10 Things I'm Loving This April

It's officially springtime here and temperatures are heating up, flowers are blooming, the rain has stopped, and summer is swiftly on the way (but that just means we are closer to Halloween season, right?!). This month has been a whirlwind of activity and seems to have gone by in a flash! So much good stuff happened that it is gonna be tough to consolidate it down to ten, but here we go!

As I've been doing on a monthly basis with these "ten things" posts, I'm sharing 10 items I'm loving this month. This practice encourages me to be grateful for the little (and big) things in my life and also give me a chance to share some cool things with you!

See the 10 Things I'm Loving This April below:

Macabre Non-Fiction Books for Darklings

I simply adore catching up on reading over the holidays - my family knows I love books, so I usually get a pretty good book haul for Christmas. Then for the next few weeks I usually spend my spare time on the couch curled up with one of the books I received. It's bliss!

This year, there are many new non-fiction releases that I have my eye on and that I've added to my Christmas wish list. The ones I've chosen below explore death culture and customs around the world, gorgeous cemeteries to visit before you die, grisly methods of Victorian surgery and medicine, historical charlatanism involving "cure-alls", and the popularity and downfall of spirit photography.

These nefarious non-fiction books are perfect for yourself or for that special someone who is into macabre history and death-positivity. Check out my non-fiction recommendations below for darklings!

Cemetery Gates Volume 5, Part 1: Cities in Dust

The whole end of December and all of January have been rather challenging for me, so I apologize for the absence. Besides all the usual holiday-craziness/traveling, my sweet cat Havoc got sick right before Christmas (and right before I was heading out of town). I took him to the emergency vet before leaving, and he seemed okay after getting checked out, but when I got back he still wasn't himself, so we've been going back and forth to the veterinarian (this is the first time he has ever been sick in 11 years!). He isn't quite out of the woods yet, but he seems better. And as if that wasn't stressful enough, I caught the nasty flu bug going around and have been sick for the past two weeks and haven't had energy to do much besides sleep, not to mention the awful state of the U.S. at the moment.

Anyways, it seems like I am on the mend (fingers crossed) and next week I'll find out if my dark prince Havoc is doing better. At least while I was sick I had the chance to catch up on some long-overdue reading, including Cemetery Gates Volume 5, a DIY zine created by the badass Kendy aka MissMuffCake! She releases many amazing zines (you can check them all out on Etsy!), and this one is filled with cemetery stories and photography. I've shared past issues of Cemetery Gates (check out Volume 1 and Volume 3!) and loved them, so I was stoked to dive into Volume 5!

Cemetery Gates Volume 3

I have a deep love and appreciation for cemeteries and graveyards. When traveling I make it a point to see if I'll be someplace with any cool cemeteries. I especially love old cemeteries with grandiose old tombstones and monuments, something you definitely don't see in the boring flat lawn cemeteries of Orange County.

However, since I don't travel much I tend to live vicariously through the cemetery photographs of others, and one person I can definitely count on for awesome cemetery pictures is MissMuffCake, who roams the historic cemeteries of Northern California snapping photographs. She started a self-published zine called Cemetery Gates to highlight her cemetery trips, and each issue revolves around a different theme. I talked about Volume 1 here, and have now received Volume 3 to my delight!

Halloween 2015 at Grandin Road

My Beloved Tombstone, Winged Lady Statue, and 

Eternal Rest Tombstone (each $139).

Grandin Road has finally revealed their 2015 Halloween collection online! You know, I've never bought anything directly from Grandin Road since they tend to be kinda pricey (and perhaps dishonest, more on that below), but I do have a few plates, serving dishes and various tableware from them that I managed to find online or used that are good quality.

However, something to keep in mind is that Grandin Road has a tarnished reputation in the Halloween haunt and artist community. It has been alleged that they steal designs based on other artists' work, replicate it, and call it their own. I've seen a few shocking examples of this (here is one), and its so disheartening when a big company pulls this kind of unacceptable behavior. No one will ever know for sure if they stole the designs outright or it was just an unhappy coincidence, but the similarities are a little too close for comfort. I mention this since it is something you might want to consider before forking over your money to them.

That said, they do have some nice things, and I'm especially covetous of the following:

Travelogue: Forests, Ferns, and Food on the Lost Coast (Part 1)

I found heaven on earth! This is the Fleener Creek Trailhead on the
 Lost Coast near Ferndale, CA.

Sigh...can I please go on vacation again? A few weeks ago I had the loveliest of road trips up to Northern California's Lost Coast with Mister Spooky. We left in the dead of night, zooming up the empty freeways while blasting Perturbator, Morrissey, Make Them Suffer, Chelsea Wolfe, Carpenter Brut, and Lorna Shore. Our first big stop (besides rest areas and gas fill-ups) was Oakland, where we had the pleasure of breakfasting at Timeless Coffee Roasters (so much good food I had to put it all in a separate post HERE!) and taking a short stroll through the historic Mountain View Cemetery.

Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, CA

Then we were back on the road, driving the 101 freeway up into the redwoods and to our final destination of Ferndale, California. I actually grew up in the "Victorian Village" (so called for all of the gorgeous Victorian homes) and my Nonna (Italian for grandma) still lives on the sprawling ranch where I spent my youth. My parents recently moved back up there to take care of her, so I was excited to see them all. Plus, the ranch is very remote (you have to take a small road from town, then it's another five miles up a dirt road to get there) and there is nothing for miles and miles but trees upon trees (in other words, heaven). I loved growing up there surrounded by nature, and I'm not sure why I ever wanted to leave. Nevertheless, I was pretty pleased to have the opportunity to visit and share this special place with Mister Spooky.

A Day at Death Salon Getty Villa: From Ancient Necropolis to LA's Metropolis

This past Sunday, April 26th, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Death Salon held at The Getty Villa in Malibu, California, whose broad focus was "From Ancient Necropolis to LA's Metropolis". The Death Salon is curated in part by The Order of the Good Death, who helps put on these events in different locations around the world. This time they partnered with J. Paul Getty Museum and The Getty Villa to bring Los Angeles a view of death that the ancient Etruscans, Romans, and Greeks held, plus touching on some local LA death-centric topics. But wait, you might be asking yourself...just what is a Death Salon? The Death Salon website explains, "In the spirit of the eighteenth-century salon – informal gatherings of intellectuals – Death Salon encourages conversations on mortality and mourning and their resonating effects on our culture and history."

My Sweet 666th Post: Death Artwork, Death Zines and the Upcoming Death Salon

This is my six-hundred sixty-sixth post, which I wanted to recognize it by, what else, talking about death! I've got some cool things to share, like rad death-inspired artwork, an awesome cemetery zine, and the epic Death Salon coming up! Check 'em all out below!

"Bad Vibes" pin set and "Hang in There" print by

Matt Darling

If you don't know the name Matt Darling, you should! He is one of my favorite new artists and I've been drooling over his work over on Instagram. Who can resist anxiety ghosts, scaredy cats, and old hags? Not me! I finally made my first purchases of his work - I bought his delightfully downbeat "Bad Vibes" pin set (spooks, black cats, skeletons skulk around gravestones etched with phrases like "Naw Man", "Can't Win, Don't Try", "Here Lies Who Cares", and my personal favorite "Whatevs 4-evs") as well as a "Hang in There" print. So pleased with everything! You can check out his artwork for sale on badvibes4lyfe.bigcartel.com!

The 3rd Annual Spook Show at the Halloween Club

Last month I attended the Halloween Club's 3rd Annual Spook Show in La Mirada, California. This was my first time attending this event, which brings together Halloween enthusiasts and Halloween/horror/gothic vendors, plus, a huge discount on merchandise from the Halloween Club (I believe they were offering 40% off). The vendors are all set up in the parking lot of the Halloween Club, and offer diverse wares such as art, jewelry, horror merchandise, purses, hair accessories, masks, toys, Halloween decor and props, gothic furniture, t-shirts, taxidermy, and much, much more! There are booths for those representing local haunts, attractions and conventions, people dressed in elaborate costumes, food trucks, a stage with music acts and host, and more fantastical fun! Plus, it is free to attend!

Let's Talk About Death, Baby!

Goodbye Darling headstone at St. Helena Cemetery, St. Helena, CA

Ok, this is going to be completely different than what I usually write about, and a topic that might become more of a mainstay here on the blog. "Let's talk about Death, baby! Let's talk about you and me!" Yes, I want to talk to you about great big ol' Death and how I've been awakened to finally accept death and openly discuss the subject in a positive light. I have been wanting to write on the subject for a while, and was finally spurned to action after finishing Caitlin Doughty’s mortician memoir Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory.  In this fantastic book, Doughty recounts her start in the death industry working in a crematorium and how this job led to her eye-opening journey to death acceptance. I have followed Caitlin’s delightful straight-talk about death from her YouTube series Ask a Mortician to her site The Order of the Good Death and now to her memoir. It is always a delight to read about her accounts in the death industry, and how she encourages death acceptance and death positivity instead of the closed-off view of death modern society currently suffers from.

Halloween 2014 Collection from Crate and Barrel

Written by Sarah E. Jahier

I've already posted about the Halloween 2014 collections from Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, but I just discovered that Crate and Barrel has their Halloween items posted, and I think they are my favorite out of these higher end stores! I wish I could buy everything in this collection, but for now I shall have to resign myself to drooling over their online store and trying to hold myself back from pressing the "add to cart" button. Le sigh.

Here is a taste of some of my favorites:

Black Branch Wreath ($49.95) -  Love this gorgeous wreath, but
I could probably make it on my own for much less.

31 Days of Halloween: Apple Festival in Julian, CA

Cute roadside pumpkin patch!

This past weekend I finally got to cross something off my bucket list...a trip to Julian, California to visit their world-famous apple orchards and attend their 100+ year-old apple festival! I have always wanted to visit Julian during the fall, when the colors on the leaves are changing, temperatures are cooler and the apples are ripe for picking!

Mister Spooky and I were actually visiting San Diego for a concert, and so did a little sight-seeing / food-eating there before heading up into the mountains to Julian. Our first stop on the way down was at Stone Brewing Company, a craft brewery that makes Arrogant Bastard and other awesome beers (that also happen to be vegan, huzzah!). When we arrived, we grabbed a few beers from their awesome bar and strolled their beautiful grounds. I got an Autumn Maple brew from The Bruery and sat in a shady spot overlooking their turtle pond - it was bliss! We then took a tour of their brewery where we learned all about their production and even had a beer tasting! So fun! For lunch, we dined at their restaurant since they had vegan options (huzzah again!)! I had the vegan tempeh shepard's pie and it was delicious!

I'm Back with Vacation Photos!

Hi boils and ghouls! I know, I know...long time no post. So much stuff to catch up on! I apologize for my absence...I was on vacation the first week of January (during which I had my birthday...yay!), but when I got back home I came down with the death flu that's going around and was pretty much out of commission for a week and a half. Then I had my belated birthday party to host and lots of work at my jobby-job to catch up on...leaving not much time for blogging!

I'm back now, and will definitely be posting more often in the coming weeks!

For my first post of the new year, I wanted to share some photos with you of my trip up to Northern California. Mister Spooky and I headed up there to visit my family and have a second Christmas. We headed up the 101 Highway early, early one rainy morning and got up to Napa County early afternoon. During our week stay we ate awesome food, hung out with my family, went on hikes, visited tons of old cemeteries and even did a day trip out to Bodega Bay.

Here are a few pics of the trip (if you follow me on Instagram - thespookyvegan - many of these may look familiar)!

Sunrise on the road

The beautiful tree (and presents) at my parent's house! They 

postponed Christmas so we could spend it together :)

 Cutest owl gift tag / wrapping paper from my sister

 Squeeeeeeee....got the Trick or Treat book!

Some more neat books I picked up on the trip.

 Creepy angel in a mausoleum - Tulocay Cemetery, Napa, CA

 Sunset in the cemetery - Tulocay Cemetery, Napa, CA

Gorgeous monument at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, CA 

Tulocay Cemetery, Napa, CA

Annnnnnd this is how I spent NYE...wearing my old dinosaur

costume from when I was a kid! RAWR!

 We went to the Petrified Forest near Calistoga, CA (I had lived in the 

area for years and had never been) and it was pretty cool!

This area had been excavated to uncover the massive petrified tree

to the left in the photo.

Awesome found graffiti at the Petrified Forest - Go Vegan!

 1800s Pioneer Cemetery at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

 1800s Pioneer Cemetery at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

On the trail at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

In honor of my birthday, I share with you this pic of me on my 2nd bday :)

 Finally made it to Ike's Place (Santa Rosa location)! Got their 

Vegan Ugly Owl sammie and OMG it was soooooooo delicious!

 Also tried this at Ike's...it was like drinking a peppermint stick! NOM!

Old abandoned Haunted House (or what's left of it) - somewhere

on the road to Bodega Bay

Old cemetery we found on the way to Bodega Bay

Had an amazing four-course fancy dinner at Jole in Calistoga, CA.

Jole isn't a vegan restaurant, but their chef created a custom vegan

four-course menu for me! It was so delicious!

 The view from this place was unreal! I could see all of the valley!

Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena, CA

 Old Pioneer Cemetery in Calistoga, CA 

I had never been to this cemetery, so I was excited I finally went! 

Lots of old, old tombstones that you could barely read anymore.

 Oh hi there! Me in the Old Pioneer Cemetery in Calistoga, CA

 Still my favorite grave...."Darling" in St. Helena Cemetery - 

St. Helena, CA

It was a much needed getaway for both me and Mister Spooky and I'm so glad I was able to see my family and just relax!

NOES Screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery this Saturday!

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Cinespia, the film series that screens movies at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery every summer, will be showing A Nightmare on Elm Street this Saturday, June 9th!

If you've never been, the experience is pretty darn awesome...you bring your own booze, your own picnic fixings, blankets, chairs and whatever else it takes to make you comfy in a cemetery! A DJ spins before the screening and the actual movie is projected on the mausoleum wall as you sit under the stars and amongst the headstones.

Cinespia shows only a few horror movies during the summer months and this is definitely one you won't want to miss! If more classic flicks are your style, they also show a lot of different genres throughout the summer.

For ticket and further event info visit Cinespia's website!

Below is Cinespia's teaser trailer for Saturday's event:

Suspiria at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery this Friday

For one of their last screenings this summer, Cinespia is showing Suspiria (one of my favorite films!) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on a special Friday screening September 16th!

For those that don't know, Cinespia puts on a fantastic screening series where they show films (of every genre, not just horror) almost every summer weekend at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It is an unforgettable experience watching films projected on a mausoleum wall with hundreds of other fans picnicking amongst the headstones! I unfortunately haven't made it to any screenings this summer (boo!), but it is definitely a must-do event if you are in Southern California!

Check out their official announcement below:

Suspiria - Directed by Dario Argento (1977, 98 mins)

gates 6:30 pm / movie 8:00 pm NEW TIME !!!
No reservation necessary
$10 donation tickets available at gate
Picnic Reservations and Parking Passes online
Parking $10

For one of Cinespia's last screenings we present the classic supernatural horror film by master Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. An American girl travels to a European dance academy, only to learn that it may be run by a coven of witches.

A stylish feast for the eyes, Suspiria is brimming with Italian design, phantasmagoric color, baroque sets and a wicked soundtrack by Goblin. The surreal visuals, special effects and '70s wardrobe is balanced by some genuinely scary suspense as the girl uncovers the secret of the ancient school.

Join us for one of the most creative and wild horror movies of the era....in the cemetery! No one under 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.

DJ Mahssa spins before and after the screening.

Bring blankets, drinks and picnic dinner for this screening below the stars.

For more info, check out the Cinespia site!

See Night of the Living Dead in a Cemetery!

How would you like to watch George A. Romero's classic zombie flick, Night of the Living Dead, in an actual cemetery?!?! Well, if you live in Southern California you'll get your chance tomorrow night, September 18th, 2010, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in L.A.!

Yup, that's right...the seminal zombie film will be projected on the big screen while revelers cozy up against headstones to watch the show...more aware than ever of the undead beneath their feet.

The fabulous Cinespia organization, which screens films all summer long at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, have decided to end the season with a bang (or is that moan?) with Night of the Living Dead being the last show of the season.

Cinespia's summer cemetery screenings are a real treat - people bring coolers packed with food and booze, lawn chairs, towels, blankets and camp out under the stars while a movie is projected on a huge mausoleum wall. It is definitely an experience ALL Southern California's should experience at least once!

If you decide to go and it's your first time, I've got a little advice for you. Traffic might be a little harry around the cemetery, so I recommend parking on one of the many side streets as opposed to waiting in your car for over an hour to park within the cemetery. Make sure you get there early...gates open at 6:30 PM but people will be lined up wayyyyy before that time. It definitely pays off to stand in line EARLY because most screenings sell out and you want to get a good seat (just make sure you bring sunblock!)! It's also helpful to bring a small flashlight so it's easier to find your way out of the cemetery once the film is over.

The fee is only $10 (and I believe part of it goes to preserving historic cemeteries like Hollywood Forever) and I guarantee this is an experience you don't want to miss!

For more info, check out Cinespia.org!

On Vacation...

Hello darlings...

I'm leaving for a vacation of sorts and will be visiting my grandma way up in Northern California in the teeny-tiny town of Ferndale. I spent most of my elementary school years and a few years of high school (where there were less than 50 students in my grade!) there, and I look forward to seeing how things have changed (or remained the same). Ferndale is a tiny but picturesque farming town known for its stately Victorian homes. The coolest thing about town? Salem's Lot was filmed there! And the cemetery is freakin' awesome...I'm hoping to take a day to haunt the graveyard and take photos. Plus, my grandfather is buried there so it will be nice to visit his grave.

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It's kinda hard to get to town because my grandma lives about 10 miles outside of Ferndale on a huge ranch. In fact, it's so far outside of town that there is no cell phone reception and no internet access...so I will be unplugged and offline for about a week!

Eek! How will I survive, right?!

 My grandma's back yard

I plan on doing a lot of hiking, taking a lot of photos, helping around the house and just spending time with my Nonna (that's Italian for grandma). The break from technology might even be nice! 

I will definitely miss reading all your wonderful posts and will have to catch up with all of you upon my return.

Until then, stay spooky!!