From the Front Porch: Spooktacular Ways to Celebrate Halloween
Hello from the front porch, sweet friends.
Welcome to the Spooktacular Ways to Celebrate Halloween edition of this weekly series.
Thanks so much for sharing your day with us.
How has your week been?
Recently, I decided on a whim to get bangs again.
My hair is mostly filled with wild, chaotic curls.
So, I’ve basically had the same hairstyle for decades.
While it worked fine, I was ready for something different.
And after looking at far too many pictures of middle-aged women with curly hair, I finally settled on something I thought would be easy to maintain.
I brought the photo to my hairstylist and asked her for advice.
“Let’s do it,” she said.
The first part of the session went great.
I loved the length of my bangs and how she had them framing my face.
Then she got out her Dyson and attached the straightening comb.
After that, it was an anti-frizz attachment.
And by the time she finished, I no longer looked like myself.
Every strand was uncomfortably straight.
Honestly, my bangs were the only thing that even looked remotely like the picture.
But instead of freaking out, I knew I had my own back.
So, I confidently left the salon knowing I could fix it in a way that felt more like me once I got home.
I also learned a very important lesson in communication that day.
I share this simple example because we’re entering the holiday season soon.
A season of expectations that can feel wild and chaotic.
So, as we ease even further into the month, I wanted to remind you of specific ways you can have your own back…
- Know your values
- Set boundaries and tune out the noise.
- Trust your ability to make decisions.
- Show up for yourself in the same way you show up for others.
- Keep your promises to yourself by following through and doing what you say you’re going to do. Your goals and dreams are important!
- Stay objective and open-minded by using facts, not opinions, if you fail. Learn from the experience, pick yourself back up, and pivot with purpose.
- Develop supportive strategies for managing challenges and setbacks.
- Celebrate your achievements
As master life coach Tonya Leigh conveys, “Having your own back means being in service to your future self. So don’t keep showing up in a way that doesn’t serve the future you want to create.”
As always, I’ll be cheering you on.
A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…
Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:
- There are so many cozy details in this San Fransicso home from designer Heidi Callier.
- Don’t miss this charming home by designer Amber Lewis!
- Step Inside Jennifer Garner’s California Home (via AD on YouTube)
- 13 Dark Academia Decor Ideas (via Martha Stewart)
- This video, Light Academia Interior Design Style via Meghan The Wild on YouTube, was a fun watch too.
- One of my cousins sent me this post via Tampa Bay 28, which feels equally spooky and fun-3000 carved pumpkins!
- How an ordinary backyard became a festive Halloween-inspired retreat (via Better Homes and Gardens)
- Also, one of my girlfriends sent me this link via Relaxing Jazz Rhythms on YouTube, and it’s a good one. Especially if you want some ambience while you’re writing, reading, or relaxing.
Seasonal Inspiration:
- Simple Ideas for Celebrating Halloween at Home (via My French Country Cottage)
- This Witch’s Tea Party via Sage Hill Cottage is so pretty you almost forget it’s Halloween-inspired!
- 13 Chic Halloween Decor Ideas (via Camille Styles)
- Fall Pumpkin Carving Tips (via The Scrap Shoppe Blog)
- I sent this post, How to Create a Halloween Dessert Board via My Sweet Savannah, to one of my sisters for the littles, and they loved it!
- 36 Halloween Desserts That’ll Thrill Everyone at Your Holiday Party (via Delish)
- 50 Spooktacular Treats to Make With Your Kids (via The Everymom)
- Sugar and Charm has so many fabulous ideas for Spooky Season; it’s truly hard to pick a favorite.
Health and Wellness:
- How to Be the CEO of Your Own Life (via Intelligent Change)
- 5 Subtle Signs It’s Time to End a Friendship, According to Experts (via Self)
- What to Do When You’re Feeling Uninspired (via Brighton the Day)
Makeup, Style and Travel Inspiration:
- 31 Halloween Costume Ideas (via The Everygirl)
- 65 Halloween Makeup Ideas and Tutorials (via Cosmopolitan)
- 29 Best Fall Festivals and Fairs Across the US (via Country Living)
- These 17 Harry Potter Inspired Airbnbs (via Pure Wow) look like fun, and I love the elegant and moody vibes at Hotel 1928 too.
Encouraging Words…
If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog or the Archives Lately, Here’s a Peek at What We’ve Been Up To…
DIY Framed Lunar Butterfly for Quick and Easy Halloween Decor
Dollar Tree Glass Glitter Pumpkin DIY
Quick and Easy Halloween Trees
How to Create a Spooky Curiosity Cabinet
Quick and Easy Last-Minute Halloween Ideas
Shopping Notes…
(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
- Body Suit (35 colors to choose from depending on size; I sized up one, so be sure to read the size guide carefully)
- Banner (love that this is compact enough to store easily yet festive enough to use throughout the house)
- Button Down (23 patterns to choose from depending on size; I saw a lady wearing this at an event and it was cute)
- Candle (13 scents to choose from)
- Slippers (8 patterns to choose from depending on size and would be cute in Boo Baskets)
- Belt (17 styles to choose from and I love that it can be worn for other occasions too)
- Polish (this would be fun for Spooky Soirees and festive parties)
- Bat Skirt (3 colors to choose from depending on size, would look great with the mockneck shared above too)
- Pumpkin PJ Set (gifted these in a Boo Bag and they were a hit)
- Face Freckles (have and love)
- Skirt (have and love in black; it’s so easy to dress up)
- Similar Stamp Set (such a festive way to dress up Halloween cards and place cards )
- Mask (have and love the collagen version and PDRN versions)
- Shirt (other colors to choose from depending on size and great if you want to feel festive without dressing up in costume)
- Similar Tablecloth (4 colors to choose from depending on size)
- Gold Pumps (8 colors to choose from depending on size; I wore the silver version to my birthday dinner)
As always, we hope your weekend is peace-filled and relaxing. We can’t wait to see you back here next week!
Many blessings,
CoCo
ha ha We definitely had a fun night celebrating the spooky house with them. I’m usually not into Halloween but those cuties wore me down something fierce, scar tattoos and all 🙂 Hugs, CoCo
You are always filled with so many great ideas! I can’t wait to see the new haircut. I have finally started leaving the salon with my hair wet instead of them fixing it. I always have to come home and re-wash and fix it anyway. They charge less when they don’t dry it and fix it too!
Oh my gosh, Susan, I had no idea! It’s so hard having curly hair sometimes because everyone wants to try and straigthen it. I love curly hair though. It’s so full of life! Thanks so much for the salon tip and hope you have the best weekend. Big hugs, CoCo
Happy October, CoCo!
I totally know what you mean about the haircut. My beloved stylist accidentally cut my hair too short last May… it hadn’t been that short since I was a kid in the 1980’s! Then she styled it–and both of us were kind of horrified. And then she said, “Let me fix it,” and she styled it like I’d actually wear it. Phew! And it turned out to grow into the best haircut I’ve ever had, but, boy, those were some terrifying moments!
Also, thanks for the inspiring quote (I’m going to print it for my home office). Also, that jazz YouTube is going to be so cool on our first ever big TV. Thank you! And the tulle skirt links/Halloween freckles are just what I need to finish off my own Halloween costume
In short: as always: YOU ROCK.
I think we under rate having our own backs. So I was particularly happy to read this post. I bet your new haircut looks fantastic- once you got home and fixed it to your liking. I’m so impressed with how you handled the situation! Love all the Halloween links you shared. So much inspiration!
Hi CoCo! You’ll have to share a pic of your bangs! That’s a huge change for a lot of people, so I hope you like them! Did you know I’m a retired hairdresser of 35 years! Thanks for the tips on how to have your own back!