Window Facelift for Halloween

Left side: September window.

Right side: September window updated for Halloween.

Lazy sounds a little harsh, I prefer "crafty."

Halloween Window at Magpie Kids

Halloween window painting at Magpie Kids in Somerville, MA.

My little busy bee and her ladybug friend.

Buggy Bugs giving hugs in front of the photo backdrop I painted for the Halloween Party at Magpie Kids.

Photo cred: Allana of http://www.arsmagnastudio.com.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Mums the Word window painting

Fall window painting at my real job, BIDMC, Boston, MA.

*Photo bomb by Lauren.

Fall Window at Two Little Monkeys

Last Minute NO-SEW D.I.Y. Costume: Mini Hula Girl

Here's a last minute NO-SEW costume idea for you or your little one:

What you'll need

a green plastic tablecloth
scissors
glue gun/glue sticks
string/rope/twine
fringe (optional)
hawaiian flower for hair clip (optional)
shirt or onesie
felt for shells
blue marker

1. Open your tablecloth and cut it down to fit lengthwise around your waist and so that it's long enough to just graze the knee.

2. Keep it folded over and begin cutting it into fringe.

3. Once the fringe is cut grab your rope and fringe if you have some laying around. I had this awesome piece of white fringe/tassles leftover from an old project.

4. Hot glue your twine onto the skirt at the fold and let dry. Flip skirt over- hot glue the fringe to the front.

Your skirt is done.

Now for the shirt.

I'm using this off-white onesie for my daughter's costume. It has a design on it but it should be covered by the shells so don't worry about it. I'm also using left-over felt from her mermaid costume to be green and save a buck.

1. Lay the felt scraps over the design to figure out where the shells will go. Draw the shells directly onto the felt.

2. Cut out the shells and define them using any permanent marker. I like this blue but you can use any color.

3. Hot glue the shells onto the shirt.

Aaaaaand you're done!

Now slip the costume onto your little model and try desperately to get her to look at you.

Good luck and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Pickles are Spooky

Halloween window at the pickle store.

Jack-o-lanterns are notoriously fearful of spiders. The other pumpkins and pickles have no sympathy for the little fella though. So rude.

Let's go Red Sox! {clap clap} {CLAPCLAPCLAP}

Tonight is the first game of the 2013 World Series featuring some of my close personal friends...

From Left to Right: Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, Jackie Bradley, Mike Napoli & David Ross

They stopped by Beth Israel (aka my real job) after the marathon bombings to say thanks, be awesome & check out my window. Job well done.

LET'S GO RED SOX!!

{clap clap} {CLAPCLAPCLAP!}

Skeletons in my Closet

No bones about it...Halloween is almost here! And I can't wait!!

Here's my inspiration for this month's window painting:

Enjoy!!

$5 DIY Googley-eyed Fall Wreath Tutorial

I'm not sure what's happening to me but I felt an overwhelming urge to make an Autumn wreath this year. I've always been into decorating, and over-decorating, for the holidays but I usually keep it to giant fake spiders, severed hands and glittery skeletons. Your standard October stuff. So when I found myself shopping for a wreath making supplies, nobody was more surprised than me. It was as if I blacked out and woke up at the register with a wreath form and fake foliage in my hands.

So, I've accepted it, I like wreaths. There, I said it.

But that doesn't mean I have to make a button covered, gingham scarecrow country crafts with a giant bow type of wreath. I can like wreaths and still make them look like me. It doesn't mean I have to buy high waisted Mom jeans or run out and lease a mini-van. Not yet anyway.

So here is my tutorial on how to make a quick $5 Googley-Eyed Fall Wreath:

SUPPLIES (I got the $1 supplies from the dollar store)

$1 wreath form

$1 fall foliage x3

$1 5pk mini squashes

ball of twine (had on hand)

googley eyes (had on hand)

wire cutters (had 'em)

glue gun/glue sticks (had 'em)

To begin, start by tying the end of your twine to your wreath form and wrap the twine around the wreath for a space about 3" long. This is purely decorative.

Next, arrange your 3 bouquets of fall foliage and begin snipping them off of the main branch with your wire cutters. Arrange the new seperate pieces so that you have 2 equal bouquets (if you plan on making 2 wreaths...which I did because I have a double front door.)

Now begin adding the plastic foliage to your wreath just under the 3" band of twine. I used hot glue to keep the plants in place and then wrapped more twine around the base of each one- mostly because it looks cute but also to secure it in place.

When you reach the end add another 3" section of wrapped twine to finish it off. You can stop here and have a perfectly lovely Autumnal Wreath to hang on your front door but I feel like it's just too regular. It needs something.

In my case, that "something" almost always ends up being googley-eyes. Or "guurely eyes" as my niece calls them.

From the 5 pack of mini squashes I scooped at the dollar store, I grabbed a couple of 'em and gave them life. I am not unlike the good Dr. Frankenstein in this way.

Take your freshly googelied squashes and arrange them at the base of your fallin' foliage until you are satisfied and hot glue them into place.

**Note: my squashes are made of styrofoam which means they basically melt when the come in contact with hot glue. Turn your glue gun to the lowest setting if you have that option or put the glue on the wreath first and allow it to cool for about 3-4 seconds before placing your squash so that it doesn't turn into a puddle.**

And finally, add a twine hanger to the top of your wreath and hang with pride from your front door(s).

Together these wreaths cost me less than $10 and they can be left up through Halloween and all the way through to Thanksgiving. I hope you like them as much as I do.

happy fall!

Holme's Farm Mobile Farm Stand

Long time no talk, huh? If you've wondered where I've been for most of June, the short answer is Manomet. The long answer is that I've been spending every free moment I have down in Manomet, MA (just South of Plymouth) transforming this gigantic white trailer into a mobile barn (complete with a cow, pig and full vegetable garden) for the wonderful women of Holmes Farm's brand new mobile farm stand.

This monsterous trailer needed to be sanded, primed, painted, resanded, repainted, drawn on, painted on and sealed all by hand and all during a particularly rainy June while all-the-while being parked outside in the elements. It was definitely a labor of love and I couldn't have done it without the help I got from Jeremy, Liz and Jennifer. Thank you guys so much!!

There are 2 ways to see the trailer in action- you can either go directly to Holmes Farm on Saturdays and support their farm stand or catch them at the Plymouth Farmer's Market every Thursday at Plymouth Plantation.

I can't believe I'm (almost) done! I'm as happy as a pig in...uh, mud.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope you're spending today surrounded by people you love.

And if not, I hope you get to eat a whole pie to yourself!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Make Me: Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After carving a small army of Jack-o-Lanterns to light up my porch for the trick-or-treaters this year, I was left with a fridge full of pumpkin guts. To combat these gourd-esque inards I found this awesome recipe for Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds on SeriousEats.com.

The ingredients you need for this recipe are: