Happy Halloween!

 For Halloween this year we went old school cartoon characters. In fact, so old school that none of the kids knew who we were. A little like the year that Steve and I were Zach Morris and Kelly Kapowski. Here we are as Popeye, Olive Oyl and the cutest can of Spinach. I know that Henry was an inanimate object last year too (thieves and a money bag) but oh well. We were one of the only families to come all dressed up.

 Yes, I made our costumes. Yes, I spent $10. Yes, I love Halloween.

 We went to our ward Trunk or Treat and it was a little disappointing. No one wanted to clean the church so they held it outside in the freezing cold. At least it ended early and only rained for a little bit.

 Here is Henry with his friend Lyla, a cute little rancher/cow girl.

 Picking a duck to win a prize. He won a blow up Halloween ball.

 Steve was one of two adult males to dress up. I had a few women ask me how I got Steve to participate. The answer is simple: I asked him. Later in the car on the way home, I asked Steve why he was so willing. He said, "I know it is important to you and I love you so I do it. You do things for me that I want you to." Good man.

 For our costumes:
Me as Olive Oyl: Mine was the easiest to put together. I found the navy skirt and red shirt at a thrift store. I used fabric scraps to add the cuffs and collar and took the skirt in a little bit. To make my hair stick out I used a complicated combination of hair bands and metal hair twists.
Steve as Popeye: We found navy pants and the blue shirt at a thrift store. I made the sailor hat from scrap fabric as well as the red and black sailor collar. His muscles are just scrap quilt batting taped into shape and covered with tan fabric and two pairs of knee high stockings. I should have made them bigger as they kind of look like casts. At least they were warm!
Henry as the Spinach: Since this is pretty much a made up costume I wanted to make it really special. I made the label after looking online at a couple of spinach can images. Its all felt I had except for the bright green and grey. I simply measured around his body adding a few inches, I measured from his knees to his chin and using a little geometry I figured out what size cylinder I would need. I obviously had too much fun making the label. Steve kept reminding me it was only for one night but I couldn't help myself. His little spinach hat is just circles of felt with spikes of green sewn on top. I was kind of surprised he wore the hat all evening. We practiced all week at home and he wouldn't wear it for more than a minute.

Simple Idea: Fall Card w/Banner

Around this time of year, my craftiness goes into overdrive and I start really going crazy. Even for me. So I saw these cute ghost foot prints on pinterest and mentally bookmarked them as something I had to do with Henry this year. 

Now a similar idea was brought to my attention this summer. Cute red lobster feet and hand prints. I was going to make these really awesome cards with pictures of Henry at the beach and then send with the footprints. I got everything set up. The table was covered in trash bags. My sponge brush was primed with red acrylic, the tub was full of frothy warm water and Henry was stripped down to a diaper. I had Steve hold him while I painted his little foot red. I thought I could just get him to stand on a piece of paper. Nope. He kicked his legs and protested with all his might. Thinking it was hilarious. We abandoned the foot and then tried the hand. He liked the brush as it painted him red but instead of willingly opening his hand to press it to the paper, his fist closed tight on the paint, squeezing it through his fingers. We wrestled, Steve holding him tight and me trying to pry his fingers apart. In the end, Henry ended up in the tub producing merely smudgy nothings on a lot of wasted paper.

 This time we were prepared. Henry in his booster seat happily eating cheerios while watching tv with us kneeling beneath him. He had no idea it was even happening. Success. Know your child. So my cute holiday card came to fruition at last. Henry ghost feet with pumpkin patch snap shots and a mini "Fall" banner.

 I simply punched a hole in each side of the card before I glued the photos in place. Tiny bunting is hot glued to string and then tied into place.

 These have happily made their way to grandma's and nana's homes. And the perfect black one will be framed hopefully the start of a series of these to be completed each year. We'll see if that happens.

Henry: 22 months

 Henry these days is awesome. I love this stage of childhood. He is becoming so fun to interact with and he is so smart it amazes me sometimes. He is busy busy busy and just absorbing knowledge left and right.

Here are some of the things he is up to these days:

• He is starting to really react to story time and tv shows. He can sometimes follow along with Diego repeating back to him animal sounds. The other day I was emptying the dishwasher and he was singing "ee, ee" to match the dolphin sounds. There was also an episode of Dora where some giant was missing his dog and the tone was really sad. Henry totally started crying.
• And while his talking isn't really coming along too quickly he is getting better at letting us know what he wants. For example: binkie, blankie and cookie are all "key" and he shouts and points when he feels he needs one or the other. 
• New words: apple=abba, doggy=og, baby=bebe, cookie=key, bear=bear, bird=bir
• Henry now weighs 25 lbs 14 oz, is 32.5 inches tall and has a 50 cm head
• He loves apples. I personally don't love apples so we haven't exposed him to many yet but now he eats them every day and loves them.
• He likes to hide in the curtains and pop out shouting "Boo!"
• He also likes when we count 1-2-3 and then he yells "Go!"
• When he runs around the house or pushes cars on the floor or rides in the cart, he sometimes says "go, go, go, beep, beep, beep"
• He has no problem throwing mini tantrums, most of which I just ignore because they end in 30 seconds or less.
• He really likes to hang out with me while I put on makeup. I give him some smaller containers to play with and he lines them up on the floor. The more sparkle the better.

 

 All ready for a haircut! Look at that mop top

 Yes, I love wearing mommy's bracelets. Don't tell Daddy.

 

Just opening a cool Halloween gift from Nana.

 

 This was one evening where he insisted on going to bed with not only two blankies but also two binkies and he is crying because he couldn't also have a cookie.

Look at all those teeth!

He continues to be such a joy in our lives even when he is a stinker! At least he is a cute stinker.

Toothbrush

 

 Since Henry didn't get any teeth until pretty late in the game (16 months?) we have been kind of slacking on the dental hygiene. Well he has started being interested in what we do when we brush our teeth so I figured it was time to be a better mom.

Prepping the brush. Thanks Dad, I'll take it from here.

 He was really interested in the flavor, Tooty Fruity!

 What is this, after every meal? Really he was looking at Thomas the Train. Since the first brush every time he goes into the bathroom he points and yells at his toothbrush. So it was a success.

 I love brushing my teeth! Well I love sucking on my brush after mommy brushes my teeth for me.

Doesn't it look like he is playing a flute?

Revamping the blog

I put some new buttons on my side bar.
 
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Super fancy.

They will take you to either recipes, our adventures or my refashions. I have been trying to update all my labeling and this new interface has motivated me to do it.

Stay tuned for a blog about Henry.

Coconut Dyed Orange? Yes please.

Is anyone else white trash enough to love Sno Balls? I live for this time of year because they think by dyeing the coconut orange they are all of a sudden Halloween-ish. But who am I to judge? I am the one who bought them and totally enjoyed consuming them.

Refashions: Denim Skirt & Skinnies

This skirt was a whole lot of country and zero rock n roll-but it was only $1. $1!!! I found it last year at the ReStore. Of course, there are no dressing rooms there so I crossed my fingers that I could make it work. I didn't have a denim skirt and thought my wardrobe could seriously benefit from one.
Well, as you would expect the waistband of thick elastic and denim is not flattering. At all. Not even with a wide belt. So it sat untouched for months. Finally as boots weather is approaching, I put it on the top of the list.

So I cut the entire waistband off just below the elastic and threw it away. Then I decided I would add a zipper to the back seam. I took in both sides, put in the zipper-I think it has been about 5 years since I did this and it isn't perfect but it is tolerable. Maybe I should practice my zipper skills. I also sewed the pockets closed and cut out the inside pocket to reduce bulkiness. To finish off the top, I added a lining made from some scrap denim I got from Steve's jeans when making those floor cushions. A few minutes of hand sewing to tack the lining down and done.
I wanted to keep some of the "country" detailing like the stitching on the front. All ready for boots!

Cutting out the existing elastic waistband and adding a zipper is a simple way to refashion a skirt if you love the fabric but hate the fit. I have found that often older skirts with elastic just are not cut in a flattering way so this technique combines the best of both worlds.

And now easy as pie skinny jeans. I already kind of posted about this here but thought I would share some pictures and tips. Another really good tutorial I found after the fact can be found here. 

Making skinny jeans is really easy and all you need is a pair of jeans and a sewing machine. I liked how my jeans fit in the thigh area so I just took mine in from the knees down. The other tutorial shows how to do the whole leg.

Put on your jeans and see how much you will need to take in. You will be sewing on the seam that does NOT have the top stitching. You can either put them on inside out and the pin them or just guess like I did. The first one I did perfectly on my first try, the second leg I couldn't even get my foot through the bottom so I had to try again.

Once the legs are tapered to the desired effect you can either immediately trim the extra fabric away or like me, wear them with the extra still inside until you gather enough confidence to really commit. I have since trimmed the extra off. No going back now! My next try might be colored skinnies. RIT Dye here I come!

Simple Idea: Ceiling Fan Clean

I hope you guys had a great weekend. We went to a small fall festival in Winterville and Henry got to take his first hayride! Plus see lots of fun rabbits and search through a swimming pool of corn for candy.  Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of well.

In an ideal world there would be no ceiling fans. Personally, I think they are ugly and tacky. From a design point of view, they are just not my cup of tea. That being said. They sure do get the job done and I am grateful for them in our apartment during the sweltering Georgia summer.

Well now that they are no longer necessary and have stopped their perpetual motion, I have something truly disgusting to show you.

Told you. A summer's worth of dust. I hate cleaning fans. Obviously. The dust gets everywhere and I feel like I am doing more damage than good.

 Pinterest to save the day, yet again. Simply take a pillow case, place over the fan blade.

 And wipe all the dust off into the case. Repeat and no more huge dust clumps falling all over the place.

Go outside and shake the pillow case out. Accidentally because of the wind shaking dust all over your neighbors deck below. Oh well.

Pumpkin Picking

Last night we went to a local church to pick out pumpkins in a patch made of palettes. Better than the boxes at walmart and less muddy than a real patch. While Steve and I browsed, Henry ran around delightedly, climbing on some, licking others but always having a good time not looking at the camera. Can't wait to carve them!

Eaten: Lemon Crinkle Cookies

 

Last night we had a girls craft night at my house and it was so much fun. Not only do I love crafting and my girls but combine them and it is sure to be an enjoyable evening. There is something about creating with other women that is such a positive experience. I love Steve and all but he hardly gets as excited about my new creations as I would like him to. That is why craft nights are the best. 

Since I hosted I wanted to provide a treat. I searched pinterest for something yummy and new to make. These lemon cookies caught my eye and HELLO! they are amazing. So simple and soft but with a tiny bit of chewiness. Yum. And they won the LDS Living Magazine Cookie Contest, so not only are they delicious but they are award winners too.  We ate the majority of them during the evening, throwing weight watchers points and good intentions to the wind. This morning I woke up to an empty jar, Steve took the last one to school. You snooze you loose. 

Have yourself a great weekend and make some cookies.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies
by Lauren Brennan
Makes 2-3 dozen

Ingredients:
½ cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice (I used 2 1/2 Tablespoons because that is what I got from half of a large lemon and they were extra zingy)
¼ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoons baking powder
1/8  teaspoons baking soda
1-½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease light colored baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Whip in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and juice. Scrape sides and mix again. Stir in all dry ingredients slowly until just combined, excluding the powdered sugar. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again briefly. Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate. Roll a heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball and roll in powdered sugar. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until bottoms begin to barely brown and cookies look matte {not melty or shiny}. Remove from oven and cool cookies about 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

*If using a non-stick darker baking tray, reduce baking time by about 2 minutes.

Introductions of a Musical Nature

 Henry meet the ipod.

What is this now?  The Cure?

I like it.  

Okay we're done now.

P.S. Good job new interface! I love how big you can get your pictures.