Mary Rebecca

CRUNCH TIME!

2012-02-24T12:43:00.000-05:00

Wow, February has really flown by! Which means March is right on our tails, and then means...CRIT WEEK IS in 2 weeks!!

Most of you know I am in grad school. My school runs on quarters, so at the end of every 3 months I hardly sleep, live at school, and once or twice will have a fit of manic hysteria at 5 in the morning. But this quarter has an added bonus! This weekend is the 48-hour Re-Pack competition. From 7pm Friday until 7pm Sunday I will be living at school. No, seriously. Clothes, blankets, toothbrush...it's all coming with me tonight. So even though I am excited to do this, I'm also super anxious thinking about how this is happening right before the end of the quarter. I'm sure it will all work out in the end, but if I'm a tad M.I.A. for the next 3 weeks, you know why.

Also, on that note I won't be having a call for sponsors for the month of March. I want to change a few things up anyway, so keep an eye out for the new and improved sponsor set-up in April. ;D

Getting friendly with lipstick

2012-02-17T02:00:00.035-05:00

I've always liked the look of lipstick on other people, but never thought it looked good on me. Mainly because I have tiny lips. The kind where when I smile with my teeth my top lip pretty much does a vanishing act. Alakazam! [magic, not Pokémon]

With the new year I've been on a mission to find colors I like and learn how to feel comfortable wearing it. So far I've only ventured out in the two colors below. I'd love to hear what everyone's favorite lipstick is though...oh, and any tips on how to apply/keep it on the longest/make it look awesome.

P.S. I spend a lot of time at school now. Note the projector screen behind me. :X

P.P.S. I'm not actually in class when I take these.

P.P.P.S. I bought a hot pink cat sized wig today. Photos obviously coming soon! ;D

Eye Roll

2012-02-15T01:09:00.000-05:00

Look at those eyes go! I've been having some fun with Photo Booth. I anticipate more ridiculous animations in the future. ;D

Valentine's Day Swap 2012 Link-Up!

2012-02-14T02:00:00.055-05:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!! <3

I have to spend all day at school, but before I go I wanted to get up the swap link-up. If you participated in the swap please link to your post talking about your swap goodies below. I can't wait to see what everyone received! :D

My partner was the lovely Courtney from Chase All Your Dreams. When this HUGE box showed up on my doorstep I was super excited and immediately had to open it. She sent a lot of cute items, wrapped up in equally cute wrapping. She even sent me some home-baked cookies...I mean, come on!

Thank you so much Courtney!!! <3 <3 <3 <3

In An Instant

2012-02-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Here is just some photos I've through Instagram. Want to follow me? I'm maryrebecca on there :D

The 11 Meme

2012-02-06T02:00:00.002-05:00

Chrissy over at Whimsical Poppysmic tagged me, and although I told her I'm rubbish when it comes to answering questions about myself, I'd still give it a go.

Here are the rules.

1. You must post these rules.
2. Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create
11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.
5. No tag backs and you legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 Facts About Myself.

I'm 5'9" and have only dated one guy who was noticeably taller than me.
I'm allergic to cats--that hasn't stopped me though. ;)
I have close to 90 bottles of nail polish.
I could probably eat my weight in Raisinets.
I've never been able to touch my toes.
I love Corey Feldman and will watch any movie he is in--no matter how bad.
I hate talking about blood/veins. I will get super light-headed.
I dissected sheep brains when I was in elementary school.
I'm an only child.
Favorite thing to read are medical history books.
I've been using the same purse for 2 years.

11 Questions to Answer.

1. Which one do you prefer, coffee or tea and what kind?

I drink a lot of Arizona Green Tea--yum!

2. What is your favorite quote from a movie?

"They're eating her... and then they're going to eat me... OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD" courtesy of Troll 2

3. Do you have painted finger and toe nails during winter?

I paint my fingers during the winter, but I don't usually ever paint my toes. I don't really like my feet so I own I think one pair of open toe shoes.

(my nails last week)

4. Do you have a favorite book, one you could read over and over again?

Falling in line with medical history books, I really enjoy the book Death's Acre

It's all about the Body Farm--which I think is so interesting.

5. What's your favorite song of all times?

I don't know if I have a "FAVORITE OF ALL TIME" but I will probably always love these songs. [cue my inner 80's goth]

6. Do you believe in destiny?

I do when things don't go as planned because it's easier to get over things when you think, "it just wasn't meant to be".

7. Are you a cat or a dog person? Or maybe both? And why?

I think it's pretty obvious I'm a cat person, although I was never over the moon about them until I got Stinker and Creeper. I like dogs just fine though, I've had more dogs as pets than cats within my lifetime.

8. Which celebrity do you secretly have a crush on? Walton Goggins

I kinda love his character's accent and wardrobe on the TV show "Justified".

When trying to find a picture of him I found out he grew up in Lithia Springs, GA which is a stones throw from where I grew up. As in rival football team close. So that means he's not having to dig very deep to find that twang. haha

9. Are you a glass half empty or half full kind of person?

Depends on how well I'm doing in any certain situation. ;)

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

Done with school...have a big girl job....maybe still blogging! Right now it's really just one day at a time for me. School is intense and if I look too far forward I'm likely to just crawl into the fetal position.

11. Do you have a blogger idol and if so, who is it and why?

I think Amy from A is for Ampersand is pretty dang awesome. She just seems genuinely sweet and her blog posts are always really interesting.

Here are my Questions.

1. Do you have any party tricks? [like being able to touch your tongue to your nose]

2. What is a good joke?
3. What's one of the craziest things you did as a child?

4. Have you ever bought anything off of the TV? Was is worth it?

5. Is there a blog you think everyone should check out?

6. Do you eat in bed?

7. Has your collection of brightly colored tights increased since beginning to blog?

8. Can you play an instrument?

9. Does my blog make my butt look big?

10. Do you know any random trivia? [you do, everyone does...don't hold out on me]

11. Are you afraid of something unusual AND/OR are you a freaky eater?

I am tagging the following awesome bloggers:
Shannon, Amanda, Lili, Erin, Erin, Tera, Carly, Rebecca, Lynsey, Katrina, and Jamie

Wanted Wednesday 02/01/12

2012-02-01T02:00:00.001-05:00

I'm a sucker for necklaces. So today's edition is all about recent ones I'm swooning over. :D

(source)

Love these colors

(source)

This makes me want it to be Summer again...

(source)

Yes! Why do I not already own this?!

(source)

Love the colors and the vintage feel to this piece.

(source)

Cat, mermaid, and glitter. yep

P.S. Check out this sweet little write-up Jel posted about the birthday prize package she won from me. :)

Valetine's Sale!

2012-01-30T02:00:00.038-05:00

Now through January 14th you can get

20% off your entire order in my shop!

[a little Valentine's Day cheer from me to you <3]

January Sponsor Spotlight

2012-01-28T01:22:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to welcome January in with a great group of sponsors. I hope you read more about them and check out their blogs and shops!

BLOG // ETSY // TWITTER // TUMBLR

Coupon Code: MARYREBECCA for 20% off

BLOG // ETSY // TWITTER // FACEBOOK

Coupon Code: FREEFLYING for free shipping!

BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK

BLOG // ETSY1 // ETSY2 // FACEBOOK

BLOG // ETSY // TWITTER

Coupon Code: OWL15 for 15% off

BLOG // ETSY // TWITTER // FACEBOOK

Coupon Code: MARY15 for 15% off

BLOG // TWITTER // TUMBLR

Crafts and Cats Motivational Posters

2012-01-27T02:00:00.000-05:00

I hope a lot of you were able to participate in Elycia's and Chantilly's craft night they had on Tuesday. [if you missed it, you can find the recording of it here] I unfortunately missed it, but the girls made sure I was there in spirit. If you watch the video that thing taped to the mirror behind them...yeah, that's me. Creepin' with my Creeper! I sent them 3 silly photos to choose from and thought I would share them here with you all today. I'm going to try and make my own cute felt camera this weekend. [link me to yours if you made the event!]

What I Wore: Casual Bling

2012-01-26T09:00:00.050-05:00

It's been rainy and gloomy for the past 2 weeks. So when there was a decent sunny day I jumped at the chance to wear something that wasn't going to be hidden under a coat and umbrella. Of course I decided to wear all black and grey! Fixed that by layering some pink tights under my striped pair. I'm bummed that the striped tights got a run in them later that day though. :(

P.S. You can kinda see my new hair color in these photos. Went back to my bright auburn. Thinking when I touch it up that I might go even more red. What do you all think?

However, this is probably my best outfit photo ever. It was REALLY sunny. ;)

Outfit Details

Over-sized Sweater: Target

Shorts: Gap

Tights: Target and Romwe

Shoes: Soda

Necklace: n/a I've had it a while.

New Items In My Shop!

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

I finally got a moment to update my shop! I added a few more bunting necklaces and a TON of bows! I'd love it if you all checked it out. :D

Sponsor in February

2012-01-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

Sponsor swapping in February is as easy as 1-2-3!

Blog Button--150x150pixels [please already have this hosted on your own image site]
URL you want your button to link to
What size button you need from me

Please send the above info to MaryRebeccaBlog [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "FEBRUARY SPONSOR"

I will be accepting swaps until February 26th--thank you!

Sleepy Creeper

2012-01-19T12:45:00.001-05:00

Just a little sleepy cat for the day. Trust me, non-cat content will be coming soon. haha

P.S. All Valentine's Day Swap partners have been assigned! Check your inbox :D

Just a little reminder...

2012-01-17T15:28:00.002-05:00

You have until midnight tonight [EST] to sign up for my Valentine's Day Swap! Thanks to everyone that already has--it's going to be a blast. :D

Cute Cats

2012-01-14T02:00:00.002-05:00

I think it's time for some cute cat photos. yep

Valentine's Day Swap 2012!

2012-01-13T12:24:00.002-05:00

Last Sunday I mentioned I had a fun Valentine's Day surprise coming up, and this is it!

As some of you may know I rang in the new year as a single lady. We both knew it was the right decision and I'm incredibly optimistic about what the future holds.

...but what does this have to do with this swap? Well, I enjoy Valentine's Day--I enjoy the colors, the decor, the chocolates, everything! So just because I won't have a significant other to celebrate with this year, doesn't mean that is going to stop me from enjoying every minute of it, and I want to enjoy it with all of you. ;D

About the Swap

This Valentine's Day Swap is to create a package for your partner that encompasses this fun holiday. Handmade or store bought items are fine, and the only item everyone is required to include is a card.

All participants will get a little information blurb about their swap partner to help get an idea of what their partner would like in a package. There will also be a link-up day so people can show off what they received!

Requirements

-Must include a card.

-You must have an active blog to participate in this swap.

-Packages need to have a minimum $20 total value. [not including the card or shipping]

-This is a pretty fast swap, so make sure you have the time to participate before signing up!

Dates

Sign-Up Deadline: Tuesday, January 17th by midnight [EST]

Partners Paired Up: Thursday, January 19th

Ship Deadline: Monday, January 30th

Link-Up: Tuesday, February 14th.

Form

~~Click HERE to fill out the form!~~
Sign-ups now closed

INTERNATIONAL READERS WELCOME!

If you have any questions feel free to email me at maryrebeccablog@gmail.com

Rafflecopter Giveaway

2012-01-09T22:49:00.000-05:00

I know a lot of people in the blogging community have been using Rafflecopter. I just used them for the first time in my 3 birthday giveaways and loved it! The interface is so easy to use and it made running the giveaways and announcing the winners a breeze. Right now Rafflecopter is hosting their own giveaway and I thought you all would be interested in entering. ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What I Wore: Junkin' with Amanda

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-05:00

Outfit Details

Dress: Kohls

Cardigan: Zara

Belt: Forever21

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Kohls

Bee Necklace: handmade by me

On Friday Amanda and I perused a couple junk and thrift shops. The day ended up being quite nice and fairly warm, which was a nice change from the cold rain we have been enduring lately. We didn't leave with many treasures, but the looks we got at the local pizza joint made it well worth it. I don't think we looked crazy, but you'd think we both had flaming dancing penguins on our heads by the stares we got! All in all, it was fun and I see many more junkin' adventures in our future. :D

Birthday Party Giveaway Winners Announced!

2012-01-08T14:36:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone that entered the three giveaways I held during my blog birthday bash! Click the links below to see if you won. I'll be contacting the winners this evening. :D

P.S. I have an exciting Valentine event planned for you all. I'll post more about it this week!

WINNER

Evolution of Vampires

2012-01-05T02:00:00.033-05:00

Last quarter I was asked if I would do the make-up/hair for a book a fellow grad student was making in one of her classes. Her book was about the evolution of vampires and she wanted to recreate certain popular vampires--Nosferatu, Dracula, David from The Lost Boys, and Edward Cullen from Twilight. Since we used the same model for all 4 vampires, we weren't going to exact look-alike, but for the audience to still get the essence of the character. I had a really great time on this shoot and I think the images came out great. Oh--and that arm? That's my sexy arm modeling debut. hahaha

Wanted Wednesday 01/04/12

2012-01-04T13:52:00.001-05:00

Sponsors edition!

The Log Lady Twin Peaks Embroidered Art

I love Twin Peaks-- and Amanda + James over at Flex Family Arts makes a whole ton of fun Twin Peaks embroidery!

The Emilie Pouch In Crimson Fields

I love the fabric and colors used in this fun pouch by Citlalli of Sew Beastly. I've been looking around for a fun pouch to store my pens, pencils, and whatnots at school.

Gentleman Owl

What a dapper ow by Shannon of Shannon*Bearl! My mother is crazy for owls but I think I'd have to keep this one for myself. ;)

Knitted Cable Headband/ Earwarmer - City Lights

Now that it is finally getting cold I want every warm and knitted and/or crocheted! This ear-warmer made by Chrissy of Whimsical Poppysmic would be great to have.

Lynn - Original Acrylic Portrait 9x12

I already mentioned Elin of Elin Winblad was a great artist, and here's proof! I already own one of her female portraiture paintings, but I think she might need a friend. ;)

The birthday that keeps giving

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here are just a few pictures from my birthday get together on Friday. Apparently my face was shy that night. heh

I also wanted to mention that the 3 giveaways from my birthday blog party are still hoppin'! If you missed the celebration you still can check it out and enter for some fun prizes. :D

Birthday Party Crown Tutorial by Sparkles and Sticks

27 in 27

Birthday Wishlist

$25 Pussycat Vintage Credit Giveaway

Gift Bow Tutorial by Mary Rebecca

Birthday Party Photos by Flex Family Arts

Birthday Party Playlist with Shannon*Bear

Hairbow, Hamburger ring, and Cupcake Notebook Giveaway

A Stranger Year Discount by Elin Winblad

5 Mini Recycled Coffee Notecards and Envelopes Giveaway from eef-etc.

New Year, New Pictures

2012-01-02T02:00:00.002-05:00

HAPPY 2012 EVERYONE!!

I thought I would start of the new year with some fun shots I just got. A couple of months ago my friend Juan asked me to pose for him for a lighting assignment he had to do for school. Seeing these photos makes me miss my red hair. I was thinking about doing darker but maybe I should go red again?

2011 Blog Recap

2011-12-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

2011 has blown by! I can't believe in less than 12 hours it will be 2012. :D I'm really looking forward to what this new year has in store, on and outside of my blog. Everyone have a great and safe NYE!

Here is just a small recap of my blog these past 12 months.

JANUARY

In January I let you all in on my love for Domokun.

FEBRUARY

In February I made a couple of DIY space shirts.

MARCH

In March I posted the remaining pictures from my trip cross-country to go to Comic-Con.

APRIL

In April I made a tutorial on how to make Troll 2 inspired cupcakes!

MAY

In May I decided I want to be a redhead for the summer.

JUNE

In June I introduced you all to my new kitten, Creeper!

JULY

In July I took an unexpected trip to Summerville, GA.

AUGUST

In August I decided to dip-dye the ends of my hair.

SEPTEMBER

In September I finished my first quarter of grad school!

OCTOBER

In October I went pumpkin and apple pickin'.

NOVEMBER

In November I shared my Halloween photos.

DECEMBER

In December I celebrate my birthday with a blog party!

Giveaway with eef etc

2011-12-30T21:00:00.003-05:00

Erin, from eef-etc, is here to celebrate my birthday with a great giveaway for you all!

She is giving one lucky Mary Rebeca reader a set of her 5 Mini Recycled Coffee Notecards and Envelopes from her shop.

U.S. entries only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Stranger Year Discount by Elin Winblad

2011-12-30T20:00:00.004-05:00

Elin, from the glowing forest magic rain, is here to give my readers a special discount for my birthday celebration! Elin is a great artist, and for 2012 she is doing a project called "A Stranger A Year", and would love for you all to participate! It's free to send in a photo of yourself, and if you would like a print, it's only $10.00 with the coupon code--that includes shipping! [normally $20]

Just go to her shop and use coupon code: EWIN47 [coupon only good for ASAY print]

Coupon good through January 7th

Mary Rebecca Giveaway

2011-12-30T19:00:00.002-05:00

I hope you are all enjoying my birthday blog celebration so far! This giveaway is from me to you--a thank you for keeping up with me this entire year. ;)

Prize Packet Includes:

-2 felt hair bows [handmade by me]

-1 hamburger ring [handmade by me]

-1 pocket size grid notebook--with cupcakes!

International entries welcome.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birthday Party Playlist with Shannon*Bear

2011-12-30T18:00:00.002-05:00

Hiya HMR readers! What the what it's Mary's blog birthday celebration! Can we say Happy Blog Birthday to her or what?! I'm Shannon from Shannon Bear and I think there probably isn't any better way to bring in a totally rad party down than with some tunes. I'm just dropping off a quick but awesome blog birthday playlist! These are a few of my favorite songs to rock out to when I'm celebrating, they get me pumped up to get some memories going and even squeeze out a few dance moves. I hope these get you in the mood to celebreate Hello Mary Rebecca and get your toes tapin'!

Blog Party Playlist by Shannon on Grooveshark

xo Shannon

Birthday Party Photos by Flex Family Arts

2011-12-30T17:00:00.003-05:00

Mary Rebecca!

To celebrate your birthday the Flex Family decided to throw a little party at our house.
I suppose it might have helped to actually invite YOU...but in any case...here are some shots of what transpired.
We hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for inviting us along!
Party on!

♥, Missus, Mister and Baby

Gift Bow Tutorial

2011-12-30T16:00:00.002-05:00

Today I wanted to share a super easy tutorial on how to make your own gift bows. I love making these for presents because you can customize the colors to match your gift wrapping or just the person's personality! :D

1. Cut out strips from paper of choice. I like to recycle magazine pages that have colors/prints I like. You don't have to be super exact when you cut them out--as you can see mine are far from perfect. Just remember-- the bigger and more strips you use, the bigger and fuller your bow will be!

2. Twist one side down and hold it halfway down the strip.

3. Repeat with other end.

4. Punch brad through middle, making sure you get both ends. You might want to make a hole with something sharp and then place the brad in--they tend to just bend when using them alone.

5. Keep repeating steps 2-4 until you have a bow you like. Remember to place the pieces at different angles on the brad to get a bow shape.

6. Once you're done adding pieces close the brad to hold everything in place.

7. OPTIONAL: Cut some bottom ribbon pieces out of a spare strip and add to brad before closing.

8. Use tape to attach to your present...or your cat! [I actually didn't use any tape on my cat]

Hope you guys enjoyed my tutorial! :D

Mary Rebecca

Pussycat Vintage Giveaway

2011-12-30T15:00:00.008-05:00

Nicole, from Pussycat Vintage, is graciously giving one of my readers a $25 credit to spend in her vintage shop! Right now she is having a great sale and the 2nd week of January she will be stocking even more great items. :)

International Entries Welcome!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birthday Wishlist

2011-12-30T14:00:00.001-05:00

I just made this list today, so unless my friends and families are mind-readers...these probably aren't the birthday gifts I'm getting. haha They are probably more New Year presents to myself ;)

1. The Lens Strap Holder $18.00 [PhotoJojo] I'm ALWAYS misplacing my lens cap--perfect solution!

2. Girl and Cat print $18.00 [Marisol Spoon] Still kicking myself for not getting this at I.C.E.

3. Cats The Ticket dress $49.99 [ModCloth] I only have 2 cat themed articles of clothing!

4. Sweetheart Sunglasses $14.00 [Urban Outfitters] Been wanting these for some time now.

5. Sana Black Herringbone Bookbag $49.00 [Blowfish Shoes] Haven't bought a school bag in years!

6. Double Velvet Bow $22.00 [Red Velvet] I can always use another bow in my life.

27 in 27

2011-12-30T13:00:00.001-05:00

This is the first time I've made one of these lists... so we'll see how well I'm able to mark things off of it!

[Plus now you guys know how old I am--eek]

So, in no particular order---MY 27 IN 27 LIST!

1. Find and move in to a place of my own. [no roommates for a while.]

2. Get a part-time job that works with school.

3. Spend more time working at school.

4. Read a book a month.

5. Learn how to better use Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.

6. Have a blate...or two, or three! [blogger date]

7. Restock my Etsy more frequently.

8. Paint more.

9. Overhaul my closet and dress better.

10. Learn how to style my hair.

11. Blog more often.

12. Take more pictures of myself. Not to be vain, but so when other bloggers request one I don't have to keep using the same one from 6+ months back ;p

13. Visit more estate sales.

14. Practice drawing.

15. Drink less soda.

16. Exercise more/tone up.

17. Practice more with doing Special FX makeup.

18. Focus on my posture. I don't want a hump!

19. Go camping.

20. Hang out with friends more.

21. Visit at least one state I've never been to.

22. Go to more art shows.

23. Geocache more.

24. Get on a better sleep schedule.

25. Get glasses I like.

26. Comment more, lurk less on other people's blogs.

27. Use the film in my freezer.

Birthday Party Crown Tutorial by Sparkles and Sticks

2011-12-30T12:00:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! My name is Jaime, and I blog over at Sparkles and Sticks. I am so excited to be a part of Mary Rebecca's Blog Birthday Party. Have you wished her a Happy Birthday yet?

I was very inspired by the Birthday Party party Miss James threw for her daughter a few weeks ago- I immediately wanted to make a birthday crown of my own! Instead, I decided to make one and give it to Mary Rebecca. Virtually, obviously.

Supplies:
a pack of sparkly pipe cleaners in assorted colors.
strong scissors or wire clippers

Star Crown

Step One: Attach two pipe cleaners together to form a circular base for your crown.

Step Two: Make your center star. Start by making a very small crease at the end of your pipe cleaner. You are going to use this "hook" to attach the two ends of the pipe cleaner. Then, make ten crisp creases in your pipe cleaner. The 10 segments you make with these creases form the perimeter of your star. Manipulate the pipe cleaner until you are happy with the shape of your star. Make another small hook at the end of your star. Cut off any excess pipe cleaner and hook the two hooks together to complete your star.

Step Three: Make four more stars (two medium sized, two small) as described above).

Step 4: Attach your stars together and to the base of your crown by twisting small pieces of pipe cleaner around the pieces you want to connect.

Heart Crown

Step One: Attach two pipe cleaners together to form a circular base for your crown.

Step Two: Make your hearts. Start by making a small crease at the start of your pipe cleaner- this bit will serve as a hook that will help complete your heart. Bend the rest of your pipe cleaner into the shape of a heart. Make sure the top humps a round and smooth while the center is a hard crease. Make another hook at the end of your heart, trim excess pipe cleaner, and hook your heart together. Make five more hearts, or however many you need to fill your crown.

Step Three: Attach the bottom points of you hearts to the base of your crown by twisting small bits of pipe cleaner around both. Make sure your hearts are evenly spaced.

Step Four: Attach the tops of your hearts together with small pieces of pipe cleaner. Twist excess pipe cleaner into little circles for a pretty, royal effect.

Happy Birthday, Mary Rebecca!

xoxoxo
Jaime

It's time for a birthday celebration!

2011-12-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

Today I turn another year older! I thought a fun way to celebrate would be hosting a little birthday party right here on my blog! Check out the line-up below to see all the fun I have in store for all of you. ;D

December Sponsor Love!

2011-12-28T02:00:00.001-05:00

I've had a great group of sponsors this month! Please take a look at them below--I'm sure you'll find some great new blogs to follow. :D

BLOG // TWITTER // ETSY

BLOG // TWITTER // PINTEREST

BLOG // TWITTER // ETSY

BLOG // TWITTER // TUMBLR

BLOG // TWITTER // ETSY

BLOG // FACEBOOK // ETSY

BLOG // TWITTER // ETSY

BLOG // TWITTER // PINTEREST

BLOG // TWITTER // ETSY

BLOG // TWITTER // BANDCAMP

BLOG // TWITTER // ETSY

BLOG // TWITTER // PINTEREST

BLOG // TWITTER // ETSY

BLOG // ETSY // FLICKR

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T12:45:00.000-05:00

Next year I'll stop regurgitating images from the previous year--but really, this picture is too cute not to use one more time. ;)

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and I will see you all next week!

Cold Hands Warm Hearts Swap

2011-12-22T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'm tardy to the party--but here is my Cold Hands Warm Hearts swap package from the lovely Ashley over at Simply Enchanted! I haven't been able to wear the gloves yet because of you know what, but I've already used some of the craft supplies and played around with the eyeliners. :D Thanks so much to Illene and Sandy for putting this swap together!

Birthday Blog Party Submissions

2011-12-21T14:45:00.001-05:00

Since my birthday falls between Christmas and New Years, sometimes it gets lost in the holiday shuffle. So I've decided to have a little celebration right here on the blog! I would love a full day full of birthday fun--but I need your help!

Here are some ideas of what you could send in:

+ Giveaway Items- Who doesn't like getting presents--so if my entire blog party just ended up being giveaways I think it would be a hit. haha There is no value minimum and the giveaway item doesn't have to be birthday related.

+ Tutorials- birthday decorations, DIY presents, party games

+ Most Memorable Birthday/Best Present- I love hearing about these

+ Discount Codes- Share a coupon code with my readers!

+ Recipes- Cupcakes, cakes, pies...COOKIE CAKE?!

+ Inspiration- Great themed party ideas, or birthday fashion?

+ Anything else you might think of!

I know this is a tad last minute, but if you would like to participate, I would need your submission by Thursday, December 29th.

Please send everything to maryrebeccablog[at]gmail[dot]com

Thank you so much!!

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P.S. If you would like to sponsor swap for January please email me at the above address with the following information [subject line: "JANUARY SPONSOR"]:

Blog Button--150x150pixels [please already have this hosted on your own image site]
URL you want your button to link to
What size button you need from me

Please send the above info to MaryRebeccaBlog [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject like "DECEMBER SPONSOR"

I will be accepting swaps until December 30th--thank you!

An update or two

2011-12-20T15:26:00.000-05:00

So today has been the first day all month I have been able to sit down at the computer and get a few things done! I'm slowly getting back on track and tomorrow I will have a post talking about my upcoming birthday blog party. :D

For now, I will leave you all with two updates about myself. One good...one not so much.

GOOD

I got my hair cut and colored. I was in the hair show for the reopening of Aveda's Institute here in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. I really like the cut and color. My hair feels so much better! The make-up for the show called for a pale face with only white eyeshadow and red lips. No eyeliner or mascara. Which unfortunately, is not the most flattering look on me. haha :x I'm still learning how to style it. I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to making my hair look nice-- I usually just wash and let it air dry.

[I look miserable in all of those. haha I promise I wasn't!]

BAD

Last week was critique week for me, so last Tuesday I was trying to finish mounting one of my pieces...when it happened. The dreaded X-Acto blade jumping the ruler and going for your finger. It was bad enough that I went to Urgent Care where they cleaned and dressed the wound and gave me a Tetanus shot. They couldn't reattach the bit I lost so hopefully I won't have a goofy looking finger when it heals. heh The funny thing about this accident is the piece I was cutting was about times I had hurt myself. womp womp

And for the people who want to see the blood and gore, the next two images are for you. It's not the worst thing, but if blood freaks you out...don't.click.on.these.links!!!!

Carnage 1

Carnage 2

.....and to end on a positive note--CHANTILLY MADE HER KICKSTARTER GOAL! I'm sure she's over the moon--thank you to everyone that donated. :D

Chantilly Songs Kickstarter

2011-12-19T23:47:00.000-05:00

One of my great sponsors, Chantilly, has a new EP--but she needs our help!

With only 36 hours to go she is a little over $100 dollars short of her $2,000 kickstarter fundraiser goal. The trick with Kickstarter though is that if you don't reach your goal by the deadline--you don't get ANY of the money. I can only imagine the anxiety Chantilly is feeling right now. So, go check out some of her music, take a peek at her fun blog, and help her surpass that $100 threshold [there are some great perks in doing so] ;D

Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-05T13:53:00.002-05:00

It's December and all I see all over the Internet and Christmas trees and holiday decor. Not in this home! In this home is a sleep-deprived Mary and piles of paper, Exacto blades, and horrible logo attempts.

I don't think anything festive will happen until after my critique next week. Oo until then, here are some shots from last year. I didn't know how easy I had it. hah!

Handmade Holiday Workshop

2011-12-02T20:10:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I mentioned I would be helping out at the West Elm + Etsy Handmade Holiday Workshop. It was a fantastic event and I want to thank West Elm Atlantic Station and all their employees for their warm hospitality. I loved meeting all the creative people that came out and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. :D


GA Etsy team swag bags!


Some of the GA Etsy crew! [l-r] Rachel [Tickleworm], Colleen [Little Red Afro], Lane [mylovelysuitcase], and myself [Mary Rebecca]


Some of the lovely West Elm employees!


Oh, and did I mention there were cupcakes? yum

Two Events I'm Participating In

2011-12-01T12:41:00.001-05:00

Two great events are happening tonight! I wish I could be at both places at once.

FIRST

Handmade Holiday Workshop at West Elm!

My team, GA Etsy, will be heading the handmade ornament table tonight! Come stop by, make an ornament or two, and do some local handmade shopping. I finished making swag bags with swag donated from team members last night. The first 100 people to make an ornament will get one. :D

SECOND

Opening of the I.C.E. Pop-Up Shop!

Tonight, from 7-9pm, is the opening and it should be a ton of fun! I'm super bummed I have to miss it.

Why it will be great:

Great handmade shopping from tons of great artists! Some of my bunting necklace will be for sale :D
Local Vaudeville/folk/jazz 6-piece band Christ, Lord will perform at 8 PM
Window display created by R. Land
Scoutmob users get 25% off everything in the store for this one night only. That's 25% off items in the ICE Pop-Up Shop and 25% off Criminal Records items (no tickets, no consignments, no gift cards).
Tote bags printed by Fallen Arrows and designed by Wattsalot to give to the first 100 attendees. I am super jealous of people getting this tote bag! Sarah is an amazing person and illustrator!

November Sponsor Spotlight

2011-11-28T02:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe November is already coming to an end! Maybe it was because of the great bunch of sponsors I had this month that made it go by so quickly? Take a moment and check them all out--you won't be disappointed.

Flex Family Arts

HI! I am Amanda, one half of the flex family arts team. My Mister (James) and I spend our time making art, checking out new music, laughing and dreaming up our next project. We have a Baby Flex who lives with us and keeps us pretty entertained and we recently got engaged! Our blog is about our work, our lives and our love for each other

BLOG // SQUIDFLEX // ALLNIGHTDINER // PILOUSPERCILLA

Baby In Bulgaria

I'm Lauren, twenty-something adventure seeker turned wife, momma, and expat all in less than a year. Stories of travels, a little bit of craftiness, and a whole lot of photos!

BLOG

Let It Be Raw [in love with film]

My name is Kiley M and I am in love with film. I hope to someday make a career of this love affair. A friend once told me that my art was very "raw", and from that idea the Let It Be Raw Photography blog and print shop were born. I write about my photos, the art and craft of printing and picture taking, books inspirations, graphic design, photoshop tutorials, trials, mistakes, and anything else that I can somehow relate back to photography.

DISCOUNT: 10% of any item in my Etsy print shop with the coupon code: MARYREBECCA11

BLOG // ETSY // TWITTER

Chantilly Songs

Hi there! I'm Chantilly- cat mom, indie fashion lover, and writer/ singer of the best rainy day songs you've ever cried to. In my blog I post outfits, ponder life experiences, and chronicle the journey of putting together a new album. I've studied music composition, toured the northeast, and am about to release my second set of recordings! Come join in the adventure :)

BLOG // TWITTER // BANDCAMP

Two Is Better Than One

Hi! I'm Nora from Two is better than One. I blog about life, marriage, day to day fun and I join in lots of fun link up's. I live in Oregon, the land of rain and have been married to the love of my life for two years now. I love to make friends, participate and pin my inspiration and loves on pinterest, I love to be on facebook and I tweet some too! Please come see what my blog is about and become my friend :)

BLOG // FACEBOOK // TWITTER // PINTEREST

The Little Willow

Hi everyone, I'm Linda! I'm just a college kid hoping to one day be a full-time small business owner. My shop is the product of constantly having people tell me they liked my crochet work. I also have a blog where I post freebies, art, fashion, and personal pieces!

BLOG // ETSY

Sew Beastly

Hey there! My name is Citlalli, and I am the over-caffeinated gal from Sew Beastly. Some of my favorite things to do are drinking coffee, eating, cooking, and sewing the day and night away as I rock out to my music. The last one is how Sew Beastly started...me, my sewing machine, my music, and my handmade dream. My shoppe is where you can find a fun mix of my handmade accessories, and I also blog over here. Stop by, stay awhile, and let's connect!

DISCOUNT: MARY10 = 10% off

BLOG // ETSY // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Redhead Memories

Hi! I'm Kaycie and I blog over at Redhead Memories. My blog includes all the silly, crazy, sad, and inspiring moments of my life. I love to document those happy times and also to look back at them. I also have a terrible memory, which makes my blog all kinds of ironic.

BLOG // TWITTER

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale!

2011-11-25T18:12:00.000-05:00

BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY SALE!

Now through Monday [12AM est] use coupon code FOODCOMA to receive FREE SHIPPING on any order.

Includes sale items!

SHOP NOW

Even Santa loves a good sale!

Happy Haul-idays with Chronical Books 2011

2011-11-23T12:18:00.000-05:00

It's been a tough year for non-profits, libraries, reading rooms, and literacy programs. But you can make your favorite charity's holiday season bright by entering the 2nd Annual Happy Haul-idays Giveaway!

This year, we're not only giving away up to $500 worth of Chronicle books to one lucky blogger and one commenter on the winning blog post—we're also asking the winning blogger to choose one charity to receive up to $500 of books from us. It's just our way of spreading holiday cheer and sharing the gift of reading.

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Here is my list. I've changed a few things up from last year and I think it's a great collection. So, if you would be just as thrilled as I would to win all these books--leave a comment and cross your fingers that we become the lucky winners. ;D

The A-Z of Visual Ideas
Print & Pattern 2
Paper Cutting
Light for Visual Artists
Pictorial Webster's
Weirdo Noir
The Trend Forecaster's Handbook
Creative, Inc.
Subversive Cross Stitch
Sublime Stitching
Softies

1000 Fonts
Practice Makes Perfect: Sketching and Drawing
Graphic Design Thinking
How To Be The Best Bubblewriter in the World, Ever!
Production For Print
Getting it Right with Type
Masterpiece Studio A Paint-By-Number Kit
The New Photography Manual
Bubbly On Your Budget

Total: $496.75

Sponsor in December

2011-11-23T00:17:00.000-05:00

December is a great time to snag a sponsor spot on my blog! On top of all the holiday cheer it's also my birthday month and I plan on having a blog party to celebrate. :D
Just like previous months I am doing sponsor swaps. All I need is the following information:

Blog Button--150x150pixels [please already have this hosted on your own image site]
URL you want your button to link to
What size button you need from me

Please send the above info to MaryRebeccaBlog [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject like "DECEMBER SPONSOR"

I will be accepting swaps until November 28th--thank you!

In An Instant

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Some shots I've taken in the past month--proof that there is life after school projects. ;)

Huge leaf

They love to watch me cook.

That blanket must have been really heavy ;)

Making people into vampires

Spooky basements

Pretty parks

Confused ad

Stoic Stinker

P.S. Don't forget to come out to the I.C.E. Holiday Show if you're a local! :D

I.C.E. Holiday Show: THIS WEEKEND

2011-11-16T09:00:00.006-05:00

I just wanted to quickly pop in and mention that the I.C.E. Holiday Show is happening this weekend! It's a really great event with wonderful vendors. Come get a head start on some holiday shopping for yourself and loved ones! If you do stop in, make sure you come say "HI"! :D

Where'd Ya Go, Mary?

2011-11-09T10:04:00.000-05:00

You might have noticed it's been a tad quiet around here. School has really ramped up and I'm trying to keep it all together and make to the end of the quarter! So probably for the rest of November my posting is going to be sporadic at best. December is my birthday month though and I hope put together a small celebration on here. :D

HOWEVER! You can find a giveaway and interview over at Flex Family Art's blog--you still have a couple more days to enter.

Hope everyone is having a great November--see ya around!

Don't Forget! Daylight Savings Ends

2011-11-05T17:42:00.002-04:00

For those it affects, Daylight Savings ends at 2AM tonight! [Sunday November, 6th]

Enjoy your extra hour of sleep, and if you're like me, change your clock in your car! I've been guilty of just waiting for March to roll around so it would correct itself. ;)

My Halloween Adventures

2011-11-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! Monday I was in class all day so we used the weekend to celebrate my favorite of holidays! :D

Friday:
Every quarter there is a party for the 1st quarters put on by the 2nd quarters. I'm a 2nd quarter so we decided to pair up with a Halloween party upper quarters were already hosting. [there is only 4 of us in 2nd quarter and like 25+ first quarters so it helped take some of the stress out for us] :D

I went with a creepy ventriloquist doll. I didn't have the money [or time] to make a new costume so I just hodgepodge'd costumes from things I already had for both events I went to. Matt finally got to take his creepy mask out for a spin and people either loved it or were completely terrified. excellent.

2nd quarter!

Saturday:
We went to a Halloween event at the High Museum of Art. We got to see the Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso exhibit they have right now--pretty awesome!
I was just a different version of a creepy doll. I just really liked having intense eyebrows and a tiny mouth? I ended up putting the baby head on though at the end of the night because it's too fun. haha ;D

Our friend Mark made his Big Boy costume in like 2 seconds. impressive

There was this great art piece with all these angled mirrors. I wish I had caught the artist's name.

You can't hear very well in that mask, so I thought he was just taking a photo at first. :x

my makeup stayed on pretty well!

Oh! Here is our pumpkin we carved too. I had no idea green pumpkins were so thick so we had to scrap our original idea and just went with this. The baked seeds were delicious that came from this beast though. ;D

What I Wore: ACRO-CATS!

2011-11-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

Outfit Details

Dress: Forever21

Skull Jacket: Ebay

Red Tights:c/o We Love Colors

Blk/Grey Knee Hights: c/o We Love Colors

Boots: Bodyline

Monocle Necklace: handmade by me

I first heard about the Acro-Cats on the TV show Must Love Cats. I don't think the show is on anymore-- the host was also pretty insufferable. However, the Acro-Cats were great! So when Matt said they were coming to town, I knew we had to go see them!

Samantha fosters and adopts cats and clicker trains them to do cute tricks. She then takes the show on the road to raise awareness about clicker training, and to also find homes for the foster cats. Aside from the Acro-Cats there is also Tuna and the Rock Cats! They are a 4 cat and one hen band!

The show was so cute, and sometimes a bit surreal. Unfortunately, they were playing at a venue right in Little 5 Points on the day of the L5P Halloween event/parade, so their turnout was really low. [besides the 7 of us they went together, there was only 2 other people] I know there are fellow crazy cat ladies that read my blog, so if you have a chance to see Samantha and her Acro-Cats, I would recommend checking them out! [there is a list of tour dates on the site] You can tell she really cares for each and every cat and I think it's great she's made it her mission to find homes for so many of them.

Oh, and if you do get a chance to see the show, definitely buy a cat toy [or 5] from the merch table! They weren't kidding when they said the catnip inside was potent. I bought my cats a catnip taco and fortune cookie and they went INSANE! Even Nibbler was all over them and she usually doesn't care for catnip.

Several of us also bought Samantha's clicker training kit. I can't speak for anyone else, but Stinker and Creeper are having a lot of fun learning. [Nibbler freaks out if you point anything at her]

I apologize in advance for the picture quality. All I had was my camera phone, and as some of you know, it's on the fritz. [by the time I post this I should have taken it to Apple--so hopefully it works again]

The sign Samantha is holding in the bottom right photo says, "Who's Number One?" and that cat is raising his hand. d'awwww

Tuna is on left with her cow bell and Pinky on right with her guitar.

Me with the band [they were the Skele-Cats since it was a Halloween show] and a random hedgehog they had.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T15:12:00.000-04:00

So I might be reusing this graphic, but I'm running on 1.5 hours of sleep. I'll be lucky if I look back at this post tomorrow and see a coherent string of words written here. ;)

Hope everyone has a great Halloween! Here's a little sneak peak at one of my costumes from this year.

Melbourne Zombie Shuffle Guest Post by Donna of Deer Donna

2011-10-31T06:40:00.001-04:00

Hello spooky readers of Mary Rebecca's gorgeous blog!!

I'm Deer Donna, and today I went to the very awesome Melbourne Zombie Shuffle 2011.

We were trying for a Guiness World Record, which I think we probably got... Approximately 12,000 people dressed as zombies, stomping through the city of Melbourne, Australia!! Fun!!!

I went as a zombie Minnie Mouse.. It was great fun, I got SO much attention from the cameras.. so did my boyfriend Christian.... We were quite the couple.

It was our first time at the shuffle, and we will definitely be going again. It was amazing to be around so many gory, creative people screaming BRAAAAAINNNNNSSSSSS.

Anyway, here are some photos for you all...

Happy Halloween everyone!

Love Deer Donna xox

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Mary: Donna, you and your boyfriend looked great! Perfect amount of cute and gore. I love that your zombie shuffle had a huge turnout--let us know if you guys do indeed get the world record :D Thanks for this awesome guest post

Favorite Fall Shoe Styles Guest Post by Katrina of the demure muse

2011-10-30T18:00:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone!! I'm Katrina from the demure muse and I'm so excited to be here on Mary Rebecca's blog today. (Thanks so much for having me!!)

I'm a huge shoe lover and wanted to share some fun ways to transition your favorite pairs of fall shoes through the chillier months. After growing up in Toronto and having to deal with piles of snow shortly after the leaves have fallen off the trees, I never fully understood the concept of wearing fall shoes right through to the end of the year. I recently moved to Seattle and am really looking forward to not having to shovel 5ft+ of snow (although I hear it rains a ton here during the winter. hrm, just going fight one battle at a time!)

Some of my favorite styles of Fall shoes happen to be wedges, but I am also loving all the variations of combat boots!

To get the most bang for my buck this year, I'm hoping to transition these beauties past the middle of November. One way that I love to wear my wedges is with skirts. Since I'm a bit of a cold-weather wimp, leggings are my best friends on chilly days. I like to layer leggings with cute knee socks to add some volume to the bottom half of my outfits since I usually feel like I'm too top-heavy with all the layers on my torso. (I know I can't be the only one who wears a t-shirt under a cardigan under a hoodie under a vest under a winter jacket! ... or am i? *hides*) There are so many possibilities of filling outfits with cute prints and colors thanks to the huuuuge assortment of designs on these babies!

Hands down, I love to get all matchy-matchy when it comes to my shoes, purse, and scarves. I'm usually tempted to dress like the winter weather (i.e. in gloomy and grey colors to compliment to chilly air) but I'm going to try to avoid doing that this year! There are a ton of rich, warm colored scarves currently in the windows of every store and I hope to stock up on a couple before winter rolls around. These will go perfectly with all the fall-colored shoes!!

I hope you guys are able to make the most of your fall shoes with these quick styling tips for chillier days. :)

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Mary: Katrina, you're so fashionable and such a shopping enabler! Every time I see the newest pretty thing you've purchased I have to hide my wallet and resist following suit. ;D

Thanks for the great post

Zombies Zombies and more ZOMBIES!

2011-10-30T02:00:00.000-04:00

Last month I was asked by my friend Juan Montenegro to do the zombie make-up for a short film he was working on.

Fast make-up application..zombies never really had prime face time. These zombies are recently infected and slightly annoyed. ;D

I wasn't planning on being in the shoot so excuse my blood beard--it was a very last minute call. hahaha


Haha, I was a jumping zombie worried my shorts were going to ride up when I jumped

P.S. This is me modeling for one of Juan's bodies of work. haha One day someone will want me to do a pretty shoot!

Never Buy A Ready-Made Guest Post by Sara of Icky Monster

2011-10-29T12:15:00.000-04:00

Hi there! I'm Sara and I have a little blog called Icky Monster where I share things about my life and the monsters I draw. I'm pretty stoked to be sponsoring Mary Rebecca in October because it's my favorite month of the year!

It's no secret to any one who knows me that Halloween is the day I most look forward to. Skip my birthday, skip Christmas, skip the new year, just give me jack-o-lanterns and bone-shaped candles and I'm a happy girl. I never buy a ready-made Halloween costume for the event--that just wouldn't be doing the day justice, would it? So today I'd like to share with you some of my past Halloween costumes. They're all a little silly but when you're like me (not into cosplay and working on a budget), you make do with what you have and you have a blast doing it.

I spent too many years in a strict zombie-only costume regime. Not many things are more fun than getting bloody and pretending you're hungry for brains, but after so many years in a row masquerading as the walking dead, I had to change it up. Enter my 2009 costume which marked my first deviation from Dead Girl in years.

I'm a huge fan of A Clockwork Orange, both the novel and the film, and it was about time I dressed up as Alex DeLarge, dang it. This was a really fun costume that came together the day of Halloween. (Did you know it's extremely hard to find a pair of straight-legged white jeans? It was in 2009, anyway). Last year I emulated a man yet again..

This is me as Eric Nally, the lead singer of one of my favorite bands, Foxy Shazam. Eric is full of energy and Foxy's shows are always a blast. When fretting over what to dress as just days before Halloween, I decided it would be a load of fun to dance around as Eric.

Which one of these is not like the other?

These photos are of Eric jumping on my friend Justin's back, and of me recreating the photo on Halloween (yes, Justin is dressed as a bull). Eric and I are totally twins, am I right?

I love Halloween because it's all about getting creative, whether it be with your decorations or the treats you make or the costume you wear. This year I'm not completely sure how I'd like to dress up, but I'm thinking about being a Pokémon. (And I'm definitely open for suggestions as to which Pokémon I should be.) I'll be sharing more Halloween themed goodies on my blog throughout October, so stop by to check it out and if you do be sure to say hi. A big thanks to Mary for letting me sponsor her blog this most fabulous of months, and I hope everybody has a happy Halloween!

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Mary: I love your Alex DeLarge costume! It came together great for being a last minute thing :D Thanks so much for contributing Sara

Zombie Makeup Tutorial Guest Post by Tera of Tera Sue

2011-10-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hi! I'm Tera and I run a blog over at TeraSue.com

I have always loved horror movies. Especially zombie movies. Whether it's the original Dawn of the Dead or the remake, fast zombies, slow zombies, funny zombies (Shaun of the Dead), shark eating zombies (Zombie). You name it, I like it.

I don't think it's a surprise to anyone who knows me that my favorite month is October so when Mary offered up some of her blog space for October themed guest posts I jumped at the chance to share my DIY. So without further ado I present to you: How To Become a Zombie.

Because two of my favorite zombie movies are the Dawn of the Deads I decided to do a two parter. Whether you prefer the old school painted face zombie, or the new sexy flesh tone zombie it's easy to create these looks for your next zombie event.

Step 1: Pick your battle wounds. Using the fake cuts you can find in most Halloween sections of your local store place your cut using spirit gum (or as I learned when I ran out of spirit gum, lash glue works just fine).

I usually put my cuts on my forehead. I've found that when placing them on my cheek they tend to come unglued if I talk or laugh too much throughout the night.

Step 2: Using "fake skin" that came in a Halloween make-up pack I bought at the drug store I made another wound on my cheek. The best way I can describe fake skin is that it feels like silly putty with little pieces of cotton in it, but it really looks like torn up face meat once you add all the make-up to it.

I also used some of the fake skin to smooth out the edges of the cut on my forehead. I've also used flesh colored latex that you can buy from Halloween stores. This tends to be easier to work with than the fake skin and gives a smoother look, but is not as readily available.

Step 3: Now it's time to add a little bruising. I use a combination of browns, purples, black, and pinks from my personal eye shadow collection, but make sure you don't use your regular make-up brushes to apply the bruising. I made that mistake once and had to buy myself a new set.

I usually start by applying the lighter browns all around the wounds and add the darker colors to smaller portions of the wounds until I'm satisfied with the result. I do the same around my eyes. Try to get a gradient going from dark black or brown closer to your eye and fade into lighter browns, purples, and pinks, mixing and adding until you look really tired...dead even.

Step 4: Now comes the fun. If you're like me you have a bucket of blood lying around your house. But if you're not the kind of person who plays with zombie make-up whether it's Halloween or not...you can pick up blood in any Halloween section.

What I usually do first is dab some blood in and around my wounds. Then to make it more realistic looking I get a big glob on my finger and let it drip naturally from several points of the cut. This part will get messy so be careful where you do it.

Lastly, I smear my bloody hand over my mouth and fill in my cheek wound with more dark brown eyeshadow.

Step 5: Finally, I add black shadow to the cheeks to make them appear sunken in and touch up places that need a little more color. I also like to tease my hair and perfect my zombie stare to go with my new fab look.

For the original Dawn of the Dead look all you have to do is add gray or green face paint before you drizzle and dab the blood on! It's a simple way to take your look from day to evening!

To complete your look all you need to do is find an old dress you don't wear anymore or an outfit you you pick up at the thrift store and give it a few rips and tears. It's better to actually tear the holes rather than cut them so they look more natural. Lastly, I put on my newly ripped garb and wipe palm prints of blood in various places. I also like to rub my clothes in the dirt/mud to make it look as though I just climbed out of a grave. If you're really hardcore you can also add dirt clumps, leaves, etc. to your ratty hair.

Now grab a fake hand covered in blood, a rubber brain, maybe a foot and go scare the neighborhood kids!

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial! Please stop by and share some pictures if you try it out.

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Mary: Tera, you are one of the hottest zombies I've seen! This is such a great tutorial--thank you so much for showing my readers how to get down with their brain eating selves! ;D

Sugar Skull Makeup Tutorial Guest Post by Danielle of Ghost Waltz

2011-10-28T09:00:00.004-04:00

Hi there, I'm Danielle from Ghosts Waltz, and I'm so pleased to be guest posting on Mary's wonderful blog. I love to go all out for Halloween, but once the trick-or-treating has come to an end, I also like to dress up for los Días de los Muertos, or the Days of the Dead. This ritual began in ancient Mexico and is still celebrated in Mexico and parts of the U.S. From the night of October 31st through November 2nd, families visit the graves of loved ones, build altars, and celebrate life and death in a way that expresses both reverence and humor. One iconic image of this time is the sugar skull, a brightly colored candy skull, often decorated with icing and sequins.

Today I'll be showing you how to do sugar skull makeup. It can be as simple or as intricate as you like, so don't be intimidated! I will be doing one of the more basic looks, so you can add to it if you wish.

Once you have collected some images for inspiration from books or the internet, it's a good idea to sketch out what you want to do beforehand.

For this look, you will need sponges and a few brushes. I used a white character base, black creme liner, and a few colored creme liners (eyeshadow will work, but it won't pop as much). I would also suggest powder and puff to keep everything from running.

1. Paint the circular outline of the eye sockets, and outline the nose socket, then fill it in.

2. Sponge on the white base. Patting it on looks better than wiping it on. Leave room around the eye sockets for painting the petals.

3. Fill in the eye sockets with your choise of color. Paint small half-circles around the sockets for the petals.

4. Outline the sockets and petals with a dark color (I chose black) using a thin brush. Add lines to your mouth for teeth, and add any other facial details you like.

5. Powder! Apply powder to your face with a puff, then remove excess powder with a damp paper towel. Add paint to any parts of the makeup that have lightened.

6. If you want to add sparklies, do so with spirit gum or eyelash adhesive (I didn't have enough so I went without). Accessorize with lots of flowers, and you're good to go!

Thanks to my husband Jose Rodriguez for taking the photos of me.

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Mary: Danielle your makeup skills are always spot on! Plus all your photos are lovely. :D Thanks so much for this great tutorial

Ginger Tea Recipe Guest Post by Melanie of The Sweet and Lovely

2011-10-27T18:00:00.001-04:00

Hi everybody, this is Melanie from The Sweet and Lovely blog. I'm so stocked to do this guest post. I'd like to share with you my all time favorite Tea recipe. Ginger Tea. YUM!!

I have crohn's disease and suffer from inflammations through out my body. This tea helps to ease and sooth these inflammations. The essential oil of ginger is a real panacea. It contains a lot of vitamin C, iron, calcium and magnesium. It strengthens the immune system, helps my travel sickness and encourages blood flow. (Especially girls get a lot of good from this wonderful root) It gets your metabolism going and heats you up from the inside. A real treat in the fall when the weather changes. It also helps your body to purge built up toxins in your body. I could go on and on about this wonderful root. Like I said, a real panacea :)

So, heres how you do it:

For the basics, all you need is Ginger.

You can also add some lemon or mint if you don't like the taste of pure ginger. I myself drink it only with ginger and nothing else. I find that lemon and mint make the tea a bit bitter...and I'm not a big fan of bitter.

The more ginger you take the spicier it gets. I highly recommend to start with a small piece of about the size of your pinkie fingernail. You can add more the next time to see how you like it. I like mine really spicy and take about a the size of 1.5 inch.

Peel your ginger and cut it in to very small pieces. If you want to be really fancy you can crush it in a garlic crusher so you get all those wonderful essential oils out of it. place it in a heat resistant pitcher. Add some lemon slices and some mint leaves if you want and then pour about four cups of boiling hot water over it all.

Let it steep for a minimum of 10 minutes before you drink. Again, the longer you let it sit, the spicier is gets :)

Important: Make sure to use organic lemons. Using non organic lemons will put toxins in your tea. The hot water will wash out all the toxins that build up in the lemon peel.

Now all you have to do is poor a cup, snuggle on the couch and enjoy your wonderful tea :)

Hope you enjoy

xoxoxo

Melanie

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Mary: Melanie- I'm sold! I will definitely be trying this tea out soon. Thank you so much for the tutorial :D

Past Halloween costumes

2011-10-27T10:00:00.002-04:00

I unfortunately do not currently have access to costumes pictures further back from 2 years ago. Maybe next year I can dig up some childhood costumes. Although honestly, I don't really remember many. Up until I was 9 I went trick-or-treating at a local mall because I lived on a really busy street..so I don't really think my parents went all out on my costumes. sad :\

2010 Costumes

I dressed us as Sugar Skulks!

I also decided to go to a Halloween party last minute so I whipped up a VooDoo Doll outfit.

This isn't a costume, but I really like the pumpkin we carved last year. ANGLERFISH!

2009 Costumes

We had a Halloween this party. I got so involved in decorating the house [sorry. no photos] that I kinda put my outfit on the back burner. I guess I was like a woodland sprite?

Then this was for another Halloween party that same year. I was just a creepy doll :)

I really have no idea what I'll be dressing up as this year. Any suggestions?

More Fall Goodness

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Seems I did scare a few people away from my blog after viewing my costume/zombie posts. Halloween is only once a year-- I got to get in all my scary when I can! ;D
However, let's real it back in for the day and just enjoy some nice Fall goodness.

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A week or so I posted a WIWT from my trip to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch! Here are a few more photos I took while we were there. We are finally going to get to carve our pumpkin we got that day tomorrow night! :D

Mary Rebecca

CRUNCH TIME!

Getting friendly with lipstick

Eye Roll

Valentine's Day Swap 2012 Link-Up!

In An Instant

The 11 Meme

Chrissy over at Whimsical Poppysmic tagged me, and although I told her I'm rubbish when it comes to answering questions about myself, I'd still give it a go.

Here are the rules.

11 Facts About Myself.

11 Questions to Answer.

Here are my Questions.

Wanted Wednesday 02/01/12

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January Sponsor Spotlight

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Sleepy Creeper

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Evolution of Vampires

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I love Twin Peaks-- and Amanda + James over at Flex Family Arts makes a whole ton of fun Twin Peaks embroidery!

The birthday that keeps giving

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2011 Blog Recap

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Where'd Ya Go, Mary?

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My Halloween Adventures

What I Wore: ACRO-CATS!

Happy Halloween!

Melbourne Zombie Shuffle Guest Post by Donna of Deer Donna

Favorite Fall Shoe Styles Guest Post by Katrina of the demure muse

Zombies Zombies and more ZOMBIES!

Top 5 Scary Movies Guest Post by Lynsey of Dressed To Chill

Never Buy A Ready-Made Guest Post by Sara of Icky Monster

Zombie Makeup Tutorial Guest Post by Tera of Tera Sue

Sugar Skull Makeup Tutorial Guest Post by Danielle of Ghost Waltz

Ginger Tea Recipe Guest Post by Melanie of The Sweet and Lovely

Past Halloween costumes

More Fall Goodness