Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Happy Halloween and 2017 Bucket List Completion


Happy Halloween! The big day is finally here, and while I'm stuck at work, I can't wait to get home to pass out treats to kiddies while watching Halloween movies. I'll be honest, this Halloween season has been really hard for me. While I did end up doing a lot of fun stuff, I felt this year was a bit lackluster for me and definitely went by too fast. I also suffered from Halloween burnout early on and between work and the anxiety of dealing with family in the California wildfires (they are all fine now), I wasn't very full of Halloween spirit this year. I'm hoping next year is better.


On the plus side, I did do a lot of great stuff on my bucket list this year! Check out what items I was able to cross off my bucket list this Halloween season:

Monday, October 30, 2017

Book Review: Drawn to the Dark - Explorations in Scare Tourism Around the World (Plus Giveaway!)


How would you like to travel the world checking out festivals, celebrations, and haunted attractions Imagine the wonder and excitement you would have visiting traditional Dia de los Muertos cemetery celebrations, attending demon festivals in Japan, getting menaced by Krampus in Austria, exploring locations that inspired Castle Dracula, traveling up a mountain to celebrate Walpurgisnacht in Germany, and checking out different haunted attractions around the world! That sounds so incredible, and that is exactly what author Chris Kullstroem did for a whole year.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

The Enchantment Box - Hocus Pocus Edition

The Hocus Pocus edition of The Enchantment Box

The Enchantment Box is a new monthly subscription service that sends you a magical themed box full of goodies like cruelty-free makeup, vegan snacks, delightful decor, gorgeous jewelry, fun paper crafts, beautiful bath and beauty products, and other charming treats! Plus, all boxes are completely cruelty-free and vegan, yay! They contacted me recently to see if I would be interested in reviewing their October 2017 box, whose theme was Hocus Pocus. I really had to contain myself (because OF COURSE I WAS INTERESTED), as I was so excited about this box since Hocus Pocus is one of the best movies ever and one of my personal favorite Halloween movies!

I checked out some of their past boxes, whose themes included Marie Antoinette, Mystical Mermaid, and Secret Garden, which made me even more thrilled when I saw the fantastical fripperies that were tucked away in those boxes. I knew then that I was head-over-heels in LOVE and couldn't wait to check out their October 2017 box. See my step-by-step unboxing below!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Make a Vegan Jack-o-Lantern Burger for Halloween

Enjoy a vegan Halloween burger this October (and beyond)!

If you're like me, you like to add Halloween magic to everything, and that includes food! I mean, I don't have the time to get too fancy, but a few fearsome flourishes can add Halloween spirit to any meal. As you can see from my pic above, sometimes the simplest trick makes for a festive treat! Turning a vegan cheeseburger into a Halloween cheeseburger is really easy, but I'll walk you through how to do it below.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Join the Monster Kitty Society

Join the Monster Kitty Society

Monsters plus cats? That sounds like a purr-fectly spooky combo and it is a reality thanks to Monster Kitty Society, a woman-owned company that designs and makes adorably eerie jewelry that is both cute and creepy! Monster Kitty Society features a variety of Monster Kitty characters that come with their very own cards describing their traits and fun facts about them. From these different characters you can choose necklaces, stickers, keychains, enamel pins, bags, t-shirts, and so much more!

Here is a little more about them via their website: "Monster Kitty Society is home for dark souls who love cats. The monster cats only like people who get them, and they're pretty picky. We have an aesthetic. It has to be dark and it has to be cute. We prefer to cuddle up in the dark with our cats. If you're not about that life then you better scram! Our hoard is ever-growing. Are you ready to join?"

I received some of their items for review, which you can see more of below:

Friday, October 20, 2017

The Horror Art of Brady Stoehr

The Horror Art of Brady Stoehr

Brady Stoehr is an illustrator creating horror-inspired art in the woods of Missouri. His renditions of classic horror monsters as well as illustrations of famous horror authors immediately drew my interest when he first reached out to me and kindly offered to send me some of his pieces for review. He has posters, prints, stickers, bookmarks, and more available in his Etsy shop. I was lucky enough to receive one of his art prints, stickers, and bookmarks to check out.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Sanrio Pumpkin Patch at Tanaka Farms

Hanging out at the pumpkin patch with my spooky Sanrio friends!

At the beginning of October, I did one of my favorite things - visit my local pumpkin patch! I have been going to Tanaka Farms for years and enjoying their pumpkin patch is one of my Halloween traditions. This year, they teamed up with Sanrio to bring some Hello Kitty cuteness to their patch! I usually go opening weekend, but this Sanrio collaboration proved to be so popular that we decided to go in the middle of the week instead and it was much less crowded.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Grave Harvest Halloween Convention 2017

Grave Harvest 2017

Last year's Grave Harvest was so much fun (check out my recap!), I couldn't wait for this year's event, which took place this past Saturday at The Hotel Fullerton. Grave Harvest is Orange County's very own Halloween convention hosted by Abracadaver Productions, and features oodles of Halloween vendors, plus classes and presentations throughout the day. Check out my coverage of this year's event below!

Monday, October 16, 2017

Watch Now on Netflix: The Babysitter (2017)


The Babysitter hit Netflix on Friday, October 13th and I couldn't wait watch it! This horror comedy stars a young cast including Samara Weaver, Bella Thorne, and Judah Lewis and is about a young kid who finds out something disturbing about his babysitter - that's basically all I knew going in when I gave it a look over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had watching it! It has a fun '80s slasher vibe while still managing to feel fresh. Plus, it's not afraid to poke a little fun at the horror genre. Check out more of my thoughts on it below.

Use Switch Witch to Help Kids Ditch Unhealthy Tricks for Treats This Halloween


Every kid should be able to go trick or treating, even if they aren't able to eat the candy they collect due to allergies or wanting to eat healthier. Now with this adorable Switch Witch, they can! The Switch Witch offers a new tradition that encourages kids to swap out Halloween candy for other fun things.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

13 Halloween Outfits to Wear to the Pumpkin Patch


Looking for something adorably eerie to wear to the pumpkin patch, your local haunted house attraction, out Halloween shopping, or even just around the house this October? There are so many boo-tiful clothes to adorn yourself with this spooky season, and I wanted to share with you my favorites.

If you know me, you know I'm a pretty basic ghoul - I usually only wear plain black clothes (usually consisting of black pants and black top) and don't have much variety in my closet. Call it minimalist goth or just plain laziness, but I'm pretty set in my simple style. However, the fearsome fashions below kinda make me want to branch out a little and get gussied up for October!

Most of the styles below gravitate toward vintage looks, but I've tried to throw in a little bit for every ghoul, including dresses, skirts, leggings, sweatshirts, and more. Hopefully you'll find something you like, I know I did though some of the items below are outside my all black everything aesthetic.

Check out these perfectly creepy-cute clothes that you can wear to your next eerie October outing:

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Watch Now on Netflix: Boys in the Trees


This coming-of-age drama from Australia gives us a glimpse of how Halloween is celebrated down under, and it is gorgeous. It is also set in the '90s, so we get some nostalgic tunes from Presidents of the United States, Marilyn Manson, Bush, and more. The Halloween imagery has a distinct vintage feel, especially with the costumes some creepy kids wear in the opening scenes as well as the Halloween decorations used throughout the film. It features some truly eerie scenes and blends fantasy with elements of horror, coming-of-age tale, and drama to create a beautiful but heartbreaking film. Read more about Boys in Trees below!

Halloween 2017 at Cost Plus World Market


I'm still catching up on posts about Halloween shopping I've done at stores in the last few months, eeek! One of the stores I visited that I haven't posted about is Cost Plus World Market, which is one of my favorite stops during the Halloween season. I usually don't buy a lot of their decor, but they usually have some Halloween snacks and beverages that are also vegan and I'm always on the hunt for those! I visited Cost Plus towards the end of September, and they had lots of goodies out. I loved their big section of Halloween sodas, Halloween pretzels, and vintage-inspired decor. Take a peek at what Cost Plus World Market has in stores this Halloween 2017:

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The 17th Door: Locked Up Haunted Experience

The 17th Door: Locked Up

Today we have a guest post from Justin Rekt, who attended The 17th Door: Locked Up Haunted Experience in Fullerton, California. This haunted attraction is an intense, extreme haunt featuring 17 horrific rooms groups of approximately eight people have to survive. Each year has a different theme, this year they have moved from Irvine to a location in Fullerton with a hellish prison theme. Read about Justin's experience below!

Fatally Yours Chocolate Box Returns for Halloween


Guess what just dropped from Vegan Treats?! Their ghoulishly gorgeous Fatally Yours Gourmet Chocolate Box! This all-vegan chocolate box comes in a to-die-for Ouija-inspired heart-shaped box embossed with "Fatally Yours" in pumpkin orange and filled with a variety of premium, handmade, and delectable treats. Spoil yourself or someone you love this Halloween with this killer concoction - full details of what is included in this boo-tiful box below:

Monday, October 9, 2017

Join The Great Pumpkin Project this October


Looking for something simple to do to invoke the magic of Halloween? I highly recommend participating in The Great Pumpkin Project, which seeks to spread Halloween cheer and fear with a simple premise - place a jack-o-lantern in a spooky spot where it will conjure the Halloween spirit in whoever passes by it. Check out more from The Great Pumpkin Project's mission statement below:

Halloween 2017 at 99 Cents Only Stores

Halloween 2017 shopping at the 99 Cents Only Stores!

Halloween month is in full swing, and there is so many great Halloween items out there this year! To be honest, there is so much awesomeness this year that I am way behind on posts. I will try to be catching up over the next few days to finish up showing you all the gruesome goodies I've seen in the stores I've visited, starting with the 99 Cents Only Stores!

I visited the 99 Cents Only Stores back in September and found they had some really neat stuff. Most of their items were only $0.99, but they had a few "premium" items that were more expensive (but still I good deal). I wanted to share what I found during my visit there in August (oops, I didn't realize it was that long ago). You can see some of the items that 99 Cents Only Stores have for Halloween 2017 below:

Friday, October 6, 2017

New Halloween Attraction HORROR REWIND Opens in Los Angeles Friday the 13th


Looking for something to do in Los Angeles on Friday the 13th? A brand new Halloween attraction is opening for a limited three night engagement October 13th called HORROR REWIND! Horror films from the Fox Home Entertainment archive will be recreated for horror fans to experience for this limited-time attraction in Downtown Los Angeles. Horror fans will be plunged into the mind of an obsessed horror fan, who has recreated his favorite films, including The Fly, The Hills Have Eyes, 28 Days Later, and Carrie. HORROR REWIND is free, but you need to RSVP to secure your space and free tickets for this eerie event.

For more info, check out the press release below:

Watch Now on Netflix: Raw


Stop everything you're doing and go watch Raw on Netflix now! It is one of my favorite films I've seen this year, and I am so excited that it is finally on Netflix so it can reach a wider audience. This French-Belgian film was brave, bold, and had plenty of cringe-worthy moments throughout.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Halloween 2017 at Party City

Look at all these adorable Halloween signs at Party City!

Party City keeps upping their game every year for Halloween and it is definitely worth a stop for Halloween decor and party supplies! They have a surprisingly large selection of everything from outdoor and indoor decor, lighting, party supplies, costumes, and even candy, plus so much more! I few weeks ago I visited one of their stores to pick up a few things for a collaboration I did with them (more on that at the bottom of this post). I had a blast wandering through the aisle looking at their big selection, check out what they had when I visited below:

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Grave Harvest Halloween Convention Haunts Orange County This Saturday


I had a blast at last year's Grave Harvest Halloween convention at The Hotel Fullerton in Fullerton, California (read my recap HERE!), so I am looking forward to its return this Saturday, October 7th! Get your tickets now, as you need to purchase them in advance and none will be sold at the door. Tickets are only $10, and parking is free - you can purchase tickets HERE! Read more about this Orange County Halloween convention below!

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Trader Joe's 2017 Seasonal Pumpkin Items


I look forward to Trader Joe's seasonal pumpkin food items every autumn, and they rarely disappoint! They have a great selection of pumpkin and autumn food, many of which are vegan. I start stalking their stores for pumpkin items in mid-September, and when I finally find all their seasonal stuff out, I go a little nuts buying all my faves!

My local Trader Joe's finally put out most of their autumn food items, and while there aren't many new items, I was stoked to be able to stock up on my old favorites. Check out all the vegan pumpkin foods and other fun autumn items I found at Trader Joe's this year below:

Monday, October 2, 2017

31 Days of Halloween Movies

Join me for 31 Days of Halloween Movies! I'll be watching a movie that is 
Halloween-themed or evokes a Halloween and/or autumn feel this October.

You know what a pet peeve of mine is? When people put together Halloween movie lists which just end up being lists of a bunch of horror movies that have nothing to do with Halloween! I watch horror movies all year round, so these "Halloween" movie lists make no sense to me and annoy me.

When I make a Halloween movie list, I only include movies that actually have Halloween in them! I want films that give me those Halloween feels, that feature autumn foliage, trick-or-treating, costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and all the other Halloween things! Doesn't that make much more sense than just a random list of horror movies?

Since I keep seeing so many horror movie lists for October, I decided that I would share my own list of Halloween-themed movies I plan on watching this October. I plan on watching at least one a day the whole month of October (I already watched my first pick yesterday). I have selected movies set during Halloween or that evoke a Halloween feel. Many of the films I chose are horror movies, but there are also kid-friendly ones, a few comedies, and even a TV show (that basically plays like a movie) to keep things interesting and fun.

If you want to surround yourself with autumn atmosphere, join me in watching these movies that are either set in or around Halloween or evoke an autumn atmosphere. Check out my 31 Halloween movie selections below!

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Autumn 2017 Bucket List


Happy October 1st and happy first day of the 31 Days of Halloween!

If you've been a follower of mine for past Halloween seasons, you know that October 1st kicks off the 31 Days of Halloween event, hosted by Countdown to Halloween, where a collective of spooky blogs (like me) share Halloween-related content all October long! I've been participating since 2010 (!!!) and it is one of my favorite Halloween events that I look forward to every year. I not only love sharing my Halloween experiences with you, but I also adore reading other blogs. I highly recommend you take a look at the list of other participating blogs on Countdown to Halloween to fill your October with maximum spookiness!

Per tradition, I'll be sharing my autumn bucket list today, the first day of October. I love kicking off the month with my wish list of activities and preparing for everything I want to do. There is always so much going on in October, but I hope to have a low-key celebration where time slows down a little so I can enjoy the spirit of the season. I've already done a lot just in September, but I'm going to include those items here as well so I can keep a track of all that I've done when I revisit this list at the end of October. Here are those items as well as others I want to do this Halloween season:
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