HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Hi Everyone,

I can’t believe that October is almost over. My mind is still back at Labor Day.

Is it me or does it seem as if September to December fly by? Maybe it’s because the Halloween candy is out in August and the Christmas decorations are out in September. 

When I was a child, we didn’t see the decorations for the holidays until that particular holiday was upon us and I think we were all much calmer and enjoyed each holiday much better.

The holidays seemed special back then.

I am going to miss October. There are so many things that I love about this month that I don’t want to see go away so fast. I love pumpkins and mums on the front steps, apple picking, apple cider, apple cider donuts (my favorite), plus pumpkin & apple pies.

But most of all, I just love decorating for Fall and Halloween.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

(I took this picture at Krupski Farm- Long Island, NY)

What other time of year can you have more candy in the house than you will ever need at one time with no explanations as to why and no guilt ?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Of course we all buy a bag (or two) of our favorite candy just for ourselves and not for the trick or treaters coming to our doors. Admit it, we all do it, I’m not judging. I have a weakness for Milky Way Simply Caramel and peanut M & M’s.

I am not into the scary zombies on my front lawn, skeletons, coffins or bloody tablescapes. No, I like to decorate in a different direction. I have been known to display a few “friendly” ghosts here and there outside among my pumpkins, a witches hat decoration on the door and a few bats hanging around. I don’t want to scare the little ones when they come to the door to trick or treat.

I love to see the costumes on the little ones and even the costumes on the pets. I remember preparing my son’s costumes when he was a child. How excited all the kids were while making that big decision as to what to be dressed up as. All the thought that went into the final decision.

Well, if you think about it, to a young child, this is one of the most important choices they will have to make all year; so you have to have patience while they make this big decision.

 I have to say, as crazy as it was getting the Halloween costumes & the parties ready, I sometimes get melancholy for those days and would love to see another Ninja, Power Ranger, or Harry Potter costume hanging around the house with a plastic pumpkin full of candy that I would have to go through before my son even took a bite of  “anything”.

So, let’s get started on this year’s Halloween tablescape…

(Click on photos to enlarge)

If I was preparing this tablescape back in the day when my son was a child, it would definitely be a buffet and the tableware would be ALL paper goods and plastic dishes. The centerpiece would have NO candles and would probably just be a large metal spider basket full of cans of Silly String and some small toys – there is just so much candy you can give them. (Is Silly String still even sold today, or have I just shown my age?).

The menu is always the same; Pizza for the kids and for the adults, 3 Bean Turkey Chili with Sour Cream Cornbread.

But this year, I am doing a sit down Halloween table, adults only.

I am starting off with an orange tablecloth with a design of black spiders and black bats on a spider web. 

The napkins are plain and simple. Black napkins with clear Lucite napkin rings.

I bought a few plastic spider rings to be added to the napkin ring for a little whimsy and to break up the solid black a little bit. 

I found these great black, orange and white woven placemats in Homegoods that just scream (no pun intended) Halloween and really add to the table. There are two different designs.

One placemat is entirely the orange, black and white pattern. 

The other placemat only has the border in the orange, black and white pattern.

No need for a charger plate with these placemats, because the placemat with the border outlines the dishes perfectly. I am using bright orange ceramic dinner plates and I went with a themed paper plate for the dessert plates. The chili of course will be served in individual ceramic bowls.

Of course for Halloween, the flatware will be black.

 The glassware for this tablescape are Halloween tumblers with various Halloween designs circling the glass. I found these glasses in Marshall’s many years ago and I use them every year. For an additional added touch, I am using orange and black paper straws.

I am starting off the centerpiece with a few candelabras covered in spider webs. For this adult table, I will light the black tapered candles. I think it’s a nice touch. I wouldn’t recommend tapered candles with children around.

The main focus of the centerpiece is a large metal spider shaped basket complete with a metal spider on the rim (and a fuzzy one thrown in the basket) filled with Halloween shred and what else- CANDY.

Notice the M & M’s and Milky Way bars?  I told you I have a weakness.

In addition to the candelabras, I have to have more candles when we lower the lights to eat, so I have added black and orange votive candle holders around the table. I am using pumpkin spice tea light candles and the house smells wonderful.

The table scatter will be none other than candy corn. I think that I am one of the few people who actually EAT candy corn and like it. Of course, I eat each color separately. I don’t know why, a childhood thing.

In addition to the candy corn, a Halloween table just wouldn’t be complete without sugar and honey pumpkin candies and Peeps (my favorite) in the shape of Ghosts.

My table accents are various shaped Halloween candy dishes. The set includes a bat, cat, pumpkin and ghost. I bought these a few years ago in Sur La Table and this is the first year that I am using them. I packed them so well in my attic Halloween box, I forgot about them. They will soon be filled with candy.

One of my favorite additions every year to my table, is my Frankenstein mug (respectfully known around here as Frankie). He was the base for a bouquet of flowers I received many years ago. Today he is the holder for pretzel sticks. I decided to decorate the pretzels sticks by adding plastic witches fingers. 

Another table accent that I usually just use as a decoration on my entrance table by the front door are Halloween salt and pepper shakers. A cute cat and pumpkin and ghost and pumpkin. I have had these so long I don’t even remember where I got them from.

The menu will always stay the same, since it is now a tradition with pizza and chili; but dessert will be Halloween cupcakes in spider cupcake holders. I have added a few sugar googly eyes and sprinkles to each cupcake.

Aren’t these the cutest cupcake holders? I just love them. When I saw them in Crate and Barrel a few years back, I was so happy to find them, you would have thought I won lotto.

I am now ready for all the trick or treaters and of course a piece of candy here and there. (Honestly, I can’t wait until Halloween. I am writing this post and eating peanut M & M’s.) 

I hope you and your family have a very Happy and Safe Halloween!!

Until my next post, stay well and make every day a celebration!

Diane

Place Setting

Tablescape Details

Tablecloth from Etsy

Napkins from Amazon

Clear napkin rings from Bed, Bath and Beyond

Dinner plate from Dollar Tree

Dessert plate from Party City

Spider Bowl from Crate and Barrel

Spider Cupcake holders from Crate and Barrel

Black flatware from Bed, Bath and Beyond

Halloween glassware from Marshall’s

Placemats from Homegoods

Candelabras from Terry’s Village

Orange and black votive candle holders from Dollar Tree

Spider webs and candy from Party City

 Halloween shred and cupcake decorations from Michael’s Arts and Crafts

Frankie mug from a previous floral arrangement

Orange and black paper straws from Amazon

Halloween salt and pepper shakers- very old, forgot from where

Thank you for visiting my blog.

 Please ask your family and friends to become members.

Follow me on Facebook or follow the blog directly from the DishingwithDiane.com website. 

Once you become a member, you’ll never miss a post…

And please continue to send me your comments, I love hearing from you.

(Photo credit: jerseycares.org)