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If you like Kahlúa in your brownies (and I mean *a lot*), then you have to make this recipe.

I like it even more than these. This one was twice as thick, twice as fudgy, twice as much more Kahlúa and just overall delish!

This can be easily achieved in 4 easy steps *insert sarcasm here*

Be sure to share some and not hog the whole pan to yourself!

This Giveaway is now closed!

Thanks to all for participating!

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You must think I’ve gone nuts combining The King with Halloween.

I was pressed for time and the reasons being:

One – - – I had to do a mini site re-design due to a hack that happened on August 21st and has since taken week(!)s to complete. I’m still not quite done re-linking photos with older posts, so pardon my dust…

Two – - – I *needed* to post something edible…and…

Three – - – I wanted to make these mini treat bags using Cricut cartridges I’ve had but didn’t have a chance until now.

So…….. this hacked blog thing happened when I checked my email that dreaded morning just to see this in my inbox which inadvertently led me to my blog…looking like this on the homepage. Ugh. Totally wrecked my day.

And the weeks to follow.

And, yeah, there were signs… prior to the hack months before…that didn’t feel right but needless to say, I should’ve heeded the warnings.

Silly, silly, me for I knew better.

The first time I made this cake (and yes, that is the official name) was about 6 (?) years ago. As I remember back then, the cake was just slightly undercooked but was wonderful! So buttery…and dense. And so good.

This time however, I was kinda disappointed. It didn’t taste quite the same. Texture, yes…but not as buttery. Brand of unsalted butter used as the cuprit? Maybe. I suppose another bake-off is in order and I’ll report it then.

And last are these treat bags I created using my Cricut along with a couple of Cricut cartridges for the cut-outs.

I think they’re all cute but my fave has to be the witch, cobweb (weekly free cuts from Cricut.com) and bats bag. Probably because it has the most *bling* factor.

Each box measures approximately 5″ wide by 4″ tall and enough candy to hold for your trick or treaters. Just don’t put a ton of sweets, though!

This Howl-o-ween package comes with:

• 4 orange ready-to-assemble bags *
• 4 black ready-to-assemble bags *
• All decorations are glued on, so you don’t have to

* Treats not included

Doesn’t the *pink* creature remind you of Cousin Itt – - – minus the glasses?

How to enter:

• Just leave a comment letting me know what’s your all-time favorite candy bar
• You must include an email address or blog link with your comment so I can contact you if you win
• Open to the contiguous United States only
• Giveaway ends October 12th at 6pm CST
• Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on October 13th

Good luck!

Random post…bear with me.

I’ve researched these containers online and between 3 places (Amazon, eBay and webstaurantstore) eBay had the best price for 50 sets @ $0.64 per set (container + lid). Free Economy Shipping included.

These are the heavy duty Newspring containers (#5 Plastics) that are good for holding hot foods. I wanted them specifically for their multi-purpose use of storing leftovers, frosting, sauces, blueberries, soups, nuts, and even as storage containers.

However…before plunking down $32.00 for these puppies (do I really need 50 32-oz. containers?), I decided to visit my neighborhood grocery store to see if they were willing to sell some to me. And they did!

I had 15 sets at first (containers + lids) – the price was sooooo right at $2.00 for the whole lot (that’s $0.13 per set, peeps!) – that I asked for 20 more. I was then told that the $2.00 was a one time deal since it was an odd request and if I wanted more it would be $0.25 per set. Hell-o!

So I got 20 more for $5.00!  Suh-weet!

Not bad for $7.00 worth of 35 32-oz. containers (no tax, no handling fees).

The moral of this story is, none really, (how does “How to save some moola” sound?) but it’s definitely worth the effort to ask your grocery store if they are willing to sell non-related food items like these deli containers for storage purposes. Or… those 4.5 gallons food-safe frosting/preserves buckets in the bakery section to keep your 20 lbs. of flour or rice in.

For FREE.

Just sayin’.

Can’t wait to fill these babies with yummi-liciousness.

Ok…I’m done.

And it’s fudgy,

has Kahlua and

espresso in it.

What’s not to love?

It also has an Espresso Kahlua Glaze.

Double love. Oh, yeah!

The original recipe did not call for it nor do I consider it an overkill… especially if one (ahem…moi) overbakes it just a bit and ends up looking like this….

A bit too dry for my taste.

Me no likey.

So a glaze was made.

Glaze good.

As Ahnold would say:

“I’ll be back”

However…(you knew that was coming, right?)…something was bound to be left behind being it is the day of the wedding.

The “Done Deal” banner was another surprise I made for Mario and Kannitha’s wedding and luckily, I took pictures waaaaay back in April and today I get to share it with you.

Their customized monogram got additional bling and was layered on an embossed, metallic cover stock.

The fonts used were from the Cricut® Wall Décor and More Cartridge. Just love the Art Nouveau style of the letter “D”.

One thing my *assistant* and I enjoyed was setting up the escort card table prior to the reception.

I’ll post pictures of the wedding reception items once I get hubby’s “permission” (ha!).

And on that note… it’s a …

In the past I’ve bought items from craigslist.com and was not disappointed. A 5-drawer chest , matching 9-drawer dresser (3-panel mirror included) made by Thomasville. All solid wood and dovetailed.

A bargain @ $350.00 for the whole set.

And very.

Heavy.

Husband will tell you in a heartbeat.

Last year I found and bought a KitchenAid Pasta Roller Set.

Again a great bargain from craigslist.com!

Yesterday I found a gem of a bargain and couldn’t pass it up.

A 21 cu. ft., white refrigerator and only 3 years old in very, very good condition.

Woot! Woot!

The price was right.

Location not far from home.

I couldn’t resist but to check it out.

Ms. T. and son Z. were extremely nice and Z. even helped dear hubby load it into the van.

Once home, I washed the inside parts, top and bottom doors and the fridge itself.

The shelves pulls out for easy access for items in the back.

Talk about convenience!

“Spill-catcher” shelves are a nice touch.

Not that I evuh-spill-anything on that matter. Only kids do that, right???

Once all the parts were dried I re-assembled everything inside.

I even showed Alex how to operate a drill using dad’s drill bits in putting in the top freezer door.

Here’s an inside pix of both top and bottom doors all ready for storage.

I couldn’t be any happier with this purchase.

Just been soooo busy with the wedding reception items and other projects on my plate.

So busy that dear hubby had no choice but do laundry himself. I supposed he got tired of waiting for the clothes to get clean. He is capable and doesn’t complain much.
♥ ♥ ♥

As you can see, these invites are not new.

They’re my samples.

One invitation, however, got a special treatment than the other 185 sets I did back in April.

As much as I wanted to emboss the vellum overlay, I just didn’t have time.

So, it was this one…

that got the special treatment…

and was addressed to…

I didn’t tell them…

Mario and Kannitha, that is.

They had no idea.

And I wanted it to be a surprise.

For whatever response they’d get.

I got this idea from another blogger when she did her wedding invitation a year or two ago. She provided the address and I decided to do the same.

I’ve been waiting to hear word of it since the April 17th mailing.

I made sure the return address was not missed.

I know, I know…..shameless plug I did on the back of the pocket card.

Woot-woot!!!

Mario and Kannitha were totally surprised when they received this in the mail yesterday.

“Pretty Cool!!”  - – - - M&K via FB

I avoided doing this post cuz I dreaded editing the 190+ 200+ pictures.

Only 30 31 made the cut .

Go figure.

I’ll let the pictures do the talkin’ so let’s get crackin’, shall we?

Close up of wedding invitation with belly band

Pocket cards designed with wedding date cut out.

Pocket cards scored and folded

“Zero” fillers

Bling alert!

4″ teal card stock equals…

Embossed belly bands

Swirly design using the Cuttlebug. (Luv, luv, luv it!)

1″ belly band strips from 4″ card stock

Creating a simple template kept my sanity gluing the medallions to the belly bands.

Yup! 185 of ‘em!

Done deal!

Enclosure cards ready for cutting.

Invitations next!

So much paper waste.

Outer and RSVP envelope imprint.

Set-up before major stuffing and layering took place.

Loved the way the floral design seamlessly lined up from card to card.

Here’s the set-up of the invitation set….

Enclosure cards in pocket card

Invitation on top of pocket card & enclosure cards.

Vellum paper

Belly band in place.

Making these was alot of work….and I mean alot…

The whole enchilada laid out.

In the event you plan on tackling a DIY wedding invitation allow plenty of time so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Addendum: Or you can hire me.

Here’s a short teaser of what I’ve been up to since mid-January. I tried to get some hired help but Alex had something else better to do, like focus on school studies or something like that. At least, that’s what I heard.

Luckily, I have my trusted assistant, ProvoCraft’s Cricut Cake Machine to do all the hard work for me.

Soon-to-be Pocket Cards

M&K Monogram Wedding Invitations

Soon-to-be Belly Bands

Full post coming shortly once I assemble the whole wedding invitation set.