cookie exchange

The illness continues but I miss you all and just had to share these adorable cookie exchange invites that I found over at Brooklyn Limestone.

just one of those days

Tired.

Pain.

Lab work.

Waiting for results.

Busy on top of it all.

Trying to stay positive, happy and productive.

Really just want to curl up in bed and sleep for a couple of weeks.

Posting again soon.

jane how-to

There have been some questions about my daughter's Jane (Volturi) costume. Here's how to get the Volturi vampire look that we got here.

I used this Simplicity pattern, view A. I shortened the length of the cloak, made the arm width much skinnier and did not use the frog closure that was suggested - I used a length of fabric so that the cloak could be tied up with a bow.

The contacts are from Wild Eyes and the color/style is Red Hot. We ordered them through our optometrist and got them in my daughters prescription.

We also stopped by Hot Topic and picked up the Volturi Crest necklace.

We finished off the costume with white tights, some Mary Janes picked up inexpensively at Ross and make-up -pale skin, dark eyes.

the volturi have arrived - new moon jane costume

Any New Moon fans out there? If so, you may recognize this pint sized vampire who is here visiting from Italy.

My daughter decided to be Jane, the Volturi guards silent secret weapon, for Halloween this year. The costume is not quite done but she was off to a Halloween party tonight so she had to wear it as is.

The sleeves aren't hemmed yet - they're just folded up underneath the sleeve, hence the discrepancy in lengths (that will be fixed before Halloween) I also need to clean up some raw edges around the neckline before the big candy coma induced night.

Most of it's done though and both she and I are pleased with the almost finished product. The eye color makes this costume - I was thrilled we got our hands on some contacts in a short amount of time. I called the optometrist on Monday and we had the contacts on Tuesday so she would have them to wear tonight.
She has plans to get multiple uses out of this costume - she wants to wear it to the theater for the midnight release of New Moon and just stare people down while quietly telling them "this may hurt just a little" Check out the trailer here to see Jane, played by Dakota Fanning, say that line - she's an evil little blood sucker.

Hope every one's Halloween party plans are on track and that you are getting your costumes taken care of as well. I always love to see Halloween parties and costumes so send pictures my way of any of your holiday happenings.

no swine flu here

just mono.

Sorry for the lack of posts but we have been hit with mono and those that aren't sick are so busy with Halloween prep we can't think.

Be back soon!

need a reason to party?

It's mole day! Ya, I hadn't heard of it either but it's an excuse for a party. The only reason I know about this glorious holiday, that is sure to sweep the nation (I hear it has the potential to pass Christmas as the favorite holiday), is because my daughter had to sew a stuffed mole for her chemistry class. Sewing/chemistry?!?!? Don't ask.

The kids had to design the mole after something or someone that would allow them to add mole to the name, for example...

Eskimo/eskimole

Edward Cullen/Edward Molen - this one would have been awesome!

You get the idea. Anyway, here is what my daughter came up with..

Any ideas on who this mole might be? Eternal glory awaits those with the right answer so put your thinking caps on because don't we all want some eternal glory?

I thought her mole came out pretty darn cute, so cute in fact that we may make some more of these magnificent moles for gifts. Anyone have good ideas for things or people with mole names? Perhaps we'll pick the one we like best and send you your own mole. I know it's been your life long dream to own a stuffed mole made by some high school kid - admit it!

oh la la

How cute are these?  Download them for free over at eat.drink.chic - I love that site!

this wedding makes my heart smile

I saw this wedding on Snippet and Ink today and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy.  I love children's literature so a children's author/illustrator combined with a friend reading a favorite children's book and a perfectly personal wedding made me happy.  Go check it out!  

I know one special elementary school teacher that would love this!

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Look at this winning piece of brass.  You can say it's ugly - it won't hurt my feelings.  

I picked it up at my favorite store...Goodwill.  Who needs a fancy party decor store when you have Goodwill a few miles away, not to mention 3 other thrift stores in the same area.

Yes, the price says $49.99.  Not sure who priced this beauty at that but they were smoking something.  I could see the swan that this ugly duckling would become but I wouldn't even have paid $50.  Lucky for me it was "half off green tag" day and I picked this up for $25.  I realize some would say that is still steep but remember I saw what it could become and $25 was a steal.
It was a leap of faith though - this thing is really beat up.  The previous owner did some repair work?!?!  I'm not sure what product they used to get this piece to stick on but I have to say it looks like a wad of chewed up gum.  I have steered clear of touching this part of the candelabra - it grosses me out.
I bought a few supplies and set to working miracles on my brassy beauty.  Once can of 99 cent spray paint from Lowes.  I did a jig when I found 99 cent spray paint - the perfect price for Halloween decor since I don't need anything fancy.
$4 battery operated taper candles that flicker.  Let me tell you why I love these particular ones from Big Lots (is Big Lots a national chain?)  Most battery candles like this are a whole unit - candle and candle holder - these are separate so the candle can sit in any taper candle holder you have - like a big, ugly, shiny brass candelabra.
A couple more things about the candles...yes, I needed 14 of them that came to a total of $56. Perhaps a bit pricey but they are safe.  I could have never pulled off this Halloween prop with real candles.  They'll last forever.  Taper candles would have been less but they'd burn down and need to be replaced far more often (and like I already mentioned...unsafe, the fire department would be here shutting down my decorating)  Finally, the cost is less than a real or artificial Christmas tree which people buy every year.  It's no secret that I love Halloween so having a Halloween "tree" makes sense.  ALL my reasons make sense and hopefully my husband thinks so too when he reads this post and sees how much I spent on candles.

Back to the project.  I hit the candelabra with some black spray paint but didn't do full coverage - I just wanted to tone down the gold goodness.  After looking at these pictures I see that I need to hit it with some more paint towards the bottom - I'll get on that today.

I also added the candles, minus one - I need to fix the holder as soon as I can find some chewing gum :)
Then I grabbed one bag of Creepy Cloth, again from Big Lots.  This is the same cloth that I used on my mantle and staircase.
Drape the candelabra with the cloth - ripping , tearing and cutting where necessary.
Add some moss.  This dried moss is the perfect Halloween accessory - it makes any scene look creepy.
The finished candelabra during the day (with a pumpkin thrown in to keep the empty candle spot warm while waiting for the candle)

It's not much to look at - it's better than it was before but the daytime is not when this lady shines...

nighttime baby, that's her glory moment!

I love her!  Her Halloween glow makes me happy.  She reminds me of the candelabras that meet you in the line at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion right before you enter your Doom Buggie.

I have one more thing to add but for the most part this trash to treasure is done.  I am concerned about the empty space at the bottom of the candelabra - it needs something to ground it and make it into more of a scene but I haven't come up with any great ideas - anyone? Anyone?

where's the beef (netting)

Is anyone even old enough to remember that commercial?

I have moved my decorating efforts outside because lets face it - curb appeal counts (even on Halloween)  I've been working on spider webs.  If you love Halloween than the product I'm about to share is for you - it is one of my favorite Halloween products of all time.

Check out these webs...

Some close ups too...

I still have lots to do to cover the house but I couldn't wait any longer to share these webs.  The product used is beef netting.  I believe it is used to wrap big 'ol cuts of meet - like the hanging kind that you would find in Sam the butcher's shop (man, I love the Brady Bunch)  Now I might be wrong on the beef netting's uses so don't use my answer on Jeopardy but I think I'm right - 80% sure I'm right.

Beef netting is used for lots of commercial haunts like Knott's Halloween Haunt (Knott's Scary Farm, for the locals) I think it's great for commercial haunts as well as home haunts because it has a more graphic bunch then the stringy webbing that comes in a bag that we all buy for a couple bucks.  Now don't think I'm bad mouthing the stringy stuff - it has it's uses - sometimes you need the effect of the thinner webs (but I do have a better option for that too coming in a later post)

But getting back to the beef netting...

You can find the beef netting at Trenton Mills.  It may be available elsewhere but Trenton Mills is where I have purchased mine - they are easy to work with and I have been beyond happy with them.  When I first purchased mine years ago it only came in a 20 lb roll and cost just under $100 with shipping.  That may seem like a crazy amount of money for spider webs but I am still using that same roll 6 years later and probably have a couple more years before I'm out.  When I first bought it I don't think they understood how many people use it for Halloween now they make smaller rolls that cater to the home haunter/Halloween party thrower.

It comes in a big roll.  As you unroll it you see that the beef netting comes as a tube.  You need to cut down the side of the tube to get one flat piece of netting.  Then you tack it up - I use a staple gun when tacking to my house.  Once you have stretched it where you want it (you stretch it a ton because it works better that way) you take a pair of scissors, exacto knife or other sharp object and slice away.  I sometimes stretch it even more after I have cut holes and slits.

The amount of cutting is up to the individual.  I happen to think it looks better with more cuts of varying sizes but some prefer fewer cuts.  Check out this photo gallery on Trenton Mills site to see how others have used the netting.

If you decide to go this route with your webs I'd love to see your results so send pictures my way.

carry out your theme

I love entertaining at Halloween!  You can go all out with some great spooky themes.  Why not carry out your haunted theme with a Halloween inspired answering machine message?

Every year at this time we switch out our regular boring message with this message delivered in a witch voice...

double double boil and bubble

I'm not home so what's the trouble

eye of newt and toe of frog

wool of bat and tongue of dog

I'm not home, leave me alone 

and leave a message at the tone

(cackling witch laugh and scream in place of the beep)

You can find the message we use, as well as others here.

If you are throwing a Halloween bash imagine how fun it would be for guests to hear this message when they rsvp. Small, simple details like this make the whole party experience more fun as it builds anticipation for your event

spooky stairs

Although the house is still not completely decorated for Halloween there are a few more areas of the house that are taking on the holiday spirit.

Here is our banister...

I used essentially the same elements that I used on my mantle but with a couple additions.  I added a garland of black silk leaves.  I believe I found it at Michael's or Big Lots - where I purchase most of my decorating supplies (as well as Thrift stores and garage sales)  Decorating does not have to be expensive.

I also added extremely cheap black garland that already had orange lights running through it.  I want to say I paid like 3 or 4 dollars for the stuff and it is the super cheesy garland - black, shiny and puffy but it works because I layer it with so many other elements.  It adds bulk to the garland that in turn makes the garland look substantial AND expensive.  I have gotten lots of compliments on the garland and questions like where I bought it - if I bought it as is it would be expensive but layering all the inexpensive elements gives me the look of spending money on decor at a fraction of the cost.

It is hard to photograph all the black so lots of the garland is lost but hopefully you get some idea.
Excuse the knight that is hiding in the picture - he has not been prepped yet for the holiday. He just got taken from his Halloween box with no where to go yet.

The urns are plastic and were discounted a few years back after the holiday.  I added some black flocked twigs and leaves and threw some pumpkins on top.  
The effect at night with the glow of the lights and jack-a-lanterns is awesome.  I love to have my house all aglow with Halloween spirit.

the king of all candied apples

Um, hello...these are gorgeous, haunting an I'm sure tasty.  I love these candied apples from Matt Bites.

I love candied/carmel apples for parties and now with these beauties candied apples can feel right at home at the most sophisticated Halloween soiree.  

One of the best new food ideas I've seen!

i'm on lolliblog

Lolliblog has had some great posts as of late for a Haute Hallowedding.  Today's post and inspiration board featured photos from our 2007 Halloween bash that was a haunted victorian mansion theme.

Do you see my Gourley Manor place settings, antique silverware (do you love the shape of that fork?) and cookie take home favors for the party guests?  You can see more pictures from our party here.

Be sure to head on over to Lolliblog to see where the rest of the above inspiration comes from.

candy corn that bill cosby can sink his teeth into

I am so making this for the baby shower I'm hosting in a couple weeks - cute and simple, gotta love it.  Directions for this tasty pudding treat can be found at Life is a Banquet.