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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!

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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

2016 Halloween Merchandise Review: Kirkland’s

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I’m not that big of a fan of Kirkland’s just because I don’t like looking at the type of decorative items the stores carry, but I thought I’d venture inside one a few weeks ago to see what their Halloween selection looked like.

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They are definitely lower on my list for Halloween merchandise providers, but I admit that they had some fun stuff.  I’m going to apologize in advance for the picture quality.  This store was worse than Bath and Body Works regarding the VERY fragrant aroma in the air as I walked in.  I felt like I was slapped in the face hard by 15 different air fresheners.  That being said, I was in a hurry to get out of there, and my pictures suffered.

Here’s blurry pic of some cute ghosts and pumpkins along with a cool Day of the Dead platter at the bottom:

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Here’s another of the back of the same shelf.  Their stuff is definitely more on the cutesy side of the Halloween merchandise spectrum, but I think everyone could find at least one thing they liked out of their selection.

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For instance, I really liked this metal guy:

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They also had some pretty cool canvas pictures, including this one of trick-or-treaters out on Halloween night and the one below of a cool haunted house.

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Right before I fled to save my nostrils and avoid a headache from the overpowering smell, I saw this:

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I think the pillows at the bottom were adorable, and I’m always game for anything skull related.  The little nutcracker-like dolls on the top shelf were pretty cool, too.

So would I go back to Kirkland’s for their Halloween stuff?  Probably not, but I can see where their items would appeal to certain types of Halloween decorators.  If you’re looking for scariness or gore, this ain’t it, but if you want cute and accessible, try it out.

Halloween, Product Review

2016 Halloween Merchandise Review: Lowe’s

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Lowe’s is a regular weekend trip for my husband and me, so I was very pleasantly surprised last weekend to see that they’ve finally put out their Halloween item.  I have to say, last year’s Lowe’s Halloween merchandise was lacking.  I think they upped their game this year.

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Just check out the lovely display they have as you walk into the indoor garden section:

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Doesn’t it just get you in the mood?  For Halloween, that is.

And they had another cute display pretty close by featuring some light-up decorations:

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One thing they had over other places is a large selection of blow-up yard decorations, including the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, a pumpkin, a spider, minions, a dragon, and – my favorite – a grim reaper shown below.

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I thought these metal and wicker pumpkin decorations were pretty cute.  If you’re going for a folksy theme, these would be perfect.

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They had two animatronic props: a witch and a ghost.  Unfortunately, my video is too large to post right now, but I’ve shared them on Facebook if you want to see them.  And you do.  They’re pretty cool.  And while you’re there, follow my page.  Just do it.

Halloween, Product Review

Where to Buy Halloween Merchandise

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I was out on the town this weekend, and I was happy to see that so many stores are already putting out their Halloween items!  Spirit Halloween and Halloween Express have still not opened their doors for the season yet (at least not here), and Walmart and Target are still peddling school supplies, but never fear!  You can  satisfy your Halloween shopping fix by visiting the following stores:

Hobby Lobby: They might not have a lot of truly creepy items, but if you’re looking for cutesy stuff, Hobby Lobby has you covered.

Michaels: My favorite thing about Michael’s Halloween merchandise is their cool Spookytown Village miniatures.  Minis make me happy.  Plus, Michael’s also has a lot of cool small props, decorative items, and craft supplies.

JoAnn: I love JoAnn’s skeleton animals.  This year they have two different kinds of dogs, cats, owls, and vultures.

Kirkland’s:  This is another one that doesn’t have any really creepy stuff, but, like Hobby Lobby, if you want cutesy, Kirkland’s has it.

TJ Maxx: Skulls, skulls, skulls.  I love the variety of decorative skulls and skeletons TJ Maxx has.  Check out my review of their 2016 merchandise here!

Home Goods: They have some similar stuff to TJ Maxx, which makes sense seeing as they have the same parent company, but check it out anyway even if you have both in your town.

Well, that’s it for now.  I’m slowly working on reviewing all of the merchandise at each of these stores, so I’ll post them as I finish them.  My favorite so far has been Michael’s.  I’ll post some pics soon.

Halloween, Product Review

2016 Halloween Merchandise Review: TJ Maxx

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As I’ve been saying, Halloween is approaching fast, and with the swift approach of our favorite holiday comes the arrival of Halloween merchandise.

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As usual, TJ Maxx is one of the first to put out their Halloween products for the year, and since I went there this weekend, I thought I’d snap a few pics.  Just look at all the goodies!

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One thing I really like at TJ Maxx is their selection of metal jack o’lanterns.  These always look classy, and I like that you can use them  with whatever theme you want.  Just dress them up with flowers for a cutesy Halloween (not my preference, but whatever) or just put them with your creepy stuff.  They’ll fit right in.

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They also had a few cute Day of the Dead skulls in the mix.  They’re just so festive.

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There was also a selection of orange and pumpkin-themed decorations found at another part of the store.

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This was probably my favorite item.  You can’t see from this pic, but the jack o’lantern’s head is actually a candleholder.  I’ll probably be picking up this guy before all is said and done.

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This was also one of my favorites.  It’s two skeletons carrying a plate.  I think it’s meant to be used as a candleholder, but I thought it would be cool to put a few treats on it for your Halloween party food spread.  The large faux-stone skull to the right of it is pretty awesome, and I also love the skull and crossbones candleholder to the left.

 

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I thought TJ Maxx had a pretty good selection this year.  They always have a large amount of skull-themed items, so I enjoy looking at their stuff each Halloween.  If you’re looking for actual props, they probably won’t fulfill your needs, but if you’re looking for purely decorative items, you should check TJ Maxx out.

One last thing I’ll talk about is this fun little phone I played around with for awhile.  I’m worse than a kid with this stuff.  (Sorry for the weird video format!)