Friendly Ghost Halloween Decor Reviewed

I have always had an affinity for ghosts at Halloween.  Not the scary kind of ghost, but the friendly kind with smiling faces.  Perhaps, that is because I watched the cartoon, Casper, when I was a child.  I don't have a problem with adding vampires, monsters, pumpkins, and bats to our Halloween decor, but the friendly ghosts are my favorite.

Everyone in my family knows I love the happy ghosts.  A few years ago, my husband saw a BOO ghost pillow in Home Depot and was excited to bring it home to me.  I do love that pillow!  It sits in my craft room chair during the off season.

A few days ago, my son came home with a white stoneware ghost platter from Target.  I enjoy making special treats for my family and I like having seasonal plates for displaying those treats.  The ceramic ghost plate is perfect!  It is absolutely adorable on the table with or without snacks on it, which makes it the best type of seasonal kitchen decor for Halloween. 

Several years ago, we were in our dentist office and they had a tinsel ghost hanging on their wall.  I loved that ghost, so I came home and searched for one on Amazon.  Now, we have a friendly tinsel ghost that hangs on our front door for Halloween. It is really a cute welcoming character for trick or treaters. 

All of my friendly ghost have their special places for Halloween.  Each one makes me happy when I see it.  Halloween is fun, it doesn't have to be scary to be awesome decor! 

 

Friendly Ghost Pillows

Now that I have one ghost pillow, I want more!  I love having soft cushiony pillows on a couch or in chairs.  These pillows are even "pet" worthy.  

 MIULEE White Halloween Pillow Covers Cute Ghost Decor Set of 2 18x18Check Price 19.6 inch Ghost Decorative Throw Pillow Set of 2Check Price YRXRUS Ghost Pillows, 10x13 Inches Soft Faux Rabbit Fur Cushion for HolidayCheck Price

 

Stoneware Ghost Plates

 Halloween Ghost Char-Boo-Tier Serving Platter - Hyde and EEK! BoutiqueCheck PriceUntil my son gave me the ghost platter, I have never had a shaped tray or dish for Halloween.  Of course, I have black trays for Halloween parties, but I love the idea of having a large plate or tray that is shaped like a ghost.  They certainly will add a touch of fun to the party table.  When the tray is not being used as a server, it sits on my dining room table as Halloween decor.

The platter looks like it is ceramic, but it is actually stoneware.  This platter is microwave safe and dishwasher safe.  It is a really nice serving platter size at 10" x 12.5".

I am not a Target affiliate, therefore I will not earn a commission if you purchase the ghost platter, but I think it is feature worthy regardless.    

 

Friendly Tinsel Ghost

It is so much fun to have a tinsel ghost on my front door.  Since it is white, I don't have to worry about color fading. The tinsel shines in the sunlight and is fabulously adorable during the daytime. We leave our porch light on so our friendly ghost is still visable at night. The tinsel ghost is part of a set. Our son loves the bat and my husband likes pumpkins, so they all get used somewhere in the house, but the ghost gets the predominate spot on our front door.

 3pcs Halloween Door Hanging Sign Halloween 3D Tinsel Ghost Bat Pumpkin Decoration for Home Outdoor DecorCheck Price

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Friendly Ghost Halloween Decor Reviewed Written by:

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National Peanut Day- A Holiday Review

Peanut Day is one of those fun food holidays we love to celebrate, despite the fact that there is no known origin for most of them. Nevertheless, we peanut lovers will enjoy celebrating this one on September 13, as we do every year! 

Nutty as it might seem, PeaNUTs are not NUTS! They actually grow underground, like potatoes and are considered part of the legume family, same as peas and beans.

Origin of Peanuts

The peanut was discovered over 3,500 years ago, most likely in South America. Peanuts were not widely planted or harvested until after the advancement of farm technology. Since peanuts are annuals and have to be grown from seeds each year, peanut crops were too labor-intensive until then. The modern methods of planting and harvesting peanuts not only transformed the peanut farm, but farming the world over.

As peanut production became more popular, possible uses for it were investigated.

How to Grow the Peanut: and 105 Ways of Preparing It for Human ConsumptionCheck Price

Dr. George Washington Carver was probably the most instrumental in discovering how beneficial peanut crops could be.  After researching this amazing groundnut, he published  "How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption" in 1916. In this book, Carver discovered over 300 uses for peanuts, including cooking oils, cosmetics, and dyes (even coffee).

In addition to being tasty, peanuts are very good for you. Each ounce provides 8 grams of protein and is high in antioxidants, vitamins E and B6, and beneficial minerals.

🎵 Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack 🎶

Peanuts are also a fun snack food. They appear to be particularly popular at the Circus and at ball games. 

 ~ lyric from Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1908) by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer.

Personal PeaNUT Notes

I am really nutty about nuts of all kinds, with peanuts being one of my very favorites. Peanuts on a Hot Fudge Sundae is absolutely necessary for me! And, banana bread and muffins HAVE to have walnuts, making them banana NUT bread! 

Plus, I mainly only like desserts with nuts in them (brownies, cookies, ice cream Sundaes, candy…. All have to have nuts for me to enjoy them the most)! 

Summary

So, if you are like me and sometimes you feel like a nut*, choose the tasty peanut on September 13th to celebrate National Peanut Day!

*Line from the Almond Joy Commercial song. 

Related Links:

• Peanut Brittle Recipe shared on the ReviewThisReviews.com site by Tracey Boyer (Homemade by Jade)
• National Nut Day was written and compiled for you by Wednesday Elf
• Peanut Butter Holidays - Holidays Celebrating Peanut Butter are listed here for you by Wednesday Elf on Review This Reviews.

*National Peanut Day Holiday Review was written by Wednesday Elf

**Intro Image Source: Pixabay

Peanuts for your snacking pleasure, or for your backyard squirrels….. 

PLANTERS Salted Peanuts, Plant Based Protein Snacks, 2.19lbs (1 Ct) | Roasted Salted Nuts. 0g Trans Fat. Resealable Jar. Snacks for Adults. Party Mix, Party SnacksCheck PriceP-Nuttles Butter Toffee Covered Peanuts, 5.25 Oz Resealable Bag (Pack of 3) - Sweet & Salty Candied Peanuts Snacks - Perfect for Parties, Travel & Gatherings - Kosher Certified Crunchy Gourmet SnacksCheck PriceNaturalee Peanuts, Plain In Shell 2 lbs - Raw, Unsalted | Natural Healthy Snack, Squirrel or Wildlife Feed, No Additives, Heart Healthy, High ProteinCheck Price

 

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A Review of Flavored Coffee Recipes

I was visiting a friend today, and she made the most delicious coffee I have had in a long time.  It was cinnamon-orange with a hint of vanilla.  It was delightful, so I asked her how she made it.  Imagine my surprise when she told me one of the ingredients was Jello!  She actually uses her coffee maker and simply dumps all the ingredients into the filter with the coffee and out pours tangy orange coffee!

Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of ground coffee
• 1/2 teaspoon of orange Jello
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Dump all dry ingredients into a coffee filter, gather it up and shake to mix.
2. Add the extract in the center of the filter.
3. Turn on your coffee maker and brew normally.

You can make this with tea as well, just make your tea as usual, then add the vanilla, cinnamon and Jello to the tea pot and stir to mix.  In tea it is extremely flavorful, and is delicious with butter cookies or scones.

Two Recipes for Chocolate Coffee

Chocolate flavored coffee is really delicious, one of the easiest ways to make it is by using chocolate syrup:

• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1-2 teaspoons chocolate syrup

Combine the brewed coffee and chocolate syrup in a large mug. Stir well to combine, then top with whipped cream if you like.

Another way to make chocolate coffee is by using cocoa powder. This method involves adding cocoa powder to a cup of brewed coffee, stirring well to combine.

• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1-2 teaspoons cocoa powder

Pumpkin Spice Coffee

If you want a taste of pure fall, this is the drink for you.  You can use store bought pumpkin spice, but I prefer to make my own so I can tweak the recipe to how I like it.  I usually put more cinnamon and nutmeg and a bit less clove.  I use pumpkin spice in other things, like cookies, pie or pumpkin bread, so I make a lot at a time and store it in a mason jar.  You can buy the spices already ground up, or you can buy them whole and use a spice grinder to grind them yourself. Here's the recipe for homemade pumpkin spice:

• 6 tablespoons of cinnamon
• 4 teaspoons of ginger
• 4 teaspoons of nutmeg
• 3 teaspoons of allspice
• 3 teaspoons of cloves

To make Pumpkin Spice Coffee:

1. Fill your coffee maker with water and insert a filter
2. Put one heaping teaspoon of pumpkin spice on top of 1/3 cup of your favorite coffee in the filter 
3. Stir the two ingredients together thoroughly
4. Turn on your coffee maker and brew as normal 

I love drinking this coffee on my rear deck on crisp fall mornings with my homemade raised doughnuts.  Fall bliss!

Mexican Coffee

Mexican Coffee is a spicy blend that is truly different from regular coffee.  The ingredients may sound like a strange combination, but believe me, it is a really unforgettable taste that is great for after dinner or a mid-afternoon break.

Ingredients

• 6 oz. hot coffee
• 1 tablespoon cocoa
• 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup milk (can use skim or 2%)
• whipped cream (I use the squirt from a can kind)

Directions: 

1. In a mason jar, pour the hot coffee and brown sugar and screw the lid on and shake till all the sugar is melted and there are no lumps.
2. Add the cocoa, cinnamon, and ground cayenne into the jar, screw the lid on and shake till all ingredients are incorporated.
3. In a large coffee mug, pour in the milk and a pinch of cinnamon, stir and place in the microwave for 30 seconds.
4. Remove from the microwave and pour the coffee mixture in the cup and top with whip cream.

This is a great drink to serve in the evening after a barbeque or while sitting on the couch with your sweetie watching a movie.  Spicy!

Peppermint Coffee

This coffee is always a hit around the holidays!  Try it at your next gathering, I bet it will be a big hit!

Ingredients

• 6 oz. extra strong coffee
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions:

• ▢ 

1. Place the milk, sugar, cocoa powder and peppermint extract in a medium saucepan over low heat. 
2. Stir gently until heated, DO NOT boil!
3. Pour the coffee in and stir to mix, tasting to see if you feel it needs more sugar, peppermint or cocoa.
4. Pour in a cup and top with whipped cream and a candy cane

Every time I make this, everyone just loves it!  They say the peppermint, cocoa and coffee flavors mix beautifully!

I know this last recipe isn't actually coffee, but it is a recipe you will want, trust me!  This is the hands down most delicious coffee smoothie you will ever have in your mouth, guaranteed!

Coffee Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup black coffee (lukewarm is better)
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 cup milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 tablespoon cocoa

Directions:

1. Cut up the frozen banana (you can use a 3/4 cup of ice if you don't like bananas) and place it in the blender.  
2. Pulse a few times to break the banana up and then add the peanut butter, milk, vanilla and cocoa.  Blend on medium until smooth then switch to puree for 30 seconds.  
3. Pour into a smoothie cup and enjoy!

I think all of these drinks are exceptionally delicious.  I love to making things that are unusual and surprise my guests. All these drinks are good at doing that!  Try a few out and see what you think, especially during the upcoming holidays.

_______________________________

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I http://tinyurl.com/jmrqlyn

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Hallmark Christmas In July Review

 It wouldn't be a heatwave without the air conditioning and a good dose of Hallmark Christmas in July. This annual Hallmark event mixes new holiday programming with prior and vintage Hallmark holiday movies.

Four New Movies

July 4: Christmas Under Construction 

July 11: O Little Christmas Market

July 18: Snowbound for the Holidays 

July 25: Love Under the Mistletoe

Christmas Under Construction stars Daniel Lissing and Jessica Lowndes as they duel via the backdrop of Renovation Romance as renovator and cabin owner.

O Little Christmas Market is the save our town fair (market)  entry from the developer with Katherine Berrell and Stephen Huszar.

Snowbound For The Holidays pits the owner of the cute n cozy ski lodge vs the hotel manager and future "plans" starring Hallmark favorite Marcus Rosner and Vanessa Lengies.

Love Under The MistleToe  It's the former high school crushes finding themselves years later trying to save the charity fundraiser .... starring Hallmark vet Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman.

Schedule

Christmas In July movies begin at 10 a.m. daily. Of note catch all of the Three Wisest men movies throughout the month. The trilogy stars the favorite Hallmark stars Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes and Andrew Walker and are a take off of the Three Men And A Baby movie. 

Hallmark.com has the full schedule for its' July Extravaganza of holiday fun.

 Hallmark Christmas 2025 

Top Ten Hallmark Christmas Movies 

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National Onion Day - A Holiday Review

 

June 27 is the day selected to celebrate oodles of onions. The date was chosen by the National Onion Association(NOA) to document the creation of their organization in 1913. It’s definitely nothing to ‘cry’ over. LOL.

Culinary Versatility

Onions have countless culinary uses. You can take a raw onion and slice it, dice it or chop it to add to recipes. This can be either a condiment (such as a slice of onion on a burger) or diced or chopped as an ingredient to almost any recipe. 

Onions can be the featured star of a meal or appetizer, such as homemade onion rings or the delicious ‘blooming onion’. Onion Soup is a popular beginning to the main course in many restaurants. 

The Onion is Good for You

In addition to the flavor it adds to foods, onions are beneficial. They have very few calories, no added cholesterol, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, plus vitamin B5. It also gives you an increase to your dietary fiber. 

Funny Personal Onion Story

Years ago our daughter & son-in-law were in town visiting us. We had just acquired our very first gas grill and planned on burgers-on-the-grill for dinner. Instead of offering sliced onions as condiments, we decided to add chopped onions to the burger patties before cooking. 

Our son-in-law, Paul, does not like onions (can’t imagine life without onions, myself). So we made two burger patties plain for him.  

Well, somehow in the confusion of learning the new grill and turning the hamburgers, some of them must have gotten switched. When dinner was served, Bob took a bite of his burger and declared “I can’t even taste the onion in this”. Paul said “I can!” LOL. Seems Paul got Bob’s onion burgers and Bob got Paul’s Plain burgers! So, naturally, they simply switched.

The moral of the story (other than the impossible task of teaching Paul to like onions) is ‘never try a new recipe out on company’ (or, perhaps while learning a new appliance). :) 

A Related Holiday:

Close to Onion Day, we find National Onion Ring Day on June 22. So, while you are enjoying your onion dishes, add in a serving of fried onion rings made from scratch. My favorite is my friend’s tempura batter used to deep fry the onion rings. Paired with a burger or a steak, it would be a delicious meal to end both National Onion Day and Onion Ring Day.

So, enjoy the versatile onion in all its many forms! 

For more Holiday reviews, click on

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*National Onion Day Holiday Review is written by Wednesday Elf

Onion Cookbooks and Handy Tools

Perfect Onion Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Cooking with OnionsCheck PriceOnion Holder for Slicing (2 Pack) - Stainless Steel Vegetable Slicer Guide, Tomato/Potato/Lemon/Meat Holder - Safe, Even Cuts Kitchen GadgetCheck PriceOnions: A Country Garden CookbookCheck PriceOnion Storage, Avocado Saver Keeper, Reusable Tomato Lemon Holder Storage Container (Onion Saver)Check Price

 

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Ororo Lightweight Heated Vest Review

It's summer and so of course it makes perfect sense for a Ororo Heated Vest review! This is the time to pick up great deals on winter clothing and I will be looking for my favorite purchase of last year on the summer sales.

It was an extremely long and cold winter in the northern United States, but then again, summer is very very short as well, so this is a vest which will bode you well through most of the year. The Ororo heated vest exceeded my expectations with every feature.

Heat Levels

Three heat levels easily controlled by a toggle button on the outside of the vest. The button turns colors for each heat level of red, white, blue. I found warming the vest on the high setting before putting the vest on would then allow a lower setting while wearing the vest. 

Weight

I was pleasantly surprised as to how light the vest is with the battery. A few years back I had tried a heated vest and the battery was so heavy all I could feel was the battery literally weighing one side of the vest down. The overall weight of the vest is similar to a higher end quilted down vest, but streamlined. 

Battery

The rectangle battery pack is installed in the rear of the vest on the bottom about right behind the hip. I honestly forgot the battery existed the majority of the time. The battery felt heavier when charging, but not installed in the vest. I did invest, when on sale, for a second battery just for ease when it became apparent this vest was going to be a winter fall staple in the wardrobe. 

Colors

The Ororo vest is available in a variety of colors, mostly the staple colors of vests. The usual black, blue, grey, cream and a pretty cobalt blue would be the brighter option.

Price

I recommend purchasing on sale! Whether it be a summer sale, or Black Friday sale or holiday sale as the vest is not inexpensive. I've also seen flash sales online for the holidays with a nice savings available.

Where To Purchase

Search Ororo Heated Lightweight Vest for online options to purchase. 

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You’re Only Old Once! By Dr. Seuss - A Book Review

The Doctor is in...Dr. Seuss that is! 

Dr. Seuss was one of the best children’s authors of all time, right up there with A.A. Milne (Winnie-The-Pooh) and Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit). Seuss wrote over 60 children’s books and is as equally well known for his final one ( Oh, the Places You'll Go! published in 1990, the year before he died) as he was for his first (The Cat in the Hat). 

And then….. He wrote one for what he called ‘obsolete children’. 

Synopsis of You’re Only Old Once: A Book for Obsolete Children

You're Only Old Once!: A Book for Obsolete ChildrenCheck Price

As Theodor (Ted) Geisal entered his 80s, he began treatment for oral cancer and age-related problems. He soon became tired of a social life that seemingly consisted entirely of doctor’s visits, long waits at the hospital and time spent navigating the entire medical complex! Out of this came the idea for a humorous take on aging and healthcare—something almost everyone of a certain age deals with these days. 

During his waiting times at doctor’s offices, Theodor Seuss Geisel began sketching out a silly character to poke fun at this ‘medical madness’. Then he used his sharp wit and delightfully colorful imagination to describe an elderly patient who is poked, prodded and ogled during his stay at the “Golden Years Clinic on Century Square for Spleen Readjustment and Muffler Repair.” 

 The story is told in the Dr. Seuss style of whimsical, nonsensical poetry with a combination of a "galloping" rhythm (the anapestic tetrameter) and deeper life lessons.

Summary

You’re Only Old Once! was published on Ted Geisal’s 82nd birthday ~ March 2, 1986 ~ and subsequently became a bestseller.

Written during the time he was dealing with his own health issues, Seuss wanted to give a light-hearted look at the necessity of medical checkups and the indignities of aging. Comical and relatable to us Senior Citizens, aging Baby Boomers, and anyone having to deal with medical issues ~ always a stressful subject. 

The book is a treat for readers of all ages and makes the perfect gift for retirement, birthdays, graduations, holidays, and anyone needing a little pick-me-up after a doctor’s visit! 

The book ends on an upbeat note: 

“You are in pretty good shape for the shape you are in," 

For More Book Reviews,

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*You're Only Old Once! book review was written by Wednesday Elf

The First and the Last in the Library of Children's Books by Dr. Seuss.....

The Cat in the HatCheck PriceOh, the Places You'll Go!Check Price

 

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Porch Goose and Porch Goose Outfits Reviewed

My daughter called me a few weeks ago and said she was going to paint a concrete porch goose in a craft class.  I asked her if she remembered having a plastic porch goose that she dressed for special occasions and seasons when she was a very little girl.  Unfortunately, she didn't have an actual memory of it, but I couldn't help but wonder if she was drawn to that class because of her old beloved porch goose.  Her grandmother and I both remember well how she liked dressing her first porch goose.

She has now finished painting her concrete porch goose and is ready for porch goose outfits.  With her birthday only a few week away, she added porch goose outfits to her gift wish list.  

You probably know what I am about to say!  Between her grandmother, brother, father and I, we purchased 14 new goose outfits for her upcoming birthday.  I can hardly wait to see the pictures as she changes her goose's clothes each month, occasion or season.  

It is hard to choose a favorite porch goose outfit, but I am personally fond of the yellow raincoat and umbrella.  It reminds me of the outfit her plastic porch goose had when she was a little girl.  I only remember her dressing her original porch goose in her own baby clothes or baby doll clothes, but I think it is totally awesome that there are so many outfits made specifically for a porch goose now.

 

Awesome Seasonal Outfits for a Porch Goose

My daughter plans to change her porch goose outfits each month, according to the weather or season.  Of course, there are costume outfits for Halloween, but there are also special outfits for all of the holidays.  You can even select a bundle package of costumes to get started.  Buying a bundle is less expensive than purchasing them individually.

 

 12 Set Porch Goose Outfits for 23" Porch GooseCheck Price

 

How to Get Your Own Porch Goose

My daughter painted a concrete porch goose, but most of us don't have a concrete figure store close to us.  Plus, the 23" concrete porch goose weights over 40 lbs.  If you plan to set your porch goose on your recessed or enclosed porch, you may well prefer one made of resin that is easier to move.  These options also have a place to fill the base with sand or gravel to keep it from toppling in bad weather.  Then, you can simply enjoy changing your porch goose outfits seasonally too.

 LarpGears Premium Adjustable Large Porch Goose Statue – 23” Realistic Hollow Plastic Garden Goose with Removable Cowboy Hat & Bandana, Stone Base with Sand-Fillable Design for Outdoor StabilityCheck Price Porch Goose Statue Large White Porch Goose Big Resin Garden Lawn Yard 20 inches High Check Price

 

 

There are lots of different styles and designs in the Porch Goose Outfits.  Click Here to see more!

 Celltestria 4th of July Goose Outfits for 2323Check Price 2 Set Porch Goose Outfits with Wings Ladybug & BeeCheck Price Fishing Porch Goose Outfits for 23 Inch Lawn Statue, Fisherman CostumeCheck Price Gaggleville Football Goose Outfit, Fits Large 23Check Price

 

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Porch Goose and Porch Goose Outfits Reviewed written by:

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