Trick or Treat!

Tonight, I get to fulfill a life-long dream: giving away full-size candy bars to trick-or-treaters. How psyched would you be if you knocked on someone's door and, instead of a mini snickers bar or a Dum-Dum, you got a whole Hershey bar? Probably pretty psyched. In my hometown, there was one family who handed out full-size candy bars on Halloween. And I can still point out their house to you. Going there was the highlight of Halloween. And tonight, going to our house will be the highlight of some children's Halloween. We're hoping for lots of little costumed trick-or-treaters!

President of the Dog Walkers' Association

This is what we see almost every time we look out our front windows. Seriously, that woman is constantly walking her dogs. We call her the President of the Dog Walkers' Association. Here is an example of how it might come up...

(Karl looks out the window)

Amanda: What's going on out there?

Karl: Nothing... just the President of the Dog Walkers' Association out on her rounds.

We're not trying to be mean. We're just saying how it is. And I'll also share that the black dog has little red bows on its ears. I'm waiting for Christmas to see if she changes them to one red, one green. Or maybe red/green plaid.

Rock On, Baby!

On Saturday, I went shopping for a friend's baby shower gift. Seems like everyone is having baby showers all of a sudden! That's good, because it means more babies. And I do love babies. Anyway, I went to Target and got her a diaper bag from her registry. And then, since I was in Verona anyway, I decided to stop by this adorable boutique. It was my first time. And it will not be my last. They had so many gorgeous kids' clothes... I finally settled on a red, pink, and orange short-sleeved romper with long legs to tuck inside the diaper bag for my friend. But I'm not going to show you that. I'm going to show you the item that I bought thinking, "I'll give this to someone." But when I got home, I didn't put it in the Give Away tub in the basement... I put it in the For Our Baby, Someday tub. Because I'm sorry, but this shirt is just too adorable, and when/if we have a little snookums of our own, he or she is going to need this.

Move Over, Martha Stewart

My sister-in-law, Shannon, is expecting a baby in December. Her baby shower is coming up, and I am the decoration committee. And I am very proud of the decorations I have made so far...

They're just cardstock and patterned scrapbook paper, cut into triangles, hole-punched, and strung together with ribbon. Oh, and I stuck some fuzzy baby-esque stickers on some of the triangles. Easy, peasy!

New Addition

Isn't this the sweetest birth announcement you've ever seen? I love the typewriter font and the simple, fun design. And the baby is pretty cute too! Congratulations to Shannon and Joel!

Okay, fine.

Here it is. The dog/moose. Seriously, if you just saw it randomly, would you think it was a dog? No, you wouldn't. Plus the tongue is the same size as the ears. Maybe I should do some tongue surgery.

Badger Football Saturday

Yesterday was the best Saturday ever. Well, almost. First, Karl and I met our friends Mac and Amanda downtown. We tried Magic Coffee at Cafe Soleil and walked around the farmer's market on the square. We had breakfast at the Old Fashioned, and then Karl and I went to Camp Randall stadium for the football game vs. Iowa State.




We go to a game every year, and we have awesome seats in the 9th row, right on the 50-yard line. The weather was gorgeous. I always love seeing the marching band and the cheerleaders. In my next life, I hope I'm a Badger cheerleader.

The Badgers lost (that's why it was almost the best Saturday ever), but we still think Bucky is #1!

The day ended with some errand-running (I found two perfect birthday presents for my mom!) and then a little banjo practice. Can we have Saturday every day?

One Down... Twenty-Four to Go!

I'm planning on making a special Advent calendar for Karl and I this year. At first, I was thinking I would knit a mix of 25 little hats, mittens, and socks, and hang them on a line across the mantel. Each one would be filled with a little note, treat, or other surprise. But the first thing I knit was a sock. And it is so adorable, now I'm thinking the whole Advent calendar might just be socks. Red ones, green ones, white ones, striped ones... they are the perfect size for a Hershey's kiss or a mini peanut butter cup. And so, so cute. I'm in love.


For you curious knitters out there, I used a lightish worsted wool, size 7 needles, and 16 stitches.

Mind Reading

I know what you're thinking:

Well, I didn't win Amanda's October blog giveaway... I wonder if she'll have another one.

Absolutely! In fact, just last night I picked up a little goodie at Anthropologie that will be the November giveaway. I hope you win!

New Knits

I just finished this little cardigan for a friend's baby boy (due soon!). It's a knitting pure and simple pattern. I found the button at a local yarn shop, and it worked perfectly with the two yarn colors. For some reason, Blogger really wants the photo to be vertical...

As long as I'm sharing photos of knitting projects, I'll go ahead and show you one of the shelves on the book case in our "office" (the second bedroom). There is also a knitted dog on that shelf, but I didn't include it because it is too embarassing. It looks like a moose.

Giveaway Winner

On Saturday, I wrote all the names of the giveaway entrants on little pieces of paper. I put them in a bowl.

My very neutral husband put his hand in the bowl...

... and plucked out a winner!

Congratulations to Elsworth!

When I told him he was the winner, he said I should pick someone else because people might think we rigged the drawing. but he won, fair and square. The paper punch and an additional small treat are on their way to DC!

October Giveaway

Since it's October, maybe I should be giving away something orange and pumpkin-y, but... My first official Blog Giveaway will be for this wonderful snowflake paper punch. I have one exactly like it, and I love love love mine. It's perfect for punching the backs of Christmas card envelopes and other wintry items. And the holidays are right around the corner!





If you're interested in receiving this snowflake punch, please leave a comment or send me an email telling me your favorite color.



My husband will draw one winner randomly this weekend. It could be you! Just be sure to send your email or leave your comment by Friday, October 9. Good luck!

Hanging By A String

Can you guess what this is?

It's a Nellie's Dryer ball. They go in the dryer and make your laundry soft without using dryer sheets. They are also supposed to shorten drying time, but I haven't tested that myself. This one happened to be in the dryer with an old handkerchief, and the tatting around the outside must have been just loose enough to get caught and wind itself around and around and around the dryer ball. Doesn't it look weird?

Marvelous Matrimony

This weekend, Karl and I went to Wisconsin Rapids for Terika and Greg's wedding. Don't they look so happy? They should be happy; they each found the nicest person in the world!

They also had very beautiful centerpieces.

My October Resolution

After seeing so many cool giveaways on some of my favorite blogs, I have decided to have a giveaway of my own in October. Here is the official memo:

Dear Blog Readers,
Please be aware that there will be a fabulous giveaway coming up sometime in October! I can't tell you when, and I can't tell you what will be given away, but I can tell you that you'll want to be in on it!
Love,
Amanda

Slow Cookers to the People!

Karl and I love our CSA share. We really do. But I would just like to suggest that every CSA share come with a slow cooker. Because if we're going to use all of those vegetables, the slow cooker is really the only way. This morning, for example, I filled our Crock Pot with eggplant, leeks, zucchini, celery and kohlrabi (all from our veggie CSA), and ground beef from our meat CSA. It probably sounds like a mish-mosh of tastes, but I'm betting it will be delicious. Plus I won't have to guiltily throw limp eggplant, leeks, zucchini, celery or kohlrabi out at the end of the week.