November? Already?

Happy November!

From Pinterest

But when did this happen? It feels like yesterday it was my birthday. November is going to be a fun month though, with the election, and I'm going to a variety of alumnae and networking events after work, my parents are going to Vegas for Dad's birthday, then the week of Thanksgiving I'm road tripping to DC, NC and DE for a brewery tour for Tallman's birthday. (Its my first Thanksgiving away from home!)

Fall in Virginia

But seriously. Where is time going? I am 26. Wasn't I JUST turning 21? What have I done in the past 5 years? (Attended and graduated from law school, met Tallman, traveled, many trips to ikea, etc etc.)

Sigh. Hope the start of your month is lovely and not at all filled with questions about the passage of time.

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I hope your day is full of candy and creative costumes and polite children!

Children in costume are just adorable. Best holiday.

From Pinterest

Pottery Barn Kids

I was supposed to be a bumble bee this year, but what with storms and under the weather Tallmen, and shipping it hasn't arrived yet. So NEXT YEAR!

Bee Costume

And here is a helpful link on healthy Halloween candy-- good news: Candy Corn, bad news: Snickers.

RedBook.com

Hope you have a great HALLOWEEN!

I want this bag

I love this bag. I want this bag.

Mulberry Bayswater Bag

That's really all I have for today.

This is the story of the hurricane...

Up here in Boston we don't get many hurricanes, and after our extremely mild winter last year I think we're a little unprepared for weather in general, but like True New Englanders we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. (I put it out there now: it will rain, there will be wind, but we will go to work and school and continue, just a little wetter than usual). But that said, I did fill up a pitcher of water and put it in my fridge just in case the storm causes the power to go out somewhere that effects my ability to drink water. (Also, my mom told me to, and sometimes its best to just do what your mother says and to not argue.)

Hurricanes are a little romantic though (unless you die in one). Think Key Largo or storm induced spikes in fertility rates. Also, if the lights go out and you are forced to read by candle light and forgo video games and netflix and the internet.

And just think of the lanterns and lighting options:

Hurricane Oil Lamp

Hurricane Lantern

I have some pretty awesome childhood memories of storms where we lost power and I learned how to play cards with my parents by the light of candles and sometimes a propane lantern.

So if you're on the east coast and getting hit by a hurricane, I hope you're having fun and staying safe. Don't light your gas stove without matches handy, and don't cause a house fire with your candles. Also, don't get hit by a tree :)

Secretary Desk

As much as I love Secretary Desks, I have no where in my current home to put one, and I have no idea if I'd actually use one in a future home, I'm not much of a sit at a desk (other than for 9 hours a day at work) kind of person.

But from looking at pictures on pinterest, Houzz and other fun places, I think I would want a secretary desk near a table, so I wouldn't actually have to sit at the secretary desk (which seems silly).

From Pinterest

But this would allow one to store their bills, letters, etc in the secretary desk and then take them out for Saturday morning bill paying.

From Pinterst

One of the things I like about this idea, is that you can pull a dining room table over to your secretary desk and work on things there if you wanted. Just a smart idea! (also who loves this breakfast nook, I do!)
Then there is a desk in the entry way, which also works for drop off of bills and letters etc because its right as you enter the house. Everything should have a place, if not then how do you put things away-- right?

From Pinterest

But then this placement is lovely too:

Pinterest

Clearly I'll have to keep thinking about it, and maybe the next place I live there will be space for one. Or maybe I could rearrange my entire current house just to have a place for a secretary desk :)

Fun with Spray Paint

I've been pretty slack on updating and playing with my house lately, but over my birthday weekend I finally updated a candelabra I'd bought a couple years ago with spray paint in mind.

I forgot to take a before picture, duh, but I googled and silver plated candelabra's are everywhere. I got mine for $30 at an Antique sale in Boston. I probably overpaid given the fact that the silver plating was flaking off, one of the arms was a brassy color, not even silver anymore and it was very very loose.

Picture Source

After tightening its arms, chipping off all the wax, and giving it a rough scrub and dry to get the flakes off it, I took a can of white spray paint to it. Just Rustolem Primer. But it took 5 coats to be completely white! I was really surprised at how many coats of primer it took to cover up the silver, especially where it was tarnished. And all the nooks and crannys of the the candelabra meant I had to do a couple upside down coats just to be sure.

But like Sherry says, I did light and even coats and had no drips, and quick drying.

Then I lived with white for a week, and the morning before a party I sprayed it again, but with blue!

This picture is awful, but Sage would not leave me alone, as you can tell from her tail in the corner of the picture. In person its much darker and a little less shiny. This took 3 coats, I stopped because I wanted it to not be almost black, but if I had continued there wouldn't be speckled almost white patches under the candle holders (you can't see them in this picture, those white things are just glare from the camera flash) (honestly, this picture is the best of a bunch, Sage was being a crazy).

I'm in love with my blue candelabra. Its so much prettier than when it was silver!

Also I'm in love with spray paint, I'm thinking of giving the lamps in our bedroom an updated white look :) Tallman is totally ok with it... I think....

I changed the colors..

Do you like them?

I do.