Halloween Season in Ringoes and Lambertville, NJ

Loving the baby goats in Ringoes

Today was my first full day back in New Jersey since the trip to Atlanta. While I didn’t miss the Jersey attitude, I certainly missed the autumn colors. It was great to spend a Sunday on the road with my husband, going to farms for produce and taking in the super beautiful day.

This house in Lambertville has these incredible decorations — all handmade. They are very Burton-esque. We first discovered them a few years ago; and were happy to see that they are not only there again, but the display expanded from the front lawn to around the alleyway!

My husband, Dennis Lords — Mr. Halloween himself! 

Some Enchanted Evening

Dennis Lords ESP Custom Halloween Japanese Hell double neck Guitar

It’s been one helluva trying year, having to put my beautiful 19-year-old cat, Derick, down earlier this year; then my father-in-law passing just a few weeks ago. But my husband and I pulled through to enjoy the best night of the year — Halloween! And take some great shots to remember this one! ENJOY!

Our new Love Cat, Nicholas Gray

Love ❤ 

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Cats-Maryanne-Christiano-Mistretta/dp/1681020513

My Favorite Colour is Autumn

My husband’s PT Cruiser from restaurant window

Energized, alive, and ecstatic!

Here in New Jersey, we are enjoying the best autumn we’ve had in ages. The weather has been absolutely the best it’s been in a long time. Days are warm, yet crisp, ranging between 50 and 70 degrees. And, yesterday, the day after Halloween, so many houses and venues still had decorations up, so my husband and I basked in the Halloween joy of the season!

Waiting for my food at Beana’s

Still celebrating the Halloween weekend and approaching Cinco De Mayo, it seemed like a perfect time to grab a Mexican meal. We pigged out at Beana’s in Rahway (http://www.beanasmexicanrestaurant.com/). I had shrimp fajitas with a side of guacamole. Sitting across from me is my handsome husband, who doesn’t like having his pictures on the internet, but take my word for it, he’s super! ❤

Caldwell Chiropractic

We LOVE this clever chiropractic advertisement! But luckily since I started using Young Living Oils over a year ago, I haven’t the need to see a chiropractor or an acupuncturist! At 52 I have the back of a 20-something! If I sleep wrong, I just mix a bit of Pan Away with some coconut oil and I am good to go! That can be YOU! Email me and I’ll hook you up: maryannechristiano@gmail.com

Pumpkins!

Whether they’re real or fake, pumpkins are just the cutest part of the season. Last night my husband and I went to a “Pumpkin Sail” (yes, a pumpkin sail, not sale!) Children carve pumpkins then send them down the lake on a platform with a votive candle inside. It was so pretty watching them float along the river, heading down to the little falls.

And, finally, in Halloween spirit, we visited the house of The Watcher in Westfield, New Jersey.

If you Google, “The Watcher, Westfield, New Jersey” you’ll come up with a crazy story about a phantom watcher who writes anonymous notes to residents. The most recent residents were terrified and are suing the people who sold them the home because they weren’t told about what’s been happening at this house for ages.

My husband was brave enough to go up to the doorstep. I stayed behind. From where I stood it looked like the mailbox was full of mail. The vibe was creepy. Not a soul to be seen and an empty driveway. However, the homes around The Watcher house were full of life, lights on, Halloween decorations and cars in the driveways.

When my husband reached the doorway, the floor of the porch creaked!

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681020513

 

Charles Addams House

411 Elm Street, Westfield, New Jersey

On Halloween my neighboring towns of Westfield and Cranford really go all out with decorations, so my husband and I love to walk around the towns with our kitty, Derick (who is now 19!) This year we dressed Derick up as Count Cat-ula; he wore a long black cape. He just loves the attention from both adults and children. He even gets candy (and his “Mommy” gets to eat it!)

It wouldn’t be Halloween unless we stopped at the Addams Family house, where Charles Addams drew his inspiration from the cartoon: 411 Elm St.

And on 522 Elm St. was the modest two-family home that Addams grew up in.

522 Elm Street

After trick or treating with Derick, my husband and I dropped the kitty back at home and headed out again to take in more of the Halloween vibe in downtown Cranford and got a drink at the Cranford Hotel.

Downtown Cranford

Now my favorite holiday is done, until next year. But we’ll keep our decorations up until almost Thanksgiving! Nothing is cooler than the Halloween stuff, so I’ll soak up the black cats, pumpkins and ghosts as much as I can!

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681020513)

And My Cat Had a Happy Halloween!

Me and my love cat, Derick

My husband and I took our little one, Derick, out to see some Halloween houses. He was getting quite a bit of attention! There’s a lot of cat lovers out there!

We dressed him in the Wells Fargo “Snowflake” horse blanket and told everyone he was a bank teller!

Snowflake from Wells Fargo

Halloween Double Feature Starring Kids, For Kids

Photo by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

Last week I had the opportunity to preview Westfield’s Hedgehog and Feather’s Halloween production of “Creature Double Feature II: The Mummy – The Wolfman.”

Here is the article I wrote: http://www.thealternativepress.com/articles/westfields-hedgehog-and-feather-to-present-hallo

It was so cool getting a sneak preview of the kids in action and always a pleasure to work with director Ty Jacobs and producer Sara Hedgepeth, as this was my second article this year for Hedgehog and Feather theatre.

Carrie on!

Sissy Spacek, the original “Carrie” (1976)

In 1974, at age 11, I was told to hide my book by a fellow student because I could get in trouble for having it in school. The controversial book was “Carrie” by Stephen King, a horror novel about a shy, awkward high school student abused by both her Christian fundamentalist mother and school bullies. (Ironically, the girl who was nice enough to tell me to hide the book turned out to be an insecure bully herself).

When the movie came out in 1976, I loved it! I must have watched it several times since then, of course cheering on Carrie who got her revenge via telekinetic powers. Go Carrie!

In 1999 “Carrie 2: The Rage” was released. It was the sequel to “Carrie” with some guest appearances from original cast members. It was made modern with a sex scandal. Emily Bergl plays the main character Rachel and does a great job, as does the rest of the cast. It had some “read between the lines” messages that you could pick up on, which I always love.

Emily Bergl, “Carrie 2: The Rage” (1999)

Last night I saw “Carrie” was on On Demand and decided to watch it with my husband, mistakenly assuming it was “The Rage” but it was yet another “Carrie” — from 2002! It was spectacular. Angela Bettis played “Carrie” and she was phenomenal. I will definitely watch for her in other things. This plot stayed true to the original but was a bit more graphic. I loved how they gave Carrie a little more spunk too, where even in her innocence she wasn’t afraid to mouth off to the bullies. It was great how she told the Sue Snell character, “Everyone thinks they’re better than me. It’s okay, they can. But they’re not right.” And that strut on Bettis killed me! She was a riot, possibly putting her in first place as my favorite Carrie. How did I miss this one all these years?

Angela Bettis “Carrie (2002)”

Now, Googling today, I find there will be yet another “Carrie” starring Chloë Grace Moretz; and Julianne Moore playing Carrie’s mom (I can’t picture Julianne Moore for this role, she is just too sexy, but she’s a great actress so I’m sure it will work). I know Chloe’s work from the new “Dark Shadows.” She’s a good actress but from the trailer I’m thinking maybe she’s not weird enough. But the fact that she is pretty makes sense because bullies usually pick on girls they are jealous of. And modern day technology of cell phone photos in the locker room makes the bullying even more intense.

Chloë Grace Moretz, “Carrie (2013)”

The role for the 2013 Carrie  was originally offered to Lindsay Lohan, who I adore and feel would make a great Carrie too, but unless she goes on a raw food diet and stops drinking, she may look too old to play a high school girl.

Too bad “Carrie” wasn’t remade in the 1980s as well. Winona Ryder would make the ultimate “Carrie.” (And I can just see Johnny Depp as Tommy Ross — sigh!)

So, this new “Carrie” is due out later this year — October, perfect for the Halloween season. And it looks scary!

I am so psyched!

Carrie on!

Carrie 2013 movie trailer