Teach Me Something Thursday, Volume Six.

The sixth installment of TMST comes from Melissa, who runs the blog Dreams and Colour. Seeing as we are on our way to Halloween, she shows us a great way to carve a pumpkin using a cookie cutter!

A few years ago, I decided to try something different with my pumpkin carving for Halloween. It was an experiment on my part, especially since I am by no means crafty or good with décor, and I was surprised with how well it turned out. I received a lot of compliments on my pumpkin, not just from the trick-or-treaters (and their parents) but from my friends and family as well- who are all too familiar with my lack craftiness.

 

You will need:

A pumpkin

Cookie cutter (when I did this pumpkin, I was living in a town known for its harbour, which is why I used a sail boat cookie cutter. You can use whatever shape you like. I’ve also done cat and witch (alternating the shapes) on a pumpkin

Hammer

Knife

Spoon

Plate

Candle

How to:

Step 1: Buy a pumpkin

Step 2: Using your knife, cut off the top of the pumpkin and using a spoon (or your hand) clean out the ‘guts’ of the pumpkin

Step 3: Turn your pumpkin upside down- the hole you just cut into your pumpkin, will be the bottom (this is an important step and 9 times out of 10 I forget to do with the first shape)

Step 4: Place the cookie cutter on your pumpkin and use your hammer to push the cookie cutter into your pumpkin.  The first time I did this pumpkin, I just used my strength to push in the cookie cutter- it was so hard! The hammer definitely makes it easier! You can either hammer until the cookie cutter goes all the way through the pumpkin or you can hammer until there’s a clear outline  and use your knife to cut along the outline (this is what I do)

Step 5: Repeat step 4 until you have done the entire pumpkin

Step 6: In the centre of a plate, place a candle and light it.

Step 7: Place the pumpkin over the candle and display

That’s it! Super easy, super creative, and in my case, super impressive.

DISCLAIMER: Please be careful when doing this project. While it is simple, take caution when using a knife, hammer and candle. Be safe. ***Take on this project at your own risk. I assume no responsibility for any injuries as a result of this project***

Check out more of Melissa's musings over at Dreams and Colour.

The Great Pumpkin Caper.

For the last three years, Erich + I have attempted to go pumpkin picking, but plans have always fallen through for some reason or another. Weather, work, or sheer laziness. Last year, we had attempted to go the day before Halloween, but there was nothing to be found. We stopped off at some random roadside stand/home + snagged two that were sitting in a pile on their front lawn. It was laughable, but it didn't count for pumpkin picking. I was going to write it off this year, but then I realized that we both free on Columbus Day. This meant an adventure of the pumpkin persuasion!

en route to find the perfect pumpkins.

We headed out east in the middle of the afternoon. Going on a holiday was not one of our brightest ideas, but we really didn't have a choice due to our schedules. The first place we attempted to go to was crawling with screaming children + parents too busy stuffing their faces to pay attention to their offspring [a child got hit with a shopping cart by a parent who was too busy browsing the shop to notice her surrounds. He was fine, but I was still floored at how no one was paying attention]. We escaped + went apple picking next. Upon arriving at the apple orchard, the folks that worked there told us, "Most of the apples have fallen from the trees." They also left out that most of the apples on the ground had rotted. After three or four minutes, we turned to each other, laughed + started to walk back to the car.

next year, are going apple picking in september.

By this point, the trip was a bust, so we start to head home. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty bummed out, but what can you do? As we turned off of Sound Road + made our way down Edwards Avenue, we noticed a smaller pumpkin patch on the righthand side of the road. A pumpkin patch, with only a few cars in the parking lot. Could it be true? Talk about perfect timing! Not only was this location chock full of pumpkins, they were also much cheaper than the more popular places in the vicinity.

Erich + I chose an assortment of pumpkins, as you can see from my fancy pants collage. Some will be displayed in their natural form + some will be carved. What we will be carving into them is still unknown. I'm super stoked to make roasted pumpkin seeds + pumpkin pie.

It was really nice to be able to spend the afternoon with Erich. The drive was filled with a killer soundtrack + its rare that we actually have time to do things like this during the school year. I am super lucky that we finally got around to doing this. Three years was worth the wait!

Sunday Social, Volume Five.

This week's Sunday Social linkup is not the usual questions - this week, we were encouraged to post anything that relates to fall. Mine is a list of random things that I associate with autumn.

Jimmy Eat World - Futures. This reminds me of attending Stony Brook University, driving around the campus, surrounded by trees with changing leaves. I remember getting this album a few weeks early, from a boy I had a major crush on. He had connections within the music industry + snagged me a copy a month before it was released. I listened to it every day.

Halloween. This is the holiday of the season. The entire month of October is basically dedicated to the arrival of this magical day. I love watching children + adults prepare for the holiday. Also, how cute are those tiny tots dressed up on Halloween, walking around in search of sweet treats?

SerendipiTea's Chaucer's Cup. Hot tea in a giant mug is such an inviting part of autumn. Chaucer's Cup is so warm + inviting. It reminds me of home. Total comfort tea that I can't live without.

image via

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins. I love any food that is pumpkin flavored. These totally unhealthy [but ridiculously delicious] muffins were breakfast on more than one occasion when I worked for the corporate coffee company. When these aren't in season, I would take pumpkin bread + put a thin layer of cream cheese on top. Sounds odd, but it tastes amazing.

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown holiday films are classics. Erich + I were just saying last week that we need to watch this soon. Another warm + fuzzy for the list!

Cold weather. Yes, as soon as the temperature drops, the air starts to smell different. I can't explain it, but the crispness in the air is so inviting to the senses. Its even better when you can smell the neighbor's fireplace from your bedroom window. Total heaven.

Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving for two reasons. First reason  - its a holiday about giving thanks, not gifts. It can be a hectic holiday, but nothing like those in December. Its more of a crazy in the kitchen kinda day. Second reason - Thanksgiving dinner. Hands down, one of the best meals on earth. I can eat leftovers three times a day for the remainder of the week + be totally content.

What are some things that remind you of fall?

Shabby Apple $50 Giveaway + Coupon Code.

I love dressing up once autumn hits - its all I can talk about lately. This contest couldn't have come at a better time. Shabby Apple, an online retailer that is known for gorgeous, vintage-inspired dresses, is giving one lucky reader $50 to spend on a fantastic fall frock [say that fast ten times]. They are also being super generous + giving readers 10% off for the month of October, when you use the coupon code shortgirllongisland10off.

If you've never been to Shabby Apple, head on over. They have dresses for the ladies, little ladies, + for ladies expecting little ones. The shop also boasts an array of accessories + is even selling athletic + swim attire now.

The contest will end on Friday, October 19 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner must have a US shipping address to be eligible for entry.

How to Enter:
Leave a separate comment for each entry. There is one mandatory entry + twelve bonus entries. You can complete as many additional entries as you would like. Each comment equals an entry.

01. "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook [Mandatory entry].
02. Visit Shabby Apple + leave a comment, telling me what you would buy if you won the $50 gift card.
03. "Like" short girl, long island. on Facebook.
04. Follow short girl, long island. via Google Friend Connect.
05. Follow short girl, long island. via Bloglovin'.
06. Follow me on Twitter + leave a comment with your username.
07. Follow Shabby Apple on Twitter + leave a comment with your username.
08. Tweet about the giveaway, including a link to the blog giveaway page. Make sure to leave a comment with the link to the tweet. You can do this as many times as you want, as long as you post the links for each tweet.
09. Follow me on Pinterest + leave a comment with your username.
10. Follow Shabby Apple on Pinterest + leave a comment with your username.
11."Pin" this blog post onto one of your boards + + leave a comment with the link.
12. Follow me on Instagram [stellarmichele] + leave a comment with your username.
13. Post the photo below on Instagram + use the hashtag #SGLIShabbyApple. Comment each time you do this - you can post as many photos as you want, as long as they are still up on Instagram when the winner is chosen.

Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry + if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Good Luck!

Update: After going through entries, there were 287 that were in before the end of the contest. The winner is #38, Hilary. Congratulations!