Halloween treats

I was at Walmart today and as I was going through the check-out stand, I noticed a small booklet of Halloween recipes. It was kind of expensive for such a little book ($4.00), but I figured I had to have it since it was, after all, for Halloween. It just wouldn't be right for me to pass it up. It's called 'Halloween Food, Fun & Crafts', and it has some very cool looking treats on the cover. It has everything from dinner recipes ('Spaghetti and Eyeballs, with meatballs for the eyes; 'Slimy Sliders'), to appetizers ('Freaky Fondue'; 'Tasty Tombstones'; 'Buzzard Claws with Swamp Dip'), desserts and treats ('Poison Apple Cupcakes'; 'Great Pumpkin Cake'), an awesome 'Witch Hat' centerpiece made out of cocoa-flavored crispy rice cereal, and drinks, otherwise called 'Potions & Punches', such as 'Sinister Slushies', 'Swamp Punch', and of course, 'Witches Brew'. There is even a section on making crafts. You can make a 'Monster Fur Scarf' that has clawed feet on the ends, 'Spooky Supperware', and 'Glass Bead Spiders'. I might just have to try making these little spiders to place around the house. It also shows you how to make a 'Beaded Pumpkin Gift Box' if you're looking for something to store treats or jewelry in. I will definitely be giving some of the recipes a try this year, and I don't have too long to wait, either. We are almost in September, and All Hallow's Eve is practically creeping around the corner!

How I love this time of year. The days are starting to grow shorter, and the nights are growing cooler. Halloween will soon be appearing all around us. Cool days, orange and red-colored leaves, fall festivals, the smell of burning fireplaces, and pumpkins on porches....you can't get any better than that!

The signs of Halloween!

I know of at least two locations where the 'Spirit' Halloween store is coming in. One is right next to my gym, so I will be over that way a lot! I drove by it today, and there were people inside starting to set up. Oh, joy! I love to see that huge, orange and black Halloween banner hanging on the building for all to see, announcing Halloween's arrival! It shouldn't be too long now until they start bringing in the goods. Walmart, and other stores like it, probably won't be far behind. I already found Fall/Halloween, (and even Christmas!) fabrics in Walmart when I was there a few weeks ago. Another place I've been keeping my eye on is TJ Max. They had some great stuff last year, and when I went back a few days ago, sure enough, they had started putting out Halloween! I bought a few things I just couldn't resist buying. One was a large October calendar made entirely of fabric. It has a haunted house design on it with little pockets that are the windows on the house, and mark each day of the month. Attached to the top by a string is a little candy corn-shaped piece of wood that you slide inside the pockets as you count down the days until Halloween. It is just too cute. I also purchased a new pumpking carving pattern book at Micheal's last week. It's one of those "Shadow" ones. I thought I'd give it a try. I plan to go back and buy a few of the fake pumpkins to do some of the carvings. I carved one last year and was very happy with how it turned out.

'Spirit' Halloween is on its way!

You know the Halloween season is really on its way when you see the first Halloween superstore sign. As I was driving to my dance class today, I noticed the huge 'Spirit Halloween' banner on one of the buildings that I drove by. It didn't look like the store was actually there just yet, but the fact that the banner was already up told me that the grand opening would be happening very soon! I failed to make it to a 'Spirit' store last year (*hides her face in shame*), but I have every intention of going this year. I always loved that store. They truly have some cool stuff. I put up my first decoration yesterday, but I have so much more to do! I can't wait. I decided that I want to make a cemetery scene. I think we have a nice location for one. I just need to get some headstones, lights, and a few other little goodies, and I think it will look pretty good. I really want to not only take pics of it, but I'd also love to even have some videotape. I've never downloaded a video onto the Internet, so not quite sure how that works. Hopefully, it isn't all too challenging, and I'll be able to do it without any real trouble. Maybe someone can offer me some good tips, and I can have my first video of a Halloween haunt!

Halloween is beginning to show its face, my fellow fiends. We don't have too long to wait now. I am looking forward to this night of nights as I always am.