The Best Props That You Need For This Halloween

Halloween is quickly approaching us. Literally, we are less than a month away from trick-or-treaters and candy galore. If there is one thing I love about Halloween, is buying the creepiest/craziest props I can to scare people when they come over! I have seen some intense props, from blood bags to package of meat, people do not mess around with Halloween! I thought this would be a fun time to show off some of the coolest props I could find, and maybe you might want to purchase! 

The Chop Shop

Party City, $6.99
This is one of the FREAKIEST props I have ever seen! It literally looks like a package of meat you would begin cooking with. I have seen things like this on sets of haunted houses where it is a kitchen scene, usually with a pig that is seeking revenge! Anyways, fun prop! Hah!!

Lounging Yard Skeleton

Spirit Store, $98.99

If you love decorating your front yard with all the best props, then you absolutely need this one! This lounging yard skeleton comes in two pieces and has the illusions that your skeleton “buddy” is just hanging out in the yard!

Pennywise Animatronic Decoration

Spirit Store, $269.99

If you are a TRUE fan of everything Halloween, you are going to love this! This is a 6.5 foot animatronic Pennywise, from the movie It. I am deathly afraid of clowns, but in that case, this is the perfect prop to have to scare people with! He comes with a remote control, and even talks too! This will for sure scare anyone who walks by!

For Those Who have Children

I know many people who have children may not want the scariest set up possible. But that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate any! Here are some great props you can get to decorate with children in mind

Light Up Lock Pumpkin

Spirit Store, $9.99

If any of you knew me, you would know how big of a Disney fan I truly am. So when I saw these online, I thought they were the CUTEST props ever! This one is Lock from The Nightmare Before Christmas, plus they have Sally, Shock, Barrel, and even Oogie Boogie! They are all light up pumpkin, that would be the perfect in home decor for all you Disney & Tim Burton fans like me.

Light Up Woody Pumpkin

Spirit Store, $9.99

Just like the Nightmare before Christmas themed pumpkins, they have other Disney characters as well! They have Woody, Ham, Buzz Lightyear, and so many more! Kids will absolutely love these! All you need are a couple batteries, and you’re good to go!

Halloween Friends Yard Decorating Kit

Party City, $21

I love this kit so much! I have a ten month old son, so he doesn’t really process the idea of being scared all that much! But this is perfect for those who have younger kids that still want to decorate. These come in this set of three : a jack-o-lantern, a ghost, and a cauldron. What more could you want!

As you can see, there are many Halloween props you can get this year that are sure to be frightfully fun! Stay tuned for more Halloween fun next week, when we discuss the best safety tips for your Kids this Halloween! 

The Ultimate Guide to your Dishwasher

Honestly, as a consumer myself, I never really think about the quality of a dishwasher. I mean sure, you want it to do the best job possible when cleaning dishes. However, there is so much more that goes into a dishwasher we do not even think about! This guide here will lead you to getting the perfect dishwasher for you and your family!

Task 1: The Style

Picking out the perfect dishwasher comes with many decisions. There are three main styles of dishwasher to choose from: countertop, built-in, or drawer. Let's dive a little deeper into what each of these three looks are like. 

• Countertop: This is one style of washer I do not think I have ever seen before but is in fact a real thing! These dishwashers sit on top of the counters and simply plug into the faucet lines. Pros to this would be how convenient they are if you are someone who moves around a lot. A con to this would be how much space it takes up on the counter itself.

• Built-In: This is the most common style of dishwasher we know. This would be your standard washer that slides into a spot within your cabinetry, and the drop-down door style to it. However, these do need to be attached to your main plumbing water line. However, that is a super easy set-up!

• Drawer: This one is very similar to the standard style of built-in dishwashers. They sit within your cabinetry; however, the door style pulls out like drawers. Almost like a garbage compactor. Love the idea of this!
  
  

Task 2: The Control Panel

This is also something you never think about until actually shopping for a dishwasher. However, it is something I have noticed is important! The control panel is here all of your buttons will be located. Personally, I have a dishwasher with all the buttons on the top and I love that!

• Fully Integrated: This is the type of I have! All the buttons are located at the top of the dishwasher, hidden for a much sleeker appearance!

• Semi-integrated: This dishwasher has some of the buttons hidden, and some of them showing. This includes the handle to the dishwasher as well.

•  Full-Console: This dishwasher has all of its buttons located on the face of the dishwasher. This is the most common layout of dishwashers there are!

Task 3: Special Features

For me, anytime I purchase something I always am looking at what kind of special features it may have. When doing some research, I found out that so many dishwashers have some cool things they can do! This includes things such as

• Adjustable racks

• And added 3rd Rack

• Specialty Cycles (Half Wash, Delicate, etc.)

• Plate Warmer

And so much more!

The overall message here, is that there is so much research and investigating that goes into purchasing a dishwasher! This guide here has a lot of information but is not limited to the many more features you should look into! And if in case your dishwasher doesn’t seem to be working right, call Appliance Rescue Service in your area today to get a service call set up! We are never too busy to take your calls!

The Magic of Ice Cream

Greetings my appliance-minded friends. I hope the summer has treated you well. Here in Ohio we are approaching what some call Fall. In Ohio, however, we call it Second Summer. We’ll have a few weeks of actual Fall here in October and then around November, we’ll slip into Practice Winter before actual Winter comes in and sets up camp until about April.

Speaking of Second Summers, one thing that hits the spot is a Frosty. If you don’t happen to have a Wendy’s Restaurant near you, you might not know what a Frosty is.

It’s not quite soft serve ice cream, and it’s not quite a milkshake. It’s something in between. And it’s delicious. Simply delicious. 

For me, it’s something else. It’s a connection to my grandfather. My Gramps is an amazing man. In his 90’s, he’s still going strong. Gramps has an apartment at the same independent living center that I worked at in high school (how’s that for synchronicity?). 

You see, Gramps loves Frostys. Once a week, I’ll hit Wendy’s and pick up a couple of Jr. Frostys and go visit Gramps. I leave my cell phone in the car, there’s no need for it. 

When I walk in, Gramps always has the TV on, but always with the sub-titles. On a good day, he still has his hearing aids in. When he doesn’t, I just have to be more deliberate with my words. 

The best visits, though, are the ones where I barely talk at all. These are the visits that Gramps tells me stories. I learn about his visits all over the world. I learn about relatives I’ll never meet. I learn about things that become more real in that little apartment than they ever could anywhere else. I could probably watch a video on YouTube about riding an elephant to the top of a mountain in Nepal. About how, from the top of the mountain, their tour bus looked no bigger than an ant. 

It’s a reminder that sometimes you don’t need to hit the interwebs for those wonderful and amazing stories. Sometimes all you need to do is find one of your relatives-a parent, a grand-parent, aunt or uncle, and talk to them. Or better yet, grab a treat, go visit them and just listen. 

-Todd Skaggs

3 Delicious & Easy Pasta Recipes

I am always on the lookout for the tastiest and easiest recipes I can find during the Fall! This is the perfect time spent with loved ones, cozied-up around the fireplace, eating delicious food. One of my favorite meals is pasta, as the Italian in me has to love. I absolutely love anything and everything that has pasta in it. Honestly, I think I like it so much because you can keep pasta so simple, or make it super intricate. It is all up to you! Here are some amazingly, delicious and easy recipes I found from Delish that will be winners for you this Fall season! **ALL RECIPES COURTESY OF DELISH**

Judy Kim / Delish

Sloppy Joe Mac And Cheese

kosher salt

1 lb. Macaroni

1 lb. ground beef

Freshly ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

2 tbsp. brown sugar

2 c. crushed tomatoes

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 c. freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish

2 c. grated mozzarella, divided

For the full recipe, click on the link here

Judy Kim / Delish

Cauliflower & Broccoli Carbonara

kosher salt

1 lb. Macaroni

2 c. small broccoli florets

2 c. small cauliflower florets

2 large eggs, at room temperature

2 egg yolks, at room temperature

1/4 c. heavy cream, at room temperature

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish

For the recipe, click on the link here

Judy Kim / Delish

Cajun Angel Hair

kosher salt

12 oz. angel hair

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 lb. chicken sausage

2 tbsp. butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 c. sliced green onions, plus more for garnish

1 tbsp. Cajun seasoning

2 tsp. paprika

1/4 c. dry white wine

1/2 c. heavy cream

1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish

1/3 c. shredded Cheddar

For the full recipe, click on the link here

Judy Kim/Delish

If you are in the market for some easy, yet delicious recipes to use this fall, I highly recommend checking out Delish!

If any of your appliances ever seem to just not be working quite right, please give us a call today! We will set up a service call to come check it out and fix it for you in no time! Appliance Rescue Service is here to help!

5 Must Have Kitchen Essentials for this Fall

I don’t know about you, but I am SO excited for Fall this year! September 24th is the first day, and you all know what that means: Warm soups, hot chocolate, cuddly blankets, and that is just the beginning. With this cozy season being just around the corner, all the festive Fall recipes are coming out! Here are the must have kitchen essentials you will need to create those dang-good recipes!

Crock Pot or Slow Cooker

No matter what age you are, a CrockPot or slow cooker is one of the easiest appliances to have. Seriously, all you do is throw all the ingredients in, walk away, and let it do the rest! As a college student, this was my favorite appliance to use! Some of my favorite recipes I have done are beef stew, chicken tortilla soup, and macaroni and cheese! Yes, you heard me right. Macaroni and cheese. You can get a slow cooker at almost any home store, like Wal-Mart of Target. I will link where I got mine here!

Cast Iron Skillet

Honestly, before I met my husband, I had never used a cast iron skillet before. When we moved into our fully furnished home, we had a cast iron to use. And I had no idea what to cook in it! Fun fact about these, is you season them prior to cooking. You first clean them well with hot soapy water. Make sure it is fully dry. Then coat the skillet with vegetable oil. Just a thin layer! Then bake it in your oven at 375 degrees for an hour and voila! One of our favorite recipes to make in these is a nice steak, with butter and garlic! We loved using it so much, we bought our own! I will link where I got mine here!

Bread or Loaf Tin

If there is one dessert I love to have in the Fall, it would have to be banana nut bread! Having a loaf tin around is handy all the time, but having it for the fall especially is great! The great thing about this tin, is there are SO many recipes you can make in one. Meatloaf, pumpkin bread, fruit cake, and seriously so much more! Here is where you can get yours for only $2!!

Pie Tin

Going right along with a loaf pan, having a pie tin almost seems necessary during the Fall season! Especially during Thanksgiving time! Growing up, we always had pumpkin and pecan pie during Thanksgiving, and the same for Christmas! But not only can you make these sweet dessert pies, you can make other kinds too! Shepherds pie, chicken pot pie (one of our favorites), and turkey pot pie! The best part is you can get the disposable ones, or one to keep for however long! Here is where you can get disposable for only $12 for 50, and here is where you can get a more permanent one for $5.29! 

Electric Kettle

This has got to be one of the best appliances I have ever used before. If you are a tea or hot chocolate lover, then this is definitely for you! Not only that, I was able to use one of these in college for things like top ramen and instant mac and cheese! You simply fill the kettle, place it on the pad provided, and the water gets boiling hot (be careful) within minutes! Perfect for those who want a quick fix without waiting over a stove top! Here is where I purchased mine from.

Now this is definitely not the full list of the perfect items you will need this Fall, but it a great start! I honestly got most of these items from Target, but you can get them at most home goods stores! What is your favorite appliance to use in the Fall? 

If you are ever having troubles with your current kitchen appliances, contact us today to set up a service call. Appliance Rescue Service is always here to help!