Personal posts

Off-Topic: My Favorite Spooky Small Businesses

April 2, 2022 — Leave a comment

I know 99% of my posts are about music and I randomly throw out a few things about books or movies, but I really wanted to give a shout-out to some small (online) businesses that are killing it. And it’s not entirely out of my wheelhouse — all of these shops, save one, sell items that are horror- or Halloween-themed.

Not Your Average Babe

I stumbled across this shop on Instagram and fell in love with basically everything I saw. Unique clothing at an affordable price (if you don’t get too carried away), NYAB sells must-haves for any fall/horror/Halloween lover.

Here are just a few items I’ve ordered.

This shirt is part of their camp set and comes with shorts.
This Ghostface sweatshirt is available as part of a set as well.
Sam jogger set 🎃

Twisted Allure

Another Instagram find. Twisted Allure often collaborates with NYAB and contributes various bath and body items to NYAB’s monthly boxes. Every single thing I’ve ordered from Twisted Allure has been spookily themed and positively delightful – and doesn’t irritate my super sensitive skin! Their Easter line just dropped, so treat yourself!

Twisted Allure goodies

Honey Butter Bath Co.

When my best friend moved away last year, I was depressed and decided to treat myself with some bath bombs and body butters. I found a fall/Halloween line from a shop on Etsy and ordered two of the body butters. Best choice I’ve ever made. I have since returned for multiple items, including one of her soaps (lemon and blueberry), and I ordered part of my mom’s Christmas from Honey Butter. I’m only going to link her Etsy shop because I think the IG profile is actually personal.

“Better Not Pout” is one of my favorites. It’s orange and cloves.

Vera’s Eye Candy

I found this site because of someone I follow on Instagram. This one is a little more pricey, but the clothing is very unique and includes band shirts/tanks/dresses along with the horror and Halloween themed items. The shop owner is nice and handles any issues swiftly. I highly recommend checking them out.

Scream, Billy Loomis tank
Coraline tank
Halloween Queen tank
Kewpie Art the Clown ringer tee

Wicked Ghost Co.

I love, love, love this page! The selection isn’t huge, but the designs are wonderful – and a handful of shirts are being brought back soon, so I’ll be ordering some stuff when that happens.

“You’re Cute When You Scream”

A Quick Hi From Colorado!

March 22, 2022 — Leave a comment

I will do a longer blog about my trip early next week, but for now I wanted to drop in and share some pictures. I just didn’t want to break my posting streak while on vacation (as lame as that is).

We fly back home tomorrow, which sucks. It has been a fantastic five days – complete with much needed family time, lots of snow, some exploring, and really, really good food. I can’t wait for our next trip out here!

Central Park
The view from 12
We took a drive down to Raton, New Mexico

It’s Been A While

March 12, 2022 — Leave a comment

Hello!

I fell off the face of the earth during Covid, but as some of you have surely noticed, I’m back! There has been so much to share – from new music to tour dates – that I am just now getting the chance to post a little personal blog and tell y’all what’s up with me.

Well, I honestly haven’t been doing much besides working. My best friend and her family moved to Kentucky last year, so I’ve driven up there twice to visit them. I had never been to Kentucky before, and they took me to the Indiana state line so now I can say I’ve been there as well. Ha!

I also flew out to Colorado in February 2021 to see my brother and his wife. They have lived there since 2017 and that was my first time going to them, and my first time flying. (They have flown home three times, once for a memorable weekend in Dauphin Island.) Colorado was beautiful! We knocked out a couple of other firsts: me gambling and both of them getting tattooed. It was so much fun, but a very short trip. No worries, though. Mom and I are heading out there next week!

Other than that, I’ve been to a few concerts. I saw A Killer’s Confession (and met Waylon Reavis and Church, both formerly of Mushroomhead). I went to a John 5 show and met him, which made my life as I’ve been a fan since I was 12. Small Town Titans came to town, as did Smith & Myers, Tommy Vext, South of Eden, and Blacktop Mojo. And I hung out a lot with Alabama’s very own Throne of Eden.

Now, I’m really just crossing my fingers that the Rammstein tour happens this year. I guess I would be satisfied with an Alter Bridge run in the fall/winter instead; they keep hinting that they’ve begun writing for a new album.

I hope this blog finds all of you well, and that your 2022 is going much better than the last two years! I’m gonna wrap this up with a few pictures. Until next time! 🙂

Small Town Titans
Colorado
My and my brother’s tattoos
My Rammstein tattoo
Blacktop Mojo
Mom with “Catt” (Blacktop Mojo)
John 5
Waylon Reavis
Church
With the besties at the haunted woods for Halloween
Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville
My newest tattoo

Too Busy For Blogging

December 11, 2019 — Leave a comment

I keep trying to get back into a regular posting schedule, but life has been determined to intervene. After my grandmother passed in October, my best friend’s mother-in-law died. I was there for her and her husband, and to be honest I was emotionally drained. My dad noticed and planned a spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach.

I can’t tell y’all how much I needed the three days of sun, sand, and sea. Despite the fact that it was November, the weather was gorgeous. I was able to wade in the water and bask in the sun (with a lightweight jacket on). I even got a touch of sunburn.

Since then, it’s just been…change. I’m searching for a new job and trying to get things ready for Christmas. Last week, I took a day trip to Cathedral Caverns with my parents, which was nice.

2019 has had its ups and downs. I won’t say the year has been bad, necessarily, but I am hoping 2020 is better. And it will certainly start that way — I’m going to see Alter Bridge again in February.

Anyway, for those who care, I wanted to give an update. I also wanted to let y’all know there will be some end-of-year posts, I’m just not sure I can keep up with the Playlist Challenge or a weekly featured band right now.

Here are more pictures from the beach and the expedition in Cathedral Caverns! I hope this blog finds you all well.

Gulf Shores

Cathedral Caverns

This is Goliath, one of the largest stalagmites in the world, 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference.

“The Improbable”: a 27-feet high stalagmite, growing on a 3-inch base and at a 45 degree angle to the stone below it.

Home Tonight, So Here’s An Update

October 14, 2019 — Leave a comment

My mom and I spent the majority of the day at the nursing home with my grandmother. There has been no change, except her blood pressure has dropped slightly (no cause for concern, according to Hospice) and they are now having to suction out her throat and esophagus at least two or three times a day. So, please continue praying/sending us positive thoughts, if you would.

In other news, it’s October — my favorite time of the year! (I know we’re already 13 days in, but I’ve been distracted.) I have no idea what I’m going to be for Halloween. I’m leaning toward a variation on Harley Quinn, the girl on the cover of Mindless Self Indulgence’s Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy, or Tim Sköld. I haven’t had the chance to indulge in many horror movies so far; however, my best friend and I have binge-watched “Light as a Feather” on Hulu.

Other highlights of October: it’s finally below 1000 degrees here in Alabama, and my favorite college football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, is undefeated. Oh, and Alter Bridge is playing a show within two hours of me on the 17th.

Given that this is a music blog, I guess I should mention something about music, huh? Ha! Okay. Here are a few upcoming releases:

  • Super Junior – Time Slip (10/14)
  • Shane Eagle – Dark Moon Flower (10/15)
  • Alex Vargas – EGO (10/18)
  • Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky (10/18)
  • Cody Jinks – The Wanting (10/18)
  • HXXS – Year of the Witch (10/18)
  • Jimmy Eat World – Surviving (10/18)
  • The Lacs – Rise and Shine (10/18)
  • Third Eye Blind – Screamer (10/18)
  • Cigarettes After Sex – Cry (10/25)
  • Fit For An Autopsy – The Sea of Tragic Beasts (10/25)
  • Jinjer – Macro (10/25)
  • Night Flowers – Fortune Teller (10/25)
  • Norma Jean – All Hail (10/25)
  • PVRIS – Hallucinations EP (10/25)
  • Scarlett Rose – Welcome to Wonderland (10/31)

I’m trying to schedule some posts in my free time so that my blog isn’t lacking content for consecutive days, or even a full week. I hope to resume the playlist challenge and choose a featured band on the 21st.

My Lack of Posts

October 11, 2019 — Leave a comment

I didn’t share a new music post on Sunday; there have been no updates to the playlist challenge and no featured band or album of the week. I’m pretty sure there won’t be any posts next week, either. I apologize to the followers who actually pay attention, but everything kinda went to hell recently.

My grandmother has been sick and in the nursing home for a while. She was diagnosed with COPD and congestive heart failure years ago. Otherwise, though, she was healthy.

She has had stomach issues her entire life, and for the last couple of years she’s been in and out of the hospital, complaining of nausea and pain. Well, last week she was once again in the hospital for those symptoms. Her doctor told her that there was nothing else he could do unless she allowed them to do an endoscopy and actually figure out why she had those symptoms. She refused the procedure. My mom asked her why and my grandmother said she didn’t want to know. If it was serious, she felt like they couldn’t help her anyway. (Bear in mind, she’s 89.)

My mom and I both talked to her last Wednesday, right after she was released from the hospital and sent back to the nursing home. The very next day, my great aunt called and told us that she was dying.

She is in the final stages of COPD and congestive heart failure. Her lungs are filled with fluid. She is no longer responsive, though that could be because they are keeping her dosed with morphine for the pain. She has a DNR in place, so basically they can do nothing but make sure she’s comfortable.

I ask that anyone who reads this send up a prayer, positive thoughts, or whatever it is you do. This is a very difficult time, especially for my mom, and we need all the comfort we can get.

Thank you.

It’s My Birthday Week!

August 6, 2018 — Leave a comment

Time needs to slow down. I’m getting old… Lol.

Since it’s a special week, I am taking a break from blogging. The playlist challenge will continue so as not to lose count, but there will be no album of the week or featured band.

Here are some humorous tweets and memes about getting older. I hope they make you smile 🙂

Because furbabies…

May 18, 2018 — Leave a comment

I don’t share a lot of personal things here, but I’m gonna give up a small tidbit today.

I have had a rough month. I can’t explain it, because even I don’t fully understand. Suffice it to say that it’s been a daily struggle for just over four weeks. The only things (besides music) that have brought me joy are my furbabies: Marceline, Vlad, and Elwin. And so I’m basically dedicating a post to them. Because furbabies.

Marceline

Vlad

This basically shows their personalities. Vlad is a ham and adorable, while Marceline is dignified…and kinda grumpy.

Elwin

2018 Reading Goal

January 18, 2018 — Leave a comment

I know this is a music blog, but I wanted to share something else I’m doing with my followers…just because.

I love to read! I have always loved to read. I don’t always have time, of course, though the various apps I can download to my phone have helped. Anyway, I finally joined GoodReads. I browsed through my favorite genres and found at least fifty books I was interested in reading. Lol.

The site encourages its users to set a goal for themselves, so I did. I am going to read fifteen books in 2018. I know that doesn’t seem an exceptional amount, but we’ll see how it goes. I may update my progress here, as well.

Right now, I’m on the final book in a trilogy by Shannon Mayer. The first in the series is entitled Venom and Vanilla. I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. The main character, Alena, starts out as kind of a stick in the mud. However, once she is turned into a supernatural (saving her from dying of a supposedly incurable disease), things get interesting.

Shannon Mayer combines all the usual suspects — vampires, werewolves, etc. — with the Greek pantheon, and it is masterfully done.

Thus far, my list of books for 2018 is as follows:

  • Venom and Vanilla by Shannon Mayer (read)
  • Fangs and Fennel by Shannon Mayer (read)
  • Hisses and Honey by Shannon Mayer (reading)
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (reading)
  • IT by Stephen King (reading)

At this rate, I think I’ll reach my goal!