Stepford Wife Halloween Costume

Stepford Wife Halloween Costume, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

I threw together this Stepford Wife costume this past weekend in very last minute fashion. I'm most proud of my tearing flesh and exposed robotic face. I did this look just using my everyday makeup and one secret ingredient/component that you probably have in your house right now. I'll be doing a "get ready with me" DIY video so stay tuned :)

EDIT: My camera stopped working mid-video and this tutorial will have to wait until after Halloween. I'm super disappointed :((

Mini House Tour

Dracula, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

So I'm finally finally putting up my Halloween decorations this weekend. I have to do a little cleaning and reorganizing first. But it got me thinking that a lot of my permanent year-round decor is a little spooky already. Unless you know me in real life, you haven't seen exactly what I mean since I've shown very few pics outside of my kitchen. So! I decided to do a mini house tour, showcasing my creepy and kooky items. I enjoy these pieces 365 but figured you would find it entertaining with the Halloween season upon us. To satisfy further curiosities-- the rest of my house is an array explosion of antiques and pop-culture, namely Star Wars. Children always love our house and we have been told many a time that our house is like a museum! Okay, so on with the show!

Cheap Crafting Supplies !

Back to School, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

The stores are already flooded with back 2 school sales. Staples has white school glue and crayons for 25 cents each for the first two and a little bit more for extras. I got the e-mail the other day at the doctor's office and hit Staples on the way home.

I wasn't planning on it when I woke up that day but I bought some crafting supplies with the change in the car. I can't pass up crayons or glue on sale. I've got some cool crafts coming up that call for both. Also-- I prefer the way RoseArt crayons melt over Crayola or other brands.

I've gotta get more and stock up before stuff goes back to regular prices!

Fresh Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

I got more than my share of sun the other day and am now nursing a bad sunburn. I have a bunch of lovely aloe vera (also called "true aloe") growing in my backyard. I thought I'd show you how I harvest the fleshy leaves and extract the gel.

Curtains from My Childhood

mom's curtains, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

So my mom gave me a set of her curtains a month or so ago. They hung over the sliding glass back door in my childhood home. I've wanted to share them but was trying to find them in an old picture. I found one today while cleaning my office and it couldn't be more perfect.

On the far left I'm playing house, fake-ironing what looks like a tea towel. You can see the curtains behind me. The next pic I snapped shortly after we moved in while our dog was staring out the window.

For now I have one panel on each window. It feels a little naked to me but it's temporary. I'm going to scour thrift stores and see if I can find a matching set. They're old but not that old, so there's a chance I'll get lucky. If not, I'll incorporate some new curtains into the mix and do something snazzy. if all all else fails, I'll just hang both panels on a singular lone window like in the kitchen or in my office. Any ideas?

Picnic Plates

paper plastic plate, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

I'm super in love with these plates. They're actually plastic reusable plates that resemble paper picnic plates. I found them in the dollar section of Target for a buck each. We recently had to toss our plastic plates that got warped in the dishwasher and I've been on the lookout for some new ones. I was very tempted to buy a set of eight and for 8 bucks who could or would blame me? But then I remembered it's just me and my husband and our kitchen table only seats four and more importantly when do we ever have eight mouths to feed all at the same time since we moved out into the middle of the desert? Let's just say I've learned to buy something awesome when I see it because it's usually not there when I go back.

Vintage Valentine Wedding

Wedding Guestbook Alternative, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

My husband and I used vintage postcards in place of a guestbook for our 1920s themed wedding. Using vintage valentines would be a cute idea too. I ordered these off of Etsy and can't wait to craft with them. Here's an idea of what it could look like at a Valentine wedding. Get more ideas and inspiration from my Valentine-inspired wedding article.

being green IS easy!

20 ways to live greener, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

Would you care more about saving the planet if it actually saved you money? Well it can. Lots of people think continue reading...

A Pretty Peacock Wedding Day

my peacock wedding, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

Invitations, centerpieces, and flowers-- Oh My! How I gave my wedding day the peacock treatment. Read on if you're planning a peacock wedding...

Homemade and DIY 80s Costumes

80s halloween costumes, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

A great guide for female 80s costumes. Includes inspiration and substitutions for dressing as some of your favorite retro continue reading...

Easy Halloween Decor Ideas

Apothecary Halloween Jars, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

Lots of last minute ideas on how to make a spooky Halloween or centerpiece using what you've got and or spending very little money. From acorns to zebras, this list continue reading...

Thrift Store Finds

Blue Bubble Gum Machine, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

What can you put in a bubblegum gumball machine besides gum? Lots of ideas to inspire you and send you heading to your local flea market, antique shop, continue reading...

Wedding Planning 101

My husband and I on our wedding day, a photo by Heather Says on Flickr.

DIY wedding planning can be stressful! In 2011, my husband and I planned our own wedding every step of the way. One of the most important continue reading...