Tootsie Roll Pop Ghosts

My Mom used to make these tootsie roll pop ghosts every Halloween. They were a tradition in my home growing up and have been a tradition in our home as well. As room mother in both Kate and Kyle's elementary schools K-5th grade, you can imagine how many of these I've made!

Here's what you'll need

white square napkins
1 bag of tootsie roll pops
1 black sharpie fine point pen
ribbon
scissors

Start by unfolding your napkin. Hold your pop unside down (as shown above) and center it in the middle of the two napkin folds.

pinch the napkin tightly around the base of the pop

cut a 12 inch piece of ribbon and tie it around the ghosts "head" This can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it.

using your sharpie marker, draw two dots for eyes and there you have it, a darling little ghost! These make great party favors, gifts etc. Have fun with the quick, easy and fun craft.

BOO!

Recipe: Creepy Crunch Mix! (gluten free)

I love to make this simple, but very tasty chex mix treat. I've made it at Valentine's Day and used m and m's in red, white and pink, calling it "Sweetheart crunch mix". At Christmas, using the green, red and white m&m's I call it "Christmas crunch mix" For Halloween however, I use the Halloween inspired m&m's (pictured above) that are in a neon orange, black, purple and green, calling it "Creepy crunch mix". Here's what you need:

1regular size box of RICE Chex Cereal

3 cups pretzels (rough chopped)

2 cups salty peanuts, cashews or macadamia nuts (peanuts are most economical)

2 bags of white chocolate chips

1 large bag of plain m&m's (look for holiday editions)

Saran Wrap press and seal or wax paper

2 t. vegetable oil

Using the largest bowl you have or splitting between two bowls, pour the entire box of cereal and the m&m's into the bowl. Then, using a food chopper or knife; rough chop the nuts and pretzels and add to the bowl.
Pour both bags of white chocolate chips and 2 t. vegy oil into a microwavable bowl (I love using my Pampered chef micro cooker for this) Place in microwave oven without lid and cook for 30 seconds, remove from oven and stir. Return to microwave for another 30 sec. stir. Repeat this process until chips are melted and silky when stirred. (DO NOT OVERCOOK, stop when the chips are just melted. Stir until silky. (this process only takes 90 seconds in my microwave)

Pour the white chocolate over your mix and with two wooden spoons, slowly and carefully mix until the white chocolate covers all the mix. (you may want to split the mix into two bowls for this if you don't have a big enough bowl)

Using press and seal wrap OR wax paper, line two cookie sheets. Spread the chocolate covered mix into the pans and gently press flat with your hands. Let the crunch mix set for approx. one hour.

Once your mix is set up in the pans, break it apart and distribute it to cellophane gifts bags, holiday tins or wherever you want to store it! (I dare you to try and do this without nibbling the yummy mix as you go!) I sent some of this to Kate in her dorm last year at Valentines Day and her and her friends went wild for it. So...I'm sending some out again tomorrow to her and her cousin Brandy who lives down the street from Kate and attends the same University.

Enjoy making, gifting and eating this yummy crunch mix!

Pics of our loft

As promised, here is another room in the house to check out. We are REALLY enjoying this loft.
We put the big screen T.V. up here which is too big for any room in my opinion unless you have a built in space for it. We did in our last two houses, but not in this one. Eventually we will sell it (if anyone would buy it..LOL) and get a flat screen, but for now it works fine up in the loft. Kev and I have been retiring to this area in the late evenings after Kyle goes to bed for watching T.V., movies and reading. This loft is also where Kyle watches T.V./movies. It is right off his bedroom so he tends to spend a lot of time up here.

This is our hide a bed sofa which will work great for a guest when/if we have enough people visiting to need more sleeping space than the guest room down stairs. We are currently keeping our eye out for an arm chair on Craig's list to put up here as well. (it would go in front of the window)

I found this sign at Home Goods for $10 and had to have it for this room.

I inherited these old suitcases from my Mom. It's where she kept all her holiday decorations (other than Christmas) and it is now where I keep mine (and hers). I thought stacking them up like this made a cool table.

Here are a few more of my Halloween decorations. My Mom cross stiched the October "halloween snow man"

Here is the built in tech center. This is where I sit in the evenings to write in my blogs. This is also where Kyle works on the computer. I love all the cabinet space in this tech center. It houses games, blankets and the printer.

Another view of the tech center. Stay tuned for a tour of our bedroom, Kyle's room, Kevin's office and my craft room.

Happy Halloween

Today I brought out the Halloween Decorations! Growing up, Halloween was never about anything evil or scary...it was always a fun holiday to have a class party and dress up in one of Mom's hand made costumes. Through the years, my Mom made almost all my brother's and my costumes and going out trick or treating with Mom and Dad remains a favorite childhood memory.

Which is why, I tried over the years to make Halloween an especially fun holiday for my kids. Kyle won't be trick or treating this year, so it looks like last year was officially his last. I can't deny the sadness I feel in knowing that my children are grown up past the days of trick or treating. That does not mean however, that I still can't bring out my decorations and getting into the spirit anyway!

Above are my black cat, pumpkin people and ghost collections. The little paintings were done by Mom and I cherish them dearly. I just love these little country/vintage figurines. The little Happy Halloween stacking block sign was a new purchase at the Pumpkin Patch's gift shop this last weekend. (click on pics to see a larger image)
Here is my Halloween tree. The plates that are hanging above were gifts from my Mom many years ago.

Here is a closer look at the little ornaments on the Halloween tree. I took Vintage Halloween stickers, put them on black card stock and then cut them out and hung them with a thin black satin ribbon.

Here is my witch collection. My Mom started this collection for me years ago.

Here is another one of my Mom's cute paintings. I love this broom flying witch! My witches are not evil ones, no...they are whimsical characters who bring a smile to my face each year when I bring them out. When I was around 6 or 7 my Mom made me a witch costume and painted my face green. What a memory!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Scrap book pages and mini book

Here are the scrap book pages I just finished using the pics from our trip to the beach with the C family last month. Click on each image to see the pages closer. These are 12x12 pages

Here is a little mini book I made using the same pics.

Sorry for the angle. I could not for the life of me get this to turn the right way.