Halloween Card

Halloween is just around the corner, and it's always nice to send a little Halloween card to a friend or two. This adorable Halloween card from Inside a Black Apple is FREE to download and print as many as you like. Click here. And if you can't use them this year, there is always next year!

{via AT}

Carving Done

We finally did our pumpkin carving just in time for the trick or treaters. I think they came out pretty good. Stella was very specific on how she wanted hers carved--triangle eyes, round nose, a smile with teeth. Can't go wrong with the classic design of a jack o' lantern.

Daddy trying to steal a bite of Lucas's push-up pop.

Colorful Season

Oh how I love autumn time out here--love, love, love. It's my favorite season. There is so much color and a sweet smell in the air. It really get me in the mood for the holiday season.

French Costume

How adorable and elaborate is this Marie Antoinette costume for a little lady? I just found out that Grosgrain Fabulous was doing some Halloween costume giveaways all this month. I'm sad I missed it. All the costumes are amazing with lots of detail.

Growing Feet

I swear my feet have grown a whole size with this pregnancy. Seriously I don't have much swelling but I know I can't fit into my size 8's anymore.

{photo via Flickr}

Family Sofa

Looking for a sofa to seat your entire family? Here's one that can do the trick. My girlfriend, who recently moved to Brazil, emailed me a picture of her new sofa and I LOVE it. The center can pull out as a chaise, so the sofa is large enough for a bed. She actually got it custom made by a village man for a VERY reasonable price. I guess all the American stores are so expensive down there. Even Ikea's furniture is thousands and thousands of dollars.

No Costume, No Candy

I've had to do frequent prep-rally talks with Lucas about wearing his costume for Halloween. I believe I have mentioned about how Lucas is still in his summertime phase of shorts and shirts. Getting a sweater, jacket and socks on him leads to throwing fits. So, wearing a Halloween costume has been a little unbearable. He refused to wear it to our ward Halloween party. So, I've said no costume, no candy. All last week I was prepping him for Daddy's work Halloween party. Lucas was pretty excited to go, and just getting to see Daddy and hang out with him is a treat in itself. But I told him if you aren't going to wear your costume, we aren't going and you aren't going to get any candy. He understood and he wore it. Even the little fire extinguisher. No fireman hat--that's a whole other prep-rally. But he sure is a cute little fireman.

Yellow, White and Black All Over

Jenna Lyons' house in Domino is pretty cool, especially all the black paint she used. I especially like her son Beckett's room. Very darling and unique. I like the letter blocks that spell out his name above the mantel. Actually I like the name Beckett--perhaps I need to add this name to the baby list.

Party Idea: Clothing Swap

I was organizing one of my inspiration files and came across a few old party ideas from Instyle. One of them that caught my attention was a clothing swap brunch party. Have fun would that be to invite your girlfriends to swap clothes/accessories/shoes? I have a ton of items I could get rid of and in exchanged get a few "new" items for myself. Maybe a future event...

Surprise Package

Don't you love getting surprise packages in the mail? Well, my dear friend Natalie, who is about to pop out a baby, thought of me and sent me a little baby present. I'm slapping my hand for not being a better friend. Anyway she gave me a diaper and wipes case from this darling blog. She must of read my mind because I've wanted to get one for myself. Thanks Nat! In the span of only two years there is already a ton of new baby products out there that wasn't there when Lucas was a baby. The diaper and wipes case is one of the items. Another item that is on my baby list is the Hooter Hider--must get especially during airplane travel. I see a lot of my friends using it, and it seems very convenient. And my last thing on my list is a baby sling. I have one that I used with Lucas when he was a newborn and it worked great...for a few weeks. Mine isn't adjustable and he just didn't like it because he was hidden away. Anyone have any suggestions on a brand they like? I heard the Hotslings are good.

Different Season

The holidays are quickly approaching, and it's going to be a very different holiday season for me. Usually in September I'm prepping for all the holiday shows and increasing inventory on my website. But this year is going to be very different. I'm doing no shows so I can focus on this new little baby that is shortly arriving. And let me tell you, it kind of nice not having all the stress and deadlines. However I still have my website and that will still keep me busy. So I've been designing some new pieces, and with my fingers cross I hope to have them up before November. One necklace piece that I'm loving is this simple circle pendant. The little stone in the middle is a black diamond--making the piece a little unusual and mysterious. I like to pair it with a long simple chain necklace.

Kiki and Polly

These portraits from Kiki and Polly are so darling and unique. I love the old-school, vintage feel. You send a picture in, and they incorporate your child's face in the picture. Too cute. And they have calendars, which would be a lovely Christmas gift to the grandparents.

Paper Cuts

I'm always on the look out for good prop design especially with jewelry. I came across photographer Anita Calera who did this creative prop design with jewelry using paper cuts.

{via In(side) the Loop}

Outdoor Office

This outdoor studio is perfect for those who work at home--a good place to keep your home life and work separate. Something I definitely need.

{via}

Spooky Weekend

Okay so it wasn't that spooky. But this past weekend we had a little taste of Halloween. Friday night we went to The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze and it was quite amusing meandering in the dark through the Van Cortlandt Manor property and discovering 4,000 individually carved pumpkins. My favorite was the carvings of the dinosaurs. I didn't capture very good pictures because of how dark it was outside. But if you live in the area, it's definitely worth the visit. And my kids loved it. As I was leaving, one of the workers loudly announced to a large group I was trying to steal a pumpkin. Way to get everyone's attention. Damn, I love being pregnant. Anyway, maybe next year the kiddies will be up to Legend Nights in Sleepy Hollow? Naaa. Perhaps we'll have to wait a couple more years for that. On Saturday we went to our ward's Halloween party. I really didn't get any pictures because I had to work one of the game booths. And Lucas refuses to wear his costume. And we got there late and wasn't in full costume mode. Oh well. But we still had a lot of fun.

What Can it Be?

My little Stella has declared to her Mommy and Daddy (along with many other people) that we are going to have a girl and will be naming her Lulu. Why a girl? Because she has never had a sister before. Even in preschool when she draws her family, she includes a third child. And it's a girl. Thankgoodness she doesn't draw her Mommy with a big belly. She is very excited for her "sister" to come and frequently asks me when "she" is ready to come out. Hope I don't disappoint her. Now if you ask Lucas what we are having--he'll tell you we are having a monster truck.

Project Runway

Tonight was the finale for Project Runway. I'm so sad. That was the last. I'm correct, right? No more Project Runway? Anyway, I think this was the season that I loved all of the designers' collection. Each collection beautifully executed the color palette and storybook. I was torn. I thought they should of all won.

Fall Sale

There are some really cute items on sale now over at J.Crew. And if you enter coupon code EXTRA20, you save an additional 20% off all sale items. Sweet! I bought a few items that are in my pre-pregnancy size. I don't think I'll be wearing those items until next fall season. Oh, and a little bird told me that Gapkids, baby and maternity is having an additional 25% off items in the stores only. Time to stock up on winter clothes.

Oooo and Ahhh

I got rubbed and relaxed with a pregnancy massage today. A little birthday gift that I needed to use up. Oh, it was divine. And so far it has helped with my aches and pains I've been having. I highly recommend anyone who is pregnant to get a massage or even if you are not. On the schedule, to book a massage for after the birth of the baby.

Feather Headbands

These headbands by Erin Barr that I saw in Lucky are really cute, and they don't look like you'd have a wing growing on the side of your head.

Kid's Costume

If you are going to be the crafty one this Halloween and plan to make your child's costume, Family Fun has a whole list of creative costumes and instructions.

Stone Barns

When it is a gorgeous fall day and it lands on the weekend, we love to go visit Stone Barns. And that's just what we did this weekend. The farm is located right next to Rockefeller State Park so there are a lot of walking trials along with pastures, greenhouses, ponds, little streams and of course farm animals. One of my favorite parts to visit is their courtyard. It's very picturesque, and it reminds me of a castle.

Halloween Decorations

We finally got some Halloween decorations up this year. It's not much. We cut out Halloween silhouettes out of black paper and put them up on our windows. Then we found black tissue paper in the paper wrapping box and used a bat cookie cutter to make garland for the fireplace. And that's about it. Oh, and pumpkins out on the front porch.

Muddy Blue, Burnt Orange, Chocolate Brown

Those were the colors requested for this baby shower invitation/thank you cards that I created. My girlfriend Ashley is helping throw a couple's shower for her friend and husband, so she said the invitations needed to be modern and a little appealing to the male guests. Nothing babyish or frilly. I think they came out pretty good.

Sigerson for Target

One of my favorite shoe designer, Sigerson Morrison, is collaborating with Target and I'm too excited! Most desired is this studded pair.

Double Stroller

We have a lot of strollers. I'm thinking we are up to five now. I need to dispose of some of them. I've had terrible luck with strollers. Most of our strollers are not so great. I have a Combi double stroller that I use around town and I don't like it. It's really hard to push and the bottom basket is very small. So, I'm thinking about upgrading; however I'm going to need to convince the husband. Does anyone have any suggestions? I borrowed my cousin's Phil and Ted double stroller when I was in Boston this summer and fell in love with it. And surprisingly my kids argued over the bottom seat. But I'm just not sure and don't want to make another mistake.

Cowboy Party

This cowboy birthday party that Party Perfect posted is so darling. I thought it was a cute idea that they tried to teach the children how to be real cowboys. I going to file this idea away for Lucas's next year party.

Crown & Crumpet

The cutest little tea shop just opened up in Ghirardelli Square. I hope in the future they'll open up an online store so I can buy some of their cups and saucers.

{via Ruby PR}