Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween!

The big day is finally here!! Happy Halloween everyone!

Here I am in my Raggedy Ann costume! It was super easy--I just borrowed an outfit from Lilly. Having time traveling friends is so convenient sometimes!

All I really had left to do was make my wig! It was super easy and fun--I can post a tutorial sometime. Do you want to know how to make yarn wigs? :)

Molly joined me right before I left! After all, trick-or-treating is loads more fun with friends. 

Molly is a princess! She borrowed a dress from Lilly, too. She loves poofy frilly outfits! I think she looks just like a real princess.

We headed out just as the sun began to set. Look how pretty it is! 

Hand in hand, Molly and I started down the road, ready to claim our bounty of sweets.

How was your Halloween? Did you dress up? Did you go trick or treating, or stay at home and hand out candy? Let me know in the comments!
This has been Dani, dabbling in festivities on my favorite day of the year! Over and out!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Pumpkin Carving!

Hey guys! Next weekend is Halloween! I'm so excited. This weekend I thought it was high time I carve a pumpkin of my own. It's important to time the carving of your pumpkin just right--you want to have enough time to enjoy it, but you don't want it to get icky before Halloween night.

First things first, I had to slice off the top. 

This is one of my favorite steps in the carving process. It's exciting to see what the inside of the pumpkin looks like!

After the top is all the way off, I slice off the guts that are attached. I don't want them dangling down into the candle when I put the top back on.

This is also one of my favorite parts! I love sticking my hands into a pumpkin full of guts and seeds. 

I clasped my fingers around a big chunk and tried to wrench it out. Pumpkin guts are so slippery, though, it was hard to get a good grip. 

After some futile attempts with my fingers, I decided to resort to using the big spoon to scoop out the insides.

Finally, every seed and piece of squishy mush was out! And boy, was I glad--after a while, pumpkin makes my hands kind of itchy. I couldn't wait to rinse them off!

I rolled the pumpkin onto its side and prepared to sketch my design. I put the top back on so I could gauge the best place to draw the face.

I uncapped the Sharpie and held the pumpkin steady while I drew my design.

This is how it ended up! I messed up a little on the teeth (I didn't mean to color them in!) but I just made extra-sure to be careful and to cut around them instead of through them.

Carefully, I poked my knife through and began cutting the triangle.

One down, one to go!

Here's my completed pumpkin! I was able to rub off most of the Sharpie I accidentally put on the teeth.

I love to carve pumpkins. I always wish I had more than one! Some years I have, but I always forget how much work it is to do just one. I can't wait for Halloween! I'm a little panicked, though--I still can't decide what I want to be! Right now I'm thinking bag of jelly beans, tiger, or Raggedy Ann. I think I'm leaning towards Raggedy Ann, though! What do you think? Do you have any suggestions? What's your favorite part about Halloween? I'd love to know!
This has been Dani, dabbling in gutting pumpkins. Over and out!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Leaf Jumping!

Well, would ya look at that that!

Fall has really, truly arrived! The leaves are-a-changin, and fast!

So fast, in fact, that we started raking! I decided there was no better way to spend this crisp autumn afternoon than to jump in some leaf piles with friends. Laughing Spirit and her sister Singing Bird were more than willing to oblige! 

All three of us leapt in right away! 

After a few minutes of romping around, Laughing Spirit and I looked around, our gazes slowly meeting. Where was Singing Bird?

Finally, we both looked right in front of us. Sure enough, there were Singing Bird's legs sticking right up out of the leaves! 

In hysterics, Laughing Spirit and I both reached forward and grabbed a leg.

Singing Bird's little head popped up, covered in pine needles and scarlet foliage. 

We played around for a little while longer, but then headed inside when we started to get chilly. Things have really cooled down here! Last night it got down to 24ºF (-4.4ºC)! I'm sad summer is gone, but I'm so excited that fall is here! I love the cool weather, pumpkin spice, and colorful leafage! Stay tuned--next weekend, I'll be carving my pumpkin! 
This has been Dani, dabbling in a pile of leaves. Over and out!

(P.S.--I need help deciding what to be for Halloween!! If you have any suggestions or ideas, please leave a comment below!)
(P.P.S.--I'm on Instagram now! You should totally follow me, dabblingdani, and chances are I'll follow you back, too!)