I remembered late the night before that I volunteered to bring plates, napkins, and cups to Nicholas’s Halloween party at school. Mercy, I didn’t think it was going to be so hard! I thought I would roll into a store, pick up something cute, maybe a pumpkin with a rascally grin or a skittish kitty on a fence surrounded by round-eyed bats. I had no idea I was about to hop into the canoe with Dante.
Instead, of sweet and spooky, I found macabre. The first set of plates were vampires–and not the glittery vegetarian kind. Picture a white-faced vampire with blood smeared across his face. He was post meal, I presume. The next set was a demon or something. I’m not sure because I tuned out when I saw decomposing flesh. The third set had that grungy-rocker typeface and said something about being wicked. (Again, tuned out.) It had a skeleton hand holding an adult beverage on the rocks. Or� blood. Definitely booze or blood because, realistically, is the living dead really going to sip apple juice on their one special day of the year? The most friendly set was gothic purple with black spider webs and silver tarantulas. It was a pattern only emos could love.
I’m not a prude (yes I am) and I like to have as much fun as the next person (not really) but this is a party for three year olds. I didn’t think the school administration would appreciate me serving “Harvest Party” cupcakes on plates glorifying the immortal, so I started digging. Seriously digging in the aisles. I even asked for help from a clerk who was, inexplicably, dressed like a Nagel print. I thanked her for her help that was no help at all, took a moment to stare at her gold lam� scrunchi, and went back to digging. I ended up finding this lone package of napkins cowering in the corner. There were no matching plates or cups. They were either eaten by the scarier patterns or, slightly more probable, snatched up weeks ago by moms far more organized and efficient than I can ever hope to be.
Oh well. I found some mismatched orange cups and brown plates in the bridal section. I’m going to show up to preschool and call it spooky-shabby chic. (And hope no one needs more than two napkins.)
oh my word you crack me up. spooky-shabby chic? a pattern only emos could love? You have more classic one liners than Bettheny! (okay forget that I said that last part, it makes me sound sort of pathetic). Thanks for making me chuckle literally out loud this morning.
Spooky shabby chic– I love it! And it works. I love the napkins and cups! Much better than goth, emo, or vampire:-).
This post is so frigging funny Jules, I love it.
Heh, hope in a canoe with Dante got me.
I am the freaking Classroom Party Organizer for Zoe’s class. And get this, I made the mistake of checking the “I will do it if know one else wants to” box on the form at the beginning of the year. Guess what? No one else wanted to.
Her class party is tomorrow and I totally have the runs from stress. I think I’m more spun out over it than either of my weddings.
+200 points.
And you kicked Dante in the behind and right out of the canoe.
Thanks for posting about the ghosts that you made. I tried my hand at them and love the way that they turned out.
hahaha I bet I could guess what store you were at. . . Paul won’t come within 500 feet of that place. ;)
Oh I so hear you! I won’t decorate for Halloween (fall only, thank you!) so I have no reason to go to the Halloween stores or the Halloween area of Wal-Mart/Target. And I have a three-year old, so there’s no way I’m taking her past all the witches and skeletons and such. So she hasn’t really seen anything, but we went to a nursery (plants!) this Sunday afternoon and right when we walked in, what was there but a life-size skeleton sitting at a table, totally decked out?! Great! Well, Sophia took one look at it, said in a very matter-of-fact voice, “That’s a dead person,” and went on! Didn’t faze her a bit! So my worries were for not, though I still think it’s good she doesn’t see a bunch of gore. Pier 1 had some really cute, not scary Halloween decor!
Too funny! I’ve been known to (shhh… don’t tell anyone) buy ONE package of fancy paper napkins with a pretty print and interleave a plain colored napkin in between each one to save a few dollars. Husband thinks I’m nuts. :-)
Ahh… the Harvest Party (aka Halloween Party) Been there and right now, doing that!