July 24, 2025
Double Digits!
July 21, 2025
FYI - Shop Around!
I find it crazy how there's such a wide range of prices for very similar decorations / props! I've had to flip back & forth between items on the same website, since it seems like they have things listed multiple times but with different prices.
For example...
Halloween costumes 5' poseable skeletons - $80
Comes in a large variety of colors..... basic white "realistic" / pink / pastel rainbow / acid green / pastel purple / black / red / dark gray / orange (w/ jol head) / winged
basic white, face & chest lights up red $90
basic white "Georgie" $60 (cheaper looking)
basic white w/ blue eyes ($70 sale)
basic white w/ yellow eyes ($40 sale)
black light ($60)
disco ball - non poseable ($200)
Werewolf ($90)
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I'm mad about this one.... guess where I bought mine?
Steer Skeleton
At Home - $90
Oriental Trading - $50
Tractor Supply - $50
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Beagle Bonez
Halloween Costumes $40
Oriental Trading $55
I recall seeing these at CVS in the past years - I just don't remember the $$ but they have tons of coupons there.
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So far one of the best prices I've seen for 5' skeletons has been Target for $35 and they come in a variety of odd colors, like "iridescent" and "champagne" and "pink blush" and "ghoulish green alien" which is a cool metallic grass green, then an orange one with a JOL head, and "silver disco", which not gonna lie - I think I might get one of these - I just don't know what size yet! It's not like the individual mirrors all glued on, but it's still pretty neat. I like the glitter eyes/nose/mouth. It also comes in very reasonably priced 2' and 3' sizes.
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And these guys....
July 10, 2025
What is your dream Halloween?
I peruse the HalloweenForum quite often and someone recently made a thread about what would your dream Halloween be? I was only #11 posting so I'm sure there will be more interesting answers afterward. This was my answer....
I'd like the Halloween like you see in (non-horror 😄) movies - groups of happy, costumed kids roaming, colorful fallen / falling leaves, every house with the porch light on and glowing JOLs. That smell of crisp, cool fall air, hay bales and clear skies.
I live in Michigan so if it's not raining/snowing, we're already lucky enough to have perfect temperature weather. But all the senses get involved.
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Seeing the lights in the cemetery. The leaves on the ground and still in the trees.
Hearing the crunch of the leaves and wind thru the trees.
Smelling the crisp air and toasting pumpkin lids of the JOLs
Feeling the cool air.
Tasting the drink of choice, usually it's Zombie Killer cherry cider on H'ween night. And of the occasional piece of candy stolen out of the bucket...
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I always enjoy sitting out in the driveway after the tornado sirens go off, signalling the end of ToT and just finishing up my adult beverage and taking in the moment, sadly knowing that 24 hours from then, the whole display would be gone.
I remember one year when ~ I ~ was little, dressed as a ladybug. Black turtleneck sweater and black pants with a painted cardboard set of wings (this was the late 70s so homemade was common) and besides hating the black makeup Mom put on my nose, it was pouring rain so my wings were ruined. Another memory is when the Spawn was little (and dressed as a cow!) it was actually super warm that year and she was miserable in her little fake fur, pull over costume so we had to take it off. But on the other hand, there have been years when most kids come by trick or treating with winter coats on over their costumes.
Some favorite costumes that I've seen... A girl came up my driveway wearing box with her head sticking out of the top - she was a whack-a-mole game! She also commented that she didn't plan her costume well as she stuck her ToT bag out of her headhole. Another time, maybe the same girl, on one of those cold H'ween nights - came up wearing a puffy white jacket and a pool ring, carrying a Dunkin Donuts Muchkin box - she was a donut! Then a young couple came up, both wearing black suits and sunglasses. One of them was carrying their baby in a carrier on their chest - wrapped in a box with a Presidential Seal - they were Secret Service agents! Last year, a Dad wearing khakis and a jungle boonie hat came up with a wagon of 3 toddlers and one older child, all dressed like dinosaurs - the sign on the back of the wagon had the Jurassic Park logo!
This tangent could go on for a while so I better stop!
July 07, 2025
It's Summerween Season!
June 28, 2025
125 days (but who's counting?)
Thoughts to ponder - was reading a thread on the HalloweenForum about buying H'ween candy - do you stick to a budget or just buy all willy-nilly? We've given out full sized bars for the past several years - it's not a real big deal for us since we usually get less than 50 kids, a good amount of them are drive-bys. This is why....
18 ct Skittles / Starburst Variety Pack = 2024 - $18.14 / 2025 - $21.78
30 ct M&M / Mars Variety Pack = 2024 - $ 27.89 / 2025 - $42.50
WOW!
At least I looked now so I won't be shocked later at the prices! Especially on the chocolate. Sheeesh.
I have been warned!
So until later..... see ya!
June 20, 2025
Happy Solstice!
