October 25th, 2012
{Skull + black and orange M&M’s}
My friend Melisa called me out for pinning Halloween-related images on Pinterest back in April, so I’m happy that my obsessive planning is finally paying off (you can see my now-timely board here). The truth is – I look forward to this holiday pretty much year round, so now that it’s only a few days away, I thought I’d offer a glimpse as to how we’ve decorated for our second annual costume party this Saturday. For the record – my costume couldn’t be less appealing, but should make for a funny and comfortable evening with friends.
{Mummy/Bat/Ghost/Pumpkin/Eye Ball/Bone Cookies from Dylan’s Candy Bar}
{Crows – borrowed from last year’s costume – line the railing leading up to our place}
{The work-in-progress drink/dessert table}
{Coroner drink tags + old school sodas}
{Buried bones in the front yard}
{Body part gummies: teeth, fingers, brains}
{Bloody hand print on our front door}
{Hand + candy corn-flavored Dots}
{Candles by the entryway}
You can see last year’s decorations here.
October 24th, 2012
Elizabeth and James Sunglasses, BB Dakota Coat, H&M Shirt, T by Alexander Wang Skirt, Reiss Clutch, Manolo Blahnik Pumps
There’s something about a tailored coat and stilettos that always works – it feels very Hitchcock, but with a ponytail and a bright color it keep things feeling current. I’ve been holding out for the perfect light pink coat for years now (as documented here), but until I track one down, this one’s going to be in constant rotation this winter.
October 23rd, 2012
This past week I had the pleasure of spending a day in the kitchen with Joy, the author and blogger of the insanely addictive, Joy the Baker. And yes, somehow she’s even sweeter/funnier/more skilled in the kitchen than you can imagine. We met a couple of months back over lunch and talked about how fun it would be to do something together, so we decided to throw a fall brunch at my place – complete with a ricotta frittata, chai spiced cinnamon rolls, a bloody mary bar, and party favors (little cellophane bags filled with Halloween candies, tied with colored twine, and finished with a leaf). You can find the recipe to her cinnamon rolls here as well as my three tips for making a bloody mary bar at home.
Bloody Mary Bar (from my book)
1. Use low sodium tomato/vegetable juice. This lets people control the amount of salt.
2. Freeze some juice ahead of time in ice cube trays. They look cute and will keep your drinks cold without watering them down.
3. Corral everything into a tray for a streamlined look and offer several options for garnishes – my go-to’s include: celery, stuffed olives, and pepperoncinis.
What goes into my bloody mary (adjust to your taste):
Low-sodium vegetable juice, vodka, prepared horseradish, tabasco, diced celery, diced shallot, celery salt, salt, pepper, lime juice, and worcestershire sauce.
P.S. Here’s the link to my dress.
October 22nd, 2012
J.Crew Sweater, Club Monaco Blouse, Madewell Belt, J.Crew Cords, Prada Heels, Reed Krakoff Bag
This sweater matches my all-time favorite lipstick (Mac’s “Snob”), so I kind of had to pull the trigger. It was only until I looked through these photographs that I realized I had also coordinated my nails (Essie’s “Chinchilly”) with my corduroys. I’ve always loved the combination of light pink and gray – apparently in both clothing and beauty.
