Hocus Pocus Figural Key Chain Blind Bag Opening

Anyone who knows me understands my obsession with the movie Hocus Pocus. I also enjoy a little bit of a surprising thrill every now and then, so this blind bag had my name written all over it. For some reason, the video didn't convert properly to HD and the audio isn't fantastic but it gets the point across. Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel for future videos. 
Where to buy your own Hocus Pocus key chain:  http://go.magik.ly/ml/7ggj/












Now Playing: "Havana Vieja" by Susto

Halloween Decor Shopping - Come Along!

Shopping for fall and Halloween decor is one of the things I look forward to most about this time of year! I spent a couple days traipsing around a few of my favorite haunts looking for new treasures to add to my collection. I had never been inside a Kirkland's store before but was impressed with quite a few of their seasonal selections including a stunning black and white 'Boo' pillar set. The shopping in Pittsburgh seems to be improving every year and it's getting overwhelming with all of the wonderful choices. I still appreciate my thrifted finds and upcycled crafts more than anything you could discover being mass-produced on the market today, but I can never resist a gorgeous velvet pumpkin, charming throw pillow or adorable country primitive black cat. Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel!














Now Playing: "Spooky" by Dusty Springfield

"My First Time" Tag! Q&A

First tweet?
Having a glass of Chardonnay and twittering <3>
3:37 pm February 16 2009

First YouTube video?
Sometime in 2006 but the earliest one I remember from the beauty community was... 
MAC Brushes vs Painting Brushes by EnkoreMakeup
(Uploaded/Viewed around Fall '07).

I had the idea to use painting brushes for my makeup and wanted to see if anyone else had used them and what they recommended. After a quick search, I came across this video. 7 years later and those original Loew-Cornell brushes I purchased have still held up!



First person you subscribed to on YouTube? 
EnkoreMakeup was one of the earliest that I recall.

First Facebook profile pic?
September 2004. My freshman year of college. WVU was one of the earliest schools/networks to be added. I sent Facebook a typed letter requesting that we join the "social network" after seeing a link in a friend who went to Duke's AOL Instant Messneger profile (ha!). The next day, WVU was connected. I remember the buzz around campus and everyone saying to each other to add them on "The Facebook."

As for the actual picture?! I have no idea. I hardly use Facebook anymore and am too lazy to see if it's still on there. Maybe I'll find it this week and do a #TBT post on Instagram.

Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
The closest thing to my first love (still waiting for the real deal)... Unfortunately, no. Would love to still be friends (although I imagine that might be difficult) but people fall out of touch and such is life.

What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? 
Just some of my Dad's beer that he let me taste or a bit of champagne at a cousin's wedding. I also vividly remember putting beer inside a baby bottle (I refused to give it up as a toddler). We were rather European in mindset at the Roman residence.

What was your FIRST job?
Associate Producer (Writer) at WPXI-TV (NBC).

What was your FIRST car?
A hot little black '95 Toyota Celica GT that I called Virginia. Found her on Autotrader.com. Loved that car. Still technically own it but it's not driveable.

Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
A friend from work whose birthday is tomorrow. Made plans.

Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
A guy I really like and majorly want to see.

Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Miss. Milesky. I really liked her. She would even come to my house to visit with my Mom and me.

Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
South Florida. Other than my ears popping for the first time, no issues. I actually enjoy flying.

Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk?
Other than my sister, my best friend from Kindergarten- on, Carley. And yes. We will always be the best of friends.

Where was your FIRST sleep over?
A girlfriend's house when I was probably in 1st grade. My older sister was best friends with one of the girls and I hung out with them and her younger sister who was closer to my age. 

What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Talk to my sister. She just got back from Hawaii and stopped over to visit.

What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Matchbox Twenty in Morgantown, West Virginia. Around the Fall of 2002. I was a junior in high school. Instantly hooked on live music.

FIRST broken bone?
Knock on wood, none.

FIRST piercing?
My ears when I was very young. Maybe 3? Thankfully, my Mom had a friend who came to the house and did it. She made sure they were done properly. Never had an issue with earrings. Perfectly placed.

FIRST foreign country you've gone to?
Heading to Europe for the first time in a couple weeks. England will be our first stop. I made the joke that I will have gone to London and Paris before New York, DC or LA. That's so backwards but so is everything in my world.

FIRST movie you remember seeing?
In general, some of the earliest ones that I remember include The Neverending Story, E.T., The Wizard of Oz, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Honey I Shrunk The Kids... but in a theater?

FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992). Ironically, one of the characters' names was Krista (albeit with a different spelling). If memory recalls, I have yet to see another movie with someone in it named Krista.

When was your FIRST detention?
Junior year of high school because I had showed up late to school too many times. I'm not a morning person. I lived no more than 5 minutes from school (basically one neighborhood/a few streets away) but always used the excuse that I got stuck in traffic.

Who was your FIRST roommate?
Other than my older sister, I had two roomies during my freshman year of college. I won't get into that.

If you had one wish, what would it be?
Happiness.

What was the first sport you were involved in?
Other than dance, soccer. Loathed it. One of the few things in life that I quit.

What is the first thing you do when you get home?
Give my shih-tzu a hug and then put on comfortable clothes.

When was your first kiss?
Pre-School for a regular kiss. 7th grade for a true one.














Now Playing: "First Song for B" by Devendra Banhart
*Sounds like today

Sweater Weather Tag

1. Favorite candle scent? I'm not at all particular. I like candles more for its ambiance and look over the scent. Anything woodsy is fine. Leaves by Slatkin & Co. is nice.

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? None. I don't like warm beverages. I like seasonal beers if that counts for anything. 

3. What's the best fall memory you have? I have too many to choose just one. My freshman year/fall semester of college at WVU was spectacular.

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner? Dark lips. I like the shape of my eyes and prefer not to alter them too much with liner.

5. Best fragrance for fall? Anything with vanilla. I've been loving YSL Manifesto.

6. Favorite Thanksgiving food? Wine.

7. What is autumn weather like where you live? Gorgeous in the earlier part of the season. Foliage, Mild to chilly temps. But it's the end of Novemeber right now. Snow is on the ground and it's frigid. When winter truly kicks in, varies from year to year, but fall is always my favorite.

8. Most worn sweater? A black high-low, boat neck sweater by a brand called Shu Shu. I found it last year on HauteLook for less than $30. I wish I could have 3 or 4 more but I can't find the brand or style online! It's so comfortable, flattering and can be dressed up or down. I've gotten so many compliments but it's unfortunately starting to get slightly worn out. I've also always loved a good turtleneck. When done the right way, they're perfect.

9. Must-have nail polish this fall? Greens- Chanel Alchimie & Deborah Lippmann Laughin' to the Bank are two of my favs.

10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles? I love to look at the leaves but football is the best.

11. Skinny jeans or leggings? Leggings in the day/casual. Skinny jeans at night/dressier.

12. Combat boots or Uggs? UGGS! I'll own a few pairs forever because they are so comfy and keep me warm. But I do love boots when I'm actually going out. I don't own any combat boots but I have plenty of styles that evoke the look and feel.

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype? Not for me. 

14. Favorite fall TV show? Ja'mie: Private School Girl pemieres on HBO tomorrow night!

15. What song really gets you into the fall spirit? "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young. Someday, I'd like to get married on a full moon in October and dance to this.














Now Playing: "The Fall" by Rhye
*An obvious selection.

The 90s Kid Tag!

1.Favorite Disney channel original movie? 
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. I also really liked Smart House and Brink!



2. Favorite music artist? 
In the 90s, I was all about bubblegum pop, R&B and gangster rap. I also started to get into rock. Such an eclectic mix. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Britney Spears, Inner Circle, Boyz II Men, The Cardigans, Puff Daddy, Ma$e, The Pretenders, Oasis, Dave Matthews Band, Master P, Ace of Base, The Cranberries, boy bands... the list is endless. I'll have to get around to making a 90s playlist with some of my favorite songs.



3. Favorite Nick Jr. show?
Not sure if most of these count as "Jr." shows but Nickelodeon was definitely one of my favorite channels. I loved Salute Your Shorts, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Wild and Crazy Kids, Double Dare, Hey Dude, Pete and Pete, Clarissa Explains It All, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Little Bear, Rugrats, Doug, Guts (Global Guts), David the Gnome, Nick Arcade...



4. Favorite candy?
Dunkaroos, Chiclets Gum, Fruit by the Foot, Ring Pops...

5. Favorite game? (board game, school game, etc.)
Mall Madness, Nightmare, Girl Talk, Dream Phone, Hi Ho! Cherry-O, Guess Who?, Monopoly, Pretty Pretty Princess, Candy Land, Shoots and Ladders, Life, Thin Ice, Checkers, Paper Football, Mash, Paper Fortune Cookies, Back Off! Buzzard... Kickball at recess. Loved hockey. Cheered for football and basketball. 



6. Favorite McDonald's Happy Meal toy?
I liked them because it came in a cute little box but I can't really remember any specific ones. I liked Wendy's better.

7. Favorite book?
Goosebumps, Clifford, Kenny and the Little Kickers, Shel Silverstein, The Wizard of Oz, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Where's Waldo?, Magic Eye, American Girl... Every month we'd get a catalog in school and I'd always order a ton of books. I remember when the packages would come, I'd carry a huge box home on the school bus. I loved reading and getting the items delivered :) There was also the Book-It program that combined reading with one of my other greatest loves- Pizza Hut!

8. Favorite clothing store?
Claire's and Afterthoughts were my favorite stores but not for clothes. I knew the sales girls by name because I was at the mall all the time. I loved Contempo Casuals for pleather pants, platforms and crop tops. I also frequented the very random (and now defunct) store called Weathervane for more casual pieces. I mostly shopped at Kaufmann's department store (now Macy's) or Lazarus (now Macy's, no longer there) for nicer clothes. It was all about baggy jeans, bell-bottoms, Starter jackets, Tommy Hilfiger and Esprit.

I had this top and also rocked it with overalls:

9. What would you watch when you'd get home from school?
Total Request Live when I was in middle school. Mister Roger's Neighborhood was a favorite when I was little. I remember reruns from The Brady Bunch were usually on around 4 when I was younger and Saved by the Bell aired around dinner time. Rosie O'Donnell, Ricki Lake and the like also had daytime talk shows. All of the Nickelodeon shows I mentioned above. I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch.



10. Favorite T.V Show? 
Full House, Saved by the Bell, Salute Your Shorts, Avonlea, Anne of Green Gables, Daria, The Wonder Years, Home Improvement, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Under the Umbrella Tree, Mama's Family (reruns), Super Market Sweep... there's way too many!



11. Favorite Toys?
Barbie Dolls, Little People, Skip It, Polly Pocket, Water Babies, Baby Shivers, Magic Nursery Dolls, Magic 8 Ball, My Buddy Doll, "Pet Surprise" (Puppy Surpirse, Kitty Surpirse, etc. I had so many), board games, Sega Genesis, Nintendo... I could go on and on...!

12. Favorite Commercials? 
This was a local commercial but I loved the jingle! They still use it!
"Century III Chevrolet, Lebanon Church Road, Pittsburgh. Minutes from the mall!"



& because of my love for Devon Sawa... "It's Nerf or Nothin'!"



13. Nsync or Backstreet Boys? 
I liked both of them and had all of their CDs but I was more of an 'N Sync fan.

14. Weirdest Fashion Trend? 
The plastic clip you would pull your t-shirts through to knot them on the side back in the early 90s. That, paired with neon bicycle shorts. Then in the late 90s, wearing baggy jeans and FUBU.

15. Favorite Collectible? 
These aren't a collectible but I recently found a girl on eBay who makes them, FLUFFY PENS! as inspired by the movie Clueless. I used these and milky pens exclusively from about 4th-7th grade. I'll do a blog post soon. I mostly collected stickers and rocks.

16. Favorite Beanie Baby? 
I've always loved teddy bears but I never really got into beanie babies. They were pretty expensive. I was more focused on buying purses and jewelry (not much has changed). I loved to get gifts for my friends. I told them that my parents were expected to win millions from Publishers Clearing House and in no time, money would be no object. Still waiting on that check, Ed McMahon!

The infamous Prize Patrol:

17. How many Tomagotchis did you go through?
I think I had one but couldn't figure out how to use it. I remember having a Koala Giga Pet that did nothing but munch on leaves and go the bathroom. I had a living, breathing shih-tzu that I loved so I quickly got bored with the virtual insanity.

18. Favorite Game System? and game?
It's a toss-up between Nintendo Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog from Sega Genesis. I spent hours playing on those!














Now Playing: "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul
*Early 90s magic! One of my first favorite songs.

100 Questions That No One Asks

1:Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed.
2:Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? Yes.
3:Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Out.
4:Have you ever stolen a street sign before? No but I want to.
5:Do you like to use post-it notes? Love notes but post-its aren't my favorite.
6:Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? No.
7:Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? Bear.
8:Do you have freckles? Yes.
9:Do you always smile for pictures? No.
10:What is your biggest pet peeve? Double negatives, no turning signals or people who smoke in confined spaces/large crowds.
11:Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Nah.
12:Have you ever peed in the woods? Yes.
13:What about pooped in the woods? No.
14:Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing? Yes.
15:Do you chew your pens and pencils? Pens- sometimes.
16:How many people have you slept with this week? 0.
17:What size is your bed? Full.
18:What is your Song of the week? Anything from Daughn Gibson. "Lookin' Back on '99" works.
19:Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Yeah.
20:Do you still watch cartoons? Never really a big fan.
21:Whats your least favorite movie? Hmm... nothing specific but I just can't get into blockbuster super hero/comic book character type movies.
22:Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? A cemetery.
23:What do you drink with dinner? Diet Coke, Water, Wine, Beer...
24:What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Ranch or Cheese?
25:What is your favorite food? French Fries or Pizza.
26:What movies could you watch over and over and still love? Clueless, The Wizard of Oz, Before Sunrise/Sunset...
27:Last person you kissed/kissed you? No comment.
28:Were you ever a boy/girl scout? For a hot second I think I was a Brownie.
29:Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? That ship has sailed. Maybe when I was 20.
30:When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? The other day. I love to write notes.
31:Can you change the oil on a car? No.
32:Ever gotten a speeding ticket? No.
33:Ever ran out of gas? No.
34:Favorite kind of sandwich? Grilled Cheese.
35:Best thing to eat for breakfast? Cereal. Pancakes.
36:What is your usual bedtime? Dawn.
37:Are you lazy? Yes.
38:When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? Dinosaur, Pirate, Pumpkin, Mermaid...
39:What is your Chinese astrological sign? Ox.
40:How many languages can you speak? English and a bit of Spanish.
41:Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Yes. Too many. Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Architectural Digest to name just a few.
42:Which are better legos or lincoln logs? Legos?
43:Are you stubborn? Little bit.
44:Who is better...Leno or Letterman? Letterman.
45:Ever watch soap operas? No.
46:Are you afraid of heights? Not particularly.
47:Do you sing in the car? Yes.
48:Do you sing in the shower? Sometimes.
49:Do you dance in the car? Yes.
50:Ever used a gun? No.
51:Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? A couple years ago.
52:Do you think musicals are cheesy? Yes.
53:Is Christmas stressful? Nah.
54:Ever eat a pierogi? No. I'm from Pittsburgh. I realize this is sacrilege.
55:Favorite type of fruit pie? Cherry? Apple?
56:Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Teacher, Magazine Editor, Model, Boutique Owner...
57:Do you believe in ghosts? Yes.
58:Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? Yes.
59:Take a vitamin daily? No.
60:Wear slippers? In the fall and winter.
61:Wear a bath robe? Yes.
62:What do you wear to bed? Not much.
63:First concert? Matchbox Twenty in Morgantown, WV. 2003-ish.
64:Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? Target.
65:Nike or Adidas? Nike.
66:Cheetos Or Fritos? Um... too close to call. Cheetos are good but get messy.
67:Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Neither.
68:Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? No.
69:Ever take dance lessons? Yes.
70:Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? Something requiring talent.
71:Can you curl your tongue? No.
72:Ever won a spelling bee? Yes.
73:Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Yes.
74:Own any record albums? Yes.
75:Own a record player? Yes.
76:Regularly burn incense? No but candles, yes.
77:Ever been in love? No.
78:Who would you like to see in concert? MGMT is still on the list.
79:What was the last concert you saw? The National at Stage AE.
80:Hot tea or cold tea? Cold.
81:Tea or coffee? Tea.
82:Sugar or snickerdoodles? Not sure what this means.
83:Can you swim well? No.
84:Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? Yes.
85:Are you patient? Very.
86:DJ or band, at a wedding? Both but a good band trumps a DJ.
87:Ever won a contest? Yes.
88:Ever have plastic surgery? No.
89:Which are better black or green olives? Neither.
90:Can you knit or crochet? No.
91:Best room for a fireplace? Living room.
92:Do you want to get married? Not yet.
93:If married, how long have you been married? N/A.
94:Who was your HS crush? Celebrity Crush- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
95:Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? No. I just do what I want.
96:Do you have kids? No.
97:Do you want kids? Yes but not for awhile.
98:Whats your favorite color? Light Metallic Gold.
99:Do you miss anyone right now? Yes.
100: Something that happened to you in middle school? I got the internet!












Now Playing: "Left Too Late" by Florrie

Music Monday: Elle King

"Playing For Keeps"


"I Told You I Was Mean (Live)"


"No One Can Save You"


"To Be A Man"


"My Neck My Back (Cover)" *Explicit Content, haha!



I don't regularly read music magazines or blogs. Instead, I prefer to discover new music organically- through word of mouth, opening acts, record shops, songs playing inside stores, in movies/television/commercials, etc. I first heard Elle King in a promo spot for season six of my favorite show, Mad Men.

I think there's a certain stigma behind the familiar "Mad Men commercial brought me here!" type comments as seen on sites like YouTube. My ears are always open. I think it's more respectable for your own taste to convince you that you like something as opposed to reading what some pretentious music writer is telling you is cool. Ears > Eyes.

Good music isn't a race. It shouldn't matter if you're the first to hear it or you're God forbid! several months late to the party. Strong music will continue to be discovered over and over for decades to come. If you listen to a piece of music within its first year or two of release, consider yourself well ahead of the game.

I stopped critiquing/reviewing music after about the third record that I did- all of which were positive. I don't mind suggesting things I like through Music Monday posts but you'll never find me criticizing what someone else considers art (at least not in print). Different strokes for different folks.

But I digress...

Elle King was born in LA, raised near Columbus, Ohio, and now resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Her EP, The Elle King, can be purchased here. A full length album is expected this year.

Official
Facebook
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The Barbie Happy Family Show

Genius! I admittedly miss playing with my Barbies (and maybe offered to babysit my little cousin so I could). I loved them so much. I would set them up and do real photo shoots with my Mom's camera. If the internet was around back then, I guarantee I would have posted something like this on YouTube. My sister and I always joke about how we made our Barbies' lives scandalous. They were always messing around with the New Kids on the Block dolls or out partying with the 90210 guys. You get the idea.