Doe: A Deer. A Female Deer, to be Specific. How to be A Deer for Halloween!

   Halloween is almost upon us! My favorite time of year. I adore the days of digging through boxes at yard sales, searching through clothing racks at thrift stores, and surfing online for the perfect costume. Piecing a look together is one of my favorite things to do. That is the best way to create an authentic costume without spending $123,756,945. This year I have my costume planned out already. However, my sister needed some help figuring out what she will be this spooky season. I believe we found the perfect disguise. It is easy, unique, and very pretty! Given that we found inspiration in a few photos online, we created it mainly on our own. We had a ball! 

How to be a Doe for Halloween:

After searching online for makeup and outfit ideas, see what you have at your home! Neutral colored clothing and makeup will work perfectly. Here is what we used for makeup:

(Excuse my slightly messy products)

(left to right)  Rimmel Natural Bronzer, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Natural, Camel colored face paint, Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation, Maybelline The Nudes eyeshadow palette, brown eyeliner, brown black mascara, concealer, Covergirl Natural Twinkle Blusher. 

(not pictured: makeup remover wipes and an unscented face wash for minimal irritation during makeup removal)

Use foundation, concealer, and powder of your normal color. This makeup look works for everyone! You do not have to have light coloring.

Applying Makeup:

Part 1: 

Clean face. Apply foundation, concealer, and powder as you normally would. Using powder brush, apply bronzer on forehead and cheekbone area. Apply light blush around apples of cheeks.

Part 2:

Now we start the eyebrow process! Using brown eyeliner, trace the shape of your brow. You want the form of the brow you create to be slightly larger than your actual eyebrow. Think Audrey Hepburn or Lily Collins. Once you have finished you need to fill brow completely. Take a look at Aimee's makeup in the photo below. You want to create the same line going from the bottom of the brow to the end of the nose as pictured. When you have everything the way you want you can then fill in the bottom of the nose. Please note that the look will look more like an actual deer if you do not come up too high on the nose. Use our photos, or whichever you like, for reference. If you mess up your brows or nose simply use makeup wipe to erase and correct.   

Using the same color eyeliner you used on the brows, apply on top and bottom of eyelids. At the inner corner of your eye you will need to make a point. This gives the eyes a more animal-esque look.  Now we start using eyeshadow! Pick the lightest, most luminescent color on your neutral-colored palette. Apply this color under the eyes and on the bridge of nose. Now select the darkest brown on your palette. Apply this to top eyelid. Blend completely. 

Part 3:

Now to the fun part! Paint! Use your camel colored paint (tan or white also work) to dot your cheeks and forehead. Evenly space them as well as keep them relatively the same size. Use any lip color you wish. We decided not to use lipstick but I believe a dark color would look great!

Give yourself a pat on the back. You've done the hardest part, my friend. If not, try, try again! 

Hair:

Since does do not have antlers we had to create a hairstyle that was incorporated into the costume somehow. We wanted the hair to look like ears, hence the love knots on top of Aimee's head. This is a very easy style to do that could go for any animal costume!

Step 1: Comb hair out.

Step 2: Part hair in the middle for even sections.

Step 3: Section off half your hair like you would a half pony tail, then half that and secure so you don't lose the two sections.

Step 4: Twist one piece until it coils or simply create a bun. Secure in place and do the same for the other side. 

It is important that you have the same amount of hair in each section. We don't want lopsided ears!

Outfit:

For our costume we used a brown jacket that zips to the chin, black leggings, and brown combat boots. Dark brown leggings may be better. It is up to you and what you can afford! If you already have black leggings go with those. You can use anything you already have in your closet as long as it is neutral colored. You know . . . because does aren't pink or green. You know that. Never mind ;)

Thank you for faithfully reading through the tutorial! I know I ramble but I hope the instructions were clear. If you have any further questions do not hesitate to click the 'Contact Me' tab. If you liked this post it would help me out a heap if you could subscribe to my blog. You will be updated when I write again! We can be blog buddies. It will be a grand old time. 

Stay tuned for more Halloween costume ideas!

Take care, deer. 

A Response to the Cinderella Backlash

      Since I was a child, Cinderella was always my favorite princess. I would watch the Disney movie in the early morning hours when my big brother was getting ready for school. I would have all day to dress in my favorite blue Cinderella gown and copy letters and numbers in my pre-k Cinderella workbook.

            The soft spot I have for Cinderella was ignited once again when I first saw the glittering glass slipper previewed on the movie screen. I could not wait for the new remake to come out. My plan was to see the movie on the opening day. Anything else was unfathomable.

            When this backlash started it broke my heart. How could anyone ridicule this movie when it had not even come out yet? I understand that positive body image is very important. I believe that unrealistic body standards should be put to rest. This is an age where we should toss perfect waistlines to the wind and be proud of what we look like. Nothing is more beautiful than being kind and courageous, which brings me to my next point.

            While watching Cinderella I experienced many different emotions. I cried, I laughed, and I dreamed. I felt inspired to be kinder. To be strong and show people love even when I do not get kindness in return. I want to have courage and face very difficult things even when I feel I am broken. This is what I took away from Cinderella. This is what I learned.

            The arguments against this movie are very deep. I understand why they would be brought up. However, if you have a negative mindset, if you do not want to take this movie seriously, then you will not see the good in it. The Prince is not who solved the problems in this movie. Ella is. She dealt with misery with grace for so many years. Her happy ending is not happy because she is made queen. Not because the Prince is her husband. Her marriage symbolizes her reward. Her feat. Her victory. Young Ella may seem like a pushover, but what I believe was meant to be seen is that she is empowering all women. When someone is bullying you, underestimating you, even hating you, you need to look deeper into the problem. What has this person gone through? How can you be the bigger person? This is what Ella was acting on. She saw her stepmother and stepsisters to be blind to see what is right; that is why she felt the need to show them love. How could you show anything to people who cannot fathom the bigger things in life than kindness? How would it benefit the situation to make it worse and reflect their immature mindset?

            This is why Cinderella is powerful. This is why Cinderella shows girls, women, children, all people to show kindness to our enemies. To rise up and have the courage to be a beautiful person who knows how to be peaceful and loving. She fought. She loved. She endured. She forgave. I love this story. I love what it says to the world. I hope many more people will see this fairytale as something to respect and will feel the way I do.
            

Reading

So . . .  it seems that in the last year or so, the hobby of reading has become very popular.

The thing is, it doesn't have to be. Reading isn't meant to be something you have to do to be cool! It's something people enjoy naturally. I like to think they either are born with the enjoyment of learning and eventually reading or they grow into it.

There are some people out there who just have a desire to read, and some who just don't. And that's okay.

I always say, there is no joy like reading. And to me, that's 100% true. There is no feeling like the one when you are curled up in a quiet place with a book (preferably paperback) cradled in your hands.

But, but, that doesn't mean YOU have to find reading enjoyable. Reading doesn't make you smart or cool or any better than anyone else. It can make you wiser, or give you new ideas, but you can find those elsewhere. Readers aren't the only people who can have these qualities!!

Reading is something that some people, like myself, just latch onto.

I have been reading since I was . . . well, learning to read. DUH. Anyway, books like Nancy Drew, American Girl, and Jane Eyre just infatuated me. I began to write myself, and I have ever since.

Reading and writing just comfort me. I can pretty much find any kind of story ever, and that's something you can't find with movies or whatever. I can imagine up characters that become my friends (which is a pretty sad thought, but hey) and read about new ones!

However, some people don't connect with this, AND THAT'S OKAY. YOU ARE NOT DUMB. YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE MOVIES YOU WANT AND READERS WILL NOT JUDGE YOU . . . YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE EVER READ A BOOK FOR ENJOYMENT EVER AND WE STILL WON'T CARE. NO ONE CARES. DO YOUR THANG BECAUSE GOD MADE YOU SPECIAL. DON'T TRY TO BE LIKE SOMEONE ELSE. Okay finished. . . . sorry.

Just because everyone's in a craze about being a "reader" and being a "fangirl" doesn't mean they are truly those things. Sure, you can start a popular series, finish it, and never pick up another book, then call yourself a "reader", but they are probably not.

Don't be intimidated by readers, we're nice. ;) I am sure there are readers out there who want to be good at other things like makeup or hair or whatever. Everyone always wants something they don't have. Don't be one of those people. Make your own choices. If you don't want to read, don't.

WARNING: To those who do not enjoy reading into the late hours of the night; DO NOT LIE ABOUT IT. Do not say "Reading is my favorite thing to do" just to make yourself look a certain way. If it's not your favorite thing to do, then don't say it is.

I only made this post because I happen to run a blog on instagram about reading and books, and everyone says they're dumb because they don't read, and when they do read, they're super slow. That's fine. You're not a reader THATS OKAY, BRAH.

I don't know how much sense this made, but I hope it resolved something for someone.

Much love xx

- Ellie

P.S. This all goes for the "internet kid" craze as well. :)

Liebster Award from Aimee

Thanks Aimee for tagging me.

1. How did you start blogging?
One of my best friends, Angela showed me her blogs. :)

2. What is something your followers don't know about you?
I suppose something that a lot of people don't know about me is that I am an archer. I love archery.

3. What is your favorite book or book series?
I know this is quite cliche, but this trilogy has moved me in such a positive way. The Hunger Games trilogy. So symbolic.

4. Who is your favorite superhero?
Batman. Hands down.

5. Who is your favorite villain?
I would have to say Loki and The Joker. Simply because they seem to have background stories.

6. If you could have three wishes what would they be?
To have great wisdom, to create something memorable, and to lead people in the right direction.

7. If you could spend the day with one Disney couple, who would they be?
Rapunzel and Eugene; cliche again, I know. Who wouldn't?? ;)

8. If you could be in any movie, what would you be in?
Any Star Wars film. What a legacy, truly.

9. Can you do any accents?
Maybe British. You'd have to ask a British person to confirm that though, teehee.

10. What is the most embarrassing thing you have done?
I can't really think of anything other than little things I have said in the past, but I do remember something that happened to me that was horrific (in my mind at the time). I was at the beach for my friend's birthday and they wanted to shop and flirt instead of enjoy the ocean. We live close enough to the sea that I gave in and went with the group of girls to the shops. They met a couple of boys at an ice cream store and immediately started flirting. I've never been big on silly romantics, and I guess the guys got that vibe from me because when they were giving out their number (not that I wanted anything to do with it) they left me out. They also called me "weird" and "ugly". I knew they were just silly, cocky, junior high boys, but honestly! Before we left the ocean-side they tripped me several times. Little did they know they were dealing with the future queen of books. ;)

11. Did you have fun doing this post? 
Sure did.

Hey, see ya.

- Ellie

Sunshine Tag (again)

Thank you to my cute sis Aimee over at Part of Me for tagging me.

I don't really do tags (because of the tagging at the end. I can never find friends over blogger that I communicate enough with) but I do the ones my sister tags me in cause . . . you know . . . it's polite to do stuff like that for your family.

On with the tag:

1. What is your favorite bible verse?

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline.

2. Would you say you would sacrifice your life for a stranger?

Whoah little darlin' . . . calm down. That escalated quickly.

It would completely depend on the situation and person. I mean, if it was a small infant whose stoller was about to tip off the edge of a cliff and the only way to save it was to run and shove it to safety but in the act you not being able to stop yourself and falling over to your fate *huge breath*, then yes. Probably. But then again I have so many plans and things going for me in life . . . this makes me feel like such a selfish person DON'T ASK QUESTIONS LIKE THESE GOSH. *rocks back and fourth questioning existence*

3. Given the chance to swim with dolphins, would you accept?

Yes. Just yes.

4. Are you more fascinated with the light or dark? Why?

If I ponder too long about the dark it creeps me out and if I ponder too long about the light I get too warm. Neither. it is what it is, thank you Jesus for both. What more can I say?

5. Can you speak a different language?

I am currently working on sign language.

6. Do you play an instrument?

I do. Piano. 11 years and going on 12.

7. Has the ocean ever filled your dreams?

Yep. Sooo many times. If you didn't know (Get with the program if you don't. Just kidding I love you) I am obsessed with the ocean and everything in it. It always has. I want to become a marine biologist.

8. Presuming you own one, how often is your journal put to use?

I have so many journals they're flowing out from under my bed. I try to keep one but then I get bored and decide I need to start fresh. I'll go out and buy another cool one only to stop a quarter way through again. I have so many unfinished stories and entities.

9. Why on earth (pun intended) would anyone want to rule to world?

You could have a pet shark and all the french fries you wanted.

10. What is your favorite hymn?

Unfortunately I don't know very many hymns and the only ones I have heard I cannot sit through. They have a million bajillion verses and I get stressed when singing them. I do like to listen to them once in a while however, but only in church when the congregation is singing. That, my friend, is beautiful.

Okayyyy, the tag time is up. That's all we have for today, folks. Tune in again sometime later and read my upcoming post, Good Ol' Fandoms . . . the sequel.

I'm not tagging anyone. It never works out. No . . just no.

- Ellie (P.S. I love your face)

Brave

Yes, you are at the right blog.

I've changed everything.

The title is different
The background is different.
The fonts are different.
The the colors are different.

I figured it was time for some change.

To refresh kinda? I don't know.

Let me know what you think of it all, please. :)

Instead of blogging about lots of things on a doll blog, i'll be writing lots of things on a "lots of things" blog. :)

In other words, this blog is just a big ball of wibbly wobbly whatever whichever blog. ;)

The title is Brave; located at the corner of Timid and Shy. ;)

Here is the old, "It's A Doll's World" header, for old time's sake.

Love you guys, and I just want to let you know that I truly appreciate you for being here through everything. 

Thanks :)

- Ellie

Who Am I (as a high schooler)?

I realized not too long ago that I made this blog in junior high. Wow has it been fun! My dolls got to be superstars of my own blog and I got to connect with a lot of girls like me. :)

Since then, however, I've changed a lot. I'm still the same girl I've always been, but of course things change as you age.

I've done a couple of these since the creation of this blog, but I wanted to make a post about me that was deeper than just my favorite movies and music.

So here ya go ;)

Who am I (as a high schooler)?:

My name is Ellie (of course you know that).

I'm 16.

Yes, I still like dolls.

 I am an awkward teenager who loves Jesus more than anything in the entire space of the universe and beyond. he gives me great joy and comfort, and I willingly and without shame worship Him. BABAM.

Here are the other qualities I possess (other summary of me):

I have a passionate love for films and the way my parents punish me is by taking away my books. You really can't take those away from me, however, so I am usually a good kid. ;) Really the only thing I am punished for now days is spending too much time on the internet. That's another thing about me, I find joy through the internet. My grades are my non-religion priority right now, and they're quite good, actually. I also have an obsession with the ocean and have ever since I can remember. My plan (that I have had since I was a little kid) is to be a Marine Biologist!

I have discovered a group of people over the internet just like me. They understand, they enjoy the same things I do and I am guessing the loves of their lives are fictional characters as well. They blog, they read, and they love the internet.

I measure out my time though, don't worry. I'm healthy. :)

List of things I do on the internet (all clean, calm yoselvesssss):

Youtube (vloggers and such)
Blogging
Instagram
Tumblr
Music (I have played the piano since I was five)

Okay i'll stop now.

Thank you :)

- Ellie