October 2010 Archives

Well, we wore our Halloween costumes I mentioned in my previous post to the all-day work party yesterday.  We didn't win the Best Individual Costume Contest but our costumes were a big hit.  Everyone was impressed and wanted to take our picture.  And, our department did win the Best Overall Department Costumes Contest.  So there's that.  :)

As promised, here are a couple of pictures.  I apologize for the poor quality.  The costumes look much better in person.

Thanks again to Rachel, for the awesome tutorial! 

Halloween isn't really one of my favorite holidays.  I could honestly take it or leave it.  I don't consider myself crafty or creative enough to make my own costume and generally don't dress up.  My place of employment, however, loves Halloween.  Almost everyone dresses up and there are fun activities planned for every hour of the day.  No one is expected to get any sort of actual work done.  Generally, each department comes up with a theme.  People dress up and the different work areas are decorated to go along with the theme.  My department, Engineering, decided to do "old school video game characters".  Think Mario Brothers and Pac-Man.  My boyfriend and I decided to go as Goombas.  It's the little brown mushroom type thing that Mario likes to stomp on.  If you aren't familiar, see the picture below...

So.  Yeah.  I'm dressing up as that.  No hot, sexy halloween costume for me.  I'm going as an very angry-looking brown mushroom.  With fangs.  Not sure how I got talked into this but there's no turning back now.

We found an awesome tutorial online: Mario Brothers Goomba Costume Tutorial, and got started this weekend.  We had a heck of a time finding all of the materials and I almost gave up entirely, but we eventually prevailed and it's coming along nicely so far. 

This is my first time ever making my own costume.  I hope it all turns out well in the end.  I'll be pretty sad if it doesn't, after all this effort.  I will be using a sewing machine for the first time on Tuesday night.  Please wish me luck.  I think I'm going to need it.

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?  Do you go all out and make your own costumes?  Does your place of employment celebrate the holiday? 

One of the things I really wanted to do this fall was go apple picking.  I actually really wanted to go last fall but never made it happen.  This past Saturday was a perfect fall day so my boyfriend and I decided to meet up with a bunch of my family and head to the orchard.  This was my first apple picking experience and it was fantastic.  Definitely met my expectations.  The apple pie I've been enjoying (the first I've ever made) all this past week has been fantastic as well.  :)

I realize I messed up the crust a bit, and it's not that great to look at, but it really is delicious.  I wish I could share a piece with you to prove it.  :)

If you have a favorite apple recipe, please feel free to share.  I have so many apples left still and the crisp I tried was a big failure.

Happy Fall!

I am sitting on my couch in my flannel pajamas I got for Christmas two years ago (navy blue with white polar bears on them) and watching Criminal Minds after having a great dinner with friends out at a Mexican restaurant.  Home-made apple pie is sitting on the kitchen counter waiting for me, if I choose to indulge.  This, is what I call a good evening.  A perfect combination of socializing, relaxing, great food and comfort.

What do you consider the perfect evening? Whatever it is, you should be sure to make it happen soon.  :)