[Halloween Costumes]

Halloween was so much fun when I was a kid so naturally with the twins walking and talking (kind of) we're dressing them up this year! Last year they were a little to young to care and I think they still are but oh well, it will be fun for Joe and I.

I naturally want them to coordinate and most boy/girl costumes are couples... (mickey & minnie, donald & daisy, etc.... ) and it would be odd to dress them up that way... but then I remembered their baby shower... Thing 1, Thing 2! Perfect!

I went browsing online only to find this age is hard to buy costumes for.. so I'll just make them!!! (not entirely)

I can knit a little so after a few beanie (much too big..) attempts I came up with a simple pattern, on straight needles [I haven't learned how to use circular needles yet]

Knit:

Cast on 35 stitches (Ends up about 16")
*Knit a row then
Purl a row*

Repeat until the beanie is about 4.5" (toddler beanie)

then
[Row 1] k4, k2tog*repeat
[Rows: 2, 4, 6 & 8 Purl]
[Row 3] k3, k2tog*repeat
[Row 5] k2, k2tog* repeat
[Row 7] k1, k2tog*repeat

Then I sewed the ends together to make a beanie!

I then ordered some plain Red Fleece PJs from here

They just needed a Thing One Thing Two sign.... so I bought some felt and used a black paint pen and made the signs....

Here's the pjs with these signs!

Finished Costumes!

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: