OCTOBER INSTAGRAMS.

of course i am a few months behind.
that is just what happens when you are running around,
living your life, right?

here's what went on in the month of october.
+ violet was sushi - a california roll - for halloween
+ we shot some weddings
+ sewed a homemade teepee for our family photos
+ violet started walking (at 11 months)
+ we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary!

DIY CALIFORNIA ROLL SUSHI COSTUME FOR BABY

i'm obsessed with japan, and we are huge sushi fans.
and of course, i love any excuse to craft!

i knew violet would be most comfortable wearing a onesie for her costume.
she definitely won't wear a hat, and even a headband is pushing it.
i had to give her chopsticks so she wouldn't pull her headband off.

here she is in her handmade california roll sushi costume.

this costume got my wheels turning, and this one was my inspiration.
i made violet's for around $15, and it was super simple.
read on if you'd like details...
(sorry my tutorial steps lack photos...no time for that!)

MATERIALS:

+ black or white onesie (found mine here)
+ felt in colors to make your sushi
4 sheets of white, and 1 sheet of each of the other colors
(i used peach, lime green, regular green, red, & orange)
+ piece of elastic for headband
+ hot glue gun & glue sticks
+ needle & thread

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. measure your onesie's width near the belly,
and cut out 2 white circles to match the width.
try finding plates in various sizes to use as patterns.

2. cut out about 24 pieces of white felt for rice.
fold your felt so you are cutting two pieces at a time.

3. arrange your rice around the outer edges of your circles.

4. for the crab, cut out a half circle of white felt,
and a slightly larger half circle of red felt.

5. for the avocado, cut out a quarter of a circle of lime green felt,
and a slightly larger quarter of a circle of regular green felt.

6. for the carrots, cut out 4-6 squares of orange felt.

7. now experiment by arranging your sushi pieces in the circles.
you may have to cut down your pieces a bit smaller to fit nicely.
attach the felt pieces to the circles using your hot glue gun.

8. sew the circles on to the front & back of the onesie,
using a needle and thread.
tip: try using elastic thread if you want your onesie to stretch.
this will keep it easy to get on & off your baby.

9. for the wasabi, cut a circle of lime green felt.
stitch it with a needle and thread as if you are making a yo yo flower,
but you will puff it back up when you're done.

10. for the ginger, cut some scraps of peach felt, keeping the edges rounded.
fold them and pile them together a bit sloppy.
stitch them together.

11. measure a piece of elastic to fit your baby's head.
sew it or hot glue it together (i prefer a sewing machine for this).
using the hot glue gun, attach the ginger & wasabi to the headband.

add some tights or leggings...now enjoy your little sushi roll :)

AUTUMN.

just thinking about how much i love love love fall and winter.

bundling up around the house has been so nice.

i love having hot breakfasts too.

i mostly just love that the seasons change.

i love how the earth changes,

but people do too.

seasons definitely keep life exciting.

lately, i have been remembering this time last year.

i just put away my halloween decorations in anticipation.

so ready for autumn to continue, and lead us into a wonderful end of the year.

OWL FLASHBACK.

2 years ago i made a DIY owl costume,
from an old pillowcase and some fabric.

just saw it was featured on refashion files this month!
pretty awesome.
i would love to wear this costume again.
maybe next year we can be a family of owls...

OUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES.

sumimasen...

sushi chef, california roll, and a geisha.

please excuse will's 99 cent mustache.

details on violet's DIY baby sushi costume to come :)

A TRIP TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH.

earlier this month we took baby v to the pumpkin patch.
we rode the train, pet the ponies, and went in a haunted house.
and picked out some cute pumpkins too!
hopefully we can paint them tonight!

 she loves animals so much. fascinated by the ponies, of course.

 we ran into our friends, and violet's baby friend, pepper!

and we went through the hay maze.

 picking out the perfect pumpkin.

 waiting to ride the train

 and watching the train go by...

 such a memorable day for our little family!

HALLOWEEN COSTUME PREP.

i can't put it off any longer...
about to start making violet's halloween costume!

this is what she's going to be...

wish me luck!

pumpkin season.

even though it's still warm out,
we've been embracing fall.

favorite fall things:
+ boots
+ tights
+ layering
+ cozy pajamas
+ hot chocolate
+ crockpot dinners
+ pretty leaves
+ pumpkin everything

looking forward to enjoying these treats!

pumpkin pancake & waffle mix / pumpkin granola / pumpkin bread & muffin mix

pumpkin cream cheese spread / pumpkin spice kisses / pumpkin greek yogurt

and i found some new recipes to try:

pumpkin curry / pumpkin stew / pumpkin trifle

every year on halloween my mom would serve dinner out of a pumpkin.

i'm hoping i can pull that off!

also, we're hoping to take v to the pumpkin patch this weekend!

can't wait!

lately.

crib is ready.

my view of my 9 month bump.

 my garden makes me happy.

 crush on this guy.

 mini halloween cupcakes.

a gift from a student.

 big and round and ready to go.

first day of fall!

we made it!!!
i've been wearing boots & scarves already :)

what i've been pinning on pinterest lately...

DIY fall & halloween decor!
like these vintage fabric pumpkins. MUST make!

cozy-comfy outfits!

new pumpkin recipes!

this pumpkin ice cream looks perfect.

my DIY owl costume & halloween at the ace!

halloween at the ace hotel.
smilebooth rocked our worlds!

details on my DIY owl costume:

1) buy a used pillowcase from the thrift store & wash it.
mine happened to be jersey so it was nice and comfy, with a little stretch.

2) cut out a hole for the neck and two holes for the arms.

3) on cardstock or paper, draw up a template for the feathers and cut it out.

4) pick out a bunch of fabrics in whatever colors/textures suit your fancy!
i used gold metallic, yellow felt, brown wool, dark tan corduroy,
and beige, brown & orange cotton.

5) trace the template onto those fabrics about a million times.
try folding your fabric and cutting out 2 or more feathers at a time,
depending on how thick your fabric is.

6) get out your sewing machine.
starting at the bottom of your pillowcase,
line up a row of feathers in whatever pattern you like.
i staggered my rows so that each feather's point covered up a gap between the lower feathers.
pin on the row of feathers.

7) sew away!
i used gold thread & a zig zag stitch,
but you don't have to be neat -
the thread will only show on the top row of feathers.

8) i made a little headband with fabric scraps,
some stretchy brown elastic, and buttons for eyes.

add some leggings (i wore gold) and you'll be comfy all night :)

my costume inspiration: here and here.

will's costume inspiration: here and here.

will was willie nelson.

he had a long grey braid, in case you couldn't see it.

more photos from the night HERE.

fun night with fun friends!

love love love halloween :)

i just bought a new container,

and lovingly placed my halloween decorations inside.

i will miss my little skeletons hanging from my front door.