Tricks n' Treats Halloween Decor + Free Printables

I've had a bit of a love affair recently with my Silhouette Curio. When I first received it over a year ago, I was overwhelmed with the amount of projects I could do with it. I made invitations for our rehearsal dinner, custom labels for our pantry, and so much more. 

I tend to go a little shopping-crazy over the holidays to decorate our house. My favorite holidays to decorate for are Christmas and Halloween, so it came as no surprise to my husband when I said I wanted to transform our entire dining room with a Halloween theme I had in mind. Fortunately, he enjoys getting into the spirit of the holidays as much as I do, so he had no rebuttal.

I wanted to create a look that all of you could make yourselves. I've included download links below for my banners as well as a quick tutorial on how to accomplish this decor.

RECREATE THIS HALLOWEEN LOOK

Like what you see? Start with a festive tablecloth. Thanks to Target, I scored this plastic and felt tablecloth for only $3.00. There are tons of inexpensive options you could use as a tablecloth, such a a plain black sheet!

For the place settings, I purchased inexpensive black plates from Ikea and topped them with mini pumpkins to hold place cards. As an inexpensive candle holder, I spray painted wine bottles with chalkboard paint and added blood-red taper candles to them as an unexpected detail. I must admit, I am really loving these black plates. They make your bright foods like peas and carrots pop!

Next up, I designed chair signs for the backs of my chairs and matching cupcake toppers with my Silhouette! They are super easy to cut out and put together at home. For the cupcakes, simply tape the mini banners to a toothpick and voila!

Download the Silhouette files here:

Smell My Feet Banner

Trick or Treat Banner

Or .pdf files here:

Smell My Feet Banner

Trick or Treat Banner

What is more fitting as a Halloween treat than a Devil's Food Cake cupcake with double-dark chocolate frosting? I can't think of anything! To get the recipe for my frosting, click the image below:

This year's Halloween costume:

We went as Bob Ross and his "Happy little tree" hahaha!

Elegant Halloween Dinner Party

There are so many Halloween decor and party ideas for kids, but I rarely see a great idea for adults. I wanted to give you guys a little inspiration for a beautiful Halloween dinner party! What better to do with your friends than get together and listen to Monster Mash as you delve into a moody charcuterie.

Check out my decor ideas and a menu example below!

Put together an elegant and dark cheese plate like this beauty from Camille Styles. Using figs, dark salami, pumpernickel bread and concord grapes, you can accomplish this sophisticated look.

RECREATE THIS ELEGANT HALLOWEEN LOOK

I purchased red roses a few days before I put together this look to allow them to die a little. Cruel? Maybe. Beautiful? Absolutely. I love how the edges of the petals blackened and how they became veiny. This simple trick made all the difference in this spooky look. 

Next, for the place setting, I purchased black plates from Ikea and used clear glass chargers from Michael's. I made these hand-lettered name tags on my computer and printed them out on printer paper. To lighten up the look, I added dark grey napkins that I found at HomeGoods.

I grabbed blood red taper candles and pushed them into old wine bottles that I spray painted black with chalkboard spray paint. The result was a matte finish with dripping red wax down the sides of the bottle. 

MENU IDEAS

So let's talk food. You don't have to keep everything super thematic...believe me, that is a lot of work. However, I scouted out a few easy and beautiful recipe ideas from fellow bloggers. Red wine is a great beverage of choice. Place a custom wine bottle label on the top of your current bottle, or get a spooky-looking wine such as 19 Crimes or Tribunal. Add food coloring to egg yolks to make simple deviled eggs sinister. There are so many simple tricks that can take your Halloween soiree to the next level. Check out these great ideas:

Black Widow Cocktail

Dark Deviled Eggs

Black Linguine Pasta with Kalamata Olive Pesto

Spiderweb Cheesecake

Double Chocolate Frosting

With the holidays around the corner, I have been in the mood for sweets! I've been decorating our home for Halloween and wanted an ultra-dark icing to top my devil's food cupcakes. The great thing about this icing is that it can easily be changed to a milk chocolate icing by switching out dark cocoa for regular, making this a icing a classic year-round. 

The consistency of this icing is fairly thick, too! It's great for piping onto cakes to create various designs. If you want it a bit stiffer, simply add a little extra confectioner's sugar.

Double Chocolate Icing

Preparation:  10 min

                  Cook Time: 0 min  Total Time: 10 min                       

Ingredients

        

          1 stick of butter

          3/4 cup dark cocoa

          2 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar

          1/3 cup heavy cream

          2 tsp vanilla extract

         

Instructions

1) Add room-temperature butter and vanilla to a mixing bowl and beat over medium speed until creamy. 

2) Add confectioner's sugar, 1/2 cup at a time until well blended.

3) Pour heavy cream and dark cocoa into the mixture and blend until well combined. 

Hosting a Fall Soiree + Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

IT'S FINALLY FALL!

I love spending time outside when the fall air turns chilly and crisp. The fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves turning hues of yellow and orange, baggy sweatshirts and of course, pumpkin spice lattes. What's not to love? 

If you're like me, you love to host a great dinner party at home. Ever since we received our new outdoor dining set, I envisioned myself hosting a fall dinner with all the likes of fall: pumpkin beer, a heavy red wine, and great company. If you're planning on having an outdoor dinner party, read on for my no muss, no fuss tips for throwing together an effortless and cozy look.

Decor

First things first: decide on a color scheme. Find a fall item you love to set the color palate for your table. I decided on using the colors from my favorite tartan scarf to inspire my scheme. In an effort to keep my look cozy and relaxed, I placed pillows at the backs of every other chair and added a few blankets. Don't worry if they don't match perfectly, as this will make your table look more effortless. Providing blankets will also allow your dinner guests to linger and stay warm as the sun goes down. 

Drape your table with a beautiful floor-length tablecloth, like this one from Market Linen to add an extra element of warmth.

For the place settings, keep things simple. I used classic white dinnerware and added a pop of color using gold flatware that can be found for as low as $2.00 each at Target. As a simple and affordable alternative to napkin rings, tie twine around the napkins for a rustic look.  

A good hostess knows that guests can get embarrassed to ask for more, so to keep the evening carefree, place several bottles of wine on the table and your stockpot. Guests will be able to easily help themselves to seconds without disturbing the dinner conversation.

Food & Beverage

My next tip is to serve a large portion and a meal that will stay warm. I used my stockpot from Le Creuset to serve my soup in because the stoneware keeps soups and stews warm for up to an hour. You don't have to serve an elaborate meal to have a great dinner party. Something as simple as fresh bread and soup is such a comfort that your guests will feel satisfied. In an effort to have plenty of food and keep everyone warm, I made classic chicken noodle soup and served a crunchy french baguette with each bowl. 

Keep your guests in mind. Is anyone a beer drinker? What about those who only prefer their bourbon on the rocks? Remembering your friends' and family's preferences will show that you were mindful of them while planning the evening and leave a lasting impression. More over, it will keep everyone at the party in a pleasant mood as they imbibe their favorite drink. 

I tend to serve more red wine in the colder months, as they pair better with heartier dishes. However, as a sommelier candidate, I also recommended an unoaked Chardonnay to pair with the soup as they are a great match.  

Chicken Noodle Soup

Preparation:  15 min

                  Cook Time: 30 min  Total Time: 45 min                       

Ingredients

        

          2-3 chicken breasts (depending on size of the breasts)

          1/4 cup white wine

          3/4 cup chopped white onion

          2 cups of rotini noodles

          4 tbsp butter
          2 tsp chopped garlic

          3/4 cup chopped carrots

          3/4 cup chopped celery

          1 1/2 -2 (32 oz) containers of chicken broth (depending on how chunky vs soupy you like it)

          1 tsp fresh lemon juice

          2 tsp Italian seasoning
          1 bay leaf

          2 tsp chopped italian parsley

          Salt & Pepper to taste

      

Instructions

1) Over medium heat in a large stockpot, melt butter. Add your chopped onion and wine and allow to simmer for 2-

    3 minutes. 

2) Add chopped vegetables, bay leaf, garlic and chicken broth, raising the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.

3) Once the broth is boiling, add in your raw chicken breasts and allow them to cook all the way through.

4) While chicken is cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil and add the noodles.

5) After 25 minutes, your chicken should be cooked thoroughly. Take them out of the pot and place them onto a 

    cutting board. Lower the soup's heat to low/medium. 

6) Cut through the middle of your chicken breasts. If they are cooked thoroughly, begin cutting each breast into 

    cubes. (If they need more time, add them back and turn the heat back up.) Once finished, add them back to the 

    soup.

7) Add lemon juice, noodles, italian seasoning and salt & pepper. Stir until combined. 

8) Serve immediately. Place a piece of french bread on a plate next to each bowl. 

Our Honeymoon in Maui

Let me take you on a literary trip to the most beautiful place my eyes have ever seen. Every turn of the head looks like a scene from a postcard. 

We have been on a lot of trips together, but this trip topped the scales. We were originally considering going to Japan and Thailand but we changed our mind. I still have those vacations on our roadmap for future trips to take together, but after weighing all the pros and cons we decided on Hawaii. In our opinion, a honeymoon should be relaxing and romantic. We felt being in a foreign country that moves at a fast pace like Tokyo might be a bit stressful. Where oh where could we go that feels like a wonderland, where natives speak English, and that is relatively close to home? There was really only one option in our mind: Maui.

Can you hear the ukulele music now?

I went to Maui with my parents and sister as a gift my senior year of high school. I remember it like it was yesterday. My family has always visited tropical destinations during the winter months to escape the cold, if even for just a week. We love the heat. I've carried that love with me to this day. 

My husband had never been to Maui. While discussions of our honeymoon transpired, I raved about my family's trip. The volcano, the whale watching, the luaus...what's not to like? 

My husband and I are both love being adventurous. For most of our trips we have decided what to do once we get to our destination. Call it crazy, but we have found that we have a better time when we travel like this. No itinerary, no reservations. We do what we feel like doing each day rather than being tied to a schedule. Most of the time, we ask the locals what to do once we arrive and gather a plan from there. They are the best itinerary money can't buy!

I understand not everyone is like us, and for those of you that like a plan or simply want a few ideas on what to do and where to eat in Maui, I wrote this for you.

This is a picture from my iPhone 6 that I took on the side of the road. Maui is that beautiful.

View from the airport

Where We Stayed 

My husband and I booked our hotel through Priceline and got a great deal at the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina. The resort has two pools, a grotto bar, two restaurants, live exotic birds, and excellent service. They also host their own luau. If you walk along the ocean and walk far right, you will find a great spot for snorkeling. We were also told about a snorkeling spot by a woman that worked at the pool. If you go to the park across from the post office (2 miles from the hotel) you are almost guaranteed to see a sea turtle. Don't touch them, though - the law doesn't allow it and the locals will be outraged. 

The Pool

{ Picture from the Hyatt Regency Website }

Grotto Bar

{ Picture from the Hyatt Regency Website }

View from our room

Our balcony view

View along our walk to our morning coffee spot

What We Did - Road to Hana

We started our first day early. Mainly because we flew in at 5:00 am, which wasn't too difficult because it was 3:00 pm our time and we slept on the plane. We were told that the Road to Hana can be dangerous because there are a lot of thieves along the way...the jury is still out on that one. Rather than risk it, we checked into our hotel early and put all of our things away before our journey.

First stop on the road - Paia Town

We started at the Hana Picnic Lunch Company. I read tons of great reviews about the place and it did not disappoint. They were open at 6:00 am for hikers and drivers to grab a meal for the day. I highly recommend packing a lunch because there are not many meal spots along the way.

We each got a breakfast sandwich, sandwich for lunch, all-natural mosquito spray, an insulated bag and giant water bottles. Bring water! You will definitely need it hiking in the heat. The mosquito spray was a godsend. There were so many people complaining about bites. The all-natural spray we picked up worked like a charm and smelled amazing.

Oh, and did I mention they have amazing gelato? We stopped by on the way back and pigged out on their cookie crunch.

Second stop - Twin Falls

I hope you wore good shoes. This trail is what they would call "advanced." If you have bad balance, weak legs, or a small child, move on to the next stop. This one is not for you. The beginning of our hike was scattered with light rain showers and falling leaves. Hiking about a half mile in, there was a large gate that read "experienced hikers only beyond this point." We looked at each other and shrugged. How hard could it be? The rest of the trip was fairly simple except for one spot - the rushing waters. There is a creek in the middle of the walkway that is about 10 feet wide. The creek had a very strong current the day we trekked it. We held hands and decided to try it out. The only problem was falling. If you were to fall in the creek you would promptly be carried across jagged rocks and down a small rapid into an area that I would imagine to be very difficult to crawl out of. We were both nervous. We moved slow. Painfully slow. If one went down, the other one was coming, too. Once we crossed successfully, it was all gravy. We found the jade green pool of water that the twin falls collected in. The water was ice cold and there were jungle vines hanging down everywhere. It was really romantic until a huge group of tourists came to join us. Time for our next stop.

Third stop - Garden of Eden

This is the view from the opening sequence of Jurassic Park!

The Garden of Eden was so beautiful! As soon as we entered, there were ducks and peacocks running up to our car like little puppies. We decided we would stop for lunch at this stop because of the beautiful views and picnic tables. Word to the wise - don't leave your food for a second. The peacocks are aggressive when it comes to food. One of them literally sat next to me on the picnic chair while I ate...and right when I thought I'd have a break from an animal staring at my every bite (our dog, Laila). This is the one stop along the way that requires payment before entering. We paid $15.00/person. 

Oh, and here's your chance to go to the bathroom, too.

Can I take him home?!?

Fourth stop - Halfway to Hana

Want to have the best banana bread you've ever eaten? Stop here. This stop offers a little snack shop from 1982 that offers banana bread, ice cream, hot dogs and various other refreshments. Other than that, there's really nothing to see here, folks.

Final stop

We were so exhausted from our previous stops and our flight that we skipped the other stops along the way until we got to the little town right before Hana. They had tons of cute food trucks, set up like a fair. Predominately they sold asian food, seafood and tacos. After being on the trail for 5 hours, this place smelled delicious. 

What do you fancy?

We're so punny.

Would this surf board fit in our luggage?

Aren't these the cutest things you've ever seen?!

Where We Ate

There are several great restaurants on Front Street. Our favorites were Frida's Beach House, Fleetwood's on Front Street, and Lahaina Fish Company. One spot we were told about after our trip (bummer) that is supposed to be excellent is Mama's Fish House. From what we were told, this spot has fresh-caught fish daily at a more affordable price than the more touristy restaurants. 

This salmon sandwich was heaven.

After the Road to Hana, we spent our days lounging by the pool, snorkeling and walking down the beach. I would have loved to go whale watching, but the season was over when we arrived. 

Please let me know if you have any questions about your upcoming trip to Maui! You will have an amazing time, I guarantee it!