Photo Halloween Wreath

This is my Photo Halloween Wreath that I make additions to each year. 

I began this a couple years ago.  I found this faux bittersweet wreath at a craft store.  I then went thru all my old photos (both print photos - before digital cameras - and on my computer) and printed or gathered which ones I wanted.  (If you are printing them - you don't have to always use photo paper as you can print on white cardstock if you want.)  I trimmed them and glued them (using a glue stick) to some Halloween patterned scrapbook paper that I had cut a bit wider.  To make them sturdy enough to hold up -- I also glued that scrapbook paper onto something thicker (I saved the backs of notepads for this purpose.)

Another close-up --

This is how it looked the first year -

And, the next year --

Currently -

I pack away the photos in the house so they stay in good shape (as opposed to the Halloween totes which go in the garage attic!).  They are so easy to update, too.  You don't have to wait til next year -- you can always do this year's photos before you pack everything away.

Plus, you do not have to limit this to Halloween.  You could do a wreath (minus the bittersweet) with Christmas pics, etc. and do this for many holidays!!!  Let your imagination run wild and maybe start a new tradition!!!! 

Now, Witch Lucy can't wait until I add her photo to the wreath -

I am linking to Funky Junk Interior's SNS Linky Party.  You can see lots of great ideas by clicking here.

And, to Boogieboard Cottage's Masterpiece Monday.  You can click here to see all the great ideas at her blog.

Easy Apple Crisp

Easy Apple Crisp (with a little Vanilla Ice Cream)

10-12 cooking apples
1 C. sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 C. flour
6 T. (3/4 stick) butter
1/4 C. walnuts or pecans, chopped

Slice the apples, peeled & cored, into a bowl.  Add 1/2 cup sugar, the lemon juice, cinnamon & cloves.  Mix well, then transfer to a greased (I just used Pam) baking dish (I used a pan that was a bit smaller than a 9 x 13 pan).  In a separate bowl, combine the flour with 1/2 cup of sugar.  Then, cut in the butter until crumbly.  Stir in the nuts and sprinkle this mixture over the apple mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly.

I love to serve this with vanilla ice cream.  It is also good with Cool Whip.


Here is a pic of the apple mixture -

The flour mixture in the bowl -

After it was sprinkled over the apples -

Right out of the oven -

Lucy, on the other hand, was loving playing with some recipes that I was sorting to put in my "to try" pile -

I am linking this to Designs by Gollum's Foodie Friday.  Please click here to see lots of great recipes.

Eating My Way Thru Vegas!!!!

One of my favorite things to do is to try all the different eateries when I am in Las Vegas!!  Of course, there are not enough meals in the time I am there, but I give it a good try!!!!  Here is a sampling from a recent trip -- some new and some repeat visits!!

We began by visiting Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville at the Flamingo -

Here are all of the YaYa's -

I had the corn & crab chowder and shared the turkey sandwich and fries.  Soooo good -

Although we planned to stop here every day - this turned out to be the only time that we took advantage of the Happy Hour 2 for 1 Martinis at Paris.  I had a Key Lime Martini -

And, my great friend, Barb, had a Chocolate Martini -

We enjoyed dinner at Lobster Me - which recently opened in the Miracle Mile shops in Planet Hollywood -

First - please enjoy our $2.50 Coke products.  The bottles were cute, but small & pricey --

We shared a Lobster Mac & Cheese and a Lobster Roll -

3 of us at Lobster Me -

I had pizza at Sirrico's inside New York New York -

We loved Cafe Bellagio - at the Bellagio - but the pic is very blurry --

I had Fish & Chips.  Just look at the cute 'fry basket' for the fish --

Not too far from the Cafe is a chocolate shop.  Look at the chocolate fountain coming from their ceiling --

Afterwards, we saw some beautiful water shows in front of the Bellagio -

We had a late breakfast at the Tropical Breeze Cafe in the Flamingo - most often we had coffee & rolls in the room while we were getting ready or by the pool --

I love to eat breakfast here and always enjoy the Eggs Benedict --

One evening - our fellow YaYa Barb's daughter and family, who reside in Las Vegas, took us to the Lotus Garden - a short drive from the Vegas Strip.  We had a great meal and a fun time!!!  Thank you Liz, Jeremy, CJ & Lia --



Absolutely loved trying the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris for a late lunch!!!  I am still thinking about the meal.  This was a view from the pool, which is on the 3rd floor of the hotel - the area that goes around with the windows is where the restaurant is located -

Prior to our meal arriving -

Love love love the chicken entree --

We were able to view a water show that is across the street at the Bellagio -

Fabulous dessert - Creme Brulee --

Ate at the Food Court at Caesar's.  I chose Chicken Quesadillas from Ole! --

Had a great lunch at Grand Luxe Cafe in Palazzo. 

We started with Onion & Zucchini Bites -

The YaYa's --

I shared a Club Sandwich and fries -

A new favorite spot is Serendipity 3 located in front of Caesar's -

We shared the Kobe Sliders and Potato Skins --

We love to eat -

Just the right amount of food --

So we could save room for a Frozen Hot Chocolate!!!!!!!!  They are famous for them and we got a couple of the ones that are for 2 - so we could share --

We had a great time!!!  As you could probably tell by our happy smiles around all the food tables --

Lucy, on the other hand, is tired of hearing about it!!!!