Ladylike Pumpkin Carving |

This weekend a lot of people will be carving pumpkins. But instead of the classic Spooky Face why not do some ladylike carving.

Here is a really cute idea found on Family Circle and it goes with my post from yesterday about unconventional candle holders. Instead of leaving the top of the pumkin intact with the lid, cut it off, scallop the edges and add some detail and you will have beautiful pumpkin candle holder. These would also look great sitting on your steps or on a table on your porch for Halloween and they will also give off more light than the classic enclosed jack-o-lantern.

Here are some more ladylike patterns from Country Living

Check back soon for pictures of our own pumpkin carving experience this weekend.

We are going to be using templates for the first time and hope that it goes well!

A Vintage Halloween |

I LOVE antique and vintage post cards. I found some antique Christmas postcards at an antique shop yesterday and it made we want to look up 'antique Halloween postcards' and sure enough, there isn't an occasion that doesn't have vintage postcards it seems.

Below are a few of my favourites from my search.

In the past I have used these old postcard images to make cards out of. I have done it with Easter postcards, Christmas postcards and even Baby Shower cards. They are great resources to make a really interesting and old fashioned looking cards!

Fall Cooking |

Warm, Hearty, Roasted, Cinnamon, Sweet...

Vegetable Soup with Rice and Lentils
Roasted Apple and Pear Slices with Cinnamon
Roast Beef with Roasted Carrots, Potatoes, Pears and Onions

photos by KO Two photography

Seasonal Soup |

I have really been enjoying cooking every night and trying out new "Recipes".

The reason I put "recipes" in quotations is because I absolutely hate following actual recipes! I like to either make up what I think would taste good together, OR look at a photo of food and make my own version based on what it looks like the contents would be.

Thankfully my husband isn't too picky about his food as long as it is healthy, and we haven't had a disaster dinner as of yet.

Here is one of my favourite soups that I have made, and I have made quite a few different types over the past few months.

I call this one 'Butternut Squash and Spinach Lentil Soup' (great title I know) :D

Here's how to make it:

In a large pot with a lid add the following ingredients, bring to a boil and then let simmer for 5 mins.

- 1 pkg. Vegetable Soup Base

- 1 pkg. Butternut Squash Soup Base
- 1 pkg. Frozen Spinach (add frozen)
- 1 pkg. Frozen Butternut Squash (add frozen)

- 1 Can of Lentils
- 1/4 Cup of Peperini Noodles

- Add Pepper and Basil to taste

It is that easy and it is such a yummy fall taste!

Floral Pumpkin Centrepieces

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Looking for an easy and inexpensive DIY centre piece for your table this Thanksgiving?

& don't we all want an excuse to carve out an ewey guey pumpkin once a year?

It's simple:

- Cut a hole in the top of you small pumpkin (the hole size should reflect the numbers of flowers / amount of foliage you have)

- Carve out the insides of the pumpkin (Don't forget to save the seeds to make a tasty treat out of them!)

- Line the inside of the pumpkin with a few shakes of salt (this will preserve the pumpkin for a longer amount of time)

- Choose to use oasis (for a more formal arrangement) or a freezer bag full of water (for a more country loose picked look)

- Gather flowers from your garden and fall foliage (leaves, branches, soy beans, wheat etc.) OR if you are a city gal pick up an inexpensive assortment of flowers from your local grocery store or florist.

- If you choose to use oasis simply soak it in water and cut it to size to fit inside your pumpkin, arranging the flowers and foliage as you wish by placing it into the oasis.

- If you choose to use a freezer bag, simply fill it with water and place it inside your pumpkin, inserting your fall arrangement into the bag.

- Choose to add a little extra to your arrangement by adding a fall figurine (like the mini scarecrow or mini corn as seen in the photos) or add ribbon around your pumpkin or place it on a fall patter or a bed of leaves.

New Dinning Room Table |

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I am SO thrilled with our new dinning room table!

We found a small Mennonite vendor, 'Truly Wood Furniture', at a local flea/farmers market here in London ON.

This table was on clearance and came with the 6 beautiful chairs. It came with two leaves so it can be either 5ft, 6ft or 7ft, fitting 8 chairs in total!

It is a rustic style table having cuts, dents and chisel marks in it from when they were creating it.

It looks GREAT in our dinning room! I can't wait to have a big group over to use it!