Friday Favorites - Halloween Edition

Happy Halloween everyone!  What else could I do for this Friday Favorites edition except Halloween related items, right?  My normal random faves just wouldn't do this fun holiday justice.  I've gathered just a few ideas that I came across this week.  Ideas to keep in the vault for next year.  ;)  Sorry to keep it short, but I know you're all anxious to get on with your Halloween day!

Favorite Carved Pumpkins.  As a mother of a daughter that LOVES Disney fairies, this Tinkerbell carved pumpkin complete with fairy dust is everything!  If only I had seen this earlier, I would have tried to do this for her.

And continuing with the spirit of Disney and Tinkerbell, here's my Favorite Family Costumes.  This Peter Pan family is awesome.  Isn't it so fun when the whole family gets involved?

Favorite Non Carved Pumpkins.  These donut pumpkins are just too adorable.  I don't usually eat frosted sprinkled cupcakes, but this craft project actually makes me crave some!

Favorite Decorations.  Aren't these gigantic spiders creepy?  They are such a great idea, and would definitely deserve a second look when walking or driving past.

Favorite Pumpkin Display.  Maybe you're going for an elegant look with your pumpkins?  If so, this pumpkin chandelier may be for you.  And imagine how pretty it will look once lit!

Favorite Kid Costume.  I came across this Carl from Up costume awhile ago, but ended up doing a post on sibling costumes so I didn't end up using it.  When I came across it again this week, I knew I had to incorporate it this time.  

Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween celebration!

xo,

Carly

Lovely Lace Inspiration

Have you ever thought about decorating with lace?  I admit I've never really given lace much thought, but I've been seeing so many beautiful ways to use the fabric on Pinterest lately.  Here are some of the pics that inspired me.

This beautiful tablescape is anchored by a lovely table runner made of burlap and lace.  I love how the combination of burlap and lace creates a rustic and romantic look.

That same feel can be accomplished with brown paper in place of burlap.  These party favors would be a welcome takeaway at any gathering.  

The hard and soft pairing of leather and lace is always a winning combination.  

Add some lace to a vintage suitcase and use it as a photography prop. 

(source unknown)

The peach lace on this wedding invitation is so pretty on the gray card.  You could even use this combination for a shower invitation.

These lace shorts paired with a chambray shirt makes for a lovely feminine outfit.

(source unknown)

  

I love this dream catcher complete with a doily and strands of lace.

How cute is this little girl's look with her sweater over a long lace tunic?  She's even got lace embellishments on her boot socks!

Here's a cool DIY project for your daughter's room.  Dress up a cardboard or wooden letter with lace and other embellishments for a one of a kind art piece.

And if you're still decorating for fall, I love these two black lace DIY projects.  Grab a nice lacy pair of tights and stretch it over a pumpkin, or decorate a votive holder with black lace.  

I know the candle project is not necessarily meant to be Halloween-ish, but I get a spider web feel with this particular lace shown so I think it's actually a perfectly spooky yet beautiful decor piece for the season!

xo,

Carly

S'mores Pudding Trifle

Four to five times a week I do cook healthy dinners for my family.  However, those meals just aren't as fun to photograph as desserts are!  So until I get some actual dinners up on the blog, enjoy this easy dessert recipe that you can assemble quickly in your kitchen when you have that s'mores craving.

INGREDIENTS

1 package of instant chocolate pudding

1 jar of jet puffed marshmallow creme

graham crackers

cool whip (optional)

mini marshmallows (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Prepare the instant pudding using 2 cups of cold milk.  Let the pudding set in the fridge until you're ready to assemble the trifle.

Note: The amount of ingredients used in each individual trifle will vary depending on the size of your dish/bowl/goblet, etc.  For this particular version, all measurement are based on a water goblet sized dessert.

Break up one sheet of graham crackers into bite sized pieces and place at the bottom of your dish.

Spoon in 1/3 cup of pudding and layer on top of graham crackers.

Spoon in 1/2 cup of marshmallow creme and layer on top of pudding.

Repeat the graham cracker and pudding layers.

Top with a scoop of cool whip (thawed) and finish with a few mini marshmallows and/or chocolate shavings (all optional).  Serve immediately.

If you're a little more ambitious and want to try for more of a campfire feel, toast some mini marshmallows on a baking sheet in the oven until they are golden brown at the top, OR use a mini torch to brown the marshmallows.  Add a bunch of the toasted marshmallows to the top of your trifle in place of the cool whip.

Have a great week!

xo,
Carly

Friday Favorites

Friday, oh how I've missed you!  Please feel free to come around more often...or at least quicker...

Lots to love this week, but I've narrowed it down to 8 favorites for this Friday.  Enjoy!

Favorite Party Idea.  

A s'mores party on the backyard patio.  My RSVP is YES.  The setup at the fire pit looks so warm and inviting. And don't think I didn't see that Friday glass of wine waiting on the side table for me!

Favorite Fall Look. 

Love this look.  Gingham shirt, faux fur vest, infinity scarf and jeans.  Don't forget arm candy and of course a hot coffee to keep you extra warm on those brisk fall mornings.  

Favorite Home Tour.  

Lauren Conrad provided a tour of her beautiful home in the October issue of InStyle.  I love the whitewashed brick veneer walls and the obviously high ceilings in this room.  Lauren's style is always very classic with hints of romantic glam.

Favorite Dessert Recipe That I Have to Try.  

New Orleans Beignets!  For the past few years it's been a tradition that our family goes to Disneyland for our daughter Shaylin's birthday.  On the way home we have dinner at Downtown Disney, and grab beignets from the Jazz Kitchen Express.  It's one of my absolute favorite desserts!  To me, they taste best fresh, hot, and with a TON of powdered sugar sprinkled on them (the messiness adds to the yum factor).  I will have to try this blogger's recipe out ASAP.

Favorite Color Inspiration.

This color combination of navy, coral and mint is so modern and crisp.  I love it!

Left Image  |  Right Image

Favorite Dream Home Feature.

Lazy river.  Absolutely 100% yes.  Need I say more?  

Favorite Go-To Accessories. 

Leopard clutch, arm candy and sunglasses.  Great for any season. Thanks Jillian Harris!

Favorite Motivation.

Let's all do this today!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

xo,

Carly

Busy Mom Recipes - Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Last weekend when I was meal planning, I asked hubby what he would like to see on the menu this week.  One of the items he mentioned was chicken pot pie.  This is not something that I've made before so I jumped on Pinterest (where everyone has previously made what you are looking for) and looked up some recipes.  While skimming through recipes, the idea of mini pot pies started to intrigue me. 

I had some refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough in the fridge that I had bought on a whim at the store.  Not knowing what I was going to do with it, I was pleased to discover that these biscuits can actually be used to make mini chicken pot pies!  

Three things that I love about any recipe are as follows:

1.  it's quick

2.  it's easy

3.  it uses ingredients that I already have on hand

Because I happened to have these biscuits in the fridge, the mini chicken pot pie idea was a go!

INGREDIENTS

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 1/2 cups of frozen vegetables (thawed)

1 1/2 cups of diced or shredded cooked chicken

Tip: Throw some chicken in the slow cooker in the morning along with some chicken broth, set it on low for 8 hours and by evening you have perfect chicken for millions of recipes!

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1-2 packs of refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough

Note: The dough comes packaged with either 8 or 10 biscuits but I had enough filling for 12 pies.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray muffin tin with non stick cooking spray.

Mix soup, vegetables and chicken together in medium sized bowl.

Open biscuit dough and pinch each individual biscuit all around to flatten.  Press into the muffin tin, making sure that the dough covers the side of the tin.  

Spoon mixture into each dough cup and fill to the top.  

Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of the filling.

Bake for about 17 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown.

An easy weeknight recipe!  Enjoy!

xo,

Carly

Leopard Print Inspiration

Leopard print...it's hot for fall!  I've gathered up some inspiring ways to use leopard print both in your home and in your outfits.  I'll be leaving out all of the usual suspects like leopard scarves, belts, clutches and flats.  We all know those look good and if we're being honest, we probably have those items in our closets already!  But if you love the animal print, here are some other ideas to tickle your fancy.

This leopard print lantern is subtle and elegant.  I'd get the whole safari 3 pack!

A leopard pleated skirt is youthful and pretty.  The look is pulled together nicely with a simple red top and gold belt.

If you're looking for a DIY project this winter, how about making leopard print ornaments for your Christmas tree.

You could also use leopard print ribbon to wrap any gift (not just a holiday gift) and accent with the appropriate ribbon color or decor depending on the occasion.  This ribbon can make even a plain box look like it was wrapped by a professional.  

Who doesn't love arm candy?  Especially in Tory Burch.

A leopard print heart wall decal is simple and full of style.  I would use it for a chic safari themed nursery.

One leopard print ottoman in a neutral palette room is a gorgeous and luxurious accent piece.

A leopard print sweater with beige ribbing nicely complements this all black ensemble.

This closet/office space got fashionable with the help of a large, light toned leopard print rug.

Sorry, I know these leopard shorts and white top outfits are more for summer, but that doesn't mean I can't share them anyway! 

Outfit on the Left.  Outfit on the Right.

xo,

Carly

Visit: Pumpkin Station Del Mar

Are you still looking to get some pumpkin patch time in this month?  If you're thinking of stopping by one of the pumpkin stations in San Diego, here's my quick recap of this weekend's visit to the Del Mar location.  

This pumpkin station was located right by the Del Mar Race Track, and with the rides, games (and high prices), it felt much more like a carnival than the pumpkin patch farm we recently visited in Rancho Bernardo.

Kiddie rides, mega slides, and more!  It actually wasn't too crowded for a Sunday afternoon.

A game zone for those with skill or just good luck.

Can I get a gourd, mom?

Overall, I'd say that I enjoyed our experience on the pumpkin farm more than the carnival atmosphere that we got here.  But I'm sure that will change as my kids get older and are able to take advantage of all the rides and games.  Rides were around $3.50 each if you were purchasing tickets on-site.  We didn't purchase the ticket package online, and missed the discount opportunities that popped up a few weeks ago so we mainly just walked around for a bit, took some pictures, and were on our way.  

But the kids did love sitting on the pumpkins and climbing on the hay.  Which, according to this sign was NOT okay.  

The hubby and I got a good chuckle out of that sign, which by the way was posted on all three sides of the post!  I'm sorry but most families come to the pumpkin patch with the intention of taking cute photos of their kids with the pumpkins, right?  That includes sitting on the pumpkins and sitting on the hay.  And if you stack the hay up high for your display, I assure you, kids will climb! 

And kids will run!  The sun streaming through the tent in the background made for awful picture lighting at this angle, but the joy on LD's face while running through the pumpkin rows made me love this picture anyway.

If a carnival type pumpkin patch is what you're looking for, there's still time to check this one out!  It runs until October 31st.  

Pumpkin Station Del Mar is located at 15555 Jimmy Durante Avenue, Del Mar, CA 92014.

xo,

Carly