{funny friday}

Jim and Edna are both mental patients. One day Jim jumps into the swimming pool but, doesn't come up for air. Quick as a flash, Edna sees her friend in trouble, so dives in and pulls him out.

Later, the hospital director calls Edna into his office and sayes 'Edna, Ive got some good news and some bad news. The good news is, we are releasing you as you are obviously sane 'saving anothers life'. But unfortunately, the bad news is that Jim hanged himself in the bathroom ...'

'Oh no' Edna replies, 'that's where I put him to dry !'

{funny friday}

10 Clues That You've Gone Overboard On Home Improvement
1. You've built a drive-thru car wash in the second slot of your 2-car garage.

2. You'll use any excuse to add a new room onto the house, including needing more space for the newest addition to the family -- your daughter's goldfish Buffy.

3. Even Martha Stewart has deemed your multi-level, hydraulically-operated kitchen is "a bit overdone."

4. You've converted the standard stall shower into a "bathing waterfall," complete with tropical plants.

5. Your rear-projection, surround-sound TV room can comfortably seat 43, and you're trying to make arrangements with Universal for first run films.

6. Your dog has a duplex dog house out back, even though he sleeps in bed with you every night.

7. The local building department says you can't add a fourth floor to a house that was originally zoned as a single level dwelling.

8. You bought and demolished your next door neighbors house to make room for an Olympic size swimming pool.

9. You've installed a small freight elevator going to your attic.

10. You've built an FAA-approved helipad on your roof.

{trivia tuesday}

1. Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined
2. Americans on the average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.
3. Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously
4. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
5. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite
6. Mr. Rogers is an ordained minister.
7. Certain frogs can be frozen solid then thawed and continue living.
8. Honey is the only food that doesn't spoil.
9. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks or it will digest itself.
10. All porcupines float in water.

  

{magic potion punch}

Another parent made this {magic} punch at my daughter's Halloween party at school. Maybe I'm sheltered but I thought this was awesome...She put a cube of dry ice in this cute {walmart} spooky punch bowl followed by pouring in a couple gallons of green Hawaiian Punch. Super Easy. and Super Delightful!  Maybe I'm easily entertained but it was a hit for the kids they loved it...saying it was smoky, foggy, and magical.

Pumpkin @ its {best}

Pumpkin Pancakes recipe

Pumpkin for breakfast is a treat way to start the day. Ready in minutes, this recipe is especially good topped with a drizzle of real maple syrup.

Ingredients:

1 medium egg

1 cup milk

¾ cup unbleached white flour

¾ cup whole wheat flour

½ cup cooked pumpkin

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch nutmeg

Pinch powdered ginger

2 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, as needed

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients except vegetable oil in a large mixing bowl, whisking to blend.

2. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add ¼ cup pancake batter at a time, allowing to cook until bubbles break around the edges. Flip and allow to cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes, until light golden. Repeat with remaining oil and batter.

Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

1/2 c Butter or margarine; softened
1 c Brown sugar; firmly packed 

1 1/2 c Flour; unsifted
1 c Oats 

1 Ts Baking powder 

1 Ts Salt 16 oz Pumpkin 

1 can Sweetened condensed milk 

2 Eggs; beaten 

2 Ts Pumpkin pie spice 

1 1/2 Ts Vanilla extract 

1 c Pecans; chopped Confectioners' sugar (optional for dusting)

Preheat oven to 350ºF. 

In large mixer bowl, beat margarine and brown sugar until fluffy; add flour, oats, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. 

Mix until crumbly. Reserving 1/2 cup flour mixture, press remainder on bottom of 15x10" jellyroll pan. 

Bake 20 minutes. 

Meanwhile in medium bowl, combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. 

Spread over baked crust. In small bowl, combine reserved 1/2 cup flour mixture with pecans; sprinkle over pumpkin mixture. 

Bake 30-35 minutes or until set. Cool. Cut into bars. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar if desired. Store covered in refrigerator.

{funny friday}

My daughter can now appreciate why this is funny...they only fall for the joke once!

{5 Question Friday}

1. If you could be a fly on any wall, which would you choose?

My answer for this has certainly changed over the years because I care less and less of what people say about me...today it would be my daughter's wall. She pretends when she's by herself but when she notices someone watching she stops. She's very imaginative and entertaining! Makes me smile to take a trip without her knowing to her tiny world.

2. Do you budget your Christmas shopping or just get it done without budgeting?


We don't put a lot of emphasis on the shopping part of Christmas. I think people buy gifts just to buy gifts and rarely is something the person would have bought for themselves. And..in my opinion it's super hard to buy for peeps anyways b/c if most of us need/want something we buy it for ourselves before Christmas. To answer the question...no budget here.

3. What is the craziest fad diet you have ever done?

I'm a fairly small person so I don't do fad diets to lose weight..however, a couple years ago I decided I would do a cleansing diet...horrible idea. It included cayenne pepper and lemon water if I remember correctly. disgusting.


4. Is there a TV show that you have seen every episode/season of?


Simple. Dr.Phil has always been the king of my DVR. I'm notorious for being excited about following a new show and before I even know it I've missed a couple episodes and then I talk myself out of watching it. The only other show I've followed from day one is The Ultimate Fighter... maybe not what you'd expect me to say but that's about the only tv that I make sure has recorded for the week.


5. What one song always pulls at your heart?

Easy. "You are God Alone" by Phillips Craig & Dean. Why? I was going through a divorce and not so fun times when I heard it for the first time in church one morning. Literally changed my life for good. I also chose to have that song played at my grandma{best friend}'s funeral because good or bad...He is God Alone. It also plays randomly at certain times like when I dropped my daughter off for the first day of Kindergarten that song came on the radio. I've caught myself falling apart and that song comes on the radio... Brings me back to reality for why I'm here and Who I live for. 

{funny friday}

Some Psychology

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need.
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

halloween {party} food ideas

Campfire Cooked Apples 

Description: A delicious and simple campfire treat.

---

Ingredients:

One Apple per person

Light Brown Sugar

---

Preparation Directions:

1. Cut the core out of the apples.
2. Place an apple on a piece of aluminum foil.
3. Fill the empty core cavity with brown sugar.
4. Wrap apple in aluminum foil.
5. Repeat steps #2 - #4 for each apple.
6. Place apples in campfire and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
7. For cooking at home, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until tender.

 

Monster Toes

Description: All too many Halloween party treats are high sugar foods, that will have you scraping the kids off of the ceiling. Monster toes are not sugary. The kids will love to munch on a few tasty toes. 

---

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

1 package cocktail wieners

1 package 6-inch tortillas

ketchup and mustard

toothpicks

---

Preparation Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut a toenail shaped wedge into the end of each cocktail wiener.
3. Cut tortillas into strips, about 4 inches long and 3/4 inches wide.
4. Soften the strips in the microwave between a damp paper towel for 15 to 30 seconds.
5. Roll each wiener in a tortilla strip, keeping the side with the "toenail" exposed.
6. Place on a baking sheet, with "toenail" up.
7. Secure the the tortilla strip with a toothpick.
8. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool a little.
10. Remove toothpicks.
11. Fill the toenails with ketchup or mustard.
12. Serve while still warm. 

Boogers on a Stick

Description: As Halloween party treats go, Boogers on a Stick is real snotty. And, these little boogers taste good. They will go fast.

---

Ingredients:

Pretzel sticks

Cheese Whiz (or Velveeta)

---

Preparation Directions:

1. Melt the Cheese Whiz in the microwave, according to the directions on the jar. Allow it to cool slightly.
2. Add green food coloring to the Cheese Whiz until it is a "booger-green" color.
3. Dip an end of a pretzel stick into the Cheese Whiz.
4. Pull it out and allow to cool for a few seconds.
5. Continue to dip it until it is a lumpy, booger size.
6. Place it on a plate and allow to cool.
7. Repeat this step for as many as you want to make.  

Tip:  Have a couple friends help you to make them. But, don't eat them all.! You need to save some for the Halloween party.

You can use Velveeta instead of Cheese Whiz, if you prefer. 

Worms in Mud

Description: This is so quick and easy, you'll wonder why you didn't think of it or make it before. It will be a big hit at your Kid's Halloween Party.

---

Ingredients:

• Chocolate Pudding Mix (Regular or Instant)
• Gummy Worms

---

Worms in Mud Recipe:

• Make the Chocolate pudding by following the directions on the box.
• Add in Gummy Worms and stir.
• Immediately pour into individual serving cups.
• Chill as directed on the pudding box instructions.

 

Peanut Butter Ghosts

Description: Here is a Halloween party treat that is as much fun to make, as it is to eat.

---

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 3 tablespoons margarine, soft
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 16-ounce can vanilla frosting
• mini chocolate chips, 2 per ghost

---

Preparation Directions:

1. Mix together peanut butter, sugar, margarine, and vanilla.
2. Take a ball of dough and shape into a ghost shape that is about two inches high.
3. Place the ghost, standing up, on a cookie sheet.
4. Continue to make ghosts with the dough.
5. Put frosting into a micro-wavable bowl. Microwave frosting 10-15 seconds until warm and runny.
6. Remove frosting from microwave and stir.
7. Use a toothpick or a fork, and pick up a ghost by stabbing into the top of it.
8. Dip the ghost into the warm frosting. Place frosted ghost back onto the cookie sheet.
9. Press two chocolate mini chips into the ghost for the eyes.
10. Put the Ghosts into the refrigerator to harden.

 You can find more party recipes Here

 

 

{head ornaments}

I made her the hairbow for halloween and just so happens she wears it the same day she's supposed to dress like an Indian for drug free week at school....so she has two ornaments on her head! The hair bow was super easy I just used a lighter to seal the ends of ribbons, used a needle and went through center of ribbon (some I folded over to make it {fluffier}), and after tying a knot keeping the ribbons together..just sew to a pony tail holder or metal clip.. I've come the conclusion the thick pony tail holders stay in better than metal or alligator clips. 

{pumpkin} carving tips

http://wls.wwco.com/garden/pumpkin.html

http://homecooking.about.com/od/howtocookvegetables/a/pumpkincarving.htm

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/perfect-pumpkins-710086/

http://www.getcarvingquicker.com/CarvingTips.htm

http://www.delish.com/entertaining-ideas/holidays/halloween/pumpkin-carving

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/pumpcarvingtips

http://crafts.kaboose.com/pumpkin-carving-tips.html

{trivia tuesday}

1. The average American dog will cost its owner $14,600 in its lifetime.
2. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball
3. If Bill Gates was a country, he would be the 37th richest country on earth
4.  The first toilet ever seen on television was on “Leave It To Beaver.”
5. 2 out of 3 adults in the United States have hemorrhoids.
6. Clinophobia is the fear of beds!
7. A toothbrush within 6 feet of a toilet can get airborne bacteria from flushing.
8. McDonald's is the world's largest distributor of toys!
9.  Rubberbands last longer when refrigerated.
10.  Whispering is more wearing on your voice than a normal speaking tone

{decorate} a pumpkin

Need and alternative to pumpkin carving? here's a perfect idea. I think we may be doing this in addition to carving..since we are not doing what most other people are doing for Halloween...{maybe} we'll just stay home decorating pumpkins!

Supplies:

• Pumpkin
• Assortment of HERSHEY'S Candies (HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates, REESE'S Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures, YORK Peppermint Patties, TWIZZLERS PULL-N-PEEL Candy, etc.)
  
• Confectioners' glue:
• 4 teaspoons all-natural egg whites (meringue powder, such as Just Whites-TM dried egg product)
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions:

1. Create faces or patterns by gluing HERSHEY'S Candies onto your pumpkin. It's easy, clean and safe!
2. To make Confectioners' glue:
3. Gently stir together egg white powder and water according to directions on the egg white powder package or until completely dissolved. Beat in powdered sugar until thick and smooth. Use immediately!
4. Completed craft is for decorative purposes only and candy should not be eaten!

Find the link Here

{meaning}of Halloween

Halloween (or Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday observed on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints' Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.

History

Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, whose original spelling was Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)".The name is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end".A similar festival was held by the ancient Britons and is known as Calan Gaeaf (pronounced Kálan Gái av).

Snap-Apple Night by Daniel Maclise showing a Halloween party in Blarney, Ireland, in 1832. The young children on the right bob for apples. A couple in the center play a variant, which involves retrieving an apple hanging from a string. The couples at left play divination games.

The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".
The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honored and invited home while harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.
Another common practice was divination, which often involved the use of food and drink.
The name 'Halloween' and many of its present-day traditions derive from the Old English era
 Find the article Here

{free} pumpkin carving templates

I've compiled a gigantic list of websites that offer FREE pumpkin carving templates! If you cannot find one you like from these sites than perhaps you need to design your own...

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/mpatterns.htm

http://www.ehow.com/halloween/templates.html

http://www.spookmaster.com/pumpkin-carving-patterns-freebies.htm

http://www.pumpkinlady.com/plwp/free-pumpkin-carving-patterns/

http://www.stoneykins.com/Free_Patterns/Page_01.html

http://www.celebrating-halloween.com/pumpkincarving/index.shtml

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/interactives/pumpkin-carving-patterns

http://www.zombiepumpkins.com/patterns.php

http://www.koa.com/familyzone/activities/pumpkincarving.htm

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/nickjr-pumpkin-stencils.jhtml?path=/printables/all-shows/seasonal_halloween/all-ages/index.jhtml

http://www.hersheys.com/celebrate/halloween/fun-stuff/stencils/index.asp?id=0&img=stencils&t=content

http://www.familymanagement.com/holidays/halloween/pumpkin.patterns4.html

http://www.pumpkinglow.com/Patterns.htm

http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/pumpkin-carving-decorating/

http://www.rd.com/home-garden/12-free-printable-pumpkin-carving-stencils/article100924.html

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/halloween/pumpkin-carving/pumpkin-carving-stencils-of-favorite-dogs/

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/pumpkin-templates

http://www.paperpumpkins.com/

{spa-licious saturday}

Have Tired Eyes? I love anything that has to do with cucumbers on my eyes they are so refreshing and very relaxing.

CUCUMBER EYE GEL #1

Ingredients:
1/4 large cucumber
1 ounce aloe vera gel

Puree the cucumber in a blender (leave a little pulp), strain the mixture into a glass bowl until you have at least 2 ounces. Spoon in just a tad of the pulp from the strainer). Add the aloe vera to the cucumber puree in the bowl and mix lightly. Pour into a clean, sterilized container. After cleansing face, stir mixture gently and apply with a cotton ball to undereye area.  Avoid the eyeball. The shelf life of this product is very limited by the fresh cucumber. It should be used within a few days, and kept refrigerated between uses.

CUCUMBER EYE GEL #2

1 Tbs. aloe vera gel
1 tsp. fresh cucumber juice
¼ tsp. cornstarch
1 Tbs. witch hazel

Mix together aloe, cucumber and cornstarch. Heat until just boiling, about 1 minute in microwave. Remove from heat source and stir in witch hazel. Stir well and allow the mixture to cool completely. You should have a clear, jelly-like cream. Spoon into a small clean jar. To use: Dab a small amount under your eyes and be careful not to rub or pull the delicate skin under your eyes.  Keep in cool place. Makes 1 oz.

{halloween cupcake wreath}

I'm really not into the creepy Halloween decor mostly b/c I'm not a huge fan of Halloween in general. But I decided to make this wreath to add some color to our porch/door. 

I purchased a package of Halloween dimensional stickers for $3 & a wooden wreath frame at Michael's Craft Store $2, Large Halloween cupcake liners $2.50, Small Halloween cupcake liners $1.50, small box of jewels $3.50 all at Wal-Mart. 

total = $12.50

Actually, everything I had left over (cupcake liners, stickers, and jewels) I will use in other crafts so it wasn't very expensive to make. 

I used Tacky Glue to layer the goodies on the wooden wreath frame. I also used some ribbon that I already had for my daughter's hair bows. I added foil and markers to add color. When I was given this idea I was told to paint the wooden wreath frame with black paint but I used a black sharpie marker to color the inner/outer rim and any other exposed parts.

I'm  handicap when it comes to the craft department. I'm not lacking in the creative area but making it actually look like it did in my head is a different story! But this is a very simple project.

{funny friday}

Parent's Dictionary of Meanings

DUMBWAITER: one who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

FEEDBACK: the inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.

FULL NAME: what you call your child when you're mad at him.

GRANDPARENTS: the people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.

HEARSAY: what toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

INDEPENDENT: how we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

OW: the first word spoken by children with older siblings

PUDDLE: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

SHOW OFF: a child who is more talented than yours.

STERILIZE: what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva.

TOP BUNK: where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

TWO-MINUTE WARNING: when the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

VERBAL: able to whine in words

WHODUNIT: none of the kids that live in your house

{trivia tuesday}

10 random but delightful facts...

1. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.
2. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.
3. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples
4. Most soccer players run 7 miles in a game
5. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting
6. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die
7. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair
8. The average person laughs 13 times a day
9. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain
10. The most common birth date is October 5 and the least common is May 22 in U.S.A

  

 Do You Feel Delightfully Smart?

Delicious Mascarpone Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 8 ounces mascarpone cheese (about 1 cup), softened
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 box white cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and drained
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Special equipment: 4 mini muffin tins and 48 mini muffin paper cupcake liners

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line the mini tins with paper liners.

In a large bowl combine the mascarpone cheese, egg whites and vegetable oil.

Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients until combined and creamy.

Add the cake mix and water and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Fill the mini cups to just below the rim and bake until puffed and golden, about 18 to 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven, let cool slightly in the tin then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack.

Meanwhile, puree the strawberries in a blender or small food processor.

Place the powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Pour in the strawberry puree and whisk until smooth.

Top the cooled cupcakes with the strawberry glaze. Let the cupcakes sit for a few minutes for the glaze to firm up, then serve.


{I've kept this recipe very close using it on many occasions. I saw it first on a cooking show and it now resides on the inside of my cabinet doors. I've spread the word and baked them to entertain leaving everyone full and happy!}

{The only thing I will say for insight is the first time I baked them I couldn't find mascarpone cheese for the life of me. I even had to google it to see what it even looked like so I'd know what I was looking for.}

{I shop at a local Walmart Supercenter and the cheese is in an island with deli prepared food in front of the deli. The brand/package I purchase is actually in a plastic container like a sour cream or dip container would be. So you're not looking for regular cheese. }

Other than that the recipe itself is fabulous... I also like to bake them during the summer when fresh strawberries are in season and use fresh strawberries for the icing.

{Enjoy!}

{Click Here To Get The Recipe}

{spa-licious saturday}

Tomato Blemish Remedy

1 tomato, ripe, chopped

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 T instant style oatmeal or old fashioned rolled oats

Blend all ingredients until just combined, in a paste. Apply to blemished skin, making sure the mixture is thick enough to stay in place.  Leave in place 10 minutes.  Remove with damp washcloth, and rinse and tone.

GENTLE HONEY CLEANSER

 

This cleanser is simple and effective. The soap gently cleans, the glycerin prevents drying and the honey not only softens the skin, but its antimicrobial properties can help ward off breakouts. A touch of honey is all you need for healthy, glowing skin. 

 

Combine 1/4 cup honey
, 1 tablespoon liquid soap*, and 1/2 cup glycerin
in a small bowl until fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle.  Pour onto clean face sponge or soft cloth and gently rub onto face, wash away with warm water and pat face dry. Enjoy fresh radiant skin.

 

*Any mild liquid soap will work, even Baby Shampoo, but do avoid dishwashing soaps. They are harsh and contain detergents.

 

{funny friday}

Wonders of Coffee

Seriously

Am I being punkd? My 5 yr old has a crazy obsession with being "big" enough to lock the stalls when she has to go potty...

She now (3rd time) locks the door and 5 min later screams "can you please come wipe cause I went poop"

ugh..then maybe you shouldn't have locked the door but nonetheless there have always been others using the restroom these 3 times and I just want to yell back "honey, who are you talking too... who are you here with....! 

That is the highlight of my delightful day!

What is yours?

{trivia tuesday}

10 random but delightful facts....

1. You are about 1 centimeter taller in the morning than in the evening!
2. A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons per day
3.  15 percent of Americans secretly bite their toes.
4.  Every three seconds, a new baby is born.
5. 68% of a Hostess Twinkie is air!
6. Babies are born without knee caps.
7. Dirty snow melts faster than clean.
8. The speed of a typical raindrop is 17 miles per hour.
9. It takes five minutes to execute someone in a gas chamber.
10. On eBay, there are an average of $680 worth of transactions each second

Do you feel delightfully smarter? 

Egg Carton Pumpkins

The creative geniuses over at plaidkidcrafts.com featured this adorable pumpkin craft I've listed the project directions and a link to their site. It's easy enough for my 5 yr old to enjoy without having a lot of supervision or at least keeping a grip on her creativity so my walls remain intact!

What you need:

• green paper
• green (or brown) pipe cleaner
• orange paint
• egg carton (2 cups per pumpkin)
• scissors
• glue
• paint brush
• black marker

Directions: Cut your egg cups off of the egg carton. Take 2 egg carton cups & paint the outside with orange paint. Let it dry. Poke a small hole in the top of one of the cups. Cut a piece of the pipe cleaner that is 2 inches long & fold it in half. Twist the ends…leaving the top a loop. Place glue on the edges of one of the cups. Glue the cups together & allow to dry. Place the pipe cleaner in the hole on the top. Draw a face on the pumpkin using a marker. Cut a leaf out of the green paper & glue it on & there you have a cute Jack-0-Lantern.

See this project at: http://preschooleasycrafts.com/egg-carton-pumpkins/

{Spa-licious Saturday}

Time to love on our dry cracked stinky abused feet! ok maybe that just describes my feet. I loved this spa-licious recipe because milk makes your skin feel so soft. I've sometimes put this on my face warmed of course and it feels fabulous.

Lovely Pedicure 

You'll need:

2 cups fresh-mashed pineapple
2 cups fresh-mashed papaya
2 cups hot milk

Test the milk's temperature on your wrist and, if it doesn't feel too hot, dump all three ingredients into a large bowl. Soak your tootsies for 20 minutes, rinse and then top them off with a basic lotion. "You can do this once a month.

{funny friday}

Quick Fixes for Tired Looking Eyes

I realize I'm no beauty queen but for crying out loud I hate waking up with tired eyes. It's obvious to everyone what kind of not so restful night I had. The older I get the more I have them too. There are some days I wake up and have a bright glowing face but other times I must mask the ugly tiredness. 

1. White eyeliner

I saw this trick being used on an MTV Show a long time ago and I was hooked right away. It actually works. I think green corrects redness if that is a problem. I also have some white concealer that I use too. This worked to open and brighten her eyes. This is an easy instant makeup trick for tired eyes. It's cheap and easy. Try it out.

2. Undereye Concealer

Apply a concealer just a shade or two lighter than the rest of your face. I recommend speaking to a makeup consultant at a department store for help. Choosing the right concealer is important in covering up dark under eye circles. A shade too light can make you look like you have eye bags, while a dark shade will only enhance under eye circles.

3. Preparation H

While concealers work to reduce dark under eye circles, it's often hard to fix puffy eye bags. An old but well known treatment for puffy eyes is Preparation H. Yes it's butt medication for hemorrhoids but it works. It helps to tighten skin and when applied under the eyes, it effectively reduces swollen puffy eyes. Give it a try.

4. Cold Spoon

Another great tip to reduce puffy eyes is a cold spoon. Simply take a spoon from your kitchen and run it under cold water. Once you feel the metal is cold place the spoon on the puffy area for at least 60 seconds. Voila! Puffiness gone. An even better idea is to have a spoon already stored in your refrigerator or freezer for emergency puffy eye fixes. Ahh, the wonders of home remedies!

Investment or Stupid Idea

I bought my daughter some glow in the dark silly bands..What is the big deal with these crazy things?

She says oh that's awesome mom I'm going to sell these at school tomorrow.

Me: Wait a long gigantic minute Say What? You're not selling them. I just bought them for you.

Her:  ok I won't sell them I'll just wear them to school and show my friends.

Me: yea I didn't fall off the stupid truck last night I don't believe you. You're not wearing them to school.

Her: please multiplied by 1000!  [no literally 1000 times] I lost my hearing after the 5th time.

Me: When you buy things with your own money you can resell them all you want. Fantastic. Case Closed.

Her: how much did these cost?

Me: $3

Her: Fabulous I'll give you $3 from my piggy bank and I'll resell them.

Me: do you plan to move to Wall Street tomorrow or sell cars? Seriously.

So we came home counted out $3 in change and waaa-laaaaah she's an entrepreneur.

Case Closed for real this time.

I'll update later for the results of her great idea!

That was a moment from my delightful day..

What was your delightful moment of the day?

Money Isn't Everything

{Spa-licious Saturday}

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far! Cheers for some great spa-licious recipes! we're pampering our faces this week...for some weird reason I love anything that has honey in it!

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask

You'll need:

1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons honey

Blend everything together in a large bowl. Apply to your face and let it set for 15 minutes before washing off. The mask is rich in vitamin E, beta-carotene, antioxidants, calcium, and protein.

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Lemon Lip Gloss

You'll need:

1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
1 teaspoon aloe vera
2 teaspoons grated beeswax
1 tablespoon pure almond extract
6 drops lemon essential oil

this lip gloss is great for little girls who are crazy about makeup and grandmas who aren't ready to see their darlings with ruby-red lips. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, remove from the heat and, while stirring constantly, add the honey, aloe vera, almond extract, and vitamin E. Add the lemon essential oil last, let the mixture cool and pucker up.

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{funny friday}

{trivia tuesday}

10 random but delightful facts....

1. People in nudist colonies play volleyball more than any other sport.
2.  A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second!
3. Cold water weighs more than hot water.
4. Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin!
5. Cleopatra married two of her brothers.
6.  Car airbags kill 1 person for every 22 lives that they save.
7. A toaster uses almost half as much energy as a full-sized oven
8.  Apples are 25% air.
9.  Avocados are poisonous to birds.
10. The word "pornography" comes from the Greek meaning the "writings of prostitutes."

  Do you feel delightfully smarter?

Need a New Family?

Tools and Materials

 Two dozen 6-inch skewers
Wax pencil
Child-safe pumpkin-carving saw
Toothpicks
Staples
Waxed twine
Round wood gouge

Gather some natural objects for decorating and for facial features: We used almonds, carrots, pear berries, pear leaves, pine cones, oak leaves, pumpkin seeds, gourds, hazelnuts, chrysanthemums, and radishes for eyes, ears, noses, mouths, and hair.

Gourd Family How-To
1. To make the bodies, select pumpkins in a range of sizes, stack, and secure them to one another with skewers.

2. To make faces, trace the object you will use for each feature onto pumpkin with wax pencil, then cut and scoop out a slightly smaller opening. Lay object on the opening, and press to wedge it in. Poke holes for small objects such as twigs and leaf stems using skewers or toothpicks. Push in staples to hold hair, such as dad's comb-over.

3. For the dad's glasses, twist a 2-foot-long twig; tie in place through the lenses with waxed twine. For the mom's apron, tie Swiss chard onto twine.

4. For the child's hat, an adult should cut a small pumpkin in half horizontally and scallop the edge of the top using the wood gouge.

From Martha Stewart Kids

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Gourd Family - Martha Stewart Holidays

{spa-licious saturday}

You can't go wrong with chocolate right?

Chocolate Facial Mask
This creamy mask is an excellent moisturizer, leaving your skin baby soft. Recommended for normal skin.

1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tsp. cottage cheese
¼ cup honey
3 tsp. oatmeal

Mix all ingredients together (a bullet blender is ideal) and smooth onto face. Relax for ten 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

In case you're wondering like I was if chocolate was good for my skin...

It's true! Antioxidant compounds in cocoa, called flavanols, improve artery health by boosting blood flow, and that boost may be good for your skin, too.

Researchers discovered this chocolate benefit in a study of women who consumed half a cup of cocoa (containing 329 milligrams of flavanols per serving, the amount in a 3-½ ounce serving of dark chocolate) daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the women experienced less skin dryness, scaling, and roughness compared to the beginning of the study. Also, their skin was thicker, exhibited improved blood flow, and was even more resistant to sun damage. Pretty Delightful if you ask me!

{funny friday}

Need more {funny} in your friday? Try these silly tongue twisters. You can't help but laugh..eventually!

Skunk Stump

A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

The Bug and the Bear

A big black bug bit a big black bear, and
made the big black bear bleed blood.

The Sign of a Great Jacket

Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.

Short and Sweet ... and Hard!

Ed had edited it.

Ewww, Gross!

Freshly fried fresh flesh.

What are you finding {funny} today?