{Friday Favorites} Halloween FUN!

It's been a while since I posted a {Friday Favorites} and I thought what better time than right before Halloween.  I was also in the Halloween spirit today because I finally brought down my Halloween/Fall Decorations from the attic and finished decorating my home.  Though sadly, I am sure my little man will redecorate tomorrow while I am at work. :)

With that being said, welcome to

{Friday Favorites}

Halloween FUN!

I found some fantastic ideas online for you, just click on the link below the picture to go directly to their blog post.



 Source: JBiggs Little Scrap Pieces

This picture of the Halloween Banner really inspired me to start my own banner.  It is simple, festive and adorable all wrapped into one.  Hopefully I will be able to complete mine prior to Halloween.



Source: The Creative Imperative

Check out this blog post because she includes a great tutorial on how to make the adorable spider webs.  If only I planned on having some sort of Halloween Party, I would so make these.  Too CUTE!



Source: A Diamond in the Stuff

Seriously, I definitely need a set of these letters.  I love the polka dots, stripes, and diamonds all mixed together with the little touches of feminine charm. 



Source: A Pumpkin and a Princess

This Halloween matching game is absolutely adorable and I know my son would love it.  Definitely on my to do list.  Oh wait, I still haven't finished my Summer To Do List...OOPS.  All she used was clip art and scrapbook paper.  Sadly, no printable but super easy to do all by yourself.  Maybe I might get inspired to create my very own and then provide a free printable for you guys. 



Source: Fireside Studio

Okay you'll never believe what this wreath is made out of.  Well I won't tell you here, just click the link and find out for yourself.  Kinda makes me wish I had a black door to hang it from.  I love the mix of orange, black, and creamish tan? together.  Super original and very stylish.



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Source: Artsy Fartsy Mama

Yeah! A free printable and a super cute one too!  What a fun idea for a Halloween get together or just fun for your little one.  I love the images she used. ADORABLE!



Source: Mndy Made

Hurray! Two more free printables.  Love the idea of ghost poop and Booing someone (see below).  I might just have to include some ghost poop this year with my treat bags for Halloween (post coming soon).  Hopefully we will get some trick or treaters this year!

Source: Mndy Made

Source: All I Create

Super cute idea to make a candy corn tag for a candy corn treat!  Very cute and so easy even if you don't have the die cutter.

Source: Fools Rush In

Yum! Pumpkin soup in a real pumpkin.  I had to include this link because it looks so good and I really want to try this recipe.  I love when food is served in the vegetable it was made from.  Very elegant and professional looking.

Source: Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

Another activity for the little man to get messy with.  Check out the link to find out how to make your own puffy paint ghosts in time for Halloween.  I love this idea because it is festive and you can preserve your little ones hands forever.

Source: 52 Mantels

Last but not least for now,  monogrammed pumpkins!  I saw a post a while back with a monogrammed pumpkin in black paint and loved it (forgot where I saw it but still plan on creating my own).  However, now I'm torn.  I absolutely love this polka dot look because it is a little funky and fun just like Halloween should be.  So am I funky and fun or sophisticated and refined? 
Maybe neither :(

As I look around for more great Halloween ideas, I will link up more fun here.  Thank you to all the blogs I featured for your creativity and craftiness.



{Friday Favorites} Father's Day Gifts

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day is Sunday, June 19th and in preparation of that wonderful holiday I decided to compile a very long and very creative list of different gift options you can create for that special man in your life.  I want to say thank you to each and every one of the bloggers who shared their ideas.  I promise I will send a comment your way as soon as I have some extra time :). Like maybe on June 24th after school is finished!

Welcome to {Friday Favorites} Father's Day Gifts!

Adorable hand print art from Our Seven Dwarfs

Super cute shirt and tie father's day card from Jengerbread Creations

and another version

Create a necktie card with a free template from June Craft

and another version

I love the details on this shirt card from Stamping Inspiration

Free Father's Day printable from A Proffittable Life



Free subway art from Homespun With Love

and

a yummy breakfast donut recipe from Homespun With Love

with bonus free printable coupons

Cute iDad free printable from Seven Thirty Three



Father's Day Printable from Holiday Snob

Another free printable from Pink Ink Doodle



Free cupcake toppers from Paper Glitter

A yummy dessert meal for dad plus the printables to make everything you see here from Bakerella

An adorable fill in all about dad from Big D and Me

Free father's day printables in two designs and 17 colors from Today's Fabulous Finds

Free Father's Day Printables with banner and tags from Shindig Parties to go

Free baseball printable from Less Cake More Frosting

Free Father's Day Cards from Funky Time

Adorable father's day cupcakes ideas from The Caffeinated Globe

Thank you again for all your creativity.  I hope this helps many of you who are stumped or just a little late in creating something from the heart.  I know I am very late since Father's Day is two days away and I still haven't finished.  Let's just blame the stress on the end of the school year/report cards/constant rain=indoor recess/crazy second graders/computer trouble and a big order for the Fourth of July.  You know how it is :)  Stay tuned sometime this week to see what I whipped up for the little man's big man!
Have a great Father's Day!

~Katania

{Friday Favorites} Memorial Day Decorations

With Memorial Day right around the corner and the summer fast approaching I though it would be great to get in a {Friday Favorites} edition devoted to Memorial Day Decorations.

 Source: KT Designs

Of course this day is very near and dear to my heart mainly in part because of my husband but as well as all the other soldiers and Marines who have fought or who are currently fighting for our freedom.  My heart goes out to those families who are waiting patiently for their loved ones to come home safely and especially to those families who have lost their loved one.  It takes a very special person to sign up and fulfill the requirements of all the military branches.  Of course, it also takes a very strong family to hope and pray each day as they wait for any news from overseas.

I am extremely proud of my husband and his devotion to his country. 

Sadly, I can't seem to find any other pictures of my husband in his dress blues.  Yes... I am a sucker for a man in uniform.  This picture was taken right after his graduation from bootcamp.  He looks so young :)

If you have been following my blog from the very beginning you know my story or you can click HERE to read it.  My husband signed up for the Marines after we were together for a bit and we dealt with 3 months of not seeing each other or talking on the phone while he attended Marine Corps bootcamp.  Then he went through 3 more months of SOI training.  Then in 2005-2006, he made it through his almost year long deployment to Fallujah.  Though the day before they were scheduled to leave Iraq, one of his best friends in the Marine Corps was killed by a car bomb.  

Lance Cpl. Christopher Cosgrove

You can read about him on the Marine Corps News HERE. Thankfully my husband was never redeployed and he is currently out of the Marines.  However, I still cry whenever a fallen soldier or Marine is honored on the news, even if I don't know who they are.  It was also very emotional and moving for me when I visited Arlington Cemetary a couple of years ago. 

So I say thank you... to the soldiers and Marines who have fought, are fighting, or who have lost their lives because of war.  I extend my most sincere and deepest sympathy to the families who have lost their loved ones. 

With that said...

Welcome to {Friday Favorites}

Memorial Day Decorations

You've gotta check out these blogs and their absolutely awesome ideas for Memorial Day.

Loving My Heart and Home

The next three photos are from this blog and she has many more fantastic ideas for decorating your home for the holiday.

Oh How Posh

Check out the adorable FREE Memorial Day Bash Invites. 

Too cute!

So Wonderful, So Marvelous

Usually, I am not drawn towards vintage charm but I actually love these cupcake toppers for Memorial Day with vintage posters.  These would also make a great addition to any centerpiece.

Tip Junkie

Tip Junkie has 31 activites, crafts, and decorations all in a neat little post for Memorial Day.  I am absolutely in love with the flag shirt and just wished I had a little girl to make one for.  Ruffles and my little man do not really go together.

The Long Thread

Download a free printable template for these adorable pinwheels.  I am definitely making these for my home.



Merriment Designs
I love the idea of sparkless sparklers especially with a two year old.  It could definitely be adapted to fit any theme as well.

Holiday Snob

Check out the Holiday Snob for some free printables and fun ideas for a Memorial Day BBQ!

Martha Stewart

Now don't we all want to be just like Martha.  I absolutely love her style and creativity.  She has 38 fantastic ideas to decorate for Memorial Day which could always be reused again for Fourth of July!

 I absolutely love this beach themed Memorial Day table decorations.  They are right up my alley!  Plus I probably have all the supplies in my house (or in my son's sandbox)!

 These are made of cloth!

 LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pinwheels!

Okay, I totally love white picket fences too!  I keep telling my husband we need to get a white picket fence and he just doesn't understand the appeal or the beauty of it.  Seriously, how can you not see that!

   Better Homes and Gardens
You can find 29 amazing ideas at this great site.  My goal is to have my photos look like the photos below.  Absolute picture envy!

 More pinwheels!

 Even more... told you I love them!

 Totally simple but absolutely perfect!

I LOVE this picture and want the blue vases and the peeling paint window so I can take some pictures myself.  LOVE IT!

I think I might just have to get some more pots and paint them red, white, and blue and add the geraniums, forget-me-nots and whatever the white flower is to them for this festive look!

Copy Cat Crafter
Here's a fun free printable for you!

Lady Behind the Curtain

Super cute tutorial on how to make Mini Firework Cupcakes



 and Star Spangled Kabob Treats

YUM!

KT Designs (ME)

Here's a Free Flag Printable for you

and a free photo printable!

I hope you have a fantastic Memorial Day with your friends and family.  Please take some time to remember all the soldiers and Marines who have fought for our freedom and who have died fighting and pray for the safe return of those who are currently fighting overseas.

Source: Daily Kos

Semper Fi

~Katania

I am linking up HERE