Target and HEB

So as I was running errands and stuff, I went to HEB and Target last night. Bought me a cinnamon broom from HEB, which was next to a stack of Autumn beers. I'm currently taking a lil booze break, but may have to start sipping some of the fall flavors soon. Target had some more goodies out, as posted below.

HEB was stocked up on these.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Nifty lil caged raven

These talking skulls were a lot of fun.

World Market Trip

So there's a World Market around the corner from my apartment. This weekend, I decided to start getting some fall decor and swang on in. They have some neat stuff in there. My phone was almost dead, so I only grabbed a few pics:

Sugar cookie skull stamp

The body parts are paper cut outs on toothpicks.

I bought these two fellas. I'll let you know how they taste.

These skelington lights were pretty cute.

Target Trip

So I really appreciate Target's approach to Halloween. They come up with a lineup of original characters every year, and have tons of fun party and house decor. The vibe is much more my alley then the super gored out specialty of the other, holdiay-specific stores. Don't get me wrong, I like my flesh-eating cannibals as much as the next guy, but I'm a sucker for the cutesy spooksy stuff.

Note: It was barely the second week in September when I went in, so there was barely anything up. I'll be sure to go back in sometime next week to really check it out.

This year's new character is this Mask-Leafed Jack-O-Lantern, here adorned upon a kitchen towel.

This dude caught my eye as I was looking for the Halloween aisle. I dig him a bunch.

I have one of these from when I worked at a toy store, but I didn't know what it was. 10 bucks for a Frank shaped bucket of Chupa-Chups just may have to go on my desk this year.

Target's got some good original costume stuff too. These Skeleton riders were pretty nifty.

EYE BALL MASKS IS EYE BALLER.

You don't understand how much I appreciate the fact that they have a generic swamp monster creature. I like this so much.

I'm a sucker for themed drinks. The potion bottle mixers for martinis and stuff are always cool, but these glass(ish?) skulls caught my fancy this time around.

While it wasn't in the Halloween section, I found me a Pugsley Addams shirt. I even prefer the grey and white to the black and white. 

Stuff I Liked At Spirit

So as I've gone to Spirit every year since it first came to Austin. I want to say it was 2000 or 2001. I know that in 2002 they were handing out the Rob Zombie/Spirit Halloween CD (which I still have), so it was at least a year before that came out. Anyhoo, I always go in to check out the goods. I don't usually buy much, seeing as it's more satisfying to make my own props, but I like seeing what's new.

It used to be that you couldn't take photos or video in the store, but I asked the employees and they said that rule no longer existed. I think it's a good call. In the era of social media, you're basically getting free advertising through bloggers and facebookers. So I pulled out my phone and did a quick walk about.

This year there was a whole Zombie Lawn Decoration section (as seen in the video above), with undead gnomes and flamingos, toads and trolls. I also got some video of some of the more eye catching toys in there.

I'm going back soon, so I'll try and post more pics of the more interesting goodies.

-HB

Hello and Welcome!

Today is September 3rd, 2013. I officially started my Halloween season today. I've been in love with Halloween for as long as I can remember. I remember buying my first latex mask in 4th grade. I remember working the school haunted houses in 7th. Around that same time the first Spirit Halloween superstore opened up in town. I still have the toy ghost I purchased that day. In high school I visited my first real haunted attraction (Austin's Haunted Trails, in the Wild Basin Preserve), and that's what cemented the month of October as my favorite time of year. I couldn't stop Googling props and anamatronics. There was so much out there.

I remember checking the website of a local haunted house for job openings. They were auditioning. I'd just gotten my first car, so I thought I'd go give it a shot. I was so nervous. Not only did I get the job, but I found a second family in my haunt friends.

My freshman year in college not only did I get the job at the haunted house, but for the next two years I simultaneously worked in the Halloween retail business.. I lived and breathed it and loved every second of it.

Before I knew it, seven years had passed. After all the haunted house drama and paint and latex, after I saw friends come and go, I wound up with a full time job. For almost a year, I got to design and create haunted houses. It was the best job I've ever had.

I graduated from college and moved on from the haunt and into the world of adults. I would have stayed if I'd thought there was a future in it, but I'm not entirely sure there is.

It's been a few years since I've parted ways with the haunt. I sure miss it. The first year away was pretty rough on me. I did not take it well (and if any of my friends are reading this, I am super sorry for being such a grouch!)

Anyhoo, I started seeing the Halloween stuff start trickling in to stores not too long after the Fourth of July. To be fair, they were craft stores, so I guess I forgive it. They seem to put stuff up in advance for most holidays to give crafters some lead time.

Then I started seeing the gadgets at the dollar stores. And signs pop up for costume stores. But I wouldn't let myself get into Halloween mode yet. I feel like it ruins the specialness of it if you have it year round.

I've been fighting it and fighting it. But this weekend was Labor Day. The unofficial end of Summer. All the kiddos are back to school. That means the notebooks and pencils start getting packed up. And the pumpkins start getting unboxed.

I saw the Spirit by my house today, and decided to swing by. I immediately bought a Jack-o-Lantern Key cap.But dang if it wasn't busted when I got home. Guess I gotta go back tomorrow....