Fun Find: Herb Savor

Check out the Prepara website for cool new products like the Herb Savor.

This product will prolong the life of your fresh herbs for up to 3 weeks so you can enjoy fresh, flavorful meals every time you cook.

This product - and other cool gadgets like Volcano Pops - made by Prepara can be purchased from retailers like Macys, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Amazon.

http://www.prepara.com/herb_savor.php

Fun Find: A great entertaining website

Check out The Hostess With The Mostess website for tons of ideas on throwing a truly inspirational, fun and fabulous party.

The website has great photos and ideas on throwing any kind of party, from a baby shower to a birthday to any kind of holiday party.

Each party theme comes complete with suggestions on table top, party decor, menu and drink ideas. See the full line up of party ideas here.

Fun Find: Cowgirl Cookies

I found a great website called Bakerella that shares "sweet inspiration and fun baking ideas." One of the neatest gift ideas on the site is the recipe and complete how-to instructions on making these Cowgirl Cookies.

These would be great to give or to make at a girl's night in party - or they'd make a thoughtful gift for a friend who's been touched by breast cancer.

You can also change up the color of the fabric and the m&m's and make these into any holiday-themed cookie mix: Christmas Cookies, Halloween Cookies, etc. Click here for the link to the recipe and the instructions.

Fun Find: Festive Homemade Halloween Wreath

Visit the Swell Life website for fun ideas and crafty inspirations. I especially love her post detailing her 24 crafts created in 24 hours. One of the projects she created was this really cute and relatively inexpensive Halloween wreath using black boas and glass and plastic ornaments.

For full details on how to create her Frightfully Funky Wreath, click here.

Fun Find: Make your own Halloween Candy Bouquets

The Incredible Edible Crafts website gives you step-by-step instructions to create cute candy bouquets including this Halloween bouquet.

Sign up for their e-mail newsletter and they'll send two free books with detailed instructions on making candy bouquets, fruit and vegetable arrangements and edible crafts for kids.

The website provides great pictures and ideas for making crafts and gifts. Here's the link: http://ediblecraftsonline.com/index.htm

Fun Find: Spider Web Dip

A great Halloween-inspired idea for dressing up a traditional layered dip is to use sour cream and a plastic spider and voila you've got a spiderweb dip. This recipe comes from the Octoberlicious website - a site dedicated to providing Halloween tips and recipes.

.Ingredients.
3 large plum tomatoes, sliced
1 1/2 cups thick and chunky salsa
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Mexican cheese blend

.Bean Layer.
16 oz each) lowfat refried black or pinto beans
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp hot Mexican chili powder
1 tsp minced garlic

.Guacamole Layer.
4 ripe Hass avocados
3 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp minced red onion
2 large jalapeño chiles, seeded and minced
1 tsp salt

.Decoration.
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
a clean plastic toy spider

.Serve With.
blue, red and yellow corn tortilla chips


.Instructions.
1. Bean Layer: Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl until well blended. Scrape the mixture onto a 12- to 14-in. round serving plate and smooth into a 10-in. circle with a spatula. Arrange tomato slices around edge of bean layer to make a border.

2. Drain salsa in a strainer to get rid of excess juice. Spread over bean mixture, leaving some of the bean layer showing around the edge. Sprinkle cheese over salsa, leaving some of the salsa layer showing.

3. Guacamole: Halve avocados; remove seeds and spoon flesh into a medium bowl. Add lime juice, onion, jalapeños and salt, and mash until fairly smooth. Spoon over cheese layer and spread into an even layer.

4. Place sour cream in a ziptop bag; seal bag and snip a small tip off one corner. Pipe a spiderweb design over guacamole and onto the plate. Decorate with toy spider. Serve with tortilla chips.


.Tips.
* Plan Ahead: You can make 4 hours ahead, cover and refrigerate.

Fun Find: Halloween Cheese Ball

Dress up your Halloween party buffet table with this creative - and yummy sounding - pumpkin-shaped Caramalized Garlic Cheese Spread from the Land O' Lakes website.

The recipe for this appetizer can be found here.

Fun Find: 10 Happy Halloween Cocktails

Spice up your next Halloween party with one of these creative cocktails from Fine Living's website. There are 10 cocktails featured, each with a list of ingredients along with the haunted history behind where each cocktail was conceived. The hardest part about these drinks is deciding which one to serve at your next party.

For all the recipes, including the bloody brain shooter above, click here.

Fun Find

I love products that do double duty. I have such limited space in my purse that when I find compact and multi-functional beauty products like this, I just can't resist. This is Michael Kors new lip scent duo, available at Sephora. On one end is a rollerball with tuberose perfume; the other end is a neutral lip gloss.

The product is highly rated by reviewers on Sephora's site. To view more details or order, click here.

Fun Find: Halloween Music Playlist

It seems like the months are just passing me by; I can't believe Halloween is little more than a month away. Since it is my favorite holiday, I thought I'd start posting Halloween-inspired fun finds. This one comes courtesy of the All You website. They've compiled a list of fun tunes to play at your next Halloween bash. To see the full list of songs including Thriller, The Monster Mash and more, click here

Fun Find

Fall is around the corner and with that the cooler weather will start rolling in soon. You can still enjoy a beautiful flower and herb garden - indoors, with these cute soda can and rain boot gardens. The rain boot comes with soil and seeds and is available in four colors and varieties: mint, strawberry, basil or camomile.

http://fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=3766&cat=314&page=1#

Just pop the top on the flower cans, add water and in a short while you’ll have a pretty bouquet of either Dahlias, Geraniums, Impatiens or Pansies.

http://fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=3768&cat=314&page=1

Fun Find

At Bangerang Bake Shop you'll find the cutest cupcakes perfectly packaged for giving or receiving. Each little heavenly cake is baked inside a glass jar in fun flavors like "the nut job", "cookoo for coconut" and "banana butterscotch bad boys."

These would make really tasty and thoughtful bridesmaid or hostess gifts - actually any occasion is a good time to celebrate with cake!

You can order these little beauties by visiting their site: http://www.bangerangbakeshop.com/product/89885/CAPTAIN-CARROT-CAKE-CUPCAKE_407462.html

Fun Find

These bookshelves are super cool. Install the metal bracket on the wall and the books look like they're floating.

The brackets cost $15 and can be purchased at MOMAStore.com

Fun Find

If you've got a furry friend in tow, don't leave home without this cute travel bowl suitcase. This creative miniature suitcase opens to reveal two stainless steel bowls. Perfect for your jetsetting hound! The black leather case is adorned with white pawprints, magnetic closures ensure the suitcase stays closed when not in use.

Find this adorable travel set at http://www.hautehound.com/

Fun Find

Check out wishingfish.com for fun products like these miniature lamp shades. They'll add uniqueness to any table setting. Each set of Gorgeous Helen lamp shades comes in 3 different designs. All you need to do is take them out of the package, roll them up, drop a tealight into a wine glass and add the lampshade. That's it! Instantly the white pattern is transformed to a darker shade (as if it were a shadow) and wine glasses are turned into sweet miniature lamps. Have an enchanted evening!

http://www.wishingfish.com/210605.html

Fun Find

I saw these today while looking for a birthday card at my local Hallmark store. They're called Switch Flops...the first flip flop that has interchangeable straps. I love the selection of straps...they have a wide variety of colors, materials and styles so you can match your shoes to any outfit. Very cute and perfect for the summery weather ahead.

You can find them at local gift stores like Hallmark or you can purchase them online at http://www.switchflops.com/

Fun Find

How cute are these? See Jane Work is a fun website that carries products to help manage your time more efficiently and stay organized.

Brighten your desk and your day with the bold colors and whimsical designs of the Cyber Bug Mouse and Mouse Pad Set.
They’ll bring a welcome punch of color. Each set includes a colorful pad and mouse with a USB plug and PS2 adapter.

Find them here: http://www.seejanework.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=803

Fun Find

Sur La Table sells these super-cute rolling pins. I've seen them used by the professional chefs and cooks on the Food Network, but only in the wood-grain color. Sur La Table offers them in cute colors like purple, green and red.

Check out these Silicone Nonstick French Rolling Pins here,
http://www.surlatable.com/product/524876.do#

Fun Find

The Shemergency Kit

What are shemergencies? They're the beauty blunders that keep women from looking and feeling their best. This compact case is stocked with 24 items including; a folding hair brush with mirror, hair spray, clear elastics, earring backs, hand lotion, nail clipper, an emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, a mending kit, a safety pin, double-sided tape, lint remover, shoe shine wipes, stain remover, static remover, breath freshener, lip balm, dental floss, pain reliever, deodorant wipes, a tampon, adhesive bandages, and facial tissues.

The Shemergency Kit can be purchased at the Ms. & Mrs. website: http://www.msandmrs.com/shemergency.php#

Fun Find

One bag....endless possibilities...that's the premise of these miche bags (pronounced mee-chee). You can purchase the basic bag in black or brown and then change the look of the purse by swapping out the exterior covering. The shells come in different colors, fabrics and designs and adhere to the purse with magnets.

The shells come in fun designs like leopard print and pink faux-crocodile. For more info visit: http://www.michebag.com/