Boulder Halloween Mall Crawl, a must do

This weekend I headed out on my own to see the Boulder Halloween Mall Crawl. Since I had my "no waiting around " policy epiphany, I just decided to go check it out even though I really had no one to go with. The costumes were on point.

many zombies

way too many sexy scary zombies (hopefully they all stumbled home safely)

a few dancing T-Rex (the best)

I think I found Waldo at least 4 times

Anonymous was there.....many, many of them 

And a few pretty darn cool scary clowns.

All just partying up and down the street.

It was really quite cool.

The coolest part was this area where they were having a dance party.  It was a tight space, everyone from every age group was dancing. It was just a really awesome vibe.  I love to dance.  I don't get to dance that often because because the other half in my family does not dance at all.  Period .... not even sexy slow dance.....But ME? I LOVE to DANCE.  This dance party reminded me of when I worked in the clubs and people were just free...just grooving. I wanted to dance my feelings away, but by the time I was feeling comfortable enough to get my groove on....it was over.  Typical. Dancing and laughing with people is a skill that everyone should have and I am really going to try to do more of it....without hesitation.  

 nekkid pumpkin run, 2017 ( I missed it ...or maybe they are actually doing this n Wed. Night)

Dance party 

If you ever get a chance....check it out ...and take some advice from me, dance !  dance like no one is looking, you owe it to yourself

write ya later,

m

Forget your Pumpkin Spice...Try Siracha/Rooster Pumpkin Seeds

Today I felt like a little holiday something somethin wuld cheer me up, and because drinking liquor at 9 am is not acceptable on a Monday at my house I made these instead.

Rooster/Siracha Pumpkin Seeds.....

The family carved the pumpkins and I saved the seeds.  I had seen a post on one of cooking groups about different seeds and the ways to cook them.  Previously my pumpkin seeds had been tough, often burnt, and just not that great.  This new recipe I tried was/is perfect:

Pumpkin seeds

soy sauce

siracha or spicy sauce ( I bet Franks would be good)

I added DEATH SAUCE because I love spice

and vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 40 degrees

Boil, yes BOIL the seeds for 10 minutes in a pot of salted water.  This makes the outer husk of the seed more crispy instead of tough.  Drain the seeds then toss in a bowl with vegetable oil and the flavors of your choice.  If you choose to do sweet, don't use too much sugar...it burns.

Toss everything in a bowl, then pour onto a parchement or foil lined baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes.

Remove and cool...then eat....Yum

Good with beer, good with margaritas, good with wine, not so good with milk.

(just a little advice)

Really good with Caramel Apple Sangria, which is so easy to make and the recipe is over at  The Wholesome Dish.

So good, I drank an entire pitcher this weekend and to tell you the truth...no hangover, must be all the vitamins in the cider.  

write ya later,

xo'

M

Halloween…The Feather Mohawk

I'm the kind of, " are they having beer or wine at that school function?" kind of mom.  I believe more people would show up and the school could make a huge profit.  You, know …charge 6$ for a tiny beer…I know I would pay when I had to sit through some of those recitals….
Back to the point.  I'm not always really involved with the kids stuff.  I volunteer.  I make the cupcakes, I do the low end….but Halloween…I like Halloween.  I like making the costumes.

I made this Dead Mau5 for Ilin
Powerpuff for Olive
I've even been known to knit a Princess Lea Wig 

This year I said I'm tired.  Ilin is too old and I always seem to have to work.  But as the days got closer I felt empty inside.  SO!!!!  i decided to try a lil sumpthin' , sumpthin'.  When we were in San Fran we stopped at this Steam Punk ( Distractions) store, and I saw these amazing Feather Mowhawks.  Upwards of $500.  I was mesmerized.  
I had tried earlier that day to get Olive to agree to be a Lucha Libre, because we were seeing those masks all over the Mission …for CHEAP.  she said NO way.  spoil sport.

All right…

I couldn't just do nothing.  we talked about a mime…or a princess…then I said, lets try a Feather Mowhawk

I did some googling

and headed out to find feathers.  

I couldn't find any great feathers, because once again I waited too long and didn't have time to order.  Hobby Lobby, junk stores, and any craft store had to work…oh yeah …plus 2 Feather dusters from Target.

I used this Link at Instructables to get started…He does a great easy job and his instructions are easy enough to follow.  He has a cool site too   HAR.MS
I added some of my own

Sew the hat part…

used Unicorn Buckrum  (love saying that)

added the support like the guy did

then Started messing with the feathers

FUN

What a mess

I know it doesn't look like much…

But, I think it will

I have to get back to work.  I have one more day to finish this becasue I have to RN for the next 2 days and her school festival is Saturday.

It's a bit too early to start drinking, although if I had some Bailey's or something I would add it to my coffee.

Bobby is not feeling well, which I believe is a way to get out of Halloween.

grrr

I'll keep you posted. 

xo

m

Powpuff Girl…Bubbles, Halloween

The head was finished with about 6 layers of plain ol paper mache, then left to dry for a few days.

We primed it with tacky primer (grey).

I then got acrylic paints to start the painting.

The "flesh color" (who's flesh, huh?)

was not right, so I had to go out and get some diferent colors.

 Painted...

 and painted

 then got Daddoo to do some painting ….

 oooh now whe is looking like something….

 I thiught we should do the angry Bubbles, but the smile was cute!

 Mommy got the ears on…they are flat, but worked perfect.  (held on with Popscicle sticks)

Let's try it on!!!

(we drilled little holes then put screen over it and painted it for the eyes)

Worked ok… should have done the eyes first.

lookie!

heehee.

Go Olive…errr I mean Bubbles!

And as our frined Chris said, Hopefully she won't stand to close to any kid who might think she is a Pinata.

happy halloween!

The costumes are started

As you may or may not remember, last year I threw together the Deadmau5 head for Ilin Blue.  Since Ilin is getting a bit older, this year, he is in charge of his own and Olive gets the creation. ( Although I feel the Princess Lea was pretty good last year too.)

I definitely lack in the parenting department…but for what I lack there, I like to think I make up in Halloween costumes and Xmas decor…and cursing.

I started last night on the Power Puff Girl Bubbles.

Step 1: go to neighbors and get all recycled Newspaper, you will need a lot

Step 2: Rip, or cut, into strips.

step 3:  make paste….1 C. white flour, 2 cups water (or until right consistency)

I had a hard time finding a beach ball…so Ilin had the idea to use a big balloon.

it must be bigger than the kid's head.

start the process.  You want to stabilize the balloon on a big bowl.  make sure you have an area where you can clean up easily.  It's messy.   This is the first layer.  You have to let the layers dry of you will have a nasty mess.  It always takes longer for it to dry then you think, especially if it is a bit chilly.

Layer one done…about 10 more layers to do.

I'll keep ya posted.

I'm praying it works…because there is nothing like a a Halloween costume which goes awry 3 days before the big day

xo,

m

Halloween at a glance part 1

what a weekend!!!

Between working and drinking I barely had time for the festivities!  I jest, I jest!

Daddoo did have to pick up the slack while I was sleeping and recovering from the night shift.  It appears he did ok!

We went to the Longmont Halloween Parade and saw so many great costumes!

The little werewolf was adorable, he was walking around making that growly face at everyone, he was probably 5 years old

what creativity for our puny town!

Then Daddoo took over his least favorite chore before Synda, Ryland and Chad came over for Trick or Treating

Pumpkin Carving!!!!

 I love it when she wears jeans and a tshirt...Maybe I'm turning into Angelina Jolie

 Eddie ate plenty of Pumpkin, then had the shits today...dogs love pumpkin and its a good stool softner! (just in case you ever have a constipated dog)

Carve away, Olive!

This was the very first time she got to do her own.

I was sleeping at this part, so I couldn't protest or do any of that Mom gasping and air sucking in fear of finger amputation.

You know, back in the old days Mom would hand us the four crappies serrated knives which were as long as our arms and just say, "Be careful...don't track that shit onto the carpet when you come in!"

I guess I still have all my limbs.

plus:

Daddoo was in charge....he never worries about this stuff.

Dead Mouse? Deadmau5...it's all Halloween to Me

Some of you have seen this costume I have been working on for Ilin, I have been posting my tortuous updates on facebook. It has been a hard one, but only because I have never thought of trying anything like it before.  Now that I have done it, I can think of all kind of masks I could make.  Next year I am going to try the creatures from "Where the Wild Things Are" ...or maybe a big Stewie (Family Guy) head.

Here's the short version of how he came together.

It all started with a 24 inch hamster plastic ball.  We cut the neck hole, made ears with metal strapping and foam, then spray glued the foam on the plastic ball.

We made our first mistake here:

We put the screen for the mouth on at this point!  NOOOO

we should have done that last.

After that we got the super stretchy velvet from Hancock Fabric. (7.25/yard got 2 yards)

covered ears, then started head.  this was very difficult.  Had never done such a thing.

Learned after the fact , again that if I had done it in 2 pieces, starting at upper lip, up and done just half the sphere at a time it would have been better.

Next time.

Pins Pins and more pins, 

tears tears and more tears....

this took me about 7 hours.  I spray glued as I went.

it sucked

By the time Jon Stewart was on. I had this.

the next hard part was the lip.  It MUST have a lip (from what the 13 year old was barking at me)  It's no good and considered crap if it has no lip.

So, we had to cut a piece of fun foam and put it where the lip is and try to streeeeetch the fabric over it.  I had to hand stitch it to the screen.

Now, it I hadn't put the screen in it would have been much easier.

At this point, the kid did the eyes with the styrofoam balls hollowed out and little LED lights with battery back.

Almost done!!! I have to finish up around the ears and the that is it!  Not perfect, but good.

The kid said I can wear it on Friday night when I go out. 

here's the original:

It's huge...3 feet+ ear span!

I gotta get some rest, Halloween is killing me.

xo,

M

Halloween, you got my goat.

I'm taking a few minutes to eat my oatmeal before I start in on Ilin's costume.  I need the fiber, because this costume has my ass in a knot. I have to figure out how to get the fabric on the big head....It's actually baffling me.  

I helped him do the foam on the head and sliced the end of my finger off, leaving a trail of blood behind.  At that point I wanted to throw the big head thing on the floor and yell, "that's it!!! I'm done!"  but I didn't.  I got a bandaide and continued on, silently cursing the entire family and the holiday, in my head.

Halloween has alway been one of my favorite holidays, but after having children it has become a chore...you parents know what I mean...right?  It can't possibly just be me!  I mean between the costumes and the fall festivals I want to curl up in a ball and hide.

Olive brought home a piece of paper from school asking for more stuff from us for their "classroom" party.

"Mamoo...can you make MORE cupcakes?  PLEEEEEASE"  

no

"PLEEEEEASE"

I said, no.

"PLEEEEAAASSSSSSSE?"

Let those other lazy ass mom's do something, I refuse and I don't care.

***pout pout***

Olive, I'll send a bag of carrots.  How's that?

"Ok, Mamoo.  I guess veggies are on the list"

good

Fall Festival , Princess Leia

You know I have never been much of a Star Wars fan so when the request came for the Princess Leia costume I was a little bummed.... I know every girl wants to be a Princess, so why not Leia? I found a hair pattern on Ravelry and said thank the Gods there is someone more inspired than I am.

So, after a 13 hour night shift I came home to bake cupcakes for the Fall Festival, add the finishing touches to Leia and off we went.

aren't they cute?   

cuter than they taste, I'm sure.

and now introducing  P. L.

 I love this one  :)

I almost have everyones outfits in order, except for me.

Ilin is next in line, he wants to be 

Deadmou5

(he's a DJ...don't worry I didn't know either)

Halloween is fun if you start early enough.

I do want to tell you, I was a bit bummed that the costumes which won at her school costume contest were store bought.

kind of a bummer.

oh well.

Off to take the teenager to a Gorillaz concert. 

should be interesting!

Cupcakes for Halloweenie

worms
&
rats


plain old white cupcakes with the smashingly delicious peanut butter cream cheese frosting.
I believe I ate my weight in Frosting.
I wanted the oreos to look like rat poop...but I just ended up making it look like the rat was eating the garbage.

shovel kid shovel

swim, Olive, swim!!!

Ilin...get to shoveling we have 16" of snow in 2 days

We are snowed in right now. I called into work, roads are too icy to drive for me.

today the agenda is scary movies, work on a Halloween costume for myself , make cupcakes for Olive's school party and finish my paper.

Tomorrow I work a bit in the am and them the 7p to 7a again.

hope everyone is enjoying the snow day (around here at least)

even if you've had enough

they were soooo damn cute.  

I won't post the horrible pictures of Synda and I, but I will tell you that we dragged the cooler of beer in the wagon for a long way...we also had to stop and pee in the pushes.

it was a great night.

still need a costume idea

So, I found a few that you still have time to whip up.  Let me know how it goes.

this first one is quite clever.  I'm sure you can put your own spin on it.

(click on the links to see where they came from)

fake midget  

this next one kind of freaked me out...but it is good.

really check it out

WTF costumes

Maybe a few costumes for the entire family?

Just think twice before wearing these to the Neighborhood Halloween Parade...or at least don't email me back and bitch if you do.

anna maltz

How about a set of costumes for a night out with the girls?  I guarantee you will be a clit...I mean HIT.

Vagina Ladies

you and your husband could go as He devil and She devil

Oh wait...those aren't costmes.

how about for your 2 bestest guy friends

the Ambiguously Gay Duo?

Or this for your gross friend...

Me no likey

Well, anyways...whatever you choose have fun

where a rubber...and don't drink and drive...

and for the parents out there.... when trick or treating parents come to your door.  ahve a cooler of beer and small cocktails for them to trick or treat out of....make it worth their while.