Lazy bones

Happy Halloween! My plans for the day are just errands and computer work, so I decided to forgo the costume route this year and just wear one of my spooky dresses. I miss the preparation that goes into planning a costume, but it was a little bit of a relief to just not worry about it this year. I have been SO busy trying to get everything in my shop ready for the holidays that squeezing in making a costume probably would have been more stressful than fun, I think.

I still need to do a little post about my Paris trip! One of my favorite parts of the trip this year was the Paris catacombs, and although I didn't wear this while I was down there (which would have been epic and I'm a little bummed I didn't think of it beforehand!) I can't help but be reminded of the catacombs now when I wear this dress. I have mixed feelings about that experience. I loved the actual catacombs part and was very moved, but the corridors leading up to the catacombs unleashed in me a level of claustrophobia that I have never felt in my life. I was panicking so much that I was sweating, and it's really cold down there. I think it was worth it though. I'll write about it more when I do a full post about Paris! :)

dress - modcloth | shirt - asos | shoes - amazon

Arachnophobia

It's officially Halloween-themed-outfit time! I turned a glittery black spider decoration from the craft store into a brooch (you just glue a bar-pin brooch piece to the back of the spider and voila! spider brooch!) and I want to wear it every day now.

I think it's so funny how I (and I'm sure many other people) put fake spiders all over the place in October, but if I ever see a real one my heart jumps out of my body and I let out a blood-curdling scream. I mean, even the small ones do it to me (they're usually jumpers!) I'm so jealous of people who aren't scared of spiders. I have one friend who will pick them up with her hand and carry them outside. I wish I could do that! I've tried to train myself to think of them as perfectly harmless friendly little insects but then I see one and I'm stricken with paralyzing fear all over again.

At least the decorations (and brooches) don't bite, and they can't climb up your nose while you're sleeping (Is that even a thing? Even if it's not possible, I'd still be worried about it.)

dress - c/o Tobi | shoes - bait footwear

brooch - DIY | wig - keke wigs

flower power

I'm leaving for Paris today!! I'm so excited for myself, but I'm even more excited for my mom. She hasn't been there since 1984. She's been gushing about it for as long as I can remember and you could always tell how much she wished she could go back. She has a really great memory so I'm looking forward to her pointing out all the spots she visited with my dad in 1984 and on their honeymoon in 1976 :) And I can't wait to show her my favorite spots from my own visit last year. Mainly I just want her to try the chocolate mousse I had at a cafe across from Notre Dame (I don't even know the name of it, we'll just have to go exploring to find it, lol!)

It's supposed to be much colder in Paris than it is in NJ right now. It's still like summer here! I've been wearing sweaters around the house since we're still cranking the A/C but outside it still feels like August. So this dress still feels seasonally appropriate for the kind of October I'm living through this year lol.

I have a little tip for anyone who, like me, isn't a bare midriff kinda gal but loves dresses with waist cut-outs. I wear shapewear that matches my skin tone underneath the dress, so it *looks* like a bare belly but I feel comfortable knowing my torso is still totally concealed with clothing lol. If I hadn't wanted to wear faux-knee high tights for this outfit, I would have probably gone with body tights (like the Capezio ones for ballerinas) which would serve the same purpose. I love this because I feel like lately a LOT of clothes have cutouts, and it helps to have some tricks up your sleeve if you love the style but don't have the guts to bear that much skin :)

dress - c/o tobi | shoes - bait footwear | tights - urban outfitters (old)

sunglasses - oui fresh | wig - keke wigs

countdown

I've had a dry-erase countdown on my refrigerator since last November when I booked me and my mom's joint 30th/60th birthday trip to Paris and now that countdown says THREE DAYS LEFT. Ahh! I'm looking forward to this trip SO MUCH. This year has been the most stressful one of my life since high school (the entirety of high school would still rank as most stressful) and I can't think of any better respite than a week in my favorite city with one of my favorite people.

I think I'll get to see way more of the city this time because my mom is such a good planner. When I went last year I kind of wandered aimlessly a lot but this time we have so many fun things on the itinerary. We're going to The Louvre, Disneyland Paris, and my mom surprised me by booking a reservation for lunch IN THE EIFFEL TOWER!

As excited as I am, I actually haven't started packing yet. I'm the worst at packing early. I actually had a dream last night that we were leaving for the airport and I still hadn't finished packing and my whole family was yelling at me because we were going to miss the flight, lol. So I guess I should probably go pack now ;D

dress - modcloth (old) | sweater - c/o Tobi | shoes - bait footwear