I always go for a creepy but elegant feel for Halloween decorations. Some black gauze, pumpkins and a DIY witches broom give your Halloween house a creepy but elegant vibe.
This post is about how I went simple and elegant with my Halloween decorating this year. Some black gauze, twinkle lights and pretty pumpkins. Add in the witches' broom I showed you how to make a couple of years ago and my first Halloween DIY for this blog, the Halloween wreath and Halloween decorating was done.
So now let's talk about Halloween gut rot.
I won't be having stomach issues on this Halloween night. Most kids won't either, what with parents being so parenty nowadays.
Don't eat this, don't eat that, gimme your candy so I can lock it up in this Pinterest inspired candy lockup drawer that doubles as a "Mommy has her period emergency kit."
Someone who will be sick tonight? My mother. Today at some point gastrointestinal distress will be attacking my mother Betty.
Creepy & Elegant Halloween Decorating
We couldn't possibly be more different, Betty and I.
As a kid I would gather my Halloween candy, separate it all based on what kind of candy it was, count it, put it all back in the bag and shove it under my bed until the house developed an ant problem some time around February.
Betty? Betty eats candy until she's sick.
Every Halloween she sets herself up by the front door with boxes and boxes of candy. Before she knows it she's plowed through most of it and is turning a nauseous shade of green. That's her cue to lock the door, shut off the porch light and proceed to moan like she has dysentery.
This is usually all before 3 p.m.
I have a few problems with Halloween but eating candy until I sweat corn syrup is not one of them.
Problem #1 with Halloween. My level of creative OCD is not compatible with a quick pumpkin carving. Couple of triangle eyes and a toothy grin? Sure. I'll just decorate one Christmas tree and hire someone to do my plumbing while I'm at it. So if I don't have a spare 2 days? I just don't carve.
Problem #2 with Halloween. No start and end time. I want to know exactly when all of this is going to go down so I don't have to turn out every light in the house at 8:30 while still worrying some jackass kid is going to bang on the door looking for candy my mother already has dibs on.
Problem #3 with Halloween. I eat until I feel sick. I know I told you I didn't but I do. I just don't do it with candy. I do it with chili.
Every year, the night before Halloween I make a big pot of my famous chili. On Halloween night I don't have to worry about making dinner, I have a big bowl of comfort food ready to be eaten. I just heat it up on the stove, ladle some into a bowl and top it with chopped avocado, cilantro, sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese. And then I do it again. And again and again and again and again and again and again.
I don't suffer the "dysenteries" like my mother. I suffer the "Oh-my-god-my-stomach-is-going-to-explodes."
And then I Google yoga poses that make you fart.
Have a good night, don't eat too much candy, don't eat too much of whatever your traditional Halloween dinner is and don't expect me to answer the door after 8:30.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
p
oh, please take pics so we can meet Betty :D
linda in Illinois
It is eerie when you can't see your reflection in the glass front door but can see the fence in front of the house. I applaud you. Is that a mirror trick you came up with. Very nice elegant decorations, though I don't see how the little kiddies will get around the stools without knocking them.
Lynn
So beautiful Karen
Melissa
LOL!!!
"Pinterest inspired candy lockup drawer that doubles as a “Mommy has her period emergency kit.”
I see a project in my future! Except the drawer will be some kind of Nikki de St Phalle papier mache structure to effectively block anyone else from poking around. :D
Heather
Love your decor! Can't stand blood and gore Dollar Store Halloween garbage. Yuck! Your place looks seasonal and lovely. I will copy. : )
Karen
Copy away! ~ karen
Kat O
My traditional Halloween food is potato cheese soup (made with processed cheese product and jarred picante sauce - this is the ONLY time I will touch "cheese product"), plus caramel popcorn and pumpkin cookies. Definitely eat until I get sick. Where would we be without traditions?!
Tracy
We usually never pass out candy. Makes me furious when "kids" show up with more facial hair than my husband and beg for candy. Caved in last year and bought a 36 count box of full-size Hershey bars. Decorated them with scrapbook paper and cute Halloween stamped tags. Our subdivision is somewhat out of town but there are a handful of kids. Not.One.Person.Came. Notta! My husband ate 36 candy bars in less than 48 hours. I should have called Guinness World Records!
Karen
I don't care if teenagers show up as long as they're in a costume and aren't belligerent, lol. ~ karen!
Darla
From 4-6 PM our town has "boo on the bricks" where children trick or treat our downtown businesses which reside on the old original hand laid brick streets. I lived just down the street and they would mosey on down my way after hitting downtown and the fun was over by around 8. Now that I am in the country I don't get any trick or treaters...which is fine with me. I would rather have a ton of them and be able to dress up and have fun with them as to have a few stragglers that interrupt my evening.
Shandra
Where I live there are start and stop times for Trick or Treaters... always has been as far as I know/can remember. I'll be setting up shop from 6-7:30, hoping there are a few leftovers when I turn out the porch light, but not enough to pull a Betty (because if given the opportunity, I totally would).
Mia
I see what could be the faintest reflection of a head between the gate and wreath, right in the middle. Even a dark circle that could be a camera lens. And a darkish area, still transparent, over the gate. Spooky!
Katie Grace
Your mother and I are one and the same. I was reminded last night the candy is for the kids. Also, do you have any tips or tricks for keeping squirrels away from your pumpkins?
Bonnie Gutierrez
Are you sure that broom isn't your other vehicle? Just kidding! Happy Halloween!
John
How are you able to take a picture of you porch which reflects the garden and gate but not the photographer?!? Are you a ghost for Halloween this year?!?
Karen
Just a little witchcraft. ;) ~ karen!
Marna
Looks great! No kids go house to house any more anywhere in the neighborhoods for miles. My youngest stopped when he was maybe 7 and we just went to the huge mall where they had candy, games etc for the kids too. It was so nice not to be out in the heat or cold or rain! If I buy candy it is for my family. Chili does sound good! I use to make a special Halloween dish when all my sons lived at home, sort of like sloppy joes.
Dana Studer
What black magic did you use to take the picture where your reflection isnt seen, Karen?
I love that broom hanging over the entry to the porch. Cute idea.
Kimberly
!!! That's truly eerie - I didn't notice it until I saw your comment.
linda in Illinois
I was going to ask the same question.. very eerie in deed.
Elizabeth
Exactly what I came here to ask!
Tess
It's either witchcraft or Photoshop. :D
Patty
I love this!. Its so classy and spooky at the same time. Im the graveyard. monster syle of Halloween decorator. Ive already dcorated this year. But, i think I will try something like this next year!. Thank You for the inspiration.
Robert
Fair point!
Also, I can't see the previous comment on which I'm supposed to be responding
TucsonPatty
Ooooohh - I can't wait!! My ugly, ugly witch (MEEEE!) will be at the front door, scaring the neighbor kids. I eat the things. But my black teeth and black lips get spoiled and I must re-apply the makeup and tooth wax, and there is no time to do that, so I have to wait until it slows down, then there isn't much candy left, and I'd better save it for one more visitor, so since I haven't purchased any candy yet - I may be safe this year from a bellyache! Happy Halloween! P.S. Your decorations do look classy, simple and very nicely put together! In a word - elegant!
Robert
8:30? Wow you really can't wait to be old and cranky, can you?
Happy Halloween
Karen
Anyone allowed to be out after 8:30 can probably buy their own candy, lol. ~ karen!
Martha Brown
I used to turn the lights out at 7:30! But now that daylight savings time has been pushed back, I leave lights on until 8. That’s late enough.
Jenny W
Happy Halloween! Thinking I might just put some twinkle lights and spooky cloth over my 2 big pumpkins too :) Last year I carved a 3D face into one and it took 5ish hours, so That's NOT gonna happen again LoL
Oh yeah, I'm finally 1st to comment, So YaY me!!