Halloween Black & White Elegance

fireplace mantle with garland and pumpkins - good housekeeping

I have never been a fan of scary, horror type things. Not even movies. So when it comes to Halloween decorating, I love to keep it classic and elegant, maybe with a little spooky mix. I love cutesy stuff too, but my main style is classic black and white, with maybe a hint of color thrown in. So that is what you will find today. Later in the week, we will visit the orange, vintage fall and harvest style that I love. If you don't have white pumpkins, then paint the ones you have white. You can glitter, stud, rhinestone, carve, anything with them.

black vintage halloween craft supplies- painted white shop

 

I saw this home in a magazine a few years ago and had to post them! Her home had a gorgeous mad scientist feel to it. This was the design that first opened my eyes to the elegant side of Halloween decorating. Love her use of cloches, crowsm spider webs and vintage finds. 

Better Homes and Gardens (bhg)

 

the masquerade mask and milky liquid is perfect - bhg

 

mixing the black and white with harvest, it works! - country living

 

bhg - how to and more ideas at House of Whimsy

 

crows and ladders, farm style halloween - curious sofa

 

clock faces, crow and nest in a bell jar and spider webs - bhg

 

ghost cheesecloth wrapped chandeliers - curious sofa

 

black and white candy and licorice in elegant bell jars and candle tea light holders - pottery barn

 

black, white and cream pumpkins, perfect - pottery barn

 

love the bat tree in the pumpkin - good housekeeping

 

black feather wreaths, scene setter poster tablescape - apartment therapy

 

white painted pumpkin with a simple stenciled design - bhg

 

haunted tablescape with cheesecloth cobweb table cloth - good housekeeping

 

black and yellow candy table - rhonna designs - house of 3

 

black and lime transparencies - rhonna designs - house of 3

 

in the fun lane - halloween entry and how to

 

homemade simple - pumpkin preservation tips

 

black and white table scene - just a girl

 

white gentleman pumpkin, sleepy hollow, anyone? loving ichabod in a tophat- bhg

 

the painted white hutch is a perfect backdrop for the halloween goodies - pink and polka dot

 

painted spider, foix bois woodgrain and spider web on white painted pumpkins - country living

outdoor twigs are a perfect home for the crows - pink and polka dot

nailhead studded pumpkins- fabric dept supply on cave creek in phoenix

Glass. Flowers. Doilies. Jazz Hands

so cal farm wedding photo by max wanger (more gorgeous images in the link)

With a little bit of glass, a little bit of light, a little bit of ingenuity, a little bit of floral influence~ you can turn a small space into a magical realm of whimsy and escape. Truly, I use spaghetti jars, old teriyaki bottles... I keep all of that stuff and reuse them as vases, and even drinking glasses. Isn't is amazing to see what can be done with old doilies, lace, bottle caps  and an end table?

lisa congdon's show display via feepeople

  country living lace garland window treatment 

Take just a little bit of time and redefine a small space today with something you already own in your home or office~ a shelf, corner, night stand, windowsill, you will be glad you did. It's relaxing to sometimes set a stressful thing aside for 20 minutes to spend on beautifying something small and serene, without having to leave the house and go shopping. You can do it for free in your jammies. Sounds nice to me!

justinejustine's gorgeous bottle cap earrings (ps i love these and christmas is around the corner)

Sweet Treats: Magic Pumpkins Holiday Desserts

I love pumpkins. I probably love decorating them more (though I prefer white cinderella ones), so stay tuned for that post, oh yeah) , but really, I love them. I tend to like them on the sweet side, but am not opposed to a hearty dinner version either. Plus, they are quite healthy for you (minus the sweets), and who can resist that? And even WITH the sweet toppings, can you resist that either?!!

*mouth waters from below image*

 Maltese Bakes -Pumpkin Cake RECIPE

zoe bakes for a streusel apple pumpkin cake recipe

When I was first married (6 years this month), I got adventurous and made a pumpkin jambalaya, IN the pumpkin. Oh, it was heavenly. I made some mistakes, but nothing that still couldn't be enjoyed. And the fact that you can cut away the pumpkin as you eat, and dip it in the stew as if it were a crusty soft chunk of bread, made it all even better! I don't remember the recipe I used, but it had rice, sausage, various veggies... you can make it more stew like with beef, potatoes, celery, carrots, or jambalaya like, I've done both and both were delicious! I also read, that if you use non toxic paints, you can paint a jack-o-lantern face on it prior to baking, how fun would that be for the kids or even a Halloween party!! Here is a good recipe, but there are way more out there, just search for "dinner in a pumpkin".

You can also make mini pumpkins into desserts by baking them with butter, brown sugar and spices and topping with ice cream or whipped cream. Lots of possibilities. I used an acorn squash for this one, as shown in my pic above. Just cut that sucker in half, add some butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice, then pop it in the microwave for a few minutes and you are done. Top it with whip cream or ice cream for some extra yum factor. You can also bake it, but you have to put it in a thin layer of water... too much work!

 saffron pumpkin macaroons form tartelette... I know!

And though, I am not a huge pumpkin pie fan, I do love pumpkin bread, cookies, those swirl things. Also, canned pumpkins are one of the few natural canned foods that is just as healthy as a fresh pumpkin. This pan cooked pumpkin with duck fat looks amazing! Lots of good and simple pumpkin recipes here!

 Libby's Pumpkin Roll Recipe, photo by Pinch my Salt

Candy Jamamas Pumkin Bars with Cream Cheese Icing

If you have any good pumpkin recipes or food ideas, please share in the comments... or bring me a sample and I will love you forever ;)

Cake -a- tete

banner cakes kat hayes

My week break from blogland was nice and unexpected. We went with the hubby to his work conference for the week and I fully anticipated to blog while away. However, I couldn't save photos on his work computer, and my weak and quick typing fingers and laptop buttons don't get along, so I ended up disappearing.

sarah maren

Note to self, 2 toddlers in a hotel room for 5 days... never again. But, we did have a lot of fun and I have no regrets, and am totally excited that the boys only broke one drinking glass and a lampshade!

Oh, the coming weeks will be so very busy for our family, as we house hunt, David starts a new job (with a nice commute)and he goes on another conference, and at my favorite time of year as well, so I will try and keep up with you all. I thought, that perhaps some cakes in lovely display settings would merit forgiveness from my dear readers, as it seems to work in real life, right? Okay then.

i dream of cake north beach san franscisco

Also, I had a lovely time at my 10 year high school reunion. I truly regret walking away without taking a single picture.  I regretted it as I walked actually, knowing full well I could just turn around and snap a few photos right quick, but I didn't. Perhaps it was due to sophomoric fear- a popularity regression, killer painful shoes, or the smoky room we couldn't stand to be in any longer? Do you ever do that, decide to not do something you will regret while you still have a chance to change it? Try not to do it next time.

 

rainbow layer cake RECIPE whisk kid

 It was a nice time to see how people were doing and I am glad I went, even though I had a lot of anxiety about going, though the curiosity beckoned me. It's amazing how trivial that phase of our lives are in hindsight, though how difficult it was at the time. I suppose all phases of our lives can relate to that statement.

 

pink cake wall art - jenny's bake shop

Have a happy Sunday, make a cake and eat it too (and NO Marie Antoinette did not say that!!),  and I will see you back soon, sweet tooth, tummy ache and all!

candy cake table - little shindigs

Wonders of the Earth

sweet dried fruit wreath - gingerbread street

I am feeling very autumnal today. Warm, muted colors of the earth, connected to nature. Feeling appreciative of God's creations and the humble beauty that man can create with them.  Listening to the 179th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints broadcast from Saturday and today, the messages of beauty, love and inspiration, mercy and hope, warning and council, the beautiful music of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir that speaks to my soul, feeling the Spirit of the Lord and the love from the great women and men of God, and their wise and loving council. Things to reflect upon. Changes to make. Clutter to manage. Leaves to gather. Kisses to give. Acorn squash to bake. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Loving Savior and Heavenly Father to thank. It's going to be a good day.

keisha's nature board collage via kandeland

 

heart birdseed favors - nature favors

 

nature boutineers - myra kim