Monster Mash

{My Halloween costume this year. Skirt: Loft, Shirt: Ann Taylor}

{My super-cool pocket protector}

{Brady rolling around on the sofa trying to rip off his banana costume...}

{..and then sulking in defeat. Poor guy.}

*Don't worry, I felt bad after he started sulking, so I took the costume off of him and gave him a treat. Problem solved.

Happy Halloween!

Friday Fancies: Halloween

{Love the spooky table setting for a Halloween party}

{Creepy candlesticks that are understated and still very chic}

{Such a neat idea for keeping drinks cold with a pretty presentation. Definitely going to try this at my next (read: first) Halloween party}

{Beautiful metallic pumpkins complement a piece of wall art that looks like a clouded mirror. Reminds me of Snow White.}

{A wreath made entirely out of individually-wrapped hard candies. Martha, you are a genius.}

*All photos from MarthaStewart.com

Have a great weekend!

Last Minute Halloween DIY Costumes

From left: Betty Crocker, a keg of beer, Tommy Boy, a bottle of beer

Betty Crocker shopping list:

white apron

poufy chef's hat

wooden spoon

Mob wife shopping list:

black dress

sky-high heels

tons of jewelry: necklaces, rings, bracelets, etc.

Ridiculous faux fur coat

Flight attendant and Cleopatra

Cleopatra shopping list:

Gold dress

Lots of gold jewelry

Black wig

Gold headband

Thick, black eyeliner

I have finally figured out my costume for this year, but I must admit that it is a little lame. I ran into some issues while shopping because I refused to buy anything for a costume that couldn't double as a wardrobe staple. In the end, I opted for clothing that is already in my closet, and I added $6 worth of accessories. Simple, but it will do. Pictures to come next week!

Candy Apples

In honor of my favorite holiday being less than a week away, I decided to make candy apples for the first time. They are actually quite simple and quick to make.

First, twist the stems off of 6 medium-sized apples. Push sticks halfway into the apples. I used Wilton sticks leftover from the cakepops I made a couple weeks ago, but they weren't quite as sturdy as I would've liked. Alton Brown used wooden chopsticks when he made candy apples on Good Eats on the Food Network. I love that show. You can put the sticks in the bottom of the apple (above, left) or in the top (above, right). It is totally up to you. I think the apples are easier to coat with the candy if the stick is in the bottom.

Mix 2 cups of sugar, 1/2 a cup of light corn syrup, 3/4 a cup of water, and red food coloring in a pan. I used 30 drops of red food coloring...maybe a little overkill, but I wanted to make sure they were a real vivid red color. Also add flavoring now if you are using it. I didn't use any, in part because I didn't want to go to the store, and in part because I wanted to see what the sugary mix tasted like plain. It tastes like nothing, and it smells kind of like fish. I definitely recommend using flavoring. I think a nice tart cherry flavor would be great. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn the heat down to medium. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. You can use a candy thermometer if you have one, and cook until the mixture reaches about 300 degrees.

After the 20 minutes, remove the pan from heat and start dipping the apples in one by one. I like to tilt the pan to make it a little easier to coat the tops of the apples. Work quickly, because the mixture will harden fast. Once it starts to harden, it is really difficult to turn the apples in the mixture and can cause the apple to fall off of the stick.

Place the apples on a piece of buttered parchment paper to dry. Then you can wrap them up in those pretty little cellophane bags and tie off with a cute bow. These are perfect as a little favor to give your guests after a Halloween party, or you could even give them out to trick-or-treaters as an alternative to store-bought candy if you have the patience to make a whole bunch of these at once.

How to: Glitter Nails Tutorial

I have always admired how lovely ladies like Lauren Conrad could pull off black nail polish so well, because every time I try it, I either look like I'm emotionally disturbed or a biker chick. However, I figured that Halloween was the perfect week to wear black nails without being judged too much by those around me. In an attempt to make black nails a bit more girly, and thus wearable, I experimented with some black glitter in lieu of traditional nail polish. This was the result. Also a result? The glitter that has now found a home in every nook and cranny of my apartment after this manicure. Oh well. No pain, no gain.

Step 1: Pick out your glitter.  I used black in honor of this Halloween week. Next, apply a thick coat of top coat or clear polish to ONE nail.

Step 2: Place your hand on a piece of printer paper or a paper plate. While the clear polish is still wet, sprinkle glitter on the nail until it is completely coated. Wait a minute, then tap your finger onto the paper or plate to shake off the excess glitter. Repeat with all nails. When you are done, simply fold up the paper or the plate and funnel the excess glitter back into the container.

Ta-da! You can apply a top coat if you want. It will certainly make the surface of your nails smoother. However, I found that the top coat took away some of the sparkle of the glitter, so I stopped using the top coat after 2 nails. Once the polish is completely dry, just use a nail file or cuticle stick to scrape off the glitter that made its way to the skin surrounding your nail. I'm not entirely sure how long this manicure will last, but I'll keep you posted on its durability as the week goes on. The nice thing about this manicure is that it is really simple to do, even if you don't have a real steady hand.

P.S. On a somewhat unrelated note, I am very, very excited to announce that a fellow blogger, Catherine, of Small Town, Big Wardrobe, was kind enough to feature me on her blog! Check out her post here.

Have a great Tuesday!
xoxo
Katy


EDIT: You absolutely need a topcoat over the glitter. Otherwise, you will leave a Hanzel/Gretel-like trail of glitter everywhere you go. I had to redo the manicure on Tuesday night because I lost so much glitter without the top coat that my nails were nearly bare within 12 hours. With the topcoat, it's been 3 days, and the glitter manicure is holding up nicely.

H&M Gets It Right Again

{photos from H&M, but I added the little arrows and captions}

I have always liked H&M, but, for whatever reason, I have become seriously obsessed with their product over the past year. Seriously, every time one of their commercials comes on the television, I instantly fall into a creepy trance like flies get with those zapper lamps. Weird, I know. Whoever is currently in charge of marketing is doing an excellent job by my standards. Anyway,  I attribute this newfound obsession to the fact that, in my opinion, their clothing has become alot more trendy and less punky than it used to be. Also, it is super affordable, now more than ever since they consistently have a couple $9.95 items in every collection. And I really loved Lanvin for H&M about this time last year. Above are some of my favorite pieces from H&M's winter collection. In particular, I adore the suede leggings. According to one of my favorite bloggers, Saucy Glossie, these leggings are nearly identical to a pair Balmain sells for over $5000. H&M's are only $15!! See Lindsey of Saucy Glossie model these leggings here. After perusing the H&M website to check out their winter collection, I definitely plan on adding some H&M gift cards to my Christmas list.

P.S. I didn't get paid to say this. I am just really impressed/obsessed with their recent collections, and I simply can't get enough.

Friday Fancies

{New moto boots I got this week...a post including these is coming soon!}

{Cake pops I made last weekend. It was the first time I had ever made them, and they were delicious!}

{Little Brady inspecting the fallen leaves}

{I went to a big flea market last weekend with hopes of finding something amazing- a fab vintage Chanel necklace, a charming vintage bar cart for the house, something! Instead, we found this. This picture pretty much sums up how disastrous our flea market experience was...bet you didn't know you could purchase "Mermaid Products" in the midwest.}

{Vintage, although apparently never-worn, Christian Dior cuff links I found for Cory, who happens to be an avid golfer. How lucky is that?}

Hope you have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Katy

Pumpkin Orange and Ankle Pants

{Jacket: H&M, Ankle Jeans: The Limited, Shirt: Forever 21, Jewelry: vintage, Shoes: Bandolino via TJ Maxx}

The moment I saw this bright cropped jacket on H&M's website, I just had to have it. I even blogged about it here. It's a fun way to add a bit of flair to an otherwise neutral outfit, and it is surprisingly comfortable. Also, I think orange is a flattering color on just about everybody. It's a great statement piece, and I think for an evening out it would look super cute with an LBD. Here, to balance out the loud jacket, I opted for simple ankle jeans, a black tee, and putty-colored pumps. These shoes were only $20 at TJ Maxx, and they are one of the most comfortable (and versatile) pair of pumps I have purchased in quite a while.

Red Tweed

{poor lighting, but the boots have bows on the ankles}

{Cowl-neck sweater and tweed skirt: The Limited, Tights: Hue, Boots: Diba via DSW, Bracelets/watch: Vintage, Earrings: Premier Designs, Bag: Prada} 

I have a serious obsession with tweed. If you look in my closet, I probably have 6 or 7 tweed skirts, a few blazers, and even a few pairs of dress pants. I bought this skirt last season because most of the tweed pieces I own are black and white or gray. The red was an unexpected and modern twist on a wardrobe staple. Also, I love pockets, and this skirt has pockets. As for the sweater, I like it so much that I bought it in three colors. And if you are looking for a comfortable pair of seriously opaque tights (yes, comfortable tights really exist!), I can't say enough great things about Hue.

Mixed Neutrals

{Please excuse the scuffed boots...I didn't realize how badly they needed tlc until I took this picture. A trip to the cobbler is in order...if those still exist?}

{One bag, two different ways to wear it. Win!}

Blazer: H&M, Top: TJ Maxx, Jeans: New York and Company, Boots: Ciao Bella via DSW, Jewelry: All vintage except the pendant which is a lock from a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag, Nails: Sally Hansen Nail Strips in Frock Star, Bag: Foley+Corinna

Okay, I'll admit it: up until recently I was one of those "I'll never wear black and brown together" types. The epiphany came while watching a marathon of What Not To Wear on TLC. Clinton Kelly, perhaps the most fabulous man alive, was so irritated with some woman who told him she hated the outfit he picked out because she wouldn't mix brown and black. Clinton retorted that brown and black are both neutrals, and can absolutely be mixed if you also mix the textures- i.e. black cotton blazer, brown leather boots/bag. If Clinton Kelly says it, I believe it!

DIY Halloween Costume: Haute Hippie

Dress: Missoni; Sunnies: Asos; Headband: Dauphines of New York via Shopbop; Feather pendant: With Love from CA via PacSun

Every year about this time, I get super excited to dress up for Halloween. In college, my friends and I would go to one of those seasonal Halloween stores and spend an arm and a leg on their ridiculously over-priced costumes. Now, I know that diy costumes are usually much cheaper AND cuter. If only I knew then what I know now...sigh. Even though I won't be dressing up this year, I still can't resist planning out a few costumes made from items I already have in my closet or could acquire cheaply from Forever 21 or thrift stores. For the hippie costume, any shift dress will work- the louder the print and the brighter the color, the better. If you don't own go-go boots, as I assume (and hope!) most of us don't, I think a pair of gladiator sandals or fringed boots would look great. Add some round glasses and a headband with straight hair or a boho braid. For jewelry, I would layer on lots of long necklaces- one with feathers, one with a peace sign, one of these, and one of these. And load up your arms with bangles...the more the merrier!

Now that I've written this post, I really wish I was dressing up for Halloween this year. Ha! Maybe next year.

xoxo

Katy

Friday Fancies: Special Autumn Edition

The other day I went back to the town where I went to college in order to return some library books. Across the street from the library is a little lake, and the foliage surrounding it was so pretty. My pictures don't do it justice. Even though it was raining, I parked my car, got out my umbrella and camera, and took a stroll. While this lake was quite popular among the students when I was in college, I'm sad to say that this was my first visit there. It was such a charming little park, and I'm so glad that I finally discovered it for myself.