Halloween Ghost Decor

Ghost Tree Hugger. A most versatile chap, this wired fabric ghost will cling to a spooky tree, emerge from the bushes or wrap himself around the woodwork to decorate your favorite haunt for Halloween. (Source: Oriental Trading)

Price $7.99 each

Halloween Witch Decor

A truly colorful character, our Hanging Halloween Witch with Morphing Crystal Ball is dressed to thrill in a bewitching cloak and cap. At over 4-1/2′, she’s sure to command attention on a table, in a doorway, or wherever you hang her hat. (Source: Frontgate)

Was $39.00 Now $29.00

Halloween Bat Decor

Hanging BATS! Hang these 8 1/2″ fabric bats from ceilings and doorways to add a terrifying touch to your Halloween party decorations! Dangle these vampire bats over your porch or patio on trick-or-treat night for some frightful fun. You can also use them to dress up a haunted house! (Source: Oriental Trading)

Was $7.99 Now $5.97 

Need more? Shop for low priced Halloween Decorations, click here.  

I love Fall! I do, I can’t say enough good things about the crisp air and cool breeze. Some people might think that fly swatting and the mass termination of all things buzzing is specialized to Summer and Spring. Well those people would be wrong!

My landlord recently ordered the lovely tree that lives in the front yard to be trimmed. Well apparently cutting the branches off the poor girl unleashed the beast. Suddenly I find what looks like large flying ticks all over my apartment. The first time it happened I screamed like a banshee!!

I bloody hate bugs! Now it happens so frequently that I just swat the stinking things, listen for the audible squish sound and stand over the body with a satisfied grin on my face. Die Bug Die!

I have been using slippers and rolled up magazines and newspapers as my tool for destruction. But since the infestation doesn’t seem to be lightening up, I decided to shop around for a fly swatter!

I chose the following Adirondack Fly Swatters from Wisteria. (featured above)

The Adirondack Fly swatters are not only functional but they are works of art! If you have to kill creepy crawlers and flying pests why not do it in style.

“Majorie Post was partial to fabulous residences, including her Adirondack lodge called Topridge. It exemplified rustic elegance at its best, characterized by Post’s interest in art, which she avidly collected. Now, art might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about fly swatters, but it will be after you hang these crocheted treasures on your wall, which were inspired by Topridge. ” (Source: Wisteria, Adirondack Fly Swatters)

Price $34.00

Hopefully you are not having bug issues like me, but if you do and your interested in checking out the Adirondack Fly Swatters click on any of the links above or the image included. - Michelle

Conversely I happen to adore the emails with the string of funny pictures or witty stories. I guess I just don’t like being told to forward the message to all my friends in the next 2 minutes lest fire and brimstone rain upon me. So this morning my co-worker Evette sent me the most adorable email containing Puppy Bouquets!

So now you see why I felt obligated to “pay it forward” and post about these adorable creations! The only problem is that there was no merchant information listed in the email stating where you could purchase and or order these puppy creations. Does anyone know where you could buy these?

Which leaves me to believe that they are a labor of love. I suppose you have to try your hand at creating your own puppy. I have an artistic eye but actual “implementation” for arts and crafts eludes me.

My suggestion is to print these photos out, bring them to your local florist and have them mimic the loving… Good luck guys!

Ps. If you do know where to buy these floral arrangements, please let me know. - Michelle

One of our favorite finds at this year’s West Coast Green were these other-worldly and eco-friendly dome homes from Solaleya. Imagine a circular loft with plenty of skylights and a solar array on top, gently rotating to orient itself towards the sun, and you have the basic idea.

(Finish reading at Inhabitat)

Smarter Home & Garden Blogging:

Brookstone Media Furniture - Store all your CDs, DVDs and VHS in a handsome mahogany cabinet, actually with adjustable shelves you can store pretty much whatever you want in the cabinet…

Electric Baseboard Heater - Ah, at last Fall is here. Cue the chilly nights and cold floors, I think it’s time to start looking into some portable heating systems if you don’t already own one. Check out the Electric Baseboard Heater that is safe for children and pets.

Discount Bedding from Domestications - Check out the reversible comforters from Domestications, what I like about it is you are pretty much getting two comforters for the price of one!

Fondue, DO IT! Who would have thought dippin’ and dipping could be so delicious and entertaining… check out the assortment of sets I am considering purchasing.

Flying Skeleton Reaper - Time to let your inner ghoul out and start decorating and shopping for Halloween

Call me chicken but when properly decked out, certain homes during Halloween scare the be-jesus out of me! I think it is all the years of being raised Catholic, has me trained to jump at shadows.

Check out the spooky Halloween decor from GrandinRoad.com. Covered with ghoulish tattered gauze the Flying Skeleton Reaper is a tingling combination of ghost and skeleton! The sturdy hanging string allows you to hang the Reaper anywhere you like, and the decor is collapsible for easy off season storage.

Price $39.00

Check out the Flying Skeleton Reaper, click here.

Still not spooky enough for you? Check out our vast selection of discount Halloween Decor!

Tombstones, Ghosts, Witches, Halloween Bats and much more at low prices, click here.  

Turns out the whole shindig was a blast! Great times, gives people an opportunity to get tipsy and talk. She had all the prep work ready. Chopped pieces of raw meat and chicken, assorted delicious sauces to dip them in when they were done cooking and she even had a dessert fondue set up. What I learned was that you need to add some oil to the chocolate as it melts to prevent it from sticking to the pot and so it remains fluid and not cake up and turn into a molten rock! The whole affair was very pleasant and quite delicious. Now I want one, a fondue set that is.

So here are some options I am debating on, what do you think?

Williams Sonoma - All Clad Stainless Steel Fondue Set

“Manufactured with an aluminum core for efficient, uniform heating, this gleaming 18/10 stainless steel pot comes with a ceramic insert that makes it ideal for both savory and sweet fondues. Remove the insert when cooking meat fondues in oil; leave it in place for melting chocolate and cheese without scorching. The sturdy tripod stand holds the sterno burner and provides stability. Six color-coded stainless steel forks are included. The stainless steel lid has slots that hold the forks upright so foods are spaced evenly around the pot for uniform cooking.” (Source: Williams Sonoma)

Price $149.95

Kitchen Universe - Swissmar Montblanc Red Fondue Sets - 15 piece

“Classy cast iron meat fondue set includes red square pot, spatter guard, rechaud with wood base, four black ceramic dipping dishes, six meat fondue forks, and dual function burner. ” (Source: KitchenU.com)

Price $89.95

Lausanne Copper (3 in 1) Swissmar Fondue Set - KlinQ.com

“Swissmar fondue pots are the ultimate in quality and workmanship. This beautiful copper and stainless steel multi purpose fondue set has a ceramic insert that acts as a double boiler, so you can use one fondue set for 3 different types of fondue - meat, cheese and chocolate.” (Source: KlinQ.com)

Price $99.95

Stainless Steel Meat Fondue Set - KlinQ.com

This stylish 11 pc. fondue set for 6 includes the following pieces:

1 stainless steel meat fondue pot
1 stainless steel fork guide
1 heavy duty matte black metal stand
1 black metal tray
6 stainless steel fondue forks with color coded tips

Price $24.95

(Hmm, this one makes me wonder why it’s so cheap?)

So what do you guys think? Which one should I get? What would you get?  - Michelle

Come on, tell the truth! Are you one of those people that when guests arrive you quickly push everything into the nearest closet and sweep the dust balls under the couch? Ha!

Well I am not but I figured for all of you “quick cleaners” you would enjoy this Reversible Comforter from Domestications. Now when you need a quick change of scene or one side is dirty you can simply pick up the bedding, give it a quick shake and flip it over. Kind of gross but none the less efficient.

Available for daybeds and in a plethora of colors!  Comforters are $39.99 and assorted accessories such as shams and bedskirts start at $14.99 - $29.99!

There are also 4 coupon codes available with this item, click here if you are interested!

If you are interested in checking out or purchasing the reversible comforter from Domestications, click here.  

Now the crisp breeze in the wind has me closing windows and gasp! even considering purchasing a heater for the cooler seasons. By the way is it just me or do the seasons seem to be more extreme of late? The heat seems to be “unbearable” whereas the winter and fall seem to be both colder and longer than previous years? (Scary.)

Darn, I digress. Where was I? Oh yeah Heaters...

So I don’t know if I ever mentioned it but the love of my life happens to come in a hairy, slobbering snoring, farting form, namely my English bulldog Buddha! So I definitely take him into consideration before making potentially harmful purchases such as space heaters.

The QMark Hydronic Baseboard Heater from Air & Water Inc. is worry free and safe for kids and pets. A sheathed electric heating element is totally immersed in a heat-transfer liquid and sealed in a heater-length copper tube. The large diameter reservoir maximizes the volume of heat storage fluid to prolong the thermal constant of the entire heater. Gentle heat keeps radiating even after the thermostat turns off because of the hydronic elements retention qualities. The entire unit mounts flush to any wall and flat on any floor - wood, carpet or tile. The trim, three-inch thick functional design and low operating temperatures allow carpeting to be installed up to and around the baseboard. Heavy-duty welded steel louvered grilles discourage insertion of foreign objects and direct heat outward into the room. Built-in cut-off automatically shuts down the heater should any overheating occur.

List Price - $199.00

Price Break - $59.05

SALE PRICE - $139.95

If you are interested in purchasing the QMark Electric Heater, click here.

Extra 5% Off all Online Orders! Simply enter coupons code: “Cool” at checkout.

I guess I qualify as a “pack rat”. The reason I say this is because I just can’t get myself to get rid of my CD’s and (hold your breathe) my collection of VHS!! (cue heckling)

The way I figure is I spent hard earned dough on purchasing that vast collection and while I realize it is a dying technology if not dead, I just can’t get myself to buy all those movies over again in whatever new technology is present. And well my CD collection is just a nod to a bygone era. I like to think of myself as “nostalgic” a historian if you will.

I also happen to be a certifiable “neat freak” so furniture like the Media Cabinet from Brookstone suits my insane palette. Now you can organize your entire collection of DVD’s, CD, VHS… basically all the letters of the alphabet you may be collecting.

What I like about the media cabinet is the adjustable shelves so you can custom adjust the shelves to suit your needs. Plus the exterior of the media cabinet is a rich mahogany finish which is nice.

Price $299.95

If you are interested in purchasing the Media Cabinet from Brookstone, click here.

For more great deals on assorted discount furniture, click here.

A few weeks ago in the New York Times they featured centerpieces created by David Stark made from objects from local neighborhood stores…

(Finish reading at Oh Joy! Blog)

While in Smarter Home & Garden Blogging:

Like the feel of plush, kushy comfort squishing between your toes when you get out of the shower? Check out the world class Bath Rugs from Frontgate!

Viva LAS VEGAS!! Bring a taste of Sin City home with you with your very own Las Vegas Neon Light…

Technological age calls for technological furniture, adorn your child’s room with an adorable Cell Phone Stash Chair!

Organize your bathroom or closet with a 6 Bar Cast Iron Organizer from Pottery Barn…

Pure and Classic - It doesn’t get much better than a White Tufted Chair! Check out the variety of options from leading stores like Crate&Barrel, Ethan Allen, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn and more…

Pottery Barn Deal of the Day - Need to update your entertainment center furniture? Check out the Arbor Media Stand