Reminiscing Past Halloweens

I'm so sad to report that this is one of the first years that I haven't done any type of function for Halloween, whether it be party or dinner. I don't know what's gotten into me actually, I guess I'm not feeling it this year...Or I'm saving up for a HUGE bash next year.

 My friend Christie is sure there's something wrong with me for how much I like the creepy stuff. I love the silly vampire books and anything mythical, so I think enjoying Halloween goes hand in hand with all the other geeky things I like. I just watched Modern Family (funniest show EVER!) last night, it was their Halloween episode, naturally. If you watched it, you could compare me to Claire. Need I say More? 

Since there will not be my own party to blog about this year, I'm going to post pics from last years dinner party, with my dark mistress lady friends and some from the year before that's party. Enjoy!

This was some scrap fabric from Walmart, torn in two, to make a spooky entry to dining room. (not really a dining room at all, actually, formerly craft room turned bedroom.)

Favor boxes, inside was the most amazing chocolate caramels, sent straight from the sugar gods (Martha's food team). 

The Gothic-Glam table setting. Complete with assorted antique silverware, thanks Grandma B! 

I had two menus, one was the spooky version of the 7 courses, and the other a translation. 

Full room view, as much as I could get anyways. Clearly, there was a colour theme throughout.

Place settings with bling. I had made up names for all my mistresses, following along as much as I could with their own names. This one was for Christie, Christiana La Roi.

Night shot, a little blurry, but you get the idea anyways.

The chandelier, with cobwebs and handmade bats that I had strung up with wire. As the evening went on and the candles heated up the room, the bats started shaking. Love it!

As well, I should mention that there are special bulbs, that our fantastic electrician found for me, that are chandelier bulbs that flicker like candles! They were so perfect for creating a spooky atmosphere.

Melted bat layer cake. With candied eyeballs, yes I love the creeepy things.

The most stunning reveal I've ever had, as well as the most work for one dessert. The first piece out and first bite made making 33 chocolate crepes all worthwhile.

Action shot!

 The last course, around midnight, was blood red hot chocolate, with homemade marshmallow bones.

These next pictures are from the year before last. Christie and I combined forces for this party, which seems to be the best way to do it, twice the creative juices and twice the budget! It was a Halloween Bash to say the least! We even had a graveyard in the front yard, complete with creepy lanterns. For  some reason I didn't get a picture of it :(

This was on the shelves behind the wet bar. We made specimen jars out of actual specimens! Some were made out of vegetables, but the best were made out of cows tongue and tripe. We had so much dry ice too, friggin' love that stuff!

 Food table. Some of the names we came up with were really gross, like Scabs & Moldy Pus Dip, (I can hear Christie now, "Ewwwww, where does this stuff come from?!") but it all added to the creep factor.

Love the dry ice!

Dead Marie Antoinette and Moulin Rouge hottie!

Christie and I goofing around before the party.

I'm so excited to go to one of our couple friends party this year, so I'll try and take pics and post those in lieu of my not-happening-party.

Banff Springs Family Weekend

With part of stucco season over, Ben and I decided to take the girls away for the weekend. 

Destination: Banff!

We got to the Banff Springs hotel on Friday evening and got checked in. Venice was promptly presented with a tiara and was crowned Castle Princess! The look on her face was SO stinking cute!

We took the girls out the next morning, first stop? Candy store!!

I captured the stunned silence on Venice's face when Ben turned her around to see the window full of candy.

We spent a TON of time in the hot tub and pools. Yep, I said pools. They had a huge inside pool, a children's pool and a huge outdoor pool. Even though it wasn't super warm outside, we spent most of our time in the outdoor pool which was so warm! It was a little awkward though, with the tourists above us on the balcony taking pictures....

 There was an aquarium at the sushi restaurant in the hotel, and 

Venice had to see Nemo every time we walked by, which was about 4 times a day, as it was on the way to the pool.

I'm loving my new camera and can't believe the quality of the pictures it take!

The view from our room.

My favorite little (ha! little, right) nook, I don't know if it's the color, the view or a combination, but I could sit in this corner with a coffee and read a good book all day!

I think this is my favorite picture from the weekend. Venice wanted to twirl the moment we got to the hotel, we had taken her to the banquet room the first night, but I had told her that this castle had a real ballroom. Well, we found it and she twirled to her hearts content! Then she told Ben that she's going to be married here. Uh Oh!

Here's my little bug! All bundled up and ready to go.  I must say that Banff is not exactly stroller friendly, we had to carry the stroller up various flights of stairs in town and in the hotel. But over all it was worth having it along.

Carriage ride for the Princess Venice! It was so cold, but we had blankets and each other to keep warm. 

We took the girls bowling for the first time (can you imagine, our hotel had it's own bowling alley?!)

I love this picture!  

She was so funny! She had to do it all by herself, and the ball rolled SO slowly. When the ball hit the gutter she'd slap her leg and say "Oh Man!"

What a character!

The mountain pictures are from the first morning we were there and the morning we were leaving.

We just made it out of the park before it got bad, except that when we came home, there was more snow at home than in Banff!

We had such a great time, and it was so nice to have a whole weekend together as a family. I can't wait for when stucco season is really over!

SURPRISE!!!

For around three weeks I have had all these things that I wanted to post about... Purple Velvet Cupcakes, making my own cupcake stand (for less than $5, booya!) making tissue paper pom-poms, etc etc. But alas, I could not! It was all for a surprise party for my friend and cousin-in-law, Jen! And I know that she checks this blog (but she's not a follower...this will be remedied soon). So now that the party if over, I can officially do my first party post!

Pom-pom Central

 My homemade cupcake stand. For less than $5, I can make one for every party I throw and always have coordinating colors!

The Frame of a thousand parties. I've used this frame for more parties and themes than I can count! Thanks Christie!

It now currently holds 8 pirated pictures of the birthday girl. 

(Thanks facebook!) 

My attempt at a Kara's Party feature table.

The surprise hit of the party, Grape cotton candy.

and no, Jody, I did not make it myself.

Purple Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting as well as organic chocolate-coconut with buttercream frosting. 

Candy jars, again, thanks Christie! With the much anticipated theme drink, Absinthe.

(Which turned out to be such a EPIC letdown! DO NOT buy this, if you feel the insane need to try this, please, take mine)

Some of the guests, eagerly awaiting the guest of honor.

I had this whole thing planned down to the letter except the part where I wouldn't hear the all important text message, saying that Jen and Travis were at the front door :( Jen ended up surprising us.  She had no clue what was happening (thankfully) and we were still able to surprise her. We popped streamers and confetti and jumped out of the theatre room! It was great!

A stunned Jen!

The birthday girl and the hostess.

Also pictured, but sadly not visible was the AMAZING Wilton drink sparkles!! Never has there been anything so neat to add to an drink. It was a hit, even the guys wanted to sparkle up their beer!

Something they probably wouldn't want announced publicly.

Party council meeting.

All in all it was a great night with good friends and good wine and a sadly not warm enough hot tub:( 

I can't wait for the next party, whenever it is!

Caramel Apples & Cabin Time

My friend Ang and her son Kache came over on Friday for a playdate and lattes! Yay for Lattes! I mean...Yay for playdates! Well, I guess they go hand in hand. 

I had picked up a caramel apple kit at Costco the night before and figured this would be as good a time as any to try it out. It was sort of a gong show, but it was entertaining nevertheless. Plus what's better than a sugary treat at 9:30 in the morning?

The kit from Costco was great! Everything pictured below was included except for the apples for $8! What a steal!

The little mess-makers went to work. The one bad thing was the caramel cooled so fast that you really had to jam those friggin' sprinkles in!

                                      

 CHEEEEEEEESE!

Look at that determination!

Ang and I did make our own....They did not turn out as picture-worthy as the kids'.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings at Ben's Aunt and Uncle's place on Saturday night, then headed out straight for our cabin at Gull Lake. 

(well, not directly out, we had to make an emergency stop in Blackfalds, for a soother....I left all 9 of Giselle's in her crib at home.)

The next morning the sky was so gorgeous! Every shade of pink and orange was all over the clouds, I had to get a picture with my phone. This is out the side window of the kitchen, you can see the lake off in the distance.

Ben made a nice fire and then bacon and eggs for us, then we set out for the park!

This was Giselle's first swing ride...She wasn't too sure about it.

Oh wait! She loved it! Just like a jolly jumper...sort of. She swung(?) for at least 45 minutes. 

 Venice was teaching her how to swing.

"like this zeezelle!"

My 3 kids :)

I just have to point out that this is the worst slide ever built! Venice was wearing yoga pants and still had to PULL herself down the slide!

We had such a great time (in fact it was our first time since last summer when I was pregnant with Giselle) that we stayed another night.

He have so much to be thankful for. It was really nice to get away and reflect on everything that God has blessed us with.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!