Last Minute Halloween DIY

Happy Halloween! A great holiday filled with candy, pumpkins, scares, and best of all costumes! Now if anyone knows us they know that we LOVE to dress up. We both had dress up boxes in college and endless ideas for friends! So if it is 7pm and some friends decide to go out and you don't have a costume - don't freak out! Here are some fun (and easy) ideas!

Grandma or Grandpa - throw on your comfiest pjs, some glasses, and slippers! Put a little baby power in your hair and have fun! Bonus points if you can find a cane or walker!

A bottle of wine - Ashley's fun costume from last year! Wear whatever you want as clothes, make a label for yourself from an old tee-shirt (cut of the top part from just under the arm holes so you can easily slide your new label on), tie a cork to a headband and there you have it!

Ballet dancer - have leggings and pink? Then you can dress up as a ballet dancer. Throw your hair up in a bun, wear the leggings and a light pink top and put a ribbon in your hair.

Ballpark concession worker - got a neon shirt? Pair it with a black pants and make a sign selling hotdogs or cotton candy!

Chef/Waiter - if you have black and white it is easy to dress as a waiter or chef. Pair it with a utensil or note pad.

A florist - wear something springy, get a bouquet of flowers and pass them out during the night (this can work for a flower child as well!)

Lumberjack - pair your plaid shirt with jeans and boots. If you can craft an axe that would even better!

Athlete/Cheerleader - easy to do if you have a friend that was a high school athlete or cheerleader!

Frat guy/ Sorority girl - pair a college tee with a paddle with greek letters

Pirate - stripes and a bandanna are the way to go! Super comfy with boots and either jeans or a skirt.

Dead anything - with the right makeup you can be a dead person for the night!

Today we dressed up for a fun local Halloween parade! We threw together these costumes last minute!

Kira's adorable ring master costume can be pulled off with a red jacket, white shirt, and pants. She made her top hat with cardboard and a headband! Pair it with some fun elephant or lion jewelry and even a stuffed lion!

Ashley's gypsy costume is one that anyone can do! A long skirt, intense makeup, scarves, and gold jewelry is the way to go!

Happy trick or treating!

-A&K

Make up Hack!

For those of you that use powder foundation, blush or shadow you know the frustration of seeing that you have product left and not being able to get to it.  This hack however will allow you to get to everything, needing only a quarter and a little leverage.

Take your product and with your container sealed tight turn it over. Most plastic powders have a ridge in the bottom. Place the quarter in said ridge and pop out the bottom. Easy as pie and will allow you to use all your product!



-K

AKA Reads

We both love to read!

Reading can be the perfect thing to do before you fall asleep at night, or the most amazing Sunday afternoon activity.

We are both currently re-reading the Harry Potter series, as we are both huge Harry Potter fans. It has been really fun to re-read and rediscover the series.  Its fun to find and discuss all the new links we've found and all the details we might have missed or forgotten since we were reading them as kids, as well as revisit some of the major differences between the books and movies.

Ashley is currently in a book club with one of our close friends and it has been a great way for them to read different styles of books and to keep each other motivated and on track with their reading. We thought it would be a fun idea to do with each other and anyone elsewho wants to join in!

Click on the books above to check out what we have been reading recently

(and where you can purchase the books in the East Bay!)

So grab a book and a friend and spend some time away from a screen (as I type and you read via a screen). Its really nice to read for yourself, rather than school or work. It can be a free vacation and great for relaxation if you let it. Revisit old books like we are and keep fining new favorites!

Let us know what your reading!

-A&K

(Social) Networking 101

In my line of work I have to do a lot of networking with people in my area. I go to at least one or two networking mixers each week to meet new people and talk with clients. I have met tons of different types of people at these events, some came across incredibly reliable and interesting, while others did not. I have put together a little list of do's and don'ts when it comes to professional networking, however I do believe these can be tips for many other types of connections as well. These can be helpful when it comes to any kind of work event, first date, or even what you put on social media.

Do bring plenty of business cards. This will be key in making new connections in your field.

Do smile - it is a great way to show others in the room that you are excited to be there and meet new people. Smile while you are approaching a new person, some people might be intimidated or not know how to start a conversation. Personally I like to find a group of 3-4 people and talk to them as a group about something - the location of the networking event, someone's great shoes, or what the specialty cocktail is.

Do dress appropriately. A nice dress, skirt and top combo, or slacks and a cardigan are a great way to go. Also, make sure you have comfortable shoes. You will be standing most of the event.

Do be willing to talk to new people. Sometimes I have talked with people that I didn't think I would click with and they have ended up being great connections! Ask simple questions about their business, where they live, or how they heard about the networking event. These are good questions that you can then follow up with.

Do follow up with the people you met the next day so you will still be fresh in their minds. Ask them to get coffee the following week or ask for a tour of their business. If you wait too long you will loose that great contact.

Don't talk negatively about your company. You never know who might be listening.

Don't discuss your weekend plans, or how drunk you got at that fun concert the night before - leave that talk for your friends.

Don't flirt! If you meet someone good for you, however leave the flirting and hand-holding for another time.

Don't  get drunk, I met a woman at an event once who was so drunk they had to call her a cab to get home. Talk about making an impact!

Don't be nervous! Networking can be intimidating, so remind yourself before you go that you are there for a reason and to make great connections with people in your field!

-A

Drink it up!

When you first turn 21 going to a bar can be both exciting and a little daunting. What do I order? How do I order? What are some good drinks? Well here is a go-to guide for drinking out at bars and restaurants!

Dive Bar

When you go to your local dive bar think of a couple simple drinks to make your signature. Most of the time a spirt (like Vodka, Gin, or Rum) mixed with soda, juice, or tonic water is the way to go. Our go to favorites include gin and tonic, rum and coke, rum and ginger ale, and vodka cranberry. When ordering, the bartender might ask you what type of alcohol you want (top shelf, well, or a specific brand). We always go with well, it is the cheapest, but still tastes just as good. Additionally, a beer is always a good way to go at your local bar, see if they have any local brews on tap.

Swanky Evening 

If you are headed to a nicer bar with friends for a special occasion it is nice to have a go-to special drink. Ashley's go to drink is a cosmopolitan, while Kira's is a mojito. If you are at a nicer bar many bartenders can create you a special drink.  Just tell them your favorite liquor or taste. Kira likes rum and ginger, or some thing fresh or springy (think basil, mint, cucumber). These simple suggestions can lead a great bartender to a make you a great drink.

Restaurant Drinking 

If you are going to a restaurant first check if there is happy hour. See if they have any specials, sometimes certain restaurants will offer 1/2 off a glass of wine on certain days, or pitcher specials. It is always good to ask about specials as many waiters will not always bring it up. Lastly, think about the restaurant and what their specialty is, at an Italian restaurant they will have great wine, when you're at pub probably some great beer, many restaurants will also have seasonal cocktails you can take advantage of. Keep in mind what you are eating at the restaurant as well as you'll want to pair your drink.

A night out at District in Oakland

-A&K

For the Love of Crayons!

If you were a crayon what color would you be?

Last year I was working at an after school program with first and second graders. At the end of the year I wanted to give my students something special, so I made them crayons. You can do this as a gift or with your own kids or kids you babysit. It can be a fun rainy day activity or just something to do with all your old crayons.

I got the idea from Pinterest and started collecting crayons earlier in the year. I used mostly broken or old crayons in order to recycle them, but any crayons will do. The brighter the better! Dark colors seemed to wash out the other colors and just became dark blobs.

1. I bought silicone baking molds to melt the crayons in.  The silicone makes the crayons easy to pop out and are easier to clean.

2. Make sure all crayons are peeled! (I had students help me with this task, they thought it was fun)

3. Break or chop up crayons into smaller pieces. Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees.

4. Fill molds with crayons. They will melt and expand so no need to fill them all the way to the top. Half way or three quarters full will do.

5. Place the baking mold on a baking sheet and put in the oven.

The crayons will take about 10-15 minutes to melt. Once they are melted you can take them out of the oven. They will need to cool and harden for the next 10 minutes. Once they have cooled down you will be able to pop them out of the molds. Have fun!

-K

It's a challenge

During the summer months it is easy to get out of a routine - even when you work full time. Lazy summer dinners with friends turn into long nights of bar hoping, and sooner then you know it you have to be up the next morning. After hitting snooze a couple of times you finally manage to get out of bed, with just enough time to grab a cup of iced coffee and run out the door. I realized in the beginning of fall that I really wanted to get back into a healthy routine, mostly of going to the gym and eating better. I also realized that I love a good challenge, so in September I did a full on cleanse. After Kira, some friends, and I went up to a cabin over labor day (a long weekend of lounging around and many cookie chips!) I came to the conclusion that it was the perfect time to get back into a routine!

I started off by planning out meals for each week, including snacks, so I would eat a small meal about every 3 hours to keep my metabolism up. I also made a plan to only each fruits, veggies, lean protein, and limited complex carbs (i.e. brown rice, corn tortillas, oats) and to drink lots of water. I also included some multivitamins, fiber pills, and protein shakes. Along with eating healthy, I also made a plan with a friend to go to the gym early in the mornings to start our day. Let me tell you - I am definitely back on a routine! Set yourself a small goal (mine was 24 days) in which you will accomplish something. It makes the ending point attainable and less scary.

For the month of October I am doing the "Kardashian Squat Challenge"! I'm not really positive if the Kardashians made it up, but I saw Khloe post it on Instagram, so that's where I got the idea! I like that it is only 30 days, so by Halloween I will hopefully see a difference, or at least feel a difference!

If anyone has a good tip for a fun workout challenge for the month of November - I'm all ears!!!

-A