Halloween 2013

This year for Halloween I was determined to do something, even if it was small, after work to celebrate the holiday.  No one I knew was hosting any sort of Halloween party and some of our friends weren't even going to be home, which led to the decision of hosting my own small party with Gregory in our quaint apartment.

I celebrated Halloween dressing up a child and going trick-or-treating for candy until about adolescence.  The toilet papering and shaving creaming friends (who would return the favor to you) came next, as well as dressing up for Halloween parties.  More dressing up, then drinking was introduced.  My current young-adult years have been consisting of working on the holiday and scrambling to do something to appreciate the one day where playing dress-up is socially accepted.  A lot of the girls I would dress up with and plan these things have moved elsewhere and life has just become a little more hectic with bills and living expenses. 

The first photo shown above is the Halloween inspired backdrop I created with a roll of brown craft paper and paint.  I figured it was cheaper than buying something premade and I was really proud of it when it was finished.  Next are Jeff, Greg's brother-in-law, as an awesome homemade pirate and his sister, Lara, as a spirit in a creepy mask.  Greg is slicing up hot meatloaf as Dave Mustane, and I'm a DIY Velma from Scooby-Doo (yes, my hair is getting quite long).

The party was a little splash of fun amongst the mundane, even if it was a little low-key party of four that night.  We served homemade warm spinach dip with baguette slices and tortilla chips, a cheese platter consisting of: Dubliner, goat, and Swiss cheese, crackers, Mediterranean olive spread, homemade meatloaf (Greg made this spontaneously the day of and I think this has become a new Halloween tradition), as well as some store bought Halloween candy.  Greg's sister Lara and brother-in-law Jeff (pictured above) brought homemade stuffed mushrooms, oatmeal cookies, and sliced apples with pumpkin dip.  We also made up some mulled cider, a pitcher of El Diablo (from thekitchn.com), and served some beer.

I'm really content with how the night went and everyone's costumes.  It was a quaint night of yummy hors d'oeuvres and good company in costume.  We listened to Pandora on the "David Bowie" station over John Carpenter's: Halloween II and III.  I hope your Halloween night went just as well, whether it was shared with others or in the comfort of your own dwelling.