Halloween Decor Tour 2016

We've made it to the spookiest week of the year, the seven days leading up to Halloween! I absolutely love celebrating Halloween and wanted to share how I've decorated my studio this year.

Starting off with the "bar cart" in my kitchen (actually just an old microwave stand) with some cute cups from Jewel Osco, striped straws from Target, a cute design on my chalkboard, and an awesome "Trick or Treat" banner from Michaels.

I have a couple of cute little ghosts in my bathroom...

This subtle set up on top of my book shelf...

A really neat skull candle from Paper Source on my night stand.  I've also recently fallen in love with the Pumpkin Spice Rooibos tea from Trader Joe's in the most adorable tin.  I'm currently sipping it out of my "Morning Pumpkin" mug from Lindsay Letters...

And the grand finale: the top of my dresser.  I'm obsessed with the pumpkin string lights from Paper Source and paper bats I hung on the wall from Michael's. 

 I'd love to hear your favorite way to decorate for Halloween!  Leave in the comments your favorite spooky decor.

October Date Night: Barbecue and Blues Festival

This month, my date night is with my momma to celebrate her birthday! For our night out, we went to a barbecue and blues festival at a vineyard in a small town near where my mom lives and where I grew up. It was a perfect combination of fun and relaxation with amazing artists, delicious barbecue, and beer and wine.

To the festival, my mom and I wore coordinated outfits, obviously.  I have on a grey long-sleeve tee and denim jumper from H&M and a hat from Jack and Lucy that I got in my latest PopSugar Must Have box.  My mom dressed in a chambray button up top, black skinny jeans, with layered brown necklaces.  Our attire felt very casual, and appropriately festival-like.

The set up was all outside, on a perfect evening.  Everyone brought their own lawn chairs and set up outside a stage by a red barn.

My mom and I each grabbed some beers and barbecue (ironic that my mom's name is Barb? Barbecue for Barb, get it?), then listened to a line up of blues and roots bands through the rest of the evening.

If you're looking for a last night to go out before the weather turns too cold, I would definitely recommend researching what festivals in your area are still happening.   Most outdoor festivals seem to wrap up in October, at least in the Midwest where the weather can be pretty unpredictable starting in November, and it feels so nice to spend an evening outside without shivering.

The Ultimate Autumn Bath

The weathers getting cooler, people are wearing more and more layers, the days are getting shorter... The season of coziness is upon us.  The other day, I had a particulary cozy evening taking the ultimate Autumn bath.

To start off the bath, I crumbled up half of the Sparkly Pumpkin bubble bar from Lush as the tub was filling up.  It instantly turned the bath a pumpkiny orange color with a bit of sparkle and made tons and tons of bubbles, which to me is essential to have the coziest bath possible.  Once the bath was filled I dropped the Pumpkin bath bomb from Lush in for some extra orange and yellowy colors and a warm, spicy scent.  To top off the bath, I also kept a mini Lord of Misrule shower cream to lather up with after I was done soaking in the bath.  It's seems perfect for October, leading up to Halloween since it's a bright green color, which reminds me of a witches brew.  It was a really spicy, woodsy scent.

To get an extra cozy feel, I also lit a bunch of Fall scented candles from Gold Canyon.  The scents I have are Cinnamon Citrus, Smoked Apple Butter, White Pumpkin, and Mulled Cider.  All of these scents have a more spicy, warm scent so they mix really well and created a very cozy atmosphere.   

To top it off, I brought in my current read, Devil in the White city.  The story is a bit creepy, with chapters telling stories about a serial killer living in Chicago during the Worlds Fair, mixed in with chapters on the architects journey to building the Fair.  It's creepy enough to feel like an October read, but subtle enough to read in a bath and relax.  

Once I got out of the bath, I cozied up in my pajamas and robe after moisturizing with Suncrisp Apple Harvest Bath and Body Works body cream.  I believe it was a part of their summer line, but apple scent is very autumnal to me.  Currently, they have Country Apple in stock, which seems to be the equivalent.  After that, I was so relaxed and ready to cuddle up for sleep.  

Essentials for Starting Autumn Off Right

It is officially Autumn! Bring on the apple ciders, the pumpkins patches, and cozy sweaters. In my excitement of the new season, I've put together a list of the essential things you need to feel as Autumnal as possible.

The first thing to get my in the spirit for fall is anything with a cinnamon, apple, pumpkin, clove scent. This year I'm obsessed with the mini size Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin ultra shea body cream from Bath and Body Works. It smells a bit sweet, with a bit of spice and I love the size.  It fits great on my night stand or in my purse on the go.

I'm also obsessed with candles (can you say basic?). I'm so lucky and am related to a Gold Canyon candles rep, and they are honestly the greatest candles of all time. They have a ton of great scents and the candles last so long for the money you spend.  Currently I'm burning the scent Mulled Cider, White Pumpkin, and Smoked Apple Cider and it's so delightful. If you can get your hands on some Gold Canyon candles, I would definitely recommend them for your fall scents.

The last scented item that's getting me excited for fall is a pumpkin scented hand soap, called A&S Pumpkin. It came in an adorable pumpkin shaped container and it smells SO good.  I picked this up at Marshall's, but I've also seen a similar container at Home Goods.

Moving on to makeup, I love wearing a darker color on my lips in the fall. My obsession for the last few weeks has been Stepping Out from Smashbox.  It's a darker-brown, nude color on me, with a little bit of pink undertone.  It's perfect.  Not only does the color last for hours, it's the perfect color to give me the for feeling of having a statement lip, but neutral enough to also be a nude lip.  Of course, I didn't wear the color in this blog, but you can see it on my lips in this post about my favorite pair of overalls.  The color I am wearing is The Warning by Smith and Cult.

Plaid or flannel tops are my go-to when the weather turns colder.  This year, I love the olive green plaid top I wore in my Overall's post and this classic red and white flannel.  It's great on a more casual day with jeans and some boots. I also love it tied over top a grey sweater dress and think it would be really cute tucked into a denim skirt.  In these photos, my dress is from Forever 21 and the flannel is the brand Staccato.

What are your essentials to get you in the fall spirit?  I'd love to hear them in the comments or tag me on social media @lamelze!