Halloween Party Memories

The kiddos are in bed, the candy is put away, and the dishes are done...well almost done!  What a fun Halloween we had with friends and family today.  Each year we love to host a big trick-or-treating bash with all the fixings!  My hubby is in charge of making his delicious and award-winning chili!  And I am in charge of decorating the house and planning a fun kid menu!  What a busy and fantastic day we had.  It seems from the minute we got up this morning...we were on the go!  Had to do some last minute shopping, stuff treat bags, bake cupcakes and brownies, decorate the wagon for trick-or-treating time, and put the finishing touches on the outside of our house.  Now this was all before naptime!  When naptime came...I went into overdrive!  I had tables to decorate, cute displays to set up, furniture to rearrange, and more food to make.  But we did it and it turned out wonderfully.  After naps were over, it was time to get all dressed up...

My baby girl was a piggie this year.  It was the perfect choice for her...she is chubby with lots of cute rolls, she loves to snort, and what a messy eater!  My little guy was a chicken this year.  He loves animals and cracks us up all the time...so a chicken outfit seemed perfect.  I didn't want to miss out on all the fun, so I went as a farmer!  I did get my husband to wear an orange shirt with us too!

Soon after getting dressed up...the doorbell rang and guests starting pouring in.  We had over 40 kiddos and adults make their way through the house for some delicious food and fun playtime before heading out for a trick-or-treating parade! 

On the menu, this year was...junkyard chili and cornbread for the adults.  We also threw in there some skeleton-lovin' salad, and some appet-eye-zers!  For the kiddos...we had spider web pizza, mummy hot dogs, pumpkin pb&j sandwiches, spooky mac & cheese and lots of baked goodies.  I had fun with icecream cone cupcakes and boo-brownies!  Some orange foods like cheese balls and goldfish  with a black spider on top, put the finishing touch on the kids table. 

It was a beautiful evening, so most of us ate outside.  We filled our night with laughter and smiles and everyone went home full and on a sugar-high.  We can't wait until next year.  Our Halloween planning just keeps getting bigger and better.  Check out more Halloween fun ideas on "The Second Annual SITS Halloween Parade."  It's never too early to start planning ahead!

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Halloween Party Treats

It's not too late to plan a fun Halloween celebration for the kiddos!  Invite friends and neighbors over for some trick-or-treating fun together...or just plan something special for your own children.  However large the get-together is...include some fun and delicious treats for your guests.  Halloween has become an exciting holiday again for me as I watch my kiddos enjoy the celebration.  They love the candy, the costumes, and the time with friends.  So, I have a tradition each year that we invite our friends over for a fun night.  The adults enjoy my husbands chili-winning recipe and cornbread.  And the kiddos get some fun and festive Halloween food.  Here are some great items to try out...

Turn a regular pizza into something much more fun, like a "Spider Web Pizza."  The only difference is that instead of spreading mozarella cheese all over the top of the pizza, use string cheese and design it like a spider web.  The spiders can be created out of black olives that are sliced.  How fun and yummy!

A new one I am adding this year is fun "Mummy Hotdogs."  Buy a roll of flaky dough or crescent rolls.  Place them in the shape of rectangles and slice into strips.  You will use about 4 strips per hot dog and wrap them around to look like mummy bandages.  Bake according to the directions.  And some eyes with a bit of mustard are the finishing touch!

For sandwich lovers, make PB&J or ham & cheese sandwiches and use a pumpkin cutter.  You can find them anywhere at this time of year.  The sandwiches are delcious and cute in the shape of pumpkins!

And last but not least, even though there will be lots of candy this night, make sure to make a sweet treat!  I love to do icecream cone cupcakes.  They are super easy and fun to make.  Mix up a regular box of cake mix and pour into icecream cones (about half filled).  Place the cones in a baking dish, standing up, and bake according to the box.  Add some orange frosting and a candy pumpkin on top, when cooled off.  These make such cute photos when the kiddos are munching and smearing orange frosting everywhere!  Try some of these fun ideas and feel free to comment and add your own!

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Favorite Crockpot Recipes!

It's fall, it's getting cooler, and crock pot dinners are sounding more and more wonderful!  So, I am collecting favorite crock pot recipes from anyone who wants to share.  I am passing on a bunch that I found, were given to me, or that I can't wait to try out.  Send me your feedback, a favorite recipe, or your thoughts after making one of these!  I know how hard it can be to take care of the kiddos, clean the house, run errands, and still have time to make dinner for the family.  So, here's to making our lives a bit easier this fall!

To Die For Crock-Pot Roast
Ingredients:
1 beef or pork roast, any kind
1 package dried brown gravy mix
1 package dried Italian salad dressing mix (use ½ packet for less salty taste)
1 package dried ranch dressing mix (use ½ packet for less salty taste)
1/2 cup water
Directions:
Place beef roast in Crock-Pot. Mix together the dried mixes in a bowl and sprinkle over roast. Pour the water around the roast. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.

Split Pea and Chorizo Soup
Ingredients:
1 pound green split peas
10 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 pound diced chorizo or andouille sausage
1 1/2 cups diced carrot
1 cup diced shallot
1 cup diced celery
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Remove bay leaves and season with salt and black pepper before serving.

Chicken and Gravy
Ingredients:
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup butter
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can cream of chicken soup with herbs
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup water
4 oz cream cheese
Directions:
Place chicken in slow cooker.
In a medium saucepan melt the butter. Stir in the onion soup mix. Stir in the chicken soup, white wine, water and cream cheese until combined an melted. Pour over the chicken. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. (Can serve with mashed potatoes and pour the gravy over it!)

Buffalo Pasta
Ingredients:
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts cut into chunks (raw of course)
salt/pepper/garlic powder
1 med. red onion diced fine
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup mild/hot wing sauce (the kind used for hot wings)
3 cups uncooked penne ( this needs to be cooked)
1 cup crumbled blue cheese or you could use feta
2 cups sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
Season chicken with salt/pepper/ garlic powder. Place in crock. Add onion, soup, & wing sauce, and pour over chicken and mix up. Cover, cook on high 3-4 hours. Until chicken is tender.  Add sour cream, shredded cheese, & 1/2 of the crumbled blue cheese to the chicken mixture. Mix well & turn CP to low.  Cook your pasta, drain well & put into CP with chicken mixture. When serving, sprinkle with some crumbled blue cheese.

Buffalo Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
3 cans cream of chicken soup
8oz tub sour cream
6 cups milk
¼ - ½ cups tabasco sauce
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup Mexicorn (optional)
Directions:
Throw together into your crock pot for 4 hours on low.  Enjoy!

Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients:
steak (your choice, sirloin works well)
frozen egg noodles
1 jar of beef gravy
large onion
mushrooms (sliced)
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions:
Season steak and brown in skillet.  Put in crockpot, add mushrooms, onion, noodles, and gravy.  Cook on low all day.  Add 1/2 cup sour cream at the end and enjoy!

Okay, that should do you for a while!  I have more I will try to share in the next couple of weeks!  Try these out and share some of your own in the comments section!  I'd love to add some more to my recipes.  Speaking of recipes...I need to get mine organized!  Now does anyone have some fun tips on how to store yummy and favorite recipes?  My drawer is out of control!  Happy crock potting!Pin It

Loving Mod Podge!!

We had a bit of rainy weather this weekend which made me feel like I needed something creative to do inside the house.  I have a bit of the "decorating bug" in me lately and decided my entryway needed a makeover.  I recently read that if there's one place to put some color and style in your home, start with the entry to your home.  It's the first place people see as they walk in and gives them their first impression to your style and the feel of your house.  I guess I had things backwards, because our entryway is probably one of the last places I have felt a desire to decorate!  But this weekend...that all changed!

I went to my local craft store to pick up some cheap wooden frames, scrapbook paper and mod podge.  I scanned and googled some "how to" articles on how to make some projects with this amazing stuff.  And I had so much fun!  These plain wooden frames became so much more!

After covering them in pretty papers, I did a layer of mod podge and set them out to dry.  With this being my first time, it went pretty well.  Next time I will do a better job of getting the bubbles out.  I think I might make some gifts for friends and family for Christmas this year! 

And then came the fun part...decorating the entryway!  I need to add some more "after" shots.  But here is a glimpse of the frames and "R" for our last name that I created.  It was loads of fun and I hope you can get creative and do some crafty projects soon as well!Pin It

A Season for Change!

Sorry for the confusion!  But I got into a fall mood and decided to also update the look of "Sweetheart Moments."  I love fall colors and autumn touches...so it was only natural for me to bring that feel into the blog!  I hope you still like it and use the ideas and helpful hints.  Give me some feedback and tell me if there is anything you think I should add, change, take away, or do differently.  It's fun to spend hours at night changing colors, fonts, and backdgrounds...but the most important part is that it's easy for all of you to find ideas and navigate through the site!  Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragement!

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October Sweetheart Moments

Oh, how I love this time of year!  The air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, and the holidays are just upon us.  When October hits...I am definitely in the mood to decorate our home a bit and plan some fun family activities that create sweetheart moments to last a lifetime!  So, here are some ideas for you...

Cozy Fall Kick-Off

Depending on where you live, you can celebrate the actual first day of fall or you can pick a cooler day in October to do this celebration!  Take an evening to gather the family for some fall fun!  Make some warm apple cider, bake a delicious fall treat (pie, muffins, caramel apples), gather some fall books (from the library, bookstore, or your own collection), and make a fire in the fireplace.  Light some yummy smelling candles and cuddle up together for some stories, blanket snuggles, and warm treats!  I even do this tradition in my classroom and the students love it!

Pumpkin Patch Trip

You have to find a local pumpkin patch to visit and have some fall fun!  Kiddos love the opportunity to run around the pumpkin field, find that special pumpkin to carve, and take it home to show off on the doorstep.  And if you're lucky, your pumpkin patch might have some extra goodies like corn mazes, pony rides, caramel apples, and the list goes on.  Don't forget to have the family coordinate and wear their cutest "fall" outfits with a hint of orange!  You will love having these pumpkin memories!

Fall Family Photos

I love to switch out the photo frames on our walls with seasonal photos.  If it is too much to do them all, then pick a wall where you have a few frames arranged and designate these frames for seasonal photos.  In fall, fill them with pumpkin shots, in winter you can do the Christmas tree farm outing, in the spring you can have some puddle jumping photos, and the summer is great for some bright and sunny memories.  People will love to see how you add a personal touch to your home with seasonal photos that are always changing!

Halloween Costume Scrapbook

Buy or make a special album to be used for each year's Halloween costume memories!  Take one or a few photos of the kiddos all dolled up for the holiday and put them in this scrapbook with the date.  You and the family will have lots of fun looking back at all of the costumes you used during the years.  Such a fun memory!

Trick or Treating Party

I make it a tradition each year to invite all of our friends over for some trick or treating fun!  My husband and I cook up some delicious chili and cornbread for all of the adults and I make some special goodies for the kiddos like spider web pizza, ham & cheese pumpkin pockets, mummy dogs and the list goes on!  Don't forget some candy corn cupcakes!  After some eating and a photo moment with all of the kiddos in a group shot, it's time to do some trick or treating together.  Get the wagons (I like to decorate mine) and make a parade as you go together from house to house.  So much fun!

Fall Craft Day

There are so many fun craft projects to plan for this time of year.  Do it with just your family or make it a playdate event.  Whatever you choose, make sure to have some fun creating together!  Some ideas are:  leaf rubbings, jack o' lanterns out of construction paper, painting pumpkins with glue and glitter, and so much more.  You can even do a web search for more fun ideas!

Senior Center Halloween Parade

Call your local senior center to see if they would like a visit from some cute kiddos this festive time of year!  How can they say no???  Have all of the kids dress up and visit the seniors to show off the cute costumes and maybe even do some trick or treating.  Or have the kids make "Happy Halloween!" cards and pass them out to everyone.  Such a good thing to start at a young age!

Candy Corn Fun

Candy corn is so cheap this time of year and there are lots of fun activities to do with it.  Candy corn is great to practice counting with.  It's also a fun one to make shakers with, art projects, and more!

Fall Leaf Hunt

Jump in the car for a family drive on a Sunday afternoon and see the changing leaves.  Find the most beautiful colors, the biggest trees, and your favorite neighborhoods with a fall feel!  You can even do this on a walk in your neighborhood.  Take notice of all the leaf colors, changing of seasons, and looks for signs of fall!  Don't forget to let the kiddos take home some favorite leaves.  I like to make leaf bags with a cute poem on the front to collect all of our leaves in from the walk!

Baking Night

I totally get in the mood to do some baking this time of year.  Clip out and find some yummy recipes to try this season and make sure to include the kiddos on the cooking fun!  Some favorites are banana bread, pumpkin cake, strawberry rhubarb pie, and anything apple!

There are so many more ideas to do this October.  But hopefully I got your creative ideas flowing!  Have fun celebrating the start of this amazing season and be sure to comment and add your own ideas for us to try out too!  Happy fall y'all!

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Furniture Switcharoos!

One of my favorite ways to decorate is to rearrange the furniture and items I already have in my home! It's kind of a joke around here, that when my husband gets home from work...nothing is ever in the same spot! I always think, okay, that is perfect...I won't change anything again. But then I realize that it's half the fun...to add something new and different to a room or an area of the home. So, that's my challenge for you today. Take a look around and see if there is a nook or room that you just don't love. Try rearranging the furniture or knick-knacks and see if it helps. My breakfast nook was bothering me for awhile because I felt like it just wasn't a big enough table. Instead of buying a whole new kitchen set...I decided to add a cute table cloth, a fun centerpiece, and moved a bench that was in our bedroom down to the kitchen table! And I think I love it! My son loves to be able to climb up on the bench by himself to eat a meal or snack! And I love how it is able to seat 6 now, instead of four! Now, we just have to see what my husband says when he comes home from work!

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Halloween Costume Time...Oink, Oink, Cluck, Cluck!

As our family grows, so do my ideas for Halloween costumes. I am all about the costume themes for our family! So, this year we having a farm theme happening! My baby girl is full of rolls and chubbies (and loves to snort), my little guy is such a silly one lately, and my husband and I need to join in on the fun. So, Isabella is an adorable piglet for Halloween, Sullivan is a cute chicken, and we will be the farmers that lead the trick or treating! Check out more festive Halloween ideas on Tip Junkie this week. And enjoy my favorite Halloween photos of my cutie pies! The first is the kiddos in their costumes. The second one is a memory that I will treasure forever. Izzy has had enough of the photo taking and Sully has had enough of her fussing! Look at those faces!!

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Harvest Time in Our Home!

Well, I think it is official..."fall" has taken over our home! The house is full of pumpkins, autumn colors, cozy blankets, apple candles, recipes for baking warm goodies, and a feeling of joy! This season is one that I love and it is evident from the look of our home that this is a season I treasure for fall memories. I am done decorating and thought it was time to post some fall photos of our home to inspire you, motivate your creativity, and just give you some warm thoughts as you view the photos. One of my favorite sites called Tip Junkie is also hosting a "Fall Home Virtual Tour" for people to see everyone else's cute ideas and take a sneak peek inside some beautiful and fun homes. I am listing mine on DIY Fall Week! So, check them out for some more inspiration! Here is my little home tour for harvest time...




The front of our home greets you with some fun fall decorations. We have a wonderful metal pumpkin and scarecrow standing near the entrance and of course the door must be decorated. I found a wonderful fall wreath (cheap at Walmart) and some huge fall mums to fill our pots with. Nothing says we've got a "fall feel" inside like starting right at the entry of your home!

Have fun with your fall decorations. It doesn't need to be difficult for expensive. I love to add some fall floral stems around the home and an apple or pumpkin candle to set the mood. Make it cute and easy!

Walk through the entry way, and you'll find our home office off to the side. I don't do a lot in this room because mainly I like to keep it organized and functional but add a sweet pumpkin arrangement and another candle...and the fall fun continues!

Look to the other side, and you'll find our playroom. The kiddos get in on the fall fun also! I decorate their play area with some pumpkins and lots of autumn literature. I buy book display racks to fill the room with fun books to read!



The kitchen is one of my favorite rooms to decorate for fall. It's the place where so much of your harvest magic happens! Cooking up some warm bowls of soup, baking fresh bread in the oven, and creating some delicous desserts for a treat! Make this space full of fall joy with warm colors, delicious candles, and pumpkins galore!So here are some fun ideas for decorating the kitchen for fall and making it happen. Many craft stores now carry the foam and hollow pumpkins for your own creations. Cut a hole in the top and fill it with some fall floral stems! Have fun with the warm colors. Place in a basket with other decorative pumpkins and stems. The "dress me up" plate is always a fun one to add some fall ribbon to and a cute saying. Happy Fall Y'all!The family room...my favorite spot in our whole home! It's where we spend the majority of our time, so have fun decorating this room for fall! I use pumpkins, candles, cozy blankets, and any cute and affordable fall decorations I come across in the stores. Add a wreath to the front of your fireplace screen for some color. Create a basket of fall literature next to the fireplace which encourages cuddling and reading at night with the kiddos. Finall, bring out the blankets and warm apple cider for a wonderful family moment!Look across our family room, right into our dining room! It's not formal, just family style and casual. We love this layout. Our kitchen, family room, and dining room are one open area...ready for family memories and fun! I continue on with the baskets of pumpkins and fall floral stems. And don't forget the candles and sprigs of fall berries. Add a cute quote or sign to finish off the area. I hope you enjoyed a tour of our home decorated for fall! And check out "Tip Junkie" for more home tours!Pin It