Through the Lens: Whitby Cemetery, UK

It's Halloween and I thought it would be the perfect time to share some cemetery photos that I took while I was in England last year. These photos were taken in Whitby (one of my favourite places - ever). Whitby is a beautiful seaside town nestled on the upper east coast of England. Whitby made it's literary appearance in Bram Stoker's Dracula and it looks the part as well. They even have biannual goth festivals! There are 199 intimidating steps in order to get to where the cemetery and the abbey ruins are, but once you do the view is incredible. It's easy to get transported back in time while standing amongst the tombstones on the cliff, overlooking the clustered buildings of the town and listening to the sound of the crashing waves from the sea below.

I Wish Everyday Was Halloween

One of the reasons why I love October so much is because of Halloween, big surprise, right? I mean the majority of my interests are all things morbid and strange - so it only makes sense. There is something magical about Halloween, maybe it's because the veil between the two worlds is at its thinnest, but whenever it begins I make it a point to surround myself with even more things that I adore. This usually results in an over indulgence of all things spooky and the little things that make Halloween amazing. There is a heavy rotation of scary movies, the consumption of those little mallow-creme pumpkins, my nose shoved into horror fiction, and the carving of pumpkins. For me, October means that during this special month the rest of the world seems to love all of the dark things that I love all year round.

Last Minute Costume: Mulder & Scully w/ Printable FBI Badge

If you grew up in the nineties you might have a slight obsession with the X-Files - I know I do. I've been watching that show since I was in elementary school and I still can't seem to get enough of Mulder and Scully. Also, did you know that the X-Files is coming back January 2016?! What better way to celebrate than to go as Mulder and Scully for Halloween? I know I'll be sporting my red bob this Halloween night. 

To make your outfit even more convincing, I've created Mulder and Scully FBI badges that you can download and print. Just head over to my Etsy Shop to download them, pop them into a clear badge holder and you're costume has become even more believable!  

Here's what you need to complete your costume . . .

Dana Scully
white button down shirt
blazer w/ matching skirt
black pumps
red bob wig
small gold cross necklace

Fox Mulder
white button down shirt
coat w/ matching pants
dress shoes
90's inspired tie
a bag of sunflower seeds

You can checkout Alex & I's Mulder & Scully costume here.

DIY Ghost Nails

Is it just me or does Halloween call for some festive nail art? I'll be honest with you, I suck at painting my nails, I mean REALLY suck - I always manage to get the nail polish on the skin around my nails, so I needed a DIY that would take into account my lack of painting skills. What's easier than little ghosts? A layer of white and 20 little black eyes? Yes, please!

WHAT YOU NEED
white nail polish
black nail polish
clear coat polish
a mechanical pencil
piece of paper

DIRECTIONS
Paint two coats of white nail polish -letting them dry 3 minutes in between each coat. Use the brush of the black nail polish to create a pile of paint on a piece of paper. Make sure there is no lead poking out of the bottom of the pencil and dip it into the black nail polish. Make two little eyes on each eye. Let dry for 5 minutes and apply a clear coat.

Now you can admire your super easy and boo-tiful nails!

Currently

Anticipating going to a Halloween party as Scully, from the X-Files.

Drinking La Croix, water.

Eating less sugar, less cheese, more whole foods.

Enjoying the cooler mornings and evenings, going to more yoga classes, taking more walks outside.

Listening Saint Motel, Type O Negative, Day Wave, Beck, Chelsea Wolfe, Queen Kwong.

Making memories, a dream catcher, homemade granola, cold brew coffee and muffins.

Wanting to travel to new places, take more photos, have a gin fizz.

Watching The Vampire Diaries, iZombie, The X-Files, Pretty Little Liars, Hocus Pocus, The Craft, Bettlejuice, The Addams Family.

Wearing lots of skinny jeans - as normal, leopard print slip-on sneakers and lots of black and fall colours. I can't wait until it is cooler during the day so I can start wearing my boots and sweaters. C'mon Florida, stop being hot and miserable.

Halloween: A Memory

I have always loved Halloween. There is something about the ghost stories, spooky movies, haunted houses and the songs we sung in elementary school (did anyone else used to sing "H-A-double L-E-W-double E-N spells Halloween"?) that made it mysterious and incredible. When I was younger I really loved dressing up and going trick-or-treating with my family and every Halloween, our cat would follow us down every road, like a dog, anxiously waiting at the end of each driveway. I can still recall the slight chill in the air, the glowing jack-o-lanterns and our pillow cases heavy with candy. When I was younger, Halloween was such a magical time when supernatural forces could have free range and come to life. And I swear, sometimes it still feels as if it could...

Organic Makeup: A Review

Let me start off by saying I normally don't wear much makeup. I usually only use mascara and I'll fill in my brows with a pencil and some powder. So, you won't see me in anything more than a tinted moisturizer. One that I found that works great is Organic Wear by Physician's Formula and for some added sparkle, their Powder Palette is perfect - especially in conjunction with a soft, fluffy brush.

Eco Tools Buffing Brush
This brush is super soft to the touch. I love the slightly tapered bamboo handle as well. I found that with this brush I don't have to use as much powder as I normally would with a bigger, powder brush. I'm also able to get more control from this brush, which makes blending easier and faster.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Tinted Moisturizer
I have fair skin and went with their "fair to light" shade. It has a nice, light scent as well. At first, it felt a little tacky but once it settles out it is soft to the touch. I love the coverage that it gives, while still maintaining a nice dewy look. I also love that it doesn't add any unnatural colour(s) to my face, which I was beginning to notice with my previous one.

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls
Not wanting to add any bronze to my look, I went with the translucent version of this powder. It is in a compact and comes with a brush and a mirror. However, the brush isn't soft to the touch. This powder is loaded with a natural, pearlescent look. I found that I have to lightly swipe the brush over the powder with a light hand, because it will be a little too overwhelming when applied to the face. I love it.

*Please note I was not given anything for this review. I purchased all items myself. I just really like them.

What are your go to beauty products? Have you tried any Physicians Formula products before? Did you like them?

Through the Lens: DandO

The other day I took some photos of Olive & I. I love the way they turned out and I want to frame each one.

My Must Watch Halloween Films

Halloween is a little over two weeks away now. Jack-o-lanterns are being carved, spiderwebs are being hung with care and your awesome costume is, most likely, all ready to go. But in my opinion, no Halloween is complete if there isn’t an awesome Halloween movie thrown into the mix. Watching some of my favorite Halloween films always makes this holiday a little more fun (and yes, I make sure I celebrate the WHOLE month). I typically go for movies that are from the nineties (can you say relieving my childhood?) and the funnier, the better. Is it just me, or does Mortica & Gomez have the most perfect marriage? Talk about relationship goals...

These films are sure to get you in the Halloween spirit:

• Hocus Pocus
• Bettlejuice
• The Addams Family
• Evil Dead
• Young Frankenstein
• The Hunger
• Shaun of the Dead
•  The Craft

What are some of your favourite movies to watch during Halloween?

My Favourite Things About Fall

the cooler air · boots · picnics ·being outside more · dreary days · cooler mornings and evenings · scarves · boyfriend cardigans · leggings · fall-inspired lattes · delicious soups · muffins · exploring out in nature· the falling leaves · evenings spent in a cemetery · Halloween · those little mallow creme pumpkins ·scary movies  · taking walks in the early mornings and evenings