Halloween Display 2021

I'm tired of summer, so I spent the weekend getting in the mood for Spooky Season (though really, I'm always in the mood for Spooky Season). Here's my 2021 Halloween display so far... hopefully I'll find some new decorations to add to it soon. 👻🎃💀

Halloween Socks

I love Halloween socks and wear them all year long, so I was happy to find these at Marshalls yesterday. So cute! 👻🎃💀

Movie Spotlight: Winchester

Winchester is a 2018 movie starring Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook, and Finn Scicluna-O'Prey. Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren), widow of firearm magnate William Wirt Winchester, has spent two decades building a seven-story mansion in San Jose, California, when the Winchester Repeating Arms Company hires Dr. Eric Price (Jason Clarke) to assess her mental state. This mansion, eventually known as the Winchester Mystery House, contains more than one hundred rooms, as well as doors and staircases that lead nowhere, and Sarah is building it to appease the ghosts of people killed by Winchester rifles. Sarah's niece (Sarah Snook) and great-nephew (Finn Scicluna-O'Prey) are staying at the house, and when a vengeful spirit possesses the young boy, it's up to Sarah and Eric to save him.

Winchester is the perfect movie to watch in the dark, so that's how I watched it, and it really added to the spooky atmosphere of the film. The Winchester Mystery House is said to be the most haunted house in the world, and the gorgeous sets used in the movie really made me want to go check out the real thing. Sarah Winchester was a fascinating person, and Helen Mirren did an incredible job of playing a brilliant woman who's mourning the deaths of her husband and daughter while dealing with guilt over the bloodshed caused by Winchester rifles. Winchester is an entertaining movie full of terrific performances and creepy (yet realistic) ghosts, and now is a great time to watch it since Halloween is coming up. 😊👻

My rating: 7.5/10



If you'd like to find out more about the Winchester Mystery House, check out the episode my favorite podcast did about it:

Hollyweird Paranormal: The Winchester Mystery House/Sarah Winchester

Hollyweird Paranormal is back!

I've written about Hollyweird Paranormal, a podcast hosted by Tammie Merheb-Chavez and Brice Mitchell Williams that combines true crime and the paranormal (two of my favorite things), on this blog a few times, and they went on hiatus for a few weeks, but now they're back with a great new episode! I'm so excited my favorite podcast is back, and if you'd like to listen to the new episode, you can check out "The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of the Wonderland Murders" here:

Hollyweird Paranormal: The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of the Wonderland Murders

Hollyweird Paranormal: Marilyn Monroe

I wrote about Hollyweird Paranormal, a podcast that combines true crime and the paranormal (two of my favorite things) on the blog a few months ago, and since then I've listened to every episode because I love it so much. The latest episode is a two-parter called "Marilyn Monroe: The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of Hollywood's Lady of Sorrow," and it's a fascinating listen. I got interested in Marilyn a few years ago when I started watching Smash (which was a great show, and I'm actually listening to the Bombshell soundtrack as I'm writing this), so I read a few books about her and discovered that when it comes to her death, all signs point to murder. I really enjoyed listening to Hollyweird Paranormal's knowledgeable, entertaining hosts Tammie Merheb-Chavez and Brice Mitchell Williams discuss the theories behind Marilyn's probable murder and what she's been up to since her death. If you're interested in Marilyn Monroe or just true crime or the paranormal in general, you should definitely check out the "The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of Hollywood's Lady of Sorrow."  : )

Marilyn Monroe Pt.1: The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of Hollywood's Lady of Sorrow

Marilyn Monroe Pt. 2: The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of Hollywood’s Lady of Sorrow

Hollyweird Paranormal

If you're in search of a paranormal podcast to listen to, check out HollyweirdParanormal, which
combines true crime and the paranormal. I love both of those things, so I listened to the latest episode...it was informative and entertaining, and I really enjoyed it. The podcast is hosted by Tammie Merheb-Chavez and Brice Mitchell Williams, and they've done four episodes so far: "The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of The Sharon Tate & Manson Family Murders," "The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of The Cecil Hotel," "The True Crime and Paranormal Aftermath of Superman, George Reeves," and "Famous Haunted Hollywood Apartments." I'm glad I found out about this podcast, and I'm definitely going to listen to more episodes. : )

Hollyweird Paranormal

Book Review: The Haunting of the Tenth Avenue Theater by Alex Matsuo

When I went to AtomaCon in 2015, I attended Alex Matsuo's haunted theaters and demonology panels, and they were so interesting that I decided to read a few of her books. I wrote about More Than Ghosts: A Guide to Working Residential Cases in the Paranormal Field on the blog last year, and now it's The Haunting of the Tenth Avenue Theater's turn. The Tenth Avenue Theater is located in San Diego and used to be a church; Matsuo, who is a playwright and actress as well as the founder and director of the Association of Paranormal Study (APS), has been involved with a few productions there. Jeff Cotta bought the building from the First Baptist Church of San Diego in 1997 and agreed to let APS investigate the allegedly haunted space a few years ago. The theater is rumored to be haunted by a young girl named Missy who died when she fell down the stairs at the church, a pastor who felt guilty about Missy's death and committed suicide in the chapel's cloakroom, and a British lieutenant who temporarily possessed the doctor who tried to save him and apparently decided to make the building his new home when the doctor came to the sanctuary to pray.

I don't want to say too much about what happened during APS's investigations of the theater because I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who might read the book, but I will say that Matsuo described the investigations so effectively that I felt like I was there. The Haunting of the Tenth Avenue Theater is a fascinating read, and Matsuo definitely knows her stuff when it comes to the paranormal. I've enjoyed both of the books I've read by her, and I hope she'll write many more in the future. : )

My rating: 10/10

Nerdist Presents: The Mystic Museum

In the mood for a fun Halloween short? Check out Nerdist Presents: The Mystic Museum! The short is around 11 minutes long and stars Kelsey Gunn, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Kristian Bruun, Ptolemy Slocum, and Jake Getman. Kelsey runs the Mystic Museum but has never personally experienced anything paranormal, so she's happy to get involved when Olivia, a paralegal with a haunted apartment, comes in for help. Will Kelsey be able to help Olivia find out why she's experiencing supernatural shenanigans, or will they hit a dead end? You'll have to watch it to find out! : )


http://nerdist.com/the-mystic-museum-olivia-taylor-dudley-kristian-bruun-nerdoween/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=NerdistNewsletter_20171019

Costume SuperCenter

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that I love the paranormal, horror, Halloween, and all that good stuff. For the past few weeks, I've been working as a freelance copywriter for Costume SuperCenter, which is the perfect job for a Halloween-obsessed person like me. My job is writing costume descriptions, and since I've come across so many cool costumes while I'm working, I wanted to share their website with you. If you don't have your Halloween costume yet, check out Costume SuperCenter...you'll definitely find what you're looking for. : )

Buy your Halloween costumes here!

And since I like to write about ghosts on this blog, here's my favorite ghost thing I've come across on their website...so cute!

Ghost Party Scene Airblown

Haunted By Murder

As often as we hear about ghosts and hauntings, it's rare that we hear about hauntings by the people who are most justified to exact revenge from beyond the grave. I'm talking about murder victims, of course, and you'll be happy to know that several killers have been harassed by the spirits of the unfortunate souls whose lives they took. Check out Freaked's "10 Murderers Haunted By Their Victim's Ghosts" to find out whose victims didn't take death lying down.

https://freaked.com/murderers-haunted/

Disneyland is Haunted as Hell, and I'm Never Going There.

When I went to ScareLA last weekend, I attended a live podcast about haunted places in L.A. and Orange County (you can read my write up about it here: ScareLA: Haunted LA vs. Haunted OC), and after hearing about some of the creepy stuff that goes on Disneyland (like the fact that the dolls in It's a Small World sometimes keep moving after the ride has been shut off), I decided to do some research and find out about some more souls who never left "the happiest place on Earth." 

-"The Man with the Cane": In the 1940s, a pilot crashed his small plane in the area where Disneyland would eventually be built; he appears in The Haunted Mansion, usually after closing time, and he always has a cane.

-"The Man in the Tuxedo": A former employee kept seeing this well-dressed spirit in a mirror in The Haunted Mansion, and when he finally reached out and touched her, she quit her job and never set foot in Disneyland again (smart move).

-"Mr. One Way": Space Mountain is haunted by the ghost of a man who died on the ride four decades ago; he disappears before the ride is over and has also been spotted in the employee locker room.

-"Disco Debbie": Possibly a cast member who had an aneurysm and died at work, this glowing spirit likes to ride Space Mountain, materialize on the track, and roam around the building.

-Dolly Young: A woman named Dolly Young was thrown from the Matterhorn and run over in 1984; her ghost has been seen and heard there ever since.

-Deborah Gail Stone: A cast member was crushed to death in the America Sings attraction in 1974, and up until the attraction was eventually shut down, cast members would hear a female voice warning them to be careful.

For more on these lost souls and other Disneyland hauntings, check out A Spooky Tour Through Haunted Disneyland...there's a ton of information there and some other stuff about It's a Small World that will creep you out (the phrase "a pattering of small footsteps" in relation to It's a Small World just might give me nightmares). If you've experienced paranormal activity at Disneyland, please leave a comment and tell me all about it. I can't find out for myself if any of this is true because I'll be avoiding Disneyland for the rest of my life. ; )

Who's Haunting Ted Bundy's Childhood Home?

Since September 2016, strange things have been going on in the house where serial killer Ted Bundy grew up...doors and cabinets opening on their own, furniture falling over, things like "help me" and "leave" showing up on windows and floors, etc. There were no reports of paranormal activity before last year, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to conclude that it started because the new owner was renovating the house and a ghostly resident didn't like it. I couldn't find any information on whether anyone has died in the home, so who's haunting the house? Could it be Ted Bundy? People have claimed to see his ghost at Florida State Prison (where he was executed) and Florida State University's Chi Omega house (where he killed two women in 1978), so why not his childhood home?

www.macon.com/news/nation-world/national/article149260219.html

Ghostly Pets

I've heard many stories about pets coming back to visit their owners after death, and I wish my Layla (my dog who passed away in 2013) would come visit me, but she never has. Here are some stories from people who have been visited by their dearly departed pets, and if you've ever experienced it for yourself, feel free to leave your story in the comments. : )

http://www.destinationamerica.com/thehauntist/7-stories-of-ghost-pets-that-came-back-to-see-their-owners/

http://www.true-ghost-stories.com/GhostPets.html

America's Most Haunted Grocery Store

Stories about haunted houses and hotels are pretty common, but you rarely hear about haunted grocery stores. A California town called Chowchilla is believed to be home to the most haunted grocery store in America: the Save Mart on Robertson Boulevard (which closed in 2008). The ghost of a man with claw marks on his face was spotted in the frozen food section several times, and a former store employee says he came face-to-face with the spirit and that on the store's security camera footage, it looked like the employee was screaming and running away from nothing.

http://backpackerverse.com/chowchilla-home-to-the-most-haunted-grocery-store-in-america/

I found this story on Backpackerverse, but I did a little research and found a few more websites that talk about the haunted Save Mart:

http://www.weirdfresno.com/2010/04/was-old-save-mart-in-chowchilla-haunted.html

http://forgottenusa.com/haunts/CA/2625/Save-Mart%20Supermarkets/

Signs Your House Might Be Haunted

Have you had some strange experiences in your home and are worried your house might be haunted? Well, Destination America wants to help you figure it out, so here are seven signs that your house might be haunted:


http://www.destinationamerica.com/thehauntist/7-signs-your-house-might-be-haunted/

Hollywood Ghost Stories and Urban Legends

I recently came across an article called "17 Creepy Hollywood Ghost Stories and Urban Legends" on Ranker, so I thought I'd share it here. The list includes the Black Dahlia, James Dean's cursed car, the ghosts that haunt the Queen Mary and the Hollywood sign, and many other interesting stories, so check it out if you're into that sort of thing (and if you're reading this blog, I'm guessing you are). : )

http://www.ranker.com/list/hollywood-ghost-stories-and-urban-legends/jacobybancroft?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=creepy_hollywood_stories

Movie Spotlight: The Disappointments Room

The Disappointments Room is a 2016 movie starring Kate Beckinsale, Mel Raido, Gerald McRaney, Lucas Till, Duncan Joiner, Michael Landes, and Ella Jones. After the death of their daughter, Dana (Kate Beckinsale) and David (Mel Raido) move into a new house with their young son (Duncan Joiner). When Dana finds a hidden room in the attic, she unknowingly unleashes evil spirits, and all hell breaks loose. (This is why I stay out of the attic.)

The Disappointments Room is a decent movie, but I had a hard time staying interested in it. All of the actors were great though, and that's often not the case when it comes to horror movies. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either.

My rating: 5/10

21 Supernatural Encounters

The Lineup recently posted a list of 21 real-life supernatural encounters, and some of them are pretty creepy, so I wanted to share them here. You might want to avoid reading these right before bed or when you're alone. ; )

http://www.the-line-up.com/supernatural-encounters/?sf43908420=1

Haunted Airbnb Rentals

The Destination America website recently posted a list of five of the best haunted Airbnb rentals in the world, so of course I wanted to share it here. If you're planning on visiting London, Essex, Savannah, New Orleans, or Saint Paul and want to stay in a haunted Airbnb, check out the list. : )

http://www.destinationamerica.com/thehauntist/five-of-the-best-haunted-airbnb-getaways/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thehauntist&sf43736098=1

Book Review: Shadow People and Cursed Objects

Shadow People and Cursed Objects: 13 Tales of Terror Based on True Stories...or are they? is a 2016 book edited by C. Le Mroch (the creator of Haunt Jaunts, a website I've linked to many times on this blog). Ten authors contributed stories to this anthology, and after you read each story, you can flip to the back to find out whether it was based on a true story. Here's a little about the stories:

"The Busby Chair" by Alice J. Black: A cursed chair causes the death of anyone who sits on it.
"The Storm on Promise Land Road" by Ken Teutsch: A father and daughter are caught in a ghostly storm.
"Bye, Bye, Blackbird" by Emerian Rich: A cursed necklace brings trouble into a woman's life.
"The Gypsy's Curse" by C. Le Mroch: A woman receives mysterious phone calls related to a haunted pond she visited as a child.
"The Black Flowers" by Barry Charman: Two funeral directors find an empty black coffin (which is made from a dead hanging tree) outside the gates of their funeral home with instructions to bury it.
"The South Will Rise Again" by Keith Karabin: Two armies (one human and one ghostly) battle in Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp.
"Lady Winters' Mirror" by S. Mickey Lin: A woman buys a haunted Victorian mirror at an auction.
"Doomsday, Every Night at Five" by Evan Dicken: A child's deceased grandfather appears in a broken TV set and makes some disturbing premonitions.
"Fatty and the Nothing Man" by Sean Ealy: Bullies lock a classmate in a haunted house and soon come to regret it.
"Murder for Dummies" by Carl Barker: A young girl goes backstage after a ventriloquist's show and discovers that the dummy is really the one in charge.
"Pedro" by C. Le Mroch: Ten-year-old Kyle blames his imaginary friend whenever he gets in trouble, but Pedro might not be as imaginary as Kyle's father believes.
"The Mannequin in the Middle of the Road" by C. Le Mroch: After a man hits a mannequin that was lying in the road, he puts it in the trunk of his car...and the mannequin isn't happy about it.
"Comeuppance" by C. Le Mroch: A woman stays in a haunted hotel on a business trip.

I enjoyed all the stories in Shadow People and Cursed Objects, but my favorites were "The Gypsy's Curse," Lady Winters' Mirror," and "Comeuppance." If you enjoy reading about ghosts, haunted objects, and things like that, you should definitely check this book out. : )

My rating: 8/10