October is by far my favorite month. I'm crazy about spooky stuff. Last weekend was the perfect fall/halloween weekend. We FINALLY got some of our Halloween decorations out/up for our big party on the 26th. I want to turn my house into a ridiculous stereotypical haunted house with strobe lights, creepy spider webs, ghost sounds and all. But I know that's not realistic to live in for an entire month. haha. So we'll be slowly adding to it. : )

A couple years ago in my first apartment we went all out. Hung spider webs from the ceiling, made a huge black yarn web on the wall, shit was glow in the dark, it was insane! I miss it!

Last weekend we also went to The Great Jack'O'Lantern Blaze in Hudson, NY! 5,000 carved pumpkins! Oh man.

On our way home we took a pit stop at Ritter's for some indian corn, a pumpkin, and cider - they have theee best apple cider. But that didn't last too long.

The remainder of the month will be spent watching scary movies and adding to my plethora of halloween decorations to prep for our big party. Just wait until you see the dogs' costumes : )

 ~ Samantha

Carolyn & Dakota

I just can't seem to get away from all of the awesome things they have at Carolyn's Closet. It's an on going estate sale in my area who made a Facebook page to post some of the things they are trying to get rid of. I've been to 2 of their properties more than 5 times already because they keep digging out all of this new and awesome stuff! A lot of it is really nice vintage that's perfect for what I'm going for for the new house. Just recently I purchased the perfect piece for my front room. I feel like all my time and energy with the house just keeps going back to this 'collectors' room. It's a 4 foot tall hutch and I'm just obsessed with it. As soon as I saw it posted I made arrangements to go and pick it up. Though the rest of the room is still coming together - but I just looove this piece. 

My next plan for purchase is one of the upright pianos they have. They posted this idea from pinterest (I'm assuming) on how to turn it into something similar to a butcher block. Underneath the chalkboard in my kitchen is just a big area that we planned on adding more counter top to make some more room. When we came to look at the house in the beginning, the old owners had a large china cabinet in that area and it made the whole kitchen come together. I think this will be a great addition, now just to figure out how to get it here…

There is a lot of 'new' in Daisy, mine, and joe's life this year. We figured we'd keep the trend going…. So Meet Dakota! Our new little Australian Shepherd babe. : )

I haven't had a pup since my dad's dog Luke. It's a nice challenge and of course I'm always up for one. 

So far she's been great, nothing too outrageous - except for accidents and the day she chewed my glasses…

~ Samantha

Summer isn't over just yet!

I didn't totally miss it with all of the moving & settling! The yard/estate sales are still going on! Thankfully August is seeming like it is lasting forever. I like that.

I just can't help but keep my eye out for things that would fit perfectly in with my new (idea of) decor. Lately I've been having issues with finding something to do with our front room. I've been browsing pinterest watching hgtv, and photoshopping ideas together to come up with a plan. I keep looking for something like a big hutch or an armoire to display the little pieces that I have. I have a bunch of vases, books, a tea set, tins, & just junk, that is just too much clutter to throw on an end table. It seems like everything I have is right around the same size. haha.

Though I haven't found that perfect big piece of furniture yet, I have come across a bunch of old crates that I knew from the beginning I wanted to use as shelving. I had my brother install those today. : )

also got this awesome mini printing press - in such good shape!

it's perfect for business cards. Not sure how it might hold up with self carved graphics though.

This might possibly be my favorite find of the week/weekend. It already has all of the guts cleared out. Terrarium? Fish tank? Dog bed? Liquor box? Man, I can't decide! You will see this again for sure...

#lovin'life
#lovin'sundays



~Samantha

Painting sucks

But the outcome was totally worth it.

Weekends have been my best friend. I'm able to relax my mind from the week while still utilizing the time to get things in order. I painted the bedroom and kitchen this weekend. Along with doing a crap load of hanging. It's getting hard to figure out how I'm going to display things since a lot of what I have is small. The other two places I've lived it was fine to put a couple of pieces out per season and just sit them on end tables and trunks, etc. Now I have all this room! But nothing large to fill it with. That's my next project now that I have the kitchen pretty much together. : )

kitchen before

 

after

bedroom before

after

We also hooked up our make shift 'home theater' in the basement today. Freaking love it.

~ Samantha

We're here!

It's taken us a couple of weeks but we are starting to feel settled. Joe's got a new job that he really likes, I've finished up a lot of client work, Daisy feels at home. Things are looking up! It's a bummer that we feel as if our whole summer was spent working up to this moment. But it's all ok with me since my favorite season is fall anyway!

 

We've accepted the fact that this house isn't going to turn into a home over night. I'm always one to get to the finish line quickly in order to sit back and enjoy what I've done. However in this situation, it's the journey that matters. There's no reason to rush as time is on our side. We're here for the long haul, thank god, I am SO over moving.

In the middle of my racing mind with this house and things I want to do - I went on a little trip to New York City last weekend to drop off some friends at the airport. And the hunt for cool stuff begins. It was also super inspiring. After dropping our friends off, another friend and I went from town to town on the way back home poking around. We saw a handful of awesome antique shops that we just couldn't pass up.  I knew I would spend everything I had on this little trip, so I took very limited cash. Leaving that urge splurge still lingering when I got back. (Luckily we'll be going back to pick them up)

But there was a place back home getting rid of some really cool stuff for super cheap, so at least I got my hands on SOME things!

 *********
copper watering can & my first plant in the house ... via mom : )

old gas can

a tea/coffee set, some ceramic bowls, & metal pitchers (?)

hand blown glass pumpkin

Moving into this house, finishing school, & leveling my work load, It's also a big time for me personally to better my self as a professional & start working towards the goals that I have put off for way too long. I have a lot I want to accomplish & I have no reason not to move forward now. I guess this is just a little self motivator for me.

It's also motivating to me when there's such a nice success involved. This summer Arts on the Square was amazing. Everyone who had part in it was absolutely incredible to work with. I'm so proud of the ScrantonMade team and I cannot WAIT until next year.

~ Samantha