Halloween Schmalloween. Today is Mom's Freaking Day Off!

Today might be Halloween, but other than dressing up and trading candy, today shall henceforth be known as MOM'S FREAKING DAY OFF, YO!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were non-stop, mom's-gotta-go-go-goooo kind-of days that make me pant in exhaustion just thinking about them. I tried to stop and take a belly bump pic, but honestly? I wasn't feeling too photogenic. I didn't even want to be out in public, barely able to slap a toothbrush on my teeth or dab some deodorant on my pits. I had to shell out six freakin' bucks on a new tweezer the other day just to tame the amazon eyebrows I had going on, and dry shampoo was my new BFF.

But I did it, I survived our crazy five-kids-playing-soccer-and-homecoming weekend, as well as a full week without hubby. And even better news, he's due home in four days! (Cue the harps and angels singing!)

This isn't just the last week without hubby, though, it's the last week of soccer. I have one more full week of ushering children to practices, quickly scurrying home to throw dinner together, only to return to pick them up, slap the remaining pieces of dinner together, serve, and somehow get the kids fed, bathed, chores done and in bed at a reasonable hour without falling asleep before they do.

Yes, I totally fell asleep before the older kids did on Saturday. I was nodding off at 8:30pm, but managed to stay awake long enough to put both toddlers to sleep and text my sister-in-law, but after I laid the kids in bed and it rounded the 9:15-9:30pm mark? All bets were off, this preggo's body shut down, and I passed out like a drunken rock star on the couch, sitting up, spread eagle, droolin' like a mo fo. It wasn't pretty.

My older kids were wonderful, though - they put themselves to sleep on time. By the time my teenager called me from her friend's house to tell me she was back from Homecoming, and safe, at 11pm, all lights were off, and snoring (other than mine) could be heard from upstairs. Only then did I shuffle my ridiculously tired body off to bed with the toddlers. It was safe, now. My oldest baby was at her friends, safe, while my five others were asleep, safe. Mom's duty was done, yo.

Parenting solo with five kids in soccer and kiddie social lives is hard, man. But oh! So rewarding.

And naps? Naps are gifts from the Gods, and awesomely rewarding themselves. And after this weekend's events and this upcoming week's excitement, I can't wait for one today. Today being my self-proclaimed FREAKING DAY OFF!

Word.

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Welcome Home, Soldier!

When you get the call, the official I'm-flying-home-today call, there are no words that could fill the emotion pouring out of your body. Every feeling that a human person has the capacity to feel explodes at once, and you feel it all, right there. Pulsating, under your skin.

The nightmarish deployment is over, and your other-half is on their way home to you. Finally!

You begin making plans of things to do, and prepare, and nervously clean things that are already clean, and realize the dumbassdom has resurfaced and you have no idea what you're doing, yet, you can't stop doing it.

You get a prospective time to arrive at the hangar, and you arrive early, even though you know that these things never start early, you can't bear to imagine your loved one stepping off the plane without you there to receive them.

It feels like hours, where body parts are randomly shaking, and tears fling out of your eyes for no reason other than excitement. And nerves.

You've made signs, and clutch them in your sweaty hands until you're tearing the corners with your grip, because these signs mean so much to you, so much to them.

When the plane comes, there are screams. There are cheers. There is applause and "YES!"'s and so many people suddenly on their feet waving, yet these planes don't have windows, but you wave anyway because they are stateside and home and you can't imagine not waving to them.

They begin to file off the plane, and you rush to get a look, but they are so far away and all look the same, in their caps and uniforms, some are taller than others but overall, you see a mass of green filing off the plane and you wonder, 'Is that them!?"

Finally, they've all deplaned, and stand at attention, all filed nice and neat and pressed yet exhausted but they won't dare stand any less straight than normal, this is their honor. Standing before you, so handsome and beautiful, you want so desperately to pluck them from their washboard-straight stance and hug them until you can't breathe, but there's a Colonel or Admiral talking, who sounds like the Charlie Brown teacher, "Wah wah wahh," who is only prolonging your embrace, but you know, despite their wanting to reach you, they are so proud for those words.

"Welcome home, soldier."

There is music, and the National Anthem, and horns and a lot of hoopla, and this official Welcome Home ceremony makes you weak in the knees, both in excitement and agitation, you just want that soldier in your arms, now! And there! There they are! Finally! Before you!

You laugh/cry out loud whenever a baby cries, or a child calls out "DAD!" because you know, That's how you feel too, pal!

Suddenly.. they're released from formation. And in almost deafening silence momentarily scares you into an eruption of movement around you, as people lunge towards the soldiers and the soldiers take off their caps with tearful smiles.

There's hardly any words, because there are just gasps. They're home. They're safe. And they're coming towards you.

And the embrace.. the embrace you've longed for, for months and months, is just as sweet and delicate and amazing and passionate as the one you dreamt about every day and night since they boarded the plane to take them into harm's way and away from you. And you never, ever want to let go, and you don't. You can't.

The kids stick like glue to their soldier, and there's a smudge of a family where individual people once stood. You are stuck together, melted into one big puddle of happiness and THANK GOODNESS DADDY IS HOME AND SAFE.

There are lots of smiles through lots and lots of tears.

Despite how pretty your makeup and hair may have looked, you've cried it all off by now. No matter how nicely dressed you may have been, all that matters is that dirty uniform pressed against that nice outfit of yours, and his hat placed on your once-nicely done hair, with his fingers combing through it, sending familiar chills up your spine.

And your child's hand is in his. And your family in the same room, in breathing proximity, once more.

Welcome home, soldier.

Dedicated to Matt and Rachael. Welcome home!

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Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 15: The Marriage and Kids Version

My seven-year-old tends to ask me off-the-wall questions on the way to school.

Super M: "Mommy? Why do you call Granny and Poppy 'Mom' and 'Dad?' They're daddy's mom and dad?"

Me: "You see, baby, when you get married, your spouse's parents become your 'parents-in-law.' Meaning, 'by marriage.' So, instead of calling them 'mother-in-law' or 'mom-in-law,' you call them 'mom' for short."

Super M: "Ohhhhhh! So, eventually, when I get married, I will call my wife's parents mom and dad, too?"

(And then my heart sank, for a second, imagining my seven-year-old married, let alone with a woman. He's SEVEN!)

Me: "Yes, baby. When you get married, you can. It depends on the people, though. Some prefer first names."

Super M: "Wow, so how old will YOU be when I get married?"

Me: "I don't know, kiddo. It depends on how old you'll be when YOU get married."

Super M: "Huh?"

Me: "See, right now, you're seven. But if you decide to marry at twenty-seven, that's in twenty years. I'm about to be thirty-five, so add twenty years, to my age, and I'll be about fifty-five when you get married."

My son sits in shock for about thirty seconds, mouth wide open. I figured it was because he was trying to imagine himself as an adult at age twenty-seven. Apparently, I was wrong.

Super M: "Wow, mom. You'll be reeeeeeeeeeeally ooooooooooooooold when I get married."

And here I was thinking about how fifty-five wasn't such a bad age. GEEZ, son!

---------------------

Me: "Oooh, I like that car!" (Pointing to the new Swagger Wagon Toyota Sienna in the parking lot.)

Super M: "When I get older, I want THAT car!" (He points to a random SUV leaving the parking lot.)

Me: "But that car is for a family with a lot of kids."

Super M: "When I grow up and have a family, that's the car I'll have."

Me: "Oh yeah?"

Super M: "Yeah. I don't know how many kids I wanna have, though. I don't know.. maybe.. three?"

While he's shrugging and shaking his head, I'm feeling gray hair sprout on my head. He's only SEVEN!


Oh boy...

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Like these? Catch up on my other "Out of the Mouth of..." posts:

Out of the Mouth of Husbands

Raising a Mini-Me is Wicked Awesome

Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 14, The Baby Sis Edition

Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 13

Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 12

Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 11

Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 10

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 9

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 8

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 7, and other Kidlet Cuteness

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 6

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 5

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 4

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 3

Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 2

Haha, Out of the Mouth of Babes

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House Destruction a la Toddlers. {Caption This} #parentingfail

When bad things happen to pretty packages. This was a present my kids decided to destroy in order to throw (literally) a "confetti party."

I became tipped off as soon as she came into my bedroom (office) with blue sh*t on her head, wig-like like Troy Polamalu. I may have screamed like a sissy-lala, yelling "OHHH HELLLLLL NOOOOOO!" as she sprinkled this stuff to-and-fro, chasing her out of my room, only to walk out, unsuspectingly, to find this. E-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e.

This was done in a matter of five minutes by two toddlers, who apparently have amazing destructive and ninja-like skills.

See? My house isn't pretty all the time. We have our bad days, and yesterday was a BAD HOUSE DAY. Just keeping it real, yo.

So, caption this photo!

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Pampered Chef Chicken Broccoli Wreath Recipe

Chicken Broccoli Wreath on the Simple Additions Dots round platter

I used to sell Pampered Chef. I own probably more than half their catalog, as I was quite passionate about it (hence why I began selling it). In fact, the only reason I stopped selling it was because I gave birth and my leave-of-absence hadn't been put it properly, so I subsequently lost my almost 15K in sales. Sniffle.

I still love every single solitary product I own, and was truly heartbroken when we lost one. It felt like a death in the family. RIP, Stone of Awesome. We still miss you.

I often delve into my Pampered Chef cookbooks and poke around at all the old, favorite recipes I'd make at parties. The Chicken Broccoli Wreath is still a favorite. I, however, like to jazz up the recipe with some of my favorite additions to make it more flavorful.

And while there are three versions you can make with this filling (the ring, the wreath or the braid), I love how stylish the wreath comes out, so I choose to make this one above all the others.

Pampered Chef Chicken Broccoli Wreath Recipe

2 cans of refrigerated crescent roll dough (we used Immaculate Baking Co)
2 cups of cooked chicken
1 cup chopped broccoli (I prefer cooked broccoli over raw, personally)
1/2 cup diced/minced red bell pepper
1 tsp minced garlic (or a couple garlic cloves in the garlic press)
1/2 cup of mayo
2 tsps dill mix (or your own dill seasoning)
2 tsps Mrs Dash table blend (not in original recipe)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
few sprinkles of your favorite hot sauce (not in original recipe)
1 tsp salt (optional)
1 egg white (optional, as topping)
slivered almonds (optional, as topping)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Chop the chicken and broccoli with the food chopper, and mix your your ingredients while popping open your cans of dough. Arrange the triangles on the large round pizza stone as depicted in the photo below:

Image credit: All the Best cookbook by The Pampered Chef

You'll want to use the Baker's Roller to smoosh the creases together to lay the mixture upon. The triangles in the center will be overlapped and look a little crazy, but that's alright, though.

Use the medium scoop (the absolute best size for cookies, meatballs, and ice cream) to scoop the ingredients into the wreath. Next, braid the triangles over the mixture, overlapping each, while tucking them underneath until all the triangles are folded over.

Finish with the egg whites and almonds, if you so desire. I like to leave 'em off, just because. Bake for 25-30 minutes (according to the directions) but I keep watch until the top of the wreath is browning slightly, the crescent roll dough is nice and puffy, and the mixture is bubbly and heated through. Slice and serve with the pizza cutter when cooled.

I chose to add hot sauce and additional seasoning to this to give it a little more oomph. I like oomph, don't you?

The cookbook is pretty thorough in depicting how to create your wreath, ring or braid (another valuable reason to own it for yourself.)

I could not do half of what I do in the kitchen as tasty as I do it without my stoneware. If you're thinking of purchasing some for yourself, act fast, October is Stoneware month and you can save 20% off all unglazed stoneware!

I'm hosting a catalog party for this month, not only because I need to replace my stoneware I broke, and to give my friend Shannon some business, but to maybe introduce some of you to Pampered Chef if you haven't ever purchased it already. The holidays are coming, and there will be tons of entertaining and baking, not to mention gift-giving.

Want to order something? Be sure to enter host "Lisa Douglas" on her website when prompted.

Don't forget to check out their outlet and Help Whip Cancer items, too!

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Military Woes: When They Go Away

You know, it's strange how, when your husband is tasked to go away, it seems like your world is crumbling. It doesn't seem to matter if it's just a two-week class, or a four day conference, or overseas to war, the military has taught us spouses that goodbyes are like dagger-strikes to your heart, no matter how long or short.

I've been in mourning this entire week, to include nightmares of being forced to live without my husband. Couple that with pregnancy hormones, and you can only imagine the emotional tricks my mind is playing on me.

My parental partner-in-crime will be away. 

For two weeks. 

And these trips never go well.

And I'll be slinging children and soccer practices and Halloween alone.

I just crumbled into tears loading the dishwasher, feeling overwhelmed by the messes surrounding me that the kids have made, suddenly feeling so very alone, and unwilling and able to lift a finger. (And he's not even gone yet, but my mind, heart, and body are preparing.)

I know that I'm being a ridiculous baby about this, but, in the same respect, it's this scared-of-being-a-widow feeling that forces us to live the way we do - this no-holds-barred, everyday-is-our-last kind-of thing that we blindly obey.

The other day I saw this on Pinterest from Etsy.

I cried. Big, fat, ugly-cry tears everywhere. Because this is how we live, always.

And he might not be deploying at 7am on Sunday, but to my heart, it sure feels like it. And to the emptiness in my home, my hand, my bed, it will feel like it.

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20 Week Belly Bump. Halfway There! Whoa, Baby!

20 Weeks. T-w-e-n-t-y.

The halfway mark, baby. Comin' to you live from my son's doctor's appointment this week, instead of my master bathroom. Because I liked my cute "Mom of 6" shirt (which, I suppose, I need a replacement for, given this'll be baby #7).

I'm feeling the baby move SO much lately, this one is most certainly a gymnast, or breakdancer, or something.

I'm also being asked repeatedly by my toddler and seven-year-old if the "baby is coming out yet." I don't know whether they think I look huge enough to give birth right now, or if they're just that eager to meet their baby sibling.

I think it's the latter. (At least, for my sanity's sake.)

Oh, and, um, {whispers} cue the love of food once more. Yeah, that whole, "I hate food" thing from a couple weeks ago? Gone. (Heh.)

Ahem.

Baby bump progression thus far:

I don't know about you, but I kind-of like wearing tighter shirts than baggier ones. The tighter ones flaunt my bump and, I think, make me look skinnier, and not so Whale-like. What do you think?

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Halloween Recipe: Spooky Alien Cupcakes

This recipe is pretty simple, actually. And ridiculously fun for your children to decorate.

Pick out (or make from scratch) your favorite chocolate cake mix, poured into either a regular cupcake pan or a mini cupcake pan (as we did), frost 'em with your favorite frosting (colored or otherwise), and decorate as you wish. The crazier the better. WA-LA!

We chose this organic cake mix, instead of making it from scratch, to help simplify prep time for our Halloween Party.

There's no wrong way to decorate your alien cupcake, so let your imagination run wild! You can really dress your cupcake up with sprinkles and any type of candy you desire. We chose to decorate them with what we already had on hand - mini marshmallows and mini chocolate chips, with homemade whipped cream as the frosting.

Having the kids help you decorate and come up with their own creation is part of the fun! Enjoy yourselves, and let me know what you come up with!

Check out my other Halloween recipe posts:

Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Mummified Hot Dogs
Ghost Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream
Chocolate Pretzel Spiders
Spooky Alien Cupcakes

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Forty-Eight with Many Exclamation Points

"Go ahead and take off your shoes."

The nurse scribbled away while my second grader slid out of his velcro sneakers and onto the scale. He stepped onto it gingerly, as he always does. She walked up behind him, masking the scale from me as she moved the metal dial, ticking it over, and over, and over.

"Forty-eight pounds." She called out to me.

My jaw dropped. "FORTY-EIGHT!? REALLY!?"

I wanted to break into tears. Right there in the triage room, I didn't care. "AWESOME, DUDE! You gained a lot of weight!"

I held my hand up to give him a proud high-five, but he just passed me, shy-fully slipped back into his sneakers and sat in the chair to get his blood pressure taken. He knew the triage drill well, all the years he's been to the doctors, getting sick, being tested. He also didn't want a big deal to be made about it.

But it was a big fricken deal.

I was struggling to contain my excitement. I immediately texted my husband about it, as soon as my hands could stop shaking long enough to get the fingers to work properly. My husband's response almost leapt from the phone, equalling my happiness.

My son is underweight, and has been for over three years. 

He's had bone tests that showed he was almost two years behind (at age six the doctors told us he had the bones of a four-year-old). He had numerous blood tests, skin tests, even hair. They all came back "within normal limits" and, thankfully, didn't indicate cancer.

But the constant illnesses, the battle to put weight on this too-short-for-his-age, too-skinny child has been a battle indeed without any reasons as to "why" other than our move to Louisiana, where he also became an asthmatic.

We introduced protein shakes, encouraged him to eat as often as he could, we kept track of his calories, and even sought the help of a nutritionist (who, you wouldn't believe, wanted us to feed him fried foods all.day.long.OMG).

"He's moved into the twenty-third percentile." She called out to me, interrupting my silent celebration within my head. "He's within the normal range now."

Tears were forming in the backs of my eyeballs, with three small children looking on, I had to force them to go away. I had to mask the lip that was now quivering, the sheer joy I was feeling, my need to want to scream at the top of my lungs, "YES!! FINALLY!!"

Normal was a word I'd longed to hear from anyone in regards to my son for a long, long time.

My husband texted me. "And I just checked 48 lbs is in the 23 percentile for his age!"

"Yes!!!!" with four exclamation points was my response.

That was how I honestly felt - as pointy, poignant and important as an exclamation point, to solidify how momentous this news truly was.

My strong muscle man during our Halloween Party. 

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Halloween Recipe: Chocolate Pretzel Spiders

What do you get when you combine mini pretzel rods with melted chocolate chips drizzled on 'em? A fun Halloween craft for your kids, that's what!

Chocolate Pretzel Spiders
Bag of tiny pretzel rod sticks
Bag of chocolate chips
Microwaveable bowl
Tea spoon
Parchment Paper
Baking sheet

Open the bag of pretzels and spread out a handful or two on the table for the kids to grab. Rip off a piece of parchment paper the size of the baking sheet, and fold down over the baking sheet so it doesn't stick up.

Let the children arrange the pretzel pieces anyway they want on the parchment paper, to attempt to form spiders, and then have them drizzle melted chocolate chips on them to keep them together with the teaspoon.

While the kids are working on this project, go and free up some space in your freezer so that they'll rest flat. Once they're finished, keep 'em in the freezer until the chocolate hardens.

My kids had such an enjoyable time creating their Chocolate Pretzel Spiders and even more fun eating them when it came time! These keep pretty well in the freezer, too!

What do you think? Have you made something with melted chocolate like this before?
Check out my other Halloween recipe posts:

Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Mummified Hot Dogs
Ghost Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream
Chocolate Pretzel Spiders
Spooky Alien Cupcakes

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You Know You're a Soccer Mom When....

Your kids take their muddy soccer ball, and smear it on your back window. Like this.

And you drive down the street, not seeing it at first, until the light shines through, or suddenly your back window is needed, and you're all like, "WTF!!?" while double-taking the rear-view, and your kids, who had forgotten at first, begin laughing at you, "HAHA, GOTCHA, MOM!"

Except, they didn't tag YOU with the muddy soccer ball, just your poor, unsuspecting soccer-mom toting minivan.

You know, the one that's suddenly going to go on strike and NOT take them to soccer anymore?

Ohhhhh!! Good one, mom! {schooled}

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Halloween Recipe: Ghost Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe

Do you want something snacky yet simple to create for your Halloween party? Be sure to try this super quick and easy recipe for Ghost Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream!

Halloween Ghost Pudding
One package of all-natural Butterscotch (or whatever flavor your prefer) pudding
Whipped cream (recipe below)
Mini chocolate chips (for the eyes)

Prepare pudding as directed, and serve in individual dishes. Pipe whipped cream with a wide-opening onto the cooled pudding in circles. Place mini chocolate chips on the top as eyeballs.

Homemade Whipped Cream
1/2 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
3 teaspoons confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all 3 ingredients together using a medium setting with a hand mixer. Beat until peaks form, and the mixture stiffens up.

See how easy that is? Seriously? Why would you ever buy another tub or tube of whipped cream again when homemade whipped cream is THAT easy to make!?

Have you made something like this before?

Check out my other Halloween recipe posts:

Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Mummified Hot Dogs
Ghost Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream
Chocolate Pretzel Spiders
Spooky Alien Cupcakes

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Halloween Appetizers: Mummified Hot Dogs

I'm a huge pigs-in-a-blanket fan, but cocktail weinies you often find are chock-filled with additives and preservatives, as well as the dough they use. We always buy Oscar Meyer franks that are all-beef and have no extra additives, preservatives and colorings, so we decided to create our own ghoulish creation for our Halloween, recipe inspired by Dawn at Party Bluprints, except we made whole hot dogs for our Halloween party.

Mummified Hot Dogs
1 pkg of Oscar Meyer All-Natural Beef Franks
1 pkg all-natural refrigerated crescent rolls (we used Immaculate Baking Co)

Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut each triangle into thin strips, wrapping each hot dog in strips to make a mummy. You can choose to cut out dough eyes, or leave eye-less (like we did).

Place onto a greased baking sheet and bake at 350. Cook 10-or-so minutes until dough is lightly browned and hot dogs are sizzly. Cool a few minutes before serving.

You can let the kids help you wrap, and don't be afraid of goof-ups. Mummies weren't wrapped perfectly, and your hot dogs don't have to be, either.

Have you ever tried making these for a Halloween party before?

Check out my other Halloween recipe posts:

Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Mummified Hot Dogs
Ghost Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream
Chocolate Pretzel Spiders
Spooky Alien Cupcakes

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5 Tips to Throw an Awesome Halloween Party (Post Sponsored by Kmart)

My husband leaves this Sunday to go away for two weeks, and will miss spending Halloween with us. We decided not to let this news get us down, so we threw our own Halloween party this weekend, before he leaves, complete with Halloween costumes, Halloween decorated house, and Halloween party snacks out of this world.

Tip #1: Dress your house in costume

Halloween isn't just about your costume, but also your home's "costume" as well. Decorate it to reflect Halloween, too, both inside and outside. And it doesn't have to be too scary if you've got young ones like I do. Thanks to Kmart.com, we were able to snag some awesome non-scary Halloween decorations for our house. You can see what I purchased online here.

Here's the outside of our house (until we get pumpkins, that is)

Here are some close-ups of the Halloween decor from Kmart:

Tip #2: Plan Halloween-themed party food

Everyone loves party treats, but make yours especially ghoulish and fun for your Halloween party. You don't have to be the most creative or artistic, either. Even if you're a novice chef, these Halloween treats are fun and easy to create.

Here was our table with all the Halloween food spread out on it:

Here was the dessert spread after we'd eaten our Halloween dinner:

Like what you see? Could you use a little inspiration? Here's some of my favorite Halloween recipes for our party snacks, including close-ups (all recipes will post soon! Stay tuned!)

Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Chocolate Pretzel Spiders

Mummified Hot Dogs

Ghost Pudding

Ghoulish Chili

Spooky Alien Mini Cupcakes

Spooky Chicken Broccoli Wreath

Mummy Muffin Pizzas

Bone Sticks

And we served our treats with some all-natural orange soda (that wasn't colored orange, but still tasted great)!

Tip #3: Get dressed up!

We are some of the few parents you'll see out there, trick-or-treating with the kids in full costume. We enjoy dressing up as much as the kids do. If you're going to host a party, go all out! Get dressed up in costume! We enjoy purchasing Halloween costumes that we can wear year-after-year that we can add accessories to, like my husband's pirate costume. Every year he'll pick up a better pirate shirt, belt, or hat, or boots to improve his costume.

Tip #4: Don't forget Halloween-themed activities and music

For some folks, Halloween parties are thrown to take place of going out trick-or-treating. If that's the case, you can make sure the kids don't miss out on collecting candy (and control what they get) - you can set up a row of bowls one after the next of different candies, and outfit your children with a Halloween treat bag, and have them walk up to each bowl, filling their bag with one or two candies from each bowl, mimicking trick-or-treating.

You can also involve the kids in some Halloween crafts or let them color on Halloween coloring books.

What about a costume contest? Or face-painting station? Or dance contest? You can't forget the fun Halloween music, either, like Monster Mash! Or Thriller! Dancing while dressed in costume might be difficult, but fun nonetheless.

Tip #5: Take lots of pictures

You want to remember every last bit of your party, right? Make sure you memorialize it in pictures!

Ready to plan for your own awesome Halloween party? Check out Kmart's 50ft Party Halloween page for more ghoulish ideas for your own. Kmart always has great deals! Check out this week's Monster Deals with lots of Halloween costumes, Halloween party supplies and Halloween candy to offer.

Want to throw your own? Be sure to visit their Monster Bash on Kmart's Facebook Page - they're holding a contest with a winner pulled weekly for a Kmart gift card!

Have you thrown a Halloween party before? What were your must-haves?

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Homemade Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese

As you know, I bake my own desserts from scratch most of the time to control what goes into each recipe to ensure we eat all-natural and organics. For our Halloween Party, we used an organic boxed chocolate cake mix, which we thickened up with a little organic flour to produce chocolate cake-like cookies to sandwich pumpkin cream cheese in-between. Delish!

Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Box of Chocolate Cake Mix + ingredients listed on box
Additional flour (I used about 3-4 tablespoons full)
Parchment paper

Prepare cake as directed on box, but adding additional flour to make it thicker and easier to spoon onto cookie sheets. Using parchment paper, drop tablespoons onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes (but keep tabs on it in your oven). Cool fully on a plate. Add Pumpkin Cream Cheese mixture in the middle and continue to refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve additional Pumpkin Cream Cheese on the side (as a dip if you'd like).

Pumpkin Cream Cheese
3 tablespoons of pumpkin
1 8oz package of whipped cream cheese
1tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 tsps of sugar or Truvia

Mix together well (with our without an electric mixer) and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Check out my other Halloween recipe posts:

Whoopie Pies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Mummified Hot Dogs
Ghost Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream
Chocolate Pretzel Spiders
Spooky Alien Cupcakes

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