Day of the Dead Inspiration

Today marks the last day of the Mexican festival known as Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos. Contrary to popular belief, this holiday is not associated with Halloween, but is a gathering of loved ones to party and honor deceased family members. With that in mind, here is some great inspiration that features the fun and celebration that accompanies this unique cultural holiday.

Source: The Finer Things

This "Bohemian Fiesta" wedding courtesy of Amorology plays on the theme of Dia de los Muertos and Mexican style in a really fun way.

{Real Party} Scrumptious Halloween

One final bit of eye candy for you to close out the holiday weekend is this beautiful Halloween dessert table created by Shauna Younge Dessert Tables and featured on Ultimately Plush. What makes this stylish feature even more amazing is that all the supplies and decor were purchased from Target! I love the clean color palette of black and white with just a splash of orange and the woodsy setting.

This would be one party sure to satisfy any sweet tooth! To see the original post, go here. Happpy Halloween!

Halloween Wedding

Sorry for being somewhat MIA lately. I have been running around like crazy pulling together our own Halloween party that I haven't been able to devote the time here that I would like. It's not much of an excuse, though, as Halloween is just days away and there's still plenty of inspiration to be had!

I love Halloween, and I love weddings, but have you ever noticed how a lot of Halloween-themed weddings can get really zombie-horror-over-the-top? If that's your thing, I totally get that, but I love that you can also use a lot of Halloween elements like pumpkins, a full moon, elegant black, etc. in a sophisticated, (and dare I say romantic?) way.

A lighted pumpkin path creates a magical effect.

Source: Grandin Road

Love these fun details in classic black and orange.

Or, skip the orange for old-fashioned black and white checkered pattern.

Source: The Perfect Palette

The effect of the tree silhouette over the dance floor spotlight is simply amazing! Holiday-appropriate yet still elegant!

Source: The Finer Things

I also really enjoyed this fan-created inspiration board with all the trimmings from The Style Circle.

{Real Party} Monster Bash

I just love the design of this Monster Bash printable party featured on Kara's Party Ideas! It's a fun Halloween theme while still keeping it stylish.

Aren't those gnarly black trees great?

There's still time to pull together a great Halloween get-together! Find the printable party and other great party themes here.

Halloween Ambiance...and a Giveaway!

When it comes to decorating for Halloween, the first thing I think of after pumpkins is the light effects. Atmosphere is everything when celebrating this spooky holiday! From pumpkins and wall murals to lights and fog, here are some great ideas for setting the mood.

Carve by Color Pumpkins

Leaf-carved Pumpkins

Glow-in-the-dark Tablecloth

Cardboard Backdrop

Wall Mural

Nothing can compare to the eerie effect of a fog machine!

Candle Shadows

I, for one, am planning a really cool effect for our Halloween Party - a glowing backdrop for our dessert table! I'm combining a clear plastic wall decal (found on sale at the grocery store in the holiday decor section) with the printing of a haunted house and gnarly tree and an orange, plastic tablecloth behind it, lit from the back with a light. I'm not sure how it will turn out, but I think it will be really cool!

To really set the mood with a Halloween aroma, you should head over to Tip Junkie before October 22 for an awesome giveaway for a Halloween warmer and 3 wax bars of your choice! If you're not familiar with Scentsy, check out their website here. But be careful, you might just fall in love!

{Real Party} Pink-o-Ween!

Courtney of Pizzazzerie, (hey, we have kindred names!) created this incredible Pink-o-Ween Party to support the Susan G. Komen foundation. Not only does it support a great cause, it is simply stunning! I love the twist on Halloween using pink and black with plenty of glittery, glamorous details. She even includes tips!

I can imagine this being a great theme for a teen's (or even adult's!) Halloween party with friends! Be sure to check out Courtney's blog for more details.

Halloween Home Transformation!

I was so excited to find this video! If you're like me and want to see some amazing holiday party design in action, (and get some great ideas in the process) Check out this Halloween Block Party Special from HGTV!



You may recognize the talented Eddie Ross who created my favorite design, the classic Sleepy Hollow Party. I'd be lying if I said I didn't plan to use tons of those details for my own party this year! Which home transformation is your favorite?


Plus, this coffee filter spiderweb garland how-to from Mega Spooky is another great idea for creating spiderweb from unique materials.

Halloween Ideas: Spooky Bats and Cobwebs Four Ways

I love the effect of flying bats and big, spooky cobwebs for Halloween. Not to mention, they're fun and easy to create, and can be used in used in so many ways!

Totally Batty:

Sources: Flying Bats, Bat Tissue Paper Garland, "Batkin" Rings, Front Door Bat Swarm

Cobwebs Four Ways:

Sources: Cotton Cobwebs, Cheesecloth Cobweb, Electric Tape Spider Web, String Spider web

Spiderweb chandelier

I made the bats from Martha Stewart last year for Halloween, which I've kept for this year. I chose to simply cut the bats from black felt using the template and then hang them from the ceiling with fishing line from different heights. I attached some with fishing line directly from the center so the wings would hang down, and others I attached fishing lines to the center and either side of the wings to create variety and give the effect of bats in flight. Besides the cutting, which takes a bit of time, they were really easy, really inexpensive, and made a big statement! I can't wait to use them again!

Halloween Sneak Peek

I'm coming out here and now and admitting that Halloween is my favorite holiday. Something about the season, the mystery, and the fun just gets me so excited! With that in mind, I'm thrilled to get started on some of my favorite ideas for decor, food, costumes, and party tips!

Sources: Martha Stewart, Country Living, Bakerella

Stay tuned for lots of great ideas, unique themes, and Halloween excitement, and Happy First Day of Fall!

Fall Apple Recipes

As fall rolls in this month, apples are nearing the peak of their season! Apples are such versatile fruit, pairing well with many spices, used in food and drink, and sweet and savory recipes. Enjoy some of my favorites from Martha Stewart!

Recipes: Caramel Lady Apples, Apple Crisp, Caramelized-Apple Spice Cake, Apple Butter.

I think the Apple Spice cake looks absolutely amazing! What are your favorite fall apple recipes?