Halloween/Autumn DIY & Decor

Hey guys! So I am finally getting around to making a post about my Halloween/fall/autumn decor which I am super excited about. It's so awesome to finally have space to decorate (since we now have enough storage space to store things instead of putting everything we own out on display). Most of my decorations are more seasonal rather than Halloween themed because I wanted to put them up early and leave them up through Thanksgiving. The fall decor will come down when the Christmas decor goes up! A lot of this stuff I did purchase as-is from stores like Joann's (which thankfully has an awesome 50% off sale on most of their fall/Halloween stuff right now) but I did make a few things that I'm quite proud of, so here it is! :)

Our front door

Bloody sticky letters/window decals (Dollar Tree)

Our breakfast nook decor

Halloween 3-wick candle holder (Bath and Body Works)

32 lbs of pumpkin goodness (Lattin's). I'll be carving this one in 2.5 weeks or so. 

Our other pumpkins (also from Lattin's)

Our dining room decor

Leaf Garland (The Craft Warehouse)

Pumpkin wreath (Joann's)

We made the decision not to hang this awesome piece on our front door because we had concerns about the neighbors and their sticky fingers. Even though they have moved out by now, we both actually really like the wreath there and will probably put any Christmas wreath that we might get this year in this spot as well.

"Happy Haunting" chalkboard pumpkin (designed & painted by me) and tiny straw owl (both Joann's)

 Our living room cabinet decor

Ceramic pumpkins (Dollar Tree)

Candy jar filled with tiny leaves (both from Craft Warehouse) and tiny gold & cream colored acorns (Target), assembled by me. The hay/straw wrapping and bow made by me (Dollar Tree). 

I will probably remove the bow and innards of this jar and use it for other occasions as well! Tiny christmas bulbs would look so cute in here, no?

What the jar is filled with

 Burlap pumpkins (Joann's) 

"Table runner" (made by me from place mats, burlap, silk leaves, burlap leaves & flowers, and one single pinecone that came with the leaves-- everything but the burlap from Dollar Tree, which was probably from Michael's)

I'm sure both Patrick and our bank account hope that I'll stop where I am with this (I probably will just so that I have more room to add to the decor in the coming years) but if I add anything else, I'll be sure to edit this post and then re-post the link on Facebook! I hope you think it's as rustic and pretty as I do!

The Bawdy Caste Takes Reno (the most Rocky Horror that you will ever see in one post)

Hey guys! It has been a CRAZY busy week! On Sunday night, we went over to Doug and Julie's house (friends from cast) for a pumpkin carving party! It was super fun. There were a ton of delicious snacks and we watched Tim Burton movies while we carved our pumpkins. Doug and Julie have taken to buying fake, hollow pumpkins and carving them so that they can keep them for the next year. I say that's genius, and with the design I did, I wish I had done it, too!

Julie's cupcakes were adorable!

I loved the use of the pumpkin candies here :)

My Scooby Doo pumpkin! 

Patrick's baby pumpkin with Perry the Platypus!  

Blimey! It's Harry Pumpkin!

For months now I have been looking forward to the Bawdy Caste's annual trip to Reno to do a show. When I found out that I could have the days off, I was just itching to get there and go on a little road trip with Patrick. On Monday morning we started our journey to Reno, but first we had to make it through the mountains-- which meant making it through the snow. What's funny is that, in Michigan, we have multi-weather tires for our cars. There is no need to switch tires out each season unless you're serious about making your tires last. But here, in California, there is really no need for that unless you live up near Tahoe. So when Patrick told me about his concern of the weather conditions for the trip, I thought he was nuts when he said he was going out to buy snow chains. I've never even heard of that except for things like large trucks or farm equipment (aka things that would need to drive on unpaved roads). We made it through to Reno with little to no problem, but we were fortunate enough to be able to drive earlier in the day, when the roads were just wet and not quite icy. A few other cast members were stuck going later in the day and ended up having to stop at Donner Pass (insert cannibalism joke here) and "chain up" so they wouldn't be ticketed.

Yay! Snow!

When we arrived, we checked in to our hotel, the El Dorado, which is one of three connected hotels that range in price and style. Each contains a casino on both the main and lower floors, along with tons of restaurants, bars, and small shops. There is even a game room in one of them for the underage guests. Luckily, I am over the legal age, so I got to gamble (for the first time ever)! Patrick gave us each an allowance and, surprisingly, we made back more than we spent at the slots. We spent the first day napping after our road trip, having cocktails with our friend Master Delfino, dinner at the buffet with a few other cast members for Victoria's birthday (happy birthday sweetie!), and then some gambling. We went to bed before everyone else because we are old souls, and we woke up the next day completely sober, not hungover, and well rested.

The majestic crew with their YARDS OF STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI. Jack (the one on the far left) had a plan to get a first down of daiquiri, which meant that they would drink ten yards of the stuff. Here, they have 4 1/2 yards, and I know Jack filled up twice after that and Jeb got in on the goal by purchasing one, as well. No word on whether or not they made their fruity goal. Hehe

My first slot machine! To be honest, I find them more annoying than anything else. I don't like wasting money!

We went to breakfast and then spent the morning walking around the area with Master Delfino, hitting up the pawn shops nearby. Both Delfino and Patrick bought themselves watches, and Patrick paid for a really cool vintage ring with flowers on it (which I would put up a picture of, but I am having it resized) that I wanted to buy for myself. Afterwards we spend the day roaming around, napping, and being anxious about the show that night. Both of us just wanted it to start so we could see the venue and prepare ourselves. We brought all of our really big props and we knew that we would be lugging all of them up a freight elevator to the 4th floor, which we were not looking forward to.

Refills on the yard long daiquiris

The drunk fools of cast. Hey, it's Reno!

Photo credit: Kirsten Ward

Lindsey is a monkey! Love her. She's the one who cut my hair :)

Once we finally got there, we started unloading almost immediately. It turned out to be all okay! The venue was HUGE! They provided giant carts for us to roll our props up on, so it only took two or three trips to get everything up to the 4th floor. The University of Nevada, Reno was hosting our show and this year, they fully anticipated a big crowd. We found out when we arrived that they had three entire ballrooms set up and unseparated for the show, along with about 700 seats. The audience filled nearly every single one of them. It was truly incredible. Doing the Reno show was one of the most awesome things I have ever experienced. I can't wait until next year.

Jared as Riff Raff on the freight elevator, which had convenient chairs!

Jeb as Frank in his entrance costume. He danced to Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop"

The half of cast that wasn't too preoccupied for a cast photo

Photo credit: Shannon Wilke

Our trannies! Siobhan, Kirsten, Angela, and Victoria

Photo credit: Kirsten Ward

Our gorgeous Colombia, Lindsey

Photo credit: Kirsten Ward

Jack as The Criminologist

Photo credit: Shannon Wilke

Our INSANE audience

Photo credit: Shannon Wilke

After we came home, we pretty much rested all of Wednesday. Patrick taught a class on Thursday and, unfortunately because I had to work the next morning, that night he went to our Halloween show in the city and I stayed home. I really wish I had been able to go, there were some awesome costumes that he got pictures of! According to him, the girl dressed as Ramen Noodles won (rightfully so).

One of those "Wish I had thought of it" moments

Since I wasn't going to be doing anything for Halloween, I decided to do my makeup while Patrick was teaching. Tim Burton's "Red Queen" from the 2010 version of Alice In Wonderland

We spent another day working and being exhausted before we had to be ready for Saturday, which was yet another Rocky show-- but it was a very special show. We started this week with Reno, then moved to Halloween, and then to Saturday's show, which was the Bawdy Caste's 18th birthday and our regular MC Dan-o's very last show. That's right, the Bawdy Caste has been running for 18 years. We're finally legal and Dan-o decides to leave us.

Dan-o, throwing toilet paper at our crowd for the last time.

Boo! But seriously, Dan-o will be missed. I have never seen someone so effortlessly move a crowd to their feet and evoke such excitement from everyone he passes. He is leaving cast in order to pursue a life in politics (I guess wearing fishnets and corsets can totally sabotage your political career-- who knew?). I've only known him for a very short time (for less time than everyone else on cast because Dan-o isn't always able to make shows in the city) but from the moment I met him, I knew he was a wonderful person. Dan-o, on behalf of myself and the rest of the cast, I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. You'll do well in whatever it is you do!

Weddings, Masquerades, & a Blog Name Change

Hey everyone!

The first thing you may notice about this post is that my blog's name has changed. I decided that instead of trying to keep the same name the entire time I run this blog, I'm alright with it evolving. My time here is evolving me, too, and the blog is essentially about me and my life adventures, so as I change, so will things about the blog. It started out as me being an out of stater-- a total stranger in a state that I've only ever been to once before. Things are changing-- even now. Though I no longer feel like such a stranger here, my mind is still stuck back in Michigan, and I struggle to adjust to a different way of thinking. So prepare yourselves for name changes, because I already have some picked out!

So we've had a busy couple of weekends, and next week will be even busier, so let's recap! On Sunday, October 13th, we were honored enough to be invited to the wedding of our two friends, Peter and Angela. I've never been to a Jewish wedding before, so I was really excited. Plus, as soon as Patrick told me we were invited, I begged him to make sure nothing work related came up so that we could go. I wanted an excuse to get out and be fancy, and fancy we were! Prepare for a drop of some really awesome photos! I mean, honestly, isn't that we all suffer through this text for? ;)

I found a tiny crocheted Yamaka that I'm going to try to make a copy of!

The radiant, stunning Siobhan

I don't look as classy with the bubbles

One of our littlest cast members, Trishalana! She is the daughter of one of our cast members, Diane, and her husband Brian. She is absolutely precious.

Even she has a little hat!

One of our other mini-cast members, Cameron! Cameron is the adorable son of our friends Kelly and Richard! I can't get enough of those cheeks and that smile :)

"Dad, the ladies like the skull and crossbones. You should try it!"

I loved this picture of the happy couple with their parents!

The blushing bride with her new stepson, who had a yamaka with tiny tardises on it (or are they tardi?)

Our ridiculous friends, Master Delfino and Jack

Guys, it finally happened. After a BILLION weddings where I've tried to catch the bouquet with no progress...

I finally caught it! And guess who caught the garter belt...

Trishalana was so tired by the end of the night that she ended up falling asleep in my arms while I sat on the floor. I was so sad when Patrick told me it was time to leave. I love her!

Next up, we had a full work week and two parties that we had to get to on Saturday! Unfortunately, I didn't get off work until almost 3pm, and with the first party being an hour away, it was way unrealistic for us to have thought we could make it. I was really looking forward to seeing Trishalana's adorable face and her wonderful parents and finally getting to get up close and personal with Diane and Brian's PURPLE HOUSE. However, we were at least able to make it to Brook (yes, BROOK! The first Brook I have EVER known without an "e") and Mandy's masquerade! Another excuse to get fancy? I'll take it! 

Patrick booked us a hotel room because the party was almost an hour away and we would definitely not want to drive home after such a long day. We arrived at the hotel and headed out to have some dinner. We stopped at B Dubs (which, for you silly people, is short for Buffalo Wild Wings). Unfortunately, Patrick had no idea what a B Dubs was, so when we went in there, he was quite shocked about the number of TVs that were playing sports games. Patrick also did not know what I was talking about when I wished him a happy Sweetest Day. Apparently it's only a holiday in states like Michigan and Ohio because it was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1921. Look it up, Californians! 

After dinner, we headed to Target for a quick stop so Patrick could get shoes, because he forgot his at home. We headed back to the hotel and discovered that he forgot cuff links, so he headed out again while I got ready. We looked smashing! And Mandy and Brook sure know how to throw a party. The snacks were delicious and their house is awesome! The highlight of the night? Mandy screaming like a little girl when she found a black widow in their bathroom, and then Brook doing the same later when a moth flew at her face. Hilarious! I love those two! We had an awesome time and I really wish they lived closer.

I wore the same dress from last weekend. So what? It's fancy and multi-occasional! But this time I classed it up with some lace tights.

Just look at this delicious spread!

Mini pumpkin pies, Queso de Muerto (which is actually the most delicious soup that I've ever tried that we ate on tortilla chips), stuffed mushrooms, and spider web cookies. Yum!

Master Delfino as... A Cereal Killer. AH!

This is a new development-- since I've lived here, I've actually been learning to talk with my hands. Not on purpose, but just from exposure because Patrick does it. It's something I've never done before and did not notice until I saw this picture. How strange!

Their house was super spooky!

I did not know until I was writing this post that Patrick captured this moment. Just look at Brook coming to Mandy's rescue with her electric bug swatter!

AH! Get me out of California, I didn't know these lived here!

On Sunday, we rearranged the house. Jackie and Dan finally found a really nice place for themselves and were moving all this week. Now that Jackie's room is empty, we got to do quite a few things that we've been itching to do ever since we found out those two were planning on getting a place together. We moved my desk from our room and Patrick's desk from where a dining room table would normally go, plus a large red cabinet and both hamsters. Now I can shut the door on them when they have seeds in their wheels and are making all sorts of noise! So now, we have a spare bedroom/office and where Patrick's "office" once was, we have a reading nook. I love our nook! I adopted it. And as for the room? It's no longer Jackie's room, so we were trying to come up with a new name for it. Patrick was enthusiastic about "The Office" but I chose "Charles." So Charles it is. 

That's all for now, folks. Stay tuned for a gigantic post about the following week... ROCKY WEEK. In addition to a show this Saturday, we also have a show in Reno that we will be doing on Tuesday, a show on Halloween night (Thursday) and then another show next Saturday! Four shows in six days? Pour me a tall glass of energy drink!