Happy Halloween!

 

 

 

In honor of one of my favorite holidays, HALLOWEEN, I decided to post a bunch of fabulous pumpkin carvings I found on Pinterest.  These are so great, especially the bottom one.  I can just feel those squishy cheeks.  This year for me Halloween is a little bitter sweet.  Living in New Jersey, Hurricane Sandy has knocked out power in the entire surrounding area.  So instead of festive orange glowing lights in the window tonight, we will have flickering candles on the tables.  Hopefully trick-or-treaters still feel like stopping by. 

Ghostly Gourds

Turns out pumpkins aren't the only vegetable you can carve into a Jack-O-Lantern or paint for Halloween.  These gourds are perfect for the occasion!  These photos are from Pinterest. 

Halloween planters

                                                       maddycakesmuse.blogspot.com

                                                       Better Homes and Gardens

                                                          Better Homes and Gardens

                                                           Better Homes and Gardens

How cool are these planters!?!  I love the versatility of an urn.  One can be traditional, containing colorful flowers, tropical with a majestic palm, heartwarming with a light up small Christmas tree, and as shown above, creepy with an array of Halloween decor such as bat cut outs and spider webs. I can't pick a favorite amongst this group because each have a unique spin on Halloween.  The bottom two are the perfect picks for an entryway in you are throwing a Halloween party.  The black urn with dried harvest flowers is a gorgeous option to be paired with a wreath or garland.  The top planter is out-of-this-world creative with the birds, white pumpkins and paper cutouts. 

Marvelous Mantels

If there is one spot in a home that can change with the seasons to create an impact of holiday goodness, it's a mantel.  I personally don't have one since the one and only fireplace in my home is located in my basement of all places.  And, it's a wood burning stove so it doesn't have a mantel.  However, if my husband and I ever decide to renovate, which we talk about often, a fireplace and mantel on the main floor is on the must-have list. In the meantime, I will keep "googling" mantel decorations and post them here for inspiration.  Here are some outstanding Halloween mantels I found on Digsdigs.com. 

It's Bewitching!

Witches are a Halloween staple in my opinion, and they are one of my favorite little additions in my home during this holiday.  These photos are just some of the witches that I have displayed in my home.  Even before coming inside it's obvious I have a soft spot for them with the decal in my window.  I purchased it from Grandin Road three years ago and LOVE it, although my photo doesn't really do it justice.  Then I have my little Home Good's finds (the stair witch and the blackboard witch).  In the mudroom section of my kitchen I have added a witches hat and broomstick leaning against a pumpkin.  And on my hallway antique sewing table I have a painting of a witch flying across the moon, accompanied by some antique books and a skull.

Dreadful Decals

I can't get enough of spooky these window decals from the Better Homes and Gardens website, bhg.com.  My favorite is the owl perched in the tree.  That screams Halloween!

Dead and Breakfast

How cleaver is this Dead and Breakfast lawn display? I found it on the Better Homes and Gardens website, bhg.com.  It looks fairly simple to imitate, so I think I'll give it a shot this year!  Of course no sign I make will even come close to the beautifully haunting one shown above.  The crows really add the creepy factor.  Love!  Pics of my rendition will follow. 

Halloween Party Food ideas

Chicken Witch Fingers

 

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoonsalt
• 1/2 teaspoonground black pepper
• 1 1/2 poundsboneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2-inch by 3-inch strips
• 1 tablespoonolive oil
• 1 tablespoonunsalted butter
• Smoked Spanish or regular paprika

 

Directions

 

In large bowl combine flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Coat chicken strips in flour. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and butter in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add chicken strips, one-third at a time, browning well on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Dip the end of each chicken strip in ground paprika.  Makes 10 servings (about 40 pieces).

 

 

 

                                         Moldy Cheese Balls  (Dilled Onion Cheese Balls)

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 8 ounce package cream cheese
• 1 cup finely shredded Gouda cheese (4 ounces)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce for chicken
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion (1)
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dried dillweed
• 1/2 cupchopped toasted almonds
• Assorted crackers and/or flatbread

 

Directions

 

1. In a large bowl let cream cheese, Gouda, and butter stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add milk and Worcestershire sauce. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Stir in green onion and dill. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

2. Before serving, shape cheese mixture into a ball. Roll ball in nuts and let stand 15 minutes. Serve with crackers or flatbread. Makes about 30 (1-tablespoon) servings.

 

 

These are two great Halloween party food ideas that I found on the Better Homes and Gardens website, bhg

This Year's Garden Window Display

                                                                With the lights off

                                                                       Lights on

For both Halloween and Christmas I take the opportunity to decorate my garden window, which is oddly enough located in my dining room area.  I try to change it up a little bit each year, adding a little something new, and switching the placement of certain must haves, like the hay and orange lights.  I think my 2012 window is my favorite so far!   

Cool Corn Stalks

                         Photo from Pumpkinrot.com  (One of my favorite Halloween blogs)

            What a gorgeous harvest-inspired entry!  Found on outdoor-halloween-decoratin.com


One of the best outdoor decoration in my opinion, for Autumn, is the corn stalk.  Here are two beautiful examples of how they can make a front porch seem so inviting.  This makes me in the mood for apple cider!