Last-Minute Halloween Ideas

Hello, friends!  Thank you so much for stopping in!  I know this is down to the wire, but because Halloween is tomorrow, I thought it might be fun to share a few last-minute ideas I am implementing for the evening's festivities.

Spookiness in the Parsimonious Kitchen

When decorating, you can never go wrong with a festive or seasonal vignette!  I have taken away my boxwoods and flowers and created a little Halloween Ghost town right on the kitchen countertop.  Here is my process:

I began by setting this spooky cloth from The Dollar Tree.

A grand yet dilapidated little castle is set as the main feature.  I can't believe I found this at a local GoodWill for less than $10!!

Closer look.

Smaller structures of a mortuary,

witches' shoppe,

a spooky ghost station,

and a smaller castle

are added to complete the scene of the town.  All from The Dollar Tree.

I love that the castle is animated, and that it lights up!  Not bad for GoodWill!  In the following video clip, I have the lights dimmed and the clip also shows the lights and animated ghost (you may have to view on a pc):

 

 

 

Skeletal friends sit and chat

while lit pumpkins look on.

Here, I've opted to add a few spiders here and there

and over the tops of the buildings.

Another option is to drape the structure with cloth and place the spiders over it.

 Spooky!

A Gothic cake plate full of macabre munchies has been added.

There are marshmallow brains,

spooky skulls,

and creepy spider candies.

To see my recipe to create these creepy eats, you may visit the post on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum here.

My Halloween treat jar will hold anything that is leftover (though with my brood and my terrible sweet-tooth, I doubt it, ha!).

Closeup.

A recent find from HomeGoods is this enormous skull bowl....I will likely use it to pass out candies

from here in the foyer.

Pretty cool!  It's very heavy and large and it only cost me $20!  Not bad.

Do you have any last-minute preparations in mind?  Are you planning next year's spooktacular?  When I took my kiddos out to buy their costumes, our final destination was Party City...and let's just say it was a madhouse.  That, I guess, is to be expected.  I did, however, see something that I thought was so unnerving that I have never seen!  Perched just above the fitting room was this 7-foot gargoyle.  The eyes glow, it growls, the wings move, it blows smoke and emits the evilest music.  I have never seen anything like it!  Yipes!

 


You can see an example of it in action in the following clip:

I can't decide if I like it for next year or if it's just toooo creepily evil!  What do you think? 

Here's wishing everyone a very happy and safe Halloween! 



If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

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From White to Bright

Hello, my friends!  I hope all is well!  What do you think about when you choose a chair for a room?  Do you consider scale, style, color?  Do you use the chair as a basis for the complete design or do you buy it to fit in your existing space?

I'm honored to again work with the wonderful folks at Charish by a curating room choosing items from their site.  Today I am taking a room "from white to bright" using chairs from their fabulous inventory of accent chairs as the focal point.  Have you ever heard of the website Charish?  It's an online marketplace where you can peruse and shop gently used furniture, antiques, rugs, et cetera!  Think Christie's Auction meets Flea Market with the casualness of eBay...easy and fun!  

I have decided to create two rooms to demonstrate how choosing an accent chair with a vibrant pattern completely changes the atmosphere of a room.  I hope you enjoy!  
 

First Room

In this first room with white chairs, there is a calm vibe, which attributes to a space of subtle elegance. The fresh white is soothing, while adding elements of black contributes contrast and interest without being overly fussy.

 

Second Room

In this room, you'll note a much more vibrant and punched-up aesthetic, beginning with the bold pattern of the chairs!  I don't know what it is about the bold black and white, but I immediately thought a vivid color like red or orange would work fabulously!  Pairing those chairs with lively accessories definitely lends to a space that is anything but boring!  Add graphic art combining elements of the room and you have a cohesive space that definitely pops! 

Which do you prefer?  Whatever your style aesthetic might be, starting the room off with a fabulous accent chair is a wonderful way to create your space! 

All items in both rooms, via the Charish website.  Please see the items individually listed below.  If you'd like to be directed to the item, simply click its specific pic!  If you'd like to peruse their accent chairs, click the link above or here to be directed. 

First Room

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.  Pair Ralph Lauren Club Chairs

2.  Pair Black Deco Glam Lamps

3.  Pair Cowhide Black Pillows

4.  Modern Lacquered Side Table, White

5.  Madeline Weinrib Rug

Second Room

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

1.  Pair Early 1900s Louis XV Bergeres 

2.  Artemide "Pantalica" Murano Glass Chandelier

3.  Italian Black and White Backgammon, Chess, and Tic Tack

4.  Pair Red Bolster Pillows

5.  Original Mirror Star Painting

6.  Modern Lacquered Side Table, White

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤

 

Set Your Table With Flair--Autumnal Teatime Al Fresco

Hello, friends!  Thank you so kindly for dropping by a few moments! 

It is almost a full month into the Autumn season, yet it still does not seem like it here.  It is definitely the opposite of what is occurring in other parts of the country.  My heart goes out to all of the people in the Carolinas inundated with torrential rain.  I pray for the families going through this terrible time. 

We did have a small reprieve from the unbearable heat just recently, thank heavens....a bit of rain and two lovely days of cooler temperatures. 

Ah, Autumn!  The slight crisp in the air, when it is not too hot nor too cold....it's just lovely.  Fall's cooler days are the perfect time for enjoying a meal al fresco.  With the holiday season arriving shortly, I am already planning my menu (I might try goose this year!) and table for this year's Thanksgiving.  If you love to entertain, today's tablescape would also be fitting for a morning-after Thanksgiving, or a perfect brunch anytime during the Fall.  A palette of soft neutral colors combined with nature's beauty as a backdrop is so soothing; just what my heart wants after a long, long, summer.  I  hope you enjoy the post! 

I began the table with this lovely brown and cream tablecloth.  I love the soft browns, beiges, and subtle greys!

Dark brown beaded chargers

were followed by my Spode woodland plates.  I just adore these plates for Fall, they are so versatile!

 

Two each of the red grouse

pheasant

and wood duck are the perfect compliment to the table linen.

 

Dark brown saucers

followed by delicate tea-stained doilies provide a little bit of vintage charm.

If you would like to read how to tea-stain your doilies to give them vintage appeal, you may do so on my other blog The Crafting Table here.

Two burlap and sisal pumpkins

are joined by a charming basket made of corn-husks,

filled with Indian corn, wheat stalks and heads, and small white pumpkins (both real and faux).

An antique wrought-iron trivet

is the perfect setting for a jaunty little teapot in white.

A sweet brown and white cream and sugar

compliment an antique ironstone transferware dish full of crazing which I attribute to its charm.

 

Delicate teacups and saucers of very fine bone china situate themselves at this festive table.

Crochet-edged napkins of beige are held by twiggy napkin holders....

and pine cones are placed sporadically here and there.

Miniature teapots fashioned out of branches and twigs

add to the overall rustic charm.

I love these little fellows, the top on each opens, so a name card could be placed inside easily, if so desired.  Too cute!

A brunch wouldn't be complete without some nummy noshes, and my Spode Woodland footed plate worked wonderfully for serving them.

These maple almond sugar cookies are so, so good and just perfect for the season!  To view my recipe, you may do so on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum by clicking here.

Completed tablescape.

Cool,

serene,

and bountiful.

 

Place setting.

A simple but charming tea,

perfectly suited for Fall.

From my collection:

Table linen, Waverly, Ross

Chargers, generic

Teacups and saucers, Haviland France Limoges Marseille and Ranson Collections

Sisal and burlap pumpkins, Target

White teapot, Target

White faux mini pumpkins, Target
Brown and white creamer and sugar, Grace's Teaware, TJMaxx/Homegoods

Brown saucers, TaiPan Trading
Spode Woodland plates, Horchow/Neiman Marcus

Spode Woodland platter, Tuesday Morning
Crochet-edge napkins, Horchow/Neiman Marcus
Small ironstone dish, Mason's "Watteau Brown," England, local vintage shoppe
Rustic napkin holders and mini teapots, Local thrift
Lace doilies, The 99¢ Store, then tea-dyed by yours truly

Corn-husk basket, local Salvation Army

Indian corn and additional pumpkins, local grocer

 

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤