How to do pretty much any theme on a budget: Part 1 Halloween Costumes

Ok, This requires some ingenuity and some thinking. What do you want to be?

Fae perhaps?

I wanted to be a fairy, so I accomplished this for a little less than 30 bucks. The only reason it was even THAT high was because I wanted a specific look. A Basic Fairy can be accomplished for anywhere from $5-10

First thing look through your closet and bring out some of the stuff you rarely wear or your basics. Leggings, tank tops and anything with sparkles work great. I was lucky enough to find a great LBD at Deb shop for $4 in the summer (another great budget tip, think ahead, even MONTHS ahead) It's a black ruched dress with scarf skirt, meaning the skirt is uneven and this one is trimed in purple.

My Outfit:

Black and Purple Dress: Deb shop clearance rack: $4.
Black and Purple Wings: Joann Fabrics on sale with coupon: $10
Long Sleeve Shirt (Lace pattern): Wal mart: $6.
Pink Bob Wig: Jo Ann Fabrics with coupon: $5
Purple & Blue Clip in braids: Party City: $1
Glow in the Dark Wand: Dollar tree: $1
Black Knee Highs: Leftover from costume two years ago: free
Mini Top Hat: AC Moore: $3 (embellished with Two flower hair clips and an old stretchy headband: Free)
My usual Ballet Flats: Free
Headband with Satin Bow and Netting: Had this for awhile but it was from Claire's for like less than $5.

Total: $25-30 (depending on if stuff from my closet of random stuff counts towards the total. lol)

But you likely have a cute little black dress or maybe even a pink, purple or floral print dress in your closet right now. Tights of some sort are also likely in the sock drawer (or easily attainable at Wal-mart or a drugstore) Add some wings and jewelry and awesome makeup and you are a fairy!

Wings:

My complete look. I'm pretending to fly. NBD

I was able to find Black and Purple fairy wings at Jo Ann Fabrics for $10 (coupons are your bff)

But actually my local dollar stores (The most awesome "Dollar Tree") usually has fairy wings in every color imaginable in the little kids section. So that's Wings for $1! or you could get two pairs (they are a bit tiny) and rearrange them to make them bigger... You can also clip/pin them on your back instead of the little stretchy arm loops

 Actual Pair of Dollar Store Wings. 

I got "Tink" green but they have Yellow, Blue, Red etc...

 
Fairy ideas:

1. Outfit: Think sparkly dress, skirt and one of your "going out tops" High heels and your more blingy jewelry. You're practically a Real Housefairy of "Insert City" here! You need tights. I suggest a flower headband, awesome makeup and 
maybe something glow in the dark? Dollar stores will hook you up with great accessories. Fun sunglasses, wands etc. Look in every section, housewares, gift wrap, party supplies, kids, seasonal. Get creative!

So Fairy just isn't for you, eh?

How about Pirate?

Go to your closet look for anything striped. Pair it with a flowy skirt (You can even pin up sections to make it uneven!) Have a corset, vest or super wide belt? Add that to the mix! Go to the Dollar tree or any dollar store/party store and buy a little pirate toy kit, eye patch, hook, fake gold coins, telescope all great props. I even found a skull and crossbones plastic flask!  Add boots, fishnets if you have them and rock it out! Argh!

Gyspy?

Honestly you can accomplish this look for free.

Pick out a long skirt, add another shorter skirt over it, pin up a section of the shorter skirt so it looks off kilter and tiered.
Got a flowy top or one of those white loose bathing suit cover up shirts?
Wear that with a vest or wide belt, add scarves lots of bracelets and a scarf on your head and you are a gypsy.
You can add a clear glass Christmas ornament as your crystal ball....

Obession of the moment:: Hair Bows

They are back.

They are SUPER girly

They are usually abnormally sized

They are....

(dun dun dun...)

HAIRBOWS!!!

I've been sticking stuff in my hair and on headbands for a while now. In fact one friend asked me if I have a great big box of hair accessories. So much to my excitement I saw that lil Miss Snooki (of Jersey Shore) is wearing them now instead of her poof. (Being from NJ, the poof still is VERY much alive in our culture. Varying heights of course, but still..)

I think they are ADORABLE. 

Now I know many of you will think they are garish, immature or ridiculous. But fashion is not one size fits all. and I'm not rocking the bow everyday. 

Do you wear one to the office? likely not, unless you work for Betsy Johnson or something (If you do, hook a girl up! LOVE BETSY)

But are they fun for a party or a day of girl-related fun? (Think mani-pedi shopping, lunch) YES!

AWWW. lol

But Snooki is not some radical visionary sent from the overly tanned shore of Jersey to bring us these accessories. Oh no.

Example number 1

Hello Kitty. She's been rocking a hair accessory, 
usually a bow, cocked crookedly on her left ear for decades now.

Example Number 2

Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck. They have many styles of bows, and they are adorable.

Example number 3

Michelle Tanner and Stephanie from Full House, 1988-1997
I'm the same age as the Olsen Twins so I totally rocked these looks in my younger days.

Proof is in the pictures:

hair bows, they can be used for any occasion. Don't underestimate their true prowess ;o)


Recently even Snooki is not alone in her hairbow usage:

 From the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Aretha Franklin.

Mama Monster herself, Lady Gaga. She made HAIR bow a whole new concept.

Bridget Marquardt of Girls Next Door Fame at a Sanrio/Hello Kitty event (She's a personal favorite of mine!)


So rock the hairbows people. ROCK THEM!

I made this one. I went to Michaels crafts and got ribbon (2 rolls for $5) and made them for my friends. I made one for my friend Megan that had Owl ribbon. My bff Vikki got Blue polka dot (her fav color) and my Mom got pink with zebra and shoes, because she's my fashionista Mama. 

Have fun with it!

Random finds on the interwebbies:

 Not sure who this is, but its from the 60s or 70s for sure.

 Sue Lyon from Lolita

Cute Barbie bow from RubySweets on Etsy

Memories, candy coated Memories...

When I was little, around 5 my Mom mom used to come stay with us while my Pop Pop and Dad went to work together (they left super early in the AM like sleepy time hours and she didn't want to be alone) She would occasionally bring me a present, if I'd been sick or did something good at school or whatever (I'm an only child, and had significant health issues as a wee one) Well I distinctly remember the day she brought me a hair bow. I'd had them before (see pics above including the not pictured baby me when my Mom taped one on my head because I hadn't grown hair yet. lol.) But this one was "Barbie" it was purple and sparkly (I will dig through my stuffs and try and find it.) I just loved it. It was practically the size of my head.

I miss her so dearly (She left us for heaven in 2004), and I wish she was still with us (for MANY reasons) but she would so love that bows are "back" <3

Introductions *SPARKLE INTRO*

Hello!

I'm Steph. I use Sweetheart Steph often especially when you are new in a group and they do those "Say your name and something to describe yourself with the same letter, so Sweetheart became my go to for that and people remember it years later. I guess my smiley "disney princess" attitude might help it stick.

This blog is going to be really varied because I have a ton of interests. I'm really girly and creative so it'll involve a lot of sparkle and pink. lol. I ADORE Halloween, Christmas and party planning so that will be frequently mentioned too!

I've worked with blogs both personal and professional (did an internship with an AWESOME wedding blog for the Philly area "The Fab Bride" Check it out here I'm an advertising major and I love graphic design so I hope to get more experience there.

so Welcome!!!
Stick around and please feel free to comment me with any post ideas you want me to do!