Category Archives: Lifestyle

This time of the year is always fun because it is the best movie-watching time. Since the weather usually begins to get suckish (I’m looking at you Ohio) there is no better way to spend your time than to curl up in your cozy clothes, grab a warm drink and snack, and watch some movies. Plus the ‘spooky’ season of October has some great movies and having a movie night in really is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. Here is a list of 19 Halloween time movies that I recommend.

Disclaimer: I am not a horror movie fan so don’t expect to see those on here, but my movies choices are just as fun!

Hocus Pocus

One of my favorite Halloween movies Hocus Pocus is a must-watch movie this time of the year. Albeit it totally scared me for the longest time.

2. Corpse Bride

unnamed-13

I didn’t watch the Corpse Bride until maybe junior year of high school and I can’t believe it took me that long. From Tim Burton, this movie is a STOP MOTION picture and visually I think it is stunning. While you may be more familiar with The Nightmare Before Christmas I think I enjoy this one more. So if you have not watched it do so asap.

3. Nightmare Before Christmas

unnamed-14

If you love this time of year but are ready for Christmas to be here this movie is perfect. A mix of Halloween spook and Christmas you can’t find a better movie to add to your Halloween list.

4. Coraline

unnamed-15

For all you folks who enjoy creepy movies this one is for you. Masquerading as a children’s film Coraline takes the cake for spookiest on my list. Ask my brother we wouldn’t even sit through the whole thing when we tried to watch it. I mean, showing buttons into eye sockets, COME ON! I finally stopped being a chicken and watched the whole thing freshman year of college. Totally still creepy but I surprisingly enjoyed it.

5. Twitches

unnamed-16

The first of the Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOM’s) on my list Twitches is great. With young Tia and Tamera Mowry playing a set of twins who didn’t know they had a twin and on top of that finding out they come from a magical realm. Marks all my boxes. Not for everyone but I do love to rewatch it every year.

6. Twitches Too

unnamed-17

You can’t have the first one without the second one. The Twitches are back and debatably better. Same as before totally cheesy but oh so fun.

7. Halloweentown

unnamed-18

Marking the first of the ~~four~~ three films (I refuse to acknowledge the existence of the fourth movie, it didn’t happen, move on already) Halloweentown is fabulous. Another classic DCOM about a family of witches/warlocks who didn’t know they were anything but mortal. Don’t you just love this recurring plot? You know you do. Debbie Reynolds plays eccentric grandma Aggie Cromwell who just wants to spill to the kids who they really are. Much to their mom’s disapproval. Classic cheese. Which, is the best kind.

8. Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge

The Cromwells are back in another adventure to save Halloweentown and this time the mortal realm too! Another one of the movies that scared me when I was little. But how could I not be scared when the mom gets turned into the stereotypical terrifying witch??

unnamed-19

9. Halloweentown High

unnamed-21

To finish off the DCOM’s we have the 3rd installment of Halloween town. This might be my favorite just because it combines my love of this movie with actors from High School Musical. You can’t go wrong with Kelsi (Olesya Rulin) and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) showing up alongside the Cromwells to help open the door to both realms.

10. The Addams Family

unnamed-20

A Halloween classic. I’m sure the Addams Family is on most people’s radars. It’s fun to watch and we can’t forget the fact that my roommate and I got our costume ideas from it last year.

fullsizeoutput_681

11. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown unnamed-22

I. Love. Charlie. Brown. The Peanuts Gang is something I have loved my entire life and I think this one is my favorite of all of them. Linus is in search of the Great Pumpkin and is followed of course by Sally Brown who loves her sweet baboo. Charlie Brown keeps getting rocks. Lucy is standard Lucy and Schroder just wants to play his music. The cherry on top is, of course, Snoopy as the flying ace. 11/10 I can’t recommend enough.

12. Casper Meets Wendy

unnamed-23

I hear what you are saying why not the original Casper with Christina Ricci from Addams Family. Cuz I just like this one better okay. I watched it first because it’s scary but less scary and has Hillary Duff from Lizzie McGuire. My copy is on VHS so if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know I don’t know what will.

13. Edward Scissorhands

unnamed-24

Last Halloween time my roommate and I watched this and we were pleasantly surprised. Young Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp. It is kind of strange but we were entertained so I’m adding it to the list.

14. Harry Potter

unnamed-25

If you want a whole day to cozy up on the couch and watch movies Harry Potter should be your go-to. There are 7 movies to fill an entire day or two. Although I guess they can be a tad confusing since my mom still can’t figure out who any of the characters are.

15. The Black Cauldron

unnamed-26

I forget about this movie because I have only seen it maybe twice but I know I like it. It is the perfect amount of scariness for me when I was little (okay I’m lying I was TOTALLY freaked out the first time I watched it but I digress). If you can find this movie watch it.

16. Hotel Transylvania

unnamed-27

Hotel Transylvania is so dorky but I have a good time every time I watch it. If you want some fun movie time for the whole family watch this.

17. The Haunted Mansion

unnamed-28

A recurring theme this movie scared me a bit when I first saw it. But now I just see it as another dorky Halloween movie. Something fun to watch when you have no idea what to watch. The movie is inspired by the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland so you can almost pretend you are there instead of at your house.

18. Monster’s Inc

unnamed-30

MIKE WAZOWSI! One of my childhood favorites, a movie about the monster’s powering their world by collecting kid’s screams is a perfect addition to the movie list. I also may or may not have won a costume contest by being Boo when I was little and got a Razor scooter as a prize.

19. ET

unnamed-29

To round off the list we have yet another movie that little me refused to watch. ET. My mom was excited to show me, and I was terrified. Especially during (SPOILERS but really you should have seen it by now) the part when the government agents and scientists come and quarantine the house. I like it a lot more now that I am older. It is an 80s classic so really a must-see.

And that closes out my list. What Halloween movies do you like to watch, leave me some recommendations in the comments!

Don’t forget to subscribe to get up to date notifications for the blog

and follow me on // Pinterest // Instagram //

At War with the Squirrels

2 Replies

At War With the Squirrels |Thoughts&Daisies

It seems that there is a theme among college campuses where the squirrels there are just weird. Here in Ohio, we have a TON of squirrels on campus and they can really be strange. Such as being seen eating Takis out of the trash or jumping on your window.

(actual photo of the squirrel that jumped on my window)

I now have begun a war with them. But not in the way you would have thought.

The squirrels’ problem with me is as follows… I have been taking all of their acorns. I know a very strange sentence for someone to be uttering but there is a story behind it.

My mom likes to decorate the household for all and any event. Fourth of July? Red white and blue everywhere. Halloween? There will be photos of Halloween’s past covering the mantel and pumpkins on the dining room table. So for fall, there is obviously also some sort of decor going up. Craft store leaves and candle holders and this year… she wants acorns.

69030ACD-F5EC-448E-8939-9631DC7AE6CB

And since there are not readily available acorns falling from the sky in southern California I have been tasked with shipping them back from Ohio.

The actual conversation went more like…

Mom: “It is too early for fall decor even though it is 100degrees here? I’ve gotta find acorns and pinecones”

Me: “There are a million on the ground in the OHIO”

Mom: “Send them to me I’m on a budget”

Me: “I’ll have to fight the squirrels”

Mom: *ignoring the fighting with the squirrels* “I need a gallon size bag full please!”

And there the war was initiated. Thanks to my mom. I am now the girl who randomly has acorns filling the inside pocket of her backpack. The one taking the time to grab handfuls from the ground. The one who the squirrels stare at with their acorns in their mouths and are not at all happy that some are being stolen.

d5d67365ca486ae8f5f2175ee50c09db a2edd74fd723aea0e99f3040c15ef443

While I did not fill the gallon bag what I have better be good enough. Now both my homes will be ready for fall. Though I am beginning to be doubtful that either one will actually experience fall. (Come on Ohio don’t skip straight to winter again I can’t take it!)

Does anyone else decorate their homes for fall? Have you thought to use acorns?

Don’t forget to subscribe and follow me on // Pinterest // Instagram //

IMG_239FB26BBA9C-1

Trying Escargot

3 Replies

I’m not one to shy away from trying most foods, but something I never thought sounded very appetizing was escargot.

For anyone who doesn’t know escargot is a snail.

Despite my “I’m not going to eat snail” way of life the weekend before school started, things changed.

The fall of my freshman year my mom and uncle came to visit and we had wanted to go to a french place in Cleveland for brunch, but the line was too long. So after 2 years of waiting, we finally went.

Le Petit Triangle Cafe is a french restaurant located in the Ohio City neighborhood outside of Cleveland. It is very popular and always busy for brunch.

For an appetizer, my uncle ordered us the Escargot. They were covered in a parsley and garlic butter sauce with some baguette on the side.

The best way to eat it is to first dip the bread in the sauce and then put the snail on top. To me, it tastes a little bit like mushrooms.

I was pleasantly surprised. I would for sure eat it again.

As my entree, I ordered the ratatouille crepe and added ham.

Anytime I think of ratatouille I think of the Disney movie and how I always had thought ratatouille was thinly sliced meats like salami. Until I realized it was actually vegetables.

It includes béchamel sauce which I had never had but found to be delicious.

The vegetables were the best part of this crepe and kind of wish that I hadn’t added ham to it. I assumed it would be a few cut up pieces of ham but instead, there was more ham in the crepe than anything else which made it overpowering.