house o'lantern!

family fun magazine had this fantastic last minute idea that you can pull off for decorating your whole house for trick or treating!

create your own house o'lantern!!! full instructions HERE...

it's super simple and fun...take cardboard and fit to the window in your house. cute out the "face" and cover the opening of the cutouts with orange paper {construction or tissue paper}.

set the new creation inside your window and tape it in for trick or treating...and make sure to light up the pumpkin with your room light! viola...

your very own house-o'lantern!

danyele @ a thorn among roses

the pumpkin patch parable

i came across a new blog while surfing on twitter...and what a find. i love this great "pumpkin" idea for the halloween season...i asked and amanda gladly offered to let me repost here! i plan to do the same deal-io as amanda and her fam and post it up on my personal blog, a thorn among roses. for now, here's the pumpking patch parable, courtesy of amanda on "impress your kids"...so on we go!

Last night we did our first family devotional time. OK, it wasn’t exactly a devotional. But it was a family activity. And it was about Jesus. So, I’m going to call it a devotional.

We sat down together and read The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs. Then we acted it out. Here’s how it went:

First we picked out a beautiful pumpkin from the pumpkin patch grocery store. Then we washed it off and opened it up! (Psalm 51:10)

Then we cleaned him out–all the hidden, dirty things inside! (Ezekiel 11:18-20)

We gave our pumpkin a new face! (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Finally, our pumpkin was lit from the inside and shining for the whole world to see!
(Matthew 5:16)

The Pumpkin Patch Parable tells this same story in more details and gives scriptures every step of the way. The scriptures and the story point to the miracle that Jesus does in our lives–he chooses us, washes us off, takes away all our dirty sin, gives us a new heart, a smile on our face and a light to shine to the world! It’s a beautiful picture and a long-standing object lesson that we are able to see for weeks to come! Lydia and I were chanting, “Let your light shine! Matthew 5:16!” the whole time we were looking at our shining new pumpkin. It made quite an impression!

I know this is a blatant rip-off of the Halloween Jack-o-Lantern. Liz Curtis Higgs describes it as redeeming something that God created–a pumpkin. And can I say something else? God knew. God knew people would use the pumpkin as something scary. And that his creation would be a symbol for a mostly evil holiday. And I think he put this symbolism together for this very purpose–to redeem it and remind us how He has redeemed us!

This is an excellent book with sweet pictures and a very profound message. I encourage you to get this book even if you don’t do the carving of a pumpkin together. It will help your kids associate a pumpkin (or jack-o-lantern) with God’s love instead of with Halloween!

hope you enjoyed amanda's fun! go and see her on her own blog, oh amanda, HERE.

my clan's pumpkin parable carving is HERE.

danyele @ a thorn among roses

Fall and Halloween!

Fall seems to signal time for change, leafs falling, beautiful colors everywhere!

Happy Halloween!

xoxo, Cathleen

designbycathleen

eco friendly tables

Great ways to bring in Earthy Elements is to add a little into your decor.

Love this Copper Table!

Wood adds a great Rustic Element.

How about Iron and Stone.

This is a great twist on a Twig table with glass.

Small details can make big impressions!

xoxo, Cathleen

designbycathleen.blogspot.com

are these not the cutest little cookies you have ever soon for halloween? i found them at walmart.com and i thought we should make some up!

here's what you need:

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup store bought vanilla frosting

Red and black decorator frosting tubes

bag of malted milk balls

Heat oven to 375° F. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.

add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

shape dough into 1-inch balls. roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. cool completely.

frost center of cookie with vanilla frosting to form white portion of eye. decorate with red and black frostings to form outline of eye and bloodshot markings. press malted milk ball "iris" into center of eye.

makes bout 4 dozen eye balls...i mean, cookies.

danyele @ a thorn among roses

candles, anyone?

i saw these cute fall candles at pier 1...and i looove them! the problem is, they are only for one season and i just don't want to spend the money.

so why not make them yourself?? i did some research and this is what i found. let's try it!

you need:
leaves, dried and pressed
pillar candles of various heights
craft or elmer's glue

grab some inexpensive pillar candles of different sizes...you can even grab some good scented ones for a few dollars at wal-mart.

find some good leaves, of course...if you have kiddos, this is a great opportunity to go on a "treasure hunt" for different shapes and sizes.

Brush a thin layer of glue onto each leaf and press onto pillar candles of various heights.

toss the candles on a tray and scatter with loose leaves.

the best part, you can remove the leaves at the end of fall and replace them with holly leaves for christmas.

danyele @ a thorn among roses

good candy??

ok, so candy can't be good, but what about better than most?
i mean, the reality is that we're gonna eat it, so why not make good choices?

so here's some decent choices...

3 muskateers is much less fat than the typical candy bar, but a few more calories. all in all, it's a really good choice, though.

dove chocolates...one word: antioxidants {and dark chocolate}
i'm a lover of all things chocolate and dove does boast the lower calorie count than it's all chocolate competition, so that means i can eat a little and still eat about 50 calories less when eating a dove chocolate. i'll take it!

100 grand isn't that much better, but it is a little...and with the two bar option, you can set aside one for another day...but i never have the power to do it. instead, i share with hubs and then we only eat one. with the bit of less fat and calories than other leading brands, i get a little less and get a little crunch to go along with it.

nothing says delish to me after a good meal than york peppermint patties!!! i love those things. they are pretty low in calories and fat...loaded with sugar, but they are a small special treat and since there is only one, it's a good portion control choice.

it's not the best news, but well, it's better news, right?
happy candy-ing!

danyele @ a thorn among roses

fall party menu for kids

a few fun fall party treats for the classroom that will make you a rock star...ok, well, maybe no one else has done them yet. who knows...but it's still pretty and fun!

spider brownies

make your standard box of brownie batter in a cake pan. then comes t

he addition of the spider web...

1 (3oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperat

ure

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoon milk

mix together and pipe {or pour} in a circular pattern...then take a knife, starting in th

e center and pull out to the edge of the pan. repeat all the way around and viola...spider webbing!

bake per instructions on brownie box {approx 40 minutes} and cool.

wanna really freak them out? put a fun little play spider on top for effect!

witches brew soda

everyone needs a fun drink...so how about this fun fav? it's simple and easy too!!

ginger ale in a fun glass, topped with orange sherbet...and garnished with a few twizzlers! super cute and delish too!

cookies, cookies and more

and what's a party without super fun cookies? how about chocolate mice cookies??

these cute little guys are chocolate cookies crunched up and rolled in confectioner's sugar with almond slice ears! how cute! recipe HERE.

and white chocolate spritz cookies...yummo! recipe HERE.

and the old stand by...caramel apples, with a twist, of course!

are these not super cute and fun?!! recipe HERE.

go on now...get a move on...and show us your creations!!!!

danyele @ a thorn among roses

alternatives

tired of getting and giving tons of candy for trick or treating??? {me either, actually, but i need some alternatives so i can handle the temptation}

honestly, no kid wants to go trick or treating and get apples, so how about some decent alternatives that make the kids happy, keep the dentist at bay and help keep the kiddos a little healthier in the long run?

food options:

pretzels

microwave popcorn

fruit leathers {not fruit snacks}

cereal bars

individual bags of nuts

fun, non-food options:

bubbles

vampire teeth

playdough

temporary tattoos

bouncy balls

rubber bracelets

slime

so take time to think it through...and you'll still get lots of fun candy, but maybe a little bit of fun, healthy snackage is good too!!!

danyele @ a thorn among roses

breast cancer awareness month

november is national breast cancer awareness month...

breast cancer is the most common cancer in women aside from skin cancer according to nbcam.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States last year. Approximately 1,910 new cases are expected in men. The ACS also reports that an estimated 40,610 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2009 (40,170 women, 440 men).

get your mammograms ladies!! i just had my 40 year mammogram...and it's changed significantly. it's digital and well, honestly, less "smooshy" and painful. mammograms are not the best thing in the world, but honestly, it's the widest used technology to find breast cancer. so just go and do it!

and for pete's sake, do your self breast exams int he shower...if you haven't been instructed, ask your doctor. or do your internet research...i have for you....self breast exam how to HERE!!!
danyele @ a thorn among roses

Lamps and Shades

Use Funky Lamps and Lamp Shades to Jazz up any Room!

Have Fun with color and shapes.

xoxo, Cathleen

designbycathleen

$5 centerpiece, easy peasy

my friend, kim...over at reinvented...posted this fab $5 centerpiece idea and i had to pass it along {with her permission, of course}. so take a look and grab a 5 spot for a fab fall look!

As much as I like to change up my decor for EVERY holiday, and, well, for every other reason I can think of, I am a "use what you have" kind of girl. Until money really does grow on trees, my home decor budget will stay limited.

Luckily, I've convinced myself that I enjoy the challenge.

Still, I LOOOOVE a beautiful centerpiece.

On my kitchen table, I limit the decor to a bowl of fruit. I figure my kids are gonna grab and eat whatever is there, so I better make sure it's not poisonous.

The dining room table is another story. We seldom actually DINE in there, but people do walk by it a lot on their way to the kitchen, so I want the table to look pretty. I found these adorable tiny white "pumpkins" at the grocery for $4.99. Everything else you see here I already had, hence the "five dollar" title.

Remember this tray made from an old frame? I pulled out my trusty leaf garland, now five or six years old, added some spray painted Goodwill candlesticks and some apple green candles that were already in the dining room. Voila! I love the simple color palate, my dining room walls are the same color as the candles, so I like to keep the accessories rather neutral. Learn more about the wall color here.

Now, for some inspiration. Scroll down at your own risk, I can no longer guarantee the $5 price tag.

This is a Martha centerpiece, but I spotted the picture at Forever Wherever. If I had a garden like Martha's, I'd SO fill a white pumpkin with roses.

This one you could do for five bucks. These little cheese domes are easy to find at thrift stores. A row of three on a burlap table runner, with just apples and flowers...swoon...
If you're not planning to roast the Thanksgiving turkey, then display the pan full of seasonal greenery and fruit. Just use whatever you can find in your yard. Unless all you've got are dead petunias, like me.

Here are some more ideas.

Beautiful. simple. colorful. Just don't let the kids eat them.
Pictures from MyHomeIdeas.com

danyele @ a thorn among roses