Ghosts and goblins and spiders, oh my! Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, hosted by the ever delightful Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Do be sure to stop by and see what she has in store for you this week. She has two wickedly fabulous tablescapes for Halloween. A simple Halloween party for family this past Sunday before Brandon headed to South Korea for a month. We made sure Aria dressed in her Alice in Wonderland costume for the event.

This is a VERY inexpensive table setting. A black sheet drapes the table. The tablecloth, cups and plates are from Wal-Mart — $5 for everything. I used my everyday plates as charges under the paper plates.

Squash was used as part of the centerpiece along with a felt cutout of a pumpkin topiary.

Aria was SO impressed with the decor as any 4 year old should be! I used my Halloween treat bags that I created myself and filled them with goodies before placing by each place setting.

Aria asked if EVERYONE got one and as I said yes, she started bartering for the candies in everyone else’s bags. Grandpa Robert was right there with her, bartering for peanut butter balls.

Spiders and webs covered the chandelier.

Witchy votive candles spread about the table, another Wal-Mart find.

The pumpkins peaking through the sunlight, waiting for dark to fall so the goblins can come out!

Sundown, be careful of the ghosts!

So glad you could join us for a wickedly scary good time

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I can’t get enough of inspirational magazines and web sites lately. I thought I’d share a few things I’ve stumbled upon that I think are pretty cool, to buy or to make.

Better Homes and Gardens – Decorating with Pumpkins

There are a slew of painted pumpkin ideas at Parents.com. I am so loving this mod looking pumpkin below but they have all kinds of ideas for more traditional patterns too.

Cozy by the Sea, a favorite blog of mine, shows you how to make these “magic wands” that any kid would find charming and oh so delightful to eat. Be sure to stop by her blog for all kinds of other wonderful finds and inspirational ideas.

Robert was telling me today that he remembered as a kid, about 1st grade, his parents made him prepare a “trick” before he could go trick or treating in their neighborhood. So when he knocked on the door and was asked what his trick was, he said he would do a head stand to earn his treat. A head stand on concrete steps! I got a big laugh trying to imagine him as a little kid doing that.

I don’t know about you, but I like to get my favorite ghosts and goblins that come to my door a very special treat bag. Now I may not make them stand on their head to earn their special treat, but I do love seeing their face light up when they know I made something a little extra just for them. I whipped up these treat bags for my special little ones this year.

Now if you’re inclined to give your favorite ghosts and goblins their very own special treats, I’ve made enough extra to share! You can check them out HERE.

And leave a comment on our blog about your favorite Halloween memory. We’ll draw names from the comments on this post next Saturday and the winner will receive their very own Halloween treat bag as a “TREAT” from us! Come on now, start typing!!! We promise, no tricks