halloween recap

First, I have to say my thoughts and prayers continue to be with my fellow east coasters suffering from Sandy's destruction. Our power came back on in time for a regular night of trick-or-treating and that normalcy was great for the kids. My girls went as a flamingo and a mermaid this year. But the area is still far from normal.

While we are talking about Halloween one last time for the year, here are some pictures from a recent Halloween dessert table I did - all witch themed. (I was going to share before the actual holiday, but having no power compromised that. Oh well, hopefully you can stock up some ideas for next year.) Note the little witch hat spoon toppers for the pumpkin mousse cups and the broom stick donut holders?  So cute,m right!? I originally saw them from this gorgeous Halloween party styled by the talented Paula of Frog Prince Paperie.
 

pirate ship dessert table

As I've mentioned, I made the dessert table for a large Halloween party this past weekend. All the children in attendance were invited to participate in a "treasure hunt".  They were given a treasure map  with various stops throughout the house where they either received a prize or participated in an activity (ie decorated cupcakes, painted a pumpkin, etc.). The "treasure" at the end of their journey was the dessert table. (A sugar treasure - ahhh, the best kind of treasure!) Keeping with the theme, I decided to make the table a pirate ship. I really liked how this table turned out. I love the whimsy of it - I'm still a kid I guess.

The desserts included:

-pumpkin mousse cups

-shortbread finger cookies

-smore pops

-"cannon balls" (donut holes)

-skeleton suckers 

-red velvet cake pops

-caramel pumpkin bites with dulce de leche drizzle

-graveyard pudding

-jello worm cups

-caramel apples

-popcorn hands

halloween candy bar

This is the candy bar I put together for a big Halloween party this past Sunday. Aren't the bats cool!? I found them at Target for ten bucks! They are wall clings that I will be able to use for this client over and over. (I decorate their house every year for Halloween.)

I'll be back tomorrow with the pirate ship dessert table I made for the party. It was awesome!

halloween costumes

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! I'm sure you all are swimming in candy too - I'm nibbling on a Kit Kat right now. (Shhhh, don't tell my kids I raided their buckets!)

This year Ella was the Chiquita Banana girl (and/or Carmen Miranda which many thought she was) and Bree was the Coppertone Girl. I usually don't use the same costumes because it's just so much fun to think of new ones, but the Coppertone costume was just too good to not repeat. I have to thank my mother-in-law for making Ella's dress. (As I've told you all before, sewing is a domestic skill I will never conquer - I call in the pros.) The headdress was a lot of fun to make. I used ostrich feathers and plastic fruit in an effort to keep the overall weight down. I love how it all came together.

halloween candy bar

Is everyone ready for Halloween?!? I've still got a long list of to-do's, but I'm getting there. While I finish up party prep, I thought I'd show you some more pictures from an event I did last year. In addition to the Halloween dessert table I recently posted, I designed a separate candy bar for the party as well. (I'm wishing I had one of those Kit Kats about now - guess I could go raid the candy bar jars sitting in my office ready for this weekend's event!?) I really like the miniature bars hanging from the spooky trees and the tissue covered Tootsie Pops in the "bubbling" cauldron.

Hope everyone has lots of parties to host and/or attend this weekend! Happy Halloween!!!!

halloween :: restaurant decorations

Last week, I was asked to decorate a local restaurant for Halloween. (I just love my job!!!) After buying all the supplies, making centerpieces and installing the finished products, I think it looks pretty good. I love the skulls in the colored water.

halloween dessert table

This is a Halloween dessert table I did last year. By the time I was ready to post the pictures, it was near Thanksgiving so I just held onto the photos for this year. I have two favorite parts to this table. First, the food tags are just perfect right!? They are place cards that I found on Oriental Trading Company. I designed my own label and attached them. And secondly, I love the tall vase with colored water and vegetables. Looks so spooooooky.... 

Okay enjoy - I've got to get back to work on the pirate ship table I'm working on for this weekend! Arghhh!