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Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Walgreens

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I don’t typically go to Walgreens on a regular basis, but I always make an exception when it’s time for the spooky stuff. You can find some really cool items.

So let’s get into their selection:

My local stores usually only have one aisle of decorations and costumes plus one aisle for candy. So that being said, their selection isn’t huge. I was pretty impressed with their little Day of the Dead section (the bride and groom were pretty cute), and they have a good selection of affordable masks if you’re looking to make an easy costume.

But what were my favorite things?

Favorite Finds at Walgreens

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  1. Spell Bottles: I always like spell bottles, and I thought these were especially cool with the toppers added. I’m going to be using these as inspiration for some I’m making this year.
  2. The Nightmare Before Christmas Hangers: I’ve seen Jack everywhere, but it’s Jack. I love him. And I loved that they have an Oogie Boogie version because usually, you only see Sally accompanying the Pumpkin King.
  3. Baby Alligator Skeleton: I love all the little animal skeletons, and I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else selling a baby alligator. He’s pretty cool.
  4. See/Hear/Speak No Evil Skulls: I have a set of see/hear/speak no evil skull candleholders. I just like the theme.
  5. Creepy Planters: These planters seem to be big this year. Target has a full line of them, and I really think they’re a great addition to any Halloween decor theme. (Note: the big black spot on the one on the left is my attempt to take out my reflection.)
  6. Dragon Sand Timer: I’ve loved sand timers ever since I was a little kid. This little item actually lights up
  7. Skeleton Wine Holder: This thing is really cool. It would be great holding extra bottles of wine at a party. And who doesn’t love a drunk skeleton? Or extra wine, for that matter?

So while Walgreen’s might not have the other stores beat in terms of size or variety, they do have some nice items that you might want to check out.

Have you been to your local Walgreens? Anything awesome I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments!

Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Walmart

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I’m sure I’m not the only one that has a love-hate relationship with Walmart. Too many reasonably-priced items right next to my groceries. It never turns out well.

And now they have Halloween stuff out, so there goes my next few paychecks.

Walmart’s Halloween selection is always pretty good. Nothing earth-shattering. You can find a lot of similar items elsewhere, but Walmart does have everything priced really well.

They have a really good selection of Nightmare Before Christmas items out this year, and since I use those mostly for my Christmas decorations, I hope I’m able to catch some sales on November 1.

You’ll also be able to find a wide assortment of inflatables, party supplies, jack o’ lanterns, costumes, home decor, props, and children’s books.

Although I said a little earlier that they have nothing earth-shattering, they do have a few items that they haven’t carried in previous years. Let’s get into my favorites.

Favorite Finds at Walmart

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  1. Bone Lantern: This is one of the more unique items to see at Walmart. Most of the Halloween merchandise in stock is very similar to items found at any store, but this one is really unique. They have this bone version and another metallic version. I really liked the bone lantern the best.
  2. Dragon Skeleton: So everyone is branching out into the mermaid/unicorn/dragon skeleton thing this year. I really liked this version of a dragon skeleton. Super cute.
  3. Ghost Girl Dress: This is a very simple prop, but it would look really cool in a dark graveyard scene or hung with fishing line at the end of a dark hallway. Good job, Walmart.
  4. Assorted Body Parts: Walmart doesn’t usually do gory, so I was pleased to see this item at my local store.
  5. Cobra Skeleton: I’ve seen a lot of snake skeletons at local Halloween stores, but this is the first cobra I’ve seen. I like that it’s different.
  6. Talking Head: This guy is a little funny looking, but I thought he was still creepy. He does say some funny things, but it’s not too hokey for me.
  7. Parrot Skeleton: Like the cobra skeleton, I liked that this bird skeleton was different the the typical one seen in past years. Parrots are cool.
  8. Victorian Skeleton: I’m not one for cutesy Halloween decorations, but I just loved this little chick. She just stood out to me. I don’t know where I’d put her, but I’m thinking about getting her.

So check out Walmart’s selection the next time you go grocery shopping. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that’ll benefit your holiday.

Let me know what your favorite find is in the comments! And be sure to check out my other 2019 Halloween Merchandise Review posts.

Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Home Depot

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*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Home Depot is one of my favorite Halloween shopping destinations.

There. I’ve said it.

Out of every store that sells Halloween items (besides Spirit Halloween and Halloween Express), Home Depot is the one I check on the most when the season gets close so that I can be one of the first ones to check out their stuff in person.

I love their selection! They always have a ton of cool animatronics set up in store, and their prices are really reasonable for most of their items. They’ve really been great the past few years. This is just some of what I found at my local store:

Home Depot’s animatronic offerings are as good if not better than some you can find at Spirit Halloween or Halloween Express. And you can find a ton more options online. Their Animated Cauldron Trio of witches (shown above) is particularly adorable. They also have a great variety of human and animal skeletons to choose from, and they have other cool home decor and prop items.

That being said, it was really hard to pick my favorite items this time. But I finally narrowed it down, so…

Favorite Finds at Home Depot

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  1. Sandworm Inflatable: I love Beetlejuice, and I was so happy to see this guy when I walked in. He’s HUGE! I love it so much, and they offer another Beetlejuice-themed inflatable that pairs the sandworm with Beetlejui- Whoa! I’ll stop there for obvious reasons. Anyway, it has the sandworm atop his tombstone with a projected scene from the movie. It’s awesome, but it sadly wasn’t at my store.
  2. Macabre Witch Animatronic: THIS. IS. MY. FAVORITE. WITCH. ANIMATRONIC. EVER. That is a bold statement, but you’ve got to go see this lady. She’s got a Cajun accent, and she says some great stuff. I just love her so very much.
  3. Towering Animatronic Werewolf: This guy looks especially creepy in person. He is super tall and looms over you, snarling and moving his head. Love it, and I really need a werewolf for my yard. He might be it.
  4. Ghost Girl: They have two versions of this one: a hanging one and this stand-up animated one. I like the stand-up because she’d be creepy just standing in the corner of a room with maybe some scary toys scattered around.
  5. Lighting Effects: These are just two of the LightShow effects Home Depot offers, but I really like them. The eyes blink, and the skeleton’s head moves back and forth. Really neat.
  6. Talking Raven: This was a simple little prop, but I like the way the bird moves. A little jerky, like a real bird. He’d be right at home in a witch scene.
  7. Glow-in-the-Dark Skeletons: I bought one of these last year and really liked it. In fact, I liked it so much that I’ll probably pick up a few more this year.
  8. Skeleton Solar Light: This is so cute, and I really regret not buying it when I saw it because it’s hard to find now. Maybe I’ll get lucky, and they’ll get another shipment soon. Fingers crossed!

Just writing all this makes me want to go back and look at everything again. And don’t worry if they don’t have some of these items at you local store. Many of the items above and much more are available online! Just head to Home Depot’s website and type ‘Halloween’ in the search bar. They offer free shipping for so many items, or you can buy online and pick up in store!

Have you gone to your local Home Depot yet? What was your favorite find? Let me know if the comments, and please be sure to share this on Facebook or Pinterest!

Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Lowe’s

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It’s time for another Halloween Merchandise Review post, and this time I’m reviewing one of my favorite home improvement stores – Lowe’s.

Lowe’s generally has a pretty good selection for Halloween supplies, especially in recent years. Home Depot has upped their game so much in the Halloween department that I don’t think Lowe’s really had a choice.

They have large props (though not as many as Home Depot), inflatables, pumpkin carving supplies, home decor, skeletons, and more.

You can see from the pics above that their Halloween section is pretty full. At my local Lowe’s they had quite a few Nightmare Before Christmas items, so if that’s your theme (or if you want to stock up fro Christmas decorations), you might want to check them out. They also have a large variety of pumpkins and jack o’ lanterns – from smaller craft pumpkins to stacked light-up jacks to inflatable versions to a huge lighted pumpkin perfect for your yard.

If you have a desire for the more cutesy stuff, they have you covered there, too. I saw various scarecrow items (the smiley kind), pretty printed pillows, and other decor for fall and what I’ll call Halloween-light.

So now that I’ve given an overview, let’s get into my favorite finds.

Favorite Finds at Lowe’s

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  1. Werewolf Prop: I love a good werewolf prop (currently in the market for the right-priced one), and I really like this one. He growls, moves his mouth, and turns his head. He’s really cool, and my son liked him, too. He might be added to my collection soon.
  2. Skeletons: Now, these skeletons aren’t really any different than others I’ve seen, but they are cheap. They’re priced at $29.98 right now, so if you’re lucky enough to get one when they’ve marked everything half off, you’re going to get a heck of a deal.
  3. Radioactive Barrel: This collapsible barrel is only $14.97, and I really liked it because it’s so much easier to add to a toxic theme than a full-sized barrel. I just don’t have anywhere to store one of those, so I like that this version can easily break down and stack on a shelf.
  4. Inflatable Haunted House Entryway: I don’t really have a lot of inflatable items, but this house is a really good addition to a kid-friendly yard.
  5. Ceramic Jack-O-Lanterns: Lowe’s has these every year, and I always love them. They are sturdy and great for a garden or flower bed. If your neighbors have a problem with early Halloween decorations outdoors, I can’t imagine they’d complain about this. Baby steps.
  6. Witch Prop: This is the new Gemmy Witch product for Lowe’s this year. She’s cute and witchy and a little spooky. Great find.
  7. Inflatable Mayor: I am a huge fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I always enjoy seeing all the new inflatables and other themed decorations each year. I was really happy to see this inflatable (sorry for the poor pic) because you don’t see many with The Mayor. He’s pretty cool, and Lock, Shock, and Barrel are crawling on him. He’s great.
  8. Glow-in-the-Dark Bones-in-a-Bag: You can’t have too many bones for your graveyard, and now your can have some that glow! I haven’t seen them in stores before (maybe I just missed them), so I thought they were pretty awesome. I’ll be picking up a bag because glow-in-the-dark stuff is just a no-brainer.

I had a hard time limiting my favorite things here because the selection was great. I’ll be picking up a few items there for sure.

What was your favorite thing? Let me know in the comments.

And be sure to check out my other Halloween Merchandise Reviews for 2019!

Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Dollar Tree

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One of my favorite places to go when Halloween rolls around is Dollar Tree. There are two reasons for this:

  1. They have some really cool stuff.
  2. I’m really cheap.

You can really find some great items here, so let’s take a look at what they have.

They have a good variety for their relatively small selection. Costume pieces, party supplies, props, general decor – they’ve got it all. They even have skeleton animals now (i.e, rats, birds, bats, & spiders). And everything is only $1!

That’s both good and dangerous. I can’t stop myself from buying $1 Halloween supplies. I lack that kind of will power.

Anyway, I can always count on them to have some really cool things that will fit in with my Halloween style. Luckily, at only $1, even things that might not fit or might look a little too cheap can be modified with little investment. For example, see my post about the different ways to use a Dollar Tree skull.

And speaking of the skulls, let’s get into my favorite finds.

Favorite Finds at Dollar Tree

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  1. Plastic Eyeballs: I love items that I know I can use in other places. Plastic eyes are great for large props. For instance, I’m thinking of adding them inside some of the masks I use for my larger props. You could make easy glowing eyes with a string of lights and a craft knife, or you could use them as filler for a vase. Lots of options here.
  2. Hanging Witch: They haven’t had much in the way of hanging props in previous years, so I was happy to see this chick on their wall. She’s pretty bland right now, but with a little paint and some added creepy cloth (not pictured, but Dollar Tree also has multiple colors to choose from), she’ll look pretty great.
  3. Chains: Who couldn’t use more chains in their Halloween display? Right. No one.
  4. Skulls: Back to the skulls. I always pick a few of these up every year because they can be used in so many ways for so many props. Love these things.
  5. Skeleton Garland: This can be used to make some really cool centerpieces or maybe to decorate a mantel. You could take them apart and make miniature displays.
  6. Skeleton Glasses: These are, of course, plastic, but if you’re throwing a Halloween party, these would come in handy and look really cool.
  7. Skeleton Tongs: I love these guys. They are actually really good quality. They’re plastic, but they’re quite sturdy. You can use them as intended or even stick them out of the ground for some grave decorations.

So if you couldn’t tell already, I highly recommend Dollar Tree. I’m going to be posting later about some of my item makeovers, so check back soon!

What is your favorite find this year at Dollar Tree? Let me know in the comments!

Halloween, Product Review, Uncategorized

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Joann

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As foretold in my previous post, I am back with another Halloween merchandise review. This one is for another craft store I’m quite fond of: Joann.

I give Michael’s the win over Joann in terms of cool indoor decor, but Joann does have some good items. They have a wide variety of craft and strangely-decorated pumpkins (I especially like the guy below with the teeth), and their animal skeleton game is on point. I mean, just look at the chicken! And the eel! I love them.

Now, if you’re looking for a reasonably priced skeleton, I would go somewhere else – probably Home Depot or Lowe’s – because their normal human skeleton is quite expensive. They go on sale frequently, though, so you can still probably get a good deal on one if you just have to get your skeletons there.

One place Joann definitely has an advantage over Michael’s is the fabric selection. Michael’s doesn’t carry fabric (at least the ones I’ve been to don’t), and Joann has a really great selection of costume fabric. I’m not the type to make my own costume, but if you are, check it out. They have everything from cutesy stuff to bloody, shredded fabric, so there should be something for everyone. You can also buy patterns for costumes there!

I’m also quite fond of the selection of food craft goodies Joann carries. They have a pretty big line of Wilton Halloween products -sprinkles, candy melts, cupcake holders, treat bags, candy molds – you name it. They also have that sweet Jack’o’lantern cake pan you can see in the pic above and a gingerbread haunted house kit. Super fun for kids.

While Michael’s might be more my thing in terms of decor, I do think Joann’s selection this year has some merits. They always have really fun pumpkins and new types of animal skeletons, and their fabric selection is pretty great. So what do I think are the best finds at Joann?

Favorite Finds at Joann

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  1. Foam Body Parts: I think this is the first year I’ve seen this. Joann usually has foam craft heads or busts, but this year they have a full skeleton! In pieces, of course, but it would be fun to get this and make it your own.
  2. Stone Skull Planter: I collect skulls. I love skulls. I anticipate this will be part of my collection. Just look at how cool it is!
  3. Vintage Framed Art: My husband and I actually said we liked this a lot at the same time, which doesn’t usually happen with Halloween stuff. I just like the cool vintage look to the print. It would look great on my wall (and probably will).
  4. Yoga Skeletons: These are a repeat from last year, but I freaking love them so much. In fact, I loved them so much last year that I dragged my sister around Fort Worth, TX to find them. They weren’t at my local store, and since we were going to be in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for a BTS concert (which was AMAZING, by the way), I had to stop on our way back to pick these cute little guys up.
  5. Roasted Pig Skeleton: I haven’t really seen many pig skeletons, and I love that this one has an apple in its mouth. Super cool.
  6. Rooster Skeleton: Like the pig, I think this is the first chicken skeleton I’ve seen. He might make his way into my collection, too.
  7. Bone Pumpkin: I love all the cool pumpkins that Joann has, and this was my fave. It’s just really unique and very my style.

All in all, I say at least take a trip to your local Joann and see what they have to offer. Who knows? You might luck out and get there when they have a really good sale.

So what do you think about Joann’s stuff this year? Hit or miss? Let me know if the comments!

Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Michael’s

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It’s my favorite time of year again, and that means the Halloween merchandise is coming out at all my favorite stores. I’ll be posting a short rundown of the Halloween merchandise at each of the major stores I go to in the coming weeks.

First up: Michael’s.

If you don’t have a Michael’s near you, I definitely feel bad for you. The closest one to me is about an hour away, but fortunately, it’s close to family, so I get to go to it a few times a year. I’m a fan of both Hobby Lobby and Joann, as well, for my craft supplies, but Michael’s just seems better to me in a lot of ways. Maybe it’s just because I dont’ have one close.

Anyway, when Halloween comes around, I’m especially excited to get to take a trip to Michael’s because they really do have some cool Halloween stuff. And they seem to be the first store to really put their items on the shelves. Check it out.

One thing I’ve noticed so far this year during my Halloween shopping trips is the new types of skeletons being offered. We’ve had a huge variety of animals to choose from, and now it seems that the mermaid and unicorn crazes have leeched into the Halloween world. Dragons are also making some appearances. Yep, we’ve got magical skeletons now. We saw some last year, but they’re now widely available.

I never really caught on to the whole mermaid/unicorn thing, but I can appreciate the effort. Michael’s doesn’t have a unicorn, but you can catch a pic of a unicorn skeleton in my upcoming post about the merchandise at Big Lots.

One of my favorite things about the selection at Michael’s is they have the type of Halloween decor that is most likely to make it into my year-round decorating. I mean, check out these awesome pillows and skeleton ceramics. I freaking love them (not counting the selfie skeletons and the one on the toilet – not my cup of tea).

Favorite Finds at Michael’s

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  1. Halloween Miniatures: If you’ve seen my dollhouse posts (start here), you know I love miniatures. So Halloween miniatures are, of course, going to be a big deal to me. Michael’s had a really good selection when I first arrived, but it looks like everyone else thought so, too, because most of them were gone when I went back. Sadness.
  2. Skull Moon & Raven: I just thought this guy looked really cool. They had a few moon-themed items, and this was probably my favorite.
  3. Vintage Decor: I don’t know what it is, but vintage Halloween stuff has really started to jump out at me when I see it. It just looks cool. Cute, but not too cute.
  4. Rubber Boa Constrictor: Who doesn’t love a huge fake snake?
  5. Rubber Spider: I almost got him, but I didn’t because I’m looking for a spider that spins a web. I go for realism when possible. Now, I regret not going ahead and buying him.
  6. Animated Witch: She was the only big animated prop at Michael’s, and I thought she was really cool.
  7. Skulls: I love the variety of skulls Michael’s has to offer. Giant ones, little ones, normal ones – just great.
  8. Yoga Skeleton Pillow: I love the yoga skeleton thing, and I really want to get this pillow for my living room.

If you have a chance to go to Michael’s, I highly recommend it. The prices are pretty reasonable, and if you can catch a sale or use a coupon, you can get a really great deal. They also have a fun variety of animal props. I bought a zombie squirrel here last year and a huge frog the year before that.

Have you had a chance to go to Michael’s this season and take a look at their Halloween merchandise? Let me know about your favorite find in the comments.

Halloween, Product Review

2017 Halloween Merchandise Review: Walmart

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I’ve gone over the fun Halloween merchandise to be found at Home Depot and Lowe’s this year, so let’s move on to the next store on my list: Walmart.

Love it or hate it, I’m sure you have a Walmart near you, and I’m pretty sure you spend a buck or two here each week.  I, myself, spend many bucks, but that’s beside the point.

I might not love the place, but it still makes me happy to walk in and see their display.

No. It’s not spectacular or anything, but just look!  There are costumes, big bags of candy, decorations, orange, and black everywhere!  Really, anything Halloween gives me the warm fuzzies.

Walmart’s decorations are pretty run-of-the-mill, but they’d still be enough to really spookify your house inside and out.  Hanging ghosts, skeletons, tombstones, lighting, cobwebs – you’ve got all you need right here.

And they did have these two little skeletal garden gnomes that I was quite taken with.  I haven’t seen these anywhere else, so Walmart definitely wins the Halloween garden gnome race.  That should be a thing if it isn’t already.  Just look at these cool, little things.

They have a small selection of skeletons and skeleton animals.  Because who doesn’t these days?

Walmart also has a great selection of Halloween-themed hats to keep your ears warm when you’re trick-or-treating.  You know.  If you’re lucky, and it’s not still 80 degrees by the end of the month.  Cross your fingers, folks.

And Walmart also has a nice selection of non-costume Halloween makeup and nail art.  Here’s some of my favorites.

So, no, Walmart might not be crazy innovative in the Halloween department, but if you’re looking for crazy animatronics, go to Spirit Halloween or Halloween Express.

Next up on my review is Target, so check back soon.

Halloween, Product Review

2017 Halloween Merchandise Review: Lowe’s

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Home improvement stores have really stepped up their game in the Halloween area these past few years.  I’ve been pretty impressed, and Lowe’s has a really nice assortment of yard decorations and lighting to choose from.  Let’s check out their offerings.

Just check out all the pretty things.

They’ve changed this display since they first started putting out Halloween items, but I really enjoyed the skeleton’s setup.  It’s like he’s saying, “Finally, it’s my time of year.”  Love it.

They have a few animatronics to choose from.  I especially like the American Gothic skeleton couple.

I actually got a video of the vamp lady doing her thang:

They also have some pretty awesome inflatables:

 

Halloween, Product Review

2017 Halloween Merchandise Review: Home Depot

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I had the pleasure today to go to the clear front-runner in this year’s Halloween merchandise race.

Home Depot is just killing it again this year with their stuff.  Just look at this spread:

See that?  I couldn’t even get it all in one pic.

Of course they had your normal stuff: pumpkins, silly dancing toys, skeleton dogs, cats, and dinosaurs.

*Record Scratch*  Dinosaurs, you say?

How cool is that?  You can also see from the pic that they have a skeletal pony.  What you can’t see (because they didn’t have it in the store) is that they are also selling an 8-foot-tall T-Rex to go with the babies.  Yes, you can see them in museums, but now you can have one in your home.  That’s pretty sweet.

They also had this cool gargoyle:

These hanging ghouls:

And this creepy, thin, animatronic werewolf:

For value, I think this 3-pack of skulls for $9.98 is a steal.  Less than 4 dollars for a realistic-looking, good-sized skull is too good to pass up.

And this full-sized poseable skeleton for $29.98 is an excellent deal, too.

 

I also have to give Home Depot props (no pun intended) for bringing back the peeper decorations.  There were a few angry, easily-offended people that called from these to be removed from the shelf this year, and Home Depot decided to bring back – not only the original – but a few different versions.

They also had quite a few great animatronics.  Just check out the videos below:

Pretty cool, huh?

So there’s my rundown of what Home Depot has to offer this year.  I feel like it’s got a definite lead over the other home improvement store this year, which I’ll go over tomorrow.  Be sure to check back then!