Eat, Drink and be Scary!

I visited Murfreesboro's town square this afternoon to see all the kiddos in costumes and to take in the Halloween atmosphere. The businesses downtown got together and dressed up and handed out candy from 3-6pm which I thought was just too precious. I'm glad I randomly checked Facebook today or I would've missed it! As I was driving closer to the square, I saw smoke concentrated around one area. I'd hoped it wasn't a little fire and thought maybe it could be a barbecue, but it turns out it was a house who was just REALLY into Halloween. It was fantastic! It had sensor based spiders that would jump out at you when you walked by, opening coffins, and singing skeletons; the works! I also got some pictures of kids in costume and was lucky enough to get a picture of Eli the monkey!

 I left my 30mm lens at home, but I still think these turned out okay with my 18-70mm lens.
I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween with lots of candy and frights.

Till next time,

Jess

Joan Holloween

I wasn't planning on doing anything for Halloween except lying in bed and nomming on popcorn while I watched back to back horror films. However, I got invited to a party, and was told to be ready in 20 minutes. I thought, "Crap! I don't have a costume!" and freaked out for about 10 of those minutes before I thought of Joan Holloway from Mad Men. Who DOESN'T want to be Joan Holloway? I wish I could have given her more justice with better preparation, but here's my under 20 minute Joan Holloway!

 I did a quick up-do, found a longer short sleeve red shirt and a pencil skirt, elements that are very Joan just not quite what I would use if I spent longer on the costume since they're more modern. Oh well! Sorry for the short post, but I'm using up 5 of my minutes to do it!!

Till next time,

Jess

Black Velvet if You Please

Hello lovelies! I don't have too interesting of a day to share with you. I've been in bed all day, because I feel so unbelievably tired. I've even been asked if I've been crying. I just feel like I've been drugged, and I DON'T wanna be sedated heh-I've got things to do! I finally mustered up enough strength to get dressed and make myself a cheese omelette (Not to toot my own horn, but I make pretty damn good omelettes. Toot, toot!). Then I went to the library to study up on some microphones and speakers and came home and cleaned. Patty Melt (Patrick, my boo) has been slaving away at Game Stop since the release of Assassin's Creed 3, and I miss him. I can't wait to talk to him after work since it is my favorite part of any day. He's the best.

I think this is my favorite outfit so far on the blog. I also got this vintage gingham dress, that I'm styling as a jacket, during my last break at His House for $1. I fell in love with the gingham pattern and velvet collar, cuffs and buttons. It's a dream to button it up and feel the plush velvet between my fingers! I can't wait to also style it as a dress in the future with some bright tights! Speaking of tights I've had these for a year and they have so many tears and rips in them, but I love them! I even got a new run in them after taking out the trash today when something in that trash bag reached out and bit me-I'm even bleeding! 

These over the knee socks are a newer purchase I made at TJMAXX. I love, love, love them, but I had to figure out a way to style them where I didn't feel provocative. My findings so far: They look less provocative with tights underneath or with a skirt. They tend to look more provocative with high waist shorts and no tights. You can style them however you want and probably look more than adorable, that's just what I feel most comfortable doing.

I just adore the bow in the back. I got this teal sweater dress last year and I've even worn it with the polka dot tights, but I think it's great how differently I'm styling these pieces now from what I did last year. I would say my outfits are improving! Which is really great. I'm really coming into my own style and incorporating more vintage and thrift finds.

Dress worn as coat:Thrift//Dress,Beret,Socks:TJMAXX//Tights:Target//Boots:Ross

 Lastly, of course the mirror pic. I hope everyone is having a glorious All Hallow's Eve! I'm not exactly sure what my plans are, but it's probably going to end in me making a candy run to the store and watching scaaaaaary movies in my bed! Eeep! Before then, I'm going to change into some work out gear and go bike at the gym.

Till next time,

Jess

Peplum and Circumstance

I am in love with the peplum trend, I think these shirts would flatter just about any one. I saw this yellow beauty on Mod Cloth's home page and had to style an outfit around it (I have so much fun doing these!). I don't have a peplum top yet, but you bet your bottom I'm going to by the end of the year. 

1/2/3/4

These shoes are freaking incredible. I adore the rich color and the detailing on the back. It reminds me of a blue velvet skirt I saw on tumblr today that I fell in love with. I think this outfit would be perfect for a dinner date or to see a play. 

As far as the weather goes, the winds here are getting pretty intense. Whenever it really picks up it sounds like a train outside making it extra spooky for Halloween =]. I think Tuesday I'm going to go to some thrift stores, and see if I can pick up some goodies! 

Till next time!

Jess

Oh Sandy

            My thoughts are with every one in New England, and I hope y'all stay inside and safe from Hurricane Sandy. I rode my bike to the gym last night and thought I was going to get knocked over in the 25 mph wind that was going on! Not to mention it was freezing and drizzling a little bit. I might have to switch from my bike to my car whenever I go to the gym now. Speaking of bikes, the back rack underneath my apartment building is full of people's bikes who don't even use them! It REALLY grinds my gears (see what I did there). There's even one bike that is taking up SO MUCH of the rack and it has MOLD on it, because it's not been moved in a year. MOLD. I want to get sharp cutters and cut the lock and just throw it out into the bushes! Not really, I wouldn't do that (because I don't have cutters). It makes me mad, because it makes it super difficult to lock my bike up and get it in and out of the rack. HMPH! My little tantrum is over. 

    

I wore my $1 His House Thrift find. It's a big, comfy, warm sweater and I feel like heaven in it. I used to avoid big bulky sweaters like the plague, because I thought I looked terrible in them, but I'm glad I got over that hump. I also got over the "Oh my gosh I'm pale as snow and can't pull off the color oatmeal!" and made it work with some lovely Clinique lipstick. The sticker telling me what color it is has worn off so if I had to give it a name I'd call it "Deep Rose." If you feel something is going to wash you out, add a touch of blush and lipstick!

A lot of my pictures came out blurry today, and I didn't have enough time to take 40 more pictures so I'm sorry for that. I need another tripod so badly (my other one broke) and a remote. I hope you can see the outfit well enough though. I really liked the pop of the green purse against the other neutral colors. I also absolutely adore my owl necklace and think it really complemented the sweater and boots.

 My face is LOVING the Olay Regenerist cream I've been using (I'll have to tell you about that another post =]); I just love how it feels and looks lately. Here's a silly picture to end the post.

Sweater:Thrift//Jeans:Forever21//Boots,Bracelets,Owl,Purse:Gift

In all this outfit cost me $11.50, because it's comprised of gifts and thrift items. This has been my cheapest outfit yet on the blog! This is why I never accept the excuse, "I'd be more fashionable if I had money." Pish posh! Anyways, I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday, and is ready for the midnight release of ASSASSIN'S CREED 3!!!!!

Till next time,

Jess

Halloween Q's and A's

  

Source for top photos/Source for bottom

Today and I'm doing a Halloween Q and A from Gentri Lee's blog! I'm so stoked!

1. Do you believe in ghosts?

I guess I do. I don't want to go finding them though. They do their thing, I'll do mine.

2. Do you prefer the cute or the scary Halloween?
Oh scary definitely! Cute is for the babies dressed up in pea pods and plush pumpkins (Which I also absolutely adore).

3. How old were you when you stopped trick or treating?
Um, I'm not sure I have stopped! I don't go around neighborhoods, but I get involved in some kind of candy give away somewhere on Halloween. I'm getting some candy people.

4. Do you have any fun Halloween traditions?

Only just watching scary movies all night and freaking myself out sometimes to the point of sleeping with the lights on, haha!
5. Share a scary local urban legend.

Well I don't know of any here in Murfreesboro, but there were TONS in South Carolina. The urban legend closest to me was the ghost who haunted Town Theatre of Columbia, the oldest working theatre in the country. I can't remember her name, but she's said to be up in the dressing rooms and will steal your things! Come to think of it, it was probably something someone made up so they could get away with stealing our things.
6. Would you rather be haunted or haunting?

Well I think it would be fun to be able to haunt for a day. I sort of did once. I went to my cousins house when she was away and opened all the cabinets and put all the picture frames down and turned everything upside down. She was super freaked out! As a revenge she got a bunch of friends to put hundreds of balloons in my car and then thousands of post-it notes covering the windows, and finished it off with a whole roll of saran wrap.

Please don't haunt me.
7. What's your favorite Halloween character/ creature? (dracula, witch, ghost, etc)

Witches! Most definitely witches. I love their costumes and nails and jewelry and spells. That and growing up with Harry Potter, how could I not love witches and wizards?

Little Snaps

 Today has been another lazy day for me, I've been watching the Halloweentown series marathon on Disney all day (I'll never be too old for that). I went out to a last minute Halloween party last night and I'm pooped! I've had the apartment to myself all day since my roommate is away, and I took advantage of it by playing my piano. It's been waaaaaay too long, I just don't like practicing around people. I also picked up Anna Karenina and Uncle Tom's Cabin, and I already dove headfirst into Uncle Tom's Cabin. I've always wanted to read it and just never got to it (To be honest, it is for school, but we had free reign on whatever book we wanted to do it on). I'm actually going to go take a shower and head to bed early. I have a little infection, and I just want to eat some soup and rest it off. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Caturday =].

Till next time,

Jess

Pumpkin and Spice

I hope you don't mind my lack of text today. I'm having a wonderfully relaxing Friday, and I'm in the middle of watching Practical Magic. Nicole Kidman just rocked out to Joni Mitchell so this will probably be on my top 20 Halloween movie musts.

Till next time,

Jess