Spooky Quarantine Halloween
It’s 2020. Quarantine Halloween falls on a Saturday, with a full moon, a blue moon, and gets an extra hour at 2 am….oh, and there’s a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, named Hurricane Zeta. This year has been one for the books, so I think we should just roll with it. Whether you go trick-or-treating or not, here are a few other alternatives to still ensure you have a happy and spooky Halloween!
Quarantine Halloween Tips
1. Watch a spooky movie.
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV +, Hulu, etc. and every OnDemand option possible have given us the gift of being able to watch almost any movie we want. You can opt to watch kid friendly films like Halloweentown, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (personal fave!), or Casper, or opt for an adults only viewing party with Halloween, Scream, or The Ring.
Make sure to load up on the popcorn, candy corn, and alllllll the chocolate for this fun night of movie viewing!
2. Visit a pumpkin patch.
If your Instagram feed is anything like mine, pumpkin patch pictures have been the number 1 thing I’ve seen for a few weeks now….and I absolutely love them. Kids love the freedom to run and play and climb and jump and just be kids for a little bit…..and you should know by now I am a huge advocate for getting kids outdoors and away from the screens. Take a pumpkin home with you to decorate and/or carve…..and don’t forget to roast the seeds!
Katy friends – the First Christian Church on Morton Ranch Rd has a pumpkin patch open every day in October until dark, and when you come dressed in costume between October 25 and 31, you can receive a special, filled trick or treat bag. Check it out here.
3. Carve and/or decorate pumpkins.
Speaking of carving and decorating pumpkins……The twins and I will be decorating pumpkins this year with stickers. I’m not ready to do a full on carving session with them yet. And roasting the seeds is the best part (IMO.) Get everyone involved and have grandma and grandpa vote on their faves! Or instead of doing stickers, let the creative juices flow and let the kids decorate however they want! Click here for some inspo…..and be prepared to be amazed!
4. Go for a family walk or bike ride.
In Texas, we don’t get the true fall foliage that say, Vermont, does; however, that shouldn’t deter you from getting out and about on Halloween. Go for a family walk around the neighborhood or local park. Load the bikes up and go for a ride. No matter what you do, being active and getting the fresh air is always a win. If you do live in an are where the leaves are changing, by all means, go do some leaf peeping!
5. Spooky cocktails.
Pumpkin Martini. Need I say more? This recipe from Real Simple has me drooling and wanting it to be 5:00 asap! If alcohol isn’t your thing, treat yourself to your favorite pumpkin flavored coffee. The pumpkin cream cold brew from Starbucks is my absolute fave pumpkin drink…..and they stop serving it shortly after Halloween, so grab a few more before they are out!
Pumpkin Martini Ingredients for 1 Serving
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 3 tbsp vodka
- 2 tbsp half and half (or something creamy)
- 1 tbsp canned pure pumpkin puree
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Combine the sugar and ⅛ teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice on a small plate. Dip the rim of a chilled martini glass in water, then dip in the sugar to coat.
- In a martini shaker filled with ice, combine the vodka, half and half, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and the remaining ⅛ teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice. Shake vigorously, then strain into the prepared glass.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving:245 calories; fat 4g; saturated fat 2g; cholesterol 11mg; sodium 15mg; protein 1g; carbohydrates 29g; sugars 25g; fiber 1g; ironmg; calcium 51mg.
6. Decorate Halloween themed face masks.
If you would have told me in January that decorating a face mask or having it match your costume was a thing, I would have laughed in your face. But, here we are. Decorate face masks to match your costume, or try animal faces, spooky faces, pumpkins!
Or try these disposable Halloween face masks to make it fun for the weekend!
7. Do some Halloween baking.
A personal fave. But mainly because I just really enjoy eating the final product and taste testing along the way 🙂 I’ve share two GREAT recipes for apple spice bread and pumpkin bread and have another great recipe for Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies! I honestly think the apple spice bread is my favorite – the streusel on top is just to die for!
8. Decorate a haunted house.
I love the idea of assembling this Halloween Haunted Manor Chocolate Cookie Kit! It is pre-baked and easy to assemble, includes white, black, and orange icing along with decorative candies and sprinkles, and sure to be spooky fun for the family.
Well, friends, like I mentioned above, this is a strange year and bottom line you have to do what is best for you and your family. Here’s to wishing you a happy and healthy and FUN Halloween!
Cheers – MP
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