Halloween “peeps”: Image via Wikipedia

Of course, in the dollar stores, Halloween and Thanksgiving started in August. In the middle of summer the walls were covered with wreaths of fabric leaves in red, orange, yellow and brown. Napkins and tableware with Thanksgiving motifs and jack o’lantern “peeps” (marshmallow in sugar for the uninitiated) fill the baskets. Glow in the dark skeletons and ghosts hang from the walls accompanied by witch’s hats, skeletons in coffins, scarecrows and even skeleton hand tongs for the candy bowl. Just had to get a purple metallic spider.

Late September saw the arrival of “across the miles” Christmas cards and gift wrap. It is now mid-October and the candy canes and chocolate advent calendars have arrived. Christmas music on CD are there ready to be unpacked. Festive table mats, napkins and table runners have taken their place alongside the everyday ones. Before long cheap and cheerful tinsel, garlands and glass tree decorations will come. There will be holiday baby bibs, scented candles, toy Santas, angles and reindeer, colouring books, stickers, Christmas crackers and all manner of glassware and plates.

Candy canes: Image via Wikipedia

Valentine’s Day, Easter and Spring all come at once in January. Heart-shaped everything. Pink and red as far as the eye can see. Heart printed stationery and teddies holding hearts are in the baskets. Take away the red and add yellow, pale blue and lavender for Easter. There are more “peeps” – both the yellow chicks and my personal favourite, the pink rabbits! Garlands of pink bunnies, yellow chicks, white lambs and blue eggs can be had. The baby bibs change motifs and there are more toys than ever. Easter trees with mini eggs for decorations are an occasional addition to the mix. Plastic and straw Easter baskets rest near all manner of candy and egg dyeing kits, as though one could forget what they are meant to contains.

Summer goes on forever at my dollar store, once it arrives post-Easter. Summer hats and summer flip-flops hang on the walls next to pails and spades for days in the sand or at the shore. There is all manner of gardening stuff and garden or lawn decoration. Plastic daisies wearing sunglasses to stick in the lawn sit side by side with watering cans emblazoned with happy suns. Laughing ceramic pigs to wallow in the dirt of your flower beds draw your attention to solar path lights and ceramic tea light holders for your patio. Inexpensive wind chimes compete for attention with rainbow hued nylon hangings to blow in the wind. To bring the season indoors, plastic and fabric flowers abound.

Life is, well it should be, full of colour and fun. Holidays, seasons and dollar stores provide us with some of that colour.

Variety store: Image by avlxyz via Flickr

See also: http://bizcovering.com/business/thoughts-in-the-self-service-checkout-line/

Everyone likes to dress up right?  Right?  Just please tell me those are Easter eggs hanging down in front.  This looks like a lot of alcohol and maybe a lost dare was involved.  At least I hope that he didn’t think that this was a good idea!  If my kids ever see this one, I am going to end up paying for more therapy and they are still recovering from the pictures in my Christmas articles!

From Flickr User BrettNeilson

What is Easter without a few abused Peeps?  Ahh yes, “Strip Peeps”.  When good peeps go bad.

By Flickr User Willsfca

I am not quite sure what brought this on.  What the poor bunny did to deserve this I do not know, but I do know that someone still has some big issues to work out with thier therapist!  At least they posted it as a warning to all the other bunnies.

By Flickr User JP Pueta

Um, yeah, umm well, you see this is from San Francisco.  What is really amazing is the size of the crowd!  If you like this, there is a whole album of pictures from this event on Flickr.  I gather that on Easter they tell the story of Jesus.  Although come to think of it, I don’t remember drag queens from my Sunday school.  Hmm, I will have to read over that again…

By Flickr user Pheezy

For those people who feel that the Easter Bunny just does not leave enough candy, apparently the Easter Elephant was recently seen in New York.  Wow, just think of the size of those eggs!  For my Easter, I want a solid life-sized Easter Elephant mommy!  That will keep them wired for a year or so.

Photo by Flickr User WorldIslandInfo.com

Of course Godzilla was seen eating Peeps in Tokyo.  That would be some giant Peeps!

Photo by Flickr User dhollierday

Of course naughty kids get attacked by the Rabid Easter Ferrit.  Don’t let the pink ears fool you, this one is vicious!

By Flickr User Yvonne in Willowick Ohio

In Lyndhurt Ohio there is apparently a family that decorates thier yard with Easter eggs and call it EggShellLand every year.  Lots and lots of Easter eggs.  In 2007 (this picture) they used approximately 50,000 eggs!

By Flickr user Powi

And of course while kids here get candy for Easter, in some places, Dads get Easter Beer!  Yeahh Easter Beer!  Okay, I have no idea why, but I really like the idea.  It sounds good to me.

By Flickr User nedrichard

An yes, we will finish off with yet another Easter Beer just because it is such a good idea!

Happy Easter everyone!

My daughter was a monkey for her first Halloween — standard Gap issue costume, but really really cute! Last year, she was an adorable round little duckling. This year, I just don’t know. It’s the first time she’ll really get to have a say in her costume — she’s just over 2 years old. And starting to get a little picky about what she wears. I don’t want her to be just a run of the mill princess or ballerina though. She has dress up clothes she wears around the house like that all the time. And she’ll have years to be whatever she wants for Halloween. I’m starting to lose years where I’ll have complete say over her costume. I’m thinking something funny. I went on line for some ideas and here’s some of the funniest costumes I’ve ever seen. Now I just have to decide which one…

Peeps

You know those cute little marshmallow ducks that are constantly showing up in your Easter basket.

Super cute but maybe a little too reminiscent of a duck. Plus it reminds he of how my older son always puts the peeps in the microwave with little toothpicks stuck in them to see who wins the sword battle.

Tootsie Roll

Keeping up with the candy theme going on.

This one is hysterical but much cuter without feet for little babies. Otherwise it sort of looks like a giant monster tootsie roll on legs!

Wheaties Box

Especially good this year after the Olympics!

While this one doesn’t come small enough for my daughter, it’s great! And it reminds everyone of the Olympics and all of the USA’s gold medals…patriotism and free candy all in one go.

Air Freshener

Okay, this one takes the cake and smells good too!

If she fit in this costume it would definitely be the one I picked whether she liked it or not! Check out the look on that baby’s face — definitely not that happy.

Whoopie Cushion

Here’s one I’ve never seen before!

A walking whoopie cushion! The only down side is that I know her brother would try to sit on her over and over — teenage boys are troublesome.

Pez Dispenser

Who doesn’t love Pez?

If a kid is dressed like candy do you still have to give him candy? Does this costume give candy back through the mouth??? Cute, I love it.

Chiquita Banana Girl

Okay, it’s really called the Tutti Frutti costume but my name sounds way better.

This one’s super cute and has a body suit underneath the “half shirt” to keep her warm. Definitely a contender.

Man-Eating Shark

This one is super funny while at the same time, perpetuating the myth that sharks are killers!

Maybe my two year old is a little young for this costume…I guess it could cause nightmares in the faint of heart little ones but it is really, really funny.

Elvis

Hold onto your blue suede shoes, Elvis is in the building!

I especially love the sideburns!

These 9 costumes sure aren’t your run of the mill Disney character costume (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). It just gets to be a little much when you run into ten Elmos on your street or whatever is the “hot” costume this year. Halloween doesn’t always have to be scary, especially for the younger kids. Funny totally works too!

Check out some of my other articles to see more funny Halloween costumes:

• http://www.purpleslinky.com/Humor/Animal/10-Hysterically-Funny-Cat-Halloween-Costumes.276013
• http://www.purpleslinky.com/Humor/Animal/10-Hysterically-Funny-Dog-Halloween-Costumes.275997