A Bootiful Party...

Since it is still two weeks away this is a very small scale of my coming Halloween party, but I did make a few treats for all to enjoy, I hope...

First off - you absolutely HAVE to wear a costume to my party - sorry, it is the rules...here's my gown:

I love this gown, so flattering and with a crinkly black heavy petticoat underneath! Bloody Mary and her father, King Henry VIII look on. Jealous, no doubt. ;)

It looks even better on - the skirt is much fuller. I added a mask for a hint of mystery...

Hungry? Have a deviled egg - or are they eyeballs? I can't tell...

And if you are thirsty, be sure to try the dragon's blood punch. Yum...

Would you like an eyeball to go with that??

And lest you think the fare is not healthy, have a veggie stick, too. See, I do have normal food.

And I know this is a dreadfully small post, but then I have been rather busy the last few weeks, not to mention sick. I have also posted several Halloween related posts lately so feel free to skim down and see - or click on the subject link of Halloween to see past Halloween posts and parties.

Also - while I do not have a giveaway this time, I AM coming up on my 200th post - just five more posts and I will do a giveaway then - hooray! So be sure to stop on back and visit around Halloween to see my RL party and also to check in for a chance to win something.

For extra chances to win you can -

1: Comment here or at any other one of my previous posts

2: Add yourself to my followers on the right (If you are already a friend of this blog you will also get the extra chance).

Then be sure to comment on the 200th post. You get can get three chances to win this way.

Now on to the other parties!! Point me to yours if you'd like me to make sure and visit. Happy Halloween!!

Sharing a bit of Fall...

Aaaah, Fall -you are so beautiful. I love searching for the perfect pumpkin...

Even if it ends up being a little mini pumpkin like this one - I love the shape and color, so cute! I added a tiny silver bud vase full of twigs from my redbud tree - very fall looking and I was going to polish the silver vase and then thought it looked extra October-y and Halloween looking tarnished as it is - and don't you love the feet on that vase?

And you can't stop at one tiny pumpkin or gourd - you must buy several in different styles. I piled mine up in my white pedestal bowl.



And of course Fall comes with cold weather - so my kitties find nice warm spots to snuggle up in and purr...

Speaking of cats - I just love this poster we've had for decades - it's an American Lung Association poster.

I love the three cats and the We don't Want You to Smoke at the bottom is just a bonus.

Halloween Shopping and a Party, too.

Yes, the Halloween craze continues...

Good news for Halloween nuts like me - Target is back just about as great as ever for the holiday. They expanded their section - as big as their Christmas display - about time! I drooled over all the new stuff and just couldn't help buying a few new things to add to my collection. (I'm bad...)

First up - a fantastic tablecloth!!

From Target.com here.

Here's a close up detail of mine:

They don't have any available online, but they had them in the store, but very few so if you want one I'd grab it fast! They had other cute tablecloths, but I just love the cool fonts here - it looks even better in person. My only complaint is it doesn't come for a round table, only oblong, oh well.

Also too cute to miss - these salad 'tongs':

Guess I'm making a salad now for Halloween because these are too funny not to use.

And not to be missed - Miss Vanessa's Halloween Party!

I'll be having a little party here, too, of course. :)

Witchy Woman...

I am such a kid when it comes to Halloween. Seeing things up on Etsy and in the stores for Halloween gives me such a thrill!!

I can't wait any longer to show you the latest item I bought for my favorite holiday.

I found these two great old books to add to my witchy decor...

Beautiful aren't they? But no, they were not the greatest antique/vintage score every - they are book boxes from Garden Ridge of all places!

So now I can safely store a few of my Halloween items after the holidays. They are some of the nicest book boxes I've seen - very nice covers that feel pretty real and the smaller book is rather textured and both of these feel like a real book in your hands. I'm over the moon about them. ;)

The other items displayed are: a great dark red bottle I've had for many years - looks like something the Wicked Witch Stepmother from Snow White had. I also have a blue one, my small crystal ball on a stand (I have a big one elsewhere - this one I keep on my bookshelf year round), and finally a fantastic dark red scarf with moons and stars I purchased in Salem, Mass.

Colorful Quilt Throw

I'm just popping in to show off the quilt my 89 year old Yiayia gave me this last weekend. She worked so hard on it and it's so cheerful and colorful.

Louie approves as you can see. ;)

Louie: Pretty quilt, I can't wait to shed all over it...

I especially like the colorful embroidery floss stitching the squares together - so pretty. The batik fabrics are my favorite. I just love the color scheme - it seems so fitting for the summer. I'll be packing it away soon to enjoy next year.

I'm not big on quilting myself. I like quilts, but the actual process of making them doesn't interest me much. I usually prefer far more subdued quilts of two colors - like red and white or blue and white and usually stear clear of patterned material, but in this case it really works. I love it. ;)

I don't know about you, but I think it's pretty impressive for 89 years old and bad arthritis to stitch it all together by hand. I told her I'd post pictures of this up on the computer and she was quite impressed and proud. Thank you, Yiayia - you're an inspiration! :)

Hoping you all have a bit of color and cheer in your day, too...

Fall Cheesecake

Now that it is September and the weather is cooling down it is inevitable that we turn to Fall for inspiration.

Today we celebrated my grandpa's birthday so my grandmother decorate a small cheesecake for him with strawberry topping, fresh strawberries and a chocolate bow as well as a sprinkling of chocolate fall leaves she made herself.
She told me she made the chocolate modeling clay herself with melted chocolate chips and corn starch - the yellow and rust colored leaves were from white chocolate.

Happy Labor Day Weekend and so long summer - I'll miss you...

Nearly time...

Labor Day Weekend is coming up and I'm all excited to go to my favorite festivals this year since last year I was in too much pain to enjoy them.

Top of the list festival of the weekend -

The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival!!My family never misses out on this one - the best food EVER. It's pretty much acknowledged to be a top event to visit in St. Louis. They are always packed and if you go - prepare to wait in long lines for food. Well worth it, though. My favorite are the shishkabobs, pilaf and a piece of their sinfully good spanikopita. Mmmmm... I can't wait.

Also at the festival - Greek dancing, a little maketplace for jewelry, clothes, etc. and a tour of the beautiful church.

Click on the dancing men for more information and pictures, but I have to say it is much better in person - I think they need a better photographer and website designer.

Next up:

The Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Click on the banner for a direct link. I love the Taiko drumming, the Sumo wrestling, the fantastic kimonos and jewelry for sale, the food, I could go on and on. The garden has a beautiful Japanese garden available to visit year round. My cousin got married there and it was just beautiful.

Crossing my fingers while I hope for good weather...

Cookie, anyone?

There's nothing quite like the taste and smell of fresh baked cookies...
They aren't super special cookies - just regular old chocolate chip cookies...except I add a little extra vanilla - oh and I use Ghirardelli chocolate chips...and pecans - plenty of pecans. Yummmm... They're going fast! ;)

Saturday Fun: Historic Main Street St. Charles

Saturday fun - just browsing around historic St. Charles stores. I love their old signs and far older buildings. The coblestone streets and tiny balconies and flowers and trees everywhere as well as horse drawn carriages. It was very hot so we only shopped a litte while. Still I snapped a few pics of my favorite signs. I once blogged a little about St. Charles here shortly before my surgery last year if you want more pics including the Alice Tea Party signs.

Without a doubt my favorite sign - love that button!

Stained glass store - pretty sign displaying their talent.

Someone dressed up this Fox and it got a lot of attention on the sidewalk - cute!



And my other favorite sign - love that silhouette!!

Beat the Heat!

Have a refreshing cool treat.

Like watermelon - mmmm!

Another great thing to do is watch Mad Men on AMC right now.

Image from amctv.com

Loving the vintage clothes we get to drool over! I especially love how Joan dresses - her blue dress with the ruffles last week was to die for. I can't find a picture of it anywhere - anyone know where I can find one? John Hamm is fantastic in this series - and he's from St. Louis, too! ;)

They are even doing a casting call for anyone that would like to try for a walk in part. See Heather's blog entry for more details and to help her pick a photo to send in - I LOVE the Coca Cola pic! ;)