"Arrest"-ingly Beautiful Polishes (Even If You've Never Actually Seen a Chicken)

A friend of mine on Facebook posted a while back that Arrested Development's return after seven years of cancellation sounded like a joke that would be on Arrested Development. I agree, and am looking forward to lauging along with the Bluth family's absurd sense of humor once more. So, imagine my delight when an Etsy surfin' safari led me to a store selling handmade nail polishes, inspired by the show!

The Lady Varnishes (I love that) store boasts several different collections inspired by movies and television shows. The "Huge Mistake" collection features polishes with names like, "Light Treason" and "Denim Cut-Offs", which are sure to be a hit with any AD fan. My favorite of the group? "Slut Shirt", of course. I'm a sucker for red glitter.

Photo Credit: The Lady Varnishes

Polishes in this collection run $8.50 for .5 oz. They are all hand mixed, and each bottle comes with a charm. Order four polishes at one time, and receive a chain for your charms.

Have a great day, guys, and remember: there's always money in the banana stand.

We Did the Monster Mash!

Last night, Thomas and I took a drive over to Pensacola to see the touring company of Young Frankenstein, so I was M.I.A. on the blog, and for that, I apologize. My absence also means it's time for another installment of...

WHILE I WAS OUT!

Obviously, I saw the show, which was really cute. Young Frankenstein is pretty high up on my list of favorite movies, and I've been a fan of the soundtrack for a couple of years--ever since I ran across an album at a local con.

(True story: Thomas and I, along with some other Fighting Owl Films folks, were guests on a panel at the con. On this one day, I chased a baby duck through the parking lot of my city-based apartment complex, rode around with a body in the trunk of Thomas' car, had my cameral "pillaged" by a "pirate", and heard one terrified hotel employee exclaim, "GEEKS!" as she ran out of the building. OH! And the one picture we were able to recover has me looking flat-out stoned (I wasn't), and Thomas looking like he's about to eat a DVD box. All in all, I'd call it a success.)

Anyway, the show was precious, and my only real complaint was the sound system. They had some major problems with the microphones, which made jokes difficult to catch, and left a performer or two hung out to dry. Even so, it was an enjoyable show, and a good time was had by all. Well, all except maybe those one or two performers...bless 'em.

Of course, to get ready for a night at the theatre, I gave embellishing my nails another shot. This time, I think I may have finally figured it out.



Here, I have O.P.I. Brisbane Bronze as a base, and O.P.I. for Sephora Traffic Stopper Copper as the highlight. I think the colors are similar enough that the singled-out nail isn't jarring, but the glitter is chunky enough that you can tell that one nail is embellished. I've been digging it.



Photo Credit: Forever21



I also gave an old dress in my closet a quickie makeover, leaving me with a really cute skirt for the occasion. See, last year, I orderded a dress from Forever 21, but when it arrived, I realized that it was too short-waisted for me. I couldn't return it, so it hung in the closet forever. Yesterday, I decided enough was enough, cut off the top with a pair of scissors, folded under the excess fabric, and voila, I had a new skirt. I paired it with a tank that actually fit, some Steve Madden platform pumps I practically stole from Ross, and had a brand new outfit for absolutely nothing. Woohoo!



At the theatre, I was seated next to a lovely young lady who was wearing one of the coolest dresses I've ever seen! She was sweet enough to tell me where she got it. The brand is Paper Doll Productions, and in case you can't tell from the photo, the fabric is a collage of different Universal monster movie posters. It's pretty darn nifty in the picture, but so much more awesome in person.



Photo Credit: Angry Young and Poor



There's also another shop, found on Etsy, that carries a dress with the same print, but in a different sillhouette that might be more flattering on curvier body types (like mine). Now, if only I could come up with the seventy bucks to make this happen in my closet...

Photo Credit: Etsy

So, that's what I've been up to. Not much, actually. Mostly drooling over pretty prints and painting my nails. Wow. I feel like a slug. I blame my broken coffee pot, but that's another post entirely...



These Are My Kind of Spock Ears!

Here's a quick bit of pretty for you this (if you live around here) gloomy, nasty Monday:

Photo Credit: LRakerDesigns

These are just plain neat. Whether you're into fairies, elves, or Vulcans, these pretty wire ear-wraps might be right up your alley. Personally, I think they'd go perfectly with my Arwen necklace. Etsy seller LRakerDesigns handmakes these one-of-a-kind beauties, along with a few other gorgeous goodies. Check 'em out, and let me know what you think in the comments. $45, etsy.

Brainy Beauty

Today, I'm celebrating being alive (and compensating for a horrible hair day) by wearing a precious, handmade headband, featuring a cute little purple felt zombie face. I bought it at an Art Walk, from a really sweet local artist who, sadly, does not have an online shop, even though she's awesome and most definitely should. Anyway, I did some looking and came up with a next-best option for you guys:

Photo Credit: Janine Basil

Those are the cutest brains ever!! This headband (also available in pink) is $23 plus shipping, and comes from Etsy artist Janine Basil. It's quirky, unexpected, and surprisingly wearable. Visit Janine's shop here.

I Will Be Catching This Snitch In My Dreams

Oh. Wow.

I was totally looking for something else (and if I find it, I'll post it ASAP), but this flashed across the screen and completely captured my attention. Potter fans, how gorgeous is this?

Photo Credit: Avenue B

This beauty is handmade, goldtone, with 18" extendable chain and lobsterclaw closure. I'm in love. $14 plus $4 shipping. The rest of the store is precious, too, so give it a look-see.

I Need the Doctor! Stat!

This weekend marks the end of the latest Doctor Who series, and what better way to wrap up another year of traveling with Amy, Rory, River, and the good Doctor than by viewing the show through the eyes of some incredibly talented, crafty fans? All items featured in this post are available at Etsy, and are hand-crafted by fellow Whovians. Geronimo!!

 

First up, this so-cute-I-could-squeeze-him-to-bits 11th Doctor-inspired smartphone case. The bow tie and tweed jacket are spot-on, and I literally squeed at the messy hair. Too.Freaking.Cute!

 

Photo Credit (This and All): Etsy. Links go to artists' pages.

I want this necklace. Any family or friends who read this: Think Christmas, please. I would use it on the door to my recording booth at work, and have it show anytime I had to step out. Kind of like an "Out To Lunch" sign that only a handful of my coworkers would get. 

 

 

This little bracelet tickles me. It's one of my favorite quotes from the Neil Gaiman-penned "The Doctor's Wife" episode. The artist has other quotes available, as well. You know, in case you don't want to make the uninitiated nervous. (It says: Biting's excellent! It's like kissing, only there's a winner.")

 

I'm a sucker for a good poster, and this is a darn good poster. There are several in the series, each based on particular episodes throughout the run of the show. I'm partiularly fond of "Victory of the Daleks" and "The Girl In the Fireplace", as well the above example. 

 

If you know of any good Who artwork--or any other really well-done pop culture pieces--let me know, please. I love featuring artists on this blog, and hopefully drawing some attention to their talents. Thanks! 

 

We Are Marshall (and Lily)

Photo by Fanpop

Four years ago today, Thomas and I went on our first date.  That was pretty much all it took, really, and less than five months later, we were engaged. 

One of our favorite shows to watch together is How I Met Your Mother.  I came into the show a couple of seasons in, and realized very quickly that it seemed somewhat...well, familiar.  Thomas didn't watch the show back then, and it took a little coercing to get him to sit down for an episode, but once I did, he noticed it, too.



Thomas:  Oh, my God.
Me:  Yeah, I know.
Thomas:  Oh, my God.
Me:  It's a little scary, right?
Thomas:  Oh, my God.  We're Marshall and Lily!
Me:  Yup.

I don't mean, "aw, we're so cute and in love and married like the adorable couple on tv."  I mean, "holy crap, is there someone from that show stalking us?"  For example:

1)  Marshall and Lily went to Loch Ness for their honeymoon to stalk Nessie.  They missed a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Erin and Thomas went to Cardiff, Wales for our honeymoon to stalk David Tennant.  We missed a performance of the Aladdin Panto.

2)  Marshall calls Lily 'Lilypad'.  Thomas calls me 'Lilleypad'.

3)  Marshall and Lily live in Dowisewtrepla, in an apartment with a crooked floor.  Erin and Thomas live on Downtowner, in an apartment with a crooked floor (and walls, for that matter).

4)  Marshall is very sweet and easily excited (robot wars!), while Lily is a shopaholic and artist.  I'm just going to let that one speak for itself.

5)  This one kills me.  Lily has a doppelganger, 'Stripper Lily', who works in a gentlemen's club.  I have 'Bartender Erin'.  There is some girl around here who works in a club downtown.  Her name is Erin, and apparently, we're twins.  I've actually had a guy she stood up question me, thinking I was her;  and the poor barista at Starbucks got really confused when we both went through the drive-up at the same time ("when did you change clothes?").

Maybe it's just us.  Anyway, on our first date, Thomas and I watched The Rocketeer, so in honor of my 'Marshmallow' (Lily's name for Marshall--not mine for Thomas!!), I thought I'd drum up some steampunky pretties for your viewing pleasure.

Photo by Etsy

This gorgeous necklace is available for $36 on Etsy.  The intricacies of the clockwork mesh really well with the filigree, don't you think?

Photo by Catherinette's Ring Shop

That green is what got me.  It just pops out from the copper and gold, and says, "look at me!"  $35 on Etsy.

Photo by Steam Designs' Shop

I think this might break me of my dog-earing habit.  This bookmark is $49.95 on Etsy.

Photo by Steam Designs' Shop

This is a hair pin.  I can't recall if I've ever worn a hair pin, but this one makes me want to give it a shot.  $49.95 on Etsy.
Now, for today's trip into the magic bag o' samples!  Today, I pulled Urban Decay's Deluxe Eyeshadow in Ruthless and Freakshow.  $18 each, Sephora.com.  According to Sephora:

Turn your eyes into opulent works of art with these vibrant, silky, and luscious to the touch, eyeshadows that feature couture-quality and cutting-edge color. Loaded with silky pigments, this sophisticated new formula provides the richest, most brilliant color imaginable. Truly intense and definitely incomparable, Deluxe Shadows are like an artist's palette for the eyes.

This is some darn good eyeshadow.  Ruthless is a pale sand color with a hint of shimmer, and Freakshow is a muted plum with red overtones.  They blend effortlessly, and personally, I'm loving Freakshow with my new haircolor (still auburn, but with a lot more red).  My samples just came on a card, but the packaging for the full-sized shadows is a little bit awesome.  The look like graffitti-ed buttons, and each one is different.  Very cool.  If you're looking for eyeshadow, this is one to consider.

Cute Hoots

Part of the fun of being a movie producer (or the lady who happens to be married to the movie director) is paperwork. Lots of paperwork. Lists of actors, crew, phone numbers, addresses, bios, emails, costume sizes, food allergies, props, agents, distributors, festivals, arts associations, film associations, locations, location managers, scheduling conflicts, etc. There are schedule revisions and scene revisions; blogs to write, and buzz to keep track of; photos to bind and press releases to proof. Paper here, paper there! Paper! Paper, everywhere!

My newest task is to start on thank you notes. I'm compiling a (rather sizable) list of all the people and organizations that helped make The Night Shift happen, and while Thomas edits, I'll write.

We have a very (very, very, very) limited budget, so I'm probably just going to end up grabbing whatever bulk thank you notes I can find on sale. However, a girl can dream, and in those dreams, we can afford adorable thank you notes that reflect the film company, Fighting Owl Films, and our quirky vision.

Dream with me, folks.

Photo by Peter Pauper Press

This little cutey comes from Peter Pauper Press, and is available in a pack of 14, with 15 matching envelopes. I love the circus-like stripes and the bright Autumn colors, and I especially love the confused look on the owl's face. Trust me, all of us Fighting Owls look like that right about now. It's very sweet, but fun at the same time. Amazon, $8.99.

Photo by designedbyme

This one really makes me think of Halloween. I think it's all the orange. In any case, it's absolutely precious. From designedbyme on Etsy, this one grabbed me with her daisy-shaped eyes and polka-dotted wings. The swirls of color give the tree branch a magical, whimsical feel, and I really want some individually wrapped, x-ray-scanned candy now. And some cocoa. Yeah...cocoa...mmmm. Set of 8 with matching orange envelopes. Etsy, $16.

Photo by Sweetprintsshop

As is, this little sweetie seems more suited for a baby shower than a film company, but the colors and font are customizable to your particular needs. With a red owl on a taupe background, we'd have a very nice, professional looking note card, and I would be a happy, happy camper. From sweetprintsshop on Etsy. Set of 10 with matching envelopes. Etsy, $12.

Now, you have no excuse not to do as Emily Post and your momma told you. Write some thank you's, darn it!