A spooky Halloween party

A Halloween party in Salem, MA is always a treat, especially when you work with incredibly amazing clients. h&a happenings helped plan and design an event at a private residence near downtown Salem last night, and the end result was spooktacular. The vibe was creepy deserted house - think the attic of an old Victorian mansion aka Stephen King style - with furniture covered in white sheets, old black and white photos on display, lots of candles, and super eerie baby dolls that really just want to be hugged one more time. And thankfully the crazy weather didn't force all the guests to stay off the road. The brave souls that were up for the weather challenge were also more than up for the shuddersome scene awaiting them at the Streeter house.

A very big thank you to Erin and Michael Streeter for giving me the opportunity to transform their home into a macabre setting!

venue: private residence

planning & design: h&a happenings
photography: h&a happenings

Halloween party prep - pickled brains

It's the weekend of Halloween parties!! I'll be spending all day tomorrow setting up for what is sure to be a kick-ass party right near downtown Salem (you can't get more festive than that, right?). One of my projects today is pickled brains, which is super easy and totally creepy (and edible!):

Ingredients:
1 cup red-wine vinegar
3 cups white-wine vinegar
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon brown mustard seeds
5 or 6 red pearl onions
2 to 3 heads cauliflower

Directions:
1.Place cauliflower in a large glass heatproof jar or canister, positioning florets against the glass; set aside.
2.Fill a large pot with 8 cups water. Add both vinegars, sugar, salt, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and onions. Bring to a boil.
3.Carefully pour boiling liquid over cauliflower; let cool to room temperature. Cover and transfer to refrigerator. Let chill overnight or up to 1 week.

Serves 8 to 10 as hors d'oeuvres 

[Image and recipe via Martha Stewart]

Your one stop shop for all things Halloween

Halloween is only two weeks away and I know a lot of you are planning parties. Whether it's a costume party or just a fun pumpkin carving event for your kids, grandin road is sure to have everything you could ever want for decorations and spooky decor. A few of my favorites are below. Click on the pics to shop that item online.

Cocoon Man ($49) and set of three Halloween spider larva balls ($29):

Animated haunted magic mirror ($79):

Martha Stewart black & white ceramic pumpkins ($24 a piece):

Creepy crawly Halloween streamer panel ($15):

 Halloween table linens $29-$69):

Black candle path markers ($15):