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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Hallowdrank!! - Candy Corn Martini

It's Thirsty Thursday!! 

So happy that all the awesome holidays and birthdays fall on Thursday this year!!! Did you notice that yet? 4th of July. Halloween. My birthday. Thanksgiving, of course. Its like God wants me to have Thirsty Thursday! Okay sorry...didn't mean to offend...

Mike and I decided not to carve our pumpkins last night. I decided to just leave them up for a fall decorations.  We had full intentions of carving a pumpkin this weekend and even went to a pumpkin carving party across the street, however, with all the libations I don't think yielding a knife would have been a good idea.

I couldn't go through an entire Halloween day without posting a Halloween drank so I found one that you might want to use in case there's a Halloween party this weekend. Or maybe you'll even like to make yourself a little cocktail this evening!! Handing out candy to trick-or-treaters a little tipsy is always a hell of a lot more fun than doing it completely sober.

Remember that Candy Corn Infused Vodka recipe that I gave you last week. Well, if you decided to actually make that, this is right up your alley!! If you didn't, but still love candy corn, make the one below this!!

Candy Corn Martini
via
INGREDIENTS:
4 oz. candy corn vodka
2 oz. orange liqueur
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 large egg white (yeah, I know)
candy corn

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all into a shaker. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into chilled martini glass. Drank it!!

And...if you didn't get the opportunity to make the vodka, make this one instead...

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 oz Absolut® vanilla vodka
1/2 oz creme de cacao
1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps
2 oz orange juice
1 tbspdark cocoa powder

DIRECTIONS:
First, ring 6 oz Martini glass with orange juice then with Cocoa powder. Pour 1/2 cup of ice into shaker, then spirits, and Orange Juice. Shake vigorously and pour into glass.

COURTESY OF: DRINKS MIXER


Oops, and I almost forgot!! My cohost this week is the totally awesome Tia from Gilded TBag!! She's so wonderful and you have to check out that freakin body!! So jealous!! She's a hopeless lush just like me and I can't wait until I get the opportunity to meet her in person. Pretty sure I won't remember once we're done, however.






Now go link up!!!
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1. Follow Hopelessly Ever After and Gilded T-Bags via GFC or Bloglovin'.
2. Grab a button from below or Kristin's sidebar and put it in your post.
3. Write about your favorite alcoholic beverage.
4. Come back here and link up!!!
5. Get some new recipes or drink ideas for the weekend and make a new friend!!
6. Send a tweet with #ThirstyThursday and include @leggs532 so I can see it!!

Anyone interested in co-hosting (it’s free) email Kristin at: hopelessly_ever_after@yahoo.com

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Hopelessly Ever After
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hopelesslyeverafter.blogspot.com" title="Hopelessly Ever After"><img src="http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/leggs532/linkupbuttonreal_zpsee8b2e2c.jpg" alt="Hopelessly Ever After" style="border:none;" /></a></div>http://www.fashionablybombed.com/2011/10/halloween-candy-cocktail-1-candy-corn.html

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Friendly Fall Swap!!

Don't forget tomorrow is Thirsty Thursday!! I'm going to have a few more Halloween Dranks for you!! Come link up with Tia and I!!

So a few weeks back I participated in the Friendly Fall Swap. It was the second swap I have ever done and I did them both at the exact same time. haha. But I had so much fun and I would definitely do them again!!

My swap partner was Karie from Carrot Cake and Jeans and she did a fabulous job! Here are all of my goodies!!


This was the perfect package!! I love love love to-go cups. My husband and I rarely drink out of anything else, so you can bet I'll be using this bad boy to hand out candy tomorrow!! 

I also have a love for owls and our pot holders are soooo nasty....like reaaaal nasty...so this pot holder was perfect!!

The apple butter was amazeballs!! Pretty sure Karie made it herself because if you check out her blog you will see all of her canning talents. YUM!! Wish I had a garden soooo bad!! And it was delish!! Had some on my toast this morning as a matter of fact!!


We actually just ran out of coffee, too, so the coffee was the perfect addition. I don't know what I would do without coffee. It definitely jump starts my day. 

What's really funny about the nail polish is that I had 2 colors picked out to send her way and couldn't decide which one to send. I ended up sending a brownish color and the other color was exactly like the one she sent me. Great minds think alike!!!

Thanks to Alicia, Jodi, and Britney for doing this swap!! I had so much fun!!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

And the winner is...

I forgot to mention that we had a winner for the giveaway!!! Shane from Whispering Sweet Nothings was our winner!! Congrats Shane!! Let me know if there was anyone you still didn't hear from. 

So this giveaway brings me to a little rant today...

We had to go through 3 other potential winners in order to find Shane, someone who actually did what she was supposed to. Unfortunately, those 3 people entered to win the giveaway, but when verifying if they actually did complete the entry, it showed that they didn't do what they said they did.

Here's the deal guys. There is a reason we ask for specific information on different entries. Your entries will be verified!! 

I know, I know....I'm sure you've gotten away with it once or twice...but really??
 

OK enough with my rant. Look out for another giveaway some time in the near future!!

Until then...don't forget about THIRSTY THURSDAY!! Halloweenie Edition!!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Swapoween!!

This year I decided to participate in the Swapoween with Chaotic Goddess Swaps. I was super excited to do this because Halloween is my favorite holiday and I was certainly not disappointed.


My partner was Cindy from A Crafter's Corner. Cindy is incredibly crafty and you have to check out all the awesome crafts she does on her blog. 

I was super excited to receive my package. And...oddly enough...so was Mike. He called to tell me it was there and then told me he had opened it already. So, after a few choice words, he told me he was only kidding, but...he did almost open it. 
Then, as soon as I got home, he brought it to me and asked if he could open it. lol. Like a 10 year old child I tell ya. I let him and was so excited to see all the goodies!!


I was so happy with everything I got. Cindy did a great job picking things out that matched my personality and other decorations. 

Here's how I used it to decorate!!
(Sorry it's so dark. Sun's not up when I leave.)




I forgot these in the original pic because I put them up right away. So cute!!


I was so happy with this swap and would definitely be interested in doing another one with Chaotic Goddess in the future!!


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Halloween Dranks!! Yeah!!

It's Thursday!!! Yay!!
But no cohost this week....boo...email me if you want to cohost.

I know many of you are probably either throwing or going to awesome Halloween parties this weekend so what better day to post Halloween cocktail than Thirsty Thursday?!?!

Last week I posted The Dragon's Lair so be sure to check that one out too. I also gave a quick tip for awesome Halloween cocktails. Make sure you add tapioca pearls to your drink because it gives it this creepy look. If you want, soak them for a while before so they puff up. Even nastier!!

So here are a few I found online. I couldn't make all of these, that would make me an alcoholic. As if I wasn't already. So I just figured I would post them for you. 


Bleeding Heart Martini
Halloween cocktails
via
INGREDIENTS:
2 ounces dry vermouth
8 ounces premium gin
Ice cubes
4 pickled baby beets, each placed on a cocktail skewer

DIRECTIONS:
Chill 4 martini glasses in the freezer or fill with ice water and let sit until frosty, about 5 minutes (pour out water). Add the vermouth, dividing evenly; swirl to coat the glasses, then pour out. Add gin to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled; divide among chilled glasses. Garnish each with a skewered pickled baby beet, and serve immediately.



Brain Hemorrhage Shot
Halloween cocktails
via
INGREDIENTS:
1 oz peach schnapps
1 tsp Bailey's Irish Cream
2 drops Grenadine

DIRECTIONS:
Pour the Peach Schnapps into a large shot glass. Slowly add the Bailey’s and top with the grenadine.

And last but not least....



Candy Corn Infused Vodka
(yep, you read that 'ish right!!)
Halloween cocktails
via
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup candy corn
vodka

DIRECTIONS:
roughly chop candy corn. Put in small mason jar and add vodka. (change measurements accordingly) Set jar in dark place for at least a week. Filter vodka before serving. 

So go make these dranks...dress your ash up...and get your treatin' on!!

And don't forget to link up!! The giveaway is only one more day and you get 10 extra points for linking up!!
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1. Follow Hopelessly Ever After via GFC or Bloglovin'.
2. Grab a button from below or my sidebar and put it in your post.
3. Write about your favorite alcoholic beverage.
4. Come back here and link up!!!
5. Get some new recipes or drink ideas for the weekend and make a new friend!!
6. Send a tweet with #ThirstyThursday and include @leggs532 so I can see it!!

Anyone interested in co-hosting (it’s free) email me at: hopelessly_ever_after@yahoo.com

 photo linkupheader_zps0ffa7656.jpg


Hopelessly Ever After
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hopelesslyeverafter.blogspot.com" title="Hopelessly Ever After"><img src="http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/leggs532/linkupbuttonreal_zpsee8b2e2c.jpg" alt="Hopelessly Ever After" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And don't forget to enter this giveaway!! Only a day left!!
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Halloween Bash!!

In case you can't tell, Halloween is my favorite holiday!! I've have so much fun this year finding and coming up with recipes for my Halloween bashes. So, thanks to Sarah and Helene's Halloween Bash, I've compiled all the Halloween recipes in one place just for you!!!

Halloween Recipes

Halloween Recipes


Halloween Recipes


Halloween Recipes


Halloween recipes


Halloween Cocktails

I hope you enjoy!! Be sure to post pics if you make any of these and tag me so I can see it!!
 [Instagram: @crooksy532] [Twitter: @leggs532] 

Now it's your turn. Head on over and check out what Sarah and Helene have for you!! Then, write your Halloween post and link it up!! 

Oh!! And don't forget about Thirsty Thursday tomorrow!! I'm going to have more Halloween dranks for you!!

Helene in Between

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Taste of Tuesday - Brain Dip

First off, don't forget to link up for Thirsty Thursday on Thursday!! Since the giveaway doesn't end until Friday you still have another opportunity to get those 10 extra points for linking up!! I'm doing a list of Halloween dranks so you might want to check it out for your Halloween parties!!

I'm so excited to be cohosting Taste of Tuesday today!! If you haven't already, go check out Ashley and Jess. These chicks make my mouth water every week with their Taste of Tuesday linkup.

Last week I posted my recipes for Deviled Eyeballs and Mummy Toes. And, if you haven't checked out the Thirsty Thursday drink from last week, The Dragon's Lair is pretty awesome, too!! If you haven't checked those out, you need to. I could eat Mummy Toes every day. I saved the best for this week, though!! 

Brain Dip
(that's right)


INGREDIENTS:
1 can (10oz) condensed mushroom soup
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
2 cups shrimp, cooked and chopped
1 cup mayo
few dashes of hot sauce

DIRECTIONS:
in a medium sized saucepan, heat soup and cream cheese over low heat. Mix together as it softens. When smooth, remove from heat. 
In separate, small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water and dissolve. Add to soup mixture.
Mix onions, shrimp, mayo, and hot sauce in large mixing bowl. Stir in soup mixture.
Spray mold with cooking spray and spread mixture evenly into mold. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.
Dip mold in warm water for a few seconds to loosen before transposing it onto serving platter.



Pumpkin Puke

INGREDIENTS:
4 avocados
2 packets guac mix
1 small red onion
(or just use whatever recipe you do for guac)

DIRECTIONS:
Cut avocados up into small chunks. Smash with fork or mashed potato smasher. Mix in guac mix and onions. Spread strategically out of pumpkins mouth to look like puke. :)



Hairy Spiders

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
4 1/4 cup rice krispies
1 pinch of salt
6 Reese's peanut butter cups, chopped
1 handful chocolate chips
royal icing eyes
chocolate frosting

DIRECTIONS:
In a large saucepan, melt sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter over medium heat until smooth. 
Remove from heat and quickly stir in rice krispies and salt. Add chocolate chips and stir. 
After about a minute fold in Reese's.
Line baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls and let cool.
Melt chocolate frosting in microwave until warm. Do not overheat. Pour into plastic baggie and cut small hole in corner. Use as piping to make legs. (You can also use black licorice.) Use frosting as glue to add eyes.


ENJOY!!

And don't forget about the giveaway! I put the widget below for your convenience!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now it's your turn!! Go link up for Taste of Tuesday!!



Just a reminder: Please link back to both of our blogs when linking up with Taste of Tuesday! We work hard on this link up and it will only increase your exposure if we all help each other. From this point forward, if we notice that you're not linking back to our blogs we will have to delete your link up entry. Sorry!
Want to Join Us?! YAY! Just follow these simple steps:
{Email us for co-hosting opportunities!}
  1. Follow Jessica and me on Bloglovin'.  And Kristin, our fabulous co-host!
  2. Post a recipe, meal, favorite restaurant or anything food related! {Please link directly to your post, not your blog’s homepage.}
  3. Grab our button below and link back to our blogs.
  4. Go meet some new friends and find some new recipes or restaurants to try!

Help us promote our link up!  Use the hash tag #tasteoftuesday on Instagram and Twitter and tag us! (IG: @ashleymbarnhill and @jessicaselie) (Twitter @ashleymbarnhill and @jessicaselie).  Tag us and we’ll re-tweet!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Happies and Crappies!! + Giveaway!!

This week has been pretty good!! I'm excited to be back for Happies and Crappies!!

Happies

1. We've got this awesome giveaway going on!! I finally reached 200 GFC followers, which might not seem like much to many of you, but, considering I only started this blog to keep track of my own stuff, it's pretty cool how many people I've met and connected with!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. We have the day off today!! Maryland has an education conference in Ocean City today but clearly I don't have to the money to go so I get to lay in bed with Goob all day!! Oh!! And!! I get to go to the gym this afternoon!! 

3. Mike and I have been getting along much better. Must be due to this post that I wrote last week. haha. Sometimes you just have to get ish off your chest. haha. 

4. We broke in the home theater 3D style this week!! Pacific Rim is a must see. I can't imagine watching it without 3D, however. Oh and...Charlie Hunnam without a shirt...

5. The Halloween Book Club was a success. In case you didn't catch it, I posted some of the recipes here. I'm cohosting Taste of Tuesday with Jess and Ashley on Tuesday for 2 more recipes. Be sure to stop by and check them out!!


Crappies

1. It's hot as shit everywhere. My classroom feels like a sauna. The house is freaking ridiculous. And I'm too cheap to turn on the air. I'm legit sweating as we speak.

2. This was legit the longest week ever!!! And we had today off. I can't stand it. I literally almost cried on Wednesday when I left for work. That's how bad I wanted to stay home.

3. I've got 2 canker sores in my mouth and one is right in the middle and rubs against my teeth. And I love to eat. So...it sucks.

Ok that's it. Don't forget to link up for Happies and Crappies!!


Thirsty Thursday Group Giveaway and Cohost!!

Oh Boy!!! What a Thirsty Thursday it is!!

All of the chicks who are in the group giveaway with me are my cohosts today!!! Be sure to check out their pages and dranks below. They are all just as awesome as me and I can't wait for you to go meet them!!

Clearly, you have a lot to get to today...especially with the AMAZEBALLS giveaway below. So I'll get right to this drank...

The Dragon's Lair
(OK so I used a ton of saturation to make this look like it was glowing. It won't really look like this.)

INGREDIENTS:
Midori
pineapple juice
tapioca pearls

Honestly, you can make any Halloween drank look nasty with tapioca pearls. I LOVE them!! 
I just happen to think that Midori would give a nice "glow" to the drank. Plus, one of my younger guilty pleasures was Midori pineapples. LOVE!! My girly puss drank of choice. :)

So go make that Halloween drank...add some tapioca pearls...and get nastaaayy!!

Now it's your turn. Don't forget to enter the giveaway below and link up your own Thirsty Thursday post for an additional 10 points towards the giveaway!!

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1. Follow the blogs below via GFC or Bloglovin'.
- Kristin @ Hopelessly Ever After
- Ida @ Second Chances Girl
- Lisa @ Butterflies and Hurricanes
- Brandi @ Realities of Brandi
- Alicia @ Brew Mama
- Brittany @ Wine, Cheese, and Workout Capris
- Britney @ Lady Luck
- Sevi @ Ware is the Vodka?!?
- Tia @ Gilded TBags
2. Grab a button from below or my sidebar and put it in your post.
3. Write about your favorite alcoholic beverage.
4. Come back here and link up!!!
5. Get some new recipes or drink ideas for the weekend and make a new friend!!
6. Send a tweet with #ThirstyThursday and include @leggs532 so I can see it!!

Anyone interested in co-hosting (it’s free) email me at: hopelessly_ever_after@yahoo.com

 photo linkupheader_zps0ffa7656.jpg


Hopelessly Ever After
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hopelesslyeverafter.blogspot.com" title="Hopelessly Ever After"><img src="http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/leggs532/linkupbuttonreal_zpsee8b2e2c.jpg" alt="Hopelessly Ever After" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And now time for the giveaway!! Don't forget to link up for Thirsty Thursday and complete all the entries for an extra 20 points!!


- Kristin @ Hopelessly Ever After
- Brandi @ Realities of Brandi
- Tia @ Gilded TBags
- Brittany @ Wine, Cheese, and Workout Capris
- Sevi @ Ware is the Vodka?!?
- Britney @ Lady Luck
- Alicia @ Brew Mama
- Lisa @ Butterflies and Hurricanes
- Ida @ Second Chances Girl
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

You're gonna wanna stop by tomorrow...

OK so...I don't have much to write about today because I'm super busy....BUT...you're gonna wanna stop by for Thirsty Thursday tomorrow. I finally reached 200 GFC followers and I'm doing a group giveaway. And this 'ish is good. You're gonna win some totally awesome stuff and meet some super cool chicks!!

Here's a sneaky peaky...


So don't forget to stop by!! Oh! And you get 10 extra points just for linking up for Thirsty Thursday!! I know...I'm awesome!!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Taste of Tuesday - Halloween Treats!!

Here I am again, doing Taste of Tuesday!! Look at me!! I'm on it! Besides the little hiatus the past 4 days. Oops!!

So I hosted Book Club this month. I was nervous about getting the house together but I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to be able to do all these awesome Halloween treats. I love Halloween and it's stupid to just do it for Mike and I so I knew this was the month I wanted to host. 

And now...you reap the benefits because I'm going to show you all these totally awesome Halloween treats so you can make them, too!!

Devils Eyeballs

INGREDIENTS:
eggs
3 tbsp. mustard
1/3 cup mayo
2 tsp. vinegar
sprinkle of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
green food coloring
red food coloring
candy eyeballs

*Please don't go by my measurements, go by your taste buds. I don't measure anything.*

DIRECTIONS:
Hard boil eggs. Peel, and then cut in half and put yolk in separate bowl.

Mix yolk, mayo, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper. Mix and add as needed. Add green food coloring to desired color. Fill eggs with yolk mixture. Use red food coloring and a toothpick or a knife tip to draw on veins. Top with candy eyeballs.




And the other recipe for today...
 (gotta keep you guessing for next week!! Another Halloween theme!!)


Mummy Toes

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. Little Smokies
1 pkg. crescent rolls

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375º. Unroll crescent rolls. Using a pizza cutter, cut thin strips off the crescent rolls. Roll strips around Lil Smokies randomly. Bake for approximately 15 mins.
*If you want to make them more realistic, use ketchup or sliced almonds to make "fingernails". *

Oh! And for those of you that didn't see, here's the new tat. I know I said I would post about it yesterday but truthfully, I was busy as 'ish so....


I wanted something that symbolized that those who have passed are still in my heart. To me, this means infinite love. Love beyond whatever the afterlife might bring us.

Don't forget to link up with Ashley and Jessica for