Category: Slice of Life

  • My Halloween Playlist

    Welcome to my virtual Halloween party! I have prepared an amazing playlist for you of my favorite spooky, creepy, witchy songs.

    Rasputina – Transylvanian Concubine

    Switchblade Symphony – Witches

    Delta Rae – Dance In The Graveyards

    Voltaire – Vampire Club

    Jill Tracy – The Fine Art of Poisoning

    Eliza Carthy – Blood on My Boots

    Vermillion Lies – Long Red Hair

    Poe – Haunted

    Stevie Nicks – Sorcerer

    Carfax Abbey – Cry Little Sister

    Katzenjammer Kabarett – Gemini Girly Song

    Comcrete Blonde – Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)

    kidneythieves – Before I’m Dead

    Nina West – Lisa Frankenstein

     

    Feel free to use for your next party!

    Happy Haunting!!

  • Velvet Goldmine

    I love the clothing of fall. I love sweaters and hoodies. I love layers. And above all else I love velvet. In all its forms, in every color, I love velvet. I honestly wear it all year long, but it is more available in fall and I love every bit of it. I have velvet hats, shoes, skirts, pants, jackets and dresses. Here are some pieces that I am coveting currently and that absolutely get me in the fall mood.

  • The State of My State…update.

    The State of My State…update.

    So…I have spoken with my advisor at school and as soon as I get my personal statement to her I will be officially changed to a Creative Writing major. I am so relieved and excited to get started on the right path for me.

    I am also going to do NaNoWriMo this year. I have never even tried this before, but I feel very drawn to write this year. I am trying to decide if I want to share what I am working on here or not. What do you think? Are you interested in reading my very rough drafts? Let me know.

    This week I am going to see Heels of Horror XII by Nina West on Friday, back to the Renaissance Festival on Saturday, a Halloween party Saturday Night and David Sedaris on Sunday. Whew! This is going to be chaotic fun. I have decided to be one of the gang members from The Warriors, specifically a Bowery Punk. Overalls, a rugby shirt and roller skates for the win!!

    My older sister will also be in town this week, so I get to meet her boyfriend who none of us have met. It is going to be a great week.

    Any big plans this week?

  • An October Wedding

    An October Wedding

    Today my cousin Robby married his wonderful now wife Sharon. It was a beautiful and meaningful ceremony officiated by Sharon’s sister Colleen. Robby and Sharon have bonded over there mutual love of certain nerdy/dorky topics, so the wedding was full of Harry Potter (Robby proposed to Sharon at Hogwarts in Universal Studios), Jurassic Park, Star Wars and other fun pop culture elements. Sharon wore a beautiful and simple white dress that was made for her, and a pair of white Converse Chuck Taylor’s. I am so happy for my cousin and I wish the two of them happiness and joy. Congrats you two!!

  • This is Halloween – Podcast Edition

    I am an avid podcast listener, in fact I listen to podcasts or audio books all day at work. My podcast obsession began with My Favorite Murder, which could be considered a spooky podcast in itself, and has bloomed into me listening to many many podcasts of all kind. Today I am going to suggest for you my favorite spooky podcasts to get you in the mood for Halloween.Ghosted by Roz Drezfalez – Drag Queen Roz invites her friends to tell their ghost stories. Listen to the Elvira episode to hear how good this podcast can be.Snap Judgement presents: Spooked – Host Glynn Washington sets up stories of the unexplained and paranormal told by the people who experienced them. Super creepy and wonderful.Teen Creeps – Hosts Lindsay Katai and Kelly Nugent read the pulpy gore filled teen books from the nineties. You will laugh and really want to dig out those books to reread.Shadows at the Door Podcast – A bit like a radio drama an author and an actor present a scary story and then discuss the underlying themes. The stories are spooky and the conversations are interesting as a writer.The Angel of Vine – Set up like a true radio drama this podcast has a star studded cast and only 10 episodes. This is a beautifully produced noir murder mystery.Do you have a favorite spooky podcast? Have you listened to one of these? Let me know in the comments.

  • Word Nerd – Spooky Edition

    Word Nerd – Spooky Edition

    I have mentioned previously that I am a certifiable word nerd. So for October
    I present my list of fun and unusual words for the Halloween season.

    1. exsanguinate : verb. Drain (a person, animal, or organ) of blood.
    2. necrophage : noun. An organism that eats dead or decaying flesh.
    3. lycanthrope : noun. A werewolf.
    4. therianthropic : adjective. Combining human and animal form.
    5. macabre : adjective. Disturbing because concerned with or causing a fear of death.
    6. revenant : noun. A person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.
    7. viscera : plural noun. The internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen, e.g. the intestines.
    8. vivisection : noun. The practice of performing operations on live animals for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research.
    9. sepulchral : adjective. Relating to tomb or interment. Gloomy; dismal.
    10. charnel : adjective. Associated with death.

    Now you can liberally sprinkle these through your Halloween conversations and appear the smartest and most macabre revenant of them all.

    20191007_2103004247286576957662421.jpg

  • Do You Even Witch?

    Do You Even Witch?

    I have been a practicing witch since I was about 16 years old. It started for me, as it did for many people my age, with the movie The Craft. I was a sophomore the movie came out and I went with a group of friends to see it. I immediately began wearing short pleated skirts and button down white shirts. And from the Waldenbooks in the mall I bought two books one day that fall: The Witches Almanac and True Magick by Amber K. I snuck them into my house like they were porn rather than books, and began my secret education.

    True Magick by Amber K is not a bad book, in fact much of it is great in regards to Wiccanism, but it also suggested that you not wear makeup, wear only natural fabrics (I was super into vintage clothes and basically lived in polyester) and that if you eat meat you cannot be a Wiccan because you have no empathy for other creatures. I was very into the idea of The Goddess and The God, and polytheism, and spell work, and many more parts of Wiccanism, but I also loved makeup and polyester so maybe it was just not for me. This did not stop me from stupidly attempting a love spell however…but that is another story.

    Then I found out a local metaphysical shop was going to be hosting a Wicca 101 class. I asked my mom, and she said that she would give her permission for me to take the class since I was under 18. The class was taught by a lovely, and very pregnant, woman named Heather. She gave a lot of the basic information on creating a magickal name, calling the quarters, creating holy water, and so much more. I attended all of the classes except the last one, because it was a ritual and I was too nervous to be involved.

    After the class though, I began to read, study, and actually began to build a practice. I set up an altar (my mom nicknamed it Waltar and it stuck and my sacred space remains Waltar to this day.), I was gifted and began reading Tarot, and though it was on and off at the time I was becoming a Witch.

    IMG_9724

    When I was 18 I took that Wicca 101 class again, and this time it did not feel so overwhelming. I felt like I belonged there as much as anyone else did. I was beginning to see myself as a Witch. I was still mostly using Wiccan guidelines, but I had begun reading about other types of Witches and what the difference between a Wiccan and a Witch is. I bought my first piece of witchy jewelry, a gorgeous silver pentacle ring that has been lost over the years. I finished the class this time, which ended with a beltane ceremony including maypole dancing. It was lovely and I knew I had found a place.

    20190921_0807492664787746752767298.jpg

    Over the years my craft has moved and morphed, I now consider myself an eclectic cottage art witch. I tend to make magic with whatever is on hand, rather than requiring special tools. I have been dedicated to Odin the All-Father for almost 7 years after years of him trying to get my attention. I work with a wide pantheon that includes traditional and pop pantheon figures. I firmly believe that magic works best when it reflects you, so if that means that the person you petition for beauty is Aphrodite or Rupaul both are valid.

    Are you looking for some witchy inspiration? I am a patron for several lovely magical ladies on Patreon:

    Molly Roberts    Youtube    Patreon

    Joanna DeVoe    Podcast     Youtube     Patreon

    Paige – The Fat Feminist Witch   Podcast    Patreon

    Cris Ashburn   Youtube    Patreon

    These women are inspiring, knowledgeable, fun, and all around gorgeous human beings. Check them out and be in awe and inspired! I cannot recommend them more.

     

  • The Colors of Fall/Halloween

    The Colors of Fall/Halloween

    Thinking of Fall/Halloween the first color that comes to my mind is orange, but there are so many other amazing colors that can be used to decorate for the season. I decided to play with idea boards and get some inspiration for this years decorations.

    Jewel Tones: Rich reds, deep purples, sapphire blues and emerald greens…all point to gorgeous fall or Halloween decor.

    img_20191006_2016006903616070404026919.jpg

    Purple and Green: While orange and black is traditional there is something so beautiful about the combination of purple and bright green. A personal favorite.

    img_20191006_2020448102522547048910712.jpg

    Pastels: Recently I have become obsessed with spooky, pastel decorations. They are creepy cute and utterly wonderful.

    img_20191006_2024107929620464748595647.jpg

    Blue Halloween: If you are looking for something different blue is it for Halloween.

    img_20191006_2029188286587024981945958.jpg

    Black and White: Anything but boring, decorating with a monochrome palette is dramatic and lovely.

    img_20191006_2032278005337031722838423.jpg

    Do you have a favorite Color palette for Fall/Halloween? Do you go more traditional or bravely pull in another palette?

    All images pulled from Pinterest.

  • Anniversary Thoughts – Seven Year Itch?

    Anniversary Thoughts – Seven Year Itch?

    Today is the seventh anniversary of the day I married the best man I have ever met. Seth and I have gone on a great many adventures together in our seven years of marriage (and five years of dating before that) and we will be on many, many more. I cannot imagine my life without him in it. I am beyond blessed and so grateful to have him in my life. Thank you, Seth, for teaching me, making me laugh, loving me so much and for catching me when I fall. My heart is yours for always.

    img_9111-vop_8713145207_o

    Our wedding was a supremely personalized and hand made event and I loved every piece of it. My mother was our officiant and made my jacket, the vests for the guys and the skirt for my niece. Our friend Cliff made the steps leading to the front of the stage and our “cake topper” which was a diorama of Seth and I in our wedding clothes fighting zombies encased in a lovely dragon skin box, with lights. My sister-in-law baked all of our cupcakes and helped with general wedding crafting. My mother-in-law helped us with crafting. My sister helped us with crafting. I made the bouquets and the boutonnieres, designed the programs, etc. Seth made our hand-fasting cord, flowers for the bouquets and our rings out of chain maille plus helping with everything else. Seth and I wrote the ceremony and our vows. It takes an army to create a wedding as beautiful as ours, and we were blessed to have some of the best people involved.

    Photos are all by Capture Life Photography

  • Are You Going to Renaissance Faire? Part 2

    So…I became a wench.

    And on the forums at wench.org I met many new wonderful women from all over who were from all walks of life. Including my lovely friends Gellis Indigo (Jean) and Grace (Sarah). In 2006 I worked for a booth at the Ohio Renaissance Festival for several weeks with a coworker, and Gellis and Grace came by to meet me in person with Gellis’ rogue husband Kyas (Pete). This photo is of the three of us a couple of years after this first meeting.

    As time would go on Jean and Sarah would become the Madame and Vice-Madame of IWG 57 which was the local for Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. We would travel together to Michigan to be with our fellow Local 57 wenches because Ohio Renaissance Festival at the time was not open to an active Wenches Guild presence. We had fun, but there was always the underlying feeling that we were outsiders. We tried to get unofficial wench events together at home but never got the response we would have liked.

    Fast forward to 2018 when my friend and fellow wench Susan says to me that she would like like to start an Ohio Local for the IWG. I agree and the two of us set out on a mission to create an Ohio local and to get permission from the Ohio Renaissance Festival to be part of faire. We met with some resistance from our formal local, but eventually we were granted the designation of IWG Local 73 – The Wenches of Myth. We got our official status just before opening day 2018. After our first vote I would be voted Madame, Sarah would be Vice Madame and Susan would be our Arbiter.

    fb_img_153633770205620165548222027415561082211896.jpg

    The 2018 season at Ohio Renaissance was spent networking, meeting wenches, and finding out how to get our official status.

     

    In Spring of 2018 Susan and I had a meeting with the entertainment director of ORF. We talked about our vision for the wenches at ORF. It ended with us feeling really positive that we were going to get the blessing to be part of Faire. The official word came in July, we would be welcome at ORF. The first official Ohio local would be an official part of the festival.

    Sarah, Susan and I began plotting and planning. We came up with ideas for games and events. I came up with the idea for a game that would end up being called wench collecting. We would have a meet up to decorate our Collect Me pins.

    Since the beginning of ORF labor day weekend we have given 3 toasts in pub sing, walked in several parades, played wench collecting twice and had 5 new wenches join with promises of many more. We are beyond proud of how successful our first season has been and hopeful for many many more!