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Halloween Costume: Settled (updated 10-28!)

Date: October 13, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 2

If you read my Facebook post last night, or know me well, you know that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and also tends to be one of the days/weekends of the year that I try to look my best—because my birthday is just 4 days before Halloween and somehow, many of my pictures (and parties) end up in costume! As an actor, Halloween let’s me do what I already love: dress up and play someone else. Who doesn’t love that? So when it came to this year, I was struggling to decide what to wear and was torn between dressing up as a sailor girl, or more recently…a Pan Am stewardess.

The Pan Am stewardesses and their captain, in "Catch Me in You Can"

I started my research last night only to come up with the sluttiest of slutty Halloween costumes to be a stewardess, and almost went with the sailor girl because the costume was a little more refined, but then I took matters into my own hands: I went on ebay.

Christina Ricci stars as Maggie in ABC's "Pan Am"

I found a vintage, sky grey-blue skirt suit for $16 and it was a done deal. With ABC’s new smash hit, Pan Am dominating the airwaves, I doubt I’ll be the only one with this costume, but I will probably be the most period-correct! The suit is perfect to be sexier at night, with a few less buttons buttoned and no stockings, but still refined enough for when we dress up for Halloween at the office (which I’m very excited for, especially since my sailor outfit probably wouldn’t have been office-appropriate!) Now I’m on the hunt for white gloves, my wings, and most importantly: a blue pillbox hat! Hopefully I can thrift some of these items over the weekend at the flea market! Even more important than that pillbox hat, I’ll be hunting for a Pan Am bowling bag (YES! A costume with a matching bag I can carry!). I’ll be rolling my hair and doing some fabulous 60′s winged eyeliner (which I’ve already been wearing every day).

The cast of ABC's "Pan Am"

If anyone else is as inspired as I am, the way to get the best costume is to thrift your items–all of the stewardess costumes that regular Halloween stores sell are overly sexy (like, in the way that might attract some not-so-welcome attention) and cheap-looking. Believe me: I looked through hundreds. Try ebay, your local Goodwill or Salvation Army, and of course, hit the flea market!

Once my costume is complete, I will be sure to post pictures! Additionally, a lot of lovely ladies who are as 60′s inspired as I am want to get the look too and have been asking for a tutorial on how to do Karine Vanasse’s (Colette from ABC’s Pan Am) 60′s eyeliner. I have perfected the look and as soon as I get my camera this weekend, I will make one and post it!

What are you all planning for Halloween? What are you dressing up as? Or if you have kids or pets, what are you dressing them up as?

Update (10/28) I’m still putting the finishing touches on my Pan Am costume (I’m planning on being VERY busy tomorrow morning!) but I came across something that basically most people have access to (if they’re willing to spend the dough!) to purchase a key piece of their Pan Am Halloween costume: Brookstone!

Yes, good old electronics and travel genius Brookstone is offering an entire COLLECTION of vintage-style Pan Am memorabilia, including the infamous bags that the stewardesses carried:

Brookstone's Replica of the iconic "Pan Am Explorer Carry On" bag.

If you’re willing to go all out money-wise on your costume–the Pan Am Explorer Carry On is the finishing touch. At $89 a pop, you’ll be the envy of all your friends this weekend—and then you’ll end up carrying all their stuff! Hey the jet-age used to be cheap, but it’s not anymore, and neither is this bag—and I sure wish I had an extra $90 to buy it!

AND as you’ll have it–ABC’s Pan Am Facebook page even posted a tutorial on how to make your own wings and pillbox hat! If push comes to shove and I run out of time tomorrow—the hat pattern is definitely going to come in handy! Check it out!

I’ll continue to post things as I find them for my costume! Tomorrow night’s the big birthday bash, so I’m under the gun! Xo, Erika

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Let’s Get Patriotic!

Date: July 3, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 2

1. Striped Romper $19.90 at Forever 21 (in Red & White or Blue & White)
2. J Brand Stretch Denim Cutoff Shorts $152.00 at Nordstrom
3. Basketweave Sandals $13.80 at Forever 21 (in Cream or Red)
4. Women’s Jersey Tube Knot Dress at Old Navy $24.94
5. Finley ‘Diana’ Ruffled Wrap Front Blouse $186.00 at Nordstrom
6. Deborah Lippmann Glitter Nail Polish in “Across the Universe” $18.00 at 6pm.com
7. Life In Progress™ Bermuda Shorts $15.84 at Forever 21
8. Kaliko Navy & White Bangle Set £4.50 (approx $7.25) at Debenhams
9. MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in “Ruby Woo” $14.50
10. Bandolino Dyani Espadrille Wedges $69.00 at Zappos
11. White Thread-wrapped Bangles £7.00 (approx $11.25) at Dorothy Perkins

Feeling a little uninspired? While it might be just a little too late to go shopping for tomorrow’s outfit right now, hopefully I can spread a little inspiration to create fashion fireworks for your 4th of July! What are you planning to wear? I’m going all out in a navy blue J.Crew shift, skinny red headband and white sandals!

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Valentine’s Day Chocolate-Covered Oreos

Date: January 28, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 3

The Oreo® is undoubtedly “America’s Favorite Cookie”, there’s really no debating it. The only thing better than that cookie with a glass of milk, (because it’s also “Milk’s Favorite Cookie”) is one of those cookies covered in chocolate and decorated for Valentine’s Day. You know I’m right about this one.

If you’re on a budget and you want to something literally sweet for a special someone, these tasty treats are easy to make, look gourmet and are way more thoughtful than a box of chocolates. (Bonus: make them together!)

My total cost: $14.74 Chocolate-covered Oreos from Chocolate-Covered Company $44.95

Once again these were a big hit at the office, with one of my coworkers proclaiming, “I think I want to marry you.” If only more men felt that way about me and my treat-making skills, I’d be in business!

I melted one bag of milk chocolate chips and one bag of semisweet chocolate chips (separately) in a double boiler. I had mini chocolate chips, Valentine’s Day colored M&Ms, Valentine’s Day colored sprinkles and nonpareils (purchased for $2 each at Homegoods), Butterscotch chips, White Chocolate chips and crushed pecans on hand for coating the cookies and I used one package of Double Stuff Oreos®.

Put the different coatings in deep bowls (with the exception of the M&Ms, those should be added by hand). Once chocolate has melted in double boiler, submerge the Oreo into the chocolate. Dip, in desired topping, coating the entire cookie. Place on a wax-paper lined baking sheet. Repeat in the two different kinds of chocolate until you’ve used all the cookies.

With leftover chocolate, drizzle chocolate across the tops of cookies, if you’d like. I melted an 1/8 of a cup of butterscotch chips to drizzle over some of the cookies, and 1/8 cup of white chocolate chips which I dyed pink with 2 drops of red food coloring.
Let the chocolate harden and enjoy!

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Valentine’s Day Gifts Under $25

Date: January 25, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 1

I’m inexplicably always a bit bitter about this over-commercialized lovey-dovey day. Well, I am a single gal in a big city, so what more is there to say about it?

If you do have someone to share the day with, there’s no doubt you may want to get them a little something…whether it’s a boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, sister, roommate, mom, dad, or in my case, my dog…everyone wants to share the love on Valentine’s Day!

Mini Heart Silver-Plated Jewelry Box $14.00

A heart-shaped jewelry box is a great sentiment and is far less cheesy than a piece of heart-shaped jewelry. This great jewelry box from Pottery Barn comes perfectly priced, can be monogrammed and has an everyday purpose!

Message in a Bottle Kit $16 (DIY cost=$10 or less!)

It may be currently sold out on Uncommon Goods, but this one is an easy one to DIY if it doesn’t come back in stock for the big day. Buy a vintage or vintage-looking glass bottle with a cap or a cork, get a piece of paper and stain it with tea and burn the edges. Write a romantic love note to your significant other, but don’t ship this message in a bottle out to sea, give it to your love. Some of the greatest love notes of all time were supposedly messages in bottles, plus it’s like a grown-up Valentine! (Remember those cards with your favorite cartoons you used to give to your crush? This is so the adult version of that, and is way more romantic!)

What I Love About You $13.99

When those 3 little words seem to escape you and you have trouble expressing how you really feel, there’s a clever little book to help you sort it out. What I Love About You has a grown up Mad Libs feel (in a more serious way, of course) prompting you to fill in the blanks such as, “I missed you when….” and “If we’d first met in a comic strip, the thought bubble over my head would have said…”. Pretty genius, no?

Mini Valentine Hot Cocoa $3.95

Everyone loves a warm, cozy mug of hot chocolate, but the only thing that could ever make it better is…if it’s pink! Crate & Barrel to the rescue with Valentine’s Day Hot Chocolate, tastes chocolatey, turns pink. So whip some homemade whipped cream, heat some milk and stir it up! (A fun, an almost-free DIY idea, is to make regular hot cocoa, but still make homemade whipped cream–add just enough red food coloring to turn the whipped cream pink!)

USB Memory Stick Mixtape $15.99

Giving the one you love a mixtape is so not dead…just don’t give them an actual cassette! The update to the good ole’ mixtape, the Mixtape Memory Stick, is a 64 megabyte usb memory stick fashioned to look like a cassette tape. Start arranging that playlist and find your favorite photos of the two of you because the mixtape is still totally 21st century!

"I'm Nuts About You" Key Ring $20.00

Definitely for the do-it-yourselfer/Mr./Miss Fix-it, the “I’m nuts about you” key chain is such an adorable sentiment to remind someone how you feel about them and that once again, has a practical, every day purpose. Who doesn’t look at their keys every day? When they do, they’ll be reminded that you’re nuts about them!

X & O S'mores $24.95

If you’re anything at all like me, you can’t turn down a sweet (in more than one way) treat! And really, what Valentine’s Day is complete without some chocolate? These handmade s’mores shaped like X’s & O’s are a fun and whimsical treat, delivered right to your door!

I love all of these gifts and all under $25, they’re a total steal. Now if only I had a Valentine…sigh!

xo, E

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Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows

Date: January 1, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 2

If you know me well, then you probably know that s’mores and fluffernutters are two of my favorite treats and by default, I love marshmallows. I always wondered how on earth marshmallows were made and then I came across this recipe. I also am a peppermint fiend–I keep peppermint gum and candy in my handbag at all times, I steal the mints from restaurants, and I brought home every prepared peppermint treat I could find at Trader Joe’s this year! (Ahem, Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate covered Peppermint Joe Joe’s, and their chocolate peppermint whoopie pies!)

These peppermint marshmallows are easy to make, super minty, fluffy and light… parfait in a mug of hot cocoa on a chilly night. I searched around to see if I could find any other recipes for peppermint marshmallows, and found Emily’s take on the same recipe from Martha Stewart that I wanted to use, so I used her decorating idea for inspiration.

Beware though, the first step of the instructions is incorrect: you should line the pan with plastic wrap AND THEN grease the plastic wrap with nonstick cooking spray…I had a lot of fun pulling those sticky marshmallows away from the plastic wrap, since I didn’t notice the mistake until after I had put them in the pan! They were worth it though, perfectly flavoring one of my other true loves, hot chocolate.

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Happy New Year …and, I’m going to (try to) post every day in 2011!

Date: January 1, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 1

Happy New Year to all! I hope that 2011 brings you all the health, success and happiness that you desire.

As for me, I hope 2011 is the best year yet for Shoes, Shirts & Other Sh!t. I started this blog in 2010 and it brought me the most amazing opportunities, connections and some of the coolest people I will ever meet. Which is why I’ve decided that I want to blog even more in 2011. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. (No really, I am because, well, I’m writing this.) I will be (attempting to) post on SSOS once a day for all of 2011.

I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, and will bring you even more amazing fashion, style, beauty, recipes and lifestyle news. I want to travel and expand this site beyond New York City…to the entire East Coast, Boston, D.C., Miami, towards to the Midwest—Chicago, Minneapolis, Cincinnati; to the south in some of my favorite cities–Savannah and New Orleans, and all the way west, towards L.A., San Diego, Seattle, and Portland….and everywhere in between. I already have tons of amazing Canadian readers (thank you!) and I think I’ll worry about expanding out of North America in 2012. (SSOS is already being read in 30 countries all over the world, which is so amazing).

Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, WordPress’ new campaign, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals and interests, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can. I will vow to read and comment on other blogs like mine to help develop our community of fashion, style, beauty and lifestyle bloggers! As I was once told, (and firmly believe): we are the future of fashion journalism. I’ve even installed the WordPress app on my brand new Droid (which I have no idea how to use by the way, I feel so technologically illiterate for the first time ever) so I can blog anywhere, anytime.

If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and “likes” (a recent WordPress feature at the bottom of my post…I get a nifty little email congratulating me if you hit it!), and good will along the way. Ask me questions; I have a brand new contact form on my “Contact” page and I personally answer every email I receive. You can communicate with me on Twitter and on Facebook as well.

What do you like or want to see more of? What do you wish I would stop doing? Tell me! This site is as much yours as it is mine.

Want to guest blog? Send me an email.

No, seriously.

Let’s make 2011 the best year yet.

And, if you want more personal insights into my life, you should subscribe to ErikaBelezarian.com. While I don’t post every day, I write what I feel is necessary to describe my life as a fashion/beauty/lifestyle blogger.

Oh, and seriously, the prizes keep getting better, so you should go enter the contest to win a bag full of beauty goodies and more!

Hugs & Kisses,