Movies and creepy TV
shows aren’t the only way to get into the Halloween spirit. I’m someone that has
to constantly have music on in the background and I have a ton of specific
playlists for just about every mood, seriously you should see my Spotify. So I
thought, what better way to get those spooky vibes going other than a
Halloween-themed playlist? These songs are a few of my personal faves:
everything from horror movie scores, to soundtracks, and more. I personally
listen to these songs no matter what the season, but for those in search of
Halloween-specific songs, here’s a list for you!
Hello boils and
ghouls
So as most of you
know, I’m a huge fan of special fx makeup and whenever there’s an excuse for me
to use it I take advantage of that. Ice Nine Kills is currently on their “Hell
in the Hallways” tour alongside Secrets, Sylar, Cover Your Tracks, and Out Came
the Wolves and I get the honor of helping promote their NC date.
Their latest album
Every Trick in the Book features songs that were inspired by some of their
favorite novels and the track “Hell in the Hallways” was inspired by Stephen
King’s Carrie – a personal favorite of mine. I took this opportunity to put
together a sort of “undead prom queen” look, instead of just covering myself in
blood like my homegirl Carrie White (even though it’s so much fun).
For this look here’s
what you’ll need:
Tissue Paper
Cream Paints
Eyeshadow
Eyeliner
Liquid Latex
And of course, Blood.
First- Do your makeup
like you normally would for a night out. I did a simple smoky eye,
incorporating darker colors to create a sunken-in look. Apply some lipstick and
then smudge it, dragging it down the side of your mouth. Remember, we’re dead – we don’t really care if our lips are perfectly lined.
Next, create some
bruises and trauma around your face and neck. Depending on the type of bruises
you want/undertones, use colors that compliment that. I used reds, purples, and
bit of yellow. I mixed the colors on my hand and then used a makeup sponge to
dab it on my skin, using different variations of shades to create different
depths.
Next- Decide where
you want your scars or gashes and outline the spot with a lip liner or
eyeliner. Then, grab your liquid latex and apply a thin layer with a sponge.
Take your tissue and place it on top of the latex and then apply another layer
of latex on top to further seal it. Repeat these steps until you get your
desired thickness and shape. Take a pair of tweezers or a pallet knife to cut
open the tissue to create your gash CAREFULLY. It seems simple enough but you
don’t want to accidentally pull or cut your skin.
Now unless your latex
is flesh colored you might need to take a foundation and apply it on top so the
wound matches your skin. Before you do this, wait for the latex to dry and then
powder it using a translucent powder or even baby powder. Sometimes it helps to
take an eyeshadow close to your skin color and powder it around the edges.
Take a black or dark
red shade and apply it inside the cut to create depth. Next, take various
shades of reds and purples and stipple it around the edges of the cut to make
it appear to be irritated.
Final step – blood.
For this, you can use whatever kind of blood your heart desires. Depending on
the look you want to achieve you could use Ben Nye’s Fresh Scab blood (thick,
chunky, and appears wet), Coagulated blood gel (thick, appears wet, drips a bit
but not a lot), Blood paste (thick, stays in place), or standard stage blood
(thin, drips, great for splattering blood). For this particular look I used stage blood.
Apply any finishing
touches you want and then you’re done!
I have a few more
Halloween looks planned so stay tuned.
I’ve always been a
huge fan of horror anthologies. From television shows like Tales From the
Darkside to films like Trick r Treat, I was obsessed. Horror anthologies serve
as a way to deliver numerous tales of the macabre and some of my favorites were
delivered by the Crypt Keeper. If you were a fan of names like George A. Romero
or EC Comics, then you were most likely a fan of this show. Tales From the
Crypt was a staple in my childhood (alongside the Big Comfy Couch and Rugrats).
So here are my top favorite episodes.
And All Through the
House – This is an episode that really stuck with me. I enjoy holiday themed
horror so naturally; I had to kick off this list with this Christmas episode.
In this episode a woman murders her husband and tries to cover it up; meanwhile
there’s an escaped lunatic dressed as Santa on the loose. I remembered being
terrified by that Santa, thinking he was going to show up at my house around
Christmas. That didn’t stop me from watching it every time it aired through.
Dead Right- In this
episode, Demi Moore plays a young woman that wants to go from rags to riches.
She goes to a fortune teller who informs her that she’ll meet a man who will
inherit a lot of money and then afterwards, will die a violent death. Enter
Charlie, a grossly overweight man who informs her of his rich relatives. As it
turns out, the medium was right, but not in the way Moore’s character had
hoped.
People That Live in
Brass Hearses- In this episode, a hot-headed convict gets out of prison after
serving a two-year sentence. He then convinces his mentally handicapped brother
to assist him in robbing a warehouse and getting revenge on the ice cream man
that was responsible for sending him to jail. This one features Brad Dourif,
the voice of Chucky, and Bill Paxton, whom I had a serious crush on as a kid (I
blame the film Twister). This one has humor and scares and while it’s not the
“best” episode, it’s entertaining nonetheless.
Abra Cadaver- In this
episode, a research assistant sets out to get revenge on his younger brother
after he pulls a prank that costs him his dream of becoming a successful
surgeon. It’s the classic tale of sibling rivalry, where one is more serious
and hard working, while the other goofs-off but still manages to come out on
top. The younger brother soon finds out just how far the elder is willing to go
to get what he wants.
The Ventriloquist’s
Dummy- Things involving creepy ventriloquist dummies are never good. We’ve
learned that from Goosebumps, Dead Silence, and more. An aspiring ventriloquist
seeks out his idol that has since dropped out of the business after a
mysterious fire accident and now lives in seclusion. Turns out, there’s a lot
more to show business than he originally thought.
Lover, Come Hack to
Me – While this episode is not the best, I’m a sucker for insane plot lines and
gratuitous blood. In this tale, we have another plain-Jane unfortunate type
who’s desperate for love. She meets this handsome young man that she thinks is
the man of her dreams – except he’s a sleazy gold-digger that’s just after her
money. Ignoring her grandmother’s warning, she marries him anyway and he bursts
her bubble by telling her exactly how he feels. Halfway through the episode,
you’re feeling just as annoyed with her and he is but of course, there’s always
the twist ending. Have you ever just…loved someone to pieces?
Collection Completed
– I love a good “what goes around, comes around” story, and this episode
delivers. In this episode, a retired woman takes to adopting a bunch of stray
animals and treating them as if they were her children. Sounds harmless, right?
It was until her grouchy husband, tired of dealing with his wife’s new hobby,
decides to take matters into his own hands and adopts a hobby of his own – taxidermy.
When poor Anita finds out about his latest obsession, she’s less than thrilled.
And as for Roy…he really let his hobby get the best of him.
Those were my top
favorite episodes! Let me know some of your favorite creepy shows.
It’s my favorite time
of year so obviously, we have to celebrate by creeping things up here on my
blog. To kick things off, we’re going to discuss a few more creepy tales found
online. These stories will range from supernatural happenings to crazed stalkers
and more. This is just the beginning of the many things I have planned leading
up to Halloween. Now let’s get started.
I Found a Girl I Knew in a Porno (Trigger Warning) - This is the story about a girl that went missing
who later shows up in a rather odd video online. After contacting the girl’s
parents to inform them of what he found, things take a turn for the worst. If
you’re sensitive to certain subject matters, proceed with caution.
Hunger (Trigger Warning)
- In this tale, a psychologist has a meeting with a patient suffering from an
eating disorder, but it’s not quite what it seems. Warning: It’s a bit gross so
please read at your own risk.
The Girl in the Log
(Trigger Warning) – A girl visiting her grandpa gets a strange warning from a
dead girl she meets in the woods. Definitely not as gross as the last two but
it still features sensitive topics.
He Crawled Up the Stairs- A young woman recalls the night a strange man broke into her house
while she was alone. This literally confirmed every fear I’ve ever had about
staying by myself.
I Used a Dating Site Once: Never Again- This one is a three-part series on NoSleep. It centers on a
young woman, tired of being single, that decided to give online dating a try.
The story takes the age-old warning of “being careful of who you talk to online” to a whole new
level.
Borrasca- This is
another series on NoSleep. It’s about a small town urban legend that turns out
to be much more sinister and in typical horror fashion, none of the adults seem
to believe in it. This story is one of the more fascinating finds on NoSleep,
but it’s also incredibly long. It was featured on the last episode of the
NoSleep Podcast so if you’re a fan of audio books you’ll enjoy this. It's also available in the iPhone podcast app.
Alright boils and
ghouls, that’s it for this installment of creepy online tales. I have a lot
more planned for the month of October so stay tuned. What are some of your favorite
scary or unsettling stories?
August has brought
many new things into my life that I’ve been obsessed with recently. I’ve
accumulated a ton of favorites to share, everything from: skincare, beauty,
music, and more. With it being August, it brings talk of fall and fall is my
favorite time of year. So like many fall lovers, August is basically an excuse
to start preparation for Halloween, dark lip colors, boots, and of course –
pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING. So I couldn’t be happier to be one step closer to
cool weather and spooky things. With that being said, let’s get started.
Beauty:
Kat Von D Lock-it Crème Concealer- I was lucky enough to have these products sent to me from
Influenster and I’ve been using them ever since they arrived at my doorstep.
This concealer lives up to its name because it’s very creamy. The formula isn’t
too thick so it doesn’t crease under my eyes. I even used it to prime my eyes
and it worked really well. The collection has a wide range of colors, which is
great for those that have trouble finding the perfect shade.
Kat Von D Lock-it Setting Powder- Another gift from Influenster. This setting powder has become a
staple in my collection. Since receiving it I haven’t been reaching for my
Covergirl Loose Translucent powder at all. It’s finely milled and lightweight
so it doesn’t look cakey. It also doesn’t have a white cast in photos.
Kat Von D Lock-it
Concealer and Powder Brushes- These brushes are incredible. The concealer brush
has a unique shape, allowing it to blend concealer under the eyes perfectly –
it even helps clean up shadows and my winged liner. The powder brush is
probably one of the softest brushes I’ve ever felt. It feels so nice on the
skin, which I appreciate because some brushes can be too rough on my face.
Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Palette- I FINALLY picked this up from Sephora and I’ve probably used
it every day since. I’ve been eyeing this pallet since it came out and now it’s
finally mine. I’m a huge fan of matte shadows so the fact that this is an
all-matte pallet is perfect. The shadows are all highly pigmented and blend
like a dream. It’s separated into cools, neutrals, and warms so it’s perfect
for creating a variety of different looks.
Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Tulle- I’m obsessed with these Ultra Matte liquid lipsticks. I have
quite a few and I might even have a cart full on the website right now (but we’re
just not going to talk about that). These are amazing lipsticks and at $6 a pop
you can’t beat it. They have a wide range of colors and a lot of them are dupes
for more expensive liquid lipsticks. Tulle is a warm, dusty mauve shade- similar
to Kat Von D’s Lolita.
Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip in Too Lips- For those that feel the Ultra Matte lips are too drying, the
Ultra Satin formula is perfect for you. It dries to a semi-matte finish and is
more moisturizing than the matte formula. It lasts a long time, just not as
long as the matte lips. Too Lips is a cool-toned plum brown shade. Great for fall and
winter.
Maybelline Gel Liner-
I’ve probably mentioned this product before but I seriously can’t get enough.
Every time I go do my winged liner, I grab this and my Elf small angled brush.
It’s great for creating those precise, sharp wings with little to no effort. It’s
extremely black and matte which I personally love.
Skincare:
Aqua Marina Cleanser from Lush- So, I recently threw away all of my facial cleansers because they
were irritating my skin. My skin is very sensitive and I wanted a product that
would accommodate that. This cleanser has calamine, sea weed, aloe vera, and a hint of sea salt and it feels amazing on my skin. My skin finally feels like it’s
not freaking out or feeling itchy. It’s all natural and a little bit goes a
long way.
ImperialisMoisturizer from Lush- This moisturizer feels like heaven on my skin. It goes
on smooth and supplies the right amount of moisture. It doesn’t make my face
feel greasy or neglect my dry patches. It's a rich, lavender cream with orange water made to soothe irritations and oil control. Definitely worth the money.
Fashion:
T-Shirt Dress from
Forever 21- I recently picked up this rust-colored swing dress from Forever 21
on a whim and I’m already trying to find it multiple colors. This dress is so
comfortable and casual. I can just throw it on with a pair of Converse’s and
go. Plus, it’s soft and it’s the perfect color for fall. It's not on the website yet but it is in stores!
Booties- Charlotte Russe- I’ve been on a booties kick and Charlotte Russe has been fueling that
obsession. These booties are very comfortable and go with pretty much anything.
The heel is the perfect height and it’s chunky so you can wear these around for
hours and not feel like chopping your feet off when you get home.
“Baby Goth” Halter from Nikki Lipstick- If you’ve never heard of Nikki Lipstick, I’m going to need
you to let love into your heart and treat yo self. She has a huge range of
alternative-style items – everything from crop tops, accessories, sweaters,
pins and more. Her clothing is stretchy and comfortable and it’s all one size
fits most. Also, if you’ve been enjoying that pink drink from Starbucks that
everyone’s been talking about (another favorite of mine) you can thank Nikki
*hair flip emoji*.
Music:
“Hell in the
Hallways”- Ice Nine Kills- Ever since I saw them for the second time at Warped
Tour, I haven’t been able to stop listening to their album Every Trick in the
Book. Their song “Hell in the Hallways” is based on the Stephen King novel Carrie,
one of my favorites. You can catch them on the Hell in the Hallways tour soon!
“Circles”- Pierce The
Veil- The newest single from PTV from their latest album Misadventures. They’re
also hitting the road soon on the “Made to Destroy tour”. I’m basically about
to hitch a ride on their tour bus because I will not rest until I see these
guys live.
“Where Are My F*cking
Pills?”- Death Spells- So by now, you all know my love for Frank Iero and his
music. He’s finally decided to bless us with a full-length album from his side
project with James Dewees, Death Spells. The album, Nothing Above, Nothing
Below is this mix of electronic and hardcore, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever
heard before. The lyrics are incredible and each song hits you like a punch to
the face.
Movies/Shows:
Suicide Squad- This
film was amazing, I don’t care what anyone has to say. It was entertaining, the
characters were enjoyable, and not even Leto’s Joker could ruin this film for
me. Do it for Harley Quinn. See this movie.
Lights Out- I was a
fan of the short film so I definitely had to see this when it hit theaters. The
effects were great and the scares were on point. I love a film that can excite
the whole theater and get a reaction from the audience.
Stranger Things- I
don’t care what you have planned. Cancel everything, grab a blanket and some
snacks and pull up Netflix and binge watch this show, immediately. This show is
deserving of all the hype. It’s creative, the acting is spectacular, and the
character development and plot are everything. If you need me, I’ll be out
leaving a box of Eggos for Eleven.
This was a lot longer
than planned. What were some of the things you enjoyed throughout the month of
August? Let me know in the comments.
In April, I finally
got the chance to see one of my favorite bands during their 15 year anniversary
tour. The Used decided to hit the road and play two-nights in every city to
celebrate the release of their Self-Titled album and their second album, In
Love and Death. I was fortunate enough to see them during Night 2 (In Love and
Death) in Baltimore, MD.
The Used have been
one of the most important bands in my life for years, and In Love and Death is
my favorite album so it only made sense that I saw them during this tour. It
was my first time seeing them live and it everything I could have asked for and
more. It was worth the traffic, the sweat, the tears, the bruises- everything,
to stand in that audience and scream the lyrics that have meant so much to me
for so long. Making eye contact with Bert McCracken and having him smile at me;
I swear my soul left my body.
During the show, Bert
recalls the times that fans have come up to them and confessed that In Love and
Death is the album that helped keep them alive and went on to say how the album
kept him alive as well while he was dealing with one of the most difficult
times in his life. Someone in the crowd yelled “you saved my life,” to which he
replied, “You saved mine.”
It was so surreal to
experience. My first tattoo is a design inspired by the hanging heart from the
cover of In Love and Death, featuring my favorite lyrics from my favorite song
from their Self-Titled (my way of killing two birds with one stone). I got that
tattoo in honor of making it through my own difficult time and the album that
helped keep me alive throughout that time in my life. The album itself is one of
the most influential albums in my life, each song more meaningful than the
last. I have such strong memories assigned to each song, so many moments that
each song have helped me through. It’s one of those albums that you listen to
and everything just makes sense, you feel alive for the first time. You can
literally feel every word, every emotion that the band is trying to convey.
When this album came into my life, it was right when I needed it. To make a
long story short, I was one of those people that this album helped keep alive.
So to stand in the audience and hear them discuss this was like this surreal
bonding experience. We were all sharing this moment, we were all brought
together because this band and this album meant something to us and that’s one
of the best things about music.
The Used delivered a
hell of a show, as always, and I can’t thank them enough. They recently
announced a second leg of their anniversary tour. I’ll be attending Night 1
(Self-Titled) night in Virginia.
Now for some of my
favorite shots of the night:
Alright kids, it’s
that time again, where I show you all some of my favorite creepy stories. These
stories were all collected from the NoSleep Reddit page and the Creepy Pasta wiki, two of my favorite
places to discover original and terrifying stories. So let’s dim the lights,
grab your favorite blanket and gather round the campfire because here are ten
more creepy tales for you to enjoy.
1.The Disappearance of Ashley, Kansas. This is the
story of how the entire town of Ashley, Kansas vanished, leaving nothing behind
but a fissure of ash. The residents, the houses, everything- all gone without a
trace. If you’re a fan of listening to stories, I recommend listening to the
narration of this story on the NoSleep Podcast. It definitely adds an eerie
feel.
2.Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid. This is the
story of a man trying to recall parts of his childhood after realizing that he
has no recollection of anything from when he was younger. When asking his
mother to help him remember, things take a turn for the worse. In this case,
some things are definitely better off being forgotten.
3.Mr. Wide Mouth. In this story, a young boy
creates an imaginary friend to help him cope after experiencing a traumatic
event. What starts out as something innocent soon becomes something a lot more sinister.
4.A Story to Scare My Son. As a kid, my mom and
aunt were huge fans of telling my cousins and I cautionary tales to scare us
into behaving. Although many of the stories were scary, none of them were as
scary as the story this father tells his son.
5.Pete the Moonshiner. Please. Just read this.
Very unsettling. Trigger warning.
6.Room 733. Almost every campus has a creepy story
that comes with it. For me, there was the haunted room at the end of my
sorority floor, along with a haunted art building on campus. In this story, a
girl learns that the dorm room next to hers is known as the “Suicide Room,”
after have many students commit suicide after living in the room for a short
time. Trigger warning for those sensitive to this subject.
8.630-296-7536. This story is even scarier after
you realize the number in this tale actually works. Go ahead, give it a call.
9.The Disappearance of Ashley Morgan. Not to be
confused with the first story in this list. This is the story of a girl whose
twin sister went missing when they were kids. Trigger warning.
