Desperately Seeking Gina

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AWB BLOGtober Fest: Posts from the Past



Conjuring up some not-so-scary treats for Halloween doesn’t have to take you into the bewitching hour.  These posts from the past will help you come up with some tantalizing and tasty treats for all your favorite ghouls & boils. And the best part?  They won’t take any time at all.  Happy Trick-or-treating, friends!

Linking up at Arkansas Women Bloggers for Day 4.

AWB BLOGtober Fest: Fall Traditions

I’m not entirely sure this counts as a tradition, but there are certain things I only do, see, eat in the fall

Like, listen to Natalie Merchant’s Tigerlily {my fave song is Carnival}.

Pumpkin flavored anything?  Only in the fall.  Any other time would just be silly.

I miss the usual fall traditions we had back in Michigan:  hayrides, pumpkin donuts and apple cider, apple picking, orchards, and pumpkin patches with my nephew. I think Thom and I need to make more of an effort to start some traditions of our own.

Linking up with Day 3 at Arkansas Women Bloggers.

AWB BLOGtober Fest: Halloween Memories

Halloween in Michigan is usually cold.  Sometimes snowy cold and so a winter jacket is usually required.  I like that my mom found a costume that would/could fit over the jacket instead of being hidden underneath rendering the whole dressing-up tradition pointless.

This picture of me at Halloween in 1979 begs some questions that I just don’t remember the answer to.  Or, probably never thought to ask while visions of chocolate bars danced through my four year old mind:

  • Why exactly does this Cinderella mask look like a fifty year old lady who ought to have a cigarette dangling from her too-red lips?
  • Are the dark circles under the eyes of this masked princess from not enough sleep because the fifty year old lady has been working the night shift at the diner slinging slices of pie and pouring cups of coffee all evening? 
  • And, is that really just a white plastic trash bag decorated with a pink Sharpie to look like a Cinderella dress?  I think when you actually have to write the name of what you’re supposed to be on the costume itself, that perhaps it’s not the best costume.
I have no memory or recollection of this Halloween {or any Halloweens before I was a teenager as a matter of fact}.  My mind just doesn’t hold on to the specifics of my childhood.  But, I do remember cold, blowing winds and most of the time it rained or spat snow as we raced from house to house collecting our treats. 
I also remember my mom going all out decorating the house and climbing my beloved tree in the front yard to hang spooky skeletons and skulls from it’s branches.  
The memories are few and far between but the ones I do have?  They’re all good.
Linking up with the Arkansas Women Bloggers for Day 2 of the BLOGtober Fest Challenge.



AWB BLOGtober Fest: Decorating for Fall

I love fall mums and I have a fun time picking out my yearly plant in late September or early October. Pulling into the driveway on a cool Fall day is always so pleasant when you’re greeted with the bright colors of these huge, hardy mums that decorate our multi-level deck.

With a few props pulled from our stored Halloween decorations and some from craft room supplies I can usually put together a cute Autumnal vignette somewhere in the yard {the yard being the two-foot section down at the gate where I’ll actually step foot.  Long story, for another time ;)}.

This year’s beauty is smaller than the previous years but the golden yellow adds a bit of sunshine like color to even the dreariest of days.  I. Love. It.  It’s a tradition that will continue year after year.

This week I’m linking up to BLOGtober Fest over at Arkansas Women Bloggers.  Head on over for some fun Autumn/Halloween posts by some of my favorite bloggers from my adopted state.  Be sure to comment and let ’em know I sent you over.

Happy Fall, y’all!

Month of Pumpkin Guest Post: MJ of Pars Caeli


Hello friends! I’m M.J. When I’m not taking boatloads of photographs of autumn’s colors, I’m a designer and momma to three big personalities under the age of seven. My hubs and I (and those three giant personalities) live cozy in the Midwest, in a small town just a few stones throw from Chicago. Five months ago I started a blog to keep me creating, and ignoring the sink full of dishes and the laundry that never makes it to the drawers. I’m usually over at Pars Caeli where I pass around project ideas and inspiration for happy kiddos and good old grown-up goodness.



Today I am so delighted to be over here on Desperately Seeking Gina to share some pumpkin fun. No one loves pumpkin the way my lady, Gina does. I have no hopes of becoming a fabulous food blogger (it’s so much harder than it looks!) so I’m happy to share a little bit of crafting silliness and fun with miniature pumpkins! I’ve been loving the miniature Halloween party that Jen over at Classic Play has revealed with her mini witch hats, small Halloween bunting, and my favorite, the posable mini mummy.

Now add in our favorite autumnal orange accent with these miniature pumpkins. You can make tons of these pretty quickly, and you likely have all you need in a drawer or bag somewhere around your home.
Here’s what you need to make your own barrel of jack o’lanterns.

Orange yarn, pipe cleaners in brown or green, black paper or googly eyes, fabric glue, and if you’re up for it a shadow box to contain your gourd goodness.
Roll the yarn into a tight ball. I made most of my pumpkins about an inch tall, but it’s fun to make some super small ones at a half inch and some a little larger, too. Hold the end tightly as you glue it down to the ball with fabric glue. Cut some pipe cleaner for your stem, about 1/4 inch. Poke it into the top of your orange ball. If you need extra security, apply glue to keep that stem in place.
To make your very small jack o’lantern, cut out small triangles and a mouth and glue. I wanted to make a mound of pumpkins with a touch of an ombre effect. 🙂
Add your favorite Halloween message for a little extra fun.
That’s it! Happy pumpkin crafting, friends!! Thanks for having be over, Gina…such a pleasure to be with you lovely people. 🙂

XOXO, MJ

**How cute is this?  Thank you for stopping by and sharing the pumpkin goodness, M.J.!**