Hydro Halloween Spook-tacular
Ghosts, goblins and ghouls are set to descend on the Victorian Gardens at Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire for a packed Halloween weekend of events.
Visitors can take their pick of the patch on a pumpkin treasure trail following interactive QR code clues along the route to the Victorian Gardens for character meet and greets. Those who successfully follow the cunning clues are rewarded with more treats than tricks at the vintage bus filled with tasty Halloween goodies to eat and drink.
Kids can also get hands on with some fang-tastic crafts and pumpkin carving workshops taking place across the weekend at Crieff Hydro.
The Hydro Halloween Pumpkin Trail takes place from 10am-6pm on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November. Fancy dress is encouraged and entry is free with pumpkin carving costing £5.
The Crieff Hydro Hotel Cinema will also be in action for residential guests with screenings of Coco, Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, Casper and Monster House as well as an evening adult’s only showing of The Shining.
Kristian Campbell, General Manager at Crieff Hydro Hotel, said: “Halloween is the perfect occasion for family fun and that’s what we’re all about at Crieff Hydro Hotel.
“We’re created a weekend of activities that all the family can enjoy, with social distancing and hygiene measures all considered. We look forward to welcoming guests and seeing their fantastic costumes.”
To keep up to date on the latest news and events at Crieff Hydro Hotel, visit @crieffhydroresort on Facebook.
Halloween is definitely going to be different this year, but with PAUL Bakery’s limited-edition range of devilishly good sweet treats you can still celebrate in style! Sink your teeth into the chocolate Spooky Spider Cake and terrifyingly tasty Boo! Halloween Frasier, or treat yourself to a Creepy-Crawly Cookie to get yourself ready for the season of scares!
Spooky Spider Cake (£46.95)
A dark chocolate sponge with a rich chocolate buttercream and strawberry jam filling, decorated with a web of white fondant icing and dark chocolate spiders.
Available online only to pick up from a PAUL shop or for delivery to selected London postcodes 19th-25th October, and to buy in-store 26th October – 1st November.
Creepy-Crawly Cookie (£1.85*, or 6 for £8*)
A soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie topped with a chocolate spider.
Available in all PAUL shops from 19th October – 1st November.
Boo! Halloween Frasier – Individual Cake (£4.95*)
A light Genoese sponge shaped like a ghost with mousseline cream, fresh strawberries and marzipan.
Available in all PAUL shops from 26th October – 1st November.
Celebrate Halloween with two devilishly delicious cocktails from The Cotswold Distillery. What’s more if you purchase Cotswolds Dry Gin from their website you can enjoy £5 off with the discount code TREAT.
The Devils Share – a herbaceous honeyed sour mix with delicious red wine tannins, complementing the rich and fruity single malt
45 ml Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky
25 ml Lemon Juice
15 ml Cotswolds Amaro
15 ml Honey Syrup
7.5 ml Red Wine
Place all ingredients except the red wine into an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into an ice filled rocks glass. Drizzle red wine over the cocktail and ice to create a ‘bleeding’ effect in the glass
Many of Horror – a Cotswolds full house! Deliciously fresh, with a perfect balance of zesty bittersweet orange, laced with spicy botanicals
50 ml Cotswolds Dry Gin
25 ml Cotswolds Triple Sec
25 ml Cotswolds Sweet Vermouth
As Halloween looms closer, the question of what to wear hangs over us.
Whilst parties may be on pause for many, this year Radley’s getting ready to bring in those treats with the launch of the NEW spellbinding Book Street bag (£199 from www.radley.co.uk)
Crafted in faux lizard textured leather with a mock croc panel across the back, the ‘Radley’s Book of Magic’ appliqué showcases our iconic Scottie getting ready to perform a trend setting trick! Its sleek flap opens to a dual compartment interior that’s lined with our Radley jacquard fabric and interior pockets, alongside a ‘Halloween Edition’ print that makes this coven worthy collectible design.
This season there’s no need to choose between trick-or-treat when you can have both!
Even though the design is Halloween inspired, it doesn’t mean this playful piece of craftmanship cannot be styled all-season long. The decadently dark colour palette is currently a reigning fashion trend and the design will make you feel magical all winter.
So, whether you are planning on bobbing for apples on binging on your favourite horror flicks at home, this is the stylish spell book you need by your side.
SPOOK-TACULAR!
300-year-old property gets an incredible tech makeover for Halloween
Display created following new research revealing 63% of Brits plan to celebrate Halloween at home this year
Samsung give a 300-year-old property a spooky smart-home makeover for Halloween
Incredible display features an interactive light show, a 13ft high animatronic skeleton, stunning projection mapping and field full of creepy pumpkins synched to music
Local families treated to pre-Halloween display powered by Samsung SmartThings technology
Stunning display created following new research revealing 63% of Brits still plan to celebrate Halloween at home this year
Over half of those surveyed (55%) will be finding new ways to celebrate, such as hosting virtual Zoom Halloween parties, and 74% of British parents will be going all out this year to make it special for their children
Download images here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/taylorherringpr/5kq7C8
Download or embed 300 year old house transformation: https://youtu.be/Vs66NbPJoP8
Download ‘How to’ Smart tech at home tutorial: https://youtu.be/vASrvIqNbdM
Download or embed Ellie Hand-McCready Halloween make up tutorials:
A 300-year-old property which dates back to the eighteenth century has been transformed into the spookiest house in the village, thanks to an incredible Halloween light display.
The Old Bury, the oldest house in Stevenage old town, was completely made-over using state-of-the art projecting mapping and the connective power of Samsung SmartThings technology to thrill a few lucky local families in a series of private COVID compliant performances ahead of Halloween night.
The display was created following research by Samsung which reveals 63% of Brits plan to celebrate Halloween at home this year – keeping the Halloween spirit alive despite the current restrictions.
Onlookers were left in awe as they witnessed a custom built 13ft high mechanical skeleton, a live-action dance troupe and a field of smart-tech powered pumpkins come to life.
Theatrical fog and lighting added to the spectacle, as the entire lightshow was synched to a modern Halloween music track and spooky sound effects.
Samsung’s unique Halloween display centres around a 300-year-old house which was given a SmartThings makeover. Engineers rigged the house with devices to control lights, sound, and security cameras, which form part of the show. SmartThings tech was controlled and monitored via the Smart Things app on a Samsung Galaxy S20 and QLED TV and used to adjust and trigger the lighting and music featured in the show.
Dancers from dance troupe Empire, who reached the semi-finals of Series 11 of Britain’s Got Talent, performed a unique routine whilst dressed in UV skeleton outfits.
Leading Scottish SFX make-up artist and influencer Ellie Hand-McCready, who’s incredible tutorial videos and transformations get thousands of views on Instagram, created a spooky bespoke look for the film.
A poll of 2,000 British adults by Samsung reveals over half of those surveyed (55%) will be finding new ways to celebrate Halloween this year, such as hosting virtual parties online.
Over two thirds (70%) British adults said Zoom video calls will be integral to their Halloween plans, allowing them to connect virtually with their nearest and dearest.
Despite Government restrictions, over half of those polled (57%) said they will still be dressing up at home and 59% said they were determined more than ever to make Halloween fun.
Three-quarters (74%) of British parents surveyed said they are planning on going all out at home this year to keep their children happy.
Top home Halloween activities planned by families include carving pumpkins (40%), movie nights (38%), family fancy dress (35%) and creating spooky Halloween-themed food (34%).
The new research also reveals that over half (52%) of all Brits think Halloween is more fun than Christmas. Of those surveyed 46% said they put more effort into decorating the house for Halloween than they do at Christmas.
Kyle Brown, Head of Connected Living Solutions, Samsung UK said: “We wanted to showcase how SmartThings technology works in a fun and interactive way. The Halloween House display demonstrates the simple capabilities on a mass scale and the how to guides simplifies further how people can replicate this at home.
“SmartThings allows you to control the tech in your home with a touch of a button and is compatible with a wide range of connected devices. Check out our video guides on how to use SmartThings to get your home Halloween ready, from lighting up pumpkins to activating smoke machines and keeping an eye out for trick or treaters.”
The average family spend £172 preparing for Halloween and nearly two thirds (61%) said Halloween is on par with Christmas as the highlight of the year.
One in three Brits said they are drawing inspiration from hit Netflix show Tiger King (30%) for their Halloween costume –famed for its stars Joe Exotic and Carol Baskin. Popular shows Peaky Blinders (36%), Killing Eve (33%) and Stranger Things (41%) were also cited as inspiration for outfits this year.
Research findings also reveal that 49% of Brits are considering using smart technology to elevate their Halloween celebrations. Top tech cited by Brits to upgrade the Halloween experience at home include smart lighting (40%), smart speakers (39%) to create spooky playlists, and smart cameras (31%) to watch out for trick or treaters.
Samsung’s Halloween light show was designed to inspire children and adults who may not be able to celebrate Halloween in the usual way this year due to COVID. Samsung have also created a series of mini masterclasses on how to use SmartThings technology to create effects seen in the display at home and recreate the make-up seen in the video.
SmartThings is one of the largest open ecosystems of connected devices, with over 150 million users worldwide. The award-winning app allows you to connect and manage thousands of smart devices from your phone.
Visitors to Samsung KX this Halloween will be able to take part in a Halloween themed AR treasure hunt, as well as get their hands-on limited-edition phone cases decorated with Ellie Hand McCready’s unique make up design.
The Old Bury property, a grade II* listed building, was previously inhabited by monks of the St Nicholas Church situated opposite the property in the 18th century.
Fall in Love with Spiced Pumpkin Protein…
IDEALFIT LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION SPICED PUMPKIN PROTEIN
Spice up Your Fall…With 20g of Protein and Just 90 Calories
IdealFit has added to its bestselling protein range, launching limited edition Spiced Pumpkin protein, with 20g of whey isolate protein per serving.
At just 90 calories, each serving contains zero sugar or fat, and an added vitamin and mineral blend, including Vitamin D, Iron, and Calcium to support general health and wellbeing.
IdealLean Spiced Pumpkin protein is available now, for $49.99, in 30 serving containers.
Available online now at Idealfit.com
IdealLean Spiced Pumpkin Protein
RRP: $49.99
Experience Erika’s Tea Room
Fall Back With Tasty Tea Parties!
Erika’s Tea Room wants to help everyone enjoy the perfect cup of tea for Halloween and with each of your fall holidays and family celebrations! Erika’s Tea Room Scones now successfully bakes and ships thousands of their delicious ‘Florida Famous Scones’ in special tea party gift boxes, so you can enjoy them in-person with family and friends or with a virtual tea party plan. Erika’s Tea Room of Clermont has gained national attention for their tea and scone expertise. Their unique new ‘High Tea & Scones Parties in A Box!’ has been honored by numerous editors and food influencers.
No Tricks & All Treats With Halloween Candy Scones: This year, you can celebrate Halloween by enjoying with your kids, family and friends by ordering a dozen Halloween Candy Scones. Each Halloween Gift Box includes a variety of Reese’s Pieces, Snickers, Candy Corn and Almond Joy scone flavors. Like all other special Erika’s Scones, these unique gift boxes can be shipped anywhere in the USA so you can also virtually enjoy this with your grandparents, parents and family.
Celebrate Fall & Halloween With High Tea Parties! Many sophisticated families will always enjoy partying with high tea and scones! Popular with their new online purchasing 24/7/365 … for fall birthdays, girl’s day out, Mother-Daughter events, anniversaries, mini get-a-ways, staycations, vacations, bridal showers, baby showers, new moms, retirement, year-end holidays and any special event can be celebrated with a very different thoughtful High Tea Party! Their fresh custom made scone gift sets are made with a variety of regular, gluten-free and sugar-free flavors. They just launched 12 new scone flavors!
Thanksgiving Scone Boxes: Move your Thanksgiving ham and turkeys over to make room for scones. You can skip the pie and still have all of your favorite flavors with Erika’s new Thanksgiving Scone Box. This package includes Dark Chocolate Pumpkin, Pecan Pie and Apple Pie Scones. If desired, you can add a set of wonderful Pumpkin Spice, Apple Spice and Southern Pecan teas.
Black Friday High Tea! While everyone else is running around, you can avoid the busy stores for a very relaxing luncheon and holiday gift shopping spree. Starting at 11 AM to 4 PM on Friday, November 27th, you can reserve your spot to enjoy a delicious menu with a Chocolate Pecan scone, Corn Chowder, Fall Harvest Chicken Salad Croissant and a yummy Pumpkin Cannoli.
Fall Tea Party Gifts! With the ongoing diverse pandemic challenge, Erika’s is now set up to quickly ship High Tea & Scones Gift Sets with assorted 6 to 12 packs or more of freshly baked scones and a variety of teas. Scones arrive in a handsome gift box with easy-to-follow instructions. For those who really wish to splurge their tea experiences with some extra panache, they also offer fabulous tea sets and tea accessories from their wonderful international giftware collection. More complete High Tea, Scone & Gift Sets are available in any price range from $135 to $250 or more with a variety of tea pots, tea cups and accessories! There are plenty of fun and elegant teapots, tea cups and accessories to choose from — that will complement your fall and Halloween party themes.
Florida Famous Scones! Erika’s Tea Room of Clermont successfully creates, bakes and ships thousands of their delicious ‘Florida Famous Scones’ from the Erika’s Tea Room kitchen. Whether you safely celebrate virtually or face-to-face, it’s always a great time to order a party box of High Tea & Scones for yourself, your family and for your best friends. Their delicious scones are always made with fresh, high quality natural ingredients! Erika’s Tea Room Scones offers ‘High Tea & Scones’ in special gift boxes.
To Order High Tea & Scones and for more information on Erika’s Tea Room Scones, contact Erika & Leila Shanoff at Erika’s Tea Room, located at 787 West Montrose Street, Clermont, FL 34711 USA. Phone: 908-670-2305, email: ErikasTeaRoom@GMail.com or visit: www.ErikasTeaRoom.com.
Happy Howl-o-ween! RSPCA launch spooktacular online fun day in aid of rescue animals
Celebrities and influencers join in with spooky animal themed activities on Facebook Live to entertain families unable to go Trick or Treating this year
The RSPCA has organised an afternoon of Howl-o-ween fun for all the family to help them raise funds to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in need this autumn.
The animal welfare charity is celebrating all creatures great and small – but in particular those that might give some people the heebie-jeebies like black cats, rats, lizards, snakes and spiders among others.
The fun begins at 2pm on Saturday 31 October on the RSPCA’s official Facebook page where families will be able to take part in a series of sessions such as pumpkin carving, baking, quizzing and a Home Pet Show.
A live-streamed quiz hosted by influencer Jess Megan kicks off the festivities followed by a cat treat baking session with last year’s Great British Bake Off winner David Atherton. The day will be rounded off with the final of the Home Pet Show with five categories including Tricks and Treats, Howl-o-ween Pets and a Spooky Art Class.
People are being encouraged to enter their pets into one of the 20 regional heats across the country from now until Friday 30 October. National winners will be picked from across the regions and will be invited to take part in the live final hosted by CBBC’s Pets Factor vet Rory Cowlam and actor and influencer Sophie Craig at 4pm on Saturday 31st October on the charity’s Facebook page.
Event manager Jo Hockley said: “We know that many people will be disappointed that Trick or Treating can’t take place this year due to Covid-19 restrictions – so we thought it would be fun to organise a day of spooky fun that people could enjoy at home, while still involving the four-legged family members too!
“All the action will be taking place online so people and their pets can take part no matter where they are. We hope that people will help us to raise much-needed funds for all of the bats, cats, rats, mice and other animals in our care by entering or watching our Home Pet Show.”
Families and their pets are being encouraged to enter the Home Pet Show classes which are:
🎃 Tricks and Treats – an all animal class where owners are being encouraged to show off their pet’s hidden talents and special skills!
🎃 Howl-o-ween Pets – From Witches’ Cats to Hounds of the Baskervilles (Dogs), Horses (of the Apocalypse) to all things rodent, creepy, crawly or scaly, we can’t wait to meet your pets this Halloween.
🎃 Wise Wizards – This class is tailor made for all animals in their autumn years!
🎃 Pumpkin-spiced baby – We can’t wait to see your cute younger creatures and critters in our all-animal baby class.
🎃 Spooky Art Class – Send us pictures of your all-animal creations including 2D, 3D and photography. We’d love to see pet and wildlife entries and will award ages under 11s, 11 to 16 and 16 and over.
The pet show is not being judged on looks but is all about celebrating pets’ happiness, health, behaviour and the amazing bond we have with them and there is a class for any pet. Classes cost £4 per entry.
Jo added: “We can’t wait to see all the different pets that are out there and ready to get involved in our spooky Home Pet Show. We’re sure there’s the perfect category for every pet and animals can be entered as many times as you like. All the money raised will go towards helping creatures and critters across England and Wales that need our help.”
To find out more about Howloween and details on how you can join your nearest Home Pet Show heat please visit the RSPCA website at www.rspca.org.uk/Howloween
HORROR QUIZ: LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO WATCH THIS HALLOWEEN?
27 October 2020: Looking for something to watch this Halloween? From thrillers to horrors and all genre’s in between, this horror quiz will help you choose the best scary movies to watch this ShOcktober, available on DStv Catch-Up. Here is a full list of movies you can expect:
Haunt (2019) An American slasher film where a group of friends encounter an extreme haunted house that promises to feed on their darkest fears, slowly the friends realise that their nightmares are real.
Polaroid (2019) Follows High school loner Bird Fitcher as she finds a vintage Polaroid camera that holds a dark and mysterious secret: everyone who gets their picture taken meets a tragic and untimely death
Cruel Peter (2019) A horror film where the spirit of an evil child buried 111 years earlier comes back to wreak havoc.
Halloween (2018) Starts after the narrow escape over four decades ago where Laurie Strode comes face-to-face with Michael Myers after he escapes from captivity. Laurie must confront her worst fears and put an end to Myers killing spree.
Lil’Monsters, An animation where we find out which of this colourful crew of creeping cuties will be crowned best dancer in town as they strut their stuff at the Halloween dance-off.
Narco Soldiers (2019) Follows a foot soldier in a Caribbean drug gang and his lover rise to power by sparking a turf war between foreign cartels.
Ghost Team (2016) A paranormal comedy where an amateur ghost hunter and his friends investigate suspicious activity at a creepy farm.
8 MOVIES TO INSPIRE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME
Halloween is fast approaching and we aren’t about to let anything stop the Shocktober fun. Whether you plan to dress up to watch scary movies with the family or to create terrifying social media content, pulling off the perfect costume may just be the escapism you need after an extremely tough year.
DStv’s October content is packed with dress up inspiration – from Morticia Addams to Mary Poppins. Here are our eight top Halloween costume ideas.
Us (2019)
Jordan Peele’s Us follows the Wilson family on their vacation to Santa Cruz where they are attacked by a family who looks exactly like them. A red jumpsuit (or a onesie) with some weapons in hand and a seriously scary look on your face is all you need to recreate this look. For more on how to rock this look watch Us on Catch-up.
Pinky Pinky (2019)
South Africa’s urban myth of Pinky Pinky comes to life in this movie about a horrifying creature attacking girls when they go to the bathroom. To recreate this look (and this is full commitment to horror) you’ll need to watch a few YouTube monster make-up tutorials and pair your look with an old worn out bowler hat. Pinky Pinky is available on Catch-Up and on Showmax.
Addams Family Values (1993)
No Halloween would be complete without someone dressing up as a member of the Addams Family. They also make a great collective family costume idea. Recreate Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday or Uncle Fester by pairing anything black with a really weird and mysterious look on your face. For more on how to rock this look you can watch the Addams Family Values on Catch-up and on M-Net and M-Net Movies 1 (Channel 104) throughout the month of October.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
In Maleficent’s second movie she meets Aurora’s future mother-in-law, a conniving queen who hatches a devious plot to destroy the land’s fairies. Maleficent joins forces with a warrior and a group of outcasts to battle the queen and her powerful army. Channelling the stunning Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent is all about black clothes, a ton of contouring, bright red lips and some black tape covered tin foil horns. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is available on Catch-up.
Glass (2019)
Glass is a thriller that follows David Dunn as he tries to stay one step ahead of the law while delivering vigilante justice on the streets of Philadelphia. David’s talents put him on a collision course with the Split’s Beast – the psychotic madman who has superhuman strength and 23 distinct personalities. James McAvoy’s character has the easiest costume to ‘borrow’ this Halloween, a pair of yellow tracksuit pants with some contoured abs – oh and some channeling of your own inner beast (without scaring kids). Glass is available throughout the month of October on M-Net Movies 2 (Channel 106) and on Catch-up.
Endgame (2019)
One thing Endgame can deliver is a variety of inspiration for costumes this Halloween. After Thanos disintegrated half of the universe, the Avengers must reunite and assemble again to bring back all they have lost and restore balance. Endgame will be available on M-Net Movies 2 (Channel 106) this month.
Man of Steel (2013)
Who wouldn’t want to be a superhero for a day? Man of Steel follows Clark as he learns about the source of his abilities and his real home when he enters a Kryptonian ship. Want to be Superman? Simply pair a red cape with a skin tight blue onesie – undies as outies optional but recommended. And remember to give all green, glowing crystals a very wide berth. Man of Steel will be available on M-Net Movies 3 (Channel 107) this month.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
The strict yet playful nanny returns to aid the Banks family, the now grown-up and widowed Michael and his sister Jane face the potential loss of their beloved family home during the Great Slump. Together with lamp-lighter Jack, Mary guides Michael’s three children after the death of their mother. To recreate Mary’s signature look pair a bright red hat and gloves with a blue coat and don’t forget the umbrella. To see more of Mary Poppins’ looks you can tune into M-Net Movies 1 (Channel 104) this October or alternatively you can watch it on Catch-Up.
October brings two full moons and a host of spooky programming from DStv. You can find more inspiration for Halloween costumes by tuning in all month long.
SF Truffle Company founded by French Laundry Alumnai
Halloween Potions class here
www.truffleshufflesf.com/collections/live-experiences/products/sarahs-halloween-potions-class
Here is a bit more about us:
Truffle Shuffle was founded as the honest truffle company. While working together at The French Laundry in Napa, Jason McKinney, Tyler Vorce, and Sarah Rundle fell in love with truffles and the overall, unforgettable experience they could provide. The trio launched Truffle Shuffle at the end of 2018. The company began with the sole mission of bringing clarity and integrity to the complex world that is truffles for friends, chefs, and consumers alike.
Truffle Shuffle has come a long way since then, working with truffle-hunting families all over the world to source honest, traceable, fresh truffles for passionate, Michelin-rated restaurants and home chefs across the country.
The following year, Truffle Shuffle serendipitously launched a shelf-stable product line that began with the Balinese Truffle Salt, then giving the opportunity to release the Brown Butter Truffle Honey. Both products were picked up by Whole Foods for a global deal, and are now also available in a few other retailers and on Amazon.
When Covid-19 hit, and restaurants began to close, the small team, now 6–with the addition of French Laundry legend Leah WIlliams, and skilled chef and plant-whisperer Ian Rosenstrauch–knew they had to adjust their business model to survive. The first live virtual cook-along-experience was launched in March, shipping ingredient kits with items measured out for Truffle Risotto (including fresh Spanish black truffles and a wooden truffle shaver). In a matter of 3 hours, Truffle Shuffle was sold out of everything, even the 20 pounds of fresh truffles they had on hand.
Truffle Shuffle has continued to offer online cooking classes since with such unbelievable support from the community of fellow chefs and patrons. Ingredient kits are shipped overnight a couple days before class, culminating with a group zoom class filled with step by step instruction led by Tyler and Jason, along with some humor and tales of the kitchen, and a sense of pride, accomplishment, and a delicious dinner when the class is over.
In addition to public Sunday classes, Truffle Shuffle–now made up of 22 incredible, hard-working, hospitality professionals, 16 of those laid off due to COVID-19–also offers private classes for smaller groups and companies. On top of everything, they are committed to donating a meal to first-responders, front line healthcare workers, and the local community in need, for every class kit sold.
Stream and scream: 7 scary movies from around the world
Autumn is the perfect time of year to enjoy long walks amongst changing foliage before settling in with a nice hot drink and a scary film. As the combination of weather and tightening lockdown restrictions put pay to parties, Halloween this year will have to be made up of homely celebrations, including peering at frightening films from behind the sofa. For those wanting to refresh their list of horror-films, the experts at language learning app Babbel (www.babbel.com) have quite the treat in store. Mixing up your usual Halloween watch-list with the best international horror films from around the world, grab your treat of choice before settling in for a spooky movie night you won’t regret!
El Orfanato (“The Orphanage”, Spanish)
Set in Spain, this highly acclaimed 2007 film centres around a woman who returns to visit her childhood home, happening to be in a creepy orphanage of course, with her husband and adopted son. Their son disappears and as the parents search for him, insidious twists and turns teach you more and more about the characters throughout every unsettling scene. Think you can watch until the end?
Shutter (Thai)
A woman and her photographer boyfriend see mysterious shadows and faces in the pictures he takes. Is it connected to a recent hit-and-run accident they were involved in? You’ll have to keep watching to find out. Tip: Watch the original Thai version of this film released in 2004, and not the American remake from 2008 to make sure you get the full original effect.
Suspiria (Italian)
Directed by famous Italian filmmaker Dario Argento, this 1977 Italian supernatural horror film tells the story of a series of gruesome murders at a prestigious ballet academy. Things take a turn when a new student begins to suspect something evil is at play. If you just love it, you can watch the 2018 English remake directed by Luca Guadagnino – also pretty chilling.
Gräns (“Border”, Swedish)
This 2018 Swedish fantasy film is less scary than the others on this list, but it has some unsettling, supernatural elements. The movie features a customs officer with facial deformities who has the ability to literally smell fear and contraband. She finds herself strangely attracted to a mysterious traveller during a police investigation and things only get stranger from there.
Morto Não Fala (“The Nightshifter”, Brazilian)
Stênio works the night shift at a morgue. Unfortunately for him, he can communicate with the dead. When the cadavers start making requests and threatening his family, things quickly spiral out of control. You’ll want to keep your eyes on the subtitles for this Brazilian thriller.
The Maus (“The Mouse”, German)
In this 2017 German survival thriller, a young couple gets lost in a Bosnian forest after their car breaks down. Surrounded by land mines and tormented by mysterious Serbian men, the pair has to face the lasting remnants of the Bosnian War and its racial tensions. You’ll be on the edge of your seat right until the end with this one.
Insidious (English, American)
This list of scary movies wouldn’t be complete without the ever-popular English-language pick Insidious. This 2010 horror film tells the story of a suburban family who moves out of the home they thought was haunted only to discover well…we don’t want to spoil the plot, now do we? If you like this one, it has two sequels and a prequel to keep the hairs standing on the back of your neck well beyond this spooky season.
TapeReal, a new social network where you can record and only engage through unedited, unfiltered audio and video “tapes”.
Just wrote a blog post about celebrating Halloween virtually with a fun social contest:
With Covid-19, social distancing, and the potential for another lock-down, many children and families will not get to celebrate Halloween the way they used to.
* sob * 🙁
But if old traditions get cancelled, we can always start NEW traditions, right?!
In the spooky-spirit of Halloween, we’re launching a fun contest on TapeReal.
Simply download the app and share your Halloween reality!
Some ideas for celebrating Halloween on TapeReal:
Dress up and show your scary (or funny) costume….
Share your decorated Haunted House…
Light up that jack-o-lantern and share your pumpkin carving…
Or you can simply show us your favorite Halloween candy!
The most recommended tape will get a FREE promo code for a Premium Membership on TapeReal. We will also feature the winner on our blog!
Premium members unlock more recording time, longer audio comments, and also get their profile and tapes featured first throughout the app, which drastically helps grow your followers on TapeReal.
So… are you ready to share your spooky #SocialReality on TapeReal? Let the party begin! 🙂
Pumpkin Carving Contest on TapeReal
Learn To Draw Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls!
Feliz Dia De Los Muertos! Join Ella and Kim to learn to draw Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skulls (and a little Spanish, too)! Don’t forget to take a picture and tag us on Facebook and Instagram! Watch at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMn6R9-84a0
Learn To Draw Jack Skellington!
Happy Halloween! Join Brayden and Kim to learn to draw JACK SKELLINGTON, inspired by famous artist Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag us on Facebook and Instagram! Watch at www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRUhnPKpxhM
Add some Japan to your Halloween Repertoire!
This halloween you could be any old witch or ghoul. You know, a bit of ketchup around your fangs, wrap yourself in toilet paper to be a mummy, you know the drill.
Or, you could be the famous Studio Ghibli witch Kiki, or ghostly Kaonashi. The films that these characters are from, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away respectively have become hugely popular in recent years, especially since being released to wide availability via the Netflix platform. No longer are these characters just in the realm of the dedicated cosplayer.
Yet, they manage to retain enough exoticism to spice things up for your halloween revelry. You know, add a little Japanese flavor to your pre-Christian era pagan ritualism.
If you want to get started, try this Kaonashi outfit on Amazon, the Kiki style brooms here or one of the many Ghibli Cosplay outfits here.
Halloween & Pet Obesity Awareness Month with Johnna Devereaux, C.P.N from Bow Wow Labs
Novato, CA – October 2020 – Not only have we entered the season of overindulging on sweets and treats, but October is a reminder to keep our pets healthy and fit. It’s Pet Obesity Awareness Month, and with Halloween just around the corner, now is a great time to make our pet’s health and safety a top priority!
Sadly, obesity is being called the new epidemic among dogs. According to the recent annual Veterinary Emerging Topics (VET) report, more than half of the dog population is considered overweight or obese.
“Research shows that pets are more likely to gain unwanted pounds during this holiday period than any other time of year,” says Johnna Devereaux, Clinical Pet Nutritionist (CPN) from Bow Wow Labs, Inc. (BWL) “Often, pet owners become generous with table scraps and extra treats during the festivities. In addition, schedules become busier with less time devoted to regular exercise. Providing your dog with healthy food options while maintaining an active lifestyle is really crucial in preventing obesity.”
Halloween is the kick-off event for the holiday season. Your children may be eating lots of goodies on this occasion, but that doesn’t mean your dog should. Giving too many treats to your dog is just like eating fast food or candy for us. Although treats can be a beneficial tool when it comes to training and/or rewarding positive behavior, it’s important to monitor their intake and of course be mindful of ingredients. Try swapping out carbohydrate-based treats, such as biscuits, with a higher protein treat or chew.
Waggy Wafers from BWL is an ideal treat option thanks to consisting of only the finest, healthiest ingredients that are naturally sourced and preserved. Your pet will especially enjoy snacking on the slow roasted Turkey Pumpkin treat this Halloween. Each mouthwatering morsel is filled with nutrient-rich turkey and fiber-rich pumpkin for a healthy snack your pet will love! Waggy Wafers also come in Organic Chicken and Salmon. All three treats are Made in the USA using only real meat and contain zero by-products, artificial flavors or fillers. Learn more at: https://bowwowlabs.com/collections/treats.
Exercise is not only crucial for physical and mental health, but it’s the perfect way to tire a dog out before the Halloween celebration starts. In general, a minimum of two 15-minute walks per day is recommended for most dogs, but some will need one or two more depending on their breed and size. Getting outside and playing a game of fetch or chase is a fun way to keep your dog active and in shape. It’s also a wonderful bonding experience between pet and owner.
Another way to keep your dog active and occupied is with a puzzle toy or long-lasting chew. Halloween may look and feel a bit differently this year due to the pandemic, but giving your dog something to do while you celebrate at home is a must! Together, the Bully Buddy and its highly nutritious Safe Fit™ Bully Sticks from BWL, is a great option because they keep dogs busy, all while giving you the peace of mind you deserve thanks to their health and safety features.
Bully Buddy is a durable, easy-to-use, veterinarian-vetted, and dog-approved device that tightly secures bully sticks, preventing dogs from choking on the tail-end of the treat. BWL’s Safe Fit™ Bully Sticks are low-odor and are sustainably sourced from free-range, grass-fed cattle that are 100% hormone free and never treated with chemicals. They are a great alternative to rawhide of manufactured chews thanks to being a premium single-ingredient treat.
As we enter the month of October, remember that keeping your dog active and providing wholesome and nutritious treat options are great solutions for conquering pet obesity and the upcoming holiday season!
About Bow Wow Labs, Inc.
The team at Bow Wow Labs is made up of a diverse group of men and women who are on a mission to keep dogs healthy, happy and safe with products and services that make life easier and fun for dogs and their owners. They offer innovative products that build lasting bonds and do it all in the name of creating happier dogs with empowered owners, maximizing the enjoyment of having a dog while minimizing many of the risks dogs encounter in everyday life.
Learn more at: bowwowlabs.com/.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bowwowlabs/.
Instagram: @bowwowlabs (www.instagram.com/bowwowlabs/).
Twitter: twitter.com/bowwowlabs/.
COVENT GARDEN WILL BE A TREAT THIS HALLOWEEN
Covent Garden will be London’s best destination to pick up British pumpkins this weekend as the area welcomes its first ever Pumpkin Market on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October and spooky treats for all of the family.
In partnership with Classic Veg Box home delivery and New Covent Garden Wholesale Market, Covent Garden’s Apple Market will return to its roots and transform into a vegetable hub boasting over 200 pumpkins and over 14 varieties of organic British squashes and beautiful French ornamental gourds – which make for perfect table decorations this Halloween and beyond. Providing the perfect Autumnal backdrop, Covent Garden’s Pumpkin Market will be adorned with fresh flowers from New Covent Garden Market, dressed by luxury florist Maison De Fleurs.
Further across the estate, wickedly delicious culinary experiences and cocktail concoctions from the likes of The Ivy Market Grill, Buns & Buns, Ladurée, Godiva, The Gentlemen Baristas and more will delight visitors. For Fa-boo-lous cocktails, visitors should head to The Ivy Market Grill for blood orange margaritas and pumpkin spiked lattes, or Buns & Buns for a mandarin spritz cocktail or a special pumpkin soup, both of which have been especially added to the menu for Halloween. Those who want to warm up this Halloween weekend can pop to Gentlemen Baristas to try the Halloween special ‘A Rumpy Pumpkin’ cocktail or to cosy up with cinnamon and orange hot chocolates. Offering something sweet, The Gentlemen Baristas will spookify its delicious ‘invisible’ sticky toffee pudding, turning it orange and serving it covered in candy floss and with a hot caramel sauce. Especially for families spending Halloween in Covent Garden, Ladurée will gift a free brownie to children who stop by in fancy dress on Saturday 31st October.
Those looking to gift friends and family with something sweet but ghoulish can pop to Godiva for Ghostly Halloween chocolates, Cupcake Stories for ‘Bloody Cupcakes’, or Hotel Chocolat for Spooky Spider treats. Halloween enthusiasts will be excited by Ladurée’s new limited edition glow-in-the-dark Halloween macaron treat box, which is perfect for sharing. For pumpkin spice fans. Whittard of Chelsea will offer Orange Gingerbread, Toffee and Pumpkin Spiced Tea varieties.
Wildcat Bramble Gin and new virtual venue, SocialEyes, have joined forces to provide the purrrfect events to enjoy at home!
First up, Tricks & Treats with Netflix star, James Mac, & Wildcat Bramble.
James Mac from Glow Up has teamed up with the “cursed gin” to give groups of six the chance to learn some impressive Halloween make-up tricks live on camera, while Wildcat Bramble serve the treats by sending a delicious gin kit to enjoy at home. This is a super limited event with just eight tickets available so all of you will be on screen with James and you’ll be able to ask questions as you go along.
This event takes place on 29th October 2020 at 7.30pm. Priced £65pp for a one-hour session. Book now at: https://socialeyes.club
Meanwhile the Trick or Tweet Halloween Quiz – Hosted by Jack Remmington & Wildcat Bramble
X-Factor star, Jack Remmington will host the ultimate spooky pop culture quiz – Trick or Tweet. Across one hour, and five different rounds, Jack will be testing players’ knowledge of both internet culture and spooky season, before (virtually) crowning the winner as our Queen of Halloween – who will receive a bottle of Wildcat Bramble. Cheers to that!
Trick or Tweet will take place on Saturday 31st October at 7.30pm, and there are just 50 tickets available at www.socialeyes.club
New survey launches to gather global data on possible paranormal and psychical activity during the pandemic.
l New online survey now open for submissions here: pandemicpsi.com
l Welcomes reports of any psychical or paranormal activity experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic
l Supported by the Paranormal Review, the magazine of the Society for Psychical Research
London (October 2020) The magazine of the world’s oldest, largest and most prestigious society dedicated to scientifically investigating what is popularly called ‘paranormal’ phenomena, The Society for Psychical Research (SPR), is supporting a new research survey inviting the public to report any psychical or paranormal activity experienced during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Launched today via a dedicated online portal, the survey is focused on gathering reports of any paranormal or psychical phenomena that people have experienced since 11 March 2020, the date when the World Health Organisation officially declared a pandemic.
‘Both anecdotally, and online, we have seen a rise in reports of paranormal activity since the pandemic began’ said Dr Leo Ruickbie, Visiting Fellow at Northampton University and Editor of the Paranormal Review, the magazine of the Society for Psychical Research.
‘Since its inception in 1882, The Society for Psychical Research has been dedicated to the collection and investigation of data relating to all aspects and claims of psychical and paranormal phenomena. This survey will investigate whether the pandemic has had an effect on people’s experiences across the full range of PSI phenomena.’
Members of the public from all over the world are invited to contribute their experiences at pandemicpsi.com.
STARLINO Arancione Cocktails To Add A Touch Of Orange To Halloween
STARLINO Arancione is an aperitivo from Italy and the perfect way to add a touch of orange to your Halloween celebrations this year. Made from a blend of white wine, Sicilian Blood Orange and seven other herbs and botanicals, STARLINO Arancione is a low ABV, refreshing and delicious aperitivo that is rich, full-bodied and vibrant. STARLINO Arancione can delivered in time for the Halloween celebrations this weekend as it is available to purchase on Amazon Prime.
STARLINO Arancione & Tonic
1 Part STARLINO Arancione
2 Parts Tonic Water
Garnish: Orange Wedge
Add ice to a high ball glass followed by 1 Part STARLINO Arancione. Top up with 2 Parts Tonic Water and garnish with a wedge of orange.
STARLINO Arancione Spritz
1 Part STARLINO Arancione
1 Part Sparkling Wine
1 Part Sparkling Water
Garnish: Orange Slice
Fill a large wine glass with ice and add 1 Part STARLINO Arancione. Top up with 1 Part Sparkling Wine and 1 Part Sparkling Water and garnish with an orange slice.
STARLINO Arancione on the Rocks
1 Part STARLINO Arancione
Ice
Add 1 Part STARLINO Arancione to a rocks glass filled with ice.
Hotel STARLINO Arancione RRP: From £23 for 75cl. ABV: 17%
Available from: Amazon, Master of Malt and Proof Drinks
Pic Stitch – Collage Editor
Share all your best Halloween pictures with custom collage templates. Pic Stitch has over 300 collage layouts, 20+ filters, and 10+ border packs. It also includes video editing tools. The best ways to use Pic Stitch are to create before-and-after sequences, combine photos in a collage, and/or combine multiple pictures and videos into one frame. This is great for showing people both in, and out, of costume. Or, combine several photos from your Halloween party into one collage to share on social media, rather than spam your followers with multiple shots from the same event. This collage maker has tons of features that built-in social media apps simply don’t have room for.
Features include (but not limited to):
Over 300 different layouts — users can also design their own, custom layout
Works with photos and videos
15 different photo aspect ratios optimized for sharing (i.e. 9×16 format for social stories)
Add music you own from Apple Music / iTunes
Customize photo borders
Easy to use UI
Amazing photo FX filters
Pan, rotate, flip, mirror and zoom
Share to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more
Save to your photo album
Showcase all the good times you had celebrating Halloween with hundreds of collage layouts to choose from, plus filters and borders to give them the perfect editorial touch! Great for sharing photos with multiple friends who may not be able to join your small gathering this year.
Stream and scream: 7 scary movies from around the world
Autumn is the perfect time of year to enjoy long walks amongst changing foliage before settling in with a nice hot drink and a scary film. As the combination of weather and tightening lockdown restrictions put pay to parties, Halloween this year will have to be made up of homely celebrations, including peering at frightening films from behind the sofa. For those wanting to refresh their list of horror-films, the experts at language learning app Babbel (www.babbel.com) have quite the treat in store. Mixing up your usual Halloween watch-list with the best international horror films from around the world, grab your treat of choice before settling in for a spooky movie night you won’t regret!
El Orfanato (“The Orphanage”, Spanish)
Set in Spain, this highly acclaimed 2007 film centres around a woman who returns to visit her childhood home, happening to be in a creepy orphanage of course, with her husband and adopted son. Their son disappears and as the parents search for him, insidious twists and turns teach you more and more about the characters throughout every unsettling scene. Think you can watch until the end?
Shutter (Thai)
A woman and her photographer boyfriend see mysterious shadows and faces in the pictures he takes. Is it connected to a recent hit-and-run accident they were involved in? You’ll have to keep watching to find out. Tip: Watch the original Thai version of this film released in 2004, and not the American remake from 2008 to make sure you get the full original effect.
Suspiria (Italian)
Directed by famous Italian filmmaker Dario Argento, this 1977 Italian supernatural horror film tells the story of a series of gruesome murders at a prestigious ballet academy. Things take a turn when a new student begins to suspect something evil is at play. If you just love it, you can watch the 2018 English remake directed by Luca Guadagnino – also pretty chilling.
Gräns (“Border”, Swedish)
This 2018 Swedish fantasy film is less scary than the others on this list, but it has some unsettling, supernatural elements. The movie features a customs officer with facial deformities who has the ability to literally smell fear and contraband. She finds herself strangely attracted to a mysterious traveller during a police investigation and things only get stranger from there.
Morto Não Fala (“The Nightshifter”, Brazilian)
Stênio works the night shift at a morgue. Unfortunately for him, he can communicate with the dead. When the cadavers start making requests and threatening his family, things quickly spiral out of control. You’ll want to keep your eyes on the subtitles for this Brazilian thriller.
The Maus (“The Mouse”, German)
In this 2017 German survival thriller, a young couple gets lost in a Bosnian forest after their car breaks down. Surrounded by land mines and tormented by mysterious Serbian men, the pair has to face the lasting remnants of the Bosnian War and its racial tensions. You’ll be on the edge of your seat right until the end with this one.
Insidious (English, American)
This list of scary movies wouldn’t be complete without the ever-popular English-language pick Insidious. This 2010 horror film tells the story of a suburban family who moves out of the home they thought was haunted only to discover well…we don’t want to spoil the plot, now do we? If you like this one, it has two sequels and a prequel to keep the hairs standing on the back of your neck well beyond this spooky season.
Teledenistry Expert Comment: * Trick or Treat for Your Teeth * (Halloween)
With restrictions on group gatherings and the government discouraging trick-or-treating, we know that it’s going to be an unconventional Halloween. However, deals on sweets and treats during the spooky season continue, that will be increasing the risk of dental cavities for both adults and children in Britain.
Please see below an official comment from Dr. Jeffrey Sulitzer, Chief Clinical Officer of SmileDirectClub (Teledentistry pioneer) that can be used about how to keep your mouth healthy after eating your kids Halloween sweets. Here is an image of him.
“Oral health tips to keep your mouth healthy after eating your kids Halloween sweets.
It’s obviously best to limit intake on sweets and sugary snacks, as they can lead to cavities and poor oral health, but here are some tips when you get a little carried away snacking on all of those Halloween sweets to get your healthy smile back.
1. Some sweets are actually more harmful than others! The ones that are sticky and dissolve slower contain added acids and should be avoided, chocolate is usually a better option than a chewy fruit-flavoured sweet with citric acid.
2. Be sure to rinse your mouth out after eating your sugary snack if you cannot brush. Brush or use a mouthwash as soon as possible to remove any leftover sugar residue in your mouth. Most mouthwashes contain fluoride, which is good for your tooth enamel.
3. To practice good oral health habits daily, I always strongly recommend brushing your teeth after every meal and floss once a day. “
Guided Mindful Pumpkin Breathing
yogazeit.com.au
· Draw a large pumpkin on a piece of paper.
· Make a small mark at the top and bottom of the circle (12 and 6 on the clock).
In a clockwise direction, trace your finger along the circle from the top mark to the bottom mark. Inhale slowly as your finger moves towards the bottom of the circle.When you reach the bottom of the circle, begin to trace your finger back up towards the top, exhaling slowly as you go. Try to maintain a slow, steady pace as you trace the circle. Focus on the movement of air in and out of your lungs.
Halloween Scary Sensory Sensations
· Pick 6 household food substances.
· Gather 6 containers
· An eye mask
· A cloth to clean hands
· A towel to protect clothes
Keep the food items you have chosen a secret and take it in turns to put your hand in the container and only allow your fingers and hands to touch the contents, what do they feel like? Does it make a noise? Can they describe what it feels like?
Spooky Calm down Jar
· Jar or plastic bottle
· Water
· Glue
· Halloween supplies (plastic spider, eyeballs, glitter)
Fill the jar ¾ full with water and add glitter and your spooky Halloween supplies. Top the jar up with water and hot glue the lid firmly closed. They can enjoy the calm down jar focusing on the swirling objects or use it when they are upset to focus and calm down.
www.yogazeit.com.au
YOGAZEIT Ltd. is an Australian registered Not for Profit organisation dedicated to empowering and educating Australian School Communities and the Aged Care Sector with Yoga and Mindfulness classes, programs, training, and professional development courses founded on the principles of education, ethics and research. We offer: – Kids Yoga – Teens Yoga – Yoga for Seniors – Chair Yoga – Evidence based Trainings – Mindfulness – Mindful Schools – Yoga Ed. Trainer for Australia – Yoga Teacher and Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher – Yoga Alliance / Yoga Australia – Yoga for children, teenagers, seniors – Wellbeing Programs for Teachers and Aged Care
ParentHood 360
ParentHood 360 are hosting a Halloween event at Stockland Shopping Centre, Balgowlah so children can still experience Halloween this year. Below is a link to the event, which also includes hourly childminding service;
www.facebook.com/events/688089008503202
You need a Halloween wall mural to really set the SpOokY mood!
And Wallsauce.com (www.wallsauce.com/au/) have a spook-tacular range of Halloween wallpaper murals to adorn in the home.
Shake up your Halloween with Cocktails from CUT RUM, Cazcabel Tequila and Hotel STARLINO at The Ivy Soho Brasserie
To celebrate Halloween this year, The Ivy Soho Brasserie has created a number of spectacular cocktails, in partnership with CUT RUM, Cazcabel Tequila and Hotel STARLINO, available from Monday 26th until Saturday 31th October.
Midnight Margarita (£9.25) made with Cazcabel Reposado Tequila, Crème d’Abricot, lime juice, orange bitters and garnished with an orange twist.
Liquid Ghost (£8.75) consisting of Cazcabel Coconut, Manzanilla Sherry topped with Yuzu & Lime Soda, garnished with a lime twist and a mint sprig.
The Forbidden Fruit Daquiri (£9.25) featuring CUT SPICED RUM, Amaro Montenegro, pineapple juice, lime juice, sugar, served with a charred pineapple wedge.
Cursed Spritz (£9.75) featuring Hotel STARLINO Rosé, Prosecco, soda, pink grapefruit juice, garnished with a grapefruit slice and rosemary.
The Ivy Soho Brasserie
26-28 Broadwick Street
London
W1F 8JB
If you’re not able to get yourself to The Ivy Soho Brasserie, why not try your hand at making one of these CUT RUM or Cazcabel Tequila cocktails to celebrate Halloween from the comfort of your own home !
RED or DEAD
25ml CUT SMOKED RUM
3 Lime Wedges
100ml Cranberry Juice
Dash of Soda
Ice
Add the Cranberry juice to a glass with ice – layer the soda and then the CUT SMOKED RUM, add the lime wedges and serve – stir before drinking
CUT SMOKED RUM is the UK’s first naturally smoked rum – a 3 year old Jamaican rum infused with Arabica coffee beans, smoked with burnt wood chips and left to rest in oak barrels. This rum is one of a kind.
CUT SMOKED RUM ABV: 40% RRP: £22
Available from Asda, Amazon and Master of Malt
WITCH DOCTOR
20ml Honey Cazcabel
20ml Peated Whisky
20ml Pineapple Juice
25ml Lime Juice
15ml Orgeat Syrup
2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with a dried orange wheel and a sprig of fresh rosemary
With the fresh, earthy and dry Blanco at it’s heart, Cazcabel Honey adds a dose of sweet nectar to the blend. The honey used in Cazcabel Honey is made with Yucàtan honey sourced from the fields of Yucàtan in Mexico.
Cazcabel Honey ABV: 34% RRP: £24.99
Available from Amazon, Proof Drinks and Master of Malt
Get Halloween Ready in VO5
The Tiger Queen
Tiger print is all the rage this year… so this Halloween why not live your Tiger Queen fantasy?
Spritz VO5 Heat Protect Spray (RRP: £4.39) through dry ends before adding in some soft waves with either a heated hair waver or barrel wand. Brush your waves through with a paddle brush or hair untangling brush and sprinkle VO5’s Instant Volume Root Boost Powder (RRP: £4.39) onto both roots and ends, to add volume and height.
Secure your waves with VO5’s Flexible Hold Hairspray (RRP: £3.59), and finish off the look with some floral accessories and mis-matched animal print, or throw in some tiger scratches for a spooky twist.
2020 – The Look
2020 has been a real mood – and the looks we’ve been rocking this year are bound to go down in history. This Halloween we’re embracing the fresh out of bed, and straight onto Zoom vibes with an iconic look that will forever be recognised as ‘The 2020’.
Start by spraying VO5 Volume Blow Dry Spray (RRP: £4.40) through damp hair, before using a hair dryer to blow dry your hair from root to tip. This look is all about volume, so try leaning over and drying your roots upside down for a real voluptuous effect.
Next, section your hair into quarters and backcomb each section from about 2 inches above the root, spraying VO5’s Flexible Hold Hairspray (RRP: £3.59) as you go to give you a solid hold, without the sticky hairspray feeling.
Once your roots are suitably backcombed, pile your hair into a high topknot, and secure with a hairband, and some bobby pins. Pull down a few loose hairs to frame your face and give these another back-comb to achieve that ‘I woke up like this’ effect.
To complete the look, add in some smudged makeup and a stained dressing gown – and you’re ready for some virtual celebrations.
70s Disco Glam
This year has seen a real resurgence in 60s/70s disco glam. So, this Halloween lets throw it back to a groovier time, with soft curls and floral disco vibes.
Start by spraying VO5 Heat Protect Spray (RRP: £4.39) through dry ends to protect your ends from extra heat. Then use a large barrelled iron or chunky heated rollers, and curl large sections of your hair to create big bouncy curls.
Use your hands to slightly brush out the curls, and then massage VO5’s Instant Volume Root Boost Powder (RRP: £4.39) into your roots, using your fingers to create extra volume.
Finish off with some pastel flowers or some spooky disco makeup and get ready to wow on Zoom drinks.
Video Game Villager Vibes
With a limit on IRL fun this year, we’ve had to take the fun URL. So, this Halloween we’re saying thanks to the video games that got us through our boredom, with a video-game villager inspired look.
Start by combing VO5’s Frizz Free Cream (RRP: £4.39) throughout hair from root to tip to tame any frizz, and get that pixel perfect effect. Then section your hair into two equal halves and secure into two low bunches at about ear level.
Spritz VO5 Heat Protect Spray (RRP: £4.39) through the bunches and add light curls to your ends with either a straightener or barrel roller. Then gently brush through with a paddle brush to create a soft bouncy effect.
Spritz with VO5’s Tame & Shine Spray (RRP: £4.39) to smooth down any flyaway hairs, and finish off with some bright colourful accessories; and you’ll be ready to chop trees, catch bees, or enjoy your virtual celebrations.
The VSCO girl
One of the most popular it-girl trends of the last couple of years, the VSCO girl is effortlessly cool. Try a spooky spin to the teen-favourite this Halloween.
Start by spraying VO5 Volume Blow Dry Spray (RRP: £4.40) through damp hair, and blow dry to achieve a light and bouncy effect. Next run VO5’s Invisibly Light Hair Oil (RRP: £4.39) through the ends of your hair using your fingers or a wide toothed comb, to make them soft and shiny.
Section off the top half of your hair, and pile into either a bun or a high ponytail on top of your head, securing with a hairband. Then gently pull your roots out from the hairband slightly, to give volume and freedom to the style.
No VSCO girl would be complete without a scrunchie, so be sure to wrap at least one around your bun or ponytail!
Finish off with some light glossy makeup and a healthy dose of fake blood for a spooky take on this it-girl trend.
Mermaid Waves
These soft and beachy waves are a staple for Halloween, whether you’re living a little mermaid, or spooky sea witch fantasy.
Spritz VO5 Heat Protect Spray (RRP: £4.39) through your ends before running small segments of your hair through a heated crimper. Then use your hands to comb in VO5’s Curl Defining Mousse (RRP: £4.39), to achieve these dreamy yet defined waves. Or for a heat-free way of achieving the look, scrunch a small amount of VO5’s Overnight Curl Cream (RRP: £4.39) through towel dried hair the night before your celebrations, and plait hair in 2-3 root-to-tip braids. Remove your braids the next day for instant mer-mazing vibes.
Comb your fingers through your waves, and spritz with VO5’s Flexible Hold Hairspray (RRP: £3.59) to tame and define. Be sure to use your fingers and not a brush for this step, otherwise you might end up looking more like the frizz queen than the sea queen.
Finish off the look with a few small plaits, or some aquatic accessories.
The Pop-Princess Pony
No pop-princess costume would be complete without a migraine-inducing, snatched to the god’s, high ponytail.
For thin or fine hair, use a comb or paddle brush to brush an almond sized amount of VO5’s Frizz Free Cream (RRP: £4.39) through straight hair, gathering the ends up into a ponytail on top of your head and securing with a hairband. For hair with a mind of its own, use a hard bristled toothbrush to smooth down your roots with VO5’s Mega Hold Styling Gel (RRP: £3.29) and secure into a high ponytail.
Next take a small segment of hair from the bottom of your ponytail and wrap around the hairband, fastening in place with a bobby pin (or 5!).
To achieve the ultimate silky slick tail, finish the look by spritzing VO5’s Tame & Shine Spray (RRP: £4.39) through your ends, and prepare to swish your way through the spooky celebrations.
The American-in-Paris
This look will have you living your best Parisian life. And the best part? It can be created using whatever heated tools you have at home.
Spritz some VO5 Volume Blow Dry Spray (RRP: £4.40) through hair, before using a heated large-barrel wand, or heated curlers to create loose, blow-dry effect curls.
Alternatively, spray some VO5 Heat Protect Spray (RRP: £4.39) through your ends, before creating a gentle wave with a hair straightener. Hold your straighteners horizontally as you pull the hair through, to achieve a Parisian wave effect.
Finish off with VO5’s Flexible Hold Hairspray (RRP: £3.59) and a beret, to live your marketing influencer fantasy all night long.
High Bun Ears
There’s a reason the cat/mouse look comes back every year, it’s timeless. But this year why not try swapping out your fake ears for something a little more creative?
All you need to create these High Bun Ears is a dash of VO5’s Instant Volume Root Boost Powder (RRP: £4.39). Sprinkle a small amount of powder onto your roots and massage in with your fingers.
Section off the top half of your hair and split this into two pigtails on either side of the top of your head, then secure with hair elastics.
Wrap each ponytail around itself to create a bun, and secure in place with an additional elastic or bobby pins. Add more volume to each bun by sprinkling on a little more Instant Volume Powder and tease in with your fingers.
And voila, I’m a mouse. Duh.
The Cheer Pony
We’ve all become wanna-be cheerleaders this year, The Cheer Pony is the perfect way to finish off your Zombie Cheerleader costume.
Brush your hair into a high ponytail, using VO5’s Flexible Hold Hairspray (RRP: £3.59) to smooth down any flyaway hair, and secure with a hairband. For hair that needs a bit more taming, try using the same technique with VO5’s Mega Hold Gel Spray (RRP: £3.49).
Use a comb or brush to backcomb the tail of the pony from the bottom upwards, creating volume that works its way out from the hairband. For hair that needs a bit more convincing to stand to attention, try spraying in VO5’s Post Gym Refresh Spray as you go (RRP: £4.39).
Finish off with a bedazzled hair cuff or a glittery bow to bring the fantasy to life and see if you make mat this Halloween.
To celebrate Halloween (Saturday 31st October), look no further than the delicious pumpkin recipe below from The Mushroom Bureau.
This dish truly embraces the creepy yet also quite comforting, the perfect way to take your Halloween celebrations to the next level! Whilst still offering a healthier twist by cutting out meat – perfect for those who want more fun, flavor and less guilt from their food.
www.justaddmushrooms.com
Halloween recipe;
Mini Roast Pumpkins Stuffed with Mushrooms
FAB-BOO-LOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY THIS HALLOWEEN!
The weather might be getting colder, and the nights getting longer, but that doesn’t mean we need to retreat indoors just yet! With many families having to get more creative in entertaining their little ones, and Halloween parties, events and even trick-or-treating likely to be off the table for 2020, it’s the perfect excuse to get out in the garden just in time for spooky season!
ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
GET BAT WATCHING
It might come as a surprise that there are currently 17 species of bat found in Britain – however, over the last 50 years, we are sadly seeing the population decline. Creating a bat-friendly environment at home in your garden could help keep bats flying the night sky in the numbers they should, and provide a little spooky entertainment for your children, who can try to spot the creatures on a dark night!
Bats often go unseen, unsurprising as they are active during the night whilst we are tucked up in bed. To encourage them to your garden, increase food supply and provide shelter to create a bat-friendly garden. Bats prey on insects (some considered pests!) such as mosquitoes, moths, and midges. Growing particular plants helps as certain flowers attract moths and other creatures (great snacks for a hungry bat!)
During the day, bats hide in dark places, such as in hollow trees and under tiles. Bat boxes can be found in garden centres or made from scratch from untreated, unplanned wood – giving your garden bats a safe place to rest.
BUILD A BUG B&B
There are hundreds of tiny critters that roam around your garden every day. The perfect way to give them a home or a warm place to stay is to build a creature B&B – a great, tactile activity that can be made during the colder months and enjoyed all year round! Using a wide variety of recycled materials to create different levels or ‘rooms’, you will attract all types of wildlife to your garden.
This can be made out of individual boxes or multiple pallets to create alternate floors.
Recyclable materials can include but are not limited to; dead wood, straw, hay, dry leaves, loose bark, hollow plastic drainpipes, plastic bottles, bamboo canes, bricks and cardboard.
It is important that the location for the B&B will be in a position that is warm with some sunlight and some shade, with protection from wind and rain. To start, stack your chosen number of wooden pallets on top of one another and secure with nails to prevent any movement.
Now use your collected materials to fill out the gaps in the pallets to form different habitats. The bottom pallet can be placed upside down to the others to allow larger gaps for access at the base of the B&B. Blocks of wood and bricks with holes in can be used underneath to create support whilst providing crevices for garden invertebrates.
Bundle straw and hay together in places to provide hibernation opportunities and others with dead wood, dry leaves and loose bark for beetles, centipedes, spiders and woodlice to hide in, as it mimics the litter on forest floors.
Lengths of hollow plant stems or bamboo canes can be cut down and fitted inside plastic drainpipes or bottles in a hive-like formation to encourage bees. Other ideas to fill any remaining gaps can be pine cones, logs, rolled up corrugated card, wood chips, old tiles or plant pots.
INVITE FROGS INTO YOUR GARDEN
Like many other garden wildlife species, frogs and toads hibernate during the winter months – log piles, compost heaps and even at the bottom of ponds are all likely spots.
Want to welcome frogs and toads into your garden? As you’d expect, the obvious way to attract them is to install a pond. If you do have a pond, or you’re planning one, it’s imperative that you provide routes out of the water to ensure the safety of frogs, toads and larger animals alike.
They are a few steps you can take to ensure that your garden is a safe environment for frogs and other creatures throughout winter. Firstly, check bonfires before they are lit for animals who may be sheltering or hibernation (this also goes for hedgehogs).
It can be very helpful for wildlife if pond owners melt a hole when iced over – this enabled animals to drink from and enter the water with ease. Also, toxic gases can build up in the water of a frozen pond, which may kill any fish or frogs that are hibernating at the bottom.
Please note: do not crack the ice in an attempt to create a hole as the shockwaves can be damaging to already existing wildlife.
Additionally, take care when handling compost heaps – the warmth is often invited to frogs and toads in the winter months.
HARVEST YOUR PUMKINS
Finally, it really wouldn’t be Halloween without pumpkins. Whilst often known around this time of year as a festive decoration, pumpkin is also a delicious, versatile and nutritious food that can be used in many of Autumnal meals and desserts!
If you were forward thinking enough to plant pumpkins earlier in the year, you might be preparing to harvest them around now. Follow our key steps below for the best methods for picking and preserving your pumpkin.
Leave the fruits to ripen on the plants as long as possible for the best flavour. If there’s a risk of early frosts, protect the pumpkins with cardboard and straw.
To judge when to harvest pumpkins, knock gently on the fruits. If they sound hollow, they’re ready to harvest.
Use secateurs to cut pumpkins off the vine, leaving a long stalk on the fruit.
Before storing pumpkins, first cure the skins by leaving the fruits out in the sun for around 10 days. In poor weather, place them in a greenhouse, or on a sunny windowsill.
Once the skins have cured, store the pumpkins in a well-ventilated, cool room, at a temperature of around 7-10°C. Check periodically for any signs of rot and remove any affected fruits. Stored pumpkins can last for up to six months.
MAKE IT COSY
We may be missing the summer heatwave that delighted the nation this year, but there’s plenty more to relish outdoors as we head into Autumn – so, as the leaves go through their glorious colour change dance, you might be thinking – how can I still make the most of my garden in autumn?
Here’s 5 tips on how to transform your outside space into the perfect comfy hideaway for your friends and family throughout Halloween and beyond…
1. Find a good nook
To start you off, it’s best to find the right part of your garden that you want to use to make into a cosy space to enjoy the festivities. It might be a corner of a patio, or a decking area, or if you have an urban garden such as a balcony or a roof terrace, it’s might be the whole space. Clear it out and make it ready to decorate. You could even use some Patio Magic! if there is some paving that needs a little love.
2. Pots and furniture
It’s time to get some plants and chairs in! A wooden sofa, table and chairs or picnic bench all work well and can be easily moved around the garden.
Some great plants that look beautiful in the autumn include Rudbeckias, Lilyturf, Dahlias, Michaelmas daisies, purple ornamental cabbages and white mini-Cyclamen. Fill up the spaces everywhere you can with foliage and flowers – it’ll really help you celebrate the season!
3. Mood lighting
There are a few different ways you can make a space cosy with lighting – fairy lights or string lights can be draped along walls, fences, the back of chairs and even strung between the trees. You can also use lanterns and candles, which really make the area feel intimate as the sun goes down. Just remember to keep any open flames, included candles and jack-o’-lanterns, under a watchful eye at all times!
4. Soft textures
A really important part of the cosy outdoor experience has to be the soft, fluffy blankets. Try and find pillows, cushions and woolly textures in muted tones that encourage you to huddle up with a nice cup of pumpkin spiced hot chocolate… or witches brew!
5. Decorate
Get the kids flexing their creative muscles by turning your garden space into a ghoulish ghost yard or haunted woodland! There’s lots that can be done with what you have at home, from creating mini carved pumpkins out of red and orange peppers to decorate smaller gardens, to crafting your own bats out of black cardboard to string from the trees.
And that should be it – all you need to do now is get the snacks ready, ward off any ghosts, invite a few friends over and get some caramel apples, and you’ll be able to enjoy a spook-tacular autumn in your garden!
For more information on growing your own and for any other garden care queries please visit: www.lovethegarden.com.
Spiced Passionfruit Gin Punch
This seasonal punch combines the exotic flavours of Kopparberg Passionfruit & Orange Gin with the aromatic flavours of ginger and bitters – To create the perfect warming cocktail.
50ml Kopparberg Passionfruit & Orange Gin
200ml ginger beer
2 drops angostura bitters
Cinnamon stick and orange wheel to garnish
METHOD:
Build in the glass
Pour 50ml Kopparberg Passionfruit & Orange Gin over cubed ice
Top with ginger beer and 2 drops of angostura bitters
Stir gently to ensure ingredients are combined
Garnish with an orange wheel and stick of cinnamon
Skål!
Cherry Storm
This sweet, autumnal cocktail packs a punch – combining the aromatic flavours of Kopparberg Cherry Spiced Rum, with warming ginger ale. Garnish with a skewered lime wedge and enjoy with friends.
50ml Kopparberg Cherry Spiced Rum
200ml ginger ale
Half a lime (juiced)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Lime wedge
METHOD:
Build in the glass
Combine the juice of half a lime, 2 teaspoons of brown in the bottom of a high ball glass and mix well
Fill glass with cubed ice
Top with ginger ale
Pour 50ml Kopparberg Cherry Spiced Rum over the top
Garnish with skewered lime wedge
Skål!
Dark Fruit & Basil Mojito
A seasonal spin on the classic drink of the summer. The purple and red tones of Kopparberg Dark Fruit Spiced Rum create a beautiful autumnal hues, whilst the basil is the perfect alternative for a refreshing, yet warming, winter serve.
50ml Kopparberg Dark Fruit Spiced Rum
150ml soda water
2 teaspoon brown sugar
5 basil leaves
Lime wedge & blackberries to garnish
METHOD:
Build in the glass
Add 5 basil leaves to a highball glass with soft brown sugar and the juice of half a lime
Muddle gently and pour in 50ml Kopparberg Dark Fruit Spiced Rum and 125ml soda water
Add crushed ice, churn gently and garnish with a wheel of lime, sprig of basil and blackberry
YouCam Apps Interactive Halloween 2020 AR Makeup and Photo Editing Effects Are the Best Yet
YouCam Makeup and YouCam Perfect’s 2020 Halloween makeup and photo features are the most striking yet, with a collection of interactive virtual reality costume experiences that are scary good.
New York, New York—October 1st, 2020—Perfect Corp., the developers behind the world’s leading virtual beauty app, YouCam Makeup, and photo editing app YouCam Perfect, debut their annual Halloween makeup and photo effects to help bring Halloween glamour to life through an interactive, hyper-realistic virtual try-on experience. The striking and spooky true-to-life try-ons powered by YouCam’s advanced augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies translate the intricate details of popular Halloween costume styles and frightful photo effects into impressively realistic virtual styles for a one-of-a-kind costume makeup and photo experience.
The 2020 YouCam Makeup collection features nine new costume makeup styles and three new animated backgrounds, including devilish and creepy face art, spooky ghost shadows, and an exclusive Frankenstein look created by beauty influencer @SydneyNicoleAddams. The YouCam Perfect Halloween collection contains additional 23 photo editing features, including animated effects and stickers, backgrounds, photo frames, and templates, so you can dress up your photo in seconds with a frightening and eerie Halloween look with a tap.
“We are thrilled to release another striking Halloween look collection in YouCam Makeup and YouCam Perfect to bring cool costume styles to life in seconds through advanced AI and AR virtual try-ons,” shared Perfect Corp. founder and CEO, Alice Chang. “While Halloween might look a little different this year in wake of COVID-19, we are hopeful that this unique fan experience encourages users to get in the Halloween spirit using AI + AR beauty tech. These interactive YouCam features invite a whole new way for fans to experience Halloween through hyper-realistic effects that can be discovered through the tap of a smart phone.”
Fans are invited to share their most bOO-tiful Halloween makeup selfies and photo designs in our Halloween Glam and Halloween Spirit challenges for a chance to win premium subscriptions to both the YouCam Makeup and YouCam Perfect app, unlocking a premier membership to access hundreds of exclusive looks and effects. From skulls and ghouls, to devils and demons, we invite fans to let their imagination run wild and enter their spookiest looks.
App Availability
YouCam Makeup is available for free download on the App Store and Google Play.
YouCam Perfect is available for free download on the App Store and Google Play.
About Perfect Corp.
With over 850 Million downloads globally, Perfect Corporation is dedicated to transforming how consumers, content creators and beauty brands interact together through AI and AR technologies. Our experienced team of engineers and beauty aficionados are pushing the
