This is Halloween! This is Halloween! La La La La La!

*Editor's Note: This was written early in the day on Monday. Unfortunately, the editor was well in the car, on her way to deliver tricks or treats, when it dawned on her that she had completely and totally forgotten to post her blog. She is an idiot. Please use this as a reference for what to look up on Hulu or YouTube in the future. Our apologies, The Management.
 

Happy Halloween!! I know everyone is super busy finishing their costumes and...oh, who am I kidding? It's Monday, and we're all at work. Because of that, as far as I'm concerned, 5pm is the new "Witching Hour". My costume (#2 o' the day. See below.) is hanging on the closet door, the jewelry is laid out, and the makeup is packed up to take to my Mom's. I am ready and rearing to go!

So...did anyone remember to set the DVR?

Here's what I'm recording tonight (all times Central):

6pm: SyFy, Ghost Hunters Live. This year, the TAPS team investigates a former asylum, Pennhurst State School and Hospital. Online viewers can help with the investigation via a "panic button"--see something? Hit the button! If enough people hit it at one time, the team'll go check it out. The show runs until midnight, so you can watch other shows and catch up as needed.

7pm: CBS, How I Met Your Mother. Ted finally reconnects with the "slutty pumpkin" (oh, it's a day for quotation marks!), played by cutie-pie Katie Holmes.

7pm: Fox, Terra Nova. I love this little show. It brings back fond memories of Jurassic Park, and mixes them with a sweet family drama. If you haven't watched it before, I urge you to give it a shot. While it's not specifically Halloween-y, this week's episode features a murder mystery...murder by dinosaur!

11pm: Nickelodeon, Cry Baby Lane. Honestly, I have no idea if this is going to be any good or not; I'm just curious. See, the only time this has ever aired was October of 2000, and, according to urban legend, parents were so outraged by the scary content (on Nickelodeon? Really?) that it was never re-shown, never released on video, and only recently made it to the Interwebs. The film has developed a cult following online, so Nick has decided to air the movie one more time. According to a synopsis on Wikipedia, the basic storyline concerns conjoined twins--one good, one evil--who were left by their parents to die. Now, thanks to a seance (those are always a great idea, right?), the evil twin is possessing everyone in sight. If nothing else, a banned Nickelodeon show should qualify as an oddity. It might be fun to check out.

Alrighty. So, I mentioned above that tonight's costume would be the second of the day. The first came early this morning, when I went on a local morning show to give some last-minute Halloween costume and makeup tips. Talk about an honor! I'd do that again in a heartbeat! Anyhoo, since we were discussing things that could be thrown together in a minute, I went as an 80s High Schooler, and my friend and model, Soren, was my zombie companion. I tell you, it's a good friend that will let you put zombie makeup on them at 6:00 in the morning.

In case you're still fumbling for ideas, here's what went into each costume:

80s High Schooler: I already had a second-hand letterman's jacket from 1984, and that's where the inspiration for this costume came from. It's not the greatest costume in the world, since it had to be put together with stuff from my closet, but I did the best I could with what I had to work with. I wore the jacket with a jean skirt (Old Navy), white t-shirt (Mudd), bright blue tights (Missoni for Target), black legwarmers (gift), silver sequined belt (not a clue. I'm sorry), big hoop earrings (Target, but ages ago), and purple Converse tennis shoes (Ross, actually). I curled my hair with hot rollers, then teased as high as I could and sprayed. The humidity killed it by the time this picture* was taken, but for a while, I was hot. (No, not really)


 *A picture was supposed to go here, but it refuses to show up. Should I ever get it to work, I'll add it and a picture of the zombie makeup. Sorry for the inconvenience. (Blogger! I give up!)

Makeup was baby pink and plum shadows from Smashbox (Burlesque collection), and holographic lavendar (Desire) from LORAC. Liner was the plum Smashbox on bottom, and a deep black with purple (After Party) from LORAC on top. Black Buxom Lash on top and bottom lashes. Hot pink blush (Delight) from LORAC (all LORAC from the Be Mine collection). Hot pink lipstick (Mauvelous) from MAC.

 Zombie: For the show, we did easy peasy zombie makeup. I used all Ben Nye products, since that's what I had on hand, but the entire look could be achieved with drugstore foundation and eyeshadows. Basically, I brushed on pale foundation (one shade lighter than actual skin tone), then used a plummy brown in the eye sockets and hollows of the cheeks. I also applied a little white highlighter to the cheekbones to help them stand out a bit more and make the hollows look more sunken in. The same plummy brown was then layered on to darken the eyelids and define the most sunken areas of the eyes. A little red was used as liner under the eyes and blended. Then I stippled a little of the plummy brown (very little), along with some ice blue and pea green onto the face with a sponge, then blended lightly with a fluffy brush. This was to add a little texture and create some discoloration from decay, but that's a very optional step. The lips were colored in with the ice blue, then layered with plummy brown. I finished the look by creating a bruised cut with smeared blood on the forehead, and another blood smear at the lip. The bruise was created by blending red, purple, plummy brown, dark blue and lime green into a circular pattern (start with the red in the center, and blend in the other colors as you move out. Kind of like a warped rainbow). Then the cut was made by drawing a gash with black eyeliner. The smeared blood was red that I, well, smeared on. Finally, I sprayed a little silvery-gray hair paint (Not Ben Nye! Walgreens!) onto a messed up hairstyle, to create the illusion of dust and dirt. This looks crazy hard written out, but I swear, the whole look took 15 minutes, and I made up most of it as I went along. As long as you look sick and gross, you're probably doing just fine. The costume, itself, was a plaid shirt, blue jeans, and an undershirt made to look like a skeletal chest cavity. All came from Soren's closet.

Good luck, and I hope you end up with tons of candy!

No. Freaking. Way.

Hey guys! Wanna see something really cool?

 

You ready?

 

You sure?

 

Here it is!!

 

Photo Credit: Jon Pinto

 

Holy Smokes! I'm a TOON!!

 

You may or may not recall, but back in February, when Thomas and I took that less-than-stellar trip to the New Orleans Comic-Con, I posted a little bit of a rant about finding some stolen art in the Vendor Room. Long story short, the artist--the fabulously talented and all-around nice guy, Jon Pinto--appreciated my letting folks know about the theft, and we started following each other's blogs. Now, let me stop here for a minute to reiterrate just how impressed I am with this man's work. He's worked with Disney. He's worked with Universal. He's worked with some major players. Jon's Doctor Who pieces sucked me in, and he constantly tops himself with each new work (one is actually my desktop background, right now). If you have a few free minutes, I encourage you to peruse the man's gallery because, trust me, you will be amazed. So, with that, imagine my delight to find that Jon was not only interested in my little movie, but had taken it upon himself to render Rue, Claire and Herb in his signature, animated style!! I won't lie; I got a little teary. 

 

So, Jon, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea what this means to me.

 

P.S. Folks, don't steal art. It really isn't cool. Just sayin'.

Recession-Era Halloween Treats

Today's Frugal Friday's quick and easy. You can save 31% sitewide at DuWop cosmetics with the code BOOWOP, now through Halloween. Plus, you get free shipping on all orders. That's a darn good treat, if you ask me.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, how's about a little non-Halloween related product review?
Even better--how 'bout one that'll actually save you about $37? That got your attention, didn't it?!

A little while ago, I reviewed Bumble & Bumble's Let It Shine shampoo and conditioner, and loved it. L-O-V-E-D it! And don't get me wrong, I still do. It's utterly and completely amazing at imparting shine and sleekness, even in my city's crazy humidity. However, it's expensive and I am broke. Given my personal finances, almost twenty-five bucks a pop for shampoo and conditioner seems a bit...well, wasteful, at best, and downright irresponsible, at worst. One day, I may break down and buy a bottle of each, but it will then go into my "special occasion" pile, reserved for freshly-colored hair, or days when I have pictures or filming and don't want to take any chances. At that rate, one bottle of each should last, at least, a year. Unfortunately, I have standards, and insist on washing my hair more than once or twice a month. What's a girl to do?

Well, in my case, I pulled out my handy-dandy Total Beauty app, and scrolled through shampoos until I found the highest rated drugstore brand for color-treated hair. What I found was Pantene Pro-V Color Preserve Shine shampoo and conditioner. (Walmart, $3.78 each)

Now, I won't bore you with a play-by-play of my showering experience (unless you just want to know how long it takes to shave my legs, or how many times I got caught in the shower curtain? I mean, I hate to leave you hanging...). After I towel dried my hair, I worked in my usual pea-sized amount of Fekkai glossing cream ($9, Ulta) and blow-dried just like I normally would. When I got finished, I spritzed on a little of the Bumble & Bumble Shine On finishing spray (Sephora, $25), just like I did with the expensive stuff.

I couldn't tell the difference.

Seriously, if you took a picture of me after I used the expensive products, and compared it to a picture of me after using the Pantene, you, more than likely, couldn't tell which was which. What's more, I couldn't tell a difference during the blow-dry experience. I didn't have any trouble with frizz, fly-aways, tangles, or anything else. If anything, I think my hair might be softer with the Pantene, but I can't really count that as a con.

Now, it's true that I used a couple of higher-end styling products, but I kind of had to for comparison purposes. That said, I can totally justify the expense for both of those items, not only by their effectiveness, but also by the price per use. I've had that glossing cream for seven months, and have barely put a dent in the travel-sized bottle. That's working out to just a few cents per use. The finishing spray is significantly pricier, but still, with the need for only a small amount after each blow-out, this bottle will last for months, with a cost per use in the well-under-a-dollar range. The high-end shampoo and conditioner were running closer to a dollar each per use, with bottles lasting a few weeks, as opposed to a few months. That's a little more than I can go, especially with such an affordable duplicate available.

Final Verdict: 10 out of 10. As good as the expensive brand, but at a fraction of the cost. No complaints here.

How To Make Teenagers Think You're Cool

This morning, I got up, fixed myself a cup of coffee, caught up on the Internet, ran to Target for a couple of things, whipped up a quart of blood, loaded the dishwasher, got a shower, and--wait. One of these things is not like the others...

 

Long story short, my kid brother's middle school is putting on a Haunted House this weekend, and the kids voted for me (gosh, I have no idea why) to make the blood. Really, I'm doing a little happy dance that my thirteen year-old brother isn't embarrassed to be seen with his old lady sis, and actually likes doing things with me. His friends even think I'm kinda sorta almost a little bit cool. Almost. Okay, I'm probably deluding myself on that one. Of course, thrilled as I am to do this, there is no way on God's green Earth I'm making the FIVE TO SEVEN GALLONS the kids originally asked for, but that's another story. Short version: they don't need anywhere near that much. They're getting a quart. That's more than enough to dribble on their goggles (it's a mad scientist/zombie/hospital theme), rubber gloves, body part props, and smear on their lab coats. I'm also leaving them with strict instructions not to squirt this on anyone, paint it on the walls, or pour it on the floor. Still and all, I'm basically handing a bunch of 8th graders a quart of sugar; God help us all.

 

I'm guessing these kids aren't the only ones running a haunt this weekend--or maybe some of you have cool Sweeney Todd costumes you need to *ahem* flesh out--and there might be more than a few of you out there trying to figure out how in the heck you're supposed to make this disgusting goo. To help out, I thought I'd post my recipe, such as it is, for washable fake blood.

 

32 oz. light Kayro syrup

1 pack of food coloring (red, yellow, green, blue)

Cocoa powder

Dishwashing liquid

 

Pour the Kayro syrup into a lidded tupperware container (I prefer a disposable gallon container for this, because you're going to need the room to stir, the leftovers are no fun to carry around, and it's a pain to clean).

 

Stir in red food coloring until syrup turns bright red. There's no set number of drops, so just keep going until you get a nice, bright, happy red. I also recommend using a butter knife to stir. I have a much easier time cutting through the syrup and scraping the sides with a knife than I do with a spoon. Of course, that's just personal preference. 

 

Sprinkle in cocoa powder, about a half teaspoon at a time. This is just to make the syrup opaque, and it adds a little color. STOP when the syrup is no longer completely transparent! You don't want to add a lot, or you'll end up with mud. Trust me on this. This is your base blood. 

 

Now you get to be artistic. Little by little, add in the other colors until you get the color you want. I wanted really fresh blood, so I added in a couple of drops of green (to cut the brightness), several drops of blue (arterial), and almost all of the remaining red. I ended up with a thick, full-bodied, purple-ish red. If you want a more orange color, skip the green and blue and add the yellow. It's really hard to completely screw this up, so just have fun. The worst you can do is end up with old, dried-looking blood, and even that's not terrible. It just looks like it's been sitting out a bit. Test the color on your finger as you go, and if it looks like you've cut yourself, you're good to go.

 

Okay. If you need edible blood, stop here. It's going to taste sickeningly sweet, but it won't poison you. However, if you don't plan on eating it, but would like to keep the blood from staining:

 

Add in several drops of dishwashing liquid. I'd say about a teaspoon, at least. If it's clear or slightly reddish (pink, purple), it won't really affect the color, and it will allow the blood to wash right out after you've finished scaring the daylights out of everybody. Again, trust me on this. I didn't think it would work, either, but it did. One item didn't get washed for, oh, about two years, or so (it was a costume! The blood was dry, so I just tossed it into the costume bin! I promise, I do laundry regularly!!), and every bit of blood still washed out. A-mazing.

 

Good luck, and happy haunting!

 

 

 

You'll Never Look At Green Jello the Same Way

Yesterday, I shared with you a list of some of my favorite movies for Halloween viewing. Today, I'm going to tell you about a movie that, honestly, I'm not sure if I should recommend you watch or avoid like the plague. Really, it depends on your perspective.

If you are a fan of finely crafted cinema, subtle nuance, carefully honed scripts and brilliant storytelling...this is not your movie. Run. As fast as you can. Remember Lot's Wife and Do.Not.Turn.Back.

However, if you can handle unintentionally absurdist comedy, silliness for silliness' sake, and actors who can laugh at themselves, you might be able to handle...well, probably not the whole thing, but a really fun hour or so.

A few months or so back, I heard about a documentary called Best Worst Movie. A former child actor decided to profile a film he'd worked on in the 80s: a low-budget horror movie, Troll 2. It's become a bit of a cult hit over the years, and he thought it would be fun to follow it around the convention circuit, meet up with some of the cast and crew, and generally see what it was that made this, by all accounts, awful movie such a hit.



Photo Credit: BustedTees



The doc is fantastic. It's engaging, lovingly shot while remaining unbiased, smart, funny, and just flat-out entertaining. To prepare for the doc, Thomas and I sat down to watch Troll 2 (no relation to Troll, in case you were wondering.), fully warned that it's, well, not good.

Wow.

There are not words to describe this movie. Fellow Mysties, out there, you're going to want to watch this one. Briefly, it's about a family who goes on vacation to Nilbog (Goblin, spelled backwards), and have to fight to not be turned into the green, vegetative goo that goblins like to eat. Along the way, we have hormonal teens, creepy townsfolk, an impromptu dance number, the ghost of Grandpa, and, oddly enough, zero trolls. Not one. Definitely not two.

Now, lest you think I'm being harsh, let me explain that absolutely no one associated with this movie thinks it's any good, excepting the producers. Language and cultural differences went a long way in taking what was meant to be a serious drama and turning into what has become a legendarily comedic mess. Fortunately, the film has gone on to have new life in midnight showings, college movie nights, conventions, and the hearts of fans everywhere. If you enjoy laughing with a movie, you'll enjoy Troll 2. It's a scream.

13 Ghosts...and Ghouls, and Zombies, and Vampires...

"Seven more days till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween! Seven more days till Halloween (Silver Shamrock)!"*

We're in the final countdown, folks (and now that song is going to be stuck in my head...)! I don't know about you, but I love to play Halloween-themed movies while my family gets ready for Trick-or-Treating. It really adds to the atmosphere (and gives candy-hander-outers something to do in-between doorbell rings), but given the variety of age ranges running through the room at any one time, it can be difficult to find something appropriate for everyone.

With that in mind, I compiled this list of thirteen of my favorite Halloween night movies. Now, they're not entirely all-ages movies, but there should be something on the list to suit every possible grouping of ages. Some are more appropriate for especially young kids, while others are more fitting to the tween and above crowd, but it really all depends on the child and their parents. To help you out, I've listed them in order from most to least appropriate for very young children. (I hope that made some semblance of sense...)

Anyway, here you go, starting with my pick for families with young children.

Hocus Pocus (PG)
This cute and creepy outing from Disney stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as three recently resurrected Salem witches with a score to settle. Not scary enough for nightmares, but filled with enough ghoulish delights to make this a perennial favorite. Don't miss the musical number!

Monster House (PG)
Three tweens figure out that the house across the street isn't just haunted, but is actually eating people! Smart, funny, and never pandering, this rollercoaster of a thriller will keep the kiddies--and adults--on the edges of their seats.

The Monster Squad (PG-13)
Middle-Schoolers battle the Universal monsters to stop Dracula from taking over the world. What's not to love about that?! (P.S. Wolfman's got 'nards!)

Dark and Stormy Night (not rated)
Lovingly crafted spoof of a 1930s "dark house" mystery. A will reading brings together a group of stock characters, who are then killed off one by one. No blood, no gore, and no scary images. Just tons of laughs in this family friendly comedy from the people who brought you The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.

The Night Shift (not rated)
You didn't think I'd leave off my own movie, did you? Cemetery caretaker, Rue Morgan, and his skeletal buddy, Herb, fight off supernatural baddies in this rollicking adventure-comedy.

13 Ghosts (original) (not rated)
A family inherits more than a house in this kid-friendly "thriller" from horror legend, William Castle. These ghosts are no scarier than what you'd find on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney, but the sweetly cheesy "special effects" and suspenseful plot will keep older kids interested.

Ghostbusters (PG)
The perfect Halloween movie for tweens on up! Thrills, chills, great special effects (they still hold up!), and more laughs than should be legal! Kids and grown-ups alike will be shouting, "I ain't afraid of no ghosts!" The few mildly adult humor and situations should go over tiny heads.

The Wolf Man (original) (PG)
A normal man finds himself on the wrong end of a gypsy curse. Unrelenting suspense and a decent body count, but no graphic images, language or adult situations in this granddaddy of werewolf movies.

Beetlejuice (PG)
A "newly deceased" couple find themselves with an infestation of humans and hire an unconventional exterminator to rid the pests from their home. Check out some of Tim Burton's wackiest and most colorful creations in this comically-grotesque ghost story. Some images might be too scary for tiny-mites, but older kids will crack up at the "Ghost With the Most".

Plan 9 From Outer Space (not rated)
Ed Wood's masterpiece of schlock, and Bela Lugosi's final role. Widely considered one of the worst movies in history, Plan 9 is so laughably horrible you won't be able to look away. Zombies, vampires, and aliens have all converged on Earth...just don't try to figure out why. Absolutely nothing scary about this movie, and older kids will enjoy pointing out wires on spaceships and other technical uh-ohs.

Young Frankenstein (PG)
Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, and company hilariously re-animate the Monster. Tons of adult humor and situations, but smartly written so as to go over young heads. Older kids will love the Brooks' signature brand of slapstick comedy and a singing and dancing Frankenstein monster.

Clue (PG)
Was it Miss Scarlet in the Library with the Candlestick? Find out in this wild and wooly comedy, based on the Parker Brothers board game. With a cast that includes Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, and Tim Curry, you're sure to die laughing! (groan, I know...) Mild language, adult situations, and some slightly scary images, but should be fine for teens.

Army of Darkness (R)
Action star, Bruce Campbell, takes on hordes of Medieval undead in the frighteningly funny final film of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy. Think of it as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court with zombies. Rated R, yes, for "violence and horror", but all cartoonish and comedic in an homage to the Three Stooges and Warner Bros.' animated shorts. "Scary images" are akin to the skeletons in Pirates of the Carribbean. Had it been rated in today's society, the film probably wouldn't have scored higher than PG-13. Teens should be fine watching, but parents may want to screen first.


*Magical, invisible Internet points to whoever can tell me what that refers to.

Frugal Friday: Mail-Order Mickey

Photo Credit: The Disney Store

I have been to every Disney park in the country this year, but it just doesn't feel like October without Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Thomas and I have been the past two years, and have already decided that it feels so weird to miss it that we're going back next year. MNSSHP was never intended to become a yearly thing, and never entered our minds this year...until October...and now we're both a little disoriented. Don't get me wrong--the family trip in July was amazing, and I will cherish those memories for the rest of my life because we all grew so much closer as a family. As of this week, I've started a wall collage of the photos, and I dearly hope we can all go back again together, someday. The Disneyland trip was fantastic, as well, and I would love to go back when we have more time to explore the nooks and crannies. We also got to hang out with some good friends, and you just can't put a price on that. It's just...the Halloween party has, I guess, become our tradition--our very first tradition--without our even realizing it. We just started going because it was a comfortable time of the year, and the ticket price was a lot cheaper than a regular day pass, even though you still get about eight hours in the park. Who knew that we would grow to look forward to the pumpkin displays, creepy lighting effects, or trick-or-treating through the park? I even catch myself (and Thomas, for that matter) humming the at-first-annoying-but-then-infectious "Boo To You" song that plays throughout the parade. The Haunted Mansion isn't the same without zombie makeup on the cast members, and lines aren't as interesting without cosplayers to spot. I once saw a three year-old dressed as a member of KISS. That's just not something you normally find at Peter Pan's Flight.

 

So, to ease my discombobulation at missing the party this year (I didn't even know I wanted to go!), today's Frugal Friday find is free shipping on all Disney Theme Park merchandise, now through October 25th (Tuesday, and coincidentally, the same day The Night Shift is released on DVD. How 'bout that?) with the code PARKSFREE.

 

There's a whole section dedicated to Halloween products, and another whole section that's nothing but Nightmare Before Christmas. And yeah, there's *shudder* Christmas merchandise now available, if you want to get a jump on *shudder, again* decorating the house or stuffing stockings. Prices are what you'd pay in the park, so with free shipping, it's just like souvenier shopping, but without having to figure out how to stuff everything in the suitcase. Have a great weekend!

 

 

The 2nd Annual Obligatory Twilight Post

Coke or Pepsi? Around here, that question not only determines what drink goes into your cup, but can actually factor into friendships, jobs, and possibly who you'll eventually marry. I kid you not.

Liberal or Conservative? Again, a polarizing question that can have major consequences if your views don't mesh with someone else's.

Boxers or Briefs? Not necessarily polarizing, but incredibly personal, and quite frankly, a little bit rude. Seriously, if you have to ask, you don't need to know.

When I write this blog, I try extremely hard not to write anything that could possibly offend anyone. That's not to say that I write pithy product reviews to keep companies happy--anyone who's read this blog for any length of time knows that I hold no punches! What I mean is that I try to avoid anything too controversial. This is a fun, safe place to visit. We're here to discuss makeup, fashion, pop culture, and all things cute and adorable (hence the name of the blog). There's no need to delve into anything ultra-personal or divisive...

...except for Twilight.

Twilight is that rare bird that touches all of the subjects we discuss here. There's Twilight makeup, Twilight clothing, Twilight movies and books, Twilight action figures...the list goes on. It's everywhere, and on top of that, it's Halloween, so it has to be addressed on the blog. Unfortunately, people tend to either really, really love Twilight, or really, really hate Twilight. There is practically no middle ground. You either want to stake Edward or marry him, end of story.

With that, I will not divulge my feelings toward the franchise or its characters. I am simply going to present to you with some stuff I found that you may or may not wish to either peruse or destroy. It's up to you. Just keep it clean in the comments, okay?

So, last year, we talked about glitter options and DuWop's Twilight Lip Venom. This year, we're focusing on supporting character, Alice.

First up, here's a really well-done, easy-to-follow makeup tutorial for an "Alice Cullen" look by Pixiewoo. In it, you'll see some really good tips, like remembering your ears and covering redness. The young lady in the video uses Make Up For Ever, but you can use whatever brands you prefer. Even if you hate Twilight, watch this for the eye makeup. It's amazing, and really easy to do.

GAH!!! The Embed Code didn't work!!! You can view the tutorial here!

I am now addicted to the Pixiwoo channel. I hope you're all happy. My productivity is shot for the rest of th--oooh, look! A Corpse Bride tutorial!!

Yeah...this could be bad...

Anyhoo...next, I found a beautiful, Alice-inspired palette from the DuWop Luna Twilight collection. It's a mini-palette (about the size of a credit card), but it packs a big punch with two coordinating eye shadows (silver and blue), two lip glosses (bright pink and hot pink), and a pinky-beige blush. Other palettes are available for fans of Victoria, Rosalie, and Bella (my personal favorite of the palettes), and all can be found at a fantastic discount at Beauty Ticket. The regular price is $28, and Alice is priced at only $16. Plus, right now you can save an extra 15% with the coupon code Halloween15.

I hope at least a few of you found this helpful. If there's something else in the Twilight world you'd like to see covered, please let me know in the comments. If there's not...well, then please remember to play nice. Thanks!

Light Me Up Like an 80s Video!

Oh, Dear God in Heaven, I wish I had a use for this! You know how haunted houses sometimes have entire rooms that are nothing but black walls with black light eyes, hand prints, or "blood" spatters? Or, have you ever been on a ride at an amusement park (think: Fantasyland at Disney) and giggled because your white t-shirt and socks were glowing? Well, now you can enjoy that same effect on your face!

 

Okay, so when I put it like that, I'm less enthused...but you get my point, right? You can make your makeup black light reflective!! How freaking cool is that?!

 

I really am tickled by this Make Up For Ever Fluo Night Black Light Pigment. You see, you can either mix it with your makeup, hair gel, body lotion--whatever--or just paint it right on for black light effects. The thing is, in regular light, it's undetectable. That means you can do your make up for the dance club, drinks at a cool bar, or that crazy Halloween party before you go to work, run errands, or take a ride on public transportation without looking ridiculous. Seriously, this beats glitter hands down. I'm a little sick of looking like Glinda the Good Witch, and I'm sure Thomas would appreciate not finding little pink sparkles in his car after we go out. Plus, just look:

 

Photo Credit: The Look

MUFE Fluo Light Black Light Pigment is available exclusively at Sephora for $31. When I say it can be mixed with other makeup products, I mean it. Supposedly, it will not affect the color. Also, a damp brush is suggested for intensity and longevity. Have fun, and let me know if you try this out. I'd love to see some pictures!

Geek Confessions and Guild Gorgeousness

I am a bad geek. I have never watched a full episode of The Guild, and to adorable creature and fellow Alabamian, Felicia Day, I whole-heartedly apologize. That said, my best friend freaking loves the show, so this is for her. Look what you can get at the Halloween store:

 

Photo Credit: HalloweenCostumes.com

 

How cute is that?! It's not a bad incarnation of the Codex character, really, and you get a lot for the $49.99 price tag! The only things shown that aren't included are the shoes and the wig. They also suggest some red hot pants, and I'd have to second that--at least, you know, if you intend to sit down...or walk...or breathe...

 

I'm now a little sad I already have my costume (I have red hair! I'm set!), and need to get cracking on those past episodes. I have a lot of catching up to do.

 

Have a good one!

This'll Teach Those Trick-Or-Treaters!

Photo Credit (All): Urban Collector

Last night was the Season 2 premiere of one of my favorite shows, The Walking Dead. Forget the thrills and chills; I'm in this for the makeup. Seriously, I find myself picking my jaw up off the ground constantly during this show. Thomas laughs at me, because some...thing...will appear on screen, and I'm sitting on the couch, half covering my eyes, and half breathing, "Oh, my God, that's gorgeous!!" These creatures are works of art, and having applied simple prosthetics, myself (I'm, by no means, a pro), I tip my hat to the artists who put together these horrific zombies each episode.

This is a great show. If you haven't had a chance to watch it, I highly suggest renting the first season. TWD is not only visually stunning, but it's one of those shows that elevates the bar with its superb writing, top-notch acting, and brilliant pacing. Of course, it's from AMC, the home of Mad Men, so what do you expect? On top of that, new showrunner, Greg Nicotero, is a living legend in the special effects makeup field, which was a genius move, in my opinion.

This is a show that was tailor-made for the Halloween season. Anyone who's ever had trouble coming up with a decent costume need only watch a few minutes for more inspiration than they ever hoped. However, if you're looking for something a little more complex, grotesque, or just plain cool, check out these amazing Walking Dead masks and prosthetics, available at your local Halloween store. Prices vary, but these were in the $8-$12 range at Urban Collector.







Now, I am not going to tell you these are easy to apply. I'd suggest getting a friend to help, and maybe practicing a time or two before the big night. Also, I don't know how much liquid latex and spirit gum (if any) comes with the mask, so pick up an extra bottle of each when you check out. Trust me, you'll go through the latex. Seriously, though, I've looked at a lot of prosthetics lately, and for the money and accessibility, you won't find anything anywhere near this amazing. Have fun scaring the children!