Unleash your Halloween guests' hidden wild side with this potent potable. Made with vodka, aromatic herbs and blackberry liqueur, it's frightfully refreshing.
Once you've built up a larger collection of paint chips, transform them into a wreath full of brilliant blooms. To create the flowers: Cut the end of the chip at a 45-degree angle with scissors, then twist around until a conical form takes shape. To keep it from unraveling, add a generous bead of hot glue to the back where the two edges of the paint chip meet.See More At HGTV
If you managed to go this long in life without acquiring some horrific Christmas sweater — you know, the ones with the puff paint snowmen and the mistletoe-patterned mock turtlenecks — from your great aunt Mildred, then you may have to run to the nearest K-Mart to purchase one for this party of holiday fashion faux pas. We promise they don't cost more than $15, and the photos will most definitely be priceless.
Create your own Halloween-themed fill-in-the-blanks story (Mad Lib-style) and print out copies for each party-goer to fill in (or use our version here). Everyone can read his or her own completed story to the group, or they can trade and read a different child’s. Have a shy bunch? A parent can read all of them aloud.
The invites are always a special touch for me -- I usually find an example I like and customize the invite to suit. Sometimes, there is a template included in a themed printable pack -- copy and paste, insert text, add a cute photo of your little one and voila! You have unique and memorable invitations to send with your child to school. I have also learned from experience that it often pays to invite the whole class. If you are having a party, I say do it! The marginal cost of a few more kids is not significant, and you will help your child learn to build and grow their relationships by including all their friends and getting to know the parents.
- Can immediate family members host a baby shower?
Traditionally, a family member should not host a shower for a daughter, sister or other close relative. However, when good friends don't offer to step in, an immediate member of the family can get by with hosting a small (or large) gathering, in honor of the mother, and to celebrate the upcoming birth.
Certain patterns go hand-in-hand with the season. Gingham is to summer as plaid is to winter. Keep your reception tables simple and add texture with your napkin treatment. The gingerbread snowflake cookie is a charming touch.
There are a multitude of DIY Halloween costumes out there, but here are the ones that require a little extra detail for a stunning result. You know that famous Scarlet O’Hara dress or Belle gown? Follow the detailed tutorials to learn how to make them.
Buy yourself some fridge space by sending guests home with leftovers that look — yep — good enough to eat. These takeout boxes are sold only in bulk, but trust us: You'll find a million uses for such handy containers. (Boxes, $69.41 for 200;mrtakeoutbags.com; 20 bordered labels, $4.50;papercupdesign.com)Country Living
Fall couples: when it comes to fresh, beautiful flowers for your autumn wedding, you've got the upper hand. Even though many wedding favorites are no longer in season, there are plenty of fall beauties to fill out your wedding bouquet. Dahlias and succulents, both in season, bring warmth to your bouquet, especially when carried in rich, rustic earth tones. When paired with texture pieces like berries and crespedia, and year-round flowers like roses, you can expect lots of personality.
