SPOOKTACULAR IDEAS

BOO!  Halloween is next week and if you are a procrastinator like me, you probably haven't put up any of your decorations yet or thought about what costume to wear to that party this Saturday night. Not to worry! There are so many easy and fun ways to incorporate festive ideas into your home decor and party planning.

To say that I love Halloween is an understatement. I'm actually OBSESSED with it. When it comes to decorations, you can get SO creative and work within whatever budget you have set. Listed below are some SPOOKTACULAR ideas that you should try this year!!


Halloween Party Essentials:

1. SKULL ice molds and/or floating EYE BALLS - you have to have something festive floating around in your punch bowl. Details matter and your guests will LOVE it. #INSTAGRAMWORTHY

2. Beakers, Syringes & Skull shot glasses - Halloween drinkware is dangerous. There are so many options and you could go CRAZY on the cocktail front. Checkout my Instagram post for drinkware ideas! If you have the app LiketoKnow.it and you like or screenshot my Instagram post, you will receive an email/notification with links to where to find some of my favorite Halloween-themed glassware.

3. Skeleton Mouse/Rat Cheese Board - unless you are lactose intolerant, everyone LOVES a good cheese spread. Get a cheap slate board and style it with various cheeses and of course a mouse/rat toy (it doesn't necessarily need to be a skeleton). I tend to also style my cheese boards with faux cockroaches. It's a great unappetizing yet AMAZING touch.

Halloween Decor Essentials:

1. Spooky candles - Black taper candles, bloody candles (see my previous DIY here), and skull candles SCREAM Halloween! This year, I up-cycled wine bottles to create my tablescape decor.
DIY trick: To get rid of the wine labels, all you have to do is soak your bottles in hot, soapy water and scrape. I found that not all of the adhesive residue was coming off after I soaked the bottles, so I applied Goo Gone to remove what was remaining.

2. Cobwebs - Cheap and classic. Like the saying goes, "if you got it, HAUNT it." You can pretty much throw cobwebs on anything for a creepy look. #HAUNTED

3. Lights - From ravens to mummies to ghosts, outdoor/indoor Halloween lights are necessary. Don't be that neighbor that pretends they aren't home. Get festive! Lights attract the trick-or-treaters, DUH!

SHOP THIS POST

POM POM SEAGRASS BELLY BASKET

It's October, which means Fall is upon us and Summer is officially over. However, I'm one to believe that you can incorporate bright colors and fun accessories all year-round (THINK PINK and POM POMS). 

This seagrass belly basket is seriously such an easy DIY.  All you do is make your pom poms and sew them on. The end. Be creative and use different yarn colors, I especially love the effect of gradient color schemes. 

For details on how to make these adorable puffballs, see my older post here. As you can see, I'm very obsessed with my pom pom maker, hence why my earrings perfectly match the basket!

The best part about this DIY is that the belly basket is so multifaceted. It can be used as a planter, like I styled here, or it can be your new go-to vacation or summer bag! When you are out and about and people ask you where you got your bag, you can simply say "I made it" (insert sassy girl emoji here).

FALL IN THE BIG APPLE

Sezane 

New York, New York. Every time I visit it's an absolute whirlwind, but totally worth it. From the cash-only hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurants to the sprawling speakeasies, the culture and foodie scene of NY is unmatched. I can't forget to mention that the people watching is also spectacular. 

Fall is the perfect time to visit NY. You can actually enjoy exploring the city without, for the most part, experiencing the nauseating smell of summertime trash or the blistering chill of a NY Winter. The Fall weather is IDEAL. Although I'm not a New Yorker and have only visited a couple of times, I always do my diligence before going and have come up with a mini travel guide to share some of my BIG APPLE favorites thus far. 

Dining
Favorite Speakeasy: Beauty & Essex - They serve you champagne in the bathroom and have an amazing selection of tapas to nibble on. 

Favorite Bagels: You're in NYC, so bagels are obviously a must. Plus, you have to carb-load after all of that NY walking. Ess-a-Bagel and Tompkins Square Bagels are two of my favorites! 

Favorite Pizza by the Slice: You honestly, can't go wrong when it comes to NY pizza. I'd have to say that Joe's Pizza is one of my favorites. Joe's is cash only, so make sure you have some $$$ on you. 

Favorite Cocktail Bar: NY is full of bars, but the experience you will have at While We Were Young is ON POINT. From the marble counters and gold barware to the dried flowers floating in your cocktail, every detail makes you want to stay for hours to take in the ambiance and try every drink on their menu.  

Things To Do
Shop: You can't beat NY shopping. SoHo has amazing stores (like Sezane) with endless boutiques lined on cobblestone streets. Doesn’t get much better than that. You can also head over to East Village if you are looking for some vintage treasures. 

High Line Park: High Line Park is an old railroad that was turned into a skyline walkway. The views of the city from the High Line are absolutely stunning. Pack your workout shoes, it's a 1.45-mile-long walk. 

Chelsea Market: You could spend a solid half-day at Chelsea Market exploring the up-and-coming vendor shops and restaurants. Even if you are a picky eater, you are bound to find something DELICIOUS at the market. 

While We Were Young

While We Were Young

While We Were Young

Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market

FOR THE LOVE OF FLOWERS

Talk about FLOWER POWER. I’m a sucker for all things floral and I absolutely love how an artfully styled arrangement can transform your tablescape. We all know how expensive floral arrangements can be, and given that I find it necessary to incorporate flowers into my weekly décor, I had to start arranging them myself.

My love for florals inspired me to take a class with the QUEEN, Holly Chapple, who taught me the essentials that I needed to make a balanced and romantic arrangement.  And, I recently had the opportunity to put my amateur skills to the test in designing the centerpieces for a bridal shower. Let me just say that they turned out to be total SHOWSTOPPERS. Humble brag.

Flowers bring me joy and symbolize LOVE. We could all do better in spreading a little more love and happiness. The world could use it. So, build yourself, friend or someone random a beautiful Fall bouquet this weekend and follow my tips below. :)

  

Jefferson Lane Tips:

·        1. Trim your beauties (on a slant). I typically cut at least 1” off of each stem to ensure that the flowers suck up the water they need to survive.

2. In creating the arrangements, you will need green floral foam or coated chicken wire. Both mediums create stability for your centerpiece. When using green floral foam, make sure to pre-soak the foam beforehand.
3. Start with greenery, then layer in your statement flowers (personal favorite: David Austin garden roses). Don’t be afraid to mix colors and textures. Contrast can make for the most unique and beautiful arrangements.