Pumpkins

This year, I completely forgot to buy and carve a pumpkin. Sad. To make up for it, I'm already planning to go all out with gilded gold pumpkins next year a la Twig and Thistle at 100 Circular.

Calendar

Though we don't hang a calendar in our home, as I have a Stendig in my office and typically plan our life out using Microsoft Outlook, Catherine Campbell's 2011 calendar is forcing me to reconsider. Aren't her illustrations beautiful? Do you hang a calendar in your home? I grew up with one in the kitchen. Image via Decor 8.

Halloween

How are you celebrating this October 31? I've been toiling away all week on our sushi and soy sauce costumes (photos forthcoming) for a fete ce soir, while we have plans to enjoy butternut squash soup with family for lunch tomorrow and hand out mini chocolate bars to the neighbourhood children tomorrow evening.

Another great idea would be to spend the day baking a medusa cake or spider petits fours. Image via Neato Coolville.

Berlin

Berlin is our next must-visit European city as we've both studied German (Greg far more seriously than me) but having never visited the city. I may have overdone it with the uploads, but aren't these typographic depictions amazing? If curious, there are tonnes more here too.

Idea 3

I'm thinking a row of Blanca Gomez prints in our new home would be just sweet! For purchase here. These prints are reminding me of Hector.

P.S. Blanca's work was also featured on Uppercase.

Before

If curious, here are some before photos of our new home. The only design decision we've finalized yet is to hang a substantial Nelson pendant in our dining room, but I'm feeling inspired by this house (I'm even debating adding some grey walls to the mix) and I'd love to find this fixture for our living room or front hall.

Scope

St. John's friends, have you filled out this year's The Best of St. John's yet? I'm struggling with some of my answers.

Renting?

Interested in renting our cute salt box in a fantastic neighbourhood? With our move, we're looking for great tenants who will continue to love our home on Forest as much as we do.

Our home is in the heart of Fort William (aka bordering Signal Hill-The Battery to the south, and Quidi Vidi to the east and King's Bridge to west), a charming St. John's neigbourhood with tree-lined streets on the east end of downtown within walking distance of Belbin's Grocery (and their delicious cheese selections!), Coffee Matters, Bivver (and many other restaurants on Duckworth and Water Streets, including the soon-to-open Raymond's) and Sweet Relic. Our house has a large living room, two double bedrooms (including one with a Juliet balcony), a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom (with jacuzzi tub), an office, a study/small den and a large, fenced, private courtyard-style backyard. Bonus: the designer light fixtures will remain with the rental.

If you're looking for a similar place, please do get in touch. Thank you :) xo For more photos, please see here and here.

Idea 2

On 100 Circular, I'd love to have a painted bentwood chair. Image via The Conran Shop.

Bunting

Today, I'm loving all things bunting over on Svpply! Pillow found via Cup of Jo and available for purchase at Annily Green.

Idea I

Over the coming weeks, I plan to profile some of the many design ideas that are inspiring my thoughts for our new home.

Idea #1? New exterior doors. An exterior renovation is in our plans and right now I'm day dreaming about new doors. I'm feeling very inspired by colour (which in St. John's, unlike in many other Canadian cities, is expected and encouraged), namely for our doors. It is so hard to decide which colour to choose. I'm curious, do all your doors have to be the same colour? Or can you mix it up? My good friend MaryBeth is currently debating a burgendy door, while I'm dreaming about oranges and mustards. Inspiration found via Fresh Home Blog.

This front door has fantastic presence. Image via Pacific Mutual Door.

While not in our immediate plans, these yellow doors would look smashing off our kitchen where a patio door currently exists. Image via Design Sponge.

I'm also dreaming about a new back door from the basement with a large window. Image via Apartment Therapy.

Abode

Big news on the Greg and Katie front... there's opportunity for another housewarming party in our future! We've bought a new house! I'm excited to share details on our new home, and second round of adventures into the world of decorating here in the coming months (we've already splurged on another large Nelson Saucer lamp!). Images of our new street via Double Photo Album (who by the way has many amazing shots of our new neighbourhood, Georgestown).

P.S. Greg's super excited about the move, and his reaction is so adorable (there's talk of joining the neighbourhood association and we've already met our new next door neighbours, who were super friendly).

P.P.S. Fun fact - my grandma was born in number 88 Circular (the red house above).

Back Pack

As a former Girl Guide, I love this Scout back pack. Wouldn't it be perfect for day hikes? I'd love to fill one up with a thermos of pink lemonade and container of trail mix. Image via Duluth Pack.

Sushi

I love sushi (Greg and I have plans to eat spicy asparagus rolls tonight) so much that I'm making us sushi Halloween costumes. Work begins on them this weekend! I'm excited! Image via I shot the chef.

Pony Tail

After a summer of wearing my hair long and wavy, I've been wearing pony tails a lot lately (there's something about fall that encourages them, for me). Image via Design Love Fest.

Voyage

I've been spending a lot of time on planes lately, which equals blog neglect. Opps! I'll be back to regular posting next week. I'll also be back to helping with the household chores next week, dear husband. Promise! Image via MonkeyC.

Ice Cream

Next summer, I want to host an ice cream party to put the ice cream maker that my mother-in-law gifted me to good use. I'll make colourful paper jackets for the ice cream cones (to help keep melting cone drips at bay) and serve scoops of ice cream on top of cupcakes in lieu of icing (what's better than ice cream and cupcakes?). The menu will also include gourmet ice cream sundaes, with toppings like candied violets and pistachios, and layered chocolate and vanilla milkshakes. Though summer now seems a long way off, I'm excited! Inspiration via Amy Atlas. Image via Garrett Kern.

Draw+Cook

Apparently, there is a whole world of illustrated recipes! I'm so excited about They Draw and Cook. Thanks Lori! Found via Lori's Art Blog. Image via They Draw and Cook.

Svpply

I have exciting news, my lovelies - I've been invited to share my favourite must-have items on Svpply. The site is a great place to promote your favourite entrepreneurs and bookmark your favourite retail items (you can read more about it here, if curious). I'll be continuing to add to my favourites in the coming days (including my favourite horizontal striped items, naturally!).

Wedzu

The DIY wedding planner in me is delighted with the launch of Wedzu - a sort of Etsy for weddings. Isn't this honeymoon luggage tag genius?

Ampersand

In this life, there are things that simply belong together. In the food world, there are many examples - ketchup and mustard, olive oil and garlic, peanut butter and jam. One of my favourite things to do is to discover new pairings, such as chipotle chili pepper and mayo. Dan Beckemeyer illustrates such pairings in his drawings of ampersands, and I think they're pretty swell. All images via Dan Beckemeyer. You can see more here.