Halloween Freebies!

Planning a Halloween party? Here are some awesome freebies from fellow bloggers.

Artificial Eyeballs courtesy of The Graphics Fairy. Simply print, cut, and add to any photo or artwork in your house. They remind me of the eyes that follow you at Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World.

Blush Printables has really fantastic Bottle Wraps  perfect for your Halloween Cocktail Party! They also have adorable straw flags too! I love how they look aged, and great on different sized bottles.

If you want to get a little more creative and make your own, Centsational Girl has a Bottle Wraps How To Guide on how to design your own.

The AMAZING Stefanie at A Brooklyn Limestone created these Toe Tag Invitations that you can simply print and write in for a last minute Halloween bash. Check out her site for more incredible ideas for Halloween. She is the best!

I have always loved these creepy mice playing on the stairs (courtesy of Martha Stewart). You can go to her site to download and print these here. She also has other clip art that you can use to decorate here.

Another great site I found is that of This Fresh Fossil. she has adorable clip art of Halloween Tags, Creepy Mice, Black Cats, and even a great Halloween card to give to family and friends.

And I love these Tombstone Place Cards from Go Against The Grain. There are so many different uses for them too! You can also use them a tags on goody bags, food labels, or even put them on glass jars filled with candy on your Halloween table.

And if you have any more freebies to help make your Halloween party even more spooktacular, let us know!

Quote of the Day

"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be

something, but to be someone."  

-Coco Chanel

I am off trying to be someone lately. Regular parties and posts will resume shortly. 

GO GATORS!

 

Last night we hosted a University of Florida (our alma mater) vs. Alabama party for one of the biggest football games of the year. While the game did not have the outcome we were hoping for, the party was a great time had by all. The food we served was typical game day food, and the decorations were from our Gator collection, having been fans since we were young. I made the two sided invitations on Microsoft Publisher, using some free clip art found on the web:

Years ago, my dad, also a big Gator fan, was given this plaster 5 foot alligator as a gift. He passed him on to us a few years ago. Normally, we keep him on our porch, but he made a great centerpiece on our dining room table. I like how he is a bit intimidating! I used some orange fabric I got at Joann's for $1.50/yard and then used some blue place mats from HomeGoods ($5/pack 4) as the runner. The orange utensil and plate caddy was found on clearance at Dollar General for $1.50. All of the Gator plates and platters were gifts that have been given to me over the years, but you can find them online and in stores at Bealls and Gator Haven. They really make a table setting more festive and into the college spirit!

As part of the tailgate food fare, we served classic 7-layer dip and Buffalo Chicken Dip with Tostitos Scoops.

We also served hamburgers and hot dogs right off the grill, and they seemed to get the cheer of approval from Mr. 2 Bits. The foam Gator heads we bought at the dollar store last year - they are actually hats but looked like Gators lurking out of the Florida swamp on our tables. And the football condiment bowls and spreading knives came as sets from Dollar General for $2 each. It was also the first time I have tried the new Oscar Mayer Angus Hotdogs (because they were on sale and I had a coupon), and I have to say they were delicious!

For dessert, I made some Pumpkin Bread muffins with cream cheese frosting. Every year, I seriously buy stock in Williams-Sonoma's quick breads. They are the easiest things to make, and even give as presents or housewarming gifts. I made some Gator toothpicks (tutorial to come) to help decorate!

And lastly, there were a few goodies for our guests to take with them. I really wanted some Orange and Blue candies to have on the table too, but it is difficult to find Blue candies this time of year. I went to our local Cracker Barrel, because they always have a great selection of fun candies and in an array of colors. As I walked in, there before me was an entire table of Florida Gator apparel and treats!

These pre-wrapped mints, which I labeled "Gator Mints for Gator Breath", were $4 for a pack of 100, and the football was made of crispy chocolate for $3. And in case our guests needed a little extra Gator spirit, we had University of Florida Silly Bandz for them to show their true team colors. Hopefully this party will bring us some luck for the rest of the season... Go Gators!!!

Cream Cheese Peppermint Candies

Here is the recipe my mother used to make the pink cream cheese peppermint candies:

3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup all-vegetable shortening
1/2 tsp peppermint oil
4 cups confectioners' sugar
a few drops of food coloring, if desired

Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Ina  medium bowl, beat cream cheese, shortening, and peppermint oil with a mixer until smooth. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until well combined. Dough will be soft and elastic.

Roll dough into small balls, and place each ball on prepared baking sheet. Press fork into each ball to flatten. Cover baking sheet with plastic wrap, and chill mints overnight.

Optional: Crush peppermint candies and/or candy canes. Before flattening the balls with a fork, sprinkle the ball with the peppermint pieces. Then flatten with a fork, pressing the pieces into the candy for an added mint touch!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - The PINK Party

As you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and PINK is the universal color for awareness of this terrible disease. Two week ago, I hosted a ladies "PINK Party" rally brunch for our local sorority alumnae team to participate in this weekend's Race For The Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Walk/Run. We raised money for the team, and had a delicious brunch, with all PINK inspired food. Check it out!

Bagels with PINK cream cheese and Lox (Salmon)

PINK Penne Pasta (Made with Vodka Sauce) with Grilled Chicken and Shrimp

PINK Watermelon Salad (recipe found here)

A PINK Dessert Table, featuring:


PINK Cream Cheese Candies, that my mother made (recipe to follow), and Homemade PINK swirl cupcakes.

And who could forget the drinks?! We had PINK Lemonade and PINK Flamingos (vodka, triple sec, grenadine, and orange juice) to celebrate!

To decorate, I used simple pink and black felt table runners that I had made previously for a wedding shower. Since most of the food was pink, I decided to let it stand out by using my clear vintage glassware. White plates would have the same effect. I tied nameplates on each food item to let people know what they were eating, using simple ric rack in PINK and cutting out black paper circles. Just hole punch the top and use a gold or silver pen to write on the black. Top the table with some pink roses and you are set. A quick and easy party idea for any occasion!

And because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I encourage you to visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation website here for events in your area, ways to donate, get involved, or even just how to give yourself an at home breast exam. Take a few minutes to educate yourself and get involved, to save someone's life, if not that of your own. Here's to PINK!

Cocktail Hour Alternative

Skip the cocktail - go straight for the dip! This appetizer is all you will need to lift your spirits without leaving you tipsy.

This recipe was sent to me by my good friend Jennie, who said "this is right up [your] alley!" Jennie knows my love for dirty martinis, and anything food related. I made it this past Labor Day weekend, and it seemed to be a big hit with the family too! I modified the recipe a little bit, so here is what I used:

1- 8oz. Package of Low Fat Cream Cheese
1 Tbsp of Light Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Vodka
6 pieces of Crispy Bacon (I used the microwavable kind)
1/3 Cup Green Olives, chopped (I removed the pimentos)
3-4 Scallions, finely chopped

Mix together in a bowl, and chill until served. If you need it to be more creamy, add a little milk to thin it out. Serve with small pieces of toasted bread or reduced fat Triscuits.

This recipe and photo comes from the Half Assed Kitchen. You can check out her full post here. Thanks for the great recipe!

Ming is Amazing

Ming Makes Cupcakes is such a wonderful site for quick recipes, and I just had to try one for Labor Day weekend!

Here is her recipe, reproduced with her permission, for Key Lime Cupcakes (I made a mini version):

Mini Graham Cupcakes with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

CUPCAKES

1 cup flour

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 stick butter, room temp.

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup milk

Mix flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt. Beat in butter gradually. Beat in sugar and mix thoroughly. Beat in eggs, then vanilla and milk until just mixed. Pour into lined mini cupcake pan. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes, or until toothpick comes out almost clean. With mini cupcakes, sometimes they cook faster, so just watch them!

FROSTING
4 oz. cream cheese

1/2 stick butter, room temp.

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 T key lime juice

Mix together ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Frost cupcakes. Top with a key lime slice and a sprinkle of crumbs.

Ming also makes cookies, like homemade thin mints (my favorite!) and savouries, like cheddar scallion cupcakes with whipped cream cheese. So easy and so delicious!

Hope you have a happy Labor Day Weekend!

Genius!

Ever have some angry clients at work ruining your day, being stuck in rush hour traffic that takes you 2 hours to get home, or getting into the 10 items or less lane at the grocery store, only to find an old lady there with an entire cart full? Its just one of those days, when all you want to is go home, relax, and pour yourself a glass of wine.

Except....You can't find the darn wine opener.

No fear- someone (in France, of course!) has found a way to prevent utter desperation and depression and get to the wine. Simply use a shoe and a concrete wall to open that wine bottle.

Genius, I say!

Marinated Olives

These are such a quick and easy thing to whip together, and are so zesty and perfect for a warm summer afternoon. Make them ahead of time so they get to marinate, and serve as an appetizer or even just nibble with a glass of wine.


1 jar Green Spanish Olives, drained
1 jar Black Olives, drained
1 jar Kalamata Olives, drained
Dried Herbs (your choice)
Zest of 1/2 Orange
Zest of 1/2 Lemon
1 tsp Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1 Tbsp good Classic Olive Oil

After you drain the olives, pat dry on a paper towel to remove excess water and oil. Mix together in a bowl, and add any dried herbs you like (I used oregano, thyme, and sage). Add garlic, fresh zest, and oil and vinegar. Mix well, and refrigerate for up to a day before serving, so that the flavors really infuse. Serve with hummus, or eat them plain! A wonderful, quick appetizer perfect for these long summer days.

Blackboard Eats

Dinner reservations to Camino with dinner at 30% off= UNAVAILABLE

Why?

I am no longer in San Francisco. :(

Unless you live in the most fantastic culinary cities in the country (New York, LA, or San Francisco), you can find unbelievable restaurant deals every Wednesday from a great new site called Blackboard Eats. If you live anywhere but here, you can still take advantage of Blackboard Eats* everywhere else by ordering food and drink products right to your door. They also advertise for other great deals around your city, and around the blogosphere. Check them out!

*I do not work for Blackboard Eats, nor do I get paid for this post. I just like their concept and their products.