Although this Halloween may be a slightly different one, that’s not to say there can’t be one at all! The nights out stumbling home at three in the morning, post-club maccies and conversations about the mistakes made the night before may not be possible this year, but, Halloween is, by no means, cancelled. Whether you’re currently isolating, going into tier three or at home with your family, here are some tips and tricks to make this Halloween one to remember…
Step One: Get dressy. We may be under restrictions this year, but your outfits definitely don’t have to be! I have always found the pre-planning of the Halloween attire, makeup and hair the most enjoyable part of Halloween; scrolling endlessly on amazon and Pinterest for inspo can definitely be considered a guilty pleasure of mine! But, for those of you perhaps who are not as enthusiastic about dressing up – why not try a few accessories from your local Sainsburys? Some cat ears or angel wings could add a significant touch to any outfit, even one made a few hours before. Whilst there are numerous ways to get creative with fancy dress, my favourite however has to be dressing up as a group. Re-enacting the Scooby Doo gang, the Disney princesses or power rangers could all bring some fun to your fancy dress this Halloween; and not to mention, also be an ideal opportunity to snap some Insta-worthy pics!
Step Two: Get some food and drinks in! No one wants the munchies on Halloween, so stock up on the sweeties and chocolate and, with no trick or treaters this year, sit back and enjoy them all to yourself. If you’re looking for some nice drinks or a way of getting bevved without relying on the straight vodka or tequila shots, why not consider some cocktails? Online recipes for mojitos and martinis work wonders, and make drinking not only more enjoyable but more sophisticated too (only if that’s the vibe you’re going for, of course!) So, if you’re wanting to get a bit tipsy this Halloween give the cocktails a go, and if you want to take it the extra mile add in some LED ice cubes to get the party going.
Step Three: Don’t hate, decorate! For just £2 from B&M you can be fully equipped with some stick-on spiders and hanging bats, and, if you really want to splash the cash, an additional £3 can get you some ghost emoji balloons (my personal favourite). Putting all the decorations up is a strangely satisfying experience, and even better, when you have a good playlist on and your friends to help you do it!
Step Four: If you’re looking for a more low-key way of spending your Halloween, you can never go wrong with a good movie night and popcorn. Netflix currently has some good films to get you started: Nightmare on Elmstreet, Paranormal activity, Friday the 13th just to name a few. And, given the fact Halloween is on a Saturday this year – you’ll have even more time to spend getting in the Halloween feeling.
Step Five: Support your local pumpkin farm and go pumpkin picking. If you want the perfect Halloween accessory to go outside your front door, then this step is for you. Stock up with some organically sourced pumpkins and get carving… (Disclaimer: it’s a lot harder than you think!) Or, if you don’t trust your carving capabilities, splash some paint on it and give it a unique edge. The perfect way to channel your inner creativity and add to the décor of your house at the same time.
Step Six: There’s nothing like a good game on Halloween; especially when you’re a few drinks in! If you live with your uni mates, like me, a big game of hide and seek in the shared house could be more thrilling than you’d expect, especially when there are consequences involved! Other games like charades and beer pong could equally suffice, and not to forget, pin the tail on the skeleton!
Step Seven: Last but not least, a Halloween themed dinner could also be an interesting activity to get the house together. Some pumpkin soup or mummy meatballs would do the job, and if you add an element of surprise in the mix, get different members of your household to cook varying things so that your Halloween menu can be a collaborative effort. If you have more of a sweet tooth, a wholesome day of baking Halloween goodies is another option worth considering – cookies, brownies and cupcakes can all be made with a touch of Halloween!
However you may spend your Halloween this year, I hope these ideas give you a bit of inspiration to get creative, regardless of the restrictions. It may not be what you had planned but that’s not to say you can no longer have a fang-tastic time!
Jennie Sarama
Image courtesy of @neonbrand via Unsplash.Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.