Okay, we’ve been MIA. We admit it. Shhh…our secret undertakings while being off grid were totally worth it! We going on the road and first stop is Midway Swiss Days! But seriously, our Tirli Wirli by No Fuss Fabulous booth is serious. It is too cute to spook.

The Texas heat has driven me indoors! I am counting the days until I can feel the first fall breeze! In the meantime, I design upstairs in my office wearing a swimsuit or cotton dress with my hair in a ponytail when my little ones go down for their mid afternoon naps. I’m a little anxious for school to start. What can I say? It’s been a long hot summer. Fourteenth day in a row over 100 here actually. Not that any one is counting.Here is what I’ve come up with. You’ll notice my midsummer’s dream of fall in some of them…

Miniature personal pies are all the rage right now. And what better time to jump on the bandwagon than this Thanksgiving? Blame it on the cupcake, but every one is loving these mini sweet treats. Here are some of our favorites for inspiration. Recipes are included for most!

With Thanksgiving and the Christmas season shortly before us, I thought it was a perfect time to hold a laid back and cozy soup party with dear friends who may be too busy dashing through the snow in a few weeks to get together.

Once a year, I hold a Harvest Soup Party. I have dear friends over and invite them to bring a homemade soup to share. Although the event is generally potluck (some years I have varied), I try to keep the event as formal as possible while keeping a warm inviting atmosphere. I believe creating a formal event makes people feel special while keeping an event warm makes people feel at home. My favorite easy detail of last year’s Harvest Soup Party was the place settings. Instead of using just cards, I purchase white pumpkins, glittered them with gold spray glitter from the can, and then tied brown cardstock tags with ribbons onto the stems.

Lacking inspiration for your Halloween bash? Pull out your cookie cutters, ladies. Cookie cutters are just not for sugary dough shaped treats anymore. Cookie cutters are being used to create everything from pumpkin sandwiches to pumpkin carving perfection. Here are a few of my favorite Halloween cookie cutter inspirations

These edible witch hats are absolutely my favorite Halloween treat! They are easy, adorable, and oh-so-good! Last year, we did a small spotlight on these adorable cookies in our Mummy-friendly Halloween Treats post along with several other spooktacular goodies, but this year I wanted to give them the little extra attention they deserve! They are the best mom Halloween treat ever. They are simple enough that your children can make them with you, but adorable enough that you can serve that at your own “Witch’s Tea.”

Loralee and I are having one of those weeks where we can’t decide if we should lock up the bird brains around us or just ourselves! We should probably do what Jessica Tandy did in The Birds: she just kept running! (Totally off the subject: Have I ever mentioned that I would love to look like Jessica Tandy when I’m old?) And so, this post is for all those people who wouldn’t mind locking up a bird brain or two…or have a severe case of ornithophobia. This is an easy and cheap Halloween decoration craft as well as a way to desensitize your ornithophobias – it is a two for one tutorial!We are that generous. Ornithophobes please read on about the terror about to be inflicted upon you…

This delicious Squid Ink Pasta in Shrimp Cream Garlic Sauce is perfect for a Halloween couples party! You can buy squid ink pasta dried at your local Italian deli or online here.  It has a …

Witches have sass. Think about the Wicked Stepmother Witch of Snow White, Glenda the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch of the West, Maleficant, and every witch in every fairy tale. These women strut their stuff in square toed or very pointy shoes or in some cases Ruby Slippers! They are not afraid to go out at night. Witches would rather cackle than laugh quietly behind their hand (don’t you find that annoying? WHY would you want to cover up a smile or laugh!? Just let it out!) Witches are comfortable with who they are, even if it is not the norm. Let’s be honest, not many of us are regularly wearing horizontally striped socks for a reason! Or hiring flying monkeys or other delightful minions! Where can I get more minions?!? It feels great to be a witch for Halloween because you can embrace their wickedly fabulous attititude. If you are going to be a witch, hey, do it in style! Here is a quick and easy tutorial on how to add some bling to that pointy hat!