We’ve never thrown the children a Halloween party before. When I was still a student, the festivities always seemed to coincide with scary deadlines or revision, making party planning impossible. Izzy and Jesse made do with carving a pumpkin and trick or treating up and down our street.

This year, at the very last minute, I decided a party was just what we all needed. With a week to go, I invited a handful of my favourite people and their little ones, and quickly set about ordering all my party supplies online.

I didn’t have a huge budget, but thanks to my local Poundland, Amazon, some black card and rather a lot of crepe paper, I was able to transform our dining room into something suitably spooky.

I made a batch of spiced pumpkin cupcakes which proved more of hit with grown-ups than children. I also rustled up a friendly ghost cake, the recipe for which came from a book I inherited from my Mother {still available here}. She baked the very same cake for my sister and I at a Halloween party way back in the deepest, darkest 1980s. My Mum set some pretty high standards when it comes to kid’s parties. And to think she did it all without Pinterest 😉

Our guests supplied the other food and we gave each item a gory pseudonym. In reality the slime sandwiches contained nothing more harmful than cream cheese and pesto. The lizard’s eyeballs were merely seedless grapes.

Jesse adored dressing up as Darth Vader, and Izzy relished every moment as her idol, Hermionie Granger. Mr. LA surprised us all by transforming himself into Professor Snape, wandering into the living room brandishing a wand and a very severe look.

I had so much fun watching the children enjoy themselves with their friends. I almost wish we had an excuse to throw a party every week. Jesse clearly shares this sentiment as he’s asked for another one every day since.

How did you spend Halloween? Do you have fond memories of the parties from your childhood?

Love Audrey xxx