Four Fun Ways to Get in the Halloween Spirit

Halloween is among us! We’re counting down the days in our household. My husband and I have always liked the Halloween season and for years we would have costume parties, go trick-or-treating when our daughter was young, and now we host our family and friends for a fall-inspired meal on Halloween night. I think deep down, it’s just an excuse for us adults to tap in to that childlike wonder. In the past couple of years we have taken this to a new level. My husband starts in the spring designing and handcrafting an outdoor Halloween display. Each year he adds a new scene with a little more pizzazz. This year we have a haunted Pirates of the Carribean scene, a jail scene, a sea creature taking over a ghost ship and more! A month before Halloween, I begin prepping by pulling out my wreaths, punch bowls, getting a great candy selection (of course) and preparing my haunted menu! Pinterest is always a great resource for fun recipes and decor ideas. We enjoy Halloween night around a Solo stove bonfire with s’mores, sweet potato chili and pot pie, as we pass out candy to our neighbors and admire all the creative costumes! It’s a great way to bring the community together.

This level of dedication might not be for everyone, but I’ve listed four fun ideas to get you in the spooky spirit with your friends this Halloween!

We all know and love s’mores. I think it’s very nostalgic for many of us. Every year I dream about breaking out a marshmallow, just to accidentally burn the edges and create the perfect fireside sweet treat. They are the definition of fall. This year, we decided to take our s’more making to another level. Queue SAVORY SMORES! All you need is your favorite cracker (something sturdy), hard cheese (we like aged cheddar), salami/pepperoni or prosciutto, and my favorite - a fig jam (some prefer honey). Once you roast your cheese like you would roast a marshmallow, assemble your cracker, jam and meat with your cheese on top! This is the perfect adult snack, paired with wine or cider by the fire. If you’re looking for other ideas check this out https://pin.it/28ScYQQU0 I’m excited to make new memories with our savory s’mores this year!

Who doesn’t love decorating a gingerbread house around Christmastime? With the holidays just around the corner, I can hardly wait to dive into it! If you’re searching for an exciting Halloween craft that gets the whole family involved, look no further than the Haunted House Chocolate Cookie Kit from Trader Joe’s. It’s perfect for an exciting girls’ night or even a solo project. Get ready to unleash your creativity! https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/haunted-house-chocolate-cookie-kit-057928 Be sure to pickup some other October goodies while you’re there. A few of my go-tos are the Honey Crisp Apple Scented candles, the Organic Maple butter (you can add this to your Savory S’mores), and their pumpkins and wheat grass for a front door display!

What’s Halloween without a festive adult bevy to elevate the celebration. I’m partnering with Cocktails in Bloom to bring you the perfect transition drink into fall. I know in many places around the country it’s still not quite that cold in October, so Marie with Cocktails in Bloom has crafted her Secret Ingredient Lime Margarita:

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 oz of @josecuervotequilla

3/4 oz of @solerno_blood orange

Juice of 1 small lime

Garnish with a dry or fresh lime wheel

Shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker and strain into a salt/sugar rimmed glass. The blood orange liqueur gives it such a fun twist this Halloween season!

Rounding out my spooky ideas with an adult Halloween costume contest. As I’ve pursued content creation with Oysters to Pearls in the midlife space, I’ve realized just how many women fall into routines and ruts. Women have come to me expressing how they want to feel inspired and energized — I’ll share more on this topic soon — I always express how important it is to continue to have zeal for life and live every day to the fullest. After disease, divorce or menopause just to name a few, you’re never too old to dance silly, dress boldly and start anew! And this is why I love the idea of a costume contest. You’re never to old to play dress up. Grab your husband, your girl groups or your kids and plan a fun night out on the town the week of Halloween. It doesn’t have to be October 31st. Play games, laugh the night away and then vote on the best dressed!

I believe in everyday you can find a bit of celebration, wonder and excitement, but we love doing a little extra something on the holidays to keep us young!

So happy Halloween from me to you! I hope you’re having a spooky October. Let’s chat soon!

Xoxo

Shannon