Happy Halloween!!

Tricks & Treats for all!!!

One of my favorite things about Halloween (besides the dressing up, and the candy, and the decorations, and the parties???) is seeing witty/super creative costumes. Once I ventured onto the witty side (devil with a blue dress on) but that's nothing compared to some of these pros:

Celebrity Jeopardy genius.

Buzz Light Beer of course.

She's a brick.... house.

50 shades of grey anyone?

Dunkin' Donuts!!!

And last but not least... Stevie Wonder Woman.

Wishing you a most fantastic and Happy Halloween, be sure not to eat too much candy!!

one too many treats...

Hump Day Distractions

Perfect costume for your favorite ginger?

You guys.... YOU GUYS. I'm pleased to report after yesterday's post that you absolutely must read The Book Thief (if you haven't already) and then see it in theaters when it comes out November 15. The story is touching, the cast, cinematography and score stirring and the lead actress 13 year old Sophie Nélisse? Flawless (loved Geoffrey Rush as well). It's gonna be an awards season contender, I promise. And other than that... guesss whhhhattt dayyy it is!?? Guess what day it is!? Here to help you hump the day is a heaping pile of internet distractions. Enjoy!

* THIS is Disney-tastic, Chicago-lovin, absolutely freakin BRILLIANT. 

* Made it, ate it, loved it. Merry Meri and Dr. H tested and approved.

* Do you live in the state that matches your mood. Apparently I'm best suited for... gasp... Georgia!!!

* You've heard of Elf on a Shelf, but how about Mensch on a Bench!?

* So THIS looks completely terrifying...

* Dressing to impress really matters don't you think? (via CapHillStyle)

* Sad, true, eyeopening. A powerful ad campaign brought to you by Google and UN Women

* I'm really into these bags (via CupofJo)

* The celebs are Halloween-ing in full force. Who do you think dressed to impress?

* THIS guy. OMG this guy.

And with the big day being TOMORROW, here are a few last minute ideas to get yourself Halloween ready.

A Bloody good manicure!
Pin it HERE; full site HERE

a "handy" craft for the kiddos
Pin it HERE; full site HERE

Monster Apples, Creepy Chili, Spider Web Soup, Spooky
Smoothies and other Easy and Fun Halloween Recipes
Pin it HERE; full site HERE

Actual LOL

Laugh it up

What better way to start off the week than with a laugh!? Though I cannot personally attest to the effectiveness of this product, 1) I'm certainly intrigued, and 2) this ad is the bees knees. 

Big ups to Sis for sending this funny my way!

And for those of you still in need of a costume, today's 31 Days of Halloween (sourced from the lovely Diana over at ExPress-o) brings you the 10 Best Last Minute Halloween Costumes. You're welcome :)

On Frogging

It isn't easy being green.

Dr. H and I are currently embroiled in a bitter night time a war. In truth, the war has been waging for years, with periods of relative peace marked by sudden and unpredictable uprises. It is the War of The Frog. The frog, for those unfamiliar with it, is the sleeping position in which the sleeper, on his/her side or stomach, keeps one leg straight while the other is bent, tucked under and slightly to the side (very much like a sitting frog <--). "Frogging", as we affectionately refer to it, is the preferred sleeping position of yours truly and recently Dr H has been going through a bit of a frogging phase himself. But that's not what sparked the war. The war is the result of each of our preference for frogging toward the middle of the bed and inevitably, going "over the line". Dr H gave me a stern warning the other morning that I'd spent much of the night with my frog leg on his side of the bed. Somewhere around 2am last week, I physically shoved off his frog, to remove it from my hip (viewed as an act of unprovoked aggression by my bed-mate). 

So are we supposed to get a bigger bed (you know I've considered a bigger bed..!) or are we supposed to lay down each night and jigsaw puzzle piece our way into sleeping position leaving to chance the possibility of an over the line infraction in which someone takes a knee to the gut (or groin, sorry!) during the night? We are not the biggest people, we should be able to manage in our generously proportioned queen size bed. But with my right frog and his left frog refusing to back down, for now, the war wages on.

PS: 31 Days of Halloween

Just in time for the weekend, click HERE for full instructions from Simple As That to make these absolutely adorable Halloween crafts. The kiddos are gonna LOVE 'em. (Click HERE to Pin It)

PPS: "Feed Your Football Face" Recipe of the Week - Pepperoni Cheese Stick Roll Ups

I think the picture says it all folks (especially since the Pin doesn't link to anything!!) but just in case... Buy the pre-packaged dough, some pepperoni (or turkey pepperoni, which FYI is delish) and cut your polly-o's in half. Roll, paint on a little olive oil, sprinkle w garlic and bake til brown. Don't forget the red sauce for dipping!!

PPPS: A truly heartwarming thanks for the lovin I got in the comments section yesterday. I guess my need for inspiration was a bit reflective of my uninspired mood and holy cow was it uplifting to hear from some of you. Thank you thank you and have a wonderful weekend my merry friends!!!

This is the beginning...

anything.

This has turned into one of those weeks when I feel like some inspirational words are in order...

take time.

Have Courage.

there is no never.

be wonderful.

And then, of course, we have our 31 Days of Halloween to attend to!!

How awesome are these creepy, crawly spider chocolate chip cookies!? The brain child of Hungry Happenings (full recipe HERE), these spider treats are super easy to create and totally awesome to see. 

31 days of Halloween

Just 9 more days until Halloween!!

Stopping in real quick to throw some Halloween goodies at ya... it's been a nutty morning. I think I'll blame it on the 10 minutes I spent preparing and chugging my lemon water :) Either way, Happy Halloween-y Tuesday!

So these are kinda gross looking, but also really awesome. Unfortunately the pin doesn't link to instructions, but I'm going to deduce that they're something like "slice a raw hotdog as seen in the picture; wrap in stringy strips of pre-made crescent dough; bake until light brown." Seems about right..! I think your kiddos need some mummy dogs in their life this Halloween!!

Another seasonal item perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving and everything in between. These adorable acorns are super easy to create and make for a bite sized autumn treat! Click HERE for full instructions from Gracious Rain or HERE to pin it.

Isn't this mustache o'lantern just the cutest thing? Even easier than carving, click HERE for full instructions from The Swell Life or HERE to pin it. (PS- where can I find white pumpkins!?)

Have a colorful weekend!!

bbbaaahh-utiful!

Guess who is TOTALLY PUMPED that it's Friday!? THIS gal!!! I am so so (so) excited to have survived this post-vacation beast of a week and I've got an awesome weekend ahead so it doesn't get much better than that. I hope you have something special planned too :) Here to take us into the weekend is a mess of goodies from around the web. Enjoy!!!

Rock on.

The new Pearl Jam album, Lightning Bolt, came out this week and it is a solid outing from one of my favorite rock bands. Though it's nothing revolutionary, it's track after track of brooding musicality and thoughtful lyrics. I've got a date with Eddie and the rest of the band at Barclays tonight and I won't mind hearing a few of these newbies mixed in with the 90s/00s Pearl Jam I fell in love with.

More about those totally fly rainbow sheep (straight from Pinterest, because I believe everything I read on the internet): Freshly dyed sheep run in view of the highway near Bathgate, Scotland. The sheep farmer has been dying his sheep with nontoxic dye since 2007 to entertain passing motorists...

And because I know I owe you at least two 31 Days of Halloween goodies from this week:

So easy and absolutely adorable as Halloween party decor, all you need are some white and orange balloons and a sharpie to pull together this crafty creation!

Autumn nights...

If you're looking for seasonal decor that's more on the classy side and all-fall-long friendly (these would look awesome at the entry to your home for Thanksgiving!) try this DIY from Design Mom (link to full instructions HERE) for apple votive candles. I love the idea of floating the fruit, 'a la bobbing for apples, too!

And lastly, because it's Friday and pigskin seasons is officially in full swing....

"Feed Your Football Face" Recipe of the Week: Buffalo Cauliflower*

*brought to you by Persnickety Plates

Tailgate food is not typically healthy food and no one wants to be the chick that brought the veggie platter, but this creative recipe seems to really deliver the best of both worlds - classic tailgate taste, none of the post-pig out guilt.

Ingredients  

head of cauliflower
For the batter

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup water
dash of Frank's Wing Sauce (or Frank's Original Hot Sauce)
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon dried onion (I use Tastefully Simple's Onion Onion)
For the buffalo sauce
1/4 cup Frank's Wing Sauce
3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
pinch of salt

Directions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

- Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with non-stick spray (I always use olive oil spray) and set aside.

- Wash your head of cauliflower and cut into pieces. I made a variety of sizes.

- In a medium bowl, mix together the batter ingredients. It will be fairly thick.

- Dip each piece of cauliflower into the batter until fully and evenly coated. Place onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.

- Bake for about 15 minutes until the batter just hardens.

- In a small bowl, mix together the buffalo sauce ingredients.

- Once the cauliflower are done, remove from the oven and brush with the buffalo sauce. Again, fully and evenly coat each piece.

- Put back into the oven and bake for a few more minutes (I think 5-7 minutes was my range), until  the sauce has mostly dried and the cauliflower is crispy.

- Remove from the oven, let cool, then enjoy! (dip in Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing!?)

Click HERE for the full recipe (including printable version) or HERE to Pin it!

Check out previous "Feed Your Football Face" recipes HERE.

Hump Day Distractions

Guess what day it is you sassy pink fellow you...

"I can't wait to go home and arrange these gords in our new basket!" - Thing I actually said last night. (#decorativegordseason). It's Wednesday... not Friday. Good lord someone get me to Friday. But in the meantime, let's get our hump on.

* Gloria Steinem absolutely shuts down the lame Miley Cyrus debate going on.

* Oh Restoration Hardware... you so silly.

* This seems like a craft project that just might be worth the effort (tassel-tastic!)

* So. Many. Tasty. Grilled. Cheeses.

* Romance in the Big Apple. J'adore.

* Going through a bit of a skull phase... diggin this necklace.

* I own more than a few of THESE life-changers and I absolutely agree (lookin at you SodaStream!)

* From black and white to color... very cool.

* This kid is my hero. My food loving, poop-chatting, hero.

And for today's 31 Days of Halloween, HERE are 25 adorable kiddie costumes (some of my most favorites below).

Hump Day Distraction (singular)

Look! It's a pineapple wearing sunglasses! HA!!!

And because I really do love you, here's your daily 31 days of Halloween delight:

These shadow puppets are perfect for some festive Halloween decor (taped to the outside of a candle they'd cast awesome shadows on the wall!) or for the kiddos to play with. Click HERE to Pin it or HERE to go directly to ChezbeeperBebe's site for the free printables.

F.I.T.S. of Merriment

Château d'Ussé (inspiration for Sleeping Beauty!!)

Merry Meri is on vacation this week so she's left you with something Funny, something Interesting, something Tasty and a Site she loves (F.I.T.S.!!) to hold you over until her triumphant return. Enjoy!

Funny: Maybe it's because we had them as pets, but I find this very VERY funny.

Interesting: This old guy is pretty freaking adorable (via exPress-o)

Tasty/31 Days of Halloween: These mini caramel apples are super easy to make and far more "eat-able" (that's right, eat-able, not edible!) than their larger whole-apple counterparts. A perfect wow-worthy dessert for your next fall get together! Full instructions  (and topping ideas!) HERE.

SiteILove: Love to shop? Love to find a good deal on the things you want to buy!? Well then I have a site for you!! Copy Cat Chic is a fantastic blog which compares high price point items (mostly home goods, but adult and kid clothing too) to their less expensive counterparts. Tis beyond fabulous.

F.I.T.S. of Merriment

Azay le Rideau

Merry Meri is on vacation this week so she's left you with something Funny, something Interesting, something Tasty and a Site she loves (F.I.T.S.!!) to hold you over until her triumphant return. Enjoy!

Funny: A smiley turtle. Yup.

Interesting: Touch it and you'll turn to stone. Whoa.

Tasty: So I guess we're all taking a trip to Chicago for THIS!?

SiteILove: Want to follow a super chic mama on her adventures with 2 kiddos in NYC? Marissa of Lady & Prince used to work for Oscar de la Renta, now she works for Ivanka Trump, and in the midst of all that awesome she has a beautiful family in Dumbo, Brooklyn. A little bit fashion, a little bit family and a whole lot of NYC, I'm studying and learning and loving reading about all of her adventures.

31 Days of Halloween: Ding dong the witch is dead!! Check out this be-witching front door decor which is easily executed with a pair of stuffed tights and old shoes tucked under your welcome mat.

Au revoir!

I'm in a Parisian state of mind...

Friiiday. FRIIIDAY. FRRRRIIIIIDAAAAYYY!!! And not to brag, but this Friday is extra sweet for me because Dr. H and I are off on a(nother) anniversary adventure, this time to France! (I bragged). Anyway, even if you aren't headed to France tonight, I'm wishing you the most wonderful weekend and some sunny, smiley October days ahead. Plenty of goodies will still be here between the 31 Days of Halloween and some F.I.T.S. of Merriment, so keep stopping by and being merry. Au revoir!

31 Days of Halloween - A Glow-in-the-Dark Mummy Pumpkin!

This adorable alternative to a jack 'o lantern is sure to bring the smiles (and if you ask me, it's just as cool!) Pin it HERE or go straight to the BHG instructions HERE.

"Feed Your Football Face" Recipe of the Week: Chili Mac Casserole*

*brought to you by Lady Behind the Curtain

This hearty dish is perfect for the colder weeks ahead when tailgating means warming up and filling up with something tasty.

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

2 pounds lean ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 - 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 - 16 ounce kidney beans, undrained

6 ounces tomato paste

4 ounces chopped green chilies

2-1/2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups Mexican cheese blend, shredded

Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook macaroni according to package directions. In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and garlic until meat is no longer pink. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, tomato paste, chilies and seasonings. Drain macaroni; add to beef mixture. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Click HERE for the full recipe (including printable version) or HERE to Pin it!

Check out previous "Feed Your Football Face" recipes HERE.

31 Days of Halloween

Indeed.

October has arrived, my first batch of beloved candy corn has been purchased (and consumed) and my Pinterest feed is bursting with seasonal inspiration... Halloween, my friends, is nearly here!! Which got me to thinking - you peeps seem to LOVE all things autumn and Halloweeny just as much as I do, so why should Christmas be the only holiday with a whole month-long calendar's worth of fun!? Today Seek to be Merry is officially kicking off the 31 days of Halloween, a month-long orange, black, costumed and pumpkin spiced celebration of my most favorite holiday (July 4th is a close second:) Each day, in addition to my regular posting, I will share a seasonal goody with you, everything from decor ideas to recipes and costume inspiration. It will be boo-tiful:) And since today is technically the 3rd day of 31, no tricks, just 3 treats to kick off our month!!! 

Trick or Treat!!

Since your front door plays such an important part in all the Halloween festivities, why not get it dolled up for the occasion!? Last year I suggested THIS mummified version, but if something a bit more monstrous is your preference, here's how to get the look courtesy of Parents.com.

Snap, crackle, boo!!!

A seasonal sweet treat that's beyond easy to make in bulk? Yes please! These pumpkin rice krispie treats (with tootsie roll stems!) via Food, Family and Friends are perfect for Halloween parties of all ages and will be sure to score smiles.

Everything's coming up roses!

How awesomely adorable is this costume?! Ladies, 1 quick trip to your local craft store (and possibly also home depot for the plastic planter) and you're ready to go. All you have to do is cut out the bottom of a large plastic pot, affix two thick straps (I'd use a staple gun and something rubbery and durable like a theraband) and go crazy with the fake flowers and glue gun. Add a floral hairband for an extra ounce of awesome!