Tag: Halloween

Categories
LIFE

STAYING IN FOR HALLOWEEN

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! After three years of finding any excuse to celebrate just about anything at university, it’s safe to say that my days of going out-out for Halloween are well and truly over. In all honesty, I think I found myself tagging along mainly to please others and to avoid being called “boring”. I’m actually so much happier hosting a cosy movie night with some pals (squad ghouls am I right? Sorry, I had to) involving lots of sweets, snacks and spooky decor. There’s no hurried pre-drinks, no sweaty crowds and there’s certainly no queueing for the toilet! I thought I would share my top tips and must haves for the perfect Halloween night in-in.

SNACKS

It’s just not Halloween without snacks now, is it? So be sure to grab some bags of sweet treats for you and your pals. Most supermarkets and places like Home Bargains and Wilko etc. start selling spooky themed goodies during the build up to Halloween. I like to buy a mixture of sweets and chocolate just so that there’s something for everyone! Another nice ideas is a popcorn bar. You can fill trick or treat buckets with different flavours of popcorn and your pals can choose their favourite to snack on during the movies. You can do the same with crisps and dips too! Obviously don’t go filling a whole bucket with salsa unless you want to sweat your way through Annabelle more than the average person. If you have a little hunt around the shops you can usually find some quirky flavours as well as the traditional ones! I risked it and went for Toffee Apple and Cinnamon popcorn and have no regrets whatsoever – it was delicious!

CANDLES

Candles can completely change the atmosphere in any space. I light them all year round but when it gets to Autumn, the scents that start coming out are impossible to resist. I usually have a browse in my local Homesense to pick out a few that I can use throughout the season as well as for Halloween! This year I went for a Candy Corn candle and a Caramel Apple candle, both from DW Home (my absolute favourite brand) and they made the house smell incredible. I believe that the two of them together cost me less than £10 too and they’re pretty chunky! Candles always make me feel really cosy, so they’re perfect for a movie night. If you don’t like using candles (can’t relate) you can always buy some fake battery operated ones so that you still get that warm lighting without the scent or flame!

DECORATIONS

The decorations are probably my favourite part about all festive occasions. I just love putting little bits and pieces around the house to give it those extra touches! You can find so much in craft shops and bargain shops – you don’t have to spend a fortune. I’d recommend getting some plastic spiders, fake cobwebs and other little props to spread around. The great thing about most of these pieces is that you can use them over and over again! I would also recommend purchasing some big bowls or trick or treating buckets to pop the snacks into. I also like to provide something for people to throw wrappers into (unless you want your bin in the room with you). This saves you having to give everyone plates or bowls as they can just grab on the go. It also means you have less cleaning up to do afterwards! This year I used a few letter boards to display some Halloween themed quotes around the house!

MOVIES & BLANKETS

I know scary movies aren’t for everyone. Some people prefer actually being able to sleep at night which is totally understandable. However, I’m personally an eager member of team terrified. I do think it’s important to include something for everyone though. Go for a combination! Something tame like The Nightmare Before Christmas (still pretty creepy actually) usually goes down really well. You can then switch it up to Sinister (bloody terrifying) which will leave you unable to go anywhere in the dark alone for at least a week! Why do we do this to ourselves?! So that you can prepare, it might be a good idea to ask your pals if there’s anything people really want to watch or avoid. Blankets are an essential! Not only might you need something to hide behind but they make for a really comfy set-up. Pop some throws and cushions around so that people can make themselves at home and get cosy! I hosted a Halloween gathering a couple of years ago and I put a basket of blankets by the door so people could grab one on the way in!

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

If you’re looking to turn your movie night into something more special you can always include some sleepover essentials or girls night must haves. I like to offer my pals a face mask as that always makes them feel pampered and relaxed. Even if we’re going to be jumping out of our skin for all evening! You don’t have to spend a fortune on these bits. You get cheap masks in sachets from drugstores or go for something in a tube that everyone can use. If your friends are staying round, consider leaving some essentials out like toothbrushes and toothpaste, moisturisers or chocolate! I would also recommend plugging in some phone chargers so that nobody has to ask and you don’t have to go searching! It can also help to have your Wifi password written down somewhere. I like to use my letter boards for this! Of course you don’t have to do any of these things but I personally enjoy going the extra mile!

Do you prefer going out-out or staying in-in, like me? Let me know in the comments! I’ve put links to all of my social media down below and I’d love it if you would come and say hi!

N xxxx

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Categories
BEAUTY MAKEUP

MAKEUP REVOLUTION: FOREVER FLAWLESS HAUNTED HOUSE PALETTE REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! I’m back with another review of a product in Makeup Revolution’s Forever Flawless range; the Haunted House Palette! As soon as I saw that this was being released, I practically threw myself into Superdrug to get my hands on it! I love Halloween so a spooky themed palette is just too good to resist. Let’s see what I thought of it shall we?

Read my review of the Forever Flawless Optimum Palette here!

PACKAGING & PRICE

Made from tin, the packaging is the same as the other palettes in the Forever Flawless range. I just love the design with the creepy mansion and the moon, it looks amazing. I also love the raised metallic red font on the front too! How much is it? The Haunted House Palette retails at £10 which is a great price for 18 eyeshadows! Where can you buy it? You can get hold of the Optimum Palette from Makeup Revolution’s website itself or through Superdrug (which does student discount and has a point system too).

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Inside the palette, there are 18 eyeshadows: including mattes, shimmers and pressed glitter, as well as a generously sized mirror. One of my favourite things about these palettes is that every shade is individually named INSIDE the palette, with no flimsy plastic sheet in sight! It makes life so much easier when writing reviews and recommending shades to people. In terms of the colour scheme, the palette features lots of warm toned hues to create smoky eye looks for some Autumn and Halloween glam. There’s such a variety of shades from pops of bright red and orange to dark and rich browns – not forgetting the beautiful golds and coppers that this palette has to offer!

1ST ROW SWATCHES

Attic – Pink-gold duochrome pressed glitter – This shade looked as if it was going to be a blinding shimmer but it’s actually a pressed glitter. It does take a little bit of work to get an intense colour payoff but it’s totally worth it. It works better when applied over a primer. I like to use this on top of the shade “Motel” as it blends so beautifully

Motel – Matte bright pink – I wasn’t expecting to see a bright pop of pink in this palette and I wasn’t sure if it worked with the theme. However, as it turns out it’s one of my favourite shades that they’ve done. Ever! It’s so pigmented, just look at that swatch! It’s also so easy to blend, the formula is honestly giving high-end brands a reason to get back in the labs.

Decrepit – Matte grey/brown with a hint of purple – This shade was so hard to explain hence the length of my description! It’s such a unique shade, I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it before. It has a beautiful mixture of grey, brown and purple hues. The formula is also beautifully buttery, it’s so easy to blend. I can see myself using this to create a lot of smoky eye looks.

Peril – Matte pastel pink – This shade is so flipping dreamy. This is the perfect pink for me and it works so well when layered with “Attic” or “Demonic”. It’s like working with velvet, it’s so easy to blend. It’s a huge yes from me!

Survival – Matte mulberry/wine purple – Another triumph! I’ve been using this shade a lot. It’s a formula that I hope Makeup Revolution sticks to as it’s just the right amount of pigmentation yet the shadows are still really easy to blend. I’ve been using this in my crease along with “Peril” – a combination I fully recommend!

Demonic – Pink/copper shimmer – Dude. This shade is on another level. It’s blindingly good! I barely have to touch it to pick up the pigment and colour payoff is unreal! I don’t mean to be dramatic but this has got to be one of the best shimmers that they’ve done. It has a foil-like texture in that it feels so silky smooth and almost looks wet when applied. I would buy this shade as a single over and over again!

2nd Row Swatches

Petrify – Matte brown with purple undertones – This shade is another quirky one. It’s not quite a purple and it’s not quite a brown, it’s somewhere in-between! It works perfectly in this palette and can definitely be used to create smoky eye looks. It works so beautifully with “Demonic” and “Phobia”.

Phobia – Purple-red duochrome pressed glitter – Here we have another gorgeous pressed glitter! Don’t expect it to be immediately blinding, it will take some patience to build up on its own. I personally think it’s much easier to work with pressed glitters on top of a primer and other eyeshadows. I love that when it catches the light, the red really shows. It’s such a great shade for this time of year.

Creepy – Silver shimmer – This is another unbelievably pigmented shimmer shade. It’s absolutely gorgeous! Imagine this being at the centre of a halo eye look. Good grief.

Monster – Burnt orange – This is the perfect autumnal shade. It’s serving me all kinds of orange/red eye makeup look inspiration! I have absolutely loved using this as one of my day-to-day eyeshadows over the last few of weeks. I have green eyes so anything orange makes them pop! It’s a pressed pigment so the formula is slightly more stubborn to work with compared to the rest of the mattes in the palette. This isn’t an issue for me as it’s still so easy to build and blend.

Phantom – Pearly white shimmer – I thought this was going to be a pressed glitter when I touched it as it just didn’t feel as smooth and buttery as the other shadows in the palette. It turns out that it’s not! It’s actually a shimmer and it’s super pigmented! This is another shade that will look beautiful as an inner corner highlight!

Creak – Copper brown shimmer – Another perfect shade for this season! I can imagine all of the gorgeous soft glam looks that people will be creating with this shade! It’s literally Autumn in a square. If you love the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette, this shade will be right up your street!

3RD ROW SWATCHES

Nightmare – Matte black – Excuse me Makeup Revolution, since when did you nail the matte black formula? I cannot believe how pigmented this shade is! I’m so used to swatching black eyeshadows only to find them really patchy or chalky. This is such a staple for a Halloween palette. I can see lots of people using it to create dramatic smoky looks too! I’ve been wearing it along my lower lash-line and my eyes have never looked bigger or brighter!

Psycho – Silver shimmer – Mindblown! This is such an amazing shade. Everybody needs a pigmented gold shimmer in their collection and here you have the perfect example! It’s not too orange and not too cool-toned . – it’s perfect. This is another shade that I would stock up on if it was available as a single pan!

Terror – Matte warm chocolate brown – This is another staple for any makeup lover. So many looks can be created using a chocolate brown shade; soft glam, smoky eyes, natural every day looks – the list goes on! It’s smooth, pigmented and goes so well with so many other shades in the palette.

Lucifer – Matte bright orange – The perfect pumpkin orange! Despite how bright it is, this shade really works with the theme of the palette. It’s the perfect transition shade to use with “Terror” or “Monster”. It has the same velvety formula as the other mattes in the palette.

Undead – Light brown shimmer – I love this shade! It’s not warm-toned like most of the other shimmers in the palette so it transitions nicely into some silvers and whites like “Creepy” and “Phantom”. It’s nice to see some less “in your face” shimmers here too because not everyone wants to go crazy with their lids!

Buried Alive – Red-copper shimmer – This shade is out of this world. The pigmentation of it literally made me gasp out loud. I’m so impressed with this one! I’ve been wearing this in the outer corners of my eyes with “Terror” and “Monster” and it never fails to impress! So many people have asked me what I’m wearing and it’s this marvellous creation right here!

WHAT DO I THINK?

I can’t actually think of anything that I dislike about this palette. Firstly, for £10 you’re getting a palette that looks and feels at twice the price. I love the colour scheme. At first the bright pops of colour didn’t make sense but after swatching them, I can imagine people creating some incredible Halloween makeup looks with them. The rest of the palette is absolutely perfect for Autumn too, there’s every shade you could possibly need to create a warm smoky eye. If you’re into your reds, browns and purples this is definitely the palette for you. The formula of the matte shades has absolutely blown me away. I was not expecting them to be so pigmented. Honestly, it feels like I’m working with a high-end palette. The shimmers and the duochromes are equally as beautiful and they work even better with a good primer and a wet brush. The packaging is gorgeous too. The design is so original and I think it will be really popular amongst the Halloween lovers! It also feels like a high quality palette as it’s not made from cheap and flimsy plastic.

Get the Makeup Revolution Forever Flawless Haunted House Palette here

Let me know what you think of this palette in the comments! Don’t forget to follow my socials – come and say hey!

N xxxx

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Categories
BEAUTY GLOSSYBOX

GLOSSYBOX OCTOBER 2019: DEVIL – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! The weeks are flying by – I don’t know whether to feel excited or stressed about that?! Either way, it means that it’s time for another Glossybox review! Before I begin, I’ve included some information about what Glossybox actually is, how much it costs and all that jazz below! If you already know all of this, feel free to carry on scrolling. 

*This post contains affiliate links

About Glossybox:

Glossybox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beautifully wrapped boxes containing 5 surprise beauty products. Every box will feature brand new products as well as some cult favourites. Glossybox is fantastic for being able to discover and find out more about new brand and products. There are also lots of benefits from being a member of the Glossyboz community. For example, by participating in suverys and referring friends, subscribers can earn GLOSSYCREDITS to spend on beauty treats. The Glossybox monthly subscription plans start from £10 and there are 3, 6 and 12 month options to choose from. You can create and edit your beauty profile to ensure that you receive products that are best suited to your skin/hair type and perosnal preferences. The boxes are beautifully packagaed, it’s genuinely like receieving a present in the post.

Sign up to Glossybox here (affiliate link)

This month’s box is all about embracing both our angellic and devillish sides. I receieved the ‘Devil’ edit and I couldn’t be happier about it. The sassy packaging and the darker makeup is right up my street. I have dark features so they usually tend to suit me more than pastels and lighter shades do. All of the items in this month’s box are full size which I love. Also, the box itself looks incredible. It was literally like opening a present! I really feel like I’m getting my money’s worth wiht Glossybox.

STYLondon – Velvet Touch Devil Palette – RRP £15

The Devil Palette from STYLondon is basically Autumn in a grid. These colours are absolutely perfect for this time of year. I’ve actually never heard of this brand before, but they’re cruelty free which is always great! The formula of the powders was something I was really impressed with. All of the shades were beautifully soft and easy to apply. They were silky smootth and velvet to the touch (clue’s in the name I guess). I was also extremely impressed how pigmented this palette was. The one thing that I’m not a huge fan of is the packaging. It looks a bit basic and cheap. It has the potential to look absolutely gorgeous but right now I’m just not feeling it. I know it’s mostly what’s inside that counts but sometimes the packaging can really make a difference to the overall feel of a product.

Lord & Berry – Maximatte Lipstick Crayon “Devil Red” – RRP £15

I’ve receieved a lot of Lord & Berry products in various beauty subscription boxes and I’ve only got positive things to say! I was delighted to find the Maximatte Lipstick Crayon in the shade “Devil Red”. It’s at this time of year that I star whipping out all the darker shades in my lipstick collection. I just feel like you can’t go wrong with some red lippy throughout Autumn and Winter. This is such a beautiful rich shade of red. I love that the finish is matte. I actually only trust red lipstick with a matte finishes, otherwise throughout the day they’re justs so high maintenance. Not to mention after a sip of coffee, I look like an extra from The Vampire Diaries. I love that I can also use this lippy as a liner too! It means I don’tt have to carry multiple products around at once. Yes please!

Bubble T Cosmetics – Devil’s Dust Foaming Bath Powder – RRP £4.99

Now I love anything that can make my bath experience that little bit more extra and luxurious. That’s why I practically squealed when I saw the Bubble T Cosmetics Foaming Bath Powder in the October Glossybox. Scented with hibiscus & acai berry tea, this powder smells like absolutely amazing. The whole bathroom smelt like a fruit smoothie and my skin was left smelling even better. I did notice that although it claims to have a foaming formula, I didn’t see many bubbles appearing after I’d poured it into the tub. However, just because the scent was unreal, I will definitetly be purchasing some more sachets of this stuff!

MCoBeauty – Black Eye Define Crayon Liner – RRP £15

This is another brand that I’ve never heard of but I’m glad to have discovered them through Glossybox. They’re actually working with Love Island Australia, which I’m completetly hooked on at the moment. Anyone else? The Black Eye Define Crayon Liner is perfect for me as I flipping love gel forumulas. They’re so velvety and easy to work with! This liner is so beautifully creamy and easy to apply. The pigment is also out of this world, we don’t want patchy liner over here thank you very much. Can we also talk about the fact that it’s got an in-built sharpener? Why is this not a thing that all brands are doing? I think that’s such a fabulous idea. I’m quite a perfectionist when it comes to lining my eyes so I love how precise I can be with this product.

Que Bella Beauty – Plumping Gold Peel off Mask – RRP £2.49

So we all know that here on Nina Louise Law, face masks are something of an obsession. I just can’t get enough of them! Obviously I was over the moon to find the Que Bella Beauty Plumping Gold Peel off Mask inside my October Glossybox! I love skincare that offers plumping and brightening results. This mask is moisutirsing and conditioning because it’s enriched with sodium hyaluronate and organic rose water. It also contains real gold powder – not sure what this does but it makes me feel fancy so I’m cool with that. I like the fact that it’s peel off too. I really feel like that helps to remove dead skin cells and leaves my skin looking and feeling fresh! I will absolutely be purchasing some more of these.

Whittard of Chelsea – Sticky Toffee Pudding White Hot Chocolate

As an extra treat, us Glossies receieved a sachet of Whittard of Chelsea’s Sticky Toffee Pudding White Hot Chocolate. I cannot even begin to explain how good this stuff was, I was actually in shock for a while after my first sip. I didn’t even know flavours like this existed? Upon doing some research, I also found that they do some other crazy flavours; Peanut Butter, Raspberry Ripple and Rocky Road – no you aren’t dreaming. I will definitely be making an order very soon as I simply have to give some of those a try.

Overall, I’m really pleased with this month’s box! We received five full size beauty products that, together, are worth £54.48 which I think is pretty good value. I’ve known beauty boxes have a higher value than that but at the same time, Glossybox go the extra mile. For a beautifully packaged box that contains five products, all of which are full size plus a special treat, that’s already worth a lot to me! Are you subscribed to Glossybox or any other beauty boxes? Let me know in the comments!

Sign up to Glossybox here (affiliate link)

N xxxx

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BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX OCTOBER 2019: REACH FOR THE STARS – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! I’ve been at my boyfriend’s for the last few days and we’ve been absolutely hooked on Prison Break. I cannot believe I’ve never watched it before! Apparently I’m not allowed to watch it unless we’re together so it’s going to be a while until my next hit. However, I came back home to a lovely little Birchbox which I am definitely allowed to enjoy by myself! I cannot wait to share this one with you as it might just be one of my favourite boxes. Ever. Before I begin, I’ve included some information about what Birchbox actually is, how much it costs and all that jazz below! If you already know all of this, feel free to carry on scrolling. 

*This post contains affiliate links

About Birchbox:

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or contracts. In fact, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month plus £2.95 P&P! You can edit your beauty profile on their site to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for years and I still look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve been sent because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the boxes to store makeup in too!

Get £5 off your first Birchbox with this link or just use the code: “Nina Louise” at checkout! (affiliate link)

This month’s box is about pushing yourself you be the best version of yourself. Since coming back from university I have felt like I’m stuck in a bit of a rut. I feel like I’m disappointing people because I haven’t gone straight into a swanky new job and I just miss university life and the routine that came with it. I’ve written all about graduation and post-graduation, so check out this post if you want to know more about my experience. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve really been trying to push myself to achieve something every day, big or small. It’s like this month’s theme was made for me! The packaging is beautiful. I absolutely love the glossy gold stars and moons against the dark blue background. I think this will be a really popular box design with the Birchbox subscribers. Let’s take a look at what’s inside, shall we? RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop.

Ciaté London – Fierce Flicks Eyeliner – RRP £15

I go through phases with black eyeliner and I’m currently obsessed with it. I’ve been absolutely rinsing my stash so I was actually on the lookout for a new one. I normally go for paintbrush style liners but The Fierce Flicks Eyeliner is more of a felt tip style – which is also a style that I’ve used before. The first time I wore this I was absolutely stunned – it literally did not budge. I tried smudging it with my fingers and still, nothing! I have to admit, I do prefer to use something slightly finer but that’s just my preference. It is still possible to create fine lines if you just use the tip of the pen. It’s also jet-black and ultra pigmented so it doesn’t look patchy whatsoever and I don’t have to layer it up. Overall, I think this is a really great eyeliner and I will use it, I just think I’m quite picky when it comes to the style of liner that I use.

Vitamasques – Evening Goggle Eye Mask – RRP £5.99

Now, I flipping love a mask of any kind so I was buzzing to find The Vitamaques Evening Goggle Eye Mask inside my October box. My job means that I spend most days staring at a screen and sometimes that can really take its toll. I’ll end up with aching eyes or migraines in the evenings and that’s where this mask has been a game changer. It contains centella (apparently an amazing healer), amino acids (to strengthen skin) and hylauronic acid (deep hydration). I put this on whilst I was in the bath and it made such a difference. It was very relaxing and my eyes felt better than ever afterwards. I think it just helped to relieve the stress and tension that had clearly been building for a long time. I am a huge fan of this product!

This Works – In Transit Camera Close-Up – RRP £32

I already have a lot of love for this brand and own a lot of their products, but nevertheless, I still enjoy receiving things from them in my Birchbox every now and again. The In Transit Camera Close-Up is a real multi-tasker. It can be used as either as a mask, moisturiser and a primer. Three in one! I tried this out as a primer and within minutes, any redness was reduced and my face looked fresh and bright. There was definitely an airbrushing effect after I’d used it. I love the idea of a product being designed for close-up inspection, not today pores! I’m not the biggest fan of the price tag but then again, the clue is in the name, this stuff works.

GLOV – Moon Pad – RRP £8.90

I was extremely excited to see this inside my October Birchbox. Personally, I barely ever used cotton pads anyway as I tend to use reusable cloths instead. Throughout the year, lots of brands have launched reusable makeup remover pads, which I think is an amazing idea! The reason they’re doing this is that most cotton pads are not biodegradable and are terrible for the environment. One Moon Pad replaces over 400 single-use cotton pads. GLOV also chose some powerful words on their packaging “It’s just 1 pack of cotton pads. Said 7 billion people.” Imagine if everyone were to start using these? It still gets rid of all of my makeup and any dirt or impurities and yet it’s miles better for the environment. Also, you get 5 in a pack for £8.90 which is amazing value! It’s a big yes from me.

Philip Kingsley – Body Building Volumising Shampoo – £19.50

I’ve been using the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer for years and I love it so I had high hopes for the Body Building Volumising Shampoo! It contains cellulose and keratin proteins to help strengthen and condition hair. It even thickens the appearance of each strand! I can imagine that this will be popular with people who have thin or thinning hair. After I used this, my hair was left feeling beautifully soft and smelling amazing. It also gave me some great volume too which is what I was hoping for. My hair looked much fuller and healthier – both of which are always what I’m after when it comes to haircare.

I’m so happy with this box. I think this has got to be my favourite so far! The design is beautiful, the theme is perfect and the products are all fabulous! The value of the products inside the box, altogether, comes to £81.39. I think thats great value! Are you subscribed to Birchbox or any other beauty boxes? Let me know in the comments. 

Get £5 off your first Birchbox with this link or just use the code: “Nina Louise” at checkout! (affiliate link). You can also get a free MAC mascara with the code: “MAC” at checkout!

N xxxx

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Categories
LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS

HOSTING A HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHT

I am fully aware hosting a small gathering isn’t exactly rocket science, so the aim of this post is to show that you can do so without breaking the bank. I’m a student so I know money doesn’t grow on trees around here (I’ve checked).

For a majority of the earlier years of my childhood, my mum used to host the most amazing little Halloween parties for my brother and I and we absolutely loved them. The house would be decorated with cobwebs, pumpkin lanterns and all kinds of sweets and treats and at that age, it was truly magical to come home to. It was something so simple but yet it brought us so much joy.

Halloween Decorations 2003
Some photos from 2003 (what a throwback) of the decorations my mum had on a table in our house.

Whilst reminiscing over those fond memories, I was also surrounded by Halloween vibes in the city that I live in. Nottingham is the host of amazing seasonal and fairground-esque markets, their Christmas one being my favourite (an entire stall dedicated to chocolate covered marshmallows might have something to do with that). This year they have embraced the spooky season which has come with stalls selling hot foods and drinks and even a catapult ride which nobody would go on with me (I am a self-diagnosed adrenaline junkie)

BeFunky Collage-2
A fully kitted out Old Market Square in Nottingham

With all these memories of Halloween shindigs and a fully decked out city centre it would have been rude not to participate this year. So I decided to hop on the Halloween bandwagon and threw a movie night for all my friends. I have been trained by the best (my mother) with seasonal decor being something she practically specialised in whilst I was a kid. I knew where to go to find the right stuff and luckily it was fairly affordable. Keeping in mind I also asked for small contributions as I was putting on quite the spread for everyone.

I mainly shopped in pound shops for decorations (if this doesn’t scream student budget, I don’t know what does) and I couldn’t believe how much variety there was in them. I’ve written the prices for everything and I’ve grouped together things that were the same price to make it easier to take in the info! I have labelled some things twice deliberately, depending on what photos they feature in.

PIC 1
TABLE 1

Poundland – Lenticular Photo Frames £1, Large Chocolate Eyeballs (9PK), Casper Candy Sticks (28PK), Casper Marshmallows, and Fruitella Mix – ALL £1

Poundworld – Webbing & Spiders, Chocolate Coins, Orange Serving Tray (2PK), Large Chocolate Pumpkins, Paper Bowl (x 10) Haribo Mini Mix All £1 Cadbury’s Mini Rolls (15PK) £2

Tiger – Black Spiderweb Bowl & Coffin snack holders (6PK) £1 each, 

Sainsbury’s – Skeleton Wind Up Walker £1

BeFunky Collage-12

Poundland – Gel Letter Stickers £1                  

Poundworld – Webbing & Spiders £1

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset
TABLE 2

Sostrene Grenes – Paper Skeleton Cups £1.57 and Paper Ghost Plates £1.39

Poundland – Green Trick or Treat Bowl, Ceramic Handled Tealight Holders (differing designs) All £1

Poundworld – Purple Paper Ghost Cups (far right), Orange Table Cloth, Chupa Chups (in green bowl) & Spooky Straws, Fanta, Coke, Sprite, Table Confetti (4PK) All £1  Swizzels Sweet Pack (also in green bowl) £0.75 Popcorn Holders £0.50 each

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Poundland – Pumpkin Decoration (2PK) £1

Poundworld – Chewitts Vampire Fangs, Black Table Cloth £1

Wilko – Maynards Bassetts Chews (red sweets bottom left) £1.75 – These are amazing

Sostrene Grenes – Skeleton Cups £1.57, Chocolate Foiled Sweets All £0.81 

Tesco– Cocktail Sausages £1, Mini Breadsticks £1, Cheese Twists £0.99 

I hope this post showed just how much you can get for your money whilst also being able to have loads of fun decorating and hosting at your place! Although Halloween has passed it’s still not too late for a horror movie night with your pals and these shops are still selling some of the bits I mentioned and have items extremely similar to this every year so keep an eye open for them. It’s also worth keeping in mind that all of these stores do amazing Christmas bits and pieces too. I hope this was useful to all the party planners out there and for those that love a movie night in. Let me know if you would like to see a Christmas version of this post as I have a similar night planned for the occasion!

N xxxx

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