Halloween

Werewolves, Ninjas, And Grumpy Mothers Oh My

October 29, 2010 By Blonde Mom 13 Comments

For weeks Miss A talked up being a werewolf for Halloween. I tried to persuade her to change her mind, I’ll admit. I guess I was missing the sweet princess era, which apparently came to a resounding halt two years ago when she dressed up like “Sleeping Booty” and I fixed her hair in a feminine up do befitting of a princess. I’m not really surprised by her request, though, since she’s my girl who has told me she wants a motorcycle and to smoke a cigar when she turns 16.

Last weekend after her outpatient surgery I decided my sweet baby girl would be a werewolf if that’s really what she wanted to be. I mean it could be worse, right?

We headed to Party City and she stood there gazing up at the great wall of costumes in awe. We found a werewolf costume in the boys’ section but it was too large. I secretly felt a glimmer of hope stirring within my manipulative mother’s soul. Maybe she’d change her mind? Well she would have nothing else but a werewolf costume. We headed down to the mask aisle and there it was…the perfect mask. We even found crazy werewolf gloves. She really wanted a plaid shirt to complete the look, just like the boys’ costume set, so we trekked over to Goodwill and found the perfect brown plaid button down.

Voila!

Blurry iPhone photo…or maybe it’s blurry because I was shaking in SHEER TERROR.

Yesterday after school I was helping her take her boots off and she laid her head down on my lap and looked up at me with big brown eyes, “Mommy, you know what I really want to be now for Halloween?”

“A ninja!”

Filed Under: Bad Hair Days, My Girls, Parenting 13 Comments

Saturday Morning Links: It’s Fall Ya’ll Edition

October 9, 2010 By Blonde Mom 10 Comments

Miss A, Halloween 2005

First of all, I want to tell my Nashville area readers about a great deal to share with your families, especially with many counties having fall break weeks this month. I’m helping spread the word about Savvy Savings & Scholarships, which is now in Nashville! Think Groupon for families. This week’s deal is 1/2 off an annual family memberships to Discovery Center in Murfreesboro! A family pass is just $37.50 and is good for two adults and two children (plus it includes four free passes which are great for grandparents or friends.)

It’s not fall until I slip on my boots, bid my pink flip flops farewell until spring, and order my first pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. Although it’s well in the 80s most days here in Nashville, two out three Blonde Mom Blog ushers in autumn traditions have been met.

I’m neither artsy nor craftsy nor an incredible cook, but I do love fall. Here are some fun links to get you in the mood:

My friend Amy Allen Clark has a great wrap-up of fall recipes, including her frugal version of pumpkin spice latte.

I love decorating open houses on blogs (my own house needs a LOT of work but I’m doing good lately to keep us all in clean clothing and empty the dishwasher daily) and this fall open house from Hooked on Houses features a ton of great ideas.

I’ve seen different versions of monogrammed pumpkins and I think I could actually make this monogrammed pumpkin featured on Mandy’s Yellow Corner.

Another fun pumpkin idea…ribbon pumpkins from The Autocrat.

I was totally checking out Angry Julie’s whoopie pies (heh) when I saw this recipe for pumpkin muffins, published in the Orange County Junior League Cookbook. Yum!

Pumpkin cookie recipe from One Charming Party.

Pumpkin topiary tutorial from Our Southern Nest.

These pumpkin blondies with white chocolate chips from Family Bites are crazy good (I know from personal experience!)

Making a fall magnolia leaf just screams Southern fall from Southern Hospitality.

I also love this candy corn wreath featured at How Does She?

Adorable free printable Halloween card game from The Idea Room.

The best Halloween movies for kids from Parent Dish.

I’ve never seen this idea before and I think it’s really simple (bonus!) and cute: spooky spirit jugs made from repurposed milk jugs.

Fun monster brownies from Amanda’s Cookin’.

Spooky fun bowl of eyeballs from Flamingo Toes.

Here are tons of great free Halloween theme printables featured on Tatertots and Jello.

And it’s not too early to start thinking about holiday libations. Candy flavored vodka from Scary Mommy? Yes please!

Filed Under: Bloggy Things, Links, Nashville 10 Comments

Slow Down! (Gasp) Don’t Run! (Gasp)

November 3, 2009 By Blonde Mom 7 Comments

I watched nervously from front lawns as Miss A ran after her big sister and her friends. She navigated her way through shadowy yards and down dimly lit pathways leading to the candy mecca at each friendly glowing front porch. She ran ahead over and over, leaves crunching beneath her feet, always wanting to keep up with the bigger girls.

My neighbor commented, “It’s tough to be the littlest one, isn’t it?” and another neighbor’s little boy, dressed like a hot dog complete with mustard, declared his love for Miss A. But she was a girl on a mission not to be discouraged or distracted. She would not be left behind by the big kids.

She raced to keep up with them and my heart stopped on more than one occasion as I feared that she would trip and fall and that we’d end up making another trip to the ER. Come to think of it, I did pour myself a margarita as soon as we got back to the house and the girls were sorting through their sugary loot.

I held back.

She ran forward.

I offered to hold her treat bag when it became almost too heavy for her to carry, but she told me she didn’t need any help, slung the straps over her shoulder, and kept forging ahead.

I offered her my hand, but she kept going. It wasn’t so much about the candy as it was the principle of keeping up with her sister.

Don’t let the cute dimple or the pink toenails fool you. She’s one tough bat girl.

Bat Girl