This is Halloween.....Halloween...Halloween

I wish I was more of a Halloween enthusiast.  Pretty sure I got it from my parents.  Growing up we had a giant box of costume accessories and every year my parents would say....."See what you can put together out of the costume box".  None of this, costume every year garbage.  We had to use our creativity and rarely did anyone know who we were ;). 

I guess with these childhood Halloween memories you either over compensate and go over the top for Halloween or....like me you continue the "cycle" of 'Halloween' abuse.  Yep, that is where I am at.  I am dressing up in my "LBD" ONCE AGAIN as Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany's and I had the "Coyster" buy a hat and find the rest of his costume in his closet.

Even better than our homemade costumes was our Halloween photographer.

Attempt 1:

Attempt #2:
Attempt #3

Nothing like scrounging up costumes and photographers (love ya' dad ;).  These are better than last year however.....last year ALL of our heads were cut off.

I am topping off the holiday with THE candy that the trick or treating kids despise.  BULK CANDY MIX.  Yes I think I have officially massacred Halloween :).  

I can possibly promise I will do better next year....possibly.

Happy Halloween everyone.  I hope you have a great one!

 

Jody's TOP TEN FALL MUST DO's:

I think every season must have a "MUST DO" list.  Of course, for the self proclaimed Fun Junkie this has to be a FUN list.  This is tailored to Utah, so for those outside of Utah you should consider a Fall trip one year.  Fall is AMAZING here!

Here it goes....

JODY'S TOP TEN FALL MUST DO'S:

1. Fall Mountain Biking Trip:

I haven't been mountain biking for YEARS, not since I was charged by a moose during the moose rut (a whole other blog post) to be exact but it was AMAZING!  We hit Rock Canyon campground at the top of Provo canyon and rode down.  It was rocky and intense but worth the sore legs and hand cramps. 

2. Hit your local ski resort for a Fall Colors scenic lift ride:

My local resort.  SUNDANCE!  I LOVE Sundance.  It is one of my favorite places to be in Summer/Fall and this lift ride did not disappoint.  

3. Hit farm country.....bonus if it has a pumpkin patch: 

Our local farm country is a place called Hee-Haws.  A family fun farm clad with a petting zoo, corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin patch, slides, swings and games.  We had a blast! 

4. Pick up a Pumpkin Spice Latte:

Photo: http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/pumpkin-spice-latte

I have to admit I CAN NOT get enough of these this fall.  I think I had four last week alone.  Check out the nutritional info on these puppies....It is KILLING ME in the weight management arena :). 

5. HIKE HIKE HIKE...need I say more? 

The canyon just up the street was teasing me with it's intense pop of red!  My motto for this fall was "hike to the red".  We made it...and it was AMAZING!

 6. Enjoy some Harvest Ale

Photo: http://draftmag.com/

I am more of a wine gal myself but I love me a good harvest beer.  This is one on my list that is still on the "TO DO".  I WILL surely take care of this one before we hit winter.

7. Enjoy a night out with the Witches (and great friends)

Here in Utah Gardener Village is the place to be on October.  The Witchfest is in full swing.  If you live in Utah and have not been, I strongly recommend you stop by and see the witches.  

8. Get Crafty

Something about Fall turns on my inner crafty....it is about time!  We kicked off our Fall Craft central with some Rustic owls.  Stay tuned for some "How To-sies".

 9.  Make/Enjoy/Indulge yourself with Carmel Apple.....YUM

Photo and Recipe: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/caramel-apples-10000001540364/index.html

10. Throw yourself some type of Harvest shindig...whether it be a tailgate party, a Halloween party or host Thanksgiving.  Just do it.  There is nothing like the Fall and it is even better when shared with family and friends.

Here are my Fall "Must Do's"....what are yours? 

Fab Find...Sunday

I am thinking "Better late than never" is quickly turning into my motto of the month....unfortunately.

My Fab Find Friday has turned into my Fab Find Sunday :).

This week I got a STEAL on Halloween costumes for my girls!  Old Navy is always my place to go for baby gifts and when I was there last they had a clearance rack full of Halloween costumes.  Little "B" picked out the butterfly one. 

 

 Warm, fleecy and cozy all for just 12.99!  I was stoked. 

The Fab Find got even better when I got home and showed Indiana.  She just HAD to be a butterfly too.  Girls Halloween costumes....Check.

 Look at those cute little butterflies!

 The pants didn't quite make it on..I think they were in the wash :)

They have already been able to wear them with a Halloween shirt.  Another bonus.  I don't know about you but I HATE buying Halloween costumes.  I feel like it is such a waste of money every year. So when I pick one up for just over ten bucks, it is warm AND they can wear the pants before Halloween night I consider it a total fab find.  Yep I am that interesting.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Notes From the Binder

1)  When Mitt Romney was Governor of Massachusetts, if he truly went to women's groups and said "Can you help us find folks?", would that not be akin to Affirmative Action?

2) Well no need for Republicans to worry about that, he really did NOT go to women's groups saying "Can you help us find folks?"  It was MassGAP, a bipartisan coalition of women's groups dedicated to increasing the number of women appointed to top government jobs, that approached Romney (and his Democratic challenger)  and pressured them to sign a pledge to appoint more women if elected.

3)  It is shocking that after 25 years of experience at the very highest levels of corporate America, that Mitt and his crew needed Mass GAP's help.  Why didn't he come to that position with qualified women to fill cabinet positions? 

4)  "Does Mitt think that women won't know how to find out if he had any top level positions filled by women at Bain Capital?"  Pretty sure we can handle that task (during a Sex in the City commercial break, of course).

from "Welcome to My Binder Full of Women" GQ Magazine

5)  Buffoon, noun:
     1.  a ludicrous figure:  CLOWN
     2.  a gross and unusually ill-educated or stupid person

6)  It's 2012......not 1912.

7)  The percentage of women in senior-level positions in Massachusetts government declined under Romney.

8)  www.bindersfullofwomen.com

9)  Funny:

 10)  Mitt Romney refuses to say whether he would have supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.


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Jody's Pinterest Halloween Party Faves

First let me say Heather I LOVE your window boxes!  It makes me want to head straight for the dollar store to get the supplies to spruce up my own window boxes.  Thanks for the inspiration.

For decorating on a shoestring Heather has your back!  This post is to help you throw a killer Halloween party on a shoestring!   

We are getting ready to put together our annual Halloween party and I have been scouring Pinterest for some fun (cheap) Halloween Decor and Party Ideas.  I  am so amazed at the creativity out there!  I absolutely love Pinterest for this.....it helps get my creative juices flowing. 

It was super hard but I narrowed it down to my TOP 10 Halloween Party Ideas

1.  Every party needs some great invitations:

Photo: http://serendipitycreative.blogspot.com

You can grab these amazing FREE invitations  HERE on this AMAZING blog!  

These are freebie invitations that just keep giving....with matching bottle labels and cupcake toppers! 

2.  All great parties need some great Halloween decor:

Photo: http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net

 Isn't this the cutest wreath! I think I could even manage to make it! Check out the tutorial HERE

3. All Great parties need some great games:

Photo: http://www.rookno17.com

You can download this fun scavenger hunt HERE. 

4. You always need more than one:

Photo: http://amandaparkerandfamily.blogspot.com

Pin the eye of the Monster.  GENIUS! You can check out how to make this cute lil' guy HERE

5. It isn't a party without some Halloween themed BINGO:

Photo: http://thecraftingchicks.com

You can find these amazing free printables HERE on this great BLOG.

6. Love this one:

Photo: http://www.jeanetics.net

You can see the details on this great BLOG.

7. Its all about the presentation:

Photo: http://www.marthastewart.com

Who does it better than Martha Stewart!  Find "How to" HERE

8. "Who" could resist these cupcakes:

Photo: http://onecharmingparty.com/

 

 

Can I just say I LOVE One Charming Party you can find instructions on these lil' guys HERE

9.   What would a Halloween Party be without the CANDY:

Photo: http://www.theidearoom.net

The IDEA ROOM had a great idea....Mummy Chocolate Bars.  Can't go wrong there!

10. One last party favor so cute you won't want to eat it:

Photo: http://wantsandwishesdesign.blogspot.com

Check out this AMAZING blog for instructions and super cute / super affordable party printables!
 
Phew....there is my TOP TEN now on to finish the Party Planning!  

Fall Window Boxes Revisited

I finished decorating my window boxes.
I decided to forgo spooky on the window boxes this year and just embraced FALL
I still might throw a bat or spider on in the next few days, but I decided that with everything else on our plates, I'd decorate in a way that I didn't have to change things for awhile.

Do you remember my post on Dollar Store Decorating last year (You can find it HERE)?
M and I decorated pumpkins with items from the Dollar Store.
They turned out really cute.

I thought it would be fun to see if I could do it again this year. 
Most of the items I used for the window boxes are from the Dollar Store, too!

You know those really fake (no fooling anyone) flowers they always have at the store entrance?  The ones you walk past without a second thought?  Yep, I grabbed these leaves and flowers from that display!

The garland was from the Dollar Store's fall section.
The gourdes came from our garden and the pumpkins from our local grocery store.

Not too bad, if I don't say so myself.
Who says that holiday decorating needs to break the bank? 

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Fab Find Friday

I love a true Fab Find! 

Today's Fab Find is something that I have been raving about for weeks.
It's one of those things that you see advertised and wonder if it really and truly does what it promises.  You see the ads, read the label and think, "There's just no way it can do THAT.  But, if it DID, I would be ecstatic."  Well, this Fab Find does EXACTLY what is promised.

Drum roll please.......

My family LOVES the KNOT GENIE



This cool little invention has completely changed our morning and night time routines.
It magically brushes right through knots gently and painlessly.
Their secret is soft flexible bristles of varying lengths.  They slide through hair and untangle the worst of snarls.  And, best of all, since the bristles bend, they don't break the hair.

Now I am completely aware that I am sounding like a commercial.  But, truly this brush is the best.  Check this out.  Here is M's hair - snarled mess (her hair is straight, but it loves to knot no matter how much conditioner we use).

 

In this photo you can see where I have brushed through with the Knot Genie.

I didn't have to work at it, either.  That right hand side had gotten 2 or 3 strokes of the brush.





Here is her hair 60 seconds later.  100% knot free!

 

 

Just about a month ago, we were really thinking about cutting M's hair into a short bob.  The crying and the time it was taking to get through her hair was becoming just too much.  She wouldn't let her dad come near it with a brush any more.  And, I was spending WAY too much time just getting it into a pony tail each morning. 

 

Then, we took her to Cookie Cutters for a trim.  They were using the Knot Genie.  I had seen them advertised, but was always sceptical.  The hair stylist raved about it and let me try it on M's hair.  That was all it took.  I bought one on the way out and it has been worth every single penny.  It not only saved M's hair, but saved my sanity!  AWESOME FAB FIND!

 

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PS - The hair stylist told me that it works wonders on the curliest of hair.  She said that they are using on long, wavy, curly....anything with snarls.