7 Super Spooky Recipes To Try Out This Halloween | Lifestyle

I don't know about you, but over the past few years, Halloween has become one of my favorite holidays. I think I might even love it equally to my favorite holiday of them all - Christmas.
And we don't even celebrate Halloween all too much here, so I'm not sure where all of this excitment came from originally, but I do know for sure that it is here to stay, and it only grows with every year that passes.

So, as we're well into the wonderful month of October, it's about time to start thinking about Halloween preparations in my eyes - there is no such thing as too early, am I right?

And even though thinking of costume ideas is way too much fun for someone who is kind of entering adulthood, there is something that is even more exciting to me - preparing food for a Halloween party!

Yeah, you heard that right. Spooky finger food - quite literally. 

So, as you do, I headed over to Pinterest for some inspiration, and I stumbled upon so many amazing recipe ideas that I just had to share them with you guys!

1. Candy Corn Caramel Apples

(via howdoesshe)

My tummy rumbled literally the second I found this photo. Caramel apples are one of my favorite fall treats, and these decorated ones definitely set the mood for Halloween.

Also, these aren't caramel apples only - you add candy corns to the caramel to give the apples that extra kick.

I want these in fornt of me. Right now.

2. Zombie Head Cheese

(via not martha)

This cheese dip just looks too amazing to pass up, and it's also really easy to prepare.
All you'll need is a plastic skull, spredable cheese and some coctail onions for the eyes - and without much fuss, you'll be able to display one eyecatcher of a cheese dip!

3. Monster Claw Cupcakes

(via bakingdom)

Tell me that these are not the most adorable cupcakes you've ever seen, I dare you.

While these are definitely a little trickier to get right - because oh my god, how do you get the fur to look so god damn real? - with some work and dedication, these will come out looking pretty darn fine.

These are especially perfect for when you're planning a kids' Halloween party!

4. Guacamole Puking Pumpkin

(via ameessavorydish)

This might not tickle everyone's pickle because it might look a little too real, but it definitely is another creative way to serve some kind of dip.

All you'll need for this is a carved pumpkin, some guacamole and your favorite chips - if you're feeling adventurous, you could even dye them to look more spooky, like the ones in the photo above!

5. Dracula's Dentures

(via the-girl-who-ate-everything)

This recipe is totally adorable, and people with a sweet tooth will have almost as much fun prepin' those as they'll have eating them.

This definitely takes baking plain cookies to another levels, but it's also fairly easy to follow - and obviously, will leave you with an awesome result.

6. Nutella Banana Mummy Rolls

(via ourbestbites)

This recipe features one of my favorite combinations, bananas and nutella - yes, I sometimes dip my bananas in Nutella, okay? Ssssh, nothing wrong with that.

And it's also totally okay to eat a few of them since they contain fruit. So healthy.

The mummy rolls also look super cute once finished up with the candy eyes, and I can just imagine how delightful biting into these must be. Mhmmmm.

7. Halloween Party Cake

(via cookingwithsugar)

With a recipe that's as easy to follow as this one, even dummies like me can manage to bring out the freaking coolest cake ever at the next Halloween party they host.

Food coloring allows you to give this cake its mega bright appearance - and even though it might look a tiny bit poisonous, it'll taste absolutely delicious!

Do you have any favorite Halloween recipes that you love to whack out during this time of the year?

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Essie Does Mattes Now? | Beauty

One of the reasons why I like reading my fair share of magazines every month is because they always  include some sort of promotion for a beauty product that I didn't even know exsisted.

That way, I found out about the new 'cashmere matte' limited edition polishes Essie brought out in Germany back in August. And, as I absolutely adore both matte nail polish and Essie polishes in general, I decided to give them a go.

Easier said than done, though, as I literally had to visit every single drugstore downtown to hunt the shade that I desperately wanted down. If that's not dedication, then I don't know what is.

The shade I'm talking about is called "all eyes on nudes" and is, in case you couldn't guess by the name, a light brown nude shade, something that was nowhere to be found in my considerably large collection of nail polish.

As the color is very light, you will have to apply either two or three coats of it for a full coverage, which isn't really too much of an issue as it's insanely quick-drying - no smudging with this one!

The matte finish is also very lovely. It doesn't look overly dry or cling to any specific areas but is even and soft while still staying true to its intended finish.

Sadly, this is a very impractical nail polish for busy gals like me.
I do a lot with my hands - writing, cleaning, organising - the list goes on. That means that my hands, including my nails, are faced with tons of influences that wear them out - and that really doesn't go well with the finish of this polish, because as much as I love the matte look, it also chips super easily.

If I'm lucky, I can go two days without having to touch them up - if I'm not, they could also chip just a few hours after I applied the polish.

So, overall, I think it's safe to say that this collection is not worth 7,99€ per bottle, even if the matte finish does look very elegant once applied to the nails, it doesn't stay there for very long - even less so if you get most of your work done with your hands.

The cashmere matte collection is not available in stores anymore, however you could still purchase this particular one for around 12,99€ on Amazon.

Did you try out any of these limited edition polishes? 

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Favorite Fall Lipsticks | Beauty

Fall and lipsticks - two things that are very high up on my list of favorite things, and now that October is here, it's finally time to combine the two and crack out those forgotten-about fall lippies 

again!

To celebrate that, I thought it'd be a nice idea to share my five favorite fall lipsticks with you guys so you get the chance to maybe discover a new favorite for the season - or even get reminded of an old love that you forgot about!

MAC Satin Lipstick in 'Twig'

One of my all time favorite and most worn lipsticks, Twig will definitely have its time to shine throughout fall as well as winter. I've come to realize that this lipstick looks different on people with different skin tones, but on someone who's as pale as me, it's a very dark rose shade that's almost a little burgundy.

This gem has a satin finish, which means that it almost has the longevity of a matte lipstick while still being a lot more creamy and forgiving on the lips.

KIKO Rebel Romantic Intensely Lavish Lipstick in '02 Pretty Mauve'

When I first saw the 'Rebel Romantic' collection KIKO came out with some time ago, I knew that the collection's lipsticks would be ideal for fall. After swatching all of them in store, I decided that Pretty Mauve was the most suitable for me.

For some reason, my camera didn't pick up this shade completely because it is definitely quite a bit darker and more pigmented on me than it looks in the swatch - while it looks mauvey there, it's more berry like on my lips.

I love how creamy this lipstick feels on my lips, it's like applying a tinted lipbalm! The formula keeps my lips feeling super soft for at least two hours.

Sadly, due to its very creamy formula, the lipstick isn't all too long-lasting, but it does fade very nicely and, as the shade is very pigmented, leaves a strong stain.

Avon Beyond Color Lipstick in 'Divine Wine'

I wore this lipstick religiously after I got it last winter and I was so excited to dig it out of my drawer again!

'Divine Wine' is, as the name suggests, a slightly glittery deeper berry color that is still light enough for fair skinned people to wear without it washing them out completely.

This one also has a pretty creamy formula, which is not as extreme as KIKO's, but still very nurishing on the lips.

Sadly, this lipstick is a bit tricky to work with while eating and drinking because it does slide off the lips rather easily due to its formula - and because it's very pigmented, it will leave dark stains around your lips if you're not careful enough!

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in '07'

The classic. How could I not possibly include one of the most hyped fall/winter shades?

I got this lipstick after hearing several bloggers going on about how much they love it, and I definitely wasn't dissapointed.

This shade is definitely not one for the faint hearted - it's a dark berry shade that kinda looks a little red on me, and it really is a 'look at me' kind of shade.

Also, Rimmel really don't joke around when they call it a matte lipstick. If you don't apply any lipstick before applying this lipstick, it will dry out your lips big time and accentuate all the dry patches. Not a cute look.

The good thing about the matte formula, though, is that the lipstick stays in places for a fair few hours without budging at all.

MAC Viva Glam II Lipstick

Alright, this might not look like a very seasonal shade to you first, but let's be honest - do all of your outfits go with a berry lipstick? Yeah, mine don't either.

So, because pinks and the like just don't feel right to me during the colder seasons, I had to include my favorite nude lippy in this mix.

I love this lipstick so much that I dedicated an entire post to it a few weeks ago, so I'll only touch base on it briefly.

It's the perfect neutral nude shade for us fair skinned gals and goes with next to every make up look and outfit. It also has a satin finish, which, as I explained earlier, is basically a more creamy version of a matte lipstick that is still very long lasting and pigmented.

top-bottom: Twig, Pretty Mauve, Divine Wine, 07, Viva Glam II

So there are my favorite lipsticks for the up and coming season - they're now all set up on my dressing table and ready to get used all day every day. I've never been more ready for fall.

What is your favorite fall lipstick?

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September Favorites | Beauty

Alright, I'm seriously starting to feel like I'm being rushed through this year. Tomorrow will be the first of October, one of my absolute favorite months because we get all kinds of goodness, like Halloween, comfy sweaters and comfort food - and once that's over, in the blink of an eye, it'll be Christmas. What.

September itself has been one hell of a rushed month for me - I started working more again alongside going back to school, and I've basically spent my past time drowning in stuff I should get done, watching TV shows instead. Such a responsible adult, aren't I.

Make up wise, September has been all about transitioning from summer's bright colors to something a little more neutral or darker make up, and pretty much all of my favorite products from the past month pretty much depict that!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (11,99€)

To me, mascara has always been kind of a tricky beauty product to buy - my teeny tiny lashes definitely need one that adds some serious lenght to them, but I also want something that adds a little bit of volume to them.

Especially for the lenght part, the 'Lash Sensational' was everything I ever wanted and more. It more than doubles my lashes' lenght! While it doesn't do as much in the volume department, it still makes those bad boys look blacker and fuller - this might be my holy grail mascara!

MAC Viva Glam II (20€)

I've usually got my shades of lipstick sorted all throughout the seasons - pinks during spring, corals during summer and berry shades during fall and winter.
September, though, was kind of an issue - it's not really fall yet, so wearing a berry lip isn't quite socially acceptable at our school, but it's not summer either.

So, as I always do when I struggle with finding the perfect lippie, I reach for a nude one. The ultimade nude.
MAC's Viva Glam II is a lighter brown shade with slight pink undertones and a little bit of shimmer to it, and it's one of the easiest shades for me to wear. It goes with next to all of my outfits and make up looks - it's an absolute allrounder!

If you want to read some more about this glorious lipstick, I have a review on it up here.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (47,99€)

I think I've talked about this palette so much that my neighbor's dogs probably know about it by now. I also featured it in a previous favorites before, but I don't even care because I just love it so much.

Out of all my three Naked palettes, this one is definitely my favorite - it offers loads of neutral shades that are fairly easy to work with, most of the shades are just the right amount of shimmery while there's also a few mattes.
And for someone like me, who wears make up for up to ten hours a day, these eyeshadows are a blessing - they are so incredibly long-lasting and you experience next to no fall-out with them.

I've mostly been wearing 'Verve', a shimmery silver shade, often with 'Pistol' blended in the crease.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish - Rita Ora Summer Collection in 'Rain Rain Go Away' (4,16€)

I absolutely adore every single nail polish I've tried by Rimmel to date, and this one is no exception.

I actually picked it up around July when I ordered something else on feelunique and had to spend just a few more pennies to get free shipping - if you say you don't do this, you're lying - and even though it was part of their Summer Collection, I felt like the shade I bought was suited for fall a lot more.

'Rain Rain Go Away' is a very muted, almost grey-ish shade of purple. What really suprised me about this was its quality - I go for a swim twice a week and clean up the flat a lot as well, and this nail polish hardly even chipped when I wore it for an entire week. How amazing of a quality for such a small price is that?

What beauty product stood out to you this past month?

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Recent Reads #5 | Love Letters To The Dead

I seriously have no idea why I'm often drawn to books with rather dark plots because in all honesty, I'm pretty much a chicken shit in real life, but for some reason there is something about reading about sad or scary things that just gets me.

And, knowing that about me, a friend of mine recommended 'Love Letters to the Dead' to me - without really giving me any hints about the plot, just saying that I would probably really enjoy it.

So, I did what I always do - I looked for it in my local bookstore. And to my suprise, it was sitting there as if it was waiting for me - so home with me it went.

Now, maybe you're not so much about diving into a book without knowing anything about it as much as I am, so let me break the plot down to you first,

'Love Letters to the Dead' follows the story of Laurel, a fifteen year old freshman in High School whose sister May just died. The twist, though, is that it is told through letters that Laurel writes - letters to deceased, well known personalities. The entire thing starts as an assignment for English class in which Laurel's teacher asks them to write to someone who is already dead - so Laurel decides to write to Kurt Cobain because her sister loved his music so deeply.

 But after a whike, it seems like Laurel can't stop - she continues writing those letters for almost an entire year, to Amelia Earhart, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, River Phoenix - to name a few. And with each letter, Laurel reveals a little more about herself and all the things that have led up to her sister's death, but also lets the reader in on happier things, like the new people she meets and becomes friends with at her new school and her personal growth.

Through the letters, the reader eventually discovers that May, who was older than Laurel, was a very outgoing and social person who loved to party. Both her and her sister's life changed when she started seeing an older guy, whose friend sexually abused Laurel whenever they met.
When confronted with what had happened to her younger sister after meeting up with the men one night, May gets furious, climbs onto a bridge and ends up falling to her death. It is unclear to Laurel whether it was suicide or a horrible accident.

Following that incident, Laurel's live falls apart. Her already divorced mother moves across the country, she has to switch school.

I will admit that the entire letter situation made it a little difficult for me to get into the book and connect with Laurel at first - I had the exact same issue with 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower' back in the day - but eventually, I warmed up to it. 

And thank god I did, because this book has amazed me on so many levels.

For one, the way that the story unfolds for us as the reader might seem slow at first because we obviously only get as much information as Laurel is comfortable with sharing, which at the beginning is basically none. But every time she does reveal something about herself and/or her past, you get so sucked into it - you want, no, you need to know more about what happened to her.

That way, you actually start to care about the girl telling your her story, you start to connect with her, even empathize with her.

I also really enjoyed the character development taking place throughout the story - not only Laurel's, even though hers was definitely the strongest, but also her family's and her friends'. There are so many different people involved in this who all have different stories it might seem confusing at first, but it does tie together quite nicely and gives and insight into various difficult issues like toxic relationships, illnesses and homosexuality.

Overall, 'Love Letters to the Dead' is an amazing coming-of-age story about grief, friendship and recovery that is definitely not a light read but will leave you with some very deep, raw feelings.

'Love Letters to the Dead' by Ava Dellaira is available on Amazon for only 7,30€.

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