30 October, 2009

Last Minute Recession Friendly Halloween Costumes

And by recession friendly, ya'll know I totally me C-H-E-A-P. I ran accross these somehow and thought I'd post them on here in case any of you are headed to a Halloween party this weekend and still don't have a costume. Some of these are hilarious, and you can totally pull off last-minute!

1. A Highway: Wear all black sweat suit, stick on white or yellow tape on your legs and chest to resemble lines in a road. Attach tiny cars and road signs onto your pants and shirt.

2. Nudist on Strike: Wear normal clothes and wear a sign around your neck that says “Nudist on Strike.”

3. Flasher: Wear regular clothes under a long trench coat. Make a belt out of flashbulbs or old cameras. Tell people you are a flasher and then flash at will.

4. Grim Reaper on Vacation: Buy or make a Grim Reaper outfit, but then wear a lei or flowered necklace, a camera around your neck, Bermuda shorts, paint your nose white (like lifeguards) and carry around some postcards or a map.

5. Typical Tourist: Wear a big floppy hat, flowered shirt and long shorts, flip-flop sandals and a camera around your neck. Carry a map and look lost all the time.

6. Cheating Husband: Men can wear a button down shirt that is buttoned all wrong, pants slightly unzipped, shoes untied or on wrong feet, lipstick kisses on collar, shirt, neck or even on pants and hair

messed up. Tell people you didn’t dress in costume, you forgot about the party and just dropped what you were doing to come over.

7. Cheating Wife: Women can wear a skirt with the back tucked into pantyhose; hair messed up, make-up smeared and bra on the outside of shirt.

8. Undecided: Wear solid colored clothing and cut question marks out of paper. Staple or pin them to your outfit and when people ask what you are tell them either “I don’t know, what am I?” or “It’s still a mystery.”

9. Ultimate Superhero: Gather together many elements of superhero costumes such as Superman’s Cape, Batman’s mask, Green Lantern’s ring, etc. and wear them all.

10. Twister Game: Buy a Twister game. Staple ribbon to two corners of the spinner and tie the ribbon under your chin so the spinner becomes a “hat.” Cut a hole in the center of the Twister mat and wear it like a poncho. All night long you can tell people to “put left hand on red” and so on.

11. Web Surfer: Wear a wetsuit like surfers wear, then drape yourself with fake cobwebs.

12. Matchstick or Cigarette: Wear all white clothing with a red stocking cap. For a cigarette try wearing tan pants or cut white pants short and sew brown material from the end of the shorts down to your ankles. This makes the filter. If you can make a belt or sash with a brand name of the cigarette, even better!

13. Leaf Blower: Wear regular clothes. Wear a hat with a leaf hanging down from the rim so that the leaf is in front of your face. When people ask what you are blow on he leaf and make them guess.

14. Tornado: Wear all black or gray clothing. Sew strings of varying lengths all over your outfit. On the ends of the string, tie on tiny houses, people, cars, animals, etc. When people ask what you are, spin around fast and make sounds like a tornado.

15. Cereal Killer: Clothing should be kind of rugged and torn. Carry a bloody knife and have blood on your clothes. Attach labels or actual little cereal boxes all over your clothes.

16. Miss Matched: Dress in a gown such as a beauty

queen might wear. Buy wide ribbon long enough for a sash around your shoulder. On the sash write “Miss Matched.” Then wear your makeup different on both sides of your face, your hair styled different, different earrings, different shoes and different colored nail polish.

17. Killer Bee: Buy a bee costume. Smear some fake blood on it and carry a fake weapon.

18. Spelling Bee: Buy a bee costume. Attach felt or Velcro letters to your suit and carry some around with you. If you can get enough little letters in Velcro your friends will have fun spelling words on you!

19. Peeping Tom: Wear regular clothes and a name tag that says “Tom”. Make a window frame out of cardboard, even add curtains if you are feeling real creative. When people ask what you are, hold up the “window” and peep through it.

20. Red Riding in the Hood: Buy or make a red cape with hood. Have tattoos on your arms, a spiked collar, lots of piercing, etc. and talk tough all night long.

21. In the Shower: Wrap a towel around your body (wearing a tube top and shorts under the towel is optional). Wrap a towel around your head turban style or wear a shower cap. Carry a rubber duck and a back scrubber.

22. Cat Burglar: Wear black clothes, black stocking cap, ski mask or Lone Ranger-style mask. Carry a bag with some stuffed cats peeking out.

23. Kissing Booth: Find a box big enough to fit over your body. Cut or open the bottom and top of the box so that you can slip into the box. Tie rope onto one end of the box so the ropes can go over your shoulders (this will hold the box on you). Wear sexy clothes and have lipstick kisses on your clothes and face. On the box write “Kisses, $1.00.”

24. Work in Progress: Wear all white clothes, a sweat suit works best. Using a black permanent marker, you should draw shapes or bodily outlines all over your suit. Color some of the pieces/shapes in. Carry paints of markers with you and tell people you are a work in progress. Color on your costume all night long. Or, for more fun, have others color on you.

25. Self-Portrait. Wear a shirt that is light-colored enough for you to sign your name in the bottom corner. Make a picture frame out of cardboard or wood. When people ask what you are hold up your picture frame. The frame should be big enough so that from waist up you are in the frame and your signature is in the bottom corner like a portrait.

26. Fried Egg: Wear all white. Attach a piece of yellow felt to your stomach.

27. Sunny Side up Eggs: Wear all white. Attach a piece of yellow felt to your derriere. When people ask what you are bend over and say “sunny side up.”

28. Sleepy Housewife: Put your hair up in curlers; wear a bathrobe, no makeup and yawn a lot. Don’t forget fuzzy bunny slippers! This is especially funny for guys to dress up as.

29. Hump Day (Wednesday): Fashion a hump out of wadded up paper, material or foam and shove it under a short so that you have a hump on your back. On the front of your shirt, write either the word “day” or pull out one day on a daily calendar and pin it to your shirt.

30. Con Artist: Wear a “prison” uniform…the kind that is white with black stripes. Wear a beret hat and carry around an artist pallet and paint brush.

31. Horror Movie Victim: Mess up your hair, smear fake blood on clothes and face, and tear clothes so they are ragged. Walk around looking real paranoid and scream a lot.

32. Black and White Silent Film Star: Wear black and white clothes. Paint all showing skin light gray or white with gray shading around eyes, mouth, nose, etc. Do not talk all night. Or, mouth the words without speaking and hold up signs when done “speaking” (just like how silent films show the scene then show the subtitles).

33. Exterminator: Wear coveralls. Attach plastic bugs and spiders all over the outfit.

34. Gum under the Table: Make a small cardboard table and wear it on your head. Dress in all pink.

35. Picnic: buy or make a white and red checkered picnic blanket. Attach plastic or paper plates, plastic utensils and plastic food to it. Cut a hole in the center and wear the cloth like a poncho. Add some fake ants for that authentic effect!

36. Gum under a Shoe: Take an old shoe and if the laces are long enough tie them under your chin and wear the shoe like a hat. If laces are too short tie string onto the lace ends to make them longer. Wear all pink. For the best effect let your clothes get wrinkly to look like wadded up gum.

37. Perfume Sales Girl: Dress in really nice clothes and lots of makeup. Carry around many samples of perfume and squirt people all night long.

38. Under the Weather: On a hat attach clouds (cardboard and cotton balls), the sun, lightning bolts and raindrops.

39. Cloudy with a Chance of Showers: Attach cotton balls to a hat and clothes for clouds. When people ask what you are say “cloudy, with a chance of showers” and squirt them with a squirt gun.

40. Chain Smoker: Wrap chains around yourself and have a pack of cigarettes sticking out of your shirt pocket.

41. Jack-in-the-box: Find a box big enough to go around your waist. Attach rope to it for shoulder straps. Wear a name tag that says “Jack.”

42. Stood-Up Prom Date: Great for women but really funny for men who want to dress as a woman. Wear a prom dress, heels and make-up. Smudge eye-make up so it looks like you have been crying. Carry a box of tissues and have several tissues tucked into your waist sash, sticking out of your bodice, or anywhere you can stash one.

43. Killing Time: Carry some broken watches and clocks and a fake weapon. Throughout the night repeatedly stab at the clocks.

44. Time is on my side: Wear regular clothes. Attach watches or clocks to one side of your outfit; wear a bunch of wristwatches on only one wrist.

45. Time Flies: Wear wings and tie string onto a clock so you can wear the clock like a necklace.

46. Cupid: Best for large guys, but funny for anyone. Wear a diaper or toga, wings, and buy one of those cheap bow and arrows with the suction cups. Attach paper hearts to the suction cup end. Wear a ribbon sash that says “Cupid”

47. Spirit of Halloween: Wear black and orange. Attach as many Halloween decorations as you can to your outfit.

48. Read between the Lines: Wear a striped outfit or a solid colored outfit and draw strips on with a permanent or fabric marker. In between the lines write words or sentences.

49. The Bottom Line: Sweat pants will work best. Stuff the back of the sweat pants with newspaper or material to make it big. Draw or use colored tape to the seat of the pants.

50. Ice Queen: Wear white or light blue. Buy icicle decorations (like the kind for Christmas decorations) and drape them all over your body. Wear a silver crown or tiara.

Source: Essortment

23 October, 2009

FLASHBACK: Halloween Costume Ideas

Well, friends, it's time once again to start digging around to come up with that clever Halloween costume. And since Halloween is on a Saturday night this year (YAY!), I bet lots of you will be making the party rounds. And because I haven't had time to think of any clever new costume ideas other than the obvious Jon & Kate Gosselin (personally, my money is on this one being the most popular costume duo this year, or for the single gals, Nadya Suleman), I'm doing a flashback to my costume ideas from last year.

Halloween Costume Ideas


It’s that time of year again, folks. Yep. The time to start rummaging through your parents attics, your mess of a basement, the Halloween shops that have popped up on every street corner this time of year, and even (shutter) the thrift store. Why, you ask? It’s time to come up with some Halloween costumes. So with Halloween next week, this week is going to be all about costumes.

Thankfully, this year the Monogram’s will not be attending any Costume party’s as I can’t imagine squeezing one more event into the next two weeks. But since sister #2 has a big 40th birthday costume party to attend next weekend with her husband, she and I have been wracking our brains for great ideas for the past couple weeks. Naturally, that got me thinking that you guys might want a few ideas also, so I thought I’d share a few, for those of you scrambling to come up with a great Halloween costume. Have any other great ideas? Please share in comments!

Bob Ross


Olive Oil & Popeye or Brutus

Green Giant


Captain Crunch

PacMan & Ms. PacMan

Martha Stewart
You had to know I would put this on my list!

Carnival Sideshow people
This is the Bearded Lady,
but you can get some costume ideas here


Love Boat Crew
Since it's the 25th anniversary of the Love Boat, these costumes are
in your local costume shops for purchase this year!

Gortons Fisherman


Morton Salt Girl

Burger King “King” & Wendy from Wendy’s
This is my favorite idea this year!
You can pick up the Wendy’s wig here and the BK mask here.


Mel & Flo from the tv show Alice

19 October, 2009

Hallowenn Felt Garlands

I made my first felt bunting a few weeks ago for the Auburn/UT game and it turned out so stinkin' cute (if I do say so) that I thought to myself, "Why not make some cute Halloween garlands, while you're at it?!" So I did.

All last week, I sat in the pick-up line at the Mini's school with my scissors and felt and cut out my shapes, and now that they're completed and hung, I knew this would be a simple no-sew (yes, that's right, I said NO-SEW) project that many of you would love. As a bonus, it's also a recession friendly project because each garland cost me around $5. And that's something my wallet can get behind!

You Will Need
-scissors
-felt (go t JoAnn's and it's on sale this time of year in just about every color under the sun. Have them cut yardage for you. I bought 1/2 yard and it was perfect for my 2 garlands. Sure, you can go to the craft section and buy it in squares for 4/$1, but trust me when I tell you that you get more for your money when you have the yardage cut)
-glue gun
-narrow bias tape in your choice of color & length (in the sewing area, usually near the thread)

Directions
1) Cruise around online or in clip art for the perfect shape (pumpkin, crossbones, skull, bat, leaves, etc).

2) insert it into a word document in your desired size

3) print out the graphic, then cut it out.

4) trace onto your felt (tip: if using black felt, you will want to use a paint pen for your tracing)

5) cut out your shapes once stenciled onto the felt in the desired quantity (I just wing the quantity. If I need more, I cut more, if I need less, then well, I just throw the left-over away).

6) Meanwhile, heat up your glue gun so it's nice and hot.

7) Lay out your bias tape and decide how you want to make your garland look. I did two looks: 1 look my bats are overlapping and I actually didn't use any bias tape, but for my skull & crossbones, I used the bias tape so I wouldn't have to cut out as many shapes (only because that one had to be really long for my entire entry way banister).

8) Once you have your garland laid out how you want, glue in the appropriate spots, and you're done.

Here are what my end results look like...
(sorry for the terrible cell phone pictures, but honestly, I was too lazy to drag out my camera)

Skull & crossbones down the front stairway

Spooky bats draped across the family room mantle.

12 October, 2009

Pumpkin Carving with Preppy Puppy

On Friday I chaperoned mini #2's kindergarten field trip to the pumpkin patch. It's my favorite field trip because 1) this is my most favorite time of year and 2) it's the field trip where you get to spend the most amount of time with your child (and let's face it, if I'm going to ride the bus all the way to the pumpkin patch w/ a bunch of kindergartner's, I'd damn well better get to spend some quality time with my kid when I get off that bus). We always go to the pumpkin patch as a family so we will definitely be heading back in the next week or two, but it did get me motivated to start digging around online for some great pumpkin carving ideas for this year.

If you've been hanging around here since the conception of Monogram Momma's, you will likely remember these pumpkins (scroll down to the bottom to see mine). To date, they are still my favorite. However, this year I will be carving my pumpkin in the likeness of preppy puppy. Can you even stand it?!?!?!


Want to do your own?
Grab your free pumpkin carving stencil of your favorite breed here.

source & photo: BGH

31 October, 2008

Boo!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

27 October, 2008

Scared Stiff

I realize I've fallen down on my "job" (ha!) of sharing some great creative and festive Halloween ideas with you this time of year. I came across something adorable though, that I'm considering doing with mini #2 today. If you know someone who has an October birthday or just recently moved, these would make a great gift. You can even take these to a whole other level by making them as big as you want for a fabulous entryway statement.

You Will Need
-12-inch-long plastic foam cone
-4-inch-diameter plastic foam ball
-Twigs
-Masking tape
-Plastic wrap
-White fabric
-Fabric stiffener (available at crafts stores)
-Plastic bag
-Purple, green, and black fabric or craft pens

Instructions
1. Assemble a form for the ghost. Attach the foam ball to the top of the cone with a short straight twig. Use masking tape to fasten several twigs together to make arms, then insert the arms as desired into the sides of the cone. Cover the entire shape with plastic wrap.

2. Cut a piece of white fabric into a square or a circle. Make sure the fabric is large enough to fully cover the form with some extra for draping.

3. Pour 1 cup of fabric stiffener into the plastic bag. Place the fabric piece in the bag. (Photo 1) Squeeze the bag repeatedly to soak the fabric with stiffener. Add more stiffener to the bag, if necessary.

4. Remove the fabric from the bag. Lay it out on a flat surface that's covered with waxed paper. Press it with the heel of your hand to reshape the fabric so it will be easy to drape over the form.

5. Place the fabric over the form. Drape it to shape a ghost. Keep some of the fabric along the base so the ghost will stand by itself when it's removed from the form. (Photo 2) Let the fabric dry.

6. Paint on eyes, eyebrows, and a mouth. Remove the ghost from the form. Reuse the form to make more ghosts.

source: bhg

31 October, 2007

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween everyone! It's my favorite day of the year and as such, I've got more to do than you can imagine (not to mention my mother will be here in an hour and a half and I'm sure she'd appreciate some clean towels in the guest room). I'll try to hop back on tomorrow, but if not, you guys know how busy this week is for me. Have a safe and fun Halloween!

P.S. Did anyone watch Dancing with the Stars last night? HOLY COW! I can NOT believe Sabrina was kicked off. She TOTALLY should have won that ugly disco ball trophy in the end.

P.S.S. I feel like I might need to personally take it upon myself to make sure Marie gets the boot next week!

26 October, 2007

Pets on Parade (costumes for the furriest family members)

First of all, let me say a whole hearted THANK YOU to the very kind 8 people who commented on my blog yesterday. That is 3 more than I thought were reading so we are really rocking and rolling over here at Monogram Momma’s! WooHoo!

So yesterday was pretty much the perfect fall day. And after 3 straight days and nights of heavy torrential downpours here in Somewhere, SE, I should say we deserved a gorgeous day like yesterday. The clouds parted yesterday morning to a beautiful sun, the falling bright red, orange and yellow leaves, and a high temp of 62 degrees. Amazing! It couldn’t have been more amazing had I ordered it up myself. And as luck would have it, Cresta had a Halloween/Fall party planned for the kids yesterday. It was such a blast and everything looked so Martha, that honestly? I might have felt the drop of a little tear in my right eye. Really.

More on the party later, because right now I am finishing up costume week with some very tolerant pets on parade that have been circulating through email. Honestly, I can not believe some of the things people do to their animals, so you should really get some good ideas in this slideshow. Let me assure you too, that I will not be putting preppy puppy through any of this costume torture. Until next week, have a great weekend and enjoy the cool weather.

24 October, 2007

Last Minute Semi-Homemade Halloween Headdresses & Masks

Despite what my sitemeter says, I think there are about 5 of you still reading this blog. But regardless, I promised you a week of costume ideas so costume ideas you shall have. I realize that sometimes we find ourselves in the position of needing a costume but not necessarily wanting to go all out and deal with the hassle of a full-on head to toe costume. And some people (coughMyMom) just delight in answering the door in some sort of crazy mask, hat, or wig to doll out the candy to the ghosts and goblins ringing the bell on October 31st. I myself don’t particularly care to dress up, but since Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year, I do love to look festive in my orange and black and put on a great scarf or something fun on my head when I walk around the neighborhood with the kids.

So this year, in case you’ve got to come up with something quick and simple to get in that festive Halloween mood, here are a few things to consider that so simple and painless that even you self-professed non-crafters could do.


I love this! It's called Smile On A Stick and my mom bought a couple for the boys to have fun with. Contact them to find out where you can buy these locally.



An up-do with faux but realistic looking snakes? What's so hard about that?
From Martha

A fun rose petal hat that you can pull together with some fabric, scissors, floral tape and green floral wire. Adorable!
From Martha

This is what I, myself will be wearing to my little Halloween parties over the course of the next week. I think it's just the right amount of festive flair! All that's needed is a black headband, some 20 gauge craft wire, black paper and some scissors to cut out your bat shape.
From Martha

These masks cost less than $2 each! Honestly! I was at JoAnn's today and saw them, and all you need is some card stock to make your bird beak and glue it to the mask. Cover it with feathers and your done for less than $10.
P.S. Ashley, this is how you should do the Parrot face/head for Little Kid!
From Martha

So pretty! This is using the same inexpensive mask in the crafting/costuming section of your craft store and adding some beautiful faux fall foliage.
From Martha

Another take on the inexpensive mask. Pick up some faux flower petals and a little bit of glitter and glue. I know you guys can pull off this one!
From Martha

Something else I love. It looks to me like all they did was wrap some braided skanes of yarn around her head and affix it with some bobby pins to make it look like a beehive. A few leaves, a flower, and some little bumble bees and you're done. Very clever!
From Martha

How great would this be for your own version of The Devil Wears Prada? All you need for this one is some modeling clay to make the horns, some paint and glitter when they're dry, and a headband to glue them to.
From Martha



22 October, 2007

Halloween Costume Ideas


It’s that time of year again, folks. Yep. The time to start rummaging through your parents attics, your mess of a basement, the Halloween shops that have popped up on every street corner this time of year, and even (shutter) the thrift store. Why, you ask? It’s time to come up with some Halloween costumes. So with Halloween next week, this week is going to be all about costumes.

Thankfully, this year the Monogram’s will not be attending any Costume party’s as I can’t imagine squeezing one more event into the next two weeks. But since sister #2 has a big 40th birthday costume party to attend next weekend with her husband, she and I have been wracking our brains for great ideas for the past couple weeks. Naturally, that got me thinking that you guys might want a few ideas also, so I thought I’d share a few, for those of you scrambling to come up with a great Halloween costume. Have any other great ideas? Please share in comments!

Bob Ross


Olive Oil & Popeye or Brutus

Green Giant


Captain Crunch

PacMan & Ms. PacMan

Martha Stewart
You had to know I would put this on my list!

Carnival Sideshow people
This is the Bearded Lady,
but you can get some costume ideas here


Love Boat Crew
Since it's the 25th anniversary of the Love Boat, these costumes are
in your local costume shops for purchase this year!

Gortons Fisherman


Morton Salt Girl

Burger King “King” & Wendy from Wendy’s
This is my favorite idea this year!
You can pick up the Wendy’s wig here and the BK mask here.


Mel & Flo from the tv show Alice

10 October, 2007

Please tell Fall I'm looking for Him & He's Running Very Late!

With this ridiculously warm weather taking over the country this month, it makes it a tad difficult to get into the fall holiday spirit. I feel certain I’m not the only one, as it just isn’t as festive around my city and town this year as it typically is. Usually we’re donning our down vests, denimn jackets, and fleece pullovers by now, and as I type this I’m in a short sleeved tee and cropped jeans. This is my absolute favorite time of year, but yet I haven’t done a thing to get into the spirit yet or decorated the house as I typically do.

The same can be said for entertaining. It’s awfully difficult to want to whip out my chili recipe and start baking pumpkin seeds when it’s still in the 80’s outside. But luckily I stumbled on the perfect fall desert treat to compliment this unseasonably warm weather we’ve all been having. Naturally, we can all thank Martha for this one.



You Will Need
-4 navel oranges
-2 pints mango, passion-fruit, or orange sorbet, softened
-floral wire

Instructions

  1. Cut off the top quarter of each orange, and put to the side to use as lid. Using a grapefruit spoon or paring knife, scoop or cut out the inside of oranges. (Martha suggests reserving flesh for another use, such as fresh orange juice, but as much as I love Martha, lets get real and admit none of us are probably going to do that.)

  2. On a piece of paper, draw a jack-o'-lantern face. Tape the paper to your hollowed orange, and cut out features with a craft knife or paring knife. if you want, you can use an erasable marker and do it on the face of the orange, but just don't use permanent because we want this to look pretty.

  3. Finally, stuff each orange with the sorbet, and top it with a "lid" that you've been holding aside. Bend floral wire, and poke it in -- not through -- top of orange for the pumpkin's tendrils. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment (wax) paper, and place in the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. The great thing about this too, is that these oranges with sorbet can be frozen for up to 3 days.

31 October, 2006

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Yes, I know you are all anxiously awaiting the Preppy pumpkin picts AS AM I, but Blogger has decided to be tempermental today (as If I don't get enough of temperments from the minis!) so it is NOT allowing me to upload any more pictures. I have about 6 more pictures to go so I'm giving Blogger a break and then I'll post them ALL. Ughh. Come back in a bit and they'll be up and voting will begin!

Meanwhile, if you want to complain to blogger, contact them at www.blogger.com!! I mean, if you're going to provide a service, you should provide an actual service correctly, right????

See you soon!
MM

29 October, 2006

Last Call: Preppy Pumpkins

I know, I know. I feel terrible I've been such a wretched blogging hostess since I returned from vacation. Please forgive me as you know I have the best intentions. I went away for a week to the beach promising big ideas and fantastic finds but instead I returned sick. So in light of the fact that I AM STILL SICK (I mean, enough is enough already!) and I have to somehow find the energy to not only finish carving my own pumpkins today, but I've also got to entertain the mini monograms, my fin-filled day will consist of completing our own pumpkins and grocery shopping. However, never fear, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

And this week, that light is arriving this evening in the form on my mother. Apparently I never told my mom I was sick all last week and with the next few crazy hallween days (have I mentioned that somehow I found myself room mother for both of the mini's which means having to organize 2 halloween parties?), she rung me up yesterday afternoon to say she was driving up for a few days to help out with the festivities and the mini's. I tried to object but what's a girl to do when her mom says she wants to come take care of her for a change when she's always taking care of everyone else? So it goes without saying that I am rolling out the red carpet with open arms for her help and pampering.

The weekend was crazy, which is probably why I remain sick. After a fun litlts hopping outinging to the Jr. League holiday shopping fair with my friend (found some great things and even better ideas too!) i picked up mini #1 from pre-school, headed home for lunch and naps. After naps we had a MOM'S Club Halloween event so we met up with Cresta and her family for dinner and then headed over to the party. The party truly was not that great, and at one point in the evening monogram momma found herself goosed by Cindarella and her magic wand. Whatever happened to teaching your kids to say "Excuse me, Please?" Oh well, Mr. Monogram got his wish and we headed home. Home to the frantic cleaning and straightening up before his dad and step-mother arrived in town for the weekend. Then saturday morning was mini #2's birthday party. Thank the good Lord I had the sense not to host it at my home this year (more on my birthday party planning later) since I've been sick, and I hired a specialty toy/book store to do the party. It's actually pretty good. They have a party room and you pick the theme of your party and they do everything from have a baker bake this delicious cake, to arrange the party favors, entertain the kids, do the craft and activity with them, write down the gifts your kid gets, and even load up the car for you. Here's my check, thank you, I'm done.

So anyway, thanks for bearing with my boring posts since my return, and your continued return to monogram momma's. This is the LAST CALL for Preppy Pupmpkin entries! I've been emailed some really fantastic and creative entires and I can't wait to share them with you tomorrow! So remember, you have until 8Pm EST tonight to email them to me! Now, I'm hopping off to put on my loafers and head out the door. We've got some returns to make and possibly a stop at the park to burn off some energy before my mom arrives. Oops, can't forget the grocery store! I think we'll be having a flank steak, twice baked potato's and corn for dinner. Sound good? Then come on over and pull up and chair. There is always room at monogram momma's!

26 October, 2006

Thinking Outside the Pumpkin Pie

As you know, some times my so-called brilliant ideas just hit me whenever. In the middle of the night, while I’m driving the mini’s around, while I’m watching my soaps or even just surfing around online. And I won’t say this is a *brilliant* idea, but more of an “AH-HA!” moment. I mean, does it seem strange to anyone else that here I proclaim myself as a Martha Stewart wanna-be, but yet have failed to put out one single recipe on this blog thus far? Shameful. Just shameful. *Hanging my head down, nodding back and forth*

So lately I’ve really gotten into the Food Network. While I’ve never been a big Food Network TV watcher as I tend to find a lot of it boring, the show that kick started my recent addiction (as if I really need any more TV shows to be hooked on right now, right?) is Ace of Cakes. If you haven’t seen it, then what can I say other than WOW (in all cap’s no less)? It is like Pimp My Ride for cakes. SERIOUSLY. This guy is not your ordinary cake baker. Betty Crocker he is NOT, that’s for sure. He is a tough looking, goatee & earring wearing highly decorated (and paid) cake baker that literally shoots fireworks out the cakes at times. This is pop art for cake baking at its best. So if you’re going to attempt to emerce yourself in Food TV, then by all means you must start out with this show. You will NOT be disappointed I Promise. So then I got hooked on Sandra Lee and Semi-Homemade. Now THIS is a show after my own heart. With two mini monograms chasing around at my feet during the “witching hour” (read: after naptime, before dinner), I just do not have hours to stand there and whip up an elaborate dinner for Mr. Monogram and myself. And I can forget the mini monograms as unless it’s a chicken finger shaped like a dinosaur they’re not likely to eat it, so that means I prepare multiple meals at dinner time to accommodate everyone. So anyway, back to Sandra, who is a witty one for sure, who shows you how to make great meals using all sorts of short-cuts and boxed ingredients, while usually a *tad* bit under the influence. I mean, I’m not saying she’s a lush per say (okay, so really, I am), but she will give you a good show, that’s for sure and she is certifiably crazy most days, so I find her quite entertaining.

Of course you all know I love Martha so that goes without saying. But let’s chat about Rachel Ray for a moment. I love her recipes and I often hop online to print up a few of her recipes because let’s face it, 30 minutes is about all I have to make a meal these days. But I do find that if I’m watching her I have to watch her on mute because I can’t stand the little words she uses like “yumm-o” or “EVOO.” Just say it already. It took me 3 months to figure out that EVOO was extra virgin olive oil and not some random spice I couldn’t locate at any of my surrounding grocery stores (FYI, if you ask the customer service people at Kroger, they also do not know what EVOO is. Just take my word on that one). So after I’ve watched Rachel on mute, I do love me some Paula Dean. Well don’t be so surprised! She is, after all, "the Queen of Southern cuisine." Her new show Party with Paula on Sat nights (Yes, Saturday nights. No, I have no life) is fantastic! I’ve really enjoyed it and I just want to jump through the tv screen and hug her. But let’s get moving on some recipes now!

This time of year especially, when there is a chill in the air and breeze in the changing trees, and pumpkins on every corner (seriously, the pumpkin stands are battling here like gas stations, fighting for every penny they can get), there are good soups to be made, pumpkin pies to be baked and drinks to be downed. And while I’m on the subject of pumpkins, I’m sure there are a few of you out there whose limited pumpkin recipes could use a little spicing up. Relax. Don’t start hyperventilating on me and rolling your eyes anticipating the same ‘ol pumpkin pie recipe that everyone seems to float around this time of year. You will no, I repeat, NOT find me posting my mothers pumpkin pie recipe on this blog. I mean, just a quick glance through my own recipe book tells me that my recipes are looking quite tired and in need of some new ones to join them. Monogram Momma to the rescue! So in my magazine flipping and internet clicking (ha!), I’ve come across some great new pumpkin inspired recipes for you all to try out this week. And don’t tell me you don’t have any fresh pumpkin laying around because you should all be well on your way into your pumpkin gutting and carving for the Show Me Yours competition!


SPICY ENCHILADAS WITH PUMPKIN SAUCE
I am letting it be known from this point forward, that I love Mexican food. I love it so much, in fact, that we eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant every friday night. So anytime I can find an easy to assemble and tasty mexican dish, monogram momma is all over it. It also increases my chances of the mini's actually eating the meal I've made, so that in itself is a nice little bonus, no?

This dish can be assembled up to eight hours ahead of time; refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, until ready to bake (add a few minutes to the cooking time).

1/2 leftover thyme-roasted chicken, skin removed, meat shredded


6 scallions, thinly sliced


Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin purée

4 garlic cloves, peeled

1 jalapeño chile, quartered (remove ribs and seeds for less heat, if desired)

1 teaspoon chili powder

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

1 1/2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a medium bowl, combine chicken and scallions. Season generously with salt and pepper; set aside.

2. In a blender, purée pumpkin, garlic, jalapeño, chili powder, 2 1/2 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until smooth (hold top firmly as blender will be quite full). Pour 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of an 8-inch square (or other shallow 2-quart) baking dish.

3. Lay tortillas on work surface; mound chicken mixture on half of each tortilla, dividing evenly. Roll up tortillas; place, seam side down, in baking dish.

4. Pour remaining sauce on top; sprinkle with cheese. Place dish on a baking sheet; bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.


CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS
I know I don't really like chocolate. Please don't email me to remind me as I am constantly reminded this time of year by all the chocolate candy being thrown in my face everywhere I go. However, I think it is a safe assumption to make that I would probably eat anything that was combined with cheesecake. It's the only desert I just can't possibly live my life without, so for the sake of cheesecake, and cheesecake only, I will sacrifice and give these bars a try.*sigh* Somehow, I will find a way to plow through this sacrifice. Let it never be said that I am a selfish person.

Makes 16; Prep time: 25 minutes; Total time: 5 hours
To create swirls, drag the blade of a paring knife through the chocolate and pumpkin mixtures several times to make a marbled pattern.

FOR THE CRUST:
20 chocolate wafer cookies (half a 9-ounce package)

2 tablespoons sugar

FOR THE FILLING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) bar cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin purée

3 large eggs

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. Set aside.

2. Transfer crumb mixture to prepared pan, and press gently into bottom. Bake until fragrant and slightly firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

3. Place cream cheese in food processor; blend until smooth. Add sugar, pumpkin purée, eggs, flour, pumpkin-pie spice, and salt; process until combined. Set aside.

4. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted. Add 1 cup pumpkin mixture; stir to combine. Set aside.

5. Pour remaining pumpkin mixture into prepared pan. Drop dollops of chocolate mixture onto pumpkin mixture; swirl. Bake until cheesecake is set but jiggles slightly when gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes.

6. Cool in pan. Cover; chill until firm, at least 2 hours (and up to 2 days). Using overhang, transfer cake to work surface. With a knife dipped in water, cut into 16 squares. Serve.

Per serving: 273 cal; 17.2 g fat (9.9 g sat fat); 4.8 g protein; 27 g carb; 1.5 g fiber


PUMPKIN RAVIOLI WITH SAGE BROWN BUTTER
Okay, so I know this might sound a little gross at first. But just look at the ingredients, people! Brown sugar, Locatelli cheese, nutmeg and COOKIES. You can't tell me a pasta with cookies in it is not worth trying. I simply will not let you.

SERVES 4 TO 6


One 3-pound sugar pumpkin or butternut squash

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons light-brown sugar

1 large egg

1/4 cup Locatelli cheese

3 large or 6 small amaretti cookies, crushed

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese

1 teaspoon chopped shallots

Pinch of nutmeg

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 pounds store-bought fresh pasta sheets

1 tablespoon semolina flour

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 tablespoon freshly chopped sage leaves

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 375°. On a work surface, cut pumpkin in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds; discard. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil evenly over insides of pumpkin halves; rub 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar into each. Roast, cut-side down, until pumpkin is easily pierced with a paring knife, about 1 hour. Let cool.

2. When cool enough to handle, scoop out flesh with a spoon. You'll need 1 1/2 cups of purée. Transfer flesh to a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth; wring excess liquid into a bowl. Place flesh in the bowl of a food processor, along with egg, Locatelli, amaretti, ricotta, shallot, and a pinch of nutmeg; process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Lay 1 pasta sheet on work surface. Place 1 tablespoon filling every 3 inches. Brush water around filling. Place another sheet on top, pressing around filling to seal. Using a fluted pastry wheel, cut each ravioli into a 3-by-3-inch square. Repeat with remaining pasta sheets and filling. Transfer ravioli to a parchment-lined baking sheet sprinkled with semolina; freeze for at least 30 minutes.

4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; season with salt. Add ravioli; cook until it just floats, 3 to 4 minutes.

5. In a large sauté pan, melt butter over high heat. Add sage; cook until butter begins to brown and sizzle, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat; whisk in balsamic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer ravioli to pan, tossing to combine. Serve immediately with cheese, if desired.


PUMPKIN SEED CANDY
This looked so good that I had to pass it along. Don't even feel like you have to go to the trouble with the little cups and wrapping either! Put them out in a candy dish and enjoy them while you too are watching the Ace of cakes blow things up!

Makes 30 pieces
These wrapped candies are perfect treats for celebrating Halloween. Pepitas, or pumpkin seeds, are available hulled or unhulled at health-food stores. Paper candy cups are available at baking supply stores.

1 cup hulled pepitas

1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup good-quality honey

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons melted for brushing

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pepitas; toast, stirring constantly until seeds pop and become slightly golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

2. Place sugar and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar, about 3 minutes. Add pepitas, and continue cooking until temperature registers 285° on a candy thermometer, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cold butter.

3. Let the mixture cool to 240°, about 4 minutes. Meanwhile, brush the inside of fifteen 1-inch-diameter black paper cups with melted butter, reserving 1 tablespoon. Spoon a scant tablespoon of the honey mixture into each cup. Brush a clean work surface with the remaining butter, and spoon the remaining honey mixture on it so mixture will continue to cool.

4. When remaining candy is stiff and cool enough to handle, about 6 minutes, cut into 3/4-inch pieces with a greased knife. Put one piece of candy in center of each of fifteen 4-by-4-inch pieces of orange cellophane wrap, gather cellophane at the top, and secure with a twist of a 4 1/2-inch piece of floral wire. Wrap the ends of floral wire around a skewer to form tendrils.


Pumpkin Seed Goat Cheese Pesto
Does this say Goat Cheese? Because if so then just push me down and roll me and lather me up nice and good in it because I am ALL ABOUT some goat cheese on a nice salad with walnuts and homemade balsamic vinegarette or a grilled Portobello sandwhich.

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
This recipe can be made a day or two ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Serve warm or at room temperature

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 cups hulled pumpkin seeds (8 ounces)

2 shallots, finely chopped (about ¼ cup)

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage (about 10 leaves)

5 ounces soft goat cheese

1/2 cup water

Juice of 2 lemons (5 to 6 tablespoons)

1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and cook, stirring, until they begin to turn brown (some will pop), about 5 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a plate to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Add the pumpkin seed mixture to a food processor along with the parsley, sage, goat cheese and water. Turn the processor on and drizzle in the remaining 6 tablespoons of olive oil, until the mixture reaches an oatmeallike consistency. Transfer to a bowl and add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Pumpkintini
You didn’t actually think I would forget a little something to wet your whistle, did you? If I've learned anything at all from my friend Sandra Lee, it's that a cocktail (or 4 in her case) sure makes cooking a lot more fun. Just passing my lessons onto you, that's all....

1 graham cracker, crushed into fine crumbs

Ice cubes

1 1/2 ounces rum (3 tablespoons)

3 tablespoons pumpkin pie filling

1/2 ounce Sortilège Maple liqueur (1 tablespoon)

1/2 ounce half-and-half (1 tablespoon)

Place the graham cracker crumbs on a small plate. Wet the rim of a chilled martini glass and dip into the crumbs to coat. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the rum, pumpkin pie filling, maple liqueur and half-and-half. Shake, then strain into the martini glass.

Pumpkin Pancakes

You would think Martha would have a picture of these yummy flapjacks, but it was not to be found. Trust me, the picture has my mouth watering and the Monogram family will be enjoying these delights on Saturday morning!

Martha says:
For a spiced breakfast treat, whisk 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour; 2 tbsp sugar; 2 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp each cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt; 1/8 tsp nutmeg and a pinch of ground cloves. In a separate bowl, stir together 1 cup milk, 6 tbsp canned pumpkin puree, 2 tbsp melted butter, and 1 egg; fold mixture into dry ingredients. Melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat; pour in ¼ cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side; serve with butter and syrup. Makes 8-10.


So as I’m typing up all these yummy recipes, starving because I haven’t yet eaten (although trust me, there is no fear of actual starvation here), I decided I needed a little moral or motto of the day to inspire you and send you on your way. So today’s motto, while you are emptying and cleaning out and cutting up your pumpkins, and at the risk of near plagiarism to one of our fine American institutions, Go forth and “Think Outide the Pumpkin Pie." Now all I need is a little spanish speaking chiquaha narrating this post!

25 October, 2006

Pumpkin Carving: 102

Can someone please explain to me how I can wake up to an azure blue sea and 80 degree temps watching dolphins swim by my window on Sunday morning, and by Monday afternoon I was bundled up, seat heater in my car cranked up on high (warming my bum AND my back), freezing in 42 degree temps? For the life of me I can not figure it out. It’s like I woke up from some twisted dream. And I am so irritated about being jolted out of this dream back into the reality of my everyday life that I’m trying to convince Ashley to run away with me for a weekend. I think I’ve almost got her convinced, so stay tuned on that.

Luckily we have a washer and dryer at the beach so I always come back with all the laundry clean. It’s the actual unpacking and putting away that seems to be the problem. Because you see, that means that vacation is officially over and maybe I need to hop up my meds a bit but I’m just not emotionally ready forvacation to be over yet! But the one bright side to coming home was knowing what was waiting for me. No, I don’t mean Mr. Monogram who returned the night before, nor do I mean my neighbors, or even pre-school (which is always pretty exciting b/c that means I’m getting time to myself), but it was the packages. I’ll admit that knowing there was a stack of packages waiting for me at home was a bit enticing! I’ll let you know all the fun things that arrived while I was gone, but here is just a peek from one of the boxes.


This cup says monogram momma all over, no? Big hugs and thanks to the most fabulous Preppy Princess who slipped this little gem in the mail to me. I’ve already enjoyed many a hot cup of tea from it since arriving home and has really made my day! Her Royal Majesty really knows how to cheer this momma up, that’s for sure!

Now, I’m sure you’re all expecting some super creative, grand entry full of great ideas after being gone for a week, and I’ll be honest. I was fully planning on doing a reader request this morning on Children’s Holiday wear. But then my little email alert made that familiar music to my ears letting me know someone had sent me an email. Yippee! And lo and behold, it was an email from Mr. Monogram of some truly amazing pumpkin carvings. So in light of the Show Me Yours, I’ll Show You Mine pumpkin contest this week, here are some really elaborate ideas for you guys. I know, at times, we can all use a little inspiration to get our creative juices flowing, so I hope these will inspire you and kick-start your pumpkin decorating creativity. You know, just in case you’ve got nothing else to do other than sit around and carve pumpkins all day.

































Okay, so these aren't exactly examples you'd find in TOPH, but the point is, as I mentioned yesterday, it's all subjective and you carve it or decorate or heck, don't do anything to it if that's what you want to do, and consider yourself "in" for the contest. One more important thing I wanted to share with you guys. Let’s all give Lisa from Three Chickadees a BIG ROUND OF THANKS for hosting this installment of the Show Me Yours competition! The first place winner will receive a grosgrain belt and second place winner will receive a preppy headband, compliments of our favorite chicks at Three Chickadees. Now if that doesn’t entice to you send in those pumpkin pictures, then I don’t know what will!

P.S. As a special treat, preppy puppy has requested I give her a little blogging time this afternoon so she can share her vacation highlights. Given her *busy* schedule of laying around the house all day today though, I wouldn't count on her getting that post done until late this afternoon. I'll keep after her though. You know it is all about what the people want at monogram momma's!