Halloween Outdoor Decorations: Monster Candy Treater-Greeter

Got big plans for Halloween? Fear not: just use this porch comedian / treat holder in your place, and the local treaters will be none the wiser. Just grab his shoulders and he expands to nearly 3 feet tall. Younger children should be delighted by these porch monsters -- they look like big, friendly dolls with goofy faces. They say funny things too, in a somewhat sarcastic, obviously kidding tone and an evil / silly laugh.

Treater-Greeters will add excitement to your doorway, porch, balcony or courtyard Halloween display. It's like having a new addition to the family, only he gets packed away for 11 months of the year.

I have a confession to make that I think many others are guilty of: On Halloween my spouse and I have always ditched our house in favor of accompanying our kids and friends while they go trick-or-treating. It's just so much fun. We usually leave a basket or bowl of treats with a moral-questioning sign along the lines of: "Go ahead and take one treat, but leave the rest for the others. Let your conscience be your guide. Happy Halloween!"

We aren't the only ones in the neighborhood to not stay home, personally pass out goodies, and gush over the costumes. Childless households are usually off at adult Halloween parties, so it's a fairly common occurrence to have a decorated, lighted house without humans with whom to interact.

That's where the Treater-Greeters come in. When I first saw them, I instantly thought of otherwise-vacant houses that can actually have a porch monster on the premises to "hand out" candy. Made by Gemmy, the friendly-faced monster, dracula or witch stands just under 3-feet tall on sturdy, rather large feet, holding a bowl to be filled with a treat (packages of candy). As the trick-or-treater approaches, the monster's eyes light up and he delivers some of his lines. A sampling: "Help yourself, but don't ask what it's made of...yummmm!"; "Come closer, I won't hurt you, I'm your friend" (evil laugh follows); and my personal favorite, "Take what you like, but don't be greedy!" (now I don't have to make another guilt-inducing sign).

Besides filling in as your host stunt-double, one of these Treater-Greeters makes a perfect porch monster or entryway butler. Have plans for Friday the 31st? Leave one of these monsters at your apartment door and fill the bowl with treats o' plenty. Just hope that any tricksters don't haul him away.