All Hallowed.

We clearly got our costume-wearing out of the way last weekend, so tonight we'll be passing out candy to the few kids who come by in our building, watching It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Beetlejuice and Interview with the Vampire in a row, sampling some of the candy ourselves, and washing it down with a few pumpkin beers.  Do you have any spooktacular plans?! 

On All Hallow's Eve when the moon is round, a virgin 

will summon us from under the ground!  

- Winifred Sanderson, Hocus Pocus

Happy Hallowe'en.

xo. di.

*image via Real Simple

Travel | Salem, MA.

 {Max and Allison's high school from Hocus Pocus}

 {Pumpkin Beer with Cinnamon-Caramel Rim - YUM!}

And a few of the professional pictures from the ball we attended on Saturday:

In love with this town.

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary; professional photographs courtesy The Hawthorne Hotel's Nightmare on Hawthorne Boulevard Ball

Grateful | October 28, 2013.

I am Grateful.  

I have once again been bewitched by Salem, Mass!  As promised, many costume pictures below!

Pictures of the Week.

{Freddie Krueger, Ursula the Sea Witch, Oogie Boogie, Maleficent}

{Prep station}

{C and Me}

{Disney Villain Sisters}

{Our wonderful host: C''s brother, the Grim Reaper}

Links Worth Sharing.

• Coco + Kelley's Gotham Halloween Party is just so much fun!  And here's the recipe for their Poison Ivy Cocktail!
• I am all about the Halloween parties this week!  Wouldn't you like to be invited to this Halloween Masquerade Inspiration Shoot by Hey Gorgeous Events?!
• I could also live in this Downton Abby-Styled Shoot via Style Me Pretty
• The Lifestyled is going for a Haute Halloween!
• This glorious entryway has everything!  Built-in book cases, beautiful accent pieces, and perfect places for everything! - via Dustjacket

Have a wonderful week.

xo. di.    

*images property of Diane Crary

Fall Fridays | Bewitched.

These fantastically wicked prints by Tag Team Tompkins are currently adorning our mantel. 

We are heading back to Salem this weekend for our second annual Halloween Extravaganza with C's brother (who lives there!), my sister, and her husband (last year's pictures here and here).  I just finished up my costume last night (October has just gone WAY too fast!).  Will be sure to post pictures on Monday.

Are you dressing up this year?  Attending any costume parties this weekend?  Tell me what you're going as!  I'm dressing up as Maleficent.

Have a wonderful, bewitching weekend.

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

Reign.

I covet that top dress as a future Halloween costume.

So I think I have another show to recommend you all.  Reign, The CW's first attempt at a period piece, combines the history (ok, loosely-based history) of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots and the teen soap operas (think: a very Vampire Diaries-esque love triangle.  Yes, I watch that show too) at which the former WB has always excelled.  The show premiered last Thursday (though you can catch up on the first episode on cwtv.com and most on demand programs) and will continue at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT tonight.  The pilot?  It was fun.  It was pretty sexy (in love with the bastard brother already!).  And it featured an Irish wolfhound which I am obsessed with (and possible magic?  witchcraft?) so bonus points!  

Will this become the greatest show on television?  Yea, probably not.  But if you want beautiful costumes (though not exactly historically accurate), scenery (castles!) and people (pretty boy princes!) mixed with touchstones from history, a hot Nostradamus (seriously!) and tons of fun and intrigue, then join me in enjoying this show!

xo. di.

*images via Fashion Gone Rogue via Vogue Australia October 2013; see more from the shoot here
**This is not a sponsored post and I did not receive compensation for endorsing Reign.  These are my honest opinions and recommendations.

Make | Gilded Pumpkins.

I realize it's on the early side to work on DIYs for our October wedding (in 2014), butttt some of the materials (pumpkins, leaves, etc) won't exactly be available next spring and summer, and waiting until September 2014 sounds a little...stress-inducing.  So that's how I found myself in my parents' backyard last Sunday afternoon, with three cans of spray paint and a bunch of mini pumpkins, and The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack blasting through my iPhone.  

{My three options}

{I found the best way to coat was to spray the underside first, let it dry; then flip right-side up and coat the top!}

{I was pleasantly surprised to find that all 3 paints covered orange and white pumpkins equally well, and with just one evenly-applied coat}

The Winner: Number 1!  They actually all worked incredibly well, coating evenly and drying relatively quickly, and there are only subtle differences in color.  I just liked the slightly more metallic look of #1, which reflects the light so beautifully.  

After testing, I couldn't stop spraying.  My parents now have a lovely little collection of gold pumpkins for the rest of fall.  

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

Grateful | October 21, 2013.

I am Grateful.  

I love Michigan in the Fall.  

Pictures of the Week.

{Fall Colors!}

{I'll talk about this project later in the week}

 {Halloween lights on my parents' mantel}

 {My parents' fireplace grate - see where my love of Halloween began?!}

{Caitlin's Bridal Shower Centerpiece - So gorgeous!}

{Cannot believe a hydrangea is still growing in their yard!}

Links Worth Sharing.

• Design*Sponge went spooky this week, living in Sleepy Hollow and touring this bewitching old stone house in the Hudson Valley!
• Oh my, this library-into-home renovation in Portland is incredible.  - via Dustjacket 
• Ann Street Studio really knows how to do a HowAboutWe Date, don't they?!  These are some really incredibly gorgeous hot air balloon shots. 
• Self-Employeds: Take Note!  Wit & Whistle has Productivity Tips for you.

Have a wonderful week.

xo. di.    

*images property of Diane Crary

Fall Fridays | Foliage.

The weather this fall in the midwest has been strange and noncommittal: 80 degrees; 50 degrees; 70 degrees; 50 degrees.  But real fall is sticking now and the leaves are finally changing. 

This weekend I'm heading on home for one of my best friend's bridal shower.  Maybe a cider mill will be squeezed in!

And before I go this week, let's check in on fall TV, cause why not?!: my favorite new show of the season is hands-down Sleepy Hollow.  And I can't believe I'm saying that, even with my love of fantasy and Halloween!  As Mo Ryan of The Huffington Post said, it's bonkers-awesome!  It is so much fun and the chemistry between the 2 leads is fantastic.  I wish I had chemistry with Ichabod (Tom Mison is attractive).  3 episodes in, and I am also ready to recommend Showtime's new 1950s period drama Masters of Sex, starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as William Masters and Virginia Johnson, who researched their way into the history books by studying  the verboten subject of human sexual nature.  The show is a little slow (ala Mad Men), but the performances are fantastic and they're really creating a world worth entering.  I caught up with Scandal over the summer (I needed to know what all the fuss was about!), and am so glad I did.  If you watch the show, follow Joshua Malina (David Rosen) on Twitter; he is the best.

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo. di.

*image taken inside the Lincoln Park Zoo last Sunday, property of Diane Crary