STYLE: OOTD Sheer Leopard

Long time no post! Let's just eaaaaase back in with a simple Outfit of the Day post, shall we?

Leopard Blouse: Old Navy

Jersey Blazer: TJ Maxx

Jeans: Forever 21

Shoes: Mix No. 6 via DSW

Belt: Dots

Ring: Vintage

Bracelets: Forever 21

xoxo,
Michelle

DIY: Sushi Costume

It's Halloween! Also known as my FAVORITE time of year and the only chance we get to wear costumes in public without getting...looks. I wish very much that there were WAY more opportunities for costumes throughout the year (we need at least a half-Halloween in April or something, right?) and I definitely plan to host costume parties JUST BECAUSE one day. This year I fulfilled a years-long desire to dress as a sushi roll because I finally found just the right styrofoam peanuts that look exactly like rice. Dream realized! Now you can do it too! You can also check out some of my past costume tutorials right here.

What You Need

Cardboard

Poster Board

Foam Pad

Black Tissue Paper

Glossy Mod Podge

Styrofoam Peanuts

Acrylic Paint

Hot Glue

Black Straps/Ribbon

Felt (optional)

Elastic (optional)

How To Make It

Cut two 18" cardboard circles and cut your filling pieces from the foam. 

Paint your foam filling pieces with acrylic paint and let dry.

Cut 4" wide strips from the poster board and paint them dark green. These will need to be long enough to go around the circumference of your cardboard circle. I made 5 total and used 2.5 for each sushi roll.

When dry, cover the poster board strip with Mod Podge and layer the black tissue paper over the glue. Smooth down and cover in another layer of Mod Podge. This gives the "seaweed" a super glossy green/black finish just like the real thing! 

Glue the foam pieces in the center of the cardboard circle. 

It helps to sketch a rough outline of where you want them to be before gluing.

Glue the styrofoam peanuts around the center pieces until the circle is completely covered.

Glue the poster board seaweed pieces around the edge of the cardboard circles, making sure to keep the edges flush. 

 To finish, add straps to the top and sides. Connect the 2 sushi pieces with the top shoulder straps and glue a side strap on the left and right side of each piece so that you can tie them together to keep the costume in place.

The Extras

 I also made some ginger and wasabi wrist pieces for some added flair. 

To make the "ginger" I cut out some pink felt circle shapes, folded them up and glued them to a felt base.

  For the "wasabi" I cut strips of green felt and just wrapped them 

around themselves into a blobby shape and glued in place.

  I also cut out some dark green grass shapes to mimic the plastic grass that usually comes with takeout sushi.

Glue all the pieces together to get some really weird corsages.

The Final Product

I wore some fun green and orange eye makeup and an up-do with chopsticks to top off this look.

Please, please, please share your costume - I'd love to know what you dressed as this year!

xoxo,
Michelle

DIY: Easy Feather & Glitter Mask

I have a serious love affair with Halloween costumes (and Halloween in general) and I take the opportunity every year to toil away over a handmade costume that outdoes the previous year's look. While I do have a full blown costume waiting in the wings, I also made a simple feather and glitter mask for another Halloween event. I had the pleasure of attending the Hallowedding (Halloween themed wedding) of one of my dearest ol' pals recently so I whipped up this festive face costume (that's now what I'm calling masks I guess). 

What You Need

Mask

Glitter

Feathers

Metallic Gold Paint

Painter's Tape

Mod Podge

Sequins

Glue (I used E-6000)

Paintbrush

How To Make It

Tape off the bottom section of the mask with painter's tape. I went with a pointed beak-like shape.

Paint the bottom section until opaque. Mine took 3 coats. 

Peel off the tape carefully.

Apply a coat of Mod Podge over the top (unpainted) section of the mask. Sprinkle glitter on top and shake off excess.

 Coat the glitter with another layer of Mod Podge to seal it in. Add whatever embellishments you'd like. I used peacock feathers and individual sequins to jazz it up.

What are you wearing for Halloween?

xoxo,
Michelle

Apple Cider Floats Recipe

I'm all about absorbing every little tiny bit of autumn while it's here because I LOVE IT and because I know that cold, awful snow isn't too far behind. Part of absorbing autumn is eating and drinking as many pumpkin and apple items as humanly possible. Not too difficult this time of year, thankfully, and it's especially easy if you shop at Trader Joe's because they have SO much pumpkin stuff. I might have to go further into the benefits of pumpkin food items in a separate post, but today I bring you a new way to cram more apples into your fall eating. Enjoy!

What You Need

Apple Cider, Ginger Ale, Vanilla Ice Cream

How To Make It 

 Pour the apple cider to just under halfway up your glass.

Add the ginger ale mostly to the top, leaving about the top inch empty. 

In total I used a mix of about 2 parts cider, 1 part ginger ale.

Top off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can also sprinkle the top with some cinnamon for a little extra oomph.

Slurp it up!

What are your favorite fall treats?

xoxo,
Michelle

BEAUTY: 5 Favorites // Makeup Brushes

Flat Powder Brush from e.l.f. [$3.00 Available Here]
For just three bucks this powder brush really gets the job done. The bristles are super soft and the flat head works well for getting powder evenly and finely distributed over my face. It's especially nice for the cheeks and forehead. I've found that the "nice" e.l.f. brushes (meaning those that are $3 vs. $1) are really worth the extra couple of dollars. They are of noticeably better quality and they don't leave stray brush hairs all over your face like some of the cheaper options. Does that happen to anyone else? Sometimes I don't notice and leave the house looking like I have long cheek hairs. Flattering. This brush doesn't do that.

Eyeshadow Brush from e.l.f. [$1.00 Available Here]
Also from e.l.f., this dollar dynamo is perfect for covering your entire lid in one swoop. I have a fistful of these because they work so well (and because they're so cheap!). I've got some larger eyeshadow brushes too (this is a good one) which I use occasionally, but this is my go-to brush in the morning. Easy to clean, easy to use - this is one brush you definitely want in your makeup arsenal.

Smudge Brush from Sephora [$13.00 Available Here]
Everyone needs a smoky eye in their lineup and this small-but-mighty brush will help you get one. The short, stiff bristles give you a ton of control and work just as well to blend along the lash line as they do to blend in your crease or create a "V"- shaped outer corner. Love.

Crease Eyeshadow Brush from Target [$3.00 Available in Target Stores]
I've tried several crease shadow brushes and against all logic the one I love most is this one from Target. The bristles are soft and flexible and shaped in just the right rounded point to perfectly cover my crease and blend outward. Maybe it's the size/shape of my eyes, but this one feels like it was made for me.

Kabuki Brush from Wet n Wild [$2.00 Available Here]
The shape of a kabuki brush is just right to apply face powder or all over bronzer. It's short enough to give you good control over the makeup placement and its design fits right in the palm of your hand. I'd recommend any kabuki brush, but I picked this one because of its low price and accessibility - it's available in most drugstores.

What makeup tools can't you live without?

P.S. Looking to clean your makeup brushes? See my DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner.

xoxo,
Michelle

OBSESSED: Crazy for Cobalt Blue

I've got it baaaaad for blue lately. Cobalt specifically. Love affairs with color are nothing new to me (I'm looking at you, mint green) but I just can't quit this one. It's been a year strong so far with NO signs of cooling off. I just bought a pair of cobalt wedge heels (see below!) and I could already go for another hit. Luckily, it seems this season there is plenty of cobalt to go around so my options are varied and plentiful. Cobalt is great for any season, but blends particularly well with autumn to add a vibrant pop of color. Simultaneously bold and traditional, cobalt is the color that works for everything - and everyone. Join in my cobalt craziness!

See sources and purchase links here

I have SEVERAL pieces listed above already (open front cardigan, studded purse, wedge heels, wrap dress, nail polish...) and I'm eyeing a few more. Can we just talk about that coat with the huge amazing collar? I probably shouldn't have discovered that. I kind of can't even talk about that glitzy fish scale pattern skirt. Cobalt is just SO GOOD. 

What color can you not live without this fall?

xoxo,
Michelle