Baby Mountie Costume

AHHHH! The old template is back! Oh happy days! I messed with it and it got all messed up and I was googling "Make my template go back to normal.." and it wasn't going back to normal and then I found a button that let me go back in time to the original layout.. I cried tears of joy.. And I learned my lesson not to mess with my template no more..

Anyway, since Halloween is around the corner, I thought I would post how to make a Mountie costume for le bebe. I posted a picture of the finish product on FB for Canada Day but didn't add the step by step pictures. As a Canadian, one can't help but crush on Mounties.. They're Dudley Do-Right/Brendan Fraser (who I ADORE!) They wear jodphurs and ride horses.. Oh heart! Anyway. Here's an easy guide to making your bebe look all honest and bootlegging stopping..(pictures taken in July.. he's looks different now, he has stubble)

What you'll need:
Black material- enough to make baby pants and some leftover stuff
Yellow ribbon- 2 thick pieces 2 thin pieces
Red sweater
Fabric Glue
Sewing Machine
Elastic for waist
A Beer

Take a pair of baby pants that they already wear and use that as a template. Of course, since you are making jodphurs, you'll have to make hip space, like dis.

Then sew together and create an elastic waist, like dis.

To add the yellow ribbons, I used fabric glue. This is just a costume for fun not a pageant, people!!

Take a red sweater and add the thin yellow ribbon and black material for the shoulders and neck. I hand stitched because the sweater is Bennetton and we are poor and I will want to re use said sweater. It looks a little Star Trekky in this pic..

But ta da Officer Raphael rocks the party, that rocks the party..

See? Super easy costume. I did papier mache a hat but it wasn't great. So I used a tuque instead, you know, he's half Canadian and all, eh? Tabernac!

ALMOST HALLOWEEN! HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Zombie Miley Cyrus

Every year at our Halloween party we give a "trophy" for best costume. It's a vote and not biased and I wish everyone could win since everyone goes above and beyond. It's my happy spot when I am blue. This year, while checking out a cheapy store in the neighbourhood, I found a Miley Cyrus doll. I could not contain my excitement.. I don't mind Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana/future burnt out childhood star. Her father, Billy Ray, is the king of mullets and male highlights and that says something. What? I'm not sure.. So I brought Miley home..

Now, looking at the box, I realised my Miley was a knock off. It promised me a bracelet.. There was no bracelet. How could gawd be so cruel? Anyway. I freed her from her confines and checked out her gear. Obviously she's a little bit country and a little bit slutty. I'm not sure about her shoe choice.. Guess she never got the memo. oh hahaha..

For a zombie Miley, the Hannah Montana over conditioned pube like hair had to go. Her 90's outfit had to be altered. Zombie skank chic, if you will. There you go.

Now what's a zombie without some blood? An Emo. Well, now she's pretty bloody.. This is definitely not a Nashville party.. well maybe if you gut your own fish and don't take a shower.

But zombie Miley isn't finished, oh no. Taking liquid eyeliner I accessorised and highlighted. So pretty. Obviously she can't be tamed.

So there it is. A quick tutorial on how to make a doll into a zombie. It's fun and slightly perturbing. Better run, there's a party in the USA.. or in my pants... either or..

Halloween Things

It is a cold and rainy morning and we have heat, finally. I love feeling cozy, I love being wrapped up in a blanket- it is so much more flattering. Things are so absolutely hectic and for a second it is hard to figure out why.. but then I look around and say "AHA! It's getting closer to the big event!" The Annual Halloween Party! The set up isn't so different from last year but that is because we have a small place. One day, when we move into a bigger place, I will most likely spend hours planning where each decoration will go before we even sign the deed. One day, one day.

This year there will be a lot of "freshmen" coming and that makes me happy. I love Halloween virgins at my party! I like the comments like "Oh wow!" or "Your walls are going to look like Swiss cheese when you take this stuff down." to which I reply "No worries! I have SPACKLE! Muahahaha..!" I have a few last minute things to take care of that I do on the day of the party- ie, change the lightbulbs in the hallway and blood line the bathtub. Otherwise the decorating is done. Just need to find that damn smoke machine!

Our menu this year is:

Meat Lasagna
Curry with coconut rice
Morrocan meatballs with coucous
Cheese pizza
Baked Spinach Dip
Roasted Potatoes
4 cheese Penne

We're expecting around 25 people so it'll be tight but oh so much fun.. And now I must go and make the "trophy" for best dressed.. I leave you with a little somethin somethin. Our candelabra, all gussied up..

Plans for the next few weeks..

I make lists.. I make lots and lots of lists.. My purses are filled with old lists, the cabinet is stocked full of em too. Every Sunday I write out a list of things to do in the following week.. It keeps me organised.I need my list or otherwise I would be lost.

My lists are written on post it notes in tiny letters with check boxes before each task.. A normal list includes tasks such as; vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the toilet and bathroom, clean kitchen and kitchen floor, do laundry, put away laundry, change sheets, clean bedroom, clean kids room, write and send article... and then usually; finish sewing projects 1-5, apply fake blood to window, fix roots, paint nails, lose weight, teach kid Chinese..

I'm busy and I love it.. In the next couple of weeks I will be posting the dress I made for an upcoming wedding, a capelet I made for myself, a dress I made for myself, a skirt I made for myself, some Halloween stuff, a couple of recipes and of course Halloween costumes for the kid..

My mother bought this for the kid.. I love it. Dragon child...Please ignore the mess in the back.. I obviously hadn't followed my list.

Projects in the Works

We're in the middle of September.. Yes! Fall! The weekend was in law intensive. I found out something that makes me lol and perhaps a little noivous. According to one in law, a guardian for our children should be a single woman that G shall marry upon my passing. Wait, what?! Now call me crazy, but I assummed that a guardian would be someone to take care of the kid when both of us pass and NOT G marrying the nanny. So all you single ladies, line up and I'll make my choice.. I jest, I I I am so confused. Anyway. That was a fun conversation.

As promised, here is another Halloween project I completed the other week. It's a basket that I converted into a spooky basket. It has a bit of a Burtonesque (I'm trademarking that, step back you vultures) feel to it and I think I will fill it with something spooky, like Luke Perry's hair gel. Or just his hair. Whatever. Ta da.

It was pretty easy to make. I took a normal small basket. Spray painted the outside, glue gunned some material on the inside, and made clay vulture heads and small bones. I like it. It says, "Hi, you can use me for your keys, or maybe your prescription pills." Bless.

Today I will finish some sewing projects that I have been avoiding, they keep staring at me. Bastards. I also feel like today is a good day to throw out my gazillion magazines that I keep "just in case". For what? Who knows but you "never know."

Onwards! To the Sew mobile!

Happy Tuesday!

These are a few of my Favorite Things

Insomnia hit me hard on Saturday night so I went online and stumbled across Prince Poppycock. Now, this guy showed up on America's Got Talent a couple of months ago and he is FABULOUS. Here's a link to his first audition.. Youtube his other appearances. He is FABULOUS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jgXi8bR-6k

I got all teary eyed watching these videos. There's something wonderful about a person being "discovered" and not manufactured by an organisation.. It's a Cinderella story. Sigh. Long live the prince!

Now that we are fully into September, I am anxious to get started on the Halloween decorating but alas, I have to wait for a couple more weeks out of respect for the Husband.. Oddly he isn't into the whole fake blood, hanging bats, noose look. To satisfy my cravings I have a couple of sites that take the edge off. The first one I discovered a few years ago. Dis guy here does a Halloween countdown every year and provides my soundtrack for October. He also does a Christmas countdown- I'm looking at you Sarah. Here is his link- his Halloween countdown started just 2 days ago. I am so EXCITED!
http://x-entertainment.com/updates/

Next up is a fairly new find. She had a Halloween wedding last year and it looked gorgeous.
http://creepycupcakes.blogspot.com/ Why didn't I have a Halloween wedding? Because someone had to go and veto. Thanks a lot G.

I am not a member of this forum but there are some amazing "haunters" on the site.. I can and do spend a long long time on this site. http://www.halloweenforum.com/

So those are a couple of my favourite things. It's getting closer to Halloween and the pressure is on. I finally settled on a costume, I talked myself out of being a pregnant Hooters girl because people at the party will be eating..

Happy Monday!

Projects in the Works

It was a pretty awesome weekend.. Yesterday we went to Pötzleinsdorfer park and we saw deer. Bambi in living colour. It was great. Getting the Husband there was a complete and utter pain. He kvecthed.. "It's so far away. It's too naturey. I'm cold" If I didn't know any better I would have said he was a Jew. This makes me happy. He cheered up when he saw the goats and the insanely overweight pigs. It's back to school day and I laugh maniacally (sp?) as I drink my cuppa tea and wear my pj's. Suckas! Anyway, as promised, here is a picture of one of the projects I finished. Zombie Barbie. She'll be the prize for best costume. Isn't she lovely?

She kind of looks like me when I was in college and lived of vodka martinis and avoided vegetables. Bless.

The Husband is staying home today- he's kaput from the 50 hour work weeks- and this puts a wrench in my plans to throw out more of his crap but there's always tomorrow. heh. I'm heading out soon and hitting a goth store in search of some Halloween stuff and then the afternoon will be spent writing my new book and thinking about various things I would like to accomplish before I turn 30. Acid peel? Italian?

Happy Monday!

Party Planning

It's still hot. I feel like I'm in the South and should be drinking iced tea and meeting the ladies for bridge. I'd need a hat though. I've always been enamored with the south. I think it started with Anne Rice books that I read and then there was the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and then Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. There is something sultry about the South and regardless of political leanings I kind of dig the accents. There was a restaurant/bar in Toronto called Big Daddy's that the Husband and I loved to visit. It was in a New Orleans style and the Husband liked the "Girls Gone Wild" videos they showed in the bathroom. Dream trip? Nawlins and Savannah. Seriously.

So I sit here sweltering and wishing I had a porch and a pool, I've decided to start some Halloween crafts. Every summer I start to get in the mood for the bestest holiday eva. For the past 4 years I have been having parties and each year the decorations have increased. We have no more space in our storage locker but does that stop me. Hell no. The craft I am starting with will be a life sized witch. How I will make this? No clue. But papier mache is my friend. I will post pics of my progress and y'all will be like "awesome. What a cool witch." So that is the plan for today.

The pigs will be picked up today. They seem ok with this and I should probably remove the glitter and nailpolish. I jest Kat, I jest. They've been fun to hang out with but I need my fan back.. They're covered in fur, it only seemed fair they would get the fan.. And they squeal and I swear one muttered he would use my skull as a drinking cup.

Happy Thursday and stay cool.. way cool.

The Ghost of Partays' Past

I'm a huge fan of Halloween. Ask anyone and they will tell you that I am borderline obssessive about it. I grew up mostly in Europe due to my father being in the foreign service so I missed out on a whole lot of trick and treating. Am I bitter? Yes. Do I need therapy to fill that missing gap? No. I've made up for it now with 3 huge Halloween parties under my belt. (By huge, I mean about 20-25 people in our small apartment. And when you're cooking for 20-25 people, that's huge). Halloween means different things to different people but to me it is all about slutty costumes... No, it's more than that but, yeah, you know...

I'm also a fan of theme parties. Here is a list of some of the ones I have hosted the last couple of years:

Armida's Baby Shower: Sea theme- turquoise and sea shells as the dominant theme
Katy's Baby Shower: Lord of the Rings- spray painted styrofoam rings and lots of greenery
Sarah's Baby Shower: 80's Yuppie- Zebra print, neon pink and baby powder in lines on mirrors (classy, I know)
White Trash Party: Christmas lights and clothes lines and well, Ed Hardy posters
Come as Your Favourite Austrian Party: Mozart profiles, a papier mache Hundertwasser house and the Alps

I usually start planning a party about 3 months in advance. The menu will change at least 15 times before the party and I inevitably end up adding more dishes on the day of the party.

Upcoming parties:
Toga Party with Greek food for my twenty something birthday
Baby Shower for a Russian friend - Theme: Dr. Zhivago

Since it's the Christmas season, I'll be adding pics of my decorations soon as well as some recipes and crafts. 'Tis the season!