Casual Friday

Casual Friday: Halloween 2021, A Fun Game we Like to Play, Our Favorite Wreaths and More!

October 29, 2021

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Happy Halloween Weekend!!! This year, our family decided to dress as ET, mostly because Polly looks so much like Gertie, Greta just got a new bike and we had almost everything for the costumes. Faye as ET has us all laughing so hard. She stayed in character the whole time and her face makeup is kind of like those old school Magic Eye books–when you see it–you see it! (I was going to just get a mask but I couldn’t find any, so we did face paint and it was so fun actually). For Trick or Treating on Sunday, our older girls are going to be dragons from the Wings of Fire series (they both love it!) and Polly is going to be a…unicorn. (No surprise there). We have a weekend full of pumpkin carving, trick or treating, (we might go to our first ever trunk or treat) and too much candy in front of us (and hopefully these grain free pumpkin muffins!)–can’t wait!! 

Other Fun Things This Week!

  • Our Favorite Christmas Tree Collars + Skirts!!
  • Sometimes I play this game in the office where they have to tell me something that they don’t think is in style anymore in the home world, or a REALLY difficult thing to make look good and I get to try to prove them wrong. I guess it’s fun for me because I like to prove myself wrong, too. There’s always someone out there doing amazing things that can change your mind. For instance, just when I thought a corner fireplace was a difficult thing to design around–Max Rollitt proves me wrong. (Psst! This would be a fun post!! Tell me what you want to see a good example of and I’ll find one!)
  • We did a tree round up here, but in the comments so many of you asked for wreaths–so we rounded up a bunch of our favorites right here: Wreaths to love!!
  • Here’s a link to Greta’s new bike from above! We go on 5 mile family bike rides almost every night lately and we are all enjoying them so much but the hills can be killer! The pedal assist isn’t necessary but it makes it so enjoyable and fun for her.
  • An award-winning Lamp o’clock (or it should be!)
  • Next week, we’ll be releasing all of our gift guides for the season!! I’ve been working on them for the last few weeks and I can’t wait to share them with you!! Let me know if there’s a specific person you’re stumped about!See you Monday and check out the best weekend sales below–many brands are already starting their Black Friday Sales!!

Weekend Sales

Abercrombie: 30% off select styles (new favs)

Amazon: Shop our Amazon Storefront here! (great holiday gift idea)

CB2: Up to 30% off guest room (did someone say lamp o’clock?)

Crate & Barrel: Up to 60% off markdowns (this price is insane RUN!)

Gap: 40% off your purchase with code TREAT (love this for chris)

Mango: 30% off everything! (yes & yes)

Old Navy: Up to 50% off storewide (my dream dress)

Solo Stove: $100 off + $20 off orders $200+ (the famous smokeless fire pit)

Wayfair: Shop our rugs on sale here!

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What do you think?

  1. Amy Finch says:

    I really really love the idea of regular posts about things that are considered outdated or tacky being beautifully incorporated into design! So many of us don’t have the budget to rip things out and start again, or live in homes where there are structural things that can’t be changed etc etc and I feel like this would be such an amazing reminder and inspiration that it’s possible to creatively incorporate difficult/dated architectural and design elements so that we don’t have to be frustrated/embarrassed about the things that we can’t change. I’d love love to see it and I think it would honestly be of real value to people and help tham feel more at home in their home! Dated tile, off centre windows, slab style doors (the ones with no details at all), dated kitchen cabinate styles would all be amazing to see 💛💛💛

  2. Savannah says:

    You guys, this photo has been going somewhat viral on Twitter and I had to come here and make sure you saw it. 😅Is this the next level difficulty up from the corner fireplace?! Somehow I still have complete and total faith that Julia could make this lovely. (but also, oof. haha!)

    https://twitter.com/tonyahaigh/status/1454157062720663557?s=10

  3. Ashley says:

    I’m stumped on my 7 year old son.

  4. Tess says:

    Love this game idea! Ok… a ceiling fan with a light that works in traditional decor, please. 😊

  5. Katie says:

    I would love a gift guide for younger children with older siblings. I’m totally stumped about what to get for my 2.5 year old because we already seem to have everything – plus he’s not old enough to really tell us things he wants. My 5 year old, however, has a list a mile long!

  6. Abby says:

    I’ve been meaning to ask you this! 90s house with those half-walls that fill coerns in hallways. It’s like a triangle shelf on top. I think it’s so ugly – do I take it out, and leave the slightly too big corner in the hallway? Or keep on with the triangle shelf filled with picture frames? 🙄

  7. Cici Haus says:

    Our new house was designed by a well-known local interior designer in the area…in 1994. The finishes are all high end so they’ve stood up to the test of time and many are back in style (brass fixtures, black toilet seat covers, wallpaper everywhere). I’m obsessed with the floor tile in the bathrooms but the wall tile is…glossy brown squares in one and glossy navy squares in the other. Any examples of working with the brown tile?

  8. Ellen says:

    Please show a good looking room with a Murphy bed in it!

  9. Amanda says:

    A gift guide for the kid who has EVERYTHING. Obviously experience gifts are great, but some reasonably priced physical items under the tree <3

    Enjoy your Halloween!

  10. Jen says:

    I would also love to see a post on ROUND tables capes. Both dressy and a more casual everyday vibe. So many people only share rectangle…and I have a round table. Table runners or no? Only round placemats or can rectangle work? I need ways to help dress it up in a casual, everyday way.

  11. Cary Lumley says:

    I love the plaster range hoods and range alcoves featured in many kitchens but in a smaller kitchen with a 30” range, a microwave with venting over the range is such a good functional solution. Can it look nice too?

  12. Ericka O’Malley says:

    I will forever defend the corner fireplace! I have it in my home and I love the balance. It doesn’t require me to put a TV over the mantle, I have a dedicated wall for the media cabinet/TV. I find it more difficult to decorate around a fireplace centered on a wall. :)

  13. Stacy Hill says:

    I can’t get over your yearly themes costumes. LOVE.

    Please do Gift gift for moms who don’t want a lot more clutter, don’t want clutter, and have everything they need( and don’t want beauty products).
    And a guide for teenage girls and boys

    Thank you!

  14. patricia says:

    Love it! Polly looks adorable in ponytails.

  15. Colleen says:

    Great Halloween costumes! Polly is the perfect Gertie! I have a fun challenge for you…could you please do a story or in include in a Christmas post some ideas to display stockings if you don’t have a mantle? That would be so helpful!

  16. Bailey says:

    Hi guys! The link to gretas bike goes to your Instagram page! I’d love to see the real link :)

  17. Ann M. says:

    I love the “difficult to make good” idea and I’ve got one that I’d like to suggest!!! Competing focal points: how to arrange a room when the fireplace is one one wall and the TV is on an adjacent wall. Always a tough one! Love, love, love your blog. Your daily email is one of my favs!

    • Ali says:

      We could use help with these competing focal points, too. I know many people mount the TV above the fireplace, but that’s too high for me. Would definitely be hard on my neck. Thanks for any other suggestions!

  18. Ali says:

    I want to play! :) Ok… those shelves above doors in two-story foyers! The ones that always look cluttered and dusty.

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