Pumpkin Spice for Halloween

 Ever since I took that cake decorating course this summer I've been thinking about making mummies for Halloween. I finally got my chance yesterday!

I started with this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Muffins from AllRecipes.com (I get a lot of recipes from that site!).

They baked up nicely.

Next I made the cinnamon cream cheese frosting and mixed up some colors.

(yes, my oven is that small)

The first step was the face. I didn't think my mummies would look as good if you saw a delicious pumpkin color under their bandages. I tried to make black, but it came out more like an army green.

Next I piped on the bandages.

This step took some time, but it was fun.

I made a spooky day-glo green color for the eyes.

Here are my finished mummies! The lighting in my kitchen is pretty bad, sorry. I think you get the idea anyway. Pretty cute little guys, no?

This morning Nick took the mummies to work. Bye bye yummy mummies!!

Are you making any special treats for Halloween?

Too Many Monkeys

Can a person have too many monkeys? I think I'm bordering on obsessed now. They have to be cute and small, but those are my only limits. I've picked up a few new ones lately..

I got this little dude at the Seattle Art Museum (which I love!) about a week ago. He's handmade by a fair trade women's cooperative in Nepal. I don't feel as guilty about this monkey because he's for a good cause.

What can you do when you're in a department store to exchange something and you walk past a really cute mug? What if that mug is 50% off? What if it's got really cute sock monkeys on both sides? Yep, you have to get it.

Oops, I bought some fabric too. This would make a great coupon organizer, don't you think?

The first step is admitting you have a problem. Some people just don't know when to stop. Not me, I'm done, really. I like pigs too, and kitties, and Snoopy! I've always wanted one of these. ;)

What I Did on My Blog Vacation

I've been a busy little beaver since we last spoke. Fall has engulfed my house with leaves. The weather is cool and crisp. Visitors have come and gone and now I'm back to blog another day. I thought I'd ease my way back into it with a little photo essay of what's been happening up here in Seattle.

Chocolate cupcake recipes have been tested.

Treasures have been discovered in boxes.

Help has been given around the house.

Trips have been taken both near...

and far...

and a bit farther...

and farther still.

Fabric has been cut and turned into things.

That's just a glimpse. Phew, I'm tired, but it's nice to be back.