New House, New Room: Before

Hello there! This quick post is just a few photos of my new room. I haven't come close to finishing the set-up or organizing my closet, so this is just to show you guys what my new place looks like. I will do a room tour next weekend if I can, if not the week following it. It's fairly small and I can't paint it, so I'll have to deal with the yellow walls not matching anything in my room. And I present to you the BEFORE version of my new room, to be followed soon by an AFTER room and closet tour! =)

Movie: Thick as Thieves

Title: Thick as Thieves

Genre: Drama

Year Produced: 2010

Level of Education: College, Sophomore Year

Summary: A man's botched attempt to steal from the mob results in him taking a woman hostage with consequences he couldn't have anticipated.

Additional Notes: This video contains some swearing (use of the 'F' word, mostly) so if this offends you, please don't watch. I did some cinematography, was the boomer, and edited this time around.

JC Penney, ModCloth, TJ Maxx & Target Haul

Hello everyone! I just returned from some afternoon shopping with my dad. I initially went out to buy hangers because I needed them and ended up purchasing some clothes as well. The ModCloth purchase was for Christmas and I didn't want to post just one thing. The TJ Maxx purchase is from a few weeks ago but I had to have the dress altered so it fit me before I took pictures of it. It was 8 or so inches too large and I loved the dress too much to pass it up. So since we're on the topic of TJ Maxx, let's start with it. Here is the beautiful dress I bought:

Here is a close-up of the pattern:

Warning: My Room is a MESS

So I can't say that I'm an entirely neat and organized person. As much as I try to be, buying organizational items and neatening things up via uniformity, it seems I simply cannot be perfectly neat. Now, what I'm about to show you is my room the messiest it has ever been. I have clothes on hangers, jeans folded in a pile, bookshelves and bagged bedding thrown haphazardly around, hampers of clean pajamas on the ledge of my bed frame, and speaking of beds....mine isn't made. This is all because I've been  searching through all my belongings to find the most important items to take with me when I move out next month. I have a good portion packed, but that left behind the mess that is as follows:

Movie: 30 Things in My Room: Geek Edition

I've been obsessed the last few days with watching these "# Things in My Room" videos on YouTube, and decided to make one of my own (Geek edition, of course). So watch it and let me know what you think. I was thinking I might make more videos if I got enough responses and likes from you guys. The video is roughly a minute and a half long, so you'll speed right through it! The following is a list of the things shown in the video:

1. Blue Sparkly Knit Hat
2. Mario Boo Collectible Toy
3. Bolex 16mm Film Camera
4. Pokemon Trading Cards
5. Silver Bangle
6. Handmade Stuffed Rat Plushie
7. Dragon Hourglass
8. Chest of Secrets
9. Hello Kitty Calendar
10. Blue Dreamcatcher
11. Crocheted Mario Mushroom
12. Stamp Print I Carved
13. Vase
14. Kirby Plushie
15. Ocarina
16. Rainbow Knitted Hat
17. Hand Photograph
18. Painting I Did
19. Mario Bros. Bracelet
20. Sweet-Smelling Dried Flowers
21. Fahrenheit 451
22. Tripod
23. Baby Picture
24. CD Collection
25. Knitted Ludo Hat
26. Angel Figurine
27. 35mm Photography Camera
28. Troll Plushie
29. Penguin Plushie
30. Director's Clapboard

In Your Purse: Must Haves!

Hey everyone! So today I decided I would talk about things I think are essential to have in your purse. Let's face it, we all have a ton of crap in our purses we don't need (mine happens to be full of pointless Hello Kitty stuff I really like). So here is a short list of some things I believe everyone should carry in their purse.

1. Wallet. All the important stuff is inside: IDs, debit/credit cards, cash, checks, gift cards, business cards, and frequent buyer cards. 
2. Cell phone. In case of an emergency, your wallet may not always be enough. Props to Verizon for having the best coverage.
3. Nail file. This may not seem essential to some of you but if you're like me, your nails are long and they sometimes break when they get used too much. See "works at a computer all the time".
4. A book. Because you never know when you'll need to chuck it at somebody pass the time. Alternatively, if you aren't the reading type but you are the listening type, an iPod or Zune with audio books. Or...just plain music.
5. Keys. To your car, your house, to Candy Mountain. Don't want to get locked out of there...
6. A pen and scrap piece of paper. For car accidents, evil scheming, or giving your number to cute guys or girls.

And that covers it. Not too shabby, eh? For some people this may not cover it, but planners and other items aren't always essential to everyone. Oh, and don't forget a bi-fold compact mirror for when you need to go into super secret spy mode and peek around corners. 

Burlington Coat Factory Haul

Okay, so here is the late update of the Burlington Coat Factory purchases I made the other day. Let us begin with the shoes I bought. They are black suede and are wedges, which I adore. I'll have to buy some suede waterproofing spray so I can wear them this winter. They're simply adorable and were only $22.99!

What's In Store?

So I wanted to write a post about things I've been mulling over the last few weeks, ideas about what I'd like to post here for everyone to see. I keep seeing these room tours on YouTube and I feel like I should at the very least do a dorm tour, and then maybe later do a tour of my room at home. I also have a Burlington haul for you guys, which I'll post as soon as I find my camera. It isn't a particularly large haul, but man did I find some good stuff! I was thinking I might possibly start doing an outfit of the day post, once a week, or do a weekly post of a compilation of my favorite outfits of the week, and maybe include my least favorite outfit and ask for your input as to how I can change it for the better.

In other news, NaNoWriMo is going well, and this weekend I'm supposed to go to the mall with my friend so there could even be another haul post for you guys. For my birthday, I did receive the Love Kills Slowly perfume by Ed Hardy that I wanted. It smells heavenly! I've also been on a Hello Kitty kick lately so I might have to do a Hello Kitty wish list post, as well. Also, a friend of mine has been asking me to move in with her for a while now, so I might be moving out next semester sometime. I'll then have another room tour for you guys, but unfortunately I won't be able to paint the walls or anything, so I'll simply have to do my best to make it as much like home as possible. I go to look at the house--yes, HOUSE =)-- the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Expect plenty of updates before then.

I hope everyone is doing well! Talk to you all soon! =)

I Have Returned!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to say I'm sorry for taking such a long time to update. I know my previous update wasn't in the best of spirits but that's how I've been these past few weeks, not in the best of spirits. School has been busy and I had some personal problems to deal with, and in a few weeks I'm going to embark on a journey only the truly gifted can reach the end of. This journey is called NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. It takes place during the month of November and the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in only the month of November.

Yes, I know, I'm crazy, but if I can pull this off, I will achieve one of my personal goals, which is to finish a novel that I've begun. I have tons of stories lying around my computer and my father's computer, awaiting completion. This November I will write a brand new 50,000 words to a story idea I'm also using for my screenwriting class this semester and next semester in school. This will ensure a thorough tale, which I've entitled Lucidity.

My story is a dark fantasy about an artist who gets sucked into a war in the Greek Land of Dreams and must confront her tragic past in the face of a supernatural force threatening world destruction.

I created another blog which I plan to update daily and dedicate solely to NaNoWriMo, which can be found here. Any support you guys can give me would be much appreciated. Last year I didn't get any support and only reached 26,000 words. I'm hoping this year things will change. =)

One way you can help me is to send me letters, postcards, photos, post-its, or any other type of message you can think of (messages in bottles would be well-appreciated, too). Describe a dream you've had in a letter or send a photograph of your favorite hangout or a place you think is really cool. These letters and photographs will inspire me create one of the main cities in my story, set in the Greek Land of Dreams.

Please send them to:

Alyssa Ricigliano

460 Franklin St.

Buffalo, NY 14202

I know the dangers of posting my home address so just to let you know, this is an office address, not my home address. I pick up my mail and packages from this address so no worries about the dangers of posting my information on the internet. I don't live nearby this building, but I have my mail delivered there and then saved for a once-a-week pick-up. If you'd like to become pen pals, I'd give you my home and/or dorm address, but that's a request for a separate post. =)

One final thing before I leave you is in regards to my craft show two weekends ago, October 9th. I sold five items, an equivalent to $13, followed by an additional 2 sales the following week for a total of $9. I didn't break even with the cost of the show, but I'm going to try again at this weekend's show. Wish me luck! Take care, everyone!

Movie: The Final Word

Title: The Final Word

Genre: Drama/ Tragedy

Year Produced: 2010

Level of Education: College, Sophomore Year

Summary: A young woman left at the altar has one final conversation with her ex before leaving a video for her mother concerning her imminent suicide.

Additional Notes: This is a sad video, just a warning to you all. I wrote and edited this time around.

Fragrance I Want

Hello Ed Hardy for Women Eau de Parfum Spray. I would like you very much for my birthday. You cost $75 at Ulta when you're in a 3.4 ounce bottle and come with a free Ed Hardy tote bag and a free blue damask print weekender bag. Would you like to be my present? I'd very much like for you to be my present. Pretty please with cherries on top?

What's In My Bag?

Hi all! I hope you're doing well. So I've been meaning to do a "What's In Your Bag?" post for a while now, but never get around to doing it. My camera battery is seconds from death and I can't find the charger for the life of me. So here are some poor pictures of what is, in fact, inside my purse. Enjoy!

Dorm and School Supplies Shopping

I've been so excited since I found out who my roommate is, and so overwhelmed by the conclusion of my summer class and planning my work schedule around babysitting and a bajillion other situations and events, that I had to figure out when to go shopping for dorm and school supplies. I found time today and went with my father to WalMart, Dollar Tree, JoAnn's, and Target, and I decided to share my purchases with you guys who may have yet to go buy supplies for classes and dorms. Please keep in mind that I have yet to see what my dorm will look like so I kept my purchases to a minimum, getting only what I felt were the essentials. So, let's get started!

Amvets Discoveries!

So I embarked on an adventure to Amvets with my dad in search of display items for my upcoming craft shows. I made out quite well, finding not only a bunch of display items, but a ton of new crafting supplies! I found plastic canvas, a bag of new embroidery hoops, and a bag of multi-colored yarn skeins. Those will be put away into their respective homes. I discovered this amazing fabric, too! I'll hopefully have enough to use it as a tablecloth before I find something else to do with it.

Thrifty to Nifty: How To Make a Record Bowl

These record bowls are becoming more and more popular, so I decided I’d show you guys how to make a bunch of your own to use for, well, whatever you feel they can be used for. I’ll be selling most of mine for about three bucks and using the ones I don’t sell as displays for my goodies.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

A record

An oven-safe bowl (glass or metal)

A baking sheet