Halloween Inspiration

This year I'm really getting pumped up for Halloween because I am going to an awesome annual bash thrown by a friend. These people go all out with the costumes and have a pumpkin carving contest. So I have been trying to get some inspiration for the occasion and thought I would share some of the really cool ideas I have come across.

Pretty much all of the women's costumes you can buy online or in a Halloween store are "sexy" versions meaning you get less material than a bathing suit and they cost more! Which I can't understand because it's way too cold for those costumes where I am right now. Personally, I'm broke so I'm mostly concerned with finding a costume that I can make out of stuff I already have or that I can make very cheaply.

Out of all the websites I visited, Coolest Homemade Costumes by far had the widest array of creative ideas accompanied by photos and helpful hints. Here are a few of my favorite:

Bum- We all have old ratty clothes somewhere. Making this costume is as easy as pulling them out, dirtying them up and maybe running them over with a car. To authenticate the look you could buy a wig, fake teeth or maybe just not shower for a few days.

Loofah- I would have never thought of this one on my own. It one requires a little craftiness and money for tulle. I love how the girl in this photo has accessorized it with leggings and stilettos!

Tetris- There are so many clever group costume ideas but I am a tetris fanatic so I especially love this idea. It doesn't look like the assembly would be too complicated or costly.

Better Homes and Gardens has free printable stencils of the American Kennel Club's list of top breeds. They have stencils of the following breeds: Beagle, Boxer, Bulldog, Chihuahua, Dachshund, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier, Labrador, Poodle, Pug, Scottish Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier. BHG has a ton of great Halloween ideas and pumpkin carving tips. The Chicago Tribune complied 25 inspirational pumpkins that are worth giving a look.

Everyday with Rachel Ray came up with these creepy Buried Alive Muffins. I think they are awesome and am actually going to attempt to bake something if I can find the doll arms at a craft store. But be warned that some people may see these as more than a creepy confection and actually be offended by them. I would suggest only taking them to adults-only parties where you know folks well enough to be sure they will enjoy the humor.

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Great Wedding Favors

I'm having one of those weeks where all I can think about are weddings. I thought it would be fun to do a post about some of my favorite wedding favors.

These Evergreen trees available through the Arbor Day Foundation are a great "green" option and will leave your guests with a lasting momento of your special day. These trees can be stored in a refrigerator and grown indoors for months, so they work for an event any time of the year and can be planted when timing and conditions permit. Trees run $3 each and for an additional $40-80 set up charge, you can get personalized logos.

Recently I have found a new love in truffles. They are so decadent and luxerious that they are sure to please the most discerning guest. They come in a variety of flavors like white chocolate, champagne, french roast and raspberry. Truffles can be an expesive delicacy ranging upwards of $250 a piece. However, Lindor truffles can be purchased at Walmart or most grocery stores, $15 (19 0z). These could be put in personalized wedding favor boxes.

Making donations to a charitable organization in leiu of a traditional wedding favor is a really classy way to go. Couples can choose a cause near and dear to their hearts and spread the word to all of their family and friends. You could make your own donation cards for guests like the one pictured here or some charities like St. Judes Children's Research Hospital will provide scroll favors for your guests. A good guideline to follow is to donate the amount you would have spent on favors.

Jones Soda will customize labels with one of your engagement photos. This soda comes in fun flavors like Strawberry Manilow, Cream Soda and Fufu Berry and you can mix and match to give your guests a variety. These run 29.99 + shipping for a 12 pack. Order at least 10+ cases and get 5% off and 10% off 20+ cases.

These do-it-yourself favors are great because you can share your favorite cookie recipe with all of your guests. You can customize them with ribbons, tags and fabrics that tie into your decor. Recruit your partner or bridesmaids to help you put them together and turn the assembly into a nice pre-wedding get together.

If you enjoyed this post, don't forget to subscribe to my blog. I will have more great wedding planning posts coming up!

Photos by: desertculinary, JoNa Photography, Creative Force Photography

Beating Stress: So Easy a Child Could Do It

When is the last time you saw a seriously stressed out 5 year old? Exactly. I don't know any adults that I have never seen stressed out. This post is all about taking a cue from kids and enjoying the simpler things in life.

For the most part stress doesn't appear out of thin air. It has a cause. It's very important to determine what is causing you stress and then take action. The way I see it you have 3 options.
1. Fix it. Maybe it's a fight with a friend or the extra 10 pounds you have gained that's stressing you out. Don't procrastinate and let the problem take the life out of you, instead approach the problem head on and fix it.
2. Eliminate it. If the problem can't be fixed, you may need to eliminate the cause from your life. This one can be hard if it's your job or your relationship stressing you out. Sometimes it's hard to let go but you might be amazed at how good it feels when you do.
3. Accept it. If you can't fix it or eliminate it, then you can either learn to accept it or let it keep stressing you out forever. I find that asking myself "Is this going to matter in 5 years?" helps me get over so many things that seem big at the moment but really don't matter. Find peace with the things you can't change.

Once you have examined the problem and taken the necessary steps, take some time to reunite with the 5-year-old version of you. It might be fun to include a special little kid you know in these activities, unless it’s your kids that are stressing you out, then you should sent them to their grandparents.

Laugh hysterically- Laughing causes positive chemical changes in the brain by releasing endorphins, automatically improves your mood. Start a tickle fight or a food fight. Watch funny home videos of yourself as a kid or a movie or cartoon that always makes you laugh. This whole perspective of stress reduction by acting like a kid again was inspired by the sound of my future-nephew-in-law laughing hysterically. His laugh is infectious and 100% carefree. It might be my favorite sound in the world.

Play- One of the best memories I have of recent years was going to the City Museum in St. Louis with my boyfriend and crawling through caves and going down all the slides. Play like a little kid, as hard as you can. Blow bubbles, jump in a pile of leaves, have a snowball fight.

Imagine- I never cease to be amazed by the imagination of children. When I was a kid I had an imaginary friend (Bobby), imaginary pets and really believe I was going to be a wildly famous country music singer. Let your imagination go wild. Dream the biggest of dreams. Later on write those dreams down and meditate on how to make some of them a reality. As adults I think we dismiss too many of our dreams, thinking they are unrealistic or the time for them has passed but it’s not until we give up on them that they become impossible. If you don’t like the way things are going in life, imagine something better and then go for it.

Spend some time with a little kid and take notes on what makes them smile and laugh. I've been noticing lately that I'm taking everything way to serious and not spending enough time enjoying the world around me. Good luck connecting with your inner child. Now my inner child is going to crank up the radio and have a dance party in the kitchen.

Photo by: kacyanne

The Cracker Queen

Recently I read The Cracker Queen- A Memoir of a Jagged, Joyful Life written by Lauretta Hannon. This book came to me at the perfect time- just when I needed a little motivation, perspective and possibly a swift kick in the ass. This book resonated deeply with me. It made me laugh out loud, cry a little and challenge myself to live a more joyful life. This book is full of hilarious stories and colorful characters and I couldn't wait to share it with you. Lauretta Hannon was kind enough to do an interview with me and answer all the questions I was dying to know.

Q: The following excerpt from the book really resonated with me- "When you're raised in an environment of people holding themselves and each other down, it has an insidious influence on your thinking, your expectations, and your choices. It can taint your mind to the point of actually becoming a form of mental illness." This sounds just like where I came from. What do you think differentiates the people that rise above that from those who don't? How do you think one could help another out of it?

A: I think the people who rise above that are the ones who stop and look at the situation and then choose to change. These are the ones who become truly aware. I describe it in the book as "walking in awareness." I call the other type of person a Rutdweller; these folks just keep doing the same thing over and over. They choose to be selfish and self-victimized and never move forward as a result. The best way to help someone is to show by example.

Q: In the book you talk about the importance of following your intuition, which I know can be an incredibly hard and brilliant thing to do. But what if you're faced with a big decision and you can't summon a feeling of intuition? How do you suggest a person can nurture their intuition?

A: Intuition is always there. It's just a matter to listening to it. Find a peaceful place and BE STILL. Clear your mind and listen. Your intuition will never fail to come through once you silence the noise of the world. That's the hard part for most people: silencing that noise.

Q: Could you and your Daddy really communicate telepathically? If yes, how can other people learn to do the same thing?

A: Absolutely! Daddy and I demonstrated our telepathic abilities in front of several freaked-out family members. I don't honestly know how anybody can learn this skill. I just had it naturally with my dad, and I have it with my best friend too. Some years ago my best friend and I demonstrated it to a room of people. He'd pull a card from a deck, and I'd guess which card it was. We ended up right on something like 29 out of 32 cards! I've always been the "receiver" in these exercises; I'm a lousy "transmitter."

Q: I'm obsessed with Savannah and the people there. On my next visit where do you recommend I go to get an authentic Savannah experience and meet some real characters?

A: You must go to Pinkie Master's--the best dive bar in the world. But go when the late-afternoon regulars are there; sit at the bar and eavesdrop--you won't be disappointed. Be sure to eat at Wall's Barbecue. This BBQ joint is tucked away in an alley in the historic district--definitely off the beaten path. And if you really want Savannah characters, go to any check-cashing business or liquor store on a Friday night!

Q: Did you have any concern that revealing such personal information (smoking pot, etc.) would hurt your professional life?

A: I would have been concerned about that if I was just beginning my professional life, but so much time has passed that I didn't think it would hurt to divulge some of it. And I felt that my responsibility was to write with all the honesty I could muster.

Q: Should we anticipate any more books from you in the near future?

A: I'm so excited about my next books: a sequel to The Cracker Queen and a darkly comic novel.

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How to Save a Life

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Sir Winston Churchill

Following my last blog post about accomplishing goals, I got crackin', trying to figure out how to knock out a few. I'm really excited to share my progress about goal #3. I have made substantial progess toward saving a human life, if I haven't saved one already. Here are the things I have done to save lives:

Donate Blood. For many years, I have made it a point to regularly donate blood. This is one of the quickest, easiest actions you can take to make a huge impact on the lives of others. Giving just one hour of your day and one pint of blood, you could save the lives of 3 people. And hey, you get free juice and cookies so why not? Check out upcoming blood drives near you.

Donate Organs. My thought on this is: If I'm dead, I don't need them. There are a lot of myths about donating, like if you're an organ donor doctors won't work as hard to save you or that you can't have an open casket funeral. Neither of those are true. Organ donation is the last opportunity you will have as a human to be a part of something bigger than yourself. It's super easy to register to become an organ donor. However, just signing a donor card or your driver's license may not satisfy your state's requirements for becoming a donor. Learn about your state's requirements.

Donate Bone Marrow. Today I completed my registration kit. After registering online and making a small optional financial contribution, I was sent a kit that included cotton swabs. I swabbed the inside of my mouth and mailed back my kit for testing. Very soon I will be considered as a possible match for someone whose life depends on finding a donor. There are a lot of misconceptions about bone marrow donation and at first I was scared. But, after reading and researching, I'm just excited and hopeful.

I could save the life of a little girl with leukemia, someone's best friend or a mother of three. I could save your life. It's so huge to think that giving such a small part of myself could impact so many lives in such a big way. I hope that you will look into these opportunities and find one that works for you.

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Talk, Inc. Intern Diaries and Other blogs

Talk, Inc. is a communications & branding agency located in Wilmington, NC. I interned with them over the summer to learn more about what life's like working at a small agency. I wanted to share links to the blogs that I wrote for their company website:



5 Ways we've increased our blog traffic

Looking for a job? Do your homework first

10 Memorable event locales

Innovative job seeking

An introduction to iGoogle and Google Reader

My second first day

Spotlight on corporate social responsibility

Networking tips for the professional

Note: The views expressed on this blog are solely my own. Talk, Inc. is in no way affiliated with this blog or the views expressed within it.

Stop Wishing: The 3 A's of Accomplishing Goals

jimney cricket
Originally uploaded by iheartkitty

When you wish upon a star......well frankly, you don't get very far. I can wish until I'm blue in the face and a Harry Winston diamond ring is NOT going to appear on my hand. You need a plan Jimney Cricket.

What are your dreams? What do you want your legacy to be when you have left the world behind? Throughout life we dream of things that would change our lives or the world. It's only when we decide to make a dream, a goal, that we position ourselves to get every thing we've ever dreamed of. I hope that the "3 A's of accomplishing goals" takes you down a path of self-discovery and helps you to lead a more meaningful, fulfilling life.

Articulation- Be clear about what you want. Don't just daydream about it while your supposed to be working. Write down your goals. The more specific you can be in defining your goals, the easier it will be to accomplish them. Once it's on paper, it's no longer an abstract thought, it's a choice. Choose to take the steps to fulfill your goals instead of letting them pass you by.

Accountability- You have to hold yourself accountable to your goals. Setting a time line will help keep you on track. Designate 1 day a week or a month to review your goals, check your progress and celebrate your accomplishments. It's also important to share your goals with others who will keep you accountable. Enlist the support of friends and family who can help you maintain focus.

Action- Just get out there and do it. If you dream big, you may have to put yourself out of your comfort zone to reach your goals. Identify small steps you can take to get closer to accomplishing your goal, plug them into your time line and hold yourself accountable. Remind yourself of the reward. Reach out to those who will share their resources with you to help you accomplish your goals. Connect with people who share the same goals or have accomplished them to learn from each other and find support.

43 things is a website that can be helpful in accomplishing goals. These are my current goals, listed in no particular order. Some are more noble than others. I hope by working to accomplish these I will learn important life lessons and have some great stories to tell. I hope you will follow me on my journey, as I will post my progress along the way. Advice is always welcome.

1. Fill a passport up with stamps
2. Get married
3. Save a human life
4. Be a successful event planner
5. Be in a fashion show
6. Make progress for animal rights
7. Meet Tyra Banks
8. Have children
9. Visit outer space
10. Write a book
11. Win a contest
12. Skydive
13. Take my Nanny on a hot air balloon ride
14. Learn to scuba dive
15. Spend an entire day committing random acts of kindness
16. Go to the Oscars
17. Go to New York Fashion Week
18. Take my mom to Hawaii
19. Go to the Ellen Degeneres Show
20. Get in the best shape of my life
21. Get a Masters degree
22. Get a REAL job
23. Make my blog wildly successful
24. Own a puffer fish
25. Be a Texas Hold Em' pro
26. Teach my dog Scooter manners
27. Stop biting my cuticles
28. Watch Criss Angel mindfreak in person
29. Learn ballroom dancing
30. Learn to surf
31. Learn to salsa dance
32. Do yoga without getting pissed off
33. Take a road trip without a set destination
34. Keep my best friend for life
35. Bring my family closer
36. Be in an episode of Grey's Anatomy (even if they kill me off)
37. Learn a foreign language
38. See a volcano erupt
39. Bake something that doesn't suck
40. Learn to love my body
41. Blow his mind
42. Own an island
43. Punch Wes Hayden in the face