The Rocky Horror Glee Show CD

Any Glee fans out there? I caught the Glee Rocky Horror show on Tuesday night, and even though I'm not that well versed in Rocky Horror, I loved this episode. In fact, that's one thing I like about Glee; it brings music to me that I might not listen to otherwise, and often breathes new life into it. (And I loved that Barry Bostwick and Meatloaf had cameos!)

And I know technically Rocky Horror isn't about Halloween per se, but it feels Halloween-y, doesn't it? So I think this CD, priced at $6.98, is a great Halloween stocking stuffer (or small gift, since we don't exactly do stockings for Halloween). It has 7 songs on it:

• Science Fiction Double Feature
  
• Damn It, Janet
  
• Whatever Happened to Saturday Night (sung by John Stamos!)
  
• Sweet Transvestite (probably the best song of the episode, sung by Mercedes)
  
• Touch A Touch A Touch A Touche Me
  
• There's a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)
  
• Time Warp

Great fun! (Oh, and by the way -- am I the only person out there still buying CDs? My husband has an iPod, but I'm still not there yet!)

What: The Rocky Horror Glee Show CD
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $6.98 (plus shipping)

Skull Swizzle Sticks

This set of 21 skull swizzle sticks is certain apropos of the season! They are 7.25 inches tall and feature hand-painted resin skills atop clear sticks. The only drawback is that they must be hand-washed, but on the other hand it certainly wouldn't take long to wash a handful of these in one go.

I have a friend who collects skull-themed things year round, so I always think of her when I see something like this. Hmmm, maybe I'll do a post on an entire skull-themed stocking.....

What: Skull Swizzle Sticks
Where: WineEnthusiast.com
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 for set of 12 (on sale from $19.99) (plus shipping)

Zombie Dice Game

Halloween is upon us, and as usual I am caught out without a costume! I don't know why it is that I manage to get organized early for Christmas, but Halloween catches me off-guard every year.

In any case, here is a fun Halloween-themed stocking stuffer (although I suspect that any day now we're going to start hearing a slogan such as "Zombies... They're not just for Halloween anymore!" And it's true that zombies are everywhere these days, from Jane Austen novel mash-ups to a mock Sears website. Since zombies are currently cool, teens would probably enjoy this game, which comes with all the dice and directions tucked into the dice shaker cup. The product description says the game is easy to learn and games are quick, running about 10-20 minutes each.

And hey, how can you go wrong with dice that have "braaaaaiiiinnnnssss" on them?!

What: Zombie Dice Game
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 (plus shipping)

Halloween Scrunchies

I truly believe there's a website for everything, because when I did a Google search on scrunchies, Scrunchies.com was the first hit! And because it's October, I immediately looked to see if they had a Halloween category, and of course they did. They have seven Halloween designs listed: Little Miss Spider in orange, green, or purple; Creature Peepers (eyes); Hairy Potter 2 (wizard stars and crescent moons); Batty (neon green bats on a black background; and Trick-or-Treat (pumpkins and candy).

And of course, you could probably go to a Claire's accessory store and find them there too. Maybe even a dollar store!

What: Halloween Scrunchies
Where: Scrunchies.com or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $3.99 (plus shipping) (or maybe less at a Claire's or dollar store?)

Day of the Dead Mini Skulls Gift Box

I would be the first to say that $13 for 3 chocolates, no matter how big and luscious, is a lot, but I admit I am tempted by the clever skull shapes, and intrigued by the three decadent flavors represented. The product description notes that the gift box has one each of these varieties:

• Tequila Caramel Skull (Corzo silver tequila + Fleur de Sel sea salt + 70% cacao dark chocolate)
  
• Red Fire Caramel Skull (Ancho y chipotle chillies + Ceylon cinnamon + 70% cacao dark chocolate)
  
• Dulce de Leche Skull (Argentine dulce de leche + 45% cacao deep milk chocolate)

Not your average chocolates, in other words!

What: Day of the Dead Mini Skulls Gift Box
Where: Vosges website or stores such as Whole Foods
How much (as of today's post): $13.00 (plus shipping)

Mummy Jewelry Box

This mummy jewelry box will delight little girls who love Halloween. I also have an adult friend who's very into bats, skeletons, and mummies year round. In any case, it's a bit of fun Halloween whimsy. The jewelry box is 10 3/4 long by 4 1/2" wide (actually a little bigger than I would have guessed from the photo). Oddly, the product desciprtion doesn't say what it's made of, so I'm guessing some kind of resin -- I hope it's not plastic!

What: Mummy Jewelry Box
Where: Wireless catalog
How much (as of today's post): $12.94 (plus shipping)

Nightmare Before Christmas Yahtzee

Just in time for the season that stretches from Halloween to Christmas, this Nightmare Before Christmas Yahtzee game, complete with a Jack Skellington dice cup! It's funny about this movie; it first came out in 1993, or 17 years ago, yet every year these is more and more new merchandise for it. I guess it has quite the cult following!

I should note that it might be a tight squeeze for a stocking stuffer. The Amazon page lists the dimensions as 13 x 11.5 x 7 inches, but that doesn't seem right to me because I saw it in Borders today and it wasn't anywhere near that big. In any case, this plays the same as regular Yahtzee except the dice have characters from the movie instead of numbers, but you still try for four-of-a-kind, yahtzee, and so on. It's a fun little variant on a classic.

What: Nightmare Before Christmas Yahtzee
Where: Amazon, Borders, or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $16.13 (plus shipping)

Classic Pumpkin Pin

We had the slightest hint of cool weather yesterday (it takes until November or late to get comfortable in Houston, sigh...), and our neighbors put out their Halloween decorations, so I'm in the autumn/Halloween frame of mind. Now, if I could ever remember to wear jewelry, I'd be tempted to get this for myself. As it is, I'd better leave it for others -- the ones who remember to wear green on St. Patrick's Day and red on Valentine's Day (and you'd think I'd remember the one because it's my birthday, but I never do!).

I do like this pin, though. Simple yet invokes the right mood for this time of year so easily. It's made of gold-tone metal with orange and green enamel, and measures approximately 1 inch by 1 inch.

What: Classic Pumpkin Pin
Where: Animal Rescue Site
How much (as of today's post): $8.95 (plus shipping)

Halloween Nesting Dolls

I know it's not quite October yet, but I've found that Halloween merchandise often tends to sell out, since merchants don't necessarily stock large quantities. So I wanted to mention these Halloween Nesting Dolls from the Spoon Sisters website a little early. I think this is a great take on a classic! This set is made of plastic, and the six dolls measure from 4 1/2 inches high down to 1 1/4 inches high. Kids enjoy stacking and storing shapes, so I think these would be fun as long as the child isn't too young that the smallest piece presents a choking hazard.

As an alternative, I know you can buy blank wooden nesting dolls that you paint yourself. That could make for some fun Halloween decorations!

What: Halloween Nesting Dolls
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $15.50 (plus shipping)

Sunny Seed Drops in a Pumpkin

I'm finally back, ready to post a stocking-stuffer-a-day from now until Christmas! Which would make it seem odd that you're looking at a picture of a pumpkin here, but I've got autumn and Halloween on the mind at the moment, and I wanted to post this cute little gift while I was thinking about it.

So, on Friday evening my husband and I were driving from Houston up to Dallas and we stopped at the Cracker Barrel for dinner. We got it into our heads that it was late enough the dinner crowd would be gone -- WRONG! So while we were waiting, we looked around the store, and I saw this adorable pumpkin full of Sunny Seed Drops, which are orange-chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Cute, don't you think?

What: Sunny Seed Drops Pumpkin
Where: Cracker Barrel or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $6.95 (plus tax)

Free Halloween Coloring Pages from Land O'Lakes

Free is always good, right? And things on the internet are great for those of us who leave things to the last minute! So here is a link to the Land O'Lakes website, which has several free Halloween coloring pages that you can download as PDF files. These have so many possible uses!

• Something to keep your own kiddos busy on Saturday when you're rushing around trying to finish up errands before trick-or-treat or party time.
  
  
• Something you can tie up in a scroll with black or orange curling ribbon, to surprise your kids with at the breakfast table on Saturday.
  
  
• And last but not least, if you're a stamper or crafter, you might utilize portions of these pages as digital stamps, to color in yourself for cards, tags, or Halloween treat bags. I especially like the page with the three little trick-or-treaters dressed as a witch, a cat, and a pirate. These little cuties aren't quite as adorable as the Anya and Ian stamps from the Greeting Farm, or Bella and Bronte from Mo's Digital Pencil Too, but they're really pretty darn cute and I can just see them on cards!

[NOTE: I first came across these freebies at Nicole's Nickels. Also, please note these images are copyrighted, so make sure you credit the Land O'Lakes site and don't send them around willy-nilly -- send people to the Land O'Lakes website instead!]

What: Free Halloween Coloring Pages from Land O'Lakes
Where: Land O'Lakes website
How much (as of today's post): free!

Licorice Black Cats

What says Halloween more than a black cat? These black licorice cats make a slightly out-of-the-ordinary Halloween food gift, although you'll want to make sure the recipient really likes black licorice since it's such a specific taste! You can find these at various places online, but since time is getting short for Halloween, your better bet at this late date would be to find a speciality candy store and buy in person. Done up in a little glass jar with some black and orange ribbon (or orange, purple, and green), these would make a classy little Halloween gift.

Question of the day: How many of you have already bought candy for trick-or-treaters, and how many of you have already opened one of those bags?! We get about a hundred trick-or-treaters each year, and we really look forward to it. We bought our candy a few days ago, and for once we've managed to stay out of it so far!

What: Licorice Black Cats
Where: Candy stores
How much (as of today's post): (varies)

DIY Patterns for Felt Halloween Candy, Cookies, & Jack O'Lantern

It's the last Sunday before Halloween, so for my Etsy post, I thought I'd feature a Halloween item that you can either do yourself if you're quick and crafty, or give the patterns to the crafter in your life as a little Halloween gift. Etsy seller Umecrafts sells lovely patterns and tutorials which she sends via PDF file on e-mail, which means you don't have to pay or wait for shipping. This particular set is an adorable jack o'lantern that you fill with a set of Halloween cookies and candies.

If you're crafty but not quick enough to do these in time for Halloween, be sure to check out the Gingerbread house and cookies set for Christmas, or take a look at her wide selection of other food and cake patterns. Honestly, some of them look good enough to eat!

What: DIY Patterns for Felt Halloween Candy, Cookies, & Jack O'Lantern
Where: Umecrafts (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $5

Pecan Pumpkin Butter

We've finally had a few days of cooler weather -- for the first time since about last March, I was able to (gasp!) turn off the air conditioning and open the windows! I love autumn, and I miss having a real one here in Houston. But I'll count my blessings for any day under 80 degrees.

Today's Wednesday food stocking stuffer seems very autumn-like, and very appropriate for Halloween: Muirhead pecan pumpkin butter from Williams-Sonoma. One 13.5 ounce jar makes a 9 inch pumpkin pecan pie, or if you prefer you can use it as a spread on quickbreads and muffins. For pie, you just blend with eggs and cream -- the spices are already there.

Mmmmm..... I can smell the pie baking already!

What: Pecan Pumpkin Butter
Where: Williams-Sonoma website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $9.95

Charlie and Lola Halloween DVD

Charlie and Lola are two of my favorite contemporary children's book characters. Way back in January, I posted about the Charlie and Lola Go Fish Game as a potential stocking stuffer, and just this weekend I picked up some more Charlie and Lola books at Half Price Books. Although I knew they had DVDs, I have never really paid attention to them, but the other day I came across the Charlie and Lola Halloween DVD on The Dirty T-shirt blog. How perfect at this time of year!

Whether your children already know Charlie and Lola or not, they're sure to love seeing their animated adventures. Lola is an exceedingly imaginative child, and she's always getting into little scrapes that her patient big brother Charlie helps her out of. This DVD is two hours long, with eight other parts unrelated to Halloween in addition to the "What Can I Wear For Halloween?" segment. Oh, and since these books are from a British author, I understand the characters have British accents!

What: Charlie and Lola Halloween DVD
Where: Charlie and Lola, Vol. 9: What Can I Wear for Halloween?
How much (as of today's post): $11.99

Pumpkin Pie Truffles

Are these pumpkin pie truffles from Etsy seller Vintage Confections not the most mouthwatering Halloween (or Thanksgiving) treats you've ever seen? Each large (.75 oz) pumpkin pie truffle is filled with pumpkin pie ganache, made with real pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, cream, salt, and clove. An order of eight truffles with milk chocolate shells is $12, and you can also inquire about availability of white or dark chocolate shells.

For other Halloween treats, look for the skull lollipops in the store's novelty/party favor section, or the solid chocolate pumpkins with an orange-colored shell. But don't limit yourself just to Halloween -- there are other flavors of truffles, a variety of handmade gourmet marshmallows*, some caramels and nougats, and even solid chocolate wedding cake favors.

(*See the same seller's Vegan Marshmallow Etsy shop for vegan marshmallow options.)

What: Pumpkin Pie Truffles
Where: Vintage Confections (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $12 for 8 large truffles (plus shipping)

Pimp My Pumpkin Mini-Kit

Hmm, I'm beginning to wonder if Tuesday should be "tacky Tuesday stocking stuffer" day! Today's Halloween "stocking stuffer" (pumpkin stuffer?) is this little Pimp My Pumpkin mini-kit, which I found while wandering around Barnes & Noble last weekend. You've seen those little miniature books/kits in the spinning racks at the front of the bookstores, right? I've been given some as gifts before, like the Crazy Cat Lady magnetic sculpture, and the Harry Potter sorting hat, and the Nancy Drew's Guide to Life.... Most of these are put out by a Running Press Miniature Editions, and I have to admit that they're funny.

So here's a Halloween version: Pimp My Pumpkin, a little kit that according to the product description contains "a fedora, feather, gold paint, and a paint brush, feather boa, 2 pieces of bling, and a 32-page pimp style book." Given the subject matter, it's obviously not for kids, but it does make a cute gag gift for adults!

What: Pimp My Pumpkin Mini-Kit
Where: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.
How much (as of today's post): $6.95

Handsoaps from Etsy Seller Foliage

Take a look at the photo above -- gives new meaning to the term "handsoap", wouldn't you say?! These little soaps (see picture below for scale) are perfect for the Halloween season, either in the bathroom or as a little Halloween display in your home that you can put to good use later. I think kids would get a big kick out of them!

Esty seller Foliage states that each set will come with at least 10 soaps, totaling about 100 grams of soap. The soap is natural vegetable glycerin with a light scent, and come in a variety of shapes and skin tones packaged in a little bag.

While you're at it, check Foliage's Etsy shop for something called "wrist zips" -- another wonderful stocking stuffer, especially for those of you in cooler climates.

What: Handsoap Set
Where: Foliage (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $18/set of 10 soaps (plus shipping)

Pumpkin Parmesan Pasta Sauce

How's this for a Halloweeny food gift? Williams Sonoma has an exclusive new product: their Pumpkin Parmesan Pasta Sauce, made from (according to their website) "slow-roasted pumpkin, gently simmered with heavy cream and aged Parmesano-Reggiano cheese." I'm having trouble figuring out if I would like it or not, in part I love tomato sauce so much that I almost can't bear the thought of pasta covered with anything else! But I have to admit, this does sound elegant. At $15, I find this a little pricey, so I'd only be inclined to get it for someone who I know really likes pumpkin a lot. But if you have such a person in your life, what an elegant and unusual gift!

Oh, and bonus points to Williams Sonoma for not giving this sauce a fake bright orange color! Bravo!

What: Pumpkin Parmesan Pasta Sauce
Where: Williams Sonoma website or store
How much (as of today's post): $15.00

Gloom Game

Here's a game you can play any time of year, but that seems especially apropos in October! Subtitled "The Game of Inauspicious Incidents & Grave Consequences", Gloom is a game in which you seek to have the most horrific events happen to you, and if a happy event comes up in the deck, you try to impose it on one of your opponents. In flavor it's very much like Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events", and it's fun for adults as well as kids. What's also neat is that the cards are made of plastic that are transparent in strategic spots so that you can pile cards on top of one another and some elements of the cards underneath are still visible and in play. It's really quite clever. We occasionally have friends over for games night, and everyone enjoyed this one. The recommended age is 8 years and up, and that sounds about right to me.

The original Gloom game comes in a little box that's about as wide as two decks of cards, and there are also expansion sets (one deck each) available: the Unwelcome Guests (think Typhoid Mary) expansion, the Unhappy Homes expansion, and so on. You can easily find these online or ask at your local game store. The original game has a suggested retail price of $24.95, but it's available on Amazon for $16.90 plus shipping.

Go forth and be miserable!

What: Gloom Game
Where: Amazon or any game store
How much (as of today's post): $16.90 (plus shipping)