Halloween Costumes

When looking back at all of our Halloween costumes, I can't think of any that were store bought. Our amazing mom always made our Halloween costumes and they were great! This created a love in all of us girls to create our own kids Halloween costumes. We thought it would be fun for the four of us that have kids to post our kids costumes this year that were handmade.

Taco Soup

It has just been one of those weeks and I woke up this morning remembering it was my turn to post and I didn't have anything ready.  I don't have any pictures to go along with my post, just a recipe (maybe I will add a picture on Sunday after I make dinner).  Over the last few years I have made it tradition to make Taco Soup for Halloween.  This recipe is my "don't want to cook dinner" recipe and it is healthy so that's alright, right?  Halloween is just around the corner so this is on my menu and thought maybe it could be on yours too and maybe become tradition like me.

Taco Soup:
1 pound Hamburger (when I am in a REALLY big hurry, I forget the hamburger and it is still just as yummy)
1 Onion, chopped
1 can Corn, drained
1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed if desired
1 can Small Red Beans, drained and rinsed if desired
1 package Taco Seasoning (I buy mine in bulk at Sam's Club and use about 1/4 a cup)
1 quart Tomatoes (we bottle our own but canned also works great)
Chili Powder to taste (I usually put about 2 tbsp in)

Cook hamburger and onions.  Add remaining ingredients.  Let simmer for 30 minutes to let flavors mix.  Serve with sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips.  Enjoy!

Make Your Own Kids Book

I love the cardboard picture books for my 1 year old.  We also have a few foam books that are very durable.  I have searched the web for ways to make my own sturdy books, but have only seen kits or blank cardboard books to buy then color or print onto.  One day while browsing the isles at my local craft store, I saw the 6 mm foam and thought I could make it into a book :)  Here is how I did it:

Halloween Chips

A few years ago I was making dinner for a neighbor that had just brought home baby number 2.  She already had a toddler at home and since the focus tends to be on new baby, I wanted to come up with something fun for her.   It was close to Halloween so I took my family’s tortilla recipe and created Halloween Chips.  

Spider Magnets

Create a spooky entrance to your home this Halloween. This is a fast and easy way to add a little excitement to your front door or any metal surface.

Funky Candles

Today's tutorial only ALMOST actually qualifies.  It's really easy, but hey, we all need easy once in a while, right?

White Chicken Chili

Life for my small family has made quite a few big changes this year.  In August my Husband took a new job about 2 hours away from home.  We moved out of the house we’ve been renting for the past 6 years and into my parents basement to save a little money and find a home to buy closer to the new job.  While we’ve appreciated the opportunity to be with my parents, it has been hard.  My oldest daughter is a “Daddy’s Girl” and I think the change has been hardest on her.  So, I’ve been trying to find the things that we enjoyed and made us feel comfortable at our old house (which my daughter talks about all the time), and I find one of the most comforting things is soups, chili’s and stews.  This recipe is so easy, yummy, and very comforting!

Wooden Pumpkins

I love the holiday seasons. I’ve always decorated my home with lots of fun things for the holidays. My style has changed some with my kids growing up. I had a few years where glass became popular in my decorations but now with grandkids the non breakables are a lot more appealing again. There are various versions of wooden pumpkins, this is mine. I paint them without faces so they can be used from Oct. 1st through Thanksgiving.

So if you have an afternoon you can make these. They are that simple.

SPOOKY Letters

I have been out of town for 3 weeks (two weeks for work and one for vacation... yeah!).  So this week I am in the office catching up, I looked at the calendar and it hit me... PANIC... October is half over and I haven't done any Halloween decorations.  I had a goal to be the cool mom (like my mom was) and make each holiday a blast for my baby and I seem to be failing.  I had created some letters for my son's room to decorate it and love them, so here I am redoing them for Halloween.  I call them SPOOKY letters :)

Pumpkin Bread

With fall in full swing, nothing is better then my house full of the wonderful smell of pumpkin baking in the oven!  I love fall and everything about it, mostly the food.  This pumpkin bread recipe was first introduced to our family by a family friend.  It is super yummy and easy to make.

Hot Pads

If you are anything like me you have lots of fabric scraps from other projects, or maybe some of those fabrics that were just too cute that you had to buy them and now you have to think of a use for them.  It’s one of those addictions that I’m okay with having.  It’s right there with chili infused chocolate, whoever created that mixture is a genius!

Okay, back to all those scraps.  Hot pads!  Perfect for scraps.  You can always use hot pads and they make good gifts as well. 

Chain Necklace

I am always looking for a cute chain necklace to add a spark to some of my more boring tops so I decided to make one that works with lots of different things. It is way easy to make too

Spider Web Table Runner

Apparently Carrie and I were sharing brainwaves this week, as we both picked a table runner, so, there's one for your dining table and one for an accent table!  So I give you, the spider web table runner.

Fall Burlap Table Runner

Although it is still really warm outside, I know Fall is on the way!  I love this season for so many reasons…  Soup, cool breezes, beautiful colors, and the list goes on and on.  I was inspired by the leaves on the mountain just outside our door and the changing colors.  I wanted to do something to bring that feeling inside.

CARAMELS

As the seasons turn to fall it means it’s time for CARAMELS.  Thanks to a friend (Shannon) I found the best and easiest caramel recipe ever. Actually I make them year around but always for all the fall holidays. It has become one of our families favorite candies.

Topsy Turvy Pony Tails

When my daughters hair kept growing and getting thicker I was desperate for new ideas to help keep her hair out of her face and untangled.  After many different days of playing around (good thing she likes to watch movies), I created this hair style and it has become a favorite!  I get lots of compliments when her hair is done this way so I figured it was a good one to share.

Start with this (works best when wet)

Divide the hair into two like you are going to do pig tails

You will divide the first side into three sections, start with the top third and put it into a pony tail.  (I like the little plastic rubber bands that you can get at walmart for cheap.  They come out easy and don’t hurt.)

Split the ponytail in half and flip the hair through the top of the pony tail pulling it through.

This is what it will look like when you flip it.  Then pull it tight.

Put the second section into a pony tail including the tail of the first ponytail.

Flip the second section the same way as the first.

Put the third section into a pony tail and flip it like the other two.

Your finished product should look like this 
I then like to braid the end to keep the tangles out

Repeat on the other side and you have a cute hairstyle that will last all day and keep your little one’s hair free of tangles and out of their face!  
My cute model that was done with her mom taking pictures :D