BOO! It's Spooky Season

Halloween with three kids is basically like organising a mini music festival, there’s costumes, sugar, crowds, and someone always has a meltdown because their costume slipped off their shoulder. 🎃👻 But honestly, it’s such a magical age right now, where trick or treating feels like the event of the year (with just a dash of parental stress for flavour).

It also feels like Halloween is so much bigger than when I was a kid. Back then it was basically just a pumpkin on the step now it feels like us Brits are taking full inspo from America. I love to see it! I went to Costco the other week and nearly fainted at the size of the decorations we’re talking life-size zombies and skeletons taller than our front door. I’ve even thrown in some pictures from when we used to live in Alexandria, Virginia, the decorations in Old Town were truly next level!

My big Halloween question though: how does everyone actually do this? Does one parent stay home to hand out sweets while the other braves the sugar-fuelled chaos? Or do you just stick a bucket on the doorstep and hope the older kids don’t swoop in and empty it straight into their bags? Part of me thinks it’s our duty for one person to stay home to spread a bit of Halloween magic for all the other kids knocking on the door.

Last year was easy, my mum was on sweet-duty but this year I think we’ll have to tag-team it. One of us out on the sweet-collecting circuit, the other at home being the fun-size Santa.

So tell me, what’s your Halloween strategy? Anyway good luck everyone! Because once trick or treating is done, it’s the uphill battle until Christmas of hiding the sweets and rationing them out one fun-size bar at a time.

PS: If you see me sneaking a mini Mars Bar from the stash, no you didn’t. 

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Places to take the family for Halloween fun in and around Surrey/London

Bocketts Farm Little Pumpkins Week - festive feels all round!

Hobbledown Hounslow Pumpkin Patch - we went last year and it was great for pumpkin picking.

Tulleys Farm and Pumpkin Patch - all the autumnal, halloween vibes in a nutshell (or a pumpkin patch!). Photo ops, pumpkin picking and themed stalls galore.

Legoland “Brick or Treat” this Half Term - who doesn’t love spooky lego?! Although let’s be honest, no screech will ever be louder than when you accidentally step on a stray lego brick…OWW! 

If you want to win your family pumpkin carving competition this year, let me let you in on a little secret…this Pumpkin Carving Kit is perfect for the whole family.

These Light Up Trick or Treat Bags are a fun, pretty alternative to classic trick or treat buckets or bags. The kids love the lights, and so do I - it makes it much easier to spot my kids amongst the costumes, broomsticks and wings.

I’d love to see more of the classic American way of Halloween decorating in the UK, and I just love this Garden Witch that’s lost control of her broomstick. Tie her around a tree in your garden and I’m sure she’ll make the kids giggle.

Costumes are Halloween essentials, and my kids love this Light Up Witch Dress and Minecraft Dragon Costume.

Half term and Halloween are all about costumes, sweet treats and spooky movies. Here are some of our favourites to watch with (and without) the kids…

Mummy Pea Halloween favourites

Practical Magic

Hocus Pocus

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

And what to watch with the kids

Casper

The Little Vampire

Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie

The Addams Family

3. This rug from John Lewis is the perfect piece to bring in all those autumnal tones into your home.

4. This Staub casserole dish is a brilliant addition to your kitchen for cooking all sorts of autumn dinners.

5. A family favourite at the moment, Mermaid Barbie. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love mermaids?!

Boden | Anthropologie | Topshop

Topshop | Boden | Marks & Spencer

Cosy season is upon us now the leaves are starting to fall and it’s certainly blustery in the UK. This calls for country jackets, boots, knitwear - and especially knitwear! Here are some new in pieces I’m loving this season, as well as what I’d put together for the ultimate fall inspired look…

This Marks & Spencer Jacket is the perfect country jacket for being outdoors with the family, or on your morning dog walks.
Love how cosy this Everlane Jumper is, I’ve had it for years!
You know me, my favourite Abercrombie Curve Love High Rise Loose Jean
How gorgeous are these Barbour Suede Lace Up Boots?!
I love the pieces from Orelia Jewellery, especially this Necklace and these Molten Huggie Hoops with Swarovski Crystals

Monday
Jacket Potatoes
Tuna, beans, bolognese - the options are endless and it’s always a family fav

Tuesday
Toad in the Hole with Mash and Gravy
Easiest way to measure for the Yorkshire pudding is equal parts of all egg, flour and milk.

Wednesday
Chicken Nuggets, Chips and Peas
Don’t shy away from an easy life some nights

Thursday
Cottage Pie and Peas
Make with beef for cottage pie or lamb for shepherds pie

Friday
Chicken Fajitas
Now the way we make them arent exsctly authentic but still, very yummy.

Saturday
Takeaway
Why not ey?

Sunday
Chicken Roast Dinner
Smother a chicken in Italian seasoning and butter then throw the whole thing in the air fryer for 45 mins. Easy.