MNN - Mother Nature Network

It's that time of year again ... there's a chill in the air, yet another "Paranormal Activity" film will soon be hitting theaters, and yours truly has started scarfing Necco Wafers and guzzling apple cider with reckless abandon. Halloween is just around the corner.

 

This year, it's anticipated that Americans will collectively dole out a whopping $2.36 billion on decking out their yards and homes with freshly purchased dismembered plastic limbs and AA battery-operated witches. In my humble opinion, however, the best Halloween decorations are the vintage ones, the homemade ones, or the ones created by Mother Nature herself. But what if you aren't keen on elaborate gourd displays or don't have the time to sit down and craft a milk jug skeleton? Consider spending your hard-earned Halloween decor dollars on items that are lovingly handmade by someone else. And if want to go the squash dissevering route, I've included a great handmade set of pumpkin carving tools.

 

Sure, it's just more stuff that appears in your home on a strictly seasonal basis — unless you're big on skulls — but it's stuff that's unique and produced with care. And perhaps most importantly, it’s the kind of stuff that you probably won't throw away after a couple of years unlike plastic, mass-produced-in-China decorations.