I think I mentioned it before but I am incredibly slow with my cross stitches. I usually only stitch on Saturday and Sunday morning because after work it is too dark and I am too tired to stitch.
This pattern is from Primrose Cottage Stitches and this is one of five new Halloween releases. I like their patterns but definitely cannot keep up with their releases. I actually stitch in a QSnap so it is a slower approach. I don’t really like the stitches when I do stitch in hand. That approach is faster but my stitches look wonky. If I am going to frame something I need it to look neat.
Now I just need to frame this beauty and it will be ready for next year.
Part of any holiday is smelling the scents that bring back memories. Of course my house cannot smell of cinnamon and candy corn all the time so I decided to get some fragrance oils that match the holidays. A little bit here and there will help.
With scents like Candy Corn, Marshmallow, Autumn Wreath, Caramel Corn, Night Air and Pumpkin Pie it will smell like Halloween.
I also have the Autumn scents from the same company.
These scents are definitely Autumnal. Apple, Brown Sugar, Forest Pine, Snickerdoodle, Harvest Spice, and Vanilla.
I bought a small portable aromatherapy fan to keep at my desk.
It is very small and you can use it anywhere including your car. It comes with a USB cord so you just charge and go.
I also got a larger one that was more functional with a timer.
It changes color and is quite soothing.
I know people use fragrance oils for other purposes, but I am at a loss. These are not essence oils but more fragrance oil so I would not use them on my body.
I read you can place a few drops on the toilet paper roll, the cardboard part. Also put some drops on cotton balls and place in drawers. If you have other suggestions please let me know.
I did order the Christmas scents but they have not arrived yet.
The last of the four La Croix Halloween Mocktail has been made.
This is the mocktail where I could not find the drink they suggested, so I used the Sprite Cranberry that I recently purchased. I have to admit that this was a very good drink. It is called Hocus Pocus La Punch.
I don’t know if it was the cherry juice or just the combination but it was quite tasty.
I could not find my jar of maraschino cherries so I used cranberries again. But since I used Sprite Cranberry soda it worked out fine.
So this wraps up the La Croix mocktail challenge. I enjoyed doing a little mixology and trying new tastes. I did get some use out of my Halloween themed glasses.
I highly recommend mixing some soda and juices together to create a new drink, perhaps you will find a new annual favorite. Thanks for checking out my blog.
I know it is mid November and I am still posting Halloween items. But I am at that age where resting in bed holds more charms that doing everything off my to do list. In fact that list has grown to 2 whole pages. But I need to finish my Autumn/Halloween bucket list.
An easy item on my list was to drink some yummy witchy cocoa. Since it was kinda hot in October I wanted to wait for cooler weather.
I found this cocoa on Amazon. I was attracted to it because it was orange, but also only required hot water. I never seem to have fresh milk on hand.
So pulling out my new favorite tea drinking cup, I grabbed a moon and ghost cookie and started to boil water.
Once the water was the perfect temperature, I mixed that orange brew up.
I bought some cute pumpkin hot cocoa bombs from Target and thought I would add them in. Once the chocolate melted marshmallows popped out of the cocoa.
The cocoa was very rich and creamy and very very orange. It was a nice way to end a busy day for me.
Onto the third of this series of Mocktails for the Halloween season.
This time I made the La Mummy. Made with the orange La Croix sparkling water, it was zesty and fun to drink. I might make this again but instead of lemon juice I think I will use orange juice. I really like my glasses. I bought these at Joann Fabrics. It felt very Halloween like to drink this mocktail.
I have one more drink to make. Sadly I cannot locate the drink in the store so I might get creative, Halloween if anything is about bringing out the creativity in all of us.
For some fun I found this picture on the internet. I loved the show Bewitched growing up. Aunt Clara always reminded me of my Granny whose name was also Clara. Same style, same features. And now I too feel like Aunt Clara. Oh how time marches on. LOL
My Grandmother Clara, dressed to the nines to sit on the beach with her husband Sam. Can you imagine wearing a girdle to the beach, or a man’s suit. In those days you dressed up. Doesn’t she look like Aunt Clara?
Because I bought those fun Halloween themed molds from Aldi, I also wanted to make cornbread with some chili for a cold night.
Instead of chili I ended up making taco soup. It is so easy just using a variety of canned beans with hamburger meat. Not as good as my Mom’s rainy day chili that would sit on the stove for hours. But does fine in a pinch.
To make this soup, just brown and crumble 2 pounds ground beef. Then add one package Ranch dressing and 1 package taco mix. Then add the following canned beans:
chili beans black beans, drained Pinto beans, drained Canned Corn, drained Diced tomatoes Rotel tomatoes Diced green chilis
Simmer all ingredients over the stove, add water to make it less thick. Enjoy!
Then just using a cornbread mix, pour into molds to make Halloween cornbread.
Although the cornbread was good, the poor pumpkins had issues popping out of the mold. The ghosties did better than the pumpkins but you really need to look at the shape to see the ghost. But that is ok. I knew it was a ghost.
I wanted to make some fun Halloween themed food this year. When I saw this ghost topped chicken pot pie I definitely wanted to try. It was a very easy recipe. I did make a mistake and used garlic powder instead of onion powder but it worked out ok.
I found the little ghost cookie cutters on Temu for a few bucks. There are two ghosts, each swaying in opposite direction. Sway to the left, sway to the right.
For ease of making, I bought rotisserie chicken but I think you can make your own chicken pretty easy. I did determine that this many ghosts are a “gaggle”.
I also decided to do a quick charcuterie board on Halloween night.
I bought this board from Michaels and thought it was real cute. I had to crop Eli the dogs paw out of the picture. He had to get all involved in making the charcuterie board. LOL
What I like about the holidays is the amount of fun products you can purchase for the season. Not just home decor, but themed scents for every part of your home/life. To me, Autumn smells like warm fires, cinnamon, apples and warm desserts.
I am a huge fan of Native products especially their deodorant. I have never used their other products but decided to indulge since the scents are so autumnal.
Honeycrisp and Cider Apple Butter and Strudel Autumn Air and Amber Toasted Vanilla and Honey
Besides the deodorant , I decided to try their face wash, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. I like the whole bath experience to smell great. I did pick up some autumn scents in bar soap from TJ Maxx. So my bath experience will be wonderful.
I am also a fan of Bath and Body Works. They do release a Halloween line every year. I prefer the body cream but i also enjoy the spray once in a while. I also use the spray as a linen spray after I wash my sheets. Makes getting in bed smell nice. I could not resist the tote bag as it is wickedly cute.
Vampire Blood Wicked Vanilla Woods Ghoul Friend Candy Apple Cauldron
Don’t these sound yummy! A great Halloween experience.
A little face mask during the season is also a good idea. I found these at World Market.
When I was at TJ Maxx buying Halloween jewelry, I came across some Harry Slatkin soaps. I know he sells on QVC but use to sell his goods with Bath and Body works. I have a few of his classy pic candles and candle holders. So it was awesome to see his Halloween soaps on the shelf.
I hope they come out with the Christmas scents. Of course a hair accessory is always a must for Halloween. I usually use a scrunchie to keep my hair out of my face. But cute Halloween barrettes are great too. I don’t know who Piper K is but they do have some cute stuff. One of my necklaces is from them also.
Hope your autumn smells wonderful. Thanks for checking out my blog.
I was scrolling in the TJ Maxx website looking for Halloween mugs and came across some Halloween Jewelry. I have no idea who Betsy Johnson is, but boy she makes cute jewelry. I decided to go into the store to see what she had to offer. Oh boy the goodies they had. I immediately bought this cute necklace. And some cute pumpkin earrings.
There were other designers with equally cute designs.
Nothing like spiders to say Happy Halloween
I decided to see what cute (and cheap) stuff I could find on Temu.
Most of these items were less than three dollars. The bracelet is pretty great quality with enamels charms for 3.21. Obviously there were not as nice as the Betsy Johnson designs but pretty darn good for a few dollars.
I bought the spider brooch to add to a Halloween themed needle case that is yet to be made so I may wear it before it goes on my craft project.
I have worn a few items already and have received nice compliments so far. I even got a compliment from someone on my pumpkin purse today.
Even Target had cute earrings.
I needed earrings to match the spider necklaces.
Temu even had a few Halloween T Shirts for me to wear for a few dollars. Love the nostalgic nod to The Great Pumpkin.
Cute T-shirts. Not top quality but great to wear during the season. I even got this sweater for less than $7.00. It is very soft and seems good quality. If only it would get cool enough to wear it.
Now that I got enough goodies to wear for the season I can bring in the Halloween Sprit.
Even Eli has gotten into the spirit. Enjoy the season.
