Happy Halloween!

Hi everybody! I've been out of town for a couple weeks and I'm back just in time for a few last minute recipes for a spooky fun dinner tonight! I started a tradition with Zac last year of making a scary dinner on Halloween night and will continue that fun tradition tonight and top it off with a scary movie, oooOOOoooo ;) Last year the menu included eyeballs (I will share the recipe because he loved them so much he wants them again this year, ha!) monster cupcakes and witches brew with shrunken heads. We just had spaghetti to go along with it all but of course it was scary spaghetti or something like that. Anyway, today's menu is going to be super fun! I'm going to make his favorite meatloaf and turn it into a mummy! I'm also going to pair it with cheesy swamp creatures and of course we have to have the eyeballs too. I can't wait to get started! Also, just to let you know, I'll include the links to the recipes for last years Halloween dinner as well at the bottom of the post. Enjoy!

My Mummified Meatloaf

* You can use your favorite meatloaf recipe or use the one I've included. It's a Tiger family favorite sure to please!

Prep: 20 min
Cook Time: 1 hour

1 1/2 lbs of lean ground beef
3/4 cup of milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger
3/4 cup of crushed saltine cracker crumbs

1/2 cup of ketchup
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

*Additional ingredients special for the mummy part

Sliced olives stuffed with Pimiento
American cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 5x9 inch loaf pan. After you mix the ketchup and brown sugar separately from the rest of the ingredients, spoon a little bit onto the bottom of your pan. Only spread about 2 spoonfuls of it down. In a mixing bowl, mix all remaining ingredients and place in pan. In this case I plan to add a little bit extra of cracker crumbs so I can shape my meatloaf into a mummy. After you have created your mummy, spread rest of ketchup mixture on top of loaf then place in oven for one hour or until juices run clear.

After it is cooked and removed from oven, wait about 3 minutes, then lay one inch thick strips of American cheese across the body leaving a narrow space on the head for the olive slice eyeballs. Trim any excess cheese from sides and place loaf back into oven to melt the cheese for about one more minute.


Scary Swamp Creatures

Prep: 15 min
Cook Time: 25 min

Macaroni & Cheese
Sautéed Spinach
Olive slices stuffed with Pimiento

Mix up the batch of macaroni & cheese then spoon it into greased muffin cups and bake until firm, about 25 minutes. Let the creatures rest for about 10 minutes, then gently remove from tins. Then, place them upside down on a bed of sautéed spinach and add olive slices for eyes.


Spooky Eyeballs

Prep: No time at all ;D
Cook Time: 10 min

Eggs (choose amount based on guests, it's just my husband and I so I will do 5-6 eggs...I know it's a lot but he really likes them, haha!)
One package of cream cheese
Sliced olives stuffed with Pimientos
Hot sauce or Ketchup

*Also on this recipe, you can use your favorite deviled egg recipe instead of mine.

Boil your eggs, cut in half and remove yolks. Place yolks in mixing bowl with cream cheese and mix with fork. Fill egg whites with filling and top with olive halves to create your eyeball. Next, dip a toothpick in your hot sauce (or ketchup) and draw on your veins. Easy!

Can't wait to get started on our fun dinner for tonight. I hope you all are able to enjoy some of these recipes too! Happy Halloween!!

- Recipes from last year's Halloween dinner...

Witches Brew with Shrunken Heads

http://www.marthastewart.com/317697/shrunken-heads-in-cider?czone=holiday/halloween-center/halloween-center-desserts

Monster Cupcakes

http://www.kids-fun-and-games.com/monster-cupcakes.html

Halloween Costume Ideas!

Hey everybody! The topic of halloween costumes came up today as it always does this time of year and the big question on everybody's mind is, "What should I be this year?! What are you going to be?!", haha! It always sneaks up on us right? And then before we know it, all the costumes at Target & Walmart are all bought out and then we're really stuck!

Well I've always been a huge fan of "do it yourself-ers", a word I just made up for those who think outside the box. Those costumes that get your attention and make you think to yourself,"Why didn't I think of that!" My favorite part about Halloween is the creativity involved in the costumes people come up with. I love it! SO on that note I've explored lots of fun costumes that will maybe take a little legwork out of your search. Here is a small list of some fun costumes that are sure to set you apart from the crowd. Just a little something to get the creative juices flowing!

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Oh man I love this! When I saw this picture all I could think to myself was BRILLIANT!


Publisher's Clearing House

This I love. I actually did this with a friend about 4 or 5 years ago, needless to say I didn't have a digital camera back then and I don't have a scanner so I can't share my own pic :p BUT we were a hit at the party! Everyone loved it! Ladies, just rat your hair a little, give yourself the "I just rolled out of bed" look and throw in a couple pink foam curlers and wear some jams. Guys, make your big check, get some balloons and put on your suit. Go ahead and spray a little gray into your hair and grab some thick black glasses!


Garden Gnomes

So fun! Do this as a group or on your own. I love their props! You could even make a sign that says "welcome to our lovely garden" or make yourself a fishing pole with a bright red fish like this guy...

Go ahead, google "garden gnomes" and see what other fun props you can come up with ;D


I Love Lucy

My friends Jasmine and Manny did this last year for Halloween, how fun is it?! They look so amazingly great and I'm a huge Lucy fan so I instantly fell in love!


Castaway

Oh yes, love this movie, love this idea. Tom Hanks and his side kick Wilson!


Birthday Girl & Piniata

I'll explain this one a little. This is my friend Thi! She basically found a little princess dress, wore birthday girl accessories such as a tiara, birthday girl button and birthday girl sash. Then she found those little ruffle fold down socks like you used to wear when you were little ;) and I think she had a Hannah Montana purse (nice touch) and brought a big plastic bat. Then she found this big "animal" type costume and glued tissue paper all over its head to make it look like a piniata (you have to really get creative with your piniata folks) and when it was their turn to show off their costume on stage, she pretended like she was hitting him with her bat and he threw candy out to all of us, it was hilarious and they won first place!

Spice Girls

Oh yeah, I used to love the spice girls back in the day. Great idea to do with your ladies!


Roller Coaster Riders

Awesome!! How did these guys come up with this idea?! I don't know but I love it! This would have your friends cracking' up :D

Paper Dolls

I love this, so clever! Well done ladies.


Where's Waldo

My husband and I are suckers for a Where's Waldo book! If I make it home in time for Halloween this year I want to be "Waldette" Waldo's lady friend ;) The funniest part about this costume is you can hide behind people in all your pictures, how hilarious is that?! Ha!


Tetris

This is so cool, I love how they did this. Great idea!


Raining Cats & Dogs

This is too cute, anyone could do it and it would be such an easy, cheap DIY costume!


Toy Story Slinky Dog

Not sure how they pulled this off but how awesome would it be to see this at your next Halloween outing? Super cool.


Three Blind Mice

I absolutely love this, such an original and cute idea!!


Forrest Gump

AMAZING! All I got to say about this one ;D


Nerds

This is fantastic! I used to eat these like it was nobody's business back in the day. What a super fun idea!


Target Lady

For the SNL fans, how amazing would it be if the Target Lady showed up at your next Halloween party?! She is HILARIOUS and my favorite SNL character, I gotta do this one year!


Pac Man

Haha!


Wind Blown Lady

Too cool, love this! The link to this website is at the bottom of my page if you're interested in this one.


Humpty Dumpty

For you soon to be mommas out there!

More Ideas

Deer & Hunter
A couple years back I was a hunter and my friend was a deer. I found myself a bright orange hunter vest from the thrift and wore camo pants and a camo hat with a badge that said "if it flies, it dies" haha! Then Chels wore a bullseye on her dress, pinned on a bushy little tail and wore antlers. It was a hit!

The Whomping Willow
For all you Harry Potter fans out there! We saw a whomping willow at the Harry Potter premiere a few months back and it was so funny! He walked around whomping everybody, I think it would be cool to put a little blue car in your branches too. Love it!


I hope some of these inspired you! You could modify any of these for kids, babies or pets too. The options are limitless! Have fun getting creative this year folks, I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! Please feel free to share any other creative ideas in the comment box below, I'd LOVE to hear them! Here's the link to my favorite Halloween costume website if you'd like to search more ideas. Happy Halloween everyone!

http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/

Love, Kat

Feelin' Crafty {DIY Tutorials}

Coasters!
When I was a little girl, my mom & dad used to jokingly call me the "mod podge" queen. My bedroom had pictures cut out of magazines taped up all over the walls expressing my creativity, individuality and latest famous crush, especially around my bed where I'd lay my head ;D So it's only fitting that here I am years later doing my first tutorial on what else?! Mod podge! I can here them giggling already, haha! The whole idea started with this monstrosity...

My husband's idea of a trusty coaster, the one he's been using for the last two weeks because we don't have any, poor guy! Well here is a fun idea to help you peeps like us out there that could use a coaster or two instead of a stained index card :D
..............

DIY Mod Podge Coaster Tutorial

1. You'll need tiles (see #2), scissors, mod podge, felt, sponge brush, hot glue gun, fun paper - either scrapbook paper or wrapping paper and some polyuerthane spray paint.

2. Purchase your tiles. I bought mine at Home Depot and grabbed a handful of the cheapest ones they had at only 16 cents a tile!

3. Go ahead and lay your tile down onto your fab paper and trace around it with a pen.

4. Cut your squares out next.

5. After you cut the square out and get it to your desired size (it took me a few tries to get it exactly the right size), apply about 3-4 drops of mod podge to the top of your tile and spread with your sponge brush. The first time I tried I put too much on and the paper bubbled up on me. I figured out as I went that less is more ;) Let dry for about 20 minutes.

6. While it's drying, cut out four small felt circles. Or you could cut out a square to fit the bottom of your tile. Then use your hot glue gun to apply to the bottom of your coaster.

7. Now, drop about 4-5 drops of mod podge on top of your decorated tile and spread with your sponge brush. Let it dry for about 15 minutes and then repeat. Do this about 5 to 6 times.

8. Voila, that's it for now! Let your coasters dry over night and the next day spray a coat of your polyurethane on and let sit over night one more time. Then you're ready to use your fab new coaster. Don't set anything hot on your coaster for one month, that's how long it takes for the mod podge to fully set.

Enjoy!!

......................

And for those of you who are just not interested in making your own or don't have time, I've made a handful for sale! Please comment, email or Facebook me for more information, thank you!

Vintage

Fall Vintage

Beauty

Royal Vintage

Prices

One coaster - $3

A set of 4 - $10

(includes shipping & handling)

So far I have the 8 different designs. If there is one in particular you like I can make four of the same design for a set. Also, I can combine any of them to make a set if you'd like to get creative! Or you can go with one of the combinations I put together already. I'll be sure to post more as I make them! Comment, e-mail or face book me for more info!

Kat

Nifty Ideas!

I don't know about you guys but my cabinets at home are busting at the seams with spices, cans and whatever I can jam in there that I don't want to get rid of, haha! I'm not really sure why I never googled "space saving ideas" and things of that matter before, but I stumbled upon this nifty idea as I was searching for some space saving tips for a friend yesterday. I can't wait to try it out! How incredibly clever is it to use a $2 (maybe even cheaper than that really!) tension rod from walmart to maximize your cabinet space?! Love it!

Fall Recipes

Tomato Basil Soup & Grilled Cheese

Hi everybody! I stumbled upon this fabulous recipe the other day and tested it out on my husband...he ate three grilled cheese sandwiches with his soup. He wanted four but decided last minute he was just too full, haha! It's one of those things, it's so yummy you just can't stop! This recipe is beyond easy and lightning fast. I didn't think it would be as good for that reason, but was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be "the best grilled cheese I've ever had, honey!" and the soup was delicious as well ;) This would be a great recipe for a chili fall day, a snowed in type day or a fast "home-y" meal for an under the weather loved one. It's wonderful for any time really! We are going to have it again for dinner tonight, it's just too delicious I had to share. I hope you all love it as much as we did, I know you will! Plug in this link for the recipe, enjoy friends!

http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2011/01/recipes-tomato-basil-soup-best-grilled.html

Kat