Jennie Ivins

@jennieivins

Neurodivergent mom with 3 AuDHD boys. Editor of Fantasy-Faction.com (@fantasyfaction.bsky.social), fantasy writer, computer addict & lover of geeky things. she/her/mom

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Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

And that's it for this year! By Michael's keep being weird. XD

The front display of Michael's Halloween section, including many of the things in previous pictures.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Why isn't this circus stuff near the sideshow stuff?? (Love the pumpkins.)

A display of circus themed decorations done in muted colors of orange, white, and black. It includes wall hangings of vintage circus posters, decorated popcorn tubs, various wooden signs, and glass pumpkins done in dot, checkerboard, and diamond patterns.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Not gonna lie, I kind of love the heart candle too. XD

Three candles: first in white shaped like realistic skull, second in deep red shaped like an anatomical heart, and the last in white shaped like a spine.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

And this year's "that's NOT how skeletons work" figure. (Unfortunately, I didn't see the "try me" button, so I don't know what it does.)

This is the "skeleton" of a rat with antlers, but it has skeletal ears and a nose.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Of course we have this year's skeleton people. I like the drummer.

Shelves of skeleton figurines dressed like things including: a drummer (with full drum kit), witch in a chair knitting with a skeleton cat by her feet, a backyard BBQ chef, a shopping woman with long white hair holding black shopping bags and an iced latte, the Statue of Liberty but with black robes, a female tennis player, a waitress carrying a cream pie, a golfer teeing up, a cheerleader in a red uniform with matching pompoms, a soccer player with a bunch of soccer balls, two skeletons on opposite sides of a bubble bath, one skeleton in a bubble bath holding a white dog, and a skeleton playing on a tablet while on the toilet.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

This one is a choice. Unless it's referencing something I'm unaware of? I have no idea why these things were combined into one item.

This is a pair of hollow, plastic, light-up, lawn decorations of corgi dogs dressed as ghosts with their front paws resting on top of jack-o-lanterns.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

My fav is the eyeball plant. XD

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Okay going through last ones quicker cause this is taking longer than I thought it was. XD First we have some more editions for your garden if any of you weren't content with the single knock-off Audrey 2 they've had previous years. 🪴

Group of fake man-eating plants, including little chomper and big teeth-y bois. And new this year eyeball plants. This look like a four petal flower. But the petals are meat like and have tiny teeth all over them and there is an eyeball in the center of the flowers. Kind of like the cartoon plant version of the demi-gorgon from Stranger Things. But with an eyeball.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Oh no! I love him! Maybe it isn't too early to buy Halloween stuff... 👻🎃

A cute white ghost candle holding a classic orange and black jack-o-lantern.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Spooky scary skeletons and black cats and witch pumpkins! Oh my!

Hanging above the shelf are three metal "mask" decorations. The first is a smiling black cat with a big orange and black striped bow. The second is a skull in a black top hat with an orange band. The third is a smiling jack-o-lantern wearing a witches hat with an orange band a wheat-gold buckle. Below them are various knickknacks and boxes in the same colors and motifs, including some boxes in checkerboard and striped patterns.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Okay this is more my speed! Classic Victorian Halloween decor a la Over the Garden Wall!

Big shelf display of Victorian inspired Halloween decorations, mostly themed around black cats, creepy jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and skeletons, all in black, white, and orange.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

And he would be kind of cute if his gaping maw wasn't terrifying. XD

This is a jack-o-lantern that looks hand painted. Its mouth is wide open, but it has no teeth, and the entire inside is painted black. The colors on the outside are a swirl of purple, peach, lavender, pink, and orange, and it has big eyes painted in black and white.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Like... What is happening here?? The coffin shelf I get, but the other things?? Am I missing something??

This is a tabletop display featuring a shelving unit with two shelves shaped like a coffin, with spiderweb patterns on the back and sides, painted pale pink. On the top shelf is a ceramic, sky blue manual camera. On the middle shelf a bright orange high-top sneaker with turquoise laces. On the bottom shelf is a pinkish- peach hand giving a thumbs up. In front of the shelf on a fuzzy pink and black blanket, is a ceramic turquoise hand giving the peace sign, and a "melting" ceramic popsicle in white and turquoise. Behind them is another light orange plastic, be-bowed skull.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Okay these skulls are cute, but I super don't understand most of this theme. 💀💕

Three cute plastic skulls with bows on their heads. Each is a solid color. One light orange, one white, and one turquoise.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

lol And I don't even know what the hell these are. XD They don't hold candles! They are basically just crystals on sticks! XD

These are just silly. They are tall, gold, candlestick holders with, I kid you not, large crystals glued to the top. There are some with gray, petal-like, layered crystals, some with tiny, white, "fuzzy" crystals, and some that are supposed to be purple amethyst. Next to them are some normal votive holders decorated with large gold sequins.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Yeah like they have stuff like this at Home Goods. It's just sky related. Cool, but not Halloween.

This is a large tabletop display case with a lattice front, done in blue and decorated with a half a sun on the left side and half the moon and a bunch of stars on the right.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Um guys? This isn't Halloween related. It's just the moon and sun and tarot cards. They sell stuff like this year round. 🌞🌛🤷‍♀️

This is a display of items with Victorian depictions of tarot cards, and items with sun, moon, and star motifs mostly done in blue and gold. It features wall hangings, mobiles, and coat hooks among other things.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

These are just boxes that look like books. I feel like they could have done more here.

Above this shelf is a wooden sign that reads Amazing Illusions! Never Before Seen, with the image of gloved hands casting a spell. On the shelf below are books with various magic and spell related titles that are actually boxes to put things in.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Next we have turn of the last century side show art? Interesting, but I guess that could be spooky. And the posters are pretty cool.

Shelf of items themed around circus sideshow. Four banners hang above the shelf each shows a classic poster of a sideshow performer. One is a man with his head floating in the air, one is a man in a turban looking through a crystal ball, one is Houdini hanging upside down in the water torture box, and one is another man in a turban climbing up a rope that is coiling out of a basket. The shelf below has various knickknacks of the same theme.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

The black "crystal" glassware is really cool though! 🖤

Shelves of black "crystal" glassware with a diamond lattice pattern carved into the sides. Items include a carafe, champagne glasses, tumblers, candy dishes, shot glasses, and miscellaneous bottles.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Then we have topiary that look like they were stolen from a black and white movie, which is kind of disconcerting. o.0

A group of topiary made up of two balls of leaves, one on top of the other. The leaves are black plastic and the pots they're in are black terra cotta.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

On the opposite end of the spooky section we have what I'm going to call The Black Decor line. Not gonna lie, the snake candleholders are pretty cool. 🐍

A group of black metal snake candle holders, where the snakes coils hold the candles up.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

Okay, but I low-key would love the disco candy corn if I had a place to put it. XD

Floor display of the tutti-fruiti ghosts. In front of the ghosts is a row of black and orange striped, disco-mirror mosaic, hard candies with ruffle-y ends. In front of them are giant disco mirror mosaic candy corn statues.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 18d

It's Halloween again! In July. At Michael's "Let's Put Up Holiday Stuff Way Too Early" Craftstore. XD So, let's see what our spooky themes are for this year! First up we have tutti-fruiti disco ghosts? That was not on my bingo card.

Tall ghost statute in colored-mirror mosaic stripes of pale blue, cotton candy pink, gold, turquoise, orange, pearlescent blue, and magenta. Next to ghost is a round throw pillow in similar colors shaped like a combo of a crescent moon and a sun with colorful rays, that reads "Moonlight Mischief" in cursive text. Next to that is a vintage pink ceramic landline phone. And behind them all is a black Christmas tree with orange, purple, and green lights.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· 26d

Kid3 and I just saved a woodpecker that bonked against our window! He was a little disoriented for a couple minutes but then he flew off fine. :3 Apparently he is a Northern Yellow-Shafted Flicker. :3 Yay for birb rescue! :3 #birds #birbs

Photo of a woodpecker with brown mottled feathers and a small red band on his neck, in a cardboard box with a white dishtowel.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· Jul 17

CVS is selling Halloween candy. Guys, it's July... 🚫🎃

Store display of Brach's Mellowcream pumpkin candy.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· Jul 8

Without downloading any new pics, describe your gender with one image.

Stuffed, sky-blue Squishmallow squid, sitting on the floor in front of a closed door, holding a hand-written sign that reads, "Go Away!"

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· Jul 3

This morning, before it got dangerously hot, hubby made pancakes with fresh peach topping. It was sooo goood! 🍑🥞❤️

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· Jul 1

The heat index for the next 3 to 4 days in New Jersey is going to range from 100°F to 110°F (38°C to 44°C) with humidity fluctuating between unpleasant & swampy. Below is a pre-AI infographic on the difference between heat exhaustion & heat stroke. Know the signs. Heat can kill. Be safe.

Heat Exhaustion: faint or dizzy; excessive sweating; cool, pale, clammy skin; nausea or vomiting; rapid, weak pulse; muscle cramps. What to do: get to cooler air, air conditioned place; drink water if fully conscious; take a cool shower or use cold compression. Heat Stroke: throbbing headache, confusion; no sweating; body temperature above 103°F (39°C); red, hot, dry skin; nausea or vomiting; rapid, strong pulse; may lose consciousness. What to do: Call 911 (999 in UK/112 in Europe); move person to cooler place; cool using cloths or bath; do not give anything to drink. From National Weather Service Sacramento.

Map of New Jersey and surrounding areas from the National Weather Service Mount Holly. Map shows most of the region will be in a heat warning or watch from Wednesday July 1st thru Saturday July 4th.

Jennie Ivins@jennieivins· May 14

Yesterday Kid#3 had surgery to fix his chronic ear stuffiness. He had his estuation tubes enlarged and his deviated septum fixed. He had to wear a nose bandage which he _loved_ but today he is feeling a lot better! Besides pacing around the house cause he's bored. XD Here he is pre-surgery. :)