Baby Dinosaur

Even though Grant and I are not the most creative when it comes to costumes, we figured that Will should have one this year for Halloween... it is his first after all!  I had a great time making it, both Grant and I LOVE seeing Will in it and hopefully he'll enjoy seeing these photos when he gets older!!  Happy Halloween from our tiny dinosaur.

Materials:

Orange felt with matching thread

Hooded sweatshirt

Fold the felt in half and cut spikes so the base of the spike is on the fold.

Pin spikes along the back of the sweatshirt and up on the hood.

Sew each spike along the fold.

Fold spikes in half and pin both sides together.

Sew along the edge of each spike.

The finished product!

Our little dinosaur in action

This kid LOVES to stand up, even though he's far from balancing!

New Camera Lens

One of the pregnancy and preparing for child birth books that I read (The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy) suggested that the husband get a gift for his wife for going through labour and delivery.  I was skeptical, wondering if I would really feel the need for Grant to buy me a gift (isn't the baby the best gift after all?).  

It turns out Grant did not need to buy me a gift.  In fact, I had completely forgotten about this idea until one day a week or so ago Grant came into our apartment with his hands behind his back.  I was feeding Will in the rocking chair chattering away about what he and I had done that day and didn't even notice that Grant was hiding something.  He revealed that he had a camera in his hands with a card taped to the lens.  It took me a minute.  Did Grant get me a camera?  I already have a camera.  That looks like my camera. Oh wait.  The lens is different!  Grant bought me the portrait lens that I had my eye on for a long time.  No, it wasn't jewelry as the book had suggested he get me, and no it didn't come moments after our son was born.  This was so much better!  It was unexpected and thoughtful and will help us capture memories of our incredible son.  And the card was a letterpress card from Paper Source that has a tandem bike on the front.  He knows me so well... letterpress cards, beautiful paper, tandem bikes and a sweet note! Looking forward to my next tandem bike ride... possibly a Pie Ride in Santa Rosa over Thanksgiving??  

"I couldn't have done it without you."

And now for the task of learning how to use it!

Worn out shopper

How glorious would it be if this is what grocery shopping on a Monday afternoon felt like as an adult?

Little Snugs

Pattern: Little Snugs

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Cream and Heather Grey

Raveled Here

These were one of the first things I knit after Will was born and my desire to knit stuff came back!  Unfortunately, they don't fit since the lining became all bunchy in the felting process.  So, these cute little snugs are a nice decoration on top of his dresser!  I'll just have to make another pair!

Mulled Cider with Whipped Cream

Okay... this is my all time favourite fall treat!  

Ingredients:

Apple Cider

Mulling Spices

Whipping Cream

Vanilla Extract

Granulated Sugar

Optional: Carmel Sauce

Directions:

1.  In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the apple cider and mulling spices.  Add a 2-3 teaspoons of spices to 2 litres/1 half gallon of cider using a tea infuser or tea filter.  Once cider begins to bubble, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-45 minutes.  Feel free to stop here... the cider is delicious all by itself!

2.  Not everyone knows this, but whipped cream and apple cider are a match made in heaven.  I use a pint of whipping cream, 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and about a teaspoon of vanilla extract.  Whip with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.  The measurements are guesses because I don't really measure when I make whipped cream and taste testing as you go is a must.

3.  Top cider with whipped cream and enjoy!

4.  Optional: Carmel sauce drizzled over the top is fantastic.  Mine was way past its expiration date so Grant and I had our cider last night without it.  Making your own carmel sauce is also an option, but I found that you end up with a ton of sauce that goes bad before we could eat it all.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Yesterday was the first chilly day and first snow here in Minnesota. In spite of what I just overheard the weather man say, Canada is not to blame for the cold air. :-) 

Whenever the weather is cool, I always crave warm drinks and sweets with spice.  These muffins are some of my favourites and are another Starbucks knock off.  They can also be made gluten free and still delicious!  Enjoy!

Muffin:

3 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten free pantry all purpose flour)

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Nutmeg

1 teaspoon Ground Cloves

4 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 eggs

2 cups Sugar

2 cups Pumpkin (canned or homemade)

1 1/4 cups Vegetable Oil

Cream Cheese:

8 oz. Cream Cheese

6 (or so) Tablespoons of Icing Sugar (or Powdered Sugar)

Dash of Vanilla

2 Tablespoons of Butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix all of the "Muffin" ingredients and fill muffin tins (either greased or with paper cups).  Start by creaming the oil, sugar and eggs and then slowly add the rest of the ingredients.  (I'm a pretty inexact baker, so I apologize to those of you who like more precise instructions.)

3. Using a mixer, mix the "Cream Cheese" ingredients.  Use powdered sugar to taste...more will make it taste like icing, less like regular cream cheese.  You can also just cut the 8 oz of cream cheese into 24 small cubes push them down into the batter.  Also delicious and quite a bit easier.

4.  I used an icing bag to "pipe" the cream cheese into the muffin but you can just drop it by teaspoonful's (using two spoons) into the muffins and press it down into the batter with your finger.

5.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.  Makes 24 muffins.

Overalls

Just a few photos from the last two days.