Go Ahead, Make My Halloween

This past weekend couldn't have been more perfect. Our Bonfire on Friday was rained out, but we still had a fabulous time entertaining friends indoors. Saturday we partied on the edge of the action and had a totally hilarious time, everyones costumes we're great!

Someone did 'make my halloween'; the good folks over at Warner Brothers. Is anyone else as geeked out for this as I am? Harry Potter is the icing on my Halloween cake!

photo via Warner Bros.

I'll be laying low again this week, Josh leaves for training on All Hallow's Eve, so we have a week packed with relaxation! Hopefully we'll see some more snow before he heads out. Have a Boo-tiful Halloween!

Getting Ghoulish

I'm having a blast preparing for Halloween festivities this weekend, it's kept me very busy Josh and I are throwing a Halloween Bonfire on Friday, followed by Kent Halloween on Saturday. While the forecast calls for snow (yes, snow!), everyone is gathering costumes and getting ready to brave the cold.

Don't you love this pumpkin display? Eerie!

photo via Martha Stewart


I've been baking all week in preparation of the party; cowboy cookies, pumpkin pie and caramel apples are all on the menu. I can't wait to decorate my table and share photos! Until then I'll get back to cooking and costuming. Halloween awaits! Have a ghoulish week!

Down with the Sickness

This weekend was a blast. I've caught some sort of bug, but instead of tending to my health on Saturday I celebrated our last Homecoming with Josh and friends. It was well worth it, but now I'm sicker than before.

Since I'm all cooped up, I taught myself to knit, which is turning out to be so much fun!

It's so easy to do and really relaxing; if you've never knit before, I suggest you try it.

I'll be back in full blogging force in a few days! The leaves are all falling here and it's getting to be the most beautiful time of year. Enjoy some pumpkin inspiration in the meantime, I l-o-v-e the faux bois Pumpkin!

photos via Country Living

Isn't this the sweetest?!?!

photo via Martha Stewart

Warm and Fuzzy

Fall fashion leaves me with that 'oh-so-good' warm and fuzzy feeling. Slipping into a Knit Sweater is better than PJ's. Peep toes, Tweeds, and Chunky Scarves beckon me to leave the house!

Being fashion forward can be inexpensive too; I love perusing the local Village Discount Thrift Store to find hand knit sweaters, scarves and vintage heels that don't need breaking in.

So what are the must haves for this season?

1. I think every gal should have a great bag. I'm a fan of the bag-so-big-i-can-fit-in-my-kitchen-sink. I love Morelle's signature Truffle Bag; it comes in an bevvy of colors, but the Orange Truffle is definitely my Fall Fave. (photo courtesy of Morelle)

2. Cute boots are next. Tall boots, Skinny Boots, Ankle boots, just get some dang boots! I prefer a Riding style boot. These Corn Maze boots from Anthropologie knock my socks off. Martin and Osa also has super cute Buckle Boots. If coughing up $200 plus for a pair of shoes makes your cringe, try Target. I picked up these adorable Kinsey Boots last week, on sale!

3. Next, don yourself in a cute knit frock. Whether a sweater dress or hand knit cardigan, you'll stay warm and cozy all Autumn long. I love this patterned Merona dress. Or this Chunky Little number from Anthropologie. If you can't find the perfect frock, try a wrap. I love DColby's Cape Cod Wrap. (photo courtesy of DColby).

4. Make sure you keep warm outside. Grab a cute plaid coat like this one or this one. Twist a scarf around your neck or, hop on over to my friend Chelsea's at The Vintage Chair and read her post on Cloches. (In fact bookmark her while you're there, she'll keep you and your home looking bright and fun).

5. And of course, don't forget to accessorize. I love the whimsy of this Button Necklace. Speaking of, whimsy is the middle name of Ashley over at A.N. Original Jewelry; you can find something for every occasion in her Etsy shop.

So now I feel like I have to run out and scour the stores for these fabulous finds, don't you? With the cool weather around the bend, I hope we all find what we need (OK, and want too) at cool prices! Happy Hunting!

Autumn's Bounty.

Autumn is that time of year when I step outside and really appreciate all that God has given us. I breathe deep and smell the Earth. I look around and see bright oranges, reds and yellows popping from the trees.

But why 'leave' (ha, I made a funny) it all for the trees? Bringing the outdoors in is a great way to celebrate the Harvest and decorate for Fall!

I'm anticipating the changing of the trees so I can make this amazing Leaf Garland from Martha Stewart. It's sweet, simple, and keeps the Leaf Collecting truck from chuggin' down my block more than once! Done properly, Martha swears it'll last all season. You can't beat that.

If you live in a no-leaf zone, try Martha's Gourd Garland; it's just as cute and practical. I wish I had a sweet little wood fence just like this one to hang them on. Gourds are another great way to decorate. They can be carved just like Pumpkins and most are edible. What better way to celebrate Halloween than to carve a creamy colored Butternut Squash into a Ghost then devour the insides?

And one can't forget the almighty Pumpkin. King of the Fall decorations, Pumpkins come in so many shapes, colors and varieties it'll make your head spin! Josh and I enjoy taking a trip Heritage Farms which is nearby and spending the day perusing the fields for that perfectly poised Pumpkin.

Pumpkins, along with Gourds, are sturdy veggies. Go ahead and buy in early October. Create beautiful outdoor or indoor displays and leave the little (or big) guys in a cool,dry place. Come Halloween, you can carve what you like and the rest will last into Thanksgiving. If you plan on creating an outdoor display, rest your orange moons on newspaper to keep out ground moisture.

And let's not forget Corn Stalks and Hay Bales. Decorating with these items couldn't be more Eco-friendly! Both are leftovers from harvested wheat and corn and are inexpensive and readily available. While I've seen some grocers charge an arm and a leg for Corn Stalks, I suggest checking the classifieds or stopping by that local farm you always gawk over on your way out of town.

See, wasn't that easy? Being Eco-friendly and chic is so easy, I barely even mentioned it! Don't worry you can thank me when your porch is covered in Pumpkins and Hay. Look for Pumpkin Farms in your area, that way you can have a whole day of fun and support the locals. Happy Gourding!

(all photos from MarthaStewart.com)

Falling into the Green

Doesn't Fall make you all tingly inside? Do you get 'craft arousal' pulling your Orange and Black totes out of the Attic? Ok...maybe I'm the only one who gets craft arousal, but still Fall is hands down the most exhilarating of seasons!

Crisp weather, chunky knit sweaters with flats and jeans, Candy apples, the ever ghoulish Halloween, homemade Wedding Soup, bonfires, and I can't forget Autumn decorations! Pumpkins and Gourds have been saturating my dreams, I wake up in a tizzy I'm so excited to get started!

In an effort to give my blog some sort of direction, not just a blah-blah-blog about my life, I've decided to add to my repertoire and hand out some Chic ways to 'Go Green' this season and in all aspects of our lives!

Now I know what you're thinking, "Oh great this girl is some granola eating zealot here to make me spend more at the store for things marketed to 'save the planet' which I could give a crap about"...or maybe you do give a crap. Anyway...Let's cover 2 things first.

1. I'm a broke college student; I don't have a Money tree to pick off of and buy $200 Bamboo blankets and sheets. To me "Going Green" first and foremost means, being frugal.

2. No I don't think the world is ending; yes I think that the Earth has a natural cycle that will happen with or without us; yes I think we (as a nation) are perpetuating the situation most call 'Global Warming'.

So let me challenge you, Autumn is the perfect time for a fresh, Eco-friendly outlook on life!

Start by assessing your feelings on the Environmental situation. No, I'm not talking politics; I'm talking about what affects your life directly:

-How has the weather changed over the past 10 years in your area? Are you having warm winters? and cool summers?

-What are no-cost ways you could save money and still have all you love in life? (Turning off the water when you brush, changing light bulbs, etc.)

-How much of an effort and commitment are you willing to give to this 'movement'? Are you willing to not see it as a Fad, but a change for the betterment of your life?

If you're still struggling, let me leave with this thought: What's happening to the Earth may be natural discourse, but if the 'world ends' the Earth with survive as it always has. We, may not.

Remember that being Eco-conscious is not so much for the environment, but for yourself, your children, and future generations.

Toil it over for a moment, I'll be back with fun, easy and, well let's face it, pretty ways to green your Fall Decor!

Autumnal Equinox

Happy Autumn! Ok so I'm 3 days late, but for good reason! I was soaking up the beginnings of my favorite season! This past weekend Josh and I celebrated my birthday with a Fall trip!


Let's Go Yankees!

First Stop: New York City...to see the House that Ruth built in its final days. Having never been to Yankee stadium I was awestruck the better part of the night. New York loves its Yankees and the Yankees love New York (the won 3-2). My dad and brother surprised me by showing up; my dad tearing up as the game ended and the traditional "New York, New York" blared over the speakers.
"This is my goodbye" he said. A bittersweet moment for him, I appreciate his nostalgia. My dad saw the Yankees win and loose in their hay-day in that stadium; first with his father, then World Series' with his brother, and finally with his children. A moment in time I truly hope he never forgets, I know I wont.

Saturday was a day of travel, but not until having a long anticipated lunch with my beloved Chrissy Lee! It was wonderful to finally meet her and when we sat down for lunch I felt as though we'd been friends for ever, picking up right where we left off! Her main squeeze Oscar is a stand up guy and I sincerely hope to see them both again super soon.


Lunch on the water...

Next Stop: Gettysburg, PA. Site of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War and quite possibly the worlds cheapest beer (5 draft beers for 12 beans..oy!)
We stayed in my Uncle's apartment, built in the 1800's, complete with antiques, hand-hewn canopy beds, and a musket bullet in the door frame. Every little street in downtown Gettysburg begs to be strolled, I enjoyed soaking in all the beautiful Brownstones and little shops on our quick 2-block walk to the Town Square.



Gettysburg College is also a hop and a skip away, with robust lawns and ancient buildings. I highly recommend the brand-spankin' new Gettysburg Visitors Center which is highly interactive and contains an impressive collection of Civil War artifacts.

Yet still, nothing beats heading out to the battlefields to pay respect to the men who gave their lives for our Union. For our adventure we had 2 "tour guides", Britt and her boyfriend Mike. We hit Little Round Top, The Devil's Den, The PA monument, where I uncovered the name of a many times-Great Grandfather, and the site of Pickett's Charge. Being on the battlefields is like walking in a dream, it's exhilarating but sad and scary all at the same time. To be able to walk that Hallowed ground is something that I may never fully comprehend in my short lifetime.


Left: Little Round Top looking out to Devil's Den
Right: The Pennsylvania Monument

Britt is another friend who I was also thrilled to meet for the first time. Mike at one point said we were "The same person with different brains" We had a fun night of drinking, followed by a great day of "touristing" and sushi! She and Mike were a riot (I guess it's the Pennsylvania humor); they not only showed the hot spots, but introduced Josh and I to The Gingerbread Man and late nights at The Lincoln Diner. Britt was home from college on a fluke, so I feel blessed to have met not one, but two amazing friends this weekend! I hope there are many more meetups to come!



That about covers my Birthday weekend; It would be an understatement to call it a success.
Josh and I were able to steal quite a few moments and enjoying just being together, the best birthday gift of all.

Now I turn to Autumn, as I beckon at it's front door. There is cleaning to be done, decorations to be hung, garland to be made,bonfires to be had. And keep checking back too, I'm going to be taking this blog in some sort of semi-professional direction. Offering tips on how to stay Eco-friendly, Fashion, Recipes, and how to be an all around Martha Stewart.

I hope the first few days of Autumn were enjoyed by all. I know I soaked them in as much as one weekend will allow, but I won't stop until the first snow hits the ground (which here in Ohio, may be tomorrow).

Adeiu for now and Bonjour to Lady Autumn!