Halloween Party Prep

Only a few more sleeps until Halloween ~ my other half is getting stoked and the older kids in the daycare have started to show some interest in 'pumpkins and ghosts' so we've started to play some games in the program and I have added a few 'costumes' for them to explore with including the Witches hat.

Here are two of our favorites DIY Halloween games we love to play

Witches Ring Toss 

What You Need

• Witches hat ~ we got ours at the Dollar Store
• Florist Wire
• Washi Tape

What You Do

•  Make 'circles' with the florist wire and twist the ends together to close into your ring.
• To protect little fingers wrap Washi Tape (or duct tape) around the twisted ends to keep them covered while playing.
• We used my 'yoga' mat for the play surface ... children at one end of the mat and the hat at the other end and they 'tossed' the rings trying to get them onto the point of the hat. 
• So as my crew is all under 4 at the moment so they do not need to keep score in a game ~ the game is practicing taking turns and cheering others on!However with older children you could 'score' your ring toss like you would Horseshoes based on how close their ring gets to being 'on' the witches hat.

 

 Pumpkin Toss

What You Need

•  Jack O Lantern or a Cauldron or other equally fun 'Halloween Themed' bucket
• Styrofoam Pumpkins (good ole Dollar Store) you could also use 'orange socks' or soft balls or pom poms or something else to decorate as a pumpkin

What You Do

•  Again we used our trusty yoga mat as our game surface and we tossed the pumpkins into the bucket ~ my crew is all under 4 at the moment so they do not need to keep score in a game ~ the game is practicing taking turns and cheering others on! 

 Other Ideas for Party Fun with things around the house

• Witches Limbo ~ use a broom to play Limbo game to some fun Halloween Music
• Pin the Tail on the Cat ~ make a big black cat silhouette for the wall and some 'tails'... no black paper? No worries use a washable marker on a patio door to draw your cat! When you are done wash it off! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Life Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Totallyawake4-life

YUM ~ I love Pumpkin seeds

Great thing about October is all the pumpkin ... pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving, carving for Jack O Lanterns with the kids and the guts make a great sensory experience to play in ... but best part is don’t throw away pumpkin seeds after making your jack-o-lanterns. 

Simply roast them in the oven with salt, extra virgin olive oil, and 1-2 drops of Cassia essential oil for a delicious treat. 

Or another option below is give them a boost of immunity and flavor with the On Guard oil blend!

Please note that not ALL essential oils are meant for 'ingesting' and that even those that are approved for ingestion you need to watch your DOSE to ensure that it is safe ... less is more with doTERRA a little goes a long way for both aroma and flavor!

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!

Totallyawake4-life

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

This is my first thanksgiving trying to be strong and stick to my 'grain free and clean eating' even when preparing for a big social gathering with family and friends .... normally in the past I would bring a big ole gluten free stuffing full of nuts and dried fruit a total mouth orgasm along side my turkey with a side of candied pecan sweet potato casserole to go with all the other trimmings and for dessert my old evil pumpkin pie recipe .... my whole meal likely topped my recommended calorie intake for a WEEK and would send my glucose readings into next week along with it! 

So this weekend I am having a roasted turkey with a side of mashed cauliflower, sweet potato in its natural clean glory with home made low sodium gravy and for desert the following grain free, dairy free, sugar free but totally tasty pumpkin pie ... I made myself some crust-less ones cause I wont have any containers left at dessert for crust but my family is getting a grain free version crust to enjoy cause they are not worrying about their calories this Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Pie filling

Serves 

• 2 pies OR 1 pie and  4 mini crust-less casserole dishes

 What You Need

• 27 ounce can pure pureed pumpkin ~ not pumpkin pie mix 
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 4 teaspoon Epicure pumpkin pie spice OR make your own recipe below
• 2/3 cup unsweetened Almond milk

What You Do

• Whisk the eggs in a bowl and fold in the remaining ingredients
• Mix until well blended
• Pour into your pie crusts until it is just below the 'edge' of the crust wall or add 1 cup of mix to greased mini casserole dishes.
• Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes until fork comes clean in middle ~ the crustless might cook quicker depending on the size of your casserole dish.

 DIY Pumpkin Pie spice

 What You Need

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 3 drops of Clove Bud Essential oils

 What you Do

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl and add to your recipe above

Coconut Flour Pie Crust

Coconut Pie Crust recipe sourced from Coconut Mama

What You Need

• 1/2 cup coconut oil or   Butter, Melted
• 2 Eggs
• 1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt
• 3/4 Cup coconut flour 
• 3 Tablespoons Raw Honey - omit if you want a savory pie crust for something like quiche or chicken pot pie

What You Do

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• In a medium bowl beat butter, eggs, honey and salt together with a fork.
• Then add coconut flour. Stir until dough holds together.
• Gather the dough into a ball, then pat into a 9″ greased pie pan.
• Prick the dough with a fork.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly brown. Let cool.
• Add your filling and bake as required

This year I am so determined NOT to have this scale trick need to  happen to me! If you are 'fixing' like I am than your crust-less pumpkin pie would be either a 1 purple and 0.5 red and as your 'free' maple syrups for the day ... if you have a piece with the crust as well I would count it as 1 yellow swap 'treat' cause now you are having maple syrup AND the honey in the crust plus the coconut flour.

Hope you are having an amazing Thanksgiving! 

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Margaret 
Totallyawake4-life