Hollow Halloween

I'm sure our old neighbors won't miss this as they walk their kids to school this October. 

I love Halloween-I love to decorate and dress up, and I love that it melds fall harvest foods and activities with fangs and witch hats. Sure, you can eat a caramel apple any time of the year, but it tastes so much better drenched in red-tinted white chocolate with fang marks. 

I usually go all out, and each year I accumulate more decorations (usually I make them). We haven't done any decorating yet this year- I am unsure what the etiquette is once you rent in an apartment community. I have a feeling hanging a plastic-wrapped "body" upside down from my balcony won't go over very well. The stove with burning hands and a boiling brain on top doesn't seem to quite fit either. 

I refuse to go cutesy- at least not all the way. I did buy some tissue paper bats for the window.

There are a lot of dogs in the complex and I am tempted to buy those realistic rubber rats with the squeakers and hide them all over the property. It would be very satisfying to have our neighbor's dog drop one at her feet.  Or better yet- a toddler carrying it around like a pet.

This will be the first time in four or five years that we don't have a costume party. It makes me a little sad. Maybe we can find one to crash this year. Anyone want to invite us? I make amazing treats and my partner is a chili whiz.