This week I decided to take a break from the blog to offer a chance for my friend Jonathan to contribute to the blog. Please enjoy! 🙂

“Pouring your heart into your work is crucial in my daily life. When I am in a space, I envision a lifestyle, a person, an aspiration that drives me to embody that into my space.

I take a steamer and steam the ready-to-wear I will place on my group of mannequins, ensuring no wrinkle is left behind.

Perfectly steamed tweed suits and chinoiserie are placed on a cart as I undress the mannequins out of wide-leg chinos and silk puff blouses as a new trend emerges.

Clothed in pink tweed and chinoiserie, I take out my secret weapon of satin pins and begin to tighten the suit skirt, gently folding and placing the pins in the back of the mannequin to contour the tweed suit.

I then imagine the space and grab pink and sparkly bags, rose candles, and pink crocodile leather makeup brush holders. We are going out tonight and need all the sparkle and Glitz.

By this time in the morning, I am starting to need more inspiration; I go into my phone and say

“Hey Siri, play Barbie Girl by Aqua” I get back in the spirit and grab a fragrance to elevate my space and create an atmosphere.

I look back, and I smile. A work of art has been created, displays of pink feminine tweed and rose sweaters captivate my eye, and fresh rose fragrance fills the air; the display has been completed.

This is the life of a visual merchandiser; every day is a day to spark creativity to evoke emotion into our displays so that others may marvel at the sensory spectacle.

Embodying your trends helps you understand the client you are attracting. It enables you to connect personally and speak through the fashion, scents, and lighting created within the space that can get clients to invoke nostalgia and passion for a brand.

The most satisfying part of setting space is seeing customers gravitate towards your table and discovering candle fragrance or a customer asking for a different size of that pink sweater on your table.

My passion is on display for everyone; I will continue to adapt and envision bright displays and creative atmospheres to inspire clients and create conversation in a room.

The life of a visual is creative and ever-changing; it’s a brush that I wield and will continue to create and compose.”

Thank you so much for your contribution, Jonathan!!!

In part 3 of our summer movies to watch. I asked fellow friend @wetboxx for their summer movie selections:

WAKE IN FRIGHT (1971)

“The existential summer film from hell. I dare you to drink a beer after this one.”

Friday the 13th (1980)

“There is something about the cabins, the woodsy landscape, a dark blue lake, and a bunch of young camp counselors messing around that makes me pine for summer and the great outdoors. “

Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (1991)

“The ultimate childhood summer film for me. I can’t imagine how many times I watched this on HBO as a kid.

As an adult…It struck a different chord: while others go to the beach during the summer, most of us have to work all summer.”

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

“The hottest, sweatiest film ever made. You can feel the TEXAS heat and smell the cattle in the air.”

Return of the Living Dead (1985)

“An obligatory watch every July 3rd since I was a teenager.

There’s nothing better than watching punk teens hang out in a cemetery on a hot summer night before a regular army fuck up!

@yetihideout (Eric Weber) loves Match Game, Louise Lasser, and cats! Here is his list of five summer movies:

Piranha (1978) – “People eat fish, Grogan. Fish don’t eat people.” Directed by the always reliable Joe Dante (Gremlins) and a lot more fun than Jaws! Good mix of laughs and scares and some surprisingly sentimental scenes in this spoof of nature-gone-amuck and 1950s monster movies. Featuring a great score by Pino Donaggio (Dressed to Kill) and appearances by cult movie legends like Barbara Steele, Paul Bartel, and – best of all – Dick Miller.

Uncle Sam (1996) – Deliciously tacky and weird horror/comedy by director William Lustig (Maniac) and writer Larry Cohen (It’s Alive) about the zombified and psychopathic “Uncle” Sam Harper who returns from the dead during July 4th festivities to kill anyone who dares commit any “anti-American” acts such as flag-burning, draft-dodging or mangling the National Anthem! The fun cast includes Robert Forster, P.J. Soles, and Isaac Hayes. The film is dedicated to legendary Italian horror director Lucio Fulci (who passed away the same year).

Rear Window (1954) – One of Alfred Hitchcock’s most absorbing thrillers. Being a nosy neighbor has never been so much fun! Unforgettable and jaw-dropping indoor sets recreate an entire apartment building (and courtyard), allowing for glimpses into various characters’ lives. Other highlights are a typically sassy Thelma Ritter and the beautiful and ethereal Grace Kelly. Based on a short story by crime author Cornell Woolrich that’s also recommended.
 

Summer School (1987) – Adorable 1980s time capsule starring Mark Harmon as a charming gym teacher forced to instruct summer school to a batch of oddball students. I saw this in the theater at 12 and hoped that high school would be this much fun. The cast is wonderful – everyone is dandy (especially the dog)! Also memorable are the characters “Chainsaw” and Dave and their obsession with horror movies and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
 
Club Dread (2004) – Horror slasher comedy by Broken Lizard, the guys that brought you Super Troopers and Beerfest. Pleasure Island – owned by Coconut Pete (a parody of Jimmy Buffet marvelously played by the late, great Bill Paxton) – is plagued by a series of gruesome murders, and it’s up to the quirky staff of the resort to solve the mystery. Lots of fun and better than it has any right to be!

If you would like to learn more about Eric. His Instagram is @yetihideout

THANK YOU, ERIC!!!!!! 🙂

Fellow friend @kristianminglefive selected five summer movies.  

“I’m a full-time pop culture-holic. I love everything 70s and 80s. Having grown up a gay kid in the 80s, I feel my tastes are warped in just the right ways. “- Kristian.

Last Summer (1969) – Beautifully told and filmed story of three teenagers vacationing on Fire Island who “befriend” an outsider. Their motives become questionable, and the entire movie takes a sociopathic turn that will change lives forever. Barbara Hershey and Catherine Burns are outstanding as the two lead teenage girls. 

The Other (1972) – Haunting story of twin brothers in 1935 who spend their summer pulling pranks on neighbors and family members. This movie has such a great twist which has always stayed with me and an ending that is just horrifying.  

Little Darlings (1980) – Two of my favorite actresses, Kristy McNichol and Tatum O’Neal, star in this movie about summer camp and the loss of innocence. Making a bet to see which of the two can lose their virginity first becomes a soul-searching and life-changing summer for both girls. 

The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) – I wasn’t even a teenager when I first saw this classic film about standing up for what’s right against all odds. A great soundtrack drives this fun summer adventure of teenagers trying to prove that Fair is Fair while running from a crime they didn’t commit. 

Kalifornia (1993) – A riveting story with some great set pieces about a photographer and his girlfriend who unexpectedly end up on a hot and bloody cross-country car trip with a serial killer. Very underrated, with a solid cast and a solid script. 

If you would like to know more about @kristianmingle please refer to the Instagram account or email address: igotsnewshoes@gmail.com

I added two movies from Kristian list to watch because I have never seen them. Which ones are you interested in? Comment below!

Thank you so much, Kristian !!!

This week’s movie of the day is Silkwood (1983), directed by Mike Nicholas and starring Cher, Meryl Streep, and Kurt Russell.

Based on the true story of Karen Silkwood who was working at a nuclear facility in Kerr-McGee Cimarron Fuel Fabrication Site in Oklahoma.

The facility made plutonium pellets and Karen was part of the team making them. She also became the first woman on their union’s negotiating team. She voiced concerns of the safety of herself and the workers who were dealing with the plutonium. She noticed numerous safety violations and various amounts of tampering x-rays of the workers who were expose to this plutonium.

She also told her observations and findings about the facility in the 1974 Atomic Engenry Commission in Washington D.C. Such as fuel rods were being remade very badly, and when someone was contaminated they just make them take a shower. Karen and some of the workers while working came into physical contact with radiation and the heads of the plant blame the workers for their exposure. After some time of collecting evidence, Karen is en route to talk to a New York Times journalist and gets into a car accident that fatally killed her. Many people believed that it was no accident and that the killing of Karen Silkwood was a message to those in the facility to not talk.

The making of the five took about nine years to get off the ground. Jane Fonda was supposed to play Karen Silkwood and be produced by Warner Brothers. However, there was an issue when one of the producers named Buzz Hirsch.

He was subpoenaed by a judge in Oklahoma City. The judge wanted Buzz to discuss where did he get all of his information regarding this subject. It was later overruled by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The movie was then acquired by ABC Motion Pictures and had Mike Nicholas attached to direct the movie and Meryl Streep to star in the leading role.

If you would like more information about Karen Silkwood story. Here is a show from the History Channel discussing it:

Until next time!

Sources: Youtube.com, IMDb.com

Eureka Springs, Arkansas, has a hotel called the Crescent Hotel. It is considered to be one of the most haunted hotels in America.

The Hotel was built in 1886 and was the place for the rich and well-known to vacation there. A couple of years after its opening, the Hotel became disrepair, and no one could manage it. In 1908 the vacant place was turned into the Cresent College and Conservatory for Women. The college ran until 1923 and finally closed in 1924 for reasons unknown. It was rebought in 1930, became a smaller college with a short life, and closed in 1934. Every summer after that, it was a hotel. However, the Hotel’s haunted history started in 1937, when Norman G. Baker bought the place to turn it into a hospital and health resort. In hopes of saving those with cancer, that would be the go-to hospital in the United States. There was a massive issue though Norman was not a doctor. Nor did he have any experience in medical care, let alone help those with cancer.

Norman G. Baker had many different jobs throughout his lifetime. He was a radio broadcaster in Iowa, a vaudeville performer, an inventor, and a fake healer because he claimed he invented a cure for cancer.

He boasted claims of being a doctor in person and on the radio, and he was run out of Iowa because he was practicing medicine without a license. However, patients who truly believed he was a doctor followed him to Arkansas to his hospital and health resort, believing Baker could cure them. As a result, the Hotel was renamed the Baker Hospital. In addition, he claimed drinking the natural springs around the resort cured their terminal illness. Various amount of people passed away in the hospital, which caused Baker to create a makeshift morgue. And that area is known to be the most haunted place in the hotel.

In 1940, Norman G. Baker was arrested and had federal charges for mail fraud. He spent four years in jail, which left the place without an owner. In 1946 it was bought by four men, and on March 1967, the Hotel was almost burnt to a crisp. The only living owner of the four was a man named Dwight Nichols.

Marty and Elise Roenigk bought the hotel in 1997, and it went on a significant six-year restoration to return it to its original state. The hotel has over 60 guest rooms, and you can stay in one of the numerous cottages on the property. It also has a spa, various bellmen, suites, and a huge dining room called the Crystal Dining Room.

There are various reports sightings of ghosts in the hotel since the hotel went through various phases of life within it’s over hundred year career. There is no surprise that the hotel offers ghost tours, unique Halloween tours, as well as tours about the history of the hotel..

If you would like to book a room. There website is below:

https://crescent-hotel.com/

Would you ever book a night at a haunted hotel? Comment below!

Here is a PBS show called Exploring Arkanas. Which discusses the haunted places of the state:

Until next time!

Sources: youtube, Wikipedia, https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-most-haunted-places-in-america

I want to share some of my favorite podcasts this rainy Sunday. Some are series, while others are weekly podcasts. I decided to backtrack and listen to the first episode of the podcast.

Seven deadly sinners podcast by host Rachael O’Brien. This podcast is about the dark history of cult leaders and televangelists. This is a podcast I backtracked and started to listen to the first episode, and I have been totally absorbed with it ever since!

Instagram: @sevendeadlysinnerpodcast

Molly Lambert takes us on a deep dive into the world of Heidi Fleiss. I had the day off two weeks ago and listened to all the episodes in one day.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heidiworld-the-heidi-fleiss-story/id1615634639

Christopher & Eric Podcast:: Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn are my new favorite people! This is another podcast I started at episode one. This is a weekly podcast that does not disappoint! They discuss actual crime shows; however, they explain the shows so much that you do not have to watch episodes beforehand, but they do such a good job that I end up watching the show anyways, so I see the sometimes bad reenactments on the shows. They share their opinions on them with a blend of humor, and they switch the episodes between discussions of true crime and excellent life advice shows.

The link for more information is here: http://thedinnerpartyshow.com/christopherandericpodcast/

Finding Cleo is about a missing person hitchhiking home to Saskatchewan and has not been seen since the 1970s. Her family believes something horrible happened to her while trying to get back home. Host Connie Walker searches for answers for Cleo’s family in hopes of finally getting a response.

The link is here: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/148-missing-murdered-finding-cleo

Host Reness Roberson discusses the missing people in the Carolinas. Every episode absorbs you into realizing that people go missing daily, leaving family and loved ones to what happened to them.

The link to listen is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/missing-in-the-carolinas/id1511309373

What podcasts have you been listening to? Comment below to talk about it!

Until next time!!!

Hello all!

Just a quick post that I am looking for one-time contributors for May! If you would like to know more please dm my Instagram account! @lady.cult for more details!

thank you!!!