It’s Halloween again and most communities are split between those thrilled by the ghostly fear that chills the skin and those who battle hard against the dark, filling the night with the glow of candlelight, sweet treats and happy times.
The BlogCatalog community is no different. While many of us are sitting at our cozy keyboards, like Amanda at Change.Org, writing 101 Things to Be for Halloween Other than a Pimp, or like the Crunchy Domestic Goddess, penning 10 Simple Ways to Green your Halloween, others are busy scaring the tightie whities off of everyone they can. The Horror Club’s 31 Days of Horror is creepy at its best. On the other hand, the Cupcake Project’s Anti-Vampire Garlic Cupcake recipe might just be the scariest thing on BlogCatalog.
You know what’s funny about being scared though? It can be tons more fun when it happens to someone else. I’m fairly sure that’s what MadMadMargo at the Screaming Me-Me thinks after Getting Punked (which means of course that she got her hair scared white). How? Well, it involved a shower and a stranger in her bathroom... Even so, Margo knows what's really important -- what Halloween is all about. Is it about being scared incontinent? Of course not. Her sober reflections point us to the Truth that Halloween is all about, you guessed it… CANDY. (My waistline thanks you.)
Speaking of candy, LiteralDan, in a blatant and shallow attempt to lure a few more costumed candy magnets to his side, personally invites you to a little pre-2008-election-flashback of sorts. (I think he just wants to show off his cute kids in costume.) And LesleyMo at MyTurntoTalk has hilarious costume ideas for parents who want to imagine their babies’ future filled with quiet desperation. (To ward off our need for Prozac, she follows up with some easy, more creative costume ideas.)
Whew. Thank goodness.
You know, most parents think their kids are the cutest ones on the block… that is, until their costumes make them the most ferocious kids on the block. Mom2my9 at 11th Heaven’s Homemaking Haven (say that ten times fast!) has written a cautionary news report about a Halloween scare her husband had last year. Her message: Be afraid! Be VERY afraid!
And what is Halloween without a little nostalgia? Especially when it involves fiberfill and a home-sewn costume that makes its wearer feel “like a python's dinner being slowly digested.” But lest you think she's all giggle and no ghoulishness, Jenn (aka ThriftshopRomantic) at Cabbages-N-Kings can also creep you right out. She weaves a hair-raising tale of a neighborhood house from her youth – a house with a thousand lifeless eyes staring at would-be trick-or-treaters. It left me feeling that, had I lived in her neighborhood, I may well have died of fright at a very young age. And also... dolls are truly creepy.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll need a giggle after a shiver-fest like that. Which is why you need TexasHolly at June Cleaver Nirvana. Her Tale of Two Pumpkin Patches, a story told with markers, will restore you. (That is, if you, like me, get giddy at the shameless ways of modern pumpkin patch capitalism.)
This is the thing, though... once you get home from the pumpkin patch, arms straining under the load of spherical squash, what do you do with them?
You go grab some inspiration from Dirt Simple, of course. Deborah Silver is a professional decorator who creates gorgeous Halloween looks with pumpkins, ghosts, and gourds and shows off broomcorn decorations to die for, perfect Jack-o-lanterns, scarecrows and just enough spiders to keep things spooky. Truly, I wish I had her talent. But I always come away from her blog with terrific ideas.
As a mom of young children, I straddle the divide between yearning for comfort and creepiness this time of year. There is a part of me that loves to have my boots scared off. (All you need to do is check my top movies on Netflix this week to figure that out!) But Halloween movies can be tricky. It can be tough to choose ones that will be approachable for the younger set. So I’m grateful to ElizabethE at MomReviews.net and her Halloween family movie reviews. After reading them, I might be able show a few while my kids are still awake!
That's what I like about pets. Dogs and cats aren't phased by a spook movie or two. They won't wake up with scary dreams or be permanently scarred by the fact that they watched SAW XXVI in their puppyhood. In fact, they'll cuddle up to you at the scary parts as they think, "Hey, I wonder how that guy in the mask smells?". I appreciate the simplicity of that. I have a feeling PetLvr does too.
As a matter of fact, PetLvr appreciates pets so much that he's even created a Pet Halloween Costume Contest on Petlvr.com. My kids and I looked at the entries he’s received so far and had a giggle or two. They looked so cute. Our favorites were the Pomeranian dressed as Wonder Woman, the Pug Bumblebee, Farmer McHarley, and Stunner the Jet Dog. (Seriously, there's nothing like dressed up pets.)
You still have time to enter your own pet, you know, but the contest ends soon! (Can you believe there’s only one cat? And no lizards, either… hmm.) You pet owners had better get crackin'.
Which reminds me, I've got loads to do! There are treat bags to stuff and a caveman costume to finish (and chocolate to sneak...)
Whew! The work of a mom is never done, I tell you.
I’ll get right to it...
… after I have a look at a few more BC Halloween blogs, of course.
Have a Happy (Spooky) Halloween!
- Midwest Mom
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 05:56 am and is filed under Spotlight. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
ThriftShopRomantic says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Wow- MM-- what a excellent wide scope of bloggy treats for us this Halloween. Thanks muchly for including my posts in the virtual goody bag. :)
MidwestMom says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:46 am
@TSR - Honestly, when I read your Doll-Lady post, the nine-year-old in me was screaming "Don't do it! DON'T RING THAT DOORBELL!!"
I was happy to feature such excellent content. (Even if it was a challenge to bring together such a wide variety of posts!)
- Julia
NJFacePainter says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Great stuff! I myself painted at the Bergen County Cabbage Night Festival in NJ, and I've gone to one haunt so far this year (reviews at my blog www.njfacepainter.blogspot.com), and I am taking Halloween appointments to face paint locals to match their costumes - I have a guy and his wife coming Friday morning to get done up to go to work!
Then on 10/31, I'm doing myself up as a vampire and my husband as Jigsaw from the Saw movies, and we'll hand out candy all day while prepping for our evening Halloween party. At our party, we're hosting a murder custom-made for us at www.host-a-murder.com (great guys with great customer service!)
On 11/6, we're going to a Witches Ball, where I'll give up the vampire getup in favor of going as a dead pirate. :D
MidwestMom says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Wow! And I thought I liked Halloween! You really get into it, NJFacePainter!
Thanks for coming by. It's great to meet you. :)
LiteralDan says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 01:29 pm
On one hand, thanks for linking to me, but on the other, why'd you have to give me nightmares by linking to that creepy doll-covered house post?? Sometimes it's the oddest things that are the most unnerving.
Happy Halloween!
MidwestMom says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 01:33 pm
Dan, it was my pleasure (who can resist that spiderman costume?) I will say, without reservations, that you are one of my favorite sarcastic parents on the planet. And that's not just the Chicago talkin'.
PetLvr says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 01:46 pm
Wow .. you mean, I'm not the only one having Halloween related content? lol .. lots to read before Saturday!
Thanks for the shout-out .. I've extended the pet halloween costume contest until Sunday Nov 1st .. so, dress up 'em critters!~
texasholly says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 02:14 pm
Yeah! Thanks for including me. Now I am going to work up my courage to read some of the scary stuff...
MidwestMom says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 02:27 pm
@Petlvr - Wow! 5 new entries since I last looked! (Those pet owners move fast when there are prizes on the line!) ;) It was so fun to see those photos. My kids keep talking about which pet they want to bring home.
@texasholly - You'll have to let me know what you like. Your pumpkin patch wars were great (and true!) I especially like the legalese...
MadMadMargo says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 08:50 pm
Oh, boy! What a great collection of all those things that go bump in the night. Thank you so much for including me.
Happy Halloween!
jamatong says:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Hello, happy hallows to one and all. Definitely, halloween is all cheers (not to mention weigh gain) here in the Philippines as it is one of those times in the year where family and friends gather to remember deceased loved ones, over great food and drinks.
Cheers to all!
MidwestMom says:
Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 09:47 am
@MadMadMargo -- Thanks for sharing your writing with us. I told my hubs about the prank, and he's going to do it to our sons tonight. (rubs hands together gleefully)
@jamatong -- It's always such fun to learn about the way holidays are celebrated differently in different countries. My sons' Spanish teacher is from Mexico, so they spend time each year learning about the Day of the Dead celebrations there. I hope you and your family have a great time celebrating!
LesleyMo says:
Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 07:21 am
Thanks so much for including me! I'm afraid there will be lots of children with Seriously Terrible Halloween Costumes tonight. That's definitely my most popular post so far.
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Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 05:54 pm
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