Some of my favorite memories from childhood are from the Halloween parties our family friends threw each year. Even now, I’m constantly looking for any excuse to dress up, any reason to change my appearance in a fun, extreme way. I’ve been told that I’d always been into the scary/spooky/creepy as a child, and I think it was those Halloween parties that fostered this preference for the eerie holiday and my adoration of the Fall season (Thanksgiving is also partly responsible for this Fall Fondness. Hello, pumpkin pie!). As I entered college and my early twenties, I discovered the typical college girl’s definition of Halloween night. I must unfortunately admit that I got caught up in the cutesy, too-tight, and way too-short costumes. They’re fun and cute.

But honestly, how often do you get to paint your face like a bloody skeleton? Maybe it’s the horror-lover inside of me, but I always attempt to transform those girly costumes into something ghoulish, gory, or gothic. And I will still always prefer and appreciate the Halloween celebrations that demonstrate a genuine effort to transform the party place into something resembling a haunted house. If you’re throwing a Halloween party this year, start planning early, so that you don’t overlook the small details, as those are the most important ones. I found some cool Halloween decorations that you can check out on my Kazowie Halloween Party Guide to get ideas for your own spooky celebration. Happy haunting!

If you’ve been reading the news, watching TV, or listening to your friends, co-workers or family members (basically, if you don’t live inside a bubble), you’d know that the entire world is in the midst of an economic crisis. It’s especially bad for this to happen around the holiday season, where some retailers count on making over 50% of their yearly sales. Bad economy= bad news for retailers. I know a lot of people who’ve decided to cancel gift exchanges all together.

But, if you’re in need of a last minute small gift, I’ve done a little online scouring to find gifts for her that are really great for being both affordable and pretty amazing.  The ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ ( a saying that is still relevant today)  poster is a reproduction of the 1939 poster made by the British Government’s Ministry of Information,  the Deer with Butterflies print is made by a photographer who creates interesting collages with archival prints and the Curiosities Book is a simple Moleskine book ready to be filled with thoughts and curiosities.   Check the rest of them and more out in Stocking Stuffers for Her.

Clockwise from top left: Barely There Cases for iPhone 3, Lulu Mesh Bow Necklace, Bestest Buds Earrings, Alice in Wonderland Curious Tea Party Pocket Moleskine, Turquoise Howlite Agate Stone Ring, Deer with Butterflies by John Murphy, Keep Calm and Carry on

I’ve had 9+ holes punched into my ears over the past seventeen years. Why? Because I. Love. Jewelry. The more piercings I have, the more earrings I can wear. I feel absolutely naked without my earrings. And what’s the point of having cute jewelry if you hardly get to wear it? Though I wear studs on my upper seven ear-piercings, I’m all about unique, eye-catching studs, hooks, and hoops for my lobes.

It’s important to remember that earrings, like any other accessory, can make or break an outfit. Apart from a few exceptions, if you’re going for gigantic, neon, unusual, sparkly, or all of the above, everything else about your look (including makeup and hair!) MUST be minimal and neutral-colored, especially if you want the earrings to really be the focal point. If a pair of particularly striking or outlandish one-of-a-kind earrings catches my eye in the store, I’ll probably purchase it, knowing they can always be paired with a black tee and jeans. Keep your eyes peeled for the many pairs of stunning earrings out there and if you want ‘em, get ‘em! They also make really cute gifts if an impulsive earring purchase doesn’t quite work out for you, for some unfortunate reason. Check out a few attention-grabbing pairs that I added to my Kazowie guide list at: Eye-Catching Earrings.

Clockwise from top left: Betsey Johnson Mouse Gypsy Hoop Earrings, Triple Teardrop earrings, Barbie by Tarina Tarantino,  Diamond Dust Disc Earrings, Cherry Earrings

I was born in January. I’m a Winter baby. So naturally, I look forward to this season all year long. Plus, who doesn’t love the holidays? There’s so much celebrating going on this time of year, but sometimes the primping and prepping is what I love most about it. Even though I always complain of the anticipated extra-dry skin and dull hair that comes with the season’s frost, I enjoy pampering and protecting my skin and hair with beauty products that have extra moisturizers, color tints, and SPF that keep me glowing through the new year.

Speaking of glowing, I won’t lie; when it comes to wintertime makeup, I load up on as much glitter, shimmer, and sparkle as I possibly can. Along with reflectively shiny eye shadows, bronzers, and blushes reminiscent of holiday tinsel, dark nail polish and spicy perfumes are essentials that define “Winter beauty” in my mind. I don’t go a day without my Urban Decay Urban Ammo eye palatte and a spritz of my current signature scent, Burberry’s The Beat. Check out some of the other products I’ve dubbed as “Winter Beauty Must-Haves” on my Kazowie buyer’s guide list: Winter Beauty Must Haves

I love living in San Francisco: the easily accessible outdoor activities, the architecture, the culture, the museums, the fact that you can explore the entire city in a day. The list goes on and on. The only problem that I have is that in the dead of summer, I freeze my butt off. There are the occasional days, usually in October, that one can walk outside and be comfortable without a jacket for a few hours. But it’s rare.

Although we don’t get to enjoy warm summer nights, sitting outside sipping cocktails and watching the stars come out, there is one excellent advantage to living in this climate; I get to shop for jackets year round. I’ve put together a collage of some of my favorites on my buylist from all different stores and price ranges. You can check the rest of my great finds: San Francisco Summer Jackets.

Clockwise from Top left: Olive Coat, Anne Klein Plaid Wool Coat, Liefsdottir Textured Ruffle Coat, Belted Portrait-Collar Coat , Red Betina-C Coat