*Editor's Note: This is part one of a two-part post. Here is the overview and review. The next post will have all of the pretty pictures.
I know, I know. It's a third of the way through October, and I haven't started my Halloween posts (for reals, anyway). I have a good excuse! I've been out of town at Universal Studios Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights. Then, when I got back to town, I realized how loved and needed I am at work, and have been swamped trying to play catch-up. Anyhoo, I thought I'd give you lovelies a rundown of the event, and maybe even share some pics of the behind-the-scenes tour Thomas and I took.
***WARNING! If you are planning to go to HHN and don't want to be spoiled, STOP READING NOW!***
Alrighty, now that's out of the way, let's have some fun!
So...I'm a wimp. I didn't sleep for three nights after watching The Woman In Black, and the bride on The Haunted Mansion ride gives me the heebie jeebies. I am a grade-A, number-one, yellow-bellied, scaredy-cat wuss. Our trip to Halloween Horror Nights actually came about, oddly enough, because I'm too chicken to go to Halloween Horror Nights. Really.
See, for the past few years, Thomas and I have trekked down to Orlando for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. It's sweet. There's trick-or-treating. Small children come dressed as dwarves, Muppets, and KISS (seriously. I love those parents). The scariest thing in the park is the Headless Horseman, and last year he fell off his horse. This is my kind of Halloween, and it also happens to be more Thomas's speed. He's not really into the hard scares, either.
Again, I know, I know. Cue the record scratch. This is probably disappointing to a lot of folks, considering we make movies like Night of the Krampus. We can dish out the scares, but we can't take 'em. I'm sorry.
Anyway, every year, we go to the Disney party at night, and hit the Universal parks during the day. And every year, we find ourselves spending those days wandering amidst the un-hideable decorations, awestruck at the design and production values. And every year, we contemplate sucking it up and getting passes for the event. And every year, we chicken out.
It's the haunted houses, man. I just can't do haunted houses. Being confined in a dark space, smack in the middle of a crowd, with scary-looking people (or even normal-looking people, if we're being totally honest) jumping out and screaming at me tends to send me crying toward the nearest exit. Panic attacks ensue. It's less than fun, and the thought of spending a lot of money to not have fun doesn't appeal to me. I just want to see the pretty (creepy) decorations!
So, wonderful man that he is, Thomas did some research and found out that the park hosts Behind the Screams tours. These are lights-on, actor-free, guided tours of the haunted houses. You get to see all of the artistry that goes into the houses without getting the you-know-what frightened out of you. We signed up for an afternoon tour of An American Werewolf in London, The Cabin In the Woods, and La Llorona (morning tours visited three differing houses) the day they became available.
And then insanity set in.
After all, if we were going to see the houses, then it seemed a shame to miss out on the rest of the decorations. Plus, there was a Bill & Ted show and a tribute to Rocky Horror (which I detest, but it was a live musical performance, so I had to go). We could suck it up. We could just stay out of the houses and ride some rides and see some shows, right? It'll be fun!
Oy, vey...
I have no pictures of the actual event. I was too busy trying to avoid The Walking Dead walkers that had taken over the park, and really, it was just too dark. We did walk through most of the "Scare Zones" while it was still light out, just to see what was there, and kind of test out how well we thought we'd handle them at night.
We avoided those suckers like the plague.
I still got swarmed by about a dozen zombies.
Thomas still regrets not having the video camera rolling.
If you're planning to go this year, here's a lily-livered rundown of what's what:
Scare Zones
Atlanta: This takes place on New York Street. It's supposed to smell of death, but I only smelled concessions, so I guess that'll depend on how you feel about the park's food offerings. There are a number of walkers to contend with, but there's also a tank (!!) and some pretty cool theatrics, with ordinary people being turned into zombies.
The Farm: Herschel's barn is ablaze! Supposedly, if you walk through the barn you'll see a bunch of walkers, including the infamous "well walker". I wouldn't know... I did get into a stare-down with the cutest little "scareactor" walker, though. It was still daylight, so I didn't scream or throw-up on her, and her makeup looked amazing.
The Woodlands: This is another that we took in during the day. Michonne's zombie buddies hang out in there and look pretty cool. There's also supposed to be a deer walker, but he was off, so I only saw the deer. The "bicycle girl" zombie is also on display...just not while we were there.
Camp: The RV and some tents are set up in a very small area that feels like walker central. At night, projections on the tents make it look like zombies are eating the campers inside. You really can't avoid this zone, either. It's the only unavoidable zone, though, and it is very small.
The Highway: Yeah...we just flat-out skipped this one. From what I could see, abandoned cars and a school bus are around the Disaster attraction. We had no reason to go down that way, and no desire to get attacked.
The Van: This is a roving scare zone. It's a van full of walkers that, more or less, randomly appears, lets loose its cargo, and then gathers them all back and moves on. It's terrifying.
Clear: Technically, this one has the fewest walkers, and those are impaled on scaffolding and easy to spot. The entire street (over by Terminator) has grafitti projections to match the ones in the episode that the zone was based on. The only time that it really becomes frightening is when the *&$#@ van comes through and dumps a ton of walkers and they decide you look nice and weak and swarm you, causing you to scream and your husband to laugh and try to lure more over. *ahem* The walkers are effective.
*Word of warning: As the night wears on, and guests become tired and/or drunk, it becomes more and more difficult to tell guest from walker. Just sayin'...
Shows
Bill & Ted: In a word: Excellent!!! This is a rip-roaring, high-energy, ridiculously funny, musical treat. Nothing in pop culture is sacred. This is PG-13, however, and definitely raunchy. Someone brought a small child who was seated next to me, and I felt more than a little awkward at moments, so bear that in mind if you have kiddos.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute: Meh. The performances are fantastic, but if you're not a die-hard fan, you can probably skip this. Several people walked out of the performance I caught. Also: You will get wet. If you are a fan, you're going to love it. Gorgeous costumes, wonderful singers, and lots of audience interaction.
Concessions
Drinks: We ate at the Simpson's food court, so I can't rate the event fare, but I did order a drink in a souvenier glass from one of the bar carts. The glass is heavy plastic with a light-up element in the bottom, and worth the ten bucks I paid for it, including the drink. I ordered a mixed drink (from a very limited bar) of cherry vodka and cola. It tasted incredible, but it was very weak. For me, that was perfect, but if you're looking for a buzz, this isn't it.
Shots: I didn't get one, but I had to ask. There are "nurses" roaming the park with "blood bags" of jell-o shots. They're vodka, peach schnappes, and cherry jell-o. I kind of regret not trying one.
Overall
I loved it, and really hope to go back next year. Maybe I'll be a little braver by then.
Next Post: The House Tour!
Showing posts with label theme parks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theme parks. Show all posts
Friday, October 11, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Putting the Lime (or Vanilla) in the Coconut: E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes First Impression
Did you know that Walmart carried E.L.F. now? Surprise!! I had to run in the store yesterday, and was greeted by a really nice display, filled with all sorts of essential and studio line goodies. As it happened, I had used up the last of my beloved Pacifica Island Coconut body lotion that morning, and was (and am) not in any real position to replace it anytime soon, so I called it kismet and picked up a pack of the E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes in the only available scent (it's fate, I tell you), Vanilla & Coconut. Today, I thought I'd give them a whirl and share my first impression of the product.
Honestly...it's kind of neat.
I'm going to start this off by saying that I will totally be replacing my Pacifica as soon as I can. There is absolutely no comparison between the two items. However, I do have some definite use for the E.L.F. wipes...just not necessarily as a moisturizer...let me 'splain:
The wipes smell lovely. The sweet vanilla and sweeter coconut give off an almost dessert-like fragrance, but the scent is so light that it's not cloying. It's downright dreamy, actually. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the scent doesn't last very long. Truthfully, I don't think it lasted much past application. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. If you're a perfume wearer, you don't have to worry about competing; if you're going to be in a tight space with a lot of people (like an office cubical setting), you won't kill anyone allergies.
The formula, itself, is fairly dry, which is a plus in my book. The humidity down here is ridiculous, so anything greasy or thick flat-out melts off of your skin and feels disgusting. You can leave little lotion puddles on your car seats. It's not pretty; I don't enjoy it. This is nice and cool, sinks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth, but dry to the touch. Its hydrating properties aren't bad, either. It's not the "World's Best Moisturizer" (TM), but it does the job. I applied after shaving, and that gross itchy feeling that you get after a close shave went away immediately, and I haven't experienced any irritation.
Now, the application is a bit tricky. You would think that a wipe would just, you know, wipe on. Um...no. Not quite. These wipes are super-soft, which sounds fantastic--who wants to rub something rough on their skin? Unfortunately, the texture causes the wipes to bunch up while you rub, effectively cutting the application surface by about 75%. It's workable, but a little annoying. Still, I'd rather have soft than scratchy any day.
This appears to be a nice product. It does what it claims. For three bucks, I couldn't be happier. That said, when I repurchase these (which I will), it will be to toss the very convenient little package in my theme park bag. I know, I know, that sounds odd, but again, let me 'splain:
I hate the smell of baby wipes. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. I adore the smell of baby wipes on a baby. I detest using them on myself. I'm 33, not three. I would like to smell like a grown-up, thank you. Normally, when we go to Disney or Universal, part way through the day I begin to feel less like a girl and more like a swamp thing. It's nice to be able to pop in the restroom and freshen up a bit before, say, going in a restaurant. I don't like to carry a ton in the parks, but a travel brush, some blotting papers or a little powder, some lipgloss...and a pack of baby wipes...go a long way toward making me feel human again. Now, these lotion wipes don't have the same cleaning properties as the baby wipes, but I'm not necessarily trying to clean anything. I just want to wipe off the sweat, cool down, and hopefully smell a little less theme park-y. This should do the trick nicely, and I won't have to go into Be Our Guest smelling like a pre-school.
Verdict (thus far): 8 out of 10. Good in a pinch, and great in a park.
Honestly...it's kind of neat.
I'm going to start this off by saying that I will totally be replacing my Pacifica as soon as I can. There is absolutely no comparison between the two items. However, I do have some definite use for the E.L.F. wipes...just not necessarily as a moisturizer...let me 'splain:
The wipes smell lovely. The sweet vanilla and sweeter coconut give off an almost dessert-like fragrance, but the scent is so light that it's not cloying. It's downright dreamy, actually. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the scent doesn't last very long. Truthfully, I don't think it lasted much past application. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. If you're a perfume wearer, you don't have to worry about competing; if you're going to be in a tight space with a lot of people (like an office cubical setting), you won't kill anyone allergies.
The formula, itself, is fairly dry, which is a plus in my book. The humidity down here is ridiculous, so anything greasy or thick flat-out melts off of your skin and feels disgusting. You can leave little lotion puddles on your car seats. It's not pretty; I don't enjoy it. This is nice and cool, sinks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth, but dry to the touch. Its hydrating properties aren't bad, either. It's not the "World's Best Moisturizer" (TM), but it does the job. I applied after shaving, and that gross itchy feeling that you get after a close shave went away immediately, and I haven't experienced any irritation.
Now, the application is a bit tricky. You would think that a wipe would just, you know, wipe on. Um...no. Not quite. These wipes are super-soft, which sounds fantastic--who wants to rub something rough on their skin? Unfortunately, the texture causes the wipes to bunch up while you rub, effectively cutting the application surface by about 75%. It's workable, but a little annoying. Still, I'd rather have soft than scratchy any day.
This appears to be a nice product. It does what it claims. For three bucks, I couldn't be happier. That said, when I repurchase these (which I will), it will be to toss the very convenient little package in my theme park bag. I know, I know, that sounds odd, but again, let me 'splain:
I hate the smell of baby wipes. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. I adore the smell of baby wipes on a baby. I detest using them on myself. I'm 33, not three. I would like to smell like a grown-up, thank you. Normally, when we go to Disney or Universal, part way through the day I begin to feel less like a girl and more like a swamp thing. It's nice to be able to pop in the restroom and freshen up a bit before, say, going in a restaurant. I don't like to carry a ton in the parks, but a travel brush, some blotting papers or a little powder, some lipgloss...and a pack of baby wipes...go a long way toward making me feel human again. Now, these lotion wipes don't have the same cleaning properties as the baby wipes, but I'm not necessarily trying to clean anything. I just want to wipe off the sweat, cool down, and hopefully smell a little less theme park-y. This should do the trick nicely, and I won't have to go into Be Our Guest smelling like a pre-school.
Verdict (thus far): 8 out of 10. Good in a pinch, and great in a park.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Theme Park Makeup, Part IV (The Best and Easiest, So Far!!)
*This is the fourth post in a multi-part series. You can read the first three here, here, and here. Thanks!
I know I said I was going to do a really colorful tutorial for you guys, but with Summer fading off into the distance, and Fall steadily racing toward us, I decided to take a cue from yesterday's Emma Watson post and do a bold lip/nude eye combo that is also surprisingly water-resistent. This is a fantastic look for days when know you're going to hit water rides (think: anything non-Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure). It's not waterproof, but you should be able to get through the day without raccoon eyes or scaring small children. I would recommend tossing a concealer and lip product in your backpack, fanny pack (I don't judge), or tote bag. Maybe a powder, too, but I personally don't think it's necessary.
By the way, I am in love with this look. It's fresh, young, and instantly brightens up your eyes. It also takes the bare minimum amount of products and brushes, and practically zero time to do. It's perfect for this type of vacation. Heck, it was perfect for a rushed morning before work today. I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, anyway, so this is right up my alley; casual, yet polished. Let's take a look:
Bright eyes and pretty lips with slightly flushed cheeks. Honestly, it just looks like I got a good night's sleep and drank some coffee. You could also do the exact opposite of this look by swapping the nude eye product for a bright color, and the bright lip for a nude one. Bright. Nude. Can I type those two words any more?
This look took ten products TOTAL. That includes brushes. Okay, eleven, if you want to toss in another eyebrow brush and skip using the perfectly serviceable one in the E.L.F. Brow Kit. And for you observant people who are like, "there are only nine things in that picture", the missing product is the Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Sin...'cause I had a "moment" and forgot about it. Whoops...
Apply the Beauty Balm to your entire face using clean hands. Next, using the foam applicator attached, apply concealer to blemishes, discolored areas, under the eyes, and also to the lids up to the brow bone. Run UD Sin over the lid, to the crease, under the lower lashes, and in the inner corner. Using the stippling brush, apply cream blush to apples of cheeks and blend out across the cheekbone. Using the buffing brush, apply powder to oiler areas, and anywhere you have concealer that needs to be set. Fill in brows lightly with the powder side of the eye kit. Apply mascara to top and bottom lashes. Fill in lips with stain. The. End.
I know I said I was going to do a really colorful tutorial for you guys, but with Summer fading off into the distance, and Fall steadily racing toward us, I decided to take a cue from yesterday's Emma Watson post and do a bold lip/nude eye combo that is also surprisingly water-resistent. This is a fantastic look for days when know you're going to hit water rides (think: anything non-Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure). It's not waterproof, but you should be able to get through the day without raccoon eyes or scaring small children. I would recommend tossing a concealer and lip product in your backpack, fanny pack (I don't judge), or tote bag. Maybe a powder, too, but I personally don't think it's necessary.
By the way, I am in love with this look. It's fresh, young, and instantly brightens up your eyes. It also takes the bare minimum amount of products and brushes, and practically zero time to do. It's perfect for this type of vacation. Heck, it was perfect for a rushed morning before work today. I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, anyway, so this is right up my alley; casual, yet polished. Let's take a look:
Bright eyes and pretty lips with slightly flushed cheeks. Honestly, it just looks like I got a good night's sleep and drank some coffee. You could also do the exact opposite of this look by swapping the nude eye product for a bright color, and the bright lip for a nude one. Bright. Nude. Can I type those two words any more?
This look took ten products TOTAL. That includes brushes. Okay, eleven, if you want to toss in another eyebrow brush and skip using the perfectly serviceable one in the E.L.F. Brow Kit. And for you observant people who are like, "there are only nine things in that picture", the missing product is the Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Sin...'cause I had a "moment" and forgot about it. Whoops...
- Too Faced Beauty Balm in Vanilla Glow
- Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Neutralizer
- Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Sin
- Make Up For Ever HD Blush in Quickie (I think...no label!)
- Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Tansparent
- E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium
- Maybelline Falsies Waterproof Mascara in Black
- Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Lip Stain in Enchanted
- Real Techniques Stippling Brush
- Real Techniques Buffing Brush
Apply the Beauty Balm to your entire face using clean hands. Next, using the foam applicator attached, apply concealer to blemishes, discolored areas, under the eyes, and also to the lids up to the brow bone. Run UD Sin over the lid, to the crease, under the lower lashes, and in the inner corner. Using the stippling brush, apply cream blush to apples of cheeks and blend out across the cheekbone. Using the buffing brush, apply powder to oiler areas, and anywhere you have concealer that needs to be set. Fill in brows lightly with the powder side of the eye kit. Apply mascara to top and bottom lashes. Fill in lips with stain. The. End.
Here's a close-up of the eye. Sin just gives it a little luster and polish, and brightens up the area. Also, how great is that concealer?! Full review to come, but I can already tell that it's a good one.
Obviously, these products are just recommendations. Any pretty peachy pink cream blush will work. I just know this one has staying power. Milani makes a great dupe for the shadow pencil, and Revlon's balm stain is a wonderful drugstore replacement for the Tarte. The Too Faced is the best "BB cream" I've found, so I don't have a drugstore dupe for it, but I'm keeping my eyes open. If you find one that's your "Holy Grail", please let me know! Have fun with this, and let me know if you tried it, and what you thought. Have a fabulous Tuesday!!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Theme Park Makeup, Part Trois
*Ed. Note: This is the third in a multi-part series. The first two can be found here and here.
Well, we're still waiting on the still-tropical storm, and everything's closed, so I thought I'd post a quick "this would work on water rides" theme park look. I put it on to withstand torrential rains (in case I have to get out in it), so it should be able to handle Universal's Jurassic Park flume. You know, theoretically. Nothing is going to be totally waterproof, but maybe you won't have to run to the ladies' room, bypassing GO and $200, to wash off the raccoon eyes.
Oooh! It's so fuzzy I'm gonna die!!!! This is the only snapshot I got before realizing the rain had started and the puppy was still playing outside. Seconds after this photo, I dropped the cell phone, and ran like heck to let in a dripping chihuahua, who proceeded to shake all over the living room, and run me all over the house to get his wet T-shirt off of him, then refused to let me put a dry one on him until after I'd let him pick it out first. Yes, he had to choose his own shirt. It has the Avengers logo on it. I'm proud.
Anyhoo, here's what I used:
Too Faced Beauty Balm
Benefit Boi-ing concealer
Benefit Creaseless Cream eye shadow in Sippin' 'n' Dippin' (lid and crease)
Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Rehab (crease and lower lash line)
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (upper lash line)
WATERPROOF MASCARA--I still don't have one. I can't decide!!! Anyone have a favorite to recommend?
MAC Cream Color Base in Virgin Isle (applied to cheeks with Real Techniques stippling brush)
Benefit Watt's Up highlighter (brows, inner corners, and cheek bones)
E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium
Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart
Rimmel Stay Matte powder (just to set concealer and maybe T-zone, if you think you need it)
I used my fingers for everything but the blush, brows, and powder. This is, really, a very travel-friendly look. There are eleven products, but they're all very small, and I threw this look together in less than ten minutes. Honestly, I didn't time it, but it was probably more like five minutes. The most difficult part was deciding which products to use.
Now, you've probably noticed that all of these park looks have been neutral. Keep on the look-out for a very colorful post coming up soon!
Well, we're still waiting on the still-tropical storm, and everything's closed, so I thought I'd post a quick "this would work on water rides" theme park look. I put it on to withstand torrential rains (in case I have to get out in it), so it should be able to handle Universal's Jurassic Park flume. You know, theoretically. Nothing is going to be totally waterproof, but maybe you won't have to run to the ladies' room, bypassing GO and $200, to wash off the raccoon eyes.
Oooh! It's so fuzzy I'm gonna die!!!! This is the only snapshot I got before realizing the rain had started and the puppy was still playing outside. Seconds after this photo, I dropped the cell phone, and ran like heck to let in a dripping chihuahua, who proceeded to shake all over the living room, and run me all over the house to get his wet T-shirt off of him, then refused to let me put a dry one on him until after I'd let him pick it out first. Yes, he had to choose his own shirt. It has the Avengers logo on it. I'm proud.
Anyhoo, here's what I used:
Too Faced Beauty Balm
Benefit Boi-ing concealer
Benefit Creaseless Cream eye shadow in Sippin' 'n' Dippin' (lid and crease)
Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Rehab (crease and lower lash line)
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (upper lash line)
WATERPROOF MASCARA--I still don't have one. I can't decide!!! Anyone have a favorite to recommend?
MAC Cream Color Base in Virgin Isle (applied to cheeks with Real Techniques stippling brush)
Benefit Watt's Up highlighter (brows, inner corners, and cheek bones)
E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium
Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart
Rimmel Stay Matte powder (just to set concealer and maybe T-zone, if you think you need it)
I used my fingers for everything but the blush, brows, and powder. This is, really, a very travel-friendly look. There are eleven products, but they're all very small, and I threw this look together in less than ten minutes. Honestly, I didn't time it, but it was probably more like five minutes. The most difficult part was deciding which products to use.
Now, you've probably noticed that all of these park looks have been neutral. Keep on the look-out for a very colorful post coming up soon!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Theme Park Makeup, Part Deux
Ed. Note: This is the second in a multi-part series. The first can be found here.
You know how it is. You go on vacation to a theme park, where you know you're going to be walking the equivalent of a half-marathon everyday, in the heat and humidity. Of course, this is also one of those occasions where you're going to have your picture taken a bajillion times.
"Oh, look! It's Mickey! Smile!"
"Oh, look! It's Hogwarts! Smile!"
"Oh, look! It's been five seconds since we took a photograph! Smile!"
True Story: On our last trip to Hollywood Studios, my mom wanted to take a picture of me and Thomas in front of a horse and buggy. It was crowded and loud, and neither of us could figure out what my mom wanted, but we saw the camera and guessed, but couldn't figure out what landmark she wanted in the background. We wandered around, totally confused, for a couple of minutes, until the buggy started to leave. Mom, not wanting to miss a picture of the buggy, snapped a quick photo, seemingly without us. It wasn't until we got to sit down in the shade for a second and look through the photos that we noticed that she had, indeed, gotten us in the shot--still trying to figure out where the heck we were supposed to stand. That may be my favorite picture of the trip.
Anyhoo, in the first installment, I showed you a barely-there, fairly matte look (on a horribly puffy face, and I am so sorry!) that could get you out of the hotel room pretty quickly, not require much (if any) touching up, and give you just enough polish to look camera-ready, but not made up. Of course, I've also been known to go to the parks sans makeup, so that's right up my alley. Not everyone wants to go that bare, so I've come up with a look that gives a little more coverage and is a bit more glam and shimmery. It's still really low-maintenance, but some of the products are on the higher-end, and you might want to invest in a Z-Palette or UNII Palette to keep from lugging around a million items.
Here's what we have:
- Too Faced Beauty Balm
- Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Amber
- Benefit Boi-ing concealer
- Benefit Hoola bronzer
- Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
- ELF Brow Kit
- Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Transparent
- Urban Decay All-Nighter setting spray
- Real Techniques Blush, Buffing, Shadow, and Brow brushes
- UNII Palette
- NARS Orgasm blush
- Stila eye shadows in Kitten, Prize, and Sparkle
- Urban Decay eye shadow in Twice Baked
- Not Pictured: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero and a waterproof mascara of your choice. I don't have one. Yet. I'm wearing Buxom Lash, though, if you're interested. Anything not linked to was linked in the first installment.
Here's the whole she-bang. I used my fingers to apply the beauty balm and concealer. Then, I did my eyes like I just showed you, and my brows with the brow kit and brow brush (sure, the brush in the kit is fine, but the Real Techniques is better and faster, and it's so small that it doesn't take up enough space to count). Next, I powdered down with the powder and buffing brush. I used the blush brush to add bronzer to the tops of my cheeks, bridge of my nose, forehead and chin, then used the same brush to dust the blush on the apples of my cheeks. I used a clean finger to add a little Stila Kitten to the tops of my cheeks as a highlight, then, finally, swiped on a little long-lasting lip gloss. Done. Spray down with a little setting spray for extra insurance.
This has done really well in the heat and humidity down here, and I actually like it a lot better than the first look I came up with. The beauty balm covers so much better than the tinted moisturizer, but it's still not heavy. I would suggest tossing a powder compact or blotting papers in your backpack or totebag. You may not need them, but you could always touch-up on trips to the ladies' room, without taking any extra time out of your visit.
And now, for a little behind-the-scenes action. This is why I took pictures in the car. The little dude didn't much care for the photo shoot.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Theme Park* Makeup, Part Un
Ed. Note: This is the first in a multi-part series.
I still have almost two months to slog through until I get to visit Hogwarts and trick-or-treat with Mickey and Minnie, and it's just about to kill me. To pass the time, I've started stalking forums, mentally packing and unpacking, and seriously over-planning.
For giggles, I decided to use the crazy temperatures and humidity we've been experiencing to my advantage. Over the past few days, I have played around with several different travel-friendly makeup combinations, to see which was the quickest to apply, easiest to tote-around, most natural, and longest-wearing under our tropical conditions. See, when I go to the parks, I don't like to wear a ton of makeup. Sure, it might look cute when you first arrive, but after six or seven hours of hiking in the heat, you come to realize that, just maybe, the smoky eye or strong lip you started out with wasn't such a great idea. Still, I am going to be taking pictures, and I'd like to look presentable in public, so a little something to keep me from scaring small children is kind of necessary. Anyhoo, here's what I came up with:
There's no good way of going left to right, or clockwise, or whatevs, so I'm just going to list this out.
Now, remember how I said price was a factor? I threw the Naked 2 in for three shades, and only three shades: Foxy (all over), Bootycall (highlight), and Tease (crease and lower lashline).
You can find very similar shades in the much smaller, much cheaper NYX eyshadow trio with Aloha, Mink Brown, and Deep Bronze. They're a little more shimmery than the mattes and satin in the Naked 2, but will still work really well. Of course, if you have the Naked 2 already, it does come with an awesome travel brush. Speaking of brushes, if you take the Naked 2 and the E.L.F. Brow Kit (with actually decent brush), you can get away with only bringing two more brushes along...
...blush and powder. These are from Real Techniques, and please pardon how dirty they are. I'd just used them. I picked the buffing brush for powder because of its small size, but a kubuki would work just as well.
Here's the full look on my seriously broken out, puffy from allergies, in need of an eyebrow shaping face. You're welcome, world. *sigh*
I used my fingers to apply the moisturizer, concealer, and primer potion, and the brushes we talked about for the rest. I purposefully left out anything heavy (like foundation or face primer) because, personally, I feel gross sweating to death in full makeup. I also omitted anything sparkly or shimmery, because after a day in the parks, I'm shiny enough. I don't need to add to it. Lastly, I kept the budge-proof eyeliner thin, and just on the top lashline, because I only wanted a little definition, and not to advertise I was wearing makeup. A little brown eyeshadow (Tease) runs along the lower lashline, and is more than enough, in my opinion. Heck, I wouldn't have even bothered with my brows if they came anywhere close to matching my hair color (they don't), and weren't in such horrible shape.
You will need the eye primer. Even Urban Decay, for all it's pigmentation and staying power, has been sliding right off my lids in this humidity. If you're going to be in Florida, like I will be, it's going to be even worse.
As for the lips, I like the Revlon because it stains. The color sticks around for freaking ever, and if I don't feel like toting the balmstick around, I can just toss a teeny lip balm with SPF in my pocket for easy sun-protection top-offs.
It's not photo-shoot gorgeous, but it's not meant to be. It's functional, and I think it looks pretty. This is just meant to give you enough color and coverage to look polished in the umpteen vacation photos you'll be a party to, and, if you're me, not frighten the other tourists.
OH! Before I forget--toss the face wipes in the fridge. You'll be glad you did. :)
P.S. In case you were wondering what the heck all that stuff is lying on, it's a nifty little makeup bag from Lay-N-Go. I bought mine from OpenSky, and am not being compensated for telling you about it. I just thought it was cool. See, you lay your stuff on it...
...then pull the drawstring closed! That's it! No wondering how such-and-such is going to fit in it, or how on Earth you managed to get whatchamadingle in there the first go-round. Just toss in the stuff and pull. Plus, there are little zippered and velcro pockets for extra-valuables, like jewelry or contacts.
It's not huge, either, so it won't take up much space in the suitcase. For reference, the little red doohickies sticking out from underneath are the corners of a Netflix envelope.
I don't recommend it for toiletries, since they can leak, but for makeup, it's a dream. 9 out of 10.
*or music festival, or art festival, or film festival, or frisbee golf, or picnic, or camping, or flea market, or antiquing, or hiking, or...well, you get the drift.
I still have almost two months to slog through until I get to visit Hogwarts and trick-or-treat with Mickey and Minnie, and it's just about to kill me. To pass the time, I've started stalking forums, mentally packing and unpacking, and seriously over-planning.
For giggles, I decided to use the crazy temperatures and humidity we've been experiencing to my advantage. Over the past few days, I have played around with several different travel-friendly makeup combinations, to see which was the quickest to apply, easiest to tote-around, most natural, and longest-wearing under our tropical conditions. See, when I go to the parks, I don't like to wear a ton of makeup. Sure, it might look cute when you first arrive, but after six or seven hours of hiking in the heat, you come to realize that, just maybe, the smoky eye or strong lip you started out with wasn't such a great idea. Still, I am going to be taking pictures, and I'd like to look presentable in public, so a little something to keep me from scaring small children is kind of necessary. Anyhoo, here's what I came up with:
There's no good way of going left to right, or clockwise, or whatevs, so I'm just going to list this out.
- Urban Decay Naked 2
- E.L.F. Tinted Moisturizer
- Benefit Boi-ing concealer
- Rimmel Stay Matte powder
- Urban Decay Primer Potion (travel-size)--Eden is pictured and Original is linked to. Either works.
- E.L.F. Brow Kit
- Benefit Coralista blush (travel-size)
- Revlon Just-Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey
- Urban Decay All-Nighter setting spray (travel-size)
- Urban Decay 24-7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero (travel-size)--Full-size is linked to, but travel sizes come in several kits. I have more than one of these guys.
- Buxom Lash Mascara (travel-size)--DISREGARD! Get something waterproof! This is all I had in the house!
- Real Techniques Blush Brush
- Real Techniques Buffing Brush
- Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes
Now, remember how I said price was a factor? I threw the Naked 2 in for three shades, and only three shades: Foxy (all over), Bootycall (highlight), and Tease (crease and lower lashline).
You can find very similar shades in the much smaller, much cheaper NYX eyshadow trio with Aloha, Mink Brown, and Deep Bronze. They're a little more shimmery than the mattes and satin in the Naked 2, but will still work really well. Of course, if you have the Naked 2 already, it does come with an awesome travel brush. Speaking of brushes, if you take the Naked 2 and the E.L.F. Brow Kit (with actually decent brush), you can get away with only bringing two more brushes along...
...blush and powder. These are from Real Techniques, and please pardon how dirty they are. I'd just used them. I picked the buffing brush for powder because of its small size, but a kubuki would work just as well.
Here's the full look on my seriously broken out, puffy from allergies, in need of an eyebrow shaping face. You're welcome, world. *sigh*
I used my fingers to apply the moisturizer, concealer, and primer potion, and the brushes we talked about for the rest. I purposefully left out anything heavy (like foundation or face primer) because, personally, I feel gross sweating to death in full makeup. I also omitted anything sparkly or shimmery, because after a day in the parks, I'm shiny enough. I don't need to add to it. Lastly, I kept the budge-proof eyeliner thin, and just on the top lashline, because I only wanted a little definition, and not to advertise I was wearing makeup. A little brown eyeshadow (Tease) runs along the lower lashline, and is more than enough, in my opinion. Heck, I wouldn't have even bothered with my brows if they came anywhere close to matching my hair color (they don't), and weren't in such horrible shape.
You will need the eye primer. Even Urban Decay, for all it's pigmentation and staying power, has been sliding right off my lids in this humidity. If you're going to be in Florida, like I will be, it's going to be even worse.
As for the lips, I like the Revlon because it stains. The color sticks around for freaking ever, and if I don't feel like toting the balmstick around, I can just toss a teeny lip balm with SPF in my pocket for easy sun-protection top-offs.
It's not photo-shoot gorgeous, but it's not meant to be. It's functional, and I think it looks pretty. This is just meant to give you enough color and coverage to look polished in the umpteen vacation photos you'll be a party to, and, if you're me, not frighten the other tourists.
OH! Before I forget--toss the face wipes in the fridge. You'll be glad you did. :)
P.S. In case you were wondering what the heck all that stuff is lying on, it's a nifty little makeup bag from Lay-N-Go. I bought mine from OpenSky, and am not being compensated for telling you about it. I just thought it was cool. See, you lay your stuff on it...
...then pull the drawstring closed! That's it! No wondering how such-and-such is going to fit in it, or how on Earth you managed to get whatchamadingle in there the first go-round. Just toss in the stuff and pull. Plus, there are little zippered and velcro pockets for extra-valuables, like jewelry or contacts.
It's not huge, either, so it won't take up much space in the suitcase. For reference, the little red doohickies sticking out from underneath are the corners of a Netflix envelope.
I don't recommend it for toiletries, since they can leak, but for makeup, it's a dream. 9 out of 10.
*or music festival, or art festival, or film festival, or frisbee golf, or picnic, or camping, or flea market, or antiquing, or hiking, or...well, you get the drift.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Dangerous Beauty: Disney Villains Designer Collection
A couple of years ago, MAC and Disney teamed up to create a line of villain-inspired cosmetics. The products themselves were very high-quality, and I happily snapped up a gorgeous Doctor Facilier lipgloss, but the effort was not without its flaws. Some of the products (including my lipgloss) were retreads, and the artwork was, frankly, a little disappointing--especially given the fact that both Disney and MAC are known for their artistry! Well, folks, Disney is trying it again this August, albeit, without the help of MAC.
This time around, we have the Disney Villains Designer Collection, consisting of a set of three lipglosses, a six-shade eyeshadow palette, a silver compact mirror, a six-piece nail polish set, a tote bag, journals, and a doll for each of the six featured characters.
I have not been able to test out any of the products, so I can't vouch for quality. All I can give you are my first impressions, based on photos of the products and packaging. Now, as you all know, I am a Disney fangirl of the highest order, and I adore a good villain. After all, what good is a hero if they have nothing to fight? So, it might come as a shock to you that I'm not thrilled with what I've seen.
For starters, the packaging looks shoddy. I know that packaging is superficial, and it's the product that really matters, but when the producer is freaking Disney, you expect a little more attention to detail. Plus, if the company--any company--doesn't care enough about the presentation, you have to wonder how much care went into the product. In the publicity photos I saw, there were tears and dents in the outer packaging. The lipgloss tubes are somewhat clumsy-looking, as well, and I'm not sure how long the designs will before chipping off.
My next concern is the quality of the product. Again, I've not tested any of these, but when I look at a photo of a nail polish and see that it is already starting to separate, it worries me. The prices aren't terribly expensive, but they're still high enough to cause me to expect more. Plus, the Disney name, in my opinion, requires better.
Lastly, I'm not digging all of the color choices. The nail polish shades are fine, and the lip glosses are decent, I guess (classic red, nude, and a weird purple color...okay...), but the eyeshadow palette is abysmal. If you're looking for single shadows, then this would probably work for you. If you're like me, though, and expect your palettes to yield a few complete looks, then you can probably skip this one. Brown, plum, green, orange, beige, and white don't really work all that well together, in my opinion.
Okay, now that all that nastiness is over, there are some really good things about this collection. The artwork is stunning. Just look at this gorgeous, stylized Ursula:
This is what the MAC collection was missing. These sketches are artful, sexy, and make me want to smoke out my eyes and darken my lips. If you want to sell makeup, this is a darn good way to do it. I may have to add this compact to my makeup bag. As for the other stuff...try it out before making any decisions. I'm afraid that, like these villains, something rotten may be lurking beneath a beautiful exterior.
This time around, we have the Disney Villains Designer Collection, consisting of a set of three lipglosses, a six-shade eyeshadow palette, a silver compact mirror, a six-piece nail polish set, a tote bag, journals, and a doll for each of the six featured characters.
I have not been able to test out any of the products, so I can't vouch for quality. All I can give you are my first impressions, based on photos of the products and packaging. Now, as you all know, I am a Disney fangirl of the highest order, and I adore a good villain. After all, what good is a hero if they have nothing to fight? So, it might come as a shock to you that I'm not thrilled with what I've seen.
For starters, the packaging looks shoddy. I know that packaging is superficial, and it's the product that really matters, but when the producer is freaking Disney, you expect a little more attention to detail. Plus, if the company--any company--doesn't care enough about the presentation, you have to wonder how much care went into the product. In the publicity photos I saw, there were tears and dents in the outer packaging. The lipgloss tubes are somewhat clumsy-looking, as well, and I'm not sure how long the designs will before chipping off.
 |
| Photo Credit: Chic Profile |
My next concern is the quality of the product. Again, I've not tested any of these, but when I look at a photo of a nail polish and see that it is already starting to separate, it worries me. The prices aren't terribly expensive, but they're still high enough to cause me to expect more. Plus, the Disney name, in my opinion, requires better.
 |
| Photo Credit: Chic Profile |
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| Photo Credit: Chic Profile |
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| Photo Credit: Bella Sugar |
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| Photo Credit: Chic Profile |
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Out To Lunch. Back In Five.
Howdy guys,
I've had some unexpected stuff come up (nothing bad!), so posting may be a little sporadic for the next few weeks. I'll post as often as I can, so keep checking back! For now, here's a link to some brand-new, sparkly leaked info on the Universal Studios Florida Wizarding World of Harry Potter updates. I'm beyond excited, and need to start planning my next trip, like, yesterday. Happy reading, and see you soon!
Erin
I've had some unexpected stuff come up (nothing bad!), so posting may be a little sporadic for the next few weeks. I'll post as often as I can, so keep checking back! For now, here's a link to some brand-new, sparkly leaked info on the Universal Studios Florida Wizarding World of Harry Potter updates. I'm beyond excited, and need to start planning my next trip, like, yesterday. Happy reading, and see you soon!
Erin
Monday, September 12, 2011
Fear and Loathing in Universal Studios Hollywood
I'm officially a wuss.
Now, for those of you who know me, this is not news. While it's true that I do love a good ghost story and Halloween is my favorite holiday, I'm not one for blood and gore or good, old-fashioned jump scares. You toss a kitten at a window, I'm probably going to break said window to escape from Fluffy. If I'm going to sit through a scary movie, it better involve either some serious humor or one heckuva mystery to solve, and if even one creepy doll is involved, all bets are off. I watched Psycho in broad daylight and still had nightmares. Disney's The Watcher in the Woods kept me sufficiently freaked out from the fourth grade through Freshman year. Possibly saddest of all, I've only successfully made it through two haunted houses in my life: one at Niagara Falls in Canada, where I kept my eyes closed and held onto my friends, Shaun and Doug, until the nice fellow in a Scream costume pointed us the way out ("Boo! This way, you guys. Have a nice day!" I love Canada). The other was put on by my little brother's middle school. ("OooooOOOOOooooh! I'm going to get you, Curt's Sister!")
By the way, my zombie movie is available for pre-order from Walmart.
So, on our recent trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, I decided I was going to face my fears (literally), and make it through the House of Horrors. I watched several shaky, green, night-vision YouTube video walk-thoughs in preparation. In line, I checked out all the cheesy movie props on display, and noted how many ankle-biters were queued up with me. If a six year-old could do this, so could I. When the time came, I held up my head and bravely walked into the maze...
...45 seconds later, the Phantom of the Opera pointed out the first emergency exit along the path. I was in tears, and poor Thomas was in a not-insignificant amount of pain from my fingernails digging into his back and arm. I thanked the Phantom on the way out.
We hadn't even made it into the first room.
Wuss.
(Did I mention that my werewolf and demon infested movie is available at Amazon and Buy.com?)
With that, I can firmly attest that I will not be attending Halloween Horror Nights anytime soon. Not sober, anyway. However, some of you guys might be planning to attend (and I am extremely jealous of your constitutions), so I thought I'd give you a head's up on Hollywood's plans for this year.
According to Dread Central, you can look forward to five all-new horror mazes and one encore: the return of Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses: in 3D ZombieVision, rock-inspired Alice Cooper: Welcome To My Nightmare, Eli Roth's Hostel: Hunting Season, Diego Luna's folklorish La Llorana: Villa de Almas Perdidas (The Weeping Woman: Village of Lost Souls), and movie tie-ins The Thing: Assimilation, and The Wolfman: The Curse of Talbot Hall. A Backlot attraction, Terror Tram: Scream 4 Your Life, will pit riders against Ghostface from the Scream franchise.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood begin September 23rd, and continue on select nights through October 31st. For tickets and further information, click here. I'll just be cowering in the corner, playing with my new floating ghost yard ornament. Two more weeks till I can decorate!
(P.S. The skeletons in my closet wanted me to tell you that their movie is at DeepDiscount, too. Hams.)
Now, for those of you who know me, this is not news. While it's true that I do love a good ghost story and Halloween is my favorite holiday, I'm not one for blood and gore or good, old-fashioned jump scares. You toss a kitten at a window, I'm probably going to break said window to escape from Fluffy. If I'm going to sit through a scary movie, it better involve either some serious humor or one heckuva mystery to solve, and if even one creepy doll is involved, all bets are off. I watched Psycho in broad daylight and still had nightmares. Disney's The Watcher in the Woods kept me sufficiently freaked out from the fourth grade through Freshman year. Possibly saddest of all, I've only successfully made it through two haunted houses in my life: one at Niagara Falls in Canada, where I kept my eyes closed and held onto my friends, Shaun and Doug, until the nice fellow in a Scream costume pointed us the way out ("Boo! This way, you guys. Have a nice day!" I love Canada). The other was put on by my little brother's middle school. ("OooooOOOOOooooh! I'm going to get you, Curt's Sister!")
By the way, my zombie movie is available for pre-order from Walmart.
So, on our recent trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, I decided I was going to face my fears (literally), and make it through the House of Horrors. I watched several shaky, green, night-vision YouTube video walk-thoughs in preparation. In line, I checked out all the cheesy movie props on display, and noted how many ankle-biters were queued up with me. If a six year-old could do this, so could I. When the time came, I held up my head and bravely walked into the maze...
...45 seconds later, the Phantom of the Opera pointed out the first emergency exit along the path. I was in tears, and poor Thomas was in a not-insignificant amount of pain from my fingernails digging into his back and arm. I thanked the Phantom on the way out.
We hadn't even made it into the first room.
Wuss.
(Did I mention that my werewolf and demon infested movie is available at Amazon and Buy.com?)
With that, I can firmly attest that I will not be attending Halloween Horror Nights anytime soon. Not sober, anyway. However, some of you guys might be planning to attend (and I am extremely jealous of your constitutions), so I thought I'd give you a head's up on Hollywood's plans for this year.
According to Dread Central, you can look forward to five all-new horror mazes and one encore: the return of Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses: in 3D ZombieVision, rock-inspired Alice Cooper: Welcome To My Nightmare, Eli Roth's Hostel: Hunting Season, Diego Luna's folklorish La Llorana: Villa de Almas Perdidas (The Weeping Woman: Village of Lost Souls), and movie tie-ins The Thing: Assimilation, and The Wolfman: The Curse of Talbot Hall. A Backlot attraction, Terror Tram: Scream 4 Your Life, will pit riders against Ghostface from the Scream franchise.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood begin September 23rd, and continue on select nights through October 31st. For tickets and further information, click here. I'll just be cowering in the corner, playing with my new floating ghost yard ornament. Two more weeks till I can decorate!
(P.S. The skeletons in my closet wanted me to tell you that their movie is at DeepDiscount, too. Hams.)
Monday, July 11, 2011
I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends
I'm heading to Disney this weekend! This, of course, means that this week will be consumed by packing, planning, and plotting--and a lot of blog-watching. So, today, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite online places for tips, tricks, and gossip. (That, and I'm trying desperately to figure out blogger since they changed it on me...again. Please bear with me.)
For Park News and General Updates, and Overall Best Research Blog: Chip & Co.
This is a fantastic site for the latest on all things Disney. Florida, California, TV, DVD...whatever. If it is in any way involved with The Mouse, it's here. The site is constantly updated, and many posts include video for that "almost in the park" feel. Money- and time-saving advice, along with guides that tackle topics from traveling with tots through attractions for seniors.
*Runner-Up: The Disney Parks Blog
It's, again, a great stop for general information, and very user friendly. It's just, understandably, a little biased, and not so quick to help you save any money.
For Making Home In One Piece and Not Completely Broke: Surviving Disney
Really fun to read blog with great tips for handling the heat, the kids, the lines, and the cost. There are a ton of guest posts, too--including some from *gasp* Disney Cast Members!!--that give the site a community vibe; like we're all in this together.
*Runner-Up: Couponing To Disney
Technically, this is the superior blog. It's extremely well-written, informative, filled with tricks and tips, freebies, and money-saving advice. It's also constantly updated, and the author's Facebook skills are second to none. The only reason it's the runner-up is that you have to wade through posts on couponing. Yes, that's the entire point of that blog, and handled exceptionally well, but if that's not your bag (and it's not mine), you have to dig, somewhat, for all that Disney gold. Fabulous blog, though. I highly recommend it, and urge you to follow on Facebook.
Best Specialty Blog: Studios Central
Whether you can't get enough of Hollywood Studios, or think you've seen all there is to see, this blog will cure what ails you. Pages upon pages of articles, pictures, and updates will show you how the park has changed over the years, the inspirations for every tiny detail (and believe me, there's stuff you'd never have dreamed of!), and where the future of the park is headed. Beware--this site will suck you in, and you can easily lose a day drifting through the archives.
For a Quick Giggle: Disco Yeti
The tag line for this site is: "The Rants and Raves of a Broken-Down Theme Park Yeti. Yes, Really." A couple of years ago, the state-of-the-art yeti animatronic on Expedition: Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom, for lack of a better term, broke. It stopped working in a most unfortunate position, that has left it frozen in an permanent Saturday Night Fever pose. To add insult to injury, a strobe light was added to create the illusion of movement. Poor Disco Yeti. To pass the time, the yeti keeps an insider blog of the shenanigans and goings-on in all of the parks. It's a riot.
Happy Time Wasting!
For Park News and General Updates, and Overall Best Research Blog: Chip & Co.
This is a fantastic site for the latest on all things Disney. Florida, California, TV, DVD...whatever. If it is in any way involved with The Mouse, it's here. The site is constantly updated, and many posts include video for that "almost in the park" feel. Money- and time-saving advice, along with guides that tackle topics from traveling with tots through attractions for seniors.
*Runner-Up: The Disney Parks Blog
It's, again, a great stop for general information, and very user friendly. It's just, understandably, a little biased, and not so quick to help you save any money.
For Making Home In One Piece and Not Completely Broke: Surviving Disney
Really fun to read blog with great tips for handling the heat, the kids, the lines, and the cost. There are a ton of guest posts, too--including some from *gasp* Disney Cast Members!!--that give the site a community vibe; like we're all in this together.
*Runner-Up: Couponing To Disney
Technically, this is the superior blog. It's extremely well-written, informative, filled with tricks and tips, freebies, and money-saving advice. It's also constantly updated, and the author's Facebook skills are second to none. The only reason it's the runner-up is that you have to wade through posts on couponing. Yes, that's the entire point of that blog, and handled exceptionally well, but if that's not your bag (and it's not mine), you have to dig, somewhat, for all that Disney gold. Fabulous blog, though. I highly recommend it, and urge you to follow on Facebook.
Best Specialty Blog: Studios Central
Whether you can't get enough of Hollywood Studios, or think you've seen all there is to see, this blog will cure what ails you. Pages upon pages of articles, pictures, and updates will show you how the park has changed over the years, the inspirations for every tiny detail (and believe me, there's stuff you'd never have dreamed of!), and where the future of the park is headed. Beware--this site will suck you in, and you can easily lose a day drifting through the archives.
For a Quick Giggle: Disco Yeti
The tag line for this site is: "The Rants and Raves of a Broken-Down Theme Park Yeti. Yes, Really." A couple of years ago, the state-of-the-art yeti animatronic on Expedition: Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom, for lack of a better term, broke. It stopped working in a most unfortunate position, that has left it frozen in an permanent Saturday Night Fever pose. To add insult to injury, a strobe light was added to create the illusion of movement. Poor Disco Yeti. To pass the time, the yeti keeps an insider blog of the shenanigans and goings-on in all of the parks. It's a riot.
Happy Time Wasting!
Friday, February 4, 2011
That Mouse Is a Bad Influence
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| Photo Credit: MouseSurplus |
Well, my productivity is shot today, and I blame my husband.
Thomas found this website, MouseSurplus, that sells Disney memorabilia and collectibles--but not just any collectibles. How would you like to own the FastPass entrance to Disneyland's It's a Small World? Maybe the MGM Studios Toy Story Van is more your style (fun fact: it was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Van before the Pixar gang took it over)? Talk about taking home a piece of Disney! I, personally, have been mulling over the Who Wants To Be a Millionaire hot button from the park attraction. I think it'd look really nifty in the computer corner, plus, it actually works!
The site itself was cool enough, and I spent a few minutes checking out the pretties. Then, I noticed the ebay link. Oh. My. God.
There were ten pages of auctions!! Be still my little Mickey-loving heart! Want a stage light prop from the Disney Store (I do)? Original Darby O'Gill press kit (Lord, I get tickled just thinking about Sean Connery singing)? How 'bout a Pirates of the Caribbean promotional pocket watch? What about a (*gasp*) seat from the Alien Encounters Magic Kingdom attraction?!
Yes, some of this stuff is priced in the thousands, but there are things--many that would be considered historic--that the average person (read: ME) could afford. Now, I want to see what someone does with that monorail door that sold before I could get to it.
Have a great weekend, folks!
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