Our Hearts Go Out

I'm listening to the wind whistling through the trees today and watching the news footage about the storm damage. So many lives lost and much sadness and destruction. And more to come. We here at the ranch have been hearing sporadically from friends along the East Coast this morning and so far, all of our friends and loved ones that we've been able to hear from are safe, though many have property damage.  We hope to hear from more of you soon but until then, we're sending good thoughts out to you.

Let's all hug our loved ones a little tighter today.

Until next time,
x's and o's,
Eartha

Truly Odd Halloween Costumes

I love Halloween costumes and every year, I can't wait to see what the manufacturers come up with. I wanted to share some of the my latest strange costume finds with you today.

As a vegetarian, I think that this one freaks me out more than it might some people. 

You've also got Whoopie Cushion Man. 

But then there's this version: 

So sad!!  Check out the description:

First off, that's not a whippet and second...seriously??

And in keeping with the "don't pets get a vote?" theme: 

The Katy Perry

The Madonna

I think that we're learning that bras on dogs don't work.

Not nearly as much as sports jerseys do anyway.

Awww!

We all know that zombies are terribly hip these days. There are zombie versions of everything. Including Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz".

Um...whoa. 

Crazy macabre. But it's this that really takes it over the edge:

Poor Toto! He didn't sign up for this!


And now I think I'll show you perhaps the most ill-advised costume that I've ever seen:

Dis-gus-ting. Is it any surprise that this one is on sale before Halloween? Since I'm as barren as an old tool box, I try to keep my nose out of how other people do their parenting - but I'd seriously like to have a long chat with the person who would buy that for their kid. 

In another vein of questionable Halloween costumes, you have those that would most likely only be worn by men who never bring dates to Halloween parties. Like this one: 

Yes, I know. They're showing a lady in the main photo but you see that guy in the bottom right? That's the actual scenario that you'd find this costume in. Trust me. There are too many sexy kitty, sexy police officer and sexy milkmaid costumes for we ladies to choose from for us to wear such an obviously demeaning costume.

Another guy costume:

That photo was censored by the costume store and not me. At this point, I don't think that showing you a man smiling in a penis costume could shock you.

But these might.

Did you notice that a lot of the above costumes are modeled by the same guy? He must have some modeling agent, huh?

Did you know that I sat at my computer and created the above mosaic by putting those photos in one by one by one for y'all?  Blogging is hard work! I wonder if I'll ever be a famous blogger like that Pioneer Woman?

Eh. Probably not.

 What about you buckaroos? What are you Halloween-ing in this year? What's the craziest costume that you've ever seen?

Until next time,
x's and o's,
Eartha

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

Seen Around Nashville

You are so Nashville if you get snatched out of Jesus' arms by the Achy Breaky Defibrillator.

This illustrations on this billboard look like they were stolen from the drawings on the back of a junior high fantasy geek's notebook. And I LOVE them. We all know that we're not getting the whole truth when we buy a used car, so why not run with it? Wings? Heck yeah! And to name the place "Reality Auto Sales"?  Awesome.

And doesn't this place look like an interesting haunt? 

I love the little kitty cocktail waitress. 

And the champagne glass. I'm pretty sure that she serves a lot of champagne in there! 

And here are two examples of one of my favorite things - sassy church signs: 

Thanks to the Mister for three of these photos! 

I hope that you all are having a great Sunday!

Until next time,

x's and o's,

Eartha