Because Y'all Love You Some Pumpkin Carving...

You know what my #1 most popular post has ever been on this blog?  This CHRISTMAS blog?  The one I did a couple years ago with links to pumpkin carving templates.

The internet makes me laugh.

So I figured I probably owe the internet some more pumpkin carving assistance, since clearly this is a topic that is of great interest to many.  Here are some links I found:

Templates on Spoonful (a Disney website)
You can find a bunch of printable templates here, ranging from this classic Jack O Lantern (above), to a pirate-y face, to a big pumpkin that looks like it's eating a bunch of little pumpkins.  If you're into that sort of thing.  Bonus: how to make a big squash look like Frankenstein!


Template links on Squidoo
There are links here to templates on external sites.  There are several licensed characters represented, such as Yoda, Angry Birds, and Jack Skellington.  There are also links to more generic templates like cats and dragons and spiders and... a pug.  

Templates on eHow
This site has lots of cute templates.  I liked this haunted house, above, and there are also lots of cute (not scary) faces, puppies, kitties, little girls with pigtails, that sort of thing.  There are a few scary faces, too, but most of the templates are just fun and whimsical.

Disney Characters on Family Fun
Family Fun has a bunch of Disney character pumpkin templates that look fairly simple.  Mickey, Minnie, Pooh, and Tinkerbell, just to name a few.  But I gotta tell you, I would probably use their Phineas and Ferb templates myself.  Because I do love Phineas and Ferb.

Please do be careful carving your pumpkins.  And have fun!

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Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July!  

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I Love A Parade

I dearly love the Macy's Parade.  Oh, pardon me-- The Macy's All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade.  (Personally I've always called it simply "The Macy's Day Parade," which makes no sense but there you have it).  I have always looked forward to watching it, and I'll admit that I even get a little teary when Al Roker and company cut the ribbon and shout "Let's Have A Parade!"

I'm pleased to say that I have successfully passed on my love of the parade to my eldest daughter.  A couple weeks ago she exclaimed, "Thanksgiving is coming!  The parade will be on TV!"  I'm so proud.

You know, for years I was under the impression that the floats in the Macy's parade had motors in them that moved them along the parade route.  It was always disappointing to me when I went to my local parade in town and saw tractors pulling the floats.  I persisted under this misconception until a few years ago when a random camera angle showed that there was a large pick-up truck pulling one of the floats, and my illusion was shattered.  I realized that, all along, the floats seemed to be moving on their own accord because they were framing the trucks out of the shot.  Ah, the magic of television.  Don't believe everything you see, children.

Speaking of floats, what would the Macy's parade be without this one?

And do you know who will be riding this iconic Tom Turkey in this year's parade?  Oh yes, it's the Turkey man himself, Alton Brown!  I have been in a giggle fit about that all day.

Want to know who else will be in the parade this year?  Here's a lineup: 

Alton Brown of the Food Network, Juanes, Jessica Simpson, Victoria Justice, Kanye West, Crystal Shawanda, Arlo Guthrie, Michael Grimm, Big Time Rush, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Mannheim Steamroller, Gladys Knight, Ann Hampton Callaway, Gloriana, India Arie, the Big Apple Circus, Eric Hutchinson, Power Rangers Samurai, Betty Buckley, Keri Hilson, cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih, Miranda Cosgrove and Joan and Melissa Rivers.  Source

The floats this year include Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure (celebrating the 10th anniversary of Dora the Explorer), OfficeMax ElfYourself (I can't wait for that one), and the Santaland Express with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots.  You can read about all 27 floats on Macy's official website.  The balloons this year include Buzz Lightyear, Kermit the Frog (yay!), and Snoopy as the Flying Ace.  Of course, none of those will get my daughter quite as excited as Spongebob Squarepants is sure to do.  She does love that Spongebob.  She once tried to convince me that he was her cousin.  True story.

And just in case you live in a cave, the 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin tomorrow morning at 9AM Eastern on NBC.

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Some Swell Thanksgiving Links

Thanksgiving is next week!  Can you believe it?  In honor of its nearness, here are some links you might find useful as you get ready for the big day!

Ocean Spray's Holiday Planning Book-  This is so cool-- you can choose which topics you'd like to include in your Thanksgiving Holiday Planning Book, and when you click "Create Book" it will generate a pdf file with all the information you requested!  How handy is that?  There are all sorts of things to choose from-- including recipes, craft ideas, and tips on preparation.  Thanks to my cousin-in-law Eileen for this link!

Paula Deen's Top Holiday Pies- Links to Paula's five favorite pie recipes for Thanksgiving.  These are all twists on the classics-- such as Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Pecan Pie.  Mmm... pie.

Food Network's Thanksgiving Guide- I'm pretty sure that if it's not listed here, you don't need to know it.  There are videos, recipes, menus, tips, techniques... all conveniently organized and waiting for you.  This is a terrific resource.

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I Apologize in Advance That This Has Nothing To Do With Christmas

But!  Check out this link to free pumpkin carving stencils from Reader's Digest's website.  There are 12 stencils that you can download (for free!), so that you can make a pumpkin that looks like this:

Isn't that adorable???  I'll be attempting this one myself, I think. 

And as long as I'm totally off the subject of Christmas, please do check out these mason jar lanterns from Not So Idle Hands.  She takes regular old glass jars, some tissue paper and Mod Podge, and makes adorable lanterns that look like pumpkins!  She also has some cute (not scary) monsters, too.

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Fun Stuff for Fall

Fall and Christmas are my favorite times of year to burn candles.  I especially love Fall scents like cinnamon and apple.  So you can imagine how happy it made me when I went into Bath and Body Works last week and saw these.

This scent is called Leaves, and reminds me of apple cider.  It's spicy and warm.  I love the little ceramic acorn this one comes in.  I'm probably going to have to go back and buy the larger version of this candle, because I love the scent so much.  It's perfect for both Fall and Christmas.

This one is called Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, and smells just like it sounds.  This ceramic pumpkin is cute too, and quite a bit bigger than the acorn.  I got one of each to put on my kitchen table.

Also on my kitchen table is this new table runner from Pier 1:

My Mom bought it for me for a birthday present.  It's perfect for Fall- what looks gold in the picture are actually more like muted oranges in person. 

Do you decorate for Fall?  Are you already decorated, or do you wait until there's a chill in the air?  What are your favorite things to decorate with?

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