GOLDEN PINEAPPLE COSTUME

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I'm obsessed with Studio DIY and her genius Halloween costumes. She's had some amazing ones this year -- my favorites include kiwi, milkshakes, cactus, popcorn and today's gumball machine.  

My first attempt at a Studio DIY costume for Mila was last year in the form of a pineapple. I followed the Pineapple Costume DIY and paired the green topper with a dress from American Apparel. I love that this costume can just go with anything yellow in the closet!

A year later and I'm still so in love with this pineapple costume situation! So I went for a gold version, using shiny gold card stock and a white plastic headband from Michaels. [A few notes: I glued the leaves together so they were gold on both sides. The shiny side of the paper wouldn't hold the glue/more leaves. Studio DIY calls for about 20 and I was only able to do about 5 so you're certainly getting a different look going this route.] Mila is wearing a Wovenplay suit and holding a brass pineapple from Borrowed BLU. 

P.S. Wanted to share this sweet photo of the kids taking a break at our Halloween table. Here's the "Sophisticated Halloween Dinner Party For People Who Hate Orange" on ELLE DECOR.

OPPOSITE OF FAR + THE WISHING ELEPHANT FOR HALLOWEEN

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I first fell in love with Opposite of Far at the YEAH! Furniture Pop-Up Family Brunch. The adorable felt masks are all designed and made by creator/owner Jessica Near in her small town Central Indiana studio.

Black Cat + Skeleton + Grey Owl 

Then I was so happy to discover The Wishing Elephant through their Opposite of Far  collaborations. They really have some genius costumes. Did you see that Bjork Swan dress we had in our Halloween Costumes for Girls? Incredible!

FAVORITE BOOKS FOR YOUNG KIDS

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I've been on a quest for the greatest children's books and have finally started to find some that we (as a family) truly love. Inspired by Courtney Adamo and her Babyccino Kids book guides, I've put together some favorites. I'm just going to warn you now that I'm not a classics person, so there's nothing vintage on this list. But if you're looking for a modern book for a young child, hopefully you'll enjoy one of these.

Julia, Child takes kids on a culinary adventure with it's playfully delicious tale about the importance of never completely growing up and mastering the art of having a good time.

A friend gave Gaston to Brixton, and I fell in love with the words and pictures so much that I had to add it to Mila's bookshelf. The illustrations in this book are beyond adorable, with the cutest story to match.

Mila loves all of the Olivia books but Olivia and the Fairy Princesses is the one we go to time and time again.

A friend got us hooked on the the Leslie Kimmelman series with Everybody Bonjours! And Everybody says Shalom is also great, especially for a Hanukkah gift (we like it for post-latke reading). 

Jojo's First Word Book and Inside and Outside with Jojo may be my favorite books ever. Xavier Deneux’s gorgeous visual style makes me feel as though I'm parenting in a French wonderland of beautifully simple design.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Pascale Estellon's The Giant Play and Learn Book has made me a better parent. This activity book allows kids to learn as they play with it's imaginative creativity. The colorful, oversized book is packed with doodling, drawing and fun. I also love Taro Gomi's Doodles and Squiggles.