Showing posts with label #Autumn_Noel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Autumn_Noel. Show all posts

The terms “terror,” “terrible,” and “terrific,” are rooted in the Indo-European base ters- / tres- (to shake), according to the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology.

We won't ask you to quake in fear, maybe just shake your booty a little ;)

Come on in.. we've been waiting all night to party with you!










The winners of the Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends Tea Giveaways are:

1. Joe Beamon
2. Paula J.


Today's Blogger: Autumn Noel



An Old Fashioned Halloween in a Modern Day world

My girls and I, (ages one, three and thirty, because I know my age is just as important to you, I’m sure!) frequent the local craft stores in late July. We like to spy the Halloween and Fall items that slowly make their way onto the shelves, and dream of cooler days to come.

From the moment the first jack-o’-lantern hits the display, I start planning how I will make this the best Halloween ever, full of activities and crafts, baking and field trips. My mind starts spinning, and I am dizzy with excitement. WHERE WILL I START!? I race home to get everyone set up to start my planning… snacks for the girls and some Caillou on Netflix (shoot me, my ears!) and an iced coffee and Pinterest for me! My home page immediately pulls up a mixture of toddler crafts, Halloween items and I am sucked in. 

“Mama…” I hear, but I don’t respond. “Mama..?” I hear again. “In a minute…!”  I respond. Five or so minutes later, I notice my three year old has wandered over to her art table. I sneak up behind her to see what she has created. She turns around beaming “See Mama!! Pumpkin! Like at da store!” My stomach does a little guilty flip.
#motherhoodfail

I think for a moment, scoop up the baby and ask my toddler to follow me to the TV. We dig out some old home movies, and for the rest of the afternoon watch Halloween circa 1985-1990 something. Homemade costumes and school festivals, good old fashioned trick or treating, costume parties, carving pumpkins, homemade cookies with flour dusted on our noses, preschool songs, and proud parents, family.

no iphones
no pinterest
no facebook
no instagram

I of course, very much love these four things listed above, or I wouldn’t be writing for the Samhain’s Sirens. I also, find it easy to become addicted to these things as well. My goal for this fall, this Samhain season, is to give my girls an old fashioned Halloween and live in the moment with them, while being internet minimal.  With Samhain being the witch’s New Year, I find it fitting to set a positive intention; mine being to live slow and simple, to live present.

I hope this Samhain season brings you many happy jack-o-lantern faces, candy corn, autumn walks, pumpkin spiced lattes and memories posted to instagram.
…after the kids are in bed J

Brightest Autumnal Blessings

-Autumn Noel 




The Siren's Song with Jennifer Rasmussen

The writing's on the wall!!

Superstition by Stevie Wonder







Today's Recipe: Pumpkin Pancakes


I love making breakfast for my family. Especially in the autumn and winter.  There is something about a wonderful, warm family breakfast on Sunday mornings especially.  We slow down and enjoy each other’s company without having to rush off to be to work or wherever.  These pancakes just scream fall!  Give them a try!

Pumpkin Pancakes
3 cups cake flour
3 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
2 eggs
3 tsps vanilla extract
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 3/4 cups milk
Butter and syrup of course!

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and stir together.
In a separate bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and milk.  Whisk until combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until they just are combined. 
Place butter on a hot griddle, and pour 1/4-1/2  cupful of the batter onto the griddle.  Turn when bubbles start to form. Cook to golden brown.

Serve with butter and syrup. 
*Try sprinkling a little cinnamon/sugar on these too…yummy!! Or serve with cinnamon apples!
*Makes 12-15 pancakes

A great way to start your Autumn day!  Enjoy!
Blessings and Love,
Autumn

Autumn Earthsong is back for the 3rd year as our resident Kitchen Witch. You may have seen her recipes in Imramma Magazine and The SundayStew as well.  Autumn has been a practicing Witch for 17 years and hails from Ohio. She is a wife, mother of two, and Nana to three busy little grandchildren.  Samhain is a favorite time of year for her….with her name indicating what Season she loves!  Cooking for family and friends this time of year is also a joy…..Especially this time of year!   Hearth, Fire, love of family and good food is how She brings Magick to her home.   You can also find her blogging at www.autumnearthsong.com.   She looks forward to sharing her recipes with you all and hopes that you have a very Blessed Samhain Season!


Stones and Crystals with Jennifer Hodgson

Garnet

Garnet comes in 7 different colors, red, pink, green, orange, yellow, brown, and black. This is a very common stone and can be found worldwide.
Garnet is a great metabolism stone and is also very useful to have with you during a crisis. 
Square cut garnets are best when dealing with business matters and will help bring success.
Garnet helps to remove taboos and opens up the heart and helps with self-confidence. Garnet also not only inspires love but also devotion. This stone will also help to balance your sex drive. Also considered to be a commitment stone. 
Red Garnet also helps to control anger towards oneself.


We have two giveaways today. You are welcome to enter either one or both. Please be sure you specify if you are only entering one or the other. Thank you!

Today's Giveaway #1: Leave Them in Stitches


This is a pumpkin hat and diaper cover made with acrylic yarn (least likely for sensitive skin to react to). The diaper cover is adjustable and has adorable little pumpkin buttons for fastening. 
Size? 3-6 mos

This item retails for $40.00



Here's how to enter: (Canadians, skip this part and go to your section)

Like/Get Notifications on the Leave Them In Stitches Facebook page . Come back, comment on this blog post and tell us that you did.

Remember to add your email address to the page (if you don't want to post it publicly, simply send it via the contact form at the top of the page).

Want extra entries??

1. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your tweet.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your blog post.

4. Follow Samhain's Sirens on Facebook. Comment, and let us know you did (if you're already following, just comment and say so!)

5. Follow this blog so you'll be in on all of the fabulous fun throughout October! Comment here that you did.

That gives you 6 chances to win this fabulous prize!

CANADIANS LOOK HERE!

Canadians, your country requires that you answer questions instead of participating the American way ;) So, we're bringing you some good old-fashioned trivia about your country this year. Answer the question correctly in comments (don't forget to put your email address in the comment!) and you'll be given 6 entries in the giveaway!

Here's your question:

What is Canada's national sport?
a) Hockey
b) Lacrosse
c) Curling
d) None of the above
e) Both a and b



This giveaway is open until 9pm EDT tonight. Winner will be announced tomorrow morning at 9am EDT. Remember, we have to notify the winner in email first, so those email addresses are critical for you to qualify for the giveaway!

Good luck everyone!




Giveaway # 2 from Ravenfeather Glass Creations: God and Goddess Decor



The set includes the Horned God and a Raven Feather original design of a Triple Moon Goddess. Retail value $30

The Horned God measures 4.5" H x 3" W
Triple Moon Goddess measures 6.5" H x 6" W
Both come with a suction cup for hanging in the window.

Here at Raven Feather Glass Creations I pride myself in creating each piece using the original L.C. Tiffany technique. I cut each piece of glass by hand, the edges are then ground to accept copper foil and the piece is soldered together. I finish by polishing it to make the solder shine. Please don't clean with a window cleaner--just a damp cloth.


Good luck and thank you for participating from Raven Feather Glass!


Here's how to enter: (Canadians, skip this part and go to your section)

Like/Get Notifications on the Raven Feather Glass Creations Facebook page . Come back, comment on this blog post and tell us that you did.

Remember to add your email address to the page (if you don't want to post it publicly, simply send it via the contact form at the top of the page).

Want extra entries??

1. Go to the Raven Feather Glass Creations etsy shop. Come back and tell us about your favorite piece.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your tweet.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your blog post.

4. Follow Samhain's Sirens on Facebook. Comment, and let us know you did (if you're already following, just comment and say so!)

5. Follow this blog so you'll be in on all of the fabulous fun throughout October! Comment here that you did.

That gives you 6 chances to win this fabulous prize!

CANADIANS: LOOK HERE!
Canadians, your country requires that you answer questions instead of participating the American way ;) So, we're bringing you some good old-fashioned trivia about your country this year. Answer the question correctly in comments (don't forget to put your email address in the comment!) and you'll be given 6 entries in the giveaway!

Here's your question:

What is 1+1 ?

This giveaway is open until 9pm EDT tonight. Winner will be announced tomorrow  at 9am EDT. Remember, we have to notify the winner in email first, so those email addresses are critical for you to qualify for the giveaway!

Good luck everyone!


Today is our first Fearless Friday of the Siren's October Extravaganza. We'll have our Crafty Sirens helping you today to prepare for Samhain in a creative way.

We also take each Friday to honor a Pagan who has passed through the veil into the Otherworld (Summerlands, however you see the "after life") through our Forget-Me-Not Friday series. On October 31 this year, we'll be featuring all of your forget-me-nots, so please be sure to send in your tributes to Serena no later than Thursday, October 23.

Tomorrow, we'll have our Craftacular Saturday with Sosanna. Sunday is our Sunday Stew over at Imramma.com. Have a wonderful weekend!


The Winner of yesterday's giveaway from Sandi's Enchanted Garden is....

Paula Lupi!

Remember, every one of your entries is going toward the grand prize at the end of this month!



Forget Me Not Friday

by Kallan Kennedy
Today's tribute is to Margot Adler.
Margot Susanna Adler (April 16, 1946 – July 28, 2014) was an American author, journalist, lecturer, Wiccan priestess, radio journalist and New York correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Adler grew up mostly in New York City. Her grandfather, Alfred Adler, was a noted Austrian Jewish psychotherapist, collaborator with Sigmund Freud and the founder of the school of individual psychology. Adler authored Drawing Down the Moon,a 1979 book about Neopaganism which was revised in 2006.The book is considered a watershed in American Neopagan circles, as it provided the first comprehensive look at modern nature-based religions in the US. For many years it was the only introductory work about the American Neopagan communities.

Her second book, Heretic's Heart: A Journey Through Spirit and Revolution, was published by Beacon Press in 1997. Adler was a Wiccan priestess in the Gardnerian tradition, an elder in the Covenant of the Goddess, and she also participated in the Unitarian Universalist faith community.

Margot was a genuinely kind person. I had the opportunity to interact with her on Facebook for several years. Once, when I was starting a new walking regime, she encouraged me to keep going, as she had to walk 5 miles a day to keep her weight down. Another time, she discovered that I was going to be traveling to Manhattan for a business trip, and invited me to meet her for dinner. Unfortunately, I was unable to make that dinner, as my train left too early. She was always interested in making human connections like that. So many tributes have been made to her this year, and there are so many stories just like mine. She was a truly lovely person and we honor her spirit today.











It is day three and we are just getting started! I have so many fantastic songs for you. Today’s song is from one of my favorite female artists, Siouxsie Sioux.






with D.J. Martin
It’s Friday & the 5 o’clock whistle is blowing somewhere!  Let’s start with a little something to get you into the Samhain/Hallowe’en mood, shall we?
Ghostbuster
1 ounce peach schnapps
1 ounce melon liqueur
3-5 drops Irish Cream

The instructions: Shake schnapps & liqueur with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass & add the Irish Cream drop-by-drop into the center of the glass.

Notes: As you might expect, it’s rather fruity but the Irish Cream gives it a bite. It tastes less disgusting than it looks – and it gets more disgusting-looking the longer it sits because the Irish Cream starts dispersing through the liquor.




Halloween Garland
By Autumn Noel
I love to involve my little one in decorating for the holidays and Sabbats, but at age two, there is only so much she can do! Here I have shown you how to make a Halloween/Samhain garland to use as decoration in your home, centered around the help of a toddler. Crafts like these usually end up decorating my little ones bedroom because let’s be honest…it isn’t the most beautiful thing in the world since it is constructed in part by a toddler. However she is very proud of her artwork, I am proud of her paint brush skills and it is a fun way to have her be involved in the festiveness of the Sabbat.

Materials:
Construction paper or cardstock in Halloween colors (I used orange, purple and green)
Washable paints in Halloween colors (I used black, purple and orange)
Paint Brushes
Lots of baby wipes!!
Stencils of Halloween shapes (I just goggled witch hat, ghost and pumpkin)
Scissors
Hole punch
Ribbon in a Halloween color (I used lime green, because it’s I what I had laying around my house!)
A little one to help

Steps:
1.) Have your little one paint an assortment of construction papers/cardstock in washable paints.  I used purple paint on green paper, black paint on orange paper and orange paint of purple paper. We painted from her highchair, where we could easily clean up the mess with babywipes.

Photo Credit - Autumn Noel 


2.) Hang the construction paper/cardstock to dry over night.

Photo Credit - Autumn Noel 

3.) Find the stencils you wish to use… I Googled for images and used what I found online. 

Photo Credit - Autumn Noel 


4.) Trace your stencils onto the now dried painting, and cut them out.

Photo Credit - Autumn Noel 


5.) Hole punch two holes into each stenciled painting, set up a pattern to your liking and string the paintings onto your ribbon. 

Photo Credit - Autumn Noel 


6.) Hang the garland for your little one to admire all season long (even though you did most of the heavy lifting!) 

Photo Credit - Autumn Noel 
I hope that you have a blessed Samhain; Happy Halloween and Trick or Treat!!
-Autumn Noel 





Today's Giveaway comes from Author and Publisher Sam Curtin

Enter for your chance to win a signed copy of Samantha (Sam) Curtin’s horror novel: Summer’s Hollow. Summer’s Hollow follows 17 year old Rylie Bradford as she comes face to face with her town’s legend; journey with her as she learns the truth about the Pascal legend and their dark past. Prepare yourself for a thrilling ride filled with vengeful spirits, bloody apparitions, and mysterious deaths in the small town of Summer’s Hollow. 

Prize value: $8.00


Rules: (READ CAREFULLY)

YOU MUST PROVIDE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. If you choose not to share it in the comments, please use the contact form at the top of the page to provide your email address. You must provide your email address once per giveaway.

Drawing is held by random number generation and winner will be notified in email (that's why you have to have an email address listed). Announcement will be made on Monday's post.

Note: These giveaways are open to the U.S., Canada and where allowable. Void where prohibited.
Canadian residents, please pay close attention as by law, you have to use a different set of rules. Not to worry, we have you covered :)


CANADIANS READ HERE: You will be given X number of entries for answering the following (remember, we STILL NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS):

What is 2x2?


U.S. Citizens, and others- READ HERE:

1. Go to the Sam Curtin Author Page on Amazon. Peruse her book descriptions and tell us which one you think you'd like best.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (USE SEPARATE COMMENTS. If you throw them all into one comment, it counts as one entry only)

2. Be a follower of this blog. Comment that you are following us.

3. Like the Sirens FB page (come let us know you did in comments)

4. Like Sam's Author FB Page. Let us know you did.

5. Blog about this giveaway (comment with the url for your blog entry)

6. Tweet about this giveaway (come back and give us the url for your tweet)

So, all in all, you get 6 entries for this giveaway! The deadline for entries is midnight eastern time (11 Central, 10 Mountain, 9 Pacific) tonight. Announcement will come on Monday :)

Questions? Email Serena.

See you tomorrow for Craftacular Saturday!