SIMPLE HALLOWEEN VIGNETTE

Happy Halloween! Hope you've enjoyed your day dressed up as your favorite scary creature, dangerous villain or famous celebrity today for Halloween! It's that one day a year even adults get to play pretend from morning until night. It's also that time of year when we may be drawn to add a little more black into our decor. When I decorated our rental home here in AZ last year, I went all out - from faux potion wine bottles I made for the stoop to skulls & gauze hanging in the entry to sheet covered furniture and a Goth-like dress form on the third floor. I think I went so overboard because the year before, I had to pack us up to move, so I really couldn't decorate for Halloween. Although I did decorate for Halloween inside this year, I kept it minimal: Just a simple vignette on the buffet. Most of the items I used were everyday decor accessories I've collected over the years (mostly from HomeGoods): silver vases, a faux snake tray, a croc pattered glass cylinder vase, a magnifying glass and a pair of tall thin buffet lamps (I switched out from the bedroom). For the Halloween details, I just re-used some of my black crows, black gauze, black chains, plus a fantastic wiry branch I found here in AZ. I also used a black velvet top hat I actually wore last year on Halloween and two thrift store items I found last year: A black feather wreath and a silver framed round mirror...

 

 

Definitely a mix of new and old here: The faux snake skin tray is my newest find from HomeGoods while the two silver vases are one of my first buys from Target Home (back when they had Furio in the late 90s) . They worked great as risers holding the two sparkle skulls (another HomeGoods find, but from Florida 2010)...

 

These "BEWARE" letters I got at ZGallerie back in Florida (2010)

Last year, I hung them on the stairway leaning mirror - This year I hung them off a floor standing lamp, draped with black gauze.

 

 

 

In this shot, you can see the simplified Halloween vignette, on the buffet I did my Mummy & Skulls Halloween entry vignette back in Florida in 2010...

 

 Pinning To the HomeGoods - Happy By Design collaborative pinboard!

The mummy was a fave find from HomeGoods, in Pembroke Pines, FL.

You can read about my other budget friendly Halloween decor, and pin some ideas to save for next year at:

Inspiration To Get Your Spook On

Hitchcock Halloween Hallway

Halloween - Steampunk Style

 Thrifty Treats: DIY Halloween Party Decor

Fall Decor: Tips For Halloween Decorating

Seasonal Changes: Decorating for Halloween and Fall 

 

 Pinning To the HomeGoods - Happy By Design collaborative pinboard!

Simple Halloween Vignette

Black Gauze Runner (BigLots) layered on a White Linen Runner (HomeGoods)

2 Black Sparkle Skulls (HomeGoods)

1 Black Glass Cyliner Vase holding found branch (HomeGoods)

1 Fluted Round Silver vase (HomeGoods) with Black Velvet Top Hat (BigLots)

5 Faux Crows (Dollar Store)

1 Faux Snake Skin Tray (HomeGoods)

1 Claw Handle Spy Glass (HomeGoods)

2 Silver Buffet Lamps (HomeGoods) with Black lamp Shades (Ikea)

1 Vintage Buffet (Miami Thrift Store)

Silver Round Mirror + Black Feather Wreath + Black Croc Box (Goodwill AZ)

 

Happy Halloween!

See you Halloween ghosts and goblins next year!

Now it's time to get ready for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas decorating!

Thanks for stopping by...

Note: This post is sponsored by HomeGoods and the Happy By Design project. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN PINSPIRATION!

 

Back in 2010, I had watched the movie Vertigo, and got hooked on Hitchcock. Because of the stairs, the movie had inspired my Hitchcock Hallway I decorated in the stairway of our townhome in Florida. Another Hitchcock element of inspiration was of course - The Birds. Ever since then, I've really liked the look of branches, black crows and feathers used for Halloween decor. And now with Pinterest, there is no shortage of inspiration of branches, crows and black feather used in Halloween decor....

 

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Silhouette images are a simple way to frame and layer in a hint of Halloween into your existing book shelves, buffet or entry...

 

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 How fabulous is this? Faux crows crown an elaborate mirror marked with a spooky poem...

 

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Welcome trick-or-treaters and party guests this Halloween with front-door accents that cast just the right spell like these black feather wreaths with simple ribbon - perfect for a double door entry...

 

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 Need a little getaway this Halloween and the Bates Motel is full? Why not try the Miller's Dead & Breakfast... They have a Vacancy...

 

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Love the look of this serving buffet and shield shaped mirror layered with a black feather wreath from Eddie Ross...

 

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 A collection of vintage mirrors can bring depth to your Halloween decor - especially the branches - and reflect more of the candles glow...

 

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A mantel is not required for holiday decorating! Love the look of this other option--a piano -- again adorned with a few branches and crows...

 

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With so many people incorporating hints of vintage into their homes, black crows is a natural mix a for spooktacular setting...

This year, I only did a small vignette on our buffet in the living room, but still inspired by Hitchcock's birds and black feathers... I'll share later on today, but here's a sneak peek...

 

I lucked out last year, spotting this black feather wreath at Goodwill for only $3!

Also last year...

 

Sephora and me with our top hats on Halloween. This year, I used the top hat in my vignette...

Don't eat TOO much candy today...

Have a Hauntingly good Halloween!

Thanks for stopping by...

Welcome December...

Welcome December... the last month of the year. Time for even shorter days (and tempers in some cases), cooler nights, holiday gatherings, decorating, baking, cooking, eating and drinking... By the end of the month, we'll be reflecting back at how far we've come, where we are now, and where we want to be... and come up with a list of resolutions to make it all happen. But as for now, I still can't believe we've been here a year...

I feel like the past 2-3 months literally FLEW by. I think part of what sped up the past to months, to the point of not even feeling like they happened was the infamous super storm Sandy. The other happening causing me to lose track of time was the oral surgery I had, and focusing on a healthy  recovery.

Both the surgery and Sandy had happened so close to Halloween, a part of me felt guilty for wanting to participate or celebrate and the other part was tormented by not being able to eat chocolate (other than a fine substitute: low-fat chocolate ice cream!) Part of why I did was seeing how many after Sandy were able to just move on (even though they were right there!) And I had been looking forward to it. I didn't want to slip into some great depression, so I got dressed up and sat outside handing out candy. But the next day, I was back online scrolling thru photos and sharing information about how to help. It wasn't enough, so I cleared closets and loaded 4 40 lb boxes of donations to send to a contact in Jersey and she brought them to the shelters on the shore. I tried to host a donation day at a local shop, but I didn't get a response from my proposal. Soon afterwards, my focus needed to turn to preparing the house for our first guest out here since we moved: Jeff's mom... plus dinner, a special tablescape, and spending time with Jeff's mom while Jeff was at work (all of which gave my hand & arm a much needed rest off the computer!) She enjoys bargain hunting and was very much looking forward to going thrifting with me, which we did plus one day I also drove to Casa Grande to pick her up from Jeff's store, and drove her to Scottsdale and back to our place in the valley...

(Thanksgiving pics)

 

 

Thanksgiving eve, I made the stuffing. Thanksgiving morning, I made a pumpkin pie, cleaned stemware, polished silverware, and set the table while Jeff and his mom watched the parade and had some "face time" on Skype with Jeff's sister back in Florida.

 

 

Goodbye Fall!

Prepping the house for her also included a little forward planning to prep for holiday. Last year, there was no time for planning for anything other where the tree was going and unpack after our move - Nothing was on the walls except paint. Nothing was covering the windows except the blinds that were here when we moved in. In an effort to create a little familiarity in this new & unfamiliar place, I basically Christmas decorated this place similar to how I had done the year before in Florida: A white tree, loads of bling, and mixing silvers and golds. Since I do have things on the walls now, I wanted to make sure they worked well with our Christmas decor without looking too cluttered, so before Jeff's mom came, I switched the fall gallery wall to a mirrored gallery wall, along with updating some framed pictures to more wintry B&W Ansel Adams prints. I think after living in a more rural & less metropolitan area for a year, the area rubbed off and is reflected in my more simple, understated and organic feel this year: I think out of 20 cartons of Christmas decor in the garage (more meaning ornaments) I think I only used one box... The rest was mixing fresh greens I cut from around our area and mixed into existing wreaths, garlands a-n-d a 7.5' slim pine PRELIT tree we've had since 2005. I took TONS of photos to share some LONG overdue simple DIY projects - can't wait to share!

(re-lighting the tree)

 

 

But first, back to the tree: Keeping in mind the key word being "pre-lit", I thought eezy-peezy, right? Nope - every bulb was black and burned out. And being the resourceful person I am, and not allowing things to go to waste, I thought, "Ok - I'll just switch the bulbs (but nothing fit) or remove and replace the strands... How hard could it be, right? (SMH) I was oh so wrong and couldn't that thought couldn't be further from the truth. I would have started on Black Friday, but Jeff's mom was still here, so I spent the majority of last Saturday removing a bowl full of horseshoe shaped clips from practically every branch of the tree. When Jeff came home and saw the cut up strings tossed around the living room (lol) and pile of clips in the bowl, he said he would have just left the bad lights on, and added new ones over the bad - but THAT is the difference between us: DETAILS. I was so frustrated with losing the time doing this, I didn't put the lights on until last Sunday morning. Still frustrated with it, I walked away for a while and worked on something else: Removing the fall stoop and decorating out front. Jeff brought the pumpkins to work to give to an associate so they could use them for target practice (oh yeah - the wild west!) but ironically, when she brought them home, her husband said they were too perfect to shoot up - I seriously LMAO because HE noticed.

 (3 pinspirations)

 

mixing greens, naturals, silver & gold...

 

simple DIY detail...

 

White sofa & greens...

Well after pinning inspirations for the past year, along with collecting some thrift finds along the way, the house is decorated - inside and out. What ever "projects" were worked on are cleaned up and put away, new boxes of Christmas cards (picked up last year after Christmas on sale) are stacked and ready to  be written out with a list of names & addresses on top of the stack. Baking ingredients are stocked in the kitchen and I am SO ready to spend a little time ENJOYING the season.  Hopefully some people I've met the past year will have the time for a house gathering here - either for cookies or cocktails! I'm even tempted to print a few invites to leave at neighborhood homes. I grew up around many family and friends celebrating the holiday every chance they get - from houses FULL of light displays, to pretty party dresses, and good food. I'm way over the club scene but I still enjoying getting dressed up and having a good time (I don't remember the last time I danced!), and what better place to do that than in you (semi) own home for the holidays (I say semi because I know this place isn't "ours.")  I miss my friends from Florida terribly, along with missing family up in New Jersey.

(inspirational quotes)

 

With a little heavy praying, hopefully God's "plan" for me, my life, my skills, and my talent won't go to waste another year here, and it can bring me to better opportunities to do good, and help restore the shore or so many lives that were disrupted in New Jersey from Sandy.

Belated, but I do hope you were able to enjoy your Halloween, had a Happy Thanksgiving, and had fun putting up your tree this weekend for Christmas. Many of you had let me know you like the "DIY" and home decor posts I've done in the past, so stay tuned...