A very merry Howe-lloween

Halloween 2013: My favorite Halloween family
channeling their inner-Kill Bill. 

The Howe family never disappoints on Halloween. Each year I look forward to seeing what costumes they've come up with. I log onto Facebook and faithfully wait for their portrait to flash across my Newsfeed. Well, today proved to be just as exciting and delightful (and brilliant) as years past.  

For this fun-loving LA family (Jeremy, Lily and their kids 5-year-old Wyatt and 3-year-old Melody), it all started in 2010 with Superman II: 

Halloween 2010: (L to R) General Zod, our hero Superman
and kick-ass villainess Ursa. Which leaves Baby Melody as 
Non, the third (and very adorable) Kryptonite criminal. 

In 2011, an homage to some of Steven Spielberg's best characters:

Halloween 2011: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Two-year-old Melody as demonic priest Mola Ram is my favorite.

Last year, WWF. 

Halloween 2012: (L to R) Rowdy Roddy Piper, Macho Man Randy Savage, Andre the 
Giant and Jake the Snake. Is there anything this family can't pull off? I think not.

"Jeremy and I just pick things we really love," Lily says about finding inspiration for their costumes. "It's a lot of thrift store trolling for me, some sewing and so much black duct tape."

When she's not hunting for cheap fabric in downtown LA's garment district, Lily will also rummage through her own house for ideas. Her Kill Bill costume, for example, was an old sheet she had once used as a drop cloth to paint daughter Melody's bed. Wyatt's robe was leftover fabric from the curtains in the kids' room ("Turned inside out, which is why there is a polka dot pattern on the inside!" Lily says).    

I admire the crazy amount of creative energy this foursome puts into Halloween. And how can you not love the fact that little Wyatt and Melody get so into it? I mean, look at those poses!

Keep 'em coming, Howes. We're counting on you.

Epic and shit

Two of the most over-used words in the hipster lexicon.
And now appearing on a sweater, naturally.

Links oct21

"Someday, I will be too old for this sort of thing," blogger Helen Kim says
of this lacy fold-over sock + red kitten heel combo. I say, "Work it, girl!"

I love my girlfriends. And their blogs are a wonderful way to catch up. Check out the thoughts and curiosities of these women-- extraordinary, hilarious, soulful, smart, beautiful-on-the-inside-and-out. 

A little blog lovin' for today's links (thank you, ladies!):

read/read/read/

• I love Helen's blog for many reasons. Real, raw, sarcastic, irreverent, clever. And she always makes a good case and point about pretty much everything. (Case and Point)

• Eva's a talented photographer. She's got a wonderful way of capturing the everyday and making them momentous (friendship, true love, new life). My favorite part of her blog chronicles her newest role: mother. (The Mama Project)

• Erika's got deep thoughts. Her words push me to think outside the box (that box being my own self-absorbed psyche) and gives me a much-needed dose of perspective. (The Trees Will Clap)

• Sarah is a true adventuress. I think she's set foot on every continent except Antarctica (give a few years, she'll explore that too). She's traveled near and far and always sees the world with childlike wonder. (Sarah Yi)  

• When I read Jihee's essays on motherhood, I LOL so hard I often pee myself. Word Jihee, word. (Ajummama)

Autumn shows her colors

Scenes from rural Ohio = Glorious. (Photos by Jeffrey Goodman)

Autumn. My favorite time of year. 

Golden colors. Crisp winds and warm sunlight. Pumpkin-flavored everything. Anticipation of what Halloween costumes my kids will don. Unearthing scarves, mittens and boots. Dark nail polish. Cozy cardigans. Hearty soups. Lots of Malbec. Spiced cider. Jumping into a pile of leaves. Apple picking. Hay rides. Snuggling by a fire.

I love the festivities as earth gets ready to sleep.

We drove through rural Northeast Ohio with friends (thank you Jeff for these beautiful shots!) to truly soak in all of Mother Nature's gorgeous fall foliage. She was totally showing off. Can you blame her?

Among the Rocks
by Robert Browning

Oh, good gigantic smile o' the brown old earth,
This autumn morning! How he sets his bones

To bask i' the sun, and thrusts out knees and feet

For the ripple to run over in its mirth;

Listening for while, where on the heap of stones

The white breast of the sea-lark twitters sweet.

That is the doctrine, simple, ancient, true;

Such is life's trial, as old earth smiles and knows.

If you loved only what were worth your love,

Love were clear gain, and wholly well for you:

Make the low nature better by your throes!

Give earth yourself, go up for gain above!

On turning 39

The last year of my 30s start today. More on that in a minute (I'm out celebrating right now). Cheers!

42

Today my parents have been married 42 years.
What's their secret? Love and ice cream.

What government shutdown?

Preach it, Jon. Preach it.