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. 





The business of motherhood.....

Heather and I have committed in our effort to blog with "Intention" to blog about issues that affect us as mothers once a week.  An interview I watched on the Today show was the perfect subject for my post.  A mother on Strike!

I absolutely loved this story!  I strongly suggest you take the extra five minutes to check it out.

Mom goes on strike, stops cleaning for a week, chaos ensues

All I can say is I SOOOO Relate!  There have been MANY times I have threatened to strike and I give kudos to this mom for actually doing it.

I think the best comment was when the youngest girl said she was "Sad" when she saw the mold.  Priceless.   I honestly can not even imagine if I let my house go for a week.  YIKES!  

I know this is what "B's" would look like (always) if I went on strike. 

I do think that children need chores and every mom needs help; whether she is a working mom, stay at home mom, a college student or all of the above (the category I am currently in).  My oldest child does chores but I will be the first to admit that I am not consistent enough.  My youngest two will help out only if I am cleaning with them and even then it is like pulling teeth.   

Enough already!  Time to Pinterest the dreaded "Chore Chart".

What do you think?  What are your feelings on this?  Do you think she went too far? 

My thoughts.....this lady is a genius and I think I am ready for a strike and a glass of wine myself ;).