FROM: lifestyle.msn.com

Never got around to buying that Morticia Addams ensemble? Harness the Halloween spirit with a kooky (but not creepy) look that you can pull together in a snap, snap.

By Andra Chantim and Julia Edelstein

Ceiling Fan

Ceiling Fan costume

Ready? Ok! Use adhesive letters (or masking tape) to spell go ceiling! On a shirt. Carry pom-poms or mopheads. Short pleated skirt optional.

Iron Chef

Iron Chef costume

Wear a chef’s hat ($7, cheftools.com) or an apron and hold an iron. Bonus points if a friend dresses as your (orange-clogged) competition: Mario Batali

Fork in the Road

Fork in the Road costume

Wear black. Using white duct tape, make a line of dashes (your lane lines) that begins at one ankle and ends at your collar. Fasten a fork along the route.

Split P

Split P costume

Cut out a large p from a piece of colored construction paper, then cut it in half. Tape it to your hoodie so that the zipper appears to slice through it.

Bottleneck

Bottleneck Costume

Grab an empty bottle from the recycling bin. Tie a string around its neck, then loop it around yours. Complain all night about “traffic on the 501.”

Pumpkin Pi

Pumpkin Pi costume

Dress in orange. Cut out a pi symbol from black paper (or print one out; type option + p) and tape it to your shirt. Look infinitely more festive.

Buccaneer

Baccaneer costume

Tape a $1 bill to each of your ears. Now you’ve got a buck an ear.

Self-Portrait

Self Portrait costume

Carry a large, empty picture frame (minus the glass) and hold it in front of your face.

Tickled Pink

Tickled Pink costume

Dress from head to toe in rose or fuchsia. Accessorize with a feather boa.

Cat Out of the Bag

Cat Out of the Bag costume

Wear cat ears. Hold an empty bag or pillowcase. Purr-fection!

Tokidoki Barbie

FROM: www.myfoxchicago.com

The new Tokidoki Barbie is not your mother’s Barbie.

This lady has hardcore tattoos on her upper chest and neck. She is the result of a partnership between Mattel and a Los Angeles-based fashion brand called “Tokidoki,” which means “sometimes” in Japanese.

Mattel said there’s no controversy here.

“Barbie has sported an endless array of styles. Many of Barbie’s most pop-culture couture outfits have been designed for the adult doll collector. The Tokidoki Barbie is a perfect example of a limited-edition doll sold through select retail locations,” the company said in a statement.

Tokidoki Barbie

“Mattel has identified that maybe young girls do want something that’s a little bit more mature,” said Mike Santoro of Walker Sands Communication. “There are a lot of moms on blogs and on social media complaining. But there are also moms out there that do look and dress like this. There are moms that have pink hair and have tattoos.”

Tokidoki Barbie is selling for $50+ and there only have been 7,400 produced.

In addition to the Barbie, tokidoki is also producing limited edition Tokidoki Barbie apparel ranging from t-shirts to handbags, on their website.

FROM: lifestyle.msn.com

Forgot to plan your costume? No problem! A MAC makeup artist shows us how to create cool, cute, and, yes, even spooky looks in no time.

By Lizzie Dunlap

“If you have good makeup, it can really take the pressure off of finding a Halloween costume,” explains MAC makeup artist, Chantel Miller. “But, every year, we see people come into the store in a panic because they were either too ambitious with their idea or waited until the last minute to try it out.”

To avoid this, Miller recommends having a realistic goal about what you can accomplish pre-Halloween fête (“You won’t suddenly become a pro just because it’s the last day of October,” she points out), doing a practice run at least a few days before the 31st, and, if all else fails, booking an appointment at a MAC makeup counter well in advance to get the experts’ help.

As for some ideas about possible faces to try on this All Hallow’s Eve? “This year is interesting because there isn’t a big movie, like Avatar, that a lot of people will copy,” explains Miller. “But TV and the spring 2012 runways were packed with inspiration.” Here are a few of her easy-to-recreate styles that will satisfy girlie-girls and die-hard fright night fans, alike.

1. 1960s Vixen

“With shows like Pan Am bringing back the retro trend, a great last-minute costume idea is to go as an old-school sweetheart,” explains Miller. “All you need to do is keep your skin clean except for a little blush, wear a pink, opaque lipstick, and apply many coats of lengthening mascara.” Pair the look with a shift dress, knee-high boots, and a perky ponytail, and you’re good to go.

2. Robert Palmer Lady

He may have been addicted to love, but you’re addicted to simplicity. “I love the 1980s glam-rocker look of slicked-back hair, bold brows, and red lips,” adds Miller. “After that, all you need is a white button-down, black mini-skirt, and inflatable guitar.”

3. Futuristic Femme-Bot

Blame it on Olivia Wilde. “The one movie makeup trend we might see this year is the sci-fi look from Tron,” notes Miller. “This space-age aesthetic would work particularly well on women with jet-black or platinum blonde hair. Stick to silver shades for your smoky eye and use black eyeliner pencil to fill in your lips.”

4. Hee-Haw Girl

“Jeremy Scott’s spring show was a fun reference to old-time cowgirls,” she adds. “Part your hair into pigtails, use lots of mascara, and dot your eyebrow pencil on your cheeks to create exaggerated—and super cute—freckles.” The only hard part is shimmying into your Daisy Dukes.

5. Vampire or Zombie.

“The biggest mistake people make with these types of looks is that they use white foundation too heavily,” warns Miller. “White eye shadow is a more transparent and flattering way to create a paler face.” Miller also suggests using darker eye shadow tones to contour beyond-the-grave cheekbones. As for her secret trick to acing ghostly mugs that are still a little sultry? “Keep your look slightly asymmetrical,” she continues. “Having subtly mismatching eye makeup will be disarming. Remember: Not-so-perfect execution can be especially sexy on Halloween.”

No costume? Here are some last minute costume ideas->

FROM: lifestyle.msn.com

These past winners of Good House Keeping’s  “Carve the Cutest Pumpkin” contest really got into the Halloween spirit! Their amazing handiwork is sure to bring a smile to your face, and to spark your own creativity.

House Pumpkin

House Pumpkin

Kim Ludwiczak and Renee Wisniewski of Livonia and Madison Heights, MI, added gourd-and-berry window boxes.

Apple Core Pumpkin

Apple Core Pumpkin

Andrew Wojciechowski of Sterline Heights, MI, crafted this apple core from painted pieces of pumpkin.

Baby Pumpkin

Baby Pumpkin

Jill Cook of Benicia, CA, used real baby clothes for her little pumpkin.

Pumpkin Birds

Pumpkin Birds

Pumpkins of a feather nest together — here, on Linda Reamer-Hilbish’s porch in Sewickley, PA. (The tall, spindly legs are made of broomsticks.)

Cat and Fish Pumpkins

Cat and Fish Pumpkin

Carrie Steskla and her daughter Serena of Chandler, AZ, purr-fected this picture of an orange cat sitting next to his dinner.

Cat Pumpkin

Cat Pumpkin

Jill Louiselle Gantos of Grand Rapids, MI, created a cat-o’-lantern with beach grass whiskers.

Alien Pumpkin

Alien Pumpkin

Julie Kendziora and her class in Needville, TX, used pipe cleaners for antennae, amplifying the “alien” effect.

Pig Pumpkin

Pig Pumpkin

Susan Schwoch of Oak Bluffs, MA, who loves pigs, made a pumpkin porker to match her iron doorstop.

Pirate Pumpkin

Pirate Pumpkin

When her ten-year-old son dressed up as a Halloween pirate, Christy Lauman of Irrigon, OR, put a matching costume on her jack-o’-lantern.

Sea Turtle Pumpkin

Trevor pictured with his Sea Turtle Pumpkin

Their pumpkin got smashed, so Trevor (left) and Brett Holthaus of Seneca, KS, created a sea turtle.

Spider and Web Pumpkin

Spider and Web Pumpkin

This boo-tiful pipe-cleaner spider and his web were done by Kimberly Werner of White Bear Lake, MN.

 Teenager Pumpkin

Teenager Pumpkin

Karla Grush-Erven of Auburn, WA, created a teenage pumpkin, complete with cauliflower headphones.

Easy to Make Halloween Decorations for Adult Parties

FROM: www.associatedcontent.com

By D. Miller, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Despite what you may think, Halloween is not just for kids out trick or treating for candy! Halloween is also more than scary mummies and witches brew. Halloween can be an elegant affair and what better way to celebrate with other adults than with an elegant Halloween party?

Here are some Halloween decorations that will leave your house looking decorated for Halloween, but not over-done.

Pretty Pumpkins:
You can decorate a pumpkin for Halloween without having to go to all the trouble of carving and scooping out pumpkin innards. Make several of these in various sizes. Set them around your home or on your porch. You can even use the mini-sized pumpkins and use them for place card markers for your dining room table.

For each pumpkin you will need:

Pumpkin-any size

Toile fabric (this is net-type fabric)-any color works, but for added effect, look for the shimmery kind. Try this in gold or even purple.

Sheer ribbon to match tulle

Large rhinestones

Glue gun

Begin by placing your pumpkin in the middle of the fabric and bring it up around the stem. Tie the top with your ribbon and trim the fabric to give it a pretty look. Use your hot glue gun to attach the rhinestones all over the outside of the fabric. Now you have a pretty and elegant Halloween pumpkin.

You can do the same type of thing using pumpkins, but not wrapping it in the fabric. Instead, hot glue the rhinestones, feather boas and glitter directly to the pumpkin.

Dead Tree:
If you have a blank spot in your home that you need to fill with a quick and easy (and elegant) Halloween decoration, here is your answer.

Locate a very large branch from a tree that has fallen to the ground. Make sure it has no leaves attached. Use black spray paint to paint the entire branch. Use a large coffee can filled with sand or rocks to anchor the branch into the can. If you have time, you can also use concrete for a lasting decoration. Now, all you need to do is to add a string of white Christmas lights to your dead tree. If you want, you can add spider webs to the branches. Place it on your porch or in the corner of your dining room for your guests to enjoy.

Halloween Table Centerpiece:

This centerpiece will have your table looking frightfully elegant.

You will need:
One old candleholder (the larger the better-find one that can hold several tall taper candles)

Wax

Melt the wax on the stove. Place the candles in the candleholder. When the wax is melted, set the candleholder on a large, covered work surface. Use an empty can to pour the melted wax on the candles so that it drips down and onto the candleholder. Pour the wax slowly so that it resembles a haunted house-type candelabrum.

Spider Web Tablecloth:

You do not have to have a cutesy Halloween-themed tablecloth for your Halloween party. Netting is always pretty and you can use it to your advantage for your dining room table.

You will need to purchase white toile fabric. Make sure you get enough to cover your table and enough to drape on the sides of the table, too. Begin by placing a solid orange or black tablecloth on your table. Now, cover that with a layer of toile. You can easily trim it to fit your table. For the edges of the table, gather a long piece and cinch it in the center (thread works well). Now, fasten this to your tablecloth. You can either sew it in place or use a hot glue gun. Use small plastic spiders to place randomly on the table. Very elegant, yet scary!

Use these ideas the next time you want to throw a Halloween bash, but do not want to fill your home with cute witches, ghosts and ghouls.

FROM: chemistry.about.com

Tasty Ways to Make Fake Blood

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide

What would Halloween be without blood? Fake blood can be expensive to buy, plus it’s not exactly edible, much less tasty. If you’re going for the vampire look, you want blood you don’t mind getting in your mouth. Otherwise, you might just want blood that you know is completely non-toxic. With those goals in mind, here are some recipes for realistic-looking edible fake blood. Please feel free to post a reply if you would like to share additional fake blood recipes.

Fake Blood Recipe #1 – Cherry Flavor

• can of cherry pie filling
• 8 ounces cream (softened) cheese
• water

1. Use a fork or spoon to remove the cherries from the pie filling.
2. Mix together the pie filling gel with the cream cheese.
3. Stir in a little water to achieve the desired consistency.

Fake Blood Recipe #2 – Strawberry Flavor

• packet of stawberry glaze
• 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• red and blue food coloring

1. Mix together the strawberry glaze and the cream cheese.
2. Add a drop of red and a smaller amount of blue food coloring to achieve the desired color.

Fake Blood Recipe #3 – Sweetened, Unflavored

• 1/2 cup white corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup water
• 15 drops red food coloring
• 1-5 drops blue food coloring

• In a bowl, mix together the corn syrup and the corn starch.
• Add water until the mixture is the consistency of blood.
• Mix in food coloring until you achieve the color of blood that you want.Note: If you use blue or green food coloring or one of the neon tints, you can make ‘alien’ or insect blood using this recipe.

Fake Blood Recipe #4 – Chocolate Flavored

• corn syrup
• red and blue food coloring
• cocoa powder or chocolate syrup
• corn starch (optional)

1. Sir red food coloring into the corn syrup until you have a deep red mixture.
2. Add some cocoa powder or chocolate syrup to darken and thicken the fake blood.
3. If the color still isn’t deep enough, add a drop or more of blue food coloring.
4. Stir in a bit of corn starch if you want your blood to be thicker.

Vampire Cosmo

Dylan ’s Candy Bar: Vampire Cosmo

Makes 1 serving

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
Red sugar (“Pucker Powder”) or a cherry Pixy Stix
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) vodka
3/4 ounce (1 1/2 tablespoons) triple sec
3/4 ounce (1 1/2 tablespoons) cranberry juice
Ice cubes
Glassware: cosmopolitan glass
Garnish: wax fangs

Dip the rim of a cosmo glass into the lime juice and then dip again into the cherry-flavored colored sugar. Pour the vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into the glass and attach the wax fang to the rim.

RED WITCH
1 Shot Pernod
1 Pint cider
Blackcurrant cordial

1 shot Pernod in a pint glass. Fill almost to the top with cider and add blackcurrant to taste

VAMPIRE SHOT
1 1/4 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Chambord
Cranberry juice

Mix vodka, chambord, and a splash of cranberry juice. Shake with ice. Strain into a small glass

BLOOD CLOT
1oz Southern Comfort
1/2oz Grenadine
Sprite or 7up

Add Southern Comfort to shot glass then fill up with Grenadine and sprite/7up

VAMPIRE
1 shot Chambord
1 shot Vodka
Splash Sprite
Fill glass with Cranberry juice

Mix in cocktail glass and add ice

Party Planner Halloween Bash With Dina Manzo

FROM: glo.msn.com

Summon The Spirits

Set a spooky tone early with sophisticated but scary invitations. “I recommend sending them out weeks prior to the party because holiday gatherings are abundant, and you want your guests to commit to yours first,” says Manzo.

Filler Up

For decor, Manzo suggests using seasonal squashes. “For Halloween, I fill different-size jars with gourds and mini pumpkins,” she says. To kick things up a notch, try spray-painting them glittery shades of silver and gold. “A large apothecary jar with colorful or sparkling gourds and pumpkins is simply gorgeous.”

Haunted House

Mix vintage china, crystal goblets and pieces from flea markets for a very “Old Haunted Mansion” feel, suggests Manzo. She also likes to raid her mother’s cabinet for funky old pieces. “The older it looks, the better.”

Get Jiggly With It

You can make just about anything out of Jell-O molds, according to Manzo. Add them to pomegranate martinis or to dark red sangria. “You can also add gummy worms for a fun little touch,” she says.

Creepy Crawlers

Manzo says you can easily make spiders with a few craft store items. Try wrapping black fabric around foam and sticking in pipe cleaners to make legs. Rhinestone eyes will give them a bit of adult-like glamour.

Heads Up

Skulls are trendy enough that they can now be found just about anywhere. Manzo likes to jewel them up with black crystals and use them to hold votives or even bunches of toothpicks.

Mummy Dearest

Manzo says that muslin cheesecloth is a festive alternative to regular napkins because they look like bandages. “Their raw edges look a bit spooky, but wrapping them in crystal napkin rings will offer instant sophistication.”

A Cut Above

Transforming mini pumpkins into placeholders is one of Manzo’s little tricks. She says to make a small slit on top with a knife or carving tool before firmly inserting a paper card. Alternatively, you can simply glue on the guest’s initials with black rhinestones.

Branching Out

Decorating with twigs and natural elements from the backyard makes for stunning table decor. “You can actually braid the pieces together or intertwine them at the ends,” says Manzo. For a similar effect, city dwellers can buy willow branches, which florists sell as filler.

A Tangled Web

Manzo says you should never forget what’s above your head! She likes to hang cobwebs up above for an eerie touch. “Dangling from a beautiful light fixture makes them look fun rather than tacky.”

Creepy Cuisine

For food, Manzo says she loves dishes that are tasty and elegant but not childlike. “Grilled vegetables like eggplant and onions are fun because they shrivel up like old bandages,” she says. “I also like recipes with blood oranges, and meat with dark sauces.”

Trick Or Treat

Manzo says to go for broke when it comes to candy for your Halloween party—just make sure it is placed in elegant adult serving pieces. “I like to pour candy into crystal bowls and apothecary jars so that it looks as if it’s spilling out,” she says.