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Author: Headless Bob

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Lifestyle

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

Halloween night is fast-approaching, and if you haven’t gotten your pumpkin already, it is time to think about going out to get one. Big or small, orange or white, and everything in-between – there are countless options to choose from. How are you going to use your pumpkin? Will it be carved, painted, cooked, or used as-is for a display? Different types of pumpkins are better suited for differtent uses. Here are some tips to pick the perfect pumpkin for you.

For the Perfect Jack-O-Lantern

  • Choose a pumpkin with smooth, even skin. An evenly orange pumpkin is a good sign of ripeness.
  • The pumpkin should have a thick, sturdy stem – ideally at least 1-2 inches long. A green stem indicates a recently harvested pumpkin. A dry, brown stem means the pumpkin has been off the vine for a while (but pumpkins can last, so this does not have to be a deal-breaker). Never carry your pumpkin by the stem, you don’t want it to break off.
  • Pick a pumpkin with a flat bottom, so it will stand upright once placed. This is especially important if you are using a flame candle – you don’t want that to tip over and become a fire hazard. 
  • Avoid pumpkins with soft spots of blemishes, as they may indicate rot. If your fingernail can easily puncture the pumpkin, it is not ideal for carving.
  • Check the pumpkin for bugs and insects. If there are holes in the pumpkin, insects may be inside.
  • A carved pumpkin typically lasts about 7-10 days, depending on the weather conditions. (In SoCal, the hot weather often makes my pumpkins mold in a day or two, so I always crave them the night before Halloween).

For Baking

  • Pie pumpkins are typically much smaller than carving pumpkins. They have sweet flesh, a rich flavor, and the insides are less stringy.
  • You can typically find these at most grocery stores during the October season.

For Decorating

  • Mix and match a variety of different pumpkin varieties to create fun and whimsical displays. 
  • Check to make sure the pumpkins are free from soft spots, blemishes, and holes, as they may indicate rot or insect infestation. 
  • Mini pumpkins work very well as decor pieces. If stored in a cool, dry place, mini gourds can last between 6-12 months! 
  • Larger pumpkins can last for up to 2-3 months if uncarved and stored in a cool, dry place.

Did you already pick the perfect pumpkin? Show me on Facebook & Instagram. I can’t wait to see your jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin foods, and decor.

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

October 19, 2026 No Comments

Halloween night is fast-approaching, and if you haven’t gotten your pumpkin already, it is time to think about going out to get one. Big or small, orange or white, and

Read More »

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 18, 2026 No Comments

I spy with my little eye: a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt! Games and activities liven up parties by sparking conversations and creating fun challenges for friends. A scavenger hunt is

Read More »

13 Halloween Movies

October 17, 2026 No Comments

While horror movies abound each spooky season, nothing gets me truly in the mood for frightening fun like movies set directly on the holiday.  Here are my top 13 Halloween

Read More »
Categories
Games Other Games

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

I spy with my little eye: a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt!

Games and activities liven up parties by sparking conversations and creating fun challenges for friends. A scavenger hunt is a great way to encourage your guests to explore the neighborhood and return for a spirited competition. There are countless ways to structure your Halloween scavenger hunt. Sometimes the host will hide specific items and give clues to their locations. Sometimes lists include challenges (i.e. take a photo of your entire group jumping).  Some games require the players to bring the items back, while others just ask for photos or videos.

My favorite version is played as follows: 

1. Gather The Players

For smaller groups, everyone can play individually. For larger groups, you may want to divide your players into teams of 2-5 players. Players can choose their own groups or you can pull names from a hat.

2. Give Each Player/Team the List of Items to Find

Prior to your party, put together a creative list of items to find for your Halloween scavenger hunt. While many people choose to list very specific items (i.e. a red hat, a Scream mask), I prefer to write vague prompts that can be open to interpretation. Part of the fun of these games are seeing how each team finds something unique!

Here is an example from one of my parties:

  1. 1. Happy Pumpkin
  2. 2. Black Cat
  3. 3. Full-Size Candy Bar
  4. 4. Autumn Leaves
  5. 5. Glowing Eyes
  6. 6. A Towering Figure
  7. 7. “BOO”
  8. 8. Funny Tombstone
  9. 9. Witch’s Hat
  10. 10. Bubbling Brew
  11. 11. Bat Wings
  12. 12. A Spider in Its Web
  13. 13. Your Costume Twin
  14. 14. Creepy Clown
  15. 15. Vampire Fangs
  1. 16. Silly skeleton
  2. 17. Unlucky 13
  3. 18. Playful Spirits
  4. 19. Halloween Wreath
  5. 20. An Out of This World Costume
  6. 21. Orange & Black
  7. 22. A Hero to Save the Day
  8. 23. Furry Friend
  9. 24. Swarthy Pirate
  10. 25.Halloween Royalty
  11. 26. Horror Movie Villain
  12. 27. Purple Lights
  13. 28. Halloween Treat
  14. 29. Haunted House
  15. 30. Carnivorous Creature
  16. 31. Video Game Reference

3. Go on the Hunt

It is time to send your players out to find the items. Each player/team must take photos of as many items from the list as they can find. Set a time for everyone to return to the party to share their results.

Encourage your players to explore your community, connect with neighbors, and spread the Halloween cheer. Other tips that I give my hunters are to be creative and don’t settle for the easy & obvious choices.

4. Share Your Photos & Get Your Score

Once your players have returned, it is time to share the photos and tally the scores. Have the players/teams upload their photos to a shared drive (like Google Drive or Dropbox) or download them to your computer. Then showcase the photos to the group on your computer or connected tv. A larger screen is better than trying to pass everyone’s phones around. I usually do pretty simple scoring:
  • • 1 Point for each item found
  • • 5 Points for the best photo of each item – as voted on by the group
  • • 10 Points for the overall best photo – as voted on by the group
This part of the game can take some time, but it is just as fun and exciting as gathering the photos to begin with. Different players may have gone with different strategies to appeal to the voters:
  • • Take funny photos for the best laughs
  • • Spend time composing beautiful shots to have the most professional-looking photos
  • • Find the most unusual objects or creative interpretation of the prompt to go for the best creativity
  • • Or perhaps, someone may just bribe the voting body with a few Halloween treats – anything goes!
Add up the points to find the ultimate Halloween Scavenger Hunt winner.

5. Crown the Halloween Scavenger Hunt Winner

Make sure to have a fun prize for the winning player or team. Bragging rights are wonderful in and of themselves, but everyone enjoys a Halloween treat.

Some ideas for prizes include:

  • • Halloween-themed trophy (check Etsy for some fun and affordable designs)
  • • Full bag of Halloween candy
  • • Gift cards to a favorite restaurant or store
  • • Horror movie
  • • Horror book

More Games

Want another idea for a fun and spooky party night? 

Try Hyaku Monogatari – One Hundred Candles, a traditional Japanese storytelling parlor game. 

Additionally, Halloween Divination Games can tell your friends’ fates on October 31st. 

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

October 19, 2026 No Comments

Halloween night is fast-approaching, and if you haven’t gotten your pumpkin already, it is time to think about going out to get one. Big or small, orange or white, and

Read More »

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 18, 2026 No Comments

I spy with my little eye: a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt! Games and activities liven up parties by sparking conversations and creating fun challenges for friends. A scavenger hunt is

Read More »

13 Halloween Movies

October 17, 2026 No Comments

While horror movies abound each spooky season, nothing gets me truly in the mood for frightening fun like movies set directly on the holiday.  Here are my top 13 Halloween

Read More »
Categories
Entertainment Movies

13 Halloween Movies

13 Halloween Movies

While horror movies abound each spooky season, nothing gets me truly in the mood for frightening fun like movies set directly on the holiday.  Here are my top 13 Halloween movies, grouped by family-friendly & mature themes.

Family Friendly Halloween Movies

For those who love to share their love for Halloween with their families, these flicks offer the right amount of spookiness and kid-friendly fun. They showcase the season’s iconography and introduce kids to a little spookier fare. 

Family Friendly Trailers

7 Videos
  1. Hocus Pocus (1993)- A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.

    🎃 A quintessential Halloween film, this Disney nostalgia has surged in popularity in recent years. It is basically a right of passage to watch this film in the leadup to Halloween.

  2. Halloweentown (1998) – When a young girl living with her secret witch mother learns she too is a witch, she must help her witch grandmother save Halloweentown from evil forces.

    🎃 This made-for-tv movie from the Disney Channel’s golden era spawned three sequels. Fans love the creative characters that inhabit the titular town and the spooky fun hijinks. 

  3.  Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) – Ernest accidentally unleashes an ugly troll that plots to transform children into wooden dolls in the town of Briarville, Missouri.

    🎃 This film has a special place in my heart. I absolutely loved watching it when I was a child. The scene where the troll appears in the child’s bedroom terrified me! I love the opening sequence with its montage of classic b-horror cut with clips of Ernest. I made a point as a child to watch each of the films referenced. It certainly helped to reinforce my love for cinema. While the movie itself is quite cheesy, it is still a fun watch and nice blend of scary and humor to introduce kids to the horror genre.

  4. Spaced Invaders (1990) – Dimwitted Martians drop into a little Illinois town on the day that the local radio station happens to rebroadcast Orson Welles 1938 “War Of The Worlds”.

    🎃 The 80’s through early 90’s were a wonderful time for family horror & sci-fi. Spaced invaders offers silly alien costumes, corny humor, and a fun Halloween atmosphere. I especially enjoy the trailers’ voiceover: “For years scientists have speculated that there was intelligent life in outer space. Now comes definitive proof that there is no such thing.”

  5. Witch’s Night Out (1978) – A witch, disgruntled by the fact that no one takes Halloween seriously anymore, decides to stir things up and disrupt the social gathering in her old house as well as turn a couple of kids who love monsters into actual monsters.

    🎃 As this was made for tv, the animation quality is not the best, but I love the stylization of each character. It is not a well-known movie, but audiences may recognize the voice talents of Gilda Radner as “The Godmother” and Catherine O’Hara as “Malicious”. 

  6. The Halloween Tree (1993) – Four children learn the origins of Halloween customs while trying to save the life of their friend.

    🎃 This adaptation of the 1972 Ray Bradbury book of the same name won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program. It is both educational and an emotional story. 

  7. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949) – Based on the Washington Irving classic story. In a small town, a brewing romantic rivalry between a local tough guy and a cowardly school-teacher culminates in a terrifying ride in the night.

    🎃 The Headless Horseman is surely one of Disney’s scariest villains. Additionally, the film features a darkly humorous anthem, “Headless Horseman”, sung by crooner Bing Crosby (who voices “Brom Bones” in the film). If that song isn’t on your Halloween playlist, go add it now!

Halloween Films for Adults

Although I am an advocate for introducing your children to horror early, some of these might be a little too intense for some young ones. Here are my favorite Halloween movies aimed at an older audience.

Halloween Films Trailers

6 Videos
  1. Fun Size (2012) – Wren’s Halloween plans go awry when she’s made to babysit her brother, who disappears into a sea of trick-or-treaters. With her best friend and two nerds at her side, she needs to find her brother before her mom finds out he’s missing.

    🎃 A PG-13 film, this one is just a little too aimed at mature audiences to be included in the prior category – even though it was produced by Nickelodeon Movies. Due to this mismatch of brand and marketing, the film flopped at the box office and is a hidden gem for audiences today. While it lays in an odd purgatory between kid and adult fare, it is still an enjoyable film that encapsulates the craziness and possibilities of Halloween night.

  2. Satan’s Little Helper (2004) – A naive young boy unknowingly becomes the pawn of a serial killer.

    🎃 This is a cheesy B-horror movie all the way, but it is my favorite cheesy B-horror movie. Back in college this was the most-requested movie from my friends for our Halloween season movie nights. There are so many opportunities to yell at the screen, make fun of character choices, and re-quote. “That man was Alex’s father… And Jesus is Satan!” (Believe me, it makes sense in context). This is the perfect popcorn flick to watch with close friends who enjoy something silly.

  3. Trick ‘R Treat (2007) – Five Halloween stories: A principal has a secret life, a virgin is looking for her first time, a group of kids pull a prank, a woman who loathes Halloween does not respect the rules, and a mean old man meets a demonic trick-or-treater.

    🎃 Sam is the ultimate mascot of the Halloween season. A more perfect Halloween film has not been made. 

  4. Halloween III (1982) – Kids all over America want Silver Shamrock masks for Halloween. Doctor Daniel Challis seeks to uncover a plot by Silver Shamrock owner Conal Cochran.

    🎃 Here is where I may receive some hate from horror movie fans. Sorry, but I just find Michael Myers to be the most boring of the franchise boogeyman. Halloween III is very interesting to me because it was John Carpenter’s attempt to create an anthology out of the series rather than having it dominated by the milk-toast man in the mask. (Apparently Carpenter didn’t care to keep Michael coming back again and again either). It failed, however, showing that I am one of the few who would have preferred an anthology series. 

  5. Cobweb (2023) – An eight-year-old boy tries to investigate the mysterious knocking sounds that are coming from inside the walls of his house, unveiling a dark secret that his sinister parents have kept hidden from him.

    🎃 The newest addition to my favorites list, I enjoy the monster design. I have always enjoyed the fantastic elements that can arise when a horror movie is centered around a young kid and this movie certainly has those moments of terror and dark whimsey.

  6. Night of the Demons (1988) – Ten teenagers party at an abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween night. When an evil force awakens, demonic spirits keep them from leaving and turn their gathering into a living Hell.

    🎃 Filled with gore, skantily-clad women, and 80’s hair, this is just a solid classic film. 

Enjoy Your Halloween Film Movie Night!

The above 13 Halloween movies are just my favorites from the wide away of films out there. A plethora of other films fell short of being called my favorites. Honorable mentions include any of the other Halloween franchise movies/remakes, Casper (1995), Hubie Halloween (2020), The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022), and Spirit Halloween (2022). 

Let me know your favorite Halloween movies on Instagram @EmilyIsHorror

Now that you have some Halloween movie recommendations, host a movie night with your friends!

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

October 19, 2026 No Comments

Halloween night is fast-approaching, and if you haven’t gotten your pumpkin already, it is time to think about going out to get one. Big or small, orange or white, and

Read More »

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 18, 2026 No Comments

I spy with my little eye: a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt! Games and activities liven up parties by sparking conversations and creating fun challenges for friends. A scavenger hunt is

Read More »

13 Halloween Movies

October 17, 2026 No Comments

While horror movies abound each spooky season, nothing gets me truly in the mood for frightening fun like movies set directly on the holiday.  Here are my top 13 Halloween

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Categories
Food Lifestyle

Cream Cheese Brownies

Cream Cheese Brownies

Looking for a fun twist on a party favorite? These cream cheese brownies are delicious. Additionally, use some food coloring and sprinkles to add those extra Halloween touches that make this a party favorite. 

The Ingredients

Brownie Layer:
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • ½ cup all purpose white flour
  • ½ cup dark cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Layer:
  • Cream Cheese Layer:
  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¼ cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ baking dish with parchment paper or foil and spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  2. (Brownie Layer) In a medium bowl, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
  3. (Brownie Layer) In a small bowl, add the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix with a fork until well combined.
  4. (Brownie Layer) Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined.
  5. (Brownie Layer) Reserve ¼ cup of the batter for the swirls then pour the remaining batter into the prepared baking dish.
  6. (Cream Cheese Layer) In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar, egg, & vanilla. Blend until smooth. (If desired, add food coloring for that special Halloween look).
  7. Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter.
  8. Drop tablespoons of the remaining brownie batter on top and gently swirl with a knife or skewer.
  9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set. Remove and let cool completely before slicing. Add your sprinkles to top.

Cream Cheese Brownie

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 9
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 357
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Brownie Layer
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • ½ cup all purpose white flour
  • ½ cup dark cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • 2 eggs (large)
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Layer
  • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • ¼ cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 egg (large)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8" x 8" baking dish with parchment paper or foil and spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  2. (Brownie Layer) In a medium bowl, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
  3. (Brownie Layer) In a small bowl, add the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix with a fork until well combined.
  4. (Brownie Layer) Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined.
  5. (Brownie Layer) Reserve ¼ cup of the batter for the swirls then pour the remaining batter into the prepared baking dish.
  6. (Cream Cheese Layer) In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar, egg, & vanilla. Blend until smooth.
  7. Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter.
  8. Drop tablespoons of the remaining brownie batter on top and gently swirl with a knife or skewer.
  9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set. Remove and let cool completely before slicing.

Want some sweet treats? Try some of these recipes:

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

October 19, 2026 No Comments

Halloween night is fast-approaching, and if you haven’t gotten your pumpkin already, it is time to think about going out to get one. Big or small, orange or white, and

Read More »

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 18, 2026 No Comments

I spy with my little eye: a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt! Games and activities liven up parties by sparking conversations and creating fun challenges for friends. A scavenger hunt is

Read More »

13 Halloween Movies

October 17, 2026 No Comments

While horror movies abound each spooky season, nothing gets me truly in the mood for frightening fun like movies set directly on the holiday.  Here are my top 13 Halloween

Read More »
Categories
Games Other Games

Horror Movie Trivia

Horror Movie Trivia

Do you like scary movies? Test your knowledge with these horror movie trivia questions. Get your friends together and see who knows the most obscure facts from classic Halloween & horror movies.

To view the answers to all questions, highlight the line below it (all answers are in black text on the black background).

Show How Well You Know Horror

  • What is the name of the hotel in The Shining?
    • The Overlook Hotel
  • What is the name of the fictional town in which the events of ‘Halloween’ take place?
    • Haddonfield
  • What is the name of the fictional high school in Scream?
    • Woodsboro High
  • What three magic words from the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis was Ash supposed to remember is Army of Darkness?
    • Klaatu Barada Nectar
    • BONUS POINTS: In which film did that phrase originate?
      • The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
  • In Jeepers Creepers, the Creeper rises every how many years to feed?
    • 23 Years
  • What brand of doll is Chucky in the Child’s Play franchise?
    • Good Guy Doll
  • In which film did Jason first don his iconic hockey mask?
    • Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
  • How many times does Count Orlock blink throughout the entirety of his appearance in Nosferatu (1922)?
    • Once
  • In Weapons (2025), at exactly what time do the children run from their homes?
    • 2:17 a.m.
  • Which animal terrorizes the residents of Bodega Bay, California?
    • Birds – Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963)
  • In Night of the Living Dead (1968), what is the primary cause of the reanimated corpses?
    • Radiation from a Satellite
  • What is the name of the horror host from Fright Night (1985)?
    • Peter Vincent
  • What does the acronym C.H.U.D. stand for in the 1984 film C.H.U.D.
    • Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers

Behind the Scenes Knowledge

  • What is widely considered to be the first horror movie ever made?
    • Le Manoir du Diable (The House of the Devil) (1896) by Georges Méliès
  • As of 2026, which horror author holds the record for the most book-to-movie adaptations in the horror genre?
    • Stephen King
  • In what category did The Fly (1985) win an Oscar?
    • Best Makeup
  • Which horror film was one of two films credited as forcing the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating?
    • Gremlins (1984). The other film was Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).
  • What was the first horror film to be shot in 3D?
    • House of Wax (1953)
  • Who designed the xenomorph in Alien (1979)?
    • H.R. Giger
  • The shower blood substitute in Psycho (1960) was actually what?
    • Chocolate Syrup
  • What was the first horror film ever to be nominated for Best Picture?
    • The Exorcist (1973).
  • For which film did William Castle attach electrical “buzzers” to the underside of some theater seats to create the “Percepto!” gimmick?
    • The Tinger (1959)
  • What was the first horror movie to ever win an Oscar in any category?
    • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) earned Fredric March an Oscar in the “Best Actor” category in 1932.
  • How many cats were used in the filming of Pet Sematary (2019)?
    • Production required 5 shelter cats, each being trained for different on-screen behaviors.
  • How many days did it take to shoot The Blair Witch Project (1999)?
    • 8 Days
  • As of 2024, what is the most adapted book in the horror genre (according to Guiness World Records)?
    • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekull and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson – having been adapted for the screen 28 times as of 2024.

Filmmaker & Celebrity Trivia

  • Who directed the 2007 film Paranormal Activity?
    • Oren Peli
  • In which horror film did Johnny Depp make his acting debut?
    • A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
  • Who played the lead role of Dr. Frankenstein in the 1931 film Frankenstein?
    • Colin Clive
  • Who composed the score for Candyman (1992)?
    • Philip Glass
  • Which famous final girl is the daughter of Psycho (1960) star Janet Leigh?
    • Jamie Lee Curtis
  • Who directed Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)?
    • Henry Selick
  • Which TV and film actress made her big screen debut in Leprechaun (1993)
    • Jennifer Aniston
  • Which American actor & makeup artist earned the nickname “Man of a Thousand Faces”?
    • Lon Chaney
  • How many times did Boris Karloff play Frankenstein’s Monster?
    • Three Times – Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and Son of Frankenstein (1939)
  • As of 2026, who has directed two installments of the Silent Hill franchise?
    • Christophe Gans
  • Which actress reportedly never took a shower again after seeing her onscreen death?
    • Janet Leigh – after her role in Psycho (1960)
  • What was Steven Spielberg’s role in Poltergeist (1982)?
    • Writer & Producer
  • How many times did Christopher Lee appear as Dracula in Hammer horror films?
    • 7 Times: Dracula (1958), Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966), Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), Taste the Blood of Dracula (1969), Scars of Dracula (1970), Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972), The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)

Play with your friends to find the ultimate horror movie trivia champion! Want to share some more trivia with me? Send me a message on Facebook & Instagram.

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

October 19, 2026 No Comments

Halloween night is fast-approaching, and if you haven’t gotten your pumpkin already, it is time to think about going out to get one. Big or small, orange or white, and

Read More »

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 18, 2026 No Comments

I spy with my little eye: a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt! Games and activities liven up parties by sparking conversations and creating fun challenges for friends. A scavenger hunt is

Read More »

13 Halloween Movies

October 17, 2026 No Comments

While horror movies abound each spooky season, nothing gets me truly in the mood for frightening fun like movies set directly on the holiday.  Here are my top 13 Halloween

Read More »
Categories
Apparel Lifestyle

My Halloween Costumes

My Halloween Costumes

Dressing up for Halloween is always fun. My Halloween costumes throughout the years have always reflected my interests at the time. From homemade creations from my Mom to thrifted outfits, I have an eclectic collection of costumes I love to show off.

The Early Years

When I was young my Mom would always make homemade costumes for me. From my first-ever Halloween in a Godzilla outfit to witches, a black cat, and even a princess Daisy Duck – if I could think it up, my Mom could make it!

Adult Costumes

My current philosophy with costumes is to find quality pieces that will last for multiple years. I love to embellish thrifted dresses, skirts, and shirts to create unique costumes that are durable. 

What has been your favorite costume over the years? Show me on Facebook & Instagram. 

Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

October 19, 2026 No Comments

Halloween night is fast-approaching, and if you haven’t gotten your pumpkin already, it is time to think about going out to get one. Big or small, orange or white, and

Read More »

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 18, 2026 No Comments

I spy with my little eye: a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt! Games and activities liven up parties by sparking conversations and creating fun challenges for friends. A scavenger hunt is

Read More »

13 Halloween Movies

October 17, 2026 No Comments

While horror movies abound each spooky season, nothing gets me truly in the mood for frightening fun like movies set directly on the holiday.  Here are my top 13 Halloween

Read More »
Categories
Lifestyle

Boo Your Neighbors

Boo Your Neighbors

You’ve seen the internet trends and now you too want to boo your neighbors. While the origin of this may be to increase holiday spending – with places encouraging large baskets and buying all sorts of toys and Halloween fare – there are many small ways to share the spirit of the season with your community. Although I would never turn down a basket that looks like it came from a ghoulish Easter bunny during spooky season, you don’t need to break the bank to show your neighbors you care. Here are some alternatives to those expensive basket spreads.

Make Halloween Cards

I love making Halloween cards every year. Whether I create my own, decorate pre-made cards, or straight up just pick some up at the store, I find these to be wonderful ways to let my friends and family know I am thinking about them during the spooky season. Write a Halloween greeting and distribute them to your neighbors for a low-cost surprise. 

Distribute a Few Treats

While I am a huge supporter of handing out candy during trick-or-treating, you can always leave a spooky surprise at your neighbor’s door. Who really wants to wait until Halloween night to nibble on chocolates, candies, and all the other Halloween treats that have been on shelves since July? I always love to give out a variety in my treat bags: something chocolate, something fruity (like fruit snacks), something savory (like pretzels), and often a small toy – like mini bubbles, spider rings, erasers, or other bulk non-food items. 

Invite Your Neighbors for a Hot Drink

Booing your neighbors does not need to be an anonymous surprise left on their doorstep. How about your invite them over to share a hot drink? From pumpkin pie matcha, hot apple cider, to pumpkin spice latte, share a cup of your favorite fall drink. Bonus points if you have Halloween mugs to share!

Share Halloween Treats

Another idea is to eschew store-bought and go from some homemade sweet treats. Drop off cupcakes, a slice of pie, or cookies. 

Need some inspiration? Try these recipes:

There are many ways to hop on board the boo your neighbors trend without breaking the bank. Think outside the box and you can find a lot of fun ideas to make the people around you get just as excited as you for the Halloween season.

Show me how you spread the happy hauntings on Facebook & Instagram.

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Categories
Entertainment Music

Horror Soundtracks Playlist

Horror Soundtracks Playlist

Horror scores are can be both beautiful and haunting. I have put together a playlist of some of my favorite themes and scores from an eclectic mix of scary films I enjoy. This Horror Soundtrack Playlist combines both easily recognizable themes with a couple fun hidden gems.

The Song List

When I am working at my desk, I love to have background instrumental music to set a spooky atmosphere. For this playlist, I found themes that felt whimsical and fantastic. I pulled from themes that shaped my childhood (like Sleepy Hollow) and modern favorites (like Five Nights at Freddy’s). This playlist is perfect for when I am craving a horror movie night.

Playlist Song Explanations

1. Sleepy Hollow - "Main Titles" - Danny Elfman

Opening this playlist is the first score that truly captured me. Danny Elfman and Tim Burton have collaborated on many films, but the soundtrack to Sleepy Hollow (1999) remains  my favorite. I was just 12 when the movie came out, but I saw it in theaters three times. I remember my excitement in getting the soundtrack CD on Christmas and I listened to it on repeat for days. The main themes expertly convey the foreboding atmosphere, fantastical elements, and romance. 

2. Mama - "The Encounter and Main Titles" - Fernando Velazquez

My favorite horror soundtracks blend fantasy and horror. “The Encounter and Main Titles” of Mama (2013) does just that. Matching the film’s tone, the piece is dark and whimsical, almost like a child’s lullaby. It frames the film’s fairy-tale like premise: Two little girls disappear into the woods the day that their parents were killed. When they are found 5 years later and begin a new life, they find that someone or something still wants to tuck them in at night.

3. Pan's Labyrinth - "Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby" - Javier Nacarrete

Continuing the fantasy-horror theme is “Lullaby” from Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). Guillermo del Toro is known for his perfect blending of fantasy and horror (even in the films he only produces, like Mama). Javier Navarrete’s haunting score fits wonderfully with the film’s dark themes and beautifully horrific fairy-tale monsters. This lullaby acts as the little Ofelia’s theme as she navigates the dangerous world of the fae.

4. Puppet Master - "Theme" - Richard Band

Composed by Richard Band, the theme for Puppet Master (1989) has a mystical carnival feel. It blends a sweeping score with quirky cute moments that fit well with the film’s premise about magical murderous puppets. The music makes one feel like something is hiding beneath the surface and nothing is quite what it seems. 

A side note, it is quite hard to find the original audio for the theme. I enjoy the cover by Matt Fink, so depending on which app you are listening to the playlist on, you may hear his performance of the theme.

5. Candyman - "Music Box" - Philip Glass

Philip Glass’ “Music Box” theme from Candyman (1992) is enchanting and iconic. According IMDB, when Philip Glass signed up to compose the score for the film he thought it would be “an artful version of Clive Barker’s short story ‘The Forbidden'”, but instead it turned out to be, in his vision, “a low-budget slasher”. Glass was reportedly disappointed in the film and felt that he had been manipulated. 

I do not agree that the film is just a low-budget slasher, but Glass’ score certainly helps to elevate the film and create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.

6. Dead Silence - "Main Titles" - Charlie Clouser

The Main Titles from Dead Silence (2007) not only remind me of the film, but also a particular haunt. The opening piano notes are very similar to the music used in Knott’s Scary Farm’s The Doll Factory maze (2007 – 2011). 

This song fits very well in this playlist, blending childish whimsy with a dark and foreboding score.

7. Child's Play - "Theme" - Bear McCreary

Love or hate the film, Bear McCreary’s score for Child’s Play (2019) is unique and innovative. The composer used real children’s toys to add to the score. The song itself is based on a minor-key version of “You are My Sunshine”, twisting a familiar family-friendly tune into something sinister. No stranger to horror, McCreary continues to create phenomenal soundtracks. If you like this one check out his scores for The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Imaginary, Happy Death Day, and 10 Cloverfield Lane.

8. Nightmare on Elm Street - "Main Title" - Charles Bernstein

Charles Bernstein’s tense soundscape for A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) haunts my dreams just as much as Freddy. This is a classic and represents my favorite of the franchise boogeymen. I think it fits well here on the playlist as a momentary pause to create a spooky atmosphere. 

9. Waxwork - "Main Title" - Roger Bellon

A lesser-known 80’s low-budget gem, Waxwork (1988) is about a wax museum owner who uses his horror exhibits to unleash evil onto the world. It stars Zach Galligan (best known for Gremlins), and offers a fun wild ride of a film. I like the mystery and energy of the film’s Main Title. You can’t quite be sure what to expect – just like the film.

10. Gremlins - "The Gremlin Rag" - Jerry Goldsmith

Composer Jerry Goldsmith may have scored over 200 productions between 1954 – 2004 – including an Academy Award winning score for The Omen – but one of my favorites will always be his score for Gremlins (1984). It is zany and fun, and matches the chaos those little green creatures bring upon Kingston Falls.

11. 28 Weeks Later - "Don Abandons Alice" - John Murphy

This track from the opening of 28 Weeks Later (2007) continues to stick with me nearly two decades after seeing the film. I love how the repetitive riff continues to build time and time again. It is like a zombie apocalypse – starting with just one case and then multiplying exponentially as time goes on. It was an epic opening score for a heartbreaking opening scene.

12. Us - "Anthem" - Michael Abels

I am not alone is loving the score to Us (2019) by Michael Abels. The score won it its respective categories at the World Soundtrack Awards, Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Black Reel Awards, and more. 

“Anthem” is the film’s opening track, playing as we see an ever-growing wall of caged rabbits. In an interview with Slate, Abels said that he wanted the song to “sound like an evil march. Like you knew that someone with bad intentions was coming.” In regards to the nonsense lyrics sung by the haunting child chorus, he said, “The reason the lyrics are nonsense has everything to do with Us, which is we want to communicate the message that there’s a group of people who are organizing, but we don’t want the audience to understand their purpose. We want the audience to find that out later, along with the lead characters… You’re forced to listen with your emotions and your instincts rather than your intellect.”

This is a chilling song and certainly conveys that something dreadfully earth-shattering is on its way.

13. Five Nights at Freddy's - "Five Nights at Freddy's" - The Newton Brothers

As with most of the songs on this list, I chose ones that personally have meaning to me instead of just popular film themes. As a huge FNAF fan, I was first in line to see Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) when it came out. The theme by the Newton Brothers was a perfect fit with the feel of the game. It harkened back to old 8-bit game music while using modern instrumentals and beats. The energetic and pulsing beat foreshadows the deadly animatronics and chaos that will ensue.

And That's the Horror Soundtracks Playlist!

Did you like it? What horror soundtracks are your favorites? Let me know on Facebook & Instagram. 

Don’t have someone special to share the day with? Check out more music and playlists here.

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Categories
Entertainment Music

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

As the leaves change color and turn the world a beautiful palette of reds, yellows, and oranges, I think about the quintessential fall song, Autumn Leaves. Autumn Leaves is an English adaptation of the French song, Les Feuilles Mortes (“The Dead Leaves”) composed by Joseph Kosma. Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics (which differ from the original French). Throughout the 1950’s popular artists covered the song, and it is still a jazz standard to this day.

The Song

While many artists have covered this song over the years, the most recognizable version (and my favorite) is by Nat King Cole in 1955. His voice and the melancholy melody hit an emotional chord in me. The song makes me think of lost friends and family, while also remembering the warm memories with them I will cherish forever. 

The Lyrics

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

Alternate Versions

As I said earlier, this is a widely covered song with many versions to choose from. Nate King Cole himself even recorded the song in multiple languages (including French & Japanese). Here are a couple alternate versions I enjoy.

Interested in more Autumn-themed music? Try these:

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“Catch and Exterminate” Short Film

“Catch and Exterminate” Short Film

Animated horror is a passion of mine. I love how the animation medium can accentuate stylized storytelling and create whimsical environments. 

I first saw “Catch and Exterminate” at Screamfest Horror Film Festival in 2024. It screened as part of their student shorts block. It is a delightful short that could certainly be expanded upon someday to tell a larger story. The character designs and sets are unique and highly stylized, creating a memorable film in just over three minutes.

Synopsis

Cocky pest control employee Elliot receives a call from a high-strung homeowner about a “bat,” but upon arrival she finds herself in over her head, and in contact with a paranormal being with a nasty bite.

"Catch & Exterminate"

About the Filmmaker

“Catch and Exterminate” is written and directed by Summer Purks. Fascinated by the weird and bizarre, Summer developed her craft for character creation and storytelling at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts where she received a Bachelor’s degree in animation and digital arts. Although her roots are in stop motion, it’s CG animation where she found she could fully bring her worlds to life.

According to the About page on her website, “Summer continues to work her CG muscles as a freelance generalist, under the LLC ‘Witching Hour Animation,’ because it’s the closest she could get to being Victor Frankenstein. She aims to create stories that illicit the same feelings she had while playing with her Monster High dolls as a girl.”

As of 2026 she is working on a new short entitled “Heartbreak” with Witching Hour Animation LLC partner Katie Limentato. The premise: After having her heart ripped out of her, undead ‘Blue Girl’ haunts her own halls. Retelling old horror stories of deceased love, driving herself to be blinded by her emotions and fueled by getting revenge on the one who took her heart. 

Concept art and test shots on the projects Kickstarter campaign indicate it will be full of Purks’ signature whimsical style. I can’t wait to see the next work from this talented up-and-coming animated horror filmmaker. 

Looking for more horror shorts? Try these chilling films:

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About My Blog

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