A Spooky Movie Night In

It's half term this week and I had vowed that I would take the week off work and make the most of my time with that gorgeous little man of mine. Of course the world often has other plans, and today was one of those days. I got swept into work this morning, I made the mistake of looking at one email and it was like a domino effect, before I knew it, it was 3pm and the day was gone. It needed to be done though, I have had so much work on recently (which is good as I have also had one of those months where the bills are never ending!), but I really didn't want to be doing it all while I finally had Leo off school.

Tonight I decided to make the evening extra special, it was something we had planned for half term anyway, but after he had a day of boredom I decided we deserved a fun filled evening and some quality time. Leo adores Halloween, and with it now literally around the corner I decided to decorate the living room, pop open a number of naughty but delicious treats, and wrap ourselves up in the sofa throw while we enjoyed Hocus Pocus! 

As soon as Leo saw me decorating the lounge he got pretty excited and asked me whether we were having a Halloween movie night, which of course we were. HMV very kindly sent us a movie night in box that included everything we need to have the perfect spooky film evening. It was so lovely to sit down in our brand new living room, light the candles (that were fittingly a skull and black tea lights!) and sit back in the glow.

I love any excuse to sit back and relax with Leo, I am the first to admit that I let life run away with me. I know it can't be helped but it just makes me feel so guilty, especially when he is on half term and I should be spending that time with him, not sat at the laptop. Then I think about it and I realise how lucky I actually am to be in the situation that I am in. Not everyone get's the opportunity to work from home, not everyone get's to be off over the half term week. Some parent's have to be in the office and finding childcare for their little one's while they earn the pennies. I have been there myself, I know exactly what it is like, but it still doesn't help ease the guilt.

Tonight really did make up for me having to pull an all day shift today though, and that smile on Leo's face made it all worth it. We have a fun rest of half term ready to go, a cinema trip, potential surprise visit to LEGOLAND and lot's of opportunities to see friends and family. I don't think he is going to begrudge me one working day out of the half term.

Leo is now tucked up in bed after a fun filled evening, now I just need to convince Luke to sit down with me and watch the Exorcist! Which just happens to be one of my all time favourite horror films!

Halloween Etiquette

I actually have a child who wants to go out Trick or Treating on my hands. Like seriously... When did that happen!? It's funny because I always knew it was going to happen, he loves Halloween just as much as I did (or still do) as a child. I adored going out dressed head to toe as the scariest creation that I could find, so of course he want's to do it too. 

It's weird though, because I never expected for it to be a worry for me. It's an unwritten law that a child get's to trick or treat right? I just worry because it is a different world now. People are less tolerant of children knocking on doors. Who's doors are they actually knocking on? 

I obviously won't be letting Leo go out on his own, I will be there supervising and making sure that he is ok and keeping a very watchful eye, but even then I feel slightly wary about it all. 

With this in mind I have been thinking long and hard about Halloween etiquette. What are the rules for trick or treating? 

Bright Horizons day care in Fulham have shared this very helpful infographic with some great advice that is a great rule of thumb to follow this Hallows Eve.

Halloween at Life Unexpected

I have always loved Halloween, as a young girl it was a night that I looked forward to as much as Christmas. I have always loved the mystery and spookiness that surrounds All Hallows Eve, if it was gory or horrifying and had the potential to put the shivers down my spine, I was all over it. 

Even as I have gotten older, the love for this night has stayed with me, and now I have my own little boy who is growing up and loving just how unique this night is, and he to looks forward to getting dressed up and trick or treating around the local area, with me by his side of course.

Last year was the very first year that Leo actually took part in any real Halloween celebrations, and we ended up at a family friends Halloween Party, where Leo had the most amazing time and continued to talk about the night right up until today. Leo is so excited about the festivities that he knows are just around the corner, and he has been thoroughly enjoying helping me prepare for our very own Halloween event this year!

So what is around for Halloween 2015 and how can you create the perfect spooky experience within a budget?

Home Bargains: Halloween

Home Bargains is one of Leo's favourite haunts, in the small Worcestershire town in which we live, we don't have many shops left these days, you could say that it is somewhat of a ghost town... So it is very fitting that they are stocked the shelves to the nines full of the most spooky and wonderful additions to really help kick Halloween off with a BANG.

Halloween Pumpkin Costume £5.99

From decorations for the home right through to costumes for the kids (and the big kids if you are not one to miss out on the Halloween action!), there is something for everyone. With prices to match the great selection available, you can kit the entire house and family out for Halloween without breaking the bank. 

We were sent a great selection of Halloween goodies to help us on our a way to our spookiest Halloween to date, and Leo is rather excited to get the house on the road to spooksville.

Aldi: Halloween

In store now is everything that you need to throw the spookiest Halloween Party ever, but as the items are sure to fly on the run up to the big day, it is advisable to pop into your local store sooner rather than later. Our local Aldi is a popular store and you can guarantee that as soon as the special buys are in.. They are out again just as fast. 

From festive party wear to get you in the mood for trick or treating, to dressing for the occasion, there is a great selection of Halloween festivities to help get you in the mood. If you are planning a party don't forget to pick up some groceries that you can cook up for part of your feast. Why not get creative with some hot dog sausages? They make the perfect fingers, and Aldi have actually shared some fantastic food ideas that will help you put on a party to remember! 

Dobbies Garden Centre:  Tricks and Treats this Halloween

With Autumn upon us, a trip to the garden centre is a must. Leo and I love to visit our local as it is a treasure trove of wonderful things that you quite simply cannot find anywhere else. Dobbies is no exception to this rule, and now they have a whole host of gorgeous Halloween items on display. They invite you to get spooked with the fun range that is ideal for inside and outside your home.  

Sainsburys

Leo's cousin Josh is an October baby, and with Halloween right around the corner it seems fitting to entwine the spooky date into his party plans. That is exactly what happened this year, with the theme of Pirates taking the driving seat and all of the children in attendance donning their pirate attire, they certainly brought a fun atmosphere to Josh's big day.

Leo wore a Pirate Costumer from Sainsbury's Halloween Range, and he looked incredibly smart. It came equipped with a sword and Pirates Hat, and that really helped Leo get into character. He spent the entire morning on the run up to the party in his costume and having sword fights with Josh. Once the party time arrived, all the children unleashed themselves on the bouncy castle! 

This costume would make a great alternative to spookier costumes and definitely looks the part! Leo ran, jumped, hopped and skipped in this costume and it will still live to see another day!

Halloween Treats and Festive House Touches

Us big kids know that it isn't all about the children. After I put Leo to bed on Halloween I often like to stick a horror film on, light a few candles and enjoy a few treats. Of course you can bet money that the door bell will keep ringing all evening, but that's ok. Armed with my big Trick or Treat multi-pack of Haribo, I tackle the ghoulish visitors one at a time and send them on their way with a treat (usually!).

Of course as the evening goes on, the door knocks get less, and less. Before long all is quiet and it is just me, myself and the television. If you find yourself in my position and have some quality time on your hands, why not treat yourself to a Candy Corn Yankee Candle (which actually smells good enough to eat) and stick your favourite horror on with a few snacks? 

I for one will be enjoying a Whitard of Chelsea Hot Chocolate with Mini Marshmallows melted on top, or if your feeling especially festive, why not try the Toffee Apple Halloween Caddy?

Green Candle Lights by PK Green Shop

It's no secret that I have somewhat of a sweet tooth, in fact it's something that I work pretty hard to keep under lock and key, because as soon as I get a taste for the sweet stuff, I am like a kid in a candy shop. I was very recently sent a lovely Halloween box of fudge from Fudge Kitchen. It came beautifully seasoned in Halloween spirit and with 4 delicious pieces of tantalizing fudge.

With Screeching Moon, Treacle Toffee, Bats Eye Stew (My favourite) and Spider Web you couldn't really pick out anything more special for your Halloween snacks (once the kids are in bed of course because we don't want to share...)

Or if you are looking for a healthier treat this Halloween, then you definitely need to cast your attention to Soreen who have two delicious limited edition flavors out:  Toffee Apple and Chocolate and Blood Orange Lunch Box Loaves! 

Disclaimer: I was sent the above items for the purpose of this post. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

Halloween 2014

Halloween seems to grow bigger each year, the costumes become that little bit more extravagant, the candy transforms into spooky surprises and you see more and more decorations popping up welcoming trick or treater’s.

2014 was Leo’s third Halloween experience, and as with everything else, this Halloween was extra exciting because he could get more involved than ever before. This year we had been invited along to a friend’s Halloween party, and although Leo had reservations earlier that day when presented with his Halloween costume, it only took me bribing him with a bucketful of Halloween sweets to get him to wear it… And you know what? Once he was wearing it he had the best time! The initial reservations were that he didn’t want to be scary, he told me ‘I want to be Leo!’. After explaining that he was still Leo and that he would be able to go trick or treating for the very first time he waved those initial fears away.

Unlike previous years where I have carved my own pumpkins, this year time ran away and I neglectfully forgot to purchase a single pumpkin. Leo didn’t seem to mind as he was far too excited about the party he was attending later that evening. We made our way over only to find that the host had gone all out, the house was dressed to the nines and the driveway lit with pumpkins welcoming guests.

Leo was away like a shot, no fear just pure excitement. He had awoken from his nap only half hour before we left and the first thing he had said was ‘I want to go to the party!’. So here he was finally at the party and on the hunt for cake. He didn’t have to look for long to discover where it all was, and he soon found a very festive Halloween spread laid out in the kitchen.

With darkness consuming the daylight on this All Hallows Eve night, we disappeared off into the night for Leo’s very first Trick Or Treating experience. Leo being the youngest at 3 years old followed the lead of the older children as they began to decide where to visit first. We kept our eyes peeled for signs that they wanted trick or treater’s to visit, and Leo couldn’t quite believe that knocking on the doors would reward him with sweets. I will have to make sure that he realises this is only acceptable one night a year…

Leo has such a great time running around with the bigger kids (Closely followed by myself!) and when the time came to head back to the party, he was not ready to wave goodnight to Halloween’s door knocking. I enticed him back under the pretence of cake, and that seemed to do the trick.

After everyone had indulged in Halloween dinner, more fun and games presented themselves. I had always imagined Apple Bobbing to be apples submerged in water, but the kid’s (And adults) participated in a slightly different version. The apples were all tied to string and then to the washing line in the garden. Everyone then had to eat their apple without using their hands! Of course Leo gave it a great shot.. Even if he did proceed using both hands!

Halloween concluded with one sugar filled 3 year old drifting off to sleep after a rather amazing evening, full of the spooky and unexpected.

Until next year…

Halloween 2013

There are certain points in the year I like to reflect on just how far Leo has come. On how much he has changed and grown in those months that have come and gone, and Halloween is one of those points for me. 

It is a day that I have enjoyed with Leo since the get go, and although those past Halloweens are nothing to him, for me it is a day of fun and highlights just how much he has changed since those very first Halloween days.

Halloween 2013 fell when Leo was 28 months old, and although he still doesn't understand why everyone dresses up in spooky costumes and carve pumpkins... He is old enough to take part and enjoy the day like the best of us.

We spent the day with Leo's cousin and took a stroll around the local shops. When we came back Leo decided that he did not wish to wear his Halloween costume and avoided putting it on at all costs. Thankfully a lolly bribe persuaded him into his spider suit, if only for a little while.

Leo helped me scoop out the Pumpkin and watched intently as a carved a spooky face into the flesh. We set a candle in the centre and popped it out on the front doorstep so that kid's would know that we were 'trick or treat friendly'. 

It wasn't long before the door started knocking. 

And knocking...

And knocking....

It knocked while I was in the middle of getting Leo ready for bed, and it knocked some more while I was putting him to bed. Now if it had been your average door knocking then I wouldn't really have given it a second thought, but parent's were letting their children knock persistently until I opened the door.

Then when I greeted them and handed out the goodies, hands were grabbing trying to take everything that they could. The whole trick or treat experience was not really what I had expected.

In the end I took the pumpkin down as I didn't wish to encourage anymore grabby children, and I turned out all of the lights and took refuge in the fact that my lounge is at the back of the house. 

This being the first Halloween where I have actually ever come across kid's trick or treating, I didn't really know what to expect. Where my parent's live it is set back from the road and up a private drive... So kid's never really made the effort to go up there. 

What Halloween 2013 made me think about was manners and how there really didn't seem to be any at play. I can remember as a child trick or treating... I enjoyed it. But if someone didn't answer my refined knock, I took it as a hint that they didn't want children knocking on their door and moved on. Children today seem to think it is acceptable to knock loud and hard until someone comes to the door.

When did this become ok?

I am definitely more educated on the trick and treating front now. And if Leo ever does express a wish to go trick or treating, he will be doing so with manners and respect. He will say please and thank you in all of the right places, and he will NOT persistently bang on people's front doors.

Did you all have a happy All Hallows Eve? And most importantly did your little one's have a great time? 

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A Very Halloween

Halloween has crept upon us once a again. That one time of year it is acceptable to look as sightly as humanly possible. In-fact the scarier the better right!?

Now Leo is getting older I have enjoyed planning activities that we can do together, and tomorrow we will be carving pumpkins and eating sweet treats, and maybe even cooking up some screaming cupcakes.

Leo has a Halloween costume that he will be donning while we partake in our special day, and may even wear it out and about. He will be ever so excited to see the jack-o-lanterns all lit up when we place them out on our front doorstep to welcome the neighborhood's trick and treaters.

We have a selection of sweeties that we will be handing out during the trick or treating hours... I may even let Leo help me answer the front door. His reaction may be treat enough...

I have actually been having a browse on Very.co.uk on the run up to Halloween, on the hunt for fun ideas to help make the day that extra bit spooky. They have a lovely range of children's fancy dress which was great inspiration for Leo's costume. 

Leo will be dressed as a creepy crawly spider.

(Pictures to follow...)

What are your plans for Halloween?

Disclaimer: This featured post was brought to you in association with Very

All Hallows Eve 2012

With Halloween upon us Leo and I spent the day together, we carved pumpkins and ate spooky cupcakes...by we I of course mean Leo ate cupcakes. Leo even proceeded to eat my cupcake after repeatedly signing for 'More' and very opening shouting 'More, more, more' at me. So yes.. 

I relented and let him feast. After all it was Halloween... 

I got Leo all dressed up in his very convincing Skeleton Halloween costume, and he looked super duper scary, don't you think? 

Together we had a very enjoyable, yet spooky Halloween! 

What did you all get up to? Carve any pumpkins this year?

 Can you guess what pumpkins we carved?

On a final note, this is my little man last Halloween at just 4 months old. Hasn't he grown up!?

How To Carve a Pumpkin

Last Halloween Leo was just a tiny dot compared to the monster he is establishing himself as this year. This year he is going to know that something very unusual is going on, something spooky and I am sure that he is going to want to take part.

Leo will be donning a little Halloween costume all of his own, and completing pumpkin carving (hollowing at least), I can just see the mess he is going to make with all of the pumpkin seeds in my minds eye right now, but I can see the fun that he is going to have too!

I always loved Halloween as a child, I loved the thought that anything spooktacular could happen on this one night of the year. I want to make sure Leo finds the magic in Halloween, and enjoys all of the fun that comes with it. I don’t think I will ever outgrow the buzz that comes with Halloween and I must confess, I love to dress up and display a few tricks, I have even discovered that I can carve a mean looking pumpkin.

For Leo’s very first Halloween I bought 4 juicy pumpkins from a local farmer and attempted to carve a ménage of pumpkins to display on the front porch. After hollowing out the first one I was shocked at how much effort went into just one pumpkin, and instantly regretted buying four! I stuck at it though, and eventually had four pumpkins, hollowed out and ready to be carved. I had to work quickly having Leo as a small baby, with time ticking by quickly Leo would soon be wanting his next feed!

My finished pumpkin’s for 2011 consisted of a witch riding on her broomstick, one very spooky looking ghost, a crescent moon and of course you’re traditional Jacko Lantern.

There are so many other designs that you could attempt, I chose the above designs as I am no artist and after discovering just how time consuming carving a pumpkin can be….. I decided to take the easy road!

How to carve your own pumpkin

What you will need to carve your spooky pumpkin?

- A pumpkin (obviously!)

- A small sharp knife

- A marker pen

- A pair of hands (preferably your own)

- A tea light candle

To start the carving process you are going to need a small sharp knife. With the knife you will need to carve around the top of the pumpkin to take the top off. When cutting around the top (later known as the lid), try and cut it so it stays as one piece. You will need this at a later point when putting the finishing touches to your spooktacular pumpkin.

Once you have the lid off you will see just how much guts and seeds are inside. All of this…Well it needs to come out! I found the most effective way to get everything out was to scoop it up with my hands.

With your hollowed out pumpkin ready to go, you can either draw your design on or print a template to draw around on the pumpkin flesh. This is where your marker pen comes into play!

With your design now prominently on the pumpkin you are ready to get carving. Take your knife again and begin to go around the edges of your template. I found that by applying pressure to the area that I was working on made it easier to loosen up the pumpkin flesh, and eventually enabled me to push out the desired section.

With your template now replaced by the desired holes in the pumpkin flesh, the time has come to insert your tea light candle, light it, place the lid back on top and put it out on the front porch for all of your trick or treaters to marvel at!

Happy pumpkin carving everyone and happy Halloween!

Here's to 2012

Technically The Life and Times of The Working Mum turns one in January, although that could be argued as I posted once, and then I disappeared off the face of the earth...well... so to speak. I thought I would share some of my favourite posts of the year, as a way to finish off 2011 and kick start 2012.

It really has been a whirl wind year, but it has been truly eye opening and amazing. I would not change a thing, but part of me wonders if I am ready to let go of 2011, as so much has happened and I am now a completely new person. I am a Mummy.

I do look forward to 2012 and all of the excitement that comes with it, as so many firsts are still to happen.

My very first post the Life & Trials - Debut  talks all about the reservations I had in regards to my pregnancy, and the questions building up about financial matters. Looking back I needn't have worried as much as I did. If only I could have foreseen all the amazing things that were going to happen in 2011.

The next post I wish to re-visit with you is my walk through pregnancy and all that comes with it. I wish I had appreciated my new found curves while they were there, as I was one of those women who was constantly thinking how I resembled some sort of blubbering whale...but looking back I have very fond memories of my Leo bump.

After a pregnancy there is always a birth, here is my Birth Story, I have to put my hands up and admit that I did have a very straight forward labour. I like to think that is why Leo is such a good baby. I had a water birth and wouldn't change it. Leo is my little water baby.

Back in October I came across Milas Day Dreams, Leo and I teamed up and produced our own attempts of the fantastic originals! Coincidentally we named them Leo's Day Dreams.

Keeping in with the creative streak, for Halloween we even attempted to carve our own pumpkins! By we...I do mean I.

Back In November, all I could think about were Christmas Time Traditions and how I could make Leo's first Christmas one to remember. I loved all the feedback given by readers and I am happy to share that I will be implementing a few into future Christmas's.

I like to think that readers see Leo growing up through my posts, and I have shared many of Leo's firsts with you all, he first rolled over back in November and when he laughed his first hearty chuckle earlier this month.

So there we have it, a re-cap of some of my fondest memories of 2011, I hope you enjoy having a flick through.

I wish you all a Happy New Year, and I will be back in 2012 with many more adventures that Leo and I stumble upon.

Technically on the 20th January 2012, The Life and Times of The Working Mum turns one!

How will we mark the occasion?

Happy New Year all!

Love Laura & Leo xx

The First Halloween

Yesterday was Leo's first ever Halloween. I wanted to mark the occasion and make our own festivities! I know that Halloween is not on any level compared to the likes of Christmas, but I wanted Leo to know that I made the effort right from the start.

Poor Leo had come down with a nasty cold, so he wasn't feeling his jolly old self, but he looked just lovely in his bright orange pumpkin costume and matching hat. Although he wasn't 100% he was still smiles and chuckles, even through his blocked nose!

We ran around all morning on the hunt for pumpkins....which apparently you cannot buy in the shops on Halloween...everywhere was sold out, which I have to say is just un-believable! Finally we managed to hunt 4 big juicy pumpkins down at a farm in Cropthorne, after hitting up all the local supermarkets and always coming up short!

I personally have never even considered carving a pumpkin, let alone 4! I rose to the occasion and found some ideas online, and set about cutting them all open and removing all the flesh. Then the tricky part....putting my useless drawing skills to the test!

Some how...I don't know how....all my efforts paid off and I was rewarded with 4 rather distinguished pumpkins to sit on my front porch. Leo's first ever pumpkins!

I know Leo is far too young to even remember, let alone appreicate these gestures but I wanted to make the effort this year more than any. I want to make our own family traditions and I want to implement them from the very start.

I am rather envoius of Mothers who are in the position to be Stay at Home Mummies, especiallay when they don't seem to realise how lucky they are to be in that unique situation, they get the oppurunity to do all these fun and exciting things with their children and they don't make the effort too.

Every year I will make this effort, especially when I return to work. Next year I am sure we will be able to get into a mess pulling the flesh out together! Next year we will even bake some spooky cupcakes!

For now though I feel I have marked Leo's first Halloween, and these pumpkins will always be his first....and my first triumph in pumpkin carving.

Family traditions are very important to me, and I cannot wait until I can put our Christmas traditions in place, and tell Leo all about Father Christmas and all the magic that comes with it.

Happy Halloween all!