I really like Halloween! I can’t put it up there with Thanksgiving or Christmas, just because those holidays have more personal and familial meanings to me. But Halloween is such a fun holiday. Dressing up in a costume, trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, decorating, and going to Halloween parties are things that I’ve always enjoyed. In a way, it’s a much more relaxed holiday than Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think that’s what I like most about it.

In my opinion, though, I’m at a strange age for Halloween. I’m almost 25 years old. So I’m too old for going out and trick-or-treating; I’m now the one handing out candy. I still dress up and go to Halloween parties sometimes, either at the office or at someone’s house. Last year, my husband, Kevin, and I actually went to a pumpkin patch, picked our own pumpkins out, and carved them, which was amazing. However, this year, we just bought small pumpkins to set as a centerpiece on our kitchen table. I bought a cheap, cute sign that simply says “Happy Halloween!” and hung that from our window. We have one string of orange lights that we framed another window with. I get a good laugh out of my coworkers decorating their cubicles, despite the fact that I haven’t decorated my own. Whether you go all out or not, either way is great.

I certainly don’t put a lot of effort into my costume anymore. I’d rather throw something together from my everyday clothes than go to a place like Party City and buy a costume every year. I want to be comfortable with what I’m wearing and have the chance to dress up as, say, a character from a movie or TV show I love. For example, one year during my undergrad, I dressed up as BBC’s Sherlock Holmes. All that took was a blue scarf, a long black coat, and dark clothes underneath. The best part was that people who were fans of that show recognized who I was. It was awesome! I’d much rather have a costume as fun and easy as that then spend money on a costume that I’m not truly into.

I’m not even sure what to expect for tonight. We’re living in a new neighborhood, and there are quite a few families with young children. Yet are any of those kids going to be out trick-or-treating for Halloween? Are we going to be answering the door and giving them candy? I mean, we have a little bit of candy to offer in case we receive anyone. I can dress up last-minute. I think that it’s interesting that the ritual of trick-or-treating has sort of declined over the years. Or is that just me?

Anyway, I feel like Halloween is probably the most enjoyable when you’re either a child or a parent. Either you’re young and excited to dress up in a costume, do crazy make-up, and trick-or-treat with your family and friends, or you’re a parent doing all of these things with your child. I honestly can’t wait to celebrate Halloween and every holiday with my kids one day. I look back on photos of my brother and I as kids and my parents in fantastic costumes. It’s going to be amazing to do the same thing with Kevin and our kids in the future.

For now, I need to spend this Halloween watching Hocus Pocus. Shockingly, I’ve never seen that movie before… I know…

Happy Halloween to you all! Whatever you’re doing to celebrate, have fun!!