Fall Bucket List 2024

Monthly Haiku Corner – July

Happy July! I’m struggling a lot lately. Work is hella demanding. Life’s not going the way I want. I’m disappointing those closest in my life and I have no time to adequately deal with it, to the point that I fear I’m in real danger of never being able to reconcile those relationships. All I can do is manage what’s right in front of me. I keep saying things like, ‘if only I had more time’… but any little bit of time I get though, I do something else.

It’s not time I need. It’s courage to handle the trauma I keep hidden away from the world. Trauma that disguises itself as something else, like Halloween collecting, video gaming, Disneyland trips, TV binges (thank you The Bear, Season 3, for highlighting how broken I am), escapes to the movie theater, craft beer drinking with friends, reading instead of writing, and playing around my little Halloween web blog.

I need to deal with this trauma and that means less time to do the things I love. It’s time. So, as Halloween season approaches, not much else will change here. I will continue to post new haiku once a month, share a movie list, and show up sporadically on social media. I’m not sure yet if I’ll hold a 31 day celebration for Halloween in the same manner that I have in the past few years. If I do, it’s going to look very different. For now, Halloween pre-seaon has arrived with retail stores stocking the shelves with the latest and greatest Halloween trends. I will unpack my old stuff and display it like it was new.

The theme this month is Halloween time.

Halloween dreams
time stands still in your own thoughts
while life slips away

13 Spooky Resolutions for 2024

Happy New Year! I personally never really keep resolutions. Do you? Seems unnecessary to kick off a year making promises that will only bring about future guilt. So, I’ve decided this year, I’m going to have a bit more fun with my resolutions and try to be spookier. Here’s a list of thirteen resolutions that encourages spooky fun, all while still tackling those normal promises for better health and wellness, financial savings, and cleaning up and all that!

May 2024 be a stellar year for everyone!

1. Watch more spooky movies.
2. Read more spooky books.
3. Listen to more spooky podcasts.
4. Clean up your Halloween decorations.
5. Donate or get rid of old Halloween costumes.
6. Learn to make Halloween food recipes.
7. Make a calendar of spooky events for the year.
8. Plan a vacation to somewhere spooky.
9. Plan out a big Halloween costume.
10. Make a Halloween junk journal.
11. Create a digital photo album of Halloween and holiday photos.
12. Learn some spooky spells and practice witchcraft.
13. Write a spooky story, haiku, or poetry.

Monthly Haiku Corner – December

Happy December! Welcome to the haunted holidays. Not everyone is surrounded by family and friends this season. Some spend Christmastime alone. Some don’t celebrate at all. Some people celebrate different traditions due to their beliefs and religion. It’s busy, stressful, and it’s important to be kind during this time. It’s important to be kind to yourself. No one expects you to be a big ball of cheer, just don’t be an asshole. Hurt and anger is contagious. Shield yourself with love, patience, and kindness, but set realistic goals.

Our little ghost has no name, but he wanders the hallways of his old home this December, looking for Christmas cheer. The theme this month is haunted holidays.

Haunted Holidays by Haĺloweenkristy

Haunted Holidays are Here!

Welcome, December!


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.

To join in on the fun, follow me @Halloweenhorrorhaiku on Instagram and @Halloweenkristy on Twitter or r/Halloweenhaiku on Reddit.

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.

Krampus postcard, circa pre-1920

Haiku of the Week

Christmas lights
alone for the holidays
near the edge

Advice from a Jack-o’-lantern

During these difficult and surreal times, I just wanted to give a shout-out to the Halloween community. We all want to be here this Halloween 2020 because it’s going to be quite the spooktacular celebration and we don’t have time for Coronavirus!  So, let’s do our part and help flatten the curve against Covid-19.  I realize I can’t be the only one suffering from a little anxiety and stress, so, I thought I’d repost my Advice from a Jack-o’-lantern. I hope it helps a little.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay home, my friends.

Advice from a Jack o'Lantern 🎃Don’t lose your top 🎃Never let your light go out 🎃Stop worrying about your imperfections 🎃Find your own porch to sit on 🎃Take time to enjoy the view 🎃Greet everyone with a smile
Advice from a Jack-o’-lantern ©Halloweenkristy