Very Superstitious, Happy All Hallows Eve!

Nothing scares me more than deep dark water, this is a must see for me and the hubby tonight (he will enjoy it too, because the beautiful Jennifer Connelly is very talented, as he likes to say!) 

What scares you the most? The dark? Spiders? Walking under ladders? Ghosts? I am ultimately terrified of deep, dark water, which Kurt finds strange because I am a certified life guard! Oh, the irony of life! But, movies like What Lies Beneath and (the above movie) Dark Water (which I plan on watching tonight with a death grip on Kurt's arm) scare me to death! I think it is the fact that I don't know what is below the water that is the most unsettling! Exorcisms are next on my list of fright-tacular things. I find that spooky houses, farms, and obviously water-which are all ordinary every day things-to be the most hair raising! 

Since we don't have kids yet, our plan for tonight is to have an adult spook-fest! Popcorn, cider, chili, and Dark Water might set the mood, I think! What are your plans, any trick-or-treating? Since we will be staying in we also aren't wearing costumes, so what are you wearing? I love the dark glam look with black lace and fabulous face mask. Something like this!

Have a safe and Very Superstitious Halloween!

(Images via pinterest)

Weekend Exploring-Live Out of the Box!

I think this is enough to melt away any stress from the week!

Tonight I will get to see my lovely friend/sister (she's not my sister, but we are really close friends) while she tries on assorted bustiers for her upcoming (2 weeks away) Disney wedding! Yay! I will post all about the Maid of Honor planning and event production, etc. when I get back from the wedding in a few weeks!

Tomorrow I will be doing something out of the box, for me. I will be going to my first ever University of Michigan football game. It's homecoming. It's against Purdue. I know absolutely NOTHING about football. But it will be fun! I plan on playing up the UM colors (maize and navy blue) and spending time with my hubby and my parents! Any tips on staying warm while still looking cute at a football game? {I have an outrageous tendency to be cold ALL OF THE TIME, so I'm particularly scared of becoming an icicle!} hehe :)

Hope you all have a wonderful, safe, healthy, and fun weekend! Do something out of the box!

I'm going to try this next time I do my nails-really cool idea!

Mommy Mittens -hold your horses, mom and dad, I'm not expecting; but these are just too cute! :)

Need some out of the box jello shot recipes?

How cool would this be on one wall in your house?

Hair to love.

If you or a loved one suffers from the torment of an eating disorder please get help. If not now, then when? (Live out of the box and help yourself, or someone you know. I am just realizing that I have not shared my recovery story with you all. This will be fixed! Life is possible beyond an eating disorder and full recovery is amazing!)

Happy Friday Eve!

Sometimes I realize that life is too short not to celebrate each and everyday of the week! I can get so focused on living for the weekend, that I don't live for the current moment. I don't like that I do this. Do you have certain things that you remind yourself to say or do throughout the week so you remain positive and 'live in the moment'? I vow to make everyday a celebration! Will you?

 So, on that note...

Happy Friday Eve

Hidden Space and Secret Rooms

Everyone could use an extra half bath in high traffic areas of house!

How perfect for a home office or keeping the kid's homework materials

I love the drawers underneath the washer and dryer plus the countertop on top for folding etc.

This concept provides an ENORMOUS amount of extra space!

How decadent!

I love thinking up ways to add extra storage space in our apartment! One day I'd love to have an actual secret room to hideaway in! HOW FUN! :)

Brilliant!

How amazing of an idea! If you don't drink vino, you can still put any cold drink in there! :)

Change that B to an F and I think we got us a perfect sleeping quarters (as my husband calls bedrooms :))

How sexy and demure at the same time-perfection!

Because we shouldn't kill ourselves to "look good", we should treat ourselves because we are good

Because she's goooooorgeous...and very sweet!

A very cheery holiday gift idea!

My motto for clutter cleaning!

Love everything from her dark hair to the color of the dress and the vintage curls and red lips!

Love this timeless pic. You could wear this outfit TODAY! 

Cast of a BRILLIANT show (I know I mention them often, this won't be the last time :))

Great idea for any season-fill clear candle hurricanes with seasonal-stuff!

A foyer is the first thing that people see-what does yours say? Love the red carpet on the stairs-and that wallpaper-WOW!

Out of control cute! And oh, those, knee high boots! AH!

Great added interest with the black crow! 

BRILLIANT table-scape!

I have to look at lots of pictures to get ideas. Do you do that too? Do you often use the ideas you see? I love looking at other peoples designs and hair and cool tricks for great parties, I hope you get inspired on this TERRIFIC TUESDAY!

(All pictures via pinterest) 

Do You Ever...?

I have quite a few little eccentricities (or quirky habits, a.k.a superstitions) that I allow myself to get worked up over on a regular basis.  When I didn't have glass doors to my showers, checking for a murderer behind the curtain was definitely on the list! Do you have any cute, adorable, maybe a little psychotic eccentricities, quirky habits, or superstitions? Then maybe I'll share a few more of mine! eek!  

Meatless Mondays- Music and Food edition

How lovely and personal.

Here it is, that closeness and eye contact!

Dignified and casual.

Music~
So I heard about tickets being given out on the radio this morning on my drive to work for none other than the latest and greatest, given me new breadths of music appreciation, swoon worthy, The Civil Wars! If you have not heard their music yet, don't let another minute of your life go by without listening. A husband and wife band; he's part Johnny Depp, she's part June Cash, they are both equally adorable singing so close to one another it almost makes you feel like you shouldn't be watching! Their mesmerizing melodies and luxurious tone mixed with catchy and haunting lyrics make for a treat for the ears and the soul. (Not to mention, this is great music for the fall season!)

Love this table-scape! Love the miss-matched dishes, the Native American printed table cloth with lace runner, ivory colored tea pot, olive oils, and delicate napkins!

Would love to have the space of collect dishware like this! One day...

I think I could learn a lot in this kitchen...how awesome is it!?

Nothing in this world is more innocent.

How amazing!

Charming.

Food~

Maybe for dinner tonight you could use one of these awesomely delicious looking veg recipes!!!! YUMMOLA!
Given that I went on a 2.5 week vegan stint back in February, I see the world through 'animal vs. plant' eyes now. (Kathy Freston would be so proud.) Though I never started my animal hiatus because I felt that animals deserved better living condition before death, nor did I (nor do I currently) feel that we humans shouldn't eat animal meat- I "went vegan" for the personal health benefits and nothing more- though through greater research I have found that animals are indeed poorly treated before death in most large meat production farms. This is sad to me.

I continue to eat meat but look for more vegetarian recipes on a regular basis. I try to find balance. I also promote the raising of animals on a clean, grass feeding farm that allows the animals to live a normal 'farm animal' life before being killed. I fully understand people's reasoning for never killing an animal to eat or use in any way. And, I respect that. I LOVE animals, and would never want any unnecessary pain inflicted during life or death. But my belief is that if more farms were truly given the resources and incentives for raising and killing the animals in a more holistic way, we humans would live fuller, balanced, healthy, and active lives.


On a lighter note: Check out this website devoted to funny iphone auto correct bloopers! :)




(I do NOT mean to offend anyone. Nor is my opinion based on scientific studies from which I have never conducted. It is merely an opinion. I welcome your comments and opinions but please be as respectful as I have tried to be.)

Solemn Solitude/ Have a Swell Weekend!

Do you ever feel alone, and that maybe, your stronger when your alone?

It's a strange thought for someone like me who lives for human connection and social acceptance. I find myself, by myself on most evenings when Kurt is at work and for those few hours (especially now that it's fall and almost pitch dark by 6pm) doing a lot of thinking and wondering about 'the meaning of life'! Haha...but I really do! Sometimes when I know I have a longer time alone I think about all these things that I want to do and accomplish and all these friends I want to see, and I wonder-am I a stronger person when I'm alone?

Well, yes and no.

I'm a stronger person when left to fend for myself because, well, that's humans' natural instinct. The strong survive in a pack. It takes a community. So many sayings exsist about how humans interact because when left alone, we search. Search for companionship. Why else would there be so many dating sites online? And I can't leave out the fact that I am one of the most competitive people I know! On the outside I'm happy go lucky, but on the inside I feel as though most things in life are a competition! I usually don't get upset about "losing", but my first instinct is to win-whatever situation I'm in. (I have my mother to thank for this instinct :))

The whole reason for this rant is: my husband and I get to see each other everyday. Just some days it's for no more than 10 minutes. Those days suck! But I savour those minutes. Those minutes are what makes the rest of the hours in the day worth it! I love my husband and I am stronger with him, stronger for him, and stronger BECAUSE of him! He is my rock. My companion, my EVERYTHING.

This weekend will be one of planning for my lovely BEST FRIEND'S bridal shower (yea Katie!!!) and spending time with the family. Hopefully, getting some girly shopping time in with my mom! I'm so so so looking forward to this weekend and so glad that I get to be the Matron of Honor in Katie's wedding! I love her, she was my very very first friend EVER! Ugh, soon we will both be Mrs.! Craziness!

Have a swell weekend! (Gotta use Mad Men references every once in a while! :))

Explore More...

Be perfectly imperfect!

A great song to go with this picture!

I've always wanted to run through a field!

A pumpkin recipe that looks soooo warm and yummy-maybe for dinner next week :)

?What are you doing to explore, live strongly, and decorate?