This was the first brussels sprouts recipe that I ever made and it was such a hit that I've kept it in my recipe box for years. It's a sure crowd please and compliments any holiday table or dinner anytime really:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (10-ounce) packages Brussels sprouts
• 2 ounce piece slab bacon cut into 3/4 inch cubes
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Wash and then peel off any loose or damaged leaves from the sprouts. Trim the root end and cut each sprout in half.
3. Cook the bacon and walnuts in a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat until bacon just begins to crisp and walnuts are toasted, about 4 minutes. Transfer the bacon and walnuts with a slotted spoon to a bowl and set aside. Add the Brussels sprouts to the skillet and season with salt and pepper.
4. Put the pan in the oven and roast the Brussels sprouts for about 30 minutes, add the bacon and walnuts and continue to roast until the sprouts are cooked through and golden, about 10 to 15 minutes more.

I used to love wrapping presents. I worked at Restoration Hardware during college (terrible idea btw - I shopped more than I worked and ended each shift in the negative $$). I learned the fancy retail way of gift wrapping using sharp edges, double sided tape, and folds along the edges. I spent hours wrapping a handful of beautiful gifts for my boyfriend/fiance/husband back in my roaring 20's.

Now we've got two kids and what seems like thousands of thousands of gifts to wrap each Christmas. This situation led to me dreading Christmas gift wrapping time. I'd put it off, get all stressed about it, it was no good. 

I was so grateful when I got a few of the ugly blue Amazon cloth gift bags - I reused those over and over. It got me thinking. I could sew these bags in cute Christmas fabrics - spend 2-3 hours sewing them and then re-use them every year; saving myself hours of effort and stress every Christmas. 

I downloaded a Jo-Ann's Fabrics coupon and bought a yard of fabric in practically every Christmas fabric they had. It did take an initial investment of about $100 I think (but over the years I'll save $$ by hardly ever buying gift wrap again!). I did a mix of vintagey older looking fabrics and cartoon/disney fabrics for the kids.

Look how great these came out! I adore the vintage old-timey look and feel of these under the tree. Let's not forget all the landfill fodder and poor sad trees that are wasted in every house as wrapping paper is ripped, wasted, and trashed every Christmas.

Scroll below the pics for a link to the tutorial (it's so easy, it's basically sewing a pillow case with a ribbon added):

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Materials:
- Buy as much fabric as you'd like bags. I did about half a yard of fabric per a pattern which gave me 1-3 bags depending on how large or small I made them. I didn't really measure anything out because I wanted a million different size bags.
- about 30” of ribbon per bag (a little more or a little less depending on bag size obviously)
- Janome sewing machine
- Thread of different colors
- Fabric sewing scissors
- Sewing pin set (with tape measure and pin cushion- all the basics)

TUTORIAL:
I'm not going to try and tell you how I did the sewing. Mainly because when I tried writing out I found it incredibly boring to try and originally re-write a blog that I followed for help on this. Spool of Thread's tutorial is better than anything I could put together. Very detailed. The only thing I'd add is not to sweat perfection. I left raw edges on the inside to save myself a few minutes effort (gasp) and I don't regret it for a minute!

I signed up to host my daughter's first class social last week and had to come up with an idea for something for 10 kids to do... I was chatting with some co-workers about it, looking for ideas, and one particularly clever woman suggested Halloween sugar cookie decorating. What a perfect idea! Even though, normally I'm not the biggest fan of feeding kids sugary treats - but the cooking/decorating part was so fun it over-ruled my angst about that. I tell myself that the organic/whole grain version makes it slightly nutritious at least. The kids had a fantastic time! Here's my recipe (adapted from my fave woman Martha Stewart!):

Sugar Cookie Recipe:

• 1 cup Organic Whole Wheat White Flour
• 1 cup Organic Whole Wheat Flour - I mill my own from a soft white wheat grain like spelt)
• 1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt. Himalayan salt is loaded with tons of essential minerals (it hasn't been refined and processed like white table salt).
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of organic butter at room temp
• 1 cup organic sugar

• 1 organic, cage free egg 
• 1 Tsp organic vanilla (see blog post to make your own organic homemade vanilla HERE)
• Assorted candies and sprinkles for decorating (optional)

Lemon Icing Recipe:

• 1 1/2 cup organic confectioners powder sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons organic milk. I recommend either low-temp pasteurized (can find at Whole Foods) or raw milk (source from a local farm).
• 3-4 drops lemon essential oil

See milk pasteurization in another post HERE - but the short version is that you want to avoid ultra-pasteurized milk which has been heated to the high temp of 280 degrees. This kills all bacteria, vitamins, minerals, and the healthy enzymes which help your body digest the milk (which is what can lead us to lactose intolerance). Avoid! ​

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix the dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients and then combine both bowls. Sprinkle flour on the counter, roll the dough out. Using Halloween cookie cutters let the kids cut out the cookies. Bake for 12-16 min (until edges are brown). Let cool completely before icing.

For the icing you just whisk the confectioners sugar with the milk until it's smooth. Add any spooky colors like orange and black (I use all-natural, vegan, non-GMO food coloring). Spread over cookies with a small spoon and add any of the sprinkles/decorations if you chose to. Icing will harden in ~20 min. 

I had a real life epiphany today. 

I've always loved the holidays. Christmas and Halloween are tied for my favorites. It was only today that I realized why it is that I love Halloween so much! Because I'm from Maine! And in Maine we like old things. Scary things. Haunted things. Our state treasure is Stephen King. You can see a flash of my hometown in Pet Sematary as the trucker who hits the boy in the beginning is driving along. Pretty much everyone I know back home will swear they've seen a ghost (myself included). We were often doing creepy teenage things like seances in cemeteries and communing with spirits through the Ouija board. Our homes, and churches, and graveyards date back to the 1700's.

​I came across this article from a friend's facebook post today that my hometown in Maine (Bucksport) is officially "the most haunted town in Maine." and I'm pretty sure that Maine is the most haunted state in the U.S. The tomb of our town's founder is cursed by the witch that he burned at the stake (that graveyard is... maybe 6 houses down from my mom's house). Ghost Hunters have done several shows there (and found it haunted of course) and at Fort Knox across the river.  

It's all a lot of fun. The crisp fall air, piles of leaves, dressing up and trick o'treating. It's just pure FUN.  Just watch Hocus Pocus and you get an idea of the joy that is a New England Halloween. So I try to bring a little bit of Maine to every place I've lived. If I had unlimited time and funds my whole house would be a walk through horror fun house. Each year we do a little more- this is last year:  

We hung the skeleton using fishing wire. A spider hangs above by fishing line as well. 

I've always got to add a nautical theme. Eventually I'd like a whole graveyard with wrought iron fencing... I'll likely work on that this month!

I dress up every year- because it's fun! Last year I was Maleficent and the kids were Hiccup and Astrid from How to Train your Dragon.

Anyway, come back soon for a tutorial on how me made the Martha Stewart inspired large witch plywood cutout with her two cats. I'll also share the holograph how too. There are so many fun things you can do!



Here's a share of my favorite scary front yards. Enjoy!

• Minimalisti Scary Halloween Decorations: The graveyard is on my list to do. The Zombie Dolls are a little too scary even for me. But you decide for youself... 
• I've got to do #8 from "Fun Ways to Scare your Kids!" Using toilet paper rolls to make scary glowing eyes peeking from bushes.
• Dead wicked witch of the west sticking out from your house - simply too cute. 
• I have to make these Chunky Tombstones!
• This "funeral parlour" is just aces.
• Chicken wire ghosts are easy and fantastic
• Martha's Cheesecloth ghosts.
• This easy pallet with lights below is maybe just a little too creepy... I'm not sure...
• I'll end with Insane Aslyum Girl which takes scary just too far... too too far. Don't do it. Don't. You.. Do... It!