Color Me Crazy

Recently, I heard about Coloring Books for big kids --- {that's US!} I'm in. I want one so bad! Gotta fly my broom over to Target to pick me up a goodie. {Can I find them there?} Total zen is just a few miles away!

I love to color with the Twinados. Like...looooooove it! Math and science were never my strong points {not even CLOSE!}, but Thistle, Burnt Sienna, Mint and Bubblegum? Heck, yes! I can totally make recommendations for which shade to use for Dora's shirt, Twilight Sparkle's mane and Zuma's shield. The thrill of a blank coloring page brings back loads of mems, and I recently heard that coloring books just made it into the Toy Hall of Fame! {Not sure I'd call it a toy, but hey! Right on!}

For today's installment of Halloween-a-palooza 2015, how about we check out a few links for Halloweenish coloring pages? I checked out some legit links on Pinterest - some popular pins and just all around cool selections for you to browse. Click on the pics for dozens of options available on the sites. Enjoy!

{Cool Mom Picks}
Here are 9 print outs from Cool Mom Picks. Let's face it...any site that includes Jack + Sally totally deserves to get top bidding here. Am I right?

Swoon.

{The Kids Coloring Pages}
42 Disney-themed coloring pages for Halloween. Heavy on The Mouse. Just the way ya like it!

I found a pic of  Marie!
I'm sold.

{Reading With Kids}

Color By Numbers --- for the win!

{Lil Luna}
Clean, funky designs with a vintagy vibe. I dig it!

{U-Createcrafts.com}
Adult Halloween Pages. Nice!

This one looks like the cat's meow. {womp womp}

Keep it colorful, kids!

Just a lil click on the pick counts as the vote!
High fives and thanks!

Pumpkin Pie Donuts

Halloween-a-palooza - TAKE 6!
Ya with me still?

Tonight, let's dial it back to June.

It was National Donut Day. Summer was on the horizon, but I was channeling the fall somethin' fierce! An ode to Pumpkin Pie Donuts took the lead that day, and ooooooh did the pic make me want to kick on the fireplace, scoop up some 'nilla ice cream, bust out some footie jams and cozy on down to a Lifetime Movie. {You know you watch them too! Stop it! I won't tell. lol}

These donuts are the quintessential homage to fall. Hearty texture...sugar overload...pumpkin essence. Good 'ol comfort food served easy, cheap and delish. Donut making scares the bajeezie outta me. I don't want to insult one of life's pure goodies! But, alas! Attempting to make them...or something like them...was on my Bucket List, so I happily checked it off one savory sloppy bite at a time.

A click on this pic counts as the vote!
Smooches!

I'm including these in Halloween-a-palooza 2015, because they'd rock right after your lil pumpkins head indoors after Fright Night. Go 'head, give 'em a night of sugar! {Plus, while they're eating these yummies, it gives you more time to steal all of the Snickers from their pails.}

Here is the link to all the deets. I hope you'll try these this month. And, next. And, well, forevs.

{Pumpkin Pie Donut Recipe --- click here}

Nighty night, pumpkins...

McDonald's Halloween Pails

I'm an old soul. Vintage to the max. So, tonight, I'mma keep it plain and simple. No fuss no muss. Just a throwback to discuss!

I just want to tell ya that for me, old school is cool. {Ya dig?} So, what better time to put a few vintage vixens in the spotlight than during the 5th episode of Halloween-a-palooza 2015?!!!!

Who remembers these Honeys of Halloween? Pure...simple...1986-ish McDonald's Halloween Pails. McBoo, McGhost, McWitch, etc!!!! A cheeseburg and fries with a side 'o Coke? {#YASSSplease} Just looking at this pic gives me goosebumps...and I can hear myself and SheShe cackling with excitement as CoCo and Big M. coasted through the drive-thru to gift us with these darlins.

Sure, the superhero and princess pails of recent are adorbs and all, but just ask 99% of 30-somethings about the feelings they get when they see this trio. Takes ya to a time that's surely a treat!

Night, night.

Just a click on the pic counts as the vote!
Wuv ya!

Pumpkin Punch

Sundays in the fall are usually Game Days --- so let's go with the trend! Here's the 4th installment of Halloween-a-palooza 2015...a quick and easy game to "punch" up your Halloween Party. It's quick, simple and cheap. {#BOOm}

{PUMPKIN PUNCH}

{The Deets}

• Find a flat piece of plywood.
• Paint it white.
• Hot glue a bunch of orange Solo cups in the shape of a pumpkin base.
• Toss in a fun Halloween-themed toy.
• Cover the top with orange tissue paper.
• Secure it with a rubber band.
• Paint a stem and swirly leaves if ya fancy.
• Let kids take a punch at their favorite cup.
• Let 'em keep the surprise inside!

A click on the pic counts as the vote!
Luv ya!

Enjoy!
27 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cauldron Cake Pops

Nerdy Nummies.

Every heard of this darling YouTube channel?
Rosanna Pansino, the sweet and spunky host, knows her way around the 'Tube.
Her Kristin Chenoweth-esque voice is endearing, her ideas are clever and her set is on point.
'Nuf said.

The {Challenges} she tries with her sister are super fun and inspiring!
They remind me of She She and I. And, I dig that.

Not sure when I stumbled across her channel, but as with all things You-Tubey, I'm so thrilled I did. I first read about her in a People Magazine article that featured her famous {Rainbow Cake}. Her baking style intrigued me, so over to her YT channel, I went! Her episodes are entertaining, and I always look forward to what she'll whip up next.

Here's my ode to her {Cauldron Cake Pops}. I followed her tutorial, and the only thing I swapped out was the yellow cake for 'ol Red Velv. {Had to! Ya know?} Here's a link to Ro's video: {click here}

I made these for our Halloween Party last fall. I'm a Nerd who loves Nerds, so that very ingredient sealed the deallio. They turned out like this. {Apparently, the 7 in the middle didn't like the chilly weather, as witnessed by their cutesy cuddling.}

{Let's Dish}:

* These were a bit time consuming overall...{waiting on choco to dry, etc.}...but, I cooked appetizers and other party foods during down time. Start these FIRST if you plan to add them to your spread!

* Use a toothpick to add the handles onto the pot.

* Buy that cake pop base at Hobby Lobby with your 40% off coupon. You can pick one up for about 5 lil' bucks! Spray paint it to match other color schemes in the future, if needed!

* Buy a pack of rainbow Nerds at the Dollar Tree. Yep, you'll have to sort 'em to find the greens. Throw 'em in a bowl + spoon 'em out while watching catching up on Real Housewives. {Not Scandal. The script is too quick, and you don't want to miss 1 millisecond of that perfection. Capiche?}

* You might be able to swap out the cake base with a BUCKEYE center or a RICE KRISPIE ball. They sound yummy, right?! {Just make sure to note which ones have PB on party night.}

A click on this pic counts as a vote!
Love ya! 

Thanks for tuning in to {Entry #3 in Halloween-a-palooza 2015}! Not sure "WITCH" is better...these yummy treats or ya'll being so sweet!

Teal Pumpkins? Right On!

{Entry #2 in Halloween-a-palooza 2015}

Teal Pumpkins.
Ever heard of these?

I have. And, they're as cool as their color.

The Food Allergy Research & Education group started the national campaign {The Teal Pumpkin Project} in 2014 as a way to raise awareness of food allergies and to promote inclusion for ALL little darlings on All Hallows Eve.

How boss is that?!!

Read all the fine deets at {www.foodallergy.com} and take the pledge to participate this year. No food allergies in your house?  No prob. No time to read up?  No worries. Here's the gist in 6 Sweet Steps...

Sound good? Good.

The teal color will let moms, dads and guardians know that your house is a super safe zone for their tiny Trick-or-Treaters who may be allergic to certain foods. That's it!

A click on this pic counts as a vote!
Love ya!

Now, I'm not saying to stray from your traditional Halloween roots. Oh, no no no, honey child. {Lawd! Heck, no.} You go 'head and buy those Kooky Kit Kats, Tasty Twix and Sassy Snickers with Almonds 'til your heart's content! {Ya know darn right the fam and I will!} I'm just saying if you want to have a BOO-tiful bowl of stickers, jelly bracelets, pencils, glow sticks, bouncy balls {etc!}, it would be mad chill of you to do. You'd be adding to the awareness and would be awesome at the same time.

Go you!

Disclaimer: The Teal Pumpkin Project and the Teal Pumpkin Image are trademarks of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). And...I'm just a Mama Bear spreading the good word.

Halloween...Know What I Mean?

Ahhhhhhhh-ctober!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 10th month of the year, my pretties!
It's finally here. {Good golly, she's finally HERE!}
31 whole days of orange and black beauty.

I die.

I've made a ghoul...err, I mean a GOAL!...to post at least something Halloweeny every single day of this marvelous month. This holiday speaks to my soul. It hugs my heart. Enchants my thoughts. I swoon at the very mention of it. Weak in the knees? Yep, that's how I be! I'm not yet sure exactly what the heck kind of content you're going to find on here for the next few wicked weeks, but I hope you'll join me for a frightfully fun time.

The following is just an intro...a Halloween Haiku, if you will...to get us all in the SPIRIT of things. Tell me - what are your favorite things about this stupendous season? Here are some of mine...

• Mini candy bars for days.
• DARK MILKY WAYS.
• Halloween Parties.
• Pumpkin patches.
• Pumpkin everything.
• Old school movies.
• Gothic fonts.
• Cobwebby mansions.
• Ghouls.
• Haunted Houses.
• Hayrides.
• Hayrides with chainsaws!
• Magic 8 Balls.
• Psychics.
• Gross looking appetizers.
• Crunchy leaves.
• Dogs in costume. {I can't even!}
• FESTIVALS.
• Costumes. 
• More than one costume.
• Changing costumes to go to the houses with BIG candy bars.
• Vintage plastic 80s masks.
• Pizza after Trick or Treat.
• Parades.
• Cider and donuts.
• Hocus Pocus.
• Casper.
• Blinged out skulls.
• Ghourds.
• Mad scientists.
• Potions.
• Spells.
• Candy apples.
• Corn mazes.
• Striped witch tights.
• Trunk or Treats at churches.
• Caramel Apple lollipops.
• 1/2 days of school.
• Popcorn balls.
• Racing house to house. 
• Counting your candy stash.
• Spooky stories.
• Chilly air. 
• Sheet ghosts.
• Whistling winds.
• Freddy Krueger.
• DISCOUNT CANDY ON NOVEMBER 1st!

These are all nice shout outs, but one thing reigns supreme out of allllllll these amazing October Oddities. Yes, Vanessa Williams, you know I saved the best for last. Yes, indeed you do! Who was missing?...

FRANKENBERRIES. 

Me and my main squeeze.

Yeah, I said it. {The Sensational Strawberry Sweetheart of my very existence.} Coco and Big M. raised SheShe and I on these. They were cool parents. Gotta say it. Sure, they monitored our sugar intake...{ahem...in front of people!}...but behind the scenes, I have to give credit where credit's due. My 'rents made a mad dash every October 1st to stock us up on Frankenberries. They never even thought twice about it. {That's hella cool.} Even when I was in college, they'd send me autumn care packages, and the face of this Gorgeous Goon would greet me as soon as FedEx sped away. I loved that even though I was exactly 496 miles away from them, it was heartwarming to know that they were thinking of me. They remembered! {#magical}

A click on this pic counts as a vote!
Love ya lots!

For reals - the sight of these precious pink princes is sometimes just too much for me to handle, lol. I'm serious! They take me back to such a joyful, purely pleasant time - childhood! Carefree, sunshiney, comforting days. I know that whenever October rolls around, this Magenta Monster will greet me on the end cap of an aisle. He'll be joined by his Buddy in Blue and a Chocolatey Chew. I'll never tire of that display.

In life, it's always nice to have something to hang onto - to call your own - to make you smile - to count on - to make you get all da feels. This cereal is one-a-doze things for dis 'ol daughter! Posting an ode to a breakfast food is so super random, I know. But sometimes random can be darn delicious!

Grab yourself a bowl, honey, and go heavy on the marshmallows. I said so.