Witches Retreat

Brew up an awesome Witches’ Retreat evening for some much needed relaxation and wicked fun!

Witches Retreat

October is finally here and isn’t it time to plan some much needed relaxation before the hectic holiday season hits? I have a friend who is pregnant with swollen ankles, poor girl! My first thought was a fun girls spa night in, but when my mind is in party mode, the ideas start flowing. I then thought why not a Witches Night Out get together, since of course it’s that time of year. I’m all for condensing and accomplishing two things at once, and thought about combining two party ideas together.

Well, this is why Heidi is my party planning partner in crime, because I can describe a few of my ideas to her, and she can complete my vision instantly.

Love that girl!

What about a Witches Retreat? Oh man, that’s exactly what I was trying to come up with all night! So there you have it…a wickedly fun witches night in with brewing batches of potions and spells for some much needed relaxation, pregnant or not!

Invite

Black and white became my theme but I decided to throw in a witchy color…LIME GREEN!

All Witches Welcome

My daughter is going to be a witch this Halloween, so we took a trip to the creek and attempted to make a broom stick. Well, I think these broomsticks turned out pretty good and were also a fun set up for my Witches Retreat entrance.

This black crow was a friendly greeter to all those witches’ in the neighborhood.

I kept with my black and white theme and spray painted my pumpkins.

A simple black frame became my witch’y’ greeting for my guests to enter as they arrived!

 Gone Batty

A simple stencil I found online added that extra spook to my party. I used about 6 sheets of black paper to create these flying bats for my front door, centerpiece, and throughout my house!

 A Party Rerun

I thought it was time to redo one of our Gala Gal parties! Why not when all the party planning has been done for you! Heidi hosted a very cute and simple Witches Night Out last year for her girly friends so I thought I’d use all her ideas to add to my own… No party planning for me… well just a little. I couldn’t help it! Here’s a link to Heidi’s Witches Night Out Party and where I got all those yummy recipes and treats ideas.

The Witches Abode

I have to say the best part for me about throwing parties is the prep work. I love transforming my everyday living space into the party theme.

Since I have a stash of Halloween party supplies, I was very happy when I dug into my Halloween bin. The only shopping I had to do was at the grocery store and even then, most of the ingredients were on hand…my kinda party!

Center Piece

A recycled oatmeal canister became my centerpiece. I used this for my Nightmare before Christmas Party and since black and white were my theme colors, I used it again and just replaced a green ribbon instead to match my theme. Oh, and I added some of those spooky bats too.

Table Setting

Every year I find some fun after Halloween discounts! These black and white plates were a perfect fit for my table setting.

Heidi and her fancy scrapbook supplies helped me make these perfectly elegant rings for my napkins. I used skull rings and just painted on black to stand out.

Don’t these cupcakes make you giggle! What a cute idea to add to my table setting.

Brewing Station

I dug through my kitchen cabinets and pulled out all sorts of vases and cups to make up my witches’ brewing corner. Since this was a girls night out, I decided to use a few practical and funny spells and charms!

Here is what us witches brewed up with all the leftover candy apple syrup.

Peppy Potions

Now this was my initial reason for planning a party! Our neighborhood friend is pregnant with swollen ankles and all that ‘fun’ stuff that comes with pregnancy. So what better way to make her feel better than to pamper her with some spa treatments…right? Well I threw this together in a jiffy!

I used two black table clothes to create a drape and had some fun with my ‘Peppy Potions’ banner.  We can all use some extra ‘pep’ in our life now and then.

I got creative and used newspaper for my square letters banner.

I set out a variety of lotions and nail polishes for some girls night in fun! So whoever was up for a foot or hand soak, it was available.

 Spooky Serving Area

No need to bring out an extra table when you can use your kitchen counters. Use what you already have to add levels for even more space. Like your toaster or daughters Easy Bake oven. I draped over a spooky looking cloth over the area along with some purple lights.

I’m lovin’ my napkin rings!

 A Brewing Pot of Sizzling Soup

Basil Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches sounded so good for a cool October evening! A simple dinner yet very filling, especially when you want to leave room for all those wickedly yummy treats!

You can serve your soup in a cast iron skillet just like Heidi did at her party, the perfect witches cauldron! Even try adding a creamy spiderweb design… She’s fancy like that!

Basil Tomato Soup

2 (28 oz cans) crushed tomatoes

1 (14.5 oz) can Chicken Broth

18 fresh basil leaves

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup butter or margarine

In a large saucepan, bring the tomatoes and broth to a boil. Reduce heat, cover ad simmer for 10 minutes. Add basil. Reduce heat to low and stir in cream and butter. Cook until butter is melted.

The Witches’ Brew

Of course you need a GREEN drink! This one was super easy and got some good compliments.

1 quart lime sherbet, slightly softened

1 can (12oz) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed

1 bottle (1 liter) ginger ale, about 4 1/2 cups, chilled

In a punch bowl mix sherbet, limeade and ginger ale..that’s it!

No Tricks…Just Awesome Treats!

Hats

These witches’ hats were made up in no time. All you need are the Keebler Chocolate Striped cookies, Hersey’s Kisses and some frosting!

Broomsticks

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 tbls cream or milk

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

20 pretzel rods

2 tsp butter

2/3 cup semisweet Chocolate Chips

1/3 cup White Chocolate Chips

Heat over to 350 degrees. Mix brown sugar, butter, cream and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir in flour and salt. Shape dough into 20 1 in. balls. Place pretzel rods on ungreased cookie sheet. Press ball of dough onto the end of each pretzel rod. press dough with a fork to resemble ‘bristles’ of a broom. Bake 12 minutes or until set. Remove and cool on wire rack. Heat butter and chocolate chips over low heat stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. remove from heat  and spoon melted chocolate over brooms where cookies and pretzel rod meet. Then drizzle with melted white chocolate

  Witch Fingers

This shortbread cookie was a keeper for me!

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla and stir. Gradually add flour while mixing. With your hands form a ball. Now just form your fingers with small pieces of dough and roll out like a snake then bunch up for the knuckles. Add your almond and remember to use a knife to add those creases for the the knuckles. Bake for 9 – 11 minutes at 350 degrees. I used a few drops of black food coloring in water to brush over the knuckle area to give it a more realistic look.

Mini Cupcakes

Just bake your favorite mini cupcake and use pixie sticks to create those witches’ legs. I free handed the boots, but I’m sure there’s a pattern online you could use.

My silly girl loves taking pictures.

Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce

I got this witch stencil online and simply drizzled powdered sugar over my cake.

Raspberry sauce is oh, so yummy over chocolate cake!

Doesn’t it look good!?

My friend Wendy created a watermelon brain….pretty creative!

I loved Ginger’s idea on filling apples with caramel dip. I first thought they were eyes…but she referred to them as something else. We won’t go there!

 Poison Apples…A Fun Party Favor!

Candy apples seem to be a tradition during this time of year so since apples are plenty on my side of town they became a fun party favor my guests could take home and share with the family… or not!

Now, I have to tell you that I got this recipe from Martha Stewart. They look super good but honestly they were super sticky on the teeth! So to all my guests who sat for hours at home trying to get the candy off their teeth… thank Martha Stewart. She does get credit for presentation though!

Thanks Girls!

Love these Witches’! They make all the party prep worth every minute!

Happy Halloween