HAPPY HALLOWEEN

PUMPKIN TEMPLATES

Pumpkin Templates

9 Jack-O'Lantern Templates

Create a spooky jack-o'-lantern this Halloween with these free printable pumpkin carving templates from My Home Ideas.

DECORATING WITH PUMPKINS

Pumpkins in a Flower Box

Pint-Sized Pumpkin Blooms

Dress up window boxes and flower boxes with teeny-tiny jack-o’-lanterns mounted to plant dowels for the cutest Halloween display.

CANDY CORN GUESSING GAME FOR HALLOWEEN

Candy Corn Guessing Game

Candy Corn Guessing Game: 

For this sweet guessing game, fill a large clear bowl with candy corn, counting the pieces as you go. Download and print the sign provided and adhere it to a black paint stick using glue. Ask each kid to write his name and guess on a slip of paper. Award the kid who guesses closest to the amount with a special prize.

BHG "HOW TO MAKE FRESH LEMONADE" VIDEO

Lemonade Video

Check out this video by BHG on how to make fresh lemonade.  Nothing better than a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, for a picnic or a party, or for a refreshing drink for the kids after school.

RICE KRISPIES FUNNY FACE TREATS FOR HALLOWEEN

RICE KRISPIES HALLOWEEN TREATS

INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
     OR 4 cups miniature marshmallows
Food coloring (optional)
6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
Canned frosting or decorating gel
Assorted candies
 
DIRECTIONS

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. To turn the mixture a fun color, stir in a few drops of food coloring, if desired.

2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Using 1/2 cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into a circular shape. Decorate with frosting and/or candies. Best if served the same day.

Prep Time: 20 minutes • Total Time: 40 minutes • Servings: 12

ACORN NAPKIN RINGS

Acorn Napkin Rings

Acorn Place Setting

Acorns become table jewelry when they're wired together to make a napkin ring.  Bright red napkins stand out against a simple white plate. For a touch of texture to the table, lay down a burlap table runner.

To make this natural napkin ring, drill tiny holes through the sides of nine or 10 acorns. Wire the acorns together, alternating the acorns top-to-bottom so they nestle together tightly.

CIVIC DUTY

I performed my civic duty this morning by early voting. I wanted to view the last presidential debate before casting my ballot. One never knows when a bombshell will be dropped at the last minute. I didn't learn anything new from this "mild" debate, but how a president shouldn't act when worried about his standing in the polls.

CALLOWAY'S WINTERIZING TIPS

I planted some purple and yellow pansies today.  Love the touch of bright colors the pansies provide for the fall and winter seasons when all the other flowers are dormant.  Here are some garden tips from one of our local nurseries.

Callie's Garden Tip - 

Winterize Your Landscape

Prepare for the cold weather before it hits!  One of the best things you can do for your landscape plants is to provide a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch.  Mulching is necessary year-round but during the colder periods it provides a layer of insulation for the roots.  Secondly, water your landscape well before a cold spell.  A drought-stressed plant is more susceptible to freeze damage.  Thirdly, for more tender plants, purchase frost cloth or a plant protector bag for extra protection.  

HOMEMADE CANDY RECIPES

Check out the delicious looking 

homemake candies & recipes 

complied 

by 

Southern Living.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES - PART 2

Last night's Presidential debate was remarkably different from the first debate. The main difference this time was President Obama's change in demeanor from being passive to being aggressive.   Sometimes I wonder why the debates have set questions, since both candidates usually don't address the questions with definitive answers. I find it laughable what parts of the debate are tweeted about - i.e. "binder full of women" - they completely miss the point of what that "binder full of women" represented.  We all have made grammatical errors in speech, but everyone hearing knows what is being conveyed.  I am pleased that President Obama didn't throw Hilary Clinton under the bus for the Libya debacle, but I am concerned he skirted the real issue regarding the question.  In my opinion, the best moderator so far has been Martha Raddatz in the vice-presidential debate. Too bad we can't have her back for next Monday's debate. Ultimately, this debate didn't change who I will vote for in November.

FREEZING COOKIES AND COOKIE DOUGH

VIDEO ON HOW TO FREEZE COOKIE DOUGH

What's better than a warm cookie and a glass of cold milk? Learn how to freeze cookie dough so you can have fresh-baked, homemade cookies whenever the mood strikes. I usually bake lots of cookies for teachers and neighborhood gifts for the Holiday Holiday season.  This year I plan to start in November by trying these methods. 

 

TIPS FOR FREEZING COOKIES AND DOUGH

1.  Freeze cookies in layers separated by a sheet of waxed paper.

2. Freeze cookies unfrosted because the frosting may cause the cookies to stick to one another. Also, cookies tend to absorb moisture from the frosting and lose their crispness.

3. Before baking bar cookies, line the baking pan with foil, leaving 2 inches extra at each end. Add the batter, bake, and cool the bars in the lined pan as directed. Lift the foil to remove the cooled bars. Wrap in foil, seal, and freeze. Frost and cut the bars after thawing.

4. To freeze cookie dough, pack it in freezer containers. (For sliced cookies, roll and wrap the dough as directed in the recipe.) Freeze cookie dough for up to six months. Before baking, thaw frozen dough in the container in the refrigerator. If the dough is too stiff to work with, let the dough stand at room temperature to soften.

BIDEN - RYAN DEBATE

I thought tonight's debate was much better than the 1st Presidential debate.  Both candidates were articulate and energetic in their views.  Voters need to decide if they are ready for a change or if they want to revisit the last 4 years again.

CUSTOM MEDIA CENTER

Custom Media Center

Undercover Media

If you're building a custom media center, like this one, make a list of all the things you'll want to store along with your TV, including stereo and gaming systems, DVD players, and the accessories and extras that go along with them. Once you have your list, you'll know how to plan your storage strategy. Also consider if you want your TV to be visible all the time. If you want the ability to hide it, plan for cabinet doors.

BHG OCTOBER STORAGE PROJECTS: MEDIA ROOM

MEDIA ROOM

Control the Cords. Label both ends of every cord behind your entertainment center with a tag or sticker. Bundle up excess cord length with a rubber band or hook-and-loop ties.
Easy-access Discs. Set an attractive bowl (cereal-size works fine) on top of a DVD player and stereo. Place your CD and DVD favorites in the bowl.
Hide the Gaming System. Drill holes in the bottom of a storage ottoman and house a gaming system and all accessories inside. Run cords through the bottom of the ottoman and leave a few holes empty to allow for ventilation.
Label Chargers. Use permanent marker or stickers to label every charger you own. Store all chargers in one bath caddy with a handle.

FREDERICKSBURG TEXAS

We spent a great weekend in Austin Texas with Pat's family. Saturday we drove to Fredericksburg for shopping, eating and sipping wine. Naturally, on the way home we had to stop and pick up flower seeds at the Wildflower Garden.

  

RECAP OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

I did watch the debate and noticed the differences between the candidates' debating skills.  Who do you think was the winner of the debate?

PRESIDENTAL DEBATE # 1 TONIGHT

Want to watch, 

don't want to watch, 

want to watch, 

don't want to watch......

Will see what tonight brings!