Thursday, June 28, 2018

13 Vegan Cookbooks for the Strange and Unusual


Spooky friends who are interested in vegan food often ask me about my favorite vegan cookbooks. I'm happy to say that there are several vegan cookbooks made for darklings and weirdos! This post is about vegan cookbooks with a darker aesthetic, ones that draw inspiration from rebel culture like punk rock, goth, and metal, along with horror movies and, of course, good food! While some of the selections below might not scream "spooky", I've chosen them based on their aesthetic as well as the background of the authors, several of which grew up in the punk, metal, goth, and/or alternative scenes. Others are novelty books, while still others I just really like and think others will enjoy as well.

Here are my picks for Vegan Cookbooks for the Strange and Unusual:

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Warner Bros. Joins Midsummer Scream 2018 Lineup with Horror Made Here Panel


More exciting news from Midsummer Scream as we are just a month away (eeeeek!!) from the Halloween and horror convention (if you want to know what to expect from the event, check out my past visits HEREHERE, and HERE!)! Today it was revealed that Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood event Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights will have a major panel presentation revealing more details of its rapidly-expanding haunt. I'm hoping with the upcoming release of The Nun they will have a maze based on her character, as well as other characters from The Conjuring universe. And how fun would it be to walk through an IT maze?! To find out more, check out the official press release below:

Monday, June 25, 2018

Sneak Peek: Halloween 2018 at Pier 1 Imports


Halloween is starting to pop-up in stores and online, and I couldn't be happier! In my opinion, it is never too early for some Halloween happiness. As usual, I'll be sharing my favorite Halloween finds right here. This time, I'll be sharing some sneak peeks at the online Halloween 2018 collection from Pier 1, which they have started to post on their site. Pier 1 usually has several solid Halloween decorations that go on my wish list, let's take a peek to see what caught my eye so far this year:

Friday, June 22, 2018

Halloween Bootique in Costa Mesa, CA


We are certainly lucky here in Southern California to have an abundance of year-round Halloween stores, from Halloween Club in La Mirada to Halloweentown in Burbank to Traditions in Canoga Park, plus many more! One of those is Halloween Bootique in Costa Mesa, California, located right here in Orange County. For some reason I had never checked it out, despite driving by and seeing the signs for a looong time. This changed this past weekend when I needed a little Halloween pick-me-up, and decided to pop-in while I was in the area. Check out photos from Halloween Bootique below:

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Halloween Hike to Pumpkin Rock in Norco, CA


Pumpkin Rock is a hidden gem in the Inland Empire region of Southern California that only takes a short hike to get to, but rewards you with the sheer joy of being in the presence of a huge jack-o-lantern as well as stunning views of Riverside and Norco. Not many people seem to know about it, so I wanted to share how to find this gourd-geous monument to Halloween spirit so you can visit as well!

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Check-In to the Notorious Cecil Hotel in LA - Guest Post on Spooky Little Halloween

The Cecil Hotel in DTLA
[image source]

Last year I shared the 5 Spookiest Haunts in Orange County on Spooky Little Halloween's blog as part of her Travel Tuesday summer series. This series is really neat since it features many different Halloween bloggers sharing haunted locations from all over and it is just in time for summer vacations! I participated again this year, and my contribution to Spooky Little Halloween's Travel Tuesday features another dreadful destination right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

This time, I'm inviting you to check into the old Cecil Hotel (which is undergoing renovations and has been re-branded to Stay-on-Main to distance itself from its violent reputation). This historic landmark has a dark history filled with grisly murders, tragic deaths, and macabre mysteries, and is said to be one of the most haunted locations in LA. It has hosted serial killers (yes, plural), been the location of one of LA's most disturbing deaths in recent memory, and the dark halls have even inspired a season of American Horror Story. Check out an excerpt from my article on the Cecil below, then head to Spooky Little Halloween to read the rest of the article:

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Midsummer Scream Reveals Bigger, Scarier Hall of Shadows

Entrance to the Hall of Shadows at Midsummer Scream 2017

Midsummer Scream is a little over a month away and I am getting so excited! For those that don't know what Midsummer Scream is, it is a Halloween and horror convention held in Long Beach, California the last weekend in July. It kicks off Halloween season here in Southern California and is an event I always look forward to (you can see my past visits to the event HERE, HERE, and HERE!).

Today, Midsummer Scream revealed more information on their Hall of Shadows, their haunt space that features haunt attractions and monsters to thrill guests! This year, the Hall of Shadows will be expanding and promises to be bigger and scarier than ever before! For more info, check out the official press release below:

Monday, June 18, 2018

Vegan Vampire Merch for Spooky Vegans


There are a ton of vegan companies that sell stickers and t-shirts, but how many spooky vegan companies can you think of? Probably not many, which is why I was delighted to discover Vegan Vampire Inc., a company that makes vegan merch for the strange and unusual! Their entire line of vegan apparel and accessories is for those that enjoy the dark side and it draws inspiration from goth, punk, and metal music, horror films, monsters, and all things creepy and kooky!

Friday, June 15, 2018

Oddities Flea Market Coming To LA This September


I have always swooned over pictures and videos of the Oddities Flea Market, a macabre marketplace held several times a year in Brooklyn, New York that features strange and unusual offerings for dark hearts from some amazing artists and vendors. I am ecstatic to share that the Oddities Flea Market is coming to Los Angeles this upcoming autumn!

The Oddities Flea Market will be coming to the Globe Theater on Saturday, September 29th, 2018 where three floors will be filled with purveyors of oddities from medical history ephemera to anatomical curiosities/specimens to taxidermy to home decor to jewelry to dark art and so much more! Find out more below...

Halloween 2018 Decor: At Home Stores


Ok, so there are no At Home stores anywhere near me (and none in all of California - I think the closest one might be in Nevada), so I am dying over reports that they have started stocking their shelves with Halloween 2018 merch! I have been oogling my spooky fiend's Instagram pages and their Halloween hunting trips to At Home stores. They've hit the Halloween jackpot and I've been swooning over some of the eerie items they are discovering at At Home.

I checked At Home's website, and while you can't buy their products online, you can still gaze longingly at some of their Halloween items. I've posted At Home's Halloween decor from their website that caught my eye below:

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Returns September 27th - Tickets Available Now


The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor is one of my favorite haunts here in SoCal! My first time there was just last year, but even after just one visit I couldn't wait to return! And now I only have a few more months to wait, as it will return to the infamously haunted ship (I got to explore the ship's most haunted rooms - check them out here!) on September 27th, 2018.

Read on for the official press release, which includes info on how to purchase tickets now and when all the scares will be announced:

Happy Father's Slay: 15 Scariest Horror Movie Dads


Father's Day is this Sunday, and what better way to celebrate than to take a look at some of the most terrifying fathers from horror films! I did this last month for the scariest moms from horror movies for Mother's Day and now it is time to take a look at the worst dads in horror! Please note that there may be spoilers below that give away key plot points, so consider yourself warned...

Check out my list of the 15 Scariest Horror Movie Dads below:

Monday, June 11, 2018

Spooky Summer: Goth Lemonade To Quench The Darkest Thirsts


Goth lemonade, made with activated charcoal, is an eerily easy way to spook up your summer, whether you make a refreshing glass for yourself or an entire pitcher to serve at your next goth pool party (see other goth essentials for summer HERE). It is the perfect drink to make on hot, lazy summer days and has the added bonus of matching your clothes...and soul! No to mention it is an eerily impressive beverage that photographs wonderfully! Besides serving this in summer, it would also work just as well for Halloween. Check out the quick and easy recipe below.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

The Spooky Vegan Shop Now Open On Amazon


Do you ever wonder what kind of things I shop for on Amazon? Do you like discovering new products that I personally recommend? Looking for that spooky something to get yourself or that special someone? Are you interested in what cruelty-free and vegan products I use daily? Wanna check out my favorite vegan snacks? Have you ever wished to get your hands on the black nail polish I use or get a peek at what movies and books I'm into?

Well, fiends, lucky for you I've curated a spooky shop on Amazon full of product recommendations so you can find all of these eerie items collected for you in one place! I thought this would be a fun way to show off some of my favorite things and show you what items I use regularly (for example, what hair dye or face wash I use, which I get asked about a lot!). Also, when you purchase items via my Amazon shop you are helping me earn referral fees, which go toward keeping this blog running, especially since I do not use ads, only Amazon affiliate links.

So take a look at my spooky shop, filled with treats like Halloween decor, horror movies, books, accessories, cruelty-free and vegan beauty/makeup/skin care products, and even some of my favorite vegan snacks and food!! You just might find some must-haves or new favorites! I'll be updating the spooky shop regularly with new and old favorites, so check back often!

Visit The Spooky Vegan Shop on Amazon!

Stay spooky!

Monday, June 4, 2018

Spooky Summer: 20 Swimsuits for Darklings


I cannot believe it is already June! I don't know where the first half of the year went, but the days are getting hotter and soon we will be in the wicked throes of temperatures that soar above 80 degrees (my preferred temperature is around 65 degrees at the max). While I generally like to remain indoors during the summer, there is something about this year that actually has me looking forward to long, languid days spent lounging near a pool, beach, or other body of water - in a killer swimsuit perfect for darklings, of course.

Lucky for you, I've scoured my favorite online haunts and scoped out their swimsuit collections for spooky swimsuits, from Halloween-inspired prints to vintage-styled black swimsuits. I've found 20 swimsuits in various cuts, styles, and prints that are just perfect for those of us that have gothic inclinations. The bathing suits I chose all have a certain dark flair and I am certain you will find something to adore for summer below:

Friday, June 1, 2018

Spooky Summer: Eerie Items For A Goth Pool Party


Summer is basically here and though I'm not usually a fan of this season, I'm trying to make the best of it this year. That means putting a goth spin on traditional summer activities, like pool parties or beach visits, because you can maintain and show off your darkling style even in the dreadful heat. I have been preparing for the hot weather and sunny days by browsing for goth summer products, from swimsuits to pool floats to beach towels to flip flops to party accessories...and want to share my fiendish finds with you, so you can make your next pool party (or backyard barbecue, or beach outing, or lake retreat, etc.) spooky!

Below you'll find eerie items you need to have a killer goth summer party:
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