Frivolous and Trendy?

Derek surprised me this 'So Goth I'm Dead' bag by Killstar Clothing months ago, because he knows my sense of humor. The bag was seen with an outfit in this blog post and I realized that I haven't included it on the blog nor chatted about it. 

A lot of Killstar fashions have shown up on Youtubers, bloggers and instagrammers and I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about this brand and/or brands like Killstar. These types of brands can be pricey and a lot of people are wearing the fashions, so is it frivolous to own trendy brands? Nahhhh, I say if you like something that could be considered trendy within a subculture and you really like it, buy it! Personally I wear whatever I like and I like a variety in my closet.....especially when it has kitsch value!

I believe the key to shopping the trends is to incorporate these "trendy" pieces into your own style, so being particular and educated when shopping (i.e-read reviews, use coupons, shop sales, etc.) can only benefit you. BUT-I always advise to not get too wrapped up in the 'must have it' mindset that trends can generate and only buy if it's something you really want, even if it seems frivolous. Gotta live a little from time to time! Hehe!

Wearing: white blouse (Bettie Page Clothing via clothing swap), cropped pants (thrift), concho belt (Target), bat flats (Iron Fist), hair scarf ($1 estate sale buy), coffin pin (gift from Derek), So Goth I'm Dead (Killstar, gift from Derek)

A little health update: After seeing one doctor and ruling out what I thought it was (pre-existing issue), I then had to wait to see a new doctor, and in the mean time I was suffering everyday. Yesterday I left work and  went to the emergency room for the health issues I've been experiencing since I just couldn't take the pain any more. (This was the outfit I wore to work, so at least I had a cute outfit for the hospital.) Happy to report that after blood work, testing and a cat scan, everything will resolve itself in time, which I am so relieved! I will still be seeing the doctor at the end of this month, to follow up and chat about some questions and other health concerns. 

It's been a crazy few months and I'm ready to have some boring down time! Hahaha!

Thank you for reading, until next time!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Just Life Stuff

Derek and I cutting a rug this past Sunday at The Next Generation Swing Dance

Life. Life has been full of worrying, planning and bad news. Trying to keep my sanity and to keep our chins up. So, in no particular order, here are some things that have been going on in my world. Yes, I don't just worry about fashion. Hahaha!!!

-My Father under went a second surgery for the bladder cancer. The cancer cells are still present, so he is going to start a regime of chemo therapy that will be injected into bladder in hopes it will finally get rid of all the nasty cancer cells. My parents are positive and happy with the team of doctors that are taking care of my Father. As a side note-my Father is 78 years old. (13 year age difference between my parents, he got married later in life and there is almost a 10 year gap between my older brother and I, hence the age of my Father)

-We came to a very upsetting realization regarding the house issues we have and the way we were asking for help. In short, we applied for a housing grant to get our sewer, roof and broiler fixed and after jumping through hoops, sleepless nights and frustration, we are deciding to opt out. They are asking for too much personal financial information and we are feeling like we're being punished since Derek is a self employed tattoo artist. They are asking for other personal information that we are not comfortable with as these specific things weren't needed we got our mortgage! I understand that a grant to essentially a 'forgiven loan', but we are going to look at other options. Besides, the sewer issue can't wait a year for grant monies. At least we tried....

-We have been keeping a low profile. We have been buckling down, spending less and choosing to stay in rather than go out to every event we had planned to attend. We're not starving ourselves nor stopped going out all together, but rather opting to get home projects accomplished rather than roaming antique and flea markets on the weekends. It's amazing how much money you can save by not indulging in little unnecessary purchases.

-We're going to start taking dance lessons. After all these years, we're going to start lessons thanks to my bosses (Christmas) gifting Derek and I lessons with our friend Chuck Chazz who runs The Next Generation Swing Dance. We've been going to the dances off and on for several years, but it will be awesome to hone in our skills and cut even more of a rug. We love to dance!

-Lightening the load. I helped Derek go through his hoards of clothing. Bins and bins of clothes!!! I was pretty proud of him for getting organized and we had fun as he gave me a fashion show! It's awesome that we both love fashion, but it can get overwhelming when one person is more organized than the other (*cough me cough*). I even weeded through my items and put some things in the donation pile. Unfortunately I can't get all my Spring/Summer items out of bins as it's still too chilly. The great closet rotation is paused for now.

So yeah, that's life. The gal behind the blog is just plain tired, but relieved that we are taking a hold of whatever life throws at us. 

What's happening in your world?

Thank you for reading, until next time!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Winter Bats

This day was one of those days that I had a dress planned, it didn't work out (which is now in the donation pile), so I had to come up with plan b. Since I was all bundled up in my under layers, I grabbed this bat skirt that has been featured here and here.

The wonderful thing about my project 'wear everything', is that I'm weeding out pieces that just don't work for me and in return I am able to grab pieces that do work. This is really helpful when outfit plans fail, especially when dressing for work.

I'm wearing a open front cardigan (H&M) with a long sleeve t-shirt (Target?), bat skirt (Sourpuss Clothing), fleece lined leggings, tall boots (Madden Girl) with vintage bow belt (from Julie Ann).

I'm also wearing some wool socks I got on sale, as all Winter stuff is being clearance out for Spring. Blargh! I know it's the one-season-ahead cycle of fashion, but I will never get used to it. Luckily thrift stores don't revolve around seasons too much.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Happy World Goth Day!

Happy World Goth Day! Though I've never celebrated the day per say, yet it's still nice that people are coming together throughout the world! Just don't hug the goths....unless they like it. Hehe!

My goth "coming of age story" is not really clear. I was in High School and was alternative, I started going to raves at 14 and was into going to local shows. The 90s were a weird time, but a time where none of my friend's defined themselves as 'this or that', we just all hung out together. One big motley crew!

I don't know if it was fate when I had a guy come up to be at a hardcore show (we later "dated", I was only 14 and nothing happened other than hanging out) and asked me "Do you like The Cure?". Which I said, yes. Turns out he was a HUGE crazy Cure fan and gifted me with all sorts of music. I remember the one time we were hanging out listening to music and he turned and looked at me and said, "You are like Charlotte Sometimes", I had no idea what he was talking about other than The Cure song. Later on, after really listening to the lyrics of "Charlotte Sometimes", I understood and it has became my favorite Cure song. It was as if a seed had been planted......

My journey into goth wasn't really an exciting one, just a series of discoveries into industrial music (techno music was the gateway drug), than goth, and then the black fashion followed. Music has always been the number one influence on me as well as spending hours watching music videos and reading magazines and books about our beloved subculture. 

So, Happy World Goth Day dear readers! Now let's all go dance to the record version of, "Bela Lugosi's Dead"...all 9 minutes and 30 seconds of it. Phew! 

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Flashback!

I found this old photo of Derek and I from several years ago, taken at one of our local goth nights. I have no idea what I am doing other than being a total goof. Haha!

I've been feeling extremely under the weather this past week, dealing with some major sinus issues and more snow. Blah! Calgon take me away!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Revenge of the 80s Dance Party

My friend Danielle and I threw an 80s dance party on Saturday the 18th in lieu of our regularly monthly 'dark dance' night (On the Wire) in order to have an excuse to turn the 80s-ness up to ELEVEN! 

Myself, Marie, Christian and Derek

The crowd was amazing, our dj friends did a fantastic job and it was a great time all around! People really love the 80s! The dance floor was packed all night and there were even a few sing-a-longs. Haha! We're not going to switch our regular monthly to just primarily 80s, but perhaps we'll throw 'Revenge of the 80s II' in the summer, you never know. *Wink*

I surprise dance-attacked Luke!

Myself, Emilie and Danielle

Dress is 80s vintage thrifted a while ago for $5, stole Derek's Cure pin (80s!) for a 'pop' of color.

I own some nice Sugarpill shadows that I never wear, so this was a good opportunity to put them to use! I just sort of put it on and hoped for the best, turned out pretty good for not really having a plan. 

Thank you to Danielle for taking the reigns with my camera and snapping all these photos. You can check out On the Wire Facebook by clicking on the link. Yay!

Thank you reading, I will leave you with one of my favorite songs that was played that night.

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Happy 2014!

New cardigan I snatched up at work, by Voodoo Vixen

I rang in the New Year with some of my Tiki buds, which was low-key and relaxing. We played Cards Against Humanity, which was my first time playing the game and it is hilariously immature....just the way I like it! We nibbled on assorted finger foods and sipped tropical libations from Tiki mugs and then toasted with champagne during the count down to midnight.

A lot of people had a bad year and couldn't wait to push 2013 out the door, which is totally understandable when you've had a tough time. A year seems like an eternity during a negative time, but it often becomes a blink of an eye when you're feeling positive and happy. Life is often full of challenges, but it's the outcome and what we learn from the experience that makes us who we are and a part of our story.

During my 33 years on this planet, I have had many ups and downs, twists and turns, successes and fails, so my story probably isn't anything to write a book about, but through these years I've lived. I'm learning about myself every year and 2014 won't be any different. It's the little successes like sewing bloomers from a pattern and concurring my fear of them. (The pattern, not the bloomers. Hehe!) I'm learning to be more patient with life and slow down to enjoy what is happening now rather than what can happen in the future. 

So, dear readers, I get serious now and then, but I will always truly be a goof and a cheeseball (mmmmm, cheeseball) and will continue to do so into 2014. I wish you all the health and happiness! 

PS-I am starting a new year (and year three of blogging) with a few tweaks to the layout of the blog. I dig it and I hope you do as well!

Thank you for reading! You are awesome!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Impressions of Yuletide

It's beginning to look a lot like a Buffalo winter! Snow, snow and more snow, it's been about five years since we've really had a snowy winter and I'm already over it. I hate snow, I hate driving in snow, but I like where I live so I have to suck it up. 

Oddly enough, getting stuck driving in the snow and having a horrendous journey from a friends house (who lives 5 minutes away) put me in the holiday spirit! Hey, I don't know how these things in my little head work, but I'm just going to go with it. Perhaps the weather has frozen my 'bah humbug' attitude, I kid. Hehe!

Derek likes to decorate the house for the holidays, so I let him work his cheerfulness all over the house while I sit and drink wine on the couch. It's become a tradition, but I pitch in when it comes to adding a little holiday humor to the items around the house.

Our Tiki room has the most decorations as I realized that we have mostly  'Tikimas' themed decorations, which makes me giggle. Even the Deadhead shrunken head rum bottle is not safe from the holiday spirit(s). Get it? Holiday spirits. Alcohol. Eh? Eh? Okay, I'll stop with the dad jokes. *Wink*.

"The Tiki stocking were hung in the Tiki room with care, in hopes that lots of rum will soon be in there"

Thanks to my friend Bea we have an awesome slice of pizza ornament that is nestled right next to the "In League With Santa" ornament, which is a personal favorite of mine.

The Boney Bunch Santa sleigh is filled with an eyeball?! I picked up this awesome hand painted eyeball ornament from our friend Chris of Devil Chicken Design. His stuff is way rad, so check it out!

Well, thanks for reading and I hope you're enjoying this time of the year whether you celebrate or not. Just think, the Krampus didn't eat you, so you must be doing something right!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Family Travel Time, Wow!

Hanging out in Washington D.C. wearing my new Kattitude Halloween Cat Bag

by Kreepsville 666

Derek and I traveled down to Virginia to visit with family for the Thanksgiving holiday. leaving last Monday to avoid the snow that was headed to Buffalo and the surrounding area. Of course, the news made it out to seem like the impending doom (that was snow) was going to be worse than what happened in reality, but I still wanted to hit the road to make it safely to our destination. 

Thanksgiving was nice, getting to see all the nieces and nephews was fun and exhausting, but I'm happy to be home! It always seems like the drive home is always so much longer....

The metro looks very retro futuristic

Derek and I also traveled by metro to visit our friends in Washington D.C. I have to say that I've traveled in may cities via their metro systems and trying to pay the fare using D.C.'s metro machines was so confusing! Derek and I just looked at each other in total "WTF?", luckily when we asked another traveler, they were very helpful. 

I did some super sleuthing online and found Hogo which is a low key Tiki bar in D.C.! Unfortunately our friend Dan couldn't join us, but Bea, Derek and I did some major Tiki drinks sampling for about four hours. Haha! Everything was delicious, but the volcano bowl that Derek and I shared was my favorite.

Any time we travel I like to see if there is any place that serves Tiki drinks, has a tropical theme or if there is anything kitschy. We did a Tiki road trip back in April when we visited my parents in Florida and we are concocting some Tiki plans for 2014. Muahahaha Moai!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving and is enjoying the start of their holiday season!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Club Nights : November's On The Wire

Saturday was On The Wire, the dance night that I help promote with my friend Danielle, so it was time to put on my dancing shoes, stay out way past my bed time and visit with some great friends.

I opted for a simple thrifted babydoll dress paired with these new cross stockings from Forever 21 (I'm excited about them) and my black blazer that I've been doing a little sewing work on.

I'm not quite done with the back of the blazer, but I did get to add the Trevor Brown "Little Sister" patch that I made from Derek's old t-shirt. I like Trevor Brown's art and I have a obsession with nuns, so it's a win-win in my book!

Other than recovering from the fun time this weekend, Derek and I are gearing up for the holiday season and we're on the edge of our seats with some other wonderful news. Derek is opening up his own tattoo shop with two friends! The building has been going through major renovations for quite some time and now we're waiting for inspections and last minute things. Poor Derek has been a little frazzled with not knowing exact dates, but good things come to those who wait! I'm so excited for them all!

Making plans! Making plans! 

Have a great week!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos is a day to remember our loved ones and friends who have passed on. I have lit a few candles amongst our personal mini altar to remember and honor the fond memories of my Aunt, Grandparents and several others who are no longer with us on this Earth, but their spirit still lives with me always.

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Happy 4th Wedding Anniversary to Us

Yesterday was our fourth wedding anniversary and we both commented on how time has flown by. We got married on a chilly night on October 11, 2009 at The Lodge (an old Masonic Hall) with 55 of our closest friends and family. We had a 'creepy cocktail' with hor d'oeuvres, cocktails and a very short and sweet ceremony. It was a wonderful evening indeed and we did it our way.

-My dress, Bettie Page Clothing ($99!)

-hat, Hey Sailor!

-Derek wore a western style suit with his Fluevog boots

Cupcake stand and cupcakes made by our talented friend Leslie.

A lot of our wedding was DIY, I didn't have fresh flowers or lots of decor as the Washington Room at The Lodge was quite regal with its marble pillars, high ceilings and amazing dark woodwork. One thing I do regret is not hiring a professional photographer (we were on a tight budget) to capture the day, but I have a lot of great candid shots that I hold dear to me. 

Ahhh memories! Thank you for letting me share a few tidbits about our special day. Back to anniversary talk, we celebrated with going to Tandoori's a favorite Indian restaurant of ours, it was delicious and full of great conversation. 

Derek got me a Martha Rotten piece that he picked out and I got him an Alchemy Gothic bat necklace. Yes, the necklace is a chicken foot cast out of pewter with the amazing cast bone closure. In Voodoo, a chicken foot is used for protection and believe to be powerful against evil-doer and are believe to work by magically "scratching" one's enemy. I'm not a practitioner of Voodoo, but I am an avid learner of spiritualism in all its forms.

This piece is AMAZING, I am so happy to now own a Martha Rotten piece from my husband who's so thoughtful and knows how to adorn his lady in chicken feets. Haha! 

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Zach Rose Photography

It was a beautiful evening!

I am always flattered when my oh-so-talented friends ask me to be a subject for their art projects! My friend Zach Rose started this on-going project that is has affectionately named "Goths in Nature", I love it!

I decided to wear this Catherine Coatney vintage cross lace front dress that I got ($20 bucks) from Ebay. It's probably the most scandalous thing you'll see me wear and I'm covered up! Haha! 

As always, it's fun to shoot with Zach whether I'm in front of the camera or behind the scenes as the stylist. He gave me a great compliment and told me I was "very photogenic", which makes this worry wart of a 'model' feel pretty good about herself. 

This is another awesomely creepy photo that Zach shot last summer on his vintage Graflex Speed Graphic camera. The film was old and expired which gives the image that hauntingly old effect.

I am wearing a vintage cape in 80 degree weather and it was so worth it! We shot this in Forrest Lawn Cemetery, which is one of my most favorite places in Buffalo. 

Please check out Zach Rose's awesome talent at the links below:

Website : www.zachphotography.com

Tumblr: www.zachrosephotography.tumblr.com

Facebook page : Zach Rose Photography

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Happy October! : My Halloween Haul

Happy October everyone! I'm excited to share some of my Halloween goodies in the form of a video! Step this way.....

Corrections in the video: (oops!)
Spider web pumpkin : Big Lots
Resin hand, resin skull and coffin cards : Michael's (not Marshall's)

Happy Spooktober everyone!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Secret Dinner

Derek was invited by our chef friend Ed Forster to a "secret" dinner affair by The Workshop, in which the location details were not revealed until 24 hours before the event. I jokingly said it was like a food rave, 90s style. Hehe!

The cocktail style affair took place at Silo City to my delight, as my fair city of Buffalo is home to many monolithic industrial gems that I love and now I am dining amongst them?! Yay!!!

I love the windows!

Little bits of grass and wildflowers amongst the industrial decay.

We were right on the water.

A dapper Derek enjoying one of the delicious cocktails of the evening.

The shrimp based appetizer were served on skipping stones. Brilliant!

Inside the Silo

It was a delicious and different experience that I would definitely participate in again. Here is a little write up about the event in the Buffalo News blog.

I'm getting hungry while I'm typing! Hehe! 

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla