Trick-or-treaters

Happy Haunting!

Image: Gris Grimly's Illustration

a read for the season

The Insomniacs by Karina Wolf is not a book about Halloween, but it is a magical celebration of the night and seems particularly perfect for reading this time of year.

When the Insomniacs move twelve time zones away for Mrs. Insomniac's new job, the family has an impossible time adapting to the change. They try everything to fall asleep at night--take hot baths, count to one thousand, sip mugs of milk--but nothing helps. Venturing out into the dark, they learn there is a whole world still awake and a beauty in their new and unconventional schedule. - Putnam Juvenile

Wolf collaborates with two brother illustrators, Ben and Sean Hilts, to bring the night to life as an alternate universe for the Insomniacs and the reader. The design of the book, which truly showcases the power of the color blue, is hypnotizing and different in a way that will draw in an audience of any age. 

 Images: rocketcitymom, karinawolf, tumblr

chambray, come my way

 photo by Stockholm Street Style, via A Cup of Jo

Whether I've missed the mark on this trend or not - I do not know nor do I care, but what I do know is that I am OBSESSED with finding myself the perfect chambray shirt. This, to me, appears to be nearly impossible since the ones I come across are too western, too preppy, too boxy, too soft, too 90s, or just too denimy (yeah, that's a problem). Seriously, why is this shirt so darn hard to find when it also seems to be virtually everywhere? My search goes on...

  via Anthropologie

 via j.crew

 via gap

via Madewell

watercolor wedding

The idea of a watercolor wedding is so simply elegant. It is not overly themed or contrived- there is a natural beauty in free form color and the options are endless. After seeing these photos, adding a watercolor touch to any affair seems like a good idea.

Cake: 100layercake, Invitation: ohsobeautifulpaper, Garland: ohhappyday, Favor: ohlovelyday, Votives: oncewed, watercolor wedding photos: styleunveiled

sweet·heart /ˈswētˌhärt/ Noun: A person that one is in love with

I have always thought the term "sweetheart" was special. It sounds like a lovely, old-timey way to refer to your other. Maybe that is why I really like this tune from The Lumineers.

video: youtube

the carousel

Just some artistic inspiration for all of you who are tackling your jack-o-lanterns this weekend...happy carving!

image: thisoldhouse

Thursday, Children's Halloween masks and Etsy

 littlehbigstyle

One of the best parts of Halloween is seeing some of the more original costumes (it isn't that every Cinderella and Batman is not lovely and heroic, but something different is always welcome) and Etsy has some great, unique masks for kids. If you are still looking for something special for your trick-or-treater, you just might find it here....

 kindakicrafts

 SundriesandPlunder

 herflyinghorses

 herflyinghorses

 waxingmoonmaskery

 JustZipity

 oxeyedaisey

 WaxingMoonMaskery

Mahalo

maple leaves

When the trees look like this each autumn, after being amazed by how beautiful it is, I always think of the book Look What I Did with a Leaf! by Morteza E. Sohi. If you can get your hands on a copy, it is the perfect guide for some creative crafts on a fall afternoon. I have put a copy on hold at the library and we are heading out to gather what has fallen of the sugar maples right now!

Images: flickriver, myowlbarn, jannahsteps

i heart mini clothespins

Why is it that some things are even better when miniature? This is true for mini clothespins. They are the perfect decorative touch, great for gift wrapping and can be all dressed up for fancy occasions... 

 Images: etsy, wanelo, etsy, creaturecomforts, etsy

illustrations of autumn in children's literature

Images: Elsa Beskow, Muth's Zen Ghosts, Tudor's Pumpkin Moonshine, Cooney's Ox-Cart Man, Denise's Oliver Finds His Way, Scarry's I Am a Bunny

clever charlotte

clever charlotte is the brainchild of two gals who grew tired of searching for sewing patterns that were just right for their young daughters and instead created them! The result of their efforts is the site clever charlotte , part shop for the wonderful, modern patterns and part blog (with helpful sewing tutorials).
I am quite smitten with the chickadee blouse and skirt, but all of it is really terrific.....

 All images: Clever Charlotte

The Godfather as Lifestyle Movie

Long before Nancy Meyer's movies' beautiful interiors (Something's Gotta Give, It's Complicated) sent fans in search of perfect croissants and casual flower arrangements, the Godfather's rich images of food, family, and religion sold viewers on an idealized Italian-American lifestyle (with a generous side helping of vengeance). I rewatched the Godfather last night for the first time in years and, as a nesting thirty-something, was much more taken with the lifestyle side of the movie than I was with the themes of honor and revenge, which for some reason captivated me during my late teens and early twenties. So, dear readers, here are a few of my favorite Home and Gardens moments from the 1972 Oscar winner:

Lovely Tudor-style home (filmed on Staten Island)

Luxist.com

City gardening, complete with wine and fruit

from the Godfather wiki

Hats

mptvimages.com

Travel

Interesting post about Bar Vitelli here

Unforgettable cannoli

(Apparently an improvised line--read more here)

Italian cookies (served at Connie's wedding)

from the We Love Astoria blog

And, of course, a spectacular wedding

1972 Paramount Pictures