The right stockings, tights, or hose, can make or break an outfit. If you need a little guidance, check out our guide here:

 http://sheknows.com/about/look/48492.htm

This year, I have major Halloween plans - a big event to attend (which all my local readers should come join me at–more on that soon!), awesome friends to share the night with, and, of course, costume plans.

The problem is, I’ve been given too many options. I don’t know what to wear!

My top three contenders:

I’ve narrowed it down to a Desperate Housewife, Pink Bunny, or Ally Capone (hello, cuteness!) - complete with appropriate wigs and headgear - all courtesy of Shirley of Hollywood. (Check out their sexy as hell Halloween duds at www.shirleyofhollywood.com/Products.htm (click on Halloween), www.flirtylingerie.com,
www.pamperedpassions.com/adult_costumes_516_ctg.html
www.3wishes.com or calling 877.354.7895.)

I need help deciding what to wear, and have thus, elected to turn to you. Tell me which costume to choose! And inspire me by telling me of your wildly original Halloween plans of past and present. Two winners will receive Shirley costumes of their very own, and runners up will each receive a wig, boa, and witches’ broom or sequin eye mask!

Shirley of Hollywood’s Top Five Tips on Halloween Costumes

1. Accessories! Like any outfit, it’s all about accessories. Shirley of Hollywood Halloween costumes come with all the special touches that make for a hauntingly memorable look. For instance, our Little Miss Muffet costume comes complete with a lace up dress, hanging spider, cotton hat cap, a ribbon tie choker and spoon, while our Roman Emperor costume comes with tunic, cape, breast plate, golden leaf crown, imitation leather ciraso and sword!

And you can add you own to finish your look - like long satin gloves, boas, bling, boots & vintage shoes, and fishnet or sheer hosiery.

2. Connection to Pop Culture. Costumes that connect to current pop culture and trends are always a hit, which is why Shirley of Hollywood’s Sexy Pirate and Captain Crook his and her pirate costumes are so hot this year, following on the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

This year, keep your eyes open for pirates, rock stars, Roman and Casino Royale looks, French Revolution, Desperate Housewives-inspired characters, and of course, the ever-popular cowboy and cowgirl ensembles.

3. Wear Wigs - Wigs are a great addition to any Halloween costume! They really help ignite the fantasy of taking on an alter ego for the night. Shirley of Hollywood offers a range of wigs in all colors and lengths.

Plus, a wig can be worn any time of year.

4. Try Couples Costumes - Shirley of Hollywood has great his and her costumes — from French Majesty and Miss Antoinette to Musketeers, Pirates, Queen of the Nile and Roman Emperor, Cop and Inmate and Man of the Mansion and Hippity Hop hot bunny to Cupid.

Dressing up as a couple can be just as much fun as the party!

5. Emphasize Comfort. Approachable textures, breathable fabrics, and body-clinging yet functioning materials will encourage party goers to live it up past midnight.

Please help me - and I will then help you! (Well, Shirley will, and I will take credit.) Deadline for entries is October 6th. And look forward to a SheKnows.com article with more tips on choosing your own hot.hot.hot Halloween article soon!

If you live in the NYC area, try to pick up a copy of HX Magazine this week!

The current issue contains a profile I wrote about Morgan @ Phoenix Rising Laser - the deity of all things laserrific (and the genius beyond my own permanently Brazilian girlie bits!).

Do you have a question for Morgan? He’s agreed to do a fun Q&A for Alytude readers, so send all your questions related to laser hair removal, photo rejuvenation, or any of his other listings on his menu of talents (read up on him more on his web site) - and he’ll answer them in a future post!

And an exciting incentive to get that question in: All question entrants are eligible to win prizes ranging from free services to huge discounts — after all, he is a giver (even though he takes all your hair).

Also check out Phoenix Rising’s month-long October special called “Touchy-Feely” where Morgan is automatically entering every person who purchases any cosmetic laser package to get a chance to win an iPod  Touch! 

 (Psst: We love him.)

Put down your tweezers, chill that wax, and roll up your thread. Don’t make another move until you’ve read through this text.

http://sheknows.com/about/look/48486.htm

My nasal membranes have declared a rebellion. Under an attack of congestion and fatigue, more than ever, I crave a vacation.

Of course, I’m not going to get one any time soon. But if I could escape - Hawaii would be a top contender…and if I can’t be there, I could at least have a little piece of it here!

My vacation-like salvation will come in the form of sweet grainy yumminess.

King’s Hawaiian bread may remind you of Portuguese bread - it’s soft, buttery and, of course, sweet. Hawaiian bread is also similar to breads like challah and brioche in that it is enriched with both egg and butter. However, this is sweeter, making it a great ingredient, especially, for breakfasts and desserts. King’s Hawaiian was the very first Hawaiian sweet bread, and is a proud part of the Hawaiian cultural heritage and Aloha spirit.

King’s Hawaiian® Strawberry French Toast

4 (1½ inch) slices King’s Hawaiian® Sweet Bread, cut in half

2 cups sliced strawberries

4 large eggs

½ cup milk

½ tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

¼ cup grated rind of orange, optional

Powdered sugar for garnish

Syrup for garnish

Cut each slice into thirds. Using serrated knife, cut a pocket in edge of each slice and fill with strawberries. Combine desired remaining ingredients. Quickly dip (do not soak) slices in egg mixture. Cook on hot buttered or oiled griddle until golden brown on both sides. Keep egg mixture well blended. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with additional strawberry slices. Serve immediately with warm syrup.

Makes 4 servings.

King’s Hawaiian is offering a loaf of King’s Hawaiian bread and the company’s exclusive recipe book to two readers each week during the month of October. You too can make fun recipes like the ones above!

To win, just visit the King’s Hawaiian web site and pick out your favorite recipe - and tell us how you would change it up and make it your own! (This is a hard one, there’s already lots of goodnes on there!)

Next week will start my special October Breast Cancer Awarenss series, which will feature cool pink products (and prizes).

As a preview though, my friend Sharon passed on info to me about the Pure Prevention campaign, and I think it’s something we should all check out.

Pure Prevention is a campaign dedicating to educating women about the environmental causes of breast cancer and empower them to live actively, healthy and well. Only 1 in 10 women who have breast cancer have a genetic history of the disease. What women put on and in their bodies can make a real difference. By learning the facts, we can make smart choices about the products we invest in and use every day.

The campaign has five easy, everyday principles for making pure choices to reduce your risk of breast cancer. The concepts include: Create a Healthy Home, Eat Smart, Choose Safe Cosmetics, Get Outside, and Join the Campaign to help spread the word about prevention.

I have pledged to help promote Pure Prevention by spreading the word here, and if you wish to as well, you can join the Pure Prevention online community by adding the campaign to your Facebook and Myspace sites.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7044876604 (you must be a Facebook member to access this page)

http://MySpace.com/pureprevention

Show your commitment to living healthy and pure by signing the Pure Prevention Pledge:

http://www.pureprevention.org/secure/pledge.php

Spread the pure with an ecard:

http://www.pureprevention.org/secure/ecards.php

Come back next week to start experiencing your hot (and meaningful, of course) pinkness!

Nothing says the spirit of the coming season like the flavors of fall. If you are getting ready for your special November bird, here’s some can’t-miss accessories. (Courtesy of our friends at Dunkin’ Donuts, who just launched their seasonal (and yummy!) Pumpkin Donut, Pumpkin Muffin, Pumpkin Spice Latte, and Vanilla Spice Coffee.)

Savory Apple and Onion Chutney for Poultry
Perfect with flavorful chicken breast or turkey and pumpkin stuffing, or omit the onions to serve with pumpkin French toast

  Ingredients:

  1 21 oz can apple pie filling or topping
  1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
  1/4 cup dried sweet cranberries
  1 small red onion (1/2 cup)
  1/4 tsp powdered ginger

  Procedure:

    1. In saute pan over low heat, cook onions in 1 oz olive oil till light
       brown, around 5 minutes
    2. Add apple pie filling, cranberries, ginger and vinegar
    3. Heat until warmed thru on low heat around 5 minutes
    4. Season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper
    5. Place in oven proof dish and keep warm until service.

  Yields 12 3 oz servings

Pumpkin Muffin Stuffing
This savory stuffing has a touch of sweetness to it and is perfect for any cool fall or winter evening. Make the rest of your accompaniments match the season too.

  Ingredients:

  1 small carrot (washed, peeled, diced)
  1 celery stalk (washed, diced)
  1 small white onion (peeled, diced)
  2 Tbsp fresh sage, fine diced
  1 tsp fresh thyme, fine chopped
  1 14 oz can vegetable broth or chicken broth
  1 8 oz bag panko bread crumbs
  2 Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Muffins
  1/4 tsp Allspice

  Procedure:

    1. On low heat in stockpot, heat carrot, celery, and onion with thyme
       and sage in 1 Tb olive oil and 2 Tbs unsalted butter.
    2. Cook until soft 4 minutes and add allspice, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp
       black pepper.
    3. Add broth and bring to simmer.
    4. Shut off heat and mix in crumbled muffins and bread crumbs
    5. Cool stuffing, and refrigerate until ready to stuff

Last night, I decided to return to my roots (shut up, I’m a natural blonde!), and for once forsake the glamour of the city for the comfort of hometown allegiance.

I spend a lot of my time loitering about in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. It is the home of some of my best friends, my favorite coffee haunt, the greatest of hidden sushi treasures…logic would suggest that there were a few impressive salons in its midst. It was time for me to find out.

A step into a vintage-era beauty parlor, Medusa Salon is all brightly painted walls and inviting homey furniture. The walls are covered with the work of local artists, and the patrons flocked in leopard robes. For weeks, I passed by this apparent color and cut oasis, intrigued, but not yet ready to make that first move and enter its doors.

Then I realized what were once my bangs were getting caught in my pearly whites and it was time to stop being a sissy.

At Medusa, I made an appointment with Heather for a cut and style. Heather commiserated about my fears - the need for a healthy, manageable (but fun) style, but the fear of losing length. She then got to snipping, and within a half hour I had my new look - chin-length with gently angled layers, but still long enough to have movement (and a pony tail - all a girl can really ask for).

I just may have to go back and add some color. (Non-leopard, that is.)

Medusa Salon

177 7th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: (718) 965-3999

Crack journalism at its finest.

Candid B&W webcam late-night sans-makeup in-PJs picture of my cute new (short!) hair cut!

Details to follow.

Did you know that Hawaii is the only state to prefer red lipstick above all other shades? Or how about California – could their blonde surfer girl image be a myth?

According to data collected from more than 700,000 Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants throughout the Unites States, each region of the nation has a distinct beauty personality reflected in the choices of cosmetic shades and delivery methods preferred.

Neutral New England

From enjoying clam chowder to sailing around the Cape, New Englanders have a unique style. When it comes to beauty, individuals from this colonial region like to keep it neutral. Laidback, “didn’t-try-too-hard” looks are preferred with pinks and beiges that blend with the wearer’s complexion and natural coloring are the norm.

Northeast Changing of the Shades

A model that characterizes the United States as a diverse land of opportunity, the Northeast’s beauty styles are as assorted as the types of people who reside there. Northeasterners celebrate their diversity by choosing looks and shades that highlight their individuality and personal beauty, opting for a different color on any given day, from jeweled tones and shimmering hues, to smoky shades and muted tints.

Sophisticated Shades in the South

With its gentleman and its belles, the sweetness of the South extends far beyond the personality of its inhabitants. However, the South also has a hint of attitude and spunkiness, especially with its contemporary looks and new sounds in country music. Southerners appear to gravitate toward rich chocolate shades and subtler coffees, indicating that these ladies take their beauty seriously but have a maturity and sophistication that has been ingested much deeper than the eye can see.

Metallic Midwest

Though one might expect Midwesterners to wear little makeup, they actually shine with rich hues and a distinct style. An area filled with natural wonders like mountains and fields, the Midwest bases its beauty on the manmade materials that are the building blocks of the region’s major cities rather than natural wonders. The face of the Midwest shimmers with sparkling metallics and dazzling frosted shades. Dustings of gold and silver reflect the fun yet serious nature of the Midwest.

Weightless West Coast

Westerners don’t let too much ruffle their feathers beyond a gentle Pacific breeze. The same is true for what Mary Kay’s data reveals about their beauty regimens – they like to keep it simple, while creating stunning, natural looks. Favorites in the West include sheer glosses, neutral pinks and highlighting whites and beiges.

Apart from the regional differences displayed throughout the nation and in the cities, several states’ preferences painted a unique cosmetic picture which set them apart from their surrounding neighbors:

• Camouflage Californians generally expected to flaunt an all-natural, subtle surfer girl palette of pinks, beiges and light browns, actually appear to display beauty practices that are quite the opposite. Opting for darker shades, Californians choose green eye shadows and black liquid eyeliner.
• Adorable Alaskans melt the ice with heartwarming hues of pinks and purples. These fun and flirty shades for eyes, lips and cheeks are preferred over other hues in Alaska.
• The Texas Royal Treatment proves that purple shades are not just the color of kings and queens.
• New Jerseyans choose black pencil eye liner two-to-one over black liquid eyeliner. The respectively brown and beige colors, “Hazelnut” and “Moonstone” are the top eye shadow picks, dispelling myths of overdone makeup.
• Trailblazing Tennesseeans prefer eyes with a twist! Retractable twist eyeliner appears to be the choice over liquid eyeliner by four-to-one in the home of country music.
• Not So Plain Nebraskans prefer to accent eyes with brighter pink shades. Bringing color to the cornfields, Nebraska ladies love to see pink.
• Red Hot Hawaiians pick bold reds and bright colors showing they are not afraid to be different and make a statement.