Hatred within the goth community and why I like nu goth fashion.

So Sary Walrus posted this which includes the lovely Kazlovesbats talking about goths attacking other goths within the scene. I do not have this trouble since there are not many goths where I live. But online...well...that is a different story. Since when is it okay to make rules within the goth community? When is it okay for one to determine what "goth is and what it is not". I do know that the Gothic subculture started as an off-shoot of the post-punk genre. But it also evolved with 19th century Gothic literature,campy shows like The Munsters, and even Tim Burton adding to this culture.  In my opinion Goth now is what you make of it. It is not just listening to specific music but it is a way of life. It is finding beauty in the darkness. Every person is different, so what Goth means to me will not be the same for others. There are many new styles of Goth withing the subculture. The newest styles emerging are pastel goth and nu goth. Nu goth being not too far from traditional goths. Think about it...torn tights,BDSM influences,and esoteric symbols. Pastel goth seems to be a mash up of lolita and grunge. Pastel goths incorporate spooky imagery but with lighter colors. Goths have black bats and they have lilac bats. I personally like certain aspects of both of these styles. I do incorporate some things into my wardrobe.

Why? Because my style is constantly evolving. Aesthetically I like the look of ripped knee highs and baggy sweaters. (Robert Smith was the king of baggy sweaters by the way.) I like big round sunglasses and clunky 90's shoes. (I own a pair of Mudd shoes.) I love skeleton hair clips and layering torn fabrics together. As Goths we do evolve. We decide that we are not dressing this way for others but for us. Goths as much as anybody need to accept others for their choices. The popularity of nu-goth has also made it easier for me to get clothing in "normal" stores. (There is a store that has a bat printed onesie for crying out loud!) There is slight controversy (ahem...people bitching...) about "nu-goths are not goth...they do not listen to goth music..they just copy our style!" but hello...there are plenty of goths that do not listen to Sisters of Mercy. There are goths who like mainstream music,industrial music,classical music, and hell my spotify playlist is all over the place. So for the "elite" goths that decide the rules of goth...go fuck yourself. I am no less of a Goth because of my interests.

Sugar and Spite Bathery Review!

So I was planning on posting pictures of my order when I go it...but due to excitement I tore everything open. I have no shame....none at all. But everything was packaged so wonderfully! Complete with creepy twins, black ribbon, wax seals, and candy canes! Onward to the smells!

The Halloween 2013 Sampler Pack

Fiend
"Ripe apple pulp, tart mandarin, vanilla bean, and a fiendish ribbon of black amber."

Okay...first of all...Fiend is my favorite word to use. It just sounds nice to say. Fiend, Fiend, Fiend. Anyway at first smell on the skin I smell...honeysuckles? Weeeeird. But lovely..reminds me of summer down here in Alabama. and normally I despise florals...but this is just...amazing. The die down is vanilla and black amber. Very lovely indeed.

Sinister
"Le Carnival Noir! Black licorice whips, tea leaves, and incense smoke from darkened caravans"
First thing I smell...LICORICE. So much licorice...gah. Not liking this at all. But the dry down...oh this is nice. Tea and incense smoke. This smells like my kitchen when I have a late night cup of tea. I can get over the licorice.

Goblin
" Blackened honey kissed by night blooming flowers and a ghostly whisper of smoky vanilla"

Oh Mama. This smells like nag champa. Yesssss my precioussss. Honey tends to smell like piss on me. But not this oh no sir. Okay now the dry down..vanilla cookies and incense. Must get more of this!

These are some general catalogue scents I ordered also...

Leopold
 "A sweet blend of vanilla bean, amber, musk, and white pepper."

*moans* This is heaven...enough said.

Brewster
 "Buttercream icing, candied violets, and vanilla cake."

Not really getting the violets...just lovely cake and icing. This is a more mature vanilla scent. Me likey. 

Miss Fortune
" Curiously sweet and dark. Tobacco leaf, a trio of rich musks, new mown hay, and a drizzle of creamy vanilla bourbon."

Upon first sniff I smell the hay...but very faintly. Then creamy vanilla....then the die down is musks. Oh yes...full size away! 

Some freebies I got:

Sugar frost
  "A creamy, beautiful marriage of vanilla, a kiss of mint, and a top quality Indian attar".

Oh lord mint! This made me shiver...oh this is new. What the hell is attar? *quickly searches* Oh it is basically Indian perfume. Which means incense! O yea! Full sized yes please.

And I was given a peppermint clove lip balm after posting on the Facebook page about the yule items just being put up after my order was placed. And I want...no..need clove lip balm in my life. Is it awesome? Yes. Does it leave my lips sticky so my man refuses to kiss me? Nope. Holy grail lip balm...perhaps!

You can find her Facebook here and her etsy page here.

November Baby Bat Advice and the shamless wants.

Ohai! Been a minute yes? Well...one word for you...FINALS! *resists urge to claw out eyes* So I got nothing but good words about my baby by advice in October so this will be a monthly thing! Hurrah! And also the  weather is finally cold. Well occasionally...Alabama weather is a fickle mistress. Which in turn makes my sinuses freak out. So I have been layering like a fiend on the cold days. Onward to the advice!


1. You are beautiful! Do not listen to negative comments!

It is hard when others constantly bomb you with hate. I know it is very hard to ignore negative comments. Trust me...I know. My family always claimed I would get nowhere in life dressing the way I do. I was called a loser,ugly,dog face, and many other things in school. But you know what? I have a job I enjoy. I am pursuing the career of my dreams. I probably have a better education than any of those fools. (I also plan on going to get a second degree. My mother says I will be in school all my life..hehe) Sure I hear negative things...but simple comments like, "You are a work of art." or "Thank you for not being afraid to be yourself." from strangers out shine all the hate. Remember...those people do mold you into a better person. I try not to hate others because I never want to be "that person" in life. So hold your head high baby bat and proudly flap your wings into the night!

2. Expand your taste in music and clothing.

My favorite music includes 1950s love ballads, 1960s classic rock, electronic, industrial, black metal, and 1980s anything. I can go from David Bowie to Cradle of Filth in three seconds. Why? I have a varied taste! You never know what you like until you try or listen to it. Just because you are goth does not mean you MUST listen to strictly "Goth Music".  Others may disagree...but those people...are not you! Fuck em! Incorporate other styles into your current wardrobe. For summer I like maxi dresses and shredded shorts. Bohemian touches look very lovely with the gothic wardrobe. Trust me...you will grow tired of Tripp pants and band shirts eventually. Try something new!

And now shameless wants:

This necklace, this nail polish, this dress, and this little piece of my childhood!

Current favorites and why I have been absent!

Well I had a lovely Halloween and my costume was Alex Delarge from A ClockWork Orange. I made my very first punk vest. Think lots of safety pins and patches. I was going to upload pictures but for some reason I cannot upload any I took via my phone. This has given me much frustration. For a whole day I tried to upload pictures to no avail. I even had some pictures of recent thrift finds. But nooooo...ah well.

I won a Halloween contest started by The Gothic Optician who has a Facebook here. I won with this picture!

I have never won a contest before so....I am so very happy! I also discovered a local specialty store called Mineral Way. They specialize in hand crafted mineral makeup. Also they can create custom colors and they perfectly matched a shade to match me. Which is amazing! I am so pale with yellow undertones so makeup searching is a pain in the buns. During the warmer weather I found a wonderful trench coat and have been wearing it nonstop. And lately since Christmas is nearing stores are selling scents in the holiday theme...which means...Vanilla all the things! I love that I can make the house smell like a giant sugar cookie...but my man despises it. *shrugs* How can there be too much vanilla?! Also since making the punk vest I have been interested in adding crustpunk elements into my wardrobe. Which reminds me..I need to invest in good quality combat boots. My favorite pair is already falling apart after only three months. So do you have any recommendations for a good brand of combats?

Arx Mortis and how circus music creeps me out!

So last night me and my love went to a Halloween Attraction called Arx Mortis..which is Latin for "death fortress" I believe. Last year we went to one called Atrox Factory but we were not too pleased. Visually it was great but we did not get scared once. The drive was around an hour or so and we passed the time by reading funny signs and listening to music too loud. I wore a new shirt for the campy horror movie, "The Satanic Rites of Dracula" and layered like nobodies business. It got soooo cold so I ended up stealing Micheal's jacket when we got to the place.

I caught him! He is not fond of pictures..heehe.

The tickets were being sold at seven and we got there around six. And the line was already huge. But we got inside very quickly. You bought your ticket and was placed in a group by colors and they would announce which group was next. You could get some snacks or check out the gift shop before you were called. I purchased some very cute string dolls (Beetlejuice,Pinhead,and Iron Man) and a little backpack that has the Arx Mortis logo on it. It was very tempting to buy all the things! They had Bloody Mary makeup,Alchemy Gothic jewelry and nifty claw rings. (Which my man bought) As we ate our snacks our group was called and we almost missed it! The first part was outdoors with dimly lit wooded paths littered with wooden spikes and nuclear waste. This part did not really scare me but I enjoyed the scenery of the sets. The indoor part started with "Covington Clinic". A hospital gone horribly wrong. The scenes were very professional and seemed to be the set of a horror movie. Moving along we went into what seemed to look like a cave. A pitch black cave. Things overhead touched my face and I was actually frightened by the utter darkness. Part of the area was another outdoor area where we had to trek across a creepy wooden bridge where people hiding in the overhead part scared me! They were disguised as moss..how genius! Next was a graveyard scene complete with mausoleums and creepy fog. Then was the horror show..the top of a circus tent loomed into view. Keep in mind I am afraid of clowns. This area...somehow they made it smell like cotton candy. This part really got to me with the psycho fortune tellers and clowns with chainsaws...*shudders*.  We both really enjoyed our trip and the attraction was around an hour long. We both go some scares which is rare for us horror nerds. So do you love getting scared? 

Updates! Patches! Reviews! Oh my!

So I have been busy as always with work and classes...as usual. The weather has been amazing lately and perfect for sweaters.  I have been...going a little crazy with Halloween shopping. But my will power is weak when faced with cute bats and skeletons. This weekend I plan on going to a local Halloween attraction called Arx Mortis which you can take a look at here. And yes..pictures will be taken!

I also recieved my order from Bath and Body works because not only can you get two items free when you buy three items...I qualified for free shipping. Yes please! No pictures due to me tearing into the package like a little kid. But everything was nicely packaged and my order came with coupons and a little booklet of other fragrances. Here is what I got:

Brown Sugar and Fig shower gel and body mist:

"Brown Sugar & Fig is a sweet medley of fresh fig and coconut milk, sprinkled with caramelized brown sugar"

This is only around during the Fall season and I have smelled it before and fell in love. Lovely warm vanilla with a sweet fig bite. It dries down to a musky caramel. Yes please!

Dark Kiss body mist:

 "Seductive blend of dark berries with a kiss of vanilla to unleash your most primal passion" 

Yet another limited time fragrance. On me the berries are not very prominent but instead I get a deep vanilla,amber, and slightly incensey sort of smell. But this is not a loud in your face fragrance. It's subtle and clings to the skin.

Forever Midnight 

"Midnight: the hour of undeniable chemistry. A spark of sensual Plum Nectar ignites the thrilling heart of Midnight Jasmine and Vanilla Orchid, velvety florals that bloom sexiest after dark with a hint of seductive spice. The final rush of intoxicating Caramel Liqueur creates the ultimate collision of fragrance and passion"

This is only available in a mini spray bottle since it just premiered. Hmmm a floral scent I actually like! On me I smell orchids,rich vanilla,and a tiny hint of jasmine. Very sexy and reminds me of a poison garden at night. In the dry down I can get a hint of the caramel liqueur. Me likey.

The other scents I got were for free and I decided to get my man's mother something for Christmas. A lotion and shower gel in the scent Butterfly Flower. Go me for early Christmas shopping!

I also recently baught a dark wash denim vest with spikes on the collar..very boring so I plan on adding various patches and buttons. Hence why I have been experimenting in DIY patch making. Nothing has been sewn onto the vest but I am very proud of my first attempts at these two patches.

The first one is the Rammstein logo and of course a mandatory ankh. Not too bad  considering these were freehand. I used a white pencil to do the basic outline and went over with white acrylic paint. More pics will be posted when I get the vest done. And I have had my eye on some horror themed buttons. So...have you experimented witch patch making before? Oh and here is me with some Nightmare Before Christmas plushies I snagged from work.

Yes I am 21 and no I am not too old for toys!

Playlist of the week and advice for babybats!

So my busy life has gotten busier! As soon as I get out of class I have to start getting ready for work, and as soon as I get off work I have to do homework for classes! But I am trying to only get four days a week of work since the stress is probably going to give me ulcers. But Halloween is slowly creeping up and I almost have my costume together! (Oh and pictures will be posted of it!) Also since I have a legit camera now I can attempt to start making Youtube videos.

Here is this weeks music recommendations and tunes that I love and inspire my art.

Rammstein-Links 2 3 4

The 69 eyes-Sister of Charity

Pete and the Pirates-Blood Gets Thin

HIM- Join Me In Death

Screamin' Jay Hawkins- I Put A Spell on You


I also had this little idea to do a monthly "Baby bat advice" post. Because I know when I was just getting my bat wings I needed tips. But we all need a little guidance at least once in a while!

1. Make friends with everyone regardless of how they dress.

Some of my best friends are not goth at all. If I was to single out friends just based on how they look..well I would have no friends! Also if you are still in school if you decide to be rude or not socialize with others because they are not goth...well you look just as bad as the "popular" crowd. Just saying.

2. You do not have to wear black 24/7 to be considered goth.

I made this mistake and I thought I had to wear nothing but black all the time. If you set rules like this for yourself you will grow tired of them and eventually break them. And put yourself in a clothing rut! Despite what some elitists say..well just ignore the elitists...you can wear other colors. I tend to wear bright colors of eyeshadow to match other colors in my outfits. Try different colored tights, bright eyeshadow,various colors of jewelry, and even colored articles of clothing to make the all black pop. Trust me...you will not loose your "goth card".

3.  You can be interested in non-gothy things!

Not all goths read vampire books by candle light and frequent cemeteries. Some do not even like vampires! If you love playing the tuba and you are goth...do not stop playing because it is "not goth". Oh and you can paint your nails pink and watch football games. Loving things like this or even loving the color does not mean you are "not goth".

Makeup experimenting