25 Quick DIY Halloween Decorations

I'm throwing a quick Halloween party this weekend, and only have 2 day to come up with themed food ideas, and fun decorations. I stumbled across these 25 DIY decorations that are inexpensive and easy enough that I can pull some off before the party. 

These are some of the the ones I'm planing on doing. Super cute ideas!

I'm also planing on making deviled eggs that look like eye balls, and a pumpkin that looks like it threw up guacamole served with purple chips. I'll snap some pics and post later. 

12 Encouraging Bible Verses for Homeschooling Moms

Being a mom who homeschools can be rough at times. We all have those days that drain us and leave us feeling like we've failed. So having an adequate supply of encouragement is essential. And where can we get better encouragement from than the bible? I stumbled across 12 Encouraging Bible verses for homeschooling moms, and thought I'd share them here.

I know I struggle some days where my kids aren't staying on task, or the littles are interrupting. Its nice to know we have a God who can refresh us.

Trick-or-treat Table

We celebrate Halloween. Its an exciting time in our house, where my husband and I stay up late eating some of the candy my kids have worked hard for. I especially like peanut butter cups, and those strawberry hard candies with the filling inside.
We like Halloween in our house. We all dress up, and get our best begging-for-candy-face on, and head over to our churches trunk-or-treat to reel in the good stuff.

Since we have 5 small children, we never get the chance to stay home and pass out candy. We're always out trick-or-treating ourselves, and I always feel strange since we decorate the outside of our house and aren't home to pass out candy.
So this year I decided to decorate a cute table and place a bowl full of candy for the trick-or-treaters to enjoy.

I found this picture on Pinterest, and thought it was a fun idea. I couldn't find a link to link it back to the original. But heres an idea of what I'm going for come Halloween.

Chocolate Pecan Toffee

I have been making this recipe for years now. Each Christmas, family and friend know what they'll be getting. Its a simple recipe, takes about 15 min and its done! Hard part is to wait until it cools to eat...It seems like f.o.r.e.v.e.r for it to FINALLY cool. (20 min in the frig)

2 c. (real) butter
2 c. white sugar
1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. chopped pecans
Candy thermometer

Get your stuff ready! I used a jelly roll pan...cookie sheet will work too. Layer it with foil and slightly spray some oil down on top.
In a pot over med heat (or slightly over) melt your butter, then add in the sugar. At this point your locked in and must continue to stir constantly, so if the baby has a dirty diaper make the hubby change him/her...your makin' candy...and candy is serious!
You'll want to bring it to a rolling boil, and allow it to get to the "Hard crack" stage 300-310 (15ish minutes). pour it in the prepared cookie sheet, spread it out a bit. (usually you don't have to spread it, it will spread its self out) sprinkle the chocolate evenly on top, and wait 2 min. Now the chocolate will be nice a melted. Spread the chocolate over the candy with a plastic spatula, or spoon...lick the spoon after spreading and evenly sprinkle the nuts on top. Here's the hard part, place it in the frig for 20 min to allow to cool. I tried to sneak a bite and burned my tongue...I have the patience of a 3 year old! After those grueling 20 min, you should be able to break it into pieces and enjoy (with out your tongue being burned!)

*I found I had to make a practice batch each year to find the right temp to get the candy to when cooking it. Each area will be different depending on the weather. If its humid you may need a lower temp maybe around 290, if its dry out, you may need a higher temp 310-315. Here where I am its usually dry, so I have to cook my candy till it reaches a temp of 315ish.
**Also you'll want to watch the color of the candy. It needs to be a golden amber color.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Funny how the one day I make one of THE MOST AMAZING DINNERS EVER, the hubs is out of town working lol! Poor guy! I sent him pictures, and ranted on and on about how great this tasted. 

I pulled this meal together in about 25ish minuted minus the baking time. The first time I made it, I followed the directions exactly, it turned out so so, then tonight I made it again, (wanted to give it a second try) I tweaked the ingredients and with held some...I cant believe how great this turned out. The hubs comes back in 2 days, and I'm planing on making this again!

1 lb Rotisserie chicken shredded
1/2 lb sliced ham (lunch meat) chopped
8 slices swiss cheese
4 tabl butter
4 table flour
3 c milk
1 heaping tabl dijon mustard
1 1/2 tea salt
1/4 tea paprika
1/4 tea pepper
6 tabl butter
1 1/2 c panko
3/4 tea Lawry's seasoning salt
1 tea dried parsley

Heat your oven to 350.
While your oven is heating, begin making your sauce by melting the 4 tabl butter in a med sauce pan. Once melted add flour, whisk and cook for 1-2 min. Slowly whisk in your milk, add the mustard salt, paprika and pepper. Bring to a simmer and turn off once its thickened.
Sprinkle the chicken on the bottom of a 9 x 13" baking dish. Next evenly sprinkle the ham over, and layer with the sliced cheese. Pour the sauce over the cheese, making sure everything is completely covered (don't want anything getting jealous).
Next melt your butter in a dish in the microwave, add the Panko and stir well. Mix in the seasoning salt and parsley. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole and bake for 40 min. (top should be nice and golden)

Fall Acorn Treats

I've been trying to fine some cute Halloween/fall treats to make with my kids, and searching Pinterest I found these cute acorns. Now who doesn't love chocolate and peanut butter? It couldn't be more perfect! Let the seasonal pounds begin lol!

These were easy. My 3 year old helped me eat...I mean make them. The first time around I bought the large round nutter butter cookies, thinking they were the small bite size. Unfortunately those were too big, and didn't work, and we had to eat those (darn) and go on a search for the right size.

We slightly melted the flat parts of the chocolate kisses and pushed them on to the cookies. After we finished with all the cookies, we placed them into the fridge for 20 minutes to set.

All you need is nutter butter bites, chocolate kisses, chocolate chips, and someone to help eat them with you, preferable a cute 3 year old, but anyone will do.

You can store them (if there's any left over) in an air tight container when the chocolate has set. 

Jesus Story Book Bible

Thought I would share The Jesus Story Book Bible. I've been reading it to my kids for several years now, and have replaced it at least 4 times due to children and their special ways of destroying things.
My pastor have even taught from it, which was a great sermon about how God does what He does out of love for us.
Most my life, I had interpreted what I read from the bible about God to be an angry God, but honestly, after reading this book to my children, I have learned God did what He did out of great love for us! Its a humbling thing to learn such a huge lesson from my children story book bible.