For the Sake of the Tradition

     This is Halloween, this is Halloween. Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, HALLOW- sorry, guys. But, today is my favorite day of the year; if you hadn't figured it out by now. However, other than pondering a costume, I've really slacked this year with the holiday festivities. So, my dear friend, Ashley and I took part in some last-minute pumpkin carving to celebrate the other day.

Folks, I may just wait a few days prior to Halloween to carve pumpkins every year; OUR PUMPKINS WERE FREE. If you didn't know, free things are the only things I like more than the spookiest day of the year. Ashley and I went all out, joking that our designs were American Horror Story inspired (i,e. Tate, Violet, and of course The Supreme herself, Fionna.) Also, can we talk about how cute Ashley's house is? I am forever motivated to improve my seasonal decor after seeing the lengths her and her family go every year. Alright, that's it for me. I'll be back tomorrow with a yummy recipe for those leftover pumpkin seeds. If you still need a blogging fix, visit Ashley over at Fancy That to see some more snapshots from our carving extravaganza. You can also see my other Halloween posts here, here, and here. I hope you all have a Happy Halloween, even if you have to work like I do (frown).

Until next time,

Heather

Easy Last-Minute Closet Costumes

     Halloween is in two days!....and, you still don't have a costume. What in the world are you going to do? Well, you're gonna read this post, duh! Whether you are putting the "pro" in procrastination or just don't want to repeat your costume for multiple parties, here are a few easy last-minute costumes, made with pieces you probably already have in your closet.

                                                                 1. Crazy Cat-Lady

2. Robber

3. Witch/Lydia Deetz

4. Rosie the Riveter

5. Daria

Hopefully these give you some quick inspo for your last-minute costume! I'm currently trying to narrow my options down for what I'm going to wear at work on the holiday, so I'll call this the end.

With love,

Heather

13 Halloween Movies To Die For

It's almost here, guys! There are just a few more days until Halloween, and I'm getting prepared with a mess of last minute posts,costume decisions, and of course, movies. I love horror movies and thrillers of all kinds, but I've narrowed in on my favorites with this list:
1. Beetlejuice- Beetlejuice, beetleju...this is probably my favorite Tim Burton movie ever. It made Winona Ryder my style icon, and me wishing I too could have ghosts as guardians.
2. Scream- How could anyone forget the opening scene, irony in the dialogue, and all that fake blood? This franchise may have gone south after the second film, but it's debut is a classic.
3. Silence of the Lambs- Nevermind Halloween, this movie is good all year round. With its disturbing plot, made more chilling by the ever creepy and somewhat charming Hannibal Lector, this one will have you on the edge of your seat.
4. Paranorman- Obviously not chill-inducing, but Paranorman does packs a lot of heart and humor. I saw this one in theaters for Halloween last year, and I've loved it ever since. Silly enough for kids, clever enough for the adults.
5 & 6. Evil Dead- The Evil Dead has enough cliches and fake blood to last a lifetime, but it is without a doubt a cult favorite. And, with protagonist, Ash Williams, its easy to understand why. With it's modern take, the 2013 version did the original all the justice is the world.
7. Hocus Pocus- Like I even need to explain why this movie rules. It's everyone's favorite forever, obvz.
8. Carrie- I hope you have fonder prom memories that the title character of this horror classic. With her telekinetic powers and ultra-conservative mother, Carrie has been dubbed an outcast. But, her teenage dream comes true when she gets a date to the prom AND earns the title of "Queen". Sounds sweet, huh? Well, I won't give the ending away. *cough pig blood cough*
9. The Bride of Frankenstein- The acclaim for the sequel to Frankenstein as one of the greatest horror films ever is well-deserved. It picks up where the first left off, and leads into the introduction of a mate for the monster created by Frankenstein. With a few twists and troubles along the way, of course.
10. Paranormal Activity- Say what you will about this "Cinderella Story" franchise, it's freaking terrifying.
11. The Shining-  "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", "Heeeeere's Johnny", and "Redrum" are just a few memorable lines from Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. This is the ultimate horror movie because it combines slasher with the paranormal.
12. Drag Me To Hell- From the creator of the Evil Dead trilogy, this movie is the perfect combination of cheesy and disgusting. Stressing the use of fake blood, vomit, and other faux bodily fluids, its hard not to be a little freaked out by this one. Even if it is completely ridiculous.
13. 28 Days Later- What would you do if you awoke from a long slumber in an abandoned hospital, only to find the rest of the world you knew abandoned as well? Well, we see the lead in this film ponder the same thing as he discovers the world in ruins from a widespread, rage-inducing disease; aka the zombie apocalypse. Full of suspense and gore, it is definitely one of the best zombie flicks, and a must have on your Halloween list.
So, there you have it; my fave Halloween films. Now go get your DVD player ready, turn the lights off, and have a spook-tacular movie marathon.
Until next time,
Heather

My DIY Halloween Costume

     So, I LOVE Halloween. Like, pretty much more than anything else ever. And, costumes for me require a lot of planning and thought. Especially because I like the spooky, realistic, or character costumes; none of that sexy officer crap. I try to avoid buying anything full price, but especially anything Halloween/holiday related; hello, inflation. Instead, I take the DIY approach, and I have to say its much more rewarding than buying bad quality get-ups in plastic bags. I made this costume for a grand total of $3.50, mostly by using things I already had on hand. It's also a no-sew project, so it's even easier for everyone!

My inspo for the costume came from The original video to "Fri-end? by Kate Nash, where they essentially recreate an episode of Buffy. Why would I look anywhere else?

     I used an old dress I had on hand, Mod Podge craft glue and hot glue (Either will work fine, I just ran out of Mod Podge half-way through and made the switch to hot glue.), scissors, and a white sheet I found at Goodwill.

     I cut the sheet into strips, and glued them down to the dress; overlapping for a layered effect. I will say I ran into a few speed bumps along the way because the sheet fabric didn't have any give to it. This caused the dress to be much too tight. It was an easy fix, though. I was fortunate enough to have a friend with a dress-form on hand, that she so graciously lent me. This allowed me to take my measurements into consideration while gluing. If you can't use a dress form, you can just stack a few books inside the top of the dress to match your measurements as best you can. Or, visit the Thread Bangers Youtube video on a DIY body form, here!

Before.

     And, voila! This was my finished product. I made the headband from scrap fabric, added a bit of grey eye shadow, and red "blood" lipstick for a spooky touch. I'm really happy with the final result of this costume, and even more so with how much money I saved myself; yeah, I am really cheap.

     Now go creep yourself up, and do The Monster Mash. I'll leave you with the video that inspired my mummy duds. Happy Halloweeny!

With love,

Heather

                                        

Ambivalent Peaks

Reservoir days are my favorite days. Especially when they include my two loves; Andy and Chipotle burritos. The nights are getting chillier, and soon we won't be able to have these dinners by the water. But, until then, you know where to find me.

With love,

Heather 

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

     It's that time of the year, folks; PUMPKIN EVERYTHING. Andy and I took full advantage of a work-free Sunday by sleeping in and making these pancakes for brunch. They turned out to be even better than they sound, and even better yet: easy. 

Here's what you'll need to make 10-12 pancakes:

(dry ingredients)

1 and 1/4 cup flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

pinch cloves

(wet ingredients)

6 tablespoons pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 egg

1 cup milk

     In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix up your wet ingredients and slowly incorporate the dry ingredients Just be sure not to over-mix, as this will create flat pancakes. Put a buttered griddle or pan over medium-high heat, and use a 1/4 measuring cup to scoop the batter. Cook the pancakes for 2-3 minutes on each side (or until golden brown), and serve with butter and syrup.

     I'm already making plans to have these again as soon as possible, but in the meantime I'll be drooling over these pictures. Enjoy, you guys!

With love,

Heather

(This recipe was originally found here.)

Pinspiration: Halloweeny

     I know a lot of people consider Christmas "the most wonderful time of the year", but for me, Halloween takes the cake. Scary movies, crazy costumes, and free treats? Yeah, I'm in. I'm really trying to make the most of my favorite holiday this year with Target decorations, DIY costumes, and a little added help from Pinterest; as per usual. Halloween "pinning" has actually taken over my life. Oops. I'm eager to share some of the projects and recipes I've pinned, but for now I'll leave you with my spooky-inspo.

Until next time,

Heather

(All images were found on Pinterest.)

My Daily Makeup Routine

     As I've mentioned before, I have VERY sensitive, acne-prone, combination skin. (You can see my post on skin-care here.) Along with trying various cleansers and acne treatments for my face, finding makeup has also been a long-time struggle of mine. Many brands that I've tried before lack in coverage, don't match my skin-tone, or have a very cakey look and feel. But, within the last year I've found my perfect routine, and would like to share it with you today.

I start my day with Flower Beauty's About Face Foundation. It is the only foundation I have ever been able to find that matches my olive-toned skin, without the worry of breakouts or low-coverage. Its very light and silky, and does wonders in creating even color and flawless coverage. Flower Beauty is a make-up created by actress Drew Barrymore. All of the products are oil and toxin-free, not tested on animals, and made in the USA. Flower Beauty promises department store luxury at drugstore prices; they are able to achieve this by not paying for commercial advertisement. I have almost completely made the switch to only using Flower Beauty products, as you'll see in the next steps.(You can see my original Flower Beauty product review here.)

Next, I use the Fit Me concealer by Maybelline. I dab a small amount of this on blemishes and under my eyes to conceal and add highlights to my face. This is the best concealer I have ever used hands down. Even better yet, it is $5. 

I finish out my "canvas" with a pressed-powder by Flower Beauty. It is very breathable, and just sort of acts as a barrier to lock in your foundation and block out shine. I re-apply my powder once or twice a day, as needed, and it never looks flaky or un-natural. It really is an awesome product.

Eyes are next, and I keep it simple with another Flower Beauty staple; an eyeshadow palette in various neutral shades. This palette is perfect for day-to-night transitioning, since it has both light and dark colors. I use the lightest shadow to highlight my brow-bone and tear-duct area, then go in all over with the light brown. I then fill in my eyebrows with a pencil/sealer by Revlon. easy enough, right?

I finish my eyes with a mascara and eyeliner by (can you guess?) Flower Beauty. This mascara is UHH-mazing, because it has lengthening and and thickening all in one. The secret is in the adjustable brush that lets you choose what you need in a mascara. It's literally the coolest thing I've ever seen; just trust me on this one. The liner is excellent quality, too.

My last steps are cheeks and lips. I've recently made the switch from powder to creme blush, and I don't know what took me so long. Creme blush gives your skin a healthy, glowing effect, that lasts much longer than powder. It's also easy to apply despite popular myth. You can dab it on with your fingers or use a makeup sponge to blend it on. I use either a coral or light-rose tone by Flower Beauty, depending on the day. As for lips, I generally just stick to cherry Chapstick, but when I do use lipstick, its always by Revlon. The color is so vibrant, and it never feels dry. 

The best thing about these product is the price; I don't pay over $13 for any of them. You can find Flower Beauty products at Wal-Mart, and the others at most drugstores. I hope you find this useful in your search for some new beauty products, it's certainly been a long-time coming for me to find a routine that works for me. Please feel free to share any of your favorite makeup staples!

Until next time,

Heather

(Please note this post is purely opinion/advice. It is not a sponsored post, and no funds were given to promote products.)