Easy Halloween Party Ideas: Carve Your Own Pumpkin People!

We did these pumpkin people last year and they got such rave reviews, we're repeating them for you this year. It's a great family project and a great way to spend an afternoon. Pumpkins are pretty inexpensive this year so you can make a couple of these for your front entry. Be sure to freeze the flesh for pies, soups, and more fall favorites.

Here's how:

You'll need three pumpkins in graduated sizes and a dowel, broomstick, stake, or piece of pipe or PVC for each pumpkin person plus "accessories" to dress them up. First, carve your favorite pumpkin face. Next, stack up your pumpkins to see how they fit together naturally. Next, drill a hole in the top of the bottom pumpkin and insert the dowel until it hits the bottom. Drill a hole in the top and bottom of the middle pumpkin and thread it onto the dowel. Last, drill a hole in the bottom of your carved pumpkin (the face) and place it on the top. Decorate with buttons, flowers, a hat, etc. FYI- I just made some of these and cheated a little and used carpet tape to stick the pumpkins together since I didn't have a drill handy and it worked great. For more unique pumpkin carving ideas, check out with all kinds of decorating ideas. Some don't even require carving. More Halloween ideas for decorating, costumes, and menus all week! Stay tuned!

Martie Knows Parties Debuts on MyRecipes.com Home Page!

Martie Throws an Asian BBQ on MyRecipes.comWe've already given you a sneak preview but today we made the big time! We are right on the front page of MyRecipes.com! Please show us some love and check it out. It's a new twist on the backyard BBQ and while it may be a little chilly out, this is a menu and party plan you can easily bring right indoors. The orange color scheme makes it great for this time of year, too.

Martie Knows Parties on MyRecipes.comis a new feature. If you like this party plan, please Facebook, Twitter, email, or share it in some way. There is a tool bar with options for sharing right on the page.

Candy Apples from MyRecipes.comWhile you are there, here's a great Halloween party recipe from their site. Look at these fabulous and fun candy apples! The kids will love them--- and they are great gifts for friends and co-workers, too. Here's the 411 so you can make these yourself.

A little shout out to my new BFF's at MyRecipes.com: Thanks Jason, Anne, Ashley, Leigh, Michael and the whole production team! I truly love the features and tools found MyRecipes.com and am so excited about our plans. Can't wait to share it all with our MKP readers!

Many of you are headed to the pumpkin patch this weekend to get your gourds for the big day--- Halloween is only 15 days away! Fun party ideas and pumpkin carving tips coming next week!

Girls' Night Party Ideas: Host a Retro Roller Skating Party!

A week or so ago, we were in the process of celebrating Arden's 30th birthday week (Arden does most of our photography) and part of that celebration was a throwback birthday party at the local roller skating rink. We had such a great time! If you're looking for something fun and different to do for your next girls get-together, dust off your pom-poms, break out your striped knee socks, and get ready for some old-school fun that will have you laughing (sore and bruised) for weeks to come! Here's the party plan:

Call your local roller rink to find out what the restrictions are for a party. Some will allow you to hold your party during public skate times, others will require that you book a private party for your group. This usually depends on how many you have in your group.

Arden and Martie--- on wheels!Some rinks allow you to bring in food or cake. Others don't. If they allow food, take something that does not have to be served hot. Gourmet sandwiches, wraps, chips, salsa, or a delish cheese board would be easy to do. If not, meet for a pre-party party before you head to the rink. Our roller rink did not allow us to bring in our own food but we did get to bring in cupcakes and gift bags for everyone containing stuff from back when: Charms' Blow Pops, Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers ( the huge ones) and original Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum! I remember when that was all you needed to get a boy to ask you to go steady or at least couple's skate:)

If your crowd hasn't skated in a while, be sure and add a package of Advil and some Icy Hot in each guest's gift bag! 

Need other ideas for a girl's night out party? Why not try one of these great party themes?

Guilty Pleasure Party

Spa Party

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Game Day Grub: Martie's Best Ever "Steakhouse" Steaks with Herb Butter

Instant Replay! I had several requests this week for a good steak recipe and also for a game day recipe for a house full of men. This one can fill the bill---so here's a repeat performance of my Best Ever Steakhouse Steaks with Herb Butter. No grilling and no fire necessary! A good cast iron skillet is very important but any skillet you can put in the oven will work. Have a great weekend!

Martie's Steakhouse Steak

Steak of your choice

Kosher Salt

Fresh cracked pepper

Butter- 2 tablespoons for the skillet and 1/4 cup for the herb butter

Olive oil- about two tablespoons

Fresh finely chopped herbs of your choice--- basil or rosemary both work well-- chives are stronger but also nice. About a tablespoon is all you need but that's up to you if you want more--- add more.

For the herb butter, place 1/4 cup butter at room temp in a small bowl and use a fork to sort of mash and whip it until soft. Add your finely chopped herbs and mix well. Line a small ramekin or bowl with plastic wrap and spoon the butter mixture into it. Wrap the plastic over the butter and chill well. You can unmold this when you are ready to use it.

Get the cut of meat you like. I got a nice thick porterhouse--- but any steak cut will do for this recipe. Also, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. You will have to vary your cooking time based on the degree of doneness you want for your steak.

Let a large cast iron skillet begin to heat over low flame. Add a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of good olive oil to the pan and let them melt together. You may need more depending on the size of your pan.

Season both sides of the steak really well with salt and pepper.

When the butter is melted-- it burns easily so watch out---and the pan is hot, put in your steak and sear it well on both sides. Do not pick up the steak or move it around. Let it caramelize on one side before turning it--- about 3 minutes per side depending on the heat and the size of your steak. After you've seared the steak on both sides, carefully move it to your oven. I like my steak medium so I cook it in the oven for about 6 or 7 minutes or until the meat thermometer reaches about 140-145 degrees. Rare is about 120-125 degrees and medium rare about 130-135 degrees. 

After the steak has been in the oven for about 3-4 minutes, open the door and put a large slice of the herb butter on top of the steak-- it will melt down over the steak and add a wonderful flavor during the last minutes of cooking. Serve the remaining herb butter on the side or with the potatoes. Soooo good-- this is my favorite way to cook a steak. And no grilling required.

Martie Party Fun: Alabama Moon Movie Premier Party

It's been a week since the stars fell on Alabama as the producers, cast, crew, and friends blew into Birmingham for the annual Sidewalk Film Festival and the world premier of Alabama Moon. Based on the book by Alabama native Watt Key, the film is good old-fashioned fun for kids and adults alike. Actors John Goodman (The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, O Brother Where Art Thou, The Babe, many others), Clint Howard (Frost/Nixon,, Cinderella Man), and several really talented kids along with beautiful cinematography and a big movie soundtrack make Alabama Moon feel like a large budget movie.

The party started on Thursday and really kicked into high gear when record crowds jammed screenings at the beautifully restored Alabama Theater. Parties were everywhere Friday as the entire world tried to cram into the Redmont Hotel's big rooftop bash. On Saturday, the cast and crew were treated to a private dinner party at James Beard award winner Frank Stitt's Bottega Restaurant where I got a chance to meet the cast.  

Alabama Moon won the festival's Audience Choice award for favorite film. Congratulations to my friends Kenny McLean and Lee Faulkner of Faulkner McLean Entertainment for not only managing to get their lovely little movie to the theater, but for producing such a quality, family friendly film that is a throwback to the movies I used to love as a kid. Check out the images in my photo gallery and read more about Alabama Moon and the Alabama Sidewalk Film Festival.

Love movies? Why not host your own movie night party?! Kids, adults, families, date night, neighborhood parties, etc: change the movie, change the movie and you can make this party work for almost any occasion. View our movie night photo gallery for ideas!

Update on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 11:35PM by Martie Duncan

Many of you have asked me how you can see Alabama Moon since this post so I wanted to let you know that the website for the movie is up and you can see the trailer, read about the cast & crew, and find out more about this wonderful book and the film by Faulkner McLean Entertainment. 

For those in Austin, Alabama Moon is showing at the Austin Film Festival on October 25, 2009.

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ALABAMA MOON