Creepy Cupcakes

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Now Treat Yourself to Praline Pecan Pumpkin Pie

2011-10-31T13:13:00.001-04:00

What's good about this recipe? It's effectively Pecan pie sitting on top of pumpkiny goodness. You could add Pumpkin pie spices to the cheesecake if you wanted more of that flavor, but it's delightfully simple as the recipe is posted. Pure pumpkiny flavor!

Stolen from the cooks over at Southern Living, and adapted slightly to be more to my tastes (i.e. liquer added, sugars adjusted), I bring you:

PRALINE PECAN PUMPKIN PIE

Crust

13 rectangular graham crackers, crumbed (about 2 cups)
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
5 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Set oven to 325^oF.

Stir all of this together until it just holds when pressed; while you can do that mixing with a spoon, at some point it becomes more fun to smoosh it up with your hands.

Press it into a 9" springform pan, covering the bottom and up the sides by about 1.5 inches.

Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until the crust is slightly toasty and browned. While you wait, start mixing up your filling. Bring this out to cool a bit before pouring your filling inside.

Filling

4 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened (I used the Neufchâtel kind... don't do this to yourself; it's Halloween! Full-fat, baby!)
3/4 - 1 cup granulated sugar (I like less sweet, but I'm a weirdo)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tsp Praline Liqeur optional
4 large eggs
15 oz canned pumpkin (or 1.5 cups)
Juice from 1 lemon (or 2 tbs)

Electric Mixer:

Beat the crap out of the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and liquer. It should be fluffy as heck by the time you let up - like puffy little angel clouds that you are going to throw screaming into a burning hot oven in a few minutes.

Next, mix in the eggs at a low speed. Add one at a time and blend just until incorporated. Scrape the sides as needed.

Add the pumpkin and lemon juice. Mix just until fully combined at a low-to-medium speed, scraping the sides to make sure everything is well blended.

Pour into the crust. It will be quite full.

Your oven is still on 325^oF? Good. Bake this bad boy for 1 hr and 10 minutes, or just until the center is set. Turn the oven off, but don't open the door - let it sit in there for 15 minutes. Take it out, put it on the rack, and cool it completely.

Now the hard part: refrigerate for 8 - 24 hours without eating it. It's painful, but you have to do it to let it set up properly.

Is your sweet tooth killing you? Might as well use this time to make up your Praline Pecans... which, I might add, is a skill you'll want to develop just for snacking purposes.

Praline Pecans

1 cup pecan halves
1/8 cup dark corn syrup
1 TBS white sugar (superfine)

Stir together pecans and corn syrup. Sprinkle with sugar and stir again. Gently: you don't want too many broken up pecan pieces.

Praline Pecans: good anytime, not just on pie

Spread theme out in a jellyroll pan lined with parchment paper. You may want to spray it with vegetable oil cooking spray; I didn't, but I here it helps to loosen them off the paper when you're done.

Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until glaze bubbles slowly and thickens. The recipe from Southern Living said to stir every 3 minutes ... oops, I did not do that. I stirred them during the last minute, and they came out fine! The key here is really to smell out for burning sugar or over-toasted pecans. Nobody wants that.

Remove them to a wire rack and let them cool completely. You may want to use a spoon to CAREFULLY separate out the pieces so the don't try in clumps. You could also break them up after they are cooled, but that leads to broken pecan fragments.

Once they are cooled, save them to top your pie. If you stop to taste even one, you might eat half of them. That's just fair warning... in fact, why not go ahead and make yourself a double batch? It's Halloween. You've earned it.

Praline Sauce
Hey. Don't make this until you're about ready to serve up your pie. It cools into a thick caramel, so you need it warm and pourable.

5 TBS butter, unsalted
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
3 TBS Praline Liquer
1 tsp corn starch

Melt butter over low heat. At everything else, bring heat to medium, and whisk constantly. It's going to get bubbly: TURN THE HEAT DOWN OR REMOVE IT FROM THE HEAT IF IT STARTS TO OVERFLOW. I can show you scars that prove you don't want to mess around with melting, boiling sugar!

Once it's boiling, whisk constantly for another 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and let it cool to just about room temperature. Then, pour it on your cheesecake, sprinkle on some Praline Pecans, and serve it up!

Delicious Fall Flavored Cheesecake

Happy Halloween! Some Party Pictures

2011-10-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

Went to a fun and fabulous Halloween Party this year. I also stole some of the Ghostess's pictures off of Facebook to share with you here, because I didn't take any myself. Hope they post!

My Ghostess & Carrie Mae/Wario
(you don't recognize us - we're in disguise - note the moustaches)

I made brain cupcakes! They were delicious (I have no
modesty about cupcakes), and filled with blooood

Plenty of Potions and Libations -- the party gods smiled!

Did I mention PLENTY of Potions?

A Poisoned Apple, My Pretties?

Ghost Dip was served

Haunted Cheeses

The Ghostess Served my Sausage Ball Recipe!
They were still tempting, even now that I've
gone vegetarian... Must adapt recipe...

Pumpkin Lights

Labels

I'm the Bearded Lady! Who Are You?
ONE OF THE FREAKS?!

Paula Deen was there, y'all. I shouldn't tell you this (you'll want pictures
which I will refuse to provide: but her husband came as "sexy butter"

The Hotdog Host

Our Ghost-Hosts: Icabod Crane & His Thuggish Slicer

Great Party! Happy Halloween, y'all!

2011-10-30T13:13:00.001-04:00

DIY Marzipan Brains from About.com

2011-10-29T13:13:00.001-04:00

Homemade Halloween Poptarts from the Family Kitchen

2011-10-28T13:13:00.000-04:00

The Zombie from rumdood

2011-10-28T07:34:00.000-04:00

ThinkGeek Blood Shower Gel

Burda Costume Contest Pictures

2011-10-27T19:00:00.000-04:00

Burda Style Halloween Costume Contest

BurdaStyle is all about sewing; so you just know their members are going to contribute some fantastic costume ideas!

This self-sufficient Little Red costume is my absolute favorite -- that might be just what I try for next year!

2011-10-27T13:13:00.001-04:00

Hemlock Cocktail from Food + Words

Voo-Dough Dolls

2011-10-26T19:53:00.001-04:00

VooDough Doll

Run for your Lives

2011-10-24T12:01:00.000-04:00

It's been a poop week, y'all.

Let's sit back and watch some crazy 5k'ers avoid some zombies:
Run for Your Lives Georgia

2011-10-19T22:11:00.001-04:00

Sugar N Cream Bats!
(crochet pattern)

This appeared in my e-mail tonight. I love 'buy me' marketing around Halloween; one of the few times of year it doesn't fully annoy me.

Sugar N' Cream has patterns for:

Bats (crochet)
Rats (knit)
Spiders (crochet)
Ribcage and Hipbones Banner (knit)

Free registration may be necessary. I've signed up for so many yarn sites free patterns, I can't recall any more!

Wriggly Wreath

2011-10-17T17:25:00.000-04:00

Wriggling Wreath
from Martha Stewart

2011-10-16T13:13:00.000-04:00

Quoth the Raven Party @ A Brooklyn Limestone In Progress

More party inspiration, this time with Poe!

Someone Please Invite Me to This Party

2011-10-15T13:13:00.000-04:00

Hostess with the Mostess:Deathly Hallows Party

I just love the Hostess Blog. At least when it's not girly, it's pure genius! As if the pictures weren't enough to inspire, if you scroll down past them they give little explanations about the setup.

Even if it weren't Harry Potter themed, this would be a dinner I'd like to go to.

Excellent (Yet Thrifty) Halloween Decor

2011-10-14T08:53:00.003-04:00

Wise Craft

Wise Craft turned me on to some really killer project sheets from Value Village for Halloween--projects that she made for them.

Printable online, and some of them are truly inspirational.

Happy Haunting!

Are Screen Porches Common Up North?

2011-10-13T12:07:00.000-04:00

Great Cross-stitch idea from Whip Up

There is no pattern there, but I found this really amazing cross-stitch idea at Whip Up. All I could think is, every self-respecting Halloween addict with a screen porch should covet this! And if you live in the south, like me, there are screen porches and doors and windows aplenty to try this on.

If you can't cross stitch, I'm willing to bed some artistic skill + paint + patience could accomplish something similar. More than once in my childhood my craft paint got on our screens and left little filled in bits to the mesh.

...I was left to wonder, though: for those of you not in the hot summer months of the south, how common are screen porches? Because there is just nothing like a summer lightning storm viewed from a comfy screened-in porch. You should try it sometime.

Bat Crochet Pin - with pattern!

2011-10-12T14:34:00.003-04:00

Bat Crochet Pin

Bone Table DIY From Martha

2011-10-11T13:34:00.000-04:00

Martha Stewart Bone Table

Perfect Halloween Plants from Apartment Therapy

2011-10-10T17:01:00.000-04:00

Fiddlehead Fern

I used the little fern fronds like the ones above in my wedding boo-quet. Ahh, memories. :)

Apartment Therapy has a nice little article on Halloween-friendly plants I thought you might enjoy.

Brain Dip

2011-10-09T14:26:00.001-04:00

Brain Dip (zombies love it)

For this recipe, you need brain molds

Ugg. Change in weather has gotten me sick. I've been to exhausted to brain, much less blog. So I though sharing some of what I seem to be missing -- the gray stuff -- might be nice.

Fanged Pumpkins

2011-10-08T09:22:00.001-04:00

Fanged Pumpkins (Martha)

These made me giggle uncontrollably.

24 Days Until Halloween: SPIDER MOVIES

2011-10-07T13:13:00.000-04:00

This is the last time, I swear. After this, no more spider-centricity. I want to leave you with a few creepy-crawly films to watch if you're feeling spooky this weekend (*'d ones were instant-watchable on Netflix earlier this week). Spiders do not necessarily equal fantastic horror, but as I am genuinely scared of the things --- eww, eww, eww.

Tarantula (1955)
Earth vs. the Spider (1958)
The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)
Kingdom of the Spiders (1977)
Arachnophobia (1990)
MST3K: Mystery of Spider Island (1999)*
Spiders (2000)
Spider 2: Breeding Ground (2001)*
Arachnid (2001)*
8 Legged Freaks (2002)
Arachnia (2003)
In the Spider's Web (2007)*
Ice Spiders (2007)
The Mist (2007) - I don't know if outer-dimensional spiders count, but this movie gave me a lasting case of the icks.

That was all the research on Creature Features I could muster on spiders; after that I started feeling the twitch of, 'is something crawling on me?!' panic.

And keep in mind I said these were spider movies. I did not say they were all good spider movies.

Polish the Stars - I'm a Guest Blogger!

2011-10-06T16:18:00.000-04:00

Isn't this exciting? Megan @ Polish the Stars was kind enough to let me post a guest blog today. Do not let all the clean, white look of it scare you off -- this is one of my favorite blogs out there, and she is perfectly in-line with the Halloween spirit.

Go visit! Do it now! There is a smashing Halloween party going on. :)

25 Days Until Hallowen: SPIDER DECOR

2011-10-06T13:13:00.000-04:00

Cobweb Candles

My own horror at spiders has been long-lived. Since childhood, I have been petrified of anything arachnid, though absolutely fascinated with anything Halloween.

In my smallish, southern town people were always split as to whether Halloween was a "Christian" thing to celebrate, and either as a result or because we all lived so far apart in the country there were very few yard haunters.

Except this one house: they had a massive spiderweb made of ropes that they kept up year round. I loved driving by there. Around Halloween more props would come out, and a massive spider would sometimes get added to the mix. I loved it, maybe in part because I was so scared of the things.

Centsational Girl's Mantel

We're almost at the close of spider-friendly posts (thank all that is good in the world), but to cap off what you might need to throw a really terrifying spider party, here are some great decor ideas for you!

Centsational Girl's Mantel
Make your own Spider Picture Frame
Insect Chandelier - speaking of this, a little bit of fishing wire attached by hot glue to some black plast spiders would be smashing hanging down from a cobweb-covered light fixture!
Martha Stewart Cobweb Candles
Spider Tree Ornament
Spider Porch from Martha Stewart
Spider Sentry - My personal favorite from that issue was the Spider Egg Sac. Yuck, yuck, yuck!!
Spiderweb Tablecloth with PomPom spiders
Pumpkin-carved Spiders
Squash Carved Spiders

Spider Egg Sac

Musty Wreath with Spiders from Martha Stewart
Pepper Design's Spider Webs: 6 Ways
DIY Spider Web Plate
Spider Cutout Garland (slide 4 of 18)
Grandin Road Outdoor Spider with Flashing Eyes
Foam Ball Spiders
Spider Window Panels
Spider Web Door Mat

26 Days Until Halloween: SPIDER DRINKS

2011-10-05T13:13:00.000-04:00

To add to the spider menu of earlier this week:

Make a licorice spider to garnish drinks; black rimming sugar makes it extra-creepy. Step-by-step how-to at the link. Thank you, Martha Stewart!
Black Widow Cocktail
A Different Black Widow Cocktail Spider Punch***
Spider Bite
Spider Brain Kids' Cocktail***
SKYY Black Widow Spider Cider***
White Spider Spider's Kiss
Kahlua Cobweb
Spider's Web

No wait, this one is for real (FROG QUEEN DO NOT CLICK): Tarantula Cocktail. As in: a cocktail made with a tarantula. *shudder*

***Alcohol-free

(more Halloween cocktails)

Halloween Gift Basketry

2011-10-05T07:51:00.000-04:00

Gift Baskets for Halloween

Being a married adult now, I understand that the sending of gifts on occasion is somewhat requisite. It never occurred to me, though, that I could use the internet to gift Halloween baskets both near and far!

Even without the intent to order online, these make some great inspiration for gift baskets you could make up inexpensively yourself:

Halloween Bucket Planters (ProPlants)

Mrs. Fields Pumpkin Tote

Halloween Dipped Strawberries?!
I must make some

Simple, yet effective

Wine Country

The last of all these borrowed pictures is particularly inspiring to me -- you could make a gourmet Halloween treat basket, themed after spooky spirits or vampires or whatever strikes your fancy. If you couldn't find a suitably spooky wine on your own, there are always printable labels:

My Wedding Labels (re-worked from Martha's)*
Clean and Proper labels (For the less spooky among you)*
Love Manor (if you haven't visited this photostream yet, please know you'll love it. That's why I'm not taking you straight to the labels)

27 Days Until Halloween: SPIDER COSTUMES

2011-10-04T13:13:00.000-04:00

I think the Frog Queen is totally ready for me to move off of spiders... I can't blame her. I'm not sure I can take it much longer myself! Did I mention spiders terrify me?

Since Halloween is about scary, there is nothing scarier to me than spiders. Except maybe animatronics. Or maybe animatronic spiders... Dear. Goodness. NO. That would set my Frankenstein Complex just over the edge. (*searches the internet for less than a second and returns with this* -- oh good, my nightmares realized)

My vision for a Halloween spider costume does not involve becoming the spider. Hell no, it involves my worst nightmare of being covered head-to-toe in the things! Since I haven't actually had the guts to make one yet, I'll give you the breakdown of my some-Halloween-far-far-in-the-future plans:

Buy little plastic spiders
Make a wig out of chicken wire, wig base, black wig hair, and then cover it with cobwebbing. This could either be achieved with hot glue webbing or with the stuff you buy for your house, but it should look like spiders are nesting on your head. Gross. - oh sure, this part sounds easy -- but my vision of a spider-covered Marie Antoinette wig is a little grandiose to be sure)
Glue spiders to the wig (this lady did a good job at spidering her hair - that's what I'd be going for)
Glittery black dress or wispy white one, also covered in spiders
Cobweb shawl - made in black or white with cheesecloth, to contrast against the dress color choice
Skin covered in spiders
Dramatic makeup

But, since I'm not brave enough (nor do I have enough free time this year) to make that, here are some quick, fun spider costume ideas:

Spiderweb Mother and Spider Baby

...Of course, you don't need a baby for the above. You could just as easily create an 8-"legged" black wrap to go around you, or wear a shirt with a spider motif.

Spider Dog

Another Spider Costume Idea From Martha Stewart
Spider Princess Costume
Teal and Lime - Super Cute, fuzzy child's spider costume
Spider web braids for a little girl
Hahaha - spider bun hairstyle for a little girl (or for me -- I'm doing this, y'all, just as soon as I buy some googly eyes)
Spider hat (this year target is selling spiders that would cling to your head, I'll wager -- just an fyi)
If you are talented with drawing and liquid eyeliner - spider eye make up option 1 and option 2
For the visionary with time to make cool things, this is great inspiration

28 Days Until Halloween: SPIDER FASHION

2011-10-03T13:13:00.000-04:00

This is dorky and girly, but I can't help myself. I need to go shopping for new clothes in the worst of ways, so I'm going to devote at least one post per 'creature' this month on using scary to inspire the wardrobe.

For 'spiders,' I was thinking that lots of draped cobwebs and black-widow colors would fit the bill. Lots of crochet and lace.

Spiderwebbed by phantompoe

And of course, a cobwebby wrap:

Spider Shawl with How-to From Martha Stewart

I also found a lot of cobweb inspiration for fashion dating back to the Victorian era; but 'spooky' prints seem to have hit a fad even in the 50's. I have to re-find some of my research and bully it into a proper post sometime.

Happy Hauntings, y'all!

(Also: deep breaths -- we'll be out of the spider phase of my blog very soon!)

29 Days Until Halloween: SPIDER INSPIRED FOOD

2011-10-02T13:13:00.000-04:00

Look, I can't talk about how much this even freaks me out as a concept. So look at all the pictures and click on the links if you are a braver soul than I, but this should give you some good ideas for starting a spider-themed food display!

I'm terrified at spiders. That might be why I thought they'd make a decent Halloween theme--truly freaking scary. Looking at these gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Coming Soon: DRINKS

Breakfasty Foods
Spider Egg Display

Spiders instead of centipedes (picture right), and coupled with spider eggs.

Spider Eggs

Desserts
Spider Cupcakes

Spider Spun Candy *
Candy Spiders
Spider Cakes
Bat and Cobweb Cookies
No Bake Spider Cheese Cake
Red Velvet Spider Cupcakes

Party foods/Snacks/Appetizers
Spider toothpicks - While not 'food' in the strictest sense, if you insert these toothpicks in mozzarella balls you could totally bill them as spider egg sacs! How evil is that?Caramel Cobwebs and Licorice Spiders - severed with delicious chocolate and caramel or pumpkin cake, or on top of the cupcake of your choice. Delicious!

Spider Pizza Spread

Black Widow Cheese Log

Dinner/Meals
Creamy Tomato Soup with Spider Web Topping
Fajita Spider Pizza
Spider Roll

More Spider Recipes from Kraft

Hungry for Halloween

2011-10-02T11:27:00.000-04:00

Just had a fantastic, non-spooky breakfast. Much to my chagrin.

from Southern Living

Last week, however, I did make Pumpkin Sticky Bun Muffins (from this month's Southern Living). They were delightfully fall! I cut the sugar in almost half, but they were still delicious.

Mr. Breakfast has some decent Halloween ideas you could try out this month. He also has a page devoted to the 23 Halloween Themed Breakfast Cereals.

And the skull-and-bones breakfast is a must for those of you who like bacon and eggs.

Chicago Tribune suggested a really fascinating, unique breakfast menu (waaaaay back in 1993). It includes an adult drink, Cider Diablo (ingredients below and recipe at the link), that sounds uh-may-zing! I found the menu listed over at the Halloween Forums and the names of the recipes sounded so fun I just had to track them down (so I did).

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teapoon ground cloves
4 cups unfiltered apple cider, heated to a boil
2 long strips lemon rind
1/2 cup brandy, optional
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

There is a thread suggesting Vegetarian-friendly brunch options over at Chowhound; some inspiration to be found there, but no recipes.

Sweet Potato Donuts sound tasty. Gnocchi Tater Tots don't sound very Halloweeny, but they are kind of orange and might be nommy. And with that, I know I'm diverging from the topic at hand and just getting hungry again...

Later, ghoulies!

[more at Recipe Source: Halloween]

30 Days Until Halloween: SPIDER CRAFTS

2011-10-01T12:49:00.000-04:00

Halloween is such a great time of year for do-it-yourself Haunters. Crafts just screaming to be made because they would add to the ambiance, because you like to decorate, or just because. I've spent some serious time looking around the internet for spider craft inspiration, as Spiders are one of the scariest animals out there.

Below finds all kinds of odds and ends to keep your fingers flying and imagination centered on these fanged terrors.

Easy Spider Shirt
Ribbon Spiders from Bugaboo Mini Mr Me
Embellished Bayou Beaded Spider Headband
Craftily Ever After Beaded Spider Origami Spider Treat Boxes
Graphics Fairy - Spiderwebby Scrolls Clipart
Balloon Spiders
Glowstick Spider Glittered "Spider on a Box" Ornament
Black Spider Craft from Martha Stewart String Spiderweb

Graphics Fairy Clipart

Spider Web Balloons *
Spider China Ball Lanterns
Spider Shawl ($39 @ Grandin Road? What?)
EEK Spider Plaques
Awesome, easy glass transfer tutorial (spider drinkware!)
Realistic Spider Prop *
Arachnophobia Frames *
Arachnophobia Halloween Lanterns
Great Web Garland *
Puffy Paint Spider Web Necklace*
Webby Shirt * (I have one of these now and LOVE it -- though not everyone feels the same about my webby fashion sense)
Glitter Spiders*
Lived-in Look* (Hot Glue Gun webbing)
Super cutesy tarantula toy*
Glam Halloween Lighting*

Easy, Brilliant Spider Lanterns

Easy, Brilliant Spider Lanterns
Spider Web Fabric (a craft supply you might want to buy)
Spider Web Lampshade

* you may be familiar with this; it's appeared on the blog before

This doesn't include even a fraction of the ideas out there (like a cobweb tiara, or a yard spider fest!). A spider-themed Halloween could be a scream. Literally so if you invite me: I hate the things.

Spider Chandelier Inspiration

Tomorrow is October!

2011-09-30T15:22:00.001-04:00

That means the true countdown begins!!! I cannot wait.

Yes, I plan to participate in the daily Countdown to Halloween blogging. I'm sure you were all on the edge of your seats (...are those crickets I hear out there?), but now you can rest easy.

The Amazing Melting Poodle

My brain needed to apply a little structure to the whole thing this year, so I could be sure to plan out my blog appropriately -- I went through a lot of themes, tried on a lot of ideas, and come back feeling stale (Classic monster movies? Horror movie themes? Supernatural Beings? Color palettes? What to do?). Until I looked down at my adorable dog and thought to myself, "you know, I bet trying out a new animal theme each week would be fun."

So that's what you can expect during the month of October. Creatures. :) Four generally Halloween friendly beasts and insects, and all kinds of goodies (food/costume/craft/movie/whatever-I-feel-like ideas) to compliment them.

And if I find non-beastie-themed cool Halloween stuff around the internet? You'll be gifted with extra posts that day! LET THE HALLOWEEN MADNESS BEGIN!

Great Find: Bat Art

2011-09-27T13:13:00.000-04:00

Twisted Bats Project @ Can't Stop Making Things

ZOMBIE RUNNING

2011-09-22T13:13:00.007-04:00

We take a break now from our regularly scheduled program (i.e. the blogging of the initial Halloween setup around my house), to bring you news of ZOMBIES and RUNNING!

I've been running since last year (proof), and I've long thought about posting my overactive-imagination complimentary plan to Couch-to-5k. In fact, I thought I had already posted about my crazy-person addition to the C25k program.

Here's the basics of C25k:

Be new to running
Download an app (if you want to)
Load up some music
Hit the pavement 3 days a week for 9 weeks, and the end of which you can run for 30 minutes straight, and (in theory) finish a 5k

It's pretty awesome on it's own, but for extra motivation I have always:

Pretended to run from zombies

That's an oversimplification, but the basics are to pick something to signify zombies (on my running route, zombies = people walking dogs). When you see them, run faster or further than your brain was telling you to. Then, there are other survivors you need to outlast (for me: other runners); you must realign your stance, breathe a little better, go a little faster, or in some way keep pace with them to successfully outwit the zombies.

That's how I motivate myself on my runs: it's all about survival for when the dead actually rise. And more importantly, it becomes a distracting game.

But then someone went out and made my idea 20-bazillion times better! Check this out: ZOMBIES, RUN!

Okay, so it's still in the works and looking for funding. I won't tell you how to spend your money, but they do have rewards for $10+ donations (if you're interested, you can check out the site).

And once you're really in the zombie-survival running spirit, you can up the challenge by participating in a Zombie Obstacle 5k! Run For Your Lives!!! Starting Oct 22, this 5k obstacle course (with actual zombie-chasing-you action) is coming to Baltimore. Then Atlanta, Boston, Indianapolis, Seattle/Portland, San Diego/Los Angeles, and finally Austin.

I'm so glad that the running world understands how important it is to prepare for the pending zombie apocalypse.

Halloween 2011: The (un)Living Room

2011-09-21T13:13:00.000-04:00

Halloween 2011: The Dining Room

2011-09-20T13:13:00.000-04:00

Damn, those spiders are BAD this year. They've covered everything in webbies!

Oh well, at least Uncle Irvin's potrait looks happy ... in the reflection (don't you just love those cheesy lenticulars? this one plays sounds. Goodness help me if my husband realizes this and starts pushing the button).

Halloween 2011: The Entry Table

2011-09-19T13:13:00.011-04:00

Just setting out the odds and ends at this point. This is my entry table -- full of crafts and gifts from years past.

Like the long-nosed Venetian mask; it's not wearable, but it looks appropriate creepy just sitting about as part of the decor. I still want to host a Halloween Masked Ball some year -- if I do, I'll make one that doesn't need to be tied on. And in the background you'll also see a wine-bottle candle holder; the label is from Love Manor's collection, I think. I really thought about using these as part of my wedding centerpieces, but in the end abandoned the idea for fear they wouldn't be steady and would catch my guests on fire (my friends drink).

The right side of the table just has a few pieces of wedding-memorabilia: a little tree that was, I think, on the treat table. One of the "Eek" signs that spotted around the house, and a glass candleabra that one of my bridesmaids gifted me.

And goth-darn-it, I don't think I ever posted about my adventure in re-finishing some lampshades. Or if I did, I can't find the post. At any rate, I made them all dark and lacy. And added what might be the most subtle faux-spider-webbing that I have ever managed.

Halloween 2011: The Decoration Starts!

2011-09-18T13:13:00.038-04:00

The rule around the house is (after much convincing by my darling man): we don't start decorating until after his birthday, which falls in mid-September, and we take everything down by Thanksgiving. I keep out a few skulls and have general freedom for haunted-house chic year-round, but for specifically Halloween decor, that's my window.

So Saturday was the first weekend day where the boxes could come down from the attic and I could start setting things out. OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!

I'm an interior haunter; my yard is spook-free. I have yet to think about themes or specific props this year, so I decided to just dig into storage and go whole-hog on all the nifty little odds and ends I've collected or been gifted over the years.

I will post some set-up pictures over the next few days. Just to start sharing the spirit of the season. But I cannot wait to start crafting and seeing what wonderful prop ideas all my Halloween bloggy friends are pulling together this year. It's so exciting!

Sewing: A Gift in Black and White

2011-09-12T13:13:00.033-04:00

I'm so excited: I just made my first gift with my newly acquired (okay, newly just-starting-to-be-acquired) sewing skills!

This is from BurdaStyle's Marcel Eye Mask pattern, which now costs a dollar. Not a bad price if you're not into drafting the pattern yourself (I downloaded it ages ago, before sewing was something I took seriously... lucky me, because lady-shaped people love this).

The back and the front are two different patterns from the same bit of fabric I got at W hipstitch. I promised to post the skirt I made in the same fabric, and as soon as my husband is around to take pictures for me I really, really will.

The ties are a sheer, black ribbon. It's filled with lentils, scented with rosemary (one of my favorites!) and can be used hot or cold as an eye press.

The two sides really make me want to try this pattern again in a Jekyll/Hyde theme. What do you think?

Dragon*Con 2011

2011-09-06T13:13:00.036-04:00

Full Disclosure: I have never been to Dragon*Con, even though I've lived in/around Atlanta for just about the entirety of my life. Could it be my crowd claustrophobia, or just my unwillingness to get in the spirit costumed events that aren't Halloween-related? :) (Actually, I think I'm just too intimidated by the whole scene--looks like fun, though!).

The 25th Dragon*Con happened this past weekend and the lovely, talented, amazing woman who made my wedding dress also made Dragon*Con a little bit more exciting by going as Chairry:

Found the picture on Flickr (how cool is the internet when a quick search gets you exactly what you want?).

What a brave lady. I can't imagine how many folks sat on her costume. I don't know if/when official photos will be added to the Dragon*Con Galleries, but it makes for some great viewing for sure and it's a great place to get Halloween costume inspiration if you're into nerd media... which, I am.

Want more on the Atlanta Con scene? May I recommend that you check out CNN's Geek Out blog? You can find cool stuff like this:

Dragon*Con Fandom
Where My Goths At? (not Con-related, just fun for me)
So You Want To Be A Zombie

Again with the full disclosure: though I also have a work relationship with Turner my endorsement of the GeekOut blog (as with any opinion I post to CreepyCupcakes) is fully my own. Several of my friends are posting articles on it and it is, therefore, badass.

New Hobby: Sewing?

2011-08-23T13:13:00.022-04:00

Let's list my hobbies:
* Crocheting
* Baking
* Cake decorating
* Paper Mache
* Halloween (wait, move that to the top)
* Writing
* Blogging
* Tatting
* Cooking
* Knitting
* Drinking
* Photoshop
* Planting things
* Quilling
* Home renovation (is that a hobby?)
* Watching Horror movies

That isn't all of them, I'm pretty sure. AND I'M ADDING ANOTHER ONE:

Sewing.

That's right; I've been learning to sew at work. I have made... *drum roll* a skirt! Which isn't pictured yet; I'll post it for you soon. I actually didn't murder the pattern, but then again I had a ridiculous amount of help.

I've also made 4 very misshapen Halloween napkins. I'll post those too, if everyone promises not to laugh too hard. They are made from a cotton witchy-print fabric that I've had so long I don't even remember buying it.

Barely a month in, and already I'm getting ahead of myself. I've spent half my down-time looking at Halloween quilts! (let's not add 'quilting' to the list just yet, shall well?). Still, look how pretty:

Nostalgic Halloween

Coffin Quilt

I feel strongly that someone should
make the Sleepy Hollow quilt for me

Someone save me, or at least my husband, from my all my expensive hobby-acquiring habits!

Horace Behr

2011-08-03T13:13:00.010-04:00

My beloved work husband wanted an open-faced bunny as soon as he found the pattern for Mr. Bunnyford and Horace Behr. His roomie requested Horace.

Horace Behr

He bought the pattern and I agreed to stitch them up; I've only finished Horace, but I think they will both be quite cute. I started there to try to get the pattern right before I made my dear buddy's bunnie wabbit.

The pattern isn't hard, exactly, but if you crochet it over a number of days like I did, you might manage to get different proportions. Then sewing it all up is a challenge; and I shouldn't have done it in the dark, because I realized I had his jaw a little off-kilter and his ears wide just a wee bit too late to do anything about it.

Only thing I didn't dig about this one? The ears. They just didn't come out right for me.

Gosh I hope he doesn't hate it.

Bat Hair Ornament!

2011-07-25T13:13:00.024-04:00

Loving Cut Out and Keep this week! I guess I just haven't browsed around there in awhile. ...haven't had much time to do any interneting for fun in awhile, come to think about it.

But oooo! Bat headband. It's like a bow, only much, much cuter.

The creator also has a cute blog (leastofways I think this is from the creator): http://gothicallyyours.blogspot.com/; it reminds me of the good-ol' babybat days of my youth.

And oo neat look! Cleopatra eyemake-up tips. Very cute.

DIY Skully Tee

2011-07-23T13:13:00.002-04:00

Cut Out and Keep has this neat, easy skull-shirt tutorial.

Oooo! Fashionable. :) In a way I can get behind.

Needs: t-shirt, scissors, some idea where to place the holes (I was going to direct you to Chic Steals for this... but that blog seems to be SOL for me. Try this instead).

Devillish Shoes

2011-07-18T13:13:00.003-04:00

Brilliant idea for customizing shoes... though I wish I actually knew what "sugru" was so I could make them.

Devil shoes (men and women's ideas posted at Instructables).

Pictures From a Recent Trip

2011-07-17T13:13:00.000-04:00

Family vacation several weeks ago took us to the Carolinas to stay with my aunt and her super-fun boyfriend, as well as to take a tour of the Biltmore Estate.

It was silly-expensive to get in the American castle, but always fun to marvel at the opulence of my nation's "royalty."

Plus: fun photo opportunities. Which is all I'm really here to blog about right now.

They aren't big on allowing cameras indoors at Biltmore, but I managed a few decent shots in the gardens. The skull in the succulents greenhouse was one of my favorites. You'd think around a house that big, with all the statuary and imposing buildings I would have captured a few more spooky pictures, but looking back this is really the only creepyish one worth sharing from the Biltmore itself.

The neatest thing I saw was this really nifty property near my aunt's with a road sign that reads "Hell for Certain," with a suit of armor (yes, that is a candy cane sticking out of his helmet).

Other highlights: we had dinner at the Grove Park Inn and I took the elevator up to the haunted floor, and we had a nighttime bear visit not once buy twice during our stay. Which was exciting, but terrifying when we finally caught sight of how BIG the guy was.

:) And that's how I spent my early-summer vacation.

Halloween Cocktails

2011-07-16T13:13:00.000-04:00

Hostess Blog has some fantastic Halloween ideas, not the least of ~~witch~~ which are Halloween Cocktails.

I love a good drink; I love it more when it comes with a fantastic pun and a little bit of scare. :)

Potent Potter Potions (i.e. HP-themed Cocktails!)

2011-07-15T13:13:00.014-04:00

I'm going to borrow heavily from the internet, because there are people out there with much better stocked cabinets than me and they have made some AMAZING Harry Potter-themed cocktails. I will not post other blogger's recipes here, but I will like out like crazy and give descriptions where appropriate.

ACCIO COCKTAILS!

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As this is by far the most ample selection of cocktails I have seen, we'll start with the drink stylings of one "Little Pink Blog," where there are whole themed posts on the subject.

The pictures alone are worth following one of all of the links below. I'm impressed, amazed, and will likely be having a Bellatrix Lestrange in honor of the movie this week:

from Little Pink Blog

DEATH EATERS COCKTAILS:

Death Eater Cocktail - a caffeinated shot with an ominous red hue; sounds tasty
The Bellatrix Lestrange - think creamy, chocolately vodka martini (see picture)
The Lucius Malfoy - this is that rare combination of slightly manly but girl-drink friendly: it uses a mildly masculine liquor at its base, but a sweet citrus for mixer ... mmm...
The Peter Pettigrew - rich, mouse-colored dessert-in-a-glass

THE GOBLET OF FIRE - CHAMPIONS COCKTAILS:

The Goblet of Fire - FIRE DRINK! What more do you want?
The Fleur Delacour - dainty and refreshing-looking
The Viktor Krum - Beer-based and simple, yet intriguing
The Cedric Diggory - This is a must-try for me: kind of like a margarita, but without the tequila. Very tempting to see if it would layer with Blavod and call it a "Hufflepuff"

WIZARDING WORLD COCKTAILS:

Butterbeer - an adult version of the popular Hogsmeade brew
Firewhiskey - FIRE DRINK! And almost exactly what you'd expect from the name
Pureblood - clear, sweet, bloody-looking drink that sounds delicious
Mudblood - muddy, creamy, and (I can tell without even trying it) delightful

MY FAVORITES (not what the blog-author calls this page, but since that's exactly what we have here... my favorite characters minus Severus and Bellatrix... let's go with it!):

Fred and George Weasley - look, if you are a fan of the brothers this is just brilliant -- the rimming "sugar" is inspired.
Luna Lovegood -- lovely, and includes Elderberry
Neville Longbottom -- oh how I had hoped that Neville would be the one to kill Voldie! But he does well in this final installment, and he definitely deserves his own drink. Herbology-focused, just like my man Neville!
Draco Malfoy - dirty martini -- very fitting, but I'm wondering if there is a way to work green in there... maybe some absinthe (yuck, but.. .you know?)

That girl is brilliant. That takes us to the end of our first stop on the Harry Potter Cocktail tour (and what a stop it was!).

**********************

Next up is the Backyard Bartender, who puts a lot of thought behind the drinks created for the Potter cast of characters named in the post. I like that. It's lovingly thorough.

The Backyard Bartender Main Character Themed Drinks:

Hermione Granger - I'm very Hermione-esque, so I guess it makes sense I would drool over a cocktail named in her honor; gin-based and fruit-filled
Ron Weasley - the poster describes this one as 'potent' and 'manly,' but a hit with the guys. It is red, and it sounds pretty intense...
The Harry Potter - the one we've all been waiting for (and seriously, how did it take me this long to find someone blogging a drink with this name?), and it sounds well considered: like candy in a glass, but with just "a hint of something sinister" (to borrow the poster's phrase)

HISTORICAL BUTTERBEER

Butterbeer - and not just any butterbeer, but a 400 year old butterbeer recipe; desribed in the blog as "hot, buttered heaven. Like liquid french toast..." Well, don't mind if I do, then!

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If you like theme parks (Disney/Universal) and drinking, Party Through the Parks wants to be your guide. As someone who enjoys those things, I am happy to let them walk me through some Harry Potter drinks that don't yet exist, but I can make at home.

Party Through the Parks Suggestions:

Golden Pumpkin - warm and pumpkiny
Pumpkin Cobbler - requires you to have/make pumpkin juice (a recipe is at the site linked above), but could be quite good!
Potterpolitan - I'm noticing a Pumpkin theme developing here, and that makes me happy...
Potterita - Margarita with Pumpkin juice? I could get into this!
Hot Buttered Pumpkin - A drink that involves melting butter and will happily blow my diet
Spiced Butterbeer - adding spiced rum to butterbeer isn't my personal cup of tea, but then I don't like cream soda

**********************

And finally, some general witch-and-wizard appropriate fare:

Merlin's Love Potion

2 oz watermelon schnapps
1/2 oz lemon vodka
1/4 oz strawberry brandy
Read more: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink5511.html#ixzz1Rj2P0mJd

Polyjuice Potion

1 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 splash Coca-Cola®
Read more... the directions are important: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinkrq15460.html#ixzz1Rj2wMnDa

Frisky Witch:

1 part black sambuca
1 part vodka

**********************

Well, I hope you've all enjoyed this educational mixed drink journey as much as I have. Now, if you'll excuse me ... it's getting close to celebration time!

**********************

UPDATE (7/15/2011) : For those who don't know that I sometimes post my blogs in advance... surprise! I do! Which, in this case, led to already being out-of-date. Little Pink Blog added some more niceties to enjoy...

THE HOUSES:

Gryffindor House - sweet and rightly colored
Hufflepuff House - sugary sweet, kind of like Hufflepuff... I still think we need a layered drink with some Blavod for them
Ravenclaw House - Simple, clean, and full of blueberries!
Slytherin House - a champagne drink with a little bit of a green tinge

THE TEACHERS:

Albus Dumbledore - I just wish this had a lemon drop in it somewhere...
The Remus Lupin - Luxurious coffee drink; maybe a little rich for Remus, but it would surely delight me
Minerva McGonagall - It uses tea! So nice for one of my favorite Hogwarts teachers
The Severus Snape - hahaha. Bitters

OUR HEROES:

The Rubeus Hagrid - Very fitting bit of beer and mixer for this big, lovable guy
The Hermione Granger - Very ladylike drink with a touch of toughness
The Ronald Weasley - A little too girly for Ron, if you ask me, but the drink sounds delicous
The Sirius Black - Beautiful. Will have to give this one a try (while toasting my dearly departed Sirius)

THE BOY WHO LIVED, THE WIZARD WHO WOULD KILL HIM, AND SOME RELATED DRINKS:

The Lord Voldemort - He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named must have his own cocktails; and this one sounds like pure, delightful basilisk poison
The Horcrux - 7 ingredient drink that sounds just dark enough to try
The Harry Potter - Apparently, the Boy-Who-Lived just begs for a sweet and creamy drink; sounds like something you'd enjoy on a trip to Hogsmeade
The Golden Snitch - quick shot; maybe not my favorite, but see what you think?

DIY Spectrespecs

2011-07-14T13:13:00.001-04:00

Luna is kind of my Harry Potter fashion hero.

Make your own Spectrespecs! They won't help you with the 3D, but they'll look really radical.

Little Pumpkin Pasties

2011-07-13T13:13:00.015-04:00

Perfect for fall, Halloween, or a Harry Potter party, you should totally try to keep in mind the recipe for Little Pumpkin Pasties!

You will find no end of inspiration on the internet for this dish. Pumpkin Pasties are a stand-out food item in the Harry Potter series, IMHO because that sound darling and tasty. My particular version is envisioned as a sweet little snack with mild creamy punch, just bite-sized enough.

Here's the recipe, which makes about 24 pasties (up to 28 if you're thin with the dough):

Step 1: Turn on the soundtrack to "Goblet of Fire," because HEY: Weird Sisters.
Step 2: Spin around like a crazy elf
Step 3: Bake

Filling:

2 oz cream cheese
1 TBS brandy (optional)
2 TBS sugar
1/2 cup (or a little less) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cinnamon

Whip cream cheese. Add brandy (if you are using it), whip some more. Add everything else and mix until fully combined. Filling fulfilled!

Pastry (or you could go pre-made route)

1.75 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp salt
pinch cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
1/4 c vegetable oil
3 tbl unsweetened almond milk
3 tbl cold water

Mix the dry ingredients together, then add the oil. Stir (or mush with your hands) until crumbly. Add milk and water, and mix until a nice dough forms

Roll out until thin (1/8" is typically recommended ... I just make it thin, but not unworkable). Using a large-ish biscuit cutter, cut out 24 - 28 circles.

Pre-heat over to 350 degrees F.

Dab 1/2 tsp - 1 tsp in the center of each circle of pastry dough. Wet the edge and fold over to make a half-circle; crimp the edge with the prongs of a fork to seal. Using a sharp knife, cut 1 to 3 small slits for venting.

Place all pasties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush them lightly with a mixture of whole egg and a pinch of salt (this will make them shiny), and bake for 30 minutes.

The outcome is a slightly sweet, slightly savory collection of pasties that will be eaten in two bites. If you like pumpkin pie and a mild cheesecake flavor, I think you'll enjoy them. :)

More Pasty Recipes from Around the Web!

Britta.com (the original Potter-recipe place, at least for me) -- also found at The Leaky Cauldron -- and they sound GOOD
The Geeky Chef -- practically the same as above. But with a really pretty picture.
Diamonds for Dessert -- another with ingredients similar to the above (adapted from Geeky Chef, in fact, but this time with an illustrated guide to filling them!
Dumbledore's Vegan Army - VEGAN, and slightly more savory
Food.com - well rated, but not with many ratings. This one looks safe, if not a little like pumpkin-pie pockets
Instuctables - I love it when Instructables does things.
Anticraft - Anticraft does it in the round! Nice touch.
Mugglenet - this version is probably the down-right easiest, as it uses canned Pumpkin Pie mix and pre-made pastry crust
Good Food (?) - I don't even know what this site is, but BLESS THEM: this is a non-Harry Potter, non-American take on Pumpkin pasties. It has CHEESE and it is SAVORY and I am going to try it soon.

Mmm... I hope by this year's trip to Hogsmeade that the Three Broomsticks will add Pumpkin Pasties to the menu.

Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook

2011-07-12T13:13:00.038-04:00

I broke down over the weekend and bought the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz after sitting at the bookstore thumbing through it for 45 minutes. I'd been avoiding this purchase for some time, and it turns out that was just silly of me.

My assumption was that this cookbook was going to be the something in the vein of the Star Wars Cook Book, which is to say: all gimmick and little substance.

That assumption was totally wrong!

Here is a book written by a true Potter fan who also likes to cook; it's just loaded with recipes to accompany every explicit food reference in all 7 stories! There are explanations about why she chose each recipe along with factoids on the food-stuff in question. What it lacks in pictures (which, incidentally, there is a page for on the website) it more than makes up for in thoroughness.

Are the recipes any good? That I'm not sure yet. So far they look heavily researched, so I'm going to assume it's full of solid and tasty starting points, but not seared with true foodie panache. The book was worth it to me if for nothing but it's thoroughness.

Expect some Pottery treats, posted soon to a blog near you!

We Are On Harry Potter Lockdown, Witches!

2011-07-11T13:13:00.006-04:00

You best be respectin', because it is Harry Potter Countdown Week, and I am ALL IN.

There will be SNAPE. And lightening SCARS. And PARSELTONGUE. And sexy, sexy BELLATRIX LESTRANGE. There may even be some WIZARD PEOPLE, DEAR READERS as part of the self-inflicted pre-show.

And I will be reading DAN BLOGS HARRY POTTER all, week, long, yo, (!). Dan is pictured, and I did not know until last Thursday that he was starting up this particular blog series.

How stoked am I?! The man who gave us the laugh-riot that was "Blogging Twilight" now approaches, comedically but respectfully, Potter-mania.

And I'm gonna be reading it. Because this coming Friday: I'll be crying my eyes out. Bring me the laughter, Dan!

Showing Off (Sweet New Key Chain -- Mathematical!)

2011-07-10T13:13:00.003-04:00

♫ Oh Marceline, why are you so mean? ♫

♫ I'm not mean, I'm a thousand years old and I've just lost track of my moral code... ♫

Some days cool things happen to me: one of those days last week, someone gave me a Marceline the Vampire Queen key chain.

Excellent! A super-sweet key chain featuring my favorite character from Adventure Time with Finn and Jake (on Cartoon Network, Mondays at 8/7c).

Since you did not get this radical keychain, the best I can offer you is the place to get downloadable, printable paper toys:
Adventure Time Cutouts

Shameless plug for an awesome show? Maybe. But seriously you guys, this is a cool one. And new episodes start tomorrow night.

Crochet Mummy Gloves

2011-07-09T13:13:00.001-04:00

Oh oh look! Crochet mummy fingerless gloves.

I wish my crochet ideas were this good. I also wish this wasn't distracting me from my current crochet project (a blanket for my father in law... wooooo, boring).

Halloween Cookies in a Jar

2011-07-08T13:13:00.000-04:00

Cookies in a jar make cutesy gifts, and what holiday deserves gifts more than everyone's favorite (Halloween)?

Halloween Cookies in a Jar

And it comes with free printable labels for the jars!!

Realistic Spiders

2011-07-07T13:13:00.000-04:00

Quick! Everyone needs to stop what you are doing RIGHT NOW and make one of these for the Frog Queen.

She'll love it: trust me. :) Just don't tell her I gave you the idea, okay? And maybe leave off your return address when you send it her way...

(Thank you, Intructables.)

Pudding Cauldrons

2011-07-06T13:13:00.002-04:00

Instructables has a great project for Pudding Cauldrons.

Balloons, pretzels, black candy melts, pudding and food coloring... and you're good to go. Rad, no?

Harry Potter Pole Dance

2011-07-05T13:13:00.001-04:00

Pole Dance to "Harry Potter and the Half-Dub Remix" by Terabyte Frenzy.

Safe. but not suitable, for work:

Crispy Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

2011-07-04T13:13:00.005-04:00

Hypothetical conversation that could be happening RIGHT NOW for all we know:

Party Goer 1: Hey! Who brought the delightful, crispy, buttery oatmeal cookies?
Party Goer 2: Are they oatmeal with chocolate and/or other non-raisin-y goodness?
Party Goer 1: It would seem so.
Party Goer 2: Are they on a skull plate?
Party Goer 1: Why, yes!
Party Goer 2: Hmm... that's a tough one.

Mmm... oatmeal cookies are my favorite. And I hate, hate, hate fruit it my cookies. So 4th of July Party means I get to make the darned cookies as I danged well please. Take that, sunny holiday of patriotic origins!

Ingredients

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbs granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbs brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup toffee Chunks
1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped almonds
2 tbs flax seeds

Directions

Cream butter, then add sugars using an electric beater
Beat in the egg and vanilla
Whisk dry ingredients together (except toffee, chocolate, flax seeds and almonds) then beat into the butter mixture
Lick the beater (be sure to wash it before you use it again)
Stir in almonds, chocolate, flax seeds, and toffee
Heat oven to 350 degrees F
Refrigerate batter for a minimum of 30 minutes
Bake 16 minutes, cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets, then move to cooling racks to cool completely

Harry Potter Wedding Theme

2011-07-03T13:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know why a Harry Potter wedding has never occurred to me before, but it simply hasn't. (go to that link right away if you don't believe it could be stunning)

Any manner of dress would do, from a Fleur-imitation to your customary bridal gown decked out with an elegant accessory (say, a Golden Snitch Necklace? Tell me that isn't gorgeous):

The wands are a great thank you gift for guests, or you could make little broomstick treat bags:

At the reception, you could have hanging candles -- reminiscent of those floating ones in the great hall:

Another Great Harry Potter Themed Wedding
More Inspiration for an HP Wedding
Just for fun: check out Pottervore to get inspiration for clothing and accessories to all those pre-wedding parties

Grilling Up a Haunted 4th of July

2011-07-02T13:13:00.003-04:00

***UPDATE*** By recommendation from Ghoul Friday, let's prioritize ordering from Haunted Hot Sauce. Cool? Now, back to our previously scheduled blog post...

Happy almost 4th of July, everyone!

Shockingly, I'm excited for the holiday weekend (even if it does involve sun, grilling, and fireworks: all things I'm allergic to). And it got the ol' brain to whirring... how can one scare the family on such a non-pumpkiny, patriotic day?

And then I started finding cool things, such as the Cthulhu roasting utensil (no promises as to the quality of the ordering site... I haven't tried them yet). Wouldn't that be nifty to use at your weekend cookout?

And it's always appropriate to have some horrific hot sauces lying about for your friends and family to enjoy.

A quick search on amazon returned:

Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Serve refreshing bloody mary cocktails, or any kind of cool, Blavod recipe (Blavod is a black vodka... a black-vodka screwdriver is likely to unsettle any drinker you hand it to, imho).

If anyone has some additional spooky grilling ideas (I can't tell you how hard I've been working to figure out how to put some spooky, bloody body part on the grill... without having to actually have something meaty), please post them in the comments! I just can't let this Red-White-And-Blue holiday go unbloodied. :)

Bloody Mary

1 1/2 ounces (1 jigger) vodka
1/2 cup tomato juice
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Worcestershire sauce to taste
Tabasco to taste
1 celery stick for garnish
1 lemon wedge for garnish

Shake together all ingredients - serve over ice with a celery stick and a wedge of lemon.

Kind-of-Cornish Pasties (Vegan and Harry Potter Party Friendly!)

2011-07-01T13:13:00.002-04:00

You may not know this, but I've gone full-on vegetarian. It's true! Since last Thanksgiving I'm no longer eating meat, not even socially. I also spent some time participating in a Vegan food exchange at work; it was delightful, but I think we all lost steam and the group has since fizzled.

One thing that lasts, though, are the recipes! And now that I'm getting all geared up for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, I'm finding that all I have to work with are meaty or sugary dishes. So I'm turning back to one of my Vegan Exchange recipes: "Kind-of Cornish Pasties."

"Kind-of" because I'm not in or from Cornwall, and also because I didn't use meat. I did use rutabaga, though, and that's an important bit.

They serve Pasties at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, so I figure this--and maybe vegetarian Shepard's Pie--will be good pre-movie dinner selections. :)

Filling:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium rutabaga, diced (about 1 ½ cups) (also nice? Yam/Sweet Potato)
1 large carrot, diced
2 small Yukon gold potatoes, diced
2/3 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tbs fresh parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast (optional)
2 teaspoons soy sauce (or tamari)
½ cup mock-beef broth (or water)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat oil in a large, large pot. Sauté ingredients: onion through yukon potato for 6 to 7 minutes. At the 5 minute mark, add nutritional yeast (if you've got it. Which I didn't). Add everything else to the pot, cover, and cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until everything is tender.

Pastry Dough:

3 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ cup oil (canola recommended)
6 tablespoons water
6 tablespoons soy milk

Mix flour and salt; add oil a little at a time and mix by hand until crumbly. Mix in liquids.

Divide into 6 balls; roll into circles on a lightly floured surface. Use a plate to cut nicer, even circles. Transfer to a well-oiled baking sheet.

Fill with yummy filling on one half, fold over, and ruin your nice, neat circles by crimping the edges (fork it if you've got it!). You may have to wet the edges to get it to stick.

Vent it by cutting a few slits in the top.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes. Serve hot or cold!

Makes 6 pasties.

The Wait Is On (Harry Potter)

2011-06-30T12:01:00.002-04:00

If you look to your right, you may notice a new little widget: the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 Countdown Clock!

Because: Oh Boy, am I excited!

You should probably know up front (since I'm hoping to make several Potter-posts over the next week and I might seem to contradict myself if I don't let you know this now): I disliked the 7th Harry Potter book, but I felt it would make an awesome movie. If Part 1 was any indication, I'm so very right and this is going to be amazing.

You could get in the spirit with me, if you want. I'm thinking this Deathly Hallows symbol shirt tutorial is how I'm going:

But if I'm feeling feisty I could always hit the waaaaaayback button and relive my Bellatrix Lestrange Halloween glory:

Carrie Mae's Bellatrix Lestrange Tutorial

Of course, now I might be better armored. People have really caught on to making my life easier and made great videos on making your own dark mark and getting Bellatrix's make-up justso:

Ice Roses

2011-06-23T16:59:00.002-04:00

Ooo. This is pretty:

Check it out over at Jonathan Fong Style!!!

I'd recommend taking a gander at some of the 'decor' selections as well.

Best Pain Ever (Think of the Children)

2011-05-16T20:59:00.002-04:00

Mainly, I suck at blogging. I even have project pictures (nothing too exciting, let me assure you -- you're not missing out yet) on my camera waiting to be blogged.

CURSE MY CROCHET HOOKS! which have absolutely nothing to do with anything right now

But, BUT -- I did do something awesome this past weekend. I helped make bound copies of this really rad comic project, Think of the Children (by Christian Sager and EC Steiner, the latter of whom is known to some of you guys out there in the haunt community as kingunicorn?).

See the Think of the Children comic production blog entry. The proof that I helped is in the picture described as "..our friend Carrie is getting stabby with the pages."

How can you not LOVE project that got stabbed? Because I stabbed the crud out of those pages. Seriously. I have the soreness to prove it in my hands, shoulders, and triceps. It is seriously the best pain ever.

Did I mention that kingunicorn posted a downloadable version of the comic's very cool bookplate design? You need one for your library.

Skeleton Brooch

2011-04-29T16:41:00.003-04:00

This is a fun idea for a brooch; and the studded skeleton hand comes complete with a tutorial!

Isn't that thoughtful? I want to make one now.

Itteh Bitteh Kitteh

2011-04-23T12:46:00.004-04:00

I found this adorable kitty crochet pattern (Adorable Kitten Crochet Pattern) which seemed totally perfect for a co-worker who loves kitties and is having a baby.

Sure, I did this one baby-friendly and in white ... but how ADORABLE would this cat be in all black with orange or red facial stitching? Or a little red devil-colored kitty?

Perfect baby present for a more Halloween-friendly mom-to-be, imho.

Mreow!

Hey, Frog Queen!

2011-04-21T20:09:00.000-04:00

And it comes in T-Shirt!

Sweet Pumpkin Risotto

2011-04-09T15:17:00.002-04:00

And, we're off! Dipping our toes slowly back into the blog water, making pumpkin-infused dinner-stuffs and forgetting to take pictures...

12 servings

* 1/8 cup olive oil
* 1/4 tsp chili oil
* 1/2 yellow onion, diced
* 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/2 tsp ginger
* pinch cayenne
* 1/8 tsp chili powder
* 6 cups white rice, cooked
* 1/2 cup white wine
* 5 cups broth
* 1/2 cup currants and/or craisins
* 7.5 oz pumpkin puree
* 7 oz coconut milk
* salt (to taste)
* 1/2 tsp nutmeg
* 1 tsp cinnamon
* juice from 1/2 lime

Saute onion over medium heat in a large, large pot or pan until it begins to soften; add bell pepper and garlic and continue saute until onion is translucent. In the last minute or 2 ad ginger, cayenne, and chili powder - stirring in well and stirring often.

Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil/onion/peppers.

Deglaze using the wine. Add broth 2 cups at a time, allowing to cook off between adds. Stir frequently to keep rice from burning.

Lower heat and stir in cranberries, pumpkin, coconut milk. Mix well before stirring in salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and lime juice.

Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for at least 10 minutes (allowing flavors to come together and risotto to become creamier) before serving. Can be served hot or cold.

----------------------------

Nom Nom Nom. Not very scary, but delicious and mildly exotic, and definitely orange-colored.

YES! FINALLY!

2011-04-04T20:36:00.001-04:00

The project that has been my main focus for what feels like YEARS finally was submitted today!

OMG maybe I can craft and blog again! *fingers crossed*

Creepy Photography

2011-03-29T07:43:00.002-04:00

The photographer who posted this on Flickr has a set called "Dunbar Haunted House," and it's amazing.

I really thought this one was going to turn to look at me at any second (I tinified it, in case it started to scare me again):

UnWelcome to Lowe's!

2011-03-23T10:13:00.001-04:00

It pains me to say this, considering I live and work in Atlanta, home to the fantabulously orange Home Depot, but I do my supply shopping at Lowe's.

Scouring the web for my 'what next' project or for Halloween party ideas, I ran across their 2010 project page for everyone's favorite holiday: http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/Halloween_2010.aspx

I am particularly smitten with the Unwelcome mat, although I already have a heavy duty one (i.e. not based around cardboard) that says "Go Away" sitting at my front door, year-round.

Still, who couldn't use some home-improvement store ideas for making Glowing Ghoul Eyes in their bushes, or putting together spider pictures for their wall at under $10 each.

Gah! Which reminds me -- we still have lots of great Halloween Party Ideas to sort through from February! Only 223 days left!!!

Gothic Gardening: it's not all pumpkins and thorns (though I fail to see where that would be so bad)

2011-03-21T07:09:00.006-04:00

Cooking and Crafting have been put aside for the last few months, except for the necessary kind of things; nothing fun and Halloweeny.

But as I said last week, I'm getting back into the hobbies slowly and starting off with some attempted pumpkin-growing, which will inevitably fail but gosh-darn-it I'm gunna try!

All this working with dirt and seedlings reminded me of an old, old website--now defunct--called "Gothic Gardening." Does anyone else remember this site?

It was MARVELOUS, and thankfully internet archive still has it up for us to enjoy: http://web.archive.org/web/20001109030300/www.gothic.net/~malice/

If you are less-inclined to kill anything you put in the ground, that might be a fun place to stroll through and get some theme garden ideas.

Some other neat, dark gardening things I've been finding on the web:

Grim Gardens - they have a few birdhouses and these little garden 'gnomes' like things that are incense-holding Grim Reapers.
Live Journal Gothic Gardening Community - a place to go and chat about gardening while pale
Botanical.com - an herbalists guide; full of interesting information and neat illustrations. Includes (if you navigate from the home) a list of some poisonous plants.
Graveyard Garden - I don't know about this exact thing (I'm not advocating you buy it), but what a cool idea! A Graveyard/Dark-themed terrarium! Here's a similar (even cuter?) idea for that theme - just need some mini-props and to make a moss terrarium.
Halloween plant(ing) ideas

I told you there were pumpkins being grown

2011-03-20T12:37:00.003-04:00

Sorry to keep beating this dead horse, but this is the farthest I've ever made it with pumpkin growing, so I'm both giddy and terrified:

Holy mackerel! Tiny plants are emerging!! And soon, very soon, they will become unwieldy vines!

GREAT SCOTT, WHAT HAVE I UNLEASHED?

More On Pumpkins

2011-03-18T07:11:00.003-04:00

Remember when I said me, growing pumpkins, would be a calamity? Oh yeah--we are off to a SMASHING start on that front.

Temperatures here in Georgia are being wishy-washy. It's been cold, so I've had seedlings upstairs where the heat rises because we have turned off heating and cooling in the house until the outside sorts itself out (we will dress accordingly, gosh darn it, but I'm not flipping the thermostat back and forth!).

Sudden and unplanned for hot air + seedling kit lid + well-watered seedlings + Carrie Mae forgetting to prop the lid=1 down, 7 seedlings left. One got moldy. AND DANG IT if it might not have spread to the only Lumina seeds I planted. But I digress.

Well, enough of that! The seed kit is not downstairs with the lid propped and I'll just keep a close eye on it, thank-you-very-much.

But the good news is it did prompt some quick research that led to a few more interesting FAQ's and Facts on Pumpkins and Pumpkin-growing, should any of you also be interested:
* General Information: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/pumpkin.cfm
* Harvesting: http://www.weekendgardener.net/blog/2007/08/how-to-harvest-pumpkins-properly.htm
* DRYING GOURDS: To dry gourds, first wash gently in a solution of 10 parts water and 1 part bleach, carefully removing all dirt, then store in a warm, dry location. Pumpkins and gourds should be stored at 55-70^oF and at 70% relative humidity.

Happy Friday, Y'all!

Yes, Yes, Yes! (Doombuggie Excitement)

2011-03-17T10:34:00.002-04:00

I can't wait for vacation this year.

(p.s. - Captain, can we meet for drinks sometime in early-to-mid November?)

The Great Pumpkin-Growing Débâcle

2011-03-16T07:36:00.003-04:00

Before I even begin on the fact that my opposite-of-green-thumbs have planted pumpkin seeds and will be trying for the millionth time to actually grow something, doomed to failure... I stumbled across the picture below and thought it was a beautiful inspiration for ornamental stonework, so I wanted to share:

It's very pumpkiny, and when I have a fancy castle-house I might just use them interspersed with the gargoyles. What do you think?

But in the meantime, back to pumpkins.

This is my test run of pumpkins, because me a growing things always leads to calamity. If I can keep from killing these seedlings and get them into little-plant form, I will undergo the same exercise in a month or two so I can also have some home-grown pumpkins for Halloween.

It's not much, but it's a project. Since I haven't had the free time needed to craft, blog, complete things I enjoy, this seemed like a way to ease myself back into the real world as my time-consuming life requirements begin to grind to a halt.

And best case scenario? I might be able to bake a real, live homemade pumpkin pie at the end of this experiment. I'm not holding my breath, but wouldn't it be neat?

(pumkin growing)

The Hunt for the Appropriate (Halloween) Theme Begins!

2011-02-20T13:21:00.003-05:00

It's a delightfully long weekend, and I should be working. On work. Because I'm behind at work (did you know I have a real job? No? Good. Let's pretend I didn't say anything about it then).

Instead, I have a horrendous head cold and don't like to be doing anything strenuous (like thinking) for any length of time. So instead, I've been sitting with a little notebook by my side writing down possible Halloween Party themes for this coming pre-October 31st weekend!

Between my husband and I, here's what we're considering so far:

The tales and poems of E.A. Poe
Murder Mystery (a la "Clue" or Agatha Christie)
A Hitchcock Halloween
Bloody Mary (and other ghost stories)
50's SciFi
Living Dead
Stephen King (I don't really read him, but Carrie Mae throwing a "Carrie" themed party? I like the sound of it)
Grim-Grinning-Ghosts/Haunted Mansion
Black-and-White movie monsters
Slasher Horror/Camp Crystal Lake

I just need a little bit of a theme to get my brain going and the props and menu started. I work better with a theme. I suppose we could just as easily pick "glow in the dark" or "Green" and I could work against it, but if you can't tell: we're kind of movie/literature people, first and foremost.

The Murder Mystery party is something I've been pondering for awhile now. Husband is on-board, so that might actually be the summer-time soiree.

What about everyone else? Do you already know what you're planning for this Halloween? If so, can you send some runner-up ideas my way?

Mummy Loaf!

2011-01-20T08:12:00.008-05:00

Yes, yes I got my wish from the last post -- snow in Georgia. And yes, I was snowed in. And double-yes: my internet was touchy the whole week and I'm still catching up at work.

But no, I couldn't make a snowman. By the time it was deep enough at my house it was already a melty-re-freezy mess. More like dried "Great Stuff" than snow.

So, without reliable internet, a serious inability to create my own "Snowhouse of Horrors," and no way to drive anyplace for a week, a girl does a little crochet and bakes many things with her new bread maker.

Now, I refuse to say that Mummy-Loaf (danish braid with blueberries and cream cheese filling) was a bad idea. HE WASN'T. Look at how cute his sweet little mug is - especially before baking!?!

I would, however, qualify that I'd do things differently next time. For starters, I would have actually thought about what I was doing before applying the Egg Wash. My CuisinArt recipe called for a whole egg + water combination, and I should have known that was for making it even more toasty-amber colored.

I want a paler mummy next time: egg white only, maybe? At least I'm going to finish off with a light dusting of powder sugar or a vanilla glaze/drizzle.

Also: one eye melted into his head, which ruined the 'mummy' effect after baking. Next time I'll save two berries and place them in as it comes out of the oven.

Still, it was a pretty successful ordeal. I followed this bread recipe with my bread maker (lessened all ingredients to make only a 1 lb loaf), then made a cream cheese filling by beating the following together:

4 oz cream cheese
half an egg, beaten
2 tbs sugar
1 tbs cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla

To make a bread braid:

Roll out the dough in a rectangle, about 12x8"
Spread the cream cheese down the middle third (lengthwise)
Top cheese with blueberries (leave a little space for the 'eyes')
Cut the side thirds at 1" intervals to make strips
Start by folding the bottom strips into eachother, then criss-cross fold the other strips all the way up -- this should mostly cover the blueberry/cheese filling, but there may be a few gaps here and there. At the next-to last strips, stretch them a little further down to leave a cream cheese opening where the eyes should be.
Tuck the last (top) strips in to look like a head wrapping
Bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees F until toasted and filling is set (mine took 30 minutes -- again, smaller loaf)
Transfer to a wire rack to cool, dot the open area with two berries for eyes
NOM NOM NOM (once cooled)

Serve your mummy plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or with a drizzly vanilla glaze. He is delicious with coffee and should be shared with friends.

If Only It Snowed in Georgia

2010-12-23T10:28:00.002-05:00

I would be making "Snowhouse of Horrors" creations like you would not even believe! Check it out; NPR found and posted a really fantastic slideshow collection:

In my whole life I've ever gotten to make a snowman maybe a handful of times. And they were mucky with twigs and Georgia Red Clay because there wasn't really enough of the white-stuff to be making snow-critters. So those of you fortunate enough to know what snow really looks like, maybe make a creepy snow sculpture for me this year? And send pictures?

It's almost Christmas and I'm still wearing light jackets outside.

O Hai

2010-12-10T15:44:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends and Readers;

I am buried in a deep, dark hole of work and holidays. I miss you all and am seeking time to blog.

Don't think I've forgotten you.

Cheers,
Carrie Mae

I Pity the Fool Who Don't Value Amazing Halloween Costumes

2010-11-09T15:59:00.003-05:00

You may remember awhile back that I crocheted a Mr. T head for a friend (a 'friend' who found a new job an abandoned me, but a friend all the same) in honor of the new A-Team movie.

Well, said friend also made me proud at Halloween this year. You must wear your amazement openly upon seeing this awesomeness:

This is my favorite Halloween costume of 2010. There is no question; he did an epic job.

Finally! I can show you pictures

2010-11-07T09:46:00.004-05:00

Okay, I can now finally prove that I met the Captain. Though, if you're following his blog as you should be, then you already have seen his version of the evidence.

Just LOOK at how FREAKISHLY tall the man is! I was there, folks. Don't let his crazy talk about my shortness fool you -- I am obviously a very tall woman. He's just 8 or 9 feet or something. In no way am I short. Nope. Not at all.

Also, visiting him at work was a mistake. Not nearly enough time! Next opportunity we make dinner plans. The Captain is even more likable in person than over the series of tubes we call the internet; his coworkers were plenty nice too. :) Which was good, because I was nervous about meeting.

Making his acquaintance was one of the top moments of my vacation, and I have every expectation that we will have the chance again in the (near) future.

--------------

More Halloversary trip Photos for your amusement:

Waluigi and Wario terrorized kiddies at Disney

Most commonly overheard conversation of the night:

PARENT: "Oh look! There's Mario and Luigi!"

KID: *rolls eyes* "Mooooooom..." (or 'Daaaaaad') "... that's Wario and Waluigi!"

My husband made a point to "Waaaaah!" and shake his fist at every miniature Mario and Luigi he came across. Most of the kids really seemed to like it. :)

Those villainous Wario Brothers also got TONS of candy (why no, I am not ashamed to Trick-or-Treat as an adult)

We're still on the lookout for the guy who robbed the Blood Bank at Disney

My husband made me ride the scariest ride at the park... Captain Eo.

I found a possible new boyfriend; my husband thought he was a pretty cool guy, so he jumped in the picture too.

Of course we visited the shops at Hogsmeade; I was surrounded by muggles ("Whose wand is it you got again? And which one was he?")

I had butterbeer (frozen and unfrozen), real beer, and Pumpkin Juice - along with lunch at the Three Broomsticks!!! *Harry Potter nerdliness is satisfied until the movie comes out*

It was a great trip and a nice 1 year anniversary. Next year, though, we're planning a Halloween party of some kind. The new countdown begins!

Great Day

2010-11-02T19:27:00.002-04:00

Today I got a replica of Sirius Black's wand, sloshed about happily in the rain, and best of all--I got to say hello to the wonderful Captain ,in the flesh!! I have pictures to prove this statement, but it will be a few days before I can post them.

Not to ruin his creepy reputation, but he is super-dee-duper nice and ridiculously likable.

What a great day!

And Mr. Macabre: we are coming for you. Plan on it--we need a group meet-up. :)

The Hangover

2010-11-01T13:13:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you, but I get Halloween hangover on November 1st.

Everything is still decorated to be completely spooky and lovely, but there is a spark gone. It's the same as after a night out drinking: things are still the same as yesterday, but somehow it's all gotten a little bit painful.

It's the post-Halloween crash, when you know the pumpkins are going to start rotting and people will begin to remove their 'trick-or-treat' signs and you have to wait a whole 'nother danged year until you get to do it all again.

Well, fear not my favorite fiends! The Creepy Cupcakes blog and others like it will not abandon you. I'll be taking a few days off from blogging to regather myself but then we'll be back to the year-round spook show!

Much like that adorable little leftover plastic spider I found in the trunk the day after our wedding (gosh darn it, he didn't make it to the reception with his brethren), there is still creepiness to be found in the world--even post-Halloween.

Happy Haunting!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-10-31T13:13:00.004-04:00

Not to brag, but we're a really happy couple. We really look like we're having fun in our wedding pictures, even though my dress hem was caked in mud and it was freaking freezing -- everything was perfect to us because we had each other.

Well, today is our one year anniversary; more special than that, because after 5 years of commitment this is our first celebrated anniversary! Honestly, we've never had a date to commemorate before.

I'm excited about the creepy, the spooky, the costumes, the candy, the pumpkins, the horror movies, the EVERYTHING today... but the best treat of all is definitely sharing my favorite day with my favorite person.

I hope you're all having a particularly haunting Halloween, as we certainly are. Spend it with someone special.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 30: This Time Last Year

2010-10-30T13:13:00.005-04:00

October 30th last year I was a bundle of nerves and excitement. People were getting all the wedding details ready:

Our friends threw us the most amazing rehearsal dinner at their lovely home; it was so relaxed and fun, outdoors with a fire and great decorations:

Not to mention romantic lighting:

But the best part was knowing that I would be marring this adorable gentleman the next day:

My beloved husband. Such a good guy that he even consented to marry me on Halloween -- a day he cares about only for my sake. :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVE!

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 29: Partaaaaaay (City)

2010-10-29T13:13:00.000-04:00

We (my husband and I) spent the day piddling about, getting excited about Halloween. And if you thought you were just going to waltz into a Party City and get a last-minute costume, may I just caution you against it. That place is crazier than usual, even today at 11am!

But if you absolutely must, there is the scariest mask ever available for under $10:

I'm still a complete automatonophobe. A human-sized ventriloquist dummy makes me want to cry from fear!

Just promise me you want go as Wizard Wanda. I'll have to get all 'sexifying something that isn't sexy is not okay for Halloween' on you. I've got a speech prepared, it's well-practiced, and you don't want to hear it.

Unless you want to go in a skin-tight skeleton getup. I'm okay with that -- skeletons are sexy. The fashion industry features them all the time in ads.

It's HALLOWEEKEND! I hope you're ready!

What are you Halloween plans?

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 28: I Vant to Show You My Neck

2010-10-28T13:13:00.002-04:00

I saw a vampire bite necklace on boing boing earlier this year. It was crochet, and oh-so-easy-to-make looking.

So I finally made one -- found the pattern in a simply adorable little book called Witch Craft by Alicia Kachmar. If you have little girls who can't decide if they want to be a vampire or a princess, btw... please get them this book. It will help lead them down the path to darkness by sugar-coating it.

Anyhoo. I didn't follow the pattern, 'cause that's how I roll. But making up my own version (which includes a row of single crochet stitches after making the little closure loop, as opposed to just a foundation chain for the necklace part) took me all of a lunch hour at work while chatting with my friends.

In fact, I think even a beginning crocheter could master this in just a try or two. The hardest part was finding thread in the two shades of red I was looking for!

Obviously, this still needs some finishing touches--like being ironed flat since I kept the pieces in a little ball in my pocket after the crochet work was done--but I'm excited to wear it with my everyday-wear this Halloweekend!

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 27: Just Another Night at the Vampire Club

2010-10-27T13:13:00.003-04:00

Ignore the anime (unless you're into that kind of thing ... I personally have eyes only for Naruto), but this song gets my little toes tappin'! Voltaire's The Vampire Club. It and Big Daddy Graham's Caterer's From Beyond the Grave are my favorite things going on Halloween Radio right now.

All of this, in part to tell you about a fun, fun song, and mostly to relay my favorite comment on a YouTube Video EVER:

Oh yeah. I will be liking those sparkly Halloween decorations at Target a lot more now that I will be thinking of them as being covered in "exploded sparkly vampire guts."

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 26: Pictures from Sunday's Meal

2010-10-26T13:13:00.001-04:00

Like I said, dinner Sunday night was awesome. Good food, good friends, and nice walked through a dark cemetery after. :)

What could be better?

And now, pictures of the recipes in question for your Halloween Dinner viewing pleasure.

My wunderbar friends brought Prosciutto Melon "Mummies"

I made sausage cheddar eyeballs, too.
SAUSAGE CHEESE BALLS (makes 16ish)
1 cup white bread, torn into itty-bitty pieces (no crust)
1/2 cup sausage, uncooked
1 cup white cheddar cheese
3-4 green olives, sliced (I used jalapeño and garlic stuffed ... yum)

Preheat oven to 275^o degrees.

Mix bread, sausage, and cheese in a bowl until combined. It will be a little crumbly.

Roll and small the mixture into little balls and put on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or well greased; top each with one olive slice. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the sausage is fully cooked. The cheese will ooze out and crust up, which looks nice and gory.

Cocktails: Sinister Cider

Rest in Peas ... turned out a little soupy, but still tasty.

Adam's Ribs and Mashed Boo-tatoes

Individual Chocolate Layer Cakes with Pumpkin Buttercream

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 25: My Halloween Dinner Menu

2010-10-25T13:13:00.001-04:00

We'll actually be out of town, celebrating the old anniversary one year anniversary (hey Captain! I'll be in your neck of the woods!) on Halloween-proper, so yesterday was our full-on with friends Halloween celebration day.

In true 'Carrie Mae, why don't you just do things the fun way?' fashion, we did something awesomely creepy, full of good food, and moderately educational. Some of our favorite friends came over and we cooked them a Halloween-themed dinner before going to the Oakland Cemetery Halloween Tour.

For Cocktail Hour, we made Sinister Cider from Martha Stewart and 'Here's Looking At You Kid' sausage balls. I didn't change the recipe, just the glass rimming technique. I opted for Hostess with the Mostess's bloody rimmed martini glass.

Dinner itself consisted of a variation on BHG's Adam's Ribs, Martha's Rest in Peas, and Mashed Bootatoes (used my own recipe of potato, but inspired by the Gourmet technique you see at the link).

Finally, for dessert we had Caramel Chocolate Layer Cake with Pumpkin Buttercream. I was inspired by the recipes at those links, but I took both elements in a new direction. I did, however, use Martha's Caramelized Cobwebs (chocolate spiders instead of licorice... I hate licorice) as the decor.

Dinner Music thanks to Halloween Radio.

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 24: Happy Halloweddings!

2010-10-24T13:13:00.002-04:00

This one goes out to all my fellow Halloween brides, past and present -- It's a week away, y'all!

It's all going to pass so quickly. Take a minute to enjoy it, even if you are in the last minutes of preparation and about to tear your hair out. Whatever happens, it will be perfect.

Turn on some Halloween Radio and just feel the spirit for the next week. Everything is going to be perfect.

Visit the Halloweddings community for cool people and inspiration (picture totally yanked from mishellian's amazing wedding post there, btw -- I wish I had something that cool!).

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 23: My First 5k

2010-10-23T14:14:00.003-04:00

Okay, I'm going to force you to think this is kind of remotely Halloweeny because there is a similar event in the same city next week called "The Big Pumpkin Run."

It's a 5k, it's themed around pumpkins... I ran a 5k today for a charity (not the Big Pumpkin Run)... and the same race tracking people will be there... so related, see? It's all coming back to Halloween.

Oh who am I kidding. This is just me being proud of myself; it's my blog and I feel entitled to diverge a bit.

I ran my first 5k today:

At least I wore all black. :)

It was a very small race. I just barely finished in the top 25%. I did, however, finish top of my age/gender group: 1st place females ages 19-30. So very excited!!

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 22: Oops!

2010-10-22T22:44:00.002-04:00

Oops! I'm behind on my post. And I might be behind again tomorrow. My parents came over for dinner tonight and I was in a rush trying to get ready both last night and today.

Why were they over, do you ask? Because my dad works for a charity that's hosting a 5k tomorrow morning, and they needed to spend the night close by.

Guess who's running that as their first ever 5k and is a total nervous wreck?

Oh yes. I run. Even when zombies aren't chasing me.

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 21: I'm Batty for These!

2010-10-21T13:13:00.006-04:00

Use this excellent tutorial from Dill Pickle Picnic to make elegant Bat Cupcake Flags (or straw decor -- your choice).

:) Moderately time-consuming, but well worth the effort.

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 20: Jack Skellington Pops

2010-10-20T13:13:00.005-04:00

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 19: Elegant Wreath

2010-10-19T13:13:00.004-04:00

Remember when Halloween used to be all about getting married and pretty wedding decor?

Yeah, me too. I really am glad that's all over and I can just enjoy this year!

But sometimes I still see things that make me think Halloween=romance. Craftily Ever After has a wreath project that would be stunning at a Hallowedding. If you don't have a lacy shirt to cut up, you can find a yard of lace fabric -- often in the leftovers bin of your local fabric store.

READY FOR HALLOWEEN DAY 18: Feast Your Eyes (Lunch Edition)

2010-10-18T13:13:00.004-04:00

Starting with yesterday's Breakfast Edition, we are spending the week searching like mad for fun Halloween sit-down meal ideas. We start with Foodgawker finds:

Pumpkin Soup (in German)

Brains (or Char Siu Gao)

Ghastly Guacamole with Ghost Chips

Pumpkin Chili

Dead Man Burgers

More Martha Stewart Halloweeny ideas appropriate for a lunch menu:

Squeamish Squash with Rice

Savory Pumpkin Puffs

Bewitching Grilled Cheese

Eye-Popping Soup

These don't fit, but I wanted to share:

Pumpkin Dip: http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumpkin-dip.html
Super-cute, bento-style design: http://littlenummies.net/2010/10/creepy-night/

Baked Pumpkin "Donuts"

2010-10-17T20:27:00.003-04:00

Okay, I made donuts tonight. They were baked, which was okay if you're trying to be a teensy bit healthier like I am, but I think they would be even more rad fried before covering them in pumpkin glaze.

It doesn't matter. They were easy, and they were done pretty fast, and they tasted GOOD so I'm sharing:

Ingredients

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F.

Separate dough into 5 biscuits, cut each into halves; flatten each. Cut a hole in the center of each (I used an apple corer).

Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown (don't overcook - they should be cooked through only just).

Melt butter, stir in pumpkin, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Add the sugar. Blend until smooth. Brush over donuts (both sides) to coat.

Makes 10 servings (1 donut + 1 donut hole).