Holiday Wishes

Treat your fingertips to a shimmery shine in a delicious new OPI shade, Pomegranate Me a Wish. At beauty brands for only $4.98 right now! (reg. $8.50)

I do love a good dip....

Here is a festive dip recipe for holiday gatherings. I took this to a board game party this weekend and it was a huge hit!

Layered Sundried Tomato and Artichoke Spread

Ingredients
1 pkg cream cheese, well chilled
3 Tbsp. finely chopped sundried tomatoes in oil, well drained
3 Tbsp. finely chopped drained canned artichoke hearts
2 Tbsp. pesto (I used the jarred kind)
2 Tbsp. chopped almonds
2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
Crackers

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DRAIN EVERYTHING AS LISTED ABOVE.

Cut cream cheese horizontally into 3 slices using dental floss or a piece of thread. Place one slice on large sheet of plastic wrap; top with tomatoes and second cream cheese slice.

Combine artichokes and pesto; spoon over second cream cheese layer.

Top with remaining cheese slice, nuts and parsley; press lightly to secure. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour. Serve with crackers.

Pilgrim Hat Cookies

This time of year is so hectic, make an easy Thanksgiving dessert and save yourself some time. Everyone in our family is usually too stuffed to eat much dessert anyway!

INGREDIENTS

• 16 chocolate wafer cookies (such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers)
• 1 tube orange frosting with piping tips
• 16 small peanut butter cups

PREPARATION

1. Place cookies on work surface; squeeze a dime-size dot of frosting in center of each.

2. Unwrap and invert peanut butter cups on frosting, pressing down gently.

3. Using the round piping tip, pipe a "hat-band" with frosting around peanut butter cup and a square "buckle." Let frosting set before storing.

Planning Tip: Can be made up to 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Hot Apple Cider

If you are looking for something to take to a Halloween party this weekend, I have just the thing.

My friend April served this hot apple cider last weekend, and I just couldn't get enough.

Combine Target-brand caramel apple cider (although I am sure regular apple cider would work just fine too) with 1/2 a bottle of Hot Damn cinnamon schnapps and a few cinnamon sticks. Mull over low heat (a crockpot works great) and serve steaming in mugs!

If you want to fancy this drink up a little you could add an orange studded with whole cloves to the mulling. I am thinking I can handle more of this cold, rainy weather as long as I have plenty of this drink on hand!

Bean There

Here is an easy transition centerpiece from Halloween to Thanksgiving from Everyday with Rachael Ray. Pick up a bag of lentils and grab some juice glasses, filling each about 1/2 full. Nestle orange votive candles inside and tie it all together with raffia from the craft store.

A-dorable!

That is what I think of these Halloween furniture leg covers from Pier 1.
Just slip them over the legs on your table or chair for a Halloween treat.

We promise you and your guests will get a kick out of them.

http://www.pier1.com/

Spooky Halloween Ideas

I have been having so much fun getting ready for Halloween this year and incorporating lots of spooky ideas into my decor. I just had to share a few!

Let's start with the front door...I am not really one for carving pumpkins, since they just don't last. Instead use simple black stickers to spell out some fun Halloween sayings. Then take cuttings of ribbon in black and white to "dress" up a traditional orange pumpkin. Stick ribbon ends into pumpkin with straight pins. Faster and much less messy than carving!

Moving on into the living room....guests are greeted by a glowing ghost above our corner fireplace. A paper lantern is the perfect shape for this ghost. Cut a slit in some semi-sheer white fabric or an old sheet to allow the lantern cord to poke through. Add haunting eyes and a mouth cut from black felt.

Finally in the dining room, our sidebar features an adorable sign that reads, "Eat, Drink and Be Scary." This is fitting, considering the shiny bats on the tablecloth and the black sparkly skulls in my apothecary jar. A few cobwebs add a finishing touch. Happy Haunting!!