Halloween at the Roost

Here's a few photos from Halloween. Yesterday morning we had some sweets...we were recuperating from the Florida State - Louisville game on Thursday night.

I put up a black Halloween tree this year.  Our porch is not as big as the one we had in Florida, but whatever!  (less to clean, right?)

I dressed up the skeleton to scare those visiting the guestroom.

Last night I served hot apple cider with cookies, and of course Merlot and Chardonnay to the adults...they need treats too!

We weren't really sure what the trick-or-treat turnout would be...but I had my sign ready.  Well, we had a huge crowd and it was freezing y'all!  (Note to self, have a fire pit in the front yard next year)  Also, I'll need to step up my game, because this neighborhood is a magnet for trick-or-treaters.  

Hope y'all had fun celebrating the spooky night!

Halloween Decor

Now that our house is yellow with turquoise and hot pink accents on the front porch, I decided to go with the colors turquoise and orange for Halloween.  The wreaths and tree were spray painted to match the color of my cushions on the porch and I added orange mesh ribbon bows...take a peek.

This is my tree this year...minus the black and orange and all the spooky witches from previous years.  Parents always take photos of their children in front of my spooky Halloween tree every year.  I'm guessing they might not be so taken with this tree...but I am!

Today I served lunch on the porch and wore a turquoise polka dot apron {from my Prissy Apron Collection}, monogrammed in orange...with an orange gingham blouse, leggings, and orange Revas.

For the table setting, I used orange plates with turquoise linen napkins, orange pumpkin napkin rings, and turquoise monogrammed goblets.

Kinda coastal...

We are expecting 1,000+ trick-or-treaters again this year and are seriously considering putting Halloween candy on layaway at Walmart!

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  

Halloween Supper on the Porch

Over the weekend, I had an impromtu Halloween Supper on the Porch...I used a chevron fabric for the tablecloth with some Halloween dinnerware that I've had for several years.

Only 10 days left until hundreds and hundreds of youngins hit us up for treats!

As this was last-minute, I brought out some of my decos from the inside to use for the centerpiece.  The petite orange tree is decorated with lime green, black, and purple ornaments and with streamers of lime green mesh ribbon.  It's topped off with a little witch's hat from Michael's and flanked with two lime green sequined pumpkins.

The place setting...The lime green chargers are from Michael's and the Halloween dinner plates are from HomeGoods several years ago.  The black iron flatware is from World Market.

Black linen napkins adorned with witch's hat napkin rings...

Menu
Pumpkin Sage Ravioli with
Tomato BasilSauce
Fresh Greens w/ Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette
French Bread
Pumpkin Cider

I prepared this easy Pumpkin Sage Ravioli with Tomato Basil Sauce from The Fresh Market...I'm so pumpkin-obsessed.  It was very good y'all!

My "Signature Beverage" for the night...Pumpkin Cider*.  I used handled mason jars and added little chalkboard signs for my placecards.

"Here's What I Wore"  A simple black tee and black leggings, along with pumpkin-motif earrings.  I chose this witchy apron from my "Prissy Apron Collection".

Dessert is served...chocolate cupcakes with striped cupcake umbrellas!

Closeup of cupcakes...

Witchy dessert napkins...

Cupcake plates...

*Recipe for Pumpkin Cider:
4 cups pumpkin puree
4 cups apple cider
2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp pumpkin spice

Mix over heat and serve.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and y'all have a blessed week!

NIBBLES & BITS SOIREE

I've had some issues with Blogger today...UGH! Finally, I'm able to post these photos from my "Nibbles & Bits Soiree" on Tuesday evening.

First, "HERE'S WHAT I WORE" How cute is the candy corn apron? I love it and felt very Sandra Lee-ish while wearing it...'cuz it coordinated with my tablescape! I was stylin' my orange pumpkin earrings and my orange 'Revas' by Tory Burch.

"HERE'S WHAT MISS COCO WORE" She wore a darling candy corn-motif dress--she wanted to match her mama! Isn't she just too much y'all! {Husband said "she looks old in this photo!" She's only 5...}

I set up the kitchen table and sideboard with some candy, a few veges, dips & cheese, and Halloweened it all up with party printables I found on Etsy. Take a look...

The pumpkin chandelier shades gave the room a 'spooky glow'...

"Nibbles & Bits" on the sideboard...

The runner is made with burlap which is all the rage now. I love the look of burlap on a tabletop! A little orange ric-rac border on the ends makes it very Halloween-ish!

Dips, veges, and crackers...
The Creamy Garlic Herb Dip is a Taste of Gourmet product I sell. It makes a great cheese ball or dip. I combined the mix with 8 oz. of cream cheese and 8 oz. of mayo to make a cold dip...easy y'all! There are 2 mixes in the box and the cost is $7.95/box. You can order here.

The Simply Spinach Dip is also a Taste of Gourmet product I sell which makes a great cheese ball and either a hot or a cold dip. I combined this mix with 8 oz. sour cream and 8 oz. of mayo to make a cold dip, again, tres easy! There are 2 mixes in this box as well and the cost is $7.95/box. You can order here.

The Bremner Wafers, another Taste of Gourmet I sell, are popular crackers in The Crown Restaurant in Indianola, Mississippi, where the owners of Taste of Gourmet serve ALL the products I sell. The crackers are $3.95 a box and you can order them here."

I love the dips and the crackers are wonderful...y'all need to get some!

Chocolate covered apples, dipped in nuts...
The bits...

More bits...

Caramel corn...which I'm still eating today!!!

The kitchen table was covered with a frayed-end burlap square cloth. I used my birdcage to hold the grapes and cheese...

Spooky-faced cupcakes...

Plastic flatware, wrapped in paper napkins, and secured with cute labels...Yes y'all, I use plastic tableware and paper napkins!!!

"Nibbles & Bits" plates...
My "Signature Beverage" was a Halloween Punch. I wanted to keep it simple and this recipe is just that...Mix orange juice, unsweet pineapple juice, and ginger ale together and voila...a refreshing drink. {You can sneek in some vodka to make it a little more party-friendly if you must!}

Get your party favors y'all!
Party favors are a must... I placed Halloween treats in cello bags and added cute printedlabels with Halloween wording to the top...

Thank you for visiting with me today. I will be back on Sunday with a few Halloween night photos...we're expecting hundreds of trick-or-treaters here at "The Roost." Husband and I will be dispensing treats on the front porch to the children and serving chardonnay in sippy cups for the guardians!!!

MISS JANICE'S HALLOWEEN TREE...ON THE PORCH

Are y'all ready for Halloween? I am...and so is Miss Coco!!! She's excited about two new outfits she has for the week...one to wear at her mama's "Nibbles and Bits" soiree and one to wear on Halloween night. She is ready for the witchey week! She said for me to tell y'all "Happy Fall Y'all!"
A little fall on the birdbath...

"You say witch like it's a bad thing"...Pumpkin love on the porch...monograms and dots--obsessed! Lord have mercy, I hate cords, but I've got so much stuff plugged in on the porch!

This year my Halloween tree has a 'witchey' theme...

The top is adorned with a witches' hat...the dots again!

Witchey woman...

Pretty witchey lady...

Love this witchey lady...

Every witch has a broom...

'Bad hair day' witch...

Counting down the days...

Witchey boot...

Preppy spiders on black ribbon bows...

Boo ornaments with gingham ribbon bows...

Last night we enjoyed the cool Florida breeze outside on the porch...Sippin' Pumpkin Pie in a Mug* and eating some chocolate chip cookies...

My pumpkin obsession continues with this fabulous drink "Pumpkin Pie in a Mug"*. I found the recipe (below) in the November/December 2009 edition of Southern Lady magazine. It's absolutey wonderful y'all! You must make it!!! Recipe for Pumpkin Pie in a Mug*
(From Southern Lady magazine)

3 cups half and half
3 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 tbsp vanilla extract
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
Garnish: whipped cream, pumpkin pie spice

In a large saucepan, combine half-and-half, milk, and sugar over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Add pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt, whisking to combine well. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally; do not boil. Garnish with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if desired. Makes 6 servings.

I hope y'all have a very spooky week...I'll be back later in the week with photos from my Halloween Soiree and of Halloween Night at "The Roost." Until then, I'll leave you with this photo of a cute sign I bought at the Mount Dora Fall Festival this past weekend...perfect for my porch!