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! :)