Halloween Fun 2014

One of my favorite holidays has now come and gone. Our annual Halloween party was a blast. We finally decided on our costumes (thank goodness) and I love how they turned out. Our friends had a fun, which is really all I care about. There was great food, good drinks and all around craziness. I was so busy having fun that I didn't get photos of all of our guests. I think next year I'm going to set up a little photo booth to make sure I get shots of everyone. Now on to the fun.

I created this skull cake for my friend Kris' birthday, which happened to fall on the day of the party.

A spooky cocktail was in order. I found this vampire blood cocktail idea on Pinterest and modified it to my taste a bit. The original idea and recipe came from The Self Proclaimed Foodie. It turned out great and everyone loved it.

I attempted to create another Pinterest find, mini caramel apples. As you can see in the photo, they were a huge fail. When I first created them they looked great. After about an hour, they looked like this. The juice from the apples caused the caramel to slide off and created this watery, mushy mess. These ended up in the trash.

We ended up dressing as the Mad Hatter and Alice (a punk rock version). I think {msL's} costume and make-up turned out great! I decided on a rocker version of Alice, complete with a paint splatered dress, ripped hi-low tutu, floral Doc Martens, and tattoos. I already owned the dress and until last week it was destined for the trash. It has some stains and I hadn't been able to remove them. Instead I took Sharpies in shades of blue and created a paint splatter effect.

The Mad Hatter and our friend Kevin, the Prince.

Gaby and Mia look great as the women of Sons of Anarchy. No biker chick costume would be complete without attitude!

Kris (the birthday girl) and Lauren (her girlfriend), look amazing as Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Kris did that make-up herself (including Lauren's scarred cheek). Kris is a scary and impressive Bid Bad and Lauren is a beautiful Red. Incredible!

It was such a great time. I'm a bit sad that I didn't get more photos. There were so many good costumes. I also missed getting a photo of our newest outdoor decoration, a posable skeleton (like this one). I hope you all had as much fun at your Halloween gatherings as I did.

Don't forget to come out and see me next Saturday at the Shopaholics Suite in Silver Spring, Maryland (DETAILS and TICKETS HERE). It's going to be a fab afternoon of fashion and bargains. I hope you'll be there.

photo credits: @peacfulsafira, @_gabillionairee, @daisybee45

Inspiration - Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween is less than a week away. Our party this year is on Saturday (November 1st). Luckily, we have one extra day to get our act together. I definitely feel like our costumes are a huge part of the party. Since we're the hosts, I like to go all out. It's the only time, EVER, that I enjoy dressing as a couple. I'm definitely not big on the matching thing. In fact, one or both of us have been known to change clothes if that accidentally happens. Halloween is the only exception. Last year {msL} was Edgar Allan Poe and I was the Raven. My costume was over the top, complete with wings, feathers and claws. {msL} wore a dark wig, mustache, a waist coat, ascot and carried a book of POEtry (see what I did there?). Hopefully, we'll look just as great this year. I thought we were set on our idea but we keep going back and forth. Time is ticking people. Here are our options.



The Corpse Bride - Victor and Emily

More costume inspiration after the break.

Halloween Decor and Costumes

Halloween was a blast this year. It's one of my favorite holidays. We had so much fun decorating for and throwing our Halloween party and I thought I'd share some highlights with you.

I wanted a dramatic entry for our guests. The curtains will be used in my office when I redecorate.  The little gnome stays on the porch year round. We decorate him at Christmas and I thought I'd decorate him for Halloween as well.

 

I purchased candlesticks from Goodwill and painted them black. {msL}found dripping blood candles and I was thrilled until they dripped everywhere including all over the table cloth and the rug. I will stick with regular candles from now on. I snagged tons of skulls and crows. I painted the plastic skulls black and silver and also used a few from last year that I'd sprayed with glittter spray paint. I replaced all of the bulbs in the lamps and light fixtures with red bulbs, adding to the spooky feel.  I already owned the bulbs. I'd used them for my fire and ice themed 40th birthday party a few years ago. The food and the skulls were displayed on cake stands that I found at Goodwill and we also used for our wedding. We also decided to serve Halloween inspired cocktails. Of course we hit up Goodwill for some vintage looking cocktail glasses.

Outside we had a fire pit and on the table I used a tray I found at Goodwill. It was an engraved tray (an award) but since I was going to put candles, mini gourds and skulls on it, the engraving wouldn't show. I wanted to carry the spooky ambience outside.

Now for the costumes!

{msL} and I dressed as Edgar Allan Poe and his Raven. I already owned the wings, leather peplum top and the satin ball skirt. I purchased the mask and the talons that I wore. I made the feather necklace and bracelets. I created smokey eye makeup and a beak using heavy black liner. I outlined my lips in black and used a dark red lipstick.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't manage to get a photo of my friends Carl, David or Willis. Carl was dressed as a Caps Fan. He actually plays a Caps fan in real life.  David was dressed as Peter Pan and Willis was dressed as a Pirate. Thank you to all of our guests and to everyone who sent photos.

 

 

Happy (belated) Halloween!

 



20s Murder Mystery Party - My Costume

Over the Memorial Day weekend, my friends hosted a 20's era Murder Mystery party. I have never attended a party like this before. I can't wait for the next one. It was a blast. I'm sure that most of that had to do with the amazing people who attended the party. The food was great, the champagne was flowing and the mystery game was fun. It didn't hurt that everyone got to dress up in costume. I mentioned in an earlier post that I would most likely be wearing items that I already owned. I decided not to buy a new dress and wore one that I had stashed in my closet. It was the dress I wore to my 40th birthday party.

I have to apologize in advance for all of the kissy face expressions.  I could tell you that I was going for a 20's vibe but I think it had to do with the flowing champagne.  I accessorized my dress with long gloves, an art deco style bracelet (c/o Kristin Biggs of Stella & Dot), two long necklaces, a vintage brooch attached to a sash and tied as a headband, one of my favorite pair of earrings (Kristin Biggs of Stella & Dot) that you can't see due to my hair, lots of eye makeup and dark lips.

My friends bought the mystery game from Night of Mystery Murder Mystery Parties. You tell them how many people will be attending and they send all of the game information, including character info, printables for the game and all sorts of ideas.  They made it easy to throw a great murder mystery party. Just add some cool people, food, and drinks and you're ready to play.

Frugal Fashion Friday - Great Gatsby Mystery Party

Over Memorial Day weekend, some friends and I are throwing a 1920's themed (Great Gatsby style) Murder Mystery Dinner Party. We are all dressing up and donning our best 20's fashion. Each of the guests will have a character to play in the mystery. My character is Dina Diva, the juice joint singer.  Of course I have to dress the part.  I could buy a pre-made costume but I would prefer a fun dress and jewelry that I can wear again.  I already have some items I can use and if I make any purchases it will be a great dress.

Click on the photo above for buying information.

 

Most flapper style dresses are shift style, long and straight. My curvy girl body and hips look terrible in that type of dress. If I get the dress large enough to fit my lower half, my waist and boobs are swimming and I look twenty pounds heavier. I definitely don't need that. A dress that has a 20's feel but has a waist will work much better. It will be much more flattering on me. If I decide not to spend money on a dress, I already have a cute black dress that might work. I could also hit my local thrift stores to find an inexpensive dress and add some crystals or fringe.

Luckily for me, I love art deco style jewelry.  I have some fantastic long necklaces including one with a tassel and I own this exact bracelet and similar earrings.  A few years ago, I purchased long, black, satin gloves for a Halloween costume. Sitting in my overflowing shoe collection,  I have several pairs of t-strap heels that will work with this dress or any dress that I select.

My plan is to have a great costume without spending lots of money.  I'll be creating a DIY headband using a scarf or ribbon and some brooches I already own.  My makeup will be red lips and a smokey eye and my hair will likely be in tight curls or finger waves.

I'm excited for the party and I'm sure we'll have a blast.  I'm also working on our drinks and appetizers.  Our hostess and my friend, Denise will be making the yummy dinner and our friend Carrie will be making a decadent dessert.

I've always been fascinated by the roaring 20's culture and style.  I can't wait for the party!

Halloween Costume Makeup

I'm all for the easy Halloween Costume. I love the ones where you can use clothing that you wear daily and add minor accessories and makeup to create your costume. Several years ago {msL} and I went to a Halloween party as a modern day version of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.  It's one of my favorites. The makeup for {msL} took some time, mostly because of the fur and the ears but the outfits were items we already had on hand.  We purchased a cape for me and wolf gloves and ear attachments for {msL}.  I added hair extensions, false eyelashes and red lips. I also wore a leather corset I'd purchased a few years before and laced it with a red ribbon.  We got lots of compliments and the costumes were so easy to wear to the outdoor party.

We aren't attending a party this year but I am really inspired by these fantastic Halloween makeup ideas.

I've linked to all of these great ideas on Pinterest.   I might just have to do my makeup on Halloween night to give away candy to the kids in the neighborhood.

What are you wearing for Halloween this year?