NEST FOR TWO

Monday, October 27, 2008

BOO HOO

I LOVE THE TRADITION OF "BOO-ING" PEOPLE AT HALLOWEEN TIME. I'M SURE EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH IT. YOU BAKE SOME TREATS, AND THEN YOU SECRETLY LEAVE THEM ON SOMEONES DOOR WITH THE CUTE LITTLE "YOU'VE BEEN BOO-ED" POEM CARD AND THE INSTUCTIONS TO PAY IT FORWARD.

I HIT A BIT OF A SNAG IN DOING THIS THE TRADITIONAL WAY. YOU SEE WE LIVE IN THE "COUNTRY" AND MOST ALL THE HOUSES ARE COMPLETELY FENCED, AND MOST ALL THE HOUSES HAVE DOGS, SO................... IT IS PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO SNEAK UP, LEAVE THE TREAT AND DASH AWAY UNSEEN. I WANTED TO CONTINUE OUR LITTLE TRADITION BECAUSE I LOVE, LOVE IT. IT HAS TWO OF MY FAVORITE ELEMENTS INVOLVED, (BAKING AND GIVING) SO WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE. SO I COULDN'T JUST GIVE UP. SO I TWEAKED IT A BIT TO FIT INTO OUR "COUNTRY" LIFE STYLE.

THIS WAY I STILL GET TO BAKE AND I STILL GET TO GIVE TO OTHERS. I BAKE AND MAKE AND CREATE ALL MY GOODIES, I CHANGE UP THE POEM, AND THEN I DELIVER IT TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. I DON'T GET TO DO IT ANONYMOUSLY, BUT I STILL GET TO DO IT, AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. I REALLY ENJOY DOING IT. SO THIS IS WHAT I DECIDED TO DO FOR THIS YEAR. CAN YOU SMELL THE PUMPKIN?

I MADE SOME PUMPKIN CHOC. CHIP MUFFINS

ISN'T THIS LITTLE BOX CUTE! I FOUND IT AT TARGET ON SALE OF COURSE. PERFECT FOR THE MUFFINS

THEN I MADE SOME MINI LOAVES OF PUMPKIN BREAD. MMMMMMMM YUMMY!

I THEN PLACED IT IN THIS ADORABLE LITTLE BAG, ALSO FROM TARGET AND ALSO ON SALE

THEN I MADE PUMPKIN SPIDER-WEB COOKIES, WITH A PUMPKIN SPICE HERSHEY KISS ON TOP

PLACED INTO THE SPIDER/WEB SPOOKTACULAR LITTLE BAG! ALSO ON SALE FROM TARGET

I MADE SOME "WITCHES BROOMS" TO TIE IT ALL TOGETHER !

I USED THESE FOR THE BROOM HANDLE, PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE FOR THE BRISTLES, AND MILK CHOC. DRIZZLED WITH PUMPKIN SPICE CHOC. FOR THE WIRE THAT HOLDS THE TWO TOGETHER. END RESULT !

I LOVE HOW THEY TURNED OUT THEY ARE BEWITCHING ! ! !

STACKED THEM ALL TOGETHER, TIED THEM UP, ADDED MY LITTLE POEM AND VOILA ! ! !

ABSOLUTELY S P O O K T A C U L A R ! ! !

SOMETHING ABOUT THE SMELL OF BAKED GOODS, MAKES IT FEEL LIKE FALL, EVEN IF IT IS STILL IN THE EIGHTIES OUTSIDE. MMM, MMMM, MMMM, PUMPKIN YUMMINESS !

HOPE YOU HAVE A BOOTIFUL DAY ! ! !

Sunday, October 19, 2008

DESIGN ON A DIME OR THRIFTY CHIC

I LOVE TO CHANGE OUT THE DECOR OF MY HOME WITH THE SEASONS, OR FOR THE HOLIDAYS, ETC.... I LOVE CHANGE, I LOVE HALLOWEEN, I LOVE TO DECORATE FOR HALLOWEEN. SINCE I DO LOVE TO CHANGE THINGS UP AROUND MY HOUSE MANY TIMES DURING THE YEAR, I HAVE HAD TO LEARN TO BE CREATIVE WITH IT, NOT ONLY IN THE DESIGN BUT ALSO WITH THE BUDGET.

I MEAN REALLY, WHO DOESN'T GET A WARM FUZZY FEELING FROM A DEAL OR A BARGAIN, I LOVE IT, I LOVE THE CHALLENGE, AND I AM ALWAYS SO PROUD WHEN I CAN DUPLICATE FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE. PLUS I HAVE ALSO LEARNED TO INCORPORATE MOST OF THE ACCESSORIES IN MY HOUSE INTO MY YEAR ROUND DESIGN BY JUST CHANGING THEM UP OR BY TRICK OR TREAKING THEM A BIT.

I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW OF THE PROJECTS THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WEEKEND FOR MY HALLOWEEN DECORATING. I'VE HAD SO MUCH FUN COMING UP WITH IDEAS FOR MY THEME THIS YEAR ON A VERY RESTRICTED BUDGET. RE-CREATING A LOT OF THINGS I ALREADY HAD. MY THEME THIS YEAR IS "GLAMOUR GOTH", I'M GOING TO DO IT IN MOSTLY SILVER, BLACK AND WHITE, WITH A PUNCH OF ORANGE, GREEN OR PURPLE AND A TOUCH OF WHIMSY FOR FUN.

THIS SIGN I HAVE UP ALL YEAR ROUND, IT HAS A SAYING ON IT THAT I JUST LOVE, BUT FOR HALLOWEEN I TOOK SOME BEAUTIFUL GREY SCRAP PAPER AND ATTACHED IT OVER THE SAYING, AND THEN ADDED SOME COOL BLACK GLITTER LETTERS (THEY DON'T SHOW UP WELL IN THE PHOTO, BUT LOOK ABSOLUTELY SPOOKTACULAR IN PERSON)

COST: .10 FOR THE PAPER FROM THE BARGAIN BIN & $4.99 FOR PKG. OF LETTERS & NUMBERS (PKG. INCLUDED 2 SETS OF ALPHABET & NUMBERS)

I BOUGHT A PUMPKIN AND A PLANT, I CUT A HOLE JUST THE SIZE OF THE PLANT CONTAINER, THEN CLEANED THE INSIDE OF THE PUMPKIN OUT, THEN SPRAY PAINTED THE PUMPKIN WITH SOME SILVER SPRAY PAINT, INSERTED SOME BLACK TISSUE PAPER, THEN THE PLANT. I LOVE HOW THIS TURNED OUT VERY CHIC AND FUNKY.

COST: PUMPKIN $2.00 PLANT $3.99 TISSUE PAPER I HAD SPRAY PAINT $3.95 (I USED IT ON A LOT OF PROJECTS AND I STILL HAVE SOME LEFT OVER)

I TOOK A WHITE CANDLE I ALREADY HAD AROUND THE HOUSE, CUT BLACK CONSTUCTION PAPER TO THE SIZE OF THE CANDLE, PUNCHED HOLES AROUND THE TOP OF THE PAPER WITH A REGULAR HAND HOLE PUNCH THEN STAMPED THE WORD BOO AROUND THE BOTTOM IN SILVER INK, PUT A BAND OF ORANGE POKA DOT SCRAP PAPER AROUND IT, (I AM LOVING POKA DOTS THIS YEAR) ADDED A CUT OUT PUMPKIN FROM A PAPER PLATE, AND VIOLA, WAY CUTE, EASY AND INEXPENSIVE.

COST: BLACK CONSTRUCTION PAPER @ .20 PER SHEET, ORANGE SCRAP PAPER .25 PER SHEET PUMPKIN CUTOUT $1.29 FOR 8 PLATES

MANY YEARS AGO I SEWED FOR THIS COMPANY WHO MADE CRAFT ITEMS AND THEN SOLD THEM TO BOUTIQUES AROUND THE WORLD, I MADE A WITCHES BOOT AT HALLOWEEN TIME AND A VICTORIAN BOOT ORNAMENT AT CHRISTMAS TIME, THOSE WERE MADE OUT OF FABRIC AND THEN STUFFED (THEY WERE A D O R A B L E) BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FABRIC AND I LIVE IN A QUAINT LITTLE TOWN WHICH HAS NO, AND I MEAN NO FABRIC STORE AROUND, NEAREST ONE IS ABOUT 2 HRS. AWAY. SO I THOUGHT WELL I HAVE A PATTERN AND I HAVE PAPER AND TRIM SO WHAT THE HECK, I'LL GIVE IT A TRY. I'M PRETTY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT TURNED OUT, IT LOOKS CUTE UP ON THE SHELF.

COST: BLACK CONSTRUCTION PAPER @ .20 PRINT SCRAP PAPER .30 TRIMS & BRADS I HAD IN MY STOCK OF CRAFT SUPPLIES.

O.K. SO I SAW THESE PAPER PLATES AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THEM, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE POLKA DOTS ON THEM, LOVE POLKA DOTS (SEE ABOVE) ANY WAY THE PRICE WAS RIGHT AND I KNEW I COULD FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEM. SO I FRAMED THEM, AREN'T THEY CUTE, I LOVE IT.

COST: @ .25 FOR BOTH PLATES AND $3.00 FOR THE LARGE BLACK FRAME AND $2.00 FOR THE SMALL. ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP FOR BARGAINS IS DOLLAR STORES AND BIG LOTS! YOU HAVE TO CHECK THEM OUT, THINK OUT SIDE THE BOX, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT. TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!

AGAIN, PLAIN WHITE CANDLE ALREADY HAD, BLACK CONSTUCTION PAPER, SOME COOL SILVER SCRAP PAPER, AND A HOLE PUNCH AND OHHHHHHHHH SO CHIC. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW THIS TURNED OUT. TAKE A PEEK, SOOOOOOOO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I HAD THIS CANDLEALBRA THAT I HAD GOTTEN AT BIG LOTS ON SALE FOR LIKE $2.99 LAST YEAR AFTER CHRISTMAS, I LOVED THE BLING ON IT BUT, IT WAS THAT TACKY BRASSY COLOR. BUT I COULDN'T PASS UP THE DEAL AND KNEW SOME DAY I WOULD THINK OF SOMETHING TO USE IT FOR, SO A COAT OF THE PRETTY SILVER PAINT, THE NEW BOUTIQUE CHIC CANDLES AND IT IS FIT FOR A HAUNTED CASTLE. IT IS TOTAL GLAM, I LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT.

SO TOTAL COST WHAT LIKE UNDER $4.00 COMPLETE. NOW THAT IS A SCARY AWESOME DEAL!

O.K. AGAIN TAKING WHAT I HAVE UP OR AROUND, AND CHANGING IT UP. I HAVE THESE THREE FRAMES HANGING ON THE WALL BETWEEN OUR LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM, SO I TOOK THOSE, AND MY HANDY DANDY BLACK CONSTRUCTION PAPER AND MY ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE POKA DOT PUMPKIN PLATES, AND SOME COOL STICK ON LETTERS AND............. THIS IS WHAT I ENDED UP WITH

WHAT A EASY, SIMPLE CHANGE FOR MY HALLOWEEN DECORE AND THIS WAY I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM DOWN AND STORE THEM SOME WHERE UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAY. LOVE IT, IT'S A TWO FOR ONE SUPER CREATIVE IDEA.

TOTAL COST: LESS THAN .75 FOR ALL THREE

I FOUND THIS TABLE RUNNER AND PLACEMATS AT TARGET, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THEM, VERY ELEGANT AND SPOOKY ALL IN ONE, HOWEVER THE TABLE RUNNER WAS $13.99 AND THE PLACEMATS WHERE $3.99 EACH. SCARY RIGHT. WELL I THOUGHT ALL I NEED IS THE RUNNER, AND I HAVE BEEN SUCH A GOOD BARGAIN HUNTER THAT I CAN SPLURGE ON IT, THEN I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD A FIVE DOLLAR OFF GIFT CARD TO TARGET BECAUSE IT JUST OPENED OUT HERE, I KNOW, WHAT YOUR THINKING, HOW DID I EVER LIVE WITHOUT A TARGET? HEY, I MENTIONED I LIVE IN A REALLY SMALL TOWN. O.K. SO THAT WOULD MEAN I COULD GET THE RUNNER FOR $8.99 NOT AS BAD, PLUS IT IS MADE WELL, SO IT WILL LAST FOR YEARS. SO ABOUT A WEEK LATER I'M AT TARGET AGAIN AND THEY HAVE THE PLACE MATS ON SALE FOR $1.99 EA. AND I THOUGHT I CAN USE THEM AS A CHAIR COVER TO ADD A BIT OF HALLOWEEN BLING TO MY ALL WOOD CHAIRS. BOOTIFUL, I REALLY LIKE IT.

WELL, THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I HOPE I INSPIRED YOU TO CHANGE IT UP, DECORATE FOR THE SEASONS OR HOLIDAYS. I HOPE I GAVE YOU SOME IDEAS TO GET YOUR CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING. I HOPE I ENCOURAGED YOU TO GET OUT THERE AND HUNT FOR THE BARGAINS. NOTHING BETTER THAN A GOOD BARGAIN.

I WILL POST PICTURES OF ALL MY PROJECTS ONCE I GET THEM ALL PULLED TOGETHER.

HAPPY HAUNTING AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A SPOOKTACULAR DAY.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

ATTACKED ! ! ! !

THIS MORNING I WAS ALMOST ATTACKED BY A SCORPION ! ! !
WELL ALMOST,......
REALLY,

AS USUAL I WAS BAREFOOT, I KNOW, I KNOW,

ANYWAY, I WAS IN THE HOUSE, HEADING OUT TO GIVE OUR DOG HIS ALLERGY MEDICATION,
(YEAH, THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER POST)

OK,
SO I OPEN OUR BACK DOOR AND STARTED OUTSIDE,

LUCKILY I WAS LOOKING DOWN,
SEE I AM TRYING TO KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE,

WHEN TO MY HORROR I SEE THIS SCORPION RUN IN,
NO
HE CHARGED IN (RIGHT INTO THE HOUSE)

RIGHT TOWARDS ME,

AS I AM QUICKLY BACKING UP

AND OF COURSE MAKING HIGH PITCHED GIRLY SQUEALS,

UP GOES IT'S TAIL IN STRIKE MODE,
HE KEEPS CHARGING TOWARDS ME, RIGHT FOR MY FOOT,

I MANAGED TO STAY JUST OUT OF HIS STRIKE,
GEEZ, ARE YOU KIDDING ME, DOES HE HAVE RABBIES OR SOMETHING.

OK, NOW HE IS JUST STARTING TO TICK ME OFF,

HOW DARE HIM CHARGE INTO MY DOMAIN AND THREATEN ME,
OH NO, I DON'T THINK SO..... NOT GOING TO HAPPEN,

SO I BACKED MY SELF RIGHT UP TO THE PLACE WHERE MY SHOES WERE,

YEP, RIGHT THERE, NEAR THE BACK DOOR SO I CAN QUICKLY PUT THEM ON BEFORE GOING OUTSIDE.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING,
HEY DON'T SHAKE YOUR HEAD AT ME.

SO I REACH DOWN GRAB MY FLIP FLOP,
AGAIN ,
I GET IT,
EVEN HAD I PUT THOSE ON PRIOR TO GOING OUTSIDE THEY WOULD LEND LITTLE PROTECTION AGAINST SUCH AN ATTACK,
HEY,
I GET ENOUGH OF THAT FROM MY SWEET HUSBAND ABOUT WHY DON'T I WEAR REAL SHOES,
SO I DON'T NEED TO HEAR IT FROM YOU TOO.
I STILL DEFEND THAT FLIP FLOPS ARE REAL SHOES,
(AGAIN THATS FOR ANOTHER POST.....)

ANYWAY, WITH FLIP FLOP IN HAND,
AND NOW MAD AS HELL,
I WACK THAT SCORPION WITH ALL MY MIGHT.

SERIOUSLY,

I MEAN REALLY,
THAT SCORPION HAD A LOT OF

CHUTZPAH ! ! !

Friday, October 3, 2008

CRAFT TIME WITH MY GIRLS

I HAVE SO MUCH FUN WHEN I GET TOGETHER WITH MY GIRLS, I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH THEM, TALKING, LAUGHING, CRYING, JOKING, SHOPPING, AND CRAFTING!!! THEY ARE TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS. SO LAST TIME I WAS UP IN UTAH VISITING WITH THEM WE DID A FEW CRAFT PROJECTS TOGETHER. ONE OF THEM WAS TO MAKE FALL WREATHS.

WE STARTED WITH A WREATH