So this year for Halloween I decided to just conform and be the infamous Snooki from "Jersey Shore."  Yes, I know it was the most popular costume this year but people, I don't buy costumes in a bag, ok?  100% real, honest effort went into my Snooki costume and I have to admit, it was a pretty big hit among the West Hollywood crowd (and at the West Hollywood Halloween Block Party).  I mean, I think the test of a good costume is when people ask to take pictures with you...man, maybe I should panhandle down on Hollywood Blvd. with the randoms dressed as Michael Jackson and Spiderman, no?  We'll see.

"Jersey Girl" wig

Sunglasses: Steven Madden purchased from Marshall's for $9.99 (I hot glued the rhinestones on myself, purchased at Michael's)

Hoop Earrings from Forever21 (no longer available online)

Cross Necklace

Frederick's of Hollywood Exxtreme Cleavage Limited Edition Fall 2010 bra (only full figured sizes left online)

Black beach cover-up from Target (no longer available online)

Fuzzy Frog Slippers (which Snooki will wear in the 3rd Season)

Kiss Limited Edition Halloween Press-On Nails (no longer available online)

And now...for the makeup

To get that true "Jersey Shore" glow is no easy feat for a pale whitey like myself.  I started by applying my go-to self-tanner, XenTan followed by Sally Hansen's Salon Airbrush Legs in "Deep Glow," aka the darkest shade they make.  I have to say, I was a bit nervous about this product because it was either going to make or break my Snooki look.  Well I say it MADE it.  As I sprayed on the makeup, it was quite shocking to see how dark it was but being that I was trying to be the "Princess of Poughkeepsie," it was working for me.  I also didn't melt any off through out the night and not gonna lie...I'm definitely going to pick up a bottle of this (in a MUCH lighter shade) to spray on the next time I have to go to a wedding or any other big event.  It's good stuff and came right off in the shower with just a little water and shower gel.

As for my face, I dusted a little of Benefit's Hoola Bronzer onto my face for that extra tan since this bronzer is normally waaay too dark for my natural skin color.  For my eyes, I tried out the Hard Candy Eye Tattoos I'd been saving for just the right night- and they're purple leopard print to match my bra.  My lipstick is Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in "Indluge."

So it seems that Fashion's Night Out in NYC is all the rage this year.  Personally, I get a little overhwhelmed at events like this...but when I heard that Jersey Shore's very own Vinny Guadagnino will be making a cameo at C.O. Bigelow's event, I had to let my readers know.

Head down to the C.O. Bigelow store at 414 6th Avenue in New York City between 7 and 8 PM on September 10th for a little meet and greet with Vinny.  Now what does Vinny have to do with Fashion's Night Out and especially C.O. Bigelow, you ask?  Well, the reality star will be showcasing his grooming product essentials as well as his favorite products that he likes the ladies to wear.  Oh boy, start swooning now and don't forget your cameras.

So the gods have answered my prayers.  Yes, friends, a company had the brains to create Jersey Shore Halloween costumes.  I'll admit that I was thinking about possibly dressing up as JWoww because really, who doesn't want to essentially dress like a stripper on Halloween?  But now that I'm seeing the Snooki WIG for the first time, I might just change my mind.  I'm still laughing at the Pauly D wig, by the way.

Allure's Best of Beauty begins - Allure

Who was the cutest couple at the Kentucky Derby? - My Style

Sneak peak gossip from a New Jersey Housewife - E! online

A Jersey Shore soundtrack? - Perez Hilton

So I'm absolutely obsessed with MTV's Jersey Shore and I just got word that Jenni "JWoww" Farley gifted Too Faced's Tanning Bed in a Tube to all her friends that attended her birthday party this past weekend at Moon nightclub in Las Vegas.  Now, with the wonder lotion that adds an instant bronze glow with a gradual sunless tanner, JWoww's friends can get their GTL on with out the scary side effects that tanning beds cause.  Happy birthday, JWoww.

An interview with Robert Verdi - Beauty Sweet Spot

Nutella chocolate chip cookies recipe - Felicia Sullivan

THREE Jersey Shore castmates aren't Italian?! - USA Today

Some favorites from London Fashion Week - StyleCaster

So I was lucky enough to get invited to an a-mazing Golden Globes gifting lounge - THE Hospitality Suite by Live Loyal PR and EMC Bowery at the Pascal Mouawad Estate.  It was at a crazy amazing house in the Hollywood Hills and I had a great time.  Check out my full report on TheLuxurySpot.com.  And yes, that IS Angelina "the Kim Kardashian of Staten Island" in the photo with the girls of Jersey Shore.

So as an Italian East Coast native, I feel as though it is my duty to comment on the crazy insanity that is MTV's Jersey Shore.  Ah, where to even begin...first off, if you haven't already seen the show, please go to MTV.com immediately and watch the past 3 episodes.  Second of all, if you HAVE seen the show, you should immediately go to THIS link and watch Snooki's YouTube channel before she was "famous."  I think my personal favorite is "Snook took the night" where she fake raps along to some ghetto club song that involves the lyrics "hey, hey, hey, hey, hey I don't care what bitches say."  Right.

Anywho, in my opinion, makes this show so popular is the fact that most of the country hasn't ever seen, let along spoken to, an actual real, live guido.  I, on the other hand, grew up around them and am one with them in their natural habitat (New Jersey, Staten Island, parts of Westchester County, Long Island, tanning salons, Seaside, etc.).  I have fond memories from the one and only time I visited Seaside, NJ (aka SLEAZside)...it can really only be described in one word- entertaining.  Guidos live in their own little guido world where the threat of skin cancer doesn't exist and trucker hats are still cool.  Thinking about making a visit?  Run through my checklist and you'll be ready to "vibe" with all the juiced up meat heads and orange-skinned broads.  Good luck to you.

Step 1: Get your guido name and write it down...because once you're a guido, you're going to forget it

Step 2: Brush up on your Jersey Shore lingo

Step 3: Stock up on gigantic claw clips and start practicing your pouf (btw- is anyone else predicting that Snooki launches her own claw clip line?)

Xo,

Jamie aka "the Opportunity"

P.S- to all the Italians that are "offended" and leaving MTV death threats, I will say to you what my Neopolitan grandmother would say to you- "heeey, relax."  And to Domino's "pizza," seriously?