A "Spook"tacular Celebration

We still have one full weekend to celebrate before Halloween arrives.  I love Halloween and all of the excitement surrounding and I especially love a party!     I thought I'd share a few last minute ideas for some fun and festive food and decorations in case you are either hosting or attending a party this weekend.  

Appetizers

A Yummy Mummy filled with Spinach Dip

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Mini Mummy Pizzas

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A Veggie and Dip Skeleton....crazy creative!

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And my personal favorite...a Cheese Ball Pumpkin.  

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Main Course

How about ribs (love the red pepper heart...lol) 

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with Whipped Ghost Potatoes

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Sweet Treats

Eyeballs...they look disgusting, but what kid wouldn't love them?  They are white powdered donuts, gummy savers, a chocolate chip and gel icing.

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Candy corn parfait...simply pineapples, mandarin oranges and whipped cream.

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Mummy Cupcakes...that are actually low-fat too.

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So sweet....no pun intended.

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Another cute take on chocolate covered pretzels.

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Every good gathering need some festive decorations and here are some super easy last-minute ideas that your kids can help with.

Origami Spider Webs- it sounds difficult, but it's really just folded and cut paper.

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Or maybe coffee filter webs...so cute!

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Felt bat garland...love this one!!  Felt is so cheap and easy to work with too.

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Or maybe just some spooky silhouettes....so cute strung on black string.

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And if you're still on the hunt for that perfect costume for either yourself or your kids, check out some of the great ideas I stumbled across when searching for ideas for my middle schooler.

For the adults...

Army man from Toy Story

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Rock, Paper, Scissors....so cute

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Tooth and Tooth Fairy

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For the kiddos...

LOVE!

Disgusting, but very creative.

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Raining Cats & Dogs

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For a group...so cute!

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Wherever your upcoming pre-Halloween weekend takes you, I hope it's "SPOOK"tacular!

Poshed Up

Easter treats and party prep!

Just a few more days until Easter.  We are hosting a brunch with my in laws this year so I'm busy pulling together the menu and some quick and easy ideas for decorating the table.  Oh, and getting our baskets and egg hunt together too of course.  I shared some fun ideas for goodies other than candy for the baskets yesterday as well as some fun egg hunt ideas.  You can see them HERE.

Today I have some great ideas for special treats for the kids and some fun kids' table decorating ideas.

Whether you're hosting, visiting family or volunteered for a kids' snack at school or another activity these sweet treats are sure to please!

We'll start with cupcakes.  What kid doesn't love cupcakes...and what kid wouldn't be gaga over one of these?   If you click on the link below any of the photos, you can learn how to make them yourself and some of them are super simple if you have all of the ingredients!

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My personal favorite...although I despise marshmallows.  I just love the details.

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If cupcakes aren't what you fancy, how about one of these fun treats?

carrot cookies in Oreo crumbs...so cute.

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Or maybe a cake?  I don't think my kids would eat the cake...the toppings are far too exciting!

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And a few salty/sweet treats with pretzels...

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Here is the treat I made for my son for his class party.  My son has severe food allergies so I have had to get very creative this year because his current school celebrates all of the holidays and has a special color day each month with a corresponding colored snack.   Here is my inspiration...

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The ingredients included peanut butter, butterscotch, butter, chow mein noodles and semi-sweet chocolate chips.  My son is allergic to every single one of those ingredients.  So...my version includes:

Dairy, egg and soy free chocolate chips. (If you're wondering what on Earth IS in them...it's carob and lots of sugar, but he loves them. )  I also used Mike and Ike's which he can eat (all sugar) and pretzels.

I lined my cupcake tin with waxed paper, broke the pretzels into tiny pieces, covered them with melted chips and added the Mike and Ike's.  

Into the fridge they went and here's the end result.  While they don't look as much like a nest as the originals, he was quite happy with them.  He is SOOO excited for a special treat!

One last cute idea to share are these adorable Easter bunnies that would be so fun for a special Easter brunch or breakfast...made from cinnamon rolls with blueberry eyes and almond teeth!

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I hope you find something fun for your own celebration this weekend.  Tomorrow I have some great treats for the adults and some great centerpiece and table decorating ideas for you!

Poshed Up

The last minute rush....

I had sooo many other Christmas things I wanted to share with you all, but the days just slipped away.   I guess I'll have to save them for next year!

This last post is jam-packed with yummy treats, last-minute gift ideas, tablescapes and some fun gift wrap ideas.   I'm hearing many say that they have yet to wrap a present and/or that they have so much left to do...so maybe this will give you a few last-minute ideas!  This just might be my longest post ever!

If you're all done, maybe it will give you inspiration for next year and if you're like me...maybe you'll score some new gift wrap to fulfill these ideas next year on the day after sales.  Check out Target's...last year I got the most beautiful gift wrap at 75% off.   Note to self though...do not buy beautiful gift wrap that has sparkles in it....too messy!!

Some last-minute gifts...

Using....your child's hand and/or footprints!  I'm sure by now you've realized that I'm a huge lover of all things handmade (no pun intended) and these would just make my day if I were to ever receive one.  Too bad my husband doesn't read my blog...yet!

From 'Leapfrog & Ladybugs'

From 'Life in Motion'

From 'Meet the Dubiens'

This was made on a plate, but would be just as cute on a simple piece of paper!  Love!

So great with multiple kids.

And my most favorite of all...

On to some great ideas for homemade gifts and goodies...great ideas for neighbors, housewarming gifts when you visit others this holiday or just to have on hand when others visit!

A dream come true for me with 2 of my top favorites...mint and chocolate.  What could be better?

And even better, it's called... 3 Minute and 3 Ingredient Fudge.

from 'Made' 

(one of my top favs, although she makes me feel totally inadequate)

Santa Chex Mix...fun!!!

  

From 'Cookies and Cups'

Cocoa Cones from 'Little Wonders' Days'

Love these Christmas Hershey Bars ideas...from 'Kerry's Craft Blog'

Or these from 'Split Coast Stamps'

Love that big red nose!!

Or how about chocolate-dipped candy canes?  Great in your coffee. We made these as part of our teacher gifts this year.  Sooo darn easy!

from 'Brown Paper Packages'

Or these from 'Country Living'

And the last 2 are super simple and you probably have the items in your house already....

Reindeer food...a tradition at our house.  My son made his at school this year so we don't have to, but if he didn't, we would absolutely be making this one!

from 'Kerry's Craft Blog'

And the all-time easiest and much appreciated gift...

from 'HowDoesShe'

Now for a few great ideas if you're entertaining over the next few days...first some appetizers and drinks that are very festive!

This looks so yummy...from 'YummyMummyKitchen'

from 'Julie M. Usher'

from 'Family Fun'

from 'FreeFunChristmas'

from 'Betty Crocker'..

.and you can make it ahead....BONUS!

And how about some ideas for Christmas breakfast...

from 'Rutherford Family Happenings'

Or these are cute too...  sorry the picture is so tiny, but it was way too fuzzy any bigger.  You get the idea I hope..the antlers are bacon!

Or maybe something a bit healthier...although it looks like too much work for me!

from 'Ginger & Garlic'

Or maybe a Cheerio tree...

from 'tablespoon'

And of course the food always looks better on a beautiful table...here's some ideas to make your table beautiful this year.  I haven't set mine yet for Christmas Eve dinner, but I'm very excited to bring out my Christmas dishes!

Start with a simple place setting and name plate.   I love this one from HGTV...maybe because it's a pine cone?!   You certainly don't have to spray paint it, but it sure is pretty.

I love the fresh greenery.   I'm going to snag my fresh holly tomorrow.

Or this one is so super easy...from 'Sew Many Ways'

And this is to die for..or at least for me.  Red and pine cones...drool...

Here are a few great centerpiece ideas with fresh flowers, cranberries and candy.  Cranberries make a beautiful centerpiece and last forever.  I use them often this time of year!

from 'Ecopolitan Bride'

from 'Better Homes & Gardens'

If you have that glue gun and some candies laying around...these are simply glued on a tissue box.  So cute!

Or these from 'Sweet Designs' appear to be hot glued to a styro cone...

And last, but not least...that is if you're still reading this extremely looong post...

Gift wrap and gift tags (tons of freebies)

Here are a few great ways to use plain brown paper and nature...cheap and beautiful...

Or these with brown paper and doilies...from 'Oh Doilies'

I love the personalized touch...

from 'Older & Wiser'

I also love these bright colored ones... I think I'm going to try this theme next year if I can break myself away from RED!!!   I'm so in love with traditional red, but I do love how fun these are.

from 'One Fine Day'

from 'Carolyne Roehme Style'

And lastly, if you're like me and wait to put bows and ribbons on your gifts so that they don't get all messed up...this is a great alternative to waiting....love this idea!

from 'House of Design'

And lastly...

free gift tags...just click on the links below each set...

from 'Fresh Picked Whimsy'

from 'Sass & Peril'

from 'Hearthandmadeuk'

from 'Hearthandmadeuk'

from 'Hearthandmadeuk'

Happy last few hours before Christmas!

Poshed Up