The Magic of October

Jack-o-Lanterns, twinkling lights, golden leaves, crackling fire, brisk mornings, candlelight, ghost stories, fairy tales…

Halloween fully creeps in as the season really begins to delight.

The mantel begs to be adorned with all the mischief and mayhem that can be conjured up.

I hang homemade glitter stars on a garland, and put my autumnal trees and little creatures on top of the mantel.

Pumpkins and trick or treaters galore.

I have been a Halloween fan ever since I was a little child.

My family went all out for Halloween and we lived in a neighorhood until I was 8 that was a trick or treating hub.

People would arrive in trucks full and we lived on a hill, which meant everyone had to make the trek to the top. This gave me a perfect chance to look at everyone’s costumes.

I was just a wide eyed little girl watching all these happy people skip around in wonderful frocks.

The adults were happy, there was music playing, we bobbed for apples and played all sorts of games.

My mom and I prepared by making caramel apples, candy apples and rice krispy treats the night before.

We worked on my costumes and she stood with me in my pink tiled bathroom drawing cat eyes and pink noses with whiskers on my face.

She glitter sprayed my hair and put stars on my cheeks.

I can go directly back to that moment in time as I type this and remember it like it was yesterday.

Aunts and uncles would arrive in full cinematic mouse and rat costumes that were meticulously professionally made.

My uncle was a big tall Frankenstein and there were so many people everywhere, the twinkle lights glowing, laughter resounding.

It made my heart so full.

I suppose that is where my love of Halloween came from.

It was a night of sparkle and magic, everyone was happy and the festivities were incredible.

It’s a memory burned into my mind, a place I long for every year and a place I completely immerse myself in every October.

As a child I thought Halloween was the most magical thing I could have ever dreamed up.

Even today, that feeling lives in my heart, and I can bring it back to life with something as simple as decorating the mantel.

When the pumpkins start growing and candy corn is on store shelves, I can almost taste my childhood.

My mom’s caramel corn bubbles. (recipe here)

The decor bins come out.

The unforgettable glitter spray bottle makes its way out of the back of the bathroom cabinet.

As a child I felt like my true self could come out in that moment of imaginative freedom of expression.

I suppose my entire life is now infused with a bit of the Halloween magic I have created from my memory.

My house is fully decked out…

Delighted to be participating in another season of enchantment.

I’ve put out my spookiest books, and read so many this season as well.

We are right in the middle of the month and I want to submerge myself in everything October.

Autumn leaves, endless glitter, striped tights and pointy shoes!

Jack-o-Lanterns must be smiling for a reason.

If you are looking for me…

I am likely hiding in this spot.

Under a cozy blanket with a stack of books.

As the light shifts, I light all of the candles…

And lose myself…

In my own Halloween world.

I love the holiday season that begins with Halloween.

After a long hot summer, I cannot imagine anything more wonderfully lovely than autumn and all it has to offer.

We are so lucky to have seasons and things to look forward to.

Doesn’t it sometimes seem like seasons are perfectly timed to our inner most desires?

When we are sick of winter, spring pops in.

When summer has been long and hot, autumn finds us.

When we are sad Halloween is over, we give thanks and gratitude through November’s Thanksgiving. And when we still long for more of that nostalgic child-like feeling, Christmas comes in. How lucky is that?

For now it is all about the popcorn and apple baking in my house.

I collect garden pumpkins and sit under all the twinkling lights with a big happy heart.

Yay for Octobers, how I love you so!

I hope you are doing extra well in your neck of the woods and that October finds you in good spirits.

I will be back very soon!

I still cannot believe that we have a new blog. is it really true?!

Pinch me!!!

Lots of love,

Vanessa

PS: Here is a video I shared on Instagram and YouTube 🩷