This is Halloween...

It's finally arrived. The night of ghouls and ghosts and zombies and things that go bump in the night is here. And let's not forget the trick or treating. That is my kids' favorite. Well, maybe it's a close tie with dressing up. So, Happy Halloween to everyone! May you enjoy tonight's festivities... whatever it is you decide to do. Stay safe and warm! Here are a few fun activities we did to celebrate the season.

Funtastic Painted Pumpkin Rocks
~gather a few small rocks, some orange and black acrylic paints and your imagination


Day of the Dead Mask
~get your printer ready with some card stock and round up the crayons for this one. click copy and save on the picture of the color-in mask.


Leaf Banner
~you'll need your sewing machine for this one and leaves gathered from your yard, the park or your neighbor's yard. stitch them all together and hang them up!


Creepy Lunch
~a last minute idea... chicken lumpia easily became fingers of troll, aussie bites became lizard and frog toes, blueberries became crow eyes and a package of applesauce became smushed brains. i hope they eat it all!

Thankful Thursday: Deciding NOT to feel sorry for myself

Oh boy! I've been the biggest baby for a couple of weeks now. I've been throwing tantrums and pouting. Basically, I've been a very bad girl. But, today's post won't be about that. Today I'm so thankful for:

1. Reading these questions, "In the limited twenty-four hours of this day, are we showing up? Are we really here? Now? Are we home in the deepest meaning of the word?" Answering them puts it all in perspective. Appreciating Denise Roy for asking these in Momfulness.

2. Taking a break to read and watch Zoe play

3. Brian Selznick's amazing story of Hugo Cabret. I'm reading this with the kids and we are hooked. We love love love the intriguing storyline and all the pencil drawn pictures like this one:


4. Laundry day because that means clean clothes

5. Moments video that reminds of special moments in my life. The quick shots of the newborn babies brought tears to my eyes. They were happy tears.

Moments from Everynone on Vimeo.

Wordless Wednesday: Just Patchy

I tend to sit and think about food

I think about food A LOT. Food is almost the first thing that pops into my head in the morning... what should we eat for breakfast and then what should I make for lunch and if I had a good Sunday, dinner is usually covered, but if not then it's what should I make for dinner. My days revolve around food and I can't tell you how grateful I am for all the awesome food blogs. I wouldn't make it without them. Seriously.

Right now I'm all about The Sneaky Chef. I have a book so I'm not really reading her blog,but check it out. She has some freebie recipes listed.

I found Orangette some time ago and I fell in love with her pictures of food. They are beautiful.

Dinner: A Love Story is a new one for me and I can't wait to try some of her recipes. The blog is a great read as well. We really do have love affairs with food.

Here's another site with beautiful pictures of food. Buns In My Oven looks gourmet but the recipes are easy with nothardtofind ingredients. Love that!

Meal Planning 101 is another fave. This one has weekly dinner menus for you. This is for the dining adventurists. She has a lot of cool, unique dishes.

I would love to know some of your favorite food blog sites. Please share!

Music that takes me away

Over the years so many songs have taken me all over the place. They've taken me to lands only found in my imagination. They've taken me to emotions where I ride higher and higher into the sky. Some have even taken me to the deepest depths where there is no light. Here are a few of the thousands that have done just that.


Carolyn's Fingers by The Cocteau Twins


Follow you into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie


The Shining by Badly Drawn Boy


Sunshine Song by Jason Mraz

I want to learn how to do this

I'm sure most of you have seen the pretty palette pics that are on certain sites. Design-Seeds happens to have some of the prettiest.



I wish I knew how to make my own palettes from some of my own pics. Anyone out there know how and would be willing to teach me? I'd be a good student. I wanted to make a palette from this picture I found online:



Don't these pretzels look absolutely yummy? They are packaged pretty cute as well. I found them over at Baked Perfection. You have to check out her site! All her food creations are simply amazing. It's dessert heaven.

Thankful Thursday: Letting the rain fall

1. Walks down to the creek with Zoe, the pup.

2. The squishy sound of mud underneath my rain boots

3. The green that comes from all the rain we've been getting

4. Long, colorful socks to keep my feet warm and dry

5. Pretty much anything by Bon Iver

Wordless Wednesday: Breaking Through

Have you tried these?

Maybe I'm just a little late in the baked snapea game, but ohmygoodness you can't go wrong with these little bites of heaven. They have just the right amount of crunch and they aren't covering up the veggieness with too much salt. It's a perfect combination. Now only if they sold them in bulk.

Making progress

We had contemplated adding a dog to our lives for some time now. There was always some excuse about it not being the right time. But, when is it ever the right time? I finally asked myself that question and LO AND BEHOLD! we now have a new canine baby.



It's been a journey. Lots of hills, notsomany valleys. Our new pup, Zoe, keeps me on my toes... more than I want to be sometimes. Ha! Most days I would love to just sit and stare at her lovely sleeping face, but she's teaching me about being pro-active and having an agenda and staying on schedule. Yeah, that scheduling thing cannot be messed around with or else you have messes around.

My favorite part is taking a nice walk down to the creek with her. She makes me stop to "smell the roses" although in her case it's more like dead leaves, clovers and blackberry bushes. Taking that time to stop really does allow me time to think about things.

We've only had her about a week and a half, so I'm still learning how to be a "Puppy Mom", but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I hope I am.

Fan-FREAKING-tastic!

It's October and that means all kinds of ghoulish goodies are on the brain. Here are just a few of my favorite Halloween-y looks:

Cart Before The Horse Etsy Shop


Past Pottery Barn Halloween Decor


Some random pic of someone's vintage Halloween decor


Awesome sugar skull gift boxes from Don't Eat The Paste


Fun costumes (Where's Waldo and Wanda?)that bring back memories from 1997

Thankful Thursday: Dreaming good things

1. Sleep. Much needed sleep.

2. Knowing my kids are safe... for today.

3. Puppy eyes that look at you and trust you so deeply.

4. Misty rain that lands on your eyelashes and when you close your eyes the drops gently splash your cheeks.

5. Making a choice to rid toxic relationships from my life.

6. The anticaption of a relaxing, don't-have-to-be-anywhere-except-soccer-so-we-can-do-what-we-want weekend.

7. Planning the week's dinner menu on Sunday and being able to meet today with pan in hand.

8. Hot chai on a cold day.

9. Devouring page after page of a well-written, suspenseful book. Do yourself a favor and read Sarah's Key.

10. A working heater to warm up the house.

Wordless Wednesday: ZOE

“Lentils are friendly—the Miss Congeniality of the bean world.”

I'm a big fan of soups. My kids are notsomuch. Well, I should say my youngest isn't. For dinner we had Lentil Soup courtesy of The Sneaky Chef. My daughter ate up her bowl. I can't divulge the recipe per copywright laws I'm sure, but here's a link to the "sneaky" part you add to the soup: White Puree which is made up of cauliflower and zucchini.
I had heard about The Sneaky Chef a few years ago, but didn't think anything of her until recently. Boy, was I missing out!! I've made a few of her recipes and have been truly pleased. The family liked them as well. I'm a new fan! I do divulge the "sneaky" ingredients once everyone is almost done eating. I just can't seem to keep them a secret for very long.

Halloween!! Only 28 more days to go!

As much as I love Thanksgiving I seem to always associate Fall with Halloween. It's one of my favorite holidays and not just because of the candy. And as I slowly decorate the house I smile because each little knick knack has a story. October means you can be even more silly than usual. You also get to play around with your "dark" side. As the earth around you falls into a slumber your youthful spirit awakens. October lets you "shake out your sillies". It lets you prepare for more indoor activities that come with the cold. The countdown begins...