
I’m pleased to be a co-host this month along with the lovely Nancy Gideon, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre.
Happy Halloween! Stop by my blog October 5-26 for a $20 gift card giveaway as part of the Howl-o-ween Giveaway Hop hosted by The Kids Did It and Mommy Island.
Do you like to dress up for Halloween? I haven’t in years, but I found a cute set of cheetah ears, bowtie, tail, and face stickers to accompany my cheetah shirt and black skort. (My inner cat lover will be so happy dressing as a big cat!)
One year I dressed in this carrot costume, and it became my Twitter and Blogger avatar. (Random!)

As the family story goes, my mom (an avid sewer) asked which silly costume my sister wanted, and she replied, “Carrot.” Then my mom sewed this easy felt + yardstick + wire hanger creation, and it was a hit!
October 2 question – Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What’s your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.
I’m not a horror fan, but two movies come to mind. One is The Changeling, which traumatized me as a child. As an adult, I loved the mental health aspects of The Sixth Sense.
Novel in Progress: Low Water 23,500 / ~85,000 words
I grew up before Halloween became the monstrous commercial fest it is today, so I don’t celebrate it. But it sounds like you’re having lots of fun! Thanks for co-hosting today.
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Certainly a hallmark holiday, Jemima. Happy writing to you.
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It’s cool your mom made a carrot costume. I don’t usually dress up but I now have two friends who have Halloween parties, so I have to pull together a costume. I’m going as a hippie this year.
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And thanks for co-hosting with me this month.
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Sometimes it’s annoying to have to come up with costumes. I hope the parties are fun, Natalie!
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Sixth Sense – good choice.
I like your carrot outfit.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
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Thanks for your tireless work to support authors, Alex!
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The 6th Sense was good. Automatic double earnings, since it made you want to watch it a second time.
Cute costume. Thanks for co-hosting.
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Yep, I was totally duped! I hope the younger generations get to watch it without spoilers.
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Hey fellow co-hosty!! Halloween is my go-to holiday! I have boxes of decorations, dozens of spooky music CDs, and a shelf of scary movies that we go through every year. Yes, I am a Halloweenaholic and not ashamed of it.
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Thanks for co-hosting, Nancy! Hope you 2024 Halloween thrills and spooks you!
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What a costume! I’m a geek teacher so always wore a Virus costume for my tech students. That’s it, though! Thanks for co-hosting with me!
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Sounds interesting, want to share a photo? 😀
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I selected The Changeling, too! Such an effectively creepy film.
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Hey–twinsies! Very creepy, especially for a 9 year old girl watching it. 😮
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This year I’m dressing up as my husband, the lumberjack. Just not sure what I should put on my head. A balaclava? It may be cold. Happy IWSG, Jennifer. Your costume is adorable.
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Hey Joylene, you’ll have to go extra with the costume if you’re dressing up as the hubs. That is a conundrum about what to wear other than the plaid shirt. Happy IWSG!
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I forgot about The Sixth Sense until I read your post. It was a spooky film. Love the costume! Thanks for co-hosting today.
https://substack.com/@cleemckenzie/p-149546624
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Thanks for stopping by, C. Lee. I’m remembering more ghost stories from visiting blogs today.
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Thanks for co-hosting this month. I adore your carrot costume. I dressed up as a pumkin once, but I don’t think it was for Halloween. Changeling stories in general are creepy and that movie was unsettling. I really enjoyed The Sixth Sense.
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Thank you, Toi! I try to explain my bizarro Google and Twitter avatar now and then. A pumpkin sounds like a cute costume!
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Love the carrot costume! I dress up sometimes. My go-to is either a black cat or a witch. I have the costume pieces, and I like doing the make-up. Time to put out the Halloween decorations!
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The witch is a great costume every year. I’m glad Wicked has let us see more of the witch’s perspective in life!
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That carrot outfit is amazing! Someone spoiled the ending of The Sixth Sense for me before I got the chance to see it. It’s a great movie, but I feel like I never got the chance to experience it properly.
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That is a huge bummer someone let the cat out of the bag (or the ghost out of the closet), J.S. Very rude!
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I wasn’t sure what your costume was until you say it. I didn’t see the green leaves at the top too well. But it’s cute. I saw the sixth sense and it was a bit scary me but mostly because of the ghosts.
Have a lovely day.
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Ha ha, you probably just saw an orange blob! Hope your day was great!
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The Carrot costume is wonderful!
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Thank you! 😀
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Used to dress up for a Halloween party one of my husband’s colleagues threw every year, or for an evening of giving out candy and eating soup at the home of another friend. I haven’t done either for several years.
I absolutely don’t watch scary movies, and I’m pretty reluctant to do scary books. I don’t even really like to read thrillers. I guess I want more soothing stories!
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Occasionally I’m up for a scary book or movie, Rebecca, but I prefer tamer stories most of the time.
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“The Sixth Sense” was a good one with all the thrills.
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Adventures in Audio: Recording and Publishing Audiobooks
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Thanks for stopping by, and Happy writing, Ronel.
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Thanks for co-hosting #IWSG this month, Jennifer. Your choice of spooky movie, The Sixth Sense, is one of my favorite movies because of the surprise ending (and Bruce Willis!) My all-time favs for storytelling are the chicken skin tales of marching spirits and ghostly appearances in Hawaii.
https:/gail-baugniet.blogspot.com
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Bruce Willis nailed that role, and the surprise ending was breathtaking.
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My grandmother used to make me costumes all the time. Then after I moved across the country from her as a kid, we’d just make up something with what we had in the house. While I’ve done a few costumes, I’ve only had a couple store bought, even as an adult. Not sure I’ll dress up this year, but we’ll see.
http://thewarriormuse.com
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It seems much easier to find a “store-bought” costume online these days. Sounds like your grandmother and my mother took care of us through their sewing and craftiness!
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I don’t think I’ve seen The Changeling. I’ll have to look that one up! @samanthabwriter from
<a href=”http://samanthabryant.com“>Balancing Act</a>
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Get ready to creep yourself out! Or maybe it’s not actually that scary (I watched it in the theaters as a 9 year old.)
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When I retired in 2009, I had been managing a Halloween costume company for 19 years. When I was done there, I was done with Halloween for the most part. I used to be into it when my kids were little but since they are grown and gone, I just am not into Halloween.
One year I did dress up as a broccoli stalk. No one knew what I was though so I had to keep explaining.
Lee
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A broccoli stalk, LOL. You must see the recent SNL skit about Spirit Halloween stores!
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Thanks for co-hosting this month! So, I love all things Halloween and usually dress up in some capacity. I also have tons of Halloween themed socks, shirts and earrings to celebrate most of the month leading up to the day. This year I plan to be a witch to accompany my daughter who is being a black cat. I love your carrot costume though- giving me ideas for next year!
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Sounds like a fun mother-daughter costume! I hope you enjoy the entire Halloween season. 🙂
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Your carrot costume is a classic, Jennifer. And what a great movie “The Sixth Sense” was. Thanks for co-hosting today.
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Thanks, Louise! That was a stellar acting performance by Bruce Willis.
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Love the carrot costume! My son wore a box one year! Haha.
OMG! Sixth Sense is a really good creepy movie! Happy Spooky Season!
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A fellow student wore a box shaped as one of those small milk cartons with a cutout for his face and writing, “Have you seen me? Call this number.” (Not sure if you’re old enough to know that milk carton reference!)
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Thanks for co-hosting!
I like dressing up for Halloween too though I’ve never had the chance to until recently. I remember my first Halloween costume. I was around four to six years old and went as Wonder Woman. Ever since then I haven’t dressed up or been able to celebrate Halloween like I wanted. Grew up in a home where Halloween was not celebrated because of religious issues. And by the time I went off to college and could’ve dressed up for it, I thought I was too old for it. I don’t know what made me decide to dress up as Peggy Bundy last year. But I was excited about it and went for it. And I discovered something too. It’s fun giving out candy. But it’s even more fun giving out candy while dressed up in a Halloween costume too.
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I’ve heard of many families who eschew Halloween due to religious beliefs. But I agree, it’s special to participate fully in an event; to go all-in.
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Thanks to you and the others for co-hosting! Yes, “The Changeling” is one of my favourites too! I’ve seen it at least four times. I’d like to purchase it on DVD but haven’t been able to find it in stores. I may have to look online.
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I would like to see it again as an adult, Steven.
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Hi,
I am not a fan of Halloween, but I love your costume. You look nice in it. I am not a fan of scary. Poe kind of game me an excuse not to ever watch such films or read the horror genre.
Thanks for co-hosting.
Shalom shalom
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Thanks, Pat. Let’s stick to romance!
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I’m sure, as a carrot, you did not have any duplicate costumes wherever you went. LOL.
Sixth Sense is an excellent choice!
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Ha ha! Very true.
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I watched The Changeling way back when I was babysitting. That was a great movie. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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I’m babysitting my 6-year-old niece right now. 🙂
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Love the carrot costume! I’m usually a gothic vampire. Put on a fun costume dress, lots of overdone makeup, a veil or hairpiece, and I’m good to go.
Congrats on your writing progress!
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Sounds like a fun costume, Janet. 😀
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Great costume! I well remember seeing The Sixth Sense at the cinema, but never felt a need to watch again after knowing the ending. It’s a good pick though.
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I think I might have watched it one more time, years later, to see the clues I missed. But it’s so sad!
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Hi Jennifer,
I’m not keen on horror or terror movies or books. I do enjoy suspense, if it is face paced. Living in Mexico for over two decades, I’ve come to appreciate their local custom of “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead). This tradition is all about remembering family and friends that passes.
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A rich, meaningful tradition, Lynn.
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I really enjoyed The Sixth Sense, the ending was unexpected!
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What a shocking ending, Luciana! 😮
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