Around the House: [Halloween Mantel]

Oh how I LOVE halloween!!!!

I can't wait for the trick-or-treating and the candy!!!!


Here are some shots and details of our Halloween Mantel.

Details:

A. Same clock from my Fall Mantel

B.  Art we made with the twins [tutorial here]

C. Bowl with the same pumpkins from my  Fall Mantel

D. Items from Michaels $1 bin and Clearance

E. Same sticks from my Fall Mantel just put in once vase

F. THE BATS!!!! My FAVORITE part of this whole Mantel... honestly I wish I could take complete credit but the idea was one I found on Pinterest [the pin], she's got all of the info on her blog so please check it out!

Make it Monday [Tortellini with Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce]

I lied.

In my about me section of this blog I said this blog wasn't going to be about cooking. And for the most part it's not.... BUT I cook all the time [breakfast, lunch & dinner] and I find recipes that I really like, even if I haven't followed them to the T. So I thought I'd start sharing a dish I've tried [or made] from the past week...

So to start here was what we had for dinner last Friday!


We had our dear friend Janelle over since her hubby was out of town on business.

I made this [from FoodNetwork Magazine]

FoodNetwork Magazine Photo

Tortellini with Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce 
[Active: 20 min | Total: 20 min | Serves: 4]

Kosher Salt
2 9oz packages cheese tortellini*
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small shallot finely chopped*
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 1/4 cups heavy cream*
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, for topping*

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the totellini and cook as the label directs. Reserve  1/2 cup of the cooking water. then drain the pasta.

2. Meanwhile, heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until slightly soft, about 2 minutes.  Add the pumpkin and nutmeg and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in the cream bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat to medium low; simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cheese and cook until thick, about 1 more minute. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Add the tortellini to the skillet and toss with the sauce, adding some of the reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed. Divide among bowls and top with more cheese and parsley.


My Changes:
*Wild Mushroom Ravioli [instead of cheese]
*Just used a little of the yellow onion I had on hand
*Used 1 cup of Almond Milk [to cut down on fat] & only 1/4 cup heavy cream
*Didn't have parsley and didn't miss it :)

I thought this was a GREAT dinner! Honestly I couldn't really tell that I made it with mostly Almond Milk and neither could my husband or Janelle!!! Sweet!

And here's my dinner photo:

Write it Up Wednesday [Bike MS]

Almost two years ago a very close and dear friend of ours was diagnosed with MS. It was something we did not know a lot about. I know my cousin was diagnosed a few years before that but I haven't had the chance to talk to her about it much, so we asked him a lot of questions.

In a very short summary: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. [to find out more click here]

Our friends wife works for a company that participates in a BikeMS 30, 60, or 100 mile ride that helps raise money to find a cure for MS. This year I signed up for the ride and [thanks to wonderful friends and family] raised enough money to join the ride. About a week or two before the ride, Joe and I thought it would be best for him to ride in my place [I haven't been on a bike in a while..]. I volunteered to be on the support and decoration team for the riders. 

Here are pictures from our time with BikeMS:

Too early in the morning....

Right before the ride starts

[most of] The Team

Before the start

At the half way point

I made these!

Edible BikeMS logos too!

And we had a "photo-booth" I made some props and painted a backdrop. It was fun :)

cutie!

Stache fun

cute couple

they look like they could do another 30 miles!

silly

fun with Janelle

Massage after the ride!

I promise to post more pictures soon. There was a photographer at the event so I'm hoping he got some good ones of my peeps! :)

Write It Up Wednesday: [Nursery Tips]

As a mother of multiples I've learned a few things rather quickly... Especially these days; two (almost) toddlers running around, climbing and getting into everything. So there are many times where I see nursery photos online (ok mostly pinterest) and I laugh...Back when I was pregnant I spent many (too many) hours stressing out about the twins nursery. 

I'd like to share some of my Nursery Tips for any [first time] moms. All of these opinions are mine, I'm no expert... I'm just a mom :)

Bedding:

I was one of those moms that just HAD TO HAVE the complete crib bedding set in a bag... Don't get me wrong. We had their cribs all pretty. We even made wall art to match, which I love and recommending doing! So much cheaper than buying them, learn how to here [Nursery Wall Art].

Audree's Bedding

Aidan's Bedding

Do you know what we used the most out of these bedding sets? The crib skirt & the sheet. I did use their comforters for tummy time but that was because we didn't use them for anything else! The bumpers? Those were used until I freaked out when a twin (don't remember which one) was close to being face into a bumper that wasn't breathable!

My advice? Buy a few crib sheets with the colors you want to use in the nursery and a coordinating crib skirt that you like. You'll only need one crib skirt but you'll need 2-4 different sheets, you know "just in case".

Decor:

Great in theory

This is one of those set ups that I love in theory, but would never work in reality. First off the lovely canopy above the crib... totally useful until your little one can wiggle/crawl/pull up. First thing they'll go for is that dangling piece of fabric. This is one of those thing I'd say wait until they know better.

Next... that changing table/dresser... we have one of those. Our is all the way up against the wall, not out from the wall! Your child can (and will) wiggle as much as possible on the changing table. Its too dangerous to have the possibility of them falling two different directions.

As for the rest of the decor in the room, do as much or as little as you like [or afford] but remember to keep things away from their reach. Kids spend a lot of time in their cribs and sometimes they aren't always sleeping and they will try to entertain themselves other ways!

Crib Placement: 

Tried this once...

So here we have more items hanging close to the crib... Same reasoning here, they will try to pull these off..

With two babies you have two cribs, which can (and do) take up a bunch of room in the nursery so its natural to try to save space. Putting them together? Bad Idea! For the first few months its not going to be an issue. Once they can pull up on the crib they will start to attack each other; poking, biting, scratching one another. Which leads to more playing/accidental hurting and less sleeping. We actually tried this set up for a few days and it just doesn't work... Trust Me!

This is all I can think of for now. I'll keep updating as I see more pictures that just wouldn't work... If you have any tips please share!