Showing posts sorted by relevance for query halloween. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query halloween. Sort by date Show all posts

Halloween Party Inspiration...

Welcome back! We're almost at the end of October, you know what that means? Yup, Halloween. 

This is a SUPER fun Holiday -we can get dressed up, go to Haunted houses, watch scary movie marathons, go trick or treating, attend Halloween parties, eat lots of CANDY & so on! 

The last time I dressed up for Halloween was about 4 years ago. I was Amy Winehouse.... I even drew an "I love Blake" tattoo on my arm!  So fun!  However, my wish has always been to attend a party where the hosts go nuts with really cool decorations! 

Here are some interesting Halloween decor items that will hopefully inspire you to have a fun & creative Halloween event! 













Small plaster ghosts - this is one of my favorite decorations!


An interesting & creative nail art idea....if you dare.


A brass skull- love this!! - Can easily be used on Halloween as well as any other day!




Caramel apples artwork print- perfect for decorating your walls! 


Fine art photography- also fun for Halloween decor!

Artwork for party decor! 


3 women haunting artwork- CREEPY but pretty cool for decor!!













Do you have any plans for Halloween this year?? 


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FOOD: Halloween Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese

Hello, hello! We're only a couple days away from the spookiest time of year...what are your Halloween plans? Lauren, here, dropping by today with a Halloween-inspired party appetizer.

Instead of severed fingers, bloody bones or scary eyeballs, I put a twist on the classic soup-and-sandwich combination, paying homage to Halloween's classic orange and black colors. This app would work just as well at any autumn gathering...

smoked tomato soup and pumpernickel grilled cheese


I admittedly haven't put on a Halloween costume in years, and my way of celebrating holidays like Halloween always leans toward festive over cute presentation. This tomato soup recipe renders a perfect orangey hue and takes a little extra effort, but the smoky flavor is soooo worth it! The pumpernickel bread then imparts a perfectly moody, dark vibe for the sandwiches.

I decided it would be fun to serve the soup in glass test tubes I picked up at a local antique mall, but you can easily find them online too, like here and here. I then anchored everything on a gilded tray for serving. 

smoked tomato soup and grilled cheese
smoked tomato soup and pumpernickel grilled cheese

smoked tomato soup and pumpernickel grilled cheese

Grilled Cheese Ingredients:
-Pumpernickel bread
-Aged gouda cheese (try deli slices instead for better melting)
-Cornichons (French pickles), sliced. Substitute apples if you wish.
-Whole-grain Dijon mustard 

Instructions: 
1) Spread mustard on half of bread slices, then layer the cheese and pickle slices. Top with remaining bread slices. 
2) In a pan over medium heat, add a tad of butter, then place sandwiches. While cooking, lightly butter the sides facing up. Flip sandwiches then firmly press down on each using a metal spatula or pot lid to seal them together. Alternatively, use panini press.
3) Cut cooked grilled cheeses into thirds, forming triangle shapes. 

smoked tomato soup and pumpernickel grilled cheese
smoked tomato soup and grilled cheese


Smoked Tomato Soup Ingredients:
-2 teaspoons of apple smoking chips
-1 pound plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
-6 tablespoons of olive oil
-Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
-6 slices country-style bread, sliced 1-inch thick and cut into 1-inch cubes
-1 yellow onion, diced
-1/2 teaspoon of sweet paprika
-1/3 cup sherry cooking wine
-1/3 cup fresh orange juice
-4 cups chicken stock
-2 cans (each 14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes with juices
-Pinch of cayenne pepper 

Instructions:

1) In a bowl, stir together the tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, salt and pepper.

2) To create a stove top smoker: Line a large pot with 2 layers of heavy duty foil. Scatter wood chips over. Cover tightly; cook over medium high heat until chips begin to smoke, 10-12 minutes. Arrange tomato halves, cut sides up, on a steamer rack. Place in pot on top of chips. Cover and smoke tomatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer the tomatoes to a bowl and let cool, then remove and discard the skins.

3) Preheat an oven to 350°F.

4) In a bowl, stir together the bread cubes, 3 tablespoons of the oil, salt and pepper. Spread the bread cubes out on a baking sheet and bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Set the croutons aside.

5) In a soup pot over medium heat, warm the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the paprika and cook for 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the sherry and orange juice, and cook until reduced to 3 tablespoons, about 10 minutes. Add the smoked tomatoes, the stock, canned tomatoes with juices and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. 

6) Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Pass the soup through a fine strainer into a clean pot, pressing firmly on the solids. Set the pot over low heat, add the croutons and let stand for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Using the immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. 



-post & images by Lauren Craig


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A Scream of a Party !!!!!

I love Halloween & Savers has several DIY decor ideas as well as how-to instructions. These project are so ideal for those of you who are throwing a Halloween party at your place this year! Here's the link to download any of the decor below!

Dolls of the Living Dead


Pumpkin Ornaments & Place Cards
Spooky Ceramics
Sinister Ceramics Door


Festive T-shirt Wreath & Peculiar Picture Frames


Batty Photo Backdrop



Forgotten Flowers centerpiece


Ghoulish Goblets
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Halloween Details

Hi Everybody! Can you believe how quickly October is coming to an end?? That only means one thing... Halloween is just around the corner! The holidays are always the perfect reason to do a little redecorating, and of course, indulging in a few sweet treats ;)

Here are a few pieces I found while browsing online that would instantly make any home feel a little more festive. Also, a fun DIY to turn an ordinary pumpkin a little more glam!






3. SKULL CUTOUT TEE (great DIY idea!)
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Design: Festive Fall Tablescape

Halloween has past & we're onto the next Holiday, Thanksgiving. So let's start setting the table, shall we? Hi everyone, Katie here from H2 Design. Since we are officially into the holiday season, I thought it would be fun to put together a festive fall tablescape. Being a simpleton at heart, my tablescapes are usually just that... simple. 

I find myself being drawn toward off-white linen tablecloths, champagne colored linen napkins, white porcelain dinnerware, silver flatware, clear glass stemware... you get the idea. However, knowing the MBG followers, I thought I'd throw in a bit of romance and femininity, with my signature vintage mix, of course!

3 - goblet.
Thank goodness for Anthropologie!
6 - flatware via Pottery Barn.
7 - linen napkin via West Elm.
8 - salt and pepper shakers via West Elm.
9 - candleholders via West Elm. (You can never have too many candles! Buy an assortment and scatter them throughout the table.)
10 - flower arrangement via Jayson Home and Garden. 

(As a tip, smaller arrangements can be striking in groupings on a table. Three to five matching arrangements placed down the center, or gather together various sized arrangements as a centerpiece.)



-post by katie hackworth


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Guest Post: By Drew

Hello dears, Happy Halloween! I'm Drew, over from the design and fashion blog, Coral Cafe. I am extremely thrilled Jen invited me to share with you today while she's back from her vacation & settling in! Made by Girl is a daily visit for me and being a graphic designer myself, I find numerous amounts of inspiration and tips on interiors, fashion, art and design by following Jen. 

Today, I'm sharing my Top 10 Home Accessories that will turn your home into a glamorous and appealing abode!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5    
First off, TRAYS. Using trays to hold vases, frames, flowers and little trinkets gives a coffee table, bed or counterspace a real touch of flair and personality. I am always intrigued with the way a tray is styled and composed, giving me insight into the homeowners personal style and individuality.
1, 2, 3, 4
 I'm sure most would agree that LIGHTING is KEY when making your home feel cozy and giving it that extra touch of luxuriousness. Using lamps and chandeliers sets the mood for the overall feel of a room, by far. Lighting is also used to illuminate and highlight certain pieces of furniture, artwork and decor. 

I feel the perfect effect of lighting is achieved when you incorporate color, intensity and movement into the overall process of light fixtures.
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PILLOWS are a must have for sofas and chairs! The bolder the better. It's also an easy way to incorporate colors and textures without having to do too much. I especially love monogrammed pillows that personalize the home even more!

1, 2, 3
RUGS can add extra layers to a room. I prefer large, even layered rugs, to add that extra pizazz! Rugs can certainly tie elements in the room together visually and of course add a soft landing for your feet. How can you say no to a metallic cowhide/zebra rug? The fuschia rug leading to the living room is pretty eye catching and glorious, too!

1, 2, 3, 4
Tired of magazine and book clutter? Spruce it up by placing them in between fun and chic BOOKENDS. They actually help make the spines of your books stand out and aid in creating a clean and polished book collection. The ram bookends might be my favorite! {maybe because I've seen pictures of Jen's pair in her own home}

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MIRRORS create a sense of increased space, length and dimension. Ornamental mirrors are a definite must when looking to glamorize a room. Even installing a gallery wall of mirrors adds a fancy and playful touch to a wall. Your mirrors will also help in reflecting light from the elegant chandelier and lamps you have in your home.
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Adding THROWS into your home not only keeps you warm and cozy, but is also very inviting and helps brighten up a couch and chair, with a touch of class and flair. You can choose a bright colored throw or one with your favorite print. Throws become very versatile accessories in the home and can be moved from room to room.

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You MUST have a BOOKCASE to display your favorite designer books, vases, trinkets and frames. 

They can be built in, used in a hutch or free standing. Designers are even adding wallpaper or printed fabric to the back of the cases to give it added appeal. Bookcases can also create a strong focal point and area of interest. I'm always intrigued with the composition, spacing and color grouping in a bookcase. Every bookcase styling is always so different and captivating!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5  
I am obsessed with TRINKETS galore!! These are defined as little treasures, small decor items or even odds-and-end pieces that help in styling a bookcase, side tables or nooks. Trinkets also add extra charm and are extremely helpful in highlighting certain colors and adding depth, using a variety of shapes and sizes.
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I have to say, the cherry on top of all accessories is ARTWORK.{mainly paintings!} Abstract and colorful artwork speaks volumes in a home. If you have a very minimalistic approach in home design, art can speak for itself , as well as for a whole room. Paintings become easy conversation pieces and focal points. I had to showcase three of my favorites {of course Jen is included!}

Also check out Nancy Ramirez and Rachel Wright.
Thanks so much for having me, Jen!
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