Happy Halloween and some safe tips for tonite and a freebie

Kids look forward to Halloween for many reasons. They like the dressing up in costumes but the mostly they like it for the candy and treats! Who wouldn't? Even some adults still like to go our trick or treating

My own tips

Select bright colored costumes for your kids if you plan to take them trick or treating on Halloween. Although it may seem fun to let them pick the vampire costume that is all black, it is not safe. Bright colors are easier to see than black that blends in with the night.

Children should always go out trick or treating accompanied by a responsible adult. If you have a group of kids going, the parents should choose two or three of them to go along and keep an eye on things.

If your parents do let you go without them, make sure to go in big groups

Walk, don't run

Always use the front door

Only go yo well-lit houses

Remember to be polite and say thank you

Don't eat any of your candy until an adult can check it and Get rid of some of that candy, don't let your kids eat it all. Obesity, dental carries, bad eating habits, are just a few things that excess candy eating can lead to. It is fun to trick or treat on Halloween but when it is all over, make sure you ration the candy, give some away and do not let your kids eat it all.

Be safe and  have a happy  Halloween!!!!

Oops I almost forgot to give you these free printables  

they add a festive touch for Halloween decorating

you can download here

Vroom-Vroom (Cars 2) 5th Birthday Party

I can not tell you how much I enjoyed doing this party for a very special and lovely kid! It was so much fun coming up with all the details to carry out through the party!

Lets get to some of the details:
We could not have had a nicer day, with better weather, and I was so happy with how this party turned out.


-The candy station consisted of vroom vroom chocolates to match the colors of course, cupcakes, twizzlers and lollypops and a beautiful homemade chocolate truffless that her aunt "Tayama" made it.... this was beyond awesome!!

Another view

In the desert table was the main cake because no birthday party is complete without an amazing cake (or cupcakes, which happen to be my personal favorite), and this party is no exception. Laura did a wonderful job adding creative touches throughout such as the buildings like in the movie cars 2. I’m also loving the super fun checkered favor boxes filled with some crayons and other cars stuff that the kids can enjoy after the party is over! What little boy wouldn’t love this fun birthday party?

The second dessert table.. isnt this kid lucky enough? 2 dessert tables? seriously?? well he had a beautiful jello in colors, home made flan (his Tati made it and it was the best flan EVER!!) and the mini mousses... :) (my favorite was the passion fruit one... yum, yum)

-The favors were these cute checkered boxes with some nice stuff with the race theme


A shout out to my talented amateur-photographer-husband Maurizio for capturing all these great memories.


-The food all had personalized black and white checkered labels

-The birthday boy wore a super nice outfit that his cousing pick it from him

This was a FUN party to plan--I loved the colors and the challenge of turning the theme of Cars 2 into something a little bit different! My friend went with a color scheme of red, royal blue, yellow & black. The 2 HUGE bouncers in the park were quite the hit with the little guys also the balloons added whimsy and depth to the entrance of the party.

All the cars themed printables are from IPS Studio designed by Alma Betancourt and Alma Abad our fabulous and talented designers
I have to admit, I’m looking forward to next year :]
Again Happy 5th Birthday Rodrigo

Credits:
Plates, napkins, favors, Birthday Express
Food: Local Bakery
Cake: Todo Dulces
Invitations and Printables: IPS Studio  (Alma Abad and Alma Betancourt)
Jello: Alma Betancourt
Chocolate Truffles: Alma Betancourt
Flan: Mirtha Platas

Hasta la Vista Baby (We are on Vacation)

So we will be back next monday... But don't forget to participate in our giveaway HERE

Back to the future ??

"You have TWO TV Sets?" These are the lines heard in the movie Back to the Future PART 1 when Marty McFly travels back to the year 1955 and meets his family; his then 10 year old uncle literally freaked out when he learned that the 1985 "nephew-from-the-future" Marty had not one but TWO TV sets in his house.... imagine that .... 2 BIG, BULKY, SPACE CONSUMING BOXES called Televisions. But that was 1985, fast forward to today and it looks just like the scene in the sequel where McFly is watching TV and having a conference video call thru a screen popping out of the ceiling, this looked "futuristic" when the movie came out but very familiar to what we are able to see nowadays in any household.

Technology has been very good to us and we should be grateful; imagine that one time we had to have enough space to accommodate another TV set and therefore we had to settle for a 13" BOX SET, whereas today we can have several 60" LCD or LED screens with not only TV functions but also music and video streaming, picture watching, computer screen and video conferencing hanging on a wall, weighing a fraction of what our old sets used to weigh and with picture quality comparable to a live scene. Let's not even get into 3D where we are leaping forward exponentially towards being able to be "IN THE PICTURE" ....

 How about that "Doc" Emmett Brown?. 

Let's not forget that space saving technology has come to our rescue as far as being able to actually live and function in smaller living spaces where nowadays we have individuals sleeping, bathing, cooking, eating, working and relaxing all in a 400 Sq.Ft. urban condo, so flat computer screens and TV sets whereas Plasma, LED or LCD play a very important role living us with the ability of using more efficiently our space to store all the junk that we have accumulated throughout the years, like those old Betamax tapes or  a cassette deck that we don't use anymore but still keep it "Just in case...."!!! and that's why I have my tv buying guide... 

Anyways, time for me to jump on my DeLorean and head back to my time....I will see you all when I get Back to the Future..... Hey MacFly here I come !!! 

Sugar Lips

via tmblr






Overview
Lip scrub is a gentle exfoliant used to soften dry, chapped or peeling lips. A gentle exfoliating scrub can be the most effective treatment for dry, peeling lips. The exfoliant helps to remove layers of dead skin, and the moisturizing ingredients keep your lips soft and smooth. Lip scrubs can be quite expensive, hey but you don't have to spend a fortune to have kissable lips

Let me show you how to make your own homemade lip scrub ...

Ingredients:

•  1 tsp of coconut oil, 
• 1 tsp of raw honey, 
• 1.5 – 2 TB of raw/granulated sugar mixed
•  a dash of lemon juice. 

Don’t worry if you happen to taste it – it’s absolutely DELISH!

Mix these ingredients together to make a sugary paste. Use a soft bristle toothbrush or finger to dippy-dip into the scrub. Use soft circular motions across your lips. Rinse with water and apply your favorite lip balm afterwards for soft n’ silky lips. Now tell me those aren’t beggin’ to be kissed!

XOX 

Credits and more info on www.pinkpistachio.com

Cheese Matters

Looking for an excuse to sip wine and feast on Gruyère? Look no further

Just Say “Cheese”

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Enjoying cheese is even more pleasurable when it is well matched with a suitable wine, yes you can never forget the wine  or even sparkling 
wine, because they are simply made for one another There are a few helpful "rules of thumb" when pairing wines with cheeses, but since much is based on individual preference, there are really no wrong choices. 


Give me a decent wine with an assortment of cheeses, a good bread and I am a happy girl! 

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My favorite wine pairings:

• Sauvignon Blanc is nice with blue cheese, goat's milk cheeses, Comte and Gruyere. 

• French Champagne is also paired well with Real Brie or Fontina.

• Cava goes well with Garrotxa Cheese

• Lambrusco it's best served with Parmesan Reggiano (My favorite)

• Rioja or Shiraz goes beautiful  with Manchego Cheese

• Cabernet Sauvignon is paired well with harder cheeses such as sharp cheddars, Swiss, or Asiago

But How to host a Cheese Party

Get inspired by pretty and practical ideas for a Cheese Party

• Start by sending guests invitations that fit the Cheese theme. These invites are cuting boards  with your invitation and a cute bow...

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• Or this one from Real Simple (Free Printable)

Free Printable can be found here

• Nice decoration:  You can use a rustic chic look for decoration or a modern look.

Here are some ideas:


Chalkboard... because I just love chalkboard...  

Or this personal Cheese tray also can be used as a name card. 

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If you use this cheese Tray. It was made from a Melted Pinot Noir Bottle now. Can be found here

Or this cute presentation with "mice".. Perfect for a Halloween Cheese Party :)

Get ready to fall head-over-heels in love with the details of this Cheese Table created by  the talented people Sunday Suppers!. The use of Cheese, in its blocks and wheels and the color palette used was cream and white... just perfect and chic!!

Don't you just love this Cheese Table??

TIPS

• Limit the number of cheeses: Cheese should be savoured, go for quality not quantity.

• Determine how much cheese do you need : For a dinner party it is recommended two ounces of cheese per person, for a cocktail party one ounce of cheese it's enough but it's the focus of your party it's a cheese tasting, the experts says that you will need four to six ounces of cheese per person 

• Remember, do not serve strong and mild cheeses next to each other and keep cheese separate from any other food so it doesn't acquire alternate flavorings
• Stay away from crackers... Use a good quality bread.
• Use corks as a part of decorations... easy and free :) because presentation it's EVERYTHING!!

Cheers!

Hope you have a day filled with tasty cheese and wine!!!