Holiday Gift Guide: Sparkles

For the friend who you secretly suspect is a magpie.

1. Kate Spade Charm Sandal, 2. Juicy Couture Pavé Bow Ring, 3. Sequin Embellished Dress from ASOS, 4. Sparkle Earings by Dori Csengeri from Charm & Chain.

5. Alva Gloves from Anthropologie, 6. Nanette Necklace from Gema Reduex, 7. Sephora for O.P.I in (from left to right) Flurry Up, Only Gold For Me and Sparkle Me Silver.

8. Dune Lantique Allover Beaded Clutch from ASOS, 9.Giuseppe Zanotti Glitter Sandals, 10. Marc by Marc Jacobs Pinked & Perforated Patent Oxfords, 11. S Headband from Ban.do.

 12. Sequin Skirt from GAP, 13. Three Tiered Beaded Necklace from Forever 21, 14. Stack of 4 Rings from Forever 21, 15. Jeweled Foldover Clutch from Banana Republic.

16. Debbi Sequined Tweed Mini Bag from Marc Jacobs, 17. Butter Chuchu Peep Toe Pump, 18. Bolly Disco from Vanessa Arizaga, 19. Rhinestone Candles from Z Gallerie, 20. Sequin Animals from West Elm, 21. Lindsay Bracelet from Archive Jewelry.

Dressing Up For Halloween- An Inconclusive Review

Good Thursday ladies and gents!

How has your week been? Are you glad the weekend is just around corner? I know I am. It's been abnormally hot for this time of the year here in LA and I've been melting in the heat.

Anyway, if you remember my post from last Friday, where I not only shared my dislike for dressing up on Halloween, but in the same breathe also promised to give it another try?

Well I did... and it was ehhh... just as I suspected, not that bad, but also not that great.

Here was what I intended on going as... a fairy princess of some sort.

Here was what I ended up going as- a fairy princess of some sort minus the tulle.

Not as great huh? But the dress I had in mind was stored in a box with a bunch of moth balls and the smell was just overwhelming. So unless I wanted to
a. not make any friends on Halloween or
b. change my costume to a moth,
I had to make the last minute switch.

All in all, I had fun at my parties and such. But the fun had nothing to do with the dressing-up portion of the evening.

Would I ever dress up again for Halloween? Sure... I guess... the experience wasn't exactly horrible. I know this is a very inconclusive review of my position, but there is one thing I can say with certainty. After watching girls in slutty costumes struggle to bust a move without exposing themselves, you will never see me in a sexy costume- I will not be perpetuating that practice any time soon.

Why I'm not exactly a fan of dressing up on Halloween

I'll be the first to admit, I am a sucker for holidays and the hype that goes along with it. I love getting caught up in the holiday spirit, putting decorations up and planning parties and activities around the holiday. I guess you could say I constantly fall prey to the Hallmark commercialization of it all.

However, it must be noted that I am not exactly the hugest fan of Halloween.

When I was growing up, not many kids in Singapore celebrated Halloween. It was always more of an American holiday that us Singaporeans experienced via the Western media. However, I did grow up in a neighborhood that housed a handful of expats and I actually trick-or-treat-ed a couple of times in my younger days.

Despite the fact that I did get to experience a true Halloween per say, I never really took to dressing up. In fact, the last time I dressed up for Halloween was um... Sophomore year in HIGH SCHOOL?  *gasp* I went as a Catholic school girl for those of you who were wondering.

So if you are counting, that means that not once did I dress up for Halloween the whole time I was in college! *Gasp gasp gasp*

It's just that putting together a costume takes a lot of time, effort and money- 3 things I did not have in college. Furthermore, I truly hate that 99% of pre-made costumes for women are slutty! So yeah... that is my surface excuse for not taking a liking to costumes for Halloween.

Then there is the deeper issues of pretending to be someone I am not. I'm weird, I do not get a thrill out of transforming myself and embodying someone else. As pompous as this sounds, I like me just the way I am!

All this being said, I think this is the year that I might just give the dressing-up part of Halloween another chance to charm me.

I am not going all out, noooo, not by any means. But it might be fun to put on some angel wings or devils horns. And I might have fun if I allow myself to get dragged out to a Halloween party.

Who knows, I might start to feel a little inkling of like towards this aspect of the holiday? I'll report back next week.

Till then, what are your Halloween plans? Are you going to be a Debbie-downer and stay in? Or ham it up and don an elaborate costume?

Pictures were taken when I went trick-or-treating with my niece and nephew last year.