Shivers of Delight

We haven't had a Tipple Tuesday in awhile and I thought I'd continue the theme "around the campfire" from yesterday. I'm also including a ghostly brownie recipe that looks bewitching. Imagine the marshmallow garnish in this drink is a ghost Peeps.  Campfire Mock Root Beer Float 1 Can of Root Beer 1.5 oz Marshmallow Vodka Pour Vodka and Root Beer over ice Garnish with a marshmallow recipe courtesy of Home Trends Magazine I've had this brownie recipe sitting in my Pinterest board for quite awhile. It's time it saw the light of day (or the light of the campfire.) It's perfect for ghost story time and reminds me of S'mores. ( mom foodie ) I won't repeat the recipe here, but I highly encourage you to visit Mom Foodie for the step-by-step instructions. They look delicious.

Summer is almost here and I've been thinking about hosting a spooky evening round the campfire lately.  It's inevitable that at a bonfire someone will call for a ghost story. Darkness, fire, and ghosts are just a natural fit. Because we are the spooky type, we, most of all, should be prepared to tell a chilling ghost story. But it's not as easy as you think. I have several true-for-me ghost stories I like to tell, but I've never given much thought to the delivery. I usually just tell the tale as I remember it. Since I've also usually had a few drinks by that point, the delivery can be- let's just say- messy. This summer, I'm going to work on my ghost story. I plan to perfect it so that it's ready to tell at the first spark of flame. Worried that you don't have your own ghost story? Relax. Just find a story that you like and re-tell it in your own words. If you need a little help getting started, I recommend a very short article at witf.org c...

It's true that the nights are getting shorter right now, but if you own a Darkness Void candle that might be a good thing. The candles are so lovely it would be a shame to burn them up quickly. Of course you know by now that when I say "lovely" or "beautiful" it's in the context of macabre and spookish, right? These candles are devilishly delightful. How about that? All of the candles are made from beeswax. I love that smell. Skull Large Spine Raven Santa Muerte Gargoyle Devil Baby Heads If you're a fan of Star Wars, Doctor Who, or Game of Thrones there are candles here for you, as well. Now is the time to start thinking about your Halloween displays. You can't buy everything you'll need in October. Start now.

I must be on a jewelry kick lately. I keep finding spooky jewelry I want to wear.   Anomaly Jewelry might actually have found me. Their shop proclaims "We sell unusual, fabulous jewelry for the lady who understands the hilarity of the dark side of life." Yep, that's me. Bat Ring Snake Bracelets Crescent Moon Necklace Two-Headed Cat Lobster (Scorpion) Baby Skull Earrings Libra Necklace Snake Ice Cream Cone I can't stop giggling. There are lots of non-spooky, but funny, pieces on this site as well. I love the Golden Girls necklaces. Check it all out.

Gothic jewelry from the woods of Germany, I think that sets the scene nicely.   Sillycut specializes in Victorian-inspired art with a side of death. The shop carries jewelry and crocheted pieces that will make the professional (and amateur) mourner glow. I love it all. Deadhead Moth Necklace Original Memento Mori Drawing Creepy Eye Earrings Skelewings Necklace Coffin Locket Necklace Skull Necklace Victorian Choker There are so many wonderful things to look at in this shop. Don't pass this one up.

I don't usually drink my beer out of a mug, but I would seriously consider it if I had one from Kachaktano Mugs . These are some serious drinking mugs. Don't even think of putting some fruity beer in them. Kachaktano mugs need an Imperial Stout. Don't worry, they also make coffee mugs, but no caramel mocha coffee, please- unless you add some whiskey. This would make a great Fathers' Day gift. Dad will look awesome drinking out of one of these while watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead . Dragon and Skull Beer Mug Cthulhu Beer Mug Zombie Beer Mug Dragon Beer Mug Skull Coffee Mug Pirate Coffee Mug These are great mugs for the office as well. No one is going to mess with you if you walk into a meeting with one of these. Unless you work in IT, that is. Somehow, I don't think it will have the same effect.

Somehow, I had missed the work of Gahan Wilson . I was familiar with the macabre drawings of Edward Gorey and Charles Addams, but for some reason, while I had seen some of Wilson's cartoons, I didn't know anything about the man behind them. Maybe part of the reason I wasn't as familiar with Wilson is that although his cartoons are in The New Yorker , he is better known for his cartoons in Playboy .  Fortunately, a documentary was released in 2014 called Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird  by Stephen-Charles Jaffe. It took me a few years to discover it, but I rectified that last night. (I rented it from Amazon)  The film features Wilson in his studio talking about his life as a child, which greatly influenced his work, and his process of creating a cartoon. This is interspersed with some great commentary by people like Hugh Heffner, Stephen Colbert, Neil Gaiman, Guillermo del Toro, Stan Lee and others who talk about their love for Wilson and, ...

Black Willow Gallery is one of those shops that have a bit of everything. You'll find prints, clothing, home decor, and jewelry here. I love their tag line "Follow your inner moonlight. Don't hide the the madness." Here are some of my favorites. My Coffin Heart Brooch Ouija Zipper Bag Scarlett Pumpkin Patch Mug Dead T-shirt Marigold Eyes Print Funeral Carriage Patch I'm a sucker for whimsical portrayals of death.

I am ashamed to admit it, but our back porch doorbell is plain. I'm so embarrassed by it that I haven't refreshed the batteries. If someone actually tries to use it that means they'll have noticed it, and how can I answer the door after that? So, it remains silent and unknown guests will wait forever. I think you'll agree this is a crying shame of a doorbell All that is going to change since I found the Doorbell Company . Now, I will be proud to answer the back door. I just have to decide which one I'm going to purchase. Large Bat Doorbell Cat with Bat Wings Small Bat Skull Gargoyle Face with Horns Dragon These are just a few of the splendid doorbells they offer. Take some time to look around their website .  We don't need to be embarrassed by our doorbells any longer.