Did you really think we'd get through another Halloween season without my raving about PAAS Halloween Make-Up Kits? Admittedly I post this thing a billion times throughout the year regardless of the season. That's because I love them. It may not look like much to some of you now, but at the time they were amazing! There was just something about that cardboard standee at the grocery store holding all the different kits that just beamed "FREAKING AWESOME". I love looking at the make-up kits throughout the spooky season. The packaging, cheesy pics that you'll never quite replicate. All the broken open ones spilled on the shelf, all the unsold ones showing up at the local liquidation stores long expired and usable the following year. Just the visage of them is pure Halloween to me. PAAS wasn't my first make-up kit, or even my last. That PAAS Werewolf kit though, was the best.
I've probably talked more about those wonderful Paas Halloween Make-Up Kits here more than Machine Gun Kelly remembers to floss his teeth. I'm admitting these are a moment in time kind of thing, a 'you had to have been there' instance. Just believe me, they were magic. The pure majesty of the cardboard display at the local grocery store was memorizing. I'd spend countless trips to the store parked in front of it, just looking at the various kits over and over until it was time to go.
We're in the last stretch of the Halloween season Zone Base readers. I hope you're all in for the last of this years Pumpkin Spiced Mayhem. I wish it could go on all year, and in a way it does on Planet Zone! This weekend the Mrs and I exchanged Halloween gifts as we usually do the weekend before the big day. She got me a bag full of candy (Kinder Surprise Eggs included) and a set of Toony Terrors Halloween 3 kids! We also went out to look at Halloween lights and to get pumpkins!
I managed to get the last of the McDonald's Pumpkin pails earlier today. Don't worry, I didn't eat 3 Happy Meals in one week, but I'll be sure to not eat anything bad for quite a while regardless. Outside of all that, I got the Transformers Jada Metalfigs series 2 set. It's the Walmart exclusive set with extra guys. Walmart had also stocked Bakugan, so I grabbed a Ghost Beast. There's plenty of spooky season appropriate toys in that little line. Well, I've got to go out and vote in the morning. I'm not a very political person, but I suppose it's my civic duty. Thank you for reading Zone Base. I really appreciate it and ask that you please share with your friends!
Did you really think we'd get through another Halloween season without my raving about PAAS Halloween Make-Up Kits? Admittedly I post this thing a billion times throughout the year regardless of the season. That's because I love them. It may not look like much to some of you now, but at the time they were amazing! There was just something about that cardboard standee at the grocery store holding all the different kits that just beamed "FUCKING AWESOME". I love looking at the make-up kits throughout the spooky season. The packaging, cheesy pics that you'll never quite replicate. All the broken open ones spilled on the shelf, all the unsold ones showing up at the local liquidation stores long expired and usable the following year. Just the visage of them is pure Halloween to me. PAAS wasn't my first make-up kit, or even my last. That PAAS Werewolf kit though, was the best.
I never seem to shut up about Paas Halloween make-up kits. I love them so... I've said as much before, I know. This old Woolworth's commercial really hits home for me, just seeing all those kit's lined up with the Halloween Hair Spray Color cans, sure to complete the look. I don't know why I love this stupid holiday as much as I do. I don't care, ignorance is bliss and I'm fucking happy. Speaking from my own experience (because it's the only one I can), these old commercials really hit home for me.
It's not just a nostalgia thing, but a look back at a bygone era that I wasn't ready to be over yet. It's part of the reason I like the town I live in. There's a good 50% seemingly stuck in the 80's while the rest of the town lives in the now. It makes holidays like Halloween that I firmly keep one foot in the past during just a little more fun. Normally I make some bad joke about the video I post but, well, maybe I'm just wallowing in my own joy for the moment. Well, ok, did you see the adult costumes? Holy shit, what a nightmare.
It's Easter weekend and you know what that means? That's right, another excuse for me to force Halloween into something. Fortunately, it's not too hard of a task today. Long time readers know of my love for PAAS Halloween make up kits, something that hasn't been made in a very long time unfortunately.
If you've been to a store recently, you've seen all sorts of Easter Egg dye kits. Many made by PAAS. I'm not sure why PAAS eventually got out of the Halloween game. It seemed like they'd always be around until they weren't. I guess with the company founded on Easter they thought better to focus on eggs than WWF Halloween costumes. It's not like there's a shortage of make up kits either. Maybe I'm just playing favorites. Something about those boxes.
I have an admission of guilt. Even though I am pure in heart and say
my prayers by night, I became a wolf when the wolfbane bloomed and the
autumn moon was bright. Yes, I was once a werewolf. When the moon was
full I changed into a monster and prowled the neighborhood for a victim.
My blood lust could not be stopped, I'd kill and kill and kill. Nobody
was safe, for you see I was a werewolf.
For exactly one night.
In the third grade.
I've mentioned Crestwood House Monsters here before, so what if I told you the stars aligned just right and I got the Wolfman book from the library the same day I first saw Teenwolf? Because that's exactly what happened.
I was prepared to read my book that Friday night when a new movie came on HBO. A cinematic masterpiece, Teen Wolf.
It was then that I was bitten, by the idea to be a werewolf for Halloween. I'll wait for you to catch your breath. So there I had the perfect costume in mind but now with a conundrum. How
was I going to pull that off? The simple answer would be with a mask
and some of those hairy gloves.
The complicated part would be I was in the third grade and what you might call a child.
What I'm saying is, I was still a little scared of rubber masks. I was petrified of them prior, despite loving all sorts of monster toys and movies, having a real one in your face is a different story.
Though after years of my brother reusing his Gamorrean Guard mask, I had matured from pissing myself in abject terror to slight discomfort. However, I still didn't want to wear one.
Ben Cooper mask, sure. Rubber mask, nope. So how do I become a werewolf? All of my costumes up to this point were smock and mask or make up kit based.
I've mentioned how much I love make up kits before, but I don't think you quite understand. I freaking adore them.
I love looking at the packaging and at the examples. The variety of kits from cheap to expensive, I just can't get enough of them on the aisle.
I mentioned it was the weekend right? So of course a trip to the store was in order and wouldn't you know it, the old faithful PAAS make up kit display was standing proudly.
All the kits were there. Dracula, ghost, camouflage... stupid ass clown... glam rock... left over Easter Egg kit... wait...
wait...
A WEREWOLF!
Needless to say, I had my costume in check. Come Halloween night I was dressed as a werewolf should. Blue jeans, black fruit of the loom sweat shirt, and the mind blowing transformation that only a PAAS make up kit could produce! The kit came with several tubes of make up and instructions on how to properly apply. Also included were plastic fangs and on the back of the box were cut out ears and moon medallion (yarn not included).
I don't mean to brag, but I looked badass. My cousin arrived in yet another bullshit bed sheet ghost costume with some of his moms cold cream on his face to make it white. At least he smelt nice. I got so much freaking candy and even scared a few old ladies. Except the ones who never know what you're supposed to be. EVERYBODY ISN'T DRACULA MRS. EDNA. Same assholes that gives out those stale peanut butter chews. Same ones. Same bag from last year.
That Halloween rocked, maybe even more when my cousin threw one of his trademark tantrums and yard spiked his MCBoo Pail into the ground after tripping on his sheet for the millionth time. We got back to my place for pizza and a viewing of Teen Wolf. The perfect bookend to my werewolf saga.
I have a legitimate love for Halloween make up kits. I love looking through the tacky sets on store shelves and checking out what's new this year and whats's been repeated. What's cheap and what's expensive (they're usually pretty cheap, but occasionally there's that giant one for $20). The love came from my annual ogling of the PAAS (the folks who make Easter Egg dye kits) display at the local grocery store or pharmacy every year during my childhood. I loved these kits and was always blown away at how amazing the pictures on the boxes made the finished product look (your results may vary). Usually the back of the box (it was literally the same packaging as the Easter Egg kits) would have cut out accessories to accentuate your costume.
In 1986, thanks to my reading of Crestwood House Monsters books in the library and regular showings of Teen Wolf on HBO, I was destined to be a werewolf that year for Halloween. I spent the entire season researching werewolf's and getting my werewolf down. Even told kids in my class I was actually a werewolf and Halloween was the next time I'd change. I had my costume down, a black sweat shirt (I've spent my entire lifetime wearing those fruit of the loom shirts)..ok, jeans and my Nikes (I did say Teen Wolf) and... and...
boom goes the dynamite
Thanks to PAAS, I was the best werewolf ever. The back of the box had cut out wolf ears and a full moon medallion (I had to source some string). Halloween was on a Friday that year, and it was pretty great. We ordered pizza, my cousins came over, and we hit my neighborhood with our pumpkin pails ready for action. After we got home, we watched Teen Wolf and I don't mind bragging that my werewolf costume was so much better than my cousins crappy bed sheet ghost with cheap white face paint. I even got some extra Double Bubble for my efforts, and not because the old lady across the street was giving more to neighborhood kids she recognized... ok, that was probably it. The next day my Mom took us to the mall and I got a Rio Blast Master of the Universe figure. Would it have been such a great Halloween without my PAAS make up kit?
No, because PAAS Halloween Make Up kits were magical.
