Issue 31: Throw Yourself a Stay-at-Home Monster Bash
Your monthly stay-at-home guide with some spooky vibes
Hi Friends,
Spooky season is here, and we can’t help but revel in the thrill of one of our favorite holidays! If your Halloween plans involve staying home waiting for trick-or-treaters, then this stay-at-home guide is just for you. Throw yourself a monster bash with a marathon of Halloween classics and a new candy experience. We even threw in a couple of spooky podcasts to listen to while you whip our recommended wine and candy pairings.
Wishing you all a safe and spooky Halloween!
Marissa & Akina
Halloween Traditions and Superstitions
🎃 Jack-o’-lanterns
Initially, people crafted jack-o'-lanterns to repel evil spirits. This Irish legend has since become a beloved tradition during Halloween.
🍎 Apple Bobbing
Did you know that bobbing for apples is a tradition tied to romance? According to MarthaStewart.com, this 14th-century tradition started in Britain, where women would bob for apples in a race to see who would get married first. If a woman only took one try at biting an apple, then it was an indicator that she and her mate were fated to be with one another; if she took three tries, then it meant that the love would most likely fizzle out.
🐈⬛ Avoid Black Cats
Back in medieval Europe, black cats were associated with witches and were thought of as their right-hand counterparts. As a result, people were led to believe that they were associated with bad luck and that seeing a black cat during Halloween was a bad omen.
We dunno, they seem harmless to us 🤷🏻♀️
📺 Spooky Watch List
Spooky, thrilling, scary movies are needed to complete your stay-at-home party. Whether you’re planning to binge-watch Scream or opting for some Halloween classics, we have a movie list just for you.
🧙🏻♀️Binge the Classics
We gotta love the Sanderson sisters. Nothing says Halloween movie marathon like a little Hocus Pocus followed by Hocus Pocus 2.
Hocus Pocus 1 & 2
The Craft
Halloween
Nightmare Before Christmas
Halloween Town
Beetlejuice
The Exorcist
The Sixth Sense
Scream
See this movie list by Men’s Health for more suggestions.
🐦⬛ Binge a Netflix Series
Marissa’s review: Fall of the House of Usher
There's no better time to cozy up at home and indulge in spine-chilling entertainment. And we've got a recommendation for you: the new suspense/horror series on Netflix, Fall of the House of Usher.
Based on the works of the legendary Edgar Allan Poe, this series brings to life his gothic tales, weaving them into a seamless narrative that will have you on the edge of your seat. The storytelling is both rich and complex, paying homage to Poe's masterful use of suspense while also adding a contemporary twist that makes it relatable to the modern viewer.
I’ve seen my fair share of horror series, but Fall of the House of Usher stands out. After binge-watching the entire series, I can confidently say it's like modern-day Edgar Allan Poe meets Final Destination and Bedazzled. The series masterfully combines the psychological horror and eerie characteristics of Poe's works with the unexpected twists and turns reminiscent of Final Destination, all while weaving in contextual elements of Bedazzled by exploring the question of what you would do for fortune.
🇰🇷🇹🇭 Foreign Horror Flicks
Shutter (original Thai version)
Synopsis: There are two versions of this movie, but in our opinion, the Thai version is scarier. After Tun and Jane unexpectedly hit a mysterious woman while driving, they flee and retreat to their routines in bustling Bangkok, forgetting about that fateful night. Nightmares haunt Jane, while Tun, a photographer, begins to witness spiritual entities in his daily life. Their close friends start to die one by one, and one can only suspect who may be behind it…
Synopsis: A plague of mysterious and violent deaths takes over a small, peaceful village, and rumors begin to swirl, pointing fingers at a Japanese man who moved to the town. This film received 37 wins and 54 nominations.
👻 For the Kiddos
Some of our favorite kid-friendly and spooky Halloween flicks.
Coraline
E.T.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Transylvania
Casper
Harry Potter series
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
🎧 Eerie Podcasts
Too Scary, Didn’t Watch
Akina hates scary movies. Years of watching Japanese horror movies traumatized her, so instead, she just Wikipedias the synopsis. Thankfully, there’s a podcast that does just that and summarizes all the scary flicks you’re too scared to watch.
And That’s Why We Drink
If you’re looking for a little paranormal fun mixed with true crime, And That’s Why We Drink is the comedy podcast you need to add to your list. It’s also won numerous awards, and the co-hosts even have a second podcast called Rituals with episodes on grimoires, astral projection, and the occult swindlers.
🍭 Halloween Munchies
🍷🍫 For the Adult Monsters: Drink & Candy Pairing
We didn’t think to pair candy corn with chardonnay, but according to some of the recipes we’ve found online – it’s worth a shot! We’ve gathered some of the best wine and candy pairings below.
Candy corn + Chardonnay
Staburst + Sauvignon Blanc
Reese’s + Pinot Noir
Sour Patch Kids + Pinot Grigio
Read more for beer pairings.
🥶🍬 For the Kiddie Vampires (and Adult Monsters): Freeze-Dried Sweets from Soyami Treats
Although we’ve never won the golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, we sure did get close! Soyami Treats, a new novel confectionery and sweets boutique, recently opened in Dededo. Owners, Jennie and Stephen O’Kelley, specialize in freeze-dried treats and frozen custard and were kind enough to invite us into their kitchen, where we could see (and taste) all the magic – freeze-dried M&Ms, Jolly Ranchers, melon ice cream bars, and their popular Butterbeer frozen custard.
Jennie and Stephen shared how their middle-school daughter, Zoey, was the mastermind behind their new business venture. Zoey had saved enough money to purchase a freeze-dryer and made the plan to sell candy at her school.
“She would go to school with bags of candy and come back with a wad of cash, and as she was counting her money, she’d ask us, ‘How much did you make today, Mom and Dad?’”
Kudos to Zoey for igniting the entrepreneurial spirit in her parents!
Process of Freeze-Dried Candy & Frozen Custard
🍬 Process of freeze-drying candy
Freeze drying, also known as lyophilization, is a way to remove water from food. The pressure in the freeze-dryer turns the frozen water in food into gas, allowing it to retain the original shape, color, and nutritional value of the food item.
They even applied this process to ice cream! Trust us, the result is mind-blowing! The freeze-dried ice cream retains its original flavor and texture but becomes airy and crisp, creating a unique and delightful eating experience.
🍨 Process of making frozen custard
Their frozen custard is an exquisite blend of richness, creaminess, and just the right touch of sweetness, all enveloped in a silky, velvety texture – pure perfection.
Marking frozen custard is a meticulous process. First, you must prepare the custard base, a mixture of heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt before any customizations occur. Soyami specializes in various flavors, including pistachio, coffee, lemon yuzu, latiya, and their seasonal flavor –Butter Beer Frozen Custard (yes, Harry Potter fans, you read that correctly, and you won’t want to miss out!)
Everything is done in small batches to guarantee flavor consistency and love. And at just $8 per half pint, it’s an offer you can’t refuse.
Pro Tip: Add two scoops of Soyami frozen custard to your espresso or black coffee for an ultra-rich affogato… you’re welcome 😉
Be sure to follow Soyami Treats on IG and FB to stay updated on their menu, hours of operation, and special announcements.
If You’re a Fan of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, then you know what that means….
Leaving this fun recap of all the epic heists below. NINE-NINE!
Later Days 👻
We hope that your week is full of treats instead of tricks!
Don’t forget to follow us on IG for our week to weekend visual diary.