Hosting a Halloween Party!

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021 Natalie Larson

I have a confession. I do not like Halloween. Never have. When I was a kid, I occasionally liked planning out my costume, but I absolutely dreaded going door to door and telling a joke in exchange for candy. I don’t like decorating with witches, ghosts, jack-o-lanterns, monsters, and spiders. For the life of me, I have never understood why some people put more time and energy into decorating their house all spooky and scary for Halloween than they do making it all cheery and joyful for Christmas. Call me a stick in the mud, but it’s just not my thing.

Needless to say, because of my feelings toward this upcoming holiday, I am definitely no expert in hosting a Halloween party. Until last week I have never done it. In fact, I probably haven’t done anything to celebrate Halloween in over 10 years. But for some reason, this year, I just thought it *might* be a little bit fun to have a little party. I really don’t know what got into me. I decided to host a costume party for some of our married friends. (For some reason it seemed much more appealing to me to host/attend a party in costume when everyone has a spouse that you could have a coordinating costume with. When I was single there was no way I would have shown up at a costume party by myself!)

Anywho, I just thought it would be fun to show you what we did for our little get-together! It was very low-key and super easy to host! (My kind of party.) There’s still almost two weeks until Halloween, so if you decide you’d like to host a little party, you could easily throw together something like this!

First off, I had to plan our costumes. This was the first time we’ve ever dressed up for Halloween together. I wanted something that went together and I wanted to include Wilma. The very first thing I thought of was a Scooby-Doo theme, and it seemed so easy to do, so that’s what we went with! I made a collar for Wilma using a blue collar and some blue and yellow foam sheets. You can’t see it in the photo, but I also put “S D” stickers on the dog tag. Alex went as Shaggy. He already owned a green t-shirt and tan pants, plus he hasn’t had a haircut in quite a while, so his costume was easy. I went as Velma. I already owned the red skirt, so I just snagged this orange sweater from Goodwill and threw on some glasses. I couldn’t find any knee-high orange socks, but I had these tall burgundy boots and I think it got the point across.

I decided to do a taco bar for the food. This was so simple and made it very hands-off during the party. We had pre-cooked the ground beef and put it in the crockpot to keep it warm. So when it was time to eat, I just set out some topping and let everyone go at it!

For dessert, Alex requested his favorite peanut butter cookies. I decided to have a bit of fun and placed the chocolate Kisses in upside down and then drew little legs with melted chocolate to make them look like spiders. It was a super easy way to add some Halloween vibes to the party.

I also made caramel apples because that just seemed like Halloween food to me. However, my caramel apple making skills need some definite improvement! We shared many laughs over how incredibly impossible they were to eat because my caramel was so sticky and hard. In hindsight, I would have kept some caramel warm in a crockpot or fondue pot and had sliced apples to dip. It would have worked much better I think, but these caramel apples definitely added to the entertainment for the night!

For drinks, I was inspired by these mocktails I originally saw on Tanner Mann’s Instagram. I based my drinks off of this, but I used this recipe. I left the vodka out, and let guests just add some vodka into their drink if they wished. They ended up so cute! I found the vampire teeth at the Dollar Tree. I also used Haribo Sour Streamers instead of the Air Heads. They were tasty and super cute and fun!

I only did a few decorations, like the “Happy Halloween” banner over the taco bar, but what I did do, I got from the Dollar Tree, including the plates, and napkins. I had also bought these cute little Halloween bags for a costume contest. I got one to put the votes in and the other I filled with stuff for a scary movie night at home. A scary movie, popcorn, candy, and a candle. We didn’t end up actually doing a costume contest at our party, but I thought it was a cute idea.

We ended our night by watching “Halloween Kills” which we were able to stream through Peacock TV, which was super convenient and a great way to end the night!

It ended up being a really fun night and I’m ultimately glad that I decided to celebrate Halloween this year. Are you hosting a Halloween party this year? I would love to hear what you’re doing to celebrate and what your costume is!

Holidays, Home, Life, Tips and Tricks

How to Make Last Minute Guests Feel Like You’ve Been Expecting Them All Day

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 admin

I originally wrote this post right before the worldwide pandemic hit. At the time, we had people stopping by all the time, but just as I was going to publish this post, the world shut down and having visitors wasn’t really a thing anymore! However, as we’re all getting back to “normal” life, I thought I would go ahead and post this, especially since we’re heading into the holiday season when entertaining guests seems to be at its peak!

This little bar cart is right inside my front door. It’s usually one of the first places I go to when I know someone is stopping by. I’ll turn on my diffuser, light the candle, and turn on the lamp to instantly add a warm, cozy, inviting feeling to our home.

We’ve all been there. A friend or relative calls or texts and asks if they can stop by in the next 10 minutes. You graciously say “Yes!” but then you look around your home in a panic!

Lately, Alex and I have been lucky enough to have several people stop by our house with very short notice. I know that this can cause stress and anxiety for many people, including myself, so I thought I would go over a few different things I try to do to always be prepared for unexpected guests.

I love to bake. So often, I have some sort of baked good to offer unexpected guests. However, on the off chance that I don’t have something ready, I like to keep some frozen cookie dough in the freezer, so you can quickly throw them in the oven and be pulling out freshly baked cookies as your guests walk in the door! Store bought treats also work in a pinch! When guests come into a house that smells of freshly baked cookies, it will seem like you have been expecting them all day!
I ALWAYS start up my diffuser when I know someone is stopping by. My favorite essential oil to diffuse is Purification by Young Living. It smells so clean and fresh and makes it seem like you’ve been cleaning the house all day! Every single person that comes into my home comments on how good it smells, and it is 100% because of the diffuser and not because of my housekeeping abilities!
Lighting. Lighting can change the feeling of a space so much. First of all, turn on your porch or outside lights! It’s much more inviting to walk up to a house that has their lights on, it’s the first sign guests see that you are ready and waiting for them! Second, I like to keep just warm lights on. Our lamps, and under counter lights are my favorite. Low lighting feels much more cozy and homey than bright overhead lights. Also, light candles! Not only will they help make your house smell great, but they also give an awesome ambiance that helps your home feel cozy and inviting.
Of course, sometimes the struggle is the fact that your house is just plain messy and needs picked up and cleaned. In this case, of course, I try to pick up according to how much time I have. I start in my living room, since that is the first room our guests walk into, and if I have time I’ll move to the kitchen. Always start at the point where your guests will enter and then work from there to the points of the house your guests will likely spend time (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) Close doors to other rooms such as bedrooms, laundry, etc. if you have to.
Play some music! It makes a home seem so cozy when some light music is playing in the background. Of course, don’t have it so loud that conversation is awkward, just loud enough to add to the cozy and inviting atmosphere.

These are just some basic things I do when someone calls and says they’ll be over in a moment’s notice. Hopefully these tips will helps you feel confident to host those last minute guests! What do you do when someone stops by unexpectedly? I would love to hear your tricks too!

Holidays, Home

Fall Decor Tour

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021 admin

Can you believe it’s October? I sure can’t. Time is flying by, but the temps are feeling just a bit cooler today and I’m definitely ready for fall. One of the first things I do to break in the fall season is to decorate my home. I have had my fall decorations up for a few weeks now (even though we’ve still had our AC on), but since today is October 1st, I thought it was the perfect time to share my fall decor!

I am always switching out our throw blankets on the couch. One of the first things I do to change up the decor for the season is to add some seasonal blankets!

For fall, I often remove my candles from their pedestals and place a pumpkin on them! I think it’s such a cute way to display a pumpkin.

I usually keep a lot of my decorations pretty much the same, but just add some small seasonal items. Here, I just replaced a candle with a pumpkin on the candlestick and I swapped out my usual candle for a fall scented one.

I love this little guy. I’ve had him for years and he’s one of my favorite fall pieces.

One of my favorite things to switch out for the holiday decorating is decorative towels on my little towel ladder!

Here is another example of how the centerpiece is completely neutral, but the fall table cloth helps give it that cozy, fall feeling.

Wilma’s favorite part of new decor is fresh pillows and blankets to lounge on.

A gold pumpkin and fall candle make our ” cozy room” seem even more cozy!

Do you have your fall decor up yet? When do you normally decorate? What are your favorite decorating tips?? I would love to chat with you all about it! Happy October and Happy Decorating!

Crafts, Gift Ideas, Holidays

May Day Baskets

April 30, 2021April 30, 2021 Natalie Larson

Did you give out May Day baskets when you were a kid? I loved the tradition. On the first day of May we would make some sort of little basket with treats in it and bring them to our friend’s houses. Leave them on the step, ring the doorbell, and then RUN! Even as an adult I love to make something and give them to our neighbors. It is such a fun tradition to do and with May Day being on Saturday this year, I think it will be even easier for more people to participate!

I usually end up forgetting that May Day is coming and then I make something last minute on May 1st. These May Day baskets are perfect for that! I got everything at the dollar store. They came out super cute and really affordable!

Here’s my shopping list:

2 packages of favor boxes (found in the wedding section)
2 packages of stickers
1 box of popcorn
1 bag of suckers
2 bags of Laffy Taffy
1 bag of Smarties
1 bag of Tootsie Fruit Chews
16 packets of marigold seeds
2 stems of silk flowers

This came to a grand total of $17.12. I made up 16 May day baskets, making each one cost $1.07. Pretty good if you ask me.

I started by making all of the favor boxes up and then putting a sticker on each one. I found these adorable spring themed stickers that were perfect for May Day.

Then I just placed a packet of flower seeds in the back of each basket. I filled the basket with popcorn ( I used two bags for 16 baskets, leaving one bag of popcorn leftover) and then placed the pieces of candy on top. I started doing one of each kind of candy, but I had a lot leftover, so each of my baskets ended up with two suckers and at least four pieces of candy. I had enough candy and popcorn leftover that I could have made quite a few more May Day baskets if I wanted to. I then snipped individual branches off of the floral stems and placed one branch in each basket.

I love how these turned out! So fun for spring, easy to do, affordable, and anyone will enjoy receiving one of these! Do you do May Day Baskets? I would love to hear about your May Day traditions!

Holidays

Decorating for St. Patrick’s Day

March 1, 2021March 1, 2021 admin

Happy March! While I don’t generally do a ton of decorating for St. Patrick’s Day, I did more this year than I ever have, so I thought I’d share it with you!

I don’t even have a lot of actual St. Patrick’s Day pieces, but I gathered all the green pieces I had in my home and really highlighted those for the holiday. In the picture above, I swapped out the white cake stand I had as the centerpiece for this beautiful green one I had and then put a few pieces of antique depression glass on it. I also used a houseplant to add even more green and then just accented with white. I love how this turned out for our kitchen table!

This is one of the few things I have that I actually bought just for decorating for St. Patrick’s day. This little doorhanger is a whopping $1 from Dollar Tree.

I got this little banner on clearance last year, but it’s not even necessarily “St. Patrick’s Day” any green party banner would work!

I love this little towel ladder that Alex made for me. I have so many cute towels I want to display, but don’t want to get used, so this is the perfect solution! This towel is particularly special to me as it was stitched for me by my aunt. I layered it over a green hand towel I had to help make the green in the tea towel pop.

This is an example of how I really just looked around my house and pulled out anything that was green. A green hand towel, a green towel I purchased around Christmastime, and my green mason jar salt and pepper shakers.

I already had this little chalkboard with the mint green frame, so I used a green chalkboard pen to draw a clover, then I switched out the pink pitcher I had my utensils in to this bright green sequin vase, which I had with Christmas stuff.

This was a spring wreath I already had in storage. The little green berries are a perfect accent for St. Patrick’s Day. Plus this will probably stay up through all of spring.

I love my letterboards! It’s the perfect place to add a little festive saying without having to buy any additional seasonal signs or decor.

This little doorhanger is another Dollar Tree find!

I love to have a little doorknob hanger on the inside of my front door. I found this cute little guy at Hobby Lobby for 40% off.

This gold banner is something I picked up last year on clearance. (If you haven’t noticed, I like to shop after holidays for clearance items, pack them away and then use them the next year as something brand new!)

This is the regular chalkboard that I always have hanging in our living room. I just used a green chalkboard pen to write out my own St. Patrick’s Day design. I got the green chalkboard pen for a steal at the Dollar Tree!

I have had this little gold “lucky” sign for several years. I just paired it next to a green houseplant and a green candle and now it screams “St. Patrick’s Day!”

My other letterboard! I used my gold letters for this one. St. Patrick’s Day is a great excuse to pull out all of your gold stuff as well!

Bringing attention to your houseplants is a great way to feel festive for the holiday without buying a bunch of decor.

This coffee table display was just a couple of green candles I had on hand, paired with some vintage depression glass on my usual gold tray. Perfectly festive and free!

Do you decorate for St. Patrick’s Day? It can be as easy as rearranging a few items you already have to accentuate greens and golds. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Holidays

10 Valentine’s Day Ideas

February 4, 2020 admin

No matter if you are single, or in a relationship, married with kids, or working this Valentine’s Day, I hope you do something fun to spread love and make the day special! Here are some ideas!

Dinner Date Night Out Now, I had to start with this classic, because this is what Alex and I always do! He always takes me to a nice restaurant that we’ve never been to before! It’s always fun to get dressed up, try a new place and enjoy a good meal with your Valentine. After dinner, we will sometimes hit up a movie, or a cocktail bar for an after dinner drink. But usually, we head home and snuggle on the couch.
Date Night In We all know that restaurants are packed and flowers are overpriced on Valentine’s Day, so it’s always an option to stay home! Cooking a delicious dinner and dessert together can be so fun and then you eat in the comfort of your own home as you enjoy your favorite tv show! You can make it a little more exciting by trying a new fancy recipe, or play it safe with a classic meal you both love.
Fancy Night On The Town Where are my single ladies at??? You have to do this at least once! When I was in high school, me and my entire friend group was single. So we decided to get all dolled up and fancy and went out to a nice dinner together. We had a blast and let me tell you, we were having way more fun than anyone else in the restaurant! We then did some shopping in our heels and dresses and then went to see the girliest movie in the theater at the time “Confessions of a Shopaholic” This was such a fun night!
Homemade Pizza Night I love this idea for families with kiddos! Growing up, mom would give us each our own pizza pan (or tin pie dish) and a ball of dough and we would make our own pizzas! She would have all of the toppings like cheese, pepperoni, peppers, pineapple, etc. We loved seeing how our pizzas looked coming out of the oven! You could even make them heart shaped!
Do a Craft I love crafting! There are so many options with this one. You could do a paint and wine night at a local art studio, you could have your girlfriends over and all do a craft as you watch chick flicks, you could have your kids make Valentine’s for their friends or neighbors. You can do this by yourself, with your friends, or with your Valentine. Get on Pinterest and get crafty! If you need an idea, check out the Valentine Heart Paint Chip Banner I made. Last year, I hosted a Galentine’s Day Party and we each painted a little canvas!
Pamper Yourself Whether you book a massage, or do a face mask at home in the bubble bath. Take time for you! Again, this can be if you’re spending the day alone or you could plan this with your spouse! You could even enjoy a nice bath, book, face mask, and glass of wine when you come home from work! This would also be such a fun girl’s night in if you hosted a little spa party for your girlfriends!
Bring Some Joy to Work If you are like me this year, then you will be working on Valentine’s Day! I also had to work last year on Valentine’s Day and Alex always makes it work and we go out on a different evening. (This can actually be beneficial for more reservation options as well as better prices) However, consider doing something for your coworkers on Valentine’s Day. Bake some heart shaped sugar cookies, or bring in a box pink donuts! It may not be how you’d choose to spend the day, but it will help make the day seem more special and make you and your coworkers happier! (If you are one of my coworkers reading this, I am making no promises!)
Go on a Mini Vacation This one is perfect this year since Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday. You could find a little town (or big city) that’s not too far from you and you could spend one or two nights in a hotel there, exploring a new town and just relaxing with each other. This would also be a great stay-cation. Our city has lots of beautiful and unique boutique hotels that we would love to stay a night in. Splurge on a suite with a jacuzzi, since you aren’t having to pay for travel fees and it still feels like you got a little vacation!
Make a Fun Breakfast Maybe you have time on Friday to make a fun breakfast for the kids with heart shaped waffles, or maybe you will celebrate on Saturday and enjoy a nice slow morning (my favorite) cooking chocolate chip pancakes and bacon! This is always fun for kids and adults and you can make it super cute with Valentine’s plates and napkins from the dollar store, or do a theme like “pink foods’ and serve strawberry milk, heart shaped pancakes with pink sprinkles, etc.
Do Something for Someone Else No matter how you are spending your Valentine’s Day this year, I hope you do something to show someone else love. Maybe you bring your lonely neighbor a cookie, maybe you spend your night volunteering, maybe you just make your spouse all of their favorite things for dinner. I hope your focus will be on others. On the ones you love. And also on the ones that rarely feel loved. Happy Valentine’s Day.