There’s nothing that I love more about Halloween than fun Halloween food ideas. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I am always on the hunt for easy Halloween recipes. Creepy cocktails, mummy mini pizzas, a halloween snack board…all the things. It’s so fun to make cute and creepy spooky snacks for kids and … Read more
Halloween in Orange County is hot. October is the warmest time of the year and that lends itself to great trick-or-treating, outdoor Halloween celebrations, and over the top outdoor Halloween decorations. Backyard Halloween parties are commonplace in these parts with the warm weather. For years we’ve had parties with scavenger hunts, monster mash cake-walks, Halloween … Read more
As hard as it is for me to let go of summer, It means that spooky season is just around the corner, and that is definitely something to look forward to! If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, you know that I am obsessed with Halloween (and pretty much the entire holiday season!) I … Read more
There’s nothing I love more at Halloween time than a spooky drink or spooky treat….you know…gummy body parts or something served in a black cauldron with candy eyeballs…that sort of thing. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays…you can probably tell by all of the Halloween content on the blog. It’s funny because I don’t … Read more
Cue “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” You know what that means!! Time for lots of free Halloween printable tags and cute ideas! I love these bold, graphic Happy Halloween tags with their cheery jack-o-lantern taking center stage. The bright orange pumpkin against that deep black background is attention grabbing for sure. Are … Read more
Happy (almost) Halloween! I’m sure your little ghouls and goblins are SO excited this weekend with just one more day until the big night! Celebrations have been in full swing in our neighborhood with pumpkin carving parties, costume contests and even a little early trick or treating amongst the neighbors. Tomorrow night we’ll be gathered … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time to start cranking out all the fun free printables for the holidays! If you’ve been following along with me for awhile, you know that I LOVE to make printables. It’s so fun to see them get used over and over again and the creative ways you … Read more
Alright, let’s get this party started! School started this week in most places around the country and that can only mean one thing! It’s time to get thinking about the holidays!!! I saw this funny picture on Oriental Trading’s instagram this morning and it helped me feel less silly about hitting publish on this post. … Read more
There’s nothing that I love more about Halloween than spooky Halloween food ideas. It’s so fun to make cute and creepy food for kids and see the faces and hear the squeals of delight from the kiddos when you present the spooky food. This year I’ve been keeping it relatively simple in the Halloween department, … Read more
This month feels like it is running away from me! I made these free printable happy Halloween tags a few weeks ago thinking I was going to be so on top of things this year, and now, here we are just 2 weeks away from the big day itself and I’m just now getting them … Read more
This sweet & bubbly Halloween sherbet punch is always a hit and the perfect punch for your Halloween parties this year!! Years ago…and I do mean years…I was nine and my parents were about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Can we say honeymoon baby?! Anyways, party planning is in my blood…I come by it … Read more
I am always looking for fun and easy ways to celebrate the holidays and Halloween is one of my favorites. Halloween treats are a must, and the cuter the better! I love to make all kinds of treats, and finding ways to use leftover Halloween candy is always a fun challenge. I had a few … Read more
Bugs. I can’t stand them. So much so, that whenever we move, the very first thing I do is call a pest control company and make sure that they make their first visit before we ever move in. lol! Maybe that’s why when it comes to making things feel spooky at Halloween, my Halloween decor … Read more
I can’t believe we are heading into the final push before Halloween! What are you guys doing this year? Is Halloween going to look pretty normal for you, or are restrictions and pandemic concerns keeping things limited? I’m not really sure what it’s going to look like around here. I hear rumors of trick or … Read more
This year’s wild pandemic situation has kind of left Halloween plans a bit up in the air, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop celebrating around here! We’re definitely going to do our best to make it a jolly holiday regardless of the world being a little upside down right now. And Halloween is … Read more
It’s already the middle of September, and if you’re anything like me, you are wondering how we got here and why it feels like it should be Easter and not Halloween. 😉 Such a crazy year! We had a great introduction to fall earlier this week that fit perfectly with 2020. Monday was Labor Day … Read more
It’s hard to believe that October is already winding down…I feel like I have a million other Halloween ideas left to share and I am out of time! Thank goodness for next year…I’ll just have to keep you in suspense until then! 😉 I have been wanting to put together some fun ideas for non-alcoholic … Read more
I have a confession to make…I’ve been pretty lazy about Halloween Decor this year. I can’t believe I’m saying that! I LOVE Halloween, but this year it has just kind of sneaked up on me and I feel like I am out of time! With the Orange County house renovation, unexpected overseas travel, busy senior … Read more
As much as I love Halloween, one activity I don’t particularly enjoy is cleaning out the gooey slimy pumpkin guts when it’s time to carve jack-o-lanterns. No-carve fall pumpkins have quickly moved to the top of my list of favorite Halloween DIY projects since they are cute and don’t involve any guts. 😉 This week … Read more
We are gearing up for Halloween fun around these parts and that means it’s time for some cute new free printable Halloween tags! You know I love making free printables, especially when they are attached to cute gift ideas. Booing friends and neighbors is really a great excuse to whip up some fun packages. This … Read more
Take me just about anywhere for dinner these days and I’ll be browsing the cheese and charcuterie board options on the menu. I LOVE the pretty boards full of delicacies styled to the nines. Creamy cheeses, nuts, dried fruits, olives, chutney, bread and crackers, spicy meats…so many good things! And let’s face it. There is … Read more
Halloween and cupcakes….pretty much two things that make me deliriously happy. Themed treats and punny sayings, costumes, decorations and parties…what is not to love about this time of year? I am so excited to be sharing one of our favorite cupcake recipes, along with this simple idea to turn them into the perfect easy kid … Read more
I love to decorate for Halloween almost as much as I do for Christmas. We are about to break out all the Halloween decorations around here this week and things will start to get a bit creepy. The weather has really taken a turn and it is definitely cooling way down, which makes Halloween decorating … Read more
Guys, can I just tell you how much fun I am having working with Oriental Trading these days? When they emailed a few months ago and said hey…it’s Friday the 13th in September….let’s get our skeletons out of the closet and party, I couldn’t help but jump on board. They are introducing a bunch of … Read more
Ah! October is almost here so I am officially all in for Halloween. I was actually in Halloween mode several weeks ago…but I’ve been trying to hold off and not make you feel overwhelmed here on the blog. 😉 I don’t want anyone to feel rushed to jump into the holidays…but boy am I ready!! … Read more
Where we come from in Orange County, Halloween is a BIG deal. Like REALLY big. As a matter of fact, it was voted the #1 place in the state of California to celebrate Halloween. Yep. That big of a deal. 😉 One of the factors that I’m sure helps, is the fabulous weather in Orange … Read more
It’s always fun to get a few friends together and celebrate the holidays, and in our house we love to do that with movie nights. Putting something together that is cute doesn’t take a ton of effort, and for the kids, getting to invite some friends over for treats and a movie makes them feel … Read more
It is so fun in the 1987 Fixer Upper to have two fireplaces to decorate. This is our first year being able to decorate, since at this time last year everything was still under construction. With the shiplap behind the fireplace in the family room, I was thinking about what direction I wanted to head … Read more
The holidays are so much fun, but really, there is nothing quite like seeing the holidays through the eyes of a child. The years are fleeting…as a matter of fact, the pictures in this post are from years ago…and I can’t believe just how much the kids have grown. I feel like these pictures were … Read more
I am so excited to be joining forces with some of the most creative girls on the internet today and tomorrow for a fun Halloween DIY blog hop. I love any excuse to craft something up, and working with these girls is the best! If you are joining me from Bird’s Party blog, welcome! I … Read more
It’s the middle of October already! Can you believe it? I feel like I start out each holiday month feeling like I’m getting a head start on decorating, and then poof! Before I know it, the month is already half over and I am only partially ready. Today, I am teaming up with 6 of … Read more
We have been breaking out all the Halloween decorations this week and I couldn’t be more excited about it. There is finally a chill in the air and we are listening to the raindrops outside while decorating to Halloween tunes inside. It is the most wonderful time of the year for sure! I had the … Read more
If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, you know that I love to make stuff. But I also don’t have much patience when it comes to making things. lol! That means that most of my projects are super easy and usually utilize some sort of pre-made something or other. I often walk down the … Read more
When you think of Halloween colors, black and orange are usually the first to come to mind, but Halloween party ideas don’t always have to revolve around those colors. Having a girly-girl has definitely taught me that non-traditional colors and Halloween party ideas make for equally fun and pretty parties. I put together these colorful … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again…time for Halloween! I don’t know about you but I love making fun little gifts and Halloween treat tags for the kids and neighbors. This bugs and kisses printable tag has been a favorite for awhile. I love to use it and wanted to make sure and … Read more
I admit it, I have become one of “those” people. Yes, the kind that buys costumes for their dog. Ever since Jack joined our family earlier this year it’s been almost like having a new baby…and now, a toddler that walks around without a diaper on and speaks only Chinese. 😉 He has doctors appointments … Read more
Halloween is just around the corner and if you are anything like me, you are looking for fun traditional Halloween activity and games ideas to keep the kiddos entertained. While it has been a few years, I used to throw a big Halloween carnival for our neighborhood every Halloween, so I built up a pretty … Read more
If you are looking for an easy DIY costume for Halloween look no further! This DIY Spider Headband is it! I am notoriously bad about waiting until the last minute to throw something together to wear for Halloween. Without a doubt, the day of Halloween rolls around, and while I may have dressed up … Read more
Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays. Every few years I throw a Halloween party for 50 of my closest friends. A chance to come up with a fun theme, create party food and decorations to work with that theme, and dress up? That is right up my alley. I usually start my party … Read more
I don’t know about you guys, but we are on sugar overload at our house. Each week I try and bake homemade goodies for the kids to have in their lunches at school throughout the week and this time of year I find myself wondering what to do with leftover Halloween candy. Do you have … Read more
We have a week left! The countdown to Halloween is on and the energy level in my house is palpable…how about in your house? We are finishing up the neighborhood “booing” this week, attending our yearly Trunk or Treat party, visiting the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins and having class parties. Whew! By the time the … Read more
Well, we’ve got a week left. A week to carve pumpkins, attend carnivals, parties, trunk or treats, participate in costume parades, eat tons of junk and trick or treat. Whew! Are you ready? If you’re like me, you always wait to the last minute and rely heavily on Amazon Prime to deliver Halloween to your … Read more
Do you like to dress up for Halloween, or is that reserved strictly for your kids? I have been searching for the best halloween costumes, and is it just me, or do you blush when you are shopping for Halloween costumes…especially once you get into the teen and women’s costumes? Seriously…what is up with the … Read more
Chocolate pumpkin ice cream sandwiches. Does that sound decadent or what? You guys…I found the most AMAZING ice cream! Have you tried the pumpkin pie ice cream from Trader Joes? It is DIVINE! I knew when I tasted it that I needed to make something fun with it, and well, I had some chocolate chocolate … Read more
Every year I love to create something fun and a little bit spooky for both Halloween and Christmas on the wall in our family room. It’s a fun challenge for me to design something that is new and different, but also easy and relatively inexpensive each year. Last Christmas I created this Buffalo Check Plaid … Read more
Can you believe it’s October already?! Where does the time go? I feel like I was just lamenting about summer ending and school starting, and now, here we are nearly two months into school and the holidays are upon us! Starting around the middle of September I start getting the itch to break out the … Read more
Halloween is just around the corner and next to Christmas, the Halloween decoration take up the second most space in the garage at our house. We LOVE this spooky fun holiday, and a party at our house is practically a must every year. One of my favorite parts of throwing a Halloween party is picking … Read more
Only 24 hours left until one of the most fun nights of the year! In case you are still looking for some great, last minute Halloween ideas, I’ve rounded up all kinds of great halloween crafts, printables and party ideas here from the blog over the last few years for you all in one spot! … Read more
Trunk or Treat is upon us! This fun night is one of my kid’s favorites. Probably because it involves about 1000 kids in costume running from car to car over and over collecting more candy than they can carry. Each year there’s a little contest for who decorates their trunk the cutest or spookiest. I love … Read more
Do you always want to create a fun, themed breakfast for your kids at the holidays, but feel like you never have the time? Well, here is the answer to all of your problems! 😉 You can whip up these delicious pumpkin pancakes in no time and top them with cute (and SUPER easy) whipped … Read more
Hard to believe, but Halloween is just around the corner! Whether your hosting a party, staying home to welcome trick or treaters, or in charge of classroom parties, it’s time to start thinking about treats! Here’s a quick and easy tutorial for a fun treat bag for party guests and little Gobblins alike. Fill these … Read more
I fell victim to the donuts again. 😉 Those cute, holiday themed donuts at Krispy Kreme that is! Have you seen the adorable Halloween designs they have? Monsters, Spider Webs, Pumpkins, Halloween Sprinkles…Man, I’m a sucker for cute packaging and good marketing! 😉 As I was driving home with my fresh box of cute Halloween donuts, … Read more
Halloween is almost here!! My second most favorite time of the year! (hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it!…sorry…I couldn’t resist!) 😉 I always have so much fun creating new projects each year to share with you all. Actually, sometimes it’s a bit nerve wracking to be honest. I REALLY want to bring … Read more
I’m SO excited that it is almost Halloween again!! You all know that I LOVE Halloween and all the fun spooky stuff that goes with it. Here’s this year’s free Halloween printable edition of a “boo”ing tag for you. The treat is SO easy, an oldie but goodie…one that I’ve shown you here before, just … Read more
Do you have company coming for New Years? It is SO easy to create a cheese plate that is a show stopping appetizer. It is quick, tasty and beautiful…and it’s my go-to appetizer when I’m having company. I love it because it’s SO easy to put together and looks like a million bucks. Here are … Read more
What are you having for dinner tonight? Every Halloween I do a traditional dinner for the kids and it’s become a favorite that they look forward to each year. I know that Halloween is a super hectic day, so this is purposely easy to put together. As a matter of fact, it can all be store … Read more
When Shana of Society Sweets contacted me early in September with an idea to style a shoot to feature some of her amazing Halloween desserts, I was so excited! I typically throw a big Halloween party of some sort…either a big carnival for my neighborhood, or an adult Halloween bash…but this year I didn’t have … Read more
It’s here, it’s here! I don’t know about you guys, but I LOVE Halloween. There is just so much fun surrounding it…parties, pumpkin patch trips, trunk or treats, the list goes on. I love to mix up my décor each year sometimes with a theme, adding new vignettes and of course, adding a few new … Read more
I LOVE Halloween! I can’t get enough of all the fun. My kids, especially my daughter, is a girl after my own heart. She loves to celebrate any and everything and is ready to start decorating as soon as school starts. So you can imagine her excitement when I broke out the fake spiders a … Read more
As Halloween quickly approaches there’s just one question you need to ask yourself. Who doesn’t love a friendly little ghost? These little darlings are easy to make, delicious on their own, and also double as the perfect topper for a cake or cupcakes. These little cuties are spooky, sweet and delicious! Enjoy! To see … Read more
Here’s a quick and easy way to spookify your Halloween meal. Spider Ice Cubes! It’s SO simple, you can’t help but make them. All you need…an ice cube tray, water and some plastic spiders. 🙂 Fill the ice cube tray, add spiders and freeze. Serve in your favorite beverage…I liked the idea of 7up or … Read more
I can’t believe it’s already that time of year again…Halloween! In our neighborhood it won’t be long before the “Boo”ing begins and my kiddos are racing to the door every time the doorbell rings, hoping to catch the fun person that leaves treats on our doorstep. I love to create a little something fun each … Read more
I LOVE Halloween. This year I’ve been a little bit of a slacker so far as far as decorating goes, but last year…I had some fun! 🙂 I threw a little shin-dig (more about that later 😉 ) and I wanted to do something really special…a show stopping feature. I decided on a Haunted Hospital theme … Read more
Can I just tell you how excited I am that Ding Dongs are back??!! I thought of this little idea last year, and no joke, within a week…Hostess announced they were closing down and Ding Dongs would be no more. I couldn’t believe my luck! Well, now after patiently waiting…they are back! Not in … Read more
You can’t have a great party without sweets, right? When I first surveyed the property at The Homestead at Bridle Creek looking for the perfect locations for each set-up, I found this pumpkin patch and KNEW I had to use it for the dessert shots. The pops of orange were too perfect against the black … Read more
So many of the great Halloween items that Pottery Barn has out this year are skeleton related. When I thought of putting together a dinner party, the theme of “bon appetit” with a little twist to “Bone Appetit” to make it spookier, just seemed too perfect. Adding in some of the awesome bug themed products they … Read more
On a recent trip to South Coast Plaza, I couldn’t help but linger at the windows of Pottery Barn with their beautiful displays, showing off the gorgeous offerings from their towering two story shop. I LOVE to walk in and browse for design and decorating ideas, and feel like, even if just for a moment, that I am living … Read more
I can’t believe it’s almost October already! I have been in Halloween mode for a few weeks now as I prepped for one of my favorite styled shoots of my career. So, I thought since the Bugs and Kisses tags have been so popular, it’s time for a 2013 Free Halloween Printable! 🙂 This is a … Read more
Ok, here it is! 🙂 I know I told those of you that follow me over on Facebook that I would come up with a free printable for this darling sign I saw…so here you go! 🙂 This is an 8×10 size, and once again I made it black and white so that even those … Read more
