I know it's only August, but...

Ok so Halloween is still two months away, but won't be long coming, believe me! I must admit I have already started to think about this year's costume, but I haven't made anything yet as I'm torn between two ideas.

What about you? Do any of you already have plans for this year? A costume you've always wanted to do, a party you're having, a special event you're going to?

And the most important question... what will you dress up as?

Tea time!

Earlier this week I went with my Dad to help him clear out some things from my late Granduncle's house in East Cork. We found some really interesting bits and pieces, from Uncle Steve's RAF memorabilia to his old binoculars, and hand knitted dolls made by his wife May, along with some mutant spiders and alot of dust!

One thing we came across was a very pretty china teaset, which Dad later said I could have if I liked. I was delighted as it really reminded me of going for Sunday tea at May and Steve's when we were small :)
So, I wrapped it in plastic, took it home and carefully cleaned up the cups, saucers, plates, jug and sugarbowl, and now I think it's the prettiest teaset I've ever seen!

Apart from a small crack in the sugarbowl, it's all perfect, and the bright turquoise and pink pattern is really vibrant. Even the gold edges on each piece are all intact. I want to display it on the shelves in our little sitting room, but I can't wait to actually serve use it first. Tea, my dear? And sugar? One lump or two?

How cute would these plates look filled with French fancies, cucumber sandwiches or macaroons?!  I'll have to have some friends over for some girlie afternoon tea really soon.

Below are some gorgeous items I found on Etsy while day dreaming about the perfect Summery tea party...

Featured items:
1. Bunting by giggleberry
2. Box of Macarons by Bokolette
3. Eat Me Party Picks by vintagetwee
4. Custom Patchwork Dress by mariansmale
5. Pink n Orange Sparkly Napkin Ring by Vividhome
6. French Pink Vanilla Cupcakes by SugarPlumsCupcakery
7. Custom Handpainted Maryjanes by Puremystyc
8. Aqua Star Burst Tealight Votive by yevgenia
9. Pink Lilies Earrings by blueserendipity

Halloween Party

Wow, what a great party!

We had over 25 people in the end, which was perfect! Everyone made a great effort with costumes, and there was a huge variety. We ended up with a bit of a fairytale theme, with me as Snow White, Zoe as Rapunzel, Vanessa as Red Riding Hood, Claire as Dead Riding Hood, and Conor as the wolf! Great fun.

At the last minute I got some gold heart jewellery to finish off my outfit, and accessorised with my bluebird and a sparkly apple Christmas decoration! It wasn't very tasty, and possibly was really poisonous...

I followed the makeup instructions on Michelle Phan's Youtube video exactly, and I think I got the Snow White look pretty much right. I wore red glitter lipgloss over candy red lipstick to really set of the pale skin and rosy cheeks. I did have to keep re-applying though, but it was worth it :)

We made the Tru:Blood very successfully, and though it tasted a bit like Benylin, it was pretty good! We made six bottles, labelled up to look like the real ones, and then refilled from the giant jug of mixture we'd made. It was rasperry vodka with grape juice and a dash of cherry soda. It looked perfect! Ruth also made up a tiny vial of "V juice", which was really one of her contact lens bottles filled with red food colouring. Mmmm!

Here I am making my best Snow White face! See my lil birdy?!

Happy Halloween!

I can't wait for Halloween this Saturday. This year we'll have our sixth annual costume party!

We've been gathering decorations and making our costumes for weeks now, and the invitations have all been sent out. Every year, people make more and more effort with costumes, so this year is going to be fantastic! Alot of people will make their outfits, or cobble together bought and found bits and pieces to come up with something great. Or creepy. Or hilarious. Or downright terrifying!

We also usually have a themed cocktail or punch, and this year the drink of the night will HAVE to be Tru:Blood! Ruth and I have been researching the right bottles to use and I'm going to print out the label templates I found here. Yay! We're making a mixture of raspberry vodka, grape juice, cherryade and red food colouring. Mmmm. I'll post pictures when we have it made and bottled.

Now, back to the costumes! I'm Snow White this year, and my costume is just about finished. My mom and Ruth pretty much made the dress for me, and I've sourced and made all my accessories. (The perfect black wig; red hairbow; blue princess shoes; a lil bluebird to perch on my finger; and of course a flawless red apple)

I have to figure out the best way to create the doe eyes, innocent face though! I think the makeup is really important fo bring the elements of a costume together! This is the look I'll practice tonight - I think it could work really well :)

The last thing I need to do is make some cute apple themed jewellery for myself. I'd love to find a red enamel apple charm that I could use in either earrings or a pendant. If not, I do have some juicy little red beads that will look sweet put with a little silver bow, or maybe some blue crystals to match in with the colours of the dress. I was also thinking of making a little detail for the fronts of my shoes, either beaded or just a fabric bow. Pretty pretty pretty!