HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

STUFF YOURSELF SILLY ON CANDY AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Would You Rather...

Play a little game with me, will you?

It's called, WOULD YOU RATHER...



So here goes... four questions for you to answer...



Would You Rather:





Invest in a good handbag, or killer pair of jeans?



See a great movie, or a great concert?





Be bitten by Vampire Edward, or Vampire Stephan ("both" or "neither", are not options)?





Vacation in a crowded metropolis or on a quiet beach?

Elizabeth Hasslebeck for QVC, Fall 2009

As I've said in the past, I like Elizabeth's style on The View- and that is all I can manage to tune in for (the rest drives me crazy).



She recently added to her limited Dialogue collection at QVC.



Here's what I have my eye on (below), all for around $60 and under.



My only complaint? Expand the color selection.

What do you think?

Check this out: http://thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/designer-denim-drops-in-price/ from The Budget Fashionista, who featured my post!

Pumpkin Carving

So we carved our pumpkin's this weekend, for Halloween!

But none were as creative as these:

I just marvel at the imagination!


photo credit: snazzyjazzy, thefuntimesguide, deesinbox

Stop All The Clocks

There was a death in my family today.


I haven't been close to him for many years now, if ever...


But there's something about the finality of death that shakes you... to the core...


I began thinking about one of my favorite poems.


And when I read it over, I thought-- there is somebody out there, present or past, that feels this very way about him.

And there is somebody (several somebody's, in fact) at this very moment in time...

who I can say, with absolute certainty, I feel this way about.

SO.... HERE'S TO YOU AND THE PERSON WHO FEELS (or felt) THIS WAY FOR YOU...



Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one:
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods:
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

by W.H. Auden

Missed Vampire Diaries this week?

How DARE they have a rerun so early in the season :(

Here's a subtle reminder of what you missed... VAMPIRE brothers, Stephan and Damon... *sigh*

Yeah, I know... go ahead and tell me to get a life :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

photo credit:imnotobsessed.com

Book Review: Hush, Hush

Writer sisters, Lisa and Laura, also known as Lila, put a challenge on their blog yesterday asking fellow writers to pay it forward by writing a review for a fellow writer.


It just so happens I finished reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick last week.

To my great surprise I found a Kindle for iPhone application for my new phone (yipee!) last week. I tested it out by immediately downloading this book on it's release date.

Plus it had great buzz surrounding it!

The only downside to the Kindle reader? Not holding an actual book in your hands and seeing that AMAZING cover up-close!

Now on to the book. Here is the cover blurb:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends.

She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

What did I think?

Patch is a gorgeous, delicious, fallen angel with deep, dark secrets. He is creepy and scary, yet the romatic suspense keeps you wanting more and more of him.

I finished the book in three days time.

Is Patch to fallen angels what Edward is to Vampires? I think so...I also can't wait to read another angel book called FALLEN.

Does Patch take Edward's place in my heart of hearts?

Well... My heart still belongs to Edward and my zombie protagonist, Hayden--they are in a dead heat.

But Patch... I swear... you're a close second.... xoxo

Fabulous job, Becca!

Plum Lips for Fall

Striking, indeed.

But, I think most of us could only pull this look off if it was sheer or a lighter hue (more like mauve)--like the Mac versions, below:

Eye Liner: Everyday or Special Occasion?

Readers, I'm curious, do you wear eye-liner every single day?



I do not.



It would only impress the four walls of my home office or a handful of kindergartners.



I save it for weekends or nights out.



I use Sue Devitt eye intensifier in Tanzania (it's a bronzy color)--it makes my green/hazel eyes POP! And it stays put.

How about YOU?

Celebrity Chic But Cheap: Rachel Zoe

Rachel, I kinda have a love/hate relationship with your reality show, The Rachel Zoe Project.

Something about your whole persona drives me BONKERS!

Mix it up a little when gushing over a designer, will ya?

Maybe it's because I want to cut bangs to soften your look (it worked for me, you should try it).

Or maybe the show reminds me of too many reasons why I decided to leave the whole fashion scene behind (when I lived in NY as a stylist).


*Sigh* I get sucked into the show regardless.


Because I do miss some things about my so-called fashion life. Like the city (oh, the city) and all the cool shoots I got to do.


I just don't miss schlepping the heavy clothes all around the place(I feel for your assistants); and keeping up with the Joneses, by wearing the latest Prada shoes, when I couldn't even afford my apartment or a dinner out!


I am grateful for the experience, and there is a definite pupose for the whole fashion industry, as Miranda explains in The Devil Wears Prada (remember: the cerulean blue sweater?) --it certainly continues to be a passion of mine--I just have an evil side showing today...

Plus now Rachel has a jewelry line at QVC. Por Que?


Ok that's probably pure jealousy right there.... :)


Now that my speech is over, I will admit to liking your style. Especially when you wear the short moto jackets over the long tops:

Here's my re-creation, below:


Rachel Zoe by real style real people featuring LA Made



THANK YOU, The Budget Fashionista for featuring this post.

Go and check out their post:
Retailers Prepare for a Big Halloween!

Wine Charms

You may have heard somewhere that I like wine. :)


You may have also heard that I have a hand-stamped jewelry business.


Today I'm featuring my tags-n-stones wine charms. They are one of my favorites.



They're sterling silver with tiny crystals (colors will vary) and you can have ANYTHING you want inscribed on them!

The teeny weeny charms ($28 for 4):

Here's the link!




The large charms ($32 for 4):

Here's the link!

Here's what the different sizes look like on a wine glass (sorry for the blurry picture):



If you put RSRP at checkout by November 1st, I'll give you FREE SHIPPING!

Just a reminder, I'll getting rid of most of my sidebar links this week, and "following" those blogs in my Google reader, instead. So please take a moment to follow me too (if you want :))!

Pick ME! No, Pick ME!

How cute are these little pumpkins we got for our windowsill?

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Comfort Food: Meatloaf

So the forecast is calling for *dare I say it* some snow flurries--since the temps will dip low at night.

GEEZ LOUISE--can't fall just be fall? Must we rush the seasons?

This calls for some COMFORT FOOD.

Here is my meatloaf recipe (revised since receiving it from a friend).

I used to hate meatloaf...until this recipe!

It's all about the sauce!

**Mix a pound of ground meat with a packet of Stove Top stuffing (I use the whole wheat kind), an egg and some ketchup (to help moisten).

** Form it into a loaf

**Next, mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 a tablespoon vinegar, 1/2 cup of ketchup and 2 tablespoons of mustard (to taste--you want it on the sweet and tangy side).

** Pour half of the sauce on the loaf. Put it in the oven for 50 minutes at 350 degrees (it won't dry out!).

** Pour remainder of sauce and continue cooking for 10-20 minutes (depending on your oven).

The brown sugar darkens the sauce.

I PROMISE YOU IT'S YUMMY!

Tear Jerkers and Date Night DO NOT go hand in hand

My husband and I sometimes have a date night at home on weekends. Instead of finding a babysitter, we put little man to bed, and open a bottle of wine. Sometimes we sit and chat on our enclosed porch, other times we make it a movie night.


Last weekend we wanted to have a date night, because hubby was leaving for a five day trip. We opened a bottle of wine, caught up, and then looked for a movie to watch.


Hubby saw that Marley & Me was playing on HBO and decided we should watch it.


I reminded him that we have a labrador dog, getting up in age (who had a close call illness last year), and that after I read the book last year, I cried for hours.



His argument was that nothing else was on, and that it would be more light-hearted with Owen Wilson and Jenifer Aniston. So... I relented.

DUMB.DUMB.DUMB. More light-hearted, sure, at the beginning of the movie, just like in the book. By the time Marley was on her last day at the vet, I could not take it any more.

I got up and left the room with a box of Kleenex in hand. From the other room, I could still hear the dialogue from the movie..and it sent me over the edge. I started SOBBING. The sobbing transcended to UGLY CRYING! I just could not stop...for anything.

About five minutes later, you know who walks in the room desperately searching for the Kleenex box, tears streaming down his face.

Neither one of us could speak for a long while. We sat there lost in our own sorrowful thoughts.....

Date night had officially ended!

Next movie night: A romantic comedy or psychological thriller!

Fall 2009 Shoes

Fall shoe selections resemble last years, with some edgier twists (e.g. over the knee boots)!

Booties:

Booties by real style real people featuring Damita K shoes

Embellished Ballets:

embellished flats by real style real people featuring BC Footwear shoes

Pumps:

pumps by real style real people featuring Miss Me shoes

Short Boots:

short boots by real style real people featuring F

Tall Boots:

tall boots by real style real people featuring Enzo Angiolini shoes

And of course, cute rain boots:

Target Rain Boots by real style real people on Polyvore.com

Thanks The Budget Fashionista for featuring this post on your site!

See Kathryn take the Maxxinista Challenge!

Infinity Scarfs

I want one--just haven't found the perfect style, yet. The charcoal one, right, from Target might do!

So much easier than tying a scarf--just wrap it around your head two or three times, depending on how close to your neck you want it!

More ideas, below:

infinity scarfs by real style real people on Polyvore.com

Rosy Cheeks

Now that the season has changed over to fall,

you are supposed to put away your BRONZERS, that gave your cheeks the sun-kissed look,

and use your BLUSHES that give your cheeks the wind-kissed look:

I use Laura Geller's Baked Blush-n-Brighten:
It comes in berry and apricot (as you can tell, it's baked with some gold and bronzes too). It's about $28 from Sephora, and has lasted me over a year now!

p.s. I am going to be cleaning up my right sidebar (it's been a while)--eventually I am just going to have the followers tool up and only a couple of links. So if you haven't already, can you become a follower (and I'll do the same)? THANKS!

I've got no time to write a post this weekend....

I am too busy playing with my NEW BABY: The iPhone!

AWWW YEAH!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

p.s. I am going to be cleaning up my right sidebar (it's been a while)--eventually I am just going to have the followers tool up and only a few links. So if you haven't already, can you become a follower (and I'll do the same)? THANKS!

Affordable handbags at Kohl's

There is just something about buying a new handbag in the fall.

I bought this one, below, by Elle, at Kohl's in that great yellow color:


Kohl's has a great handbag selection, for very reasonable prices.


Here are some others, by Dana Buckman, Nine & Co. and Daisy Fuentes, in rich fall colors, all for under $60: