Playing Dress Up [Halloween Style]

Happy Halloween everyone! I used to kind of hate this holiday...my freshman year of college I purposely went home for Halloween weekend just so I didn't have to deal with figuring out a costume and trying to compete with all the girls out there who wear lingerie or something really trashy and call it a costume. But as I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate this holiday as an excuse to get creative and play dress-up. This year I had two costumes again (see last year's here)...on Thursday I was Cruella Deville and Friday I was the Statue of Liberty!

What I'm wearing: Forever 21 dress ($12!), Handmade vest, Target tights, Steve Madden wedges, Gloves from previous costume (not pictured)

What I'm wearing: Sheet from Target (cut by me), Handmade headband and torch

Sorry for the crappy mirror pic; I got ready at my friend's sorority house and didn't have time for proper outfit pictures. If you're ever looking for an easy costume, the statue of liberty is it! All I had to do was buy a sheet from Target and wrap it around me toga-style and then make the accessories from things I already had. For the torch, I took a plastic cup, attached it to an empty paper towel roll, and covered it with tin foil. Scrunch some orange and yellow tissue paper into the top and you have a torch! For the headband, I took an old headband I already had, taped cardboard triangles to it, and wrapped the whole thing in tin foil. Done! Easiest costume everrr!

What were you for Halloween this year?

Settling In

What I'm wearing: J.Crew sweater (sale), Forever 21 maxi skirt, Banana Republic outlet sandals, NY & Co. outlet necklace

I know you haven't heard much from me lately, but I've spent the last week or so settling back into my school routine and catching up with all the friends that I spent the summer without. It feels great to be back, but it's always a little difficult to adjust to a new schedule, apartment, etc. Now that I'm finally feeling situated, back to blogging I go! Natalie took these pictures for me on Thursday over by the infamous Mirror Lake on campus. Isn't it pretty?! Our campus is always at it's most beautiful in the Fall. Speaking of Fall, I'm already getting excited for Halloween! I bought the first part of my costume this weekend and already have the rest of it planned out. I've also been consuming more than my fair share of pumpkin spice lattes. Isn't this season the best?!

High Ball Halloween- Couture Fashion Show

On Saturday, I attended my first ever High Ball Halloween. Its sort of like a Halloween festival where everyone gets super dressed up and goes all-out with their costumes. One of the main events of the night was the Costume Couture Fashion Show. Of course, this part was my favorite. It was a fashion show featuring 11 local designers. Each designer got to show 3 looks as well as a "couture" Halloween costume. Some of the designs were truly amazing; I never realized there was so much talent right here in Ohio.

My personal favorite (She won 3rd place)

Kevin Kerr, being announced the Couture Challenge winner

I wish the pictures had turned out a little better, but it was dark and foggy. I took a ton of pictures, but a lot them weren't able to capture how awesome the designs really were. This show made me want to get more involved in fashion locally. Whenever I think of the fashion industry, I automatically think New York, but maybe there are more opportunities around here than I know. I definitely need to look into that...

On a completely unrelated note, I'm thinking about participating in another one of Kendi Everyday's 30 f0r 30 challenges. I feel like it's going to be much harder this time of year than it was over summer, but I think I need something that forces me to spice up my wardrobe a little bit. Are you planning on participating?

What Do Pebbles and Cleopatra Have In Common?

They were my two Halloween costumes this weekend! Friday night I went to a party, and Saturday I went to a Halloween fashion show (look for those pictures tomorrow!). So of course, I needed two costumes. They were both were pretty easy to make, and I liked how they turned out. I'm a big fan of putting together the whole look myself and not just buying some pre-made costume from a store.

Pebbles from the Flintstones

Kat Von D from LA Ink, Cleopatra (she didn't have a costume so I lent her my extra), and Pebbles

Cleopatra

I never get to wear winged eyeliner, lipstick,
or a wig,which made this SUPER fun!

Scarecrow, Peacock, Mother Nature, Cleopatra, and a Fairy


Mother Nature with her turtle

As I've mentioned previously, I usually get much more excited about Christmas than Halloween, but this year was actually really fun. I love using this holiday as an excuse to dress a little crazy or wear makeup you normally wouldn't (check out my roommate Jillian's Mother Nature makeup...isn't it awesome?! She also has a bird in her hair!) Next year I definitely want to pick a costume that allows me to wear really wacky makeup. Until then, I'm ready to start putting away the Halloween decorations and busting out the Christmas tunes. Yes, I'm that girl. I will be listening to the Christmas Pandora station long before Thanksgiving rolls around. Ha ha what can I say...I get in the spirit a little early. Well I'm off to do some studying (writing this blog post may have been part of my procrastination...) Happy Halloween everyone!

Costumes, Costumes, Costumes!

In celebration of Halloween, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite costumes from past years. Every year, my mom would make our costumes herself and throw a big Halloween party for my cousins and neighbors. The past few years I really haven't been that excited about Halloween, but these pictures remind me how much I used to love this holiday. I can't wait to share pictures after this weekend and show you my costume!

1991- Devil
I think this was the first year I went trick-or-treating. Wasn't I cute? :)

1993- Snow White
I think this is one of my favorite costumes of all time. My mom did an awesome job making this. It even had a removable cape like she wore in the movie. My mom spray dyed my hair black for the Halloween party, which I remember made me feel like the coolest kid on the block.

1995- Cinderella and Winnie the Pooh
I was really into Disney princesses, clearly. The year before this I was Sleeping Beauty, and the year after I was Pocahontas. I remember playing dress up in this costume all the time after Halloween was over.

1998- Rose from Titanic/ Princess
This costume was supposed to be Rose from Titanic, but then I wore a tiara? I seem to have been a little confused. This dress was another amazing creation by Mom, and I remember it being really hard to make. And yes, I totally thought I was hot stuff in that red lipstick.

2002- Clown
This was the last year I went trick-or-treating. My friend and I decided at the last minute to throw together some costumes, and we went as matching clowns. Our costumes ended up being pretty awesome, and I remember getting lots of compliments. (I apologize if you're afraid of clowns!)

2009- Flapper
This was last year's costume (ignore the creepy facial expression...it was the only picture I could find!) Last year, I was a flapper girl and the costume came together really well: the dress, long strands of pearls, a feather boa. Unfortunately, it rained and by the time I got to the party, I looked kind of ridiculous. Better luck this year, I guess!

Which one is your favorite?

Can You Guess My Halloween Costumes?

Black wig, Gold Jewelry, Black winged eyeliner

Cheetah scarf (to be worn as a belt) and bone hair clip

Based off my accessories, can you guess my Halloween costumes? I wanted to keep my options open, so I have two possible choices. Both are pretty old-school ideas, but I wanted to keep it classy amongst my fellow classmates who will be running around in lingerie and equally trashy costumes. Best of all, I didn't spend very much on these items, and almost all of them are things I will use again in daily life (minus the wig and bone). Yay for being resourceful! What are you planning on being this year?

*Clarification- These are two different costumes pictured above!

Halloween Fever

I'll be the first to admit that Halloween isn't my favorite holiday. I'm much more of a Christmas kind of girl. But this year, I've decided to join in on the Halloween fun. I've already decorated the apartment (with help from my roomies) and have started planning out multiple costumes. Make sure to stop by tomorrow for a "can you guess my costume(s)" post!

Witch covering up our creepy kitten calendar

Hanging lanterns that don't actually light up
(that's what I get for shopping at the dollar store)

Scenes From Saturday

[Starting the day off with some early-morning high school football]

[Go #47!]

[Checking out Halloween costumes. Do I make a good Mad Hatter?]

[Doing a little shopping. Look who is in the window at F21-
The Glamourai and Cupcakes and Cashmere!]

[Finally got a hair cut!]

[My F21 loot! I went on a bit of an accessories binge: a purse, scarf, headband, and two belts]

How did you spend your Saturday?

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Photo taken on the drive moving back to school

Sometimes you have to remember to look for the light at the end of the tunnel, the rainbow in between the gray clouds. Its been a rough week, made complete by the fact that I am now getting sick. No outfit pictures today because I will be attending class in yoga pants and a sweatshirt. This goes against everything I preach about looking nice for class, but sometimes you just have to focus on making it through the day, stylish or not. The first few weeks of school are always a difficult adjustment for me, so the stress of classes, work, extracurriculars, and a social life + the drastically changing temperatures have me feeling a little under the weather. I also just realized I left my camera charger in Cincinnati, and the battery is about to die. I'm trying to remind myself to stay positive and think of things I have to look forward to instead of dwelling on my stress. Here are some things I'm looking forward to in the upcoming weeks:
-This Friday's girls night out to celebrate my roommate's birthday
-Next weekend's trip home to celebrate my dad's birthday and spend time with family
-Hopefully getting a haircut (just a trim) while I'm home
-Celebrating my boyfriend's 21st birthday
-Starting to figure out my Halloween costume(s)
-Decorating for Halloween!

Some of these things may be small, but they are all little rainbows in the midst of gray clouds. They are what is keeping me sane right now. What are you focusing on to stay positive this week?