Tag Archives: Halloween

Uncategorized

Halloween 2021 Sneak Peeks

Leave a comment

So we flew through the first 6 months of 2021, had a pit stop on the Fourth of July, and we all know what comes next: HALLOWEEN!

If you’re like me, you’ve been eating up any Halloween news that you can find, from treats to movies to new decor. I’m so freaking excited this year. Maybe it’s because this will be the first Halloween since 2016 that I’m not either pregnant or someone’s primary source of nutrition. Whatever the reason, the excitement is almost too much to bear.

Like for real. I almost teared up when I saw Dollar Tree’s announcement for their mini Halloween garden line. May have had an almost panic attack. These are truths.

Anyway, since we’re in the transition period, I thought I’d just list what we’ve seen so far.

STORES

At Home is playing like a champ and already putting out their Halloween decor. My store is slowly getting everything on the shelves, but I was able to purchase a few skull decor items and a sweet Halloween garden gnome. I’ll be checking back this weekend (if I can even wait that long).

Spirit Halloween is slowly bringing out their Halloween line. Their YouTube channel released a teaser for The Graveyard Shift about 3 weeks ago, so we know they’re about to release something fun. Store locations aren’t quite out there yet, but we can expect them at least by July 27th, which is the date they list on their store locator.

Dollar Tree’s main page advertises Spooky Halloween Fairy Garden sets (mentioned above with my panic attack), and they look super fun. Very tempted to buy multiple sets for some repaints. And I say tempted, but what I mean is I’m definitely getting multiple sets. I’ve also seen a few other new items at the Tree this year on their website, namely some sweet see-hear-speak no evil skeleton figures and palmistry hands. They’re definitely going all out once again.

Home Depot is reportedly coming back with the must have 12-foot skeleton this year, except this time around, he’s got some skin and a pumpkin face. Looks pretty sweet. Their website says they’re still counting down to the release of all their items, but I’m on pins and needles for their announcement. We all know Home Depot has become a big Halloween destination point.

Michaels and Joann have both been quickly clearancing out their summer items to give them room for their new spooky decor. Both of my local stores are clearing aisles to make way for their Halloween wares, and I’m so excited. Just call me Jessie Spano. (Ugh. I’m aging myself.)

TREATS

We’ve seen a few sweet announcements – pun intended – for new Halloween-themed treats coming our way this year. General Mills announced their monster cereals will unite for Monster Mash, which looks like a tasty mix featuring Count Chocula, Boo Berry, Franken Berry, Yummy Mummy, and Fruit Brute. Skittles announced Skittles Shriekers, Cookies and Scream M&Ms are coming back! I’ll be adding to my workout routine for sure.

ENTERTAINMENT

Can I get a big round of applause for the Halloween Kills trailer?! It was released a few weeks ago, and I think it looks amazing. Jamie Lee Curtis and fam look super done with it, and it looks gory and intense as hell. Very exciting stuff. October 15, 2021 will be epic.

American Horror Story: Double Feature premieres on August 25 with their initial episode, Cape Fear. It’s always a wild ride, and I love seeing how weird and twisty everything plays out. Also worth mentioning is the new spinoff streaming series, American Horror Stories, which starts this week. Check out Hulu on July 15.

Fear Street: 1994 and Fear Street: 1978 have already premiered on Netflix, but we also have Fear Street: 1666 to look forward to this week! These movies are so fun, and I love the nostalgia involved. I was INTO that series in high school. So great.

That’s the rundown for now, but I plan on updating the site and this list as I see things come my way. I hope everyone is getting pumped! And make sure to follow me on Facebook for store decor pics and other fun things

Movies

5 Horror Movies to Get You Ready for Fall

Leave a comment

It’s the first day of Fall, my favorite season! The leaves are turning, the weather is getting cooler, and the best holiday ever is right around the corner, followed shortly by the food fest that is Thanksgiving.

I’m in the mood for fall all year long, so when it hits, I’m ready. But some of you might be in warmer climates, or maybe you’re just not feeling it. Well, why don’t you watch some horror movies to improve your mood?

  1. Children of the Corn (1984): Stephen King’s tale of some youngsters leading a religious cult in the midst of corn fields in the Midwest, backed by “He Who Walks Behind The Rows,” is a great movie to start with in your quest to get in the fall spirit. Corn mazes are a symbol of the season, and a supernaturally charged one is just a no-brainer.
  2. Halloween (1978): This one is obvious. Of course you should watch Halloween to get in the mood. No discussion needed.
  3. Trick ‘r Treat (2007): I love this movie so very much. If you haven’t seen it, I sincerely hope you add it to your normal rotation of horror movies. It’s an anthology of Halloween stories, and it’s got a lot of great moments. And a cool soundtrack. If you’ve seen it, you know the best scene has a little Manson playing in the background. Not a huge fan of his, but the song fits so well, and – well, you just need to watch it.
  4. Sleepy Hollow (1999): Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up in this retelling of the classic story by Washington Irving, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” This has always been one of my faves. The spooky tone Burton sets really makes you think of chilly weather, jack o’ lanterns, and apple cider.
  5. You’re Next (2011): Yeah, technically this one takes place during a wedding anniversary, but it just really gives off a Thanksgiving vibe to me. Just watch the mayhem, and hope that your Thanksgiving celebration doesn’t turn out that way. A drunk uncle or two? Whatevs. Multiple masked killers? Maybe not.

That’s definitely just the tip of the iceberg for fall-themed horror movies, so if you’re still not feeling it, I recommend you get into some sequels. Seriously, I’m pretty sure there are at least 34 sequels to Children of the Corn. And we all know you’ve got additional options with Halloween.

What are your favorite fall horror movies? What gets you in the mood for the season? Let me know in the comments!

Halloween, Product Review

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Walgreens

Leave a comment

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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  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

Leave a comment

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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  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

Leave a comment

*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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  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

Leave a comment

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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  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

Leave a comment

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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  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

2019 Halloween Merchandise Review: Michael’s

Leave a comment

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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  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: Lowe’s

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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!