Halloween in Photos (Part One)

Fable went as Olivia:
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(costume homemade by: WWW)
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makeup by: Fable
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She wore her ears the entire night.
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...And made plenty of mischief with Robot Archer (who made much of his own costume, btw):
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Tricks and treats were had by all.
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...Our Halloween 'twas was a ball.
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Happy Halloween!!! Hope yours was lovely.

GGC

Halloweeve: A Ye Olde Rhyme

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The following is a wee ditty I wrote for Babble three years ago, the year (Hal, Archer and I) dressed up as Bert, Ernie and Rubber Ducky, (somehow landing us on Best Week Ever's 50 Most Terrifying Sesame Street Costumes list!!??) A proud moment for Hal and me (#14!) but also quite the high pressure situation considering this year's Halloween plans. More on that Monday. In the meantime....

Halloweeve

Twas the night before Halloween and all through the house
Not a person wasn't helping me throw last-minute costumes together, not even my spouse.
Fabrics were pressed with iron-on-letters with care.
In hopes it would look good and no one would stare (in a bad way)

My child was screaming from the bars of his bed
Wanting to hang out with his parents instead
Although momma was flattered, "Son, now, don't get me wrong...
"...But this costume is going to take me all the night long!"
When out the front door, there arose such a flutter.
A teenager in a mask! (I internally muttered)
Away from the peephole I arose with a knife!
(I was cutting a jack-o-lantern with my Dad and his wife. )
The full moon that I saw through the peephole was scary!
"Smell my feet," said the teen and "my ass is real hairy!"
Then what to my wandering eyes should appear?
But a dozen more teens with trick-or-treat gear!

And all of them clad head to toe, all in black
Carrying with them, stained pillow case sacks!
"It's too early I said! You must come back tomorrow"
But the teens, they all frowned, their brows furrowed in sorrow...
So I opened the door. With my pumpkin carving knife.
With my half-awake toddler, my dad and his wife
And we looked at each other and we had to agree
It isn't a sin to want some candy!
"Just one!" I demanded, shaking my head.
"And if you smash all our pumpkins you're totally dead...
...I'll kill you, myself!" I seriously said.

The kids all said thank you, adjusting their masks.
And as the door closed, my father's wife asked:
"Why did you give them our candy, anyway?
They're too old and it's not even Halloween day!"
I thought for a moment and then looked at my son.
And then back at the costume I had just now begun.
And I opened my eyes and stretched my hands to the sky
And I said something, shocking, even to I...

"One day my son will be older and change
And it will be a little bit hard and a little bit strange
And costumes will become what little kids wear
And it will be suddenly cool to flash strangers ass-hair.
And being too old for candy and costumes and fright
And unable to participate on Halloween night.
Is a terrible feeling. A feeling not right....
And I remember the feeling," I continued to say.
"For there is nothing quite like a dark Milky Way.
And the sound that it makes when it falls in the sack.
I would do anything to get those glory days back..."

As I muttered the words, a thought came to me
My son just turned two and was going on three
An age that was expected to ring doorbells and run!
It was almost as if a new childhood had come!

A wink of my eye and a twist of my head
And it was time to get Archer back into his bed
Then finish cutting jack-o-lantern's triangle eyes
And the iron-on letters for tomorrow's disguise.

And I heard my son babble as he passed out in his seat.
"I can't wait for tomorrow... my first trick-or-treat."
(And I nodded and said, "yes, me, too, little sweet.")

GGC

Gone Style: Good Wear Days (Week Two)

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First of all, last week was a massive success. Your entries were AMAZING and I had such fun browsing through your images. You're all gorgeous and lovely and how much fun it's been putting shoes (and scarves and hats and tights and cardis) to so many of your names and avatars! Your style inspired me this week to bundle up for Fall. Your style and the fact that it's been freezing here! Not today, though. Today it's toasty and I'm shvitzing all over my black three quarter-length.*

Gross! Anyway! Without further ado... via the randomness of Randomtown that is random.org (dunt, da-da-daaaaaa!) congrats to commenter #11, Alex from Before the Baby Wakes who posted this good wear complete with fantastic hat! Enjoy your new Clava tote, Alex!

And now a few of this week's wears (slash) more heinous posing:
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Vintage Ports Dress - $17
(purchased at sidewalk sale c/o friendly wardrobe dept man.)
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Tights: Anthropologie (sale, last Christmas) $8
Riding Boots: Salvatore Ferragamo (formerly Nana's)
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black bag = Kooba
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faux fur hat: Barneys (outlet)
jacket: thrifted in Springfield Missouri circa '99
cigarette cords: Genetic denim
sweater: (same cardi-cape from last week)
boots: thrifted (@ Slow on Melrose)
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(this coat was twelve dollars. Photos don't do it justice. It's one of my favorite things.)
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shirt: velvet, purchased at Anthropologie
(bought when pregnant with Fable, twas worn as maternity top
vest: Anna Sui for Target
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(high-waisted) leggings: American Apparel
(also purchased when preg with Fable and worn through pregnancy.)
Boots: Thrifted
Bag: c/o Ellington (via this giveaway.)
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Skirt: Jean Paul Gaultier
(bought this in Paris in '00, a gift to myself on my 19th birthday. Ten years later, it still rocks.)
*Shirt: Zara
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(see: pockets)
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Necklace + bracelets: gifts from my mother
Studded Ballet Flats: Michael, Michael Kors:
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And because, she's the true fashionista (fashionistot?) in the family, Miss Fable Lu:
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Fable's dress: Paulina Quintana
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pink velvet jacket: Paulina Quintana
leggings: Flicka on Larchmont
Shoes: converse
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This week I'm SUPER thrilled to be giving away some red hot sunglasses c/o the good people at Benjamin Eyewear. Behold the "Harmony":
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These effers are fierce and I'm totally jealz of whomever gets to snag a pair. To win? Same drill as last week (post links to your daily wears in the comments below. Be sure to post each link in an individual comment so you are eligible for as many outfits as you post. Click here for more info). Thanks to LeeLeeLu for the hook-up and good luck to all of you! So thrilled with all your Good Wears and cannot WAIT to see more!

***

Style Blog of the Week:
(who participated in last week's Good Wear Days, ps)

GGC

Eat Well: Where've You Bean all my Life!

The following was written by resident editor-in-cheese beans, WWW. Thanks, mom!
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I LOVE soup and could eat it every day. I usually make at least one pot of soup a week, even in summer. Now that the weather is cooler, it’s a perfect time to start cooking bean soups. Beans are high in protein, iron, and calcium as well as a great source of fiber and are a staple in the vegetarian diet. This black bean chili recipe is a favorite of mine—not only because it has an amazing flavor (I think partly due to the molasses), but because it is easy and can be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd. And it’s fairly quick as bean soups go; once the beans are cooked, the soup only takes 45 minutes.

For years we had a huge New Years Eve party at our house and Black Bean Chile became a tradition.
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*check out my sexy sleeves! And bangs! And spoon! (I'm on the left, ps)

The big parties are a thing of the past, but I still make the soup for our smaller get-togethers as well as regularly for our family.

COOKING BEANS

Method 1:
Wash and pick through 1 pound of beans getting rid of any dirt clods or pebbles that might be in with the beans. Cover four times their volume with water and let soak over night.
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WWW says, "soak your beans!"

The next day, drain the water and put in a large pot with 3 times the volume of fresh water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 30-45 minutes. When tender, drain liquid and set aside beans.

Method 2:
After washing and sorting beans, cover four times their volume with water and bring to a boil. Let boil for one minute. Turn stove off and let sit, covered, for 1 hour. Drain off water. Cover three times their volume with water and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 30-45 minutes.

Black Bean Chile Soup
(From Steaksmith restaurant in Santa Fe, NM)
¼ cup butter
1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine
1 pound dried black beans, washed COOKED and drained*
1 pound green chile peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced (or 1 pound canned diced chiles)
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(for pepper cooking directions, see here)
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1 clove fresh garlic, finely chopped
2 cups tomatoes, diced medium (or 2 cups canned diced tomatoes)
1 T red chile powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (depending on how hot you like your soup!)
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cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano, and chili powder
3 cups tomato juice or V8 (I USE R.W. Knudsen Organic “Very Veggie Vegetable Blend”) http://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/products/very_veggie
¼ cup molasses
salt to taste
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
½ cup sour cream
2 T fresh cilantro, chopped plus extra for garnish:
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In a large stockpot, place the butter and heat it on medium high until it is melted and hot. Add the onions and sauté them for 5 minutes, or until they are translucent.

Add the cooked black beans, green chile peppers, garlic, tomatoes, red chile powder, coriander, paprika, oregano, cumin cayenne pepper, tomato juice (or vegetable juice like V8) and molasses.
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Stir together. Cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes. (If it is too thick, add more tomato juice.)
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If you want the soup to be creamier, at this time, take out 1/3 of the soup and puree it in a food processor or blender. Return the puree to the soup and add the cilantro. Simmer the soup for 15 minutes. Season the soup with salt to taste.

For each serving, place some Jack cheese in the bowl, ladle in the soup, and top with a dollop of sour cream and some cilantro. Serve with warm tortillas or corn bread.
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(Serves 8)

This soup will feed your family for a couple of days. I love leftovers, but if you don’t, it freezes really well. It thickens considerably over night so you can add some more tomato juice the next day to thin it or use the beans to make soft tacos with guacamole, cheese, rice, cilantro and Spanish rice. Another delicious way to serve the leftovers is in a baked sweet potato topped with sour cream and cilantro.
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Enjoy!

Love,
WWW