Spatula Happiness.

I never imagined buying a spatula would make me happy but here we are.  I'm happy with a spatula. 

Some people call them egg turners or flippers but I call them spatulas.  

To make it even more confusing I also call these spatulas as well.  

                          But anyway, back to this marvelous Big Mama Spatula. She's 15 inches! 

I had a hard plastic one that I loved and used for 25 years and then it broke.  I asked for a replacement for Christmas last year.  Sometimes I give easy suggestions to make it easy for the kids to buy me a gift.  They got me a nice one, the one in the photos, but it was too flimsy.  I need something firm and strong.  I did not like the way the spatula would bend when I was trying to dip something out of or scrape something out of the pan. 

Last week I started searching for something made in the USA and found this Big Mama.  It's made in the USA out of hardwood.  It is perfect. It is large. It is firm and strong.  It is wooden.  It is made in the UDS.   It requires a bit of upkeep but so worth it for me to have a sturdy utensil to flip burgers and whathaveyou.  It needs to be washed by hand and occasionally oiled. 

Should you like one for yourself here's a link.  (Disclaimer.  I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link at no additional cost to you). 

Trunk or Treat 2022

 

I have always wanted to participate in a trunk or treat, and this year we had the opportunity to join in the fun.  We participated in the Autumn Fun with the command.  

I'm a sucker for a theme.  I decided to go with the "Witch's Tea Party".   I set the table and it was glorious.  Our costumes were fabulous.  I gave each child that came through a tea cup with two pieces of candy and a little squeaky toy.  We got a few votes but did not win however we had a very good time.  I loved it.  I hope to be able to do many more in the future especially if we happen to live out in the country.  

I used many items I already had as well as purchased some items specifically for this theme.  I had the silver tray I used in the middle.  It was given to me by my husband's grandma, she got it as a wedding gift.  It needs a good polishing so it looked great on the table.  I ordered the tea kettle from Amazon. 

I had the tablecloth but ordered the spiderweb table runner.  It came with bats and several other spooky linens.  I am obsessed with the tea plates and cups.  I found them at a thrift store. I am always looking for different kinds.  I put glittered water in the cups to look like tea.  I used edible glitter. I also bought crystal teaspoon sets because I'm extra.  I picked up silver rectangle serving trays from Daiso.  

It's hard to see in the picture but I also had a small apothecary and cauldron in the trunk. 

I had more things I wanted to put out.  A sign for broom parking, and an invitation to the tea party but it was very windy.  That's why my hat is pulled down on my head.    

Items I used:

*(Disclaimer.  I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link with no additional cost to you). 

    Costume Items: 

    Renaissance Dress

    Witch Hat

    I'm with the Witch t-shirt 

   

   Treats: 
   Squishy Octopus

   Squeaky Piggy
   Rubber Duckies

   Clear plastic cups

   Tablecloth
   Table runner

   Bat lights

   Backdrop cloth

   Teapot

   Spoons

   Edible Glitter

   
   

Decorating for Halloween 2022

 

Do you decorate for Halloween?  Some years I decorate a lot and some years I decorate a little.  I left a lot of our Halloween Decorations in storage for this tour.  I brought my big storage container of costumes though.  I keep all the costume pieces from year to year that can be used again.  You never know when a costume will be needed.  

I like to decorate our tv stand for each season or Holiday.  For Halloween this year I simply used these bug twinkle lights.  I cannot even remember where I got them from, I've had them for so long.  I also placed a black and silver pumpkin to the side.  I made that pumpkin a couple of years ago from a Dollar Tree pumpkin and some fabric.  I would share a photo but the boxes with the items for our truck-or-treat are all in front of the tv stand; so it's a mess.

I have also enjoyed changing out the tablecloths for the season.  This one is a lovely rusty color with leaves.  I've had it for a few years.  I also have had these placemats for so many years that I really have no idea where I got them from.  I like to use them throughout the fall.  The shiny leaves table runner I bought at the Exchange on Kadena Air Force Base a few weeks ago.  I overheard a little girl exclaim, "Oh Mommy!  They are so pretty!" When I saw what she was talking about I couldn't resist. It almost blends in with the leaves on the tablecloth.  I know my table has a lot of orange colors going on, but I love it.  I have a clear vinyl table cover on here as well.  I use this to keep from having to wash the linens every day because we are messy.  I bought it from Amazon.  Here is the link if you would like one too.  *(Disclaimer.  I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link with no additional cost to you). 

Placemats, tablecloth and copper metallic table runner

I have this lovely Welcome sign that has cute little changeouts for each season.  I believe got this one from Lakeside Collections several years ago.  They don't seem to have them any longer but this one is similar.  

Welcome sign

While we're on the interchangeable signs, I also have the napkin holder with the magnetic icon to change out also from Lakeside.  They still have this one.  My pepper shaker broke (we move a lot y'all) plus we prefer freshly ground pepper anyway.  

Salt and Pepper shaker on the table

I have this fun pumpkin that lights up and talks but the kids keep turning it off because they find it annoying.  I picked him up on clearance last year at the Exchange after Halloween.  I have him sitting on a plant stand in the window by the front door.

Spooky fake pumpkin lit up

Fake pumpkin not lit up

Outside I have this fun inflatable doggy!   This is his first year with us. I bought him on sale last year after Halloween.  I think it's supposed to be a dachshund but we say it's a basset hound like our Mr. Shelby Cornbread.  He looks to be leaning in my photos, however, it is so windy here that he tilts to one side.  It came with strings to tie him down but I did not use them.  We did use the stakes to hold him down though.  We just love him.  Here's a link to him if you want one too.  *(Disclaimer.  I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link with no additional cost to you). 

In the daylight

In the dark

I have other lights that I could put out but I'm going to be completely honest, sometimes it's difficult for me to get the motivation up to put stuff like that out.  I'll probably line them up on the ground for trick-or-treating on Halloween night.  

So that's it.  That's the extent of my decorating for Halloween 2022.