Hey hey girls and boys!

It is officially Halloween today and I'd like to wish you an amazing day filled with spooky fun!

I wanted todays post to be fun and bring together the spirit of Halloween...so I thought I'd share some last minute food and party ideas incase you are thinking of making it a fun evening for your kids or family and friends.

Make it a lavish affair :)

Donuts around the punch?  Winner!

This is awesome!  Graves of chocolate - rest in pleasure maybe?

This is easy, get some paper or fabric (cut into strips) and paste it around a glass bottle, decorate with pom-poms.  Make a frill for the top and pop in a cute stripey straw.  Tada you have a costume drink!

I love the little mummies...pastry around a sausage is super easy and tasty.

Get your kids to help decorate the table and craft some fun decorations

This is soo cool!  Skulls, spiders and leprecaun green....must be the luck of the Irish!

Don't forget your pumpkins....make them fun!

Make treats fun for your kids by painting and decorating match boxes...this is a great idea for trick or treaters AND parties :)

Make that party extra posh ;-) add some ghoulish stripes

How about a 'Walking Dead'-themed party?  Zombies anyone?

If you've got any great little ideas for a party....let me know!  Until tomorrow....

Boooo
Angelique x

Halloween looks made easy

Listen up, lazy girls: Halloween doesn't mean you have to settle for spandex Katniss Everdeen garbs (obvious, much?) or worse, some type of animal ears (boring!).

True, planning a unique last-minute Halloween costume can be exhausting -- especially for those of us who like to leave things to the eleventh hour. After all, how original can any costume be when it comes in a plastic bag? The only real way to ensure you'll be one-of-kind is to do it yourself.

Therein lies the problem though, right? DIY usually means days of sewing and gluing. The exact opposite of a last-minute solution.

Which is why I've rounded up some amazing Halloween makeup ideas that don't require anything except some lipstick, eyeliner, and face paint. Don't worry, these aren’t your typical green-face witch or oh-so-tired cat whiskers. Nope, I gathered some of my favorite, fresh Halloween makeup tips from Pinterest. Keep reading to see how you can stop stressing and find this year's Halloween costume.

Batman makeup

This hand-drawn mask is infinitely more comfortable than its heavy, plastic counterpart. Not only does the iconic symbol obviously ID that you are indeed Batman -- even if you're not wearing the long cap or rubber onesie -- but you only need one item to create it: black face paint.

Pop art makeup

Here's the perfect last-minute solution for all you artsy types: create a unique Litchenstein masterpiece on your face. To keep the look really authentic, add large blue tears under your eyes and act really lovelorn -- lots of sighs and eyelash batting -- to complete the emo effect.

Dia de los Muertos makeup

If you're a makeup pro, I've got the ultimate challenge for you. How about trying your hand at creating a Day of the Dead skull? The best part is there are no rules to this look and you can add as many colors, stitches, and flowers as you want. Although this effect will probably take some time, the pay-off is that everyone will be in such awe of your makeup skills, no one will notice the lack of costume from the neck down.

Doll & puppet makeup

Here's a look that takes less than 30 minutes. The real trick is exaggerating a rosy flush by piling on cheek tint into two neat circles and drawing two lines on your chin to represent the drop-jaw. Dolls can also add patches of defined freckles and doe-like eyes (waterline with lots of white liner!). Pinocchio impersonators should go for exaggerated facial hair -- in this case a cute mustache worked just fine.

Zombie makeup

There is a delicate balance to pulling off a zombie look that is scary without being too grotesque. Try updating the traditional white face paint with a creepy Frankenstein green or a corpse-like gray color. Then, add a few veins, over-the-top raccoon eyes, a splash of fake blood here and there, and boom -- you're the walking dead. Although a dark statement lip works, you can also try a chalky gray hue on your lips, too.

This is great and will really make the difference in a great costume vs a regular store-bought one.  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

xoxo,

Angelique

Monster Mash: Halloween Nail Art

Good morning ladies!

I'm so sorry for not blogging yesterday but I was so ill, I didn't do anything yesterday.  But I'm feel much better today and have decided to get typing!

Happy Halloween! I don't know about you, but once the calendar hits October 1st, I'm in full Halloween mode. (OK, real talk: I start planning next year's costume on November 1st.) It's time to break out the candy, start watching "The Shining" on repeat, and decorate my fingertips with the most amazing Halloween nail art.

This year nail art designs are all about classic scary monsters, like Frankenstein (or Frankenstein's monster for all you purists), skeletons, mummies, vampires, and ghosts. And whether you decide to go with a subtle hint of spooky or an intricate full-blown portrait of horror, there's a nail design right here for you.

Of course, it wouldn't be Halloween without some gore, and I've got the blood spatter to gross out even the most ardent horror movie fan. But I've also got you covered if you're going for cute with a design of one of Halloween's favorite candies.

The great thing about Halloween nail art is that you can wear it (and switch it up) for an entire month, unlike your costume, which is only good for one day. To make the most out of these designs, you better get started -- Halloween will be here before you know it.

honeymunchkin.com

Faux Claws

"Sexy" cats, Freddy Kruger, and Lady Gaga are just a few Halloween costumes that require claws. But before you file your nails into sharp little daggers, try this nail polish trick instead. First, paint your nails with a nude nail polish. Once dry, place two pieces of tape diagonally on the tips of your nails to create a pointy template. Fill in with a gray or black polish. Once the dark polish is completely dry, remove the tape. Instant claws!

swelldesigner.blogspot.com

malibumara.com

Bloody Nails

If Andy Warhol was a manicurist something tells me he would've invented these pop art-inspired nails. After all, these blobs of blood and freaky eyeball/vampire teeth are all about fun. To get this look, use a nail art striper brush, £1.77, to create the thin, detailed lines of the accent nail. And to create the big blob shape, try a nail art dotting tool, £1.95, then spread the polish with the striper brush.

peacelovepolish.wordpress.com

bakingbeauty.net

Green Monsters

Frankenstein is one of Halloween's most iconic monsters -- and you can celebrate this green guy with some nail art. Either keep it subtle with a simple stitch (use a striper brush) or go all out with an entire portrait. The main thing is to pick the right shade of green.

swatchandlearn.com
makeupmirror.tumblr.com

Rattling Bones

Usually we hide our skeletons in the closet, but not with this mani. You'll definitely need a striper tool to get these fine lines, or you can use a toothpick if you don't have a brush handy. Keep in mind that it's always easier to paint over white polish than black polish. If you want to paint over the black polish, it'll take at least three good coats of the other color.

swatchandlearn.com

Candy Corn Obsessed

Candy corn definitely takes the crown for the sweet with the most Halloween spirit. Transfer the fun to your nails with this playful mani. And no need to be a perfectionist; since candy corn never has perfect stripes, feel free to freehand the three basic colors.

trendhunter.com

beautylish.com

Blood Splatter

For a more realistic blood bath -- albeit nail art style -- try one of these manis. Both of these looks require white and red polishes. To get the splat effect, put a drop of red polish on your nail and use a toothpick to spread out the blood. For the bloodier nails, choose a darker red (more life-like) and dip a toothpick into the color then drag it across the nail.

Instagram @Laneykatherine

Creepy, Crawly Things

This mani isn't for the arachnophobes out there. To get started, paint the base of your nail mint green. Then, like the claw mani, use tape to create a template for the top of the point, and fill in the tip with black nail polish. Finally, use a striper brush to create the spider.

naildesignsdoityourself.org

bluetapeandnails.blogspot.com

Say Boo

Ghosts can be friendly (like Casper) or scary (like every other ghost in history), and with these two manicures you can decide which take you want on your nails. For a friendlier vibe, use a hot pink polish to create smiley mouths on all your ghosts. If you want to go the scary route, stick to the plain black and white -- with a twist. Use a glow-in-the-dark nail polish, like Sephora by OPI in Full Moon, £9.50, to paint the ghosts. Now, everyone can see them no matter how dark it gets ...

youtube.com/pixiepolish

Day of the Dead

These sugar skulls are traditionally used for the Mexican celebration, the Day of the Dead. And even though it sounds scary, this holiday is about honoring friends and family who have died. But it doesn't change the fact that skulls are pretty creepy ... no matter how many flowers adorn their eye sockets. This nail art design is for a more advanced artist (you'll definitely need a striper brush and a dotting tool) and you can check out the step-by-step tutorial here. For beginners, we say go with Day of the Dead nail decals, £3.50, and save yourself the hassle.

Pinterest User Marx Kohlhoff

Mum's the Word

This is one mummy that won't require a hundred rolls of toilet paper. To get these friendly-ish creatures all you need is black nail polish, white nail polish, a toothpick (or striper brush), and a dotting tool. Dip the toothpick in white nail polish and drag it back and forth across your nails to create the mummy's gauze. Draw another line near the tip of the nail in black polish. Then use the dotting tool to create your mummy's eyes. Spooky, yet cute at the same time.













I'm loving these designs and if you have any designs that you can share, please do!  I love Halloween time and the chillier winter weather creeping in.

Have a wonderful day,
Angelique

Things To Love In October

October has arrived ... along with a bunch of great new beauty products. From nail polish kits to entire cosmetic collections, the beauty world has a lot of great offerings this month, and they're all about making a statement. This month, you can turn your nails into a disco ball with a fun sequin manicure, paint your lips Marilyn Monroe red with one brand's newest venture, and perfect the cat eye without dealing with eyeliner. To see just what I'm talking about take a look inside.

Along with the regular batch of new products, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every year beauty brands create limited edition products, and donate money to breast cancer research in exchange for your purchase. But with so many out there, how do you know which products to buy? You just check out my top two picks inside.

And who can forget Halloween! To get in the spooky spirit, I've gathered a few products that you'll need to have this holiday, like spider nail stencils and "Monster Mash" nail polishes. It might be only one day out of the month, but something tells me you'll love these products year round.

Ciate's Sequin Manicure

Ciate takes the cake when it comes to inventive manicures. After all, they did create the caviar and the velvet mani. This month, Ciate is back with a brand new nail kit. It's the sequin manicure, £15, and I am in love. Available in three different versions -- Harlequin (multi-colored), Tutu (pink, red, and champagne) and Super Duper (black, silver, and gold) -- these sequins have just the right amount of sparkle, making them perfect for the upcoming holiday season. The only problem will be deciding which version to choose.

The Colossal Cat Eye

Creating an amazing cat eye isn't the easiest skill to master. Besides a great eyeliner, you need a steady hand (and lots of patience) to get that iconic look. Luckily, it just got easier with The Colossal Cat Eyes Volum' Express Mascara, £7.99, from Maybelline New York. With a claw brush and a collagen-infused formula, it coats and separates your lashes while extending them outward. This means that next time you can skip the eyeliner and apply a few coats of this new mascara to recreate that feline vibe.

Sultra's Temptress Power Dryer

When it comes to great hair tools, Sultra knows a thing or two. I'm already a huge fan of their curved flat irons and rod curling irons, especially the Bombshell Cone, £100. This month signals Sultra's latest release, the Temptress Power Dryer, £150.

Just what makes this hair dryer so special? It uses an advanced drying system that produces tons of infrared rays and negative ions -- great for drying your hair in lightning speed while defending it against heat damage at the same time. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Revlon Sweetly Sinister Nail Art Stencils

Nail art is about to get a lot easier. Revlon has just released a line of Nail Art Stencils, £4.50 each, with designs perfect for Halloween. This Sweetly Sinister collection features spiders, skulls, stars, and even funny little moustaches. All you have to do is stick one of the stencils onto your nail (bare or with dry enamel), then paint over it with polish. Once dry, simply peel off the stencil, leaving behind your own tiny masterpiece. Now you have to decide: Sinister or sweet?

Nars Andy Warhol Collection

We're used to seeing Nars Cosmetics in its signature matte black packaging, but that's all about to change. This month marks the release of the Pop Art line from the Nars Andy Warhol Collection, and the makeup (along with the packaging) is as vibrant as the pop artist himself.

The Pop Art line includes eyeshadows, lip glosses, and nail polishes in fun, playful colors. (I'm in love with the purple "New York Dolls" nail polish shade!) Plus, the makeup comes in Warhol-inspired packaging, like a soup can container covered in the famous "Interview" lips. In November Nars will release the second half of the collection, called The Factory, which features a more subdued palette than the Pop Art line -- even more to look forward to.

Stila Courage and Beauty Travel Palette

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Stila Cosmetics are showing their support with a new beauty palette. The Stila Courage and Beauty Travel Palette, £12, may look tiny, but it comes with a wide variety of products, including five matching eyeshadows, a lip and cheek tint, and a small mirror. And if you're unsure about how to use them, the product comes with a face chart to help you out. But the best part is that for each palette purchased, £1 of the proceeds will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Shopping never felt so good.

MAC Marilyn Monroe Collection

Andy Warhol isn't the only pop culture icon to get a makeup collection. This month, MAC is releasing its limited edition Marilyn Monroe Collection. The collection contains 30 pieces and features eyeshadows, nail polishes, lipsticks, eyeliners and much more, each packaged in famous Marilyn imagery. (Products range from £10 to £30.) With these products, you can get Marilyn's famous red pout or recall her Hollywood glam vibe with shimmery pale eyeshadows. And with names like "Preferred Blonde," "Deeply Adored," and "Charmed I'm Sure," you'll have just as much fun memorizing all the shades.

Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Sherbet

Missing summer's warm rays? This fall, reclaim your sun-kissed cheeks with Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Sherbet, £18.12. This peachy-hued powder will add a nice shimmery glow to your cheeks, and can double as an eyeshadow if needed. And this is another purchase you can feel good about: For each blush sold, £2.20 will go to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Orly Spellbound Collection

Spider nail art isn't the only way to show your Halloween spirit. Orly has created the Spellbound Collection, £8.50 per polish, just in time for the holiday. The four polishes include "Liquid Vinyl" (a rich black), "Monster Mash" (glittery green), "Right Amount of Evil" (glittery orange), and "R.I.P" (a glittery red and black mix). You can wear the glitter polish alone for a sheer effect, or layer over the black polish for a darker vibe. I don't know about you, but these hues have me extra excited for Halloween.











These are nine reasons to absolutely love October and embrace the colder weather.  Sure, it gets darker sooner at night, and sure we're having to start switching on the heating...but what a fabulous collection of new beauty products to tittelate our tastebuds!

Have an absolutely stunning day.

xoxo,
Angelique

Exciting News and Halloween Ideas....

Hey guys!

My exciting news is that I'm currently going to be doing separate non-beauty posts for the next few months.  I'm not constantly going to be droning on about it, just mentioning the items about once a week or every other week where necessary.

These items include: 
a)  A new segment on my blog for home decoration and party tips (the hostess with the most-ess)
b)  And some Halloween looks and ideas

Okay, so if you are not excited that is fair enough - tune out - but if you are as excited as me, PLEASE join in!

I'm already in full planning mode for Halloween, Bonfire Night AND Christmas (sorry it is a dirty word this early on in the year).  BUT planning is crucial and I have sooooo many ideas.  So today I'll be sharing some of my favourite YouTube Guru's that are already showing you how to get that epic costume sorted for the event of Halloween!

Then on Wednesday, I'll be showing you the renovations we are currently undertaking in our bedroom and how far we've managed to get, and I'll also share some up-and-coming DIY projects for the home. I'm super excited for this, because I'll share some very cool tips and tricks to make any projects and decorating you have easier.

So without further ado, my favourite You Tubers:

Dope2111 has been on the scene for a very long time.  She is fabulous and has done many different looks to transform yourself with make-up.  All her tutorials and easy to follow and she explains herself well.  Tune into her channel for anything from Jessica Rabbit to Alice in Wonderland characters.

Kandee Johnson is another well known celebrity make-up artist, who has a knack of making the whole make-up transformation easy peasy.  Check out her channel for many looks that she's done for Halloween in the past, and she'll more than likely start showing you fun ways to transform yourself now too!




I'll be showing you more of my favourite YouTube Guru's that transform themselves soon!  Enjoy these firstly.  Hope you have a blast today.  I know this might seem early but I love this time of year!

Very much excited,
Angelique

It's Halloween....

I hope you all have an amazing Halloween...if you are going out to any parties tonite, please be safe!  If you are recovering from a weekend of parties, condolences!  Hahaha, hope you feel 'up to work' soon!  I've got a massive Guy Fawkes Party coming up next weekend...and I'm so looking forward to it.  We bought some crazy fireworks!! :)

Have you been lucky enough to carve your own pumpkins?  I had some bad luck and my pumpkin rotted! Here is a few amazing pumpkins that have been carved for Halloween, and also have a look at the 'Google' logo which is made entirely out of amazing pumpkins!  Put a big smile on my face this morning!

Still looking for an idea for your Halloween costume?  Why not try this easy makeup look which is amazing!  Kandee Johnson on her blog and You Tube channel have done lots of easy breezy Halloween looks.  Check her blog out here.

If you still haven't got any sweeties ready for those trick or treaters, how about taking inspiration from these cake pops.  These are fairly easy to make and a lot of fun!  If you'd like to attempt these little beauties...have a look at 'The Pink Whisk' for a full recipe and 'how to'.

The most important thing during this time is just to have fun and be safe!  Watch your favourite scary movie, enjoy the hype and the sweeties...the fun comes around only once every year!

Lots of scary love from me

ANGIE X X X