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For those who haven't seen them yet, the Halloween costumes came out great. We went as Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I've been hoping to do this since I was pregnant last Halloween. And I wanted to do something that was reasonably easy to make and not too expensive. Making spirit hoods for the three of us was fun. I did it without a pattern and was able to find some of the most amazingly soft "fur" and line them with a cozy knit, which I bought a couple of weeks apart to take advantage of sales plus a big one item coupon. I really wanted to make Goldilocks' dress. I knew I wanted a traditional German dirndl look. I also knew, that I wasn't up to trying to free hand such an outfit. Unfortunately, none of the stores here carried a pattern. Luckily, I found a Little Red Riding Hood costume and by taking off some parts and adding a couple of things (and then spending a LOT of time with a curling iron) I was able to put together a really cute and fun outfit for Li'l E. It was a lot of fun walking around our neighborhood and visiting with everyone. Plus, we got some great reactions from kids, tiny all the way through middle school, as they realized "It's Goldilocks and the Three Bears!!!" Li'l E had a blast. We had a nice family walk. And Baby Bear? Well, she couldn't quite figure out why we were wandering around in the dark with a myriad of tiny, masked people. As for the picture- that was at Goldilocks' insistance. "Let's do a scary one! Goldilocks is supposed to wake up and be scared!" What a ham! I don't know where she gets it!
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The other Halloween success was our jack-o-lantern. I have no earthly idea where Li'l E came up with the idea that a platypus' image should be engraved upon a gourd, but she was insistent that we needed a Perry the Platypus pumpkin. If your kiddos enjoy Disney's Phineas and Ferb, you'll know him well. She discovered this crazy show at my parents' place (no cable here, kids), and she loves that undercover, purring, monotreme of mystery.
After seeing a friend had carved Rapunzel for her daughter, I at least knew that it was possible (for someone somewhere) to get artsy with their giant squash, so I had to give it a go. I think it turned out rather well. And I kept all of my fingers... just barely.
After seeing a friend had carved Rapunzel for her daughter, I at least knew that it was possible (for someone somewhere) to get artsy with their giant squash, so I had to give it a go. I think it turned out rather well. And I kept all of my fingers... just barely.
-3-
Now that Halloween is over, it's obviously almost Christmas time (according to all of our friendly neighborhood chain stores which have been sneaking in the greenery for several weeks now). While I am firmly in the "enjoy the anticipation of Advent" camp, the recent commercial overzealousness did remind me: Li'l Bear needs a Christmas stocking! I made her sister's when she was born, and I have every intention of making this one as well. I would really (really, really, really, really, truly, have-mercy-on-me) like to use a kit instead of working from scratch. Thus far, I haven't found any that I like. Thankfully, December is still a month away and Christmas nearly a month past that. Let the search begin!
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In the meantime, let's hear it for November! I know some people like to enjoy this month as they gear up for Thanksgiving, some people enjoy celebrating a month of facial hair, but for me- November means that it's NaNoWriMo! That's right- National Novel Writing Month! While I've never actually completed a novel during this contest of expedited literary wit, I do enjoy a good deadline. At the beginning of the year, I actually picked up this book by the founder of NaNoWriMo, and have impressively managed to procrastinate to the point of not even opening to the first page. I justified this by telling myself that it would, of course, be better to wait until November and indulge fully in the theme. November is here, time to crack the tome and get writing!
-5-
Non-sequitur: You know how it is said that doctors are the worst patients? Well, I can firmly acknowledge that trainers are the worst injured athletes. I've been loathe to bite the bullet and give the orthopedist a ring despite the fact that my knee has been killing me for a month now, and neither rest, nor myo-fascial massage, nor Ibuprofen has lessened the problem in the slightest. I just keep thinking that I should be able to heal (properly/more quickly/eventually?!) on my own. However, my inability to get serious, full body workouts in is starting to seriously affect my ability to function. I have border collie brain- if you don't give it a serious physical challenge on a regular basis, it's going to start getting destructive. Nobody wants that. Time to suck it up and get a professional opinion. In the meantime (in order to preserve the little sanity to which I cling), I've decided that I will just start swimming. All the cardio, none of the impact. Here's hoping that keeps the border collie busy until we fix this situation.
-6-
So, y'all... I hate to tell you this but: FISH PEDICURES. This is an actual thing! I'm not even sure *how* I stumbled on this information (one of my insomniac falls down the rabbit hole that is The Interwebs I suppose), but I have not been able to stop thinking about it. It completely freaks me out on so many OCD levels that I think I actually had to acquire multiple personalities in order to be able to have enough room to hold all of the OCD-ness. Let's just say that I have a hard enough time even contemplating someone using utterly new and completely sterilized equipment on my feet for a pedicure, much less allowing critters to EAT my feet. Especially when they just finished dining on OTHER PEOPLE'S FEET moments before. The only thing allowing me a modicum of peace at night is discovering that this was banned in the US. I'm sorry I did that to you, but I couldn't be completely grossed out alone. I hope you understand.
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I leave you with a confession to bring us full circle. Those spirit hoods I made for Halloween? The ones created from the world's softest and snuggliest two materials ever? I may never take mine off.
Check out more Quick Takes with Jen at Conversion Diary.
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