hocus pocus

So I did it. I put together the Giovanna & Oscar de la Renta outfits and I think I look more like Winifred from Hocus Pocus. It works though, I think. Except now I think I want to do something else instead now... I had a little too much fun with the face paint and now I want to go into something more in depth. Typical, typical, typical!

Also, I think tonight should be called Hallows-eve since it is the eve of Halloween, don't you think?!?

BATtaglia Halloween!

This is Giovanna Battaglia (on the left), one of my all time favorite style icons. I really wish this photo wasn't so pixelated but you still get the point : she's halloween gone glam! Halloween is tomorrow and I am so ecstatic! Sadly, I am not totally myself this October.  This month has been crazy, as will the next and so on forth with mixing school in and packing up for the move. I've spent all of my spare Halloween time decorating the house and planning a Halloween Monster Mash but I have forgotten about my costume! Eek! How could I forget the main thing!?

With much thought, I always keep my Martha Stewart Halloween Guide Books, but the costumes in there are just too elaborate to put together in one night - so it's that kind of year where you sort of put on anything and everything that you own and you don't know what you are - until my style icon BATtaglia showed me the way: tricks for scoring the Halloween spirit at the last minute! Yep, I qualify for that. Don't you love her painted BATtaglia mask? This is when I wish I had sleek jet black hair like Gio. I still don't know what I'd say I was with this painted on my face but at least it has a Halloween vibe to it? Does it not? I've got this black and long twenties flapper dress I'll probably put on and then paint my face like this, paint my nails black, make my eyebrows black and wear a fun lipstick color and maybe to darken my blonde hair, I'll go get some black tulle fabric and wrap it around my head like Oscar de la Rentas models during this past fashion week. I would just get black hairspray paint but I'm too scared to do that. You're probably still wondering what I'd call myself, and I still don't know. I guess I could be a gothic Halloween flapper? Or I could be a gothic fortuneteller from the twenties?  I don't know, I don't know - I just want to look like Halloween so there it is.

It's so sad that I stress over this, but it is my favorite holiday so I can't fully blame myself. We will see how it goes! Happy Hallows-eve my witches!

ma' and pa' in town for a fall weekend!

Oh how I love hanging out with my parents. I really can't find a pair that is cooler than these two cats. They flew out to Utah from back home in Georgia for the weekend to keep the Zoo and I some company, and boy did we wear ourselves out!

We did everything under the fall leaves - we started off the weekend with a spooky show of "Thriller" in Salt Lake City. All of Utah is so excited for Thriller every year, so it was pretty talked up if you know what I mean. So, as excited as we were, sadly I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it was a great dance show with some numbers really throwing that Halloween-vibe at me, but others left me confused and yawning, having nothing to do with the month of October! Don't be mad at me for saying so! Nonetheless, I have said over and over again every year that I would go see Thriller and I finally did, and right on time before we move to California, and I'n glad that I did!

Luckily, my parents were able to get the tail end of the leaves changing in Utah! We spent a day hiking up in Sundance to see the waterfalls and the weather was absolutely perfect! A cool fall breeze followed up by a warm and hearty meal at Sundance by the fire was what the doctor ordered. My Dad lives for Sundance. He's like a child when we go and it makes me really happy to see him in his place of dreaming - I know the feeling except it takes place on the opposite side of America and pointing South.  I will say, nothing feels more like fall than when you're bundled up in that cabin like restaurant up in the mountains eating a plate of meatloaf and mash potatoes. I'm drooling right now just thinking about it.

Later on in the week we drove through the Alpine Loop and watched football games at my Aunt and Uncles house. I'm going to miss them a lot when the Zoo and I move. Time spent with them and their kids are some of my favorite memories of living in Utah and it's a bonus when my parents are around while hanging out with them.

A part of me does fell a bit guilty for moving - my parents are so in love with Utah and the Zoo and I are the last to leave with both of my sisters back South. Now they have less of a reason to make a trip out to the place that they love, but I know that won't stop them. And though it's going to be a bittersweet move - luckily, the Zoo's parents still live here so we will be back and up around the bend here and there in the future.

All in all, it was such a treat to have my parents stay with us for the weekend. I already miss their company but it makes me even more excited to know I'll be seeing them in just a couple of weeks for Thanksgiving, as the Zoo and I are jetting back home to Georgia with the whole family! I finally get to meet my new nephew Sam! YEHAW!!

Family is really the best, especially around this time of year. I couldn't be happier. Changes are a-comin' but I am accepting them with a positive attitude and open arms! Life is good.

bungalow shop

If you don't know already, the Zoo and I are on to our next adventure, as we are moving to Los Angeles, California in December. With that being said, we are deep deep cleaning our home and that especially includes my CLOSET. SO, do be a lady and step into my Bungalow shop on Instagram - IG NAME @bungalowshop

Anyone can bid, just be sure to include your email address with your bid and the highest bidder I will send a paypal invoice to your email. It's all final sale and there is an additional $3.00 shipping fee! More will be added to the shop later on in the week! Enjoy!

witchy woman.

As of late, I have been bloated from apple cider and spend countless hours at night watching episode after episode of "The Munsters." Do you remember that show? It is from the 60's but it's the perfect vibe for what Halloween really feels like to me. The classic halloween music is in the show, everything is Halloween or monster related - they live in an old Victorian mansion with Gothic Medieval furniture and decor with cobwebs spinning all over the place. Not to mention the show is in black and white and to me - I don't know why, but that is really halloween to me. Anything old and classic - I feel like they understood it better back then.

The Zoo and I hit up a pumpkin patch this morning and plan on carving our pumpkins sunday night. I typically always try to out-do myself from the year before and do a carving that is so elaborate that I end up killing myself over it. Not this year, I kind of want to go more traditional and just do the classic jack-o-lantern grin. Last weekend we took my cousins to the Haunted Forest and it really was the perfect halloween vibe. The moon was full and creeping in through the dark woods as we walked along a haunted path lit by jack-o-lanterns and once again I felt like a child.

Tonight, we are going to put in a scary movie - Poltergeist. I remember watching this when I was younger with my dad and sisters. It scared the day lights out of me and its been so long since I've seen it, it'll be like watching it from the start all over again. I just can't get enough of October - it truly is one of my favorite months of the year.

Also, I think the wicked witch from the West is kind of legit.

halloween planning.

Last year for Halloween, I put together a murder mystery dinner for my friends. Looking back, it had to of been my most favorite Halloween to date in my Utah days. Although, I didn't really know how much work and money it was going to be until I was in too deep and couldn't back out. It was worth it nonetheless, and my friends had a blast but I don't plan on doing it again this Halloween.

Though, I MUST do something, as I live for Halloween! So I figured I would have friends over again but hold a little Halloween Potluck with halloween traditional games and monster mash music playing in the background. I want to make the mood spooky and eerie and light numerous candles and candles sticks and dim the lights!! BOO! I just want it to feel like halloween. And I intend on making it feel like so!