Let’s talk about what we’re not doing for the holidays

I had had this idea of asking you all what you were making this year. But the danger in those kind of discussions is sometimes a comparisonfest can break out. I want to celebrate people doing what works for them rather than feeling like there’s something more they should be doing.

Instead, I’m asking a different question: how are you cutting yourself some slack this holiday season?

Please share in the comments!

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Microblog Mondays: Don’t overthink it. Just write something. And then read Stirrup Queens.

November 26, 2014October 17, 2024

Carving pumpkin into pie

As a kid, I didn’t understand where pumpkin pie came from. My best guess was that it was somehow made from the goopy insides we scooped out while getting ready to carve jack-o’-lanterns. I thought of the outside as kind of a hard shell and was surprised to learn that (minus the peel) is actually the edible part. It seemed like magic, and I knew I had to try it one day.

Fast forward to November a couple years ago when I finally gave it a try.

I started with the wrong kind of pumpkin. At least that’s what people kept telling me. This giant orange carving pumpkin came with our CSA box. Even though I knew it wasn’t a pie pumpkin, that’s what I had, and I wanted to make it work. A little internet research made me think it could be done, so I gave it a shot.

I scooped seeds, cut the squash into pieces, and baked it. Phillip helped me remove the peel.

One of the downsides of a carving/non-pie pumpkin is they tend to be more watery. The fix is letting the baked pumpkin set for awhile and then pouring off the excess water. Easy enough. I did this a couple times, then immersion blended it into a puree.

The taste seemed a little bland (another one of the potential side effects of carving pumpkins) until I added my homemade spice blend. All of the sudden it tasted like pumpkin pie.

I had decided not to do the crust from scratch – another project for another time. I made 3 pies and later pumpkin bread. I froze the extra pumpkin puree in large freezer bags.

The pies got rave reviews.

The process took way longer than I expected. Still, I enjoyed the magic of transforming a pumpkin into a pie. And watching the naysayers eat their words.

November 3, 2014October 29, 2020

Halloween when you don’t really care about Halloween

I’m just not that into Halloween. Candy, costumes, and everything pumpkin flavored? Yes. Things that are scary or disgusting? Nope.

So when I realized that Phillip had class that evening and the DVD I had on hold from the library was available, I decided a night in sounded pretty good.

(In case you’re wondering, DVD = Season 1 of Girls. Because I can’t handle another intriguing public radio interview with Lena Dunham without actually watching the show. You win, Terry Gross.)

As I write this part on Friday morning, this is the plan for the evening:

Pizza and wine
Binge watch Girls
Bake stupid easy pumpkin cookies

And how did that work out?

Really well, actually.

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Microblog Mondays: we’re bringing blogging back.

October 6, 2014November 24, 2018

DIY Mask Inspiration and Microblogging

Microblog Mondays

Melissa of Stirrup Queens had a fabulous idea to help people get back to blogging called Microblog Mondays. Basically, you post something to your own site/blog that you’d normally just post to social media. It can be short and sweet – the key is to get something posted and not overthink it. (Read more and join up on her site.)

Even though I do blog regularly, this made me think about all the content that ends up scattered across my social sites and never ends up here. I’m going to experiment with using Mondays for this type of quick reads, starting today with a roundup of masks that otherwise would’ve just lived on my Pinterest.

Mask decoration inspiration

At CraftHack next Monday (10/13), we’ll be decorating Halloween masks courtesy of Brit + Co and Velcro Companies. That sent me looking for mask decorating ideas. Here are some I found.

Example masks made with the Brit Kit.

Matching swirl masks from Masque Boutique.

Nature masks from a BHG contest.

Venetian masks from Carta Alta.

Downloadable mask template on A Subtle Revelry.

March 17, 2014

Luck and light

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

My sister- and brother-in-law got us this shamrock plant two years ago. I was worried an Irish plant wouldn’t do so well in the Arizona sun. (Maybe I thought it would sunburn like me-?) But it continues to thrive and bloom. The leaves close up every evening and follow the sun during the day. I guess you have to just keep seeking the light, no matter where you are.

I’m in another one of those spots where I have so much to tell you but, for various reasons, am having trouble getting it all written and posted. (I see all these articles about how to come up with blog post ideas. I have too many ideas. I think what I need is to learn to write faster.) I did write more about Arcosanti – a lot more – and I’m working on cutting that down a bit before I post it.

With any luck, I’ll be posting some bloggy and crafty news later this week, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging until then.

Speaking of plants (and hanging), I wrote a post for Brit + Co on DIY Living Walls, ideas for making a wall-mountable planter for a bunch of plants.

In case gardening isn’t your jam (or in case it is and you want to play music to your plants), my post about a crazy (and awesome) concrete, gesture-controlled speaker just went up on Brit + Co, as well.

So you have some reading material to tide you over, while I keep writing and seeking the light.