Modern Girl Style

Happy Halloween!

Haunted House, originally uploaded by cmar.

Remember to check your candy, be safe & have tons of fun tonight! Trick or Treat from Modern Girl Style!!!

Downright Spooky, Haunted, & Chilling Places to Visit...if you dare!

Ralph Martin has to be one of the hippest travel writers. He's got a mad sense of spooky haunts to visit this Halloween. Modern Girl Style wants you to get ready for creepy, scary, & haunted Halloween locations. If you can't make it, I'm sure your town has got something as mysterious, forbidding, and bone-chilling as any of these places. Ever town has got secrets...are you willing to hunt down the truth?

Manchac Swamp, Louisiana

As your boat pushes out into the swamp by torchlight, ancient cypress trees and Spanish moss drape across the water. That far-off howl you hear might just be the rou-ga-rou, the Cajun version of the Wolfman. The Manchac Swamp, a.k.a. the "haunted swamp," near New Orleans is a Southern Gothic fan's dream. An imprisoned voodoo queen is said to have cast a curse on these watery surroundings around the turn of the last century, resulting in the disappearance of three hamlets in a hurricane in 1915. The occasional corpse still surfaces in this otherwise untouched bird sanctuary, left alone by commercial development for more than 100 years. Torchlit nighttime boat tours are offered by the Old River Plantation Adventure. But beware: As anyone who has spent a night in the wild can tell you, nature can be anything but gentle, and the staring red-eyed alligators can give you a real fright as they watch your boat cruise slowly by.

Bran Castle, Bran, Romania

A vertiginous hilltop climb leads to a storybook castle that seems to have no horizontal surfaces: Endless stairways and towers are all that is visible. Inside, underground passageways connect dozens of rooms containing rococo antiques and suits of armor. All that's missing from Dracula's Castle, as Bran Castle is known, is a stormy night and a lightning bolt to illuminate the scene. A cloud of legend, local folklore, and literary pedigree hang over the dramatic fortress, perched 200 feet above the Romanian town of Bran. The castle has certainly reaped a PR bonanza as the setting for Bram Stoker's Dracula, with a reported 450,000 visitors a year—not bad for an isolated spot in Eastern Europe. The name comes from the notoriously sadistic tyrant Vlad the Impaler, known as Vlad Dracula, who is said to have used the castle as an occasional base of operations. Vlad earned his nickname by hoisting tens of thousands of enemies on stakes; one engraving shows him feasting alone at a table surrounded by a veritable forest of his victims hanging on spikes. Bram Stoker got wind of Vlad's legend and, after a visit to Romania, modeled Count Dracula's castle on this one. The castle is quite tourist-friendly, but just be aware that it closes at 4 pm, lest the sun set before visitors are safely away.

Easter Island, Chile

One of the most unnerving things about the 30-foot carved heads that dot Easter island is that they're not looking out at you as you arrive; the famous unsmiling moai sculptures look inward from the sea, as if guilty of some crime. Perhaps it has something to do with the virtual disappearance of the people who made them. At only 63 square miles, tiny Easter Island is home to more mystery for its size than just about anyplace else on earth. The Rapa Nui people, nearly extinct a century ago but flourishing now, kept no written records of how they moved the enormous moai around the island, sometimes as far as 14 miles, from the volcanic quarry where they were carved. We like the theory that UFOs were behind it all. It's said that the Rapa Nui grew so devoted to their stone heads that they sacrificed their civilization in the interest of bigger, better, and more perfect specimens. The island's now accessible via Chile (a five-and-a-half-hour flight), and the new Explora property offers a range of treks, as well as luxury accommodation.

Bhangarh, India

India's Bhangarh, in the Rajasthan region north of Jaipur, is a town with a mysterious history. Built in the 1630s, it was abruptly abandoned ten years later for reasons that are still unclear. Legend has it that after a convoluted series of events involving a princess and a jar of enchanted oil, a massacre occurred and the town was never repopulated. Nowadays there are tourists aplenty by day, but no one stays at night. This might have something to do with the supposed curse placed on the town by a jealous shaman. Even the local archeological office is located half a mile away (better safe than sorry). But the magnificent ruins—not to mention the Palace of Prostitutes—imply that Bhangarh was something of a Gomorrah of extravagant goings-on. Perhaps that history—and not the ghost stories—is why a sign at the entrance reads, "Staying here after sunset is strictly prohibited." Either way, we're happy to rest our heads at the ultra-luxe Amanbagh resort six miles away.

Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, Scotland

Hidden below Edinburgh's medieval Old Town is a series of subterranean streets with an unsavory past. Mary King's Close is where plague victims were quarantined and left to die in the 17th century, and paranormal activity abounds down there. You might, for instance, feel some gentle tugging at your hands and legs by an unseen force. The cause is believed to be the ghost of Annie, a young girl abandoned by her parents in 1645. More than a hundred years later, in classic horror-tale fashion, a grand new building was constructed over Mary King's Close, leaving the streets, including the plague ghosts, intact underground. In 2003, the surprisingly well-preserved Close was opened to visitors, drawn by tales of its supernatural goings-on. Tour guides will accompany you down a stone staircase to the vaultlike, oppressive lanes. In addition to Annie's Room, there are typical re-creations of bygone lifestyles and plague deaths. Just remember to keep on moving, especially when you feel a sudden chill.

 

CSI

So, ah, what person hasn't been hooked on any sort of CSI mystery. One of the groundbreaking authors that introduced the public to evidence collection, crime scene processing tools, and procedures of CSI was, Patricia Cornwell.  She started writing Dr. Kay Scarpetta novels, that include such hits as Body of Evidence, in the early nineties about the process of crime scene investigations. Cornwell evens opens up her book, The Body Farm, by stating that everyone discouraged her to not write her CSI books because people wouldn't be interested. Needless to say she didn't head the advice. She published her books & started a entirely new branch of mystery/crime novels that eventually got the attention of Hollywood.

So where is CSI going after countless TV show spin-offs, movies, & books. It's going to land you in the role of detective. Let's see if you've learned anything from CSI, but first you've got to hit Rodeo drive to buy a suit! Yes, CSI detectives always look good. It wouldn't be Hollywood otherwise.

CSI: Senses...This is a board game that will put you right in the action.

CSI: Hard Evidence The Xbox/Wii game

CSI: Online Visit the official CSI website and get ready to learn.  The creator of CSI, Andrew E. Zuiker, has been pitching to everyone that his hit TV show is supposed to be linked up to the actual CSI TV shows that start airing October 24. I couldn't find a link to the game, but here he is talking the talk.

Here's a look at the actual game:

Halloween Thrills with a Twist

Get your Halloween weekend shaking with modern girl style! No tricks involved!

Pumpkin Martini
Alright, I was at Maggiano's Restaurant at the Grove in LA when I finally ordered this seasonal favorite. Let me tell you it was love at first bite! This is a must have, must drink martini!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 ounces Bols Pumpkin Smash liqueur

• 1 ounce Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

• 1 dash half-and-half

• Ground cinnamon, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS: Shake the ingredients over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle a little more cinnamon on top.

Blood Martini

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
• 2 oz. Absolute Citron vodka OR white tequila
• 1 oz. Cointreau liquor
• Cup of ice
• Optional: Splash of sparkling water
• Optional: Squeeze of lemon

INSTRUCTIONS: Shake ingredients in a shaker and put in chilled martini glasses. Put pomegranate fruit into glass as garnish.

Blue Lime Ghost

INGREDIENTS

• 3 pt lime vodka
• 1 pt blue curaÁao
• Sprite/7up

INSTRUCTIONS: Build in a highball glass packed with ice.
Get an extra spooky, smoking effect by decorating with carbonic ice.

Spooky Bites

Hallo-ulah! Martha's got a spooky treat fit to eat to the grave! These ghostly greetings appear atop delicate chocolate cookies with the help of confectioners' sugar. Our Gothic letter templates help you spell out messages for visiting goblins.

Ingredients

Makes 4 1/2 dozen

• 1 1/2  cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar, plus more for decorating
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2  teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and salt. Beat butter and confectioners' sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Divide dough in half, and shape into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured piece of parchment (or between 2 pieces of parchment), roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Transfer the dough and parchment to a baking sheet. Freeze 15 minutes.
3. Using a 2 1/2-by-3-inch fluted oval cookie cutter, quickly cut out shapes. (If dough begins to soften, place in freezer for 3 to 5 minutes.) Gather scraps, reroll, and cut out. Space shapes 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Freeze 15 minutes.
4. Brush flour from shapes. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks. (Undecorated cookies can be stored in airtight containers for up to 1 week.) Just before serving, decorate cookies: Center template over cookie. Lightly sift confectioners' sugar over template, then carefully lift it off cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies.

 

A Fire Runs Through It.

A Fire Runs Through It., originally uploaded by MS4JAH.

As the fires begin to die down in my community, I want to personally thank all the firefighters, police officers, helicopter & plane pilots, and everyone that literally put their lives at risk to try and save not just homes, but our beautiful desert hills. The Irvine/Orange fire that raged near my home was started by an arsonist. I pray that justice can be served.

Envisioning Change

Sawyer Glacier, Alaska, originally uploaded by growlandw.

For UN World Environment Day 2007, the Natural World Museum in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme will produce an exhibition that addresses the theme of Climate Change from a global perspective - the melting and thawing of ice, snow and permafrost are environment-altering changes taking place around the world- from the Andes to the Himalayas to the melting ice caps of the Poles. It's called Envisioning Change.

How much has to be lost before we do something about it?

The touring exhibition began June 2007 at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, and is currently on display at the Bozar Center for Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium through Jan 1, 2008. The exhibition will also be presented in Monaco and Chicago in 2008. For more information about the Natural World Museum and it's international programs, please visit: ArtIntoAction.org.

Paintings by Robert Bateman

3 Tips on How to Build Your Dreams

Every dream begins with vision. Your dream might be to redesign your house, open a clothing boutique, travel, or get involved with a charity. It can be anything. But, what are you doing about building your dreams? Here are three ideas to get your dreams turned into reality:

1. Make a Priority List
In order to figure out what dream means the most to you, create a priority list. The priority list will force you to get out of the dream cloud. Having lots of dreams are important, but knowing what counts the most is significant to getting your dreams in hand.

2. Read Everything & Anything
Read anything & everything that relates to your dream! If you want to be a screenwriter, then read every script, how-to-book, & watch all the movies you can. Building an encyclopedic knowledge is vital to achieving your dreams. The more you know, the closer you are getting to living your dream.

3. Set Goals
If all you've got is the weekend to follow your passion, then plan to use the time wisely. Setting goals will be vital to achieving your dreams. Write down a goal time line, write a monthly goal plan, and keep track of how you spend your daily time. Be realistic about your goals as well. Don't plan to write a novel in one weekend. Set realistic goals, work hard, and be patient! Achieving your dreams is a day to day task that will happen! Now it's up to you to do the hard work.

The Happy Fashions of Petro Zillia

If you're on the inside track of LA fashion, then you already know that Petro Zillia is loved. Madonna, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears all sound the next issue of your favorite tabloid, but these ladies have been in on Zillia style for years. Here's a quick visual index of her designs & style. Not matter who  is wearing these clothes, they are simply adorable, colorful, and very LA.

Yes, the jacket that might be more famous than Martha's poncho...It's a $448 Petro Zillia

Wait, did Paris Hilton loan her jacket or vice versus? Hmm...In any case, Paris looked better in it.

"I'm so LA" by Petro Zillia Spring 2008 at The Mercedes-Benz LA Fashion Week

Paris Hilton with Petro Zillia designer, Nony Tochterman

PIGEONS: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird by Andrew D. Blechman

Pigeons have been worshipped as fertility goddesses and used as symbols of peace. Domesticated since the dawn of man, they've been used as crucial communicators in war by every major historical superpower from ancient Egypt to the United States and are credited with saving thousands of lives. Charles Darwin relied heavily upon pigeons to help formulate and support his theory of evolution. Yet, without just cause, they are reviled today as "rats of the sky." How did we come to misunderstand one of mankind's most helpful and steadfast companions?

Author Andrew D. Blechman traveled across the United States and Europe to meet with pigeon fanciers and pigeon haters in a quest to chronicle the pigeon's transformation from beloved friend to feathered outlaw. Pigeons captures a Brooklyn man's quest to win the Main Event (the pigeon world's equivalent of the Kentucky Derby), as well as a pigeon breeders convention dedicated to breeding the perfect bird. Blechman participates in a pigeon shoot where entrants pay $150 to shoot live pigeons; he tracks down Mike Tyson, the nation�s most famous pigeon lover, and spends time with Queen Elizabeth�s Royal Pigeon Handler in England; and he sheds light on a radical "pro-pigeon underground" in New York City. In Pigeons, Blechman tells for the first time the remarkable story behind this seemingly unremarkable bird.

Modern Girl Style loved this book! Blechman has made the fabulously unknown story of pigeons into an utterly hip, hilarious, and page turning book! If that's not enough to make you want to read about pigeons, why not listen to this guy who might be one of their biggest fans!

 

The Interview

1. What made you commit to writing a book about one of the most loved and hated birds today?

It all started with a tuna fish sandwich. I was at a corner bodega in Manhattan ordering lunch at the deli counter when the guy next to me starts telling me about his pigeons. He told me they were "thoroughbreds." That caught me attention. I had never heard of a pigeon described in such terms before. The next day I went out to his brother's place in Brooklyn and checked out the pigeons. They were indeed serious athletes and very impressive. I soon learned that pigeons have unparalleled athletic abilities and an unrivaled history. The more I learned, the more I came to admire the bird, and the more curious I became about the people whose lives revolve around it. I would never have thought that I would spend two years researching and writing about pigeons. But then again, who would have thunk that the Queen of England races pigeons?

2. Why has the reputation of pigeons been in decline for the last five decades? Is there any advice you can give to pigeon-haters that might change their perspective, or at least get them to appreciate pigeons?

Pigeons have been our loyal and beloved companions for nearly 10,000 years. They were worshiped as fertility goddesses in ancient Mesopotamia, and as recently as WW I and II, they were celebrated as heros. One millions pigeons served in the two wars and saved thousands of soldiers' lives by delivering critical messages through barrages of gunfire. And yet, not two decades later, people started to view the bird as an unsanitary pest-like creature. Mind you, this is the first time in human history that pigeons are viewed in a negative light. I believe it has something to do with an increasing obsession with hygiene, as well as the rise of the modern pest control industry which has spent millions of dollars demonizing the bird for business. My advice to those who hate pigeons is this: give them another chance. They're actually very gentle creatures. I suspect it's not the bird that most people have a problem with; it's the number of them. The trick to curbing over-population is simple: feed them less.

3. What authors have inspired your writing style?

I'm inspired by a lot of authors. I read both fiction and non-fiction. I come from a journalism background, so I really appreciate how journalists write as well. I try to make sure that nothing in my books is boring to read. I feel that my readers are my guests and that it is my duty to be a good host. Although I can't say that it has influenced my work, my favorite recent read is the same as many other readers': The Kite Runner.

4. What surprised you the most about researching the history of pigeons?

I was surprised by just how much history these birds have. I could never have imagined that pigeons played a roll at so many critical human events: a pigeon delivered the results of the first Olympics in 776 B.C.E, and 2,500 years later, it was a pigeon that brought word to London of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. I hadn't realized that Darwin actually depended on pigeons to support his theory of Evolution, or that the Reuters news empire was founded literally on the wings of pigeons.

5. What was it like attending a pigeon beauty contest? What are the beauty tips of making a pigeon look hot?

The concept of a pigeon beauty contest still makes me laugh to this day, and attending the "Grand Nationals" was definitely a highlight of my reporting for the book. But to the folks who participate in these contests, these events are serious. I met people who have spent decades trying to "perfect" a certain breed of pigeon's color or the way a beak looks. Breeding is a very complicated process and many of these men (most of them are men) are backyard geneticists of sorts. In an age of digi-everything, it's nice to know that true hobbyists still exist. The trick to making a pigeon look hot has nothing to do with skimpy bikinis, but rather with the attainment of near perfect ideals for a particular breed. I saw pigeons there that I never knew existed -- and they were, well, beautiful. I saw pigeons with giant turkey-like fantails, others with corkscrew curly feathers, and still others with sumptuous "upturned collars" worthy of Marlene Dietrich. Who knew?!

THORSTEN VAN ELTEN PIGEON LIGHT by Ed Carpenter

BONUS QUESTION!!!
I have to say that your book is brilliant! It was a wonderful, humorous, thought-provoking read about something utterly common-the pigeon! What have been some of the more interesting reactions that you’ve received from readers or journalists? Has anyone read your book & converted to loving pigeons?

I've gotten a lot of nice responses from readers. I'm most pleased with the correspondence from people who once hated the bird, but who now look at it in a different light. Most importantly, I've been working with PETA and the Humane Society to bring more humane pigeon control methods to the US (as well as stopping live pigeon shoots). The poisons and caustic gels used to "control" these gentle creatures is cruel and ineffective. Hopefully the book will help bring more attention to a horribly brutalized bird.

If after reading the book you want more, then check out Andrew's collection at Cafe Press! HIs stuff is completely fabulous & fun! In his own words...

Pigeon lovers unite! Show your "pigeon pride" and let people know you care about this extraordinary yet terribly persecuted little bird. Pigeon drawing by renowned illustrator R.O. Blechman. (We're not sure if we're related.) See more at http://www.roblechman.com Please keep in mind that 20% of all profits from the sale of this merchandise will be donated to humane pigeon control efforts. Learn more about the new book "Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird" and author Andrew Blechman at http://www.andrewblechman.com

Pigeons BBQ Apron!!! It's the perfect thing to wear while flipping food on the BBQ!

This is one timeless piece, the mug, that will make your co-workers jealous! That is until they buy one, too!

Get your kids excited about pigeons before the world warps them! The Pigeons Infant Bodysuit is totally adorable.

 

The Luxury of Blue

Emma Hack's amazing body paint art is enough to make you want to greet guests in the nude. But, alas, if you're having the boss over for dinner, you might want to think twice. Why not make a different kind of statement? From Candice Olson to informal DIY family rooms, blue makes a statement on it's own or it works as a wonderful accent. The choice is yours, of course. Just remember that a little bit of blue goes a long way. Overall, the color blue really does leave an everlasting impression of grace, style, and luxury.

 

Previous images by the one & only amazing television divine design goddess