Halloween Brownie Recipe

I just want to start off today by wishing everyone a very happy and safe Halloween! Tonight, all of the little kids will be running around the neighborhoods in search of candy to fill their treat buckets but what do you do with all of the leftover Halloween candy after the next few days have passed? Well that's easy....make Halloween Brownies! The perfect recipe to finish off all of those leftovers....(if you don't help to eat them all first!)

Halloween Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 19.5 to 19.8 oz. brownie mix
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 cup candy corn
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.


2. Mix brownie mix, oil, water and eggs with a spatula or wooden spoon, about 50 strokes, until well-combined.


3. Spread brownie batter in prepared pan. Bake 23 minutes.


4. Remove brownies from oven. Sprinkle mini marshmallows, candy corn and chocolate chips over brownies. Return to oven, and bake another 5-8 minutes.


5. Let brownies cool completely before cutting into squares.

Makes 24 large Halloween brownies.



Recipe and photo from About.com

Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas

I spotted this fab pumpkin decorating idea over on Better Homes and Gardens. These dancing witches feet are too cute and actually pretty easy to create. All you need are some tall pumpkins, black paint, ribbon for the shoes, and a shallow carving technique. Download the template and see the how-to here.

Halloween Appetizer Recipe: Stuffed Roaches

For all of you putting together a Halloween party this weekend, or even just planning a fun dinner for the family, here is a fun recipe for a gross appetizer to add to your shopping lists!


Stuffed Roaches
This recipe makes 20-30 bite sized appetizers.


Ingredients.
1/3 C. cream cheese, softened
1/4 C. walnuts, chopped semi-fine
20-30 dates, pitted
Green Onions


Instructions.
1. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and nuts til well mixed.

2. Gently fill each date with cream cheese/nut mixture (you may have to split the dates slightly).

3. Serve room temperature.


Tips.
* You can decorate your serving tray with some rubber roaches for extra effect.
*Use the tips of the green onions as antennae!


Recipe from Octoberlicious
Picture from Halloween Party Stuff

Vampire Fang Napkin Rings

I love this idea I spotted over on Family Chic. Vampire fang napkin rings! This is beyond easy. Absolutely no crafting skills needed! You can just pick up a bag of fangs (these ones are from Target, 30 fangs for $4.00) and simply slip onto your napkins. A cute and super affordable way to dress up your table for Halloween. Simple!

Free Printable Halloween Labels

Saturday was the official day of me and my husband's annual Halloween party. This year the theme was Alice in Wonderland. It was a great year and another great event. (I will post some pictures next week to share with you guys) But since Halloween isn't over yet, (even though it feels like it is for me!) I thought I would share some free printables today. These labels are such an easy way to add a touch of fright to your bar area. And since all you have to do it print and stick, there is still time to dress up your bottles in time for your Halloween parties this weekend! Find the files here to download.

Chic Halloween Inspired Wedding

Today's wedding shows how you can include a little Halloween influence into your wedding day without having it end up kitschy or cheesy. Created by Blue Moon Events, found via The Sweetest Occasion, the colors of this wedding (navy, silver, and goldenrod yellow) are very unexpected when you mention the word Halloween, but are so pretty and wedding perfect. The escort cards are to die for (excuse the pun!), and those chair swags are simply stunning. Take some inspiration from this gorgeous affair if you are thinking of having an October wedding! Head over to The Sweetest Occasion for more pictures and inspiration!

(Photography by Heather Forsythe)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake Recipe

Haven't you heard?! Today is national Chocolate Cupcake Day! What better day, than today, to share this delicious cupcake recipe with you, from Sugar Crafter. I am a total sucker for Chocolate Chip cookie dough and if you combine that with chocolate cupcakes....total heaven! Find the photo tutorial and recipe here. And don't blame me for that extra few pounds you might gain from eating these! I'm going to have to make sure I don't eat the whole batch!

Yarn Letter Wedding Cake Topper DIY

I love this idea, found over at Family Chic. This was used for a cute Valentine's Day project, but how cute would this be for a wedding cake topper?! All you need is wire reinforced clothesline (you can find it at your local home improvement store), yarn, and wire clippers. You can bend the wire into any word you want, like love (shown above) or a monogram, last name, well...you get the idea. Such a cute and easy project to add a little something special to your wedding day! Find the full tutorial here.

Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas

Halloween is the perfect time to get a little creative with your holiday decor. I love these unique pumpkin decorating ideas from Country Living. Use one of these fun ideas to do a little something different this year!

Bookshelf Tree

Step 1: Begin by experimenting with the placement of pumpkins on your shelves. Your tree should gradually widen toward the top, with multiple smaller gourds on higher shelves. Also, if there's a good deal of space between two shelves, you may need to stack pumpkins to fill it (as we did on the bottom shelf here). In that case, trim any stems that interfere with stacking stability. (Concerned about the heft of pumpkins on a particular shelf? Opt for lightweight, faux Funkins. $16-$42; funkins.com)

Step 2: Using this photo as a guide, draw the outline of a tree onto the pumpkins with a felt-tip pen. Start at the bottom and branch out as you move up. (You may need to use a stepladder to reach upper shelves.)

Step 3: Working one shelf at a time, remove the pumpkins and fill in your outlines with a fine-tip brush and black flat acrylic paint ($1.39 for two ounces; createforless.com) . Let dry and replace pumpkins in your bookcase.

Fireplace Arrangement

Step 1: Begin by experimenting with the placement of pumpkins in your fireplace. Once you're satisfied with the arrangement, trim any stems that interfere with stacking stability, then determine how many flames each gourd should get. (Use this photo as a guide.) Note where each pumpkin goes and dismantle the arrangement.

Step 2: Carve a hole in the bottom of each pumpkin, scoop out the pulp, and return the cut pieces.

Step 3: Print out flame templates and resize on a copier, scaling the images to fit your pumpkins.

Step 4: Cut out stencils as directed on the templates and affix to pumpkins with masking tape. Trace on the designs with a felt-tip pen.

Step 5: Remove stencils, then carefully carve along the drawn lines with an X-Acto knife. Affix a battery-operated votive candle in the base of each pumpkin with adhesive putty. Finish by restoring your arrangement.

Printable Pumpkin Placecards

How cute are these printable pumpkin place cards?! Such a cute way to decorate your table for Halloween or even Thanksgiving. You could also use these little guys for decor or as escort cards too! Cute, inexpensive and easy. Three words I love in the same sentence! You can find the instructions and download the template at The Party Planning Center website.

Spider Web Filled Balloons

I love adding spooky, unexpected elements to my events for Halloween. I mean, I am all for the cute things too, but I really love the scary side of the season. Isn't that what it's all about?! One fun way to add a little spook to an otherwise basic balloon is to add some cobwebs to it. And I don't mean around the balloon or on the balloon....I mean IN the balloon! Crafty Crafty shares the how-to....

What you'll need:

- Hi-float (goop for inside your balloons)
- 11-inch clear latex balloons
- Small rubber spiders

Instructions

- Inject a little less than the usual amount of Hi-float into an clear balloon and rub it around to coat the inside.

- Put a small rubber spider inside the balloon.

- Inflate the balloon to about 75% of the full-size with air.

- Seal the balloon with a plastic disk or clip. Let it dry overnight. Place the balloon out in the open where there is good air circulation. It must be very dry in order to form the spider web.

- The next day remove the clip and deflate the balloon.

- Hold the balloon by the stem and the top and stretch it a few times to separate the dry film from the wall of the balloon.

- Slowly inflate the balloon with Helium or air.

- When the balloon is almost full-size the Hi-Float film will separate from the wall in several places and hang inside the balloon to form a spider web.

-If the coating does not separate, deflate the balloon, stretch it a couple of more times and re inflate it.

Proof Sunglasses

This weekend I had the pleasure of working with some talented vendors from Utah on a really fun photo shoot. Although I can't share any of the pictures with you guys yet, I did get to design the look and feel of the shoot around some really cool sunglasses from Proof. The sunglasses are sustainable and hand made from wood. Each pair is unique and comes in a variety of colors and shapes. Proof also donates a portion of their proceeds to help organizations that are doing BIG things in the world. After working on the shoot this weekend and getting to see them and touch them first hand, I need to order myself a pair or two...they were so cool! Starting at about $90, these babies are one of a kind and so hip. Can't wait to share the pics with you guys soon!

Cute Wedding Idea

I love (!) this idea that I saw on The Knot. For this wedding, the couple wanted their guests to learn a little more about all of the special people they had in their bridal party so they set up a little side table at the reception titled "Meet the Maids!" Each bridesmaid had a framed bio, and black and white head shot, that guests could read to learn more about them and how they met the bride and groom. Such a great way to show your bridal party how important each one of them is to you! Love it!

Conversation Starter Tags

I just adore these tags, created by Chris from Celebrations at Home. What an easy and fun way to break the ice and get your party guests talking at your event. These tags also add a decorative touch as cute drink tags too! I especially love the burlap ones she created! Just darling! She is offering this set of 36 questions for free on her site so head over here to get the directions and download the set!

Stuffed Caramel Apple Recipes

It's officially October and you know what that means....Caramel Apple season! Perfect for Halloween....oh who am I kidding?! They are great any time of year! But why not take your caramel apples up to the next level? This delicious alternative has a fun surprise in the center...Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! Um, hello?! Yum!
Find the recipe over at the Chef Tess Bakeresse site.

DIY Chopstick Wrapper Tutorial

I am loving this Chopstick Wrapper tutorial that I spotted over on A Spoonful of Sugar. Creating your own custom wrappers are a great and easy way to personalize your Asian themed event. A great favor idea, or even used as escort or place cards. These would also be an adorable addition to an Asian themed gift basket. Find the instructions to make your own here.