boo!

Ever since I was little, I have always loved Halloween. You get to dress up, eat free candy and chocolates and sometimes, if you're brave enough, you can even walk through a haunted house! I'll be honest and admit that I only stopped trick-or-treating after second year university (I was always in costume too!). Since then, I've stopped taking candy and have been giving back by spoiling all the kids who ring our doorbell with handfuls of the good stuff. Partly because I owe it to my neighbours, but also because the kids who trick-or-treat are dwindling in numbers and I'm afraid of what will happen if I'm left alone with boxes of chocolates.

Aside from the costumes and candy, when I think of Halloween, I think of a big orange pumpkin. This year was the third year I hosted a pumpkin carving competition at my house and I was determined to win, so much so that I rigged the scoring card so that my biggest competitor would be at an obvious disadvantage. I decided to go for a more unconventional design, hoping to score some creativity points. It was a crude replica of a painting by Edvard Munch entitled The Scream. I think I was a little too ambitious this year. Next year I will probably pick something that is a little less detailed so that I don't give up half way through. In the end, I didn't following the points on the rigged score card due to my conscience...okay, the real reason is because the prize was comprised of candies, chocolates and cookies that I couldn't afford to eat due to an upcoming wedding and a dress I had purchased one half size too snug. After the fair version of judging, I came in second with only three points less than the winner! Next year will be the year...

enjoy acting like a kid again and stuffing your bellies with sweets without feeling guilty
have a happy halloween everyone!