Happy Halloween!

Hooray, today is Halloween! I've already seen trick-or-treaters around town and they're sure to be out in full force tonight. My husband's been watching scary movies all week and I've been helping my mom plan a Halloween and birthday party for my dad. Hopefully tonight is a wickedly fun night of food, family, friends, laughing and dancing!

This photo is of our first jack-o-lanterns from our first Halloween in our new house last year. We attempted to carve likenesses of my husband, me and our dog. So they're not exactly portraits, but they were a lot of fun to make!

Photo by me.

Ooooohhhh ...

This bag takes my breath away. Everything about it is perfect. This Christian Louboutin Mount Street Bag also comes in fuchsia and black. But I love this soft pink as much as I love the flouncy petals. Oh, it is exquisite.

Photo from here.

Pretty Pumpkin

I love seeing people decorate their homes inside and out with pumpkins. It's such a rich reminder -- and celebration -- of autumn.

While I like a good jack-o-lantern at Halloween, I am smitten with this pumpkin-decorating idea from Better Homes and Gardens. They recommend using a doily and black paint to stencil a pumpkin. The result is so pretty -- almost like a henna pattern.

I bet this pumpkin would look just as gorgeous for Thanksgiving as it would for Halloween.

Photo from here.

Loving the LBDs

Usually when I'm going to an event, I like to wear some color. Something a little attention-getting and a lot of fun.

That said, I am really feeling Banana Republic's little black dresses. There's something about each -- whether it's sumptuous fabric or a smart cut or an embellishment -- that takes it beyond basic and makes it special.

Now it's just a matter of figuring which one I like best!

Photos from here.

What a Colorful World

I am absolutely dazzled by the fall color this year. Whether I'm driving in my car or lying on the living room floor, seeing the trees showing off vibrant yellows, reds and oranges is such a delight.

Isn't this photo of fall color amazing? Can you imagine seeing this scene in person? I just feel grateful that this photographer captured it, and so beautifully.

Happy fall!

Photo from here.

Quote for the Day

I stumbled across a wonderful quote today:

Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you -- not because they are nice, but because you are.

Let's all just be good to one another, okay?

Oooh, Shoes

I logged on to Piperlime today with the most practical of intentions. I was in search of a pair of black boots to see me through fall and winter. But instead of shopping for basics, I ended up drooling over some much more fun footwear. Such as ...

Ladybug by Chinese Laundry

Gouda by Nine West

Privilege by Carlos by Carlos Santana

Hina by DKNYC

Dahlia by Calvin Klein

Wonder Walls

Lately I have been struggling with a home decorating conundrum. But I may have just found the solution. Yay!

You see, we have a small powder room on our first floor. From the moment we bought the house, I have wanted to do something cool and fun with it. Currently it's painted in a soft grayish tone and it is begging for some drama!

The problem is I haven't figured out exactly what to do. It's just off a hall and the space can get quite dark -- so I couldn't paint it a rich shade of chocolate brown as I had originally hoped. And I don't think my husband will agree to wallpaper the room.

However -- flash of brilliance! -- a wall decal or mural might work perfectly. I love browsing through Etsy for tree decals. I'm not sure if I'll buy one or paint my own tree freehand. But either could work wonderfully.

Here are some decals I'm finding particularly inspirational:

Photos from PopWall, Expressingyou, SurfaceFlik, DecorDesigns and DaliDecals.

So Baroque

So maybe it's because Halloween is creeping up. Or perhaps I appreciate a bold departure from my simple, clean-lined style preferences now and again.

But whatever the reason, I am oddly and significantly captivated by this Baroque sofa at Jayson Home & Garden. It's an antique, from nineteenth-century France and I am enchanted with all its detail -- and the fact that it's all in black.

Pretty amazing, no?
Photo from here.

Bar None

While perusing the lovely blog {frolic} the other day, I stumbled across a post on The Jewelry Bar. This etsy shop has stunning pieces that feel thoughtful and organic. I especially love the jewelry that features leaves. one of my favorite motifs.

Let's all drool over a few beautiful pieces, shall we?

Photos from here.

Attitude Inspiration

I was chatting with a chef yesterday when he started describing how well preschool-age son cooks. The kid can even roll his own sushi! The trick, the chef said, is that it doesn't even cross his son's mind that he shouldn't try cooking -- or that he wouldn't be great at it.

Isn't that cool? When is it exactly that we start doubting our ability to do things? That we block ourselves from even trying?

Let's put a stop to this! Instead of thinking why we shouldn't attempt something, let's be confident that we’ll probably be great at it.

And, hey, this isn't a bad way to start a weekend.

Cool by Design

Today I am feeling inspired by the immensely talented artist Katie Kirk, whose designs can be found on her flickr set. Her work is graphic, witty and very cool.

Here, take a look.

Images from here.

Little Joys

I picked up a little something for myself this weekend. And it is silly how happy this small purchase makes me.

They are two black chiffon flower bobby pins from Forever 21. They set me back a whopping $1.80. But I am so loving them! I can't wait to wear them. I'm already planning a work outfit around them and a more fun look around them for the weekend.

It really is the little things, isn't it?

Photo from here.

Fueling the Fire

This morning, there was frost on the ground when I woke up. Frost! I can't believe how quickly autumn has come this year.

While I can't say I'm ready for it, I will try to embrace the best parts of it. The joy of warm meals. The particular brilliant way the sun shines this time of year. Crunching through leaves as I walk or run through them. Cozy sweaters and tall boots and belted jackets.

And fires.

We have used our fireplace quite a bit this week. I love it! It makes our living room so cozy. Wouldn't it be incredible to live in a house that had fireplaces in the dining room, bedroom or even bathroom?

I snapped this photo a few weekends ago in Vermont. I like the pattern and texture found in this stack of firewood -- and how someone else seems to be anticipating cozy nights inside by a fire.

Stay warm out there!

Photo by me.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I feel overwhelmingly grateful for home.

Not just my physical house, although I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how much I do love it. I love how we're little by little fixing it up and making it our own. I love how it's this oasis of comfort no matter what's going on in the rest of the world. All day, I kept thinking about how I wanted to walk in and curl up in a blanket by the fireplace while it's chilly and drizzly outside.

But as much as I crave being in my house, it's the others that also call it home that are really the best. My husband and pup make my life so wonderful, and I can't think of much nicer than spending time with them at home. Whether cuddled inside or romping in the backyard -- as they're doing in this photo -- it doesn't matter. What matters is that we're here.

Since we've been away the past few weekends, he and I have expressed how much we are looking forward to this week and weekend, just being at home together with the dog. We've been carefully guarding the upcoming weekend, not saying yes to any invitations out just yet and not making too many plans. I think we both recognize how much the three of us just want to be together ... and be together at home. And I think that's a beautiful thing.

Photo by me.

Time for Tights

Now that the weather has taken a deliberate turn for the chilly, I am going crazy for tights. Colorful or patterned stockings have to be the most fun part about dressing warmly. 

So I was excited to see the beautiful ways Rebecca of the amazing and inspiring The Clothes Horse has been wearing hers. So pretty!

Photos from The Clothes Horse.

So Much Love

What a wonderful weekend I just had. I know it's nearly halfway through the week but I find myself thinking again and again about how I spent those days.

My husband and I went to Vermont for his best friend's wedding. The celebrations were lovely, the people we met were friendly and the fall color was absolutely gorgeous. The leaves were such rich shades of orange, red and yellow that they looked electric, while the hills in the background tinged a beautiful shade of blue. (My photos definitely do not do the scenery justice!)

But I have to say, the best part of the long weekend was how loving my husband was to me. He made me feel so special, so important, so amazing. We had such a blast dancing and chatting with his friends and just hanging out. I think I fell in love with him all over again.

Photos by me.