Video: Fun Neighbor Gift Idea

OK, I think I'm getting daring enough to start putting together some videos! Scary!! Last week Kim filmed me showing a fun little idea for an easy gift for neighbors this holiday season. We filmed quite a few different videos, so I'll post them every now and then here. :)

Here we go!

Nothing Says I Love You Like...

...a hand-written, crayon-colored, letter by letter "We Love You!" TAPED onto your office wall.



This week I'm counting all of my little blessings. Anyone else want to join? :)

Lil' Turkey and Friends!

Lil' Turkey and all of his friends are ready for the big Thanksgiving celebrations! :) All NEW at SWAKembroidery.com!



Oh, and don't forget to check out the new promotion for JesseKate Designs! Buy 2, get 1 free...buy 3, get 3 free!

Have a wonderful autumn-leaf-raking weekend!

Happy Halloween!

So I promised a few more pictures from the pumpkin festival that took place here a week ago. So much creativity in sight. It was hard to choose which ones to share, but these were some of my favorites. Enjoy!

How about a garden made from pumpkins and gourds?



If you don't feel like health food, here's a little McDonalds for ya. Hamburger buns pumpkins and haystack fries...mmm... LOL



The Keebler elves were a huge hit!



And of course don't forget the M&M dudes and dudettes...



"Where the Wild Things Are" was real popular since the recent release of the movie!



And I just love how people can make the most ordinary pumpkins turn into the most extraordinary displays!



I bet you'll never look at a pumpkin or gourd the same again! :)

A Healthier Halloween...It's Possible!

ox⋅y⋅mo⋅ron  /ˌɒksɪˈmɔrɒn, -ˈmoʊr-/ –noun, plural -mo⋅ra  /-ˈmɔrə, -ˈmoʊrə/ a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”

Should I add to the dictionary excerpt..."Healthy Halloween?"

Hee, hee.

With all the candy and treats available at this time of year, sometimes it's fun to do something a little different with our families!



With being a member of the reader panel at Family Fun magazine, I received a fun little ebook a few weeks ago with some unique food creations to celebrate Halloween in a healthier way. Tonight as I gathered with some friends, this platter came with me and it literally took about 20 minutes to put together. Bravo Family Fun!

How about some edible eyeballs? These are carrot rounds. In the recipe it called for cream cheese and an olive to be placed on top. But because I love hummus so much (and so do my kids!), I decided to skip the cream cheese and add hummus instead. Then of course the olive slice goes on the very top!



Then we've got the salty bones. EASY peasy folks. Placed here are refrigerated breadstick dough strips that you can buy in the tube. Then you cut a slit at both ends to form two knobs...sprinkle some course salt, bake for 10 minutes, and wala! You're done! Now if I did want to spend more time on this, I probably would have opted for whole wheat rather than the store-bought, but time was of the essence and so these came together in a jiffy!



Little pumpkins were rolled up with a slice of cheddar cheese and whole wheat tortillas. A piece of cilantro or parsley on top with a toothpick made for a yummy addition.



And finally, "English Mummies" were on the platter. They were put together with an english muffin slice, pizza sauce, olives, green onions, and strips of torn string cheese. This picture does not show the cheese melted, however, they're best when served slightly toasted. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and you've got some darling, melted-cheese mummies.



Sugar overload is almost a given, but I know it doesn't have to be. Finding new ways of making some old favorites will give your children a chance to have some fun and make some great memories as well!

On Pumpkins, Family and Community

This past week our family has had a second home...at a local park! Now you may think that sounds odd, but every year at this time, thousands from all over gather for the annual pumpkin festival where thematic scenes are created using PUMPKINS!

For the past 5 years, our family has contributed to making a scene. This year 3 other families joined our own in creating the "I Don't Want to Grow Up, I'm a Toys-R-Us Kid!" scene.

It took a lot of "behind-the-scenes" work to get ready for the big event. You start out with this...



and then with some great little helpers...



And some bigger helpers...



...You end up with something like this!



Recognize any of the 80's toys in these pictures? Oh...good times, good times. :)



Right beside the "Toys-R-Us" store, we had a "man" in a bathtub with bubbles (AKA smaller painted pumpkins.) We did this as part of the scene because of that 80's commercial where the man has his rubber duckies in the tub with him as he sings that famous Toys-R-Us jingle. Below are a few of the "bathroom" shots. Can you spot all the pumpkins?



So much time goes into things like this, but this is one of the many reasons why I love my community. At this time of year, I've never been real fond of haunted houses or corn mazes with spooky people jumping out at you. This event brings together people of all ages in a fun, positive, non-scary way to enjoy the beautiful fall weather with their families. And it's completely free!

35 different displays...so many clever ways to use pumpkins! I'll share more pictures of my favorite scenes this weekend!

My Own Little Pumpkin Patch...One Piece at a Time

I've discovered an "old-yet-new-again" quilting technique that I LOVE.

Paper piecing...

SO. MUCH. FUN. (Not to mention easier than you may believe!)

Here is what I just finished! Just in the knick of time, right? :)



Don't think this is something you could do? You might want to think again.



Fanatastic site. Fabulous pattern. EASY. FAST. ULTRA-CUTE.



Just my style.