October: How I Love You

Hey y'all!  I hope that the month of October is treating you well! It's really flown by for me. And that's unfortunate because it's my favorite month - partly because it's the height of glorious Fall but mostly because of Halloween (the best holiday in the history of the world). I had a little outpatient procedure done last week that really threw me for a loop so I've done a lot of laying in bed and trying to get back up to snuff. I hate, hate, hate being stuck in bed. I get hella cranky, people. Just ask the Mister.

To fill the time, I've watched a lot of Lifetime movies. Way too many actually. One day I watched four in a row! And I don't even like Lifetime movies. What I've learned is that with most of them, you can predict the outcome within the first ten minutes - that is if the title of the movie doesn't give it away well before that. Thankfully, I have taken away one tip that I'd like to share with you all: If someone ever abducts you and makes you drive a car, you should sneak and put your seatbelt on (because bad guys never take the time to buckle up) and then slam on the gas and hit the side of a building or a retaining wall as fast as you can. Why, those abductors go flying through the windshield to their demise every single time! Would you believe that this was the ending in not one but two movies that I watched in a row? Boy, was I pissed. Completing a movie on Lifetime can often give you the feeling of, "Well, there's two hours that I'll want back when I'm on my death bed."

I've also learned that if your new love interest seems too good to be true, they probably are and have lied about their name and their previous time in jail or a mental institution and more than likely are going to try to kill you. Also, never make friends with the new neighbors because odds are that you or your spouse are going to end up sleeping with one of them and there will be cut phone lines and a stabbing involved in the end. Trust me. You're welcome.

Okay, now back to Halloween. Tomorrow, I'm going to show you some very ill-advised Halloween costumes that I've been gathering on the ole laptop while under the covers. Today, I'm going to show you some of the Halloween and Fall preparations that I managed to muster before the healthcare system rendered me useless.

Pip and I put up another skeleton in the kitchen, this time too high for the hell-on-wheels kitten to rip any limbs off. This one with a natty tie and googly eyes. And he gloooows in the daaaaark!

Pip is all "You mean he doesn't creep you out too??"

Also in the kitchen: I made the first big pot o' chili of the season.

Mr. Kitten Pants went all Meerkat Manor on it! 

 He was really aiming to find out what was in that pot. 

Also in the kitchen: Manna from Heaven

Our local market takes toffee apples and then rolls them in chocolate chips and nuts. I've become more than reasonably obsessed with them. And I love that they put them in the produce section so that I can answer the Mister's raised eyebrow with, "There are apples under there!"

I got that cute little girl there from a contest that I won from Ashley Marie over at Octopus Pie Studios. If you don't know her site, check it out. It's really great!

Off of the kitchen, we have a china cabinet that I like to decorate for the holidays.

As you may know, vintage Halloween stuff is very hard to come by and super expensive so I don't have many pieces. Instead, I try to use Halloween-esque colors and go through my everyday things to see what might fit. I love the Halloween cabinet in particular because there are so many things in there that friends and family have given to me or that they've made. Sometimes, Halloween decor can be something as simple as knick-knacks that you already have around the house.

Like these owls that look pretty alarmed all year round.

Or this painting that was done by a former owner of our ranch. 

Yes, her skin is purple! 

Here are some other peeks at the cabinet. 

This cake topper came like this with the groom broken off. The bride has a black and blue eye!

I got it at a yard sale for less than a buck and the lady couldn't believe that I wanted it. The years hadn't been good to the topper but it's perfect for Halloween. Or for the final shot in a Lifetime movie. 

And a few spots in the rest of the house that have begun to get Halloween-ed out. 

What about you guys and girls? Do you go all out for Halloween or is just a "Boo. Meh." holiday for you? Have any favorite Lifetime movies that are worth staying awake for? 

Until next time,

x's and o's,

Eartha