DIY Lampshade

Check out this great way to take a lampshade from just okay to fabulous from a little glass box using nothing but a creative mind and a sharpie. It’s also a very sweet read .

Candy Corn Cocktails

This cocktail could be a fun addition to your holiday bash. But if you are not planning on going out for Halloween this year it would also add a little excitement to your normal Monday line up.

Watch out!

Are you asking yourself,”how are post it notes related to events?” Well say you are at your next party and a cute guy or girl asks for your number. You could pull out your post it note watch, sexily scroll down your number and put it around his/her wrist. I guarantee it would make an impression?

I know…good thing I’m married. But if you see this move being pulled at your next event, just remember who thought of it first.

Pretty Pumpkins

DIY.

I realize that we just gave some love to Martha last week for a Halloween idea, but here's another one.



If you have a Halloween party this weekend and want to stray from the normal motif, these interesting carving designs are a great way to do so. I especially love the feather and skull designs. And to get that subtle glow, you don't cut all of the way through the pumpkin wall...you pare through just the outer shell.

Very cool, Martha. Again!

Link Love

A Cozy Kitchen
Bourbon Butterscotch pudding with caramel sauce. Oh my this sounds so delicious for a Fall dessert!



Glorious Treats
I love this black and white sweets table for Halloween!



Grey Likes Weddings
I love the non-traditional choices in this bridal bouquet.



Apartment Therapy Chicago
Now this is a home that has zero fear of using color.

Chicken and Wine

Recipe.

Now that there is a slight chill in the air, I always get in the mood for heartier food. So I've been perusing some of my favorite blogs to get some fresh ideas and ran across this Epicurious dish by way of Everybody Likes Sandwiches.



Chicken in Riesling: It's chicken with root veggies, wine, and cream. What's not to like? Consider this added to my list...

BTW: ELS made it with just chicken thighs, not the whole chicken. Might want to try that adaptation!

Hair-Raising Halloween Cookies

Recipe.

Here's another oldie but goodie from Martha. I love the cat detail on these basic sugar cookies, because it's a welcome break the typical pumpkin motif.

Elegant Elixirs

Cocktail addition.

If you want a quick way to dress up your regular cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, these gorgeous elixirs from The Lounging Gourmet will certainly do the trick.



Just add a few drops to seltzer water, lemonade, iced tea, champagne, vodka...basically anything...and it will give your drink a major boost. And with flavors like Damascan Rose, English Lavender, Andean Fire Orchid, and Antillean Hibiscus I believe these would make a lovely hostess gift during the holidays too!

DIY Masks

Check out these cute DIY masks from Rachel Domm. It could add a whole ‘nother element of fun to your Halloween bash!

Link Love

Very Best Baking
100 calorie pumpkin pie tartlets.




Etsy
This is straight up adorable.




Between the Seams
This is a stunning wedding and best of all they have a wedding donkey.




Wilton
Candy corn cheesecake

Make your own Trixy Stix

As a kid, every day in the summer, we would head to the local swimming pool where at noon we would all get a microwave burrito and some Pixy Stix for dessert. Winning combination I know! When I saw these adorable DIY Trixy Stix that Chow put together I was not only blown away by how cute they were but also a little nostalgic.

Best of all they are not the flavors one might expect when tearing into the sugary snack. They have kicked it up a notch with recipes such as Chile-Tamarind, Beet-Rose, Black Sesame and more. This is all of my favorites wrapped into one project…fun sugar flavors, adorable tagging and another reason to buy more cute straws!

Excellent Earbuds

Gadget.

I love a little sense of humor in my daily routine. And these adorable earbuds from DCI would certainly add a little more fun to my workout. Don't you just love them?

Etsy Find-Chore Board

Want to motivate your kids while teaching them responsibility plus get your chores done? If you answered yes to any of the above then check out this totally cute chore board from Etsy. Wonder if it will work on my husband?

Paper Plate Baskets

This is a brilliant idea from Sarah Hearts. When invited to fall celebrations of any kind, I always like to bring a little candy or sweet treats for the kids. I can’t think of a better way to display, these are inexpensive, cute and unbreakable. You could easily put a couple together on a lazy Sunday afternoon and then they are ready to grab as you run out the door to your next event.

Apple and Brie Melts

I am normally kind of a boring lunch gal. I usually just throw together a salad or a turkey sandwich. But today I decided that I wanted something different but was not inclined to run to the store. So, I needed to make do with what I had on hand. Turns out apples plus brie equals deliciousness and super quick and easy.

Link Love.

Tuesday Inspiration.

Design Mom
I love caramel apples…and I’m pretty sure I would also LOVE these caramel pears with sea salt. Yummo.



April and May
Want a headboard but can’t afford one. Create a faux one like this…



Bodie and Fou
This kitchen is an example of one of my favorite ideas in design…mixing modern with classic touches. Gorgeous with a capital G.



Simple Blueprint
Apparently I need to go to Mallorca, because this looks unbelievable to me right now…

A Coupe on Cocktails.

Glassware.

According to Bon Appetit, cocktail experts have spoken and the martini glass is out. Now that doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite stemmed drink...it just means that you need to get yourself some coupe glasses.



As someone who has sloshed one too many Cosmos in my life, I love the idea of a glass with edges that slope up...it just keeps me less messy. And I think champagne looks very elegant in a coupe as well.

What do you think? Should we give our 'tini glass a break this year and try a coupe?

Sweet Salty and Sinful

Recipe.

I have to thank Design Mom for linking this recipe from Blog Con Queso. These puppies are a white chocolate covered pretzel topped with a rolo and a pecan…and then melted. Seriously? Need it now.

West Elm Lovelies

Household.

Oh my. The newest catalogue from West Elm is so full of lovely items that I dog-eared nearly every other page. I'm loving their new furniture pieces, but what I'm really swooning over is their dining and kitchen accessories...mostly because they are so affordable, but still very lovely.

Check some of my faves out...

Theresa Sennerholt

There is something that reaches out and grabs me when I look at the designs of Theresa Sennerholt. I am thinking I need a cluster of these on a wall somewhere in either my apartment or our new hip hostess headquarters (yay!). What a great way to start everyday with cool, positive and inspirational art.

Link Love

Smitten Kitchen
Roasted Tomato soup with cheddar.




Bows and Curtsey's
Daring fall makeup…could be fun!




Show & Tell
Look what you can do with a thrift store find of an old table and some rulers.




Sunny Side up in San Diego
Celebrate fall with a little pumpkin pull a part bread.

Oatmeal for Dinner?

Oatmeal is one of the ingredients that I can never remember if I have in the cabinet, so instead of checking, I just buy more when the need arises. At current time, I have about 3 Quaker Oat rounds in the apartment and one of them is the ginormous Costco variety. It’s time for me to address this issue.

When I see oatmeal I think of cookies, apple crisp and the occasional hot morning treat. What I don’t think of is an option for dinner. But according to Chow that is exactly what I should be thinking. Apparently since it is a healthy grain many people are cooking it with chicken broth and using it as a base for dinner dishes. I have to admit that it is hard for me to think of oatmeal without the sweet factor, however, the pictures make me think of yummy risotto?

Have any of you fellow Hip Hostess’ tried this trend? I think I should put it on the trial dinner list but maybe as an option when the husband is working late…at least for the initial run.