Halloween Bash 2010

Happy Halloween, everyone!  First of all, let me say thank you to everyone who sent kind words & prayers our way when we lost my husband's Grandad.  It's so nice to have such sweet online friends!  Even though I haven't met each you in person, I feel like I know you all!  So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness!


Now, on to the Halloween fun!!!  We had our annual Halloween Bash at our house last night!  I was extremely STRESSED trying to get everything ready for the party in ONE DAY (we travelled 6 hours away to WV for the funeral services) , but I got it done & everyone had a spook-tacular time!


We had 8 little ghosts & goblins & lots of adult spooks as our guests!  We had a make-your-own chili bar, chicken nuggets for the little ones, and a ton of sweets & treats!  The highlight of the evening was a moonlit & chilly hayride around our neighborhood!

Here's my Lil' Pumpkin dressed as Thomas & all ready for our guests.

{Treats Table}

For the Treats Table, I covered my buffet table with cute Halloween fabric & the backdrop fabric was black and sparkly!  I made or enhanced all of my serving dishes except the cupcake stand.  My favorite is the black & white polka dot candy dish (I followed the i heart naptime's tutorial).  For my two trays, I bought round gold trays for $1.25 each at the Target Dollar Spot & spray-painted them black.  I used my Dollar Tree apothecary jars for the rest of my treats!  

{Owl Smores}

Remember the post I did about these cuties ~ they were a hoot!  

{closeup of the candy dishes: candy corn & Hershey's Minis added festive flair} 

{Spirit Pops}

I made white chocolate ghost-shaped suckers following a tutorial on Martha Stewart's Halloween TV special.  (Sadly, there were 11 ghost casualties as I tried to peel them off the wax paper before I figured out how to do it.)  I anchored them in one of my jars full of candy corn kisses.

{my cheater cupcakes}

I recently saw a party designed by Amanda of Shindig Parties to Go.  She suggested using store-bought, pre-packaged goodies & dressing them up, so that's exactly what I did.  It turned out great because I wouldn't have had time to make lots of treats anyway!  For my cupcakes, I bought chocolate & orange Hostess Cupcakes, added my cupcake wrappers & toppers (on black coffee stirrers).  I tied black tulle to my cupcake stand, added my cupcakes, and voila, DONE!!!

{Spook-eos & Baby Spider Cakes}

I bought vanilla Oreo Cakesters, rolled them in sprinkles, and stuck sugared owls on top with a bit of icing.  I also bought 100 Calorie Pack Brownie Bites and added sugared spiders to the top of them.  I displayed them on my black tray with a scrapbook paper placemat underneath (looks kinda like a spiderweb, don't you think?)

{Chilling Chili in a Cauldron}

For the dinner buffet, I draped my countertop with a cute orange & white ghost tablecloth.  I set my crock pot inside a plastic cauldron and my hubby drilled a hole in the back for the cord.  I used my chalkboard frame for a cute sign.

{Bewitching Beverages}

The kiddos loved the pumpkin straws (from Dollar Tree).  We served juice boxes for the little ones, apple cider, sweet tea, and water.

{Make-your-own Chili Bar)

To accompany the "Chilling Chili," guests could choose to add "Monster Fingers" (fritos), "Squished Ghost" (sour cream),  "Blonde Witch Hair" (shredded cheese), and "Frog Eyes" (olives) to make their meal complete!

{favor bags}

I saw the idea for this Moon & Bats treat bag a long time ago, but apparently, I didn't bookmark it, & I can NOT find it again, so if anyone knows where it came from, please let me know so I can give credit! I was planning on making black & orange playdough for each child, but with the time restraints, I just bought the mini playdough containers.  So, each child got some playdough, a Halloween cookie cutter, and a jack-o-lantern mini notebook.

{Outdoor Decor}

We had haybale seating around our bonfire & cute Halloween paper lanterns for spooky ambience!  How cute is the Cowboy Family? ~ i love it!!  I hope everyone had a fun & 'boo'tiful evening!


FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS, WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SPOOKY & FUN HALLOWEEN!!!


If you had or attended a Halloween party & have pictures to share, I would love to feature you!  Send them to moomootutu@gmail.com!

Tiny Teach (P is for Pumpkins)

Happy Saturday, everyone!  This month's Tiny Teach is all about Halloween & pumpkins.  Last week, Alison, from Oopsey Daisy offered her Leaves Unit as a free download {which is AWESOME by the way}.  I LOVED her template so much that I borrowed it!  It helped me organize my thoughts so much to write my Halloween unit.  Thank you so much, Alison!  To download my MONSTER HALLOWEEN UNIT full of printable activities for young children, click the picture below!  I hope you enjoy!  

Here's a peak into what we've been learning!  There's much more spooky fun planned for this week (in between planning my Mom's birthday party & our family Halloween party 4 days apart) Am I crazy?  YES!!!!

We made pumpkin spice playdough!  

I followed this recipe, and added red & yellow food coloring (orange) and pumpkin spice flavoring.  

We used Halloween cookie cutters to make spooky shapes.

By the way, I think I am going to start making a monthly Word Book for words to recognize.  Lil' Pumpkin can already recognize the words, "Boo," "Eek," and "Scary" from decorations around our house.  I'll keep you posted on that project! :)

We took our "field trip" to Maple Lane Farms & rode a hayride to pick a pumpkin!  We noticed the pumpkin vines, baby pumpkins, and big pumpkins in the patch!

i heart this picture!

My sweet Lil' Pumpkin

We stuffed a lunch bag with paper, tied off the top to make a stem, and then painted it orange to make a jack-o-lantern!  {How do you like our stylin' painting smock?}

Lil' Pumpkin's fave activity so far is Mr. Pumpkin Head.  He loves changing out the face several times a day!  

Don't you love the upside down sunglasses, the pirate beard as a nose, and the jack-o-lantern nose as a mouth?  NO LIMIT TO THE CREATIVITY!!!

 Have a super weekend!  I'm looking forward to next week, full of Halloween FUN!!!


Don't forget...you have until Wednesday, Oct. 27 to link up to my Open Haunted House linky party & be entered into the  i love it all giveaway!

Last Open Haunted House & i love it all Giveaway

Hi, my Sweets!  Welcome to my last Open Haunted House linky party!  I can't believe that Halloween is NEXT WEEK!  I've been planning and preparing for our Halloween party for what seems like FOREVER, and I still feel like I have a bajillion things to get done!

So, as a special treat, everyone who links up a Halloween project, party, recipe, or decor idea today will be entered to win a $20 GIFT CARD TO I LOVE IT ALL!!!  This adorable etsy shop is filled with awesome subway art, photographs, art prints, and cards!  Not only did Monika, the sweet owner of the shop, offer this fab giveaway prize, she is also offering 20% off (before shipping) for Moo Moo's & Tutus readers from today until Friday, Oct. 29th.  Just mention Moo Moo's & Tutus in  the "Notes to Seller," and she will gladly refund the 20%.  Take a look at a what you can find at i love it all!

{HERE'S HOW TO ENTER}:

Everyone MUST link up one project, recipe, decor item, or party!  Then, you can get extra entries for each of the following!

(1) Head on over to i love it all, come back here, and tell me your favorite item in the shop.

(2) Become a facebook fan and follower of i love it all here.  Make sure you tell her that Moo Moo's & Tutus sent you & let me know that you did!

(3) Become a follower of i love it all here.

(4) Become a follower and facebook fan of Moo Moo's & Tutus Party Designs, or tell me that you already are!

The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 11:59 pm (EST).  The winner will be announced first thing Thursday morning.  Open to US residents only. 

Ok, let's get linking!  

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Featured Party {Halloween Play Date}

Today's featured party is actually an awesome Halloween Play Date from The Savvy Moms Guide.  OH MY GOODNESS...I am so loving their blog.  Ami & Bri, the masterminds behind The Savvy Moms Guide, are two moms who love party design on a budget & put their talents to use by hosting an AWESOME play date each month.  They incorporate a craft, recipe, and story into each play date.


Take a look at their Halloween Play Date for this month...all I can say is HOLY COW!!!!

The cute witch greets the kids at the door.

the amazing Treats Table (Amy Atlas would be proud)!

the craft: decorating mini pumpkins with eyes, felt, and other pretties

 more details 

the recipe:  Mummy Dogs

the cute & happy party-goers

the story: The Spooky Smells of Halloween

This play date looks like so much fun & I'm sure all the little spooks and goblins had a monster-iffic time!  Great job, Ladies!!!


Make sure you check out their blog for more details & pictures of their Spooktacular Day of Fun!

Wednesday WOW Finds {LOTS of Halloween Printables}

Are you having a Halloween party?  If so, it is your lucky day!  I have searched far and wide to bring you some of the best printables I have seen floating around blogland like little friendly ghosts! :)  So, hop on your broomstick and zoom around to these awesome blogs & start printing away!!!

The Crafting Chicks' Boo Sign 

Chickabug's Spell Book

Broom Sign from Crafts & Such

Broom Parking Sign from The Diary of Dave's Wife

Living Locurto's Card Template

Living Locurto's Cup Sleeves

Designing Moms' Garland

Flamingo Toes' Candy Sign

i love it all's Happy Boo Sign

Crafitily Ever After's Keep Calm Sign

Halloween Lunch Bags from it is what it is

Spooky Labels from Design, Wash, Rinse, Repeat...

Prettie Parties' Treat Tags

Witch Hat Tags from it is what it is

Witch's Brew Labels from Blonde Designs

I just had to hop on the hay wagon (sorry, couldn't resist) & offer a couple of free printables today too!  

Download the Lil' Boo Collection Blank Fancy Tags HERE.

Get your 2" Circle Tags HERE.

I hope you find something in this list of printables that can make your Halloween extra spooky & fun!!!  If you decide to use my circle tags or fancy tags, I would LOVE to see pictures!