Pumpkin Pals

 Spotted at  Party @ Display & Costume over Labor Day weekend.

It's beginning to look a lot like --

 Not sure why, but that Halloween Feeling hasn't been hitting me as intensely this year -- which is why I haven't been updating this blog or my Instagram much. 

That didn't stop me from feeling absolutely delighted about exploring the selection I found at Nordstrom Rack this weekend, however:

I bought the fuzzy skull blanket -- I mean, who needs yet another Halloween-themed blankie? Me, that's who.

It seems like they were just beginning to put stuff out. Lots of fun bed & bath related decor.

Cheapie Halloween trinkets

Yesterday I had to stop at the pharmacy, so while I was there I decided to check out the seasonal offerings there, and at Dollar Tree next door.

Still slim picking everywhere in my area. Stores seem to be at 50% of their normal Halloween capacity, at best. Anyway, here's a few things I picked up.

From Dollar Tree I got the Halloween bone beads (left), the pumpkin truck socks, and the LED projector light. (I also got a hanging ghost, a red felt autumn leaf placemat, and a fuzzy web wreath with a pink glittery spider in the center, not pictured).

From Rite Aid I got the bat and stripey socks and the festive napkins. I mean, look at these. The artwork is so great.

I've never seen pumpkin trucks socks before. Hey, the more Halloween socks, the merrier.

Here's the Dollar Tree projector in action, it's not bad for a buck, might look pretty cool overlapped with one of those fire/ice projectors.

 

That's all for now! I am currently packing for my red-eye flight out of Seattle tonight. My next post will be in Connecticut, flight schedules willing!

Spirit 2021

I paid my first visit of the season to Spirit Halloween over the weekend. I didn't go at all in 2020 so I was really looking forward to it. 

 

 

As with so many Halloween retail locations around here, it's obvious they are lacking in stock. Lots of half-empty and sparse displays. Perhaps even more disappointing, hardly any of the animatronics were on display, maybe only 5 or 6. And of those that were out, some weren't even fully operational. There were several very conspicuously empty spots where more were supposed to be. 

 

From all the hype I had been seeing and hearing elsewhere online about Spirit's 2021 offerings, I was really bummed that so much of it was not available at the store I visited. Underwhelming. I don't know why our area is getting so screwed in regard to Halloween shipments this year. 

 

This ghost was pretty rad, though - genuinely spooky voice.

 

I'm pretty tired of the psycho clown thing for Halloween, but I like neon stuff so this guy gets a pass.

 

They had some pretty cool home decor type stuff this year, but I'm honestly getting tired of the oversaturation of licensed characters and franchises. I mean, I LOVE Beetlejuice, etc. but part of the reason I've been so drawn to the Halloween and horror aesthetic is that it is, or was, more subversive and off the beaten path of mainstream culture. Now a lot of it has, literally, become Disney-fied, and that doesn't sit well with me. I loathe the idea of Halloween becoming too watered down and "family-friendly". But, that's an entirely different conversation.

One thing I did love at Spirit this year, however, is the "Pumpkin Carv-O-Matic Factory" display - I consider this to be one of the most fun displays they've had in years.

I didn't end up buying anything except for a couple of "bleeding" black taper candles. I'll be visiting another Spirit in a few weeks when I go back to Connecticut for awhile, it will be interesting to compare the two stores.

Kohl's and Daiso Halloween 2021

I ran a few errands yesterday near the local mall. I stopped in at Kohl's to make a return and decided to see if they had any Halloweenie decor. These three pics pretty much show the extent of what I found, other than greeting cards, candles, and a couple of books andthings for kids, nothing worth noting.

 

The vintage Halloween look is a hit this year, and Kohl's is on the bandwagon. I liked these a lot, but we live in a small apartment and alas I have to limit my purchases.

I liked the wooden pumpkin face too but decided to pass for the time being. I did, however, get the grey blanket (middle row) with the costumed-kitty faces. I get a new Halloween blanket almost every year, I think.

 

After concluding my business at Kohl's, I decided to drive by the Daiso (everything there is mostly between $1.50 - $10, kinda like a Japanese Five Below) to see if they had any Halloween things out (their storefront is visible from the street), and sure enough I saw some orange so I went in. 

 Again, not too much out yet, some wall hangings and garlands. Lots of empty display space. The person working there said there would likely be a bit more in a couple of weeks. Sigh.

I did buy the witch-hatted jacko (above pic, on the left), and I am happy to report that its plastic frame glows in the dark.

 

 

And that's about all! Not sure if I will be back this season.

Weekend Halloweenie vibes in Seattle

Spent some time in Seattle (and surrounding towns) over the weekend. We live about 40 mins away, so it's an easy trip to grab dinner or spend time exploring. My spooky senses are on full alert this time of year, and I spotted these great skull stickers.

The orange one had to be inspired by the iconic skull seen in the classic film The Burning (1981):

(click above for a clip from the film; if you haven't seen it, watch it!)  

 

When I left for my brief trip to the east coast halfway thru August, it was still summer here. When I returned just about 10 days later, it already felt like fall. The leaves are beginning to change, reds and shades of orange peeking through.

Halloween retail seems to be lagging behind a little, though. This is one of the first Spirit Halloweens I've seen. This was a costume-only location though (Auburn, WA), so we didn't bother going in.

(All photos by Petrichor & Pumpkins 2021)

Spooky comes from within

Now clear your mind of everything... except Halloween.

(Spotted today at Trader Joe's*)

 

(*which, annoyingly, doesn't have any pumpkin or fall anything out yet other than these guys)

 

(Photo by Petrichor & Pumpkins 2021)

 

Home Depot Halloween 2021

YouTube knows me well enough that it recommended this video today, and I have to say - I am seriously impressed with Home Depot's animatronic offerings for Halloween for 2021. Here are some of my favorites --

 

This guy is 12 ft tall!

 

Home Depot really seem to be stepping up their game, and honestly these ones rival Spirit Halloween's stuff, which I've found has been pretty ho-hum over the past couple years. 

It looks like many of these are already back ordered! A lot of people are going to have pretty epic home haunts this year, I bet. 

Maybe someday, when I'm not living in an apartment, I will too. A ghoul can dream...

Preview video can be seen in full below!