Definitely a Treat - No Tricks!

Happy Halloween!

I will be spending the weekend with my little pumpkin!

It's a Boy!!

Friday Oct 17th I gave birth to a beautiful little boy!

Gavin Joseph joined this world at 4:31 pm weighing in at 6lbs, 12 oz and 20 inches long.
He is just perfect and has stole my heart from the minute I held him.

We are doing great - trying to get used to everything about having a new little one.

Here is a pic of my lil' pumpkin.


I will be a bit slow on posts for awhile - bear with me.

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Pumpkin Bread
1 cup pumpkin pie filling (not pure pumpkin)
1/2 cup canola oil, plus more for the pan
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Heat oven to 350° F. Oil a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin pie filling, oil, sugar, molasses, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes.

Transfer pan to a wire rack for 10 minutes. Using a knife, loosen the bread from the pan. Invert it onto a cutting board. Serve warm.

In Advance: Bake the bread and let it cool. Wrap and set aside at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Cover with foil and warm in a 250° F oven for 30 minutes.

To Freeze: Place the cooled bread in a resealable plastic bag or cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap. Store for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: Refrigerate the bread overnight. Remove the plastic wrap, cover with aluminum foil, and warm in a 250° oven for 30 minutes.

Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 381(26% from fat); FAT 11g (sat 1g); CARBOHYDRATE 67g; SODIUM 576mg; PROTEIN 4g; FIBER 4g; SUGAR 30g

Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes

Crate and Barrel has this great pan to make Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes

and here is a yummy recipe: for Pumpkin Flavored Cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sift before measuring
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten until frothy
• 1 cup mashed cooked or canned pumpkin
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preparation:

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a bowl. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs. Blend in mashed pumpkin. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk, blending until batter is smooth after each addition; stir in chopped walnuts or pecans. Spoon batter into well-greased and floured or paper-lined muffin pan cups. Fill about 2/3 full. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Since you can't really frost these cupcakes, decorate the plate with cream cheese frosting
Makes about 24 cupcakes.

Spooky Icey Hand Punch

This is a simple punch where the ice is the center piece. Not only is the icy hand super spooky, but it keeps things cool as well.

To make the Icy Hand

Take 2 (always good to have an extra hand) latex gloves, put them on and wash your hands with dish soap. Rinse well and turn the glove inside out so the just washed side is on the inside. Next, fill the gloves with water, tie the end and freeze. Once frozen remove the glove and you are good to go.

To make the Punch

1 750 ml bottle premium Vodka or White Rum
2 2 liter bottles of Lemon Lime Soda - make sure to get a clear brand
red food coloring
marshmallows (optional)

Chill the Vodka (in the freezer) and Soda (in the fridge) for at least 24 hours. Just before the party combine the two liquids in a large punch bowl. Add a few drops of the red food coloring to make it blood red, well maybe more than a few drops. Add one of your icy hands in the center of the bowl, throw in the marshmallows and squirt some more food coloring over all of it for extra bloodiness.

Thanks to drink of the week for the recipe

You've Been Ghosted

I know I posted this last year but wanted to encourage more Ghosting by my readers.
My neighborhood does this and it is so fun! who doesn't love Halloween Candy.

You've Been Ghosted

-Now it's your turn to 'ghost' one other house in our neighborhood
-You should 'ghost' this house within in 2 days of receiving your treat
-Hang the ghost on your front door so that everyone can see that you have been 'ghosted' and will not ghost you again. This will also let you know who you can ghost
-Fill 1 bag with candy and treats. Copy this letter and the ghost. Include treats, letter and ghost in your bag of goodies for the neighbor that you choose
-After dark, and only with an adult, 'ghost' your neighbor. Do not let the person that you are 'ghosting' see you, for it adds to the fun of it all. Place the treat bag on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and run!
-It will be fun to see how many ghosts will appear in our neighborhood by Hall0ween.

This is soo cool - Great for your neighborhood or coworkers.

So go have a spooktacular Halloween!

Pumpkin Tips

Once cut, a pumpkin lasts about four to five days, then starts to rot.
You can rub Vaseline on the cut parts to help with deterioration.

And a tip I read from Real Simple:

Think about cutting out the bottom of the pumpkin instead of around the stem - place your candle on the porch or walkway then place the pumpkin on top. This will prevent the cut out stem section from falling in when rotted.

Pumpkins are a great way to show some creativity - will you make a scary face, write your initials, a jack o lanturn or maybe turn it on its side and make a candy container?

What will you do?

Carving Pumpkins

Put your personal stamp on your pumpkins this year - Create a monogram or initial and carve on to a pumpkin! Great for your doorstep to greet trick or treaters, have it line the aisle at your next outdoor wedding ceremony or even use the smaller size as a centerpiece.

Many craft stores have the carvable pumpkins that you can keep year to year. You can't use real candles inside but you could put battery operated ones in there!

Fall Treats for Everyone

So what goes with cool weather, fall leaves and apple cider?
Yummy caramel covered apples!!

Here is a great blog post from Glam Dish about how to make these Carmel Apples

I've Been Tagged

I was tagged by Lakendra with Affairs with Elegance.

Four things I did today:
1. Arranged transportation for a wedding next May - lots of vehicles needed.
2. Spoke to a MOG about a wedding next June.
3. Put a Wonderful Graffiti Wall Saying on the wall above the baby's crib.
4. Had my car seat professionally installed.

Four things on my to-do list:
1. Touch base with my future clients about me being out on maternity leave.
2. Blog about pumpkins and Halloween.
3. Take a nap to get ready for this baby (only 19 more days).
4. Pick out carpet and floor for our basement renovation.

Four of my guiltiest pleasures:
1. Chocolate - specifically Reece's cups
2. Fresh Brewed Sweet Tea
3. Ice Cream- minty
4. Pedicures

Four random facts about me:
1. I keep my camera in my car and take pictures of random things - mostly cool sunsets.
2. I am very lucky to have great parents - they are my best friends.
3. I am having a major urge to bake.
4. My husband and I are trying to finish our basement all before the baby arrives.

Now I have to tag four other people…
1. Emilie with Emilie Duncan Event Planning
2. Kelly with Weddings by Socialites
3. Amber with Amber Events
4. Samantha with soiréebliss!

Halloween Party 101

Are you throwing a spooky Halloween Party this year?

Here are some ideas to pull off a fun party-

First impression is the invitation:

(check out tinyprints on the right for more ideas)

Then think about the front of your house or apt - you need to set the scary mood.
Candles hanging from trees, spooky music and maybe a fog machine.

Use these spider stands from Lillian Vernon either on your door stop or right in the foyer.

Offer guests a drink as they arrive-from the Vampire Punch Bowl (trick is to put a flat cab light underneath to illuminate)


A spider chip and dip container from Ballard Designs to hold

Another idea is to use mini pumpkins as a dip holder - just carve out the center and voila.

Don't forget the restroom decor - Fill a glass container with candy corn and top with a candle.


Carve out some pumpkins and set around your table or bar.

You should have a black and white candy bar set up. Don't forget little bags for guests to go Trick or Treating before they leave.



Keep reading throughout October for some more Halloween Fun.

Carlson Craft Goes Eco Friendly

Just wanted to announce that Carlson Craft Invitations are going Eco Friendly.

As of Nov the little tissues will NOT be included with an invitation order. Based on their research they found brides aren't using them anymore. Originally they were to prevent the ink from smearing or messing up other pages. Invites aren't printed that way anymore.

And as a friendly reminder please take your stamped invitations to the post office to get HAND STAMPED - they look better and won't get messed up in the mailing process.

New Carlson Craft

A few of my clients are looking for save the date cards for their spring weddings so I thought I would share with you some ideas.
Carlson Craft has these new options:




If you had your wedding in 2008 and want to share a picture of your wedding with your holiday card check out these options:



Place your order now in time for the holidays.

Entire selection of Carlson Craft stationary and look for your special discount.

Party, Wedding or Baby Items

If you are looking for some accessories, favors, save the dates, or invitations look on the right side of my blog for some discounts through Tiny Prints, Minted, Wedding Paper Divas, Beau-coup and Thread Smith.

Wedding Paper Divas




Beau Coup

TinyprintsMinted