Halloween Menu

November 1, 2015

As our family grows, holidays become a little more exciting each year. Granted, a little more challenging (costumes for 6 is a marathon friends), but definitely a blast. My sisters and brothers came over for an All Hallow’s Eve // Saint’s Day feast after trick-or-treating. I just borrowed recipes from my good friend Pinterest.

Halloween Menu:
Gabe’s chili
Mini pumpkin bread rolls
Caramel Apples (I just dipped in caramel, chocolate, and rolled in nuts)
Spiced Pumpkin Cheeseballs
Oranges (with apple core tops to turn them into mini pumpkins)
Pomegranate, Olive, and Cheeseboard (Havarti dill, goat cheese, and gouda)
Sugar cookies
Mulled Cider

I think our family theme costumes are probably coming to an end as Gabriel gets older, but this year, my kids were crazy about this movie, and so they were more than eager to play the part…

Hope you all aren’t suffering from too much Daylight savings // halloween candy hangovers. I vote for Halloween on Saturday every year!

Happy first of November!

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A little autumn home tour.

October 30, 2015

We tend to put all our energy towards Christmas decor every year, so I am lucky if I get a fall wreath on the front door, but this year I decided if I actually thought about it early enough, I could smatter a few pumpkins throughout the home too. Low expectations and you won’t be disappointed right?? Hey, anything is an achievement when you have four sweet tots consuming your attention. So here’s my best efforts for a festive home to warm us up in the evenings where the sun sets at a godforsaken hour. (I am looking at you daylight savings!!)

Vases: Target, West Elm, Target, West Elm

Bar Cart Details: Bar Cart, Glasses, Vase, Bourbon bottle, and Napkins.

(Table centerpiece DIY video here.)

I hope you all have a fun Halloween weekend/ feast of el dia de los muertos!. I can’t wait to trick-or-treating with my children…basically an excuse to dress them up and squeeze their cheeks more than usual. Will be sharing their costumes over here.

Cheers!

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Throwback: Holly Golightly Costume x 5

October 29, 2015

I am scrambling to gather costumes for 6 of us this weekend (whew!), and looking forward to some food and festivities with family and friends.

Here’s a quick Throwback Thursday to Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s that I styled for Martha Stewart. DIY Mask details here.

What are you all going to dress up as? I love hearing all the ideas!
x, Anna

P.S. If you need some last minute ideas: Maypole Costume, Kate Middleton, and last year’s family costume🙂

*Photos by Chelsey Heidorn

A newish Autumn Tradition.

October 28, 2015

Look One: Cocoon Cardigan // Chambray // Flannel // Denim // Hat
Look Two: Flannel // Raglan Sweater // Vest // Denim // Boots

My sister moved to the Atlanta area over the summer and their backyard has provided many memorable nights around a campfire. The trees are tall and vibrant and there is ample open space for some good tree stump seats and a good fire pit. This October has been unusually cool for the area, but I don’t mind since it reminds me of my midwest home. You know the wet leaf and smoke in the air smell with the slightly crisp chill reaching your bones? The wind also makes sure you take note with a shuffle of falling leaves to add to the ambiance. I’ll take it.

So lately we make a batch or two of Abuelita’s hot chocolate (the best) to go with some apple-bake filled mugs my sister makes. We spend at least a few hours chatting about life, swinging on hammocks , and listen to my brother in law strum a ridiculously good version of Mumford on the guitar. I hope we make these nights our October traditions, because they sure are good at taking you away from the world for a brief time and allow us to slow down.

This autumn, I have been using pieces from Old Navy. I really love how their items are interchangeable and layer well. I have always been a flannel girl, and their line of plaids and flannels fit me so well. ( I like to go up a size for a looser fit or just wear the boyfriend style.) Textured sweaters, quilted vests, cable knit hats – oh my! All so good. Have you seen their fall outerwear collection? I have a few of their coats on my wishlist.

It is cold and rainy here today, so wishing you a warm Wednesday! And by the way, do you all create fall traditions? What are they going to be for you?

*Photos by Angela Hoyer in partnership with Old Navy, and all opinions are my own.

Buildable Wardrobe: Neutral Staples

October 27, 2015

Drapey Shirt // Shopbop (sold out but similar)
Necklace // Moorea Seal
Zip front skirt // Topshop
Nude Heels // Similar
Black Heels // Madewell c/o
Clutch // Moorea Seal c/o
Book: How to be Parisian

As I have been purchasing with more caution, I tend to select items (or keep) items that work for more than one occasion, and can last beyond trend patterns. Cue ivory and nude. Here are my latest finders and keepers that I’m adding to my #BuildableWardrobe (you can follow or add to this hashtag on instagram!).

Hope you all are having a great start to your week and are keeping warm and dry. Super cold and rainy here so I am off to tackle the weekend’s laundry mound.
x, Anna

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*Flatlay photo and styling by Rosemary Wild

Adding bold colors to your home.

October 22, 2015

You can tell by the way I have decorated our home, that I am a sucker for bold color. Almost every room in our house has a good strong color in some way or form. For National Color Day today, I am sharing a few ideas of ways you can infuse some bold hues into your own home….

(our dining room, photo by Chelsey Heidorn)

I used an overdyed peackock blue rug in our dining room to work in some color, and you could also use a good all purpose paint + primer or cabinet paint to add this color onto your kitchen cabinets or an accent wall. (Pacific Pleasure is a great color!)

(our bedroom reading corner)

I’ve always dreamed of an ochre yellow door or couch, but for now, blanket throws will have to do! Here is an example of a great way to add some deep yellow to the inside of your home or maybe even on a bedroom door! (Valspar’s Squash Blossom VR011B is a really good hue!)

A cool thing about Valspar paint is that they have a color guarantee which allows you to return paint if you aren’t satisfied with the color. Since I tend to be wishy washy with color decisions I find this extremely helpful. 😉 Their interior paints have served us well so far! We used some light greys in our living room and guest room that lifted so much light compared to the dull brown it was before.

What color are you itching to try in your home? I say go for it! It’s National Color Day after all!

*This post is in partnership with Valspar!

IHOD Spotlight: Love41

October 21, 2015

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share with you a company that has me completely captivated! I’ll never forget the first time I read about the Rwandan genocide…..it haunted me that there was nothing I could do for these suffering people. I didn’t even know the depths of it until I saw the movie Hotel Rwanda and read the book Left to Tell. And here we are in 2015, with many still suffering the affects of this nationwide devastation, and Love41 is weaving an impactful net of love, shelter, and empowerment to serve the suffering. I am so happy to share their work today.

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