Merry Christmas Eve!

Hope Santa brings everyone everything on their list!!

Cheers to Reindeer, Candy Canes and Champagne!

- Corey and Christine

christmas celebration outfit #2

dress: forever 21 $22.80
shoes: forever 21 $19.80
clutch: nordstrom, tory burch flap clutch, $295.00

Holiday Dress Idea #1

With the holidays season fastly approaching, I'm sure everyone no doubt has a plethora of holiday parties to attend - whether it's the dreaded Company Christmas Party (which, if you're lucky, maybe there's an open bar), or it's simply a family and friends occasion.

Perhaps you have a closet full of things to wear to such occasions, and are always party ready. Or, you're like me and like to wait til the last minute to realize you have absolutely nothing to wear, and send yourself into a panic of sorts.

So, I decided to get a head-start on things and put together a few outfit ideas for a few of your parties. So.. onto outfit #1.....

Items included...
Handbag: Forever 21.com $17.80
Tights: J. Crew $16.50 or 2/$25 (I own these, and they are by far the most comfortable tights I've ever worn)
Shoes: BCBGirls "Edith" Pump from Nordstroms $97.95
Bracelet: ShopIntuition Twisted Metal Cuff $25 (I like this because it has a great vintage feel to it)
Dress: Forever 21 $ (It's available in 5 or 6 other colors, but I like this blue color because it doesn't scream holidays like some dresses can, and can work for any kind of party)


I have always shied away from tights, but this season, I've begun to love them. They make (next to) everything in your closet have the ability to be worn during the colder winter season. Plus, if you pair them with matching shoes, they make your legs look chic and elongate them.

If this isn't an outfit you're going crazy over, stay tuned. We'll definitely have some more posted!

Happy Party Dress Hunting,
Corey

Make-Yourself-Into-A-Christmas-Thing-Online

I love Christmas. I know, it's not even Thanksgiving and I shouldn't be talking about Christmas yet, but I'm not Thanksgiving's biggest fan, so I keep going from Halloween to Christmas in my head because I can.

Anyway, the lights, the songs, the trees, Santa in the mall, candy canes, hot chocolate, SNOW, the cheer - all good things. No one can deny that. Even my younger, Jewish cousins make their parents buy a Christmas tree every year because Christmas trees are so happy!

My mom and I have all kinds of traditions, and I've begun making some of my own - be it with friends, family or just for myself, and I'm sure y'all have as well. Well in the past few years, the importance of the internet has grown immensely, so it's no surprise that companies have started responding to the demand for entertainment online, as well as for the holiday season.

Who can forget last year's craze of Elf Yourself and Scrooge Yourself? I know I Elfed/Scrooged myself and friends more times than I could count. Well, I received the newest of the make-yourself-into-a-Christmas-thing-online today and couldn't wait to share it. I mean, who holds out on news this good? Not I.

So straight off the presses, from a little store I like to call Sephora, Holiday Makeover*!! Added bonus: If you make a card, you get free lashes or mini lipstick! Yay free things!


*If anyone wants to see how fabulous and Christmasy I looked, go here.

39 Days Til Christmas!
- Corey

It's your birthday? Get something from it!

So.. my mom likes to bombard my e-mail with random things she found online (most of which are pointless), but today, she sent me a link to go here that is full of free things you can get on your birthday (or other days) if you sign up for their e-mail/mailer list! I love free things, and I'm sure y'all do as well!

Also, I'm sure no one wants to click to go to another website, so since I love y'all so much, I'll include it in this post..

Food:

Alfy’s Pizza - Free mini pizza for kids 12 and under.
All-American Cafe - Free dessert
Amato’s Sandwich Shop - Join the Tamatos Club and get a free birthday sandwich.
Applebees - Free dessert
Arby’s - Sign up and get coupons year round, including on your birthday.
Atlanta Bread Company - They have a VIP eClub that you can sign up for, gaining you a free cookie on your birthday.
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels - They’ll send you monthly coupons all year long if you sign up for their newsletter, so it’s pretty safe to guess you’ll get a birthday treat.
Austin Grill - Sign up and get a free meal.
Bakers Square - Sign up for the eClub and get a free pie.
Bandido’s - Free entree
Baskin Robbins - Get a free ice cream treat if you sign up for their Birthday Club.
Beaches Restaurant - Free meal
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream - Become a Chunk Spelunker and you can get some free ice cream!
Benihana’s Japanese Restaurant - Free dinner with 3 other paying guests. (So bring your friends!)
BD’s - Join Club Mongo and get a little something something on your birthday!
BJ’s Restaurants - Free Pazookie!! (otherwise known as a delicious dessert.)
Black Angus Steakhouse - Receive a complimentary dessert for joining the BA Prime Club and a free steak dinner for your birthday!
Blimpie Subs - Members of the BIP club get a free 6′ sub on their birthday.
Bob Evans - Free kids meal for anybody under the age of 12.
Bob’s Big Boy - Free hot fudge ice cream
Boston Market - Free kids B-Day meal coupon for kids under 12 and coupons online for their various entrees.
Bonanza Steakhouse - Yet another free birthday surprise that I can’t figure out what exactly is! Oh well, just join their club and find out when they e-mail you.
Buca di Beppo - Sign up for their eClub and get a free dessert.
Buffalo Wild Wings - Free dessert with a $5 purchase. (click on the tree house in the upper left corner on their site!)
Burger King - Free kids meal to all kids club members.
California Pizza Kitchen - Free kids meal during the month of their birthday if you register first.
Captain D’s - Join their D’s Club and get a coupon for $3 off any meal, among other freebies.
Carrows - Free cake plus a free dessert now just for signing up.
Cattlemen’s - Free dessert and cowboy hat (I’d go just for the cowboy hat!)
Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse - Sign up and get a free dessert plus points for every dollar spent.
Charlie’s Seafood - Free meal
Cheesecake Factory - Free dessert
Chevy’s - Free dessert and sombrero (First a cowboy hat, then a sombrero…heck yeah!)
Chicken of the Sea- Join their Mermaid Club and they’ll send you a free birthday gift. I’m just hoping it’s not a tuna-flavored cake or anything…
Chili’s - Free dessert if you join their club.
Chips N Giggles - Free meal
Claim Jumper - Free dessert if you join now.
Coldstone Creamery - Join now and get a free creation on your birthday. (My…God…Is…This…Delicious…)
Country Buffet - Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get not only a free meal on your birthday, but a free meal just for signing up!
Cracker Barrel - Free dessert
Culvers - Free sundae as well as a few printable coupons when you first sign up.
Dairy Queen - Free ice cream coupon via e-mail for kids 16 and under. They also have a Blizzard Club for adults with the same offer.
Damon’s Steakhouse - Here’s a little trick. All you have to do is make a new email address, sign up, and within 24 hours they will send you 10 bucks off your meal, with the purchase of another comparably priced meal. So every time you and a friend go, you can get $10 off no matter what. Plus, they send you a few coupons for your birthday!
Del Taco - Get two free soft tacos now and a free premium milkshake on your birthday.
Denny’s - Free meal & sundae to kids under 10 as long as you sign up ahead of time.
Don Pablos - Free $10 gift certificate after joining the Don Pablo Habanero Club.
Einstein’s - Free meal
El Chicos - Free dessert
Famous Dave’s Barbeque - Free meal with advance signup.
Farrelli’s Pizza - Join their Fire Club and get free coupons e-mailed to you before your birthday.
Fazoli’s - Join their eFamily and get a coupon for a free desert.
Fire Mountain - Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get a free meal on your birthday.
Firestone Subs - Sign up and get an email for a free sub.
Flat Top Grill - Join their E-mail Club and get a coupon for a free stir fry on your birthday.
Friendly’s - Free ice cream cone if you join their birthday club.
Fuddruckers - Free ice cream sundae
Glory Days Grill - Free sundae on your birthday if you sign up in advance.
Gold Star Chili - Get a free dessert on your birthday, plus a free treat on your anniversary of joining up AND a free appetizer just for joining.
Golden Corral - Free meal to Birthday Club members during the month of birthday (And many people say this isn’t limited to just kids!)
Gordon Biersch - They say you get a special “e-gift” on your birthday, but what the heck does that mean? Anybody want to sign up for this and let us know what they get? - edit: kayce sent me an e-mail saying she get a Buy One Get One coupon for an entree.
Grillfish - Free meal
Hard Rock Cafe - Free dessert
Hometown Buffet - Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get not only a free meal on your birthday, but a free meal just for signing up!
Hooters - Free song & T-shirt (Pretty soon here I’m going to have an entire outfit!) If you live on the west coast, there’s even a Hooters Club for you to join up with.
Houlihan’s - Free coupon for an entree during your next visit up to a week after b-day (Kinda complicated…but free!)
Joe’s Crab Shack - Free cake if you join their club.
Juice It Up - They promise to give you a “birthday gift” but their website doesn’t say what it is. Might be worth signing up for though.
Keg Steakhouse and Bar - Hiffer Jospeh reports they’ll give you a 10oz. prime rib dinner with Caesar salad during your birthday month, Sunday-Thursday only. You might want to call ahead to confirm this though.
Keva - The Keva Klub promises free coupons around the time of your birthday.
Krispy Kreme - Free half dozen glazed donuts and a coffee mug with either coffee or soda in it! You might want to sign up ahead of time.
Logan’s Roadhouse - Free song and slice of cheesecake.
Lotus - Free meal
Macaroni Grill - Free dessert plus an OPERA-style “Happy Birthday” song, which is always different.
la Madeleine - Yet another on-line birthday club that will send you coupons for free food around your birthday.
Maggianos - $10 off purchase of $20 if you sign up in advance.
Mainstreet Ventures (Large chain of different restaurants, click to see if any are near you.) - Up to 50% off your meal. It’s based on the number of people in your party. For example, 2 people dining = 50% off. 3 People dining = 33% off, 4 people dining = 25%, etc.
Marble Slab Creamery - Kids can join the Marble Slab Kids Club and get a free ice cream cone on their birthday up to age 12.
Marie Calenders - Free dessert
Memphis BBQ - Coupon good for a free Rack of Ribs & strawberry shortcake, but you must sign up on their website 24 hours in advance.
Mexican Village - Free meal
Moe’s Southwest Grill - Signup for their newsletter and get a coupon for a free burrito. They also have a birthday club for kids under 10.
Mongolian’s B.B.Q. - Signup for their Club Mongo and you’ll get a coupon for a free birthday meal.
Noodles & Company - Signup for their newsletter and they’ll send ya a coupon for a free meal right around our birthday!
O’Charley’s - I remember getting quite a few free desserts over the years from them! They have an E-News club that you can sign up at to get the coupons.
Old Country Buffet - Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get not only a free meal on your birthday, but a free meal just for signing up!
Olive Garden - Free dessert if you sign up?
On The Border - Free appetizer if you sign up.
Outback Steakhouse - Free dessert or appetizer
P.B. Loco - Sign up for their newsletters and you’ll receive coupons periodically for free stuff, as well as coupons for free stuff when your B-day rolls around.
Perkin’s - Free bakery goodie on birthdays for kids under 12.
P.F. Chang’s - Free cake or cheesecake via their e-mail list.
Poncho’s - Free meal, dessert & picture
Provino’s Italian Restaurant - Free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessert
Qdoba Mexican Grill - Join their eClub and get a free burrito on your birthday, as well as free chips n’ salsa just for joining up.
Quizno’s - Join their mailing list and get a free birthday gift (I think this means coupons?)
Red Lobster - Free slice of cake if you join their Overboard Club.
Red Robin - Free Hamburger if you sign up for Eclub.
Rock Bottom - Free appetizer for Mug Club members.
Round Table - Free personal pizza
Ruby Tuesday - Sign up in advance and they’ll send you something!
Ryan’s - Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get not only a free meal on your birthday, but a free meal just for signing up!
San Francisco Over - Sign up in advance and you’ll get a coupon for a free birthday treat.
Schlotzsky’s - Get a free sandwich if you sign up ahead of time.
Smoky Bones - Free meal or appetizer, not sure which.
Spaghetti Warehouse - Signup for a free meal & possibly free appetizer?
Sonic - An advertising company for Sonic, they’ll send you coupons for free Sonic goodies if you sign up. Also, get a free Wacky Pack Kid’s Meal on children’s birthdays if you register here.
Souper Salad - Join their Souper Salad Club and they’ll e-mail you a coupon for one free birthday meal which can be used within a week or your birthday.
Steak-N-Shake - Free dinner for “birthday club” kids.
Swiss Chalet - Get a free appetizer just for joining the Rotisserie-mail plus a free birthday surprise.
Taco Bell - Free combo meal of your choice.
Texas De Brazil - Sign up for their e-club and they’ll send you a $40 gift certificate! This place can be pricey, but it’s soooo worth it.
TGI Friday’s - Free birthday dessert plus free appetizer just for signing up!
The Fox and Hound - Free appetizer just for joining plus free entree on your birthday.
The Loft - Free meal
The Old Spaghetti Factory - Kids 12 and under get a free meal.
The Palm - 3lb lobster, but you must be a member first and follow a few rules.
The Pasta House - Free dessert
The Vine Tavern - Free meal
Todai Sefood Buffet - Free coupon or voucher for free meal next visit.
Tony Roma’s - Free dessert if you sign up for Romo Rib Expert Club first.
Uno’s Pizza - Sign up and get a free personal pizza on your birthday
Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop - Free dessert and drink
Wendy’s - Free kids meal
Wingstop - Get 10 free buffalo wings on your birthday.
Zaxby’s - Join their Z-Mail club and you’ll get a coupon for a free meal, whether or not it’s your birthday! Kids can sign up here for their Kid Club and get not only a free meal, but a free cookie on their birthday!
Z’ Tejas - $15 coupon for the month of your birthday if you register first.
Zio’s - Free dessert

Entertainment:

Arizona Snow Bowl [FLAGSTAFF, AZ] - Free skiing/riding (if they are open)
Bear Mountain - Free skiing/riding
Belleayre Moutain - Free skiing/riding
Brunswick Bowling - Join the Bonus Zone and get a free game of bowling on your birthday.
Cottonwood Golf Course [SAN DIEGO, CA] - Free round of golf
Dave And Busters - $5 game card credit
Disney Theme Parks - Free admission to either Disney Land or Disney World on your birthday in 2009.
Food Pavilion Grocery - Free movie rental
Harkins - Free movie (Some say they got free movie, others only got free popcorn)
Hollywood Video - Free video rental if you sign up in advance.
Ringling Brothers Circus - Sign your newborn up for a free ticket to the circus that never expires. Then just save it until your little one has a birthday later on and give it to them!
Safeway Grocery - Free movie rental
Snow Summit - Free skiing/riding
Toys R Us - Sign up ahead of time and once your child’s birthday rolls around, they’ll get a personalized letter in the mail. Plus, bring your child into any Toys R Us and they’ll get a hat, balloon, have their birthday announced over the loudspeaker, and then be greeted by all the employees while they walk around!
Various Strip Clubs - Free lap dances (Don’t ask me how I know this!)

Service / Other:

Auto Zone - Free oil change (Some Auto Zone’s don’t do oil changes, so call ahead.)
Boz, the Green Bear - You can join Boz’s Birthday Club in advance and your child will receive a personalized postcard in the mail as well as links to download special birthday coloring pages and other random stuff that small kids seem to enjoy.
Bright Ideas - Design and print out free invitation cards for your birthday party!
Captain Dizzy’s Carwash - Free car wash
Frosty Paws - Ok, so what if this freebie is for dogs. Pets like free stuff on their birthday too! Sign up for their Birthday Club and Fido will get a tasty frozen treat come his special time of the year.
Hallmark - 20% off coupon for one item.
Sesame Street Certificate - A cute certificate you can print and let your child color on their birthday.
Scrub-A-Dub - Free car wash
Target - They send you a free Birthday Mailer, full of free gifts, tips, and coupons. You sign up to six of your children who will all receive a mailer on their birthday!

Yayy Free Things!!
- Corey

Corey's Delicious Pepe is Not as Good as Me Spinach Enchiladas

I don't know about y'all, but there are certain foods I could eat all the time for the rest of my life. There is such a food from my hometown from a Mexican restaurant called Baja Cafe. This delicious creation is called Pepe's Spinach Enchiladas. Now if you're anything like me, spinach enchiladas sound gross. Cooked spinach? No thanks. And then I tried it.

Party in your mouth.

This particular tasty adventure cast a spell on me. I left Florida in August and haven't stopped thinking about these dumb enchiladas since. Stupid enchiladas. I mean these things were taking over my life. I even went so far as to wonder if my family would agree to Christmas Eve dinner at a Mexican restaurant, as I won't get home again until that day.

A few days ago, I decided enough was enough. I needed to do something about this crazy obsession with Pepe and his dumb enchiladas.

I considered going to a restaurant, but I knew there was no way it would be the same as Pepe. So on my drive home from voting/the bank Tuesday, I decided I needed to look up what the menu says is in this deliciousness.

PEPE'S SPINACH ENCHILADAS $10.99
A Saturday tradition in Baja California! Fresh spinach from Pepe’s garden that has been handpicked along with Spanish onions and garlic, sautéed gently with Cojita (Mexican cheese) and stuffed in two 6” flour tortillas. Topped with cheese and a dab of sour cream.

I have no idea what Spanish onions are, but figured yellow onions would be ok. I googled Cojita and it said it was "Tajo Cheese" is a moister, fattier, and less salty version of the cheese that holds its shape when cut, with a flavor similar to Parmesan or Feta. Being that I'm in Knoxville, there are not very many Mexican grocery stores, so off I went to the grocery to get the things I needed (and then made up some of the rest).

So here it is... The best thing I have ever made. Ever. Apologies that the measurements aren't exact - I was making it up as I went along.

I also forgot to take a picture during the entire thing.


Corey's Delicious Pepe is Not as Good as Me Spinach Enchiladas

Ingredients
Oil
3/4 small yellow onion
1 box frozen spinach
White Queso Melting Cheese (comes in a block in the cheese department, near the fresh Mozzarella and Brie)
Cheddar Cheese
Sour Cream (or plain yogurt, like I used, for less calories)
1 garlic large garlic clove (you can use 2 if they're smaller)

1. Take the frozen spinach out of it's container and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high around 6 minutes, then use a fork to smash it out of the block it was in and back into the microwave for another 30-60 seconds.

2. While your spinach is in the microwave, pour enough oil on the bottom of a pan that is on medium heat to cover the bottom (about 2 Tbs). I used vegetable oil because I was out of Extra-Virgin Olive and didn't want to spend the money on it, but you can use either.

3. Cut your onion and garlic. I diced both.

4. Add onion to the hot oil, and when it begins to become clear, add your garlic. You don't want to add the garlic too soon because when garlic burns, it both stinks and tastes horrid.

5. While that's cooking, squeeze the water out of your spinach.

6. Once the onion and garlic are almost fully cooked, add your spinach. There may be some extra water in the spinach so be careful about the oil popping up.

7. Stir your spinach and mix with the onions and garlic. Take your blocked queso cheese and begin grating it over the spinach.



I used enough queso cheese so that when you looked at the spinach, you could see the white cheese in between the spinach. Yum!

8. Once you're happy with the amount of cheese to spinach, whip out your tortillas. I split mine between two.


9. Once you have all the spinach in your torillas, grate enough cheddar cheese on your enchiladas to make you happy and stick that baby in the microwave for just long enough to melt the cheese (around 45 seconds).

10. Once it is out of the microwave, plop a dollop of sour cream (or plain yogurt if you want to be like me) on top of it and enjoy the deliciousness that is Corey's Delicious Pepe is Not as Good as Me Spinach Enchiladas!!

Hope it's as good to you as it was to me!
- Corey

p.s. WHAT NOW PEPE!

A Pumpkin Carving Monster Bash

On Tuesday I had an intimate group of friends over to carve pumpkins... which turned me into a Halloween-theming machine! I started off with a CD and then went crazy with themed food.

First things first: The Spook-tacular CD

The following is the playlist from my party. I feel works for any Halloween-ish occasion:

1. Bobby Pickett - Monster Mash

2. The Eagles - Witchy Woman

3. The Ghostbusters Theme

4. Harry Potter Soundtrack - Something Wicked This Way Comes

5. Herman's Hermits - Love Potion No. 9

6. Hocus Pocus Soundtrack - Come Little Children

7. The Munsters Theme Song

8. Ray Stevens - Flying Purple People Eater

9. Ray Stevens - Witch Doctor

10. Rob Zombie - Dragula

11. Rockwell ft. Michael Jackson - Somebody's Watching Me

12. Michael Jackson - Thriller

13. Rocky Horror Picture Show - Time Warp

14. Thomas Dolby - Blinded Me with Science

15. Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper

16. Hocus Pocus Soundtrack - I Put a Spell on You

17. Beetlejuice Soundtrack - Shake Senora

18. Beetlejuice Soundtrack - Day Oh

19. The Adams Family Theme Song

20. Rihanna - Disturbia

I must say this just added to the fun of carving a pumpkin. My parents even borrowed it when they had friends over for dinner. Adds a little somethin' somethin' thats a little unexpected I think.

On to the food:

Mini Mummy Pizzas

These bad boys are so worth it. They were a HUGE hit and delicious as well. I took english muffins, spread some pizza sauce on them, place olives for eyes and strip a string cheese stick across to make the bandage effect. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and voila! a spooky tastey treat!!

Next is one of my personal favorites, brie with brown sugar eaten with apple slices: The Halloween twist was shaping the brown sugar into a jack-o-lantern. Wow just looking at the picture is making my whole mouth fill with saliva... OK moving on...

Mini Caramel Apples

Super easy. I just used a melon baller to get a bitesize apple, dipped them in caramel and rolled them in nuts. Used half of a bamboo skewer for the stick and put them in cupcake cups! They were the perfect size and very good!!

Beverage of choice: Monster Brain Punch (seen here with a pleased party guest)

1 ounce berry blast sherbert, 1 liter ginger ale, 1 bottle of champagne and BAM... weird looking but mighty tasty!!!

I also made mummy turkey hotdogs which entailed stripping Pilsbury dough and wrapping them around hot dogs (which were turket to appease our non red meat eating guests). After baking them I cut them in thirds and drew faces with mustard :)

I also made puppy chow (aka muddy buddy mix) directions on the back of a Chex cereal box and added candy corn to keep it within the theme.

We of course baked the pumpkin seeds after gutting our pumpkins. I like to put salt and a little cumin on it and bake at 350 for 25 mins. However sugar and ground cinnamon make for a sweet twist on an old favorite.

After indulging in some Halloween inspired dishes we got down to business:

My sister (on the right) and I getting the seeds out of our pumpkins. She was really serious about it... me, not so much.

Look at that concentration... if I only put half that amount of effort into finishing college...

As for the pumpkin carving itself we produce some fine looking jack-o-laterns worthy of anyones front porch! (Sorry for the blurry pics!)

My brother-in-law went for a the scarier sides of things:

He free-handed it! Now thats talent!

Kate went for a pirate ship (she thought her son would appreciate it the most):

It took a very long time because of all the intricate detailing but I think it came out brilliantly!!

My pumpkin was also child friendly. Its Mickey Mouse holding a pumpkin!

Not my usual choice in pumpking I admit, but I just could not resist the adorable designs Disney put out for Halloweens this year!

Alyssa also dabbled in the Disney category. This Finding Nemo pumpkin was a lot of work!

The technique is called etching and Martha Stewart swears by it. It is where you don't actually carve all the way through the pumpkin. Instead you scrape away until only a light layer of pumpkin is left - thin enough to be translucent. It produces beautiful pumpkins but I warn anyone feeling ambitious enough to attempt it - it is TIME CONSUMING!!

Last but not least, my sister's pumpkin:I give her credit here for two reasons 1. she free-handed her design and 2. she was bold enough to try something different. It may not be the most intricate but geometric shapes are still a fun time. Bless her little heart.

So there you have it! The perfect pumpkin carving party complete with theme music and food that is fun for all ages!! Some may scoff that Halloween and dress-up are for kids but I don't were ever to old to carve pumpkins. Hoping your holiday is filled with ghoulish amounts of fun :)

Stay Spooky - Christine

Ghosts and Ghouls

With Halloween coming up, I'm sure everyone has their share of parties to go to, or, like me, are throwing one yourself. My roommates and I are planning on clearing out our basement and having it down there (our basement is horribly creepy), and while we are on a college-budget, we still want to be able to have our party stand out among the many other parties that will no doubt be going on around campus.

While some of the things are going to have to be store-bought (spider webs and whatnot), I think there are a bunch of things we can make ourselves to save us some of our hard earned cash (and making our alcohol budget a little bigger doesn't hurt either).

Here are some of my finds when searching the internet for some ideas...

You can buy the labels here, or you can try your hand at photoshopping your own.

Bakerella has some great treats you can make as well, and they're pretty simple to make.

I just can't get over the little ghosts!

If whole cupcakes are more your thing, she has some ideas for them as well..

And last but not least, signature cocktails are a great way to make a lasting impression on everyone who comes to celebrate with you. Here's some I found...

Blood Red...

Or the traditional black and orange...

When I was in fourth grade, my cousin and I had a Halloween party for some of my neighborhood friends and I, and we made a hand for our punch bowl that was like the one in the picture above. It's actually really simple to make! You just need a disposable glove, a rubber band, and some water. Wash out the disposable glove so there isn't any dust or anything in it, fill it with water, tie it off with the rubber band and freeze. If you're feeling really creative, you can throw in plastic spiders and creepy bugs for added effect.

If you're having your own party, good luck! If you're simply attending a few, I hope you have a great time and a great costume!

Eat, Drink and be Scary,
Corey

Flu and the City

I have the flu. Of course it would strike me at the very beginning of flu season. Ridiculously just like me. SO after coming home sick from work for the second day in a row (you have to give me credit for continuously trying) I came home and popped in a DVD that I have actually been putting off watching... Sex and the City. I love it, don't get me wrong, but it also tears me up a bit. So for whatever reason, today I decided to pop it in.



It is an excellent movie. And on so many levels, so many people can relate to it. Somewhere in the movie Carrie describes herself as "an emotional cutter". Those words could not describe me more. I give chance after chance to people and continually get stomped on by bad guys. I will let them back into my life before the old wounds have even begun to heal.

As much as I relate to the character of Carrie, my friends have always pegged me as a Samantha. Always. Now I am no where near as bad as she is, but I am fun-loving to a certain degree. This has always bothered me a bit, because I so long to be a Carrie. As fate would have it, I was sent this via email today. Its a quiz that tells you what percentage of each character you are... genious! I guess it hadn't much occured to me that we all have a little bit of each of them in us. ( I am 40% Carrie and 40% Samantha by the way... a perfect combo if I say so myself). And now that I think about it, all of my friends have a little bit of each in them as well. A vixen, a believer, stubborness and a little prim and properness. The mix makes life more interesting. So my advice to you is to take 5 minutes out of your day ladies, and take the silly quiz. And celebrate the fact that you're a little bit of everything... and it all rolls into the fabulousness that is you.

Hope You Get a little "Carried" Away ;) -Christine

Hot Messes in Little Black Dresses

Its beginning to be that time of year... the time where family and friends come together for food and fun. There are just dozens upon dozens of reasons to celebrate in the next couple months.

So you're planning on hosting a party... you've planned out the menu, the guest list, the table settings... or if you're like me you skipped all of that and put the most important thing first: what you're going to wear! My favorites are always bright colored printed dresses with a fabulous pair of heels, but there are days when I look at my overly stuffed closet and scream, "I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!!!" Once I've calmed myself down I realize that there is a weapon in my closet that is always ready to to go into cocktail party battle... the little black dress. Now you may not have just one (I myself have four) but ladies, if your closet lacks this sure-fire fallback, I implore you to rush right out and find one. May I suggest visiting Nordstrom's website and peering through their "little black dress" shop. They have hundreds by all kinds of fabulous designers in all kinds of fantastic styles.

Now that you know what you're wearing, we simply must accessorize. It is very, very important to not just have your black dress but to make sure there's an extra little BAM in there that keeps all eyes on you. And this fall there are tons of fun options to spice up your little black dress.

My fav accessory to pair with a black dress at the moment is a pair of peacock feather earrings:

Perhaps feather earrings aren't your thing. How about a fantastic pair of textured tights?

I am also loving the headbands that have become so popular this season:

There is always the safe option of a necklace or regular earrings but these just add a little somethin' somethin' to any outfit. And the best part? All the accessories above are from Forever 21 (or For Love 21, which is there AWESOME accessory-only store... check it out) and are under $10. No need to break the bank to look fabulous people!! And if all else fails... distract them with another kind of little black dress:

life's too short to blend in, xx Christine

Wine Bottle Wrapping: Not To Be Confused With Rapping Wine Bottles

I love dinner parties. Love them. I mean, what's not to love?! Friends? Good. Food? Gooood. Wine? Gooooooood! And I know I'm not the only person who shares this sentiment. Everyone loves dinner parties. Even the friend nobody likes enjoys a good dinner party from time to time.

So I was sitting here today reminiscing on dinner parties. Why? Maybe it was because my stomach was grumbling and causing pains in my sides. Maybe it was because I was also thinking if my roommates would judge me for ignoring the hunger pains and instead uncorking the red wine I bought yesterday. Either way - I starting thinking about the gloriousness that is dinner parties. (There's a point to this post, I promise)

The last dinner party I went to was quite impressive. It was held at my friend's apartment by she and her boyfriend, and it was seemingly choreographed to a T. During cocktail/hors d'oeuvres, he made sure we had full glasses, while she made sure the conversation kept going.

The one thing by the end of the night that stood out was that at dinner, they wrapped the wine bottle with a napkin. This is a bit old school, and most people don't bother anymore. I think that's why it stuck out to me. I know that the true purpose is to make sure you don't get any drops of red wine on your tablecloth (or your guests laps), but it is a great way to cover up that great tasting wine that only set you back $6! Your guests think you splurged on a delicious wine, you saved a few pennies and no one is the wiser. (This is saying of course, you didn't buy a wine that tastes like it's been poured on the ground, mixed with dirty rain water and then re-bottled).

So I started the research so that the next time I throw a dinner party, I, too, can impress the masses. I image people will cheer and chant my name, to which I will act embarrassed and plead them to stop, stop while secretly hoping they continue for much, much longer.

Wow.. got lost in my dreams of grandeur for a second.

I'm back.

Anyway, travel over here for a great explanation (complete with pictures!) of how to make your wine bottles as classy as you are.

Peace, Love and Wine Bottles,

Corey

Champagne Thursdays: Celebrating National Stay-At-Home Week

HAPPY CHAMPAGNE THURSDAY!

The Background: This tradition - originally started by Corey and myself when we were roomies - happens on every Thursday (as its title implies). It doesn't matter how you rock it, as long as it involves Champagne (or as I like to call it cham-pag-na... classy, I know). While we cannot take the credit for the idea - (the fabulous and talented Zooey Deschanel mentions it in the movie Failure to Launch) - we are the well-dressed geniuses who turned that fantasy into a much-enjoyed reality. Invite friends over to join, sip by yourself while watching TV... it doesn't matter what you're doing - just add champagne and enjoy the fact that you're young and alive. Its a little bit of middle-of-the-week fancy that everyone needs.

Chee-ahs!
- Christine

The Evening's Plan: This week is our inaugural Champagne Thursdays, and personally, I don't think there could be a better week to kick it off - as it is the week of fall premiere's and the week pitched by abc as National Stay-At-Home week. Personally, I'll be glued to the tv watching Grey's Anatomy while my dvr does its wonders and records The Office for me to watch later.

So this week we're focusing our combined champagne efforts into the luxury of your home couches. Maybe you're going to have all your girlfriends over to watch the drama in Seattle Grace, or you're going over to your buddy's to giggle along with Michael and the workers of Dunder Mifflin, or you're doing both at home alone. In any case, Christine and I think it's a great night to go to your liquor store, grocery store, or refrigerator and pop open a bottle of the bubbly! I know we will be!

Salut!
- Corey

And may we suggest....

• Christine's week favorite: Korbel Brut Rose... its 12.5% alcohol and its a little bit fruitier than your average champagne. Goes very well with chocolate. A fun fact: the first bottle was designed by Nicole Miller as part of their limited edition artist series
• Corey's week favorite: Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvee Chardonnay Champagne... I choose this one becasue it reminds me of both Grey's and The Office, in previous seasons. If you're a fan of The Office, you'll remember the time Michael burned his foot on his George Foreman while barefoot, and if you're a fan of Grey's, the time the foot went missing in Seattle Grace. Perhaps not the sexiest of thoughts one could conjure up when speaking of champagne, but I figure it's supposed to be themed, and this is mine.

Bonjour!

Welcome to Hot Messes in Dresses! We've been working on this blog for awhile, but haven't officially posted anything what-so-ever, so I thought I would hold my nose and jump off the high dive, posting the first of hopefully many entries. Christine and I hope to make everyday a reason to celebrate - be it a new job, a puppy, a birthday or simply a day ending in d-a-y. Soon, we'll post funny stories, fashion finds, Champagne Thursdays ideas, and tons of other things. If you have an idea or a question or help planning a party, we'd love to help!

Well, that's about it for now - but we'll be back!

Looking Fabulous while Living Fabulously,

- Corey