I don't think my friends could get any cuter.

Such fun, such fun. Now, on to some last minute homework.

A downtown search for artsy Austin cows, a caramel apple crepe & black coffee, my hundredth little exploration of a certain haunted hotel, the first monthly SUW brunch in the beautiful hill country, Saturday evening dinner at Whole Foods, & late-night girl talk in my favorite bookstore.

I know what you're thinking. I must not be a true Halloween fan if I don't just love all of the mind-numbing shopping, expensive accessories, and endless hours spent piecing together fabric to produce something original that will be worn for one night only. Right? But I do enjoy all of that! Well, sort of... In, you know, small doses that are few and far between. Seriously though, as much fun as it is to become someone else for a day, the whole process of creating a character is kind of my least favorite part about the spine-tingling holiday. Especially since I don't really have a creative bone in my body. Rather, it's all of the simple stuff—the black and orange decorations, the scary movies, the ghost stories, and the haunted houses—that I tend to revel in come October. Heck, I could spend the 31st at home in my pajamas eating Candy Corn and watching Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel and still be completely overjoyed. All Hallows' Eve is about appreciating the small things, people.)

But I digress. The particular look I'm going for was rather simple to create, and with the help of my mother (who is an expert at bargain shopping) I was able to find most of it at Goodwill. Score! Instead of immediately giving away my secret, however, I'm curious to see if anyone can guess which spooky character I'm going to be dressing up as. My five clues should make it pretty obvious. But bonus points if you can guess after the first or second!

This character...

1.) can be seen in an old black-and-white television series and a few movie remakes (of which I'm more familiar).

2.) has a pale complexion, long dark braids, and a grim expression glued to her face.

3.) owns a headless Marie Antoinette doll and adores her pet black widow spider, Homer.

4.) was named after a line from this poem.

5.) comes from a family so kooky that they have their own theme song.  Duh-duh-duh-dum. Snap, snap.

You've got it now, I'm sure. Either way, the answer will be revealed tomorrow!

After arriving in Houston last night and catching up with my parents over a glass of wine, I finally convinced them both to sit down and watch Hocus Pocus with me. (It's October, after all.) As cheesy as this movie is, I'm pretty sure it's one of my all-time favorites. I just love the film's horrific '90s fashions, hilarious Halloween humor, and beautiful autumn-esque shots.  With a plot that revolves around three resurrected witches, it only makes sense that it would take place in Salem, Massachusetts, the so-called Halloween capital of the world (or one of them, anyway). Which got me to thinking—why on Earth haven't I been there? I seriously don't think I'd feel more at home than in a place where they celebrate my favorite holiday practically all year round. Talk about Halloween Heaven! Not to mention, Salem actually has four seasons instead of two. As much as I talk about loving autumn, I don't think I've ever even witnessed a real one. (Thank you, Texas.)

Yep, I'm sold. Salem is next on my list of cities to visit in the United States! What about you? Would you ever be interested in exploring this bewitching city?

Photos via Wikipedia, Wallpapers 5, & Jeff's Photo Collection.

Cold metal benches on afternoon strolls. Black cats and jack-o'-lantern packed porches. The whispering of wind through the trees. Childhood memories and silent reveries. A warm mug of coffee at dawn. Eerie graveyards and a red Harvest Moon.

These thirty-one glorious days are dedicated to remembering the brave women who fought a hard battle, and encouraging those who continue to fight. It is the perfect time to buy tart apple cider by the gallon, celebrate the people who inspire us, and pray for hope where none can be found. Attend football games in oversize sweaters, light a bonfire and roast marshmallows until your tummy's content. 'Tis the season for dreamers to make themselves fly and lovers to let themselves fall. October is the promise of certain familiar feelings that comfort a lonely heart, the foreshadowing of stressful weeks followed by many well-deserved breaks, and a testament to the compelling inner workings of our imaginations. It is so many adjectives, a whirlwind of contrast: strange and beautiful, mysterious and lighthearted, dark and colorful. Orange, red, yellow, brown.

October is all of these things and more. But most of all, October simply feels like home.