Happy Halloween!!

Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween!!

Our evening will consist of Trick or Treating, a Goosebumps Movie & "Popcorn" Cupcakes

Fun! Fun!

Mummy Dogs

Mummy Dogs

This recipe has been passed around quite a bit & I thought I'd to make my own.

Ta-Da... Mummy Dogs!!



Creativity in the kitchen ROCKS!!


Wishing you & your family a SPOOKtacular Halloween, from my Spectacular family!

It's PUMPKIN time!!

You can't have Halloween without carving PUMPKINS!!

Here is a quick pic of the pumpkins my boys & I carved.



Do you and your kiddos carve pumpkins?!

The trick or treating and doorbell ringing begins in 2 days and I can't wait!! I love seeing the excitement in the kiddos faces and the creativity in their costumes. I think Halloween is as fun for me as it is for them!!

Candy Corn Cupcakes

I LOVE Candy Corns & I LOVE Cupcakes, so what's a creative girl to do?!

Candy Corn Cupcakes... AWESOMENESS!!



Doesn't this picture make you want to dive in?!



Ta Da! Candy Corn Cupcakes!

And the best part....

They are Oh-So-Colorful!!

Candy Corn Cupcakes

1 box butter cake mix

3 eggs

2/3 C water

1/2 C softened stick of butter

Yellow Wilton Color Gel

Red Wilton Color Gel

Directions:
Prepare cake batter as directed. Combine all ingredients until incorporated (about 30 seconds).
Scrape sides of bowl and then beat on med-high speed for 3 minutes.

Divide batter into 2 separate bowls.
I used yellow and red (no taste) Wilton Color Gels
Use food coloring to color batter to desired intensity. I used approximately 1/4 t and they were very bright!

Fill cupcake liners halfway with yellow batter first and top with the orange batter. Bake as directed and top with white buttercream frosting and a candy corn.

I can't get enough of the Wilton color gels... Try them out in this recipe or your next recipe.

Enjoy!!

Modern Monster Table Decor

Modern Monster Table Decor

Denise Baker from Little Ant Design sent in some pictures of her new Halloween table… and – seriously – how fun is this?! I’m especially loving the bony silver hands that are “holding” the utensils (clever!) and the cool skull & crossbones labels wrapped around the soda bottles…

Where does one get those cool modern trees used in the centerpiece? At IKEA…

Here’s a view the entire table… looks fabulous!

For details on how to recreate a similar table at home, visit “get your spook on: someone set the table”.

I would LOVE to see the table ideas of other bloggers!! If you've blogged about or have creative ideas, let me know... I'll definitely check them out!!

LOVE IT!

Ghostly Goodies

Ghostly Goodies... Genius!!

Every year for my Dad's birthday, I make a chocolate brownie layered trifle. I decided to take the recipe I use, switch it up a bit and created these YUMMO Ghostly Goodies!!

Here's what you'll need:

1 can - Eagle Brand Condensed Milk (a can of AWESOMENESS)
1 box - chocolate pie filling (I used Jello)
1 - 16 oz of whipped cream
1 pkg of Oreos
1 small pkg of chocolate chips (mini would be best, but use what you have)



First you make the mousse...

Step 1: In a large bowl, pour entire can of Eagle Brand into the chocolate pie filling.
Mix until completely combined.

Step 2: Add 1/2 container of whipped cream into Step 1 mixture.

Step 3: Mix until completely combined and fluffly. Now you have your mousse!

In a large ziploc bag, crumble the package of Oreo cookies. This step is simple and the kiddos love to help!

Now you can begin layering your Ghostly dessert.

Layers:

Layer 1: Sprinkle cookies on the bottom of a glass.
(I used a clear glass, because I love the look of the layers.)

Layer 2: Chocolate Mousse

Layer 3: Top the mousse with crumbled cookies

Ghostly Topper:

Snip the corner of a ziploc bag with a pair of scissors and fill halfway with whipped cream.

Top the layers with whipped cream and add 2 chocolate chips for the ghostly eyes!

Enjoy!

Pina Ghoulada

Check out this FUN cocktail recipe from the one & only HWTM!!

PINA GHOULADA

**Insert Evil Laugh Here**

Full recipe & garnish details below…

*****

PINA GHOULADA

20 oz pineapple juice1 can cream of coconut – (15 oz)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup orange juice

10 oz rum (optional, but who am I kidding... Totally using the rum!)

Whisk together pineapple juice, cream of coconut, heavy cream, orange juice and rum. Place 2 1/2 cups ice in a blender, then and add 1 cup drink mixture. Blend until smooth, and pour into prepared glasses. (If mixture is too thick, add more pineapple juice before serving.) Repeat process with remaining ice and mixture.

OR – Make it Quick: Just use frozen or pre-mixed pina colada mix for the drink.

*****

For the “BLOOD RIM”:

Corn Syrup “Blood Rim”(a Martha Stewart recipe)
3 tablespoons corn syrup

1/4 teaspoons red food coloring

Pour the corn syrup in a shallow bowl. Dip a toothpick into the food coloring, and stir a very small amount into the syrup to combine. Hold a glass by the stem, dip rim into the syrup mixture, and turn glass, coating entire rim. Turn the glass upright, allowing mixture to drip down sides. Dip the remaining glasses. Set aside.

*****

For the EYEBALL GARNISH:

Ingredients:canned lychee in syrup, drained (available at most Asian markets)strawberry (or other red-colored) preservesblueberries (fresh or frozen, thawed)
Directions: Dry lychee & fill cavity with red preserves. Insert blueberry, blossom end facing out. Spear with a toothpick or cocktail skewer. Gross!

And there you have it... the PERFECT Halloween Cocktail!!

Enjoy!

My First...

We could go in a LOT of directions with this title, but it's actually My very First Award!!

Shocked much? I am!!

Many Thanks to One Cluttered Brain for awarding Mine Are Spectacular with the Over The Top award... OCB, you are too kind!!

With this award, I am supposed to select 5 bloggers who are Over the Top and deserve this honor as well.

So... Here they are, in no particular order:

My Sweet Chaos - This blog is great and one of the first blogs I started following over a year ago! Ariana is a Super Mom and I love following the tales of her Sweet Kiddos! Kudos to My Sweet Chaos for keeping me hooked!!

OH! And I almost forgot... My Sweet Chaos enjoys photos as much as I do, so she is always updating her blog with fun photos!

Creations by Kara - This is one of my FAVE Trash-to-Treasure blogs. Kara always seems to make something out of nothing and I heart her for that!! AND she LOVES using spray paint... I could I not follow this blog?!

Thrifty Decor Chick - If the title of this blog doesn't give it away, stop by Thrifty Decor Chick's blog and you will be INSTANTLY hooked... I was!! I am inspired over & over again with TDC's creativity and know you will be too!!

A Breadwinner Wife -I started following this blog recently and I am SO glad I did. I love real & I love witty and A Breadwinner Wife is both and so much more!!

Picky-Palate - Jenny at Picky-Palate just Rocks My Socks (if I was wearing them)!! Her creative take on Oh-So-Yummy foods, is like none other!! If you have been following my blog and haven't stopped by Picky-Palate... what in the world are you waiting for?! Get cooking with Jenny!! Your family will Thank you!!

Now... because this is MY blog, I am selecting one more blogger who is absolutely Over the Top!

Room Remix - PK at Room Remix is just too awesome!! SO creative and always thinking outside of the box!! PK is a decorating inspiration rockstar and I LOVE it!!

Now go check them out!

If you have recieved this award before, you MUST be Over the Top and should be recognized again!!!! Thanks for playing along!

Glowing Ghouls

I am LOVING these Glowing Ghouls from Not So Idle Hands!!

I cannot get enough of ALL the fun Halloween crafts and decorations. These goblins really top it off... SO simple & SO cute!! I am definitely trying this out over the weekend!!

See below for the tutorial...

Glowing Monster Jars @ Not So Idle Hands (These are too cute! Tutorial here.)

Bakerella... My Kind of Super Hero!

Oh Bakerella... How do you do it?!

You tempt me, you inspire me and you fatten me up and I LOVE every bit of it!!

If you have not visited Bakerella's website or seen her cake pops (i LOVE cake pops!!), I cannot stress enough how fabulous she is!! Go check it out... NOW!! Be tempted, be inspired and get fattened up... I know you'll love it!!

Purple People Eater... So Stinkin' Cute!!

Click here for the cake pops tutorial and tips for everything you need to recreate these treats!

Try them out!!

On a side note: I learned (all by my little 'ol self) how to hyperlink words withing my blog to link to other blogs!!

Whoo Hoo!! Go Me!!

*Doing the happy dance*

Witches Brew-ha-ha!

How cute are these invites?!

Seriously...they make you want to throw a Halloween Party, just so you could make them!!

Heartland Paper posted this invite on their blog...WITH....
DIRECTIONS & A PATTERN!!

Complete AWESOMENESS!!

Magnet Magic - Tutorial

I made these magnets at Father's Day for all the guys in my life. They are SUPER simple and fun and I thought I'd share a tutorial with you.

Here is what you will need:

(Plus a pair of scissors and the scrapbook paper, picture or design you want.)

Make sure you use good quality magnets, not the flat strip kind. They stink! I used Mod Podge, and know that it works really well. Also, I used E-6000 because it's a super strong permanent glue and there is no doubt that the magnets are on for good!

Step 1: Place the glass marble over your paper, situating it how you like it. Trace around them with a pencil. If you are using paper with a random pattern, you could probably just skip this step. Perfection is not required!

Step 2: Holding the marble and the paper firmly, cut around the edge of the paper so it is just slightly smaller than the marble.

Step 3: Use a sponge brush to spread a thin layer of Mod Podge on the flat side of the glass marble.

Step 4: Press the glass marble firmly over the top of your cut paper. Make sure the paper is centered. Turn it over and spread out any air bubbles if you need to.

Step 5: After your glue is completely dry, trim any paper edges that are poking out behind the marble.

Step 6: Apply a small amount of E-6000 to the back of your magnet.

Step 7: Press the magnet firmly onto the back of your glass tile. You will be able to wiggle it around till it is in the center.

Step 8: Let the glue dry for about an hour. Then hang up your new magnets.

Stand back and admire your work!

There are so many possibilities with these magnets. I also used small family portraits, and you could use fabric, wallpaper or monograms. They are super quick and easy. I've had many questions regarding the pictures I used and I must admit that I am a Flair freak on Facebook, so my pictures were simply cut & pasted from Flairs on Facebook.

If you are giving them as a gift, you could use a small Altoid tin (dressed up, of course!). It is the prefect size for 6 of them and the magnets stick to the metal tin!

Snickers Surprise Cupcakes

Snickers Surprise Cupcakes

*A new recipe I tried, that is SUPER Sinful*

*Snickers Surprise Cupcake*

Chocolate cupcake baked with a Snickers bar inside and topped with chocolate caramel buttercream icing, caramel drizzle and Snickers pieces.

These will definitely be going to the office with the hubby!!

Enjoy!

Also, check it out on (http://hoosierhomemade.com/category/cupcake-tuesday/)

Handmade Parade

(Click on flyer to enlarge)

COME ONE,COME ALL!!!

We will have Unique craft and Boutique style items such as Silpada,Premiere and Bottletop Jewelry,srapbook items,Scentsy candles,wall crosses,home and holiday decor,Mary Kay cosmetics.photography, yummy desserts and Misc. Bling Items.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!!!!!!!!

Not-So-Warm Welcome

So... When you walk up to my home, this is what you see. It's a not-so-warm welcome!

I MUST do something about this quickly, because it is making me CRAZY!!

(BTW - The trees have been trimmed, so you can actually see my house now. Yeah Me!)



I could just go buy a new door, but what's the fun in that?!

Should I sand and stain? Should I paint? Or should I suck it up and buy a new door?

Since my shutters are black, I thought it would look great to have a black door, but BLACK?! I think I am warming up to the idea... this will definitely be my next projects and I am on a mission at make walking up to my home a Warm Welcome!