I’m always remarking how much safer I felt living in the city rather than the ‘burbs. On dark and stormy nights, I miss being in close proximity of other apartment dwellers and having only one point of entry into our home. I also miss sleeping in a 12-story brick building that I know can’t be toppled by a falling tree. This weekend we were figuratively blown away by an extremely rare October snow storm. It was cold, wet and dangerous: The still-green leaves clung to tree branches, catching the damp heavy clumps as they fell from the sky, adding tons of weight to branches. Isadora and I sat inside, watching the spectacle out of the windows. POP! Down a limb would come crashing, just missing our neighbor’s car. Luckily no serious damage was done, but now I can’t help but look at the massive oak tree in our front yard with trepidation. It seems criminal to chop down a tree that’s been around hundreds of years. How do you know when it’s time to say good-bye tree, hello chain saw? This slide show, How Safe Are Your Trees at iVillage, offers some handy assessment ideas. Be on the lookout for warning signs like dead branches, splits in the trunk or even mushrooms growing out of the roots. — Angela M.

Have you ever had property damage caused by falling limbs or trees? Share your horror stories here!

Image from iVillage/Getty

Have we told how excited we are for Halloween this year? Our three-old daughter is combating the princess storm by dressing as the ONLY female Disney character with a job: Mary Poppins! It’s all about the accessories: hat, umbrella, carpet bag. Not easy, but the payoff will be worth it. Her dad and I will dress as obligatory chimney sweeps and allow her to steal the spotlight. After showing off our duds in the neighborhood parade, we’ll lure trick-or-treaters into a makeshift porchside photo studio to capture their portraits. Last year, Batman fell into our lair. Can’t wait to see who will stumble by this year. What will you be dressed as? — Angela M.

Photo by Chad Hunt

More Halloween costume posts:

What was your best homemade costume?

Thanks to the savvy Ginny Figlar for pointing out on her new blog semicolonsomethings that these gorgeous lightbulbs have hit our native shores. We have long lamented that the design of CFL bulbs leave much to desire, and now that these beauties are here we should stop complaining. The Pulmen is pricey — $30 — but it iss gorgeous enough to stand alone or shine in a clear shade. It will last ya eight years, so really that’s pennies day.

The other day we had the pleasure of crashing at the home of our dear friend Holly in Richmond, VA. A baker extraordinaire, she always has something delicious to offer. On Sunday she sent us on our way with a plate full of the best pumpkin muffins. They were moist, light and had a subtle complexity due to a mix of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and cardamon. But what really made them extra devourable was some dark chocolate chips hidden inside. Needless to say, all the pumpkin muffins are gone now. Holly was kind enough to share her recipe, so I will try to replicate over the weekend. Even if they’re just half as good as hers, they’ll be heaven in a paper cup. — Angela M.

Click through to the next page for the recipe. (more…)

We spent a lovely day in Charleston, SC last week, admiring its historic churchyards, cobble stoned streets and shuttered row houses. Little did we expect to find such a mod decor idea there. At Kaminsky’s downtown, the smell of wafting french roast mixed with baking cupcakes, while our eyes soaked in the these clever wall coverings. From across the dining room, they had a undulating texture that cast soft shadows in the morning sun glow. On closer inspection, we realized that this expensive looking treatment was really just rows of wall trim. The moulding that most homes use around the base or in decorative accents was glued onto the walls row after row, in creating a texture that was both organic and organized. Replicating the same effect in your home would not be too difficult; the hard part might be deciding your level of commitment. If you glued them on, it would be impossible to remove without destroying the wall. Another option would be to drill them on, and then spackle over the holes before painting. We’re thinking it’d be fun in a small room (like a half bath) or perhaps on just an accent wall. The white color used in Kaminsky’s allowed the shadows to take center stage, but it also might be interesting in a pale clay or grey. If you’re ever in Charleston, but sure to stop by 78 N. Market Street for a piece of red velvet cake and a look around. – Angela M.

As the holidays grow ever closer, I know many of us may be preparing for the influx of extra bodies in our homes. Visiting family, open houses, and parties galore can tax existing furniture levels and have us busting out the uncomfortable folding chairs to accommodate everyone. While recently browsing with glee and delight at the new Seattle boutique Charley + May, I stumbled across what just may be the perfect solution to those temporary seating needs: The bubble sofa and ottoman. Made from sturdy PVC plastic and available in a broad range of candy-brights, the bubbles blow right up to provide some fun color without breaking the bank. If you’re in Seattle, pick up the sofa and ottoman in person, $72, and $20, respectively. And for those of you not near the Emerald City, Charley + May will be happy to ship, for a $25 charge. — Megan B.

Morgan of the Brick House has us coveting a coven of kilim pillow covers like the ones she scored on ebay, pictured above.

Even more pillow talkin’ — Megan over at Not Martha restyled her bedroom, and we are loving the customized double monogram pillow she threw together and the easy clean jewelry storage.

A new source of design lust: Bodie and Fou, found at Decor8.

Chocolate chipotle bacon popcorn, at Serious Eats. Those are four words we love together — and did we mention it’s gluten free?!

Curbly’s got the Halloween crafts on lockdown, like these awesome mad scientist DIY glowstick jars.

CasaSugar shares some black painted interiors whose style works well beyond Halloween.

This soup is my homage to the incredibly flavorful dish, Khao Soi from northern Thailand. Though my version varies in many ways from the original noodly stew of magnificence that is Khao Soi, I really tried (and I think succeeded) to recreate the essence of its flavor. I opted to make a warming pureed soup that takes its base from roasted pumpkin and butternut squash, assertively spiced with both Thai curry paste and Indian curry powder. And of course I couldn’t forget plenty of coconut milk added for silky richness. I may have made it a touch spicy (that curry paste does NOT mess around), but it wasn’t anything a little yogurt couldn’t cool down. It’s just about the perfect soup to warm up a cool Autumn night — and great for crowds, since it makes a ton! — Megan B.
Get the recipe, after the jump! (more…)

Let the “muffin top” jokes commence… NOW! Of course, the first one that came to my head was Elaine Benes’ Muffin Top bakery scheme, but all jokes aside, I’m really digging the Muffin Seat by designer Matteo Bianchi. As shown in the photos, it literally pops its top to reveal concealed storage in the stump. Yum. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I find this piece really manages to be whimsical and chic at the same time. What do you think? Sound off in the comments! — Megan B.

Via Juxtapoz Magazine.

Manhole covers have long been a popular subject for modern art photography and books. Usually made from cast iron, their symmetrical designs vary greatly from city to city around the globe, and often give travelers a reason to keep their eyes on the ground and not towards the sky. Though few design-junkies could dispute their graphic appeal, they don’t exactly look like something you’d want to touch — let alone snuggle. Still, these sewer cover printed pillows, from In the Seam on Etsy have their charms. We love these soft metropolitan tributes. Chose from Detroit, London, Boston, Seattle, New York and even, Catskill! $42/each.