Cheri Tracy

Why settle for basic pumpkins when you can transform your home into a full on haunted masterpiece? This isn’t cute corner décor. This is go big or go home Halloween decorating: the bold, over the top kind that makes trick or treaters stop in their tracks & neighbors wonder if you secretly live at Spirit Halloween. Fill your space with spooky yard inflatables, eerie lighting, gothic candles, skeleton showstoppers, and haunted house vibes. Every detail adds up to create an atmosphere that’s creepy, cozy, and unforgettable. Whether you are a Halloween obsessed mom, an Airbnb host who loves wowing guests, or someone who thinks cobwebs look chic year round, these picks prove that more is more when it comes to spooky season.

As a beauty founder I have tried just about everything. From cult classics that flood social feeds to hidden indie treasures discovered at small shows, my shelves have been crowded with products that promise it all. Over time I have narrowed down a collection that I return to again and again. These are not simply nice extras. They are the essentials I reach for each morning and the formulas I trust when my skin needs to behave. They are also the luxuries that make the day feel brighter and remind me why I fell in love with beauty in the first place. Some inspire me through their textures, others through their scent or their clever design. When you create products for a living you notice every detail. How quickly a serum sinks in, the balance of notes in a fragrance, the way a compact feels in your hand. These small choices reveal what truly matters: performance, experience, and the joy sparked each time you use them. Here is my edit of favorites, tested and loved.

Visiting the Windy City is always an adventure. Chicago is alive on every corner with world class architecture, sparkling lakefront views, and neighborhoods that each carry their own character. You can spend a morning admiring the skyline, wander through shops along Michigan Avenue in the afternoon, and wrap up your evening with deep dish pizza or a ballgame at Wrigley Field. The city offers a mix of the iconic and the unexpected. Millennium Park and the Art Institute are landmarks worth every minute, while jazz clubs, tucked away speakeasies, and indie coffee shops bring out Chicago’s creative side. With so much variety in one city, you will find yourself making memories that stay with you long after you leave!