Scary Halloween Foods!

1. Spooky Witch Fingers

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter, softened 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup whole almonds 1 (.75 ounce) tube red decorating gel

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Combine the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt, continually beating; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
2.	Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
3.	Remove dough from refrigerator in small amounts. Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon at a time onto a piece of waxed paper. Use the waxed paper to roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near the tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You can also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. Arrange the shaped cookies on the baking sheets.
4.	Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are slightly golden in color, 20 to 25 minutes.
5.	Remove the almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace the almond to cause the gel to ooze out around the tip of the cookie. 2. Spooky Mice

INGREDIENTS:

4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate 1/3 cup sour cream 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs

1/3 cup chocolate cookie crumbs 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar 24 silver dragees decorating candy 1/4 cup sliced almonds 12 (2 inch) pieces long red vine licorice

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Melt the chocolate, and combine with sour cream. Stir in 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs. Cover and refrigerate until firm.
2.	Roll by level tablespoonfuls into balls. Mold to a slight point at one end (the nose).
3.	Roll dough in confectioners sugar (for white mice), and in chocolate cookie crumbs (for dark mice). On each mouse, place dragees in appropriate spot for eyes, almond slices for ears, and a licorice string for the tail.
4.	Refrigerate for at least two hours, until firm. 3. Owl Cookies Ingredients 1 1/3 cups butter, at room temperature  3/4 cup granulated sugar  3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar  2 large egg  2 teaspoons vanilla  3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour  2 teaspoons baking powder  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon  1 teaspoon ground nutmeg  1/2 teaspoon salt  Icing (recipe follows) Candy corn  Miniature chocolate chips  Prep 1. Preheat oven to 350° (325° if using convection heat). 2. In a bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until blended, then beat on high speed until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; beat on low speed until combined, then on medium speed until well blended. Divide dough into three portions. 3. Place each portion between two sheets of floured plastic wrap. Roll dough evenly into flat rounds about 1/4 inch thick. Stack rounds on a baking sheet and chill until firm, at least 45 minutes, or up to 2 days. 4. Working with one portion of dough at a time (keep remaining chilled), peel off top sheet of plastic wrap. Set floured pattern (see notes) on dough and cut around edges. Or with floured round cookie cutters (3-in. diameter), cut out cookies, placing cutters as close together as possible. Transfer to cooking parchment-lined or ungreased baking sheets, placing cookies about 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough rounds. Gather up scraps and press together into a ball. If dough is still cold, roll and cut out remaining cookies. If it's soft and sticky, repeat step 3. 5. Bake cookies until firm to touch and slightly darker brown around edges, 8 or 9 minutes; if baking more than one sheet at a time in one oven, switch positions halfway through baking. Slide parchment with cookies off sheets onto racks or counter to cool, then remove from parchment. Or cool on pans about 1 minute and then transfer to racks to cool completely. If not using cooking parchment, wipe off baking sheets after each batch. Cool sheets before filling with more cookies. 6. Spread icing over cookies and decorate with candies, using candy corn for a beak and chocolate chips for eyes. Let stand until icing is firm, about 5 minutes. Icing: In a small bowl, stir together 2 cups powdered sugar and just enough milk (about 3 tablespoons) to make a spreadable icing. If desired, tint with food coloring. If icing thickens as it stands, stir in a few more drops of milk. Note:  Trace an owl-shaped pattern (for a template, see www.sunset.com/owl) on heavy paper or lightweight cardboard, or use cookie cutters in any shape. You can make the cookies up to 2 days ahead; store airtight. 4. Autumn Punch Ingredients 2 whole cinnamon sticks  5 whole cloves  1/3 cup sweet vermouth  1/3 cup dry vermouth  2 cups cranberry juice  2 tablespoons sugar  2 bottles dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc  1 bottle dry, full-bodied red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon  1 cup apple brandy  1 cup citrus vodka  1 orange, sliced  1 lemon, sliced  Prep 1. Simmer spices, vermouths, cranberry juice, and sugar in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and let steep 1 hour. 2. Chill remaining ingredients in a large container. Strain spice mixture into wine mixture and chill until ready to serve. Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Halloween Makeup Ideas

I hope you guys like tutorials because I just figured out this week how to add them to my blog posts.  One thing I wish I was really good at was makeup but sadly I'm proud I finally figured out the right color foundation for my skin tone.  Everyday I think makeup is a way in enhance your look and not over power it.  On Halloween it is the complete opposite, on Halloween makeup can be your complete look.  If I could do it my dream Halloween costume would be wearing a vintage 1800 dress with skull makeup.  

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls

Day of the dead also known as All Saints Day is a celebrated by Mexico as well as South and Central America.  It is a celebration that goes on from November 1st and 2nd and it is a way to honor people who have passed.  Different colors represent different things.  Pink represents joy, red is the symbol of sacrifice, purple means suffering, white means hope, and orange means a new day.  

Zombie 

For a person who can barley watch Greys Anatomy surreys this photo gets really gross to look at yet still has me looking for how that is fake.  With the walking dead becoming more and more popular I see Zombie costumes being a big deal this year.  Also in this picture I notice is the colored contacts which is always an easy add on to a costume.  

Elphaba

This is a costume which I fell is very underdone.  Yes there are billions of witches every year but no one ever dresses up as the wicked witch herself.  With the right makeup all you need is a black dress and a hat and you have a great costume that no one else you run into will have.  

Vampire

It seems like after Twilight the gory fanged vampire has gone away and now the vampire looks like a high fashion model and you have Hollywood to thank for that.  This might possible be the easiest of all the makeup looks to achieve because its working with light tones for your face and dark tones for your eyes and lips.  Even with the right color of dark lipstick and a smoky eye you have a simply perfect 

Emily From the Corpse Bride

How cool is this makeup? Well maybe washing it off isn't too much fun but I find this costume so cool and unique.  In this makeup look the areas to focus are on the lip, eyes and eyebrows.  For the lip color I would look for a shiny bubblegum pink color.  For the eyes I would get a dark blue eyeliner pencil and fade it into a smoky eye.  For the eye brows go bold but not a Cara Delevingne bold a skinny bold eyebrow will look the best.  

Skulls

I LOVE SKULLS.  Honestly the most underrated Halloween costume but you need a lot of skill to get a skull to come out as good as this.  If anyone reading this and is good a doing skulls you should honestly go into business doing skulls for $20 because you could get enough money to pay for all your Christmas gifts and still have time to have a great Halloween.  

Pop Art Makeup

I have never seem this makeup before but I'm obsessed with it.  I looked into what to wear with this costume and in my opinion what looks best is wearing clothing that is 50's inspired.  Think circle skirts with a poodle on them.  The one I saw that I really like looked a lot like a typical housewife seen in a old sitcom. It seems with this costume that working with the shapes in your face and chest will make this makeup look the best.  

Fall Pumpkin Treats

1. Pumpkin fudge

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons butter 2 1/2 cups white sugar 2/3 cup evaporated milk 1 cup white chocolate chips

7 ounces marshmallow creme 3/4 cup canned pumpkin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Line a 9x9 inch pan with aluminum foil, and set aside.
2.	In a 3 quart saucepan, heat milk and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
3.	Mix in pumpkin puree and cinnamon; bring back to a boil. Stir in marshmallow creme and butter. Bring to a rolling boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 18 minutes.
4.	Remove from heat, and add white chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until creamy and all chips are melted. Pour into prepared pan. Cool, remove from pan, and cut into squares. Store in a cool, dry place.

2. Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup RecipeINGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup canned pumpkin 2 cups milk 4 eggs, separated

1/4 cup butter, melted APPLE CIDER SYRUP 1/2 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup apple cider 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions.
2.	Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, salt, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the pumpkin, milk, and egg yolks. Whip the egg whites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form.
3.	Stir the flour mixture and 1/4 cup melted butter to the pumpkin mixture, stirring just to combine. Use a whisk or rubber spatula to fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter, stirring gently until incorporated. Fold in the remaining egg whites. Cook waffles according to manufacturer's instructions.
4.	To make the syrup, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Stir in the apple cider and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until mixture begins to boil; boil until the syrup thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter until melted. Serve warm. 3. Kelsandra's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup warm water (100 degrees F/38 degrees C) 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk 3/4 cup white sugar 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 egg, beaten 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 5 cups all-purpose flour, or more if needed 1/4 cup melted butter 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup milk DIRECTIONS: 1. Pour the warm water into a large mixing bowl, and sprinkle yeast over the water. Allow to stand until the yeast begins to form a creamy foam, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in evaporated milk, white sugar, pumpkin, olive oil, and egg. Mix until thoroughly combined. Mix in 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice, then add about 5 cups of flour, or as needed to make a stiff dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Dough will be slightly sticky. Form the dough into a ball, place into an oiled bowl, cover with a cloth, and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes. (The dough will rise, but it won't double.) 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. 3. Punch down the dough, and roll it out to a rectangle shape on a floured work surface until it measures about 18 inches wide and 26 inches long. Brush the dough with 1/4 cup melted butter. Mix the brown sugar with 2 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl, and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dough. Roll up the dough the long way, and pinch the seam closed, then cut the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces with a sharp knife. Lay the rolls into the prepared baking dish. 4. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. All found on allrecipes.com

Urban Outfitters Controversy

Two years ago I created my instargam to create a place where people could get advice on fashion and ask questions.  I do not like how fashion is criticized and I feel that everyone should be able to wear what they want to without feeling unconfident because they are worried about what other people will think of their outfit choice.  That being said there is an exception  to everything.  I don't know if any of you shop at Urban Outfitter but lately their company has be under scrutiny can many people like my self have refused to shop there ever again.  In their last quarter their stock has fallen 10% and here's why I have stopped shopping there.

I don't know who creates the clothing for Urban but I think right about now they are moving to Siberia.  The first shirt has the words depression on it.  Depression is a serious issue that many people suffer from many being teenagers and young adults which is Urbans target audience.  The second shirt says eat less which from what I can get from it is promoting anorexia.  Anorexia is a painful decease that can lead someone to die or be hospitalized and I can't imagine that a grown person who probably went to college would even think of creating this shirt. 

Urbans latest controversy has been the bloody Kent State sweatshirt priced at $120.  Kent State was the site of a massacre in 1970.  The National Guard shot 14 students killing four because of protesting.  What is going on with Urban outfitters.  After clothing gets designed for a company it has to go through an approval process.  Which makes a person wonder where this controversial clothing choices made  to get media attention so their brand was not forgotten. 

Halloween Decorating Ideas

I think when anyone who is planning a Halloween party wishes that they could have the floating pumpkins in the first Harry Potter movie but then again most people wish they could be Harry Potter.  Sadly we are not wizards which makes having floating pumpkins nearly impossible.  When decoration for either a party or just festively decorating your house for Halloween, you can put as much work as you want into it.  In my opinion it doesn't matter weather you decorate a little or decorate your whole house and your yard it always looks good.  I don't think I've ever seen a house decorated and thought it looked bad.

DIY Pumpkin and Ghost Balloons

I absolutely love this idea because it's a great way to save money when decorating.  A pumpkin of ghost balloon at the store could be anywhere from 4-6 dollars but you could get plain orange and white gallons for 10 cents.  Then all you need is a sharpie and do simple pumpkin carving drawings on the balloons.  

Do it Yourself Nightmare Before Christmas Mug

How cool would it be to treat your guest with a Nightmare Before Christmas mug when giving them their evening coffee?  This idea is simple and easy all you need is a sharpie and a mug.  Also you can use this item as a decoration until Christmas because who really knows if the Nightmare before Christmas movie is a Christmas or halloween movie.

Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin carving is always been the classic decoration for porches for Halloween.  Pumpkin carving is also a fun activity to do with friends during the fall.  

DIY Door Decorating

I love when people have their doors decorated during Halloween.   I also really like this idea because there is so much you can do with this idea.  You could create a monster, skeleton, or even a mummy. 

DIY Banner

This is a great easy way to add some Halloween decoration to your room. You can have balloons in your banner but after a little bit the balloons will deflate so I advise cutting out pumpkins in paper and then decorating them.  

Skulls

I love this idea.  My idea to replicate this is get cheap Halloween skulls at Wall mart and then spray paint them how you wish.  The thing I like about his sea is it looks cool that all the skulls are different sizes so you don't have to worry about getting identical skulls. 

DIY Crayon Pumpkin

This is the new idea to the canvas crayon drip art.  With this you do the same exact idea where you use a glue gun and glue crayons and use a blow dryer to make them melt.  With this idea you could also paint the pumpkin white or any color to give the colors a more dramatic look yet still look a pumpkin.  (Most grocery stores also sell white pumpkins.)

Halloween Costume Ideas

I think Halloween is fucking amazing.  Sorry pardon my french.  But what other day of the year do you have to dress like a completely different person without any judgement?  My advice for everyone on Halloween is be something you wouldn't ever do and get out of your comfort zone.  Most importantly have fun and be safe.

Black Swan

Even though this movie is a few years old I think this a a great pop culture costume.  Actually it's what my friend and I are being for Halloween.  If you have a friend one of you can be white swan and the other can be the evil black swan.  This costume is fairly easy to do the only thing I have to say it can be expensive.  I believe my friend bought all the stuff she needed (tutu, corset, feathers, tights, spandex) for 35 and I bought mine exempt in white for 50.  

Amy Winehouse

I never knew deceased celebrity costumes where so popular but this on I like because it is not over done and everyone will know who you are.  This one would be super easy If you ave dark brown hair but you could always wear a wig.  Some leather pants which you could probably get cheap at tj maxx a tank and some fake tattoos.  

Eagle

I like this costume because I don't think I've ever been trick or treating and ran into an Eagle.  Also the more you put into it the better it looks.  I really like this costume because it will look great in fall and masks always add a bit of mystery to an outfit.  

(sorry all the diy videos where about Mascots)

Burton's Doll

I think a doll is a perfect Halloween costume for someone for a party.  The thing is I think Halloween should always about having the perfect mix of sexy and scary.  A doll is perfect for that because you look creepy but also gorgeous at the same time.  

Skeleton Body Suit

I love skeletons! It possibly could be that my two older brothers where both skeletons and I never got to be one but I always thought they where the most underrated costume.  Like you get to wear a body suit to show off your body, who wouldn't want to do that? I know black milk has this exact body suite  but you could also find a cheaper one on amazon. (It's where I get all my replica black milk leggings)

Body Suit Leotard

Fortune Teller

So this one was a little American Horror story Freak Show inspired.  The reason I really like this outfit and can not wait until I'm older and can pull this off while I'm drinking my fine champaign.  For this outfit I would go to thrift stores because you're bound to find a vintage lace dress and some creepy crystal ball.  

For Those Awkward Days

You will never guess that I was introduced to this video on my first day of college in my Calculus class.  Mondays can be hard and challenging to get out of bed and walk out into the freezing air but this video can brighten any Monday.  This video is perfect if you are feeling awkward and nervous because just know you're not Taylor Swift.  

Halloween Movies On Netflix

If anyone is like me today they're procrastinating on doing their history essay that was given to them two weeks ago and they still haven't read the book.  What I normally do on these days is online shop and spend money on things I really don't need (I once bought a frog).   But instead of doing that why not put some popcorn in the microwave, grab a blanket, turn down the lights and watch some Halloween movies.
1. Carrie

Weather you want to watch the 1976 original or the remake netflix has them both.  The movie is about a outcast teenage girl with telekinesis.  After an insolent at prom she uses her powers to get revenge on her town.

2. Children of the Corn

This is a movie based on a short story by Stephan King the author of the popular book it about a killer clown.   The movies are about a couple that move to a small town and there's a cult of kids that believe that everyone over the age of 18 should be killed.

3. The Blair Witch Project

This movie is about three student film makers that make a documentary about a sting of murders that dates back 200 years

4. Friday the  13th: Part 7

Even if you haven't seen any of the Friday the 13th movies it doesn't mean you won't understand everything going on.  The movie is about what happened when Jason is released from his watery grave by a teen who was told her dad was killed there.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas

This is a movie about Jack who is the king of Halloween town who tries to kidnap Santa Claus and deliver evil gifts to the children Christmas morning.