Ghoulie Girls

Missing Freddie

2011-11-24T05:00:00.020-06:00

Taking a moment away from all that is Halloween and paying tribute to one of the finest entertainers ever to have graced the stage.

I've been head over heels in love with Queen and Freddie since Bohemian Rapsody and I still listen to them on a regular basis.

Freddie Mercury died on November 24, 1991. It's been 20 years today and the world is a little less spectacular with his absense.

To Freddie - I hope you are entertaining on the other side. Here's to you...and thanks!

The Show Must Go On

I Want To Break Free

Who Wants To Live Forever

Haunt on!

The Real Reason The Witch Crashed...

2011-10-13T17:09:00.001-05:00

My sister just sent me this:

Haunt on!

FDU: Roger's Gardens

2011-10-12T12:49:00.000-05:00

What's a Ghoulie Girl in Kansas know about a gift and garden store in Corona Del Mar, California? I know but one thing... this place knows how to do Halloween up right!

Another product of the Final Destination Unknown files, I can't even tell you how I got there - but I'm glad I did. Oozing with inspiration, this creeped out shop certainly has to be on the "must visit" list of everyone in the area.

For the month of October 2011, Roger's Gardens plays host to the Blackstone Theater. Here's what the site has to say:

Explore the remnants of the abandoned “Blackstone” Back-Alley Theater. Roam dark mysterious rooms haunted by ghosts of performances past. Surroundings of strange objects, unique characters, and theatrical fascination will undoubtedly spark inspiration in artistic hearts. Enter a world of intrigue and bizarre beauty at Roger’s Gardens for a Halloween Experience unlike anything you’ve seen.

Not only do they do up the shop, they also produced a 5 minute theatrical piece showcasing the store:

Be sure to visit the site for more than 60 photos of this spectacularly spooky shop.

Haunt on!

Mail Call!

2011-10-12T11:23:00.000-05:00

Some fun project ideas have been hitting my inbox lately. If you're crafting like a madman for the Halloween season - beware - you might find more ideas in these links:

From HPs Creative Studio (includes some Martha Stewart creepy good things).

HGTVs Halloween Ideas is loaded with pumpkin carving templates, indoor and outdoor decorations and party ideas.

Still working on a costume idea? Check out Martha Stewart's Costume's Through The Years.

Haunt on!

Wicked Vintage

2011-10-10T16:05:00.001-05:00

I had hoped that today we'd be talking about the golfing skeletons in my yard but, alas, they are not in my yard. They are in the garage all piled up wondering when they'll get their moment. Patience my darlings. I had planned on starting the yard yesterday but it was cold and rainy so I opted for the interior instead.

I'm a collector of old things. With the exception of vintage Halloween the rest of my collection is any old thing that catches my eye. I don't collect based on how much I think something will appreciate, though I do love a good deal, rather how I can use it as a display piece... and if it's something I'm willing to dust.

So when Halloween season rolls around there is just as much non-Halloween vintage strung around as there is Halloween vintage... which equals Wicked Vintage. Here's a couple of cabinets that got their Halloween make-over this weekend:

One side of the cabinet.

The other side.

On another note...do you know how hard it is to take pictures of a mirrored cabinet and not get yourself in the shot? Uuuuggg!! Anywho, here's some close-ups:

This shelf contains one creepy baby doll head (a recent Ebay snag), a carved wooden crow (Hobby Lobby) and a player piano roll. Notice the title - Dance Of The Demons.

A new, oversized skeleton key (Hobby Lobby), Halloween fabric napkin (Grandin Road), new witch cutout (Hobby Lobby), vintage amber vanilla bottle and vintage Edsion wax record.

Cat and Jack O'Lantern (reproductions) with vintage wooden spools.

Jack O'Lantern in Shoe (The Market Shop), another Grandin Road napkin and a small vintage cast iron witch's kettle.

As a girl I remember watching the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy series on tv. I also read all of the books. I thought these would be fun for Halloween but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find any locally. One day I was in Goodwill and happened upon someone's entire collection. I picked out five, wrapped them in ribbon and put a crow on top. They now sit in this cabinet with vintage Majolica plates and a vintage taloned ice tongs.

Decorating with vintage doesn't have to be expensive so don't let that stop you if you like the look. Just be open-minded. Chippy paint and a patina on most anything can add to the old haunted mansion look.

Haunt on!

Commercial Break

2011-10-08T13:29:00.000-05:00

And now, a word from our sponsors.

**Disclaimer: Ghoulie Girls does not actually have any sponsors. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Any likeness to persons living or dead is purely coincidence. Not valid in the state of New York. Side effects include hysteria, bed wetting and the insatiable need to whack a zombie....

Shasta 1971

McDonalds

M&Ms 2007

Boo Berry 1973

Levis 2009

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Tunes

2011-10-07T12:09:00.000-05:00

Kicking off another edition of Ghoulie Tunes for your listening pleasure! Rock on Ghoulies!!

Let's get things started nice and loud with Spectremen and 72 Inches Down.

Fan made video for Zombiegirl's Creature of the Night.

What is the Halloween season without Marilyn Manson and Nightmare Before Christmas? Exactly! Here is Manson's rendition of This Is Halloween.

Here's a little something we all know and love, just for fun. Theme from the Munsters.

And finally something you can play in your haunted garage for inspiration while you crank out those last minute props! Behold the Darkness by Medwyn Goodall.

Haunt on!

FDU: London Dungeon

2011-10-06T20:45:00.000-05:00

It's been a hectic day today so no time for a lengthy post. I did stumble upon a little something for the FDU (Final Destination Unknown) files.

According to the site:

1000 years of London's darkest and most gory history, 14 actor led shows and 3 scary rides make the London Dungeon attraction an educationally chilling experience and a great day out for the whole family.

Take a tour of The London Dungeon.

Haunt on!

Now Showing...

2011-10-05T17:30:00.000-05:00

This is what I'll be doing tonight - catching the premier of American Horror Story. How about you?

See more videos on the American Horror Story YouTube Channel.

Haunt on!

Remembering Last Halloween

2011-10-04T09:00:00.011-05:00

Last year at this time a small battle ensued in our household. My then 11 year old son was starting to feel that he was too old to go Trick or Treating. Say what?! Uhhmmm - no. Mom wants to go therefore you will go! (I swear I'd make him ToT 'til he turned 40 if I really had any say.)

He wasn't opposed to getting in costume, he was just feeling older than his years, but when he realized other friends were going he changed his tune. Nevertheless I knew this was likely it. My last year chasing behind a group of rowdy boys decked out in their frightful finery. I'd been trick or treating for over 18 years with my kids but this was it. The final chapter. ::sigh::

I savored every second of last year's Halloween night. I took my time traveling up and down Highland Street, trailing far behind my charges. Located in the historic district, most every house for 3-4 blocks participates by decorating and handing out treats. Hundreds of kids ran up and down sidewalks, leaves crunching under their feet. The sounds of children's laughter amidst squeals of delight while adults, some even in costume, weaved around the throngs of little ones.... It's a thing of beauty.

Once Gabe (the son in question) got onboard with trick or treating he went about designing his garb. He decided on an evil clown. He went through all of my catalogs but could find nothing satisfactory. So he moved on to my BFF Google and began printing out ideas. Then one day he came to me and presented his design. It was a combination of three different costumes - none of them store-bought. (I brought him up right!)

Now it was my turn to make it come together. This was the recipe:

Foam clown mask

Spirit gum

Colored contacts

Mini top hat

Jeans (ha! that was easy)

Goth boots

And one very important thing....

He was adamant about having a vintage band jacket. This meant I'd better score one in his size on Ebay (unlikely) or bust out the sewing machine (even more unlikely). We got lucky and found the perfect one on Ebay. I had to fight for it but we prevailed. (Bidders on Ebay really shouldn't mess with Halloween fanatics.)

So, here's Gabe on last Halloween. At least we went out with a bang!

P.S. I'm in charge of Trunk Or Treat so I'm not giving up hope. I still plan to wrestle him into costume this year - even if he won't go trick or treating.

Haunt on!

Dem Bones - A Side-By-Side Review

2011-10-03T09:00:00.020-05:00

Last year we decided it would be fun to have a few skeletons sitting in trees and hanging upside down from limbs so I went on the search for skellies. Since the concept was simple the skeleton didn't have too high a criteria to meet.

This year, however, is a different story. My husband (you know - the one who puts up with my Halloween obsession) wanted skeletons in the yard playing golf. This idea was further fueled when he saw me reading the Skeleton Crew section of Better Homes and Gardens Halloween Tricks & Treats magazine. (If you don't have it yet just get it. It's a great issue.)

So, it's game on! However - finding the perfect specimen has been a bit of challenge. I immediately eliminated Bucky's for a couple of obvious reasons. First, they are pricey and second they are heavy. I needed something heavier than a Blucky (Bucky's younger, less functional cousin), semi-realistic, posable and at a decent price.

I've narrowed it down to two skeletons and that's what we're going to discuss today. This post is pic heavy so hang on!

Target Skeleton (left) and Pitini Skeleton (right)

Name: Glow-In-The-Dark Skeleton
Height: Approximately 5'2"ish (when standing next to all 5'4" of me)
Weight: Approximately 6 lbs
Manufacturer/Distributor: Target
Price: $40

In the box this guy looked promising but let's take a closer look...

Pros:

Price: At $40 it's a steal compared to the standard $100+ price of a Bucky.
Size and weight: Substantial enough weight making it easy to handle and secure but not too heavy.
Height: Adequate height for realism.
Overall Appearance: Good realistic look.
Quality: Feels nice and solid.

Cons:

Coloring: It's glow-in-the-dark stark white which isn't terribly concerning. You can always corpse it out a bit.
Construction: Limited mobility. Let me show you some close ups.

First the pelvis. This is assembled by heavy springs over long screws and because of this the skeleton's knees knock together when sitting causing the calves to cross (see first pic above). Attempts to loosen the screws did not yield any different results but more intensive surgery may do the trick.

Next let's look at the hand. Now the look is right but notice the construction. The hands can only move up and down which limits your pose.

The shoulders are a ball joint which will not allow you to wrap your skellie's arms around another skellie or raise his arms out to the side. The arm just goes 'round and 'round.

The legs face the same problem as the hands. The knees also only move back and forth one way - no side to side. The feet are secured by a screw which you can tighten a bit to help pose.

I did manage to hang him up and pose him a bit as you can see here:

One of the arms did stay in the reaching forward position and one knee did stay bent. Of course, if staked in the yard you could form the pose better.

Other Notes: The jaw is pretty much fixed. There are no screws to adjust the amount the skull's mouth is open. The skull is another issue in that there is no way to position it a certain direction - it simply rotates - so expect to come out and find your skellie looking backwards.

Here's our other contender:

Name: 5' Hanging Skeleton

Height: 5'

Weight: Approximately 5 lbs

Manufacturer/Distributor: Pitini Enterprises (found in several stores but we will use WalMart.com here)

Price: $65+

Let's put this guy under the microscope.

Pros:

Price: $65 still beats the $100+ price of a Bucky.

Size and weight: Fairly light weight but heavy enough for the job.

Height: Adequate height for realism.

Overall Appearance: Nice realistic look with a weathered, fresh from the grave appearance.

Construction: Allows lots of options for poses. Let's have a look:

First, notice the pelvis here. Super long bolts with nuts on each end allow you to tighten or loosen to attain the look you want.

Also notice how the interior seam is opened up so you can slide the bolt into several positions, again, allows easy posing.

While we're here notice the knee and how it can be manipulated thanks to the pelvis construction. The foot is secured by a screw that can be tightened to hold a pose.

The hands offer much flexibility as the construction allows them to go back and forth and spin 360°.

The shoulders are assembled to allow full movement. This guy can wrap his arms around anything.

Here I have him posed with one arm way over his head. The hand kind of flops but you can tighten up some screws to help remedy that issue. The other arm is tucked into his own ribs but notice how he can bend into himself at the elbow. The knee wouldn't stay bent for me longer than the time it took to take a quick pic. If posed properly with stakes instead of hanging you can make it work.

Cons:

Price: Yes, I had price as a "Pro" but it's also a "Con" considering the quality of the plastic and construction. I'd rather not see huge bolts and other obvious metalware in my skellies but it's doable. I think around the $50 mark or under would make me feel a bit more warm and fuzzy about it.

Quality: This guy tends to "flop" around a bit which I think is due to the lower quality plastic and the way he's constructed. This will require you to tighten and loosen screws to get the look you want. But - at least you have the option to do so.
Skull: The skull looks good but is fixed in a forward facing position so no looking sideways.

Other Notes: On my example the jaw is flopped wide open. It is held on by two tiny screws so you might be able to tighten it up and set the jaw the way you want. I liked him this way so I haven't tried that yet.

Overall I like them both for different purposes and plan on incorporating them into the yard this year.

On another note...Walgreens also came out with a lifesize skeleton this year but, of course, my Walgreens doesn't carry it. Never fear! I did find a short video where another haunter compares the Target skellie to the Walgreens version:

Well, there you have it. Two skeletons in our side by side comparison.

Oh! Don't forget to get the BH&G magazine I mentioned for some fun inspiration showcasing skellies!

Haunt on!

Creepy Cupcakes

2011-10-02T11:29:00.001-05:00

Cupcakes are all the rage in the dessert arena. I know I love a good cupcake. These little guys make me feel a tad less guilty about indulging in a treat that goes straight to my butt. I mean it's not very big - how bad can it really be?

So, I declare that all Ghoulies whip up at least one batch this season - with a touch of Halloween flair of course.

The baking gurus over at Wilton whipped up these Haunted Mansion Cupcakes:

Zombies will come off a bit sweeter when they eat these Brain Cupcakes courtesy of Family Fun:

Take a bite out of these Vampire Cupcakes I found in the recent Shindigz catalog:

Shindigz gives us the easy how-to:

Vampire cupcakes, with red fang marks in the fronsting and oozing "blood" when the cupcake is bitten, are easy to make. Use a white cake mix and fill with cherry pie filling before baking, so that when the cake is bitten, a bloodlike substance will ooze out for maximum vampire effect. After your cupcakes have cooled, decorate the top with a layer of white frosting. On the frosting, draw two line with red food coloring to look like bloody fang marks that will certainly spook your guests.

Need a bloodless cupcake? Try these Vampire Bat Cupcakes from Martha Stewart:

If none of these bring out the Ghoul in you be sure to stop by Wilton for 89 Halloween Creepy Cupcake Creations.

Haunt on!

And So It Begins...

2011-10-01T15:47:00.006-05:00

The countdown to Halloween officially kicked off today and the minute my feet hit the floor I could feel it. The room had a chill and it was a bit over-cast. The haunting season is finally here!

Since things are pretty much on their way back to normal around here, I'm hitting the blogosphere again just in time to celebrate properly. Like so many other bloggers, I've committed (notice I did not say I'd been committed) to posting daily during the month of October in the 2011 Countdown To Halloween. Be sure to pay a visit to the long list of blogs oozing with Halloween goodness.

Now here's the scoop on my best laid plans (you regulars know the routine of what that means)....a new feature I want to bring in for this season is Wicked Vintage. There's nothing quite like vintage Halloween but why stop there? When scrounging Ebay, thrift stores and yard sales grab the orange and black but don't overlook the other wicked cool stuff.

Case in point and my first Wicked Vintage piece for the season:

You may remember in one the earliest Ghoulie Girls posts about this great haul of vintage porcelain dolls. Perfectly broken and abused, they fit in well with the Halloween theme. A few months ago I managed to snag the vintage devil costume on ebay. The child's vintage wicker rocker is another ebay score from several years back. Put them all together and Wicked Vintage is on display.

Other plans include a return to Ghoulie Tunes on Fridays, some product reviews, a few creepy crafts and a bit-by-bit reveal of the office make-over...Halloween style of course. Yes, you heard me right. Amongst all the chaos of my life the last couple of months I managed to redo the office.

Here's to a frightfully fun haunt season!

FDU: Witchy Inspiration

2011-08-21T18:08:00.002-05:00

Another Final Destination Unknown turned up this Witch on Wheels Skate Sculpture from PlasticLand ($49):

Poke around the site a bit to find other fun Victorian/Steampunk style goodies.

Haunt on!

Halloween At Big Lots

2011-08-20T16:38:00.002-05:00

Another required stop on my list today was Big Lots. I was just sure that they'd have at least some of their Halloween out and I was right. Our store has a few naked shelves so I'm probably safe to assume that more is coming.

The selection so far was ok. Quite a bit of cutesy, glitter and such. They also seem to have a lot of light up signs and lights in general. I did manage to find a couple of things I thought I should have.

Of course I snapped a few pics for all you Ghoulies:

This sign (Ghoul's just want to have fun) fits me but I wasn't crazy about the graphics so I passed:

I did bring home the Haunted Hedge which is basically a set of sound activated creepy eyes that shakes and moans. I also grabbed a box of the Flickering String Lights. These are great and I think I can find several uses for them.

Haunt on!

The Market Shop

2011-08-20T13:31:00.001-05:00

Well things are getting back to normal around here. Ok, as close to normal as we get anyway.

Thanks to everyone who sent prayers and well wishes for my mother's surgery. She can't do anything by the book and landed in the ICU for a few days, but she's home now and on the road to recovery.

Since today was my first day since the surgery that I had any time to do anything I wanted, I informed my family that today is officially "Don't Bother Me Day!". So far so good. I've been out and about checking in on what Halloween goodness has cropped up recently.

I spotted bits of Halloween a couple of weeks ago in the front windows of The Market Shop - one of my favorite stores. Today I made sure to find time to drop in. Halloween had exploded in the shop. I snapped a few pics for former Ghoulie Girl, Tracy, so I thought I'd share a few with you:

I just could not say "no" to this Scaredy Cat Pillow:

I also snagged this pumpkin tray. I love an item that can pull me through the entire Autumn season:

Here's a few display shots from the store:

I love the saying on this pillow:

Haunt on!

Scooby Dooby Doo

2011-08-13T22:02:00.000-05:00

I'm back at home tonight after a fast and furious get-away. Due to the parents and their recent shenanigans with their health we didn't travel too far. As the week progressed we inched further away (thanks to no news - which is good news) and finally landed around St. Louis. We've been to plenty a theme park (Disney and Universal parks being our all time faves) but we've never been to a Six Flags so we decided to give it a whirl.

I'm kind of a coaster junkie. My kids have also developed an affection for this thrill ride, the hubby - not so much. Since both of the boys refused to ride alone and, us being a group of three, that meant mom had to stand in line twice for each ride. Let's just say I'm about coastered out.

I did make my family stand in line for nearly an hour for the Scooby Doo Scary Swamp ride. We had no idea what it was but I was determined that we ride it anyway. My sister called while we were in line and I told her how the boys and hub were less than thrilled with my choice of rides. She said "What's the problem? It is Scooby Doo for heaven's sake!". See - she gets it.

The long, winding line allowed me ample time to snap a few photos so I thought I'd share them with you (aren't you so lucky?!).

As you can probably guess I was a huge fan of Scooby Doo as a child and, even though it's a bit campy, I love it still today.

The ride was worth the wait and all of my boys were pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed it.

Scooby Dooby Doo!!!!!!!!!!!

Haunt on!

Cracker Barrel Halloween Part II

2011-08-11T17:04:00.002-05:00

Cracker Barrel Halloween Part I

2011-08-11T17:01:00.001-05:00

Never wanting to pass up an opportunity to share the Halloween love - even on a mini get-away.

(Pardon my poor mobile blogging skills. )

Grandin Road's Halloween Haven Must See

2011-08-08T23:03:00.001-05:00

Now here is a happy accident. You may recall that I posted the Grandin Road Halloween teaser video a couple of weeks ago. Well, tonight, I stumbled upon the complete video. Lots of inspiration here! Check it out:

Haunt on!

It Is Finished...

2011-08-08T14:22:00.001-05:00

Or at least as finished as it's going to get.

Ever since Scott over at Tortured Pumpkins announced he was running another of his Build-Me-A-Pumpkin contests I've been pondering a design. Frankenstein's monster is my favorite character so that was my initial thought. Someone beat me to it and I didn't want to do what someone else had done. Besides that entry is a fine specimen - I absolutely love it!

So, back to the drawing board... I considered several other pumpkin designs but finally decided on being myself - a Ghoulie Girl. I thought perhaps something girly and ghoulie and semi-creepy all in one.

"Ghoulie Gourd Girl" has sat on my desk for a couple of weeks now. I think that she could still use some shading and touch ups. I've tweaked her when I have had time and while I'm not convinced that she's done, she's as done as she's going to get. We are sneaking away for a few days for a much needed break so my deadline is now. (The actual deadline is midnight August 11.)

If you haven't already, you really need to pop over to Tortured Pumpkins to see all of the entries. I'm so glad I'm not a judge as it would be hard to choose.

Also I'm sending out a big THANK YOU to Scott for running the contest. I haven't had much time the past few years to create much of anything and for some reason this contest lit a fire under my butt and got me going. If nothing else I've got a nice little piece of Halloween art for the new studio.

Haunt on!

What's In ZGallerie

2011-08-07T10:20:00.001-05:00

ZGallerie is adding some glam to the Haunt season. Here are some of my favorite things:

Metallic Skeleton Hand - $20. Creepy bling - love it!

Glitter Silhouette Ornaments - $4/each. Love the vintage style of the design. Notice the nice, large, 8" size of these.

Silver Montebello Jars - $69.95-$89.95. Love how these would reflect the other gory goodies in the room. Great for year-round - and that "other" holiday.

Haunt on!

Halloween Dictionary

2011-08-07T06:59:00.001-05:00

I have a rather strange affection for vintage dictionaries. Whenever I come across one I just have to thumb through it - and likely buy it.

I own several and not because I feel the need to look up definitions or anything. I grab them because I think that the old pages will be great in projects. I'm a book lover so it takes a bit of determination for me to even get to the point of ripping out pages, but it beats the burn pile.

The dictionaries I tend to pick up feature neat old graphics so I thought I'd share a few with you today. Hopefully you can work them into a haunted project or two.

The following graphics are from a 1909 dictionary:

I do not have a confirmed date for this one:

If you need help with the images let me know. Oh and if you use them in a project I'd love to see it!

**DISCLAIMER: Some sources in my collection are missing covers or otherwise void of copyright information/publishing dates/title, etc. That's not to say that the images I'm sharing today are in the public domain. I pulled two that I know were prior to 1923 and one that I believe to be based on the info I could find. So, consider yourself warned - best to only use these in personal projects, resale at your own risk.

Haunt on!

Lowes Halloween Low Down

2011-08-06T16:19:00.002-05:00

I was in Lowe's last weekend with the hubby. I was on a mission to get a few things for house projects but was immediately distracted upon entering the store as they had begun setting their Halloween merchandise.

Is it just me or does Lowes almost exclusively carry Gemmy?

Anywho...there was a large airblown inflatable spider who's head moved from side to side, a cackling - but otherwise static - witch and assorted other things. I did snag one item, the Geo Strobe. I don't think it's new to the market but I didn't have one and God knows I really should have one of everything. Right??

Here's the scoop:

"Puts on a flashing light show. Uses 15 LEDs. Plays pre-programmed sequences or responds to sound activation. Requires 4 AA batteries."

It features red, green and blue LEDs. Cost $9.99. I thought it would be kind of fun even though I don't have any particular idea of exactly how I will use it.

One other thing I liked was the packaging. I'm a sucker for Halloween art and the package has kind of a vintage feel to it. Two-tone slime green with black graphics. See the ToTs running toward the haunted house? The "Trick Or Treat" font and the bat-esque graphic at the top are also cool.

I'm such a sucker for cool Halloween packaging graphics that you'll find these on display in my office:

The Flies and Brain Freeze were Target candy novelty packaging. The Witch Brew is an old beer can I happened upon and the Monster - well, it's Monster.

While the strobe may not be anything super unique at least Lowes is getting geared up for Fall. I am so ready!

Haunt on!

Getting a Little Bang Out of Your Halloween Buck

2011-08-06T15:49:00.003-05:00

I took the opportunity to get out today to see how local retailers were coming along with their Halloween offerings. I'm sorry to report that, at least here anyway, things are slow going.

Dollar Tree had made a tiny bit of progress having added some very small crows. These little guys stand a tad over 4" tall and are approximately 7 1/2" long. Available in three poses, they have the standard wire coming out of the bases of the foot. Only the back and the top of the head has feathers. The rest of the body is a black material similar to a cheap, thin, scratchy velvet. (Sorry can't think of what to call it.) These will be getting a make-over but they are pretty good as they are when you factor in the price.

Next up I also snagged two lenticulars. The frames on these are crap. I'm not even sure you can call them frames. Thin, black plastic with silver (gold also available) accenting. The "frames" are 8"x10" so the lenticulars are about 5"x7". (Again, only a dollar each so I'm not really complaining. Really - I'm not!) I only grabbed them because they too are getting a make-over. Four styles to choose from - two with guys and two with girls. I didn't grab the girls because I really didn't care for either of those.

I also grabbed the bat silhouettes which I swear were not there on my previous visit. They had one package left. They will be put to good use as is.

I also popped into Dollar General. They had out Halloween candy but their seasonal aisles were still loaded with summer stuff.

And so, Ghoulies, the wait continues....

Haunt on!

Happy Halloween Season

2011-08-06T09:46:00.001-05:00

First off let me welcome in the Halloween season!! Yes it is finally underway as retailers begin loading their shelves with the beginnings of creepy goodness. Even the weather here decided to give us a break from the +100° days. Autumn is right around the corner.

(image from Wallpapersgo.com - 10 Stunning Examples of Autumn Wallpapers)

The rest of this post has absolutely nothing to do with Halloween but I will share my week and why I've been absent anyway. :)

It's been a scary week - and not in a good way kind of scary. First up the parents, who both had doctor appointments on the same day, both found they are facing some serious health issues. One is still undergoing testing and the other has surgery scheduled. I'm sure that they will be fine but it makes things a bit stressful at the moment.

By Friday I was finally ready to get myself back on schedule only to walk into the office and find my main computer had got hit in the power surge from the night before. Dead. Yes, D-E-A-D. All the office electronics are on a surge protector and all survived - except the most important one.

My fave computer shop is owned by Steve. He is the most helpful, knowledgeable guy with the most beautiful, brown, waist length hair - which is sometimes in long Pippi style braids. He might even be wearing ballet flats or a women's sweater. It depends on the day really. I love that he does what he wants AND in all the battles he's gotten into with the my electronics over the years, the computer has only won once. I was praying today would be one of those "good news" days.

The computer shop opens at 11am so I made sure to be there right at 11. No Steve. 11:15. No Steve. 11:30. No Steve. Panic is setting in at this point. I went and grabbed a quick lunch and came back. No Steve.

In the panic only one other computer shop came to mind so, even though I'd never been there before, I decided I better head that direction. I landed at Matt's place. Matt has red hair, in dreads, a braided goatee, several piercings and tats. In less than 5 minutes Matt had determined that it was only the power supply and in no time at all he had me fixed up.

I have decided that I will only ever go to a computer geek who has his own unique style. No nerd squad for me. Give me the guys with tats or braids any day! Thank you Matt! (And, here's hoping that Steve is ok.)

The day was looking up. I had Little Shop of Horrors in the evening. It wasn't as raunchy as it can be but it was a great show. I love seeing my son (Orin the dentist) on stage and all of the players were perfect for their roles. I so enjoyed the show and I completely forgot the stress of the week.

An hour after arriving home Mom called. This is never good to get a call from the parents at this hour. They had spent the night in the ER. Mom had decided to mow last evening but couldn't get this one area due to a branch that had come partially down. Dad decided to grab a ladder and cut it off.

Picture this....Mom is mowing, Dad on ladder sawing, branch comes down, hits ladder. Ladder goes one way, Dad the other. Mom still mowing. Dad on ground. Mom finally notices. She has to load him on the mower to get him to the house.

I swear they are trying to kill me.

I have some Halloween goodness to share so I'll be back later. I do hope that you're Halloween season has kicked off better than mine.

Haunt on!

Little Shop of Horrors

2011-08-04T06:42:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited for this weekend! My oldest, Brittan, is performing in the Salina Center for the Arts production of Little Shop of Horrors. He is playing the part of Orin - the dentist. He really wanted this part so he could go crazy with the role. He's been working on his evil laugh for weeks and I'm just dying to see the show. Break a leg kiddo!

Haunt on!

Grandin Road - Halloween Haven Now Open

2011-07-31T23:33:00.001-05:00

We've been waiting patiently but the wait is over! Grandin Road's Halloween Haven is now open! I assume more items will be on the website as the season nears as the current selection is a bit limited. Here are a few of my favorite things so far:

Zombie with Lights and Sound - $79.00

Witch Hand Serving Tray - $39.00

Animated Reaching Hand - $19.00 This can be found at several stores. I own this piece and it's really quite good.

Life-size Wicked Witch - $89.00 Not animated but I can imagine the horror ToT's would feel when her wicked soundtrack is triggered.

**UPDATE: Now the site has been fully loaded. LOTS to see and lots of items on my list so here's a few more...

Martha Stewart Welcome Mat - $59 (Martha has gotten over glitter mania)

Morphing Skull - $49.00

Mistress in Lace Dress - $79

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Tunes

2011-07-29T06:18:00.000-05:00

TGIF! Cutting right to the chase today with a new batch of Ghoulie Tunes.

First up is Wye Oak with Civilian. You hear a bit of this one at the end of The Walking Dead Season II trailer. Love this duo!

Also heard on The Walking Dead, Paris Motel with Mr. Splitfoot:

Heading back to 1990 with Nightcrawler by Judas Priest:

Stirring up the spirits with Godsmack's Voodoo:

For all you sick and twisted out there (you know who you are) we'll wrap with Adelita's Way and Sick:

Haunt on!

Old Records Graveyard

2011-07-28T17:00:00.001-05:00

I took my kid sister out to lunch for her birthday today. She works for Acoustic Sounds which deals in vintage albums, particularly the Blues. They also run a record label, Blue Heaven Studios, and host the Blues Festival I help with every fall.

Recently they have taken on pressing their own LPs so I got to spend a couple of hours today watching and learning how albums are made. It's quite an interesting process and since LPs fell out of favor in the 80s, all the machinery is vintage. The presses are mostly from the 50's-70's and a couple from the 80's - all tricked out for the new age with computer processors.

I was most intrigued by the album recycling they do. Basically they take old LPs that don't really have any value, pop one in a machine which cuts out the label section. The label is held on by the heating process so removing is out of the question. The remainder of the LP is then shredded and used in making new albums.

I picked through the label discs that were destined for the trash, nearly 2500 from the current batch. I picked out a few and then promptly chastised my sister and made her promise that no vintage Halloween albums would be harmed in this process.

I'm happy to report that I didn't come across anything fabulous but I did grab the few shown here just for fun. Apparently some people use these to make coasters.

So, grab those Halloween LPs when you can. We don't want any of them heading off to the record graveyard!

Haunt on!

The Dollar Menu

2011-07-28T16:37:00.006-05:00

Dropped in the Dollar Tree yesterday just to see how they were coming along with the Halloween merchandise. I was disappointed to see they were in the middle of unpacking fall foliage instead of haunted goodies. Bummer.

There was an end cap with some body parts, creepy cloth and their standard mini monsterish type busts. The neighboring end cap had some items of interest so I grabbed a few things.

First up are the cut-outs, die-cuts, whatever you want to call them. These come in a group of 15 and I believe that they had four different varieties. I grabbed the rats and crows.

These are on a lightweight paper (between printer paper and card stock) but I think it will be sturdy enough. Each cut-out is approximately 6"-7" long and there are three styles in each pack so you get 5 of each pose.

The rats are the right size but the crows could be bigger in my opinion. For a buck I won't complain. It does beat cutting these out by hand if you don't own a Cricut or Silhouette (which I don't but if you have a review on either I'd love to hear it as I'm in the market).

I also grabbed one of these Martha Stewart like candelabra silhouettes. Almost 13" tall so it's on the small side compared to Martha's and it's not super sturdy. There's a hint of glitter but just barely. Of course, that's easy to remedy.

I hope your Dollar Tree is unloading faster than mine. I'm getting kind of antsy!

Haunt on!

Creepy Things

2011-07-27T10:55:00.000-05:00

Got parts? Need parts? Sure you do! Everyone needs a few creepy body parts in their haunt. Trust me on this.

Check out the lifelike hands and feet from Creepy Things. You'll see these hitting your local stores this season. Perfect for those dummy props in your display. I don't have pricing on these yet but I'll keep you posted.

Haunt on!

Halloween At Shindigz

2011-07-26T17:21:00.000-05:00

The mail was rather uneventful today. Not even a bill but, hey, I'm not complaining. Oh, there was this one thing...the new Shindigz catalog. Apparently Shindigz is jumping into the Halloween season with an entire lineup of goodies in addition to their party decor.

I popped over to their Halloween bootique (as they call it) but some of the things in the catalog weren't online yet. No worries, I scanned a few for you.

I like the joints on this skeleton better than some I've seen. 5' tall - $69.99. The pumpkin head greeter in the back looks pretty sinister. He ought to be for $249.99.

Interesting 6' tall creepy tree, collapses for storage - $89.99

As if anyone needed an excuse to have a zombie themed Halloween party. Love these!!

Lighted skull standee. I can imagine this set deep into the yard casting an eerie scene. 5' high - $95.99.

Haunt on!

Zombies Are Everywhere

2011-07-26T16:26:00.000-05:00

Ok Ghoulies...here's your chance at some Haunted Hot Sauce and some smelly goods (so you don't reek of BBQ).

Pop on over to ShellHawk's Nest to let her know what your name would be if you were a zombie. If you're already a zombie I suppose you can use your real name - but I'll leave that ruling to Shelley.

Also, saving this one for just the right occasion, here's a link to a discussion on zombie army names. Seven hundred of them to be exact. With armegedon on the horizon and the government on the verge of default I suppose now is as good a time as any to insure you have the proper name for your zombie army.

Oh, and while I'm on the subject... let me point you over to Halloween Blues in case you missed The Walking Dead Season II trailer. It's gonna be an exciting season!

Haunt on!

Don't Hate Me

2011-07-26T14:42:00.001-05:00

So, I was out running errands late yesterday afternoon and decided to drop in on a little antique store that I haven't visited in a while. The first floor was pretty much glassware and jewelry so I headed upstairs.

The upstairs was hotter than heck, cooled by a sole oscillating fan at one end. I figured it would be a quick look but after rounding the first booth I knew I was going to be there a while. Nearly a quarter of the upstairs was loaded with boxes upon boxes upon boxes of LPs plus gobs of loose stacks. All of it just haphazardly dropped in the middle of the floor. It was about 30 minutes to closing so I decided to make quick work of it.

This little treasure was in the very last box I had a chance to go through before closing.

No prices on anything so I yelled down to the clerk asking how much the LPs were. $1. Yep a buck. That makes this sweet find $1.06 to me. Yes, I already have it but I couldn't resist.

Haunt on!

P.S. My apologies to Scott Stoll for teasing him with yet another Halloween LP find. If it's any consolation I had to dig through a lot of John Denver to find it.

Sounds That Make You Shiver

2011-07-24T17:41:00.004-05:00

I finally had a chance to go junking. Usually luck is not on my side as I'm pretty picky but today was a good day.

I picked up a rather unique and ornate vintage mirror frame (sans mirror), an old industrial crate and other smalls. My biggest score cost me a whopping $1.60 - including tax.

Pickwick's 1974 Sounds To Make You Shiver LP. Love this one! The artwork is fantastic. In fact there is so much going on on the front cover that it takes some time to identify all the creatures and ghoulish scenes. The back cover features a flaming skull and the LP itself also has has skull artwork.

This record is designed for Halloween fun - designed to make the chills run up your spine, and small children climb to the safety of their parents' laps.

Turn the record on and the lights out, then prepare for a visit to a haunted house, complete with banging shutters, eerie screams, the hoot of an owl, the squall of a cat, the growl of a dog... scraping chains, stealthy footsteps, howling winds, rain on the window pane, maniacal laughter, a witch's screech, moans and groans.

"Sounds to Make You Shiver" is an ideal record to play on Halloween night within earshot of the the front door - then you'll throw a little reverse fright into the tricks-or-treat gang of small fry in their sheets and masks.

Side one is dedicated to Visit to a Haunted House while the flip side has the individual sound effects.

If you're looking for this one it's pretty easy to find. Although I can't guarantee you'll snag it for a buck sixty.

Haunt on!

Heat Free Quick Projects

2011-07-22T14:55:00.002-05:00

This heat is dreadful! Hotter than Dante's seventh level of hell and no relief in sight. I refuse to sweat unless I intend to. Standing outside for 2.5 minutes and dripping is certainly not on my must do list. Which explains why I refuse to suffer out in the garage and have stayed inside working on Halloween projects for my interior instead.

It's been a productive week. Several projects in the works and I even managed to complete a few.

Three new vintage inspired Spook Sticks:

(front view)

(back view)

I have a gob-a-lot of vintage hats. When I say gob-a-lot I mean like 40. I'm attempting to do up a few haunt style and I need displays. Here's one dressed up manni head with stand finally done:

Potion labels are on the menu so I'm on the hunt for jars. Managed to snag two of these for 50¢ each at Party City. I'm testing out the Graveyard Dust label. Am thinking I like it so permanent attachment will go on the to-do list.

I get to spend all day tomorrow at a baseball tourney. Yeah. I can stand out in the heat and drip. Can't wait.

Haunt on!

Grandin Road Halloween Sneak Peek

2011-07-22T12:46:00.002-05:00

Grandin Road looks to be stepping up the creep factor this year. Halloween Haven will hit their website August 1st but you can click the pic for a sneak peek:

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Tunes

2011-07-22T06:37:00.009-05:00

Another Friday - another collection of Ghoulie Tunes.

Typically I'm not a fan of remakes but I have to say that Seasons After does a good job with Cry Little Sister. It's as good or better than the original. I'm just glad the song didn't follow the same path as Lost Boys II!

Just for comparison - here's the original Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMann:

Who knew Taylor Momsen could sing? Here she is fronting Pretty Reckless with Makes Me Wanna Die:

Slowing it down a bit with a beautifully done vid. One of my fave bands fronted by the magnificent voice of Lzzy Hale - Halestorm with Familiar Taste Of Poison:

**WARNING!! **SEXUAL CONTENT** WARNING!!**

This vid has all of the Seven Deadly Sins covered by pretty boys in eyeliner with long hair. Wait. Did I just flash back to the 80's? Gorgeous Nightmare by Escape The Fate.

Haunt on!

Reminiscing With Broomhilda

2011-07-19T09:55:00.003-05:00

Funny how things just come into this crazy head of mine out of nowhere. God help me if a psychiatrist ever tries to peel away layers in this twisted brain.

So, for no particular reason, a piece of my childhood crossed my mind today. When I was a wee bit my dad, who owns his own mechanic business, would run into town to the parts store nearly every day. Often I would ride along. We'd drive the six miles into town to pick up what he needed for whatever repair he was working on.

The auto parts store, NAPA Auto Parts to be exact, was no place for a girlie girl but that was ok with me. Back then I was quite the tomboy usually covered in dirt, grease and whatever gunk I came across in old combines and tractors.

The door to the store was wood with a large glass insert and a bell that alerted the staff that someone had entered. The wood floors were marred with years of build-up from greasy boots. The grimy counter was just a few steps inside the door. Vinyl covered, backless, metal bar stools - complete with the NAPA logo - ran along the customer side of the counter. I would hoist myself up on a stool and swivel around and around.

A few spins of the chair and the "parts guy" would emerge from among the shelves loaded with dusty boxes of parts on the other side of the counter to greet my dad. A bit of weather and harvest talk between the man-folk would ensue before he flipped open a large book loaded with black and white pictures and part numbers. The men would compare the drawings to whatever part Dad had brought along and then the parts guy would disappear behind the shelves only to reemerge with a beat up box. The new part would be compared to the old, a ticket would be written, a dirty, weathered cash register would work it's number magic and that was that.

While I can't remember his name the "parts guy" was always cheerful, friendly and just a gool ol' boy. When I would go in the store he would always address me as Matilda.

Matilda? How did he come up with that? Well, in the course of small talk he found out that one of my favorite comic strips was Broomhilda. He thought Matilda would fit me just fine.

If you're not familiar with Broomhilda, she was a cigar smoking, beer drinking, man chasing witch. The perfect role model for a young Ghoulie Girl don't ya think?

I took a few minutes today to search out Broomhilda on the web. I was thrilled to find that there are a lot of the old comic strips online so I've got lots of reading and reminiscing to do.

So, here's to Broomhilda. May her beer mug never run dry!

Haunt on!

The End Of A Chapter

2011-07-18T18:52:00.004-05:00

I was catching up on the news this evening and I was disappointed to hear that Borders was unable to find a buyer and will be closing. I live in a town of around 50K population - no Barnes and Noble here. We have one new book store, Waldenbooks, which is owned by Borders.

I will admit that the selection was rather disappointing for a haunt and horror fan. For the past several years the store has catered to main stream selections. Stuff more likely to sell I suppose.

There are many reasons for it's demise - B&N, Amazon and the e-reader of course. I have a Nook, which I love, but there are times when only a book will do.

A couple of months ago our record store also closed. Yes, we were one of the few towns our size that still had an honest-to-goodness, vintage vinyl, new cd's, incense burners, black light poster kind of store. I'm afraid I contributed to it's closing, buying fewer and fewer cds in favor of downloads. (Hangs head in shame.)

I'm not sure if this post is a rant, pity party or what exactly. I guess it's just a reminder that nothing stays the same. I do hope that there will always be real, hold in hand, turn the page books. I would sure hate to think that one day, in the not so distant future, I will only be able to get my Halloween book fix on an e-reader.

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Girls Quick Projects

2011-07-16T17:22:00.000-05:00

I've had the most marvelous day! I'm all settled into the studio and since there were no kiddo obligations (ie: mom taxi service) required today I was able to do a few things.

I managed to start on some ideas from the Project Files but more importantly I got to finish up a couple of small things I'd been wanting to do.

Here is photo of the cabinet I decorate for each holiday. Notice anything missing? See the picture frame at the bottom? Yeah, the one without a picture in it. There's a couple of those in the cabinet. I'd meant to find something Halloween related for them and - really - how hard should that be?

I remedied this little irritation today with some fantastic vintage graphics from TheGraphicsFairy. (If you're not acquainted then I suggest you head on over. Great stuff!) I changed them up just a tiny bit by giving them a touch of color in Photoshop.

Remember my glitter issue? Well I managed to add a few new glitter pieces to the bone pile today:

And finally I cut out a few more Martha Stewart bats. Love these little guys.

I can't find a link to these anymore but I have them downloaded onto my computer so if you need a copy just yell.

So, nothing huge but the devil's in the details and I love the little touches. Plus - I've got things crossed off my to-do list. Yep - it's been a very good day!

Haunt on!

Torture The Pumpkin

2011-07-15T21:09:00.000-05:00

Doesn't that title sound like a fun game?! Actually it's a contest hosted by Scott Stoll of Stolloween/Arsenic Asylum/Tortured Pumpkins/Scotty Art fame.

Scott is giving away two tortured papier mache pumpkins. You heard me right. You have a chance to win one of these "bad seeds" by the master of mache. Head on over to Tortured Pumpkins for all of the details.

On second thought, don't. I plan to enter and if you enter too that will decrease my odds. No really, it's probably best that you don't enter.

Haunt on!

Mirror, Mirror

2011-07-15T11:31:00.000-05:00

My sister sent me this link in April. The subject line read "This is so you!". She knows me so well!

As I was cleaning up my email today (yes, yes, I let it go just like everything else) I came across it again. The link won't work for me anymore, all I get is a blank page, but I hope it works for you.

I'm pretty sure the problem lies in my browser as I recently "upgraded" (and I use that term loosely) to IE8. I'm too lazy to open FireFox to check it out so we'll just wing it ok?

As I recall this thing was pretty pricey. I'll put it on my Christmas list anyway ;)

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Tunes

2011-07-15T10:10:00.001-05:00

It's Friday!!!!!! I'm trying to really mix it up so I hope there's something here you like.

This first one is an acquired taste. Kind of like bourbon. Tom Waits with We're All Mad Here:

Throwing in a little dark cabaret with Vermillion Lies, Circus Apocalypse:

Techno, industrial, synth rock. Hell, it's hard to label this one. Great vid though. In The Dark by The Birthday Massacre.

Great animated video for Ghost Town by Shiny Toy Guns:

WARNING!!! *** EXPLICIT LANGUAGE *** WARNING!!

My youngest is a drummer and huge fan of A7X so I get to listen to this band daily. Sending a little tribute to the Rev with Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare:

Hope I had enough variety for you today. Enjoy your weekend!

Haunt on!

Busy Ghoul

2011-07-14T14:02:00.003-05:00

So I've been busy reorganizing my studio this week when I have time around the regular work schedule. I've been going through bins of fabrics, tools, paper, canvas, etc - you name it I've sorted it. I don't know how one person can have so many craft and sewing supplies destined for Halloween projects. It crossed my mind that I could end up on an episode of Halloween Hoarders.

This has been a project I've worked on in tiny bits for an eternity. It's taking me so long that the hubby was starting to plant the seed that we should convert the room into something else. (Back off hubby!) It's not done yet but I can see the finish line. By this weekend I plan to be all settled in.

The walls in this room are covered in wallpaper. A stripe on the bottom and a pattern on top with a golf motif boarder. Scary! It is the last room in the house with the decor choices of the previous owner. I can't take the time to deal with that so I did the next best thing and decided to get some stuff up on the walls.

You may recall a post regarding all the vintage plastic masks my mother had given me here. I wanted to put a few of these up on the wall but I didn't want to build or purchase shadow boxes so I came up with another solution.

I have a large, black, glassless frame so I hung it up. Then I took some mannequin faces I acquired years ago and put them on the wall. Slipped a few of the vintage masks over them and called it done.

The faces by themselves are even creepier.

Oh and look! Here are my happy monsters again:

Haunt on!

Final Destination Unknown: Dry Ice

2011-07-11T13:47:00.002-05:00

Another google search gone astray. I'm sure that by now you think I never actually get where I'm going. Not true! It's just that I never know where I'm going. I do eventually get there. I've decided to name these little trips along the internet highway as Final Destination Unknown.

So today's FDU is dry ice. I think most haunters have a love/hate relationship with dry ice. It's very cool but the satisfaction is fleeting. It's a mess and you have to wear gloves and it's expensive. I know that I, for one, am thankful that there's a whole plethora of other choices in the haunter's arsenal from foggers to misters.

The one thing a fogger or mister can't do for you is spook up a Halloween cocktail. I'm always leery of using dry ice in a punch mainly because I know my guests. I could post a flashing warning sign to be ultra careful but after a few cocktails I'm certain that I'd still have one numbskull who accidentally gives themselves a dry ice throat burn. Emergency room visits and potential permanent injury or death aren't usually part of my Halloween party agenda. I'm just saying.

And that brings us to our Final Destination. Check out this nifty solution:

Here's the 411 from the MistyStix website:

MistyStix are dryice swizzle sticks that create a misty fog effect in beverages. By loading MistyStix with dryice, your beverages become extraordinary and will delight guests of all ages with a fun visual experience. A sure way to put a smile on a face, MistyStix are the last touch that will increase the allure of the drinks you serve.

Click the Dry Ice link on their site and you will find everything from Dry Ice 101 to recipes. They don't sell the dry ice but they do include a link to Dry Ice Express where you can order the dry ice nuggets.

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Tunes

2011-07-08T05:22:00.004-05:00

It's Friday which means it's time to spin a few tunes from the Ghoulie vault. Let's see...what shall we play today?

Let's start off with Brains by Voltaire (live from the New York Anime Festival):

I've showcased this group before but this video is too fun to pass up. The Creepshow with Take My Hand:

I don't want to leave out the Team Jacob group so here's Werewolves by Corpse Show Creeps:

I just love this video! Ludo with Love Me Dead:

I wouldn't want you falling asleep so let's wrap up with Let The Bodies Hit The Floor by Drowning Pool:

Haunt on!

Revisiting Fun With Monsters

2011-07-07T20:22:00.002-05:00

Remember this post? Well, I spent a few minutes tonight assembling my happy little monsters into their new frames.

The monsters masks were printed on card stock paper in the highest DPI my printer could handle, and then I cut them out. I wanted to raise the pictures away from the background just a bit so I put Sticky Doos on the back of the paper masks.

The frames are scrapbook frames which feature a black velvet background so I just stuck the masks on the background.

So simple even a zombie could do it.

I love the look and can't wait to hang them up in my office - once I locate some more wall space.

Haunt on!

Just What I Need

2011-07-07T19:31:00.000-05:00

So I'm taking a few minutes trying to get caught up on the blog roll and what do I see? Zombie Research Society has a little something posted - a very little something that would go perfectly with my coveted zombie shoes I posted about.

While this might go well with the shoes I'm sure it won't go well with my figure. You can check it out here.

Haunt on!

Mummy Dearest...

2011-07-07T10:23:00.000-05:00

Today is my mummy's birthday. Happy Birthday Mummy!!

My mother is solely responsible for my weird and twisted obsession with Halloween and all things haunted. She allowed me to watch the Munsters and The Addams Family, as well as stay up late on weekends watching whatever horror flick we could find. She introduced me to Bela, Lon and Vincent among others.

She never once scolded me for checking out only spooky and magic books from the school library. I'm sure she had to think I was a "little off" when the only books I brought home were full of haunted tales. I'm also certain she grew weary of my magical illusions which I gathered from my fave book Spooky Tricks by Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames. The Mummy Finger was one of my greatest.

Let me see...it went something like this.... You cut a hole in the bottom of a small box near one end - just big enough for your finger to slip through. Place the box in the palm of your hand, put your finger through the hole, surround finger with cotton batting and top off with the lid. Now, run to show your mom. Spin the tale of how you found a mummy's finger, have her remove the lid and as she peers inside wiggle your finger. Loved it!

And, when it came time to come up with a costume for Halloween both her and Dad would jump right in and help me conjure up something great. Oh there were some plastic masks and such nonsense along the way but I also had some pretty good witches, robots and other wacky costumes too.

While the Halloween decor was a bit lacking there were always plenty of corn stalk tee-pees, homemade treats, kleenex ghosts, freshly carved Jack O'Lanterns and this one little guy I blogged about here (which started an obsession).

I don't have any photos of my mom as a child in costume. I did stumble upon what I truly believe to be her in a book called Halloween: Vintage Holiday Graphics by Jim Heimann. She does not recall this photo (second from the left, front) but it looks just like her at that age. (I think she's just experiencing some memory loss.)

Anyway, it's a great little book. At least I think so as I somehow managed to purchase it - twice. Check it out when you get a chance as it's loaded with page after page of Halloween photos of yesteryear.

Hope you're having a great birthday Mom!!

Well, that's a wrap! Haunt on!

Auto Zombie

2011-07-06T20:48:00.001-05:00

As I've mentioned before, the hubby is in the car business. This means that every time a new car commercial comes on we all stop and watch regardless of the make. I recently caught this commercial from Honda and realized that zombies are pretty good at selling automobiles. At least that's the way it seems as they have been appearing in commercials quite frequently.

Here's a few others that come to mind without me thinking too much about it. I think it's safe to say zombies are the current "it monster".

2012 Honda Civic

Toyota 2010 Corolla

2010 Toyota

And here's the Toyota print ad that goes with the Corolla video:

Haunt on!

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T10:48:00.001-05:00

Wishing all the Ghoulies a Happy 4th of July!

Patriotic zombies by Gary Glasser. See this and more images from the Denver Zombie Crawl on his flicker page.

Now kiddies....go blow something up!

Ghoulie Tunes

2011-07-01T15:49:00.000-05:00

A little late today but I hope these Ghoulie Tunes get you through the holiday weekend.

Starting off with a song familiar to Zombieland and Being Human fans. You're A Wolf by Sea Wolf:

One of my faves, Please Mr. Gravedigger by David Bowie

I can't help it - I love this duo. I picked a sad, slow one for you. Thirty Whacks by The Dresdon Dolls.

I'd hate to break my "off the beaten track" streak today so let's try this on for size. Darkwell with Suspiria.

Well I hope I hit something you like but just in case I'll throw in one more. Buried Alive by Creature Feature:

Haunt on!

Ted, Vegas and Haunted Apps

2011-07-01T10:31:00.000-05:00

I hate to fly. No, it's not because I have a fear of dropping from 20,000 feet into a pile of fiery ash. I just hate airports.

The dear hubby and I just returned from Vegas. I'm not a fan of Vegas. First, I'm not much of a gambler and second I've been there so many times that the glitter of Sin City dulled for me long ago.

This trip (like every Vegas trip) was for business. Toyota to be specific. We just spent 1.5 days racing from one event to the next. I've seen all the new commercials and all of the new models and prototypes. Sorry, my lips are sealed. You'll just have to wait to see what's coming. Ok, I'll spill this....the new Avalon is gonna be SWEET!

Back to flying...We flew United aka TED. I have an issue with TED. First TED likes to talk about their First Class service ad nauseum. They even put out a red mat that they refer to as the Red Carpet.

This 3'x5' "Red Carpet" is placed at an angle to the regular peon boarding lane. Only First Class can enter via the carpet and this is announced several times over the PA. I assume this is so you can feel all warm and fuzzy about spending hundreds more per ticket for a few hours in flight.

Apparently TED spends so much time grooming their red rug program that they cannot update gates on the board. This is crucial when your flight is coming in late and you have 10 minutes to race to the other end of the airport.

TED tries hard though. Upon landing at Gate 24 in Denver from Vegas, I turned on my cell phone and noticed two voice mails. It was TED calling to let me know that my flight out of Vegas had been delayed and they had rescheduled us for a flight on July 1. Huh? How the hell did we get to Denver then?

About this time we reached Gate 53 to see that that particular plane was heading to Portland. Crap! I asked the man behind the counter for help but he blew me off to a CSR. He was, after all, texting and really couldn't break away to help us. The CSR rerouted us back to Gate 45.

We made the flight. It was being delayed by almost an hour. I cursed TED for making me run through the Denver airport.

There was no seating so I just slipped against a column and slid to the floor where I remained until boarding. I decided I would look for some new fun Halloween phone apps. I grabbed a few live wallpapers and a couple of games. All were pretty lame. I did find one treasure which I want to share with you called House of Horrors.

This app features 30 horror sounds perfect for ringtones, alarms and notifications. It also includes 10 horror videos. Great stuff from Jason, Freddy and Saw but my fave is Hannibal and his "Good evening Clarice". Oh - and this app is free!

I suppose I should thank TED. If it wasn't for the chaos of the flight I probably wouldn't of taken the time for this little diversion.

Nah - I'm still mad at TED.

P.S. Oh, the man who couldn't take time to help us? He ended up being our pilot.

Hidden

2011-06-26T20:10:00.002-05:00

Another google search that went off the tracks led me to one of Rocker's Random Lists. This one is called Hidden In Plain Sight.

Not Halloween or haunt related but it does remind me of that early challenge on Face Off so I thought I'd share.

Haunt on!

Fear Mart

2011-06-25T11:30:00.003-05:00

This hit my Twitter feed several times this morning. I guess there is a new player in town, FearMart.com. Here's what they say on their Twitter bio:

Providing professional and home haunters with State of the art media for marketing purposes and video props.

I popped over to the website and was greeted by their CEO in this video:

Kind of clever there with the zombie greeting. I don't speak zombie so I was thankful for the subtitles.

Haunt on!

Usher It Right Out The Door - Trust Me On This

2011-06-25T06:00:00.010-05:00

Friday was an ugly day. It was one of those kind of days. You know, the ones that creep up every once in a while where nothing goes well and everything you touch goes to hell in a hand-basket. Yep, one of THOSE kinds of days.

By 9:30 I had had enough of Friday, opted for a long hot bath, followed by a movie.

I went through the DVD collection and picked out three that I had purchased from a Hollywood Video that had gone out of business. Horror/scary genre, of course, and none of which I had seen before.

I decided on The House Of Usher (2006). After all, it was an adaptation of Poe's Fall Of The House Of Usher. Surely it would have some redeeming properties?

I should have cashed it all in within the first 5 minutes.

The movie began and here is our main character Jill (Izabella Miko) in what I believe to be present day. Next second the scene changes and we see Jill again in another setting. Then back to where we came from. Then again we jump somewhere else. Then I think we went back again. Within 5 minutes I wasn't sure if we had flashed forward, backward or sideways.

Then the opening credits began to roll.

Let me boil this whole thing down for you...

Jill can't get back into the dating game because she still has feelings for Rick Usher (Austin Nichols).

Rick and his twin sister Maddy (Danielle McCarthy) were best friends with Jill in college but abruptly left with no explanation.

Three years later (present day) Rick calls Jill to tell her Maddy has died and asks her to come for the funeral.

Jill goes to funeral which is held at the Usher mansion family plot.

Rick explains to Jill that Maddy died of the dreaded family disease and that he is also ill.

Scary caretaker Mrs. Thatcher (Beth Grant) expresses her dislike of Jill and tells her to leave.

Rick and Jill fall back into love. (Ahhhhhhhhh - isn't that precious?!)

They swap spit badly. (Honestly that has to be some of the worst on screen kissing that I've ever seen.)

Mrs. Thatcher oversees Ricks medication.

Jill runs around in her underwear a lot.

You catch glimpses (barely) of someone else hanging around.

Jill finally decides she should leave, for no particular reason.

Rick begs her stay. All of the sudden he is dying and he needs her. (Men!)

Jill finds herself with child. (Well surprise, surprise!)

Now this is almost the entire film. The next part I should probably list as Spoiler Alert but the only thing spoiled is my brain after watching this film.

Now, where was I? Ahhhh, yes, the last 20 minutes...

It happened in the library - because she didn't use birth control. (Apparently there is a moral here somewhere.)

Jill notices the family pictures and this tree does not fork.

The parents give birth to twins who mate and give birth to twins. (Rinse, repeat....)

Now the ending....

Mrs. Thatcher, who's been with the family 30 years, finally decides to make her move and end this abomination by attempting to kill Rick. She fails but sticks around long enough to see Jill find that Maddy is not actually dead. (Gasp!) Maddy has been sent up to the attic because she refused to play the family mating game and has gone mad.

Mrs. Thatcher throws herself out a window and dies.

Maddy and Rick die in each others arms.

Flash forward to Jill getting a sonogram and we see twin fetus' kissing in the womb.

Sweet Molly in a manger!

I've never seen so much bad acting coupled with bad editing/directing/writing. Next time my day is going to hell I will not pick out a movie without first checking the reviews.

BTW - does anyone want a copy of The House Of Usher? I've got one that I'm willing to part with.

Haunt on!

Mostly Ghostly

2011-06-24T08:00:00.003-05:00

My family was always big on board games. Several times a month one of us would choose a game and the entire family would sit down and play. Oh, there were the usual selections; Life, Monopoly, Cootie, Candy Land, etc. (depending on that age of the players).

On a shopping trip I noticed a game with skeletons on the box and, of course, I just had to have it. Mom caved in and I was the proud new owner of a game called Mostly Ghostly. I'll admit that at the point of purchase I had no idea how it was played. Nor did I care.

Distributed in 1975 (ugggggg - dating myself...again!) by Cadaco, it was similar to Cootie. The Skeleton consisted of five pieces - the head and torso, two arms and two legs. You would spin the spinner to determine which part of your skeleton you would receive. The first to assemble a complete skeleton won. Oh, and the best part? The skeleton and spinner would glow in the dark so it was lights out to play!

It was a simple concept and the rest of my family grew bored with the game. The moans and groans when it was my turn to choose a game could rival any haunt. No big deal as I would often get it out and play against myself.

Despite my best attempts to take care of the game it got pretty beat up. As I recall, an entire skellie went MIA, likely used as a Halloween decoration by yours truly.

I'm not certain whatever became of it. At one point it was just gone.To this day I honestly believe that there was a family conspiracy brewing and the game was quietly sent to the burn pile while I was occupied with other interests.

Recently I got my hands on a replacement Mostly Ghostly. Absolutely vintage, complete and ready for play. I still love it.

When the family gathers for the holidays we still play board games. The next time we meet I'll be sure to bring this along. I can hear the moans and groans already.

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Tunes

2011-06-24T07:00:00.007-05:00

Since Friday typically kicks off the prop building weekend - I thought it to be the best day to run some haunted music through the blogosphere. Maybe it will give you a little boost while you're building or inspire your imagination for a new creepy creation.

So, the plan is to feature 3-5 pieces of haunted, goth, spooky or other appropriate Ghoulie Tunes every Friday. My tastes in music run all over the place so hopefully I'll hit something you like. I'll be posting this in YouTube form but not all have an actual official video.

Keep in mind this was an idea we conjured up some time ago and, as you can see, I'm just now getting around to it. So - we'll just see how it goes.

In consideration of my other blog post today we'll kick things off with The Ballad of Frankenstein's Monster by the 12 Step Rebels:

Twisting things up a bit with Dee Snyder's Tubular Hell from Oculus Infernum:

What's not to love about a band that calls itself Squirrel Nut Zippers? Here they are with Hell:

Here's something with a mix of industrial, metal and goth. Angels On Acid - Haunt Me:

Dark metal anyone? Skeletons by Wednesday 13:

Haunt on!

The Diary of Mary Shelley

2011-06-24T05:00:00.011-05:00

My favorite classic horror monster of all time is Frankenstein's monster. Which would explain why I'm obsessed with keeping up with Frankensteinia: The Frankenstein Blog. This is an amazing blog loaded with...well...

Everything Frankenstein! It is divine!

I think we all know the story behind the conception of Frankenstein...Mary Shelley and friends write ghosts stories, etc. What I didn't know was that Shelley first made mention of Frankenstein in her diary on June 24, 1831. One hundred and eighty years ago today. [Credit to Frankensteinia: Genesis of Frankenstein]

I'm also currently reading Mary Shelley a biography by Muriel Spark. Actually I've been reading it for some time and I keep getting interrupted. If you are interested in the author I highly recommend it.

And I can't leave this post without at least one movie reference. This was a tough one but I've chosen to take this opportunity to defend Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994). I realize that this may make me unpopular as it seems you either love it or hate it - and it does take some cinematic liberties with the original story.

Personally I found that I could really feel the passion of Victor's character (masterfully portrayed by Kenneth Branagh). His obsession to create life, be damned his moral responsibilities, and his desperate attempt to stop the inevitable destruction of everything that he loved, kept me glued to the screen. While all along you know how the story will end, one gets emotionally involved. First in the hopes of a successful regeneration and then praying that he will stop before it's too late.

I have to admit that when I heard that the Monster would be played by Robert DeNiro I just couldn't imagine that it would work. I was wrong. DeNiro's portrayal was one of the best screen representations I've seen that shows the complexity of the character. I really felt that he was the victim. Shunned by society and abandoned by his own "father", I felt sorry for him. So much so that I could even rationalize his violence.

I could go on and on about this particular film but I'll leave it here and just wrap up with this...For 180 years this story of man's struggle with his own mortality has withstood the test of time and, actually, seems a possible reality by today's standards. The irony is that Mary Shelley's creation has taken on a life of it's own. I like to think she would be pleased.

Haunt on!

Zombie Preparedness

2011-06-23T05:00:00.030-05:00

I take emergencies seriously. For example, I live in tornado alley. When the sirens go off and I'm in the checkout line at the grocery store, and everyone starts heading for cover, I demand they finish processing my purchase.

If I'm at home and the sirens go off I promptly send kiddos and dogs to the basement, turn on the radio and step outside to see if I can spot the tornado. I learned this from my parents who didn't bother sending us to the basement. We all traipsed outside to see what was going on with the weather.

I was spending a little down time on Zombie Research Society's Blog and I took heed of their advice to get prepared for a zombie attack. They linked me up to the CDC who provided a number of steps I should take in the event of just such an outbreak.

Having nothing more pressing on my plate I figured I should arm myself for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse and proceeded to follow the steps. I gathered all the materials they suggested, understanding that most of these would also be beneficial should we be struck by a tornado, earthquake or hurricane. The latter two are unlikely as I'm in Kansas.

Then I moved on to the Emergency Plan. First the CDC recommends that I identify the types of potential emergencies that could be possible for my area. They instructed me that if I had any questions regarding local emergencies that I should contact my Red Cross chapter. Hmmm, okay.

I called the Red Cross and asked for their Zombie Outbreak division. The nice lady on the phone seemed a bit baffled by my request. I explained that I was simply trying to prepare for any and all disasters that could potentially affect me and my family. She asked me to spell my request (Z-O-M-B-I-E-S), promptly put me on hold and left me there for 20 minutes. Eventually a gentleman came on the line and gave me another number to call. Great! We're making progress.

I dialed the number and got a recorded message for the Suicide Prevention Hotline asking me to please hold and someone would be with me right away. After 45 minutes I hung up as I was getting the urge to slit my wrists.

Having no luck with the Red Cross I skipped a couple of steps ahead and started on my Emergency Contact list. They suggested that I list the Police and Fire Departments as well as my local Zombie Response Team.

I wasn't quite sure where to locate my local Zombie Response Team so I pulled out the phone book and flipped to the Yellow Pages. W, X, Y ahhhhhh Z! Zip codes, zoos...wait....that's it?! No zombies? Perhaps it's under city departments? County? Government? I finally decided that City Hall could hook me up so I gave them a quick call.

After speaking with several people, and repeating my request more times than I can count, I'm finally getting somewhere. They seem to know something about zombies that I don't as they mentioned straight jacket and shackles - but they are dispatching an officer out to my location right away. Good. It's about damn time! I hope he can point me in the right direction.

Haunt on!

Something Is Going On...

2011-06-22T14:14:00.000-05:00

Something is going on. Something wicked.

It's very quiet, but if you listen closely you can hear him. He whispers to himself now and then and sometimes something other-worldly offers a reply.

If you watch you will see that he's up to something. He leaves behind tiny clues showing only a puzzle piece of the whole picture. He calls them teasers. I call it torture.

Yes, something is definitely going on.

Haunt on!

Treats That Trick

2011-06-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Trick or treat
Smell my feet
Give me something good to eat

I miss trick or treating. I so loved dressing up and going door to door. Leaves rustling under my feet as I wrestled with a costume that was often ill fitting. Navigating porch steps as I struggled to keep from tripping on over-sized shoes or dragging hemlines. Peering through masks with eye holes that never stayed in the sight line.

I carried my orange jack o'lantern pail carefully so as not to accidentally drop a single treasure. The treats were the spoils of victory - the evidence of a successful night of begging.

When we got home my two sisters and I would survey the goods and trade treats, after my parents each helped themselves to a piece or two of course.

Cracker Jacks were a fave. Two treats in one box - first the popcorn and peanuts and then a small toy. Nirvana!

I would say that overall the treats in my bucket were wanted and appreciated, but there were a few things I could have lived without:

Popcorn balls

I don't care how tasty the recipe presents itself - popcorn balls are awful (and never taste like Cracker Jacks). I like my popcorn with butter and salt... and not in ball form.

Raisins

Oh I like raisins just fine but they should be banned from Halloween treat pails. Seriously if you want to give me fruit just throw in a caramel apple for heaven's sake.

Rolls of Pennies

Nothing says "I forgot/don't care/drat it's those stupid kids" more than pennies. Plus they made the buckets heavier.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much. At least I never received a religious brochure or a toothbrush like my own kids have.

As All Hallow's Eve came to a close, I feel into bed dreaming of the next Halloween. Planning my costume and looking forward to next year's frightful fun and trick or treating.

Oh how I miss being a kid on Halloween.

Haunt on!

Screamin' Little Demons

2011-06-22T05:00:00.002-05:00

This is your Wednesday WAKE UP call!!!!!!

Little Demon free wallpaper found here

Time to get the blood pulsating through those veins. Don't make me hook you up to the Mad Doctor's electrodes. Try this instead:

Haunt on!

Shop And Then Drop Dead

2011-06-21T15:08:00.001-05:00

Shopping is such a chore! Just today I was at the Coffin Shoppe to commission my funeral digs. I've been measured and weighed (oye vey!). I've been asked probing personal questions such as my hobbies, favorite colors, music, flowers and budget. Ack!

Oh, don't write me off just yet. This shopping excursion is (fictional) only taking place because I lack the faith in my mother, hubby or kids to choose appropriately. After all we're talking about my final home sweet home of where I will spend eternity. Or... at least until the coffin caves in and the worms play pinochle on my snout.

So, I'm pondering, what would be the most appropriate final resting receptacle? Too many choices. Too many decisions. This is worse than shopping for swim wear.

Crazy Coffins are making a difficult decision even harder. Coffins shaped like guitars, cars, boats and more. I myself am leaning towards the basket weave.

But, ya know, I really should be more environmentally responsible. Perhaps something green? Creative Coffins specializes in non-toxic, cardboard coffins with a wide selection of designs to fit my personality. (See the chocolate box one.)

Decisions, decisions!

Ah, to hell with it! I'm renting a permanent room at the Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin. I'll be in the Coffin Room.

This one is mine but you can book one of their other over-the-top rooms.

P.S. Did you know that I actually used to work for a funeral home/cemetery. Yep. It's true.

Haunt on!

What I Found On The Road To Nowhere

2011-06-21T10:00:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I get where I'm going despite the fact that I don't know where I'm going or how I got there. This is an example of what I'm talking about.

It was another of my google searches. I first started out searching for retro Halloween, then I veered off to old fashioned Halloween, then somehow I changed course again to Halloween art. Not finding what I wanted (which is odd to say considering I didn't even know what it was I wanted) I came across a craft list that led me to this blog called Tatertots & Jello. First off - tatertots and jello?? Love it! If you've ever had little ones you know what I'm talking about.

Anywho I thought this was a great little project that even the artfully challenged could handle. The Halloween Speciman Art is just fun and crazy simple requiring only a few supplies.

I also found this simple fix for the dull door during Halloween on Creative Mom's blog.

This Halloween Wreath features a skull with light up eyes. All easily done with inexpensive supplies, this the perfect Halloween greeting for those who come knocking.

Last but not least, Ameroonie Designs, can show you how to take felt and craft it into a really cool Batty Pillow.

Alas, I still don't know exactly where I was going in my search but at least I have a few fun things for the project files.

Haunt on!

And Now...A Word From Our Sponsors

2011-06-21T06:00:00.007-05:00

As usual Ghoulie Girls has no sponsors but I won't let that stand in the way of showcasing some commercials from the way back machine.

McDonald's 1980s

Woolworth/Woolco 1979

Magic Manor - 1970s

General Mills Monster Cereals - 1970s

Vincent Price for Poloroid - 1985

Haunt on!

A Boobalicious Halloween

2011-06-20T15:18:00.006-05:00

Well, I got your attention didn't I? Don't worry, this is not a bait and switch. We are going to talk about boobs today. Well...at least in relation to Halloween costumes.

It's no secret that the sexy costume is the hottest thing on the rack (no pun intended). Sex sells cars, beer, magazines, etc. so it's no surprise that sex also sells Halloween.

Fox by Leg Avenue

This is not a new trend, but as the manufacturer catalogs start to roll in every year I notice that the sexy sections get longer while the skirts and shorts get shorter. I'm really not sure how much shorter things can go. Perhaps the vendors will issue an invisible costume. All you will get is a hanger.

And then there's the boob issue. Ladies, do yourself a favor and invest in some boob tape, duct tape, double stick or whatever you can. Some of these tops just aren't going to stay where they're put! Do a little Monster Mash on the dance floor or reach across a table for a jello shot and you might be showing more than you had intended.

Vice Girl by DreamGirl

Halloween costume manufacturers are good at doing the sexy look. Lingerie makers won't be left out of this money machine and they hopped on the band wagon years ago. The most prolific maker of sexy Halloween is Leg Avenue. And the holy of all that is holy in sexy, Playboy, has gotten in on the act as well. DreamGirl is

another one to watch for - they understand that not everyone is a size 2 and carry up to 3X-4X.

Police Patrol by DreamGirl

There's not a ghoul of any size or age that I know that doesn't want to look sexy. The fine line is between sexy, sleezy and - just naked! I can't count the number of times I've assisted a customer who wants one of these little numbers. They call me freaking out wondering what tricks I can help them with to make sure the "girls" stay put and the butt stays covered. (Bike shorts, petticoats, boob tape, leggings and tank tops make the short list.)

French Maid by Coquette

Certainly you can avoid the whole over-the-top sexy thing as there are plenty of other costumes to choose from. But for those of you that want the look I say - go for it. Right after you arm yourself with boob tape.

Haunt on!

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

2011-06-20T12:23:00.001-05:00

Ok Ghoulies - take that ice pack off your head and have a little hair of the dog that bit ya!

I don't care if you've spent yesterday hugging the porcelain throne swearing that you'll never spend another weekend drunk off your ass. I have cocktail recipes to share and I expect you to try them out!

Bartender Confessions posted the Mali-boo Brew a couple of years ago and it looks totally ~~gummy~~, I mean yummy!

You gotta love a drink that's named for the way you feel after you've consumed one too many. Tango Pango's Flicker page tells you how to have your very own Brain Hemorrhage.

Also be sure to check out Food2s 8 Sexy Halloween Cocktails. For you cannibals out there, they offer the Blood-Red Lime Rickey. Complete with severed fingers.

Haunt on!

Horrific Hair

2011-06-20T09:37:00.000-05:00

Costume? Check!
Footwear? Check!
Accessories? Check!
Hair style? Oh crap. What should I do with my hair?!

No Ghoulie Girl should ever have to suffer through bad Halloween hair. Wigs are great but if you can't find the perfect one, or if you are a do-it-yourself kind of ghoul, you can finish off your costume with perfectly haunting hair.

I doubt your local salon has a Halloween hair style book so here are a few ideas to get you started:

1700's French Inspired. Perfect for a miriad of characters.

This video features five hairstyle ideas including some for the kiddos.

I also found this great clip from CBS that features three different hair style how-to's for your viewing pleasure.

Haunt on!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

To all the Ghoulie Guy Dads out there, Happy Father's Day!

Fun With Monsters

2011-06-18T12:23:00.001-05:00

From the project files.

This has been stashed on my to-do list for a while now. I thought these monster masks would be fun to print out, mount on mat board and frame. Lighthearted and fun with a touch of retro thrown in. Hey, not everything has to be dark and scary.

Get your own at Disney's Family Fun.

Haunt on!

The Midnight Meat Train

2011-06-17T23:06:00.003-05:00

I don't know what's going on in this area but whatever is blowing around has my allergies all riled up. For the better part of the day my right eye has felt like it's going to pop out of my head.

Finally giving up on doing anything constructive, I settled into my beloved recliner for some TV time. I caught a couple of hours of Criminal Minds but I've seen them all a hundred times so I surfed for something good to watch. Obviously TV execs think everyone is out on Friday nights as there was nothing of interest on. Off to FearNet!

After checking out the synopsis on the movie offerings I decided on The Midnight Meat Train. Based on the short story by Clive Barker the movie centers around Leon (Bradley Cooper), a photographer looking to make his way into the big time.

During his late night photo shoots, Leon begins photographing and following a rather ominous and suspicious character who turns out to be a butcher. The butcher (Vinnie Jones) doesn't limit his craft to beef and as Leon unravels the mystery he finds himself and his girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) on a subway train ride to hell.

As one would expect by the title this one is pretty bloody and graphic. I don't care much for gore so I had the fast forward button handy. It was quite suspenseful even though it didn't take me long to figure out where it was going to end.

All in all I'd give it about 3 out of 5 stars. Your mileage may vary.

Oh No They Didn't!

2011-06-17T06:00:00.022-05:00

Last night our friend the Frog Queen posted breaking news on her blog. Our on-scene reporter, Morticia, has been following the story.

Ghoulie Girls: Morticia, can you tell us what's been happening there?
Morticia: All I can say is this is absolutely devastating.
Ghoulie Girls: How bad is it?
Morticia: Well, it's hard to say just how extensive the damage is.
Ghoulie Girls: Tell us what you see Morticia.
Morticia: Well, there's no delicate way to put this. It's...well...there are body parts everywhere...there's lots of blood...glitter and Swarovski crystals. It's...
Ghoulie Girls: Wait. Did you say glitter? Did we hear correctly? Swarovski crystals?
Morticia: Yes. It's a nightmare. Absolutely horrifying! Halloween will never be the same....
Ghoulie Girls: What the hell is happening?!
Morticia: It's the Hello Kitty Chainsaw Massacre!!

Well there you have it Ghoulies. Hello Kitty is edging in on our holiday. Watch for Bucky bling and pink blood coming next season...to a store near you!

I Love Zombies Too

2011-06-16T15:30:00.001-05:00

I realize that my last post revolved around my beloved vampires but I love zombies too. Honest!

To prove it I'm hooking you up with what's currently spinning here in Ghoulie Land. I first came across this song while watching an episode of SyFy's Face Off.

I still don't know what to make of that show. They could have done so much more with it. And, why oh why does everything have to include personal dramas these days?!

Ok, I'll save my Face Off issues for another time. But now I present to you Natalia Kills I'm In Love With A Zombie:

Haunt on!

Romancing The Vampire

2011-06-16T15:13:00.001-05:00

Father's Day is on the horizon and the hubby is taken care of. His poor PC is painfully slow and has developed an attitude so I decided it was time to get him all techno-geeked out with a new laptop. All done and crossed off the to-do list. Yeah!

Oh, but wait... Now I have to figure out what to get my dad. This is a bit more challenging and even though he loves gift cards I always feel like a loser when I give him one as they don't take much thought. So, as I'm pondering this dilemma the dear hubby calls. He's needing assistance on what to get his mom for her birthday which happens this year to fall on - yep - you guessed it...Father's Day! Yeah.

The MIL is impossibly hard to buy for and never remotely excited about any gift she receives. I inform said spouse that I have enough problems to solve and am on the hunt for a gift for my dad. Big mistake! He feels it would be so very easy for me to kill two birds with one stone and shop for her at the same time. Yeah me.

So here, in the middle of my work day, I'm standing in the book store considering the ideal dad gift. (The MIL doesn't read so I was going to have to throw more than one stone.) I wander the aisles and something catches my eye. Romancing The Vampire From Past To Present.

Here's the overview:

"Long before Edward Cullen and the Twilight phenomenon, there was Angel, Barnabas Collins and Bela Lugosi, and many others in between. They are vampires the undead. Add an infusion of Bella, Buffy and Carla Laemmle, then sprinkle in unforgettable characters such as Renfield and little Eddie Munster, and you have a capsule of how cinematic vampires are viewed by today s world. But there were vampires walking this earth long before the invention of movies and television. In this book, author David J. Skal weaves a narrative history of vampirism, from the ancient Aztecs through the writings of Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer. But what makes this book even more unique are the replicas tucked inside sleeves and pockets. There are removable photos of Bram Stoker, Carmilla and Lord Byron. For movie buffs, it has posters from Nosferatu, Dracula Has Risen From The Grave starring Christopher Lee, and Bram Stoker s Dracula along with a replica of Stoker s Dracula notes. Take a walk through the history of the undead, with romance, horror and blood along the way."

This puppy is huge, heavy and a vampire pictorial delight! Loaded with pockets and pull-outs, it resembles a scrapbook and covers everything from Bela to Buffy and Vlad to movie vampires. There's even a paper, vintage style vampire mask complete with elastic headband at the back of the book. And it's as if the Great Pumpkin himself knew how challenging my day had become he granted me a bonus. The book was a mere $4.99!

Needless to say, I scooped up a copy (a well deserved gift for yours truly) and I intend to spend tonight discovering all the little treasures it holds inside.

Oh, and don't worry. I found the perfect book for my dad.

As for the MIL? She's getting garden frogs for her birthday and hubby is pleased. To-do list...Done!

Haunt on!

My Other Life

2011-06-15T23:15:00.001-05:00

I don't show too many different sides when floating around the haunt world - retailer and haunt freak are about it. Well tonight I'm going to share something else that I devote my time to that's totally non-Halloween related.

Brittan - Halloween 1996

My oldest son, Brittan, is a Halloween junkie (just like his mom) and I have tortured him from birth with handmade costumes. He is also an aspiring musician. His goal is to reach out with his music and help make changes in the world.

So, indulge this Ghoulie Girl while I veer a bit off topic to showcase one of the few things in my life that takes precedence over Halloween. This song is a cover of Adam Lambert's Whatdaya Want From Me.

Now...back to your regularly scheduled haunting..

Can't Help Myself

2011-06-13T12:27:00.001-05:00

I must be on a retro kick. It's rare that I listen to music from my past - I just love this generation's alternative rock. I must be feeling a bit nostalgic lately. This song in particular is set on repeat. For some reason I can't get enough of it today. BTW - 1985 was a very good year ;)

Haunt on!

In Ruins

2011-06-11T12:36:00.002-05:00

Dawn (of Nickols Manor fame) posted back in May about The Baker Hotel located in Mineral Wells, Texas. The Baker was built in the 1920s and abandoned some 40-50 years later. Vacant and deteriorating, it reminded me of something I had come across earlier in the year.

Oh it all began innocently enough. My BFF, Google, and I were trolling the internet looking for dilapidated buildings for haunt inspiration when I came upon Yves Merchand & Romain Meffre Photography and their Ruins of Detroit. The book had not yet come out (but is now available on Amazon) so I just poked around the site.

I love old buildings and have been known to nose around in abandoned structures if the opportunity presents itself. Akin to snooping around the graveyard, feeling the soul of it's old bones and wondering what used to be.

I have a soft spot for Detroit though I've never been there. See, the hubby is in the car business and has been for over 25 years. When you think of cars you can't help but think of Motor City. I was especially pleased to see Chrysler with their recent ad campaign focus on Detroit. (Adding Eminem to the mix didn't hurt either.) Let me add here that hubby was not amused with my fascination with the ads. We don't sell Chrysler. Ehhh - but that's not the point.

So what is the point of this post? I know I was going somewhere with this.

The falling down buildings with their haunting rooms and peeling walls are ideal backdrops for a haunt and a look that many try to obtain. You will find some inspiration within the Ruins of Detroit but it's also a reminder that nothing stays the same and these old relics host the ghosts of dreams and disappointment from those that came before.

**All photos copyright Yves Merchand & Romain Meffre Photography and shown only as an small sampling of the stunning photos you can find in their book, Ruins of Detroit.

All by myself

2011-06-09T20:42:00.026-05:00

All by myself
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore...

Just spinning a little Eric Carmen for you all in Ghoulie Land. That song reminds me of being in the roller skating rink. Suddenly the lights dim down and a deep voice comes over the PA to announce it's couple's skate. And so they pair off - holding hands, skating circles in their bell bottom pants, blushing and making small talk. Pity the ghoul with no partner. ::sigh::

Well, I've successfully dated myself again.

Anywho...so you have just this one and only Ghoulie Girl. Sitting here. All by myself.

God I need a beer!

So, let's see...what is the topic of the moment? Ah, yes...being alone. The house is empty and I'm sitting here perusing the internet searching for something strange and unusual. [Quote Lydia Deetz "I, myself, am strange and unusual"].

With too many results I narrowed down my quest to zombies. After all, they are the latest and greatest in the horror genre. (I'm having The Walking Dead withdrawals as we speak. Fall cannot come soon enough!)

So what did I find?
I'm so glad you asked!

These have been on my Must Have list for several months now.

By Iron Fist, Zombie Stomper peep toe pumps. I'm in love! I can't say for sure but I'd bet that in the case of an actual zombie attack you could use these as a weapon.

I haven't decided to go with the green or limited edition glow in the dark. Suggestions???

Here's another item I had on my possible purchase list last season:

The Zombie of Montclaire Moors Statue from Design Toscano. Designed by artist Alan Dickinson the site claims "If this doesn't scare your neighbors, nothing will!" I'm not sure about that but I do think it's an excellent static piece with exceptional realism.

And finally, if you haven't already met, allow me to introduce you to Zombie Boy.

Bizarre Magazine interviewed him in 2008. His mission: to cover his outer self with his inner self to present a full size corpse. A real live member of the walking and rotting dead, Rick, hails from Montreal. He claims that "There’s all sorts of weird sh*t here in Montreal, so I kind of blend in with the culture...". Hmmm - makes me kind of nervous to visit our neighbors to the North!

He was most inspired by George A Romero's Living Dead movies. Hey - I love those too but I'm just not this committed. If I were I'm sure the hubby would have me committed.

Zombies have finally come into their own, pushing aside their more famous horror cousins for their time in the spotlight. I guess you could say that they're all the rage (pun intended). But I want to know what you haunters think. Will you be incorporating zombies into your haunt? Is the zombie your costume of choice for the 2011 season? Are zombies here to stay or will they fall by the wayside in a pile of decay?

Haunt on!

Goodbye to a Ghoulie Girl

2011-06-08T13:33:00.011-05:00

Where, oh where, have the Ghoulie Girls gone? Like the mist fading from the cemetery grounds it would seem they have vanished with the dawn.

Pfffft!

It's been over a year. Did the passion for Halloween burn out?
Nope.

Did the ghouls get into a fight and find themselves in a heated court battle for the rights to the site?
Uh - no.

Well, what's the 411?
Simple, really. It's called life.

There are some changes coming and we'll be back. Well, one of us will be. The name will remain the same but there will be, for a while anyway, only one ghoul behind the scenes.

Tracy has experienced some significant life changes and is moving in another direction. I love her dearly and wish her all the best.

I hope to bring in another Ghoulie to give the blog a bit more bite! I have someone in mind but she doesn't know it. I must craft my approach carefully. Yes, sneaky and underhanded maneuvers will be required. Mwahahahah!

Now - enough of the sap. Onto the business of haunting!

In the News....

Stolloween recently completed his Boris the Troll project for Midland, Michigan’s 2011 Downtown Sculpture Series. This is a must see!

The Mad Lab is back up and running with TWO brand new contests for the haunt prop builder. Plus two very cool prizes. Worth checking out!

Free at last! Free at last! HauntCast is free again. That's right ghoulies. You can once again listen to the hauntalious crew podcast without a subsciption. But hey - don't be cheap! Support their sponsors so we can keep this thing going!

Home Haunt News rises from the abyss and will be launching a new edition on July 15. They are currently looking for submissions so if you've got something good to offer hit them up!

On a final note - As I was attempting to help a fellow haunter run down a prop how-to I stumbled across this:

The French Design Studio, Pool, recently debuted this plastic skull chair. Now tell me, what could be better than sitting in one of these watching the kiddos splash around in the pool? Love it!

Observations By A Ghoulie Girl (Or Two)

2009-08-26T08:34:00.011-05:00

We've been around the online Halloween scene for a while now. We've haunted Haunt Space for years, stalked Halloween Forum and Haunt Forum endlessly, listened in to every podcast that has a remote mention of the holiday and bookmarked nearly every Halloween related site on the net.

I have had the good fortune of connecting with many haunters. Some I chit chat with online on a regular basis and some I get the wonderful honor of visiting with via phone. I've never met any of these ghouls in person but to do so would be akin to meeting a rock star.

This week was a banner week. I've had two brief brushes with greatness when I exchanged a couple of quick emails with Bones of Haunt Style and Ghoul Friday author of the upcoming book Brains vs. Coffee. A phone call with Chris Baker of Haunt Cast and another with someone I consider to be a good friend and a very talented entity, Scott Stoll of Stolloween, were icing on the cake.

Perhaps we should change our name from Ghoulie Girls to Ghoulie Groupies? There are so many we admire in the business of haunting. But, and here's the kicker, one thing we find to be almost universal is the willingness to share.

It's rare to find a haunter who won't go out of their way to offer advice, share techniques or provide direction. You would think there would be a lot of competitiveness but from what we see from the cheap seats it is exactly the opposite. Through the haunt community runs a vein of appreciation for others of like mind. No haunt is unworthy, no question is silly and everyone is welcomed into the community. Haunters truly are a most generous bunch.

So, to those of you haunting the season know this... We Ghoulies think you rock! We thank you for the information you provide, the photos you post, the insight you share and the friendships you offer. May you have a most haunted Halloween season!

Martha and Hair Gel: Part Deux

2009-08-24T14:07:00.007-05:00

We interrupt this program for a very important update...

Martha Stewart just sent us an email. Yes, we're sure that it was sent by her personally since we spoke so favorably of her in our post yesterday. She's invited us to enroll in her Halloween Party Workshop. Billed as "8 Weeks of Fun" featuring unique party plans, decorations and more. And - by signing up we will automatically be entered to win one of three Halloween prize packs from Martha Stewart Crafts. Care to join us?

In other news... one of our favorite ghoulies, Boo2U, send us this link to aid in our quest for creative Halloween ideas involving hair gel - Fountain Blood. Why not whip up a batch today?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

Glitter Me This

2009-08-23T07:00:00.003-05:00

I have a love/hate relationship with Martha Stewart. Tracy couldn't care less about the domestic goddess but I struggle with Martha on a semi-regular basis.

I love her ideas (though rumors abound that they are not all her own) but I find it absolutely impossible that anyone could be this creative, organized and put together. I often mumble to myself that she's only so together because she has a huge staff and no hubby or kiddos to trip over. Then I mumble in jealousy how I'd love to have a huge staff (or at least a wife's wife to do all those mundane chores for me).

How lovely it would be to spend a day at the garden store chatting up the experts, picking out plants, urns, furniture (with no real budget to speak of) and then send my garden team to pick it up. I could then have my kitchen staff prepare me a nice English tea and blueberry scones while I bark out directions on where things are to be planted and placed. (No, No, No! I specifically said to use the striped umbrella with this set of chairs!)

This Halloween season Grandin Road has teamed up with Martha Stewart, as evidenced by their catalog I received the other day. I always look forward to the catalog for inspiration but this year it's Glitter Mania, or is it Glitter Gone Wild or Giddy for Glitter. I swear the woman has glittered everything within an inch of it's life and slapped a nice pricey price tag on it.

I love her glitter. The colors are excellent and it's nice and fine. It's what I used on these pieces I was working on last Fall that gave me fits. And that brings me to the point in this badly written entry which is this... if you're going with a sparkly Halloween theme, do it yourself!

Martha jumped on the glitter train last season and this year she's milking it for all it's worth. I love the look but I think even if you purchase her skeleton ($79) and her glitter (check pricing at Michael's) you can do it for less than $149! And glitter Jacks from $49-$69? Pfffttt!

Make your own. Trust me on this. Martha doesn't have a thing on you!

For The Love Of Hair Gel

2009-08-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Honestly! I'm lucky if can find my butt with both hands and a flashlight - and it's not like my butt is a small target! Part of my problem is that I am on the other side over 40 but I think my biggest problem is too much on my plate.

The good news (if there really is any) is that one of my many obligations caused a brain spark and I remembered a haunting trick from several years back.

It began as I was cleaning out the theater Green Room at my oldest son's high school. Why was I cleaning this room? Well, my fiendish friends, this is what happens when a drama program is cut and you open your mouth to get it back. Yep, yours truly ended up the Drama Director. [Note to self: super glue lips shut]

This room was a wreck. I brought in lawn and leaf bags and went to work. Tattered fabric - trash. Ancient makeup - trash. Old, gross vat of yellow hair gel - trash - WAIT! Hold the hair gel! (This is where my memory kicked in.)

Several years ago I created a simple haunt in our garage for my son's Halloween party. One section was a mad scientist's laboratory for which I had gathered an assortment of odd shaped glassware and other oddities. I wanted something besides liquid in a couple of the jars and I found the perfect solution at the Dollar Store - a tub of clear hair gel (also available in green, yellow or blue).

I globed the hair gel into a glass and shoved squishy eyeballs into the goo. Then I topped off the surface with a bit of faux blood. Here's a couple of pics I managed to scrounge up.

I think this gelatinous goo might work well in other areas of a haunt. Let it drip off a tree or smear it on walls and allow it to drip down. I do know that it looks pretty sinister in a mad lab setting from a 4th grader's point of view. Plus it has the added benefit of being heavily perfumed making your haunt smelly good and it will be at the ready should your Bride of Franky character's hair start to fall.

Dark Tunes

2009-08-21T07:30:00.001-05:00

I think I have an obsessive personality. If you've been following us for anytime at all you know that I have a thing for vids and music. I can't help it. ::sigh::

Tracy tolerates my obsessions probably because they mostly tie in with Halloween. God bless her dark little heart.

I'll be brief today as it's Friday and I know you are all planning hot date nights, parties and all the fun, wild things I left behind in my youth. For those of you staying in and scampering to finish props and other haunted goodies I've got some dark/haunting tunes for you. (First two vids provided just for the music - there really is no vid for these.)

Johnny Hollow - Alchemy from Dirty Hands

Amon Tobin - Bloodstone from Foley Room

Still dark but going to pick up the pace a bit with this one as I don't want you falling to sleep at the prop. I so miss Skin (she's my age and looks just too damn good) and the boys but she's been working on a solo career (though I hear SA is getting back together).

Skunk Anansie - Charlie Big Potato from Post Orgasmic Chill

P.S. If this last one brings you visions of Warrick Brown (yum, drool) from CSI you are not hallucinating. The song was featured in Table Stakes (Season I Episode 15).

Het Spookslot

2009-08-20T07:34:00.001-05:00

Why yes, I am speaking a different language today but there's good reason for it. Some time ago in my many web wanderings I came across Erikde Vries photo album with the most spectacular haunt pics. Why did I wait so long to share it? I'm selfish. [hangs head in shame]

Het Spookslot is the main show of the Haunted Castle ride in the Dutch theme park Efteling. From what I can gather it is a ten minute show in an indoor graveyard setting housed in the largest theme park in the Netherlands. In other words it's the Dutch equivilant of Disney's Haunted Mansion.

The park opened in 1952 and the haunted walk through attraction has been running since 1978. Reveiws are mixed on the scares and animatronics but the setting and music (Danse Macabre) appear to make up for it.

I don't care about reviews. One look at this place and I'm hooked! The setting is awesome with excellent architecture and I just love the lighting. Someone definitely knows what they're doing here.

So now, how to go about convincing the hubby we need to head to the Netherlands???

Bloody Good

2009-08-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Blood. The life of a haunt? Perhaps to some but I am a simple ghoulie girl. I prefer gothic mystery over startles and the deadly silence of a cemetery scene to a slice 'em and dice 'em, fire up that chainsaw, approach.

Nevertheless, I may be in the minority... or not. I know that I sell a lot of gory stuff (and I thank those that purchase it) but I think there are a lot of DIY prop builders out there that tend to lean away from a full fledged blood bath. That is not to say that a severed head or a fountain running red couldn't end up in my yard haunt but Ed Gein in all his gory glory is not welcome. I don't know why as I get a kick out of going to haunts of this sort but for some reason I don't tend to add this type of prop to my own scenes.

To each his own right? Well sometimes I need to get out and see how the other half lives so I'm stepping outside my comfort zone to seek out the gory haunting goodies out there.

I don't think anyone was harmed in the making of this Bag of Flesh from Haunted Props but I could be wrong. Don't hold me to it. Gives a whole new meaning to making your skin crawl eh?

Skinned bear anyone? From Fright Props comes this menacing menagerie of mucus and muscle (say that five times fast).

Got guts? Well I know where you can get some or at least where you can find out how to make some. Halloween-Haunted-House has the great foam (pun intended) how-to (if you've been hiding under a rock and didn't know how this was done).

Comical but still disgusting is this bloody bucky guts creation by Back Yard Butcher Props.

Well, I'm completely grossed out so I'm outta here. But before I go I leave you with one last sick and twisted bloody goody from The Horror Dome. For those of you who desire a full size human carcass your wish is my command.

Just goes to show you can find nearly anything on the web.

Top Haunts

2009-08-18T08:42:00.001-05:00

It's official. Haunted Attraction Magazine released it's 2009 America's Best Haunts list earlier this month. Sadly none of them are in my area but hopefully there's one or two near you.

The list features the 12 best haunts across the country. Top of the list is Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary located in Philadelphia. This is the real deal! The Penitentiary was completed in October 1829 and closed in January of 1970. It is a National Historic Landmark, is known by the acronym ESP, once housed Al Capone and the haunt takes place behind 30' prison walls. I really don't know what could be more creepy.

The prison is owned by the city of Philadelphia and daytime prison and museum tours are available. For the Halloween season five haunted attractions come to life at the prison. They also offer Family Nights which is the same show but actors are on the look out for kids who can tell the monsters to "be good" if they are too scary.

Not to surprising is that there have been reports of hauntings within the prison. The site has several videos of shows you can view including Most Haunted Live (Travel Channel), America's Ghost Hunters (TLC), Ghost Hunters (Sci-Fi) and MTV's Fear which explore some of these sightings.

It will probably be a while before I can justify to the hubby the need to swing over to Philly for the Halloween season to check out this haunt so if you get a chance to go be sure to give me the scoop.

As for the other 11 haunts rounding out the top 12? Well, you'll have to check them out yourself on Haunted Attraction Magazine.

Twisted

2009-08-17T20:00:00.003-05:00

We love costumes! I will use any excuse I can muster up just to put one on. I have costumes out my ying-yang but my ultimate character is the vampiress. That might seem predictable but there's a zillion different ways to do this creature and I'm still working my way through all the options.

Our kids have always had original homemade costumes. Don't misunderstand - I don't love to sew (neither does Tracy) but I do love the creative process. Until I got in the Halloween retail business my sons had never had a store bought costume. Years ago when my youngest demanded to be Spiderman I gave in because I didn't really want to remake what was so readily available. He came around though and last year he insisted on an original wicked jester creation. (Mom wins!! He's the one on the right.)

I know I'm on a movie roll lately with this blog (and I apologize I will try to be more original with the next entry). But - I especially love movies that showcase characters in strange and wonderful costumes woven into a twisted tale. Just such a movie is on the horizon - Alice In Wonderland.

I never miss a Burton movie and a movie that features Burton, Depp and Bonham Carter?? Be still my heart! (Sorry for the ads in the vid - this one is hard to get as they keep shutting it down so watch it quick!)

The time is drawing near for the ultimate costume excuse of the year, Halloween! As a retailer who markets "off the rack" costumes I know this may sound strange but - be original. Take some time to dream up something unique and bring it to life. Perhaps take a cue from Burton - take a classic and create something twisted.

A Haunting We Will Go

2009-08-16T23:20:00.016-05:00

Desperate times call for horror flicks.

Many years ago I read somewhere that when times get tough the horror industry comes alive. I guess taking a detour out of reality and watching teenagers get hacked to bits makes us feel better about our real life woes? Apparently these are really desperate times because there has been a slew of horror, haunting and dark movies recently and more are in the loop.

Last night I actually had a rare evening with nothing on the agenda. Hubby was going to settle in and watch the Chiefs (it's too early for football!) so I decided I'd hit RedBox and grab The Haunting In Connecticut.

"Based on true events" is the beginning caption. Actually, inspired by real events would have been a more accurate account. The movie is very loosely based on the real life supposed haunting of a rental house and it's tenants, the Snedeker family.

The Snedeker's moved into the rental to be closer to a Connecticut hospital when the drive from New York got to be too much for their son plagued with cancer. Unbeknownst to them the house's previous life was as a funeral home.

I remember this in the media in the late 80's and a book about the haunting titled In A Dark Place by Ray Garton was released in the early 90's. If you follow this kind of thing you are familiar with the controversy surrounding this story. Here's a brief rundown of some of the scuttlebutt...

First up is no one living in the house before or after the events had anything remotely strange happen.

The upstairs tennant at the time (not shown in the movie) never experienced any strange events.

It is rumored that the son with cancer had some drug problems and mental issues.

Everyone else in the town knew the house's history and the landlord claims the family knew as well.

The landlord heard no concerns of any kind until an eviction process for unpaid rent was put into motion.

Ray Garton, author of a book on the haunting, claims family member's stories were inconsistent. He was encourage by Ed and Lorraine Warren (well known demonologists involved in the case) to take what he could and make up the rest.

The family remained in the house for two years despite claims of being raped by demons.

Now before anyone jumps down my throat I'm not taking sides in the matter. I couldn't really say whether there is any truth to the story as I was not there. I can say that based on reports from the family, the author of the first book (a new one is coming out soon by the mother Carmen Reed Snedecker) and the Discovery Channel episode on this haunting that the movie is not remotely close to the original story. And, it wasn't supposed to be a factual account type movie so that's Hollywood for ya.

Actually the movie is pretty good if you like this kind of thing. I was especially impressed with the acting of Virgina Madson (the mom) and Elias Koteas (the son).

So if you haven't seen it you might want to give it a go but take that whole "based on true events" thing with a grain of salt.

P.S. If you are the curious sort like me and want to learn more about this haunting run a web search on Carmen Snedeker, Carmen Reed, Ed and Lorraine Warren or Ray Garton for starters. This is a hot topic among ghost hunters groups and there is quite a bit of interesting discussion out there.

The Vampire's Assistant

2009-08-11T21:59:00.004-05:00

It's my youngest son's 10th birthday today so after cake and presents we hit the theater to see G.I. Joe. After ten minutes of commercials (ugggg) we got to the previews and I finally caught the trailer for Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant on the big screen. In case you haven't caught it online or otherwise consider this my gift to you. Mwahahahahaha

Commercial Break

2009-07-24T10:42:00.007-05:00

And now we take a short commercial break to enjoy Halloween ads from days gone by...

Pepsi early 1990s

Pepsi and Doritos circa 1990's

Radio Shack 2001

Budweiser circa early 2000's

Mall Of American 2005

Oops! I Did It Again!

2009-07-23T15:11:00.012-05:00

I love to be organized. This doesn't mean that I am organized it simply means that I love those brief moments in time where I feel organized. Hence the need to have a yard sale every couple of years.

When the mood strikes me I barrel through the house at ninety to nothing chucking item after item into boxes in anticipation of clearing out junk and making a few bucks while I'm at it.

Last Spring Tracy and I had just such a moment and we both gathered up treasures and trinkets, large and small and organized another of our house cleaning events. Two households that when put together could rival a small city in terms of junk. We ponder our poor purchase decisions, have our "what was I thinking when I bought this" discussions and mark things to sell (we are cheap!). Little did I know that here, a bit over a year later, I would regret an item I sold for pennies on the dollar.

What was this treasure you ask? A Roomba. I purchased this marvel of household cleaning when they first hit the market. I used it couple of months and then promptly went out and bought a Dyson. It sat here unused for several years and I was anxious to turn it loose on some other poor unsuspecting victim. Big mistake!

Check this out:

What the hell?! Why didn't I think of that?! Even before I noticed the name of this clever contraption, Broomba, I could see how it was done. Uggggggggg!

Grandin Road's Halloween email hit my inbox a few days ago and I finally had a moment to take a peek. I wish I hadn't. Now I have to scrounge around and find a Roomba. Hmmmm, might have to take in a few yard sales this weekend.