Let us talk about Cocktails

Whether you're trick or treating with your kiddos, staying home watching Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin, or celebrating with friends, fixing yourself a little fun Halloween cocktail is a great way to welcome the witches and ghouls.

Martha Stewart has some great recipes. Here is one that is frighteningly yummy.

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Halloween Sunset Cocktail:

Makes one serving

Ingredients

• 3 ounces tangerine juice
• 1 1/2 ounces white rum
• 3/4 ounce grenadine
• Ice cubes

Directions

1. Combine juice and rum in a tall glass filled with ice. Top with grenadine. Serve.

Cook's Note

This cocktail is beautifully two-toned when first poured; afterward, the ingredients start to mix together into an intense orange color.

We made it through the storm

Hurricane Sandy blew threw yesterday, and I was so hyped up with the thought of power lose and trees down and houses being blown away that when nothing happened it was little bit of a let down.  But I am extremely thankful nothing happened!  I know a lot of you received the full blow and I wish you all well through the aftermath of Sandy.

Mini Flood in the front yard

Tippi keeping dry

Darby, Tippi's jacket drying, Our only "damage" was the mass amount of leaves

Haunted Pup Crawl

This past Saturday my friends and I ventured out to Fells Point in Baltimore Maryland for the Haunted Pub Crawl.  We visited 5 different bars learning along the way the history of Baltimore and the haunted tales past down from generations before.  We sampled specialty brews from crafted in Maryland.  Here are a few instagram photos from the night.

Bertha's Pub

Penny Door - Outside The Horse You Came In On Pub

On a side note we hope that all of you located on the east coast stay safe.  We are expecting power outages and might not be able to post for the next few days, but we'll be back when we can.

Halloween Makeup

This weekend I will be on an awesome haunted pub crawl with some friends.  Even though we've decided to pass on the whole dress up thing, I still want to add a little fun to the night.  I've purchased a mini witch hat on a headband and I thought some fun wing tip eyes and a bight lip would add a little punch to my wardrobe!

Do you have any fun Halloween costumes planned?

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Yummies

Let's talk about Holiday parties.  So many of us have holiday parties lined up and the thought of bringing a dish can be a little scary.  I've pulled together a few ideas to make it easier for you (although you better not be on a diet for these).

Where to find the recipes: 1. via | 2. via | 3. via | 4. via | 5. via

To find more yummies check out our Food Pinterest board!

Drum Roll

And the winner for the $100 giveaway is.....

Congratulations Jolene!!

Don't be sad if you didn't win this one, we have several giveaways lined up in November and December!  

Pumpkins

1. via | 2. via | 3. via | 4. via | 5. via | 6. via

Ever have one of those days where you just can't find the motivation.  Today is one of those for me.  What do you do to keep yourself motivated?

Apartment Living

As I get ready for my relocation in a few months (down to Asheville, NC) I have a lot to get ready for.  First thing on my list was to start a Pinterest board to figure out how I can decorate a rental without making any huge changes like paint, wall paper. And more importantly on a BUDGET! 

There are several solutions to fix the plain white walls problem.  One solution that I found was removable wallpaper!  How cool is that, right?!  Of course I can't tell you what exactly it will look like, and knowing me it might not turn out like that in the photos, but we can try right?

Learn how to create this here: via

This amazing wall was actually made from fabric!  To create this you use fabric starch and push pins to hold up the fabric while you apply the fabric starch.  I found this on Apartment Therapy.  The tricky part of this is finding a fabric with a print our style that you like and will mesh well with your room style.  Etsy always has some amazing choice, so this will be the first place I will look.  

Learn how to create this here: via

The second option involves using something called Easychange wallpaper from Sherwin-Williams.  I've never heard of this before but Oh Happy Day blogged about it, plus they wrote about how they removed the paper when they were ready to move.  It seems easy enough.  

I was really curious about this so called "Renters" wallpaper, so I stopped on over my Sherwin-Williams website and found that they have over 4,000 choices!  The prices seem a little pricey, although I'm not sure how much I expected it to be, ranging from $40 on up per roll.  If I plan on going this route I think I'll just wallpaper a small accent wall instead of several walls.  

So if you are a renter or will soon be a renter, like me, think about these great temporary wallpapers that you don't involve paint or a hard removal process!

Pintrest Make

There are the few DIY pins I've found this week on Pinterest!

How to create these items: 1. via | 2. via | 3. via | 4. via | 5. via | 6. via

$100 Gift Giveaway

The holidays may only be 2 months away but we've already started to see Christmas commercials.  We thought it would be nice to have a giveaway to help you start off the gift of giving!  To win this amazing deal simply use our Rafflecopter helper below!  Ends October 24th and one winner will be announced on October 25th!  

Good luck everyone!  

Leave your comment below with your favorite item 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Obsessing Over

Is it possible to fall in love with an iPhone cover?  We'll if so I think I have.  PaperFashion has the most incredible iPhone covers I've ever seen.  I've requested a few for holiday gifts (crossing my fingers I get at least one).

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Hot Pink

It may be October, but that doesn't mean we still can't wear bright colors.  

Right now I'm coveting hot pink!

Where to find and buy these items: 1. via | 2. via | 3. via | 4. via | 5. via  | 6. via

My Two Cents

My two cents:

- Watching the Space Jump on Sunday was amazing!

- Learning to let go of those that have hurt me has been a very difficult process, but has helped me grow into a happier person

- I have never seen a peony, but I absolutely love to collect photos of them.

- I've always wanted to be a archaeologist and travel to Egypt to uncover secrets of the past.

- I'm very excited this month because we will be re-vamping our website.  Can't wait to start! 

We're Hiring

We've grown leaps and bounds since our first handbag back in 2008.  From a first collection of 5 handbags to now a full line of jewelry, handbags, hair accessories and scarves!  

We are a small company of just 2 designers but we're looking to add to the Rebecca team.  We have two spots available an internships, one for everyday tasks and one for PR.  All internships have the possibility to be hired on as a paid position, for now we only offer college credits and rights to any images and press you may get for your portfolio.

Here is a little more about each job:

Intern

Job would include: 
-creating blog posts
-updating our facebook page
-designing mailings to send to your subscribers
-occasionally uploading new items to our website
-trend seeking/designing possibilities. 

You must: 
-have Photoshop or Illustrator experience
-know how to use blogger.com, have some sort of html knowledge (but not required)
-be able to reach deadlines even though you will be working from home
-be motivated and honest

As an Intern you will not need to come to our office, and do not need to live in the D.C/Maryland area. This opportunity is a stay at home position where you can schedule your own hours and communicate with us via email and phone calls. Images and such will be sent to you to use. 


Pay:
- The position is unpaid, but credit for graphics, image designs, etc. It's a great way to get published online, put on your resume, and have a fashion job!
- It is a 3 month commitment with the possibility of becoming a long-term, better-paid position!
- College Credit

City Washington D.C. but can liver farther as this can be a work from home internship State Maryland, USA Email rebecca@rebeccaanneallen.com please send resumes to our email address Website http://www.rebeccaanneallen.com/

PR Intern

Job would include:
- Searching for Fashion blogs and magazines that would be a good fit for Rebecca
- Contacting Blogs to send items to wear in features
- Contacting online magazines such as N.E.E.T, Rue, Lonny, and more
- Creating emails and photo images of future seasons to send to magazines and blogs
- Keep in contact with each company, send questions the may have to us and check up to see if they need anything else.

You must:
- Have Photoshop or Illustrator experience. Not necessary but a benefit.
- Be professional and reliable.  You will be representing Rebecca and we expect you to respect the bloggers and reps for magazines.
- Be able to reach deadlines even though you will be working from home
- Be motivated and honest

As an Intern you will not need to come to our office, and do not need to live in the D.C/Maryland area. This opportunity is a stay at home position where you can schedule your own hours communicate with us via email and phone calls. Images and such will be sent to you to use. 

Pay:
- The position is unpaid, but credit for graphics, image designs, etc. It's a great way to get published online, put on your resume, and have a fashion job!
- It is a 3 month commitment with the possibility of becoming a long-term, better-paid position!
- College Credit

City Washington D.C. but can liver farther as this can be a work from home internship  State Maryland, USA Email rebecca@rebeccaanneallen.com please send resumes to our email address Website http://www.rebeccaanneallen.com/

Overcoming Loneliness

This summer has been pretty hard for me, I've been dealing with a very bad breakup and the struggling with the overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Throughout my life I've been in several scenarios where I've had to overcome loneliness: moving across the country away from family and friends, starting college, and of course losing my best friend.

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We all deal with loneliness at some point in our life.  Like me you may be going to college, moving to a new town or have lost the biggest part of your life.  But there are ways to combat this, and here is how I've done it.

1.) Get up and start taking care of yourself.  I started going to the gym and joined a work out class that meets twice a week.  This gets me out of the house, and I've been able to lose the extra weight I put on plus tone up (and it's proven that endorphins can make you feel happy)!  If you can't afford the gym, start out by walking in your neighborhood or at your local park.  Getting out at least a few times a week can will not only make you feel better but make you look better to (and hey there is nothing wrong with staying in shape).

2.) Call you friends.  If you've moved away call your friends from home.  Sometimes we distance ourselves from others to keep our self in the "comfortable" zone.  No matter how crappy you feel get up and spend time with friends.  I've learned that even when I really want to stay in and snuggle up with a good book I feel so much better when I've spent time with others.  It's just an hour out of your day, get up and get out!

3.) Family.  Family is always going to be there, no matter what.  I have the most amazing family who provide a great support system for me.  Although it may be rare, my mom is my best friend and is someone I can go to when I need to talk.  Spend time with your family, or if you've moved far away from them give them a call or sign up for Skype. 

4.) Join a club.  I'll be moving to a new town this coming spring and will know no one.  One of the key things I plan on doing when I first arrive is join a club.  Find something that involves an activity you enjoy doing, whether it be a knitting group or a hiking club.  Getting yourself involved in activities will allow you to meet new people and keep your mind and self busy.

5.) Devote yourself to a new hobby or to work.  Going from busy weekends with friends to slow weekends alone I found that dedicating myself back to my business has only made my company more successful.   Now let me first say that I am not condoning you spend every waking hour working.  I'm suggesting that when there are those lonely nights or days where you normally may be busy with your loved ones, use that time to finish projects that you've neglected to finish.  If you own your own business re-vamp your website, take new photos of your pieces or start a blog!  If you work for a company and have been dreaming of a promotion, now's the time to work towards that.  These things will keep you busy and your mind off of feeling lonely.

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Now these ideas are not proven to work for everyone, they are only what's worked for me.  I'm not suggesting you change your whole life but what's the harm in trying something new and working towards feeling happy.  Sometimes getting yourself out of that rut is only a matter of ignoring that feeling of stating at home.  Get up, get out of the house and start your new life!

DIY Heart Ring

With the holidays coming saving a little cash and creating gifts yourself is a great idea!  Try this adorable heart ring and gift it to all of your friends!

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I suggest purchasing sterling silver that is round dead soft and getting wire that is either 16 or 18 gauge.  It will be easy to bend into shape but still a thick enough to keep it's shape.    It may be a little more expensive than wire from your local craft store but your friends can wear it in the shower, while washing their hands and not worry about it turning your finger green (or loosing it's pretty silver color).  You can find the wire on Etsy.com.

Smokey Eye

The perfect smokey eye.

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What you need:

- Eyeshadow- I like to use the Sephora Collection Microsmooth Eyeshadow Trio
 in 10 Black Light - smoky matte.  This trio allows you to start out light and gradually darken your eyeshadow with layering.
- Pencil Eyeliner - I like to use Covergirl's Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Black Onyx 200
- Mascara - I use two mascaras one for lengthening and one for volumizing. I use CoverGirl's LashBlast Length Water Resistant Mascara and LashBlast Volume Mascara.

Tools:
I use only Sephora Collection tools.  I find their tools easy to clean and they have lasted for years.

- Classic All Over Shadow Brush - Small #22
- Pro Smokey Eye Brush #24
- Double-Ended Smokey Eye Brush

My biggest make-up essential has to be a lash curler.  It's a must step to make your eyes pop before you apply mascara!  I use: Sephora Collection Black Diamond Curler

Pinterest Make

Glitter mouse shoes...so freakin' adorable!  Based off of Marc Jacobs design.

Find the directions over at Girl in the Poodle Shoes.  

Holiday Accessories Preview

1. Burst Necklace with Gemstone | 2. Wind chime Dangle | 3. Snowflake Necklace with Gemstone | 4. Snowflake Dangle | 5. Holly Leaf Necklace | 6. Doe Necklace | 7. Burst Dangle

Yummies

I'm by myself for dinner several times this week and cooking for one is something I hate!   I do love cooking for others but when it comes to just me throwing in a TV dinner or (I hate to admit it) having just a big bowl of ice cream is usually my go to.  

This week I'm going to make a change and have a "real" meal for dinner, take the step and cook for myself!

Here's one of the recipes I might try, there easy to change the recipe for just two (one for dinner and then left overs for tomorrow!).

Lemon Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry - via

Ingredients -

recipe serves 4 but cut in a half for yourself and for left overs!

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 1/2 pounds broccoli, stems peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick, florets separated
• 1 small lemon, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise, seeds removed
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Directions

1. In a large, shallow bowl, whisk together soy sauce, 3 tablespoons water, vinegar, honey, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Pour half of the mixture into another bowl; reserve. Place chicken in remaining mixture; let marinate 15 minutes.
2. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon oil over high heat. Add half the chicken; cook, tossing often, until brown and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Repeat with another 1/2 tablespoon oil and remaining chicken. Wipe skillet with a paper towel.
3. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook broccoli and lemon, tossing often, until broccoli is bright green, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water; cook until broccoli is tender and lemon is translucent, about 6 minutes.
4. Add reserved marinade, cornstarch mixture, chicken, and any accumulated juices from plate. Bring to a boil; cook, stirring until thickened, 1 minute. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

My Two Cents...

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My two cents:

- It is guaranteed that I will smudge my nail polish the second I finish painting my nails.

- Waking up to a wet nose is the best way to be greeted the morning.

- The smell of balsam fir will always remind me of the holidays.

- When you take a bit into Lindt truffles the melting chocolate in your mouth is like heaven.

- Fuzzy socks, a warm blanket and a cup of warm apple cider is the best way to end a fall day.

- Soda is a treat for me, and I love to treat myself at least twice a week.


What are your two cents for this Monday?

Cold Toes

As October is slowly moving along the weather is getting cold and I've started pulling out my warm, fuzzy socks to keep my toes warm and toasty.  

Colored socks and tights are a fun way to spruce up your wardrobe and can be an inexpensive way to add newness to old styles.

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Rhinestone DIY

Let's talk about what fun activities to do this weekend!  With winter coming we're pulling out all our fall and winter pieces.  Some of the items might need a little pick me up before we pair them with our new styles.

I have a ton of high heels that have seen better days and I'm sure you have too, so why not spruce them up to look like a million bucks!  Here's how:

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I took a peek on Etsy to see if I could find any clear faceted gemstones/rhinestones and found them in any color, size, shape and price.  Here's an easy link to shop for your rhinestones on Etsy: Clear Rhinestones.

Cuddles

A little cuddle time with furry friends.

all photos - via

Decorative Cookies

Gazing at amazingly decorated cookies is a guilty past time for me.  I love to imagine what it would be like to create such masterpieces...but alas I'm not a magician of cooking decorating.  So instead I just stare longingly and enjoy their delicious sweetness.  Here is some cookie "porn" for you to enjoy:

OPI Nail polish cookies - via

Paris Cookies - via

Shoe Cookies - via

Let's say I Do - via

Skin problems - Home recipes

We all have skin issues, whether it's an occasional pimple or pesky black heads.  Brand-name products for skin care can put a dent in your wallet, but trying these DIY skin recipes are great ways to keep your skin looking amazing without breaking the bank!

The "Miracle" Mask - via

This Miracle mask uses nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon.  Its clams stressed skin and smells amazing!  What makes this mask a miracle?  Well nutmeg and honey act as natural anti-inflammatories.  This helps reduce swelling and redness, and if you have acne scars this helps smooth them out.  For a little exfoliation the nutmeg and cinnamon give your skin a little scrub when you wash it off.  Here's how to create this mask:  

Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg.The consistency should be like a thick paste. After it’s all mixed, apply the mask to your face and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash it off with warm water, scrubbing softly in circular motion for exfoliation. 

Now Biore strips are uber expensive, but we all love them!  Here is a home recipe to make your own (let's all jump in joy!)!

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1. Measure 1 Tablespoon of unflavored gelatin into a disposable container {if you put say, green jell-o on your face, there might be trouble}
2. Add 1-2 Tablespoons of milk into the gelatin
3. Until it looks like this
4. Mix it up, and be quick about it, until you get a chunky consistency.  Add more milk if you’re uncomfortable with the amount of chunk.
5. Microwave the gelatin for about 10-15 seconds.  It will get creamier in the microwave.  Stir that around and start applying it IMMEDIATELY to your face.  This stuff hardens up fast so you’ve got to act fast.

Now add this to the problem spots or if you want your entire face!  Wait about 15 minutes or until the product on your skin feels like it's cracking when you move your face.  Then start peeling (the gross but fun part).

Fun Accessories

I love creating quirky, funky accessories, and obviously other designer do as well!   Check out these amazing finds:

Harry Potter Rings - via

Delicious Green Apple Ring - via