It's Phantom Pumpkin Season! Ella and I are on top of our game this year and we've actually already started our annual family tradition of "spooking" unsuspecting neighbors by leaving treats and surprises at their doorsteps.

This year I did something a little different for the homes with kids. I created a printable Halloween Bingo game and left a bag of black, orange and white Hershey kisses for the game pieces. So fun! And PS - you can use these adorable assorted kisses instead which are incredibly adorable too - check out images 4 + 5...look familiar? *wink*

These would be so fun for a Halloween party or how about a fall CLASS party too!!

I actually designed the bingo game using a combination of images I had previously designed for various projects so it was fun mixing them all together to create something new.

Of course there are some neighbors who are empty-nesters so we kept things sweet and simple by leaving cute treat bags behind. I mean look at how frightfully adorable they turned out! (below)

Again, using an idea I came up with while doing some work for Hershey's I decided to turn the creations into these printable jack-o-lantern, ghost, and spooky cat faces available as free printables for YOU. (see what I did for Hershey here - images 2, 3, 4, 5 + 6)

All you need is a cellophane bag, the color foiled kisses of your choice (black, white or orange) and a twisty tie. (or a cute ribbon as shown on the spooky cat). Print your faces, cut them out and stick them on with double-stick tape. Done!

I think the spooky cat is my favorite. *wink*

And not just because it's got the cute orange ribbon.

I hope this inspires you to get out there and spook some of your own neighbors and friends or if anything, create some adorable halloween treats! 

I know if you and I were neighbors...I'd certainly be spooking you my friends.

love you guys!

xoxo,

Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL

It was just Ella and I this year.

And we broke tradition and did it during daylight hours instead of after the sun went down.

I was the getaway driver and she was the runner.

We made 5 deliveries on our first round of spooking.

Unfortunately, when we tried to finish the 2nd round of spooking a couple of days later,

Ella rolled her ankle as she was running back to the car. *tears*

Needless to say we called it a night.

With Ella back to 100% we have 4 more spooks left to do.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLES

Phantom Pumpkin Spooking Sheet Set

Phantom Pumpkin Treat Tags

Jack-O-Lantern Cut-Out Faces

Ghost Cut-Out Faces

Spooky Cat Cut-Out Faces

Halloween Bingo Game Cards - Set 1

Halloween Bingo Game Cards - Set 2

Halloween Bingo Game Cards - Set 3

Halloween Bingo Game Cards - Set 4

Halloween Bingo Calling Card Tags

Halloween Bingo Playing Pieces Treat Tags

ALL of the Halloween Bingo + Phantom Pumpkin Printables

ALL of the Halloween Cut-Out Faces

SHARE | Phantom Pumpkin 2017

Ella and I skipped town this past weekend so she could attend her bestie's "birthday weekend sleepover"! I even checked Ella out of school early on Friday afternoon so we could surprise Elise by being at her school when she got out of school. It was so fun! And she was soooo surprised.

Well...knowing I would be back home for a couple of days, I took the opportunity to make sure I continued the Phantom Pumpkin tradition I started so many years ago...even if it meant I'd be all by myself for the door-bell ditching. I spent Saturday afternoon with Ema and my mom creating the treats...."Mummy Oreos" and festive Halloween Hershey Kisses!

If you haven't already been "spooked" or done some spooking of your own...(or "booed" as some people call it), I wanted to share the FREE Phantom Pumpkin printables with you. You've got this whole week and weekend to have some family fun and spread some Halloween cheer! *wink*

PS - I've already changed two of the Hershey Kiss labels you see in the photo above. My mom said the "EEK" and "BOO" labels were too hard to read. I agreed her so I revised them and updated the printables for you already.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLES USING THE LINKS BELOW
FREE Phantom Pumpkin Printable
FREE Halloween Hershey Kisses Labels
and here's the craft punch you'll need for the Hershey's Kiss labels  <--- affiliate link

Enjoy my sweet friends...
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Ella, J and I did some spooking of our own in the new neighborhood prior to this weekend...AFTER we were surprised by some other fun neighbors who "booed" us. Hope they didn't mind that we stuck with our "Phantom Pumpkin" tradition instead of using the "booed" paper they left behind. *coveringeyes*

PS - J and I have been doing Whole30 for the past 23 days together. We've turned it into a friendly competition and I keep telling him I'm going to crush him. The first time we did it together (back in 2013),  I beat him by 1 pound...he lost 10 and I lost 11. BAM!! I'll keep you posted when we weigh in on the 31st...Halloween Day!! *wink*

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 6 :: Ideas + Staying Inspired

So fun!! Another opportunity to curl up on the coach and have a little conversation today!

Since my energy reserves haven't gotten back to normal yet (this darn cold and cough), I'm answering ONE simple little question today:

Q: Hi Jess. Where do you come up with your ideas and projects to share on the blog? I've been thinking of starting a blog and I'm thinking I'm just going to run out of ideas...and then what do I do? Or maybe the better question would be, do you ever run out of ideas and if so, what do you do? Amanda T.

A: Hello!! This is a great question and I think it's one a lot of people wonder or worry about when considering starting a blog. If you've been here awhile you probably know by now my brain never really shuts off. I have ideas circling in my head constantly. So I wouldn't ever say I run out of ideas because my brain craves learning and trying new things. I'm always searching, keeping my radar open and pushing myself to experiment with new techniques, colors, designs, what have you and I think doing this provides ongoing inspiration.

However...the motivation to actually follow through on getting a blog post up due to a busy work or family schedule, sickness, or experiencing seasonal "blahs" are what seem to be my greatest hurdles.

To keep myself inspired when feeling a little "meh", I'll either put on some good music, get outside, explore a craft store, read a few blogs, dive into a good book or get lost in the pages of a magazine. Oftentimes it's just a pretty color palette or cute packaging that fills me with inspiration. Like these cute new "candy by color" hershey kisses from Hershey!

Now, with that said, if you are looking for something tangible and fun to help keep you inspired, I've used these "Creativity Exercises" by Rhonna Farrer through the years too. The daily prompts are a fun way to push yourself and sometimes add to a project you are already in the middle of. I hope you find them interesting and helpful.


RANDOM GIRL TALK
Before I crawl back into bed, feel sorry for myself and take a little snooze before picking kids up from school, I can't help but wonder if you all know about the Spoonful of Comfort website?
I found it a couple of years ago when a friend of mine was sick. With as many people around me (including myself), that seem to be battling colds and feeling yucky, The "Get Well" basket would be perfect to send them. They have lots of other packages for a variety of occasions and I think it would be awesome to be on the receiving end of any of these.

xoxo my friends.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I started battling this cold on January 31st.
Today is Feb. 16th. That's 23 days folks. 23 days of "make it go away"!
I'd love your prayers!! Mmmmwah!