No matter what you decide to be for Halloween, your costume would likely benefit from makeup—but we're not talking about mascara and lipstick here! If you’re clueless about makeup but want to create a really realistic look for the holiday, these online tutorials will teach you everything you need to know about adding stitches, attaching faux eyelashes, or even transforming yourself into a gory zombie.

Zombie Makeup Tutorial [fairestsfavorites.blogspot.com]
A zombie is a classic Halloween costume that requires some serious makeup skills to perfect. If you want to look truly undead, this costume makeup tutorial will show you how to make your skin pale and add some killer wounds and gashes.

Mermaid [hgtv.com]
For something a bit prettier, this creative mermaid tutorial uses many of the items that you might already have in your makeup kit to transform you into an underwater mermaid. Textured scales along the cheekbones are the most important detail, but pearl accents and dramatic blue lips help to complete the look.

Fairy [popsugar.com]
Another great costume idea is an ethereal fairy, and this makeup tutorial makes the costume look truly realistic. Best of all, this will help you to create a look that’s a bit edgier than most.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/William Warby

Yoga has evolved into an obscure hobby into a full-fledged fitness movement, and for good reason. People are learning that focused, controlled stretching under the supervision of an instructor has incredible health benefits.

Whether you’re a yoga newbie or an experienced practitioner, you’ll find excellent classes at Austin’s Yoga Yoga. The studio here is a marvel of cleanliness and organization. Instead of signing in and worrying about billing, clients are given a magnetic card that they swipe with each class. Cards can be pre-loaded for certain numbers of classes and easily refilled. One thing that draws more serious practitioners is the studio's guest seminars by national teachers and yogis. If you’re looking to push yourself or learn some new tricks, consider attending one.

Prices are reasonable, but some popular classes can feel crowded. If you’re lacking supplies, note that Yoga Yoga sells yoga mats and clothing. Yoga Yoga has several locations around the area, so you’ll have no problem finding a studio near you.

Yoga Yoga
2167 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 380-9800
www.facebook.com/YogaYogaAustin
www.yelp.com/biz/yoga-yoga-austin-12
www.yogayoga.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Droid Gingerbread

Texas is known for many things, but barbecue is surely one of the most important. Rudy’s Country Store and barbecue restaurant is a standout spot in Austin’s booming restaurant scene, beloved for the way it merges a restaurant, general store, and even a gas station if you need to fuel up after dinner.

While the operation is quirky, Rudy’s food menu is one to be reckoned with. Half-pound racks of tender, juicy ribs, moist brisket, tangy potato salad, and sweet creamed corn keep regulars coming back again and again. Order at the counter and watch the skillful cooks slice your meat right in front of you, and then enjoy your meal over a cold soda or beer at one of the long, communal picnic tables either inside or out. Finish your meal with Rudy’s excellent banana pudding and you’ll leave feeling positively stuffed.

Rudy’s Country Store is open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends. On Sundays, the restaurant is open 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Rudy’s Country Store & Barbeque
11570 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 418-9898
www.rudysbbq.com/page/location/name/bbq-austin%20-%20360
www.yelp.com/biz/rudys-country-store-and-barbecue-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/erik forsberg