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Happy Halloween. Chic Halloween First Impressions.




I am slightly obsessed with Halloween decorations and the joy that I get by decorating my front entry is nearly palpable. The front entry sets the tone of Halloween and for God’s sake please keep it classy. It’s not impossible. Less plastic, more realistic. I have spent hours tea dyeing yards and yards of cheesecloth for a natural realistic spooky effect. I have a great collection of lifelike crows and owls. I love using scarecrows, hay bales, spiders, cornstalks, unusual pumpkins, and anything that does not scream, “I bought everything at Target.” I am also a big fan of keeping it simple and using one element like the hybrid Jarrahdale blue pumpkins en masse. Your children will hate you, but who cares, they can go to the neighbors house if they want to see tacky decorations.

Let’s take a look today at some rather chic Halloween first impressions. In the following blogs throughout October, we will get into the specifics… Pumpkin carving, interior Halloween decorating, Halloween party decor, Halloween party food, Halloween costumes, Halloween movies, haunted houses, vintage Halloween… All with the idea to “keep it chic.”
 










For more Halloween First Impressions check out my Pinterest board HERE.
*Something you don’t know about me? Since the day we moved into our apartment in Paris, I have seen and surveyed the lives of my next-door neighbors from day one. Think, Rear Window. We live on the same floor. Troisième étage. Our apartment faces the street and my bedroom sits facing the internal courtyard. The neighbor’s apartment faces the courtyard as well. So basically, as I lie in my bed, I can see directly into their living room, dining room and kitchen. This means, I see their entire lives, except for their bedroom which would be gross anyway, and even grosser because they are in their 80s. The neighbors are French and have lived in their apartment for over 60 years. Even though they are elderly and a little bit wobbly, they always open the doors for me and always insist that I take the elevator first. This is so difficult for me because I try to insist that they take the elevator ahead of me in my Franglish…because I am so freaking polite. They always pat my hands and wish for me a good day. If they see me in the hallway on my way out for a walk, they remind me that I should take a scarf.

I know their whole routine. They wake up early (old people early), roll up their exterior bamboo shades, and take their morning coffee at the dining room table together. In the afternoons they usually go out for a walk separately (weird) and in the evenings the most delicious scent of roasted chicken, onions, butter and garlic wafts across the courtyard and into my apartment. On the weekends, their family comes over and they look through photo albums. Day after day, month after month. This was the routine until one day… Poof! They were gone. Lights off, shades drawn, no movement. The weeks turned into months. When their window box topiaries died, I started to worry.

 All sorts of delirious thoughts roamed through my head. My first thought was murder/suicide. But then I thought that murder/suicide was more plausible at my apartment. Then I imagined that they were spending the summer in their château in Normandy. Or, maybe they were on the Orient Express. But then, my thoughts went back to the sinister as I reminded myself of the plot of the brilliant film, Amour, about an elderly couple in Paris... The wife is disabled from a stroke and the husband suffocates her out of love. Every day I gaze/spy through the windows, wondering where they are and how they are. I honestly assumed that they were dead.

But all of a sudden, a few days ago, the lights went on in their apartment! I almost fell out of my bed. I started screaming, “David, David, the neighbors are back, the neighbors are back!” We made a bowl of popcorn and decided to watch the show through our window. The lace curtains were opened and the windows were flung open and we could see someone cleaning the chandelier, but it was not the elderly couple. I shouted with my weak little lungs, “See! They are dead, David, and this is the cleaning crew coming to dispose of the bodies.” After about 20 minutes, the windows were closed and the curtains were closed again. Lights went on. Lights went off. Lights went on. Lights went off. I was losing my mind. I begged David to go knock on their door and start asking questions.

He refused on the grounds of politeness and said, “We don’t do that in France.” This is not a phrase that I appreciate. My sister-in-law said that to me once, “We don’t do that in France” and I didn’t speak to her for a year. I told David that in America the polite thing to do is to go next door, knock on the door and ask if the neighbors are dead.

He still refused. French bore. I had to wait until the following morning when David finally saw the couple alive and in person in the hallway! David said that they asked how I was and David told them I was worried about them. They said they were fine… Sort of. What does that mean! What does that mean! David’s social skills are that of an autistic child so, of course, David did not delve any deeper into the conversation. So, I still don’t have any answers, but trust me, trust me… I will get to the bottom of this. CSI Paris.

29 comments:

  1. My Halloween decorations are "tasteful" and have been carefully collected over the years. I DO like that snake wreath!

    "Absolutely need to know 'what's what' with your neighbors...will stay tuned...yours,"Nosy in Fallbrook, CA"

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  2. CSI Ellie,
    Do tell us more....
    I have a neighbor two houses down from me and he is in his 90's and we invited him over for dessert and he absolutely adored it! Perhaps you can invite your neighbors over for a little night cap or dessert.
    Love all your Halloween decor.
    pve

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    1. Good idea. I will lure them over into my apartment, get them drunk and then they will tell me everything. :-)

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  3. I love this post. The seasonal spookiness, the spying, and even the separate walks. Such a cliffhanger! Some of my NYC windows face onto neighboring hotel rooms and I've learned never to look too closely. Can't wait to hear the rest of this story.

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  4. You had me on the edge of my seat. Yes, please do find out what happened to your elderly couple. I try to be polite at all times but am such a stickybeak. Looking forward to the next instalment. Please hurry as I am impatient. Kind regards, Deidre.

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  5. OH ELLie.............YOU had me going and I'm laughing OUTLOUD.
    You go girl CSI PARIS!Just last night my ITALIAN husband and (he would say the same thing the French husband did!!)Was complaining that they have moved CSI to 10 pm and thats too late for him as he awakens at 4:30 AM and needs his sleep.I will tell him tonight to just READ your BLOG it will be better for him anyway...........and WAY more FUN!
    You are a JEWEL................A JEWEL!!!!!XOXOXO

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    1. If you were here at my apartment, I would send you next-door to start asking questions. If anyone can do it, it would be you. They would probably invite you in for tea! XOXO

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    2. I will give you ONE WEEK.........to solve the CASE!Then I will hop on a plane and be your personal DETECTIVE.You will have to give me a CRASH course in FRENCH!XO

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    3. My Southern Louisiana husband wouldn't even NEED an excuse to go talk to the neighbors. :) Just aim him in the right direction and let him go...

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  6. I love your blog! Your writing is hysterical and your taste divine!! Looking forward to the next installment of CSI Paris. Reminds me of what my mother once said, "I'm only nosy because I think I can help!"

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    1. So glad you like the blog! And your mother is absolutely correct! XOXO

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  7. Oh my gosh, Elie, I was on the edge of my seat reading about your neighbors! I can't wait to learn where they were and why. Loved the black owls, but not the snake wreath... and Rear Window is among my favorite movies.
    *Two things about me: 1) I've always had a love/hate view towards Halloween. My birthday is Nov. 1st. My father had issued a stern warning to my mother that she had better not require a trip to the hospital on Halloween night, lest his car be soaped or otherwise pranked. Of, course, that's exactly what happened, but I didn't arrive til the wee morning hours of the 1st. So Halloween always seemed to overshadow my birthday as a kid - but I could also claim that I was born on All Saints Day, especially convenient whenever I got into trouble. : )
    2) My nickname among friends is Nancy Drew.

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    1. I love those two things about you! At least your birthday wasn't on Christmas. XOXO

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  8. HA CSI Paris! Love it! The cultural differences trip me up in Paris frequently! In the South you were "raised right" if you smile at people when you pass them on the street. I finally had a French friend tell me not to do that because in France people will assume you are stupid. You can only smile if you both witness something funny together, and then you will have a new best friend! Also, I agree, in the South it would be rude to not ask if they were ok. You are so funny and thank you for reminding me of these French manners. I will be primed for my next trip!

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  9. OMG! I love to spit my latte out on my desk…every day….when I read your blog! But you know, its worth it;) A few years ago I was lucky enough to be in Paris helping family members try to find a new home. We stayed at a quaint hotel, damn if I can remember the name, but it has been around since 20's. A lovely, dark, and small! bar on premises where we started each evening with champagne, of course. Anyway, one night as I was drifting off to sleep, I was startled by the sounds of the couple in the apartment across and down 1 floor. Wild passion, dishes thrown, laughter, squeals and squeaks of the bed…mon dieu! I remember it fondly, I just wish my husband was with me;)

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    1. Oh, I'm sorry… That was me. Did I keep you up? Ha ha ha. XOXO

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  10. HA! CSI Paris made me chortle. And my kids do hate and complain my halloween decor but I told them they will get cheap and tacky at my in-laws. And btw, your blog must turn book... it is that good.

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  11. Ha-ha-hysterical! Like a scene from The Grand Budapest Hotel or Sherlock Holmes. Of course we have to pay attention! Sh** happens! I can't wait for the next chapter and I trust you WILL get to the bottom of it – The "sort of.” I’m not an expert on French etiquette, but it sure sounds like a conversation opener to me. I have a theory on why they take separate walks...to have interesting stories to tell over their evening aperitif...at the dining room table, by the courtyard window, near the friendly neighborhood "voyeur.” ;)

    p.s. I like the wreath with the black bird and rolled manuscripts. * Something about me? I only buy really good Halloween candy because I eat any and all leftovers.

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    1. I like your theory and I think you are correct. And bravo to you for only buying good Halloween candy! I'm coming to your house! XOXO

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  12. With this post I'm absolutely positive we should be best friends. Not for the Halloween...not a fan of this holiday but due to your curiosity. I, too,am a busy-buddy. My daughter keeps trying to correct me and says, "Mom, the word is not busy-buddy but busy-body." I think busy-buddy is much more appropriate and speaks to a more innocent curiosity. I invite you to be my busy-buddy. Gotta find out what happened to the couple during their disappearance! Thank you for all your wonderful writings and photos...you make my mornings!

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    1. Yes, busy buddy! We can be busy buddies together! Thank you for all of your compliments. Have a great day.

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  13. Hey, Super Sleuth - I can hardly wait to learn about the long absence of your elderly neighbors. They sound delightful and I would think they would be charmed by you . . . and your concern. I await the results of your investigation. Your Halloween pictures are great - it is a fun holiday for decorating.

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  14. Thanks for the great pictures...and reminder. I love 2 photos you've posted: the private pumpkin patch out front, #3 (pumpkin soup for 2 years anyone?) and the wreath with the black bird. I'm going to try to make something similar for my door. Funny neighbor story. I hope they really are ok. I find their lifestyle inspiring...esp. the afternoon (separate) city walks.

    All the best, Michelle

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  15. Dear Ellie,

    I am thrilled every time I find "Have Some Decourm" in my inbox. I read your entries to my husband in the evening. (He loves them, too!)

    Thank you so very much.

    Love, Alexandra

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    1. Dear Alexandra, so glad you like the blog I am super happy your husband like it as well. XOXO thank you for reading!

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  16. As this is our first Halloween since moving full time to the countryside I am dying to do something spectacular!!! Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Countryside! French countryside? Ohhh, I'm so jealous. Yes, do something spectacular and send pictures. XOXO Ellie

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  17. Our elderly neighbors do not exactly take separate walks; she walks about 10-30 feet behind him on their daily walks. For at least the last 20 years. No one on the street has asked why.
    ... I'm looking forward to more from you on Hallowe'en.

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