Happy Friday! Time for another Friday Fright Nightcap! Tonight, we celebrate Universal monster The Wolfman with my kooky version of a tiramisu martini.
Ingredients: .5 oz. crema de caco or chocolate liqueur .5 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream .5 oz. ameretto 1 oz. shot of espresso or coffee 1 oz. Kahlua 1.5 oz. vodka
Pour ingredients into shaker and shake well. Pour into chocolate coated glass. Best when served chilled.
You can stream Universal’s The Wolfman 1941, on Prime Video, with a Prime subscription.
Happy Friday the 13th! Time for another Friday Fright Nightcap! Tonight, we celebrate Friday the 13th and Universal’s monster Dracula, with everyone’s favorite winetail, the Bloody Sangria!
Ingredients: 2 bottles of red wine (Red blends and Cabernets work best) 1/2 cup – spiced rum 1 can – Sprite (or Tangerine LaCroix) 1/2 cup – sugar Assorted sliced fresh fruit
Mixing Instructions: Pour ingredients into a large jug and stir well. Refrigerate overnight.
If you’re trimming down or cutting out sugar, try switching out Sprite with Tangerine La Croix and only use 1/4 cup of sugar.
You can stream Universal’s Dracula, 1931, for free on Prime Video, with a Prime subscription.
Happy Friday! It’s the return of Friday Fright Nightcaps! Every Friday in October, I post a drink recipe in honor of one of my favorite Universal classic monsters movies. This week is a little concoction called Mummy’s Revival.
I’ll be honest, this recipe is a little sweet. I’m not sure if it’s the coffee or the sugar that can wake the dead, but this is a nice drink to come home to.
Ingredients:
.05 oz -1 oz espresso or dark coffee 1 oz. vodka 1 oz Kahlua 1 oz Bailey’s S’mores or Pumpkin Spice
Garnish: Chocolate Syrup Whipped cream for topping
Mixing Instructions: Mix ingredients well into a shaker. Next, pour into a glass coated with chocolate syrup. Top with whipped cream.
If it’s too sweet, try 1 oz of espresso over coffee. Best when served chilled.
You can stream Universal’s The Mummy, 1932, for free on Prime Video, with a Prime subscription.
Speaking of mutations, a recent bout with Covid has been keeping me down, so I wasn’t able to write a proper movie post this month. I may still sneak one in.
Just trust me, this is a great list of the best mutant monster movies you’ll find on streaming.👾🕷☢️
Thinking of embarking on an exciting journey of becoming a paranormal investigator, or perhaps you have a young family member interested in ghosts and paranormal research? Well, you’ve come to the right place. There are dozens of options these days for folks just starting out. My lists are designed for quick and easy holiday shopping, but I encourage all to do a little bit of research before making big decisions on pricey equipment.
Ghost Hunter’s Equipment by Ghost Augustine – As seen on Taps, Ghost Adventures, Destination Fear, Ghost Finders, and many more. https://ghosthuntersequipment.com
Top Gifts List
Motion Light Balls – $5 Think there’s a ghost in the room? Well toss one of these suckers on the floor and wait to see if the ghost interacts with it. Made for one-time use, so get a couple for the stocking. https://www.ghoststop.com/motion-light-ball/
A Teen’s Guide to Ghost Hunting by Amanda Woomer – $15 This book written by paranormal investigator and author Amanda Woomer from Spook Eats was designed to introduce teens to the exciting world of paranormal investigation. Ms. Woomer has written several books about her paranormal adventures, so she knows a thing or two about ghost hunting. https://spookeats.com/a-teens-guide-to-ghost-hunting/
Ghostology: The Art of the Ghost Hunter by Steve T. Parsons – $18 (paperback) Not a how-to book per se, but anyone interested in getting into paranormal investigations, whether for a career or hobby, should check out paranormal author and veteran ghost hunter Steve T. Parson’s work. The man is a bit of an expert on the subject and has been featured on shows of some of television’s biggest networks, such as BBC, Discovery Network, National Geographic, and ITV to name a few. https://www.amazon.com/Ghostology-Hunter-Steven-T-Parsons/dp/191012172X
Winning Moves Classic Ouija Board Game – $28 Because no good ghost story starts with a game of Sorry. I recommend beginners start with a little small talk first. If you get any feedback, then, you might want to up your game. https://winning-moves.com/product/ouija.asp
LED Flashight: ThurNite Archer 2A 3V Cool White – $30 Ghost hunting 101: Everyone knows the first tool of a great paranormal investigator is the almighty flashlight. Ghost hunting takes place at night, in the darkest and spookiest of places. No one wants to break a leg looking for Casper, right? If you want the best and have the money to pay for it, check out the Fenix PD36R, but for those on a budget, the ThruNite Archer is the next best thing. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H1NTK82/?tag=gjbgtechgeneralflashlights-20
K2 EMF Meter – $65 The legendary, original paranormal tool used by the pros! This was game changer in paranormal investigating when Ghost Hunters show hit the airwaves, as the practice was consider by many to be pseudoscience. The use of practical and very real technology brought an aire of legitimacy to the practice. https://ghosthuntersequipment.com/collections/emf-meters/products/k2-emf-meter-plus
EVP Wrist Recorder 3 – $80 For ghost hunters on the go or anyone who suddenly find themselves all alone in a dark, old, spooky place, or, maybe not so alone… https://www.ghoststop.com/evp-wrist-recorder-3/
Zip up Hoodie Sweatshirt from Ghost Hunters – $99 Gearing up for long cold nights? Don’t forget to pick up a zip up hoodie sweatshirt to keep warm from one of the best paranormal shows ever created. https://www.officialghosthunters.com/shop/zip-up-hoodie
Beginner Ghost Hunter Kit – $149 Fancy a new hobby in the ghost hunting field but not quite ready for fancy equipment? Then, check out the beginner ghost hunter kits from Ghost Stop. https://www.ghoststop.com/beginner-ghost-hunting-kit/
After giving it some thought, I changed this month’s theme to Haunted Holidays. I realized I was creating two different themed plans in December and I wanted to take a little bit more time to plan out my approach to writing haiku next year, so…Blood and Ice will be next month’s theme.
This December is all about the haunted holidays! Back in the day, people told ghost stories during Christmastime and I would love to bring that tradition back. I encourage everyone to create, write, or find a short ghost tale to tell on Christmas eve, and if you’re having trouble, might I recommend simply retelling the classic timeless tale from Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Scrooge is the hero we need right now!
Scrooge art by Carter Goodwich
December Fun
Here’s a look at some of the shenanigans I have planned this month:
Haunted holidays haiku every Monday
Brand new gift-giving guides for Halloween and horror fans
New recipes for christmassy cocktails
Haunted Holidays Photo Challenge
Christmas gift-giving countdown (Details TBA)
I’m kicking off the celebrations with a daily photo challenge. You may post both traditional or haunted photos or artwork. Jump in any time, even if you skip a day, or 5, but, if you can post all 25 days in December, I’ll enter your name into the cauldron for a drawing to win a haunted holidays prize pack.
No purchase is necessary for any of the upcoming contests, but you must be following my blog and be friends with me on at least one of my social media pages (listed below) for a chance to win! Please see official contest rules for more details.
I wish you a season filled with amusement, inspiration, love, and joy. Please be safe and stay healthy. Remember to take some time for yourself, relax and recharge, so you don’t burn out or lose your damn mind by January.
Happy October! After starting late this Halloween season, I’m now ready to post the schedule of this year’s 31 Days of Halloween Celebration. The theme this October is dystopian Halloween. With the doomsday clock ticking down, it’s probably way past time to think about how humankind plans to survive the apocalypse, in particular, how we’ll preserve our traditions and holidays, like Halloween.
Part of the month, we’ll have some fun with the dystopian Halloween-horror theme, but I have decided to mix in some good old-fashion Halloween traditional themes as well, cuz, I just love talking about those Halloween memories.
Have a safe and happy Halloween season!
31 Days of Halloween Schedule
Monday Macabre Mondays are always dedicated to Haiku, but every Monday in October we’ll explore a dystopian Halloween.
Tuesday Terror Every Tuesday, I’ll share my favorite scary movies that I believe make great Halloween season viewing.
Wicked Art Wednesdays Every Wednesday, I’ll share some spooktacular Halloween art with an apocalyptic twist. I might even post some my own original Halloween pencil stencil art.
Throwback Thursdays Preservation of Halloween traditions is important for several reasons. Every Thursday, let’s explore the origins of some Halloween traditions and muse over whether these traditions might survive the apocalypse.
Friday Fright Nightcaps Ghosts aren’t the only ones who like to get sheet-faced on Halloween. Check back every Friday for Halloween season-inspired cocktails.
Sinister Saturdays In the past few years, Sinister Saturdays have always been dedicated to food and Halloween recipes. The problem was, besides my being the worst cook in America, people are simply reluctant to let you share their recipes online, even if you give them complete credit and link back to their website. So, in the true spirit of Sinister Saturdays, we’re just going to let the demons loose that day and see what they come up with.
Poe Sundays This year’s tribute to the master of macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, will feature my thoughts on the best Poe adaptations on film.
Welcome back ‘Ber months! It’s the official start to the Halloween season. This month’s theme is Halloween Memories.
2022 Halloween Memories Bucket List
The holiday season is all about perserving traditions and making memories. Halloween and falltime is the most joyous time of year. There’s less stress and a focus on personal fulfillment, as opposed to Thanksgiving and Christmas where catering to the needs of family and friends takes priority. During Halloweentime, you are doing fun things to elevate your own mood, decorating and putting your own creative spin on things, and finding a spooky costume to entertain your inner child, and ward off evil spirits, of course! That doesn’t mean we are selfish beings or ignore family and friends. Far from it! We include them in our celebrations! We inspire them to tap into their own creavity and find happiness within by making great memories of their own. When it’s all said and done, no one remembers the cool stuff they bought or didn’t buy because they couldn’t afford it. It’s memories of going places, seeing things, meeting good people, and feeling the joy, inspiration, and love that Halloween lovers bring into our lives. Don’t underestimate how much the tiniest act can last a lifetime in our brains and drive us to experience that kind of joy again and again. Be kind and patient with one another. Do your part to protect the earth from climate change. Recycle, reuse, and conserve water and energy.
To all the creatives, the artists, bloggers, decorators, filmmakers, retailers, writers, my fellow members in the Samhain Society, and everyone in-between, I bid you a spooktacular season. You keep those fires burning all year long and finally get to see payoff during this season.
Happy Halloween 2022!
So, make good memories, everyone. Have a great fall and Happy Halloween!
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