Monday, December 31, 2018

Wishing You A Scary Boo Year!


Who's ready for 2019?! I am bidding farewell to 2018 and looking forward to a scary boo year in 2019. Before welcoming in the new year, I wanted to reflect a bit on 2018, if you would be so kind to indulge me in some recollections.

2018 was a whirlwind of activity for me. It was my busiest Halloween season yet, and I got to attend so many incredible haunts, conventions, and events. 2018 saw some of my best posts, which were a blast to write, and I'm so happy they were well-received (I had my highest readership ever thanks to you ghouls and boils!!). Not only that, but I also had the pleasure of guest posting on several blogs, a zine, and having a monthly column published on a popular horror site.

The year was not without its heartbreaks, though. I suffered a devastating loss when my Nonna passed away as well as going through various personal struggles. I don't delve into too much personal stuff here, but it was a hard time, as I'm sure you can imagine. It was a year of highs and lows, which everyone can relate to, because that is life, right? You gotta take the good with the bad.

During the end of the year, I like to focus on the positive and reflect on what brought me joy in 2018. I wanted to share a few of these favorite things from 2018 with you, dear readers, which included:

Friday, December 21, 2018

10 Things I'm Loving This December


Despite how fast Christmas is bearing down on us, I have to say I am really enjoying this month. I am staying put over the holidays, so it hasn't been as crazy as it usually would be and I'm so happy I don't have to travel. It means I get to do one of my favorite things - hole up at home! I've been hunkering down, writing, watching tons of movies and TV, reading, and just enjoying the spirit of the holidays. This month, I've also seen some recent projects come to fruition, which I'm pretty proud of.

I'm so glad I've been able to finish the year out on a high note. And as I do every month on these "ten things" posts, I'll be sharing some of my favorite things I experienced this December. This month, this includes the 13 days of Creepmas, a festive new perfume, oodles of holiday movies, some dark folklore, vegan sugar cookies, and more!

See my 10 Things I'm Loving This December below:

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Watch Now on Netflix: Delirium (2018)


I haven't done a Netflix recommendation post in months, partly because they have had so much good content recently it's hard to keep up, but also since I've been busy with Halloween, then Hallowvember, then Thanksgiving, and now Creepmas. However, I just watched Delirium, the 2018 Netflix film starring Topher Grace and Patricia Clarkson, and I just had to share this title as I really enjoyed it.

This film has been languishing in my Netflix queue for months and months, but I finally watched it the other night and was surprised at how good it was! I haven't heard much about this film, which is a real shame since it isn't getting the attention it deserves.

Monday, December 17, 2018

27 Must-Have Vegan Holiday Finds at Trader Joe’s


Trader Joe's has so many festively fun vegan holiday items this year, including new ones as well as returning favorites! Each year Trader Joe's unveils more and more vegan products, and I always look forward to seeing what treats they bring us during the holidays. Plus, many of Trader Joe's holiday items make great gifts or fun foodie stocking stuffers, so keep that it mind next time you're browsing the aisles of your local Trader Joe's.

I spent my grocery trip to Trader Joe's this past weekend scouting out all the new and returning vegan holiday products, and wanted to share my finds with you! Please note, all of these items are from Trader Joe's stores located in Orange County, California, so stock and prices may vary by region. Many of these items are seasonal and only available for a limited time, so be sure to grab them while you can!

Below find my 27 Must-Have Vegan Holiday Finds From Trader Joe's:

Thursday, December 13, 2018

13 Days of Holiday Horror Movies


Can you believe Christmas is just 13 days away?! Eeeeek! I can't believe it is nearly here, and I can't wait to spend the holiday relaxing and enjoying some time off. During October, I sometimes do a countdown called 31 Days of Halloween Movies (check it out HERE), where I watch a Halloween-themed movie every day of October, so I thought it would be fun to do the same kind of countdown for December and invite you to play along as well!

Of course, instead of Halloween movies we will be watching Christmas horror movies! There are a lot to choose from, so I picked some old and new favorites to get us into the holly jolly horrordays spirit! Links go to Amazon to purchase the films and I've also noted if and where they are available to stream.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Creepy Calendars for 2019


I am one of those people that MUST have a physical wall calendar - I love writing out plans and seeing what is coming up without having to look at my phone. I guess this is probably old-school at this point, but I just love physical calendars! I never got into planners, but with calendars I am obsessed! I love picking out new ones every year, and of course I love the ones with a darker aesthetic or ones that align more with my tastes. This year, I've picked out calendars that vary from bats and cats to sacred sites to haunted places to cult films to moon magic to true crime to classic monsters to Gorey art and beyond - pretty much everything that could tickle fellow darklings' hearts!

Below you'll find 13 calendars I've chosen for 2019 - now I just need to narrow it down so I can pick a few for my own office walls! Let me know which ones are your favorites...

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

20 Spooky Stocking Stuffers Under $20


I don't know about you, but sometimes stocking stuffers are the hardest thing to shop for! I mean, it's hard to find smaller gifts that aren't just candy or snacks for your loved ones. Plus, stocking stuffers kinda get pushed off to the last minute and treated as an afterthought, with not much thought put into them.

This year, why not wow your favorite boils and ghouls with some creeptastic stocking stuffers?! I've found a bunch of small gifts that would be perfect and as an added bonus they are all under $20 so they don't break the bank! Plus, the ones I've selected below are all available on Amazon, ensuring they arrive before the holiday.

Below, shop for 20 Spooky Stocking Stuffers Under $20:

Monday, December 10, 2018

Dark Christmas Music for Creepmas


I don't usually like Christmas music, or at least not the awful stuff they pump into stores, but sometimes I get the urge for a little Christmas cheer, and when that happens I turn to my Christmas music list that is filled with goth, alternative, instrumental, and atmospheric songs that remind me of Christmas and the winter season.

I've been updating this goth Christmas playlist the past few years, and wanted to share this updated Spotify playlist with you all so you can have some creepy Christmas fear, too! You can access the playlist below:

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Christmas Horror Movies to Stream Right Now


If you are like me, you are looking for some ho-ho-horror films to get you through the saccharine muck that is clogging up all the streaming platforms right now. I like to have something festive on in the background to decorate, wrap presents, bake, or just enjoy a chilly night wrapped up in blankets on the couch, and it is so much easier to choose something on Shudder, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc. rather than going through my Blu-rays or DVDs (yes, I am really that lazy!).

With that in mind, I've been keeping an eye on all the Christmas-themed horror films on or coming to streaming platforms and I wanted to share the best of what is available. I've rounded up some of the best (errrrr, or at least somewhat entertaining) holiday horror films that are available to stream, organized by platform.

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Victorian Ghost Stories for Christmas


I simply love the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories around Christmas. There is something so wonderfully cozy about gathering with friends and family around a crackling fire on a dark winter night and telling terrifying tales to one another. In recent years there has even been a resurgence of this tradition, with people bringing back the chilling custom of sharing ghost stories around Christmastime.

Of course, I am all for this - the long, dark winter nights create an eerie atmosphere that is so well-suited for telling or reading ghost stories! It is definitely a tradition I want brought back, and there are lots of classic Victorian Christmas ghost stories available to resurrect this custom. There are also some newer spook stories that aren't from the Victorian era, but still honor the tradition of getting scared silly on Christmas Eve, so I've included them in my round-up below! Links will take you to each book's Amazon page, and some are available to read online now, so I've also included those links when applicable.

So find a comfy chair (preferably near a crackling fireplace), light some candles, brew yourself a hot cup of tea or coffee, make sure your doors and windows are locked tight, and settle in to welcome back the real spirits of Christmas in the book and story recommendations below:

Friday, December 7, 2018

10 Creepy Christmas Monsters That Aren't Krampus


While I love Krampus and am tickled that he has gained so much popularity here in the U.S. in the past few years, I think it is high time some of the other holiday monsters get the spotlight. In case you didn't know, there are many other creatures stirring in European folklore that are every bit as frightening as Krampus. Let's look at a few, shall we?

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Odd Ornaments for the Strange and Unusual


There is no reason why you can't trim your Christmas tree with eerie ornaments this holiday season! You can continue to show off your love of the macabre, horror movies, Halloween and all things spooky by buying some odd ornaments this Creepmas, and luckily I've picked out several for you to add to your holiday decor.

Check out a handful of odd and eerie ornaments for those that are strange and unusual below:

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

13 Krampus Gifts For Those On The Naughty List


Merry Krampusnacht to you ghouls and boils! Krampus has been around for centuries, but just seems to keep gaining in popularity here in the United States. If you're not familiar, Krampus, or the Christmas Devil, is a horned, cloven-footed monster that punishes naughty children on the night of December 5th, or Krampusnacht (Krampus Night). He is kinda the anti-Santa Claus, or more like Santa Claus' evil counterpart. He collects naughty children into his sack, then whips them as punishment.

The Christmas season is typically filled with sweetness and light, so I always welcome a figure that represents the darker side of the holiday. And I'm not the only one - lots of people have taken to Krampus and treat him as kind of the dark lord of the holidays. As a result, there are so many fun Krampus-themed gifts available, from toys to clothing to candles to books to decor and a whole lot more!

I've put together a list of 13 gifts to get yourself or your favorite Krampus-lover:

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Spooky Christmas Sweaters


Looking for some spooky Christmas sweaters for the horrordays? Nowadays it is so easy to find Christmas sweaters adorned with bats, skulls, skeletons, monsters, and your favorite horror characters! Every holiday season I love hunting for new Creepmas sweaters (I've found some incredible ones in past years - check them out here, here, here, here, and here!), and every year it seems we have more and more scary sweaters to choose from. I especially love the ones I found this year, some of which are gorgeously gothic and others that are just creepy-cozy.

Monday, December 3, 2018

20 Goth Gifts for Darklings


Let's face it, sometimes shopping for gothlings can be a difficult task, even if it is for yourself or someone you love. Luckily, I've scoured some of my favorite spooky shops and picked products that will delight the recipient. These items range from adornments to home decor to art to bath and body products and more! I've also made sure to include a wide range of prices, from small stocking-stuffers to more extravagant presents. As always, all items I've selected are vegan and cruelty-free.

Whether you are shopping for yourself or your significant other, check out the 20 eerie items below that are perfect for the strange and unusual.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

New Holiday Horror Movies to Unwrap This Season


There are so many Christmas horror movies already (see a few hereherehere, and here), but I always say the more the merrier! So I am ecstatic that we are getting four more holiday horrors this season. And they all look incredible, ranging in tone from a zombie musical to an anthology to kick-ass cosplayers fighting against Krampus to a fuzzy possession tale. A little something for everyone, right?!

Check out these 4 new holiday horrors to watch this Christmas season below:

Saturday, December 1, 2018

Season's Creepings: Wishing You A Scary Creepmas


Today marks the first day of Creepmas, an annual tradition where a group of like-minded bloggers infuse some much needed spooky spirit into the holiday season. I plan on sharing how I put a spooky spin on the horror-days, including ghoulish gift guides, delightfully dark decor, sharing scary stories, and so much more. It's time for a spooky take-back of the holidays to make them the Hallowdays!

I've been participating in Creepmas since 2011 (!!), and as I do every year I wanted to kick off the 13 Days of Creepmas with listing some of my favorite posts from Creepmas' past! Check them out below:

Friday, November 30, 2018

Seasons Screamings Dark Holiday Market


Kick off the holiday season with some dark holiday shopping at Season's Screamings, a one-day only pop-up market presented by Midsummer Scream and Sweet! Hollywood, featuring lots of incredible vendors selling unique gifts, a special appearance by Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira!), Krampus photo-ops, and much more! The event will be held at Sweet! Hollywood at the Hollywood and Highland Shopping Center in Hollywood, California and promises to be a killer event where you can pick up ghoulish gifts for all those on your Creepmas list.

See more details on the event below:

Thursday, November 29, 2018

10 Things I'm Loving This November


Ah November, how I love and loathe you! Loathe since it signifies the end of Halloween, but love everything else about it, from the cooler, rainy weather to Thanksgiving feasts to the anticipation of the holiday season and the overall feeling of coziness.

This November, I have been indulging in a lot of relaxation after a busy October. I've been taking time for self-care and really allowing myself time to unwind. So, the ten things I'm loving this month (check out past months' lists HERE) reflect how this month I've been taking time for me and pampering myself a bit!

Here are 10 things I'm loving this November:

Monday, November 26, 2018

Haunted Mansion Documentary "Foolish Mortals" Available Now


The limited edition DVD of Foolish Mortals, a documentary by Creepy Kingdom focusing on the fan culture surrounding the Haunted Mansion, is available now for pre-order! Plus you can save $5 by using my discount code thespookyvegan when you order HERE!

Check out the teaser below:

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

4 Thanksgiving Horror Movies To Be Grateful For


One of my favorite things to do after enjoying an all-vegan Thanksgiving feast is put on a little holiday horror and spend the rest of the day on the couch letting the food digest. There aren't very many Thanksgiving-themed horror movies (and even fewer that are actually decent), but there are a few that are worth checking out.

4 Thanksgiving Horror Movies To Be Grateful For:

Monday, November 19, 2018

11 Eerie Articles of Clothing + Odd Accessories to Creep You Cozy This Winter


As the temperatures finally start to drop, I've been thinking a lot about comfy clothing and accessories that will creep me cozy the remainder of autumn and into winter. The standard autumn-colored or (eeeeek) Christmas-colored clothing just won't do, so I went on a search for some gorgeously gothic pieces of comfy clothing that will keep you looking fabulously strange and unusual through these cooler months.

Here are 11 eerie articles of clothing and other odd accessories that will creep you cozy this autumn and winter:

Friday, November 16, 2018

When Thanksgiving Was Like Halloween

Costumed kids at Thanksgiving circa 1910-1915 (Library of Congress)

Did you know that Thanksgiving in the United States used to look a lot more like Halloween, complete with children going door to door in costumes begging for treats and elaborate costume balls? Before Halloween was widely recognized and celebrated in the 1940s and 1950s in America, Thanksgiving served as a time for kids to dress up in costume and go trick or treating. Read more about this "early Halloween" below...

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

10 Things Getting Me Through Post-Halloween Blues


I am ecstatic that one of my favorite blogs, Unquiet Things, has featured me in their "Ten Things" series, where guests write about 10 things they are loving, can't live without, or some variation thereof. For my guest post, I thought I would feature 10 Things Getting Me Through the Post-Halloween Blues, since that PHD (post-Halloween depression) hit hard this year and seeking comfort is at the top of my list this November.

And another big thank you to Sarah Elizabeth of Unquiet Things for having me - I have been a long-time reader and admirer of her writing and style for quite some time, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to contribute to her blog! Please spend some time in her archives and peruse all her posts, you won't regret it.

Check out the 10 Things Getting Me Through the Post-Halloween Blues over on Unquiet Things!

Stay spooky, darklings, and let me know how you are coping with post-Halloween depression in the comments!

Monday, November 12, 2018

How to Have a Gothic Thanksgiving


You can easily incorporate your dark aesthetic into Thanksgiving the year, and even use some Halloween elements to spookify your Thanksgiving table. All you need are some key items, many of which you may already have on hand, to ensure your gothic vision is realized at your feast of gratitude this year.

See below for some simple tips on how to have a gorgeously gothic Thanksgiving this year:

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Next Year's Halloween Bucket List


Looking back at my completed bucket list from Halloween 2018, I did A LOT, far more than I ever thought possible (and dang proud of myself for completing so much)! After seeing how much I was able to squeeze in, I'm starting to think ambitious thoughts about next year's Halloween season! So, I thought I'd jot down some of my wish list items for next year's Halloween season and share them with you below:

Monday, November 5, 2018

Halloween Leftovers


Wow, Halloween season flew by this year! I think it was the best Halloween season yet, I did so many fun things! So many, in fact, that I wasn't able to share everything with you that I did in October - I still can't believe how much I was able to pack in this year. Now that we are a few days into November and those Halloween blues may be setting in, I wanted to take the opportunity to re-live some of the magic of October and share some of these fond remembrances of our favorite season.

I've done a Halloween leftovers post for several years running, and I really enjoy looking back at what I did this Halloween season - for me, it helps ease the Halloween blues and actually makes me excited for next Halloween (yes, I'm already scheming for next year!).

While Halloween is everyday, there is just something extra-special about October, a certain magic in the air that isn't present the other 11 months of the year. Here's hoping some of that magic carries you through to the next Halloween season (oh, and be sure to stick around here for doses of spooky goodness all year long!).

Take a look at my Halloween Leftovers below:

Thursday, November 1, 2018

10 Ways to Celebrate World Vegan Day


Happy World Vegan Day! November 1st marks the global celebration to recognize just how far veganism has come since the The Vegan Society was first founded in November 1944. World Vegan Day was founded by Louise Wallis in 1994 when she was Chair of The Vegan Society to commemorate 50 years of the vegan movement. Since then, veganism has grown immensely and November 1st is a day to acknowledge all the great work has been done as well as sharing veganism with others.

It has always been tough for me to celebrate World Vegan Day since it falls right after Halloween, but this year I wanted to bring attention to this day and do something to celebrate! And founder Wallis gave a great explanation in a recent interview as to why she chose this date for World Vegan Day: "Well, we knew that The Vegan Society was founded in November 1944, but we didn't know the exact date. So I suggested November 1, as this was easy to remember, and made sense culturally - with Halloween and Day of the Dead falling either side. It's a traditional time of year for feasting, celebrating, and for remembering forebearers, and those no longer with us - which, of course, includes animals." 

There are lots of ways to celebrate World Vegan Day, whether you are vegan or just vegan-curious. Check out 10 ways to celebrate today (and every day) below:

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Happy Halloween + 2018 Bucket List Completion


Happy Halloween, my spookies!! And, whoa, where did the terrifying time go this October? It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating October 1st, and here we are already at the end of the month, on the best day of the whole year!

I hope you have thoroughly enjoyed all the content I've been sharing with you here and on my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. This month has been an absolute whirlwind, packed to the ghoulish gills with such fun and festivities. However you celebrated this month, I hope you embraced the spooky spirit of the season and got Halloween happy!

Per my tradition, I'll be sharing with you what I was able to check off this season from my Halloween bucket list. I think this year set a record for most things I've packed into a Halloween season! I did sooooo much stuff and surprised myself with how much I was able to get done. Check out everything I completed from my bucket list (as well as a few items I didn't get to) below:

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Spooky Halloween Home Tour: My Boo-tiful Bedroom

My bed and my sweet prince Havoc

Happy Halloween Eve Eve, fiends! Earlier today I took you on a haunted home tour of my living (dead) room and creepy kitchen, and I also wanted to share my boo-tiful bedroom with you. This is where I dream at night of moonlit graveyards, friendly ghosts and monsters, autumn forests lit in reds, yellows, and oranges, misty pumpkin patches, and other delightful dreams. It is where I get ready every morning for the day ahead, put together my to-do lists, and write my blog posts. It is my serene space where I listen to music, relax, and gaze out the second-story window into the leaves of a tree. I love taking naps with my cat Havoc underneath the orange lights and soft pumpkin glow, with the window open and the wind rustling the leaves of the tree.

Enough with me babbling on, though, and onto the photos of my boo-tiful bedroom:

Spooky Halloween Home Tour: My Living (Dead) Room and Creepy Kitchen


Today, on the day before Halloween, I wanted to take you on a tour of my spooky home! It has been dressed up a bit for Halloween, but despite a few banners and extra decor, it looks like this all year-round. I love creeping it real all year, so why not leave up the decor that brings me happiness and joy?! I especially love leaving the lights up all year as they make it feel so cozy and warm! And of course I love collecting eerie artwork to adorn my walls.

You may remember I shared my living room with you all last year, so I thought I would start there since it is the focal point of my spooky home and what you see as soon as you enter through the front door. We have a soft black couch that I love to sink into after a long day. It is piled high with pillows and blankets for maximum comfort while watching horror movies. I have pumpkins arranged around the TV, twinkle lights strung up around the room, and pieces of art, candles, and small decorations on shelves to create my perfect spooky sanctuary.

Behind the couch there is a vintage church organ that belongs to Mister Spooky as well as the bookshelves that hold my movie collection and some of my favorite books. Beyond the living room is the kitchen, where I somehow manage to squeeze in my collection of Halloween mugs and tableware and cook our vegan meals.

Take a peek at both my spooky living room and kitchen below:

Monday, October 29, 2018

Spooky Vegan Featured on Vegan Street's Interview Series


I was incredibly honored that Marla Rose of Vegan Street asked me to be part of their vegan rock star interview series! I have admired Marla and her fiercely informative website for years, which covers hot vegan topics, product reviews, interviews, and more. I love how the website is inclusive of all vegans (and vegan-curious) and shares a wide variety of voices in the vegan community.

The Stay At Home Girlfriend Zine #29 - Halloween 2018 Edition


My friend Kendy P. (aka MissMuffCake) creates some incredible zines (several which I've had the pleasure of contributing to or featuring here, like Cemetery Gates volumes three and five and Catsploitation). I recently had the pleasure of contributing a Halloween playlist to her latest zine, The Stay At Home Girlfriend volume 29. I just received my copy and it is packed full of Halloween treats! Get a sneak peek below...

10 Things I'm Loving This October


I know I say this every year, but I can't believe how fast this month has gone by! Can you believe we are only a few days away from Halloween?! Ahhhhh, I sure can't! I thought I would wind down this month by taking a moment to acknowledge some of the things I really loved this October. I plan on making this a reoccurring monthly post where I can share things I'm grateful for, big or small. Plus, I love sharing items I'm currently obsessing over with you!

So here we go, here are 10 Things I'm Loving This October:

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Pageant of the Monsters Halloween Haunt


The Pageant of the Monsters returns to Laguna Beach only once every five years, and 2018 is one of the years it appears at the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts. It features a macabre marketplace, sinister sideshow, eerie arts and creepy crafts, and a haunted house walk-through the backstage of the theater. The event runs only four nights, on October 26th, 27th, 28th, and 31st. There are only two nights left of the event, and you can read more about my visit there below!

Friday, October 26, 2018

74 Horror Movies to Watch on Hulu This Halloween


If you're in the mood to watch something spooky this Halloween season but have seen everything on Netflix (if you need Netflix suggestions, I have you covered HERE), Hulu has a growing collection of horror films you should check out. From terrifying classics to horror comedies to gorefests to serial killer tales to indie titles to sci-fi and so much more, Hulu has definitely become another platform I am always checking for horror movies to watch!

The list below doesn't list every single horror movie on Hulu now, but rather these are hand-picked suggestions of movies I've enjoyed. Of course, some are better than others, but each of them have their charm.

Check out my recommendations of 74 titles on Hulu you can watch this Halloween season:

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Boney Island Halloween Display


In case you are not familiar with Boney Island, it was a home haunt located in a residential neighborhood in Los Angeles that brought wonder and joy Halloween fans of all ages with its mechanical skeletons and spooky displays. After almost two decades of spreading the spooky spirit and creating a community celebration, the home haunt had to unfortunately shut down due to staggering "safety" fees the city was demanding for traffic and crowd control.

This year, the haunt has been resurrected in Griffith Park right next to the Ghost Train attraction. Former Simpsons producer Rick Polizzi originally built Boney Island for his kids and neighborhood children and through the years it evolved into a massive attraction that drew thousands seeking some Halloween magic. In its new home in Griffith Park, it has more room to spread out and allow fun-loving Halloween fans a chance to enjoy its whimsy.

I never had a chance to visit its old location at Polizzi's residence, so I was heartbroken when I heard it was forced to close. However, when the attraction found a new home at Griffith Park (a Halloween miracle!), I was absolutely delighted that I would finally be able to experience Boney Island. I was given complimentary tickets to visit and share my thoughts on this Halloween attraction. Keep reading below for photos and my review of this Halloween display!

Halloween Parties from Movies I'm Dying to Attend


While watching a movie, do you ever stop and think, "I wish I could transport myself into that scene right now?" That's how I feel a lot of the time whenever I'm watching a Halloween-themed movie or a movie with a killer Halloween scene. There are a lot of Halloween movies that feature incredible Halloween party scenes, and those are the kinda places I would love to transport myself to if I had a chance.

I thought it would be fun to feature 13 Halloween parties from movies I'm dying to attend, check them out below:

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

10 Spooktacular Vegan Recipes For Halloween


I haven't had a chance to do that much cooking or baking this Halloween season, so I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my Halloween recipes from the past ten years (wow, I can't believe it's been 10 years since I started this blog!!). I am by no means a pro at baking or cooking, but I always love putting a spooky spin on recipes - it is so much more fun to eat Halloweenized food, am I right?!

Below you'll find some of my fave past recipes, from eerie appetizers to creepy cookies! All recipes are vegan and contain no animal ingredients, because no one wants that trick for Halloween.

10 Spooktacular Halloween Recipes to make this Halloween season:

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

13 Halloween TV Episodes to Watch Every October


I love revisiting some of my favorite Halloween TV episodes every October! My only problem is narrowing it down every year to a few favorites so I actually have time to watch them, haha! This year, I'm sticking with these 13 favorites, from a variety of TV genres like drama, horror, and (gasp!) comedy! I feel like whether you like the spooky stuff or not, these all offer some Halloween spirit for everyone!

And I realize there are about a bazillion other Halloween episodes I could have chosen, but these are the 13 I'm working through this year. If you have different ones you watch, please let me know in the comments, I want to know your favorites!

Here are 13 of my fave TV Halloween episodes I am re-watching this month in preparation for Halloween:

Friday, October 19, 2018

Boot Hill Home Haunt and Yard Display


Boot Hill is a home haunt and yard display in Irvine, California that is open select Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights leading up to Halloween. It is in its 19th year of keeping the Halloween spirit alive and is put together with spooky love every year by the homeowners. It features an Old-West theme, with the facade of a home and the front yard transformed into an Old West town and cemetery, and the ghost of Jedediah Smith roaming the ghoulish grounds!

70 Horror Movies to Watch on Netflix This Halloween


If you are looking for some spooky horror movies to watch on Netflix this Halloween, I have 70 recommendations for you this year! I've watched all the films listed below and personally enjoyed them, though they vary in tone from dark horror to slapstick humor to gore to ghost stories to sci-fi to psychological horror and beyond! With such a variety, there is something for everyone.

While I feel like Netflix' horror movie catalog is shrinking, they still have some really great titles that are worth a watch (or re-watch). Check out 70 horror movies you should watch on Netflix this Halloween below:

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Vegan Power Co. Halloween Pins Giveaway

Photo courtesy of Vegan Power Co.

UPDATE: CONTEST CLOSED! Thanks for all your entries, winner will be announced on the original Instagram giveaway post!

For all my fellow dark, spooky, and creepy vegans, these pins by Vegan Power Co. were made specifically for YOU! If you love saving animals as well as all things spooky, you now have a chance to win the sold-out "Creepy Vegan" enamel pin as well as the glow-in-the-dark "Ghost Taco" pin! I have partnered with Vegan Power Co. to give away these two limited edition Halloween pins to one lucky, U.S.-based winner!

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Celebrate "31 Days of Halloween" with Nancy Nightmare and the Wizard


Nancy Nightmare and the Wizard is a musical act influenced by Halloween, horror movies, and all things spooky! They recently contacted me to check out their music, and I pretty much instantly fell in love with their spooky songs and eerie aesthetic! Today I wanted to share the song that got me hooked on them, "31 Days of Halloween (A Halloween Carol)". Listen to what will surely become your next Halloween anthem that will be on repeat the rest of the month:

Scare Valley Farms Halloween Haunt and Haunted Hayride


I had the pleasure of being invited to attend Scare Valley Farms, a Halloween haunt and haunted hayride at Bear Valley Farms in the mountains of Big Bear, California. While I only live two hours from Big Bear I had never been up there before, so I was thrilled to finally make the trek to Big Bear and visit Scare Valley Farms this Halloween season! Check out my review of this Halloween haunt and haunted hayride and photos of the event below:

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Sprouts Farmers Market 2018 Pumpkin Products


The autumn foods are popping up all over right now (check out my pumpkin finds from Trader Joe's), and I found some pumpkin products at my local Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store a few weeks ago I'm just getting around to sharing with you (better late than never, right?!).

Disclaimer: I can't get enough pumpkin, and admit I'm a sucker for anything with "pumpkin" in the ingredients as long as it is free of animal ingredients. If someone slaps a pumpkin sticker on a label, I'm drawn to it faster than a trick or treater to a candy bowl! During this time of year, my eyes are immediately drawn to anything orange in the store and I scour shelves and end caps for any hidden autumn products.

When shopping at Sprouts Farmers Market (a grocery store chain here in SoCal) a few weeks ago, I was pleased to see that they had started putting out their pumpkin products! Not everything was out yet (I am waiting on that Daiya Pumpkin Cheezecake!!), but I did want to share what I did find with you since I know you love autumn foods as much as I do! Check out the pumpkin products and other autumn items Sprout's Farmers Market has on shelves now (note: all items shown are vegan; prices may vary by region):

Monday, October 15, 2018

Pumpkin Spice S'mores Cookies Recipe


This is one of my favorite cookie recipes to make this time of year! I came up with it last year after adding Dandies' Pumpkin Marshmallows to my pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookie recipe, which gave these a delicious flavor evocative of marshmallows roasted over a bonfire on a crisp fall night.

The cookies themselves are fluffy and cake-like, delectably sweet with a light hint of spice. The marshmallows give them an ooey-gooey consistency that makes them a perfect autumn treat. Whenever I've served them, they are always a huge hit with vegans and non-vegans alike! Today I'm happy to share the recipe with you below:

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Tee No Evil Halloween Treat T-Shirt Giveaway


CONTEST CLOSED: Winner announced on the original post on my Instagram!

I've been fan of Tee No Evil and their horror and Halloween designs ever since I scored their limited edition tee at the very first Midsummer Scream! They have absolutely stunning and original horror and Halloween tees, made of durable, thick, soft, high-quality cotton. Wearing one of their unique designs guarantees you'll stand out from the rest, for many seasons to come, and now you can enter to to win two of their incredible t-shirts!

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Coffee Scrub


My sister gave me a recipe for a DIY coffee scrub several years ago, and I love making it to this day! I use it in the shower and not only does it make my skin silky-smooth, but the coffee perks me up and I swear it firms up my behind! With pumpkin season upon us and pumpkin spice coffee so readily available, I had a lightbulb moment and thought to make a pumpkin spice coffee scrub based on my sister's recipe. All I did was replace regular ground coffee with pumpkin spice ground coffee and it came out incredible!

I love everything pumpkin spice, so I usually end up buying pumpkin spice coffee this time of year, despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of flavored coffee (the cute packaging always gets me!). With this recipe, I can use up the pumpkin spice coffee I buy and continue using it all year to make this recipe.

I love how this Pumpkin Spice Coffee Scrub smells and how it moisturizes and exfoliates my skin. Plus, this is such a quick and easy recipe, and you probably already have the ingredients on hand. Check out how to make your own Pumpkin Spice Coffee Scrub below:

Pageant of the MONSTERS Returns to Laguna Beach


Like I reported a few months ago, this year will see the return of the Pageant of the Monsters to Laguna Beach! The event is only held every five years, and features a terrifying twist on the traditional Pageant of the Masters. It will feature spooky scenes, macabre music, and many more tricks and treats for attendees! They have announced their full schedule full of tricks and treats, check it out via the official press release below:
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