Outfit of the Day: French Quarter and Halloween Harlequin

Hello there Kittens!

This past weekend was a good mix of seeing friends, staying at home catching up with good ol' netflix and some horror themed flix, and partaking in Halloween activities!

On Friday Tim and I met up with some friends at a German bar in nearby Alameda to celebrate a friend's birthday. We got to hang with the gang, gorge ourselves on German food, and drink beer while enjoying the live band the bar had going.

On Saturday, in contrast, it was a very relaxing day. I got to watch the first disc of the first season of Ash Vs. Evil Dead and catch up on a few episodes of American Horror Story Hotel.

Then on Sunday, Tim and I went out to the Candle Lighter's Ghost House in Fremont! I had a craving for caramel apples and I knew this was just the place to get them-- and get to go through a fun spooky house while we were at it. ;) While I haven't been to the Fremont Ghost House in a while and definitely can't say that I go every year, it is a bit of a tradition, especially for the locals. In fact, this year they are celebrating their 48th year running! Some things that I absolutely love about the Fremont ghost house: 1) the ghost house is set up in an actual historic 19th century Carriage house, 2) admission is only $3 though that doesn't mean it's not a whole lot of fun! These people really put on a great show and you can tell they really put a lot of time and thought into what they put together. 3) I love that they have booths set up for games, face painting, photo booths, and caramel apples! While my primary stop is at the caramel apple booth I do love seeing all the kids and grown up kids having so much at all the different booths. 4) I love that the people that put together this event are a non-profit group who use the funds they raise for community-based projects in the area and use it to give to other non-profit groups. And last but not least, 5) while I mentioned previously that the Fremont Ghost House is not something I can say I go to every year, it is a place that runs deep in my bones. As a kid and all through the present I've always loved driving past this historic carriage house interestingly located on the edge of a large town shopping center right off of a busy main street. I love how it makes me really think of the past and what the area might have looked like when this historic house was first built. It adds such an air of mystery both in this questioning of the historic past of this area and also in wondering what this house might have looked like inside during its heyday and also during the present. It's such a wonderful treat to get to walk in through the doors when they open it the to the public for their annual Halloween Ghost House!

Candle Lighter's Ghost House, Fremont, CA

Historic 19th Century Carriage House, home of the Candle Lighter's Ghost House

Caramel apple booth!

After a good day with my caramel apple after seeing the Candle Lighter's Ghost house!

Outfit of the Day (Friday):

As I mentioned before, on Friday after work Tim and I went out to meet up with some friends at a German bar to celebrate a friend's birthday. For the occasion I decided to get out one of my favorite dresses, my Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter print. I paired this with a black mohair cardigan I got several years ago in an Australian boutique shop and a pair of basic black flats. For a finishing touch I wore a pair of faux cameo earrings I got from a plantation in Louisiana during our trip there last October, a skull bracelet Tim bought for me a couple weeks ago from Spirit, the Halloween store, and I also wore a faux cameo cat sweater clip I made a couple years ago. You can see the tutorial here.

Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter- Front View

Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter- Front View

Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter- Side View

Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter- Front View

Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter- Front View

Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter- Side View

Faux cameo earrings and cat sweater clip- Close Up

Outfit of the Day (Sunday):

On Sunday, to visit the Fremont Ghost House, I decided to wear my new Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin. I paired this with my black mohair cardigan, a Trashy Diva black obi belt, and a pair of basic black flats. For a finishing touch I wore this with a pair of Rosita Bonita Halloween cat earrings which I bought last year from Trashy Diva and a lime skull brooch which I bought recently from Luxulite on Etsy.

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin- Front View

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin- Front View

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin- Side View

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin- Front View

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin- Front View

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin- Side View

Rosita Bonita Halloween cat earrings and Luxulite lime skulls brooch- Close Up

Bonus Pics!
(mini) Dress Review:

Since I have this dress out for the blog, let me just say a few words by way of a mini dress review.

I was super lucky one day and snagged this Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin print when a single dress in my size popped up in their final sale section. It was being offered at a great price because it has a snag in the fabric at the front side of the dress-- something that isn't noticeable at all when worn with a cardigan or shrug, and also not too noticeable when worn alone because of the location of the snag. With it being offered at such a great price and seeing that this dress at the time was completely out of stock anywhere near my size, I jumped at the chance to get this. Add a 15% discount code I had sitting around and this dress was truly mine for a great price! I got this dress in an XL which according to the website should have been my perfect size for this style. However, I do feel it is a touch too big and just a bit too long for my short torso. Nothing I can't overlook for such a cute dress but it is a bit of a bugger when things don't fit exactly as you hope they would. I do think though that if I sized down it would probably be too tight (for what it's worth). It is back in stock here.

Like other Jennies this dress is boned and lined in silky soft black fabric at the bodice, is made from a wonderfully heavy material, and comes with a delightfully full gathered skirt. The dress also features a back zip for the ultimate in convenience, adjustable shoulder straps to help with the fit, and also has pockets!

And because I adore matching sets so much, I couldn't resist also getting the matching shrug in black with Halloween harlequin trim. I got this shrug in my usual PUG size, large and it fits just right. I really love the finished look this shrug adds when paired with the matching dress. I did however opt not to wear them together on Sunday for the ghost house as I felt just a little too awesomely Queen of Halloween for the short and somewhat informal jaunt that day.

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin with matching shrug in black with Halloween harlequin trim- Front View

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin with matching shrug in black with Halloween harlequin trim- Front View

Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress in Halloween Harlequin with matching shrug in black with Halloween harlequin trim- Side View

Vacation Slideshow: Halloween in New Orleans, Part 4

Hello Kittens!

Well here is my last post on Vacation Slideshow: Halloween in New Orleans. I hope you've enjoyed the read and the pictures!


Day 6 (Monday):

The Monday after Halloween was our last full day in New Orleans. We had planned on spending the day doing a bike tour of the city followed by a kayaking tour on the Bayou St. John, though, like I had mentioned in my last post, Tim and I were both sick with colds by the time Sunday and Monday rolled around so I cancelled our bike and kayak tour and instead we spent the morning wandering around the Garden District.

The Garden District has always held a lot of mystery to me after years and years of reading Anne Rice's books set in this neighborhood so it was a nice treat to actually spend some time here wandering around and getting oriented on some of the more noteworthy houses.

Our first stop in the Garden District was the Lafayette cemetery which is right within the Garden District, located between houses and right across the street from the restaurant, Commander's Palace. Tim in particular wanted to check out at least one of the cemeteries in New Orleans since they are so different from the ones we get back home. Because New Orleans stand below the water table the deceased are buried above ground in crypts and mausoleums.

After the cemetery we made our own walking tour of the Garden District stopping at all the famous houses which interested us.

The first house we came to was the Benjamin Button house. This house was in the film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It's been a few years since I've seen the move so I didn't recognize it myself. I may have to watch the movie again to see if I notice it in the film!

The second house we came upon was Sandra Bullock's house!

I didn't really knock but I was curious to know if she was home. ;)

Along our walk, we ran into these cute animal foot prints in the sidewalk.

The next stop was Trent Rezor's (of Nine Inch Nails) old house. I heard this was where he had his studios for Nothing Records too. It is said to now be John Goodman's current house.

And just right around the corner....
Anne Rice's old house on First Street! <3

It is said that this house was the inspiration for the Garden District Mayfair house in her Mayfair witches' series.

We took a bit of a detour here. I'm not sure if these houses are considered within the Garden District but very nearby on St. Charles' street is this house which is said to be the home Anne Rice lived in when she was 14 years old

And across and down the street a bit is this house which is said to be Anne Rice's childhood home!

The last house we went to was this house featured in the third season of the TV series, American Horror Story. If you know the show you may recognize this house as Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies.

After touring through the Garden District we headed over to nearby Magazine street where we made a quick stop at Trashy Diva on Magazine St., had lunch a Juan's Flying burrito a couple shops down, and enjoyed the afternoon walking along the street and doing a little bit of window shopping.

Trashy Diva, Magazine St

We then took the streetcar to the French Quarter. For our final night, we had dinner at K-Paul's (the late chef Paul Prudhomme's restaurant). The food was exceptional, especially the buffalo frogs' legs. After dinner we went on a ghost tour and then stopped by the Carousel bar at the haunted Hotel Monteleone. 

One of the houses used in the film Interview With A Vampire

Through the windows of a gas lamp store

Hotel Monteleone

In side the main lobby of the Hotel Monteleone

The Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone... it really does turn as you're sitting around it!

Final look back at our Bed and Breakfast at the Garden District

Outfit of the Day:
(pictured above) For this day, our final day in New Orleans, I had to go with my Trashy Diva Annette dress in French Quarter print. I figured that would be the perfect dress for our send off to this beautiful city.