Your Last Minute Stop for Halloween Ideas
October 28, 2009 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Halloween, Holidays, Homemaking Blogs and Websites
I’ve been pondering this whole Halloween thing for weeks now. I’ve done a tad bit of preparation, but nothing like I needed to. I know the kids will be off from school the rest of the week and that will give me some time to finalize everything. If you’ve procrastinated like me, you’ll appreciate these last minute Halloween ideas. If not, then bookmark it for next year. 
Bridget at Bake at 350 gives step-by-step instructions for making these cute spiderweb cookies. You’ll also want to know how to make her perfectly black icing for the spiderweb cookies and other Halloween treats.
Thrifty Mommy is always interested in saving money. Check out 33 do-it-yourself costume ideas, ways to save money on Halloween candy, tips for taking Halloween photos, 10 ways to save on Halloween part 1, part 2, and part 3. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of after-Halloween sales on candy and costumes.
If you’re concerned about handing out so much candy this you might want to check out these Halloween candy alternatives from Boston Mamas.
Linette at Play Library has some great Halloween ideas. I’m glad she posted these 10 easy homemade costume ideas. My son was wanting to be a ninja but I was determined not to pay $20 for a costume. There is an idea for a homemade ninja costume that uses everyday items. You should also check out 5 favorite Halloween books for young kids, treat ideas for the school Halloween party, 10 fun Halloween papercraft ideas for kids, and Kids Halloween – Painting Pumpkins.
Kids Birthday Fun has a round-up of cute ideas for a ghostly Halloween party.
Little Fun; Little Learning has an easy pumpkin song you can teach your kids. You can also let your child fingerpaint or easel paint a pumpkin or make a Christian pumpkin carving. There are also several fall-themed ideas.
And from your very own Keeping the Castle – 17 Halloween cupcake ideas, 20 pumpkin inspired recipes, the coolest pumpkin carving designs on the web, pumpkin-carving ideas from Martha Stewart, and pumpkin faces.
Katelyn Thomas has haunted house tips, Halloween decoration ideas, and tips for making a Halloween emergency kit.
Noreen at Hankering for Yarn shows us some gorgeous masks created with yarn and an upcycled mask trimmed with spool knitting. Also, how to make a pumpkin pincushion and Halloween dolls to weave on a potholder loom.
While it’s probably too late to order a costume, maybe these Halloween tutu ideas will give you ideas for making your own or using one that you already have.
Are there any holidays that you don’t celebrate? Mary Emma offers some tips for parents.
Which links did you enjoy?
image from Kids Birthday Fun
20 Pumpkin Inspired Recipes
October 22, 2009 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Cooking, Food and Drinks, Recipes
Fall is here and many of you are looking to cook and bake with yummy ingredients such as pumpkin, cinnamon, and apples. I’ve searched the internet and found 20 great sounding pumpkin recipes. Enjoy!
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal at GoodLife Eats
- Pumpkin Waffles at Smitten Kitchen
- Black Bean Pumpkin Soup at Smitten Kitchen
- Pumpkin Spice Latte from Kettle and Cup
- Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte from A Year of Slow Cooking
- Creamy and Spicy Pumpkin Soup (low carb) at Low Carb Diets
- Spicy Pumpkin Bisque at About.com Home Cooking
- Baked Stuffed Pumpkin at About.com Home Cooking
- Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Cheesecake at Pumpkin Patch
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup at Think Inside the Icebox
- Pumpkin Spice Roll from Kraft Foods
- Double Layer Pumpkin Pie from Kraft Foods
- Pumpkin Pie from Martha Stewart
- Pumpkin Bread from Food Network
- Pumpkin Roll Cake from Paula Deen at Food Network
- Pumpkin Custard Pie from Emeril Live
- Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Walnut Apples from Food Network
- Delish Pumpkin Dip from Our Recipe Garden
- Pumpkin Bread Pudding from Everyday Food Storage
Which pumpkin recipe do you think you’ll try?
image sxc.hu
June Highlights at Keeping the Castle
July 5, 2009 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Castle News and Chit Chat, Home Making
Here are a few highlights from June at Keeping the Castle.
Free 4th of July Crafts and Recipe Book
May Highlights at Keeping the Castle
The Lowdown on McDonald’s Iced Coffee
What is the Temperature of Your House?
Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Recall
Five Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
Cleaning Challenge: Clean Your Coffeemaker
Hamilton Beach Dispensing Blender
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
Works for Me Wednesday: Bag Organization
Cleaning Challenge: Clutter Patrol
Which articles did you enjoy?
image (c) Karen Weideman
May Highlights at Keeping the Castle
June 29, 2009 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Castle News and Chit Chat
When I visit blogs, one thing that is time consuming is looking through the older posts. I’ve decided that to make things easier for my readers, I will make a post with links to articles that have been written that month. This will serve as an easy way to read the information that you feel could be useful to you. Since June is not over just yet, I’ll go ahead and wrap up May for us.
Kitchen Must-Have: Pyrex Portable
Gardening with Volunteer Plants
Primal Grill with Steve Raichlen
27 Patriotic Crafts from Martha Stewart
Kitchen Must-Have: Kitchen Shears
Laundry Must-Have: Tide BraBag
Clark Howard and the Smart Shoppers
Cute Food Treats from Bright Delights
10 Ways You Can Enjoy Your Yard This Summer
Which articles are your favorites?
image (c) Karen Weideman
The Martha Stewart Blog
June 4, 2009 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Homemaking Blogs and Websites
I knew Martha Stewart had her own show, magazines, and website. I’ve also seen her on twitter, but it wasn’t until today that I discovered she has a blog.
On The Martha Blog, you’ll find more of her tips for gardening, entertaining, holidays, collecting, home, pets, giving, travel, and more. This week, she has posted some promised pictures of her honey bees. She discusses an issue with the bees not building the hives correctly and tells what the problem was the hive, and also gives 18 pictures for our viewing. After discovering The Martha Blog, I realized that it’s been around for a few years. lol I guess you learn something new every day.
Martha Stewart has built quite a name for herself. She must have an army of people working for her, but even still, I wonder when she has time to sleep! Most of her tweets (on twitter) seem like they are actually from her personally.
Do you enjoy the tips that Martha Stewart offers?
image from the martha blog
27 Patriotic Crafts from Martha Stewart
May 23, 2009 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Holidays, Projects and Crafts
I was surfing around Martha Stewart’s website today. She always has such great ideas and so we know that there will be Memorial Day ideas on her site.
Martha has not disappointed us. She has 27 patriotic crafts on her website that you can view for free. For quick viewing, you can see thumbnail images of all of the crafts. These Can-Do Cans caught my eye because it is a simple project which reuses and transforms every day cans as a decorative piece.
Do you have any Memorial Day craft ideas to share?
image from marthastewart.com
Famous Homemakers & Chefs on Twitter
March 15, 2009 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Celebrities at Home, Entertainment, General Housekeeping and Homemaking
I’ve been on Twitter for a few months now and I am enjoying all the people and bloggers I’m meeting. I’ve noticed that there are quite a few celebrities on there. I thought you might be interested in looking at or following the tweets of some homemaking and chef celebrities.
Everyday Food from Martha Stewart
Are you following any homemaking celebrities? Let us know.
image from twitter
In Search of the Perfect Pumpkin Pie
November 7, 2008 by SP Bragg
Filed under Recipes, Thanksgiving
Seeing that no one in our house likes pumpkin pie except me, I usually go in search of the tiniest pie I can find as I’m the one who is going to eat all of it. It’s a hardship I know, but for those of you who actually put aside time to bake one of these gorgeous creations for Thanksgiving, I thought that I would go looking for the most delectable recipes I can find.
No Bake Pumpkin Cream Pie Recipe
Pumpkin Mousse Pie (if you want to get really fancy)
Photo Credit: Piccap
Autumn Leaves and What You Can Do With Them
November 2, 2008 by SP Bragg
Filed under Frugal Living, Gardening, Green Home, Home Decor, Uncategorized, home projects
I’m sure that we have all learned in school why our leaves change into those gorgeous colors, but I was just reading something interesting in the November issue of Martha Stewart Living and she has a different take on it and I like it! According to folklore, apparently Jack Frost had quite a bit to do with it… at least the brightly colored leaves that we love so much. The story goes that he pinched those particular leaves with his frigid fingers and they turned red. He then went on to paint the rest of the fall leaves in tones of brown and gold.
*What to do with those leaves?? Collect the prettiest you can find, place them between sheets of wax paper and then iron them. They can now be used to decorate window sills, coffee tables, you name it. I have tons of memories of doing this while in public school!
Celestial Pumpkins from Martha Stewart
October 28, 2008 by Maricar
Filed under Home Decor
If you don’t want to carve faces or characters into your pumpkins this year, consider an all-around design that you can use to decorate your home.
Martha Stewart’s celestial pumpkins are elegant and unique. And they would look great at night, without being scary to the little ones.
Making these twinkling pumpkins is fairly easy. Cut a circular opening on the bottom of the pumpkin and remove the flesh and seeds as usual. Leave about 1/4 inch thickness all around the pumpkin. Use a 1/4 inch bit and an electric drill to drill holes around the pumpkin. Put a string of small white lights inside and place one bulb in each hole. With the pumpkin right side up, the plug and wire should run out from the bottom.
via Martha Stewart
