My Week in Photos

Hey guys,

I saw a few fashion bloggers doing this and I thought it was a cute idea.  Enjoy the pictures, I hope this post isn't mind-numbingly boring! 

Spent a great deal of my week watching season 2 of Babylon 5 and drinking tea.
Got the skirt and shirt for 4 euro each in my local
charity shop :)

Dyed my hair and got my cat, changed his name from Anubis
to Loki. Suits him perfectly. 

Did some DIY. Which for me means ripping things.
Stripy jumper also has safety pins in the
shoulders but you can't see.
Those are ripped leggings with lace tights underneath.

Trying to decide what to wear to ye olde goth club.
Finally settled and wore my Demonia's along with the stuff to the right.
Couldn't get a good photo of it on, unfortunately :(

My sister got me the star on her holidays.
Incense burning, that  particular one was Lavender to help me sleep. 

Thanks for looking,

Rebecca.

Of Bram Stoker and Count Dracula

Hey guys,

In my Friday the 13th post, here, I mentioned that I was planning on doing a post on Bram Stoker. I finally got around to doing it today and I hope that you all enjoy it.

Bram Stoker is the author of the one and only Dracula. Stoker was born in November in 1847 and spent most of his childhood bed-ridden due to a mysterious illness. It is understood that his mother would keep him entertained with stories of Irish folklore, the occult and tales of the Famine (1845-1849) thus fuelling a Gothic imagination. 

Stoker recovered from his illness at age seven and during his adult years attended Trinity College in Dublin. He befriended the actor Henry Irving and went to England where he became manager of Irving's Lyceum Theatre. His connections to Irving meant he became a member of high society and travelled all around Europe, studying folklore and collecting vampire stories. 

It has been speculated that Stoker belonged to a secret society called The Order of the Golden Dawn. Interestingly W.B. Yeats has also been linked to this order. 

Dracula first lands at Whitby Castle in the novel.
Labelled for reuse. Click for original source.

Stoker died in April 1912 following a series of strokes although it is also suggested that he died of tertiary syphilis.

There have been countless adaptions of Draula. One of the earliest, if not the earliest film adoption was Nosferatu in 1922. Those involved were unable to obtain the rights and thus changed characters names for their unauthorized adaptation, for example the vampire became Nosferatu and Count Dracula was Count Orlok. I put up a review of a cool Dracula pop-up book I read ages ago here. 

The famous shadow from the 1922 Nosferatu.
I'm currently eyeing up a t-shirt with this print on it, actually.
Labelled for reuse. Click for original source.

Dracula was published in 1897 and despite the fact that Stoker has several published works, Dracula remains his most well-known and widely read piece of writing.

Although there is much debate surrounding the extent of the influence, it is often thought that the infamous Vlad the Impaler was a source of inspiration for the character of Dracula. Vlad the III Dracula was a terrible ruler of Wallachia (Romania) during the 15th century who had quite the gruesome penchant for impaling his victims. There's a guy you wanna party with. It is often argued that Stoker most likely took the name Dracula for his novel and actually knew little of Mr. Stab-happy's life. Dracul means dragon or devil in Romanian. 

One of the many genres of fiction that Stoker's novel has been linked with is Invasion Literature. His novel taps into fears and concerns of the period, namely over potential threats to the English Empire from outside her boundaries. The idea of the foreign body landing on British soil and essentially infecting her citizens, figuratively and literally, was quite a powerful one at the time.  For example The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells was published the following year, 1898, and tells the story of a Martian invasion upon London. I am reading that book now actually, it's quite creepy and delightfully timeless I think.

And how could we forget the episode of Buffy where she faces off with Dracula and Xander plays the bug-loving character of Renfield. Speaking of, who else loves Dracula Dead and Loving It? Peter MacNiol is a fabulous Renfield. I think I linked this video on my blog before but hey, tis a good 'un .

If you like vampire stories perhaps you'd enjoy this old post of mine which is about an old Irish Vampire myth. Click here to read.

Thanks for reading guys,

Hope you enjoyed.

Rebecca. 

I Got a Kitty!

Hello lovely internet people and hello to my latest followers! I hope you are all doing well. This is just a small post showing you my new cat.  I decided to call him Anubis, he is 6 months old and is completely adorable. He got neutered over the weekend so is still a little sleepy and stuff but he is settling in well. My mother's pets are all a little unimpressed at the minute but I think they will all get on eventually.

Thanks for stopping by,

Rebecca.

Miaow. 

13 Things a Goth Needs

Happy Friday the 13th to all of my followers and readers! 

I had the day off work and so spent this spooky day re-arranging my room, watching science fiction, drinking coffee and thinking up things to blog about. Expect a post on Bram Stoker and one on industrial dancing in the coming weeks :) What did you guys get up to today? 

Now The Everyday Goth had a post like this ages ago, here. I had it mentally bookmarked as a good one to do but for some reason never got around to it! I will list 13 things in honour of Friday the 13th because I'm easily amused like that :D Sorry if I repeat a lot of The Everday Goth's list but her list was awesome. Just sayin'. 

1) Pressed powder. If you're not bothered with foundation or don't have time then powder is a great way to even out your skin tone and take the 'just woken up' look off your face. Also invaluable at the club or on a hot day. I am currently using Maxfactor's Creme Puff pressed powder in Translucent. 

2) Old faithful black eyeliner. I may flirt with other brands but I will never abandon you Collection 2000 Extreme Felt Tip Liner. You mean too much to me.

3) Black boots that go with everything. My baby doc martens are perfect for this. I love my Demonias but  my docs will always have a special place in my heart.

4) Plain black well fitted basics and also some accessories. This is the basis for my wardrobe. A black skirt with a black frilly blouse, a flower in my hair and a spiked necklace is my go-to look. Combine with massive amounts of black eye make-up and some patterned tights and you have a simple, affordable but spookified type look.

5) Goes without saying but I'll say it anyway. A basic knowledge of the subculture. Amongst the obvious reasons its a cool history full of lovely styles and sounds. 

6) A copy of Jillian Venters Gothic Charm School. Even if its just to look at the cute illustrations!

7) Both an uber-gothified outfit and a more wearable outfit suitable for visiting family and job-interviews.

8) A sense of humour and the ability to laugh at oneself. Like when my Demonia boots keep getting caught in chairs and I end up dragging half the furniture around with me. Because that's pretty funny.

9) A copy of The Castle of Otranto, Frankenstein and Dracula. Because gothic fiction is just so damned good.

10) A chill out/mope-out song and a lift your spirits song.  My mope out song would be either One Hundred Years by The Cure or Marian by The Sisters of Mercy. My lift your spirits song would be This is Not Salvation by Say Just Words or Just Like Heaven by The Cure. In general I listen to a lot of Industrial to lift my spirits also. Too many bands to mention here.

11) A statement piece. Whether it be 4 inch Demonias, a corset, an elaborate piece of jewellery or a customized piece of clothing, something to instantly uber-gothify a standard outfit is invaluable in ones gothy wardrobe.

12) Some kind of basic dance style. Just for when your at the club and want to dance but aren't sure how to. It can be anything from swirly hands or industrial dancing. Of a combination of both if you're me. I love to Industrial dance when I'm at home on my own, its great exercise and great fun! 

13) Sunscreen.

What are your gothy must haves?
Thanks for reading,
Miaow.
x

More Stuffs.

Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetings :)

I bought and photographed all of this stuff quite a while ago but just never got around to making a post on it.

Skeleton Cameo necklace from Draculaclothing.com. It was only
7 euro. It did fall and break and have to be superglued back
together but hey, you get what you pay for.

Illamasqua green lipgloss, called 'Violate'. It's kind of awesome.

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE.

Excuse the oddness of this photo but I couldn't get a decent one
for this lipstick. Kept coming out blue or a different shade of purple.
This is Kontrol by Illamasqua. I really like it. 

I will so get around to using these. Honest. 

Sleek palatte- PPQ Me Myself and Eye. Amazing colours

Pretty blouse from Penneys/Primark. Looks awesome with
a high waisted black skirt, ripped tights, the skeleton cameo
pictured above and backcombed to death hair.

Hope you all enjoyed this little post. What have you guys been buying/eyeing up?
Rebecca.
:)

The Liebster Award

Hey guys!

So I received the Liebster award from both Katelynn at 'The Life of a Babybat'  and Cherish at 'Babybat's Blog' . Thanks to both of you beatiful ladies for thinking of me when writing up your posts! I really enjoyed reading your reponses, hope you like mine! :)

The Rules.

• Each person must post 11 things about themselves
• Answer the questions the tagger has set for you
• Create 11 questions for the people you have tagged to answer
• Choose 11 people and link them in your post
• Go to their page and tell them
• No tag backs

11 Things about The Phantom Cat

1. I love science fiction! Currently obsessing over Babylon 5. Great show!
2. Wrote my post-graduate thesis on nationhood and reproduction in Battlestar Galactica. The new one, although of course the 80's one was mentioned a few times.
3. I just started learning to drive. It's fun!
4. Aside from the sweatpants I wear to work, leggings are the only pants I wear. Skirts are the way to go for me.
5. Marian by The Sisters of Mercy is one of my all-time favourite songs.
6. I've seen Rammstein twice, the second time I ended up getting accidentally punched in the face and had to go to hospital with what I though was a broken nose.Turned out (thankfully) to be just soft tissue damage. Luckily I went after the show so missed nothing. 
7. Currently reading War of the Worlds.
8. If I find out that you haven't seen the Alien movies I make it my sworn duty to force you to watch them. And I take that duty very seriously. When I made my friend Christine watch them all the electricity in our whole town went and we had to walk home in the dark. She loved that :)
9. My current can't-live-without make uppy thang is Gosh's green colour correcting concealor. That stuff works magic.
10. I've only ever broken one bone and that was my wrist during a horse riding lesson when I was younger. Around 12 years old. I continued going for a few weeks after the cast came off but I lost confidence at it. Would love to go for a few lessons now though.
11. Autumn is my all time-favourite month. Such a beautiful time of year.

The Questions I was asked by Katelynn of The Life of a Babybat 

1. Favourite Movie? The first two Alien movies. Or Con Air.
2. Are you on Tumblr, if so post your URL. Yeah but I hardly ever use it  http://thephantomcat.tumblr.com/
3. Cats or Dogs? Could never choose. Both are amazing creatures. 
4. Do you find bats cute? Oh good god yes. 
5. Favourite cosmetics brand? Currently its Gosh. 
6. A word you use way too often? Either frak or win. 
7. Favourite season? AUTUMN!
8. Favourite non-goth band? Children of Bodom. 
9. Your current celebrity crush? Ooooh Michael Fassbender. 
10. Biggest fear? Would have to be of spiders. 
11. Favourite author  Stephen King.

The Questions I was asked by Cherish of Babybat's  Blog 

1. Who is your favourite author(s)? Stephen King.
2. Your crush(s)? Michael Fassbender, Chrish Hemsworth, Jason Statham.
3. Your favourite tv show? Of all time is the reimagined Battlestar Galactica. Currently its Babylon 5.
4. Favourite food? Pancakes with golden syrup and chopped banana. Combined with a nice cup of rich coffee...mmmm... 
5. Lipstick or eyeshadow, which do you prefer? Eyeshadow. I find lipstick a lot of effort. 
6. Something you love about yourself? My hair. It's fun and naturally giant. 
7. Favourite band? The Sisters of Mercy. 
8. Do you believe in the paranormal? Having had some experiences with it I would have to say yes!
9. Fan of vampires? Oh good lord YES!
10. Black/none or other shade of nail polish? Black or a nice deep purple or blue. 
11. Favourite movie? The first two Alien movies or Con Air. Also Hocus Pocus.

The People I am Tagging.

bats-and-bunnies.blogspot.ie/

cemeterydreamer.blogspot.ie/

katysioux.blogspot.ie/

notthistimenaylandsmith.blogspot.ie/

www.colormegoth.com/

geekygothgirl.blogspot.ie/

gothicallyyours.blogspot.ie/

catacombxkitten.blogspot.ie/

myspotinthespectrum.blogspot.ie/

rufflesnotdiets.blogspot.ie/

theeverydaygoth.blogspot.ie/

My Questions.

1. Your first goth band?
2. New or early batman movies?
3. The longest you have ever gone without sleep
4. What are your phobias?
5. Tea or coffee?
6. The one country in the world you would love to visit
7. Is you hair natural or dyed? 
8. Any body modifications you would never consider getting done?
9. Your most hated tv show.
10. What book are you reading at the moment?
11. What do you do to chill out after a long day?

I'm sure that most of you guys have been tagged already but I stick by my choices :p

Hope you all enjoyed this post, can't wait to see the answers to my admittedly not very thrilling questions.

Thanks for reading,

Rebecca. Miaow :)