Nightmare Revisted: Album Review

As much as the Emo movement confuses me, I will admit that their fixation on my childhood favorites has somewhat delighted me. Namely: Invader Zim and Nightmare Before Christmas. Hot Topic is all abuzz with merchandise that connects with the 'darker sides' of these little lost/tortured suburban children, making me cringe with self-disdain as I wish all this marketing was around when I was in grade school (in the futile hopes that my favorite cartoon wouldn't have been CANCELED!).

Of this Emo-tastic movement, 2 albums have arisen that make the little, twisty girl inside me giggle with glee. The first in 2006 was the Special Edition Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack, with an utterly delightful disc 2 composed of several famous artists' covers of the beautiful music from the movie. Fiona Apple makes an amazing Sally, and the original demos are a bit fun to hear as well (for true, hardcore fans like myself).

It seems that the popularity of the disc 2 may have lead to Nightmare Revisited, an album released just this passed week. Mad Platter (in Riverside) was having a sale, and I couldn't resist picking it up. The album is definitley emo-friendly, but the talent contained on these tracks is universally enjoyable. The cast includes (but is not limited to) Korn, Plain White Ts, Rise Against, and All-American Rejects. Oddly enough, no one has redone the track 'This is Halloween.' Marilyn Manson's cover from the previously mentioned CD is also included in this new album, which is somewhat understandable. Manson is a hard act to follow and the song is essential to a complete collection. Gladly, its the only repeat on the 20 song album (click here to sample). If even a few of the artists went on a Nightmare Music Tour, I may suffer from multiple nerd-gasms in public.

My melancholic, pathetic Emo-children, your notable contributions to our ever growing mp3 collections have appeased me for now. I suggest you start pressuring Manson to cover The Doom Song before I grow weary of your presence and inflict my wrath upon your silly little souls. To all others, enjoy!

All Hail Queen Betsy!!!

Score: 4.5/5
Imagine being laid off from one of the best paying jobs you've ever had, then dying the same day trying to save your temperamental cat. To make matters worse, you don't STAY dead, waking up right before your own funeral and realizing there is no going back.

Betsy Taylor is the very reluctant monarch heroine in this incredibly enjoyable paranormal romance series, unique it its attempt to question vampire legend and lore, destiny, and where someone who doesn't believe in any of that would fit in.

Betsy attempts to go back to every day life...even if it has to be during the night. Yet, while her best friend and her new roommate try to piece together her new future, Betsy is pulled kicking and screaming into the world of The Undead. An evil vampire that has ruled for hundreds of years wants Betsy as his servant, while Sinclair, a mysteriously delicious and stylish vampire wants Betsy to push the current ruler off his creepy, icky throne.

Betsy cannot resist questioning the denizens of the night even as she emerges as one of the most powerful, and finds herself in the middle of a vampiric power struggle that her mere existence has escalated to war. She thinks she's completely wrong for the job, and while others would agree, her inability to die in the sun and melt in the presence of holy water has even the oldest of the undead very afraid of cheerful, blond, and chatty Betsy.

There are so many rules for a ruler of the Undead, and perhaps if nothing else can come of Betsy's rise to the throne, maybe she can pull vampires away from the darkness and shadows that surround and hinder their lives...though the vampire destined to be her consort may be the most reluctant of all the undead.

I have read all in the series thus far, and continually am impressed with Davidson's ability to make me laugh out loud at the most interesting moments, while still building an intense, adrenaline packed plot and dishing out the steamy love scenes. This cute series is definitely not your every day dark romance.

Other Books In the Series:
Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)
Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3)
Undead and Unreturnable (Queen Betsy, Book 4)
Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)

Just Be Gorgeous!

Rating: 4/5

While the hot pink cover and beautiful, simple artwork by James Dignan first caught my eye, the author's fresh approach kept me reading. Esther Blum is a registered dietitian who wants us to know that we need to enjoy life. Truthfully, this book is more about knowing what is good for you and your body to eat than losing weight. Yet, Blum is also able to explain why she takes this approach, which, truthfully, any of us know by now that focusing on diets that want you to count calories and change everything about yourself obviously don't work.

Overall, the book offers very good advice in areas we don't usually hear about, from food in the bedroom, the right comfort foods for the bad days, and even includes recipes on some interesting drink mixes that are a little kinder on our bodies and waist lines. There are valuable pages on what supplements to take for specific but common beauty and health needs, though Blum does emphasize healthy eating over pills.

Truthfully, much of the really important information can be found in various places, from health class to asking your doctor, but the book is really a great reference and refresher for those bits of knowledge while also including information we might not realize was important about our nutritional experience. There are definitely some gems of health information included in this book that my doctor has never shared with me about being a woman.

This book may not be meant for everyone. Some readers may be put off by the fashionista leanings, and the idea that our lives may be very different than Blum's, but truthfully reading between the lines will help you get to the good parts that make this book more fun to read than any other diet or health book. Because the author lives, practices, and parties in New York, there is a focus on going out and having fun, but I think that overall, all of us could use all the information in the book at least once in our lives (especially around the holidays...when there is nothing BUT parties). This is book is cute, and cares only about making you feel gorgeous.

Love is a tricky thing...

From the front pages of youtube, for your viewing enjoyment (I am off to a job interview today).
Learn more at their Myspace.

Pixel Girl Presents

Rating: 5/5

One girl, two adorable websites! Shana Victor definitely has the cute corner covered on the internet. And by cute, I mean AWESOME! My favorite of the two sites, Pixelgirlpresents.com, is a collection of artist submitted desktops, wallpaper, articles, and tutorials. The site holds almost inexhaustible pages of morbidly cute, unique artwork for you to use on your laptop and iPhone. And the tutorials can help you on your own way to making your own morbidly cute computer artwork. Be sure to visit the site to enjoy the artwork.

Her second site, Shanalogic.com, is all about shopping indie and shopping cute. The site features limited edition, one of a kind clothing for guys and girls, purses, jewelry, iPod Gear, plushes, and more. The items are higher quality, as well as higher priced, but as denoted by the several ‘Sold Out’ signs across the site, customers know it’s definitely worth it. Some of my favorite items include the kitty and skull tote bag, the crossbones towel sets, and the bunny marshmallow.

Both sites are beautifully laid out, easy to use, and pixelgirlpresents.com also works as a portal to countless other sources of morbidly cute art. These are definitely more than worthy bookmarks on any girl’s favorites list.

Fun with Felt Friends!

(click product
to purchase online)


Rating: 5/5

When I am not at home playing with my own zombie kittens, I can be found wondering through the local B&N. On such a day, I had decided to peruse the craft section, in search of cute, infections scrap booking designs.
The result? A MUCH DIFFERENT FATE! I came across The Cute Book by Aranzi Aronzo, a company that "makes what it feels like the way it feels like and then sells the stuff." Their visions were certainly ones of vicious cuteness.

I first bought the book immediately for one of my best friends as a gift, knowing she would adore the white, felt bunny on the front cover. But as her little army of felt mascots grew, I knew I had to get myself a copy.

The hardcover book features many different felt mascots to choose from, including Serious Monkey, Mechani-Panda, The Kidnapper, and other interesting characters, each one having their own little story, pattern, and step by step, picture instructions. The beginning of the book covers the basics for those new to sewing/crafting, and the end of the book offers suggestions on alternative uses for your new felt friends. The authors add in their own twisted wit and humor to almost each and every page, making the book especially enjoyable.

Xombie Ruling
The designs are very easy and fun to work with. While the instructions are best used for felt, creativity and a copy machine/scanner can help you extend to many other fabric realms of creation.

Example on the Left: A resized pattern helped create my suspicious bunny, whom was concerned by the fact that I gave her to my niece on her 1st birthday (and was mostly worried about the cake and ice cream that would certainly accost her fur before the day's end).

The start up costs of taking up the craft are minimal (felt, embroidery thread, needles, stuffing), and the time spent on each animal will decrease as you gain experience handling the little critters.
The patterns are part of the book, so tracing or copying is a must, and the 'actual' size of the patterns calls for some innate dexterity, though my fine motor skills have improved by working on my mascot projects.

Truthfully, these cute critters are infectious and, and you will desire to fill the world with them. This book is so awesome it is HARD TO SHARE!

Munny Mayham!!!!

(click product
to purchase online)


Rating: 4/5

With so many collectible items out there to choose from, innovation is key. What is more innovative than guaranteeing each customer their VERY OWN unique, limited edition piece of artwork?

I love these little guys. The 7 inch Munny vinyl toys, now in series 3, come in cute display boxes, with their own coloring book, blank name certificate, and MYSTERY ACCESSORIES! Each series has its own unique accessories discontinued once the series is sold out.

In my household, we've already bought 4 keepers, and a few others as gifts(they are about $25 each, available through KidRobot.com and Urban Outfitters). I dream up designs faster than I can actually create them!

It's no surprise they already have their own cult following, complete with the Munny inspired line of clothing and accessories for artists to enjoy, from sterling silver jewelry to giant Munny dolls, priced at about $200. The image at the left is a giant travel Munny we saw this year, featured at the KidRobot Comic Con 2007 Booth. Artists were able to contribute to decorating this giant Munny with chalk for temporary convention fun.

Xombie Ruling:
While the price does not deter me from buying them every time I can make it out to my local Urban Outfitters (a couple cities away), it does limit the amount of uncertain experimentation I am willing to undertake with my limited edition vinyl toy.

The overall vinyl figure is surprisingly adaptable, and the biggest limits seem to be the artist's imagination. You can view others' creations in the Munny Community , as well as find advice on how to achieve your desired manipulations and creations of the Munny tabula rasa.

I've learned much from completing my own first Munny, styled after one of my avatars from GaiaOnline.com. This activity can be very time consuming, from designing, to coloring each dismembered body part individually, and waiting for it all to dry.

I used mostly acrylics and sharpies, though I learned that sharpies may smear, and several layers of acrylic are needed to achieve desired color brilliance (the Munny forums also suggest putting a base on your Munny before painting).

Those who are not serious artists with supply stashes may need to head to the store at least once in search of materials that work best on vinyl, or with which to treat the vinyl. I myself also purchased supplies with which to make my own Munny accessories, and glue to attach them to the Munny permanently.

KidRobot does offer Munny Crayons, though no one I know personally has purchased them as of yet.