Halloween- Expectation vs Reality

Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year. I love getting dressed up, cosy nights in watching spooky movies with the kids, having an excuse to eat sweeties, beautifully carved pumpkins glowing on the hearth...  what's not to love? But sometimes, despite your best efforts, things don't always turn out quite like you hope.

Here are some of my Halloween expectations vs the realities.

• Costume

Expectation - You have had an idea for an amazing costume running through your head since last October, which you are going to hand make because it's going to look really unique and spooky and your kids will definitely be the best dressed at the local halloween party.

Reality - You end up desperately searching the town on October 30th for a costume in your childs size. 3 sizes too big is fine right.... I mean, they could wear it next Halloween too? When all else fails, a black cape and an old broom will do... or the old classic, a black bin bag tied at the neck.

• Pumpkins

Expectation - Sitting around the table as a family carving spooky scenes in to your pumpkin. As you hollow out your pumpkins all of the seeds are collected to later be made in to a delicious healthy snack.

Reality - Your children find the most complicated image they possibly can for each of their pumkins and then they leave quicker than you can say jack-o-lantern. You are left trying to scrape out the mulch with a desert spoon. with most of the seeds ending up in the bin because you can't bring yourself to sift through the disgusting pulp. When you start carving the Disney Castle on to your first pumpkin, the carving tool you bought from the pound shop snaps in your hand . You curse yourself for not buying this, and spend the next few hours trying to carve intricate designs with a kitchen knife.

• Baking

Expectation - Cupcakes beautifully decorated with vivid orange frosting, with little hand made witches hat placed neatly on top of each one.

Reality -You make a delicious  butter cream, but ruin it trying to add enough food colouring to actually bloody colour it! You will not admit defeat and will continue to pipe the runny icing all over cupcakes. You realise you cannot make fancy Halloween sugar decorations to save your life, and cover your cupcakes in some kind of spooky haribo instead.

• Trick or Treating

Expectation - The big day arrives and it's time to go trick or treating in your fancy home made costume. Pumpkins line the paths towards the front doors of the houses, you will stroll around enjoying the spooky festivities and the kids will get a nice bucket of sweets that they can enjoy as a treat over the coming weeks.

Reality - As you dodge your way through groups of teenagers with bangers you realise it is starting to rain. The face paint you spent ages applying is gradually melting away, with your bin liner cape blowing in the wind. When you get home the kids eat half of their body weight in tang fastics and spend the rest of the night running around the house screaming and jumping from the sofa's.

Despite some pretty crap costumes, and even crapper pumpkins, you can't help but love it. So I wish you all a Happy Halloween and hope you have a fabulously spooky time, whatever you are doing!