Easy Halloween Craft: Candy Corn Decorations

Have you found yourself perusing all of the gorgeousness to be found on Pinterest yet? I just started using Pinterest a few weeks ago and I am in love! It is a place where you can go and “pin” photos of crafts, home decor, delicious food, fashions and so much more to “boards” that you set up. It’s my own little personal inspiration center and a great place to find curated content for all of my DIY ambitions.

During one of my recent searches on Pinterest, I pinned this photo knowing that it seemed like a project that I could do easily and fairly inexpensively. As this weekend approached, I knew that I wanted to make one of my pinned Halloween projects and I selected this one. So, I headed to Thrifty Decor Chick’s blog (since she is the one who gets credit for the photo), and found that she has a post on making these adorable Candy Corn decorations

The girls and I set out to the craft store to purchase our supplies and this is what we settled on:

Supply list for Candy Corn Decorations:

• 3 sizes of white Styrofoam Cones – we used 6, 9 and 12 inch cones (by 4 inches wide), but really any mix and match of cone sizes that you like will work. White will probably work better than the green cones in case of any bare spots that the yarn may not cover on your candy corn.
• Orange, Yellow and White crochet thread – I liked the “thinness” of the crochet thread better than traditional yarn since it gave me more of the look I was going for. It does mean that you will need to wrap it more, so there is more effort involved (I still got all 3 of these done in one evening though!). I was able to complete all 3 of my cones with one package of each color of crochet thread (linked above). You can use any style, thickness or colors of yarn/thread that strike you, though.
• Elmer’s glue
• Scotch tape
• Scissors

Assembling your Candy Corn Decorations:

1. I started with the orange thread on the bottom of the first cone by scotch taping the end of the thread about close to the bottom (but not so close that it will get in the way of Step 2). **I do realize that candy corn starts with yellow on the bottom, but i liked how the orange, then yellow, and white pattern looked better. That’s the beauty of crafting….. do it your way! **

2. Put a thin bead of Elmer’s Glue around the bottom of the cone. Take the orange thread and start to wrap it around the bottom of the cone, working it into the glue. I did this step because I found that without the glue, the thread would continue to “slip” at the bottom of the cone and didn’t stay in place and look neat. You only need to do this for the first layer. Once you get the wrapping started, you don’t need anymore glue. Wrap the orange thread approximately 1/3 of the way up the cone, covering it to your liking.

3. When you are done with the orange, cut the end of the thread and tape it to the cone above the orange section (the yellow thread will cover this). Take the yellow thread now and tape that end down near the edge of the orange section. Wrap the yellow section for the next 1/3 of the cone, no glue is needed.

4. When you are done with the yellow, cut the end of the thread and tape it to the cone above the yellow section.

5. ***This step is optional*** – I didn’t like the fact that the top of the cones were bare and you could still see the styrofoam. So, at this point, I decided to cover the top of the cone (these cones don’t come to a point, they have a flat circular top) with a thin layer of glue and lay strips of the white thread over the the top and let the edges hang down. Let the edges hang down long enough so that they can be covered with the thread wrapping in Step 6 but not so long that they hang into the yellow section of the cone.

6. Tape the end of the white yarn to the cone near the edge of the yellow section. Wrap the white section to the top of the cone. When complete, tuck the end of the thread into the wrapped section (you may want to add a dot of glue as well).

7. Repeat for the next 2 cones.

8. Display and enjoy!

Not the best photo, but I love the finished product!

This was a fun project to do while enjoying some Saturday night television with my husband. I love how cute these came out and they make me smile when I pass them in my Family Room.

Happy Halloween!

Crockpot Pork Sirloin Tip Roast with Fall Fruit Recipe PLUS a $25 COSTCO CASH GIVEAWAY

In honor of October being National Pork Month, Costco is offering great deals on various pork cuts all month long. As I mentioned on Monday in my post about this week’s sale on Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast, I have teamed up with Costco, the National Pork Board and The Motherhood to not only let you know about the great savings you can find on pork all month long at Costco, but also to share with you an original recipe using this week’s pork cut!

My task was quite simple. I was asked to come up with an original recipe using the Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast and the cooking method required? Crockpot! Score for me! How did they know that I have a special place in my heart for my crockpot? I was so excited by this challenge!

Earlier this week, I went to our local Costco to stock up on my ingredients for my loose recipe. I obviously knew I needed to purchase the pork, but I also contemplated some other ingredients, as well as a few other necessary household staples. I did not have my recipe finalized when I had gone into Costco, I just had a strategy in place. As I looked at the pork roast, I knew my strategy was perfect, and I decided to go with my gut instincts.

We belong to a Fruit CSA at North Star Orchard and we love it! We get to pick up our share of fresh, locally grown fruit and each week that is perfect for snacking on and cooking with! I knew I wanted to incorporate some of the delicious apples and pears we’ve been getting from the farm into this recipe. So I did! I give to you Crockpot Pork Sirloin Tip Roast with Fall Fruit. Enjoy!

Crockpot Pork Sirloin Roast with Fall Fruit

4 pounds Pork Sirloin Tip Roast exclusively at Costco*

olive oil (optional step)

salt and pepper to taste

4 apples

4 pears

1 cup apple cider (or juice)

1/4 cup orange juice

2 TBSP light brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground ginger

*The roasts were sold as a 4 pack of approximately 2 pound roasts each, so I used 2 roasts for this recipe and froze the other 2. LOVE Costco!

Preparation Instructions

1. This is an OPTIONAL step – Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with extra virgin olive oil and turn heat to Medium High. Season your pork roast(s) generously with salt and pepper to taste. When the oil is hot, sear the meat on all sides until brown and crisp. Remove from heat.

If you have the time, I think that adding this step adds an extra layer of flavor to the meat, however, if you are pressed for time and skip this step, the dish will still turn out perfectly!

2. Chop the apples and pears into slightly larger-than-bitesize pieces and add them to the bottom of the crockpot insert.

3. In a small bowl, mix together the apple cider or juice, orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger.

4. Place your pork roast on top of the fruit. If you have not seared the meat, be sure to season the pork generously with salt and pepper at this point.

5. Pour the liquid mixture over the pork and fruit.

6. Set the crockpot to low and cook for 8 – 10 hours. *My crockpot only took about 6.5 hours to get the internal meat temperature to 150 degrees when I checked it.

In May, the USDA reduced the temperature guideline for pork loins, chops and roasts from 160 to 145 degrees F, with a three-minute rest. This will yield a juicy, flavorful product that may be pinker in color than most home cooks are used to. Ground pork, like all ground meat, should be cooked to 160 degrees.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

If you are looking for other recipes, check out Costco’s In The Warehouse for tips on various cuts of pork and delicious recipes to try in addition to this one!

So, how would you like to win some Costco Cash of your own? We’re giving away $25 in Costco Cash to one of our lucky readers as part of this campaign. All you need to do is fill in the entry form below to be entered to win!

Good luck!

* This post is part of a campaign that I am participating in with Costco, the National Pork Board and The Motherhood. I have received a stipend for my time in participating in this campaign, and all opinions remain my own, as always!

And so it begins…. School Days

As I sit here realizing that school starts in just one short week, I am struck with a variety of emotions. The most overwhelming emotion is true excitement and happiness for my daughter. Although, come next Monday morning, my mood may not be quite so chipper.

My oldest daughter (“M”) is entering 1st Grade this year at our local elementary school as a new student. She attended a wonderful private Kindergarten program last year at the same preschool that she had attended for the several years prior. So, while Kindergarten was certainly a transition with structured learning, bus riding and full days, it was nice to make that transition in the familiar “home” of our preschool that we had come to know and love.

Things are different this year. It’s almost as if this is her first year of school all over again. This year she enters a new school where parental involvement is more limited and she doesn’t know any of her classmates. But you know what, she is excited. No, she is actually THRILLED to be headed to school. While she has some minor anxiety about what to expect, she is so confident and so interested in school that she just genuinely can’t wait.

This week will be a mix of doing fun school supply shopping, fresh haircuts, and picking up a few cute back-to-school outfits combined with spending time doing some of M’s favorite summer activities. I will savor all of these moments with her this week as we are about to send her off to learn and grow and make new friends and just be the awesome kid that she is!

How are you feeling about sending your little ones off to school this year? Are they excited or apprehensive?

Would you like to send them off with a little special treat? I’m ordering some fun notes for M from Tiny Prints to start the year off right. Tiny Prints has a variety of Back to School products that are perfect for kids, parents and teachers alike.

Some of my favorites from this years line are these fantastic Allergy/Medical Alert cards as well lots of fun styles of cards to use as Lunchbox Notes when you want to say a quick hello or “I love you” to the kiddos during the day.

This year, our elementary school is welcoming a new teacher to M’s class, so we’re going to order some adorable teacher stationary for her to feel at home!

So, let us know how you are feeling! Ready or Not ready? Excited or Anxious? Happy or Sad? How does the start of this school year have you feeling? Maybe some new notes or labels can bring a little smile to everyone involved. There’s nothing like brand new school supplies and stationary to signal a fresh start and new beginnings.

*This post was sponsored by Tiny Prints via the Global Influence Network. I received a Tiny Prints gift card for this review, however, my stories and opinions are always my own.

~Shannon

LOVE … according to my kids.

With the December holidays now behind us and the new year underway, I am really looking forward to the next holiday we will celebrate in our house…. Valentine’s Day. I know people have varying opinions on Valentine’s Day, some even saying that it is too contrived to celebrate Love on just one day of the year.

In our house, we express our love daily. There’s no getting off the phone without an “I Love You”, there’s no leaving the house without an “I Love You”, and there’s definitely no going to bed without an “I Love You”. We also are big fans of the random sprinkling of “I Love You’s” throughout the day, whenever the feeling hits us. I agree with the naysayers, we don’t NEED a holiday to acknowledge or express our love, but I still WANT one.

Having one day to acknowledge our love of spouse, children, family members, and friends is awesome. I love focusing on the little things…. telling people what your favorite thing is about them, telling them why they are important and how they make your life better, and showing them why you want them to always be around……. it’s good for you and it’s good for them!

I asked my kids the other day what they thought the word “Love” means…. I LOVE their responses (pun intended):

If you are looking for great ways to acknowledge the loved ones in your life this Valentine’s Day, check out all of the great Valentine’s themed products available at Tiny Prints. You don’t need to do grand gestures … a handpicked, heartfelt greeting card can be the perfect present!

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Valentines Day cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars.

So tell us, how do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? What will you do to celebrate your loved ones?

~Shannon

Disclosure: I was provided Tiny Prints product in exchange for this post.

How does a trip to Jamaica sound? 4 night trip for 2! Enter now for your chance to win a fabulous getaway.

How does a trip to Jamaica sound? 4 night trip for 2! Enter now for your chance to win a fabulous getaway. Any when your done entering the contest take a peek at Chesco Mom Shannon’s Chevy Mom Squad Video.

Click here to visit Philly Moms time Out to

Enter the Contest


* This is not a Chesco Mom contest.. this contest is managed by Philly’s Moms Time Out.

Rocking my "Soccer Mom" status in STYLE!

Last week was one amazing week for this Philadelphia-based mommy blogger! For one glorious, wonderful month, I get a much needed break from my soccer-mom-mobile! Now, don’t get me wrong, my minivan has served it’s purpose in our family, but I AM THRILLED for the opportunity to try out the Chevy Traverse with it’s similar passenger hauling capabilities to our minivan, but with MUCH more styling and amenities! How do I get to try out a brand new Traverse, you ask?

On Wednesday morning, my husband and my youngest daughter escorted me to the CBS 3 studios for a Launch Event to kick off Chevy’s Philly Mom’s Time Out program. This program, put together thanks to the Philadelphia Area Chevrolet Dealers, is giving a 2011 Chevy Traverse to 5 area Mom Bloggers to test drive for an entire month! We’re being given these vehicles to experience as busy moms and share our perceptions of how a car like the Traverse can help an active family on-the-go.

Joined by my fellow Mom’s Time Out Mom Squad members Danielle, Debra, Jacqui, and Kim, we spent some time getting acquainted with all of the bells and whistles that our Traverses would “WOW” us with. Then it was time to head upstairs to the Talk Philly studios where we were interviewed by none other than Philly’s beloved Pat Ciarrocchi. Click here for a clip of our interview!

Over the next 4 weeks, Chevy will be sending us on various missions to see how the Traverse can work in a busy family’s lifestyle. I am really excited to put this baby to the test with my 2 kids, our dog, our various errands, class schedules, school dropoffs, my busy work schedule and living our fun, if not a little chaotic lives!

A special thank you to Kelly Chevrolet in Phoenixville, PA where my Traverse (that nice looking one pictured above!) is being loaned from. These folks have been so accommodating and attentive to every detail that our busy family needs and we’ve really appreciated all of their care and support!

Come back regularly this month and see how the Traverse is working for us and also learn more about some great sweepstakes that Chevy has lined up for you to tale part in!

*Disclosure: Philadelphia Area Chevrolet Dealers have loaned me a 2011 Chevy Traverse for one month and are sending me on missions in the car along with the necessary gift cards in order to do so.

Help me Fight the Frump: Saying goodbye to my sweatpants!

For the last 5 years now, since my oldest daughter has been born, I’ve adopted a new dress code to go along with my new role as a Stay at Home Mom. It is certainly practical, this sweatpants-and-jeans wardrobe of mine, but words like chic, cute, and put-together don’t often describe the way I am dressed on a daily basis.


Now that Sarah and I are doing more with our blogs and with our consulting business, it is becoming more necessary for me to have a few go-to “work outfits” to supplement my flip-flops and t-shirts. In addition, I am attending an industry conference in NYC this week, BlogHer, and I want to put my best foot forward. Thankfully, our good friend and resident fashion contributor, Melissa from Girlymama coordinated a night out at the Paoli Ann Taylor Loft store so we could shop their awesome selection without the kids running around by our sides.


I found lots of great pieces at The Loft, but I think that my favorite find was this adorable Maxi dress paired with this moss green cardigan. And, the best part, was that I scored the dress for $29.99! And, while we are talking about great cardigans, I also picked up this one in Iron Grey. I think it will work with so many different looks!


The one piece that I was surprised about was this Tango Red ruffle tank. I was sort of on the fence about this purchase, but figured I could always bring it home and try it out and return it if needed. I decided to throw it on with a pair of jeans last Saturday night for a date with my husband, and got the BEST reaction from him. It’s definitely a keeper now!


And, because GirlyMama is so awesome, she also found some great companies and products to share with us in our event gift bags like these Kendra Scott Dangle Earrings, this adorable black Hannah Clutch (it isn’t even available to the public yet), a $25 gift card to ShopatHome.com, and the Kymaro Rechargable Hair Straightener (won’t this be nice for rainy day events in NYC)!


I want to thank Melissa for helping me get a good foundation started for an update chic wardrobe, but how do I maintain it and add to it? Where do you shop when you are looking for affordable, high-quality and chic clothing and accessories? Help this struggling Mama out!


Disclosure: I received a $20 Gift Card to The Loft as well as a 20% off coupon code, as well as the products listed (and a few others) in a gift bag. I was not paid for this post and, as always, all opinions expressed are mine.