American Horror Story: Asylum - Welcome to Briarcliff Indeed

(This post is semi-NSFW)

Okay, so I know that everyone is like "ERMAHGERD American Horror Story scares me so much" but I'm like, "Yeah, I've seen it all before".  Yeah, mmmhmm, same deal this season, folks.  Nothing in that show really scares me BUT do you want to know why I love it?



Some spoilers under the cut!

Adventures with Coffee - The Cappuccino Take 2!

1. El Coqui coffee grounds / 2. My sweet little French Press / 3. Letting the coffee steap with my boiled water / 4. While my coffee was steaping, I warmed some creamer and started whisking / 5. Time to press / 6. Time to pour / 7. Add creamer to the coffee / 8. My foamed creamer (using a whisk and plenty elbow grease)

I think I'm on the right track but I know what I need: a percolator.  Dammit!  If only I could find some place that would sell them...Oh yeah - Bed, Bath and Beyond!  Yep!  They had one and I broke down to get it PLUS an immersion blender.  Why?  Well, it's pretty versatile.  We can make soups, creams, sauces, and most importantly, I can use it to whisk my milk!  W used to make me these AMAZING cappuccinos on random days when I would come visit and she used her immersion blender to make the prettiest foam.  Why it took me so long, I have no idea.  I guess maybe I needed more justification for an immersion blender and, well, Fall = soups, "cream of things" soups and lots of whipped topping for the upcoming pies that I'm sure will be baked.  Cappuccinos just happen to jump in on all the fun on random mornings!  I hope my new experiment works because I can't keep throwing money at the big-chain coffee house and I can't just leave that wonderful coffee that was sent for me to sit and look pretty!  Believe me, I'd much rather throw money at local coffee houses but OTP is severely lacking in the indie coffee department.  Oh well.  I'll be sure to document it and hopefully, it will be a success!

PS - I'm really loving the simplicity of the RTV Film on the Hipstamatic.  Have you downloaded the Rock The Vote FreePak?  You've got until November to snag it!  The combo I used on these photos was: the Tejas Lens (from the SXSW FreePak - another Pak that I love) and the RTV Film

Full Moon Mani Test Run

You guys! I was looking around the internets for cute designs to try on the ol' paws when I came across this amazing look from one of my favourite nail blogs:The Illustrated Nail.



OH. MY. GAWD. I LOVE IT. And thank goodness there's kind of a tutorial for it here.
Armed with China Glaze's Liquid Leather (for the night sky) and Lubu Heels, Sally Hansen's White On, Orly's Shine On Crazy Diamond (as the "stars"), my makeshift dotting tool (made from this tutorial) because I don't have a striper brush, and a makeup sponge, I was ready to try it!


Well? Not bad, I'd say! I used Lubu Heels for the night sky on the rest of my nails and saved the full moon for my thumb (since it's the biggest "canvas").

I wanted to keep my manicure simple for my simple Halloween costume.  Since we're filming on Halloween (again...), I decided I'd keep my costume super simple so that I can work the filming in the morning and not have to worry about a super drastic costume change later.
So what is it??  Who am I dressing up as?  Marceline the Vampire Queen from Adventure Time!



You can't get any easier than jeans and a grey tank top, right?  I don't have the red boots, though.  Red shoes look weird on me so I'm sticking with some boots and I have a wig.  All I need is some vampire fangs and I'm all set! 

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

Project Runway: Finale Part 1 - The Recap!

Surprise!  Everyone gets to go to Fashion Week!  What a (non) twist!  Who didn't see that coming?!  Whoa!!!  Yeah okay, now that I have that out of the way, let's chat about the cherished Project Runway tradition of the Tim Gunn home visits.

Christopher.  Oh, Christopher.  I love LOVE that textile you had made of your Mom's xray.  I LOVE IT.  But then I kept seeing this beauty lurking...



It's VERY reminiscent of Christian Siriano's designs but that shit looks good, girl. Why didn't you show that shit off?! The judges practically jizzed themselves over your rip-then-sew technique that just so happened to win you a couple of challenges and here's the mother of them all and you left it in the workroom?!?!? I get that it probably needed to be fit to the lucky model who will end up wearing it to Fashion Week BUT I think you should've fit it, altered it just for presentation time (you know, Santino Rice-style with some pins and a basting stich here and there) and then seen what the judges would've said. DAMN! I know it's not that easy but you know what I mean. Instead, you showed these three beauties.
   

Honestly, I didn't have a problem with these three looks but I'll agree with the judges that it was a bit of a boring presentation to go to Fashion Week. I mean, when you have that gorgeous gown above, why on Earth would you present some short shorts and a bleached leather bustier?

Dmitry, Dmitry, Dmitry...Why didn't you tell me you were in Jersey City! I totes could've visited with you! I kid, I kid. But seriously folks, what is this?



What is this? I know you can make a mean dress and your lines are to die for but, Dmitry, what's with the sheer shirts? What's with that crazy jacket?! What was up with ALL OF THAT when this gorgeous thing was waiting on a dress form back in the work room?



Seriously?! That looks like the Dmitry I know and love, not that wierd fringe jacket thing. Well, I guess it's very Dmitry but shit - that dress looks like pure design insanity - in a good way. Why in the world did you leave that in there? I mean, it was clear that that white dress didn't fit your model all that snugly but you still sent it down. I'm sure you could've done the Santino thing and run a basting stitch just for the sake of presentation day, right? Ugh, I know it's not that easy but why didn't Tim step in and be all, "You have this gorgeous gown. YOu're going to present it, right?"

Fabio's really surprised me. He lost me with those crazy bowl cut wigs but I was captivated by his whole collection. I know the judges said you either love it or hate it so, throw me in the LOVE IT category because I think it's fabulous!



I loved the colours, I loved the accessories, I loved the flowy drapeyness of it all and I loved how light and street it felt. I think Fabio had a really great collection.  Nice touch with the Jeffrey Campbell Litas in there, too.  Call me crazy but I thought it was absolutely lovely and just so fun and different and the right amount of "weirdly beautiful". Fabio, I hope to one day have you design very special piece for me! I would LOVE IT!

I think I might've been expecting more from Melissa. I don't know why but I think I was secretly expecting some sort of weird, demented collection full of blacks and reds and metal and ripped up seams. Instead, there was a dress similar to the Marie Claire @ Work challenge (which I loved), short shorts and a pirate jacket.



First off, what's with the wigs? I'm glad the judges got onto her for that. They were awful. Second - I'm with Nina: CUT THOSE SLEEVES OFF!! I hate those pirate cuffs! The jacket is beautiful...until those you get to those gigantic, comical pirate cuffs. What is that?! I'm excited to see what else Melissa has but at the same time, I'm kind of like: "Meh, it looks like the 'elegant' part of Taylor Momsen's closet. I guess." I don't know. I'm conflicted. She has a great eye and I do really enjoy her aestheic but I hope there's more.

Tough Love Time: Is it just me or has this season of Project Runway recieived MORE tough love pep talks from Tim and the Gang than any other season because it sure feels like it to me. I mean, I get that it's hard and emotionally taxing and all that but I feel like Heidi had to slap the kids around for presenting just okay looks for Fashion Week. You can't wait for the Big Reveal at Fashion Week, the Big Reveal has to happen on that presentation day or else they might not give you that Big Reveal day - which is what Heidi said. Come on guys. You know how the show works, you know that if you presented it to the judges on review day, the would probably jizz their pants and maybe, just maybe, keep that in the back of their minds during the big show. Shit - they might love it even more during the big show because it was such a strong piece among your other more subdued pieces. Who knows. But I think that's why they decided to let you all in - because you all promised a statement piece at your presentation.

I know Tom and Lorenzo posted photos from Fashion Week and I yes, I might've looked at them but that was forever ago and I'm fighting the urge to look at them again just for the sake of being (kinda) surprised during next week's episode.  I'm hoping they all turn it around.  They have such strong ideas and I've come to love each and every one of these designers and I'm secretly rooting for all of them because they all have pieces I adore but like always, there can be only one. 

You want to know what I think?  I think Dmitry wins because of the way his attitude has been progressing in his little side interviews.  I don't mean that in a shitty way - I'm just saying.  If you go back and watch the last few episodes, you can see a glimmer of something in his eyes.  I could be wrong, though.  I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Who are you rooting for?

Phila / Jersey Photo Post 1 - Part 2

1-3: Pat's King of Steaks / 4: Geno's cheese steak / 5-6: Independence Hall (aka National Treasure) / 7: The Liberty Bell / 8: The world famous LOVE sculpture / 9: Philadelphia City Hall / 10: Cassie and Mark's wedding / 11-13: Philadelphia Museum of Art / 14-16: Eastern State Penitentiary

October In the North East - Part 1

GAH!!  We're back from Jersey / Philly and let me just say that I learned some things on this trip.
First of all, let me get to the good stuff - the wedding was AMAZEBALLS.  Cassie and Mark are the cutest couple ever and their wedding was endless cute!
From where we stayed, it was an hour from Philadelphia so we planned a lot of our activities in the City of Brotherly Love.  Funny that that is the nickname but from what we experienced, NO ONE in Philly has a sense of humour.  Well, except the guy who rented us our car at the airport and the wonderful lady at Geno's.  I'll get to the cheese steaks in a moment.
We tried joking around with the people at our most favourite Whole Foods in the world - Whole Foods South Street.  BEST vegan selection I've ever seen and LOTS of wonderful desserts.  The staff wasn't the most humorous but they were nice enough, I guess.  The small amount of people we interacted with at the various places we went to weren't that friendly either.  Here's an example: we went to the wonderfully AMAZING Philadelphia Museum of Art 50 minutes before closing time and it just so happened to be the first Sunday of the month so it was "Pay what you wish" Sunday.  Normally admission for 2 adults is $40 but we paid $20 for the both of us since we only had LESS THAN AN HOUR to check things out so when my old man handed over the $20, the guy at the counter was like, "Uh, that's all?"  Um...we could've paid LESS but we didn't.  I think $20 was generous since we only had 50 MINUTES OF VIEWING TIME LEFT.  Geez.  I will say, I was nearly brought to tears in this museum though.  Everything was GORGEOUS.  I mean, we got to see Picasso's Sunflowers in person!  The High can't compete with that.  Sorry, ATL.
My other terrible encounter was at Pat's King Of Steaks.  I get it - they have a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to ordering.  I even had my order ready: One provolone with.  That's all I needed to say.  So what was the problem?  Well, there are two windows: one for sandwiches and one for fries and drinks.  I got it.  I went to the sandwich window.  The 4 guys behind the counter ALL SAW ME and they turned back to their phones.  I stood there, waiting to spit out my order but I got the side eye and then nothing so I went to the fry window and was like, "Can I just order with you since they're not paying attention" and the kid was like, "If you want a sandwich, you need to go to that window".  Really?  Frustrated, I went back to the sandwich window and waited.  They saw me and two other people behind me and turned back to their phones.  Finally, I was like, "Hi, can I get a sandwich?"  I expected a bad attitude from what I've seen on all the TV specials and stuff but I wasn't expecting a SHITTY attitude.  I'm clearly not aggro enough for the North East.  And guess what?  The sandwich was "meh" anyways.  I wasn't that impressed.  Geno's, on the other hand, had GREAT customer service and the same sandwich - provolone cheese steak with onions - was AMAZING.  The lady behind the Geno's counter was a doll.  She greeted me and let me get my sandwich order out the way I wanted, not in a 3-word command.  I don't get the two window thing, though - Geno's had a separate sandwich and fries/drink window as well.  So in the Great Cheese Steak Debate, my pick is defnitely Geno's.
As for the rest of the trip, it was fantastic!  We hit up the Mütter but I don't have any photos from that since they don't let you take photos.  *Sad Face*.  We also hit up Love Park, Independence Hall - which I dubbed National Treasure for the obvious reason, the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia City Hall - sounds boring but the building is GORGEOUS and we couldn't be staying in Jersey without hitting up my favourite comic book store: Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash!  We also found a killer vegan pizza place in Philly (with amazing hand-cut fries) and enjoyed ourselves at the real reason we were there: Cassie and Mark's wedding!  Several photo posts to follow!

Project Runway: In A Place Far, Far Away - the Recap!

Sorry for the EXTREMELY LATE Project Runway recap!  I've been trying to get to it but I haven't had the chance!  Ugh - and it was the big one right before Fashion Week: the always delicious Avant-Garde challenge!
I LOVED the inspiration idea: characters from a new L'Oreal Paris line of makeup (I forgot what it was called - SORRY!)  The designers / muses went as follows:
Fabio - Enchanted Queen
Sonjia - Seductive Temptress
Dmitry - Wise Mystic
Melissa - Artsy Muse
Christopher got to pick since he won the last challenge and he was the last one picked and he went with - Enchanted Queen.

I think it was the long day of traveling or maybe I was in a funky mood but I wasn't too thrilled with anyone's except for Christophers even though his looked like Michael C's evening dress.
Check it

  VS 

A little similar but Christopher took more of the costume route for this Avant-Garde challenge - which I LOVE but then again, every time I think of the Avant-Garde challenge, I think back to Christian's GORGEOUS dress



A little costumey but ALL GLAM. So Christopher's, while it was channeling Michael C's, I thought was pretty - even with the feathered arm pieces! Kors wasn't a fan but I really enjoyed the costume aspect since they all had characters as their muses.

Fabio's Enchanted Queen was a little less costumey but definitely Avant-Garde.  How?  DAT JACKET.



Fabio said he drew inspiration from when he used to wear his shirts upside down (guilty of that) so he literally turned this jacket upside down. When it's worn one way, it creates a really pretty shape but when it's worn the other way, it makes a whole different shape. I loved his explanation for how he wanted to show the dualities of a person in power - put together on the outside and falling apart on the inside. UGH - SO GOOD!  Again, it was getting into the costume arena but I like that sort of thing.

Sonjia got a tongue lashing from Tim.  He told her that she wasn't designing to the best of her abilities and that ultimately got her sent home.  Thank goodness because her designs were slipping.  Case in point - this hot mess:



Enchanting Temptress? I don't think so. Maybe the producers wanted her gone so they "stole" her gold fabric at Mood? Who knows. Either way, this was a DISASTER.  The illusion wasn't anywhere near the model's skin tone and it looked like she ripped down some curtains - and NOT in the chic Gone With The Wind way.  Sonjia's been phoning it in the last few challenges and this definitely seals that deal.

I loved Melissa's - if it had been for another challenge, I would've loved it even more.  I don't think it was quite Avant-Garde for the Artsy Muse, erm, muse but it worked.



The colours were great together and the pattern on the skirt was wonderful but as far Avant-Garde is concerned, I'm not quite sure this really fit. I mean, the structured collar was a nice touch and the red lining in the skirt was cute but nothing really stood out as different.  I guess Melissa using bright colours was the Avant-Garde part, eh?  Cute.

Dmitry took home the win with his Avant-Garde school teacher with a bejeweled collar thing.  Not to rag on my From Russia with Love BF but I was a little confused by this Wise Mystic....

 

Dracular collar? Check. Expert tailoring? Check.  Anything else?  Um...not really.  I mean, he did make a well-tailored suit and thoroughly confused everyone with the addition of the Dracula collar and the weird sleeves that you can't really see.  I don't know.  Maybe Heidi liked the subdued sex appeal of the foxy-looking cutout on the front of the top (very clever) and the super-high slit up the skirt in the back?  I don't know but at least he got props for his immaculate tailoring.  I guess that counts for a win.

Since they had characters as muses, I wish they had been able to take more of the costume route.  I think that's what was hurting everyone.  They had these wonderful fairy tale characters to work with but Tim steered them away from the costume area but I think if they were able to make Avant-Garde costumes, it would've been a little better.  I mean, imagine that!  I think I would've preferred that challenge outcome to this one because I know Fabio could've gone further into a more upscale, couture Joan of Arc-type look and Christopher's would've been CRAZY.  I just know it!  Oh well.  I guess we can't all get what we want.

Next week, our designers prep for Fashion Week and I'm super excited to see non-blurry photos of the experience!

Who are you rooting for?