Bizarre Halloween Tutorial: What Did You Do Today?

Oh, nothin' much. Just cleaned the bathroom, mopped the kitchen, and painted a severed hand? You?

I've gotta say, it looks pretty darn good, too.

Here's what it started out as:


Photo Credit



 And here's how it looks now:

As I've said before, my world is a little strange. The hand's for a short we're filming next weekend, and while it's still not quite finished (those seams! My God, those seams!), I'm really happy with it. Now, I know most of you guys aren't going to need to film a severed hand, but some of you may be planning Halloween decorations, so I thought I'd share how Thomas and I livened up the undead hand.

The hand, itself, came from the local party supply store. It was in a mesh bag with another hand and a couple of feet (and that is a sentence I never thought I'd write). The hand is almost exactly the same size as my hand. Aside from the zombie color and plastic bone sticking out, it was fairly realistic, and the whole bag cost about ten bucks. I guess, if we ever need any severed feet, we're all set.

I'm not counting that out...

Anyhoo, Thomas gave the entire hand a base coat of Apple Barrel acrylic in Lite Mocha (two coats), which looks like my liquid foundation, and repainted the red "blood". The red is really just a guideline for where to put the fake blood...that I still need to make and just remembered. Great. Once all the paint was good and dry, I started detailing.

The nails are fake press-ons from the drugstore. The hand had some nail bed detailing that I was able to use as a guide for sizing. The nail kit came with glue, but I opted to attach the nails with some rhinestone glue. Honestly, I figured there was less chance of gluing my fingers together that way.

Once the nails dried, I was able to file them into the shape I wanted. Then, I painted them with two coats of Essie Naughty Nautical. After that dried, I took a small detailing brush and touched up the skin-colored paint, adding in cuticles as I went. Finally, I painted one more coat of the Essie, just to clean up the cuticle area a bit.

When all of that dried, I was able to add the finishing touches. With a sponge, I applied a cream foundation over the entire skin area, giving the hand more of a natural skin finish. I set the foundation with a powder, then brushed a berry blush very lightly over the entire hand, concentrating the color around the knuckles and nails--where my own skin is naturally pinker. Then, I used a fluffy brush to apply a matte bronzer over the entire hand. The final effect is a little unnerving. It looks real. And off-putting. And kind of cool.

So, if you're in the market for a life-like severed hand...well, here you go. Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to go reevaluate my life choices.

Oh, who am I kidding? I freaking love this kind of stuff. Bring on Halloween!

I Do Believe In Spooks, I Do, I Do, I Do!!!!!!!

In the five and a half years that I've been married to Thomas, some of the strangest sentences have come out of my mouth:

• "Do you think that body'll fit in the trunk?"
• "If it looks too bad, just cover it in blood."
• "I swear, I'm done with that skeleton! I'm just leaving him here!"
• "Seriously, there has got to be a price tag for that bag of limbs around here somewhere!"

And about a gagillion others just as disturbing. (Might I add, I work for a church...)

The oddest utterance to date, though, has to be the one that occurred over the weekend:  "Yeah, we should totally do Halloween Horror Nights."

What have I done?

In my thirty-three years on this Earth, I've been in a grand total of four haunted houses (okay, seven, if you count the real ones. Oddly, two out of those three didn't bother me, and the third was more annoying than anything else, but that's another story, nevermind). Now, out of those four, one was the Haunted Mansion at Disney World. Not going to lie, it makes me nervous. I love it, but it ups the anxiety level. One was my little brother's elementary/middle school fundraiser house, where the ghouls kept yelling out, "Boo, Curt's sister! I'm going to get you, Curt's sister!"

It was truly frightening, as I'm sure you gathered.

One house was at Niagara Falls, and boasted the most polite, well-mannered Ghost Face known to man. I ran through it with my eyes closed, clutching the jacket of a friend who was nice enough to go first. The last haunted house I attempted was at Universal Studios Hollywood, and I made it almost through the foyer before having to be escorted out by the Phantom of the Opera.

What have I done?

Truth be told, I'm really looking forward to going. For the past few years, Thomas and I have done the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom (and loved it!), but only toured Universal during the day. In broad daylight, you can see some of the decorations and scenes for the Horror Nights, and they looked really cool. I was especially impressed by the Walking Dead set up last year, with a car waiting for Sophia, and an abandoned school bus. We could also see ads for the shows that only run during Horror Nights, including one featuring Bill and Ted of the excellent journey fame. This year, they've added a live Rocky Horror show to the mix. It's never been my favorite movie, but I can see where a live performance might be a hoot. On top of all that, we're both super interested in horror makeup and scenic design. Why have we not been doing Horror Nights, again? Oh, yeah...I'm a coward. That's right.

We'd decided months ago that we wanted to do the behind the scenes tour (Unmasking the Horror. I still can't link--thanks, Blogger--but you can google it) that takes you on a lights-on, actor-free tour of three houses. Little by little, though, we started talking about maybe, possibly, trying to do Horror Nights just for the shows and cool decor. We could skip the houses, since we'll already have seen two of the ones we were most interested in (our tour includes Cabin In the Woods, American Werewolf in London, and La Llorona.), and the roaming scareactors (pronounced s-characters) are mostly Walking Dead themed, so they shouldn't bother me too badly. I've dealt with more than my fair share of zombies. I think I'll be okay. (key word: think) We'll just do the shows and ride some rides, and get to see the neat scenery. Plus, I hear they have margaritas. That's always a plus.

All of this is to say that, for the next few weeks, I'll be in mental preparation mode. There will be loads of research done on the event, the movies and legends behind the houses, and all that jazz, and it's most likely going to make its way over here. I'm a novice Horror Nighter, and a wussy, scaredy cat one, at that, so if nothing else, my probably idiotic attempt at conquering my fears might prove entertaining for you guys. Happy Haunting, y'all. Wish me luck.   

Everything I Need To Know I Learned From The Walking Dead (SPOILERS!)

Photo Credit: IMDb

With the season finale mere days away, I'd like to reflect upon some of the important lessons I've learned about surviving a zombie apocalypse, and in some cases, about life in general. Be ye warned, there be spoilers ahead!

SPOILERS! THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!

If you have not caught up on the series (and I mean THE WHOLE THING), you will be spoiled! Do not continue!

Are you still here? Have you seen all three seasons? If not, STOP READING!!

I mean it.

Seriously.

Are we all good? Okay. Continue.

UNLESS YOU HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP!

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Here we go.

TOP TEN THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM WATCHING THE WALKING DEAD

Use Your Inside Voice
Want to attract walkers? Yell. That'll do it. Take a lesson from our dear, departed hitchiker buddy, and shut your trap. Otherwise, you end up lunch, and someone else ends up with your supplies.

Go Medieval On 'Em
Much like you need to be quiet when speaking, you also need to be quiet while fighting. Consider taking an archery course at the local community center, or sign up for fencing. You never know when swordplay might come in handy.

Comb Your Hair and Fix Your Makeup
Apparently, in the zombie apocalypse, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, lipgloss, shampoo, hairspray, curling irons, and a complete (and stylish) wardrobe will still be at your disposal. I've never seen anyone carry more than a small sack, so I'm guessing magic carpet bags are handed out when the plague begins. Of course, this only applies to women. Men get to wear the clothes on their backs while they slowly morph into Grizzly Adams.

Horde Tampons
Oddly enough, those don't come in the magic bag. I'm sorry, but I don't want to have to make a supply run and risk dying over panty liners. 'Nuff said.

Stay In the House, Carl
And Sophia. And Andrea. And Daryl. And...well, everyone else, at sometime or other. Wander off, and  you're likely to end up left, shot, or turned. None of those options are pretty.

Listen To Your Girlfriends
If your boyfriend is so hated by all of your friends that one of them actually begs you to kill him in his sleep, perhaps you need to reevaluate your relationship. Just sayin'.

Crazy Is Subjective
What constitutes crazy in a zombie apocalypse? Seeing visions of your dead wife? How 'bout just a phone call from her? Keeping a barn full of walkers? What about just chaining your zombified kid up in the closet? Or just keeping a few heads around to decorate the aquarium? How nuts is too nuts in this new world?

It's a Small World After All
No matter which direction or how far you travel, you will always, without fail, run into everyone you've ever met. Unless you want to. Then you're up a creek.

Gasoline is EVERYWHERE!
You will never run out. Cars are everywhere, brimming with beautiful petrol to get you wherever you want to go. There is a veritable cornucopia of functioning, full, comfortable automobiles to fulfill your every need. Unless you actually need to get away in a hurry. Then you're up a creek. Again. (Also applies to ammunition.)

Think Outside of the Box
Sometimes you just need to improvise. Don't have a weapon and need to kill a walker? Grab a nearby rock and curbstomp the sucker! This show has also given me a new perspective on engagement ring shopping. *shudder*

What have you learned? Please share with the rest of the class in the comments below. You could save a life.

Renewing My Subscription to Better Tombs and Graveyards

Folks, I apologize for dropping off the map for a while. I've been fighting off an illness, and it's left me an absolute zombie--and not the cute and cuddly kind from The Night Shift. More like that bicycle torso from The Walking Dead, but with less energy, so I just sort of lay around and flail for the remote control until Thomas takes pity on me and changes the channel to something either wedding or Disney-related. I'm a mess, y'all.

Anyhoo, I did find these today, which are sort of undead and Disney-related, so score!

Coasters based on the cemetery!
Photo Credit (This and All): Disney Parks Blog

Disney is releasing brand-new merchandise for The Haunted Mansion!! I have no idea about store dates or prices, but I already have a few favorites picked out for jazzing up my Halloween decorations. Then again, I have a skeleton in my closet and zombie masks on my wall, so I could probably just leave them out all year and no one would think me any more strange than normal...hmm...

Throw Pillow

Candleholders

So, who else is excited? Let me know in the comments.

Walkers On Aisle 7 (Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Mall)

So...this happened...


Credit: al.com

And all I could think of was this (turn your sound down. It's ...weird):


Credit: youtube

The first video was taken at a Wal-Mart in my home town. In fact, it's the Wal-Mart where I generally shop. The only reason--and I do mean only--that I was not there for this Black Friday massacre is that I was at another location closer to my house. The second is from AMC's The Walking Dead, and really makes me think that the zombie apocalypse is already upon us, and we just haven't noticed.

Yes. Yes, I went into the fray on Black Friday Eve (formerly known as Thanksgiving). It's not something I've ever done before, but Thomas and I have been looking to replace the prehistoric television (it's a box!) in our bedroom for some time, and Wally World was rumored to have one in the perfect size for the perfect price. It was kind of a now or never type of deal. There is no way I would have ever attempted to brave the store otherwise.

I can honestly say that I've never experienced anything like it, and I've worked Black Fridays in both a mall coffee shop and a New York chocolate boutique, not to mention a major department store. You could barely move inside the store. The aisles were filled with palettes of items to be sold only at specified times, and the few clear bits of aisle were taken up by people waiting in lines for those items. Periodically, uniformed officers would sweep those aisles to prevent impatient folks from tearing into the plastic wrap and taking what they wanted before the sales event began. They also served as armed guards for the poor employees who had to deliver the palettes to the floor. The actual departments within the store were roped off with caution tape, forming makeshift Disneyland queues through ladies' pajamas and produce. On top of that, all around, exhausted shoppers were sitting or lying on the floor, resting, while protecting their precious packages. I alsmost ran over one with a cart. It wasn't even my cart. I was just trying to squeeze past it, and didn't see a man slumped on the ground beside it.

The employees were wonderful, helpful, and even patient, but the patrons were anything but. I was stepped on, yelled at, and tugged on, and that was just trying to walk past the shoe section. I grasped onto Thomas' hand, just so we could stay together in the ebb and flow of the crowd. When we finally figured out where our queue began, we were issued a ticket for our item. On the ticket was the number 7 in a circle. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for that, but all we could figure was that was Wal-Mart shorthand for being in the Seventh Circle of Hell.

We got our TV. We even got to pay for it, even though that was another hour of trying to decipher where the lines began, and where they split apart again. The entire ordeal was a nightmare, even without the Romero reenactment.

The next morning, I picked my mother and brother up for our traditional 6AM Black Friday shopping at the mall. There was almost no one there. I walked into Bath and Body Works, and was at the counter within five minutes. The first 200 people at Customer Service received gift bags, and I was able to mosey up to the desk and get one. I honestly only did that to kill some time waiting on Mom to check out at Hollister. JCPenney's had some long lines, but the people in them were in good spirits and were polite and patient. What used to be the time for the "crazies" to fight it out over toasters and trinkets has now become, dare I say, quaint. Rising before dawn for Doorbusters is downright sweet, these days.

You know what? You can keep your camping out at Best Buy and your 10pm Wal-Mart zombie attacks. Who needs Midnight openings when you can enjoy a well-earned Turkey coma? I'll just stick to being quaint, thank you.

Costume Creations: The Walking Dead

Last night was the third season premier of one of my favorite shows, The Walking Dead. I'll be honest; I'm not a fan of gore. I know, that's probably a shocker to most of you, since the movies I'm involved with tend to be in the horror genre, and I have a kickin' recipe for fake blood, but frankly, gore doesn't do it for me. It's not scary. It's just icky. The idea of the zombie, though, is terrifying. Just think about it: you're bee-bopping along, enjoying life with all of your loved ones and BAM! Zombie outbreak! Suddenly, there's the very real possibility that--at any moment--you could be bitten and killed, only to come back to terrorize your own family. Worse, yet, you could lose one of your loved ones, and not only have to deal with the pain of their death, but then have to put them down when they come back. No, thank you. That's horrifying! If you've never seen the show, that's really what The Walking Dead deals with. The real story lies with the survivors. Their fear, resolve, and guilt make for some of the best writing on television today, and the actors are more than up to the task.

That said, the zombies do look pretty darn cool.

I was supposed to go to a pre-show Zombie Walk yesterday, but the after-vacation crud got me, and I had to stay home (we just got back from Orlando, and the land of no-internet-access, in case you were wondering where I was last week). I'm a little puffy from being sick, but figured, what the hey, I'll do my zombie makeup, anyway, and share it with you guys. The walk wasn't necessarily Walking Dead themed, but I decided to go with that look and color scheme, anyway. To keep it simple, I went for a fresh "Walker" look, so I could skip out on prosthetics or latex scarring. I wanted this to be cool, but super-easy and able to be copied with stuff from the local party or Halloween store. In fact, some of this came from E.L.F., and may already be in your stash. Here you go!

(Yay for having Thomas take the pictures with a real camera!!!)

So, these are the before shots...

Okay, kidding. Slightly. I started off by using a stippling brush to cover all areas that would not be covered by clothing (which I then forgot to put on over my tank top...oops. I said I was sick...) with the lightest cream foundation I could find. Don't forget your ears! Then, I used a flat concealer brush to pat a light grayish-blue cream makeup (mine came from the Ben Nye death wheel, which is actually really cheap and accessible online, but there are great options from party stores and Halloween pop-up shops) in the hollows of my eyes. Then, I cleaned off that brush and used it to pat a brownish-burgundy cream in the same areas, blending the two colors together to simulate bruising. Don't worry about definition, yet. Next, I went back into the blue with a foundation brush, and used that to contour my face, like I normally would with a bronzer: around the hairline, temples, cheekbones, and jawline. I also brought it down onto the neck to accentuate the natural hollows. Then, I cleaned off that brush and did the same thing with the burgundy cream and blended. To add a little color to the look and get that signature Walking Dead greenish-yellow cast, I used the foundation brush to blend a little Spring green cream makeup just onto the cheeks, almost like a blush, and also patted a little onto the eyelids. I used an Easter yellow to highlight the tops of cheekbones, forehead, nose, and chin. Basically, I made sure that every inch of skin had at least two colors blended together--the original foundation, and another color. I followed that up by grabbing a stippling sponge and dotting blue and burgundy onto random areas to simulate mottled skin. To add definition, I used a small lining brush (E.L.F.'s precision brush is fantastic for this!) to line the hollows of my eyes (and patted a little yellow on the "bags" to highlight), the eye socket, the marionette lines around my mouth, and a few expression lines on my forehead. Then, I brushed just a little more blue onto my eyebrows, the hollow over my chin, and around the marionette lines. I covered my lips with a light concealer, popped a little blue on my lower lip and pressed my lips together, then added a little burgundy to make accentuate the lines in my lips and make them appear dry and cracked. The look is set with a yellow HD powder (E.L.F., again) to keep that Walking Dead tone. For fun, I grabbed some dark, medium, and bright reds and created a wound on my neck by starting with the darkest in the center and going lighter and as I spread the colors out.

This is all about layering colors and accentuating your own lines and facial structure. If you look old, pale, and unnaturally colored, you're probably on the right track. You can add to this by using fake blood, tooth color, or prosthetic "hollows" around the eyes. Thing thing about a Walking Dead zombie that's different from, say, Night of the Living Dead, is that these "Walkers" look like real dead people. The colors aren't crazy, and the costumes are believable for the person they were. Add your own personality, but keep the look grounded in reality and you'll be fine. Happy Halloween!!

September Favorites and Halloween Must-Haves!

Hi Guys! I thought I might do the September favorites a little differently. Sure, I'll list a few things that I thought were just stellar this month, but then I'm going to also attach a list of things I whole-heartedly recommend for Halloween. Hope it's helpful!

SEPTEMBER FAVES!

Face
MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation
Medium coverage and a light, non-greasy feel. Finish is dewy and photographs beautifully. Plus, you can apply it with your fingers if necessary.

Hair
It's a 10! Miracle Leave-In
If I haven't mentioned this before, I have been remiss. It's a simple spray-in conditioner that detangles, adds shine, and makes my hair baby soft. It's a little pricey, but well worth it. Available at Ulta and Target.

Nails
China Glaze in Foie Gras (Hunger Games)
Check your clearance aisles for this one! It's discontinued, but I've seen it at Sally's and Ulta in the past few weeks. It's a plummy brown that I've mentioned before in favorites, but after receiving numerous compliments on an Instagram photo, I felt it deserved another turn on the list.

The Instagram Photo.
Thomas and I were at a fundraiser for the local arts council, and this was their signature cocktail.
I have no clue what was in it, but it was awesome.

Okay, enought of that. Now, onto the fun stuff...

HALLOWEEN MUST-HAVES!

Alrighty! These are some basics that I suggest you keep on hand, just in case you find yourself on your way to an impromptu Halloween party. IT COULD HAPPEN! I just found out about a zombie walk, and have zero time to put anything together. Of course, you don't have to be a zombie! These are staples that will work for several different costume ideas. Here we go:

Silver Metallic Hairspray
Spray it in, wash it out. You can buy this in a multitude of colors, but if I could have only one color, it'd be silver. Actually, I have only one color, and it is silver. Interesting. Works for zombies (duh), Bride of Frankenstein, ghosts, fairies, old age.

Glow in the Dark Hair and Body Glitter
Need a costume in the next five minutes? Toss on a white dress, a little body glitter, and be a ghost. Or fallen angel (no wings). Or wear a mini-dress and bring back disco. Have a gorgeous costume, but worry you might get lost in the dark? Pop this on and glow! And yes, it really does glow. Gel form for ease in application. For me, this is a yearly must-have.

Ben Nye Professional Makeup Death Wheel
You don't need to be a pro, and you don't need to want to look dead. For my money, this wheel has the most versatile colors in it of any, and the quality is so much better than what you'll pay the same amount (or more) for at the local party store. Need a bruise? It can do that. Need a deathly pallor? Covered. Want cheekbones like Angelina Jolie? Um...it can help you fake them. Sure, you can use this for zombies, but you can also use it for vampires (classic and Twilight), boxers, Frankenstein's monster, aliens, old age, or contouring and highlighting for any character.

Ben Nye Clear Latex
Dab a little on, add a piece of one-ply tissue, cover with another layer of latex, and let dry. Instant scar! Tear it a bit and add some fake blood for an easy wound. This a great little number to keep around at Halloween, because you never know when you'll need to look undead.

Edible Blood
Personally, I prefer making my own blood, but it's by no means anything I'd like to put in my mouth. It's washable, but I'm not fond of the taste of soap. Maybe we're just weird, but Thomas and I keep a bottle of fake edible blood around, just in case. Don't you?

Happy Halloween Month, Everybody!!

Inspiration: Zombie! Pre-Halloween "Going Out" Look

Tonight, Thomas and I are hitting the local Art Walk. It's a monthly event where different visual artists, performers, and arts organizations more or less take over the downtown area. Handmade items are sold from sidewalk vendors, opera is sung on street corners, movies are shown in the middle of a Square, and wine and cheese flow forth from gallery receptions. All in all, it's a good time. We'll be there representing Fighting Owl Films, so I had to get a little more dolled-up than usual, and in a way that helped make it clear what our organization does. So, I pulled out my zombie headband. That should do it.

The zombie headband, in case you're wondering, is this absolutely, freakishly adorable handmade piece I picked up at another Art Walk last December. The artist doesn't have a website, or I'd be hawking it like mad because she's insanely talented. When I saw that she had sweet purple zombies for sale, and I had a movie out that featured sweet purple zombies, I knew we were a perfect match. Here's the piece:
 

I love the dangling little button eye!!!! Squee!!!

Once I knew that I was going to have purple and red in my hair (and the rest of the outfit consists of a black shirt and blue jeans), I decided to incorporate those colors into my makeup for a dramatic, artsy, but still classy look. God, help me. Here's what I came up with:

Products Used:

Touch In Sol Feels Like Honey Moon primer

MAC Studio Sculpt foundation

Maybelline Age Rewind concealer

Benefit Creaseless Cream eye shadow in Silver (lid/primer)

Stila eye shadow in Moxie (crease)

Urban Decay eye shadow in Grifter (blending)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero

Buxom Lash mascara

E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium

MAC Cream Color Base in Virgin Isle (blush)

Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Transparent

Benefit Watt's Up highlighter

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart

They eyes took zero time. Seriously. Silver for the primer/lid color, then add Moxie to the crease and outer V-area, and blend it up with Grifter (which is full of pretty silver glitter that shows up in person, but not in this picture. Of course). Run Grifter under the lower lashes, then run Moxie over that line to the halfway point. Line upper lashes with Zero and wing out slightly, then run it under the lash line about a quarter of the way across. Add Watt's Up to the inner corner and under brow bone. Done.

If you're curious about how I wore a cutesy headband after age 30, here's how, and it could not have been easier. I started with wet hair and spritzed in a good leave-in conditioner. Then, I added a volumizing mousse to the roots and gave it a rough blow-dry. When the hair was just slightly damp, I sprayed down the ends with a sea spray for texture, and continued to rough blow-dry the rest of the way, scrunching the ends as I went along. Once the hair was completely dry, I pulled it up into a messy, high ponytail, with a little volume at the crown. I didn't tease the crown, but left room for it to pouf up a little when I pinned in the bun later. To create the bun, I used a teasing comb to tease the entire ponytail in one-inch chunks. Then I twisted the chunks together loosely and formed a circular ballerina bun, poufed up the crown, and pinned. The headband went on after, and I tucked the ends into the hair behind my ears. I finished the look by lightly spraying with anti-humidity (ha!) hairspray, just to knock down any frizzies that shouldn't be there. Messy is one thing. Frizzy is something entirely different.

See, the band is pretty far back on the head, which makes it more like an fashion accent, and less like something a schoolgirl would use to keep her hair back during P.E.



This shows how it looks from the front, as well as a close-up of the bun. Added bonus: Erin looking like a goober. You're welcome...

Just Where Do You Find Mascara In a Zombie Apocalypse?

Normally, around here we talk about how to look pretty and polished. That's all well and good, but it's not all that you can do with makeup and hair products. Sometimes, you just need to get down and dirty...you know, without the actual dirt. Ew.

I have lost count at how many zombies I've filthied up. Sure, on The Night Shift they were all cute and cuddly, but they still had to look like they'd been underground. I've given people bruises and bloody lips (and only once or twice were they real), added gaping wounds to pretty girls, and made enough blood for a bathtub dismemberment. Sometimes, folks need to look sweaty and grimy, or like they've just been pulled through the mud (or come down a chimney, but that's one for another day, I think). When you're on a set, you don't always get to be glamorous.

Now, as I've said a million times before, I'm not a pro. I've just worked with pros and paid attention. These artists, however, are pros, and do some of the best work in television. Here's a fantastic interview with the hair and makeup team from The Walking Dead. Enjoy! (Click the "These artists" link for the interview. Whoops!)

Photo Credit: Bloody Disgusting and all the AMC stuff written on the bottom of the picture. :)

Zombie Apocalypse...NOW!

I'm on a mission today. I need to find the easiest, least expensive zombie makeup imaginable. I'll probably just end up ordering some greasepaint to replace the green that I used up on The Night Shift, but a palette would be ideal. I don't want to have to keep mixing colors, if I don't have to. I just need a cheap, good palette with a decent number of applications. This isn't it:

Photo Credit: FX Faces

Oh, but I want it so bad it hurts!! It's based on the palette that was custom-ordered for the original Dawn of the Dead, and it's perfect for my needs! ARGH!

Now, this is an alcohol-activated product, which can be tricky (and I have no idea how to use one, myself, for that matter. Not a pro, folks!). Another extraordinarily good option is the--unfortunately, crazy expensive--Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case. If all else fails, some greasepaint and a little baby powder works wonders. 

Photo Credit: Sephora

Turns out, we may not need zombie makeup, since we might be at the very beginnings of the zombie apocalypse! Give this a read and tell me what you think in the comments. Me? I'm watching The Walking Dead for survival tips*.

*Not really. I just like the show. :)

Eat Your Heart Out! (And Brains, and Liver, and Spleen...)

You know, I racked my brain trying to figure out what to get Thomas for Valentine's Day. We don't normally do a whole lot for the "holiday", since it's only a hop, skip, and jump from both Christmas and our wedding anniversary. Still, neither of us likes for the day to go by completely unnoticed. Granted, last year's was about as unromantic as they come--with a, literally, ticking time-bomb of a television, a hurried and painfully expensive trip to Best Buy, and cold take-out from Olive Garden--but we tried. We had fancy cupcakes from the cool bakery in town, exchanged gifts, and watched a movie on our brand-new, not about to explode T.V. All in all, I'd call it a win, but I digress.

Anyhoo, I didn't know what to get Thomas. It needed to be small, inexpensive, and thoughtful. What would Thomas like that was small, inexpensive, and thoughtful? OH! I know!!

Photo Credit (This and Below): ThinkGeek

Zombie Bon-Bons!!!!!!!

They're bite-sized, only $9.99 per box, and full of (cherry-flavored) braaaiiiiinnnnssss. Who could ask for anything more?

Unfortunately, by the time I saw this, I'd already ordered his gift. Blast.

Oh, well. There's always next year.

BONUS! I just got an email from JewelMint, where you can get a free Be Charmed Ring with any purchase TODAY ONLY. Add the ring and any other piece of jewelry to your cart, and enter GIFTRING at checkout. Plus, you'll get free rush shipping, so your pieces should make it to you by Valentine's!

Photo Credit: JewelMint

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.

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.

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!