![Kendall On Halloween](https://thesaltyexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/img_5533.jpeg?w=720)
Halloween is a time for increased sugar intake, spooky pranks, and fun costume parties. Except, here is the thing: I dislike dressing up, I am easily scared of, pretty much, any prank AND I really don’t like candy all that much. Blasphemous, I know! I am not creative enough to ever come up with a cute costume and the days of being a sexy pirate are long gone… like, really, long gone. Scary movies are a no-go in this family; the scariest my husband and I will go is watching “Silence of the Lambs.” Even then, I won’t sleep well. And truthfully, candy hurts my tummy.
I am always looking for fun ways to celebrate this time of the year and, for me, that is watching some light-hearted witch movies, baking pumpkin bread, and dressing my daughter up in cute things. Last year, she was RBG. This year, she is going to be Mary Poppins a la Jolly Holiday/Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Her outfit is ON POINT and was made in exacting detail by my ridiculously talented mother-in-law. She even made the hat and parasol… stay tuned for outfit pictures on Saturday via TSE stories on Instagram.
While I don’t go crazy on Halloween, I have compiled some fun ideas on how to celebrate COVID-19 style…
- Candy is a really controversial subject this year- do we hand out candy? Do we put bags of candy out? Is that even too risky? That’s up to all of you and your communities to decide… Our neighborhood has decided to do bags of candy and set them out on the doorsteps/tables in driveways for kids to be picked up. Most people will be monitoring the tables (with a mask and gloves) to make sure older kids don’t steal the bags because apparently that’s a thing? If that’s too risky for you- then I say buy the candy and make Halloween Candy Cookie Bars (courtesy of Tasty) for you to chow down on as you snuggle in on Saturday night.
- Brew up a yummy Fall-like cocktail and zoom with your friends! Every year, Issy and I make this yummy spiked cider punch and this year is no different- Coronavirus or not! Since we won’t be sharing this with a group of people, we will be making a much smaller batch. Here is a great recipe from the Food Network called Spiked Apple Cider Cocktails.
- SKIP the scary movie because 2020 has been scary enough. Watch something fun like “Hocus Pocus.” Laugh. Let’s try and laugh more. There is absolutely no need to scare yourself anymore this year.
4. If you are out and about, grab some marigolds and decorate your table with them. They are pretty, they are cheap, and they brighten up your home. Go crazy.
5. Want to dress up? Do it. Stay in. Run around your casa in costume. Take pics, FaceTime, Zoom, WhatsApp all of your friends and family. But- stay in if you can. Be smart. Don’t go to a Halloween party… why risk it? Yesterday I ran into the gas station for less than 2 minutes and realized an hour later that I didn’t put my mask on… I am shocked and mad at myself that I was THAT person. It was an honest mistake. Regardless, it was still risky… going to a party would just be intentionally reckless and putting yourself, and your fellow party goers at risk.
You can still have fun on Saturday- that fun may just look different than before and that’s ok! It’s not forever! BUT if we aren’t smart now, the return to “normal” could take even longer.
Something I am really wanting to do next year is a Day of the Dead ofrenda. I didn’t plan well enough in advance to get everything prepared that I would need for a proper altar. And if you know me, you know I don’t want to half-a## it. I want to really do it. I love the idea of celebrating and honoring our loved ones. I can still do Halloween on the 31st AND celebrate Day of the Dead on November 1st. If you do an altar, what are your tips?
Happy Halloween, all! Stay safe and HAVE FUN!