What To Wear? What To Wear?

Well, folks, we're only three days away (two, if your town is celebrating on Saturday) from Halloween! Has everybody got a costume?

Yeah, that's what I thought...slackers.

I'm expecting to see a run on the Halloween stores tonight and tomorrow. Now, I have nothing against store-bought costumes. They're worlds more convenient than trying to piece one together from the thrift stores, or (God forbid) actually sewing one. Lord, I have vivid memories of watching my poor mother try to follow my five year-old self's instructions for making a Snow White costume ("Sew good, Mama"), and of how sweet and appreciative I was when the darned thing was finished ("The colors are backwards! The yellow's supposed to be on the bottom!"--Mom's answer: "You're Snow White after she married the prince. You changed clothes." Bless her. I totally bought that.)

No, store-bought costumes can be great timesavers, and I'll save you my soap-box rant on the prevalence of "slutty " costumes. However, if you're not feeling up to braving the party stores on Halloween weekend, or just have the notion to put together a costume yourself, I have some ideas and a few tips for you.

Bella Swan
For the Twi-hards, or any mom who's kids insist she dress up for trick-or-treating. Plaid shirt, blue jeans, headband, pensive look. Add a little light, natural-looking makeup and you're done. Very easy, very on-trend. Now, a variation:

Freaked-Out Horror Movie Babysitter
From any horror movie. They're all pretty much identical. You can wear the exact. same. costume. as the one above, but rip a sleeve (optional, but recommended) and add a little fake blood* here and there. If you're feeling daring, undo a couple of buttons and wear a lacy camisole under the plaid shirt. Then, just practice your best Scream Queen wail and you're all set.

Edward Cullen
Yeah, you have a cute boyfriend/husband/bff. Good for you. White t-shirt, black leather jacket, dark jeans, and a ton of hair product and glitter. Actually, for the pompadour, I recommend backcombing a bit, then use L'Oreal Professionnel Artec Textureline Texture Spray instead of gel. This costume (minus the glitter) also works well for a T-Bird or The Fonz, or you can add a fake stake and let the world know how you really feel.

Fresh Zombie
If you have scrubs, this is the easiest costume ever. You're not undead enough to have any decomp or ripped clothing. Dab dark blue-gray eyeshadow around your eyes, in the hollows of your cheeks, and on your lips. Add a little fake blood* (wherever you deem appropriate), and if possible, a hospital wristband.

Barista
This is my favorite, actually. Black shirt, black or khaki pants, green apron. Carry a Starbucks cup (preferably a fresh one filled with yummy coffee goodness). Easy peasy.

Now, there is some degree of danger in choosing to go the homemade route. It's entirely possible that you might have to spend the whole night explaining who you are, the costume could be insanely uncomfortable, etc. Case in point: my little brother wanted to be Snake Plisken from Escape from New York last year. Thomas was beyond thrilled. We got him some Army green cargo pants, a black t-shirt, an eye patch, and the best possible wig we could find. Well, right before we left to trick-or-treat, someone (I shall not say who) mistook him from the back for a girl. Oh, Lord. Well, the wig went out the window right then and there, but he kept the rest of the costume--cargo pants, black shirt, eye patch and HUGE squirt gun. No one knew what the heck he was supposed to be. He didn't know what he was supposed to be. I think we settled on Modern Day Pirate, but mostly ended up with a lot of, "Oh, look! We have a princess...and a police officer...and a...um...well, aren't you creative..." I'd like to say he learned, but this year he says he's going as a lawn ornament. *Sigh*

The New York Times has a really sweet piece on costume mishaps here. If any of you have some you'd like to share, I'd love to read about them in the comments. Come on...I showed you mine.

*If you're worried about the fake blood on some of these costumes, don't. I've got you covered. All you have to do is make your own. In a small bowl, mix light karo syrup with a few drops of red food coloring and a small amount of cocoa powder. The entire recipe is subject to how dark or red you want it, so there are no set measurements for anything. You are completely in control. Now, here's the secret: add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the mix. Believe it or not, that will keep the blood from staining your clothes. Seriously. I would not lie to you. When you're finished with the costume, toss it in the washer as usual, and the blood will come out. If it will make you feel better, add a Tide Power Booster or pre-treat with some Oxy.

If you are using greasepaint with your costume, pre-treating with Oxy and adding a Tide Power Booster will take out most stains. I've washed so many zombie costumes from The Night Shift, I could write a book on greasepaint stains.

I Need a Cricket Bat and a Chainsaw, and We'll All Be Fine.

Who says you have to go out partying on Halloween? It's a Sunday, for crying out loud! There's plenty of scary fun to be had at home this year. Well, as long as you have cable, anyway.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you've undoubtedly heard about AMC's new series, The Walking Dead, premiering Halloween. Just to recap, it's a horror series about a post-apocalyptic world that's been taken over by zombies, and the scrappy survivors who try to fend them off. It's bloody. It's gory. It's probably going to kick butt, and is rumored to already have been picked up for a second season. The premier is at 10E/9C on AMC. I'm going to watch for as long as I can stand it.

Also premiering Halloween night, but at 7:30E/6:30C, is The Dead Set on IFC. This is one you might not have heard about, but I suggest tuning in or setting the DVR. I had the opportunity to catch two or three of the five parts (it's a mini-series) when it aired on BBC (I have my ways), and I have to say, it's a darn good show. Yes, it's a zombie apocalypse, but it's centered around the British Big Brother house, television studio, and all the folks who live and work there, from self-absorbed reality stars to interns. Obviously, this one's got a sense of humor, dark though it may be.

If you'd rather spend the night with some ghosts, Syfy is airing a 6-hour live Ghost Hunters Halloween special. The guys (and gals) will be investigating the Buffalo Central Terminal in Buffalo, NY. Special guests include Josh Gates (Destination Truth), Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13), Meaghan Rath (the new Being Human), Ben Hansen (Fact or Faked), Joe Maddalena (Hollywood Treasures--what does that have to do with ghost hunting?), and WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston (really? Well...okay, then). Check local listings for time.

Now, remember a week or so back, I wrote how my best friend's little girl was gearing up for a zombie apocalypse? Well, she's not the only one. The University of Florida has, in place, a zombie attack plan. Seriously. Now, whether or not it was drawn up because someone really wanted to cover their rear on the whole "emergency situation" front, or because the guy in charge of the whole "emergency situation" front got bored is hard to say. I'm betting on bored.

This is possibly the funniest thing I have read in a long while. It states things like:

For example, we would anticipate that commuting would be feasible during outbreaks of ZBSD such as those studied by Romero (1968),(1978), (1985), et al; while the Zombie Spectrum Disorder behaviors studied by Boyle (2002) would result in much greater difficulty with commuting and therefore greater need for work-from-home support. However, employees with small cars incapable of running over zombies may be forced to work from home even in a Romero-type outbreak.

There's also an Infected Co-Worker Dispatch form on the back, where you would be obligated to note the time and location in which you were forced to kill a co-worker, as well as any and all symptoms leading to the incident. Seriously, pull it up, put away the coffee (you don't want to snort it at the screen), and enjoy a little Halloween treat, courtesy of UF. If you have children there, know that your tuition money is being well-spent.

As for samples and reviews, I haven't forgotten. I'm currently working on a little experiment, and I'll fill you in when I have something. Promise.

The Ghost Post

Remember how I tried writing a ghost post the other day, but ended up distracted by cute Star Wars t-shirts (and who hasn't ever been distracted by cute Star Wars t-shirts)? Well, here it is! The Ghost Post!!

I love ghosts. Correction: I love researching ghosts, ghost stories, Ghost Hunters, ghost hunting, Ghost Adventures, and would probably love Ghost Toasties, if that joke ever became an actual cereal. I do not, repeat, DO NOT love all ghosts. Sure, it was neat living in a haunted house when it was haunted by my dad. For one thing, we knew it was him. Yes, there was the occasional harmless prank (he had a fantastic sense of humor), and once or twice he set the security alarm when I forgot (I have a witness!), but never anything scary or off-putting.

The scary stuff was in my old townhouse. It started off with a general feeling of uneasiness, and progressed from there. One day, I walked up the stairs to my bedroom, and you could see into the room from about halfway up the staircase. When I reached that point, I looked up, and saw a woman get up from the foot of my bed. I dropped what I was doing, got my keys, and spent the rest of the morning hanging out at the mall. I figured Thomas would think I was crazy when I told him about it, but, turns out, he'd had some weird vibes, himself.

There were shadows in the corner of our bedroom, and they had no reason to exist. There was no light source to cast the shadows in that area, and no furniture with a similar shape to the shadows. Oh, and they moved, and one had a top hat. Yeah, that's not the armoire. We both saw them, so it wasn't my imagination. The worst was the night I got up to go to the restroom, and when I came back in the room, the shadow (more a murky, 3-dimensional black mist than a shadow, really) lunged at me. We spent the rest of the night on the living room floor, and the next morning hung up rosaries and medals on every doorknob. There was also a spray bottle of Holy Water involved.

Now, I don't want you guys to think I'm crazy. I'm not...well, at least not about this. I'm actually more of a skeptic than anything. I do believe ghosts exist (I'd be crazy not to, at this point), but I don't automatically attribute any odd happening to a ghost. If I lose my keys, I lost my keys. A ghost did not move them. I spent two months filming in a cemetery, and a lot of that time in the dark, around midnight. We might have jokingly attributed some lighting problems to "ghosts", but other than that, not much happened. I mean, a couple of crew members thought they might have seen something, but really couldn't swear one way or the other. Honestly, as hot as it was out there, a cold spot or two would have been more than welcome. I'm the type that, more likely than not, is going to try to debunk anything seemingly paranormal. The stuff I've told you about is all stuff that I couldn't explain away, no matter how much I might have wanted to.

Now, if you want to try your hand at debunking some ghost photos, check out this page. Some of the photos have already been debunked as either innocent technical errors or out and out frauds. Some, though, have yet to be explained. I checked out a few, and while I have my own theories for most, one or two were pretty convincing. If nothing else, it's a nice time waster for a boring day at work. Another fun read on ghost pics can be found here. It looks like this will be a recurring post theme at Paranormal Pop Culture, and I'm really looking forward to it. When you're finished playing with the pictures, you can browse through their older posts and maybe even read a few of mine on The Night Shift. You know, if you want. No pressure, or anything. There will be a test.

You also might want to check out this page. Here, anyone who wants to can anonymously (or not) submit their own ghost experiences. True or not, some of them make for interesting reads. Caution: some may not be suitable for all audiences, if you catch my drift.

Lastly, if you're looking to dress up as a ghost for Halloween, and would like to know how to do some really fantastic makeup, this might help. Here are the tips and tricks that I learned from Jessica, the phenomenal makeup designer for The Night Shift, and were used on all of our greasepaint zombies and ghosts:

1) Start with clean, dry skin. Using a sponge, apply a light shade (I'm using white) of greasepaint to exposed skin. A little bit goes a long way, and dabbing works better than smearing.
2) Pat the made up areas with your hands to smooth out the greasepaint.
3) Apply a darker shade (I'm using black) of greasepaint around the hollows of your eyes. That's from your eyebrow to the undereye area. Use a really light touch for this. You can always add more, but you can't take away. Blend in well, so you don't look like Spot the Dog.
4) Apply the same darker shade of greasepaint to the hollows of your cheeks, to give a sunken in look. Suck in your cheeks, and the part that goes in is the part that gets shaded. Again, use an extremely light touch and blend well. Pat down all made up areas.
5) Using coordinating shades of eyeshadow (I'm using blacks and grays) and a q-tip or brush, shade around the nose, eyes, throat, collarbone--any angles you really want to stand out. Use your best judgement. You are the artist, afterall.
6) Line eyes completely with black eyeliner. Smudge the lines so they don't look perfect. Follow with black mascara.
7) If you want, you can add other makeup--eyeshadow, blush, lipstick--depending on the overall look you're going for. My ghost is going to be an old Hollywood movie star, so I'm going really glam. Drop Dead Gorgeous, if you will. (I'm sorry.)
8) Now, you'll want to go outside for this. We used trouser socks filled with baby powder, but a puff would work just fine. Coat down all made up areas with baby powder. Brush completely off.
9) With a spray bottle, lightly spray all made up areas with water and pat down. You're done!
10) Remove with baby oil. My best suggestion: get in the shower and rub down, then turn on the water and rinse off. Yes, it will be very messy, hence the need to do this is in the shower.

Yes, it's a lot of steps, and a lot of work, but the end result is astounding. Happy Haunting!

Defiance

What's wrong with acting my shoe size? Eight and a half is way more fun when you're thirty. For one thing, I can drive now, and Mom can't send me to my room, anymore. What's wrong with keeping glitter next to the wrinkle cream, or storing the acid reflux medicine next to the Oreos? What's wrong with ordering a happy meal at McDonald's? It's cheaper than a value meal, and maybe I want to collect all however many.

I still go on playdates with my best friend. Of course, now we don't sit around and brush Barbie's hair. We walk a couple of miles, instead. I still play dress-up, but now the fancy dresses don't come from the thrift shop, and I actually have somewhere to wear them. I still have Disney characters on my makeup, but now I can wear it out without worrying about Mom catching me.

Yes, we all know that when you're old you can wear purple with a red hat. Same thing goes for eight and a half. It's just looked upon as self-expression. If I want to wear diamonds on the soles of my shoes, by gum, I'm going to.

No, I'm not going all Fellini on you, but I'm tired of hearing how old thirty is. I feel exactly the same now as I did at 20--when the world is still telling you you're too young. Yes, I might have a few gray hairs, but I dye my hair red, not to cover it, but because I like red. Yes, I might be too old to be Miss America, but I'm still too young to run for President. I will have kids when I'm darned good and ready--I haven't been a wife all that long. I will dress up for Halloween, and probably steal some of my little brother's candy. I'm still waiting for my singing voice to totally mature. Last week, some teenagers hit on me. Stop telling me I'm old, world. Times have changed, and you need to get with the program.

So, in honor of my little existential crisis, here are some "grown-up" Halloween treats for you.

First off, because we're legal and old enough to hold our liquor, a Halloween cocktail, courtesy of The Kitchen:

Jack-O-Lantern

makes one cocktail

1.5 oz Jack Daniels
1.5 oz spiced apple cider
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 dash cinnamon
Nutmeg, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish

Mix all ingredients in martini shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and pour into chilled martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon stick.

Now, why are we drinking? Oh, yeah! To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock's classic Psycho! (Honestly, that movie scared the bejeezus out of me, so I probably would need that drink to get through it again.)

Last Tuesday, Psycho made it's Blu-Ray debut. For a full review, you can go here, but basically, the sound and picture are both much improved, and it's still scary as heck. The extras include featurettes from previous DVD releases, and one new featurette detailing how the audio track was updated to 5.1 surround sound.

Also newly released, a companion piece to the film, The Psycho Legacy. This documentary delves into the making of the Psycho sequels, with interviews of writers, filmmakers, fans, and actors. Extras include a fun featurette on fan-art, and includes a tour of one avid memorabilia collector's home. He keeps "Mother" in a coffin in the guest room. Oh, dear. Supposedly, he's a really nice, polite guy. Then again, so was Norman.

Snuggling Suggestions

After five weeks of zero precipitation--not even a good fog, for crying out loud--a freaking tornado roared through my old neighborhood! Thank God we moved when we did! First off, this is not tornado country. It is hurricane, tropical storm, mosquito, and heatwave territory, but I don't think we've ever had a full-fledged tornado, that I can recall. Heck, I only remember one, maybe two tornado drills in school. Luckily, the area I live in now just had a bad storm. My tombstones are soggy, my cobwebs are ruined, and my shoe rack imploded (unrelated, but annoying and notably coincidental), but we're all okay.

Still in all, I'm a little shaken up. I think I might just stay in tonight, curl up on the couch with Thomas, watch some TV and recover. And put together my shoe rack. With duct tape. And Gorilla Glue.

Speaking of TV...Rachel Ray is going 3D. I'm afraid.

I kid you not. RR's Halloween episode will be televised in 3D on Friday, and glasses are available in the current TV Guide. The program will be viewable on 2D and 3D TV sets, through a special process from a company called 3-D Vision. Actually, this will be 3-D Vision's first run-through with a commerical program, so it should be interesting to see how it turns out. For more information, read this article. The company's website is still under construction.

If Rachel Ray isn't scary enough for you, ScreenCrave came up with a pretty good list of Ten Great Films for a Horror Movie Marathon. It's perfect for Fall's cuddling weather. If you don't feel like reading the article, here are their picks:

Night of the Living Dead (original)
Let the Right One In
The Fly
The Thing
Jacob's Ladder
The Host
The Vanishing (original)
The Exorcist
The Shining
Halloween (original)

Might I add:
The Fog (original): It's up to a late-night radio DJ to save her sleepy town from the Flying Dutchman. More or less, anyway. Ghost ships, townies, and 70s easy listening...can't go wrong.

Dance of the Dead: Goofy horror-comedy. Night of the Living Dead meets American Pie.

Shaun of the Dead: Even goofier horror-comedy. Slacker Shaun has to save his ex-girl from brain-eating hordes in this brilliant take on the zombie genre. Watch it, then go buy Hot Fuzz. Don't rent. Just buy it.

My Bloody Valentine (remake!): Supernatural fans, it's DEAN!!!! For everyone else, hunky Jensen Ackles tries to unravel the mystery behind a pick-axe wielding serial killer. Jamie King is excellent as his scream queen high school sweetheart. Please note: this is WORLDS better than the lackluster original.

Dracula (Frank Langella version): With the exception of one ridiculously psychadelic love scene, this is a surprisingly good version of the vampire tale. Yes, the names are horribly mixed up, and Drac has some seriously blown-dry hair, but Mr. Langella practically melts the screen with seductive charm.

And speaking of seductive charm...it's time for the magic bag o' samples!

Today's sample is Benefit's So Hooked On Carmella fragrance. $36, Sephora. According to Sephora:

So Hooked on Carmella is a floral vanilla that's exquisitely feminine. Notes: Lemon, Grapefruit, Rhubarb, Cyclamen, Peony, Tiare Flower, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber

This is gorgeous for Fall. The base scent is vanilla, but it's really more like a burnt caramel--a creme brulee, if you will. Ignore the lemon, grapefruit...well, pretty much the whole rest of the list, until you get to Sandalwood and Amber. Those are there to give the scent an earthy, sweet, sexy vibe. The rest are barely, if at all, present.

This scent is like snuggling under a fuzzy blanket. It just smells like Fall. I put it on, and immediately flashed on cookies, crunchy leaves, and bonfires. I highly recommend this if you're looking for something new for the season.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Kitchen

My mom got me a t-shirt recently.  It says, "Dinner's ready when the fire alarm goes off".  She's hysterical, that one.  No, I can not cook.  My husband will be the first to tell you that I am a champion when it comes to microwaving or ordering take-out, but cooking...eh, not so much.  I blame my old stove.  I had no idea just how terrible it was until we moved into the new apartment.  Stuff doesn't burn on this stove.  Oil doesn't pop out onto my arms (or face).  My apron (yes, I wear one.  It's cute and Halloween-y) has nothing on it.  Oh--and the broiler doesn't catch fire.  Yeah, I'm starting to think it wasn't necessarily my technique that sucked as much as it was that blasted stove.

Anyhoo, all that said, I'm still not a very experienced cook, and I occasionally (read: almost always) screw something up.  However, sometimes happy accidents result from my lackluster abilities, and I wanted to share my favorite uh-oh with you guys. 

A couple of Halloweens ago, while we were shooting the short version of The Night Shift, actually, I thought it would be nice to make cookies for the cast and crew.  Normally, I'd slice-and-bake, but no, not this time.  New bride that I was, only from-scratch cookies would do. 

I'm an idiot.

Going to allrecipes.com was the smartest thing I did.  I found a fantastic recipe, and followed it to. the. letter.  My only changes were devil's food pudding instead of vanilla, and using self-rising flour instead of all-purpose and baking soda.  Um...they were softer than they looked and tasted good.  That's about it.  They looked like...well, I'm not going to say what they looked like.  They baked into slightly firmer versions of the lumps I spooned onto the cookie sheet.  Basically, I'd make cookie dough modeling clay.  That's when it hit me:  I should make them vanilla and shape them into little skulls!  It was Halloween, afterall, and one of our main characters was a talking skeleton.  They'd be little Herbie cookies!  I mixed up the dough, sculpted the little buggers, and they turned out really cute and tasty, too.  Ended up being a bit of a hit on set, too. 

My screw up, though?  I thought I was using self-rising flour, since that's all I ever buy.  I hadn't bought this bag of flour.  You know how I mentioned I was a fairly new bride--this was from Thomas' old kitchen.  It was not self-rising, and I didn't bother to read the label.  Oops.   

So, here, for your baking pleasure, is the recipe for Herbie cookies.  Or skull cookies.  Or Dia de los Muertos cookies.  Or Halloween cookies.  Or...well, you get the point.   

Herbia de los Muertoskulloween Cookies
(adapted from Amy's Chocolate Chip Cookies)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (not self-rising)

1 cup margarine, softened

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

2 eggs

1 bag semisweet chocolate chips
 
 
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).


2.In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and pudding mix. Beat until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually stir in flour.  Mixture should be thick.

3.Spoon out a tablespoon of dough (or thereabouts), flatten and fill with a few chocolate chips.  Shape dough into 3D skull form by forming a ball, then carefully pushing in where the cheekbones should be.  This should push out a little bit of dough near the bottom, which can be formed into a jaw.  (Trust me, it's nowhere near as complicated as it looks.  Basically, if you end up with anything even remotely resembling a skull, give yourself an A.)  Push a couple of more chips in for eyes, one for a nose, and then, if you're feeling really artsy, you can use a toothpick to draw in teeth.  A few vertical lines with a horizontal line crossing through works really well.  Place skulls on ungreased cookie sheet.

4.Bake for 9 to 9 1/2 minutes, or until browned.  As for the chips, they won't melt.  Or, at least, mine never have.  I've always had perfect little faces.  If yours do melt...well, then you have a skull with bleeding eyes.  That's cool, too.

So, there you have it.  Halloween skull cookies.  If anyone makes them and wants to share experiences or pictures, please feel free to leave me a comment.  I'll be making some for Halloween, and I'll try to remember to take pictures.  Note the word, "try".

Taking the "Boo" Out of Boo-Boos

My sweet little cousin is in the hospital.  She's six, and has a chronic condition I won't go into, but suffice it to say, she's one sick little girl.  Several months ago, her Mom and Dad took her and her little sister to Disney World, where they went to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.  When they posted the pictures for the family, I couldn't help but smile at those adorable children with their fancy princess dresses, sparkly hairstyles, and enormous grins.  Nothing was going to change the fact that this baby had to carry oxygen around the park, but darn it, at least she could feel like a million dollars doing it.  Now, Halloween is coming up, and while they probably won't be trick-or-treating around their neighborhood, I'm sure their amazing parents and grandparents will make sure those girls get to dress up.

I don't have any kids, yet, and I can only hope and pray that when I do, they never have to endure long hospital stays.  Unfortunately, life throws curveballs, and sometimes families find themselves having to try to figure out how to give a kid a "normal" childhood in a hospital setting.  Thankfully, sometimes there's help.

For families in over 100 children's hospitals across North America, some of that help is coming from Spirit Halloween stores.  You know, the seasonal shops that yearly take up residence in vacant storefronts?  Orange signs, lots of teenaged employees?  Yep, that's the one.

Through "The Spirit of Children" charity, volunteers truck in boxes of costumes and arts and crafts, all in an effort to spread a little bit of Halloween magic.  According to the Aurora Sentinel: 

“We bring Halloween to them,” said Matthew Fowler, store manager at the Spirit Halloween store on Colorado Boulevard in Denver. “This year, we’re planning on raising $2 million ... We want to make sure children are having a lot less scary time at hospitals...It’s literally life-changing ... It’s a great feeling,” Fowler said. “For one day, they can be somebody else.” 

The program has raised over $2.3 million since it began in 2006.  Donations are taken year round, and local donations stay local.  For more information or to make a donation, click on this link.

Today's dip into the magic bag o' samples yielded NARS Orgasm (sorry, Mom) Illuminator.  $29, Sephora.  I'm a devotee of the blush, so when I had to chance to try this, I jumped at it.  According to Sephora:

NARS Orgasm Illuminator lights your skin from within! Deceptively sheer and decidedly luminous, it magically transforms lackluster skin into a remember-me, luscious complexion. Flirt with foundation, go it alone, or go neck-and-neck with your décolleté. The effect is, well, orgasmic. 

I wouldn't go that far.  It's really nice, and I think I'm going to use it a lot, but I think they might be over-hyping things just a tad.  Basically, it's a liquid (really liquid--not even close to a cream) blush.  It's extremely sheer, and almost melts into your skin.  There's very little color payoff, per se, but it does leave a lovely, peachy-pink sheen wherever you put it.  I dabbed a drop on each eyelid and patted some onto my cheekbones right before applying my blush, and it gave me a nice, glowing look without being too shiny.  The shade came off slightly darker than my normal skintone, so it eliminated the need for bronzer, which always looks odd in Fall and Winter, anyway.  I did not put any on my nose, forehead, or chin, like I would a normal bronzer.  This is too pink for that, and I didn't want to look like my skin was flaring up. 

Now, would I pay $29 for it?  That depends.  I do think I'll get a lot of use out of it.  I think it could look really pretty on exposed shoulders come party dress season.  Then again, so could a lot of other products.  I think I'll use the rest of the tube before I make any decisions.  What do you guys think?  Have you tried it?  Any go-to faves for Fall/Winter glow?  Let us know in the comments. 

Search Halloween and Get...Star Wars?

Today's post can be seen as either an exercise in stream of conscious, or possibly as an ad for Bing! You know, the annoying ads where people suddenly become search engines and start spouting off everything that pops into their heads. Yeah, this is a little like that.

See, with it being eleven days till Halloween, I wanted to do a post on ghosts. Well, I googled "ghosts" and ended up with some haunted house stories. Well, that seemed like a promising avenue, so I decided to run with it. I googled a little deeper, and ended up with fewer hauntings and more info on Bill Murray's Scream Awards appearance, where he showed up dressed as Venkman from Ghostbusters. Okay, let's do a post on Ghostbusters 3. Well...googled Ghostbusters, and ended up looking at Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventurers...and this. Well, this...this was neat.

So, yeah, this has nothing to do with Halloween, but I always love a chance to spotlight enterprising women, and this girl seems pretty darn awesome.

Ashley Eckstein is an actress and voice artist (kindred spirit!) currently working on the animated series, The Clone Wars. Ashley noticed that female sci-fi fans (like herself) were becoming more and more prevalent, but were still somewhat overlooked on the merchandising front. She and her partner, the Araca Group, founded Her Universe, a place where ladies can get their geek chic on. Ashley received a license from Lucasfilms, and has a precious line of Star Wars gear, specially designed for fashion saavy fangirls. She's also working on jewelry, accessories, and beauty products.

This is not your average slap-a-logo-on-a-baby-tee merch shop, folks. Yes, there is a Star Wars logo tee--that's burned out, supersoft, purple, and goes great with skinny jeans. My favorite (if anyone--ahem, Thomas--is looking for Christmas, I wear a medium) is a heather gray v-neck with what looks like a pencil drawing of Han kissing Leia, surrounded by flourishes. It was designed by Star Wars artist Cat Staggs, and was inspired by, oddly enough, cookies the actress who voices Padme brought to The Clone Wars on Valentine's Day. They were decorated to say, "I love you," and, "I know". Heh. The shirt is titled "I Know", and runs $35. All shirt designs (including hoodies!) run between $30-$50 and are available at heruniverseshop.com. She also attends cons, so next time you go to one, keep an eye out for her.

Now, here's the coolest part--and the reason she showed up when I googled "ghost": Syfy has teamed up with Her Universe to create a line of fashion conscious women's apparel based on Syfy's original programming. That's right! We're talking Ghost Hunters, Warehouse 13, Destination Truth, Caprica...the works. All items will be sold under the Syfy Gear banner, and will be available at Her Universe and Syfy.com. You'll be able to find them at conventions through 2011, and in retail shops in 2012. I know where my Comic-Con spending money will be going.

What ho! The magic bag o' samples has reappeared! Well, sort of. Still can't find the bag, but I got in a shipment from Sephora, and with it, some new treats to try. I know, I have a problem. I'm okay with that.

Today, I have for you Buxom's Big & Healthy Lip Stick in Amsterdam. $18, Sephora. According to Sephora:

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick works three full-time jobs—it defines the shape of lips like a liner, fills them in with creamy velvet color, and then plumps them to their full buxom potential. It's a three-in-one lipstick that's quick and convenient for defined, colorful, buxom lips anytime, anywhere.

I'm a gloss girl. Sure, if I'm going to be on camera or on stage, I know to use lipstick (at least under the gloss) because it shows up better, but honestly, I'm too lazy for lipstick. With gloss, you can just put it on--no mirror, no brush, no liner needed. You can be in the process of walking from your car to...wherever...and put gloss on at the same time and it still look good. If it goes out of the lines, you can fix it with a finger. If it doesn't make it all over your lips, you can press them together and fix it. Plus, it's shiny, and I like shiny. I'm a gloss girl.

That said, this doesn't suck. Yes, you do need a mirror, so it's not as easy to apply as gloss, but it's still fairly simple. The stick is really a large pencil, so the tip is pointed to allow you to use the product as a liner. Then you fill in the rest of your mouth. Voila! Done.

Amsterdam is a rosy nude shade that really just accentuates your natural lip color. I paired it with neutral and rose-gold eyeshadows and naturally-flushed blush for a really pretty I-didn't-even-think-about-putting-on-makeup-today look. It's matte, which translates to "a little drying", but applying over a balm really helped. The color is also longwearing, so touch-ups are minimal. Matte's the big look for Fall, by the way.

Does it plump? Eh, maybe a little, but it does have the trademark Buxom tingle we all know and love. All in all, I'd call it a winner. You get the matte look, the Buxom tingle, longwearing (flattering) color and easy application. And hey, who says you can't dab a little gloss on top, you know, just for fun?

Tricks and a Treat

Confession time:  I've never seen a Saw movie, and I'm okay with that.  I may have to watch this next one that comes out on the 29th, though.  Thomas and I got hooked on the MTV series, Scream Queens, a reality/competition show where ten actresses vied for the leading role in Saw 3D.  My favorite won, so I might have to Netflix it and skip past some of the gore, just to see how she did.  That was actually a really cool show.  I liked how the girls went to classes where they worked and really learned how to act, and not just be told to make sure they pout their lips and arch their backs as they fall down.  As an actress involved in the horror genre, it was nice to see these movies and these young ladies treated with the care and respect they deserved.  It was also nice to see the most talented actress walk away with the role.  That doesn't always happen.

Anyway, with the movie opening next week, Lionsgate, the makers of Saw 3D, has launched a new Facebook game.  Why not?  It's kind of neat, in that the game allows the player to "trap" his or her own friends, and then complete Jigsaw's challenges to save them.  Even cooler, it uses your friends' actual profile photos to up the urgency.  Pretty clever.  Of course, Facebook lets your friends know if you saved or killed them via status updates, so it could make Book Club a little awkward if you saved Brenda Mae, but let Amy Sue get decapitated.  In other words, choose wisely, my friend.

And speaking of scary, remember how Thomas and I went to Universal Studios a couple of weeks ago?  Well, one ride that Thomas just had to go on was The Mummy.  He loves the first two movies (let's not mention the third one, shall we?), and this was the ride he was most looking forward to of all.

Well, we stashed our stuff in a locker, walked inside, and I started getting nervous.  There were signs everywhere, all stating this was a high-speed roller coaster.  Now, I can handle roller coasters as long as they don't go upside-down.  Thomas can't.  He doesn't like drops, and he really doesn't like dark coasters.  In fact, just the night before, we skipped Space Mountain because Disney made it even darker during the last refurbishment. 

Me:  Um, Thomas...this sign says it's a high-speed roller coaster.
Thomas:  No, it's not. 
Me:  Are you sure?  The sign has a ton of restrictions and says it's a high-speed roller coaster.
Thomas:  It's not.  It's just like Test Track at Epcot.  It just starts and stops a lot, and accelerates for a second. 
Me:  (Thinking he must have ridden it before) Oh, cool.  That's not a big deal.  I can do that.  As long as it doesn't go upside-down, it's fine. 

My husband's an idiot.  He's cute and sweet and brilliant (most of the time), but in this case, he was an idiot.  Not a roller coaster, my foot.  He had not ridden it before, and that thing was the fastest, darkest, scariest roller coaster I've ever been on.  No, it did not go upside-down, but when we got off, I was shaking, and my hair had all blown completely into my face.  I looked like a Jell-o mold of Cousin It.  All the blood had drained from Thomas' face, and he couldn't walk straight, either.  Mostly, though, we just couldn't stop laughing.  That was probably the most fun I've ever had on a roller coaster, and we were both a little bummed that we ran out of time in the park before we could ride it again.

Today, I found this: an article proclaiming the ride to be one of the scariest roller coasters for Halloween.  It's a fun read, and gives a great description of the ride.  I just wish I'd seen it before we left for Florida.

And speaking of Universal (don't you love the segues today?), here's that recipe for Harry Potter Butterbeer I promised.  It's definitely not for the calorie conscious, so please drink responsibly.  It's not an exact replica of the drink you'd buy in the park, but it's as close as I could get without ordering ingredients off the Internet.  The taste and presentation are close, but the texture's a tad thicker, as I explain after the recipe.  Enjoy! 

Butterbeer Recipe

1 tbsp Butterscotch sundae syrup
1/2 tsp Caramel sundae syrup
1-2 drops Green food coloring
1-2 drops Red food coloring
Cold Ginger Ale

Yield:  1 16 oz. drink

Butterbeer Topping Recipe

1/4 cup Cold Whipping Cream
1 tsp Butterscotch sundae syrup
1 tsp Sugar

Yield:  Enough for 2 drinks

Spoon the Butterscotch and Caramel syrups into the glass.  Fill the bottom with the Ginger Ale and food colorings.  Blend.  Finish filling almost to the top of the glass, and spoon off any head that forms (or as much as you possible can).

For the topping, pour the whipping cream into a very cold glass or metal bowl.  Add the sugar and syrup.  Whip with an electric mixer (low setting) until thick, but not stiff.  Spoon on top of the drink and spread, if possible.  Give it a quick stir (just one or two swirls), and it should puff up a bit, believe it or not.

This would work better with coffee flavoring syrups*, but butterscotch coffee flavoring is not easy to track down in stores, and I wanted to make this as accessible as possible.  You can order the other syrups online, though.  Those syrups are less viscous, so it keeps the drink looking clearer and more beer-like. 

Originally, I tried this with twice as much syrup in the drink.  I really liked it, but it was a little thicker and sweeter than I was going for.  Again, it was pretty darn tasty, but more like an ice cream float than the Italian soda it should be.  Feel free to try it with double the amount, though.  It makes the drink really punch-like, so it might be nice in a big batch for a party.  Just make enough topping to put a nice frothy head on the entire punch bowl.
If any of you try this, let me know what you think in the comments.  Or, if you have your own recipe, please feel free to share with the rest of the class. 

*Note:  I did not try it with the coffee flavoring syrups, but I did work as a barista for several years, and have made more than my fair share of Italian sodas, and really, that's what this is.  If you use the coffee flavoring syrups, I would suggest one shot of butterscotch and half a shot of caramel.  You can always add more, but you can't really subtract. 

A Dollar Tree Halloween

You would think I'd be sick of Halloween by now. Considering the fact that I've been dealing with ghosts, zombies, and an assortment of creatures of the night (collect all 4!) since, oh, let's conservatively say September '09, you'd think I'd be sick of the sight of anything even remotely creepy. Turns out, not so much.

To be fair, this can most likely be attributed a phone call, and the owner of the now-slightly-husky voice on the other end:

"Um, Sis? Can you and Thomas help me decorate for Halloween this year? I want to do something really cool."

Well, crud. How do you say no to that? Although, frankly, he had me at "Um, Sis," but he doesn't need to know that.

So, the Short One (for the next month, or so, until he hits another growth spurt) requested his big sister's help. That doesn't happen too often, so I jumped at it. Thomas is an only child and has really gotten into this whole "big brother" thing, so he was tickled to get to hang out with Curt, and Mom was thrilled to have all her kids working together on something. It's family time! With tombstones! We're an odd lot.

Things are a little tight around both households, right now. Not terrible, but the economy sucks, Thomas changed jobs, we moved, Mom is selling a house and the new house had to have some work done on it...you know, the stuff everybody's dealing with now. We didn't want to spend a lot of money on things that'll be seen for a couple of weeks, then either thrown out, donated, or boxed up for another year. We decided to have what I have dubbed, "A Dollar Tree Halloween".

In reality, not everything came from Dollar Tree (one of those everything's-a-dollar stores, for those of you unfamiliar with the place). Some things were recycled from the movie. Some things were from last Halloween. Some things were picked up at last year's After-Halloween sales, and one or two things were (gasp!) just bought outright because they were cute and we happened to have a couple of extra dollars to spend. However, the majority of the new stuff came from Dollar Tree. Here's a breakdown of the yard/house decorations and what we actually spent this year:

Tombstones: Dollar Tree/movie leftovers--$4
Cobwebs: Dollar Tree/movie leftovers--$1
Zombie Hand: Dollar Tree--$1
Raven: Dollar Tree--$.50 (sale)
Creepy Cloths (ugly gauze curtains): Dollar Tree--$1
Moss: Dollar Tree--$1
Spider Lights: Old Time Pottery--$6
Skeleton Wind Chime: Old Time Pottery--$3
Caution Tape: Party City--$3
Fog Machine: movie leftover--$0
Pumpkin Lanterns: bought last year--$0
Skull: movie leftover--$0
Gargoyles: movie leftover--$0
Trick or Treat Signs: Old Time Pottery--$10
Hedge Shaker: Big Lots--$10

Total: $40.50. Forty dollars and fifty cents. Looks on the faces of the Homeowner's Association members: Priceless. That's also $40.50 split between three people. Yes, some of the stuff that was just lying around our house wouldn't normally be lying around anyone else's house, but they're just a small portion of what we're using, and if you can catch the sales Nov. 1st (some even start on Halloween, itself), you can score a great deal for next year. Honestly, that's what we did.

So, for less than it would have cost for us to go to the movies (and nothing's playing, anyway), we met up at Mom's, had her fantastic chocolate chip pancakes, and played around in the yard for a couple of hours. Thomas and Curt wrapped trees (and each other) in cobwebs and caution tape. I put together lanterns and hung lights. All in all, it might as well have been a twisted Norman Rockwell painting. And it was fun.

We're also going the economic route with costumes this year. Thomas pulled his old Ghostbuster's jumpsuit out of mothballs, and I'm turning an off-white, stained formal into a ghost costume--just add makeup. Actually, even the makeup has come, for the most part, from Dollar Tree. The only thing I couldn't get there was the white greasepaint base.

With Halloween stores popping up right and left, and the constant bombardment of TV ads touting expensive, unnecessarily slutty costumes, one can forget the true meaning of the holiday: free candy and looking silly. Oh, and scaring the bejeezus out of unsuspecting neighborhood children. One mustn't forget that. There's no need to spend a ridiculous amount of money on decorating or dressing up. Grab something from the closet, make a trip to the discount store, and have yourself a merry little DIY Halloween.

If John Carpenter and David Tutera Went Into Business Together...

Two posts in one day?!  What could you possibly have done to deserve such a...treat? 

As soon as I finished posting today's "primary" post, I found this and just had to share.  Universal Orlando is throwing a wedding for the lucky winners of their Halloween Horror Nights Wedding contest!  April Richardson and Adam Cochran will be joined in holy matrimony to a chorus of chainsaw wielding maniacs, and I freaking love it. 

Universal already offers wedding packages at more than 25 locations around the park and resort, but this will be the first ever HHN wedding.  April and Adam's ceremony will take place inside one of the eight HHN haunted houses, and scareactors (pronounced like "characters") will mix and mingle with guests.  I hope Grandma Ethel's taken her nerve pills.  The chainsaw drill team will send the happy couple down the aisle, where more scareactors (with more chainsaws!) will see them to a festive hearse, which will take them to their spooky reception.  Guests will enjoy the three-tier wedding cake, bedecked with spiderwebs and a skull caketopper.  Now, how do I go about scoring an invitation?

Pictures will be posted on the theme park's website following tonight's nuptials.  Congratulations and Best Wishes, April and Adam!! 

In Case of Emergency

I may have done a very bad thing. On the other hand, I may very well have saved the human race. It's kind of a toss-up right now. One of those "wait and see" kind of things.

Let me back up.

Okay, about a year or so ago (can't remember if it was Christmas or birthday), I gave my best friend's little girl a book. I know, that's normally a pretty lame gift for a kid, but this one just sort of screamed Tempest. It was "The Girls' Book: How To Be the Best At Everything". Temp is a pretty darn cool little 9-year old (8 at the time), with looks, brains, and a real adventuresome streak. I mean, for her 8th birthday, she wanted a ninja party. Her 9th birthday had a roller-derby theme. She's big into Bratz and girly stuff, but can also throw a baseball better than most guys. I figured a book that could show her how to make a crystal, juggle one-handed, build a campsite, and put together a dance routine would be right up her alley.

I also liked that the book dealt with tougher subjects, like how to master math, or how to handle a bully--things she'd ultimately go to her mom for help with, but it never hurts to have a jumping off point for conversation--but wrapped them up in fluff like how to make lipgloss and how to whistle loudly. All in all, I had to get it for her, and she said that she loved it.

And that was the last I heard of it. Really, Genna (her mom) didn't think she'd even cracked the book.

So, fast forward up to a couple of months ago. Gen wanted to redecorate Temp's room to something a little more fitting a "big girl", and recruited Thomas and me to help out. We rearranged furniture and hung curtains, and generally just helped clean up a bit. For the most part, it just looked like a typical child's room: abandoned half-knotted friendship bracelets, candy wrappers, crumpled up drawings, random Barbie shoes, etc.; but we kept noticing oddities, like unopened water bottles, snack-cakes, and what looked like an entire bag of halloween candy, all dumped between her mattress and the foot of the bed. Um...Genna, that's a strange kid you got there. Is she storing up for Winter? We all had a good chuckle, picked up the stockpile, and moved on.

Fast forward a little more to earlier this week. Tempest had the book out (first time anyone's seen her with it, mind you), and was regaling Genna with the hilarity of how to annoy people in an elevator. You know, sidle up next to a random stranger, look up at them and simply say, "I have new socks." There's also the classic open your purse, look inside, and ask, "you okay in there?" Actually, the whole list consisted of things Genna and I used to do when we were little, so she got a real kick out of listening to her baby giggle over the list's brilliance. That's when she noticed it. This was a well-worn book.

It turns out, Tempest has read and re-read this book several times. She even had portions marked and dog-eared, specifically one particular section: how to survive a zombie apocalypse. Yes, that's in the book, too. Along with how to survive a horror movie (if your date has fangs, run), how to act like a celebrity, and how to explain why you were late for school. Stuff that's obviously silly and just for fun. Right?

Apparently, the book said to stockpile water and food. It also said to wear biking gear for protection when going out, and Temp did ask for knee pads and a helmet for her birthday. The poor baby had been readying to battle the undead for months.

I am so sorry.

So, Gen explained that there probably was never going to be a zombie apocalypse, and that the book was just for fun. Then they decided that if mommy was wrong, they'd hole up at the nearby Walgreen's and wait it out. That way, they'd have food, water, and vitamins. You need to keep up your Vitamin C, afterall. All I know, is in case of zombie warfare, I want that kid on my side.

The Obligatory Twilight Post

If there's one thing Peanuts taught me, it was that there are three things you should never discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. Well, Linus needs to add a fourth thing to that list: Twilight.

Apparently, with Twilight, you either hate it with an unbridled passion, or you're ready to build a religion around it (and, in that case, see above list). For example: my best friend loves this stuff. Can't get enough of it. Read all the books, saw all the movies (thus far), the whole shebang. My husband, on the other hand, hates it. When we rented the first movie, somewhere around the baseball scene, Thomas actually got up and performed a (sort-of) raindance to try to make the movie go away. He's an entertaining fellow, that one.

I refuse to state my Twi-hard status. Whether I'm Team Edward, Team Jacob, or whatever, is none of anyone's business (actually, I'm Team Brendon. The actor who played the werewolf in our movie was such a sweetheart and good sport that I couldn't help but want to adopt him. Seriously, anyone who can wear long sleeves, jeans, a letterman jacket, fur, wig, and prosthetics in 100-degree heat while running around like a maniac, and not only not complain, but actually crack jokes in-between takes is tops in my book). I don't want to alienate anyone who does or does not agree with my view on such a polarizing topic, so I'm keeping mum. In fact, I'm only writing this because Halloween is drawing ever nearer toward us, and I know that some of you will be vamping it up and might like some help. That's why I'm here.

Alrighty, so with that, on to the post I've dreaded all October!

Now, we all know that Twilight vamps sparkle in the sunlight (we're only discussing Twilight vamps today. Please bear that in mind). Well, now you can, too! The degree of subtlety is up to you.

Level 1: For a little "everyday" shimmer, Olay Body Wash Plus Tone Enriching Ribbons is the way to go. Use it in the shower, and while you might not notice it right off, when you step outside, the light reflects off of teeny-tiny mica flecks, and your skin sparkles in the sunlight. Like diamonds. Well, okay, not that much, but enough, and it makes your skin soft. Just don't try shaving with it. $4.99, Walgreens.

Level 2: For "going out" shimmer, you can't go wrong with Tarina Tarantino from Sephora. I have not personally tried this, but the pictures I've seen and the consistently 4 and 5-star user reviews speak for themselves. Sparklicity Shimmer Dust (links to silvery pink, but also available in gold) is pure pixie dust, and should definitely give you that Cullen look without veering into total teeny-bopper territory. I would suggest spraying it in the shower, with the curtain closed, unless you just want sparkly carpet and walls. You can finish the look with a layer of Sparklicty Pure on your lids, cheeks, and in your lipgloss, if you're looking for hardcore sparkle. $39 and $19, respectively, Sephora.

Level 3: You want to be confused for a disco ball. Time to break out the stage make up. Ben Nye Glitz It Glitter Gel states:

Like a galaxy of sparkling diamonds, Glitz It combines holographic Opal Ice glitter in an invisible gel that quickly dries to a matte finish. Irresistible effects for face, hair, and body.

That sounds like a winner to me! Again, not one I've tried and I can't find any user reviews, but I trust Ben Nye (all of my personal stage makeup comes from them), and chances are, if it's good enough to show up on stage, it'll work for your Halloween party. If not, it's only $6, so you're not out much. Really, my best suggestion is to make a mad dash to the party store and buy a cheap-o can of spray glitter. That's actually what I'm planning to do for my ghost costume, and it sticks to clothes, too.

Okay, remember a week or so ago when I promised the DuWop Twilight Venom review? Well, here it is. I'm just not sure you're going to like it.

It's easily the worst lipstain I've ever used. Hands down, bar none, and I hate that. The people at DuWop are really nice, too, which makes it all the worse. I ordered mine about a year ago, I guess, and it took forever to come in. I mean, we're talking months. I finally gave up and called DuWop, and they could not have been nicer. It's also a very small company, so the few times I talked with anyone, it was always the same person. Actually, the second time I had to call, they recognized my voice and had my answer before I could even ask the question. I really can't say enough nice things about the company, itself. Unfortunately, I'm really having a hard time coming up with anything nice to say about the lipstain.

Um...the vial looks cool. It's a crimson stain and a clear, glittery liquid, that when shaken together represents the blending of the human and vampire worlds. It also looks like a lava lamp. I like lava lamps, so that's a good thing.

If you put the stain on very carefully, for a few minutes it is the prettiest shade of fuschia. It actually looks like a natural flush, as if you'd been biting on your lips or kissing for a while. It's really lovely.

And that's it. That's all I've got for the good. Now, for the bad.

Even if you put it on with the greatest care and the lightest touch, somehow this stuff manages to defy gravity and pools in the middle of your upper and lower lips, making it look like you've just drunk someone dry. I guess, if you're going for a vamp look, that could be good, but it doesn't work for me. Actually, it also looks like I've been eating a cherry popsicle and just left it between my lips for too long. Again, not a good look.

The glitter doesn't show up. It's a matte stain, and it dries out your lips really badly. It also doesn't plump at all. It does smell like cinnamon, though, which is pleasant.

If you just slap it on straight out the vial, it's practically hot pink, and not crimson, like you would gather from looking at it. You really have to work hard to make this look good.

If you make a mistake, you better have makeup remover on hand, otherwise, it's there forever. If it gets on your fingers, it stays on your fingers. It does not, however, stay on your lips. In two hours, I reapplied four times.

So, if you insist on buying it (it is Twilight, after all), here's how to apply it, so as not to look like a cannabalistic clown:

1) Prep lips by exfoliating and applying a balm (or every flake or crack will be magnified).

2) Apply a clear lipliner to prevent feathering ('cause it will, and badly).

3) Drain as much of the excess product off of the wand as you possibly can.

4) LIGHTLY apply to the outer portion of your lips. It'll fill in the middle on its own.

5) Press your lips together to evenly distribute.

6) Reapply balm after the stain has dried.

Lather, rinse, and repeat as needed. For a darker look, fill in your lips with a coordinating pencil before applying the stain.

Seriously, save yourself the trouble and just get CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain. It's a lot more moisturizing, comes in a magic marker form so you can't screw up, and actually lasts. It'll save you a lot of money, too. Venom is $16. This stuff runs about $7. Beware, though, the biggest customer gripe (mine, too) is that the color on the marker does not match the color inside, so try a tester, if at all possible.

Thus ends the obligatory Twilight post. Please be nice in the comments. Thanks!

Adorable Napalm and the Prisoners of Winding Lines (Vacation Part 3)

Well, folks, as with all good things, vacations (and vacation posts, thank God) must come to an end.

Day Three: Islands of Adventure (a.k.a. Harry Potter World)

Seriously, as far as anyone is concerned, it seems, the only thing of any importance at I.o.A. is Harry Potter, so, in a nutshell: rode through The Cat in the Hat, watched a baby dinosaur hatch at Jurassic Park, swung through New York with Spiderman, watched Sinbad sword fight (the sailor, not the comedian, but wouldn't that have been cool?), and seriously considered doing the Popeye rapids, but decided to stay dry instead. The End. There, you've got the high points. On to the Potter.

Now, I'm what you might call a Harry Potter virgin. I know a few characters and some minor plot points, but only what you'd glean from commercials. Never read a book or seen a movie. Ever. However, my little bro is a huge Potter-head, so I felt it necessary to go, hunt for souveniers, and bring back a full report for the kiddo.

So, here's the report, Curt. The rest of you can read it, too. You know, if you want.

First off, J.K. Rowling is brilliant. Having seen the world based on her vision, I can say with no doubt that the woman is a genius. I can also say that she is not a theme park designer. Yes, the buildings are gorgeous. It looks like Christmas in a teeny English village. Snow sparkles off the itty-bitty rooftops. Do you see a theme here? It's miniscule, and shoulder to shoulder people. The shops can only hold a few people at one time, so there are lines to get into them. Actually, I didn't even know there were shops until after we left, because the lines blended into the crowd. I just thought the town was made up of facades. Silly me.

Olivander's: No clue. I'm sorry. Line was several hours long. Bought a wand at another park souvenier shop. I got Hermione's, and it's really darn cute. Golden with carved leaves winding all around. For $28.95, it wasn't much more expensive than a t-shirt.

The lines for the rides were insane, so I skipped the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge rides and spent my line time on the Forbidden Journey ride inside Hogwarts. This line was only 90 minutes, as opposed to the 3 hours reported on some other sites. Lucky me. I will say, though, that Universal knows how to handle a line. It moved constantly, and the outside portion was dotted with fan misters to keep us cool. They kept us cool all the way through the wall the park employees had to remove to extend the line through Jurassic Park. Yep. It was a really long line.

(Side note to the parents of the lovely young lady in line behind me: I could only hear your daughter's end of the phone conversation, but unlike her, if you would like to drive me to Universal, pay for parking, and pay for admission for me and a couple of friends, I promise to not gripe when you want to take us all out to lunch at Wolfgang Puck's. Heck, I won't call you mentally-challenged, or anything. In fact, I'll even let you hang out with me. Honestly, if I'd talked to my parents like this child talked to hers, they'd have snatched me up out of that line so fast it would have made that ride look downright tame. Curt, remember that, and talk nice to Mom and Brent, if you know what's good for you.)

So, eventually we made it to Hogwarts. Oh. My. God. This place took my breath away, and that's hard to do. As for the ride, words don't do it justice. Let me just say that it's the most highly advanced ride I've ever been on, and easily the most fun. We seriously considered waiting through the line a second time to ride it again. Word to the wise: don't wear flip flops, and don't bring a bag, if you can help it. You can't take bags on the rides, so you have to stow them in a locker. The lockers are crammed into the train station (for Dragon Challenge) and in an alcove of Hogwarts (for Forbidden Journey). They're free while you ride, but if you go over you better be prepared to pay $3 (minimum) to get your stuff out. Also, they're locked and unlocked by fingerprint recognition, so remember exactly how you held your finger on the pad to sign in. If you're even slightly off, it won't recognize you. One more thing--please don't be "that person" who stands in front of the lockers to take pictures of, oh, say, a clock. It holds things up for everyone, and the lighting is so dim, the picture's probably not going to turn out anyway.

After the ride, I felt the need to try Butterbeer. 15 minutes later, I made it to the front, paid my $3.25 (didn't need an ugly, uber-tiny souvenier mug for twice the price and half the drink), and fell in love. It's like a butterscotch ginger ale with a whipped cream head. It looks just like a real beer, and tastes a whole lot better. The same can not be said for Pumpkin Juice, however. I mean, if you're in the park and looking for a lower calorie alternative to all the sugary sodas, it's a good deal. It's only 100 calories per 8 oz. serving, and 81% juice. Unfortunately, it tastes terrible. I mean, I love pumpkin. I mean, I really love pumpkin. I make pumpkin bread, have pumpkin cheesecake ice cream in the freezer, and take pumpkin Little Debbies to work with me. If it's pumpkin, I'm all over it. With that, I found this stuff mildly tolerable. That should tell you something. It's pumpkin and apple juice, spiked with cinnamon. At $6.25 a bottle, stay far away. I should have known something was up when it was the only kiosk in the entire area that didn't have a line. At all. Ew.

Honestly, though, for all my grumbling, this place is pure magic. Just wait until the novelty wears off some and the crowds settle before you talk Mom into taking you (or, for the non-Curtises, before planning your own trip). While we wait, I'm working on a recipe for Butterbeer. I've just about got it figured out, and as soon as I have it down, I'll post it right here for all of you to enjoy. Curt, I'm planning to bring it over for Halloween, so you can drink it out of your Hogwart's glass while we wait for trick-or-treaters.

Alrighty, all that's left of vacation is checking out and driving home, and those were largely uneventful, so I'll leave it here. Sorry, folks. Park's closed. Let the usual posting resume!

Thomas and Erin's Bogus Journey (Vacation Part 2)

Previously on Adorable Napalm: Erin and Thomas went to Disney World for Mickey's Not-So Scary Halloween Party. They had a lovely time, saw tons of cute costumes, and angered Captain Hook. It was a magical, magical night.

Day Two: Universal Studios Orlando

So, from 9-5, the park is normal. Families pour in the gates to see Shrek and Donkey, the Blues Brothers perform, and you're surrounded by good old-fashioned, wholesome family fun. From 9-5. At 5pm, the pumpkin changes, folks, and the Halloween Horror Nights begin! MUWAHAHAHAHA!!!!

We skipped out on that. Sorry if that disappoints anyone, but much as I heart zombies, I prefer to keep mine cute and cuddly. Having lived in two (count 'em, two) haunted houses (not kidding), I've seen my fair share of scary stuff. I don't want to have to pay $75 to have ghouls chase me around while I'm trying to get in line for the Men in Black ride. No, thank you.

Honestly, we discussed it. Thomas and I both researched the event pretty thoroughly and came up with...well, nothing. No reviewers want to give out spoilers, so they keep their accounts pretty darn vague. If anyone out there has been to HHN in Orlando (very different from the one in California), please let me know what to expect. Spoilers are just fine with me. I live for them. I really want to know if this is something I think I can handle, because, man, the decorations they started putting out while we were there were freaking awesome, and the live shows sounded really cool, too.

Okay, so enough about what we didn't do. When we first walked through the gates, we were immediately greeted by a friendly park employee with a clipboard. Would we be interested in screening a potential television pilot? Would we?!!!! Heck, yeah!!

See, this is something I've always dreamed of doing. Seriously! (Yes, I have a sad and pathetic existence) I've always wanted to be a Nielsen family, or do a panel, or anything that had to do with picking tv shows. Plus, they were going to pay us fifteen whole dollars to participate! Yay!

So, we get in there, and, while I don't want to give too much away, it was the most excruciating half-hour of "comedy" I've ever experienced. Unlikable characters, stupid plot, and some of the worst acting known to man. I advised them to burn it and forget it ever happened. Halfway through, I considered telling them to either keep the money and let me leave, or up it to twenty bucks. This was a really, really, really bad show. Unfortunately, it was a bad show with a really, really, really specific demographic: young marrieds. We spent the rest of the day walking around the park with targets on our backs. At least we had thirty bucks in our pockets.

And now, a product review! Yay!! Philosophy Amazing Grace Fiming Body Emulsifier. $34, Sephora. According to Sephora:

Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion is a toning body moisturizer that helps to purify, moisturize, and revitalize dry, aged, or wrinkled skin with a unique blend of antioxidants and vitamins E and C. Chock full of luscious moisturizing properties including shea butter, macadamia nut, and olive oils.

I didn't notice much firming, but I can say that it moisturized like a champ. My skin was so dry from driving and hotel air-conditioning that shaving was almost like a blood-letting. My legs were on fire. I had this in a travel-size in my makeup bag, and it instantly made my skin feel better. Plus, the scent is very light and pleasant, and didn't compete with my perfume. I think the best way to describe the fragrance is this: when I was a kid, we used to spend a lot of time during the Summers at my Aunt Sis' beach house. The house had an outdoor shower that she kept stocked with Pert shampoo and conditioner. As soon as I opened this container, I immediately flashed back to that outdoor shower, and the smell of sunscreen and Pert. It's an odd way to describe it, I know, but the best way I know how. It's very clean and fresh. If you're interested in trying out Philosophy, might I suggest the Travel Agent set. It's travel-sized versions of Purity facial cleanser, Hope in a Jar facial moisturizer, Amazing Grace Shampoo/Body Wash, Conditioner, and the Emulsifier. $35, Sephora.

Boo To You!! Halloween Vacation Part 1

Hey guys! We're back from Florida, and I thought I'd fill you in on all the shenanigans and goings on. Of course, I can't write for too long today. I came home to a box-filled house, and need to get back to unpacking and figuring out where all my stuff is.

So, here we go!

I won't bore you with details of the drive down. Long story short, our GPS battery died because I blew out a fuse on my new car during filming of The Night Shift, and had no idea. Made life a little more interesting, but not a huge deal.

The First Day

We were going for Mickey's Not-So Scary Halloween Party, in case you're new to AN, so we didn't spend the entire day in the park. According to Disney, the party starts at 7pm. According to everyone else on the planet (it seemed), you could get in as early as 4pm. We were at the Magic Kingdom by 3:45, checked email on our phones, figured out our game plan, and hopped in line.

Already, the costumes were many and impressive. An entire family arrived in full-on Cinderella gear. Mom was Cindy, Dad--the prince, Grandma was the Godmother. The only people I couldn't figure out were the kids! They were really tiny and stayed in strollers, so in my head, they're mice. Who needs reality.

There was a Princess Aurora that a few people thought was the "real" Sleeping Beauty. The Southern deb from The Princess and the Frog, and a whole zombie family. The main problem, though, with costume scouting at Disney, is that it's so crowded, and you're constantly shuffling through stores and onto rides, that it's darn near impossible to take pictures, so sadly, you're just going to have to take my word that there were some awesome costumes. I think my favorite may have been Superbaby. At first, I thought the infant in the Superman costume was cute....until I turned and saw the other Superbaby! TWINS!!! Even cuter, their parents had on Superman t-shirts.

So, how was the party? Honestly, much the same as last year. The trick-or-treat spots were the same, though they seemed to give out less candy at each station. The parade was the same (still amazing, but identical, save for a sober Captain Jack Sparrow. That was off-putting and a little disappointing). The Villains show was the same. The photo ops were the same. I skipped the fireworks to ride Peter Pan, but the music was cool. A highlight for me was the ghost storyteller in front of The Haunted Mansion. She was great at improv, and just a hoot to listen to. Unfortunately, she only hangs out for a few minutes at a time, so you have to time it just right or you can miss her.

Lines were relatively short, since only a limited number of tickets are sold. My main problem was that a lot of construction was going on in the park. Several rides were either very difficult to get to, or closed altogether. Then, the cruelest blow--Pirates broke down. Completely. We didn't get to go on it at all, much to Thomas' disappointment. To stall for time, I guess, the park sent out Captain Hook to entertain the crowd--for a couple of hours, at least. He hopscotched with kids, let tiny Peter Pans chase him through Adventureland, and posed for countless pictures. I don't know, but I think the stress may have gotten to him.

Somewhere around the second hour the ride was closed, Thomas and I sat down on a nearby planter to figure out our next move (which ended up being "go home", but I digress). A small Peter Pan and toddler Tink battled the Captain to the death--er, handshake, then ran off to find some more sugar. With no archnemesis to fight, Hook went off to find a new victim to torcher--me.

Hook stalked his way over to me, handler in tow, and tried to steal my candy bag! Um...no. I told him that I needed to keep my bag. Well, then he just started to dump the candy out. Um...no. At this point, small children are gathering to watch, so I jump into big sister mode and decide to use this as a teaching moment (almost 18 years older than my only sibling. Watched a lot of Sesame Street). I told him I would share, then reached in a pulled out the first piece of candy my hand touched--a lollipop. As I handed it to him, his handler yelled out, "It's a sucker! 'Cause she thinks you're a sucker!!!" He grabbed it, through it on the ground, and stomped on it, then huffed off. Seemed a little much, honestly. Thomas was like, "you just ticked off Captain Hook". Yes. Yes, I did. Of course, of all the villains to anger, he's probably the best bet. The others tend to have magical powers. All he can do is run you through.

So, that was the Party. Cuteness abounded, and a good time was had by all. Well, except maybe for Captain Hook.

Oh--here's a picture of me with Dr. Facilier. Yes, I am wearing my MAC Villain lipgloss.

If Only I Had a Trained Monkey

Easy-to-Assemble:  (ee'-zee-too'-uh-sehm'-buhl) adj.  Anything that can be put together with little to no effort, little to no training, and without tools.  Example:  Legos, Lincoln Logs, Oreos (see also:  easy-to-disassemble).

The other day, Thomas and I were in Bed Bath & Beyond when they just happened to be having an amazing clearance sale.  I mean, a drop everything, get your butt down here right now kind of clearance sale.  A beautiful $100 cabinet was on sale for $20.  Seriously.  We snapped that thing up so fast it'd make your head spin.

Unfortunately, we couldn't put it together right away.  We had to wait until we got everything moved from one apartment to the other, and were able to clear enough space amid the boxes to have room to put it together.  When the stars finally aligned and I was able to get to the blasted thing, Thomas was at work.  "Oh, well," I thought, "it's easy-to-assemble.  Says so right on the box.  I'll just do it myself."

Please try to restrain your laughter.

Easy-to-Assemble, to these people, requires a toolbox, several dozen different styles of screws and bolts (some I think they just made up), solid wood that does not defy gravity in real life as it does in the illustrations, and absolutely no written instructions.  None.  Zip.

2 and a half hours, 1 and a half viewings of Ella Enchanted, and a slew of curse words later, I had a cabinet.  Granted, the doors were on upside down (I've since fixed them), and I'm afraid to put anything of real value in it, as it looks like it's going to fall over if the A/C blows on it, but it's done.   

Great.  And my point is?  My point is:  I put together a cabinet.  What am I going to do now?  I'm going to Disney World!!! 

Posting is going to be sporadic, at best, for a couple of days, but if I take any really fun pictures, I'll be sure to share.  In the meantime, feel free to peruse the archives and leave comments.  Please keep it nice.  This is a troll free zone.  Well, except for the one I keep under the computer, but we don't talk about him. 

See Ya Real Soon!

The Amazing Technicolor Dream...Dress

Photo by rainbowwinters.com

I remember hypercolor.  I think I was around eight or ten when the tacky tie-dyed shirts were all the rage, and I wanted one so badly.  Mom wouldn't let me get one (she has taste, afterall), so I never got to run around with handprints on my tummy.  Somehow, I don't exactly feel deprived--those were really ugly shirts--but the thought of color changing clothes has always fascinated me.  Blame hypercolor, blame Barbie, blame My Little Pony.  Heck, blame any child's toy from the 80s.  They all did it.  Whatever the case, I still get a kick out of it.

Apparently, I'm not the only one.  Designer Amy Winter has come up with a stunning collection of surprisingly wearable color change clothes.  A ball gown goes from white to technicolor--just add water.  Sweet shifts transform from pink or green to a funky purple when exposed to sunlight.  One really cool club dress features lightning bolts that pulsate in time to surrounding music.  Ladies and gentlemen, we've come a long way from hypercolor.

Well, today, the missing bag o' samples is still out of commission, but instead of a product review, I thought I'd share with you a win-win opportunity.  October may be the month of ghosties and ghoulies, but it's also Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Yes, vampires and werewolves are scary, but they're nowhere near as scary as what 207,090 women will face this year alone.  Not trying to be a downer, just stating the facts.

That said, there are wonderful organizations out there that are working to make this horrible situation a little less scary for those affected by cancer.  One such organization is the Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation’s Cancer & Careers program, a resource for working women battling cancer.  They work with patients, employers, caregivers, and co-workers, providing guidance and information both during and after treatment. 

So, what's the win-win?  Well, DuWop is donating a portion of their Pink Shimmer Lip Venom sales to Cancer & Careers.  Now, I have not tried this particular product (I'll have a review of Twilight Venom soon, though), so I can't vouch for it.  What I can say is that it's a pink shimmery (duh) version of their original Lip Venom, and supposedly plumps lips and leaves them with a soft, reflective, natural-looking flush.  The two reviews on Amazon are both 5-star and very enthusiastic.  $17, DuWop.  Through October 11th, use the code AWARE and save 30%. 

Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out To Socialize!

My trip to Mickey's Not-So Scary Halloween Party is a mere matter of days away!  I'm so excited I could just spit.  If you're not familiar with the party, it's a yearly seasonal event in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.  Supposedly, it was created as an answer to Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights, as a fun place for families to celebrate the holiday, without giving the munchkins nightmares and years of therapy bills.  Basically, you purchase a ticket for the event (about $50, no need for a day pass unless you want to spend time in the park pre-party), show up at 7pm (thereabouts.  Rumor has it you can enter the park as early as 4pm, but I'm not condoning breaking any rules), get a wristband and a trick-or-treat bag and join in the fun!  The wristband and trick-or-treat bag are very important.  If you don't have a wristband, you'll be asked to leave the park--there's a limited number of guests allowed in the park for the party.  There's also trick-or-treating throughout the park, and while I may be a grown woman, I'm not turning down candy.

There are dance parties with the characters, better-than-average photo opportunities (Cinderella's carriage, anyone?), the aforementioned trick-or-treating, a parade led by the Headless Horseman (too cool for words), a special Villains-themed live show, themed fireworks, spooky lighting and decorations, and costumed cast members.  Actually, the cast members aren't the only ones in costume.  Normally, Disney only allows guests up to age 9 to tour the park in costume.  Not so during the party.  Anyone at any age can dress up for the occasion.  All Disney asks is that you keep in mind the fact that kids will be everywhere, and keep it clean and tasteful, and if you come as a Disney character, please don't pose for pictures or give out autographs.  If you've ever been to a Con, you know that some of these costumes can get pretty darn elaborate.  I was blown away by Giselle and Mary Poppins cosplayers last year, and I'm definitely bringing my camera this year. 

No, I am not dressing up.

So, in honor of the impending visit, I thought I'd share with you a little bit of trivia on one of my favorite rides, The Haunted Mansion.  Oh, during the party, the cast members are all dressed as ghosts, and there's a ghost named Carlotta who sits on the lawn and tells stories about her life and after-life.  Since admission is limited, the lines are never long, so some folks just stand and listen to her and let others pass them.  Not a big deal, since they can, literally, just walk onto the ride when they get finished socializing.  As far as I'm concerned, this is the only way to do Disney, but I digress.

*The only part of the Haunted Mansion ride that takes place inside the "mansion" (it's just a facade, sorry) is the stretching room.  The rest of the ride is housed in a warehouse attached to the back and covered in shrubbery. 

*Originally conceived as a walk-through haunted house with scenes of horror, it was turned into a ride to prevent congestion, and a lighter tone was adopted to avoid actually frightening anyone to death.

*There was to have been an on-going storyline for the ride, but nothing was definite at the time of Walt Disney's death.  Instead, a series of vignettes was used, though snippets of one of the suggested stories can be seen.  A bride is still in the attic, and a sea-farer's telescope is on the second story balcony--both part of a tragic romance that were mentioned in a early draft of the plot.

*A wedding ring is embedded in the concrete in Liberty Square.  Supposedly, it belongs to the bride in the attic.  The way the story goes, the bride was a trickster, and hid in a trunk in the attic on her wedding day.  The trunk locked, and she suffocated.  When her body was placed in the hearse, her groom went to hold her hand for the last time, and her wedding ring fell off her finger.  Something spooked the horse drawing the hearse, and he stomped the ring into the pavement, leaving it permanently embedded. 

*The grave in front of the mansion is dug daily, so it appears fresh, and a new rose is placed upon it.

*The tombstones that line the queue are said to have been named for Imagineers and their family members.

*Contrary to popular belief, the Haunted Mansion is not really haunted.  Here's a fun report from the Disneyland attraction.  

Now, this link is pretty darn cool.  It goes to a blog that is dedicated to exploring the history of every single aspect of the Disneyland Haunted Mansion attraction.  When I say this is in-depth, I mean this is in-depth.  Like, Doctoral Thesis in-depth.  You could get lost for days digging around in here, but it's well worth it, and you're in for a really interesting read. 

If it's just not enough for you to visit the mansion in the park, now you can take it home with you.  No, I'm not suggesting anyone buy that dreck starring Eddie Murphy.  Heck, I worked for Disney at the time, and had to watch it for my job (long story, but I sort of accidentally ran the local Radio Disney for a few months after college), and I barely got through it.  No, what I'm talking about is the Haunted Mansion Game of Life.  Well, I guess that should be the Game of After-Life.  $62.99, Magical Mountain.  Yeah, I know, that's pretty steep, but the only place you can get this is in the park.  These people actually go into the park and pick it up for you.  But yeah, that's still crazy expensive for a board game.

Alrighty, folks.  There are still no samples, but I can still give you a product review while I search for the missing magic bag.  Today, I thought I'd tell you about MAC Lipstick in Russian Red.  I picked this one for two reasons.  1) It's Fall, and red is a great color for the season.  It really pops against paler skin (tans have all faded 'round here) and looks great with Autumnal colors.  2) I have a history with this one.

No, we didn't date in high school.  It's the main lipcolor used on my character in The Night Shift.  I spent two months straight wearing this lipstick, so, while I didn't name it, I did get about as attached to it as one can a beauty product.  This is about as true red as they come.  I'm talking comic-book character red, here, so it's not for the faint of heart.

This is a long-wearing lipstick.  Most of it stayed on through lunch, requiring only a minor touch-up.  All I do is talk all day, and it's still 90% in place after four hours.  That said, the salesperson wasn't kidding when she said it was drying. 

This has a nice matte finish, and worked really well with neutral matte eyeshadows and a natural-looking blush.  I pulled my hair back in a messy ponytail, threw on a white tank with jeans and cute flats, and had a very put-together look that didn't look like it was tossed together in less than 20 minutes.  I started putting together an "easy-to-assemble" cabinet and it took a lot longer than I'd planned, so I had no time to get ready for work.  Oops. 

A few tips for working with lipstick this red:

1) DON'T PANIC!!!  (And the meaning of life is 42)
2) Prep lips first by exfoliating (either with a washcloth or a scrub like Philosophy's Kiss Me) then with a balm.
3) Apply with a brush.  Using the tube's just going to get messy and sloppy.
4) Clean up any missteps with a little concealer.
5) Keep the tube and mirror handy for touchups.

Obviously, you can also use liners and reverse liners (those are fun) and powder down, and all that jazz, but this is just how to get through the day.  I will say, I wore this for hours at a time, talking and sweating and melting in the humidity the whole time, and only had to touchup a couple of times.  Not a couple of times a day, a couple of times, period.  It's pretty darn good stuff, if you can get past the dryness.  $14.50, MAC.