Well, unemployment was short.

I got a call that the receptionist quit last Friday, so the office was down two people instead of one, and they wondered if I'd take the receptionist job. I said "yes," even though I've never done that kind of work before. Today was my first day. It's mostly answering phones and data entry, so I'm glad I'm getting to learn how to do that stuff. 

On another note, I saw this article and had to write about it.

Omg, so apparently, women in Japan are going and having a procedure done that gives them crooked teeth on purpose, because men in Japan find it "attractive and endearing." What they're doing is going into Dental Salons (that's apparently a thing) and having temporary caps placed on their canine teeth so they appear "snaggletoothed." This is wild to me, especially knowing what we spend on orthodonture in the US to assure perfectly straight teeth.

But that's not what I find most perplexing. 

I'm all about loving your flaws--Cindy Crawford's mole? Madonna and Anna Paquin's tooth gaps? Love them! Tyra Banks even coined the word "flawsome," meaning your flaws are awesome, and I agree! I love the little irregularities that make people beautiful and unique and deviate from the typical "plastic" look that comes out of Hollywood. But I'm not sure how I feel about people giving themselves flaws just to achieve that "unique" look. I feel like that goes against that entire philosophy. It's just another procedure to cover up what you naturally have to obtain a look that's more trendy and "right now."

I'm so curious to see if this comes stateside. What do you think?

Makeup takes up space.

Hey, guys!

As I mentioned a couple posts ago, we thought my grandma was going to be moving in with us and when that was the case, she was going to have to share my bathroom. No big deal, because my bathroom certainly has enough room for two people's stuff.

(Unless you're a cosmetics hoarder/soap addict and your grandma has toiletry stuff she's kept since like, the 60's)

So I was trying to figure out ways to make more room and the simplest solution was "move your makeup." The soap, shampoo, towels, etc. needed to stay where the shower was. MAKES SENSE. But I could definitely move my personal makeup stuff upstairs. I did before during the flood, and it worked fine. The only thing was then, I shared space in my brother's bathroom (he was very generous). And since this was kind of going to be permanent, I decided it needed to be out of his way.

Well. I graduated. And I have a desk which I no longer actually need for homework. I put two and two together and moved my makeup to my desk!

This actually works BRILLIANTLY for me because the counters in my bathroom are SO BIG. They're tall and they're wide, which makes it hard for me to get close enough to the mirror to see what I'm doing properly. After teasing me about it for a months, my Mom bought me a vanity mirror so I could pull it closer. It helped, but it doesn't change the fact that those counters are made for incredibly tall people.
It's also great because I've always wanted a vanity table, a place where I could SIT and do my makeup. And now I can do just that!

Anyway, blah blah blah, all that to say: I moved my makeup upstairs to my desk and I want to show you how I organized it!
(As always, click pics to enlarge!)


The primary organizational tools I used were a set of those tiny drawers, a pencil cup, and an acrylic medicine cabinet organizer. Not too bad! You can get all that stuff at Target or Walmart and it's way cheaper than the absurd makeup organizers that go for upwards of $50. Ridiculous!
The clock is one of my favorite things and it was on sale for $4 at Target! After two days of leisurely sitting and applying my makeup, I realized a clock was absolutely necessary to keep myself in line. ;)




I like this thing because it has a big space in the middle which fits some of my larger powder compacts. On the side, it has some smaller compartments which are useful for mascara, concealer and eyeliner.




That's the mirror my Mom bought me. It gets better use up here! And to hold my palettes I just used a letter organizer.




These mini-drawer sets are dorm room/desk essentials. I used some leopard contact paper from Duct Tape (it was like $1) to decorate the drawers a bit. In the first drawer I keep my foundations (L'Oreal Magic Smooth Soufflé and CoverGirl Aquasmooth for days when I don't want to put forth a ton of effort. Both are fantastic!). In the second drawer, I keep my collection of eyeshadows (mostly from E.L.F.), and in the top drawer I keep my eyelid primers and my Too Faced Natural Eye palette because it fits.




I LOVE this pencil cup to hold my brushes! It has three little dividers, so I can put my eye brushes, face brushes, and miscellaneous brushes all where they belong. I also used a strip of that leopard contact paper to tie it all together. And Hello Kitty because she's cute (after years of repressing my feminine side due to narrow-minded thinking that all pretty "girly" girls were mean and stupid, it's been nice to get in touch with all that).



It works really well for me. And I LOVE being able to actually SIT and do my makeup. And I've always wanted to be able to do it near a window so that I could get natural lighting, and voila! It's been wonderful.


And for those of you wondering where I keep my lip stuff....



I went to Home Depot and got one of these things, because makeup organizers for women are expensive, but tool organizers for men are CHEAP. Riddle me this, marketers and corporate America! But anyway, I got one because I used to keep my lip stuff all over the place (in purses, on my dresser, in my bathroom, in random boxes in places that never see the light of day...) and I never knew exactly what I had. Consequently, I ended up using the same lip gloss every single day. Now I've organized them by color so that I know what I have and where to look for them. It's been incredibly useful.


Thank you for indulging my vanity. I realize this might seem incredibly vapid and materialistic to a lot of you, but I adore makeup (always have, actually). It's something that I love to play with and "collect" I guess (but I'm too cheap to have a legit makeup collection), and I was just SO excited that I got it all organized!

If you ever have any makeup questions or suggestions or anything, leave a comment! It's one of my favorite things to talk about!

Splurge vs. Save: Lipstick for Gloss Lovers

So, those of you who know me know that my go-to lip products are Burt's Bees and lip gloss. I love lipstick, but I just prefer the balmy feeling of a gloss or chapstick. So sue me.

Well, since my favorite NYC lipgloss has been discontinued (and the online price bumped to $11! It used to be TWO BUCKS in drugstores!), I've been in a a bit of a panic over finding something to replace it. There are loads of lipsticks out there, I just hate the texture that most of them have. They leave my lips feeling dry--or worse, CAKEY--and the color payoff is oftentimes mediocre at best.

So, being an idiot, I decided I was feeling fancy one day (you have to say "fancy" with a British accent..."fauncy") and went to Sephora to see what I could find.

I was immediately drawn to the Benefit Silky Finish Lipsticks. They came in beautiful black and white tube, had the most divinely creamy texture, and had a variety of colors to choose from. So I bought one in "Rocket Pop."

It was a beautiful color and felt absolutely HEAVENY on my lips.



For like, fifteen minutes.

After that? Gone. Gone like Herman Cain from the presidential race. Just like, NOTHING.

Sorry, Benefit, but if I'm paying almost TWENTY DOLLARS for something, I want to it to last longer than that! God forbid you try to eat or drink anything in it! I might as well have been wearing my tinted Burt's (It totally would've lasted longer. That is such a quality product...expect a review in the near future). I don't care how pretty the packaging is. If it sucks that badly, it's going back.

So I owned that for less than 24 hours. So much for being fancy.

Then I went into CVS, and saw the Revlon Lip Butters. The internet has been abuzz with these things already, so I decided to try one.

Oh. My. WORD.

They are so worth the hype. This may well be the world's perfectest lip product. It feels like a chapstick going on, has the finish of a gloss, and the color payoff of a lipstick. This is like the Holy Grail of lip products.

Being a makeup junkie and a CVS Rewards Card member with some cool coupons and stuff, I got five. Which came out to just over $20. So for two dollars more than the Benefit Craptacular Lipfail, I got FIVE WHOLE LIPSTICK THINGS.

(I apologize for the utter lack of HD photography. I do what I can with what I have, okay?)


Those are the ones I own, and the whole line has dessert names. How cute! From left to right: Strawberry Shortcake (1), Peach Parfait (2), Berry Smoothie (3), Lollipop (4), and Candy Apple (5).

I wanted to swatch them out so you can see them:



Strawberry Shortcake is a really sweet, light pink color. When I first tried it, it immediately reminded me of Mac's Viva Glam Gaga, which I love. But this one just seemed a little more wearable for me. I love pale pinks (St. Germain by Mac is SO pretty, I just can't wear it!), but I have a hard time finding a good shade. This one is light without looking pasty!


Peach Parfait is a perfect neutral. It's a peachy pink with gold shimmer, but I didn't even notice the shimmer until I photographed it. It's definitely not like you have massive chunks of glitter on your lips. This one is perfect for everyday, and I think it would be especially pretty in the summer!

Berry Smoothie may well be my favorite, because that shade is one of my go-to colors for everyday wear. I like berry colors, because if I go too light on lip color with my pale complexion, I look dead. So I definitely like a little bit richer colors. This one is exactly how it sounds--a pinkish berry color. I wore it today at work all day, and the staying power is pretty remarkable for a balm-gloss type thing.

Lollipop is an awesome fuschia, hot pink color. It's bright, but what's great about these is how buildable they are--apply lightly for a sheer wash of color, or apply with a heavier hand for brighter, more "lipsticky" color. This one is just FUN. I love brights, and I can definitely see it getting a lot of wear this spring and summer.

And finally, Candy Apple is a fire engine red with orange undertones. I was torn between getting that one and one called Cherry Tart, but as aforementioned, I love berry tones and have a lot of deeper reds. I don't have anything with ANY orange in it, though, so I decided "what the heck" and went for it. I'm not sure how flattering it is for me personally, but once I wear it a couple times, I'll know for certain. Either way, this is an awesome punch of color for gutsy girls or days when you need that extra "pop." I think pairing it with a neutral or gray eye would be fun.



Anyway, they run about $7 a piece, and they are worth every single penny. They're a little hard to find, but apparently, Revlon is planning on making them a permanent fixture for their Color Stay line (which is silly, because anything with "gloss" or "balm" in it isn't really long-lasting, but there it is). If you come across them, grab one and just try it. You won't be disappointed!

You also won't be out $20 like you'd be if you'd gone to Sephora. ;)

Maj preesh.

Here are 3 things that I like/appreciate right now.

1. Deals

Can we all just take a minute to appreciate bargain shopping? That sweet moment when you realize that thing you wanted is now SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than it was originally? Awesomesauce.

2. Dry Shampoo

I love this one from Suave because a) it's only like $3, and b) it doesn't spray out like liquid flour into your hair. It's not actually powdery at all, really. So I'm not sure how it works but I LOVE it because it adds volume to the roots. And for whatever reason, since exiting puberty (ahh, that lovely time of one's life), my hair's gotten pretty straight and flat. Just on its own. I have NO idea what happened (maybe cutting it short defeated its spirit. Sad day). Either way, this stuff is awesome, especially if you backcomb/tease the roots after spraying it on. SUPER VOLUME! It's epic.

3. This image:



That is all. :)

I'm not a beauty queen, I'm just beautiful me.

{DISCLAIMER: This post is a rant. As such, it is long and disjointed. Also, the language might be kind of salty.}


Right. So my mom and I subscribe to Us Weekly for the lulz. Whoever gets it out of the mailbox first gets to read it and write in notes with a Sharpie for the other to enjoy later. This is just kind of a thing we do.

Well, last week's issue came in and this was the cover. No biggie, because celeb trash mags sell pretty much on the premise of either a) embarrassing pics of celebrities doing things like picking up dog poop or having (God forbid!) cellulite, or b) info on how to make you more like said celebrities. Well, this one was one of the former. And in order to be like a celebrity, you obviously need to be built like a celebrity.

But not just any celebrity. You have to be built like the Kardashians or Victoria Beckham.

It just PISSES ME OFF that this magazine had like a 40 page spread of "hot beach bods," and there was NO. VARIETY. Every single girl in there looked like the two on the cover: thin, tanned, with unrealistically large breasts and their bones sticking out. And then people wonder why 24 MILLION people in the US alone have eating disorders.

It's just angering, because there's this crazy unrealistic ideal. According to the National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders, only 5% of American females have what media portrays as the ideal body type.
(See how nice I am? At least I protect the identities of people I'm about to publicly trash.)
NO SHIT, SHERLOCK. This is NOT natural! It's not even anatomically possible without the assistance of some major surgery and God-knows-what-else.

And I love it, because like, about a month ago, Us named Jessica Simpson their style icon of the year. And they trumpet around all this garbage about how even though she gets ragged on for her weight, they are accepting and she is beautiful! Was she featured in the hot bodies issue? Hell no, she wasn't.

Women, according to the media have four distinct categories: perfect (see above), too skinny, too curvy, and unhealthy (obese and skeletally ill women). And each of these have their own stereotypical personality types, too. The perfect women? They seem shallow on the surface, but really, they are misunderstood, deep thinkers with a heart and a soul beneath their inflated breasts. The too skinny women, like Keira Knightley and Zoe Saldana, are secretly in denial of their eating disorders. Curvy women, like Adele, Jessica Simpson, Christina Hendricks, and a slew of others, get thrown into this "I'M BIG AND I DON'T GIVE A DAMN" category. They get made into these ridiculous oversexed, overconfident versions of themselves, because it's like the public won't believe that it's possible to not be "perfect" and still be an okay human being. And the "unhealthy" women, the ones who are way too fat or way too skinny, simply just don't care about themselves. They're probably also on drugs because they're just that messed up.

It's NAUSEATING.

Look, just because you're an hourglass figure doesn't make you a sex symbol like Marilyn Monroe. Just because you're tall, thin, and have A-cup boobs doesn't mean you're secretly hiding some kind of life-threatening eating disorder (it doesn't automatically make you serious and into indie stuff, either. Just saying). And some women are just naturally kind of bony or kind of thick. And you know what, ladies? Even though you are SORELY underrepresented on the glossy pages of these sick-ass magazines, YOU ARE OKAY.

While I was fuming about this, I, providentially enough, came across the following video on Tumblr (which even though I don't have one, is probably my favorite website). This girl is HILARIOUS and accurate, and I just wanted to share.
WARNING: CONTAINS INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE. Don't watch at work or in front of sensitive family members.

My only qualm is with the fact that her self-acceptance came with a boyfriend. But you know what, that's real life. Plus, she only tells us this to make the point that we are, almost always, our own worst enemies.

Anyway, TL;DR: the media is crap for showing us only one type of body and telling us it's the only good one.

Kudos to Glamour magazine for being the ONLY one on the market who truly embraces a wide variety of body types. If you're interested, too, I read this book and it truly changed my entire outlook on body image:

Crystal Renn is probably the most famous plus-sized model (I think she's like a size 12...plus? REALLY?), and she wrote this book detailing her struggle to fit into the modeling world, her battle with severe eating disorders, and how she managed to accept herself just how she is and is making more money now that she has. It's really eye-opening (and just a juicy good read), so I definitely think everyone should read it.


Anyway, that's my latest rant on the ever-pervasive issue of body image and media. It's just a load of crap, and as long as you are HEALTHY, you are JUST FINE, whether you're a size 4 or 14.

And now, a relevant picspam:





ETA: I forgot to post this. It makes me laugh every time, but it's cute, and relevant to this post.

Oh, Tyra... ♥

Sea water runs through her veins.

Sometimes I'm just in awe of the ocean. I like to chalk it up to being a Pisces and all that, but there's just something...

...for beauty is found within.

{Credit}

Words of wisdom from the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. If you're in the market for a role model, look no further. She was a pretty stellar human being.

Have a marvelous weekend!

Once by the Ocean

"Once by the Ocean," by Robert Frost
The shattered water made a misty din.
Great waves looked over others coming in,
And thought of doing something to the shore
That water never did to land before.
The clouds were low and hairy in the skies,
Like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes.
You could not tell, and yet it looked as if
The shore was lucky in being backed by cliff,
The cliff in being backed by continent;
It looked as if a night of dark intent
Was coming, and not only a night, an age.
Someone had better be prepared for rage.
There would be more than ocean-water broken
Before God's last Put out the light was spoken.


I just like this poem and wanted to share. :)

Don't be a drag, just be a queen.

So, my hair's in a really awkward grow-out phase. This is the lot of the Woman and Her Hair. When it's long, we dream of chopping it all off in favor of less work, a la Emma Watson. Then we do it, realize that it's probably more work than having it long and start to wonder just how immoral prostitution really is, and if that's maybe okay so we can afford extensions in favor of AVOIDING the awkward grow-out phase. But most of us decide that pushing drugs and selling ourselves is morally reprehensible, even for the sake of good hair. And so we end up looking like we have sixteen year old boy hair. Well, I'm neither 16 nor a boy, so I think that just means my hair looks lame.

ENTER THE POINT OF THIS POST: I wish that wigs weren't passé in modern society. If you're anyone but a cancer victim and you wear a wig, there's like this weird connotation like you should be grateful you have hair so how dare you wear one. Or if you're not black. For black women who are sick of dealing with their hair, they get a wig pass, and it's okay. But white girls with a healthy head of hair are discouraged from wearing wigs on any day other than Halloween, and this saddens me. I'd like a whole WIG WARDROBE. These are some of the ones I'd own:



Hell yes this is a Marie Antoinette wig. And I would wear this with jeans and act like nothing was out of the ordinary. And then I wonder why I'm still single. ;D

And yeah...this is the White Queen from Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." I like white hair...SO WHAT, WHO CARES.


^^ This one is my FAVORITE. How cute?!?


Cosplay wigs are fun because then you look like a real life anime character. Clearly, this is something to aspire to.

I also like this in "blonde and burgundy" and this one in "aurora," for when I couldn't decide what color I'd like my hair to be.

:)))

Wouldn't this be fun?? It's perfectly styled and colored hair with no damage to YOUR hair in like, three seconds. SOCIETY. MAKE WIGS POPULAR AGAIN, THANKS.

"Item two: rosy cheeks." Obviously.

If it's good enough for Jane and Michael Banks to put on their "requirements for a Nanny" list, then CLEARLY it must be important.

I'd like to review a product I just recently tried. It's Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush, which I actually first read about on Nylon's blog.


So here's the deal: it supposedly has mood-boosting ingredients which, coupled with the cute color, makes you happy. Really? I mean, HAPPY MAKEUP?! I saw this and was like:

According to their site, it's made with plant extracts that supposedly mimic the effects of endorphins. Not sure I buy it. I mean, I've only worn it a couple of times, and I felt relatively cheery, but that could just be because I've been in a good mood lately.

Regardless of whether it makes me happy or not, I LOVE the packaging. It's super cute. The little heart designs in the actual blush are cute-- probably the thing that makes me happiest about it, haha! I got it as a V-Day gift to myself. PERFECT for Valentine's! The compact itself is red metallic, and underneath the blush is a "secret" compartment which holds the brush and a mirror. Really convenient.

It comes with your standard crappy little blush brush, but it's better quality than some. I still recommend getting a better blush brush for more even and accurate application (currently using one from Sonia Kashuk that I've had for ages...it's excellent!).

The one I got is the blush and the color is called "Rose." I was hesitant at first because it's a pretty bright, bordering on hot, pink. But I tried Tarina Tarantino's blush in Carved Rose, which is a pretty hot pink, and it was surprisingly flattering. Just not to my wallet. Anyway, the nice thing about this palette is that you get a wider range of shades, and they all blend very nicely on the skin into a soft, rosy pink. It's pretty.

They say it smells like violet. There's definitely a *hint* of scent, but I was super worried it would be overpowering. It's not. It's barely noticeable, which is perfect.

Overall, I REALLY like it. I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say it's universally flattering, but it works really well even with my super fair coloring. It's adorbs to look at, so if you're curious I would say give it a go. It runs for about $10, but I got mine with a $3 off coupon at CVS. Definitely worth it and would make a SUPER cute Valentine's Day gift for someone you know or YOURSELF!

Brown paper packages tied up with strings...

I decided to write something about gift-giving, because it's the most materialistic wonderful time of the year.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what to buy men. This is such a failing in my life, because I always feel like I have three things which I always buy the gentlemen in my life: books, t-shirts, and food of some sort. Omg, Guys, WHAT DO YOU WANT??

I was thinking about this this morning and thought, "I wish there was some awesome guy blog out there loaded with ideas FROM MEN about what they want."

Then I was like, "I'm a girl. With a girl blog. And lots of Gentleman readers. I WILL DO THE SAME THING."

So whether you're male, female, or somewhere in between, here's a little list of things you can get that special lady in your life, straight from a real live girl who might know a thing or two about ladies want.

(Granted, this is all very much full of crass generalizations. Besides, I'm not sure I'm the best representative of my sex. So basically, this is incredibly biased and probably totally inaccurate, but hey, it's the thought that counts and maybe you'll get an idea from it.)

So the first item on my list is ideal for that girl in your life that you sort of know and like but don't want to pull out all the stops for-- roomates, acquaintances, neighbors, an addition to a sister's gift. Something like that.

On-the-go Makeup Essentials by insidemypumpkin on Polyvore.com

It's a little bag full of essential makeup stuff for on-the-go girls! All products are from ELF, and the entire thing, bag included, cost $21 even (they often have free shipping...just use the Google button on the internet machine). It has cool things like a transluscent pressed powder (takes the guess-work out of guessing the right shade and works to touch up makeup), a minty lipgloss, a two-in-one eyeshadow and eyeliner stick and oil-blotting sheets to keep shine at bay. Like I said, it's a nice thing to get (and have!). It's not too terribly generic and doesn't break the bank (To see the detailed list of above items Click here.).

On that note. Women are extremely sensitive to generic presents. By which, I mean don't go into Bath and Body Works and grab a pre-packaged gift set and expect her to be bowled over. It's not gonna happen. This is the stuff that women buy for people they either don't know or don't care about. Unless there's a scent with some kind of deeper meaning (for example: BB&W has this one, "Twilight Woods," which I gave and got aplenty between friends who like Twilight. Appropriate.), avoid the bath stuff (addendum: a body spray, perfume or lotion makes a nice addition to a gift. Or, as mentioned, if it's something she really wants, by all means GO FOR IT. Just don't default to bath stuff). Also candles. Unless she wants a really specific scent or candle, they're an utterly lame gift.

On that note, if you have absolutely no idea what to get a woman, Victoria's Secret has a line of bath products called the Secret Garden Collection, and the massive bottles of body spray start at $9.00. Here's a little secret: every single woman, no matter how anti-big brand or tomboyish she might seem, loves Victoria's Secret. I don't know why. I don't know if it's the fact that it comes in a pink striped bag with all your stuff wrapped carefully in hot pink tissue paper. I don't know if it's because women on all ends of the financial spectrum wear VS stuff. Maybe because it's so celeb-endorsed. I have no idea. But you really can't go wrong with it. And if you're uncomfortable going in there, recruit a woman friend to go in and get it for you. And don't be surprised when she comes out with her own stuff.

VS Under $25 by insidemypumpkin featuring v neck tops

All of the above are under $25. Not too shabby, right?? Also. If you're looking for something saucy and more...lingerie-ish. All I have to say is: Pink by VS 5 for $25!

So another really good gift idea is a magazine subscription. Even in the age of iPads and e-readers, magazine sales are still just as high as ever. There's just something about glossy paper pages and being able to tear them out and fold them up that you can't replace. For your everyday girl, Glamour is a pretty solid choice. It couples fashion advice and trend watching with health news, real-world issues and relationship advice (that goes beyond Cosmo's "HOW TO BE AN AWESOME SLUT IN BED!"). It's a relatively good choice. If your girl's more artsy and into music and off-the-radar news, you absolutely cannot beat Nylon. Nylon offers offbeat fashion with stellar music/movie reviews, well-written articles and 80'stastic graphic design (**BONUS!** There's also Nylon for Guys. Nice!). It's just pretty to look at. If you know a brainy feminist creative type, BUST might be a good choice. I'd flip through an issue first (it tends to be unmerciful in its treatment of social/sexual issues. Not for the squeamish or blissfully ignorant!) to see if it's right for the lady in question, but it does have some unusual and insightful articles and ideas. Perfect for your riot-grrrl. If you know a hippie-chic girl who's into sustainability and living green, you could try Mother Earth News, which features developments in green technology, self-sufficiency, home farming, organics, and the like. Stargazer/techie/sci-fi fan? Try Popular Science or Astronomy! Both are really interesting (surprisingly), but I especially enjoy Astronomy because a) I like astronomy and enjoy hearing about new discoveries and stuff, and b) even I can understand it. I think you've done pretty well for yourself if you've made a science magazine relatable to someone who pretty strictly reads Victorian societal novels. And of course, for the fashionista in your life, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the fashion Bible, Vogue, which surprisingly, for being on the world's most shallow topic, has some pretty well-written and occasionally (dare I say it?) deep articles.

As much as you might cringe to do so, indulge her fandoms. Even if that means supporting her penchant for sparkly impossible vampires. Whatever she digs, you could trick her out in that thing. If you're a geek for something, you never fail to get hyped up about it. Maybe it's a movie, TV show, book series, band...whatever. Just google some merch and run wild (good sites: Far Out Shirts, Hot Topic, Merch.com, and Etsy.).

You really need to familiarize yourself with Google Shopping if you've not done so already. AMAZING.

Another nice, but cliched, gift is jewelry. It's always nice to get something sparkly, but to me at least, something with significance is more desirable than a costly stone (but those are nice, too!). Over the summer I bought a necklace from Best Name Necklace on Etsy. They were fantastic! You can pick what script and color you want the necklace, and they'll do any word or name you want. This would be especially cool if you had a certain significant word or nickname (that she wouldn't be mortified to wear in public!) that you could make up for her. Or, if she's a Sex and the City fan, since Carrie sort of infamously wore (and lost) hers.

If you like the above idea, but want a different/non-traditional take on it (or have a friend who's a history/Egyptology buff), you could get her the same thing but in hieroglyphics. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!

I would avoid buying her purses. I mean, as much as I LOVE purses, here's the deal with women and purses (or shoes, or clothes, or whatever she's obsessed with): we're so darn picky. Sometimes we don't even know what we want. Unless you are intimately acquainted with your friend and know exactly what she likes (or if she's not picky at all--you are blessed!), I'd skip this. If you want a classy gift though, wallets and watches are timeless. As long as they're decent. You can go to a place like TJ Maxx and find some pretty high-quality stuff for relatively cheap (last time I was in the Oviedo one, they had Fossil watches for like $25-$35. NOT BAD!). Anyway, these are more personal items that are best left up to her own discretion. The thought is incredibly sweet though! Same as before: if she's specifically pointed out one of the above items that she wants and it's well within your price range, please, for God's sake, just ignore me and get it for her!

All that being said, I am well aware that we're in a recession and stuff. Money is really tight for everyone and if the girl in question is worth her salt, she gets that, too. Don't feel like you need to sell your Gibson in order to get her a Christmas present. Girls are sensitive--we know it's the thought that really counts. If you're low on cash, here are just a few ideas:
♥ : framed picture of the two of you. Bonus points for customizing it.
♥ : a picnic! Especially when the weather's so fair! You could pack it in a cute basket, take her to a park, and set out a nice festive spread. She'll appreciate the time spent and the thought that went into it.
♥ : On that note, guys aren't the only ones who's stomachs lead right to their hearts. Baked cookies (decorated, perhaps, with inside jokes or a favorite thing of hers), brownies, dinner, etc. will never fail to impress us. It melts our hearts. Or, if you're absolutely hopeless in the kitchen like me, it raises you to a god-like status that you can maneuver your way around a kitchen successfully and I can't.
♥ : This is cheesy and probably really subjective, but flowers. If she's not your typical roses girl, the Season has a lot of cool plants. Poinsettias and Christmas cacti (they ONLY bloom in the weeks leading up to Christmas...how cool!) come to mind. This, coupled with a card or letter detailing why she means so much to you, is always a safe bet. And as aforementioned, if she doesn't appreciate the effort you went to, drop her like she's hot (which she probably isn't.).


Need more ideas? Check out the following:
♥ : Fred Flare: quirky, fun, unique gifts at every price range.
♥ : College Fashion's 45 Gifts Under $50 list.
♥ : Glamour's whole page on Gift Ideas.

Most websites have some kind of gift guide this time of year. And use your CREATIVITY!

"IMAGINAAAATION."

:)

Happy Shopping!

Just in case you don't get told enough.

I very honestly, sincerely, truly believe this, because those of you who know me know I don't post crap on my blog.

Combining two of my favorite things.

Halloween and Perfume!

With titles and smells based off "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and "Rosemary's Baby," these are ideal for Halloween. Even the name of the shop, The Morbid The Merrier, is spooktacular.






Read about them here or buy them here.

Better late than never...

SORRYSORRYSORRY!

Let's make a deal. Anytime I promise to do something, you take it with a grain of salt and roll your eyes and assume, "Yeah, right." Then when I invariably don't do it, you will not be disappointed, I will not hate myself, and when I DO keep my word, you will be pleasantly surprised and I will feel triumphant.

Deal.


I present to you, today, to make up for my inexcusable laziness, two videos and a comic strip.


First of all, this song is like, the epitome of Tim Burton artisticness. "Face to Face" was written by Siouxsie and the Banshees in collaboration with Danny Elfman for the soundtrack to "Batman Returns" (the creepy one directed by Burton with Catwoman and the Penguin). The vid is also directed by Burton (can you tell??), and I think it's astounding. It's creepy and weird and beautiful all at the same time.



Secondly, a trailer for one of my all-time favorite Halloween movies. I love 80's movies (can you tell??), and this one totes takes the cake. "The Burbs" stars a very young Tom Hanks and CARRIE FISHER (aka: PRINCESS LEIA OMMMGGG). They basically live this perfect suburban life until they notice their neighbors, the newly moved-in Klopek's, seem a little...creepy. Hilarity ensues as the neighbors band together to discover the truth. Are the Klopeks killing off neighbors and burying them in the backyard? Are they closeted Satanists? Or are they just strange and misunderstood? This movie is HILARIOUS and I highly recommend it.

And finally:

A delightful little comic from Hark a Vagrant, featuring a fabulous Horseguy.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In other news, with the changing of the seasons, I like to switch out my floral-fruity perfumes for more fallish ones. Here's what's on my dresser currently:

Fall 2010 Perfume by insidemypumpkin on Polyvore.com

(L to R: Calvin Klein "Secret Obsession," Chanel "Coco Mademoiselle," Britney Spears "Hidden Fantasy," "Lola" by Marc Jacobs, Victoria's Secret "Amber Romance," "Exclamation," Jovan "White Musk," and Bath & Body Works "Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin.")

I like these more wintry smells for this time of year. In the summer, they're oppressive with the heat, but you can carry them a little better when it's not quite so humid out. I like the body sprays because you can't really overdo them, unlike the top row which have to be used sparingly. The rich Oriental-spicy smells are awesome. In moderation. Otherwise, it can be cloying. Anyway.

Hope you have an AWESOME weekend!

Helena Bonham Carter is lovely. ♥

I really like Helena Bonham Carter.

It didn't always used to be thus. I used to look at her and be like, "She's so talented, but God love her, she's homely.

EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY:













I especially like that she likes Tim Burton.






As I've gotten older, I think the thing I like best about her is that she's her own person. She never conforms to what other people tell her. She dresses absurdly, but she always looks more out of place when she wears a "pretty dress" on the red carpet. She routinely wears striped socks, corset belts and a myriad of other pieces I could only ever dream of replicating.



Also, she rides a tricycle. BADASS.


Also, if I ever have a kid, that pram is going on my registry.


One of these things is not like the others...REFRESHINGLY.


She looks cute in short hair...




...and even cuter when she's not trying with it at all (I can relate to a head of hair with a mind of its own).





Overall, I like her. I like her hair that looks like it's on a permanent vacation in Crazytown. I like her crazy cheekbones. I like that she's with Tim Burton. I like her acting roles. I like that she seems smart and independent and doesn't conform to what everyone else expects of her. Mostly, though, I like that she seems perfectly content and comfortable with the choices she's made and who she is.