They're Creepy and they're crawly...

I'm not very fond of spiders.  I just saw a dead tarantula on the road in front of my house today.  We live on a mountain and was told that our neighborhood seems to be right in the middle of a tarantula migration path.  Who knew that tarantulas migrated!

My sister, Connie created a nest of jewel beaded spiders just in time for Halloween.  They are beautiful. And she shared one with me.  In a lamp lit foyer it looks creepy and crawly.    

I've been a little creeped out at first glance and then remembered it's a PRETTY spider!...is that an oxymoron?

Connie used bendable wire, beads and jewels to create.  She initially made a large one to hang off her chandelier.  Looks awesome. 

I added my creepy crawly to the display of Broomsticks, Bats and Toads.  I thought that fitting. 

Can you say EWWWW!

Neighborhood Fall Fest 2016

It's Fall and it's time for our neighborhood to celebrate.  In previous years we have gathered for a fun dance party in someone's converted garage.  We watched each other limbo, break dance, conga, and all sorts of other fun and funny dance moves.

This year we thought we would change it up a bit and have a street fall festival.  It was a total blast!  Number ONE priority was to bring our neighborhood friends together before the snow puts a damper on our outside activities.  Number TWO priority was to allow the youth to earn some money for their summer youth conference trip, girls camp and scout camp.  

One of our talented young women water-colored this flyer for us.  The same young woman led the group in preparing the back drop for our selfie station.

All of the youth were involved in one way or another.  We also delegated responsibilities to the different auxiliary groups within our church organization.  That shared the prep work among a lot of willing people.

We throw wet sponges at the clowns in our neighborhood!

Booths- each of the youth volunteered for shifts

Bake Sale

Silent Auction Baskets

Hot Dogs and Lemonade (free for all)

Popcorn (1 ticket)

Sno-Kone (2 tickets)

Cotton Candy (1 ticket)

Clown Sponge Toss (1 ticket for three throws)

Pumpkin Decorating (3 tickets)

Bobbing for Apples (1 ticket)

Donuts on a String (2 tickets)

Storytelling (professional storyteller)

3 legged race (1 ticket for 2 people)

Potato Sack Race and Pumpkin Bowling (1 ticket for 2 people)

Jail (1 ticket to put someone in jail-2 tickets for bail)

Cupcake walk-(1 ticket)

Food Eating Contest (4 tickets)

Scarecrow Updos (2 tickets)

Selfie Photo Station (free)

Facepainting (2 tickets)

Pie Throwing Contest (1 ticket)

All tickets were $1 and purchased at the ticket booth.  The "cost" of each booth depended on the materials needed for the booth. 

The activities were a lot of fun.  The free hot dogs and lemonade brought in the crowds!

If you didn't have your fill of free hot dogs you could enter the hot dog eating contest...now that was fun to watch!

Another great money maker for the youth were these silent auction baskets.

Each Auxiliary gathered and donated one basket

The Bake Sale had a lot of repeat business.  Lots and lots of amazing donated baked goods.

Everything was gone by festival end.

It was a beautiful evening and everyone, young and old, had a great time.

We couldn't leave out the traditional dance party so when the sun went down we headed for our neighbor's tennis court and for the next few hours DANCED!

Happy Fall Ya'LL

Halloween Decorations

Crystal Ball Candlesticks

My crafty friend Candice and I made a new Halloween craft this year. I saw these over on flamingotoes and was in-love! These are so cool and super duper easy. It takes less than an hour. Here is the link to their tutorial.

These look even better in person! 

Here are a few other Halloween Decorations from my home. Happy Halloween!!

My front porch

 "I've got my eye on you" Wreath

 For the black pumpkin, I bought a plain pumpkin at Michaels and used my silhouette to cut out vinyl images. 

Dining Room:

 More pumpkins from Michaels that I put vinyl messages on

The Living Room

 The entry way. I made those cute little ghosties when I was a little girl with my mom. I still have them after all these years,

No Tricks Just Treats

Need a quick, super easy, delectable Halloween treat?  

Here ya go!

Seriously.  I made these in less than an hour.  

All you need:

Mason jars and lids

Free cute jar label from Lauren McKinsey Designs 

Ribbon

and some kind of treat. 

I attached a cute little tag, but really isn't needed if you deliver in person.

My treat just happened to be... 

Soda Cracker Candy

35-40 soda crackers

1 cup butter or margarine

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups milk chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts (if desired)

Other toppings if desired

Line a 15"x10"x1" (jelly roll) baking pan with foil and coat with non-stick cooking spray. Place crackers in rows on foil. In a saucepan melt butter; add the brown sugar and bring to a boil. Boil for 3-4 minutes. Pour over crackers and spread until completely covered. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven.  Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot cracker/candy mixture. Spread chocolate. Add nuts if desired. Drizzle white choc on to (if desired)  Cool completely in refrigerator until chocolate is hard; remove candy from foil and break into pieces.

And there you go!

Another cute treat just for you...

An adorable Cabbage Patch Kid! 
(Little CeCe's trick-or-treating costume)