• If I had any money to bet you, dear reader, I’d say at least three of your friends have something related to the new Twilight movie posted within their Facebook status right now, (unless of course, you’re the guilty party!). Since vampires have existed (at least that’s how long it seems), Twilight fever has been sweeping the nation, and with the movie’s second installment New Moon out today, you can’t turn a corner without being forced to choose between Team Edward and Team Jacob. Twilight product mania is also bursting – from Pringle’s limited-edition ‘Salt and Vampire’ flavored chips, to the hand-painted Converses seen above, to The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook, which claims to “satisfy even the pickiest, puritan ‘vegetarian’ vampires.”
• If any of the previous products have trouble selling, perhaps their creators should look into hiring one of these advertising companies. Check out some of the craziest 3D billboards seen around the world.
• And since the season of overeating is upon us, why not top off this post with a rumination on the glory of cake?

So, ModLovers – fess up. What Twilight attire do you own?

• If you’ve looked at a calendar – or perhaps the terrified look on your coworker’s or classmate’s face – you know that today is Friday the 13th. The clinical term for fearing this day is paraskevidekatriaphobia. This word was coined in 1911 but not popularized until 1953. Not sure what your particular phobia is called? Try searching through this site.
• Mention the phrase, “Friday the 13th,” and many people think of the film franchise. This may then bring to mind a large, young man named Jason in a hockey mask stalking teenagers. But did you know that this trademark, masked version of the machete-wielding maniac didn’t show up until Part III of this horror series?
• If you’re like the other 17 to 21 million people in just the United States alone who suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, you may be planning on staying in today. If so, here is a list of fun things you can do in or around your home to entertain yourself.
• Why is it considered an unlucky day? Well, in numerology, 12 is considered the number of completeness, making the number 13, then, an irregular transgressor. And, historically, Fridays have been associated with everything from stock market crashes to Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s also said that the superstition is derived from a Norse myth in which it was believed that a coven of thirteen witches met each Friday to plot dastardly deeds for the following week. You can read more about Friday the 13th and other interesting, superstitious trivia here.
• Today marks 2009’s third Friday the 13th. This triple occurrence happens only once every eleven years!
• Finally, if you know someone who’s feeling a little skittish today, why not cheer them up with a fun Friday the 13th electronic greeting card to wish them good luck!

• Are you looking for creative inspiration? Check out the illustration section of art-dept.com to browse portfolios of some of the industry’s most intriguing and talented illustrators! If illustration isn’t your cup o’ tea, also featured on the site are professional photography portfolios (including advertising, architecture, etc.), styling, hair, makeup, production, and the list goes on! If you have work to do, be careful, you can easily spend hours browsing this site without noticing!
• There’s also a Fashion Illustration Group Pool on Flickr.com, where you can browse independent artist’s works, or even submit your own.
• Lastly, I’d been searching for an online vault for retro or vintage inspired fashion illustrations. I came across this Fashion Blog that features some, but other than purchasing the book, “100 Years of Fashion Illustration” by Cally Blackman which I had come across, does anyone have any good suggestions of a site or source for vintage or retro fashion illustration?

• Not every scare is spooky! Remember this oldie-but-goodie? This baby panda startles its mother in the most adorable way.
• How are you feeling today? Share your emotions and see what others are feeling on the stunning interactive database project We Feel Fine.
• We know money is hard to come by these days, but these robbers really couldn’t do better than using markers for masks? Really?
• Need more vintage in your life? Check out Grain Edit, which focuses on design work from or inspired by the 1950s – 1970s. The site is packed with retro books, brochures, posters, advertisements, furniture– you name it. And while we’re not one to play favorites, we just can’t get enough of this vintage children’s book.
• Get breakfast done right with this note-writing toaster by Sasha Tseng. This too-cool toaster lets you write on a built-in message board, which then burns the missive onto your bread!

What would you do with a messenger toaster? We’d probably spend our mornings doodling images of Winston onto our bread, but what about you?

Halloween is almost here, ModLovers! We know you’re feeling inspired by this year’s marvelous Modster Mash, but just in case you haven’t settled on the perfect Halloween costume just yet, we thought we’d add a few more suggestions to the mix…

• Anna Wintour: Whether you love to hate her, or hate to love her, you cannot deny that she is the epitome of elegance. We wanted to show you a video parody of Anna, but knew that if she caught us, we’d never work in fashion again. So, instead, get some style stimulation from the above tribute to the reigning Queen of Chic. And now, on to snagging her look for a couture costume.
• Step 1: Giant sunglasses. Wear them outside. Wear them inside. Wear your sunglasses at night (but do not sing that Corey Hart song, darling, because Anna never would do that).
• Step 2: Sport that fur like you mean it. Even if it’s a faux fur vest, you’ve gotta work it. Add a floral sheath. Anna seems to wear one virtually everywhere.
• Step 3: Do not, under any circumstances, smile. Anna is austere. Anna is fabulous. Anna is Vogue.
• Finito!

• UFO Balloon Boy – This one’s super simple!
• Step 1: Head to your local flower shop and pick up a giant silver Mylar balloon. If the big ones are out of stock, due to high demand, a bunch of small ones will work, too.
• Step 2: Don a crewneck tee and jeans.
• Step 3: Carry around the Wife Swap DVD set.
• Step 4: Bribe friends to act as your fame-hungry family.
• Voila!

• Where the Wild Things Are: The Spike Jonze movie has swept the nation up in fond childhood nostalgia and an incredible indie soundtrack. Why not dress up as a cute and cuddly creature?
• Step 1: Gather up all the faux fur you can – vests, pants, scraps of fabric, “borrow” the trim from you sister’s parka!
• Step 2: Sew, hot glue, or tape it all together! It only has to last for one night, after all.
• Now you are wonderful and wild, just like West Virginia, and the Wild Things.

Do you have any outrageous ideas for a fun and funny Halloween costume? We know you’re the most creative bunch out there, so please share your gems of genius with us!

• While the recent swine flu epidemic is nothing to take lightly, we fear that it maybe giving certain pigs an undeserved bad rap.  Take, for example,  Miss Piggy. This sassy sow never ceases to inspire us! Her unapologetic gumption, shameless attitude, and cute frog boyfriend are enough to make any human girl inordinately jealous. But to be a glamor icon on top of all that? Whoa. Piggy has remained on our fashion radar ever since her ABC debut on October 13, 1974 . In the words of a true diva, she says, “There’s no denying that moi has always had an impeccable sense of style.” Inspired by this season’s re-visiting of 80s fashion, this clip is from 1982. We hope it helps you make it through your last stretch of the work week!
• Don’t wear these heels out tonight!
• It’s happened. Our uber-fashionable, super-savvy first lady has been made into a bobble head. Thoughts?

• What could be better to get you in the mood for Happy Hour this Friday than a riveting rendition of T-Pain’s “Buy You a Drank”?
• Does your mom refuse to take that picture down off the mantle? You know the one where you’re four years old and you just happen to be sitting stark naked in the middle of the living room while her friends point and laugh? Well, at least no one’s posted it on the Internet…yet.
• PostSecret, the collection of anonymous secrets curated by Frank Warren, is out this week with a new book. But its theme on “Life, Death and God” is far too profound for a Friday afternoon. So here are some highlights from past collections that don’t make me want to curl up in a ball under my desk.
• On a serious note (if you can believe it), this week we lost the the amazing and prolific Irving Penn, who died Wednesday at the age of 92. Women’s Wear Daily shares a slide show of the Vogue photographer’s memorable work.
• Our friends at Jezebel weigh in on “The World’s Most Annoying Word” debate.

What do you think Modsters? What word drives you into a seething rage? Unless of course, you prefer to share that embarrassing picture that continues to haunt you…your choice!

• Laughter is always contagious, but it’s as infectious as he swine flu when it’s being spread by a group of adorable babies. These little gigglers are so hilarious, you won’t be able to keep from laughing yourself!
• Why have just a dog when you have have a Pandapoodle? Check out some of the craziest feats of grooming, and get inspired to make your Fido look fab!
• Tired or celebrities looking picture perfect? Then have a hand at anti-photo shopping some famous faces with this celebrity face warper.
• Warning: do not visit this site if you’re feeling hungry. TasteSpotter’s drool-worthy database of recipes and food photos will make even the greatest gourmand weak at the knees.
• Still bored? Try clicking the “randomlink” button on this all but arbitrary website.

• Who doesn’t love free cool art? Originally found on Apartment Therapy, this awesome map pictured above, along with many other great maps, can be downloaded for free from the U.S. Geological Survey Store. Details on how to access and download the maps can be found here. I can’t wait to print this one out and hang it in my bedroom and make some others into note cards!
• Want to take your vintage and bargain shopping to a whole new level ?  The Yard Sale Treasure map website utilizes Google Maps in conjunction with Craigslist to identify yard and estate sales in your area! Goodbye Pennysaver, hello amazing finds!
• And finally in “Putting Our City on the  Map News“ : As you probably know the G20 Summit is taking place here is Pittsburgh today. Things have been pretty intense here in the city the last few days. However, this video of the Flashmob Project’s Message of Peace dance project made us smile.

We had a fabulous 3 O’Clock Slump for you today, but Kanye West stole our space to tell you that Beyonce has one of the best 3 O’Clock slumps of all time!

September fools! But you do need to check out what the guys from techcrunch did to their website in a screen shot. With a photo and a little text mocking Mr. West, they created an alternate site where you could input any URL and the Kanye image would appear over top of your page! I set up ModCloth in this same manner and was going to share it with our ModLife blog readers for kicks, but come mid-day the entire site was taken down! It’s a mass Kanye-troversy! His managers must be working double time to cover up all of the bad media this past week’s VMA stint has caused him. My opinon? Maybe he has a secret crush on Beyonce and doesn’t know how to express his feelings? His management should tell him that’s not the Swift-est approach!