Weekend Wrap-Up: Halloweekend

Dressed up for bingo night!

Halloween has come and gone and now it's November! Can we talk about the fact that we are already winding down 2013?! Time seems to be flying lately and I would love nothing more than have it slow down a bit. This week I'm already picking my classes for next semester (one of which I'm already waitlisted for...I won't express my frustration over this!)

Anyway this was a very fun Halloweekend--though I know some people who had more "eventful" ones haha! If you've been reading awhile you'll know that I'm not much of a party girl so I did not partake in those festivities. I did, however, make it to Haunted Holland this year where they were successful in scaring me. Saturday night I was working a Halloween event; bingo and a costume contest where I was able to don my own costume! This year I went as Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch. It was definitely a great weekend to be had!

<3 Ashley

What did you do for Halloween? Costumes?

Four Favorites: Black Out

Bag || Vest || Sweater || Flats

Ooh is it the weekend yet? I am ready for at least one relaxing day! However, Halloween is tomorrow so there is some excitement during the week. Seriously...this is like an early Christmas for me; I love Halloween! With this spooky day coming up, this week's Four Favorites link-up seems fairly appropriate: favorite black items. I really don't think there are any cuter items out there than the ones I have selected above. Like that bag? The bow is adorable, right?! And the ghost sweater--who doesn't love ghost sweaters?! Anyway, I am going to keep this one short today due to my continued excess of class readings. Enjoy your night and I hope you have a spooktacular Halloween!

<3 Ashley

What are your Halloween plans? 

Want to share your four favorites? Join the weekly linkup hosted by Let It Be Beautiful and Fancy Things. Click the button below!!

World's Best Haunted Attractions

Image: here

I know what you're thinking, "Two posts in one day?! How much coffee did you have this morning, Ashley?" I promise I only had the one cup. What can I say, Halloween gets me excited. Anyway, for all of my other Halloween and fright night enthusiasts I have a list--the list to end all lists--of the world's spookiest attractions courtesy of the Priority One Jets blog. Take a look here! Eastern State Penitentiary is the closest one to me on the list and SCREAM! at Madam Tussaud's sounds like it could be a good time!

Currently, I don't have the means (or funds!) to venture to any of these attractions; maybe someday! But that doesn't mean I can't get my scare on. Last year, for Halloween my dorm hosted an event called Haunted Holland. It was a haunted house type attraction that took place under the tunnels of the dorms in The Quad--spooky enough, right?! I didn't think it would be as scary since everything was handmade by a bunch of college girls. Boy was I wrong!! The minute we stepped onto the elevator to go down to the tunnels my group was all screams. The actors and sets were actually terrifying; I think the strobe lights may have played a part in the scare factor as well. It was only about four minutes, but it was the best time I've had on Halloween! I can't wait to see how they step it up this year!

<3 Ashley

What is your favorite Halloween memory?

That Time Pizza Was Made Sexy

...this is killing me. (Image: here)

Lately I've noticed a lot of conversation in the blogosphere on the subject of women's Halloween costumes. Earlier this week I read Lyndsay Rush's post on the Everygirl here and then I came across this post on the blog Nothing to Wear here. Both address the "sexy ____" costume. I thought I would share my view on it, no matter how un-earth shattering this may be. 

I'm the kind of person who goes absolutely bananas about Halloween. It was one of my favorite holidays when I was growing up--who wasn't a fan of dressing up funny and going door to door for candy?! Picking my costume was always a fun trip too. In my past I believe I was: a PowerPuff Girl, a Power Ranger, a Pink Lady, and a vampire queen. I tend more toward pop culture icons if you couldn't tell. Just because I've gotten older doesn't mean the same spirit is gone; last year I dressed as Audrey Hepburn and this year I will be donning a platinum wig as Marilyn Monroe--I think college will be my 'famous film star' years. 

As I've gotten older and bigger, I noticed the costumes for my age group getting smaller and skimpier. Now, personally I am not someone who likes to show too much skin. Not because I am fearful of it or anything, I just don't see it as ladylike. I also tend to actually despise the costumes themselves and how they are marketed. Can we talk about how there is "sexy" anything anymore--Sexy Nurse, Sexy Firefighter, Sexy Elmo, and my personal favorite, Sexy Pizza. Can we just stop? Sexy Elmo made me shed a tear but Sexy Pizza is where I draw the line. Not only do these costumes tend to look, let's be honest...not that cute, but it's also freaking cold on Halloween night! At least it is here in Pittsburgh. How people survive in those tiny outfits in 40 degree weather is beyond my comprehension.

I love this holiday and I love dressing up. But no longer do I rely on Halloween retailers to come up with my costume. Sure I get accessories like my wig for Marilyn or my gloves for Audrey, but the bulk of my costume comes from what I already own. Both this year and last year I had dresses already in my ownership! Let's face it, ladies pay WAY too much for those tiny outfits--pretty sure Sexy Pizza was around $60! Get creative, ladies and do something awesome for Halloween this year!

<3 Ashley

What are you dressing as for Halloween this year?

Holiday Decor: Jack-o-Lanterns

Image: here

Well we're about half way through October (one of the best months!) which means we're pretty much half way to Halloween! My roommate and I are still scrambling to complete our costumes and bring a little taste of Halloween to our room. Tomorrow we're venturing out to a local farmer's market to pick up some pumpkins that we WON'T be able to carve but will definitely be taking a sharpie to. We've been back and forth with ideas of how we want to design our pumpkins and have been looking for inspiration all over the internet. Check out some of the best ones we've found!

This one has to be the cutest! Cinderella's carriage actually carved out of a pumpkin! 

We found a lot of pumpkins that people carved famous painting into. Neither of us are that artistically inclined, but these are very cool!

This is also a really cool option if you can't actually carve your pumpkin; just grab some yarn!

<3 Ashley

How do you decorate for Halloween?

Hello, October

Image: here

Well September has come and gone and we are now greeted by October. October is one of my favorite months because I feel that it is the perfect fall month. The leaves are changing rapidly and the sound of crunching leaves now accompanies my jogs in the park. Pumpkin spice everything is available. And of course Halloween is at the end of the month; I am already starting to gather the pieces for my costume.

This month on the blog, fall and Halloween will be prominent themes. Costumes, decorations and sweets are something that I like to think I specialize in. If you have any suggestions or anything you would like to see on All That Glitters in the month of October, please comment or email me and let me know! I love getting feedback from you guys. :)

<3 Ashley

What is your favorite thing about October? What would you like to see on ATG this month?

Just a Note

Why hello there! There isn't a formal entry today, I just wanted to just drop a note and check in on everyone after Halloween night. My night really just consisted of dinner in costume (pictures tomorrow!) and an evening of the Halloween movies (Michael Myers that is!) This is truly the only night you will ever see me watching those kinds of movies. I just feel I have to be a little freaked out on Halloween. 

I also wanted to make sure that I got on to wish all of you a happy and healthy November. Just wanted to let you all know that everyday in November, I will be posting one holiday (mostly Thanksgiving) recipe that will maybe inspire you this year! Welcome to the holiday season! Excited yet?

<3 Ashley

What did you do for Halloween? What are you looking forward to this holiday season?

Fun Things to Do For Halloween

Just days away from Halloween, the east coast in currently being smashed by hurricane Sandy. Luckily I have moved to western PA, so I won't feel it as hard. We are just experiencing some rain at this point. Everyone else who is living in these harder hit areas, please be safe and smart. 

I will carry on with the topic of today's blog entry: Halloween. I know where I am, both location wise and age wise many do not really know how to celebrate anymore since an age seems to have been put on going door-to-door in costume asking for candy. Here is a list of a few ways to celebrate this year:

1. Haunted House

Going through a tour at one of these haunted house attractions or something like Field of Screams (for those of you in the Lancaster area!) can be a good way to get a good fright for Halloween. Grab some friends and go through it together and see who the scaredy-cat is in the group.

2. Horror Film Marathon

Personally, I always go this route. I love the horror film genre (only the good, non-gorey stuff!) Go for the classics like "Frankenstein" or "Dracula." My personal favorites are the movies in the "Halloween" series. You can run as fast as you want, he'll always walk faster!

3. Costume Party

Throw a good, old-fashioned costume party with some friends! I love seeing all the scary, creative, and hilarious costumes people come up with. You can have a costume contest for the scariest, most creative, and worst costumes.

4. Ghost Tours

Whether you're a believer or not, a ghost tour can be really fun. While this is something that you might have to put in reservations for months in advance (Gettysburg ghost tours fill up fast!) they are historically informative and maybe you will even get lucky and experience something!

...and for those of us college students.....

5. Dorm Trick-or-Treat!

Don't let anyone stop you from dressing up and getting that candy! Organize a trick-or-treating event on your floor or, if you can, your whole building! You will get that Halloween experience we grew up loving and it is also a great social opportunity. If you live in a large dorm like I do, you don't know everyone. This is a cool opportunity to see everyone!

I have yet to decide how I will be spending my Halloween night but, I assure you, it will probably be one of the above or a bit of everything. :)

<3 Ashley

How will you spend your Halloween?

Holly Golightly Costume

Good day, everyone!

Today was a self proclaimed mental health day. That's right...classes were skipped in an attempt to calm down, give myself a little break (that comes but once a semester!) and work on an essay due tomorrow (any good time management techniques out there?) Anyway, two pages into the essay I decided to take a bus down to South Side Works and hunt out the components for my Halloween costume this year. That's right, I have finally committed to dressing as the lovely and hilarious Holly Golightly! That's Audrey Hepburn's iconic character from the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

I loved the fact that I did not have to step one foot inside of the Halloween store and drop $50 for something that I will only wear once! I had the shoes (black pumps are essential anyway!) the jewelry, and would you believe that I already had the cigarette holder from a stage role a few years ago?! All I needed to buy the gloves and hairpiece which were a combined $25 at Claire's and the dress. The dress caused me the biggest headache. What does it say about society that I the only place I could find at full length black dress at BCBGMAXAZRIA which was 110% out of my budget. In one last, desperate attempt I wandered into H&M not expecting much. Then there it was! A black dress that came at least to my knees and was priced at $15! Not one to test fate, I snatched it up right away. It may not look exactly like the iconic dress that Audrey wore, but it is tasteful and looks great with all of the accessories!

<3 Ashley

What are you doing for a Halloween costume this year?