Two more Halloween treats

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu97n62aQKm9rRq5rXyebiienNCYr5cA5nAnT0TQ5joDpSjN7e6sEeyvGV0oLnswLzsfMkg7m4Dt_b8QFWTwx8vfDoXlf2yVc7IqzV_OKOu7ELJN4OJ1boU_g7YFBEtluRFQexOmrY4xWK/s1600/aa.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668153206371086770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu97n62aQKm9rRq5rXyebiienNCYr5cA5nAnT0TQ5joDpSjN7e6sEeyvGV0oLnswLzsfMkg7m4Dt_b8QFWTwx8vfDoXlf2yVc7IqzV_OKOu7ELJN4OJ1boU_g7YFBEtluRFQexOmrY4xWK/s400/aa.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a>Speaking of <a href="http://melissabxoxo.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-cookies.html">Halloween treats</a> (<em>because, really, who can ever get enough of gooey sweets? </em>), I couldn't resist sharing these two finds. First up: <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/10/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cookie-pie/">Pumpkin chocolate chip pie</a>. The marriage of chocolate chips and pumpkin sounds like sheer perfection, doesn't it?<br /><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6286071776_02049f5ff6_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6286071776_02049f5ff6_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 450px;" /></a>And what about these <a href="http://cindab.com/blog/2011/10/12/fall-baking-apples-blanket/">apples in a blanket</a>? You peel about an inch off the top and fill it with cinnamon sugar. Is your mouth watering yet? I thought so. <br /><br /><strong>Is it just me, or are there so many amazingly delicious treats this season? What are you baking, friends? xoxo</strong>

Two more Halloween treats

Speaking of Halloween treats ( because, really, who can ever get enough of gooey sweets? ), I couldn't resist sharing these two finds. ...

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Zombie engagement

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-BYNGpY3CXfnJUB9-KL52MCMYMfycSO2oDMDQppQ5EiP4GVN_EXQ5s1Hd4l2WMEC_4HTQZoGh3T-4CbeugDhMIopoQR6zYvJwo8cP5-rwXxbjQwLnorzLWnTl4Fn7s8pR84oEuF7t2tH/s1600/aa.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667789610947031714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-BYNGpY3CXfnJUB9-KL52MCMYMfycSO2oDMDQppQ5EiP4GVN_EXQ5s1Hd4l2WMEC_4HTQZoGh3T-4CbeugDhMIopoQR6zYvJwo8cP5-rwXxbjQwLnorzLWnTl4Fn7s8pR84oEuF7t2tH/s400/aa.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRMKThBRwVEDUIlT4fjNNa1juZIDwpw9CgA3kODuwU1t4vl6S3iEd4dtpGNC61HiKToamkMimTRZdqoPcSNIakf8H7Ml9M1LhxBAqoim3C5FJ3FCWfJEgpSRHRomt2PPIbRl0auDUN-0N/s1600/aa2.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667792054641660370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRMKThBRwVEDUIlT4fjNNa1juZIDwpw9CgA3kODuwU1t4vl6S3iEd4dtpGNC61HiKToamkMimTRZdqoPcSNIakf8H7Ml9M1LhxBAqoim3C5FJ3FCWfJEgpSRHRomt2PPIbRl0auDUN-0N/s400/aa2.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" /></a>How's this for a fun and eek-citing (<em>cheesy play on words, I know...</em>) engagement photo shoot: Ben and Juliana look like a quiet couple, don't they? They're quietly sitting in a field looking all lovey-dovey....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrP_fIuN4kt3G4c-kTmQnFXzmBiKHMQrNCVENvVpV77Uyt8ViU0KymEBjoTzqJxx6hiwauZ9IWofZHVR0nxnWoPo3mazSUQol33dpGD182UBO80LhCsIn_ieK1qCrYk74ViLwm1JBr6ob/s1600/aa3.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667792048249659762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrP_fIuN4kt3G4c-kTmQnFXzmBiKHMQrNCVENvVpV77Uyt8ViU0KymEBjoTzqJxx6hiwauZ9IWofZHVR0nxnWoPo3mazSUQol33dpGD182UBO80LhCsIn_ieK1qCrYk74ViLwm1JBr6ob/s400/aa3.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNggsiGAtS250VguXGZM7t0iw1sKcAKvtDtku-eeB-Ol0OkM4pDqQmvXxjlCKLnchXfUv997yY75lsCY1s98m7Z4W3u8OjtsM_yT9jL0A1B4r8hdEe6uhtW97X63jvECPtXwc3VlxGEvcA/s1600/aa4.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667792041268186610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNggsiGAtS250VguXGZM7t0iw1sKcAKvtDtku-eeB-Ol0OkM4pDqQmvXxjlCKLnchXfUv997yY75lsCY1s98m7Z4W3u8OjtsM_yT9jL0A1B4r8hdEe6uhtW97X63jvECPtXwc3VlxGEvcA/s400/aa4.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" /></a>...but wait. What's what? <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ61Uq8jbGbOO9_voUroRZ-kMMUmAHka7tjo3l5TL8DAzeHlmlOcCYx4YUuJBAeTZN3nQINDh6hTMWob3i5KU7OCbNbrH_8UMDbd0td_TNOlctOypLqoQpAevdPW2358GpHLpKe33jworr/s1600/aa5.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667792035562639698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ61Uq8jbGbOO9_voUroRZ-kMMUmAHka7tjo3l5TL8DAzeHlmlOcCYx4YUuJBAeTZN3nQINDh6hTMWob3i5KU7OCbNbrH_8UMDbd0td_TNOlctOypLqoQpAevdPW2358GpHLpKe33jworr/s400/aa5.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" /></a>A mysterious man approaching from the woods. Ack! What will the couple do?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRzPXLZKx-nXVWx1T4XwQchv3XZcGkEHHVstNn8i0PXmMYl2T2nwKsXAMABzqhc1wOl7tKbqWoALdVkGVkeyt6g7SdUgxBjH2Hj33L5uQ0EhaYuUcWsGbCNobIcBN-rfU60hbm9VQnr8B/s1600/aa6.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667792030948098130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRzPXLZKx-nXVWx1T4XwQchv3XZcGkEHHVstNn8i0PXmMYl2T2nwKsXAMABzqhc1wOl7tKbqWoALdVkGVkeyt6g7SdUgxBjH2Hj33L5uQ0EhaYuUcWsGbCNobIcBN-rfU60hbm9VQnr8B/s400/aa6.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" /></a>Save the day, of course! The idea for the shoot came from Ben, who "wanted to make sure his manliness wasn't lost in an engagement session," says photographer Amanda Rynda. I love how these photos give off a soft, romantic touch and a tough vibe at the same time, don't you? Would you ever try this, friends? You can see all the photos <a href="http://mlkshk.com/p/69H1">here</a>.<br /><br />P.S. Speaking of love, a new <a href="http://melissabxoxo.blogspot.com/search/label/Letters%20to%20my%20future%20husband">Letter To My Future Husband</a> is coming up this afternoon! :)<br /><br />[Photos by <a href="http://amandarynda.tumblr.com/">Amanda Rynda</a>]

Zombie engagement

How's this for a fun and eek-citing ( cheesy play on words, I know... ) engagement photo shoot: Ben and Juliana look like a quiet couple...

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What's your favorite scary movie?

<div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6279654947_484376840f_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6279654947_484376840f_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 439px;" /></a>My father loved scary movies. Not necessarily the kind that send blood and other bodily organs spewing across the screen, but the suspenseful, nail-biting, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, holding-your-breath, tingles-running-up-and-down-your-spine kind of scary movie. See, friends, in the world of scary movies, there are slasher ones and suspenseful ones. Like my father, I prefer suspenseful ones. I love plot twists and suspenseful music and people not being who you think they are and huge secrets being revealed at the very last second. It's one of my favorite parts about Halloween. Here are the 5 movies that leave me keeping the light on at night...<br /><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/6279578501_dcbdfe13a4_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/6279578501_dcbdfe13a4_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 490px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PJ9VAMKsvQcNM1vrl05UVPBx03B-yTcIC8i10f_a8nek4fnzZySunS2HchAe_1aYKQsFUYgksF-13F_vU50vjOhNEiUrZLIgRZVhE6FvcLPX5olj8jX7X1K8NJDmLgaZOuMJCk2R-CEF/s1600/aa.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667433030388632034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PJ9VAMKsvQcNM1vrl05UVPBx03B-yTcIC8i10f_a8nek4fnzZySunS2HchAe_1aYKQsFUYgksF-13F_vU50vjOhNEiUrZLIgRZVhE6FvcLPX5olj8jX7X1K8NJDmLgaZOuMJCk2R-CEF/s400/aa.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" /></a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/">Rosemary's Baby</a>: You can't help but feel sorry for Rosemary and her husband as the young couple's excitement over the impending birth of their first child/evil spawn draws closer. And how awesome was Mia Farrow as Rosemary?<br /><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6279739593_4f749b21d5_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6279739593_4f749b21d5_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 614px;" /></a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075005/">The Omen</a>: My mom always warned me about movies like The Omen, mostly telling me to stay far away from them. But I just couldn't listen; apparently I had to see for myself what exactly it was that I was missing. Well, let's just say that I can never look at barking dogs the same way again. The same goes for boys with a little too much mischievousness in their eyes.<br /><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6279739521_31da26db8d_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6279739521_31da26db8d_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 609px;" /></a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087363/">Gremlins</a>: Without a doubt, the scariest movie of my childhood. I sometimes even curse my parents for letting me watch it. I feared cute little fur balls were going to morph into evil green little monsters. Just thinking about those little slimy things right now is giving me goosebumps! Eeek!<br /><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6214/6279739421_0f94297265_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6214/6279739421_0f94297265_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 598px;" /></a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119345/">I Know What You Did Last Summer</a>: Ahhh, the ultimate in suspense greatness from my generation, I fell in love with this movie when I was a wee teenager. It was the sort of movie that would have you changing your theory about what happened every 5 minutes. And by the end, you still hadn't figured it out. <br /><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/6279739379_c8854873ed_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/6279739379_c8854873ed_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 580px;" /></a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117571/">Scream</a>: How awesome is it that a scary movie opens with the question, "What's your favorite scary movie?"? They've made so many sequels, but you can't beat the original. It makes me want to hire a team of security guards to keep an eye on my house.<br /><br /><strong>So, friends, do you have a favorite scary movie? Why do you like it? Do you prefer slasher or suspense movies? Are there any movies that you just can't watch? My sister is terrified of the Chuckie movies for some reason, even though we've never seen them! </strong><br /><br />P.S. More funny cartoons <a href="http://www.thecomicstrips.com/subject/4306/The-Horror+Movie-Comic-Strips.php">here</a>!<br /><br />[Top cartoon by <a href="http://www.thecomicstrips.com/store/add_strip.php?iid=65008">Dave Coverly</a>]

What's your favorite scary movie?

My father loved scary movies. Not necessarily the kind that send blood and other bodily organs spewing across the screen, but the suspensef...

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Halloween cookies

<div align="center"> </div><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6274130550_cda85f32b9_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6274130550_cda85f32b9_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 533px;" /></a>I woke up Saturday morning to the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through the house. I knew that could only mean one thing: <a href="http://melissabxoxo.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-birthday-mom.html">My</a> <a href="http://melissabxoxo.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-birthday-mom.html">mother</a> was up to her old baking ways once again. Turns out I was right. I found her in the kitchen whipping up a batch of almond cookies. These cookies are a family favorite of mine, having been passed down from my <a href="http://melissabxoxo.blogspot.com/2010/02/gifts-from-grandparents.html">grandmother</a>. Nowadays, it's rare to open up our freezer and <em>not</em> see at least one batch in there. And of course, these orange-frosted ones that she made yesterday were beyond delicious! Aren't they perfect for Halloween? Here's the recipe, in case you'd like to make them yourself (<em>Let me know if you make them!</em>)...<br /><br /><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong><br /><em>2/3 cup sugar<br />4 teaspoons almond flavoring<br />1 cup margarine<br />Exactly 1/3 cup eggs<br />1 teaspoon salt<br /><br />Mix ingredients, add 3 cups flour, refrigerate for cut-out cookies or roll into ball and flatten with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees until barely brown. Frost with confectioner sugar frosting, but use almond instead of vanilla. </em><br /><br /><strong>I'd love to hear, friends: Do you bake Halloween cookies? What are your favorite Halloween treats? What cookie recipes have been passed down in your family? xoxo</strong>

Halloween cookies

I woke up Saturday morning to the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through the house. I knew that could only mean one thing: My moth...

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Halloween pumpkins

Do you decorate for Halloween, friends? We don't go all out, but my mom likes to put a few plastic pumpkins out front. I always scoff, telling her that we need to be more sophisticated. I think these two finds this morning will help me plead my case...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdX7a4outOAg1nw4U4E7a0xrtKyMGgnjIPkBdTpdQNy88hc3n4PYsWUApYesKzwQGwiJy04jTOMNb4e9Q8exuDtgsln_wjv_Q7EVhyTVsdFmPG6Al59W0vgao66p9vlpVPYkSu9dFlg3D/s1600/aa.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665930130955474946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdX7a4outOAg1nw4U4E7a0xrtKyMGgnjIPkBdTpdQNy88hc3n4PYsWUApYesKzwQGwiJy04jTOMNb4e9Q8exuDtgsln_wjv_Q7EVhyTVsdFmPG6Al59W0vgao66p9vlpVPYkSu9dFlg3D/s400/aa.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" /></a>This <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/_/cast-stone-pumpkin/productID/9913eb32-9071-4e07-98cd-61d556fd9457/categoryID/7e91e3fc-a942-4afa-b6e1-72d8ef487bae">cast stone pumpkin</a> was hand cast by a Scottish artist. Wouldn't it look perfect on a front porch?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KXHc5WqoKI148l0TN9rXwFOowtD9Fea5ToI7Q2_SppcmHjj7YmTIM4-x6ew3crXlRQxhBUDx091uGgMdX9BK6ONhgKzyLXATiZBmXwDtBQJAbSkC75WqTtP8GMvWN-dS6X6jMZm3Ltoi/s1600/aa2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665930128049343106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KXHc5WqoKI148l0TN9rXwFOowtD9Fea5ToI7Q2_SppcmHjj7YmTIM4-x6ew3crXlRQxhBUDx091uGgMdX9BK6ONhgKzyLXATiZBmXwDtBQJAbSkC75WqTtP8GMvWN-dS6X6jMZm3Ltoi/s400/aa2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" /></a>This <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/_/velvet-pumpkin/productID/941c2a0d-9404-4fe2-8968-c0c3eff64a40/categoryID/7e91e3fc-a942-4afa-b6e1-72d8ef487bae">velvet pumpkin</a> is hand-stitched and the gourd stem is actually harvested by local farmers in Portland. I'd love to be sitting in front of a warm fireplace and have this on the mantle, wouldn't you?<br /><br /><strong>Will you be decorating this year? Which of these pumpkins is your favorite? What puts you in the Halloween spirit? And speaking of Halloween, I've got some fun themed posts planned for next week, so stay tuned! xoxo</strong><br /><br />P.S. More Halloween and fall goodies from Terrain <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/pumpkin-patch/">here</a>, <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/home-autumn-harvest/">here</a> and <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/autumn-fireside/">here</a>!

Halloween pumpkins

Do you decorate for Halloween, friends? We don't go all out, but my mom likes to put a few plastic pumpkins out front. I always scoff, t...

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