Countdown to Halloween---#7, #6, & #5

I love Halloween; that's a given. It is a holiday I look forward to every year. Therefore, I decided it might be fun to countdown to 10/31 by writing a blog each day, indicating 10 reasons why I'm such a fan.

Blog #7---Halloween Music

Halloween music? What's that?

Yeah, I know, there really aren't any Halloween-specific songs. We don't sing Halloween carols, that's for sure. However, like decorations, the right music can certainly put you in the Halloween spirit. I have a "Halloween play list" on my ipod that I've been listening to for the past few weeks. Here you go...

1-This is Halloween (The soundtrack version, NOT Marilyn Manson)
2- Halloween by Aqua (Yes, that Aqua. It's super-cheesy, I love it!)
3- I Put a Spell on You-- Bette Midler from Hocus Pocus
4- Thriller-- Michael Jackson
5- Ghostbusters-- Ray Parker Jr.
6- Time Warp-- Rocky Horror Picture Show (NOT the Glee one, yeck!)
7- The Monster Mash-- Bobby "Boris" Pickett
8- Theme from 'Halloween'-- John Carpenter
9- Theme from 'Psycho', the shower scene

So, there you have it. I'd like to add more songs one day, but it's not high on my list of priorities right now. There's a lot of other great movie soundtrack songs out there. Scary music is a must for any proper horror film, which brings us to the next blog...



Blog #6---Scary movies

I'm not a fan of the ultra-gory, sickening, and utterly demented horror movies (i.e. the Saw franchise), but I do like a good horror movie. I'm more prone to thrillers, like The Sixth Sense, The Others, The Glass House, to name a few. Of course, you can never go wrong with the classics; Rear Window, The Birds, Carrie, The Exorcist, Nightmare on Elm Street... the list goes on!

Probably better than the legit horror movies are the ones that are awesomely-bad. The king of this list is, without a doubt, Troll 2. Wow, what a gem of a movie this is. Not only does it make absolutely no sense, but the acting is terrible and it was filmed right here in Utah. If you have Netflix, you can watch it right now. That's how I saw it, and I'm certainly glad I did.

I also like the classic horror villains; Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein's monster, the mummy, Jason, Freddy Kruger, Michael Meyers, Pinhead, Chucky, Ghostface, Jigsaw... they're legendary!

Now, I know scary movies aren't for everyone, but you should at least try to watch one semi-scary movie each Halloween. They're infinitely safer than haunted houses and, well, they're just fun! Come on, give them a chance.



Blog #5---Halloween TV Episodes

Halloween episodes of your favorite shows are usually pretty fun to watch! I've always liked seeing what my favorite characters will dress up as. Back in the 90's, I would go ape for the Home Improvement episodes. Tim Taylor really knew how to throw a Halloween shin-dig. Nowadays, you can't go wrong with The Office or Community.

However, the king of Halloween episodes is, without a doubt, The Simpsons. Don't you just love the Treehouse of Horrors? I love the week leading up to Halloween, because that's when they air these classic shows. Every one's got their favorite; mine would have to be the one where they rip off The Shining. Of course, like the show itself, these later episodes aren't as good as they once were. 90's Simpsons reigns supreme. If you haven't yet, sit down and watch one. They're gloriously funny!!!

Also, you can't go wrong with going to homestarrunner.com and watching their Halloween toons. If you don't know what I'm talking about, shame on you. I'd need a whole other blog to explain it, but it's awesome too.

Anyway, find your favorite TV show and watch a Halloween ep. Most have them and most are pretty fun.

Countdown to Halloween---#8

I love Halloween; that's a given. It is a holiday I look forward to every year. Therefore, I decided it might be fun to countdown to 10/31 by writing a blog each day, indicating 10 reasons why I'm such a fan.

Blog #8---Haunted Houses

"Tender lumplings everywhere, life's no fun without a good scare!"

Haunted houses are just fun! There's no better way to get you in the Halloween spirit than visiting a haunted house in early October. Why're they so great? Well, it's like you're in a horror movie, while still knowing that you absolutely won't get hurt. Personally, I don't often find them to be scary. Oh sure, if a dude pops out of nowhere and says, "Boo," I'll shriek, but it is due to the fact that he startled me.

Whatever Steph, EVERYONE says that!

OK, don't believe me. It doesn't really matter---scared or not, haunted houses are awesome. I especially love walking behind someone who honestly is freaked out. It's deliciously fun to watch them. Maybe I'm sadistic or something, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

I love the places that go all-out with their decorations. The more realistic the better! Like I mentioned in the earlier blog, scary decorations are always a major win!

I also applaud those who make their own haunted houses. I have fond memories of a house in my neighborhood who transformed their backyard into a spook alley, and you HAD to go through it if you wanted to get candy. It was harmless, though, and perfectly acceptable for children.

Also, for those of you who are into these things, haunted houses are a great way to get close to your date, literally. I've noticed that girls like to have a guy to hang on to so they feel safe or whatever. (A little schmaltzy in my book, but to each their own).

Finally, for those of you who are anti-haunted house, just chill out. It's not real and I've never been to one where it would be considered Satanic or whatnot. Oh, and did I mention it's not real? If you don't want to go that's fine, but don't be a buzz kill for the rest of us who like it. Just go sit in the corner and watch Winnie the Pooh or something. No one is making you come.

Countdown to Halloween---#9

I love Halloween; that's a given. It is a holiday I look forward to every year. Therefore, I decided it might be fun to countdown to 10/31 by writing a blog each day, indicating 10 reasons why I'm such a fan.

Blog #9---Candy

Any good holiday is going to have good food, and Halloween is no different. Now, I know there aren't very many "Halloween-specific" treats. (One might argue candy corn, but I won't since it is freakishly-gross!) For the most part, one just eats the same treats they would all year round.

So then, why even bother bringing it up? I mean, if you can eat a Kit-Kat in May, why is October special?

Well, in my opinion, Halloween was the first holiday to encourage the eating of sugary-sweets. Just look at Trick or Treating (a blog I'm definitely going to write later on). The whole point of it is to accumulate treats. It is sad to me that every other holiday now feels they have to rip off Halloween in the candy department. Christmas and Easter are fine on their own, they didn't really need to incorporate candy--- but I guess that's just a lesson in Capitalism for you.

Call it nostalgia, purism, or just my stubbornness, but the best holiday candy is, and always will be Halloween candy. That's all there is to it!

Countdown to Halloween---#10

I love Halloween; that's a given. It is a holiday I look forward to every year. Therefore, I decided it might be fun to countdown to 10/31 by writing a blog each day, indicating 10 reasons why I'm such a fan.

Blog #10---Decorations

I sometimes wonder what exactly I have in common with my parents, as I'm sure most children do. We don't always (clique alert) see eye to eye on things. Our tastes aren't what you'd call "simpatico", if you catch my drift.

However, one trait I know I've inherited, from my mother at least, is the desire to decorate for holidays. Now, I don't do every holiday, because that's a little nutty. To her credit, my mother doesn't either. Some holidays aren't worth it (can we say Valentine's?) Others just aren't very practical (aka New Years). In my book, you should only decorate for the important ones, which, of course, includes Halloween!

Now, since I currently live in a basement, I don't have a lot to work with. Oh yes, there are decorations now, but they're small and not all that interesting. Plus, they're not very scary. If I had my own place and a ton of money to blow, I would turn my quarters into a bonafied haunted mansion! I would do everything in my power to make things creepy, eeky, grody, and all-out spooky, aka The Addams Family, the Munsters, any Vincent Price movie... my house would have it all!

Bottom line is, you've got to decorate. You don't have to go my route, there are plenty of G-rated decorations you can do. Decorating gets you in the spirit of the holiday, so I definitely recommend doing it.

Good Halloween decorations = win!