Halloween Ideas

So I have been scouring Etsy, and I thought I ought to post some unique Halloween finds.  With Halloween almost here, who wants a little more enthusiasm!!

Isn't this stocking the cutest addition to your halloween collection!

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I found this skull belt buckle, that could be used for a subtle halloween tribute.  Hey, it's better than those teacher knitted sweaters with bats and such on them!

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This one is a little more cutesy, and kid friendly.

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Aww, little hair clips.

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I like this pendant, there is something mysterious and spooky about that black bird.

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This pendant is very cool!  Unique.

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My love of bright colours attracts me to things like this.  There is so much to look at.  I love it!

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Another bright addition.  Trick or Treat!!

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A candle pumpkin.  If it's scented it get bonus points!

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Now these are very cool.  Napkin holders for your halloween party.

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Creepy, but interesting wreath.  Yikes, I just noticed it has a finger!  Ahhh, that's too much for me.

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I'm better with cute things.  These are definitely cute cupcake toppers.

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This little guy is just so cute as well!

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I like the looks of this count down to halloween.  I have my own.  And she reminds me everyday, "3 more days to halloween mom!!"

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Which one is your favourite?  Which one would you want to recreate?

Enjoy your halloween!!

A Chocolatey Treat

Just when I thought things could calm down a little, and I can get my life in order.  I was on a huge organizing kick (and can I just say I was right in the middle of it! Stuff was everywhere!!!)  when...

My husband walked in the door from work last Thursday and sets down this adorable little thing:

I was SHOCKED!  Just when I thought "yes, the weather is nice, maybe I can get to stripping a piece of furniture I am dying to do!"

Nope, that piece of furniture is going to have to wait because I have been thrown full throttle into puppyhood!  

You may think "what on earth was your husband thinking??", well it wasn't too random of a thought because we had been discussing getting a dog for over a year, and when my sister in law said she would give us hers because life was getting to crazy I said "Of Course", because I knew he was such a good dog.  So after a month of preparing for this addition we were told they decided not to give him up.  I was devastated.  But I told my hubby that now probably wouldn't be a good time to have a puppy, but eventually.  Somewhere in that conversation he got it into his head that a puppy would be my cure all.

Well he is pretty dang cute isn't he!

So with all my plans to get some things done, everything has once again been put aside for puppy training.  I have diligently been scouring the internet and library for anything that will help me, help him become the perfect dog!

I don't have a clue about dogs!

But there was no way I wanted to give him back.  I guess my hubby really knows that surprise might be the only way to get my compliance. He did that two years ago too, he brought home a kitty one night.

This is what I have learned:

-he can chew through a jug of milk within seconds (I was changing a dirty diaper, and my daughter couldn't lift it on the counter with her little arms in time)

-his new favourite chew toy is a milk jug (empty this time!)

-he will eventually pee outside (keep up the consistency)

-it only took four days for him to settle into sleeping without his mommy

- he can jump over my tupperware barrier while I am out, but cannot get back in, leaving him in my closet with all my shoes (yikes!)

-he has a personal assistant with my toddler carrying around all his toys for him, for when he may need one

-the kids have learned that running away from him only makes him run after you!

- he learned to sit, lie down, wait, stay and be gentle all within 6 days!  (there's hope for a gentle giant)

What did we name this handsome fellow?

JACK.

And he suits it just fine.

Easy, Cheap, Fun, Unique Halloween Costumes!

Halloween is coming... Do you have your kids costumes?

I like to ask my kids what they would like to be first, then I go on to think how we can put it together without going to the store and spending $20-30 on a COSTUME for 1 day!!  It is my pet peeve that I find these thin little, no shape, style, or creative costumes, that look worse than just buying pajamas and they are so expensive!!!  Do you know what I am talking about?

Places I like to go to find my costumes are:

The thrift store - for either pieces of it, or you can find a costume that someone else spent $20-30 on and get it for $5!

Garage Sales - I always see costumes for $1 at garage sales in the summer, and I pick them up.  

Dollar Store - I like to pick up the accessories here, like make-up, hat, guns...

Friend's Houses - borrowing couldn't be better!  Free, and you can swap if you have something they could use too!

Here are my kids last years Halloween costumes:

(bad lighting because it was dark, and cold outside, so I had terrible lighting and indoor shots only.)

This little stinker was an adorable skunk!  (bought on an online garage sale for $5 -t shirt and tights she already had)

My little lady (bug) - this was borrowed from my sister in law, and she used her own dance jumper, and tights.

My sweet bride - my sister owned this gorgeous white dress, and I bought the flowers and head band at a garage sale $1

What a handsome bandit!  I used his church dress shirt, his jeans, and he got the hat from my brother, and his bandana was free.  I bought him guns from the dollar store, but he couldn't find them when I was taking his picture.

Here are a few costumes I found online that I thought were easy to throw together, easy to make, or just so dang cute!

This cat costume is so easy to do!  In fact I was one.  All black, a tail and ears!  Easy enough!!

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Haha, an Oompa Loopma!!  This is so cute, and weird!!

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This is so cool, and easy to make.  A fun lego man.  Cardboard boxes people!  They are wonderful!

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This is so fun!!  I don't know how you would sit in it, but very creative and cheap!

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This costume is from recyclable materials!  So CUTE!  I suppose you could sit on a skate board to shuffle around!

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This is what I am talking about finding at the thrift store (shirt, hat, gloves).  You could find all these things to create a mime.

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Aww, Some really big hat boxes, and you've got a cake!!!  You could probably make one from bristol board too.  Again, how do you sit?  But what a creative idea!

  

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I love this one!!  Mario!  Very simple, easy, and fun.  Again, hop over to your thrift store.

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My cousin was "Where's Waldo" a few years ago, and I thought it was such a great idea!!

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This gnome, is SO creative.  You can do it!!  Look closely at how easy it would be!!!

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Do you already have your kids costumes?  Or yours?!!  

If I am brave enough, I may share some of my past costumes with you (we'll see.  I may need some convincing!)

I would love to see some of your ideas!!  I'll link up a halloween costume party just before Halloween, so you can send me some of your fun ideas!  Even if they are past years!

A Walk in the Park

So , the past couple weeks I've been soaking in all the Autumn-ness around me, because it doesn't last that long.  I wish it would , but it doesn't.  I am lucky if I get 3-4 weeks of beauty before the wind blows all the leaves off the trees, and they are left bare for the next 6-8 months.  Which is why, as I said in an earlier post that I start my Autumn on September 1st.  To get the most out of it.

Here are some shots I have taken while my family has been out for a Sunday drive, a short hike, or hanging at the park.  It was really windy today, and I could see all the leaves blowing off trees, and I am just praying it stays a little longer.

This photo makes me want to breath it all in.  It was taken while driving (hence the blur, and reflection of my car window).

This one too, was taken while driving.  Too bad I couldn't just sit at the side of the road and admire it longer.  

Oh, the wild west.  What a serene little spot for a home.

I love all these homes tucked away in the hills.

The sun scorching the fields just before it sets.

I'm loving the suns rays, and the long shadows.

Haha, my hubby was driving, and I was hanging my camera out the window trying hard to not loose my grip, but I had to get this one in there too.

This was probably the best day to go to the park, so colourful, and perfect for a stroll with the kiddies.  What a great day!

Orange and blue are great complimentary colours.  Can you believe the colour of this sky!

It's so relaxing just meandering through the woods.

I loved catching the sun peeking through the trees.

Peaceful.

We love going here.  Especially in the Fall, when it's a nice warm day and there are no mosquitos. 

Hubby and me.  A gorgeous view in the back.

The kids think it's pretty cool too.

Where do you like to go in Autumn?