costumes that teenage boys favored. I liked witches and bats and funny Jack O'Lanterns... isn't that what Halloween should be about? Maybe I'm a Halloween prude, but I prefer my version of the Holiday to be more G rates.... apple bobbing, cider, pumpkin donuts, dress the scarecrow, sack races, children in adorable costumes - and the candy! That's what Halloween is to me! So below I've found ideas for your next Halloween get together, whether you're hosting or bringing something to someone else's party - ideas that will make you smile and not cringe. I don't know about you... I'm much more of a Halloween treat girl myself!

Betty Crocker

via Pinterest

via Taste of Home

via Just Putzing Around the Kitchen

  

Martha Stewart

via Tumblr

via All You

  

via Room to Inspire

via Martha Stewart

For these and many more ideas please visit my Pinterest board!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jessica

Get into the Spirit :: Family Friendly Halloween Decor Tips

I do love Halloween, but I opt more for a classical, fun and festive look as opposed to spooky, scary, gory. We all have our preferences and our own styles. I much prefer a treat over a trick any day! I'm all about the pumpkins and whimsy and not so much about the zombies and ghouls. Halloween is just around the corner and it's not too late to get into the spirit of things! Below are gentle family-friendly ideas I've collected on my Pinterest board to share with you. Some ideas on decor, food, beverage, craft and entertaining. I hope you enjoy the images I have chosen to share with you. It's not too late to get into the groove, after all The Great Pumpkin isn't due to arrive for another two weeks!

I wish I had an orange door! This Halloween decor is almost elegant with the careful and strategic placing of pumpkins of all sizes and shapes along with the candles and lanterns. This front porch is terribly inviting. I'd like to cozy up against those pillows with a warm cup of apple cider!

Sparkly Christmas lights and some black birds make give this understated front porch an elegant, fun, and whimsical feel. The detail is simple; the impact is anything but! 

I've posted this photo before. It's an all-time favorite. I love the simple balloons turned into whimsical and playful Jack O'Lanterns. Here's another example where less is truly more!

This is our first Jack O'Lantern of the season. My youngest and I carved it today. His name is appropriately Cutie Pie! I learned a trick and I wish I could give credit where credit is due. Sprinkle the inside of the pumpkin with some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice and the heat emitted by the lit candle will give off a subtle, gentle sweet aroma.   

This is about as scary as I go on Halloween! These darling little bones are so simple to make. All you need are some mini pretzels, mini marshmallows and some melted white chocolates! Dem bones, dem bones....

I love this festive way to serve wine (or champagne!) at any fall or Halloween party. I'm a huge fan of working with nature as a natural decor, and I do think the more simple the ideas, the more of an impression they will make.

I mean really, these are much too adorable! We're not entertaining for Halloween this year, but I will be serving these to the kids one night soon!

Another fantastic and clever idea! My oldest is not a fan of peppers, and I don't expect that she'll become a fan overnight, but I know she will find these positively precious!

I love the small pumpkins piled up on top of each other in these tall glass vases and think they'd look elegant on any mantle as well as on any dining room table. 

Krylon is the secret to inexpensive craft pumpkins to create a magnificent and elegant look to add to your Halloween decor. Place these around your hearth, on your mantle, as centerpieces on your dinner table or as decor on a buffet or any side table. A little spray paint can work wonders!

I love the idea of turning white pumpkins into mummies. The fun and whimsical faces are sure to delight even the youngest Halloween enthusiast!

Every Halloween party needs its own special party dish. This Graveyard dip is sure to please every appetite! This ghoulishly great idea comes to you from Better Homes and Gardens. Click here for the recipe!

This memorable Mummy Meatloaf will put a smile on your young Trick or Treater's face. A perfect meal to serve quickly before the young ones head out to paint the town red, or orange as the case may be! This recipe was created by The Knead for Speed, which she adapted from Epicurious. Click here to see the recipe.

Have an elegant Halloween dinner party with a few of your closest friends. Krylon spray paint once again takes center stage. Some gold paint and a few pumpkins in various sizes create a magical and elegant setting.

I've seen many variations of apples and white tea lights, but I think that this version might just be my favorite! I love the look of the rustic bucket and the glow of the candles reflecting off the sides. This is a must in any backyard fall entertaining get together!

Oh my Gourdness! Aren't these characters totally adorable? Legend has it that the original Jack O'Lanters were created from potatoes and turnips and not pumpkins. The practice of decorating “jack-o’-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities. 

All images via Pinterest

I love this fun, clever, creative and oh so simple way of turning a large pumpkin into a cooler. This is another example of how something so simple and natural makes such a strong statement!

For these and other great Halloween ideas visit my Pinterest boards here and here. 

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

XXOO

Jessica

taking time out... to be a mom!

There is too much I have to do. My plate is seriously overflowing. I do have a problem saying no especially when I am asked to do something that I really enjoy. I'm getting behind on my writing and getting behind on my household stuff. But today was about the kids. Rebecca had a friend over after school. They were practicing for their school's Iron Chef Competition. Isn't that the greatest idea?! I went out to the grocery store this morning to get all the ingredients that the girls would need. I washed the fruit. I got out cutting boards, knives, blenders, measuring cups and spoons and ingredients. I had also volunteered to make cookies and cupcakes for the boys' classes. And somehow I would have to fit those in as well. And how could I forget the goodies for the Halloween bags?! But of course I did. So I had to run out to get those.

I baked (nothing fancy -- packaged mixes as well as those that require just a slice and a bake) while the kids were in school this afternoon. And while the girls cooked I decorated. I was not able to get as elaborate as I had wanted as I had to be accessible and available to help the girls. But I have to tell you, it's amazing what a few sprinkles and a few plastic creatures can do!

Some of their tools

 

Their ingredients...

Devising up a plan...

Clean up's gonna be fun!

Holy guacamole...

Tomato sauce

The BEST refried beans, EVER!

Working well together!

Yes, I went running to the cupboard for Mother's Little Helper!

and now on to decorate the cookies and the cupcakes!

Excuse me Sir, there's a  fly on my cupcake!

Alexander wanted his cupcakes plain. He did not want to share the plastic critters.
"I don't want the kids to bring the toys home!"

Not Just "Witch Crafts;" Fun and Easy Ideas for You and Your Family

Welcome back to another installation of Holiday Bliss hosted by HousewifeBliss. I am privileged and thrilled and delighted to be participating with this talented group of bloggers. I must tell you, however, while I love to entertain, decorate, cook, bake and create, I am incredibly lazy. I live for instant gratification. I can't sew. Can barely iron. I've been told I'm like Annie Oakley of the Glue Guns, though! I can make anything seem as though I've spent hours prepping... but I have neither the desire nor the inclination. But, shhhh... don't tell the husband!

So in the spirit of Halloween and my pure laziness I have created a post purely for those Lazy Mummies like me. The following will delight and tickle your and your little one's fancies. The best part about these easy-peasy tricks and treats is that it leaves plenty of time at the end of the day -- or at the beginning or middle -- to pour yourselves a Bloody Mary... or Blood Orange Martini!

So kick back... get crafty... and Cheers!

All photographs below are courtesy Martha Stewart's Halloween Central... (I'm lazy, remember, if I searched the entire internet for ideas there would be not time to shake or stir!)

A perfect party favor or item for Halloween class grab-bag

These ghoulish Madelines are those only a Mummy could love!

You drive me batty!

The cutest Jack-O-Lanterns I ever did see!

Meet the Root Family... You'll totally dig 'em!

 

A little something for Mummy at the end of the day...

Too darling to actually be spooky!

Little Firecracker!

Next time the kids say they are bored reach into your pantry and grab a box of pasta.
They'll keep busy... No bones about it!

Great crafty ideas with potatoes... perfect for all numskulls!

Ssssssssssssssstay away from my candy!

Pick one... any one...

S'cuse me waiter... there's a bug on my brie!

Won't you please visit the other wonderful gals taking part of the Holiday Bliss? I promise they are not half as lazy as I am ;)

Mindy Lockard Tips for Holiday Tipping

Pemberley Collections Miniature Pumpkin Garland - A How To Guide

Lily Lemon Tree Dressing for Party Success-Stylish Attire for the Chic Hostess

The Savvy Host Handling too much "merry-making" (yours or theirs)
Ab home Interiors Fabulous holiday florals-Essential tips for the floral impaired
Tatertots and Jello A crafty hostess gift
Lucky Life Parties  Decking the halls to make your home party ready
The Daily Basics  Starting the kids in your family on collections

Housewife Bliss  Global Citizen's Guide to Holiday Festivities

A Surprise Awaits You!

I am participating in Housewife Bliss' Holiday Workshop. She will be hosting several wonderful bloggers every Thursday to write about various entertaining aspects through the holiday season. Be sure to visit her and all the other wonderful people participating in this series!

Halloween is just a few weeks away. I know my children have been planning their Halloween costumes for several months already. It's a Holiday they adore. I think they might actually like getting candy for Halloween more than they like their Christmas presents!

This weekend we'll retrieve our collected Spooky and whimsical Halloween goodies and place them strategically around the house. I tend not to go crazy this time of the year, but the children do enjoy seeing a witch's hat here, a broom there... a scary rat or bat strategically hidden by one sibling, taken and moved by another... watch out because it will be sure to give you a fright!

First of all, with any decorating - sprucing up the house - I love to involve the children. Since they are such a grand part of our lives it is important that their presence is felt. I love these votive Jack O Lanterns that they made. They couldn't be more fun and they couldn't be easier to make!

For instructions please visit here!

I also love seeing dancing ghosts all over the place during the holiday season. This is another fun activity you can do with your children to dress up your front lawn.

To learn how to make these cute spooks, visit this site.

 As always Martha Stewart has the cleverest ideas. I love these gourd bird feeders. They add a subtle holiday touch to your outdoors. Fill them with birdseed and you'll have a wonderful bird oasis. Small pumpkins can be hallowed out and substituted.

Image, Martha Stewart

If you plan on having an evening gathering there is no more delightful way to light your walkway than with these pumpkin or gourd luminaries.

Image, Martha Stewart

Image, Martha Stewart

Image, Martha Stewart

If you are going to have a family friendly party you'll need to have some activities to keep the children entertained. Depending on the ages of the children attending, you may want to hire a local teenager or two to help with babysitting so that you and the other parents can enjoy yourselves.

Fun activities for all ages include potato sack races, three-legged-races, autumn related scavenger/treasure hunts, pumpkin decorating, pumpkin carving, pine cone hunt (much like an Easter egg hunt!) and mini pumpkin toss (in lieu of an egg toss).

I love a scarecrow making contest! You'll need a bale or two of hay and some old jeans or overalls, flannel shirts, hats, bandannas... If you have none of these items at home, you'll be able to pick up these items from your local Goodwill store for practically pennies! You'll divide all your guests into two or three teams (or as many as you'll need depending on the amount of guests and the ages of your guests) and make sure to have mixed ages on these teams. The goal is to stuff the hay into the clothes and create a scarecrow. The team that does it the fastest wins!

Or you could have a scarecrow relay race! Instead of hay team members dress in the overalls, shirts, bandannas, etc and race across the lawn, then disrobe and pass the clothes on to a team mate until all members have dressed, raced and undressed. This is loads of fun!

I still love the concept of apple bobbing. I know this worries some parents, and of course you'll really need to make sure that whoever is participating is free of any cold or other virus. Add a bit of Clorox to the water (as done in preschools and day cares) to remove potential germs. This will not harm the apples or the bobbers. Place the apples in a large, low bucket and let the fun begin!

Eating hanging donuts while suspending from a string is fun as well. You'll need some donuts (if you have access to some apple cider donuts, get them... they are so yummy and festive and lend themselves perfectly to an Autumn Harvest Party! You'll need some string to tie around the donuts, and something to hang them from so that they are dangling. The object of the game is to get your donut and eat it first!

How about some bowling using some gourds? 

Part of the fun of the Halloween season are all the wonderfully sinful, devilish and delightful little treats, and as with anything Halloween, there ought to be an element of surprise! Perhaps serve up these scary chocolate critters?

I made a Spooky Centerpiece for the children last year. They adored it and everyone asked for more eyeballs! The rat disappeared and we ended up playing Find The Rat for the next couple of weeks!

EntertainingMom loves her cocktail napkins. I collect everything from Target brand to Caspari!

It would be remiss of me not to offer a spooky cocktail. Is our little creepy, crawly friend sweet or scary?

When the party is over, if children are invited, you may want to send them off with Halloween goody bags. I prefer not to give out candy, as children get enough during the holiday season. My children and I made some wonderful Pumpkin Spice Play Dough last year. The gifts, the play dough wrapped in cellophane, came with directions for making more and with a special Halloween cookie cutter.

For how tos and instructions visit my post here.

Recap and a Wrap-up...

Halloween's over. Thank God. There, I said it. I wasn't as into the spirit of things this year. Normally we deck out the house, bake a ton and hit the pumpkin patch. None of that happened this year. Rainy and busy weekends prevented the pumpkin picking part. My preoccupation with my health consumed my every thought and moment for the first two weeks of the month. I think there was nary a hope of getting into the Halloween spirit this year. But the kids did. And they had fun picking out their costumes and changing their mind a bazillion times. And in the end I rallied too. And I had fun. But I am glad that it is over.

Below is my little Buzz Lightyear? Isn't he adorable? Yes, after searching high and low and paying top dollar to have the best costume, Alexander decided that he didn't want to be Buzz after all!

Which was fine. And in the end probably the best decision. As temperatures climbed to close to 70 and the looming threat of rain added a denseness to the air Buzz would have gotten awfully hot and uncomfortable. And we had this left over from last year. And so why not? Right? Daddy wasn't terribly thrilled with the idea, but there would be nothing worse than an uncomfortable, unhappy little Trick or Treater to drag around. (Buzz came with us to the party, in the car, just in case!)





I spent most of the day not feeling quite right. Strange and incapacitating abdominal cramps kept me in bed for a good chunk of the afternoon (allowing me to have a nice long nap!) and although I was responsible for bringing an appetizer I just couldn't... so my wonderful husband took over for me. He made his famous 7 Layer Taco Dip that everyone goes wild for. He took off to the store for the ingredients and let me rest up.

He even dressed it up for the occasion. Isn't it the cutest?!


After a half dozen (OK I exaggerate slightly!) Motrin and a nice long, hot shower I begin to feel less like the dead and am ready to take on my new role for the night!




Now the fun and busy months come! These, in my opinion, are the best days of the year! I love Autumn, Thanksgiving and the entire Christmas Season! In two weeks we'll be having the Wine Tasting I have been working so hard on. We'll have holiday parties and dinners to attend. There will be decorating and cooking and shopping. Merriment is in the air!

But first our painter comes. Our family room, kitchen and the bathroom off the kitchen are getting repainted. As is the master bedroom. Hallelujah! Now if only I could decided and settle upon some colors already!

Have a Preppy Halloween!!

I am going to be the Wicked Witch of the (Name of my town!)
I bought this hat on sale at AC Moore yesterday. Isn't it divine?!

I'll be wearing my Ruby Slippers, of course.
Of course the Wicked Witch shops at Talbots!
All preppy witches shop there, didn't you know?

And this will be my method of transportation for the night...
Note to self. Head to Village Store to get town bumper sticker to put on my "wheels"!!!

But before I can put on my costume I will have a lot to do in the day time. Perhaps I will wear my new Lilly sunglasses that I picked up from Marshall's for $30! All good preppy witches wear shades. And yes, witches love Lilly too!

Aren't they gorgeous?!!!!

And I'll deck my halls with boughs of grosgrain!
(And maybe my hat and broom too!)

I'll toss this perfectly pumpkin colored sweater (Cynthia Rowley, cashmere, bargain Marhsall's!) over a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt and my little orange flats!

It's supposed to be chilly out this weekend so I'll need something warmish as we take the kids Trick Or Treating and head off to a party.
Seasonable October temperatures.
I'll have to wear my Pumpkin colored jacket.
Preppy Witches are just so mad about plaid!

How will YOU have a Preppy Halloween?

This post is dedicated to Beth Dunn XOXO!!!

Pumpkin Spice Play Doh! (Pre-school Halloween Party Favor)

Just when you thought I had enough Pumpkin Spice!

I had to scramble to come up with something for 16 preschoolers for their Halloween party at school. Alexander refuses to walk in to the party store with me anymore. (It's a bit gory there this time of year.) And since we were stuck together this week my options were limited. And I don't do chachkis. And I didn't want something that would get tossed immediately. Nor did I want to spend a fortune. I have three class parties after all. So I remembered the Play Doh I made last year for Valentine's Day and how it was such a success. So that was my plan. Orange Play Doh with Halloween shaped cookie cutters.

So this morning, in the pouring rain, I dragged Alexander (kicking and screaming) to A.C Moore. I bribed him. Told him I would get him something. Something turned in to many things, but this kept him well behaved!

There I went looking for cellophane bags in which to put my Play Doh. I also found some pretty ribbon and cookie cutters on sale. Everything else I had at home. For those of you doing some last minute Halloween craft shopping AC Moore is running a 60% off sale on all things Halloween, including Martha Stewart's items. Worth a look-see for sure!

So we went home and Alexander passed out. (Yay!) I got to cooking the Play Doh and adding the orange. And that's when I got the craziest idea. I don't love the smell of the home made stuff. Not that it's bad, but I thought... what if... What if I added just a dash of Pumpkin Pie Seasonings? And so I did! And you can smell it ever so slightly! Next time I am adding more!

I prepared enough dough for 16 four year olds, placed the dough and the cookie cutters in the cellophane bags, printed out directions that I pasted on to index cards and tied them with white and orange ribbon. What a nice home made Halloween treat!


Recipe for Play Doh (I doubled this for 16 children)

2 cups of flour
2 cups of water
4 teaspoons of cream of tartar
2 teaspoons of oil
1 cup of salt
A few drops of food coloring (optional)
A shake or two of sparkles (optional)
Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)

Cook over low heat until the dough becomes firmer.Remove from pan and knead away!

(The dough will stick to the pan but after a short soak the flour mixture will wash right off!)

Nice Jugs, Baby ;) A Fun Halloween Project for All Ages!

First you start off with your nice jug, baby ;)




and then you take a black Sharpie or other good black marker and draw a face on your jug,



Then you add a little grosgrain because your cute jug needs to get prepped out a little!



and you can add the word Boo! to it too, if you would like...

and you can have a little milk jug party and decorate your school's foyer with your Nice Jugs, Baby!

(For a fun, nighttime effect you can string white Christmas lights into the jugs and light them up. This gives the the jugs a fun and delightful non-fright!)

Looking for some more fun Halloween crafts? Spectacular Painted Pumpkins are fun for adults and older kids (and messy with little ones!) And if you are looking for something easier, we love to make these little Jack O Lantern Votives..a great project for all ages!

I'm sure we'll be crafting some more. Alexander is now fever-free but still has a terrible cough and runny nose. He's better off here at home with me for a while... He's supposed to be going on a Field Trip to a wonderful farm tomorrow. The trip is on rain or shine, but given his health we won't be going if the weather doesn't cooperate. The oven's been working on overtime, and will continue to be as long as I am stuck home with him, in the kitchen so be sure to check the food blog as I will be posting those soon too! I really don't want these goodies in my home, so let me know if you want any goody bags!

Playing Nurse to Buzz Lightyear (and blogroll update)

Isn't that the cutest costume? Doesn't he make the cutest little Buzz? He had to put it on the minute it came and he has practically been wearing it since! He knows he has to be careful and take care of it as he will not get a replacement if something happens to this one. But I'm afraid that Buzz won't be getting out of his jammies today. Yesterday he spiked a fever. A high fever. And 4 hours after his initial dose of Motrin it climbed to 103! Yikes! We've been feeding him lots of fluids, and at one point he asked for some vanilla ice cream. He has a cough, runny nose and the general aches and pains that come along with ... flu? So of course I have to look up his symptoms and go on over to the CDC website. And everyone is in a panic and here I am and reading this scary stuff and don't know what to do. My gut tells me that this is not "it" and yet I would like to have him tested. On the other hand I would like to keep him isolated from the other germs in that pediatric sick child waiting area.




I'm not entirely sure what to do. I'll watch him closely over the next couple of hours and decide. I have a painter coming at 10:00 to give us an estimate and I would like to keep that appointment. I have an appointment to get highlights tomorrow I am going to have to cancel. A bit bummed about that a I have already let myself go too long. But I'm obviously not going anywhere these next couple of days so I guess it doesn't matter... I'll stay home and make some chicken soup... Would I stoop so low as to wear my pink polka dotted pajamas to school?

*********************************************************************

I need, desperately, to update my blogroll! Many of you are in my reader and I am following your blogs but I do need to add you all to my blogroll. If you are a reader, new or old, with a blog and want to be added to my list of favorite reads just leave a comment and be sure to include your site!

Don't Drink and Fly!

My love of napkins is evident even this time of year! I have a collection of fun and whimsical napkins in paper and cloth. Some are inexpensive from Target and Party City. Some are Caspari. I love them all and they certainly add a festive flair to any get together, whether it means having a girlfriend over for a cocktail or a larger crowd!

The following items can all be found on The Food Network Website:

I love this cake and think there is nothing corny about it whatsoever!

These little arachnids are really rather cute, aren't they?!

Er, excuse me waiter, there's a spider in my drink!




Candy Corn Cocktail gives the little candy a bit of sophistication!

Light my fire!

I have a little confession to make. I'm not, and haven't been much in the Halloween spirit this year. Normally the house is decked out with pumpkins and whimsy. This year I have a few items on the table in the foyer to please the children. But I haven't gotten that Halloween itch. Perhaps it is because the stores have gotten a bit out of control with the spookiness and goriness. Kids are scared to go into many of these places. And frankly, who can blame them? Halloween, I thought, was more about the little kids dressing up and knocking on doors and asking for candy. That's what I like about it. But lately I have seen one too many bloody corpse, headless horseman and others belonging to R rated films than a party store. Sure the adults should be able to have fun with Halloween too, but not at the expense of little children. These Party Superstore Warehouse places ought to be responsible as well. Perhaps separating the young Halloween items from the older, scarier ones. I don't see why Little Red Riding Hood's costume should be on the same aisle's as Freddy from Elm Street's. And while we are on the subject of costumes. If you haven't shopped for a preteen yet, well you are in for a rude awakening. Everything out there is slutty. And trashy. Everything. Little Red Riding Hood might as well be Little red Riding Ho... and Dorothy is Doro-Ho... Seriously! It's disheartening. I know my days of dressing Rebecca up as Madeline, Cinderella and the little fairy are over, but Slut White is not an option for her either! Sheesh!

Can't find the %!@%$# missing rat!

Eyeballs... check
Lizzards.... check
Eyes of Newt... check
Spiders... check
Dead Flies... check
But where is my missing rat?

The Halloween box came up from the basement today... and now I've got the itch... to bewitch my house!

My Halloween cookie cutters... napkins... placemats... cups... luminaries... crafts... are all out and ready to be strategically placed throughout the house.

I was really hoping to replicate this great platter I created last year but the rat is missing!

Host an Autum Harvest Party!

(all images above courtesy Pottery Barn)

You want to have a party but you aren't sure you are really up to a Halloween party. While they are a lot of fun, they do require a good bit of time commitment in terms of planning and executing. But you have children and they really want to have a party. Or you want to have a Halloween party, but all the steps involved require more time or money than you have right now and you want to go all out with decorating, and cooking and all that other wonderfully spooky and festive stuff, but let's face it, we are not all Martha Stewart with a staff a plenty to haunt our houses!

A Fall Harvest Party would be the perfect solution... a celebration of all things autumn, and for those who wish, with Halloween elements!

You don't have to live in the Northeast to have this party. I know of friends in the south who do go pumpkin picking... granted they do it in their bathing suits! You don't even need that many pumpkins... Festive bowls of pears and apples placed strategically around lend an air of fall. As do Mums. I have found these scarlet orange mums with large petals that I adore. I keep them outside (as they need full sunshine) until I am ready to entertain. Then I place them on the front table in the Foyer.

If you are going to have a family friendly party you'll need to have some activities to keep the children entertained. Depending on the ages of the children attending, you may want to hire a local teenager or two to help with babysitting so that you and the other parents can enjoy yourselves.

Fun activities for all ages include potato sack races, three-legged-races, autumn related scavenger/treasure hunts, pumpkin decorating, pumpkin carving, pine cone hunt (much like an Easter egg hunt!) and mini pumpkin toss (in lieu of an egg toss).

I love a scarecrow making contest! You'll need a bale or two of hay and some old jeans or overalls, flannel shirts, hats, bandannas... If you have none of these items at home, you'll be able to pick up these items from your local Goodwill store for practically pennies! You'll divide all your guests into two or three teams (or as many as you'll need depending on the amount of guests and the ages of your guests) and make sure to have mixed ages on these teams. The goal is to stuff the hay into the clothes and create a scarecrow. The team that does it the fastest wins!

Or you could have a scarecrow relay race! Instead of hay team members dress in the overalls, shirts, bandannas, etc and race across the lawn, then disrobe and pass the clothes on to a team mate until all members have dressed, raced and undressed. This is loads of fun!

I still love the concept of apple bobbing. I know this worries some parents, and of course you'll really need to make sure that whoever is participating is free of any cold or other virus. Add a bit of Clorox to the water (as done in preschools and day cares) to remove potential germs. This will not harm the apples or the bobbers. Place the apples in a large, low bucket and let the fun begin!

Eating hanging donuts while suspending from a string is fun as well. You'll need some donuts (if you have access to some apple cider donuts, get them... they are so yummy and festive and lend themselves perfectly to an Autumn Harvest Party! You'll need some string to tie around the donuts, and something to hang them from so that they are dangling. The object of the game is to get your donut and eat it first!

If you want to invest a little money into this afternoon of fun you might want to hire a face painter. Kids love this. Or offer a pony ride.

You can host an apple pie or pumpkin pie contest. All contestants supply their own pies. Samples can be handed out for all who want to participate to judge. Home made or store bought.... can you tell the difference? There can be different categories within as well so that everyone can come out a winner!

Little children love to dress up. Have a Halloween Costume Contest for the younger set... or for anyone who wishes to get involved. Again, create different categories (cutest, prettiest, scariest, most creative, etc...) so that there is more than one winner. Perhaps everyone can be a winner!

Count the Candy Corns! Fill a large jar with candy corns. Count them as you put them in! Then have a candy corn guessing contest. The person with the correct number, or closest to the correct number, wins!

If you live in New England, Northwest or Midwest, you might need to have some warm beverages on hand. (Of course it's 70 and hot out as I write this!) For the cooler days have plenty of mulled cider, mulled wine and hot cocoa for the kids. Chili and cornbread and BBQ pulled pork sliders are fun foods to eat when it is cool out as well. Perhaps invite guests to bring their favorite chili and have a chili contest as well!

If you live in a warm climate then think along the lines of a BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs or long submarine sandwiches and all sorts of cold salads. Food should be casual and fun.

What are some things you would do at your Fall Harvest Party?