Happy Halloween! Making Emma's Lamb Costume & Decorating Cookies

Boo!  Or should I say, "Baaaa!"

 

Our little lamb!

Here is the making of the costume.  I used a really soft, fuzzy blanket that I found, cut it out and sewed it together.  It may have been my most successful sewing project to date - complete with an oatmeal linen lining! 

Hey, Bright Eyes : )

Happy kids!

Sunday we took Emma to the Fairway Halloween festival at the park.  Sorry about the blurry picture... it is the only one I'm in!

Emma's Uncle Josh and Aunt Claire came to see her in her lamb costume.

 

Emma's very "in to" teeth and mouths...

  

Emma and Daddy

Josh making a scary pumpkin... yikes!

Fun...

on the sliiiiiide!

Today Emma and I decorated cookies to take to her Mimi's house for Trick-or-Treating.

 Her first hands-on sugar cookie experience... of many, many more.  Next up- Thanksgiving cookies!

Pumpkin Harvest Workshop & Recipes

Last night was the last of my Pumpkin Harvest Workshops... whew.  Working until 10pm is a little grueling on the schedule, but it was really fun to be able to meet some of my readers in person.

If you'd like to attend one of my cooking classes, my next class is "The Thanksgiving Host" - here is a link with more information!

My Aunt Joanie from Fahrmeier Farms brought a truck full of pumpkins for the class.  You can see "A Thyme for Everything's" store front in the background.

I had Mulled Apple Cider simmering on the stove that we served in mason jar mugs.

Also on the stove, a giant pot of spicy, hearty chili to which we added roasted butternut squash.

Recipe : Butternut & Beef Chili

Here is my prep area - orange slices for the cider.

I set the tables with brown craft paper, heirloom pumpkins and bittersweet.

 Each participant got a copy of all of the recipes we prepared...

  

And now you can have one, too!  Just click on the image to view the full size and print.  (Sorry!  I'm working on how to get this to work!)

 

We made Hot Hubbard Squash Goat Cheese Dip served with toasted baguette rubbed with garlic.

Field Greens Salad with Apples, Dried Cranberries and an easy to make Balsamic Vinaigrette

Recipe : Butternut & Beef Chili...

 With Cheddar Jalapeno Scones.

We ended the night with Bite Sized S'mores!

I'll be posting all of these recipes throughout the day and the rest of the week - stay tuned!

Again, my next class is "The Thanksgiving Host" - here is a link with more information!

A "Real" Brunch (with kids!) at Our House

Last week I posted about a "Real" Mid-Week dinner we hosted.  It was casual and laid back, the type of 'entertaining' most of us do... you know, normal!  I thought I'd share another "Real" party we hosted - brunch with some of our college friends that were in from St. Louis.  It was a cold and rainy Saturday morning and our house was filled with kiddos, friends, coffee... and scones.  It is GREAT being home : )

Menu :

Cinnamon Swirled Scones with Maple Glaze & Pecans
Cranberry Orange Scones
White Cheddar & Chive Egg Strata
Bacon
Fresh Fruit
Orange Juice
Coffee

I tried a new scone that was swirled with cinnamon then topped with a glaze made with real Vermont maple syrup and pecans.  Really, really good.  

Recipe : Cinnamon Maple & Pecan Scones

"G" hard at work coloring pictures for everyone.  I love the concentration as he's working.  So sweet.

The table was set verrrry simply with just juice, butter and water... with 3 kids and 6 adults at our tiny table, there was definitely not room for any flowers.

Little "P" being a boy : )

White Cheddar and Chive Egg Strata - I love anything that can be made the night before.  Mike had requested that we fry bacon, so I kept the strata simple - sans sausage.  The white cheddar and chives made it really delicious.  Sometimes keeping things simple is even better.

Emma going after "P's" toes... what?!  What are they teaching her at school!

Immediate nap after the party.  Tuckered out after chasing all of those boys!

Living Room : An Update... We're Almost There

We are finally at a point in our living room where we can actually sit and put our feet up.  We are not all the way finished, as we still have artwork and prints to hang (and decide where to put them) and I have a couple of other pieces that I'm in search of.  I'm very pleased with how it has come together - thank goodness.  After all of the thought, shopping, debating, thinking, shopping and finally purchasing, I actually like it!

You can look back at my inspiration board and original post to see what I had in mind and where I ended up : http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-new-living-room-design-board-great.html

Still to-do : 

-Hang Drapes

-Hang Artwork (waiting on a delivery I'm very excited about!)

-Find console table for entry way (for mail, keys, etc.)

-Joozsh (as Carson Kressley would say...)

 

As you might remember, we kept our original sofa (ordered from clubfurniture.com) that is upholstered in a natural belgium linen.  We also kept this leather chair that I bought from a designer in KC 3 years ago.  The end tables are new - I love the chunky turned legs and the slightly distressed black finish.  



The two wing back chairs from Restoration Hardware work great by the fireplace as I had originally planned.  I was really worried that there wasn't going to be enough room between the entryway and the fireplace.

I love our new TV (LG 47" Smart TV).  I gave Mike the reins on it and he did an excellent job of picking out the perfect size and style so it would fit in without sticking out... and he installed it and was able to hide the wiring.  Yep, no cable box or cords in sight!

I have a couple of Fall touches peeking in here and there for some seasonal color... a Cinderella sitting by the fire.

A bunch of wheat on the mantle.  And, still loving the TV.



My order of wool blankets came last week and I'm thrilled.  I am still waiting on a couple more...  The pillow is from RH.

The new ottoman is the perfect soft centerpiece for Emma to make her way around.  I ordered it from RH in their indoor/outdoor fabric so it will hold up to stains really well.  It cost a little extra and took a little extra time, but it looks and feels just like our real belgium linen sofa.

Now we need gas logs for our fireplace!

Another little pumpkin peeking through!  

Stay tuned for more updates on the house.  We've been hard at work on the kitchen and hope to share our DIY update soon!

Emma's Bedtime Routine... playtime

In the evening after bath time, Emma likes to show her Dad all of her new moves.  She shows him all of her toys, gets them out one by one, then does laps around the ottoman in the living room.  She is really starting to move - even does a couple of steps every now and then!

Here are a couple shots (ok, more than a couple...) of Emma in her jammies.