Halloweeve

Tomorrow is Halloween and we're super excited around here. JillyBean has been practicing her "trick or treat" the past several days to ensure that Beanie Mom and Beanie Dad get a great stash of sweets this year. After all, it will be the last time we get the candy since I'm sure that she'll figure it out next year.

Jilly's costume is sort of a mish-mash of stuff. She really isn't anything, though a friend said it seems like she could be a bug. So we decided that she's a JillyBug. Beanie Grandma found a super cute black cape last year at Cracker Barrel that has eyes that light up. We've paired with a purple and black polka dot dress from Hanna Andersson along with some purple and black striped tights, also from HA, and a headband with bug antennas on it from Gymboree that she won't wear.

We plan to start the festivities with trick-or-treating at The Lawn, part of UVA's historic Academical Village . It's a tradition with the students who live there to hand out candy to kids. We went last year, when Bean was only 6 months old, and it was a blast. It will be even more fun this year since she'll be able to walk around herself. After that, we plan to go to do a bit more trick-or-treating with one of Bean's Buddies in his neighborhood. Bean is the only kid in our neighborhood so it wouldn't be too much fun for her here.

Girls' Night In

Tonight was the first of what will surely be many "Girls' Night In" events with Beanie Mom and JillyBean. Beanie Dad had to work since Jay Z was performing, so JB and I put on our PJs a bit early, popped some Kettle Corn, heated up some of our CSA's fabulous fresh apple cider, kicked back on the couch and watched Toy Story. It was a lot of fun. Jilly LOVES popcorn and really dug the warm cider. It's funny because she hasn't had juice before so this was a bit of a treat.

She got to bed about an hour later than normal and was completely wiped. She didn't even want to read a story. I was afraid that she'd be a bit wired after the cider and Kettle Corn, but she appeared to be pooped.

I can't wait for us to have more evenings like this. It was fun cuddling on the couch together. Her sweet side really showed as she would scoot close to me and throw her arms around my neck and kiss me on the cheek. I doubt she really "got" the movie, but she seemed to realize that this was a special event. It also was the first time that she has actually sat through an entire feature length film. I really wanted to watch The Devil Wears Prada (because I can watch that every day and also because Beanie Dad and I watched Adrian Grenier in Season 4 of Entourage last night), but figured that we should hold off on that for a couple more years.

Twisted Pumpkin

Kappa Prep had posted a yummy looking Martha Stewart recipe a couple of weeks ago and I made it for dinner last night - penne pasta with creamy pumpkin sauce. Yum! The only strange thing was getting past the idea that the sauce wouldn't taste like pumpkin spice like I'm used to having in a pie or pumpkin bread. You know how your brain is used to something being one way but it isn't so it takes a bit for you to get used to the new thing? That's what it was like with this recipe. Still, it was a success and something that will be made again.

The deviation that I made from the recipe was not garnishing it with the toasted rosemary. A couple of reviewers didn't care for it so I passed on it, too. I did toast/fry it as the recipe says just to have the flavor, but tossed it out.

I is for Irrational Fear

Today was cookie painting day with a group from the mom's club. And remember my freak out the other day? Totally unwarranted. Everyone had so much fun and the kids actually painted the cookies. Imagine that. I had thought that the kids would run around while the moms decorated the cookies. But wow, once again they proved me, and probably the rest of the moms, wrong.

One of the best things that I did was bring up JillyBean's table and chairs up from the playroom/office. We had some kids at the kitchen table and others at the little table. The kids at the little table had a blast painting, mixing the frosting and even sampling a bit of the sweets.

We did change up the plans a bit. Instead of painting cookies then baking them, Beanie Dad and I baked the cookies last night and I made a frosting that the kids used to paint. It was the best thing because we would have lost them the other way. So, today was such a success that I think that we'll do it again for Christmas.

C is for Crazy

Do you ever have those moments where you think that you have a good idea but the more you think about it the worse it is but then it's too late? That's what I am faced with this week. Several weeks ago I thought it would be a great idea to host a small group of kids from the mom's group to paint Halloween cookies. The idea came after one of my good friends reminded me that her fabulous family cookbook that she gave me after I got married included a few little fun stuff to do with kids. One was to make paintbrush cookies.

If we were still in our nice house in Big City, Texas, I probably wouldn't be fretting about it. But we are in a town home, we just don't have the space that we used to have and I'm freaking out a bit. Heck, we're living on three levels and don't even have gates to block the stairs (JillyBean has been amazing and doesn't seem to want to go up or down without us. I'm wondering if the curiosity isn't there because she's not shut out). Anyway, I had set a limit on six kids, which seemed doable until I began to imagine how all of this would work out. Have I mentioned that I'm freaking out a bit about this?

I am sure that it will work out; at least that's what I have to keep telling myself. We do have an eat-in kitchen so we will be able to use the kitchen table and not the dining room table. I also thought that I would bring Bean's little table and chairs up from the study and put it in the kitchen. Hopefully I can contain the activity enough that it will work out fine and all of the stress will be for nothing...

Even if it doesn't work I'll be left with some yummy cookies. I'm using my sugar cookie recipe and my friend's painting recipe. Beanie Dad says that I should just buy the pre-made stuff to save the hassle but that wouldn't be any fun.

Here's the best sugar cookie recipe EVER. What makes it so good is the inclusion of cream cheese and almond extract.

1 cup butter, softened
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1/2 t almond extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 t baking powder

In a large mixer bowl combine butter and cream cheese. Beat until well combined. Add sugar; beat until fluffy. add egg, vanilla, and almond extract and beat well.

In a medium bowl stir together flour and baking powder. Add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture; beat until well mixed. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill in the refrigerator about 1 1/2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with desired cookie cutters. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Remove to wire racks; cool.

*Since we'll be painting the cookies that will be done before baking them.
**Adapted from Treasury of Christmas Recipes, a recipe book that I 've had since college

NSync

JillyBean and Beanie Mom took a little break last week. Dad had a business trip in Nashville so we decided to visit Nana for a few days. As it turned out, we spent a day in Nashville visiting Beanie Auntie who graciously conducted a two-day photo shoot of the Bean. We haven't seen the pictures yet but are positive that they're fabulous. We visited a pumpkin patch to get some cute fall photos. However, we were not greeted by fall weather as it was in the 80s. Poor Bean was decked out in a sweater and cap so that she could look the part while other kids were running around shorts and sleeveless tops. Oh well, no one said that a super model's job was an easy one.

It was a nice trip filled with the opportunity to get reaquainted with family that we don't get to see too often. Most importantly, JB got to spend time with her great grandmother and great-great aunt who, unfortunately, is not in the best shape right now. We spent a day at Ma and Evelyn's house playing and raking leaves.

We got home in time for Mom to attend the Elton John concert on Friday night with a couple of other moms. It was a fabulous show. To make the experience better, Bean did wonderfully with a new babysitter. Mom was super surprised that there were no tears when she left the house. Maybe Bean thought that Miss Rose Mary was another aunt...

So now we're trying to get back in sync and greatly need to get back into a routine, which Mom has discovered is just as important for her as well as for JillyBean.

Mommy's Night(s) Out

This past week has resembled pre-baby days because Beanie Mom has been out almost every night. It began on Tuesday with a mom's club outing to the Virginia School of Massage for a one hour massage that cost a whopping 30-bucks! Afterward a couple of gals went to dinner at the closest thing to Tex-Mex that you can find in Central Virginia - and it's still a pretty long distance - La Cocina del Sol. It was nice to have a relaxing, fun dinner without JillyBean and not having to look at the clock to make sure that the babysitter and her $10/hour fee didn't totally break the bank since Beanie Dad took over duties for the night.

On Wednesday,a friend hosted a CAbi party and I got a few new items to make the wardrobe look chic but playground appropriate. The clothes were great and I only wish that I could have got more but hopefully I can pick up an item or two at the rep's sample sale next month.

And finally, Thursday was the preview party for Martha's Market, a super scaled-down version of Nutcracker Market. I was able to knock a few people off the Christmas gift list, which is always a great thing to do in October.

Score!

JillyBean is the new owner of a fabulous convertible. Yes, I got to the sale and bought the little car as well as some new jeans and black dressy shoes. And on top of all that, Jilly has this new table chair set that mom scored for a mere 30-bucks (retails for $95). It's in mint condition and is great for her to sit at and color while Mom takes on more writing assignments. Each day we can come down to our joint office and work togehter.

Consignment Time

Beanie Mom has spent a few hours this weekend helping the organizers of the Here Wee Grow Again consignment sale. Sunday was intake day and, well, it's a good thing that I'm selling things because I saw a lot of ways that it's going to get spent. Seriously, there is a lot of super high quality stuff being sold. Too bad JillyBean isn't a bit older because there was a gorgeous dress that would be perfect for Christmas photos. Actually, the only thing that JB is getting is a couple new pair of jeans (I checked in some great jeans today) and an adorable rain coat that one of the volunteers brought on Saturday. If it's still there, she may also get this Cozy Convertible car to play with outside (one of her buddies has one similar and she LOVES it). The sucker retails for $60 and is marked at the sale for $15 and is in awesome condition. Keep your fingers crossed that it's still there when I go tomorrow. Other than that, all of the money we make goes toward Christmas gifts.

For C'ville moms looking for a great deal, head on over to Aldersgate Methodist Church (off Rio behind the mall). The sale opens to the public on Tuesday and goes through Saturday. Here's more information.

Non-Mom Jeans

Beanie Mom got a new pair of jeans today and is in love with them. Apparently they're Oprah's favorite jeans and, well, it's just one more sign that Oprah's stamp of approval is worth something (except for her politics of course).

I think this was the first time that I put on a pair of jeans in 5 years and had the sales lady tell me that she thought that I could wear a smaller size. What a pleasant surprise! And, yeah, the smaller size fit perfectly - no need to have them hemmed or taken in at the waist.

I highly recommend !iT Jeans. Not only are they a massive self-esteem booster but they're easy on the pocketbook at less than $100. I bought the Milano Trouser (below) but also tried on and loved the Diva and will go back and get them later.