A quicky...

No not that kind!! But lets see what kind of traffic that brings to the blog. ;)

This may be the last post I get in before Halloween! It is crazy here. DS turns 8 today. We had his party on Saturday, birthday dinner tonight, a ward party tomorrow, a school party on Friday, DS baptism on Saturday oh yea and Halloween! I am actually looking forward to Halloween night, cause my DH takes the kids out trick or treating and I might finally get a little quite time in.

I did get a chance to finish this. I had big plans to put it on my desk at work, but it is so close to Halloween, I think that I may just leave it here on my side table. But it was to cute not share.


In case I don't get back on I hope Everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!!

Mouse Loaf?

While I did make this deliciously creepy meal, I can't take credit for the recipes...that goes to The Clever Rose

On the ghoulish menu: Mouse-loaf and Volcano of Doom!! (Scare, haunted voice...)
I used my moms meatloaf recipe and then shaped it like this:

On a well greased cookie sheet. I topped it with a ketchup brown sugar mixture (and BBQ sauce on DS, cause that is the only way he will eat meatloaf) and baked for about 30 minutes.
After I pulled them out I called my kiddos in. I told them that we were trying to save money and that it was much cheaper to buy ground mouse then ground beef. This is my DS reaction:


Yea, he is pissed!

So I told them I was giving them a hard time and just making it look like mouse. I used carrot slices for ears, a boiled spaghetti noodle for his tail, black beans for eyes and uncooked broken pieces of spaghetti for his whiskers. Here is how they looked

Creepy, huh! (the only time mice should be in the kitchen is on the movie Ratatouille which I honestly had a hard time moving past!)

Volcano of doom... Mashed potato mountain.
Start with mashed potatoes..pile and mound in a pie tin like this



Then beat a cup of cream until soft peaks form. Stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Form a deep hole at the top of the "volcano" and pour the cream mixture inside, it is okay if some oozes out. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Beware, this will be messy, I recommend a cookie sheet underneath it. This is what you get:


It is so good! I can feel my thighs expanding just thinking about its fatty, creamy goodness!!

It took me a good 25 minutes to get the middle ds to sit at the table and eat this...he was still convinced it was ground mouse. I can only imagine what he told his teacher the next day at school....! But it was worth it!

Don't let a black cat cross your path...

..they say it's bad luck. But look how cute this black cat is! I so want her to cross my path.

This is my dd. She is a poser! She loves Top Model and cameras.

She has had a hard time deciding what she wanted to be for Halloween. First it was Hermione, then it was Cinderella and then a witch. But she finally settled on a black cat. So I made this costume for her, before she could change her mind.
She has on a black t-shirt and leggings. Then I made her a black tutu and wrapped it with purple ribbon, using this tutorial. Then I used black ribbon to make the ears. I attached them to some clips that I use to make her hair flowers. Then I tied to quick purple ribbons and glued them to the cat ears, to add some girl. Gave her a black feather bow, painted her face and she was ready! Such an easy, inexpensive costume.

We showed it off Saturday night at our annual Witches Night Out Party. Here I am with my little black cat.

Now, if I could just get the boys to decide on something...

Early Christmas gift idea

I have seen those cute glass dry erase calendars. Not to long ago I found this cute one from Not So Idle Hands and loved it! But I need one small enough to sit on my desk at work. So I bought a inexpensive 5x7 frame from that evil "W" place for $2.50.

Then I downloaded this free calendar grid.


I removed the glass from the frame. Laid the glass on top of the calendar and used a ruler and black sharp to draw the lines on the inside of the glass. I was doing it mirror image, so for the last two day boxes, I moved them to the opposite corner. If you make a mistake, a little glass cleaner and paper towel will take it right off.

Then when I replaced the glass I had this.


Then I raided my scrap paper stash and picked out something to represent each month. I used my straight edge to cut them to 5x7.



They store in the frame behind the current month and I can change them with each new month.

Then I fill in the days of the week and the numbers and month with a dry erase marker and I get this.


I plan to use a different colored dry erase marker to write my reminders on the calender.

Super easy and inexpensive. These would be great co worker gifts and I think that this might be what I give the kids teachers for Christmas!

My first award!

I am so honored to be given this award by Jan over at Bobby Pins Boardwalk
Jan shares my love for a cay spent in PJs and a good craft idea. She has a very fun blog! Thanks Jan!



I would like to pass this award on to:

Rosy Cheeks
since she taught me everything I know.

and to
Lizzy at Dizzy Lizzy's Creations

Thaks to both of you for being so inspiring! And again to Jan for thinking of my blog for this award.

Another altereted altoid tin

I am sure alot of you have seen this Altered Altoid tin that I made into a photo album.
This is a different idea on the same concept.

A just in case box.

Inside it has...

Mint gum
scratch paper
a small marker
$1 in quarters
Aspirin
Sewing kit
Bobby pin
Elastic
A mini pad
A list with a spot for emergency contact, hubby's work, kids school, work, poison control, local police

I can think of a point when I have need any of these when I am out and about and don't have it. It is the perfect size to keep in a purse, glove box or desk.

I glued paper on first, attached my letters and small embellishments with more glue. Then I added a thin layer of modge podge over the top.

These are for a swap I am in, but this would be a great Christmas gift for a teacher, co worker or girlfriend.

They orginally were suppose to be in one of these blank band aid tins,


but those are no where to be found!

So start saving those Altoid tins!

Here's your (spooky) sign...

I was inspired by this wreath

at my local craft store.

This is what I first came up with.


Pretty Cute! But not exactly what I wanted. I couldn't put my finger on what was bugging me about it. And finally I had an ahh-haa kind of moment. The sign was too small and too cutesy for the rest of the wreath. And I didn't like it against the pink brick of the house.

So with a quick switch of the sign, some cheap ribbon from Walmart to use as a wreath holder and here is the new wreath!


Loving it!!

A few things I learned.
1. Always check the dollar store. I bought the leaves at the craft store they were $5.99, but I used my 50% off coupon and got them for $3.00. Not bad..but I found the same leaves only with glitter (and come on glitter makes everything better) at the $1 store. That is also were I got the skull heads that are on the wreath.

2. Use what you have. I almost bought ribbon and then found the cute candy corn ribbon in the back one of my drawers in my craft room.

3. If something just dosen't look right, don't settle!

Enjoy!

I'm being featured on Somewhat Simple!

Hey Everyone! 

I am Stephanie, the creative mind from Somewhat Simple. Each Friday is Feature Friday on my blog and today I am featuring my personal favorite creation from this site.Feature Friday is a great way to view awesome ideas from some amazing bloggers! Stop by and take a look- you just might get inspired!