Of Ghouls and Guises

Yesterday, my dad (a.k.a. the King of Ghoul) came over to help us decorate for Halloween. He helped us last year, as well, and we were a big hit with all the kids in the neighborhood. I usually don't love all the guts and gore involved in his decorating style, but the kids seemed to really enjoy it, and the guys had a ton of fun dressing as leaf-stuffed dummies and startling every unexpecting soul that passed our house.

Their disguises were pretty convincing... can you tell which one of these stuffed dummies is my husband??

And here's Dad, patiently waiting for someone to scare...

I think this year's set-up is even better than last year...it's pretty similar, but we added some cool things. We just have some finishing touches to add before trick-or-treating begins tonight, and I'll be sure to take some pictures once it's all done!

I meant to think of a costume for tonight (because when I was a kid, I always loved when the people handing out the candy were all dressed up) but I never really thought of anything..so I will probably just put on a witch hat and call it good...or maybe some whiskers?


I always think it's cute when pets are dressed up, too, but my cats would never leave anything on. My dog is willing, but far too big for any store-bought costume. He does have a hat and tie, though...

He is surprisingly tolerant of the silly little hat being strapped to his ears with elastic...What a good pooch!


 

How about something like this for the Crispies?

Seems fitting...

Or maybe something more like this:

Because they are my ANGELS!





                                        HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Your savings today is: $35.34

 I've been trying really hard to be better at "couponing" lately...just trying to save some money on the things I already buy. I'm actually pretty terrible at it, though. I print most of them from the internet, then stick them in my little book, then spend a terribly long time shopping and figuring out the best deal, then I go and forget half the coupons at the check-out. So basically, I end up paying full price for things I never would have even considered if it weren't for the coupon! But I'm getting better... Besides, I usually remember before I leave the store, and most places will let you add a coupon after the fact and refund the difference (if you're willing to go through the trouble for that extra dollar in your pocket..) Today it was pillows at Target...didn't really need them, but the coupons made them cheap, and who couldn't use a few more pillows on the bed?? Maybe it was silly to go back through the line to have them refund $2 for the coupon I forgot...but I hate paying retail for anything if I can avoid it.


For the most part, I think I am getting the hang of it...and actually have snagged a couple of good deals. My favorite deal of the day:

A sale and a $2 coupon for this....

and using the coupon off the container to get this....
 

for FREE!!

I love free.

There is also a Target coupon for these...

 which, when paired with the current sale, makes them free, too :)
I'm building up a pretty good supply of cat treats (not that they deserve them)!

Therefore, this couponing thing is benefiting both me AND the Crispies!

Anyway...there are some pretty decent deals out there if you are willing to put some time into it...I haven't delved into it too much, but Target usually has some good ones, as well as Kroger (which also gives you the option to load them directly on to your Kroger card, making for less shuffling through papers in the grocery store!)

In other news...

I knitted my very first sock!

Here it is on my foot....

I'm wearing it around the house...and maybe I look silly wearing just one sock...but that's alright, because one warm foot is better than two cold feet!

It took me exactly one week to do this one, start to finish, so I figure I can probably get the next one done in a just few days (since I'm an experienced sock knitter now!!), minus the time it is going to take me to untangle this mess:

You didn't think the girls would let me get away with having all this yarn in the house, did you?
 They had a blast with the ball that I left on the kitchen counter... what made me think it would be safe there, I wonder?

They had fun helping me knit, as well...they are both very fond of this new hobby.

Now, on to sock #2!

I think I might try....

 to get better at this whole blogging thing.

Once again....I am WAY behind. I keep meaning to start posting more but I just can't seem to find the time. I mean, I'm really quite busy...sometimes...
between working 4 long hours a day...

and feeding the Crispies....

and vacuuming both my rugs...

and doting on the Crispies...

and eating lunch...

and lint rolling cat fur...

and Facebooking...

and doting on the Crispies some more...

There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day for everything!

.................. (awkward silence) ...................

Well.....Ok...so maybe I have a little free time. But really, whenever I get on the internet, I don't plan on spending enough time on the computer to create a whole blog post...so I just check my Facebook, read some other great blogs, check FB again, see if I have any emails, try to figure out google+, get bored, go back to FB...and before I know it, I have been at the computer for twice as long as it would have taken me to write up a really great blog post.

I am really going to try harder, though...
Because I actually LOVE sharing Crispy stories.
They are super cute...even if they are (still) super naughty.

I want to figure out how to change the background and what-not...because I have NO idea how to do it (what you are currently seeing is my husband's handy-work).....
And I've been thinking about expanding the focus of my blog, maybe share some other things that go on around here...projects...things WE do...things I love...maybe.
We'll see. 

"Curiosity killed the cat...almost"

Okay, so it didn't kill her (thankfully) and I'm fairly sure she isn't in any serious danger...just as long as that sewing needle Brisa ate last night shows up in the litter box today!

To answer what is inevitably everyone's first question: "Are you SURE she ate it??"...well, I can't imagine what else could have happened to it.
I know there was a long thread wrapped around the spool. And I know there was a needle on the thread. I also know that Brisa is a gluttonous pig! I would doubt my hypothesis, since she's acting normal, except for the fact that my husband and I BOTH saw her sitting by the spool gagging and spitting up, which means I can't have been hallucinating!
So I panicked (wouldn't you if there was a sharp needle inside your favorite cat??). Of course, the vet's office isn't open on Sunday night, and who wants to pay emergency room bills for a cat (though I love her dearly) if it's not completely necessary? So I googled "cat swallowed sewing needle" and guess what? Apparently, it happens all the time! They seem to have a habit of swallowing dangerous things. Some people said their cat "passed" it during their next trip to the litter box, and some said "Go to the vet immediately! It's going to cost you a hundred million dollars! Your cat is a goner!"
Okay, they weren't really that harsh. But that's all I could think of as these people were calmly telling me that my options were to either pay hundreds of dollars to have the needle removed, or have her put down. Ugh.
So I called the vet's office, "pressed 1 for a medical emergency", and attempted to sound calm as I discussed with the vet how to keep my cat from being stabbed to death from the inside, out.
I relaxed as he explained that she should be fine, I just needed to convince her to eat some bread soaked in tuna juice (as if that took a lot of convincing!), then, supposedly, the needle and thread would bind to the food and hitch a ride to the litter box on the next train.
Then he said the needle isn't even usually the thing to worry about...it's the thread! Apparently, needles are usually blunt enough that they don't cause any damage, but if the thread gets wrapped around anything...well, bad things happen.

As of now, Brisa is sleeping on her favorite chair, she is acting normal, showing no signs of pain or discomfort, and still no sign of the needle. I have even begun to think it was some sort trick the Crispies worked out to get themselves a can of tuna (I was guilted into giving Bella half the can...) 

So, I get to spend my day at home waiting (and watching, yuck!). At the very least, this should teach me not to leave my sewing supplies laying around. I'm sure I will be grateful for this lesson someday when I have children (who, I've heard, also have a habit of eating dangerous things).
Hopefully, it will show up soon so I can stop worrying and give my dumb cat a good beating.

St. Francis, Patron Saint of animals, watch over her.