We had a record setting snow storm in Portland recently so I think it’s still appropriate to talk about cozy sweaters! I was so excited to see these sweaters available in so many different colors this year. A couple years ago I bought a cream one and fell in love with it, so it was an easy “add to cart” when I saw the cerise and light purple! It’s hard to refrain from buying this sweater in every color, especially since our temps are still in the 30s. Normally I wear a size small in H&M tops but I sized down in this sweater since it’s a little boxy and I like my sweaters to be a bit more fitted. These sweaters are also extremely easy to dress up or down. I love pairing them with jeans or high waisted dress pants and the pops of color are a reminder that spring is just around the corner!

Photography by Little Photo Fox

If it’s vintage, amazing and your size…YOU BUY IT! That’s one thing I’ve learned over the years when it comes to vintage shopping! These days I’m more selective with the true vintage pieces I buy but I will never pass up a gorgeous gown, coat, sweater or blazer! 

This blazer was a recent find at Purple Dahl Vintage and too unique to pass up. Plus, Lilly Collins wore a jacket in season 1 of Emily In Paris that’s almost identical (I put a side by side in my Instagram story today so you can see)! Since I tend to gravitate towards vintage pieces that throwback to earlier decades, I was in love with the tailoring of this 1970s blazer because the structure reminded me a bit of the 1940s when I saw it!

Photography by Little Photo Fox

When you wish it was Halloween but it’s only Valentine’s Day the answer is… (drum roll please) Valloween. Yep, that’s right. Pink, red, hearts and bats. Basically if Jack Skellington and his Halloween Town friends tried to take over Valentine’s Day, you’d get Valloween.

Since I’ve been feeling crafty lately I decided to see if I could create my own Valloween candy heart boxes and I have to say, I think they turned out pretty good for my first attempt! I bought candy hearts at the grocery store and used scrapbook paper and other craft supplies to recover and decorate them. I even utilized some of the Spoonflower peel and stick wallpaper, that I’ve used for countless other DIY projects, to cover a heart as well. I also found the cutest Valloween cards and stickers on Etsy to send to friends!

When it comes to Valloween treats I’ve been really in to baking mini cakes, so naturally I had to bake and decorate one for this spooky-cute occasion! I even found Valentine’s Day colored candy corn at the store and it made my heart so happy!

Happy Valloween, everyone!

Top and skirt from Vixen by Mitcheline Pitt

Photography by Little Photo Fox

Prior to “Dry January” I decided to take a step back from alcohol and that’s how I discovered De Soi! 

One night before Christmas I randomly Googled “substitute for alcohol” (yes, that’s exactly what I Googled) and De Soi popped right up! After learning it was co founded by Katy Perry, I started reading reviews, researching natural adaptogens and it wasn’t long before I was SOLD. Since then I’ve placed 5 orders and l’ve already referred a friend! At this point, I just need to click the subscribe button 😂.

Champignon Dreams is definitely my favorite so far. It reminds of a spritz and has the same deliciously complex taste that I typically look for in a cocktail without the alcohol and the extra calories. De Soi has easily replaced alcoholic beverages for me! It’s so satisfying and I love being able to unwind at the end of the day without booze.

If you’ve tried De Soi, I’d love to know your favorite flavor!

Cheers!

Dress from H&M
Photography by Little Photo Fox

As mentioned in my last blog post, when it comes to holiday style, I gravitate towards two very distinct looks that couldn’t be more opposite. Here’s a quick recap in case you didn’t read my last post and just looked at the pictures. I have my classic holiday wardrobe pieces and then I have my “alternative” holiday pieces. My alt holiday style is all about dark glamour with a festive touch! Black faux fur, black and white stripes, black vegan leather….I love Halloween, Old Hollywood and all things Victorian Gothic, what do you expect 😆? 

P.S. I also have the black Christmas tree of my dreams this year and I couldn’t be happier. The black and gold poinsettia I’m wearing in my hair, in this post, is actually a clip on Christmas ornament so it’s currently on the tree 😆🖤.

Dress from Retrolicious // Hair by Beauty by Autumn // Vegan leather opera gloves from La Femme en Noir

Photography by Vanessa Wolf Creative

When it comes to holiday style, I feel like I love two very distinct looks that couldn’t be more opposite. I have my classic holiday wardrobe pieces, which include red, green, festive plaids, bows and holly berry accessories and then I have my “alternative” holiday pieces. Black faux fur, black and white stripes, black vegan leather…call it dark holiday if you want because my alt holiday looks are definitely inspired my love for Halloween and the Victorian Era. I guess if my holiday style was a Facebook relationship status it would be “it’s complicated,” but both styles are super true to who I am. 

The look featured in this post is clearly dedicated to my love and appreciation for all things classic Christmas. I’ve been waiting an entire year to wear this set from the 1940s! I purchased it online from Dela Deville’s Vintage a week before Christmas last year and didn’t have time to shoot it before the end of the holiday season. This year, giving this dress its moment was at the top of my holiday to-do list!

Vanessa Wolf and I had the best time at Helvetia Farm Market shooting this look over the weekend.  While we were there, I picked up a couple Christmas gifts and grabbed a Gingerbread Chai Latte at the cafe. I also mistook a couple dogs in the field for sheep because I didn’t have my glasses on. Oops 😆.

Hair by Beauty by Autumn // Beret made by Kramaric Millinery

Photography by Vanessa Wolf Creative.

Welcome to my spooky space aka the parlor! I’m still adding to the gallery wall and working on a few more DIY projects but for the most part it’s done! I’ve always wanted a designated room for the spooky aesthetic I love, so when my husband and I moved in to our new house over the summer I already had a vision for our new den which doubles as a home office. The vibe I was going for was Victorian gothic with a touch of glam and I think I achieved it. Since Halloween decor is my everyday decor I tend to ONLY buy home decor during spooky season. When it comes to buying home decor outside of spooky season, I have my go-to online retailers/small businesses that satisfy my Halloween 365 heart (I’ll be sure to link them at the bottom of this post) . I‘m already thinking I may have to do an updated parlor post eventually because recently I stumbled upon the most amazing vintage lamp by dealer Jax and Boo at a local antique mall. It’s 1970s Victorian revival at its absolute best. Since the lamp itself is such a unique piece, I’m on the hunt for a subtle lampshade that will match the space.

If you’re like me and love haunted home decor, I’m linking some of my favorite sites for your year round spooky decor needs!

Spoonflower: If you’re looking for spooky fabric or wall paper, definitely check out Spoonflower. I ordered peel and stick wallpaper designed by Lellobird, in a Halloween stripe, to enhance surfaces and create wall art.

Graveyard Wanders: This shop has become new source for unique candles and scents. I ordered the Gothic Arches Candle in dark grey and you don’t even have to light the wick to smell it!! Each candle from this small business is hand made, eco friendly and made in small batches.

Etsy: I’ve found some amazing art for my gallery on Etsy. I’m really loving BabybatsByCherry and TheCraftyBurrEato .

Lively Ghosts: Another one of my go to small businesses for year round spooky art and fashion! The 8×10 print of the Sanderson Sisters’ cottage hanging on my gallery wall is part of their Houses of Horror art print line!

Photography by Little Photo Fox

As someone who keeps the Halloween spirit year round, I guess it’s only natural that my favorite month of the year would fly by faster than any other. 

I kicked off the month by seeing one of my absolute favorite bands, My Chemical Romance, on their reunion tour in Portland and basically ended the month by seeing them again in Las Vegas. I’ve seen them on every tour and this tour is my favorite yet! If I have to explain why I love MCR, then you probably wouldn’t understand 😆. If there’s on thing I love almost as much as MCR, it’s creating content for this wonderful month. One thing I’ve realized is 31 days is not enough time to showcase all of my spooky looks so you may start seeing them throughout the year! Happy Halloween, everyone!

Outfit details: haunted house headband from Spirit Halloween / Bridget Sanderson swing dress from Collectif London / Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin bag from La Femme En Noir / Pumpkin King 3/4 sleeve top from Vixen by Micheline Pitt / Dani cardigan from Hot Topic

Photography by Little Photo Fox

Last year I got the opportunity to interview self published author, Alondra Maldonado. After binge reading her book, Hell Departed, I had so many questions! If you’re constantly on the look out for spooky reads, be sure to add this one to your list. Not a fan of spooky or horror? I bet there’s someone on your holiday shopping list who is! I hope you enjoy this 2021 interview with Alondra. It’s always a pleasure to spotlight other creatives on this platform.

Tell me a little bit about yourself? 

Well, I’m not only into the horror genre, I have a soft spot for rom-coms and Old Hollywood movies. My favorite movies are those with Ginger Rogers and Doris Day. I actually minored in film studies at university! Aside from that, I really love to travel and learn new languages. I am eager to travel more and improve my speaking skills in my target languages.

I think you created a new genre of horror with this novel! Horror erotica maybe??  What genre do you think best describes the book?! 

Thank you! I don’t really think I created this genre. I’ve always felt like horror and sex went well together. At least sex is a common theme in slashers. I would call it horror, but of course horror has many subgenres. It’s hard to put my book into a category because there is erotica of course, but also some supernatural and comedic aspects to it. 

What inspired you the most while writing? 

I started writing this book when I was a senior in high school. So, it took seven years to write and decide to finally give it an ending. I have always been a fan of horror movies. At the time I started writing this book, I was discovering so many new films, independent films from the seventies mostly. The kind only shown at drive-ins or independent movie theaters. I feel like many writers are inspired by other authors, but for me, it was film! I really enjoyed the liberties these independent filmmakers made with these movies. And then of course, with my love for horror, I was inspired to create a story that had a similar mood. Daring, provacative, unusual, and even kind of gross. I’ve always been fascinated by true crime and so I decided to do some research into American serial-killers and came across the story of the Bloody Benders. I chose to base my story on them because they were not mainstream and because there is something extra creepy about commiting murders as a family. My book is inspired by the story of the Benders, who commited these murderous acts in the 1870s. I decided to modernize it a bit and have my book take place in the 1970s. I guess because I’ve always been fascinated by the time period, research for accuracy would be easier, and of course becuase of the independent movies of the time. There are also aspects of me and my interests in some of the characters. There are some based on people I have known. I guess I found inspiration in many things!

What formats is your book currently available in and where can it be purchased? 

My book is available only through Amazon in paperback and as an ebook for purchase or free with Kindle Unlimitted.

Is there a sequel or spin off in the works?

I’ve thought about it. Honestly, writing a book is hard! I have ideas for a prequel or a sequel (or maybe a story that juxaposes both times), but nothing serious for now.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to self publish a book of their own? 

It won’t be easy, but it is very much possible. There are so many self-published authors today. I would research all the pros and cons of self-publishing before making a decision and find out what the best option is for what you want out of this. The reason I decided to self-publish is because I wanted to make sure I had all the rights to my story. Initially, I thought I would look for a publisher (and I did get a response, but only after I had started the self-publishing process). You may get more sales and more promotion if you go with a publishing house, but you won’t have all of the rights. That was the right choice for me.

Special thanks to Alondra Maldonado for the complimentary copy of Hell Departed.

Photography by Sam Rivas Photography.

Whenever someone comes to me wanting to learn more about Marilyn Monroe I always recommend literature written by Michelle Morgan. I recently finished reading her latest book, ‘When Marilyn Met The Queen’ and I’m already itching to read it again! Michelle paints the perfect picture of Marilyn’s time in England filming ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’. With the amount of research and detail the book exudes,  it’s obvious Michelle spent 30 years bringing this book in to existence.  As a reader, I felt like I was  transported back in time to be a fly on the wall. 

There were so many memorable moments in the book that I loved. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say my biggest take away was how altruistic Marilyn remained despite everything going on in her life during this time. 

I wrote the majority of this book review before the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Upon hearing the news of her passing, I couldn’t help reflecting on The Queen’s life, this book and the moment when two extraordinary women met. 

Special thanks to Michelle Morgan, Little Brown Book Group and Pegasus Books for complimentary copies of ‘When Marilyn Met the Queen’.

Replica Savoy mesh dress custom made by Morning Star Pinup 

Photography by Little Photo Fox