My uber-creative friend Martie made these adorable and affordable pumpkin people decorations. Visit her blog to learn how to make pumpkin people.
Martie is the party and entertaining expert on MSN, but she’s no Martha Stewart. Her ideas are meant to be affordable and easy for normal people to do. For a recent party, Martie used hollowed out gourds she found at a farm stand as vases and candle-holders. She spent less than $40…but the decorations looked luxe and expensive.
Another affordable idea: line your driveway or the path to your front step with …

When you have children, you make certain sacrifices. And of course when you look into those smiling faces, it is all worthwhile. But when you watch others sipping cosmos at a cocktail party or mint julips on Derby Day, perhaps you feel the slightest bit jealous? And very thirsty…parched even?
When I was pregnant with my first, a couple of other expecting friends and I downed sparkling cider and wished there was a fun recipe book of mocktails for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or just don’t want to overdo the …

 Guests at my baby shower were oowing ahhing over the diaper cake centerpiece from Diaper Cakewalk. I received the Blue Caramel Diaper Cake (pictured), which perfectly coordinated with the blue and chocolate invitations and decorations selected by the shower hosts.
I’ve purchased diaper cakes as presents for other baby showers in the past, so I could recognize the superior quality and attention to detail in the Diaper Cakewalk cake. First, this diaper cake was made entirely of Pampers Swaddlers. Many of the other diaper cakes I’d seen were made of lower quality diapers. Second, this cake was …

Easter is early this year. Even if the weather is chilly, you can still throw a great Easter Egg Hunt Party using these tips from my friend Martie Duncan.
I can’t wait to make the Marshmallow Peeps Cake (check out Martie’s article for more info). What a great decoration.  I know Peeps are unhealthy and full of sugar, but there’s something about those little pink bunnies and yellow chicks that reminds me of springtime! 
For a healthier party snack, try Martie’s peanut butter fluff dip with sliced red and green apples.

Here are some of our favorite places to shop for Halloween!
Click here for a full list of our Halloween Shopping Partners and don’t forget to check out our most recent Halloween Coupons, Promotions, and Deals in Mamanista’s Coupons for discounts and specials at many of these stores.
Halloween Costumes, Accessories, Decorations and More:

HalfPriceCostumes.com (sponsors of our Halloween Costume Contest): Get 10% off & Free Shipping on orders $70+ (hpc10ship); Get 10% off orders $50+ (hpc10)
ExtremeHalloween.com (use exclusive coupon code MAMANISTA for 10% off of $30+)
BuyCostumes.com Save 10% with coupon code: …

Whether you have a room full of little gremlins, or your hosting a slightly older gathering of ghouls, Fun Halloween Games are a great way to break the ice. You get 50 printable Halloween, Harvest, and Thanksgiving games for $17.95 and you can print as many copies as you like. The games include picture matches for the smallest monsters, trivia games that are great for door prizes, word finds and scrambles to challenge older spooky celebrants, and interactive games. You can purchase individual games, such as Which Witch is …