Fall

The PNW has been KILLING IT this fall. Cooler temps and lots of sunshine have lead to two of my favorite activities: leaf crunching and pumpkin patch-ing. Lily had her first preschool field trip to a local pumpkin patch, which was also MY first field trip in like 13+ years (old.) Highlights (according to Lily) included the popcorn we ate before we left and the cows pooping. I guess I have her 4th birthday party planned…

Without further ado, this is how we do fall.

{Stinky.}

Dear October, I love you.

Pumpkins in the Sun (and a Giveaway!)

Last weekend we had the most amazing sunny fall day, so I decided it was the perfect time for some outdoor (less mess for me) family pumpkin carving! I was lucky enough to be sent this awesome pumpkin carving package from Pumpkin Masters. The whole kit is valued at $35 and if you make it all the way to the end of this post (you can do it!), you can win one too!

 

We have used Pumpkin Masters products for carving in the past and have always had great success (as great as it gets with limited artistic skill), but this kit included some tools that none of us had ever used before. They also included some flashing LED lights to put in our carved pumpkins, a much easier (and safer) alternative to a candle.

My dad went with the basic carving kit that we have all used in the past and was pretty proud of his ghost.

 

I used the pumpkin shaving technique, which was harder than I imagined. I figured it out about halfway through the design, unfortunately, that left me with a slightly wonky owl. I will definitely do this one again now that I have the technique down. This is a good option for carving pumpkins early because you don’t hollow it out and it should last longer before becoming a squishy putrid mess.

 

Mila had a great time chasing bugs and eating leaves. When I say “no! yucky!” she laughs and puts them in her mouth. Awesome.

My mom unknowingly chose the hardest kit, which uses punches to cut holes into the pumpkin in various designs. This process would work best on a pumpkin with a thinner shell (not sure how you can tell that before carving). She got about halfway through her design and the side caved in! She also had trouble getting the chunks of pumpkin out of the punches. Once she decided to freehand her design and space the holes further apart, the pumpkin held up and I think her design turned out to be one of the best despite a frustrating start.

 

Ryan and Lily used the kid’s carving kit and ended up with the winner of the evening in their creepy cat. It was fun because even at 3, Lily could really help. Unlike the other kits that use tools to poke holes in the pumpkin to mark your pattern, the kid’s kit uses a crayon, so she could do it herself! She really liked participating in the actual cutting (with Ryan’s help) and thought the insides were “stinky”.

 

We had so much fun carving together and I know each year will be more exciting as the girls get older and more creative with their pumpkin designs. We will definitely be using our Pumpkin Masters kits year after year. 

 

If you use a Pumpkin Masters Kit this Halloween, you can also enter the Pumpkin Masters Carving Contest! Share a pic of your carving via Instagram or Twitter with #PumpkinMasters2013, submit via the Facebook app, or send via email to: social@pumpkinmasters.com to enter for the chance to win one of six prizes, including $5,000 for the Best Pumpkin. The contest is on now and runs through October 31st! 

 

Use the rafflecoptor entry form below (it is super easy, you can sign in with facebook!) to enter to win the exact kit we used! Giveaway runs through Sunday night (10/13) at midnight! If you don’t win, all these products are available at your local grocery, drug, and craft stores, and nationwide at Target and Walmart! Happy carving!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Mila Turns One!

My tiny baby girl turned one and in a surprising turn of events I didn’t end up in a puddle of tears and sauvignon blanc. Yes I have been nostalgic thinking back on the past year, but I am trying to just focus on the present and how undeniably awesome she is right this second. We calebrated with friends and family this past weekend and it was nothing short of perfect. I decided a party at a park near our house would be fun for the kids and low key enough that I wouldn’t feel any pinterest-pressure (yes it's a thing). Balloons, streamers, food, friends, and a lot of sunshine was all we needed. I made the very same Apple Swirl Cake that I made for Lily's first birthday, and let's just say I think she enjoyed it. 

HUGE thanks to my mom for so much help and food and love and also food.

The girls had so much fun, almost as much fun as I had. 

I know you are wondering...yes she kept the crown on for the whole party, no she didn't know it was there. 

Also, Mila received a bunch of awesome gifts, but of course her favorite is this owl water bottle from Auntie Jess because she can suck water up the straw (!!) and then spit it all over herself... also it's from Nordstrom and girl has her standards.

Yes, keeping her.

My Week in iPhone Pics: It Never Rained!

Here is what our week looked like according to instagram. Looks like fun to me!

{Flying at Daddy// Trying to watch Caillou// Jumping for babies!// All clean}

 

{Speed walker// Marmaid braid// Crazy hair by Daddy// Fancy food}

 

{Almost 31 weeks// Sleeping belly button// Pool party!// Cutest}

 {On the train// Fairy tent// BBQ in the sunshine// Rock Star}

{Daddy snuggles// March for Babies// Feeding ducks with Papa// Flashback}

 

{Train riding in the sunshine// Stoked and soaked// Dirt diggin}

Let's be instafriends: thecurlycues

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Fun in the Sun

It has been 80 degrees around here and we know not to waste the fleeting sunshine. Lily and I ventured over to visit Mandy and Bennett for some (heavily sunscreened) fun.

 {As hard as you try to stop them, a kid just needs to get in the dirt. PS - I'm her mom so I can say this... holy cute butt cheek!}

{And this is where they will get married. Too soon?}

I also got to see sweet baby Easton and I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of his crazy baby mohawk. Next time, I promise.

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with The Paper Mama, 5 Minutes for Mom, Parenting By Dummies, Project Alicia, And Then She Snapped, Live and Love Out Loud, Naptime Momtog, and Jenni from the Blog.

My Week in iPhone Pics: Cookies, Cupcakes, and Babies, Oh My!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes, it has been the best day. I'm still off soaking up baby snuggles, but here is a peek at our week!

 {Just what I ordered// Glucose testing...yum// Sunshine, flowers, and Dada// Nani snuggles}

 {Birdie watching// Tempting my friends// Scarf love// Caillou!!}

 {Peek// Sunshine// Cheers Mama!// Straight hair, no makeup}

{Looking for old lady wrinkles// More sunshine please// When this expires, she'll be 2!!// Ladies who brunch}

 

 {Wanting a birthday nap// Big girl// Birthday treats everywhere// Buckethead and Papa}

 

{Sisters// Hooray!// Resting at Home Depot// Goofy early morning snuggles}

{Getting soaked// Chalking it up// My girl// Baby be bumpin}

 We have much fun planned for this weekend, I hope yours is as fabulous as ours!