HALLOWEEN BEAN BAG TOSS

Bean Bag Toss

Clear out a space in the yard for an old-fashioned bean bag toss. Everything -- from the wooden jack-o'-lantern cutout to the Halloween bean bags -- is homemade. And if the large pumpkin doesn't fit in with your party decor, try another simple shape, such as a ghost or a witch.

ETSYKIDS' OCTOBER DESIGN CHALLENGE - WOODLAND THEME

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 Painted Butterfly

This is one of my favorite selections from the October EtsyKids' Design Challenge.  This month's theme is "Woodland".  Each month the design challenge winner selects the theme for the next monthly challenge.  This is a great process in which all EtsyKids members can showcase their "themed" creations.

MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL FALL CRAFT FAIR

I am participating in this craft fair this weekend.  It is my first venture into this venue for my etsy shop.  I am excited, yet anxious.  I hope everything works smoothly!  Come visit me if you're in the area.  My booth location is in Gym D # 38.

COLUMBUS DAY

HRISTOPHER COLUMBUS discovered America in 1492. At least that is what all elementary school children were always taught: "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Of course, Columbus never did "discover" North America, and the regions he did explore were already inhabited. He only discovered them from the viewpoint of the Europeans. 

Columbus and 90 crewmen were aboard the three ships that were to make the first voyage to the New World, the Niña, Pinta, and the flagship, Santa Maria. Columbus' expedition was unique and important in that it resulted in the first intertwining of Europe with the Americas, resulting in the first permanent European colonies in the New World.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Check out the following links
for information on
breast cancer.

http://ww5.komen.org/

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/understanding-breast-cancer-symptoms

BLACK CAT HALLOWEEN CUPCAKES

Black Cat Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cupChocolate Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below)
24 smallyellow gumdrops
Black licorice laces
12 standard-size cupcakes
1 cupchocolate sprinkles
24 chocolate Candy Melts or chocolate coating dots

DIRECTIONS:

1. Fit a piping bag with a #4 plain tip and fill with 1/4 cup frosting; set aside. To make eyes, cut an 1/8-inch thick slice off the larger end of each gumdrop; add a small piece of licorice lace to the cut side of each slice. For ears, cut chocolate coating dots into triangle shapes with a paring knife. Cut licorice laces into 1-1/2- to 2-inch lengths for whiskers.

2. Frost cupcakes; coat generously with chocolate sprinkles. Insert ears into the icing of each cupcake, add whiskers and eyes and pipe a frosting nose. Makes 12 cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
In a mixing bowl, beat 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened and 1, 8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened together until creamy, about 2 min. Stir in 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, sifted. Add 1 lb (4 cups) confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing well. Beat in 1 tsp vanilla extract and 3 to 4 tbsp milk and stir until smooth. Can be refrigerated up to one week; bring to room temperature and stir before using. Makes 3 cups.

SKULLS AND MONSTERS RICE KRISPIE TREATS

Skulls and Monsters Rice Krispies Treats 

INGREDIENTS:

1 box (6.2 oz) Rice Krispy Treats, unwrapped
1 can (12 oz) whipped fluffy white frosting
Green and yellow paste or gel food colors*
Chocolate mini M&M’s candies or M&M’s mini baking bits
Chocolate sprinkles (jimmies)
Lime Tic Tacs
1⁄4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tube red decorating gel

DIRECTIONS:

1. SKULLS: Shape 4 Krispy Treats into skulls. Place on a wire rack over wax paper. Divide frosting between 2 microwave-safe bowls. Microwave 1 bowl, stirring every 10 seconds, until frosting is pourable. Spoon over skulls to cover. Pour rest into a small ziptop bag; reserve. Put M&M’s in place for eyes and noses.
2. MONSTERS: Put remaining Treats on rack. Using food colors, tint frosting in other bowl to match Tic Tacs. Microwave until pourable. Spoon over Treats. Add sprinkles for hair and Tic Tacs for eyelids and bolts. Refrigerate to set.
3. Cut a tip off corner of ziptop bag; pipe eyes on Monsters. Melt chocolate chips, stirring until smooth. Spoon into another ziptop bag and cut tip off corner; pipe eyes and mouths on Monsters, mouths on Skulls. With red gel, pipe scars on Monsters. Refrigerate until serving.

There are other fantastic Halloween recipes available on this link.  Enjoy!

HALLOWEEN TREAT RECIPE # 1

Carrot Finger Food

INGREDIENTS:

vegetable dip
4 long carrots
1 medium carrot
softened cream cheese
sliced-almonds
baby carrots

DIRECTIONS:

1. To prepare them, just fill a serving bowl with your favorite vegetable dip.
2. Wash and peel 4 long carrots for fingers and 1 medium carrot for a thumb.  With a paring knife, cut a flat, shallow notch in the tip of each carrot. Then use a dab of dip or softened cream cheese to glue a sliced-almond fingernail atop each notch.
3. Stick the fingers in the dip, as shown, and serve with plenty of peeled baby carrots for dipping.

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS - DALLAS

Big Tex

The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas. It is the largest state fair in the United States by annual attendance.  The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2010 fair will be held from September 24 to October 17. Big Tex, a 52 ft (16 m) tall cowboy, has been the symbol of the fair since his introduction in 1952.  Big Tex wears size 70 cowboy boots and a 75 gallon cowboy hat.  He greets folks with the words, "Howdy, folks! Welcome to the State Fair of Texas!" This year's unique fried food is fried beer!

SNAZZY SNUGGLIES' SHOP WIDGET

I added a fantastic widget on my blog today that enables me to highlight all my product line in my etsy shop.  What a wonderful freebie through Craft Cult.  THANKS Craft Cult!

PIRATE THEMED PARTY

ARRRGH!

Planning to throw a pirate-themed party?

Check out these wonderful

EtsyKids Shops

with pirate treasures!

Cute Pirate T-Shirt

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Sibling Special-Tees

Cupcake Toppers

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Expressions by Devin

Thank You Cards

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Toadally Cute

Birthday Party Crown

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Paper & Cake

Crayon Roll up Party Favors

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Snazzy Snugglies

FORT WORTH IRIS SOCIETY'S FALL SALE

I attended the iris society sale today held at the Ft. Worth Botanic Gardens.  I picked up several iris rhizomes to plant in my flower gardens.  I love irises.  My mother had so many beautiful irises in her flowerbeds too.  Can't wait to see the new blooms this coming spring!

SLOPPY JOE BISCUIT CUPS

Sloppy Joe Biscuit Cup

INGREDIENTS

3/4

lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1/4

cup chopped onion

2

cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4

cup chopped red bell pepper

1/4

cup ketchup

1

teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/8

teaspoon pepper

1

tablespoon brown sugar

1

can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® Homestyle refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1/2

cup shredded pepper Jack or Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

DIRECTIONS

• 1Heat oven to 375°F. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef, onion, garlic and bell pepper over medium-high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and brown sugar.
• 2Separate dough into 8 biscuits; place each biscuit in ungreased regular-size muffin cups (2 3/4x1 1/4 inches). Firmly press dough in bottom and up side of each cup, forming 1/4-inch rim. If desired, brush tops and sides of biscuits with an egg wash before baking. To make the egg wash, beat 1 egg yolk and 1/4 teaspoon water until well blended.
• 3Spoon about 1/3 cup beef mixture into dough-lined cups. Sprinkle each biscuit with 1 tablespoon shredded cheese.
• 4Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and cheese is melted.

FIRST DAY OF FALL

Fall is coming....

I can't wait for the cooler temps to arrive.

BEST CANCER AND HEART HOSPITALS IN TEXAS

U. S. News evaluated almost 5,000 hospitals to rank the best in 16 adult specialties from cancer to urology. Death rates, patient safety, and reputation with more than 9,000 specialists went into the 2010-11 rankings. Shown below are 2 top-ranked Texas hospitals for cancer and heart care.

#1

#1

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, TX

#4

Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital

Houston, TX