October tag.

Hey readers,

I tried doing this for Tweetober however, I forgot and then I kind of gave up. However, I really like the questions so I thought I would do the tag as a blog post.

1) Favorite fall colour? My favorite fall colour would have to be mustard.

2) favorite fall activity? going for walks in nature when there is that crisp feel in the air then going home in the afternoon into the warm, bliss!

3) Favorite fall candle scent? apple cinnamon.

4) Corn maze or hayride? I think a hayride would be much more fun than a corn maze.

5) Sweater or hoodie? I prefer a sweater much more comfortable though I do miss the hood.

6) Favorite fall clothing item? I love fluffy socks and the way they feel on my tootsies especially when it is cold or during a dark evening.

7 Favorite fall date idea? I like to snuggle under a cosy blanket watching a film and drinking hot chocolate when it is all cold and drizzly outside.

8) Favorite fall drink? I would choose a rare treat that I have now and again and that would be a cheeky Costa mint hot chocolate.

9) Favorite thing about fall? Oh gosh, so many good things. Darker nights, cooler weather, the colours of the leaves, fairy lights.

10) What are you grateful for? Though I don't have a lot of money I am glad for having a roof over my head, food in my belly, feeling safe at home and my boys being happy (especially when they are giggling together).

11) Pumpkins or apples? Apples I loves a good juicy apple.

12) Favorite Halloween costume? I really love Beetlejuice so of course, it had to be him.

13) Favorite Disney villain? Not a massive Disney lover but if I had to choose a Disney villain it would have to be Cruella de Vil from the film One Hundred and One Dalmatians. I chose her just because she kicks ass at being evil and she has a brilliant dirty laugh.

14) Do you like haunted houses? Yes, of course, I do they look so much fun.

15) Favorite Disney movie? Without a question of doubt would be Beetlejuice.

16) Favorite fall memory? Feeling cozy in the evenings.

17) Favorite fall decor item? my Halloween fairy lights from Primark.

18) Favorite Halloween joke? I got so fed up with trick or treaters at Halloween that in the end I turned the lights out and pretended I wasn't in. Forget the ships. My lighthouse, my rules...

19) Favorite Halloween song? Bobby Pickett Monster Mash.

20) Firepit or fireplace? I love the fireplace and get cozy. Firepit sounds like hell, lol.

21) Scariest Halloween memory? Seeing humans, lol.

22) Do you believe in ghosts? No.

23) Pretty little liars or scream queens? Neither don't know what Scream Queens but not a fan of America-type programs that are saturated on Netflicks.

24) The favorite villain of all time? Hannibal Lecter.

25) Would you sleep in a graveyard? I already have when I was 12. I love graveyards so calming and no f*cker is around.

26) Favourite classic monster? cookie monster.

27) Biggest fear? Humans.

28) What Halloween monster would you be? Frankenstein.

29) The creepiest story you have heard? Jimmy Saville.

30) Favorite Adam's family member? Cousin It.

31) Halloween plans? eat all the mother f*cking sweets.

The blank questions if you want to join in. 

1) Favorite fall colour?

2) favorite fall activity? 

3) Favorite fall candle scent?

4) Corn maze or hayride? 

5) Sweater or hoodie? 

6) Favorite fall clothing item? 

8) Favorite fall drink? 

9) Favorite thing about fall? 

10) What are you grateful for? 

11) Pumpkins or apples? 

12) Favorite Halloween costume?

13) Favorite Disney villain? 

14) Do you like haunted houses? 

15) Favorite Disney movie? 

16) Favorite fall memory? 

17) Favorite fall decor item? 

18) Favorite Halloween joke?

19) Favorite Halloween song? 

20) Firepit or fireplace? 

21) Scariest Halloween memory? 

22) Do you believe in ghosts?

23) Pretty little liars or scream queens? 

24) The favorite villain of all time? 

25) Would you sleep in a graveyard?

26) Favourite classic monster? 

27) Biggest fear? 

28) What Halloween monster would you be? 

29) The creepiest story you have heard? 

30) Favorite Adam's family member? 

31) Halloween plans? 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 17/10/2021

My youngest enjoyed baking some cakes.

 

Halloween Monster Toilet Roll Craft

Hey readers,

Looking for an easy craft to do for Halloween then check out below how to make a Halloween monster toilet craft.

What you will need.

* Paint (any colour you fancy or have to hand).

* Toilet roll.

 * Pipe cleaners.

* Foam sticky shapes.

* Googly eyes. 

* Paper clips.

* Hole punch (for holes to thread pipe cleaners through).

* A small stick of some description, I used a bamboo stick but I cut it down to fit. 

How to make the Halloween monster toilet roll craft.

1. First paint the toilet rolls on the outside with the colour you have chosen.

2. Once the toilet rolls are dry,  you need to hole punch each side of the toilet roll at the top. Then thread the pipe cleaner through the hole to the other side and thread it through. Finally, shape the pipe cleaner in an arc angle. 

3. The other toilet roll pushes the bamboo stick through the toilet roll so it reaches the other side and cuts it to fit. 

4. Add accessories of your choice such as foam shapes, paper clips.

5. Add the google eyes to be placed at eye level.

There you have an easy Halloween craft to do with your child. 

Happy Halloween.

Cheers for reading X

35 Spellbinding Halloween Quotes.

 Hey readers, 

Who doesn't love a quote and to get you feeling fantastic for this upcoming spooky season?

I thought I would share some squeamishly good Halloween-themed quotes to get you inspired. 

1. Happy Halloween! Time to carve out the pumpkin, bring out the candies and let’s get sugar high.

2. Life is a witch and then you fly.

3. What do you get when you divide the circumference of your jack-o-lantern by its diameter – Pumpkin PiCopied!

4. Ghosts and goblins and jack-o-lanterns at night; I sure hope your Halloween is the best type of fright!

5. Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

6. Double, double toil, and trouble;

7. Nothing about Halloween scares me more than how psychologically enthusiastic you already are for Halloween.

8. A candy a day keeps the monsters away.

9. I am guilty of eating candy in cold blood.

10. I wave my wand and put on my cape and wish you lots of treats and success coming your way. Happy Halloween!

11. This letter is sealed with a vampire kiss and bite.

12. May the ghost be with you.

13. You are scary beautiful! Enjoy your Halloween!

14. And God said “Let there be candy,” and there was candy. Happy Halloween!

15. Silent night, ghostly night all is calm all white. Round yon candy, goodies, and treats.

16. A candy a day keeps the monsters away.

17. Keep Calm and say BOO!

18. Look, there’s no metaphysics on earth like chocolates.

19. Trick or treat, bags of sweets, ghosts are walking down the street.

20. On Halloween, the parents sent their kids out looking like me.

21. Mummy mummy mummy I got love in my tummy and I feel like haunting you.

22. Keep calm, trick or treat and carry on.

23. Hope all the candies don’t go to WAIST. Happy Halloween!

Today I can be moody and be a little witch!

25. Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m out of candy, look how scary are you.

26. Life with you is just getting boo-tter and better. Happy Halloween!

27. I’m a sleeping beauty and you are my prince charming now let’s get out of here and go trick-or-treating.

28. I’m a sexy ghoul and I know it.

29. Free flying lessons, BYOB. Bring your own broom.

30.  I have a sugar crush on you.

31. Oh, Halloween’s frightful but the candies are delightful, and since there’s no place to go, let it boo let it boo let it book

32. When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.

 33. I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. 

34. There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight. 

 35. I put a spell on you because you're mine. 

Happy Halloween,

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 10/10/2021

For my eldest homework, he had to make his own pyramid as he is learning about Eygpt. He is so proud of it :) 

 

5 trick or treat safety tips

 Hey readers, 

Trick or treat night is on the 31st of October and your child may want to engage in this fun Halloween activity. So this might be important information on how to keep safe during the fun celebration. What are my safety tips you ask well check them out down below? 

1. Accomy your child. 

Obviously, little ones will be with a guardian but older children may want to go alone but it might better be depending on the area and time to accompany your child under the age of 12.

 Therefore giving you the reassurance of knowing your child is safe especially when it gets dark and late.

 Another great tip is to pin a piece of paper on the back of your child's costume with your name, address, and the number just in case.

2. Set ground rules.

Make sure rules are said at the start of the evening so everyone is clear on the dos and don't of the night. 

 Highlight making sure that the child should stay with the group they are with. Plan a familiar route so your child is familiar and set a time with your child as to when it will end. 

Make sure that the child is aware to stay on the pavement and hold hands. When crossing the road make sure you check before walking into the road is clear to cross.

 It is best to only approach houses that are well lit. It is important the child knows that they should not go into someone's house or car for a treat. 

Make sure you check for cars before walking on the drive of someone's home. Be careful when approaching a drive with a car to make sure that it is not running, make sure to walk slowly. Make sure you have a torse so that if the driver is in the car they can see you in the dark night. 

3. Brightness. 

It is important to wear bright coloured clothing or put reflective tape onto the costume so that people can see you especially when it is dark at night you need to be able to see the child. Or other items such as hi-vi jackets, glow stick necklaces that kind of thing. 

4. Sweets.

Always check the sweets before letting your child eat them. Chuck away sweets that are damaged whether a sweet is opened or has a hole in them.

 Only accept sweets and chocolate if they are fully wrapped. Don't accept any homemade sweets if they are not made by someone you know. If you have young children don't give them gum or hard sweets as there may be the potential of choking. 

5.  Face paint.

Use face paint instead of a mask and make sure you use non-toxic face paint so no risk of causing a reaction.  

Using face paint is safer and less obstructive with their view. Also face paint helps reduce the risk of them having distractions because of the mask falling or any falls because they are preoccupied with adjusting the mask to fit on the face. 

What are your safety tips when going trick or treating? Have I missed anything off the list? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

5 ways to use up leftover pumpkin.

Hey readers, 

Many people this month with be carving a pumpkin for Halloween but you may be one of those people wondering what to do with the leftovers. 

Here are five ways you can use up a pumpkin and reduce the waste that happens after Halloween. 

1. Feed the birds. 

A great way to use a pumpkin is to make a bird feeder.

 All you need to do is clean out the pumpkin. 

If the craving is a bit wonky on the pumpkin cut that out and make it into a bowl shape. 

Poke a dowel into the pumpkin a few inches down from the top edge you just cut.

 Push it straight out through the opposite side of the pumpkin. 

Poke the second dowel through the pumpkin so it crosses just under the first dowel. 

Cut the twine into four equal lengths.

 Tie a strand to each dowel. 

Then tie the loose ends together in a large knot at the top.

 Fill the pumpkin with birdseed, and then hang it up for the birds to get out. 

2. Pumpkin Pie. 

A classic recipe is, of course, the humble pumpkin pie that will be a hit for the sweet tooth people out there. 

Here is a brilliant recipe from BBC Good Food that keeps it simple and a classic formula to follow which makes the perfect sweet treat during October and November.

3. Pumpkin compost.

You can use pumpkin on the compost.

 If you don't have a compost pile already then find a dark and shady spot in your garden to place your hollowed-out pumpkin. 

Smash up the pumpkin with a hammer as breaking the pumpkin up into smaller pieces helps speed up the process of compost. 

Loosely place some materials such as leaves, sawdust, or wood chippings over the pumpkin. 

This will help protect the pumpkin from pests and insects whilst airing it out.

Finally, let mother nature take her course and take a few weeks for the pumpkin to turn into nutrient-rich compost for the garden. 

Then you can spread it on the plants for a winter treat. 

4. Plant it. 

An alternative way to use up the leftover pumpkin is to plant with it succulents and a great way to use as autumnal decoration for the home. 

All you need to do is clean out the pumpkin and dry it off. Then fill up the pumpkin with soil and place succulents into the pumpkin, such a fun and clever way to use a pumpkin. Below is a fun example of how to do it from Succulents and Sunshine. 

5. Arty.

If you have children then using the leftover pumpkin as a material to use to make art with them. 

While it’s still firm, you can use the inside flesh to make a stamp for children to take pictures with, using the seeds to add to the patterns.

What kind of things do you like to do with a leftover pumpkin? I love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday Photo 03/10/2021

 

31 cosy autumn activities - October bucket list.

 Hey readers, 

It is officially autumn and I thought as October is on the horizon a put together a list of some cosy activities you can do by yourself, with your partner or family. 

1. Locate knitwear.

2. Warm up with a fire in the garden.

3. Burn candles and gives a cosy feel especially when you turn down the lights.

 

4. Pick a pumpkin at a pumpkin farm. 

5. Make a pie such as an apple pie, pumpkin pie, rhubarb pie. 

6. Go trick or treating with your kids.

7. Go stargazing now that the nights are getting darker. 

8. Make some toffee apples. 

9. Watch a film with a blanket. 

10. Make hot chocolate. 

11. Go for a walk and kick the leaves. 

12. Swap over your clothes for warmer items such as long-sleeved tops, jumpers, and heavier coats.

 

13. Go for a walk through the woods check out local woodlands close to you here.

14. Make some soup. 

15. Make some cider. 

16. Go on a bike ride. 

17. Do something crafty with pinecones. 

18. Go apple picking.

19. Go puddle splashing. 

20. Make plans for winter.

21. Carve a pumpkin. 

22. Go for afternoon tea. 

23. Make an autumn wreath for your front door. 

24. Take some seasonal photos of the family outdoors. 

25. Plan a Halloween party.

26. Go conker picking.

27. Fly a kite on a windy day.

28. Toast marshmallows on a fire.

29. Go to a fright night. 

30. Decorate your home for Halloween. 

31. Go to the autumn fair.

What do you think about my list? Anything that caught your eye? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Floating hand punch for Halloween recipe

Hey readers, 

Looking for a show stopper for Halloween then you need to make these floating hand punch.

 What you will need. 

*  2 plastic latex gloves. 

  

*  Fruit punch.

*  Raspberries.

*  Small tray. 

How to make the floating hands. 

1. Turn the gloved inside out and wash with hot water to get rid of the powder residue. 

2. Fill the rubber gloves with water and then tip them at the top. 

3. Place inside the freezer making sure that fingers rest on something so they won't bend or get broken off. 

4. Make sure that there are no gaps of air between the fingers and palm as fingers won't be attached. 

5. It could take a few hours so might be best to leave overnight so the hand becomes solid in ice. 

6. Get a small tray pour in some fruit punch, fill, it up high, and then put in some raspberries. 

7.  Once the hand is frozen solid cut away the glove carefully with scissors and remove it away from the ice hand. 

8. Place the hands in the tray and there you have a creepy ice hand perfect for the Halloween celebrations. 

Happy Halloween.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 26/09/2021

10 non-carving decorative ideas for your pumpkin!

Hey readers,

Looking for simple and effective pumpkin decorating ideas without carving then look no further as I have 10 ideas to get you feeling creative. 

  

1. Black. 

A cute idea from Lovely Indeed with small pumpkins is to paint black and write words such as boo, or even someone's name to give a personal touch. What is even better is you don't have to carve the pumpkin so super easy to do at home.

2. Confetti. 

Check out these confetti pumpkins by Mod Podge Rocks which are perfect for a Halloween party decoration perfect for children, no glue gun and uses modge podge which is suitable to use with children.

3. Mummy.

A simple but this idea looks really good are these mummy pumpkins. All you need is a cheesecloth, a glue gun, and googly eyes. Check out Mother's Niche who tells you step by step how to make this masterpiece. 

4. Dotty.

Go dotty with this pumpkin and all you need is a black sharpie and draw dots all over the pumpkin. 

5. Flirty.

This next idea comes from Hadley Court with this flirty pumpkin. You need to draw some eyelashes with a sharpie pen and spray paint the stork with glittery silver paint and there you have a fun pumpkin on your hands. 

6. Witch.

Inspired by The Craft Patch with this spooktacular idea with simply getting the old black sharpie out draw eyes and put a witch hat on, boom no stress!

7. Eyes on you. 

A very straightforward idea you paint the pumpkin black, then get different shaped googly eyes and glue them onto the pumpkin and you have this spooky pumpkin. 

8.  White.

Idea from Oopsey Daisy Blog where you either buy a white pumpkin or spray paint the pumpkin white. Then buy a spider jewel sticker and place it on the pumpkin. Next, you will need some black jewels you can stick on above the spider to indicate it's a trail.

9. Jack Skellington. 

Spray paint the pumpkin white and then paint the stork black. Next, get the trusted black sharpie pen and drawn the big circles for the eyes, little ones for the nose, and then copy the mouth. There you have your own Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas. 

10. Gold. 

A simple but effective one is to spray paint your pumpkin with gold spray paint and looks really effective I think. 

Do you like my list of non- carving pumpkin decoration ideas? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

The best kids activities to do this Halloween.

Hey readers,

I have scrolled the internet to find my favorite Halloween activities that can inspire you this Halloween.

Halloween Slime. 

The first port of call has to be slime, I mean what child doesn't like slime. 

But this is special slime because not only is it slime but it is Halloween slime making it much spookier. 

This will keep your little darlings entertained for aggggggeees. Also, before I forget this Halloween slime recipe has 3 easy ingredients which means we are winning. 

Thanks go to the brilliant The Best Ideas For Kids for an amazing recipe so go check out their Halloween slime.

Halloween Scanavager Hunt. 

A fun-filled activity to do is Halloween themed scavenger hunt where you find Halloween-themed items on a list and tick them a pumpkin. 

Kids love being active so this is one that will be a big hit. 

There are so many free printable ones but I particularly like this one as it is not too complicated and is lots of fun from Growing Healthy Kids.

Apple Bobbing.

Of course, a classic game that is still ever popular to this day is apple bobbing. 

What you have to do is get some apples and put them in a washing-up bowl full of water. The object is to get the apple out of the bowl with your mouth and not use your hands. 

Frozen Statues.

There are plenty of playlists on Spotify or Youtube or you could have your own cd of Halloween hits to hand.

 To play the frozen statue game kids have to dance to the music but when the music stops everyone has to stay statue-still.

 The first person who moves is out. Carry on with the format until the final person who stays statue still wins. 

Halloween Tic Tac Toe. 

The classic game of tic tac toe is to get three pieces in a line diagonal, straight, or across wins.

 This Halloween they come with a twist as you paint stones monsters (green), ghosts (white), or devils (red) and use orange washy tape on the floor as your markers for the game. 

You can check out the amazing smashedpeasandcarrots who explains and does a brilliant job to learn more. 

Trick or Treating. 

One of the most popular children's Halloween activities is to dress up in a scary outfit and knock on neighbours doors saying trick or treat.

 Then the neighbour will either hands out treats or asks for a dare (much more likely the dare occurs these days mind).  

It is just a fun way of engaging with the community and people dress up the homes to make them spooky. 

Pumpkin Carving.

A lot of people buy pumpkins from a pumpkin patch or their local supermarket.

 Then they gut out the insides of their pumpkin and carve the pumpkin to look fun or scary.

I also have a post called 5 ways to use up leftover pumpkin may be of use if you are not sure what to do with leftover pumpkin.

 There are many free resources online to help you feel inspired such as the one below taken from loads of Halloween stencils curiosity of Pumpkin Lady.

What is your favourite kid's Halloween activity? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X