To Celebrate or Not To Celebrate Halloween?

Image courtesy of halloweenclipart.com

Today I stumbled across this article over at Christianity Today - "Why Christians should embrace the devilish holiday with gusto—and laughter." written by Anderson M. Rearick III.  

 

I grew up celebrating this big candy fest and enjoyed the many years of dressing up only to continue this same tradition with my own children, but always wondering in the back of my head should I or should I not be participating in a celebration that is often considered the Devils holiday - Today I can only say I'm ready to enjoy this years Halloween celebrations with complete laughter and joy.  If you want to know why - Click here to read this article and you too will be filled with laughter.

Free Frameable "Smell My Feet" Halloween Art

You know the saying "Trick Or Treat Smell My Feet Give Me Something Good To Eat....."  Can you hear yourself saying it as a child as you skipped down the street. I can.  Now you can print It out and add it to your Halloween festive decorating fro a great childhood memory.  Lolly Jane Boutique has a FREE printable in a variety of colors to print out and are ready to frame.  Click here to go to Lolly Jane now.

5 Fun Pumpkin Theme Foods

Pumpkin Veggie Tray

Create this last minute veggie tray to serve at your Halloween parties or take to your child's classroom for a healthy snack.   Click here for complete instructions from Taste of Home.

Instant Pumpkin Dessert

In a hurry create this simple pumpkin cookie cake with Nestle refrigerator cookie dough.  Click here for complete how to instructions.

Pumpkin Pancakes

The Idea Room created a fun Halloween breakfast idea - Pumpkin flavored and shaped pancakes.  Click here for complete recipe and how to.

Simple Pumpkin Cake

With the use of boxed cake mix, canned frosting and your bunt cake pan you can create these adorable pumpkin cake.  Click here for complete instructions.

Clementines turn into Pumpkins

Create mini clementine pumpkins in just a few minutes with this simple idea from The Princess and The Frog blog.  Click here for how to instructions.

Halloween Sign - Please Take One

Do you love to Trick or Treat with your kids but hen that leaves no one home to hand out the candy to the other candy fetching kiddos?    We found a perfect solution from Embellish.  They created a FREE printable festive sign that says " Please Take One " - print his out and place on your front porch in hopes that the trick or treaters will be honest and follow your directions allowing all to enjoy the treats you have left behind while you are out with your kids Trick or treating,

Click here to get your free "Please Take One" sign.

Mummy Yummy Ideas For Halloween

Mummy Juice Boxes
Create these fun Mummy juice boxes from this simple idea from Parents.com .

You can make an army of mummies in minutes - Click here for complete instructions.

Mummy Dogs
Yummy Mummy wrapped hot dogs are the perfect kid food to serve at your Halloween celebrations.  Click here for full recipe and instructions from Our Best Bites.

Mummy Cookie Pops
Oreos turn Mummies with this fun idea from How Does She.  Click here for complete how to instructions.

Mummy Pretzels
A little drizzle and added eyes creates these fun mummy pretzels thanks to Fun Family Crafts.  Click here for complete recipe and how to instructions.

Halloween In The Crock Pot Recipes

Get out your trusty Crock Pot and use it to Simplify your upcoming Halloween celebrations with these festive recipes such as Autumn sausage casserole, pizza soup, carmel apples, and many more from A Year Of Slow Cooking. 

Click here for a list of Halloween Crock Pot recipes and full how to instructions from Year Of Slow Cooking.

Rotten Pumpkin Teeth - Free Printable

In need of a quick Halloween favor for an upcoming celebration or classroom party.  Here is a fun one from it is what it is " Rotten Pumpkin Teeth"  - using candy corn.  Click here for complete how to instructions and free printable

Hallwoeen Learning Fun With Free Printables

Ready for some Halloween fun and at the same time teach your kids everything from the alphabet to science and math with this FREE  gigantic 60-page packet of printables from Oopsey Daisy Blog.

In this packet, you will find:

 

* Halloween learning games and activities

* Tons of Halloween art ideas.

* Halloween Science, Math, and literature connections

* Food Ideas

* FOUR flannel board stories with corresponding visual aids

* Book ideas

* Songs and fingerplays

* Halloween party ideas for toddlers

* Ideas for the color, number, and letter of the week.

* TONS of visual aids and learning activities ready to go.

Click here and head over to Oopsey Daisy Blog and download all your free Halloween learning fun printables for Free

Bright and Fun Candy Corn Recipes

Candy Corn Cake

Bird On A Cake created this simple to create cake that even I think I could accomplish with my lacy of cake decorating skills.  Click here to get complete how to instructions and create one for your next Halloween of Fall celebration.

Candy Corn Fudge

Check out Something Swanky's candy corn fudge it almost looks to pretty to eat.  Click here for recipe and how to instructions

Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats

I love gooey marshmallow treats and these Candy Corn decorated ones are perfect for serving at your Halloween celebrations.  Click here for complete recipe and how to instructions from Rice Krispie.

DIY Fun Halloween Decorations

Here are some fun and easy Halloween decorations that you can even get the kids to help you with!

Floating Eyes See YOU By Family Fun

Materials you will need:

Ping-Pong Balls

Battery Tea lights
Permanent Markers
Construction Paper
Glue dots

Instructions:
*Cut an X in the ping-pong ball and place securely over the battery operated tea light flame.
*Draw eye details with permanent markers.
*Embellish eyes with construction paper details secured with glue dots.



Owl a Glow Paper Lantern By Family Fun
Materials you will need:
Paper Lantern Globe from craft or party store for the body
Scrapbooking Paper for eyes, facial features and wings. Secure with glue dots.
Jute Twine and orange construction paper for talons. Insert twine through bottom center bar of globe. Attach paper talons to each side.
8.5 by 6 fan-folded construction paper inserted under to center bar for head feathers.

Hang from an appropriate light fixture with a low-wattage bulb for an "Owl A Glow" craft or simply from a clear fishing line for an "Owl In Flight".

Signs of Danger by Woman's Day

Materials you will need:

Glue stick

Colored construction paper

Cardboard

Garden stakes

 

Give ’em fair warning with “Caution,” “Danger” and other pleas to turn back before it’s too late. Using a glue stick or spray glue, attach colored paper to corrugated cardboard (for strength), then cut out desired shape. Glue on words and designs made out of more colored paper, then attach the entire sign to a garden stake placed askew in the ground.

 

 

 

 

Peek-a-Boo Pumpkins by HGTV

Materials you will need:

3 to 5 miniature pumpkins

a mixture of 3 to 5 small bowls and lidded dishes

spray primer (if any of the dishes are not black or white)

black and/or white spray paint

googly eyes
craft glue

Collect Dishes


Pull together a grouping of small, inexpensive bowls or lidded dishes. Tip: Search flea markets and thrift stores for super cheap options with character.   The idea is to paint all the dishes black or white, so use spray primer to coat any of the dishes that aren't either of those colors.  Once the spray primer is completely dry, use black and/or white spray paint to coat all of the primed surfaces.  Apply craft glue to the back of a pair of googly eyes (Image 1), then attach one set of googly eyes to each pumpkin (Image 2). Tip: Place the pumpkins in the dishes before you attach the eyes so you can make sure they're positioned correctly.

Spider Tea Light Holders By Real Moms Real Views

Materials you will need:

Mini pumpkins
Black pipe cleaners
White Tea light candles

Scoop out top of pumpkin just enough to fit the candle in it.  Use a hand drill and drill 8 holes (4 on each side) for the legs.  Add the pipe cleaners and bend to make them look like legs. 

Yummy Toasted Pumpkin Seed Recipes!

I love trying new and experimenting with new flavors each year with my pumpkin seeds from our family carving pumpkins.  It is crazy how many different kinds of recipes there are out there.  So I tried to find some of the best rated ones out there and put them together for you. 


The Original Roasted Pumpkin Seeds By Allrecipes
Ingredients

1 1/2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds   
2 teaspoons butter, melted
1 pinch salt

For the full recipe click HERE
 
Spiced Pumpkin Seeds By Allrecipes
Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons margarine, melted

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds

For the full recipe click HERE
 

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds By Martha Stewart
Ingredients

1 cup raw green pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

For the full recipe click HERE

Caramelized Pumpkin Seeds By Cooking with My Kid
Ingredients:

1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh pumpkin seeds (cleaned and patted dry)
2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar
pinch of kosher salt
olive oil cooking spray

For the full recipe click HERE

Garlic Pumpkin Seeds By Taste of Home

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

2 cups fresh pumpkin seeds

For the full recipe click HERE

Baked Ghosts

 Turn a typical side-dish into spooky fun!!  Want to make green goblins instead?  Just add a touch of green food coloring to the recipe or some spinach puree. This fun Halloween potato side dish from Macaroni Kid Eats is the perfect addition to your celebration meal.

Click here for recipe and how to instructions from Macaroni Kid Eats.

Be sure to sign-up for Macaroni Kid Eats weekly email updates they share great tips and ideas.

Fun Halloween Kid Beverages

Hosting a party or just want to add a little fun to your Halloween meals - create fun Halloween ice cubes and drinks to serve to your family with these ideas.

Crawling Spider Soda

Spider Ice Cubes, Cherry 7-up and orange juice make a delicious drink  from Farenheit 360.  Click here for recipe and instructions.

Worm Ice

Place this slimy worm ice cubes in your kids beverages fro added laughter.  Click here for complete instructions from Martha Stewart.

Spooky Eye Hot Chocolate

Create a simple hot cup of chocolate with spooky eyes this Halloween to warm up your Trick or Treaters with this idea from LA Holidays Examiner.  Click here for more kid beverage recipes and ideas.

5 Clever Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

It is that time of year when my children begin  preparing for the big candy fest night of Trick-or-Treat which also includes a pre-Halloween night of pumpkin carving and decorating in our home.

I found some fun, simple and almost mess free pumpkin decorating ideas that I will be suggesting to my children this year.

Gauzy Mummy Pumpkin - Create this adorable pumpkin without ever cutting in to your pumpkin.  Click here for complete how to instructions from BHG.com.

Tackfully Designed Pumpkin - Create your own personalized pumpkin using tacks.  Click here for complete how to instructions from Realsimple.com

Cookie Cutter Pumpkin - Use your own cookie cutters to create a fun carved pumpkin.  Click here for how to instructions from Fresh Home Ideas.

Candy Corn Pumpkin- With a little painted fun you can create this simple no carving pumpkin.  Click here for complete how to instructions from BHG.com

Template Painting - Create or buy spooky and fun templates to create your own painted pumpkins.  Click here for complete instructions from Womens Day.

Jack-O-Lantern Seeds

Tic Tac's become Jack-O-Lantern seeds for a fun party favor with these free printables from Can't Stop Making Things. Click here to get yoru free printables.

Free Halloween Candy Bar Wrapper

Add a fun wrapper to a store bought candy bar and you have a fun Halloween favor or gift . Get your FREE printable for both full size and mini candy bars over at Out Of Office ( FedX's blog) create by Living Locurto .  Click here to choose and print yours now.

Pumpkin Punch Bowl

Who would have thought that you could turn a pumpkin into a party cooler or punch bowl for your next festive gathering - of course Martha Stewart would think of it.  Click here for Martha's complete how to instructions.

Candy Corn Cupcakes

Festive and sweet are the two words that describe these fun candy corn cupcakes from Our Best Bites.  Click here for how to make these simple cupcakes and simple frosting instructions.

23 Unforgettable Halloween Party Recipes

Feed your need for Halloween festivities with 23 Unforgettable Halloween Party Recipes eCookbook from Recipe Lion.. Create  spooky snacks and diabolically delicious dining options with the free recipes in the downloadable eCookbook . These exciting and festive Halloween recipes are perfect for any festive party you may plan for kids, adults, and the eternally young at heart. Have fun with your food this Halloween as you emulate potions, monsters and silly snacks for your favorite Frankenstein.

Click here to get your free 23 Unforgettable Halloween Party Recipes eCookbook from Recipe Lion.

4 Edible Spider Treats For Halloween

  
Spooky Spider Cookies

Spooky Spider Cookies that kids of all ages can create and enjoy eating with the simple instructions from Betty Crocker.  Click here for how to and ingredient list.

 Spooky Spider Eggs

Serve up these Spooky Spider Egg appetizers at your upcoming Halloween celebrations - Click here to get get complete how o instructions over at  Better Homes and Gardens.

Ritzy Halloween Spiders

Ritzy Halloween Spiders are a mix of sweet and salty with these spider Ritz cracker treats from Sprinkles With Flour. Click here to get complete how to recipe.

Spider Pops

Tootsie pops and pipe cleaners combined together create creepy treats that are perfect as classmate gifts or a fun activity to create at  an upcoming party. Click here for  House Of Baby Piranha how to instructions.