I Heart Halloween

Halloween is one of those holidays that has become much more fun now that we have kids. I love dressing them up and I love going trick or treating.

The girls were both owls this year. I based their costumes off of this wing tutorial and just improvised the rest.

(Sorry for the blurry pic - it's one of the only ones I have of her smiling)

We had several Halloween activities over the weekend including a little party at our house for Riley and her friends. I'm too exhausted for commentary but here are some shots from our past few days.

 

 

Now let's just hope I can stay out of the Halloween candy over the next few weeks!

Happy Halloween

We had a last minute party over the weekend and a full day planned for today. Pics will be posted tomorrow. Have a Happy Halloween!

Fashion Prints

Bill Donovan | Dior Suite | St. Regis New York

Via Inspired Design

Krista Ewart |Domino

Miles Redd

I have always had a fondness for fashion prints. I love when they show the designer sketches on Project Runway! I think it is the loose, gestural drawing style that attracts me. It looks as though these illustrations were  drawn/painted in mere seconds. I have a very deliberate hand when it comes to sketching so this effortless style is something I greatly admire.

It would be easy and rather inexpensive to begin a collection of fashion prints. Below are a few I found after a quick Etsy search.

Our Change of Art 

Jessica Illustration

Claudia Creates

Art by Lola

Art by Lola

Laurens Paint Pallete

I actually have a drawing by the above artist in my master bedroom closet.

It may be time to expand my collection.

Elephantitis

Have you ever spent a day thrifting and by the end of the day you realize that you subconsciously had a theme to your items? A few weeks ago when I was thrifting I came home with not one,

not two,

but FOUR elephant statues. 

These are in addition to this guy that I posted about last week. 

And I'm not done yet. This elephant coin bank also made its way home with me. I love him - you put the coin in his trunk... 

and then lift his tail and he throws the coin in the bank! This bank is supposed to be for Hayes but Riley is "borrowing" it until Hayes is big enough to play with it :) 

So far, that is 6 elephants in one day. 

But, if you can believe it, there is more.

My final elephant purchase of the day was this set of circus wall pin ups: 

They would be perfect in a nursery or a playroom. I love the vintage feel of circus themed items. Apparently I love elephants too! This actually isn't the first time I have noticed a "theme" on a particular day of shopping but this was one of the more extreme cases. Has this ever happened to you? 

Sprucing

After our trip to the pumpkin patch I decided it was time to spruce up our front stoop. I bought a couple of mums at half price from our local nursery to provide some color.

I also found this interesting cabbage plant and decided to give it a try.

I found this wooden star at a thrift store a few weeks ago. It was really cheap so I bought it even though I didn't know what I was going to do with it. I tried it out on the front door and I think I like it.

One thing we are not short on around here are vines. I love the look but I know how damaging they can be to a home so I am trying to keep them under control. I like the way they look in these pots.

Overall I am pleased and it took very little time and money.

While I was at the nursery I bought a few things for inside the house too. My succulents were fading a bit so I replaced a few in this bowl. 

I also brought home a lemon tree!

I have always wanted a lemon tree but let's be honest, if I can't even keep succulents alive then it is going to be a huge struggle for me to keep this lemon tree alive. Apparently it needs lots of watering and full sun. I have a feeling I may never get an actual lemon out of this thing. If not, at least I only wasted $17.00. They had some full-grown lemon trees with fruit already on them but they were $69.00. I was tempted because I always love instant gratification but I made myself walk away with the little one. 

Have you had luck keeping a lemon tree alive? Do you decorate your front entry for fall? I usually don't but it was so easy I may make it a tradition.

A trip to the pumpkin patch

 We visited a pumpkin patch over the weekend.

It was a beautiful day to spend on a farm despite the fact that it was incredibly windy.

As you can see, Hayes was super pumped for her first hayride.

Okay, maybe not. Obviously, this trip was more for Riley's benefit. 

Once we got to the patch, Riley immediately started pointing out which pumpkins she wanted.

We told her if she could carry it, she could have it. 

That definitely narrowed her choices a bit.

 They also had horse rides. Riley and Jellycow had a great time riding Blossom.

We had a great time and ended up with a good selection of pumpkins.

I guess next weekend will be spent carving them!

When tufting goes wrong.

My mouth literally fell open when I saw this sectional on Restoration Hardware's website today. I'm not sure which is worse - the bazillion button tufts or the fact that even ON SALE it still costs over $10,000. 

Is it just me or is this really terrible? Let me know what you think!

Hidden Potential

 I found this elephant in a thrft store recently. I am sure the booth owner never really thought someone would buy this thing. The check out guy certainly seemed surprised that I would want it. But I knew she had potential.

Look how proud she looks now.

Gold glitter spray paint may be my new favorite thing.

I am almost afraid to write this

because I don't want to jinx anything...but for the past three nights this sweet baby has slept through the night! As in, for over 9 hours straight! 

Let's hope it continues! I hope you all have a well-rested weekend!

Would you rather

have a banquette

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Rachel Halvorson Designs

Lonny

or no banquette?

 

Canadian House & Home

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House Beautiful