13 Days of Halloween: Day Eight

Every year, almost without fail, some situation calls for us to assemble some sort of Halloween playlist. There are many lists out there on the internet and of course there is also the last-minute option of making a Halloween station on Pandora or a similar site.

However, after years of celebrating the holiday, some of the songs are recommended again and again and can get a bit old. Now, Halloween is just not the same without "Monster Mash" and "Thriller", but we've tried to dig up a few songs that are maybe new to the typical Halloween mix. Whether you are throwing a fancy haunted dinner or a spooky dance party, there is hopefully something here for every Halloween occasion!

13 Days of Halloween: Day Seven

When the leaves start changing, the wind starts moaning, and the temperature drops to a deathly chill, we start craving pumpkin. There is something about sitting in your kitchen, watching leaves fall past your window that makes us want to make a big mess, and bake up a storm. Considering Thanksgiving has a monopoly on pumpkin pie, we figured it is the perfect time for pumpkin bread! Our recipe is adapted from Stonyfield Farms website, and will make your place smell delicious. It is moist, not too sweet, and tastes even better a day or two (or three...) after baking. Ready? Here we go.

13 Days of Halloween: Day Six

~Spook in a Jar~

      We have finally done what no ghost hunter, parapsychologist, or psychic has ever been able to do.

WE HAVE CAPTURED A GHOST. 

A spook.

In an old apothecary jar.

Behold:

Booooo!

You might be sitting, in front of your computer, amazed by what you see. You might be wondering, "How? Oh how did those clever girls do it?" You might think this is just a simple tissue paper cut out, stuffed into a jar. You might be right. Okay, we'll admit it. You hit it right on the nose.

October is one of those months that always seems to get away from us. Before we know it, the leaves have changed and we are scrambling to put together our costumes. We can spend hours pouring over Halloween decorations on Martha Stewart's website, but who has the time to do all that? 

That's why it is so wonderful to find a project that is easy, and takes literally two or  three minutes (assuming you have the materials on hand, which we did). We spotted this at Target, not for sale, but pictured on a package of a completely different product. We think these would look great in different sized containers, grouped on a table, or lined up on a bookcase, mantle, or window sill. Here are some simple instructions to capture you own spook in jar.

Supplies 

-white tissue paper

-scotch tape (if needed)

-a glass receptacle (we like apothecary style jars, our's is thrifted, but mason jars, or even a vase would work just fine)

-scissors

How To

-Cut out a ghostly shape from your tissue paper. Make it a little long for your container, but not too wide. The body should be a little wavy. Don't forget to cut out eyes and a mouth.

-Now get your container, and place your ghost inside. Our ghost wouldn't lay quite right, so we attached it to the inside of the lid with a small piece of tape. Mess with until it looks perfect.

-Put your lid on and proudly display!

13 Days of Halloween: Day Five

Halloween Inspiration!

13 Days of Halloween: Day Four

We love pumpkin patches. 

 

We really, really, truly do. Some may say it borders on obsession. We would agree. Why? Because we take hundreds of photos at each pumpkin patch. Because we go through them ( all of them) numerous times a year. Because we exclaim over pumpkins like each is a newly born child. Because we sincerely believe that we (and everyone else) are more beautiful while amongst pumpkins. Normally screaming children can annoying. Not in a pumpkin patch. In a pumpkin patch, they are delightful, adorable ghouls. The pumpkins, and the places where they grow, are magic. 

 

We go to pumpkin patches every year. For us it is one of the highlights of fall. We usually look for them online, and it's not hard to find patches with farm stores, hay rides, snack shacks, espresso, hay rides, petting zoos, roasted corn, corn mazes, crafts for children, and more...even in the city. There's still time to go find your pumpkin before Halloween! 

 

Here are a some ( well, okay, a lot) of our favorite pumpkin patch pictures from over the years.

13 Days of Halloween: Day Three

 

We've got monsters on the brain. Big time. All the time. We also have a year round craving for everything and anything antiqued, cobwebbed, and creepy. So, even though this photo shoot was done in the summertime, we thought now would be a good time to broadcast it here.

Back home, one of our mothers has the ultimate creepy garage, complete with an accumulation of spider webs that have taken our eight legged friends years, maybe decades, to produce.The light is dim, and the surroundings are altogether dingy. It didn't take much alteration to turn it into a Victorian scientist's laboratory (Luh-bore- uh-tor-ee, not Lab-ruh-tory).

We simply added candelabras, dried flowers, yards of wispy tulle, and a few spell books to complete the scene. In this shoot, a scientist with a taste for the occult studies his subjects: a new bitten vampire and a lady werewolf. Costumes were sourced from our own wardrobes and from our friend's closets (which, luckily, included exactly what was needed). With the makeup, we tried to create implications of the monsters rather than full-on B-movie special effects. We are in love with the results of this photo shoot. The lighting, the set, the costumes, and make-up all came together exactly as we had envisioned. Can you guess the storyline from these photos?

13 Days of Halloween: Day Two

Today is the second day in our countdown to Halloween! It might be a little earlier to start wearing a costume, but that doesn't mean you can't be festive! Nails can add a little spooky touch to everyday outfits. Here are a few Halloween nail tutorials, ranging from quick and simple to a little more complex. They were all done with a variety of nail polish brands, most of them drugstore brands (wet'n'wild is a cheap but nice brand; it goes on pretty opaque). They can be done with any colors, really, so you can use whatever you have on hand!

Step One: Apply orange polish to your whole nail (or black if you want to reverse it)

Step Two: Paint a line of black diagonally across the tip of your nail from left to right

Step Three: Paint a diagonal from the opposite side of your nail so that the tip is covered. You can go over the tip one more time to even everything out

There you go; a fast and easy way to add a little Halloween touch to your outfit. Want something a little more complex? Read on for mummies, candy corn, and more!

Work-It Wednesdays: Weekly Outfit

Jacket: Urban Outfitters
Skirt: Flea Market
Rosette Clip: Gift

 

This is a new awesome skirt worn with leggings underneath. It was found at a local vintage flea market for five dollars. The jacket has been compared to costumes in The Village, so it maybe adds little appropriate creepiness for the upcoming holiday. The little rosette clip is wonderfully useful. It makes high-waist items fit perfectly and is made for tightening/pinning up clothing to create an attractive silhouette. 

 

 

13 Days of Halloween: Day One

Welcome to the first post of our "13 Days of Halloween" countdown! Tune in for 13 days of ghoulish crafts, spooky adventures, creepy decor, and inspiration for your own October celebrations. To kick off the countdown, we'd like to share a couple of Halloween-inspired everyday outfits....

Tasty Tuesdays: Fall Harvest Soup

This soup is absolutely wonderful. It is comforting, filling, and reminiscent of a fall harvest. We find ourselves craving it throughout the entire year, despite the season. While it does have a longer cooking time, the preparation is quite simple. Just get the ingredients into the pot and you can catch up on another project while your soup simmers away!

Work-It Wednesdays: Weekly Outfit

 

Another example of the tight/loose silhouette, this time with tight on the top and loose lines on the bottom. The collar of the sweater is folded up to create a high-neckline, which we love right now. The faux-snakeskin belt ties in the animal print theme, which is a big hint for this fall and winter.

Pants: Dolce Vita

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Hand-me-down from mother

Sweater: Mystery brand from ages ago

Tasty Tuesdays: Moroccan Chick Pea Soup

A richly spiced dish that would be great a starter to a meal for cold nights but this soup can also stand alone. It is hearty with warm spices and a little added heat from the cayenne.

Saturday Stories: Golden Gardens & The Apple Tree

In an effort to enjoy the last traces of summer weather, we took a bus to a nearby beach. We were not entirely sure where the beach was located, so we hopped off the bus at the stop that seemed the closest. Secretly, we followed a pair of strangers who had been talking during the bus ride about visiting the beach. In the dim light of dusk we stumbled along a path through the woods. After many flights of stairs, near-tumbles, and several unmarked roads, we finally emerged near the beach. Although we left late and missed most of the sunset, the air was still warm and there were bonfires and people playing music.

Photoshoot Fridays: Dune Maidens

"Oh! come back from sea, my dear Johnny, to me,
And make me a bride of your own!
Or else for your sake my poor heart it will break,
And here I shall die all alone, alone,
And here I shall die all alone."
-I Must Live Alone, Old English Folk Song

 

Thurs-DIYs: Braided Bands

 

This is a very simple and easy project that makes use of your fabric scraps, ribbon bits, and any other odds-and-ends in your craft box! They can also make great, quick gifts---especially if you personalize the colors and designs!

Work-It Wednesdays: Weekly Outfit

 

Fashion Tip: It is a good idea to look for the shape your outfit is creating. It can be a good idea to try and make sure that you are not create a "tight-on-tight" silhouette. A more flattering choice is typically balancing a loose top with more streamlined bottom or the other way around.

Tasty Tuesdays: Rosey Sour Cream Doughnuts

Light and crispy with a bright, rich flavor. The rose petals add a delicate touch and the warmth of the nutmeg makes these perfect for fall.

Music Mondays: Kimbra

 

By the age of ten, this New Zealand artist was already writing songs.  In 2007, she was signed by an independent label 'Forum 5' and was relocated to Australia to work on her debut album. After several singles, she has finally released a studio album, by the name of "Vows", with many songs including "Cameo Lover", "Good Intent" and "Settle Down" reaching the Australian Top 100 chart.  With her incredible range, unique chord progressions and thematic lyrics, she has been compared to influential artists such as Nina Simone and Björk.  As independent listeners, we definitely believe Kimbra has defined her own sound.

Endings & Beginnings

Although it appears that summer is fading into fall, our blog is just beginning. Here are some lingering moments and memories of the past season.

(click photos for larger images!)