7 Halloween Activities for Wusses

One of my favourite things about autumn is Halloween (you can see some of the other things I love about the season here) but I'm a massive wimp. I don't do blood or gore or scary films. I don't read scary stories (the last scary book I read was a Point Horror book, back in the mid 90s. It scared the crap out of me and I never picked up another. Embarrassingly true story).

So without the fear-factor, what do I actually like about Halloween? I thought I'd share 7 fun activities you can do this Halloween if you're a scaredy cat just like me.

 

 

 

Carve a Pumpkin

 

 

Confession: I don't actually carve our pumpkin. It's my husband's job because it's pretty gross and smelly. But I do love a Jack o' Lantern and nothing screams Halloween more than a carved pumpkin with a flickering tealight (if we pop the pumpkin outside to encourage more trick or treaters - in a non child snatcher type of way - I always use a battery-operated tealight. Safety first!)

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to Fun Halloween Music

 

 

Useless fact: Monster Mash is my favourite Halloween song.

 

We pop Andrew Gold's Halloween Howls on when we decorate the living room or do Halloween activities (and yes, Monster Mash is on there). You could also make a playlist on Spotify for free.

 

 

 

Get Crafty or Bake-y

 

  

I love getting crafty at Halloween. If you're crafting with kids, simple things like loo roll mummies are great. They're quick and easy and you can pop treats in there too if you'd like. Paper plate monster masks are also a nice activity - it can be as messy or creative as you'd like!

 

 

I also get crafty with the trick or treat sweets, giving ordinary sweets a spooktacular makeover.

 

 

I try to make something different each year, but I liked the brown paper packets so much a couple of years ago that I'm going to do something similar this year too.

 

 

If, like me, you're not much of a baker, you can keep it simple by making spider cupcakes. All you have to do is cover the tops of your cakes (which you can even buy pre-made if you want to keep it reeeeeally simple) with white icing sugar and add a spider design using chocolate buttons for bodies and piped melted chocolate for the legs.

 

 

 

 

Watch Hocus Pocus

 

 

Like I said earlier, I don't do blood, gore or crapping my pants watching horror films of any kind. But you can't go wrong with family-friendly Hocus Pocus. Other scaredy-cat Halloween films include Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Addams Family, Casper, Monsters, Inc and The Wizard of Oz (but not Return to Oz. I watched it once, when I was little, and those changing heads were terrifying).

 

 

 

Read a Halloween-themed Romantic Comedy

 

 

Or write one, which is something I love to do. There aren't any scares in my Halloween short stories, guaranteed. You can find a selection of short stories by clicking here and if you're a newsletter subscriber, there'll be a brand new Halloween short story dropping into your inbox soon! If you haven't subscribed and you would like to, click here

 

 

 

Decorate the House

 

 

Making your own decorations can be fun, or you can buy loads of cute (or mildly scary) decorations for your house. I like to put gel stickers in the window so trick or treaters know we're celebrating the day and can come and knock on our door (please. I've gone to a lot of effort making treats).

 

Top Tip: You don't have to bother dusting in the run up to Halloween - it all adds to the effect ;)

 

 

 

Go Trick or Treating

 

 

You're probably going to need a kid for this one. If you don't have one of your own, borrow one (with permission, obv), pop a costume on and off you go collecting treats!

 

Our dog, Luna goes trick or treating with my husband and our girls (I stay behind to give out the treats at our house). And she even gets dressed up too. As you can see from the photos, she loves us for this. She doesn't hate the costumes. Not. One. Bit.

 

 

 

So, that's my list of 7 things to do at Halloween if you're a big wuss like me. I hope you have a fun Halloween, however you spend the day :)

Coming Soon: Book Makeovers

 

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you may have spotted me shouting about the book makeover that is coming very soon for THREE of my books.

The big reveals will be happening from 6th November, but I'm so excited about them that I can't wait that long - which is why I'm giving my newsletter subscribers a sneak peek next week! And not only will subscribers get to see the gorgeous covers before everybody else, they'll also receive a FREE Halloween short story, plus the chance to win a signed copy of The Little Bed & Breakfast by the Sea.

 

If you haven't subscribed to my newsletter, you can pop your details here - it's all completely free and you'll receive 4-5 newsletters per year, with exclusive giveaways, book news and content, short stories and more! Plus, everyone who subscribes will receive a FREE ebook short, which is exclusive to my subscribers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Autumn

Don't you just love autumn? It's my favourite time of year. Some people crave the heat of summer but I'm all about big jumpers, slippers and my woolly hat.

There's so much to love about autumn but it always seems to go by in a flash. One minute you're crunching leaves, the next you're in the freezing depths of winter. So I thought I would make myself a checklist of all the wonderful things I want to do this autumn, so I can really appreciate all the little things I love about the season.

Jumping in leaves is my favourite thing to do during the autumn months, especially when they're crunchy (yes, I am a big kid) so it had to be at the very top of my checklist (the others are not in order of preference because I simply couldn't choose between them).

I've had a head start on the blanket as I've been working away at it for quite a while now (I'm a newbie at crocheting and still learning the basics!) and I've already bought some wool in gorgeous autumny colours for the scarf, so I'm itching to getting started on that. If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you'll get a glimpse at the woks in progress!

I had to add some Halloween stuff on my list as it's the BEST and the perfect excuse to get crafty. Although I love pumpkins, it's always my husband's job to carve it as it's icky (😄).

I'm already starting to get the autumn feels just from making my list, so I'm looking forward to getting stuck in!

What would be on your autumn checklist?

My Summer 2018

The house is very quiet today, which can mean only one thing; it's back to school time. The past over six weeks has passed in a bit of blur. On one hand, I'm not sure where the time has gone, yet on the other - bizarrely - July seems a very long time ago.

Back in July, we took a little family trip down to London as my teenage daughter, Rianne was desperate to see Hamilton after becoming obsessed with the soundtrack. As Isobel is a bit younger, I took her to see the Matilda musical while Rianne and Chris went to see Hamilton.

 

While in London, we did a bit of sightseeing, including the London Eye, which was fabulously air conditioned (back then we were very much in the throes of the heatwave and baking!), and I left behind a little gift on a bench.

 

A few weeks later, we went on a slightly longer trip to Blackpool and had a brilliant time. The heatwave was long gone (thankfully) and we didn't always have the best weather (we were rained on a few times) but we kept ourselves busy with indoor activities on the crap-weather days, including the Tower circus, the Sea Life centre and - best of all - the arcades.

 

 

We did have some sunny days, so we spent time on the beach with our buckets and spades and an octopus kite (which was a lot of fun flying). We also spent the day at the zoo and bought Luna a little toy wolf to bring home with us.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't get nearly as much reading done as I would have liked this summer, but I did share the book love here on the blog with my Six Weeks of Summer Reads. What did you read this summer? And did you go on any trips/holidays? Let us know in the comments! :)

Six Weeks of Summer Reads: Week Six

 

I love shouting about books I've loved, and what better excuse is there to jump up and down waving a book you think everyone should read than the summer?

 

 I've been sharing one fab read a week over the course of the summer holidays. They haven't necessarily bene your typical beach reads, simply books I've adored recently and want to share with anyone who will listen.

 

As I'm always on the look out for more books to add to the TBR pile, I'd love to hear your recommendations too! Share the book love either on my blog posts or get in touch on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #sixweeksofsummerreads :)

 

 

 

 

Amazon UK | Amazon US

 

My friends think I'm insane, I'm stalking men all over town and I'm on a deadline.

Most people have heard of The Rules of Engagement, the book that promises to teaches to find the man of your dreams in ten easy steps. Cat has decided that, while a lot has changed since the eighties, it might be entertaining to follow it to the letter.

But when you're looking for love - actively chasing it down, actually - a lot can go wrong...

 

 

 

 

I Followed The Rules is a slightly older book (published in 2015) but I only read it earlier this year as I've been catching up on Joanna Bolouri's books after reading - and adoring - The Most Wonderful Time of The Year at the end of 2016. I love Joanna Bolouri's style of writing and her books - and her heroines - are laugh-out-loud funny. I know when I pick up one of her books I'm in for a good time and a chuckle. I Followed The Rules was no exception; it's funny, swear-tastic (I love a good dose of the swears) and uplifting.

 

Have you read I Followed The Rules? What did you think?

Six Weeks of Summer Reads: Week Five

 

I love shouting about books I've loved, and what better excuse is there to jump up and down waving a book you think everyone should read than the summer?

 

 I'm sharing one fab read a week over the course of the summer holidays. They won't necessarily be your typical beach reads, simply books I've adored recently and want to share with anyone who will listen.

 

And as I'm always on the look out for more books to add to the TBR pile, I'd love to hear your recommendations too! Share the book love either on my blog posts or get in touch on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #sixweeksofsummerreads :)

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon UK | Amazon US

 

Stella Carey exists in a world of night. Married to an ex-soldier, she leaves the house every evening as Vincent locks himself away, along with the scars and the secrets he carries.

During her nursing shifts, Stella writes letters for her patients to their loved ones - some full of humour, love and practical advice, others steeped in regret or pain – and promises to post these messages after their deaths.

Until one night Stella writes the letter that could give her patient one last chance at redemption, if she delivers it in time…

 

 

 

 

I'd had We Are All Made of Stars on my TBR pile for quite a while, but I'm so glad I finally got round to reading it as it was a fantastic book full of heart. The concept is pretty heart breaking, with the letters being delivered after Stella's patients have died, and I feared it would leave me feeling quite dark and morose, but Rowan's writing is so warm and uplifting. Yes, it's poignant in parts, but I wasn't overwhelmed with sadness and I loved reading the letters left behind by for loved ones.

 

Have you read We Are All Made of Stars? What did you think?

Six Weeks of Summer Reads Week Four

 

I love shouting about books I've loved, and what better excuse is there to jump up and down waving a book you think everyone should read than the summer?

 

 I'm sharing one fab read a week over the course of the summer holidays. They won't necessarily be your typical beach reads, simply books I've adored recently and want to share with anyone who will listen.

 

And as I'm always on the look out for more books to add to the TBR pile, I'd love to hear your recommendations too! Share the book love either on my blog posts or get in touch on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #sixweeksofsummerreads :)

 

 

 

 

Amazon UK | Amazon US

 

Brighton Beach, 1993

Teenagers Nell and Jude find the body of a young woman and when no one comes to claim her, she becomes known as the Brighton Mermaid. Nell is still struggling to move on when, three weeks later, Jude disappears.

Twenty-five years on, Nell is forced to quit her job to find out who the Brighton Mermaid really was – and what happened to her best friend that summer.

But as Nell edges closer to the truth, dangerous things start to happen. Someone seems to be watching her every move, and soon she starts to wonder who in her life she can actually trust…

 

 

 

 

Dorothy Koomson is one of my favourite writers, so I couldn't wait to read her latest release, The Brighton Mermaid. Dorothy has a real knack of drawing me into her characters' lives, of keeping me hooked on their stories, and this book was no exception. I didn't want to stop reading, desperate to find out who the woman was Nell and Jude found on the beach and what happened to Nell afterwards (I made many silent accusations in my head as I read along, pointing the finger wildly!)

 

The Brighton Mermaid is a brilliant read, with Dorothy's usual engaging style and a mystery spanning twenty-five years.

 

Have you read The Brighton Mermaid? What did you think?