A Look At The Week (7/31-8/7)

       Let's get right into it.

                                 













What I've Been up To:

      I've taken to drawing stripes on my face. This may or may not be the direct result of watching too many Black Veil Brides videos. Regardless, I think it looks cool.

       This post is going to be completely full of pictures. Let's just make that clear right now.

       Since this was the last week before my partner arrives (tomorrow!) I spent some time with friends and family. We went out for a day in Berkeley, got some amazing clam chowder in San Francisco, and went to Alameda beach. I'm going to miss all these things so much when I go away for college.

                                










       Above are my parents when we went out to San Francisco. Apparently they used to go to this restaurant, The Clam House all of the time. It's historical too. They had a plaque saying it had been open in the same location since 1861.

       This week I also started a new series, Goth Reviews, which you can see in my previous post. Besides that I have just been cleaning and organizing my stuff, getting ready to pack. I have finally gotten to see the course catalog for Amherst, so I've been thinking about what classes I want to take too./

What I've Been Listening To:

       I'm still on quite a Black Veil Brides kick, but I have also been listening to O.Children and Shayfer James as part of my Goth Reviews series.

Some Posts I've Liked:

       Devin Faye at Alternative Enby wrote a great post on goth hair colors other than black. It's a good post and I love the amount of diversity included in the pictures. Check it out here.

Seven Years of Goth Fashion

       I've been part of the goth subculture for almost seven years. It's taken me through middle school, high school, and now into college. I am by no means an elder in the scene, but I feel like it is time to take a look back anyway.

       I've organized these photos by grade rather than by year, because it made it easier for me to figure out when they were taken.

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

A Look at the...Screw it, You Know I've Been Gone Longer Than a Week

         I have been gone for a long time. A very long time. Many months. As no one reads this, that does not matter. However, if you follow my vlogs, then you know some of what I've been up to.

       So, I'm kind of back. What have I been up to recently? As always let's go over it point by point.

What I've Been Up To:

       I've started a blog for my photography. I also have a blog for reblogging other people's art, so anyone who posts their work on Tumblr and wants me to take a look at it should let me know. Besides that I've been working on my professional website, trying to pick up freelance work, and preparing for college. Woo.

       I also got to attend the Sacramento Love Horror Film Festival. That was excellent. The films were great and the live entertainment was just wonderful. Some of it might have been a bit crude for some people's tastes (*ahem* my grandmother whom I went with) but I absolutely loved it. I'm am just sad that I won't be in the area in October, when Voltaire will be performing at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival. I would love to get to see that. Someday I'll get to see him live.
     
       Have some photos.

What I've Been Listening To:

       I ended up revisiting Black Veil Brides, a band I haven't listened to regularly since middle school. I found that Andy has released his own solo album, The Shadow Side (and is apparently going by a different last name again?). Let me just say that I am absolutely in love. The music is great, and the video for We Don't Have to Dance is absolute perfection. As a videographer I am jealous. Those night shots are so crisp. As far as the music itself is concerned, I am particularly fond of Ribcage, though the message of Stay Alive is definitely a worthy one.

Some Posts I've Loved:

       I have been too busy to be super involved in the blog scene lately, but I do know that Spooky Loop was sporting some awesome nose jewelry that I am truthfully jealous of. Additionally, Crypt Tips wrote a nice post on dealing with baby bats.

Other Things of Interest:

       I haven't gotten to watch it yet, but I am really eager to watch this documentary featuring beloved goth YouTuber It's Black Friday.

"Be the Goth Queen you Were Trying to be When you Were 14"

Me at 14

 

Me Now

  

In other words, I think I'm succeeding. That inspiration came from this tumblr post. Check it out.

Lazy Saturday and a Heavy Dose of Smart Assery

If you're going to lay around reading all day, it makes sense to just stay in your pajamas, right?

Erm...

...maybe that's true for most people.

Instead of being practical I decided to don several layers of black clothing and a coat of makeup to match. Hey, it was something to do. Besides, who doesn't want to look like death while lounging with a favorite book? Goths do have a reputation of being quite the readers. Maybe I'm just hoping to get my goth card stamped.

It's time for the obligatory and unedited mirror selfie. I hope you're ready for this masterpiece (sarcasm heavily implied of course).

What else did I do while all dressed up? I know you're all wondering that...except for those of you who aren't. Regardless, I posed with a dilapidated lawn chair. Yes. A dilapidated. Lawn. Chair. Wonder upon wonders how marvelous is that. Definitely A+ scenery material. 

*ahem*

Why be serious all the time when it's so much more fun to be a complete and utter sarcastic smart ass from time to time?

The Darkling Tag

I found this challenge on tumblr and figured it would be a good introductory type thing to do since I'm just getting back into blogging.

Simple Questions:

What is your favorite candle scent?

Vanilla is my favorite easily found scent. Beyond that I like anything that smells like good cologne.

Do you have a favorite book?

-explodes while trying to choose-

Are you a tea or coffee person?

BOTH!

What is your favorite brand and color of lipstick?

Currently I'm loving Kleancolor's Cast of Spell. It's not the highest quality but the color is beautiful.

I was actually wearing it today. It works quite well with my predominantly black and purple outfit. In better lighting it looks more colorful. It almost seems to glow too, the same way white fabric does under a black light.

What is your favorite perfume/cologne?

I don't really have one. The only stuff I own is some off brand cologne I got for a dollar.

Do you have a celebrity crush?

No.

If you had to give up the color black, what color would you choose instead?

My first thought was purple, but grey would be more versatile.

If you could change your name to a stereotypical 90s/2000s gothy name, what would it be?

When I was little it would have been Thorn because of the Hex Girl by that name. Then for a while I was leaning towards Heather. Now, I'd have to go with Poe.

What are your top three tips for surviving hot weather while black clad?

Stay in the shade. Sunblock is your friend. Drink tons of water.

What song will always make you happy?

Point Counterpoint by Streetlight Manifesto or Lucretia my Reflection by Sisters of Mercy

Are you active in the arts?

Yes. Mainly I write and film. I'm even part of a multimedia academy at my school.

If you had a teacup or mug made inscribed just for you, what would you have it say?

They/Them

What is you number one non-gothy hobby?

Uh...I don't know. Is filming stuff a gothy hobby or not?

Thought Provokers:

If you could be a supernatural creature, what would it be and why?

Ok, so I'm stretching the word "supernatural" a bit to include mythological creatures as well. I want to be an elf. I like elves. A lot.

What horror monster-based super power would you have?

Uh...I don't know. I'm having trouble thinking of monster-based super powers at all. Maybe turning invisible? Then I could be out an about on my own without having to worry about my safety so much because no one would know I was there. I could actually go for solo walks at night. I'd just have to be really careful about crossing streets.

Do you feel confident or comfortable interacting with other goths or gothy people?

It depends. If I'm all dressed up and I look nice, then yes usually. If not then it's just like, "Wait, I can be marvelously gothy. Please believe me."

Which is more important for a look: great hair or great makeup?

Makeup.

Is there something you wish there was more of in your subculture?

I just wish there was more community in my area. I want to meet people.

Care to share and embarrassing story related to your "darkliness"?

How about the vast majority of my old website?

How are you at DIY?

I'm ok at it. It depends what I'm trying to do.

Quickly describe your ideal wedding.

I don't even know. I know I want to get married eventually but I don't know what I want it to be like.

True or False:

I love watching cheesy romance films: False

I always remember to wash off my makeup at night: True

I sleep with plushies: True

I wear non-black pajamas most nights: True

I still listen to a boy band that had disbanded years ago: False

I think Andrew Eldritch is overrated: False

I don't like vampires: False

I don't like clubs: False

I'm dating a goth/darkly-inclined person: Ehhh...they can appreciate dark things but they aren't goth.

I don't enjoy graveyards: False

Blood makes me queasy: True

I'd sooner faint than pet a spider: True

I don't like haunted houses: I'm really not sure

I still browse Hot Topic's clearance racks: False (there isn't a Hot Topic close enough to me.)

I've never read Dracula: True

I think "Bela Lugosi's Dead" is a long and boring song: True (though I like it better than a lot of Bauhaus's stuff)