Easy No Fuss Pumpkin Ideas

If you are like me and you just don't have the time or patience for carving a pumpkin here is a super cute last minute pumpkin decorating idea. Decorating a pumpkin is easy as painting and peeling stickers. Browse the scrapboooking aisle at the crafts store to find Halloween-theme stickers in styles, shapes, and sizes.

What You'll Need

• Pumpkin
• Spray paint or acrylic paint
• Adhesive silver stars
• Adhesive silver letters
• Fabric glue
• Silk flower leaves
• Silver glitter

How to Make It

1. Paint the pumpkin, applying 2-3 coats. Let the paint dry between coats.

2. Let the pumpkin dry throughly, then adhere the stars and letters.

3.Brush fabric glue on the silk flower leaves and sprinkle them with glitter. Let dry complete; adhere to the top on pumpkin.

For more ideas check out Better Homes and Gardens www.bhg.com/holidays/halloween/pumpkin-decorarting/easy-no-carve-halloween-pumpkins/

Candy Apples

One of my favorite childhood memories is every Halloween my mother would make us popcorn balls and candy apples. Of course once we got older and the more health conscious she became this practice was put to an end. This year in spite of my doctor's request to watch my sugar I am going to bring this tradition back and indulge myself making the most lavish candy apples for Halloween.

Here are 2 great recipes

Ingredients

• Halloween sprinkles and small candies, for decoration
• 8 craft sticks, twigs or cinnamon sticks
• 8 crisp apples
• 1 1/3 cups candy melts in orange and green
• 1 1/3 cups chocolate candy melts

Preparation

Line a large cookie sheet with waxed paper. Pour sprinkles and candy into small bowls.

Insert stick into stem ends of each apple. Make sure sticks are tightly secured.

Place each color of candy melts in a separate microwave-safe, 2-cup measuring cup or bowl. To melt, work with one cup of candy at a time and microwave on medium for 1 minute. Stir and then microwave in 15-second intervals until totally melted.

Holding apple by stick, dip it into melted candy, swirling until apple is fully coated. While coating is still wet, dip apple into sprinkles or sprinkle small candies all over apple. Place finished apple on prepared cookie sheet to set for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day before serving. Repeat with remaining apples and candy.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001875232

Ingredients

• 8 wooden craft sticks
• 8 medium Gala apples
• 2 (6.5-ounce) packages caramel apple wraps
• 1 (16-ounce) chocolate bar
• 16 ounces vanilla bark coating
• Orange paste food coloring
• Toppings: colored sprinkles, chopped peanuts, black writing gel

Preparation

Insert craft sticks into apples. Cover each apple with 1 caramel wrap.

Microwave at HIGH 15 to 20 seconds. Cool.

Melt chocolate bar in a small saucepan over low heat.

Dip each apple into chocolate; let dry.

Melt vanilla bark coating in a small saucepan over low heat; stir in orange food coloring.

Dip or drizzle each apple with vanilla coating mixture. Decorate with desired toppings, and let dry.

NOTE: For testing purposes only, we used a Ghirardelli chocolate bar.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000000258724

Halloween Fun!

Hey moms, FREE ADMISSION @ Georgia Aquarium! Kids 12 and under in costume will receive free general admission when accompanied by an adult. Offer valid for up to two children in costume per one paid adult or Annual Pass member on Oct. 29-31, 2010.

Here is a list of other events going on in the Metro Atlanta area.

Kids
http://www.atlantawithkid.com/halloween-fun-family-friendly-halloween-events-in-atlanta-favorite-attractions/

Adults
http://entertainment.accessatlanta.com/search?swhat=halloween&swhere=&swhen=this+weekend&srad=60&st=event&x=64&y=19

Monster Balls

This year rather than taking Jaylan (my son) trick-or-treating I have decided to host a small get together with family and friends. I found this cute little recipe for the kids that is sure to be a hit.

http://militaryspice.blogspot.com/

Simag on Etsy

Spreading love one letter at a time, Simag on Esty creates one-of-a-kind personalized handmade jewelry. Who can resist unique designs, quality craftsmanship, and the lasting beauty each piece of Simag jewelry captures effortlessly. I love that every letter and number is hand-stamp. Simag personalized jewelry are timeless treasures and wonderful keepsakes for you and the people you love. I urge you to check them out.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Simag

OMG!

Omg! Today is the day I can finally embrace my inner Kim Kardashian and enter the wonderful world of long luxuriously lashes. Urban Decay line of lashes feature 18 styles suited for any mood or occasion. Every pair is handmade with cruelty- free synthetic fibers. Lashes can be worn up to three times (maybe more) if they are cleaned between uses. The best part is lashes only take 2 minutes to apply and they come with a quick-drying non-latex adhesive. Urban Decay lashes can be found at Sephora, Macy's, and Ulta.

http://www.urbandecay.com/categories/UrbanLash.cfm

Another Lunch

About two years ago I canned school lunch and started making lunch for Jaylan (my son) myself. When I stumbled unto Another Lunch, a blog full of fun and creativite ideas on making lunch into cool shapes and themes I could barely contain myself. Melissa ( a super mom of four and creator of Another Lunch) demonstrates how to make different lunch themes fun for moms and kids . Check it out!!

http://www.anotherlunch.com/

Bossa Nova

After a few weeks on Wordpress, I decided to move the blog site back to Blogger. Blogger seems a little more user friendly. I also decided to make the blog geared more toward lifestyle and less about party ideas and recipes. Hope you enjoyed the changes.

So last Monday I went to the doctor for my annual physical. It was horrible. Not only have I gained over 20 pounds in a year, but my blood glucose was a little high. It seems that my fondness of citrus vodka cocktails was not only thickening my waistline, but leading me down a road for potential diabetes. Damn I'm getting old!

My doctor recommended I lose a little weight and change my diet to get my sugar down. Four days out of the week I jog half a mile. My new diet consists of bran flakes, organic brown rice, and those vodka cocktails are being replaced with Acai berry cocktails.

There are a variety of Acai berry juices on the market, but I perfer Bossa Nova. Bossa Nova is an organic juice made of Acai berries, which grow high in the palms of the Brazilian rainforest. Acai berries are packed with more diease-fighting antioxidants than any other fruit on Earth. Unlike many other antioxidant juices, Bossa Nova tastes pretty good and less expensive than the Pom juices that usually sits next to on shelves.

You can find Bossa Nova in the refrigrated section of any major grocery retailers and the single serve juice section of most natural food stores.

http://http//www.bossausa.com/flash/