Show Us Your Fangs

Good evening kittens!

I had such a ball revisiting childhood favourite Halloween movies that I thought I'd also share my top picks when it comes to weird and wonderful TV shows!

I just gosta start with Bewitched, as Endora was one of my earliest style icons! Her staunch, wit and bold costumes left its mark on me + to this day, I still frequently ask WWED? My cousin Harriet obviously asks herself that very question too, as she called her firstborn Tabitha! ;-)

We are quicksilver, a fleeting shadow, a distant sound… our home has no boundaries beyond which we cannot pass. We live in music, in a flash of colour… we live on the wind and in the sparkle of a star!

There's a bunch of spooky shows I used to be hooked on as a nipper. The ones that spring to mind are Mona the Vampire (classic) + dun dun duuuun.... CBBC's Jeopardy. Jeopardy follows a group of Scottish students who embark on a journey to Australia to investigate the mystery of a missing couple. Many of them sign up for the trip just for the once in a lifetime chance to go to Australia, but they end up getting more than they bargained for. Laugh all you want, but jeopardy used to scare the living daylights out of me! Don't even get me started on Demon Headmaster + come to think of it, that show about the ghost of a Victorian shoe shine boy trapped in a bottle was pretty fucked up too! 

Jeopardy was so ahead of its time - from a screenwriters point of view, it's so innovative how vlogging played a major role in this 2002 series! 

It would be criminal not to include The Simpsons annual Treehouse of Horror episodes! Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace still does it for me. I wonder what it says about me, that the scariest thing I can handle is groundskeeper Willie reincarnated as a daddy long legs with the body of a bagpipe. Might add therapy to my 2017 resolutions.

It was last year whilst nestled between a yank and a kiwi in a hostel in London (long story) that I finally got round to watching Twin Peaks. What a ride!

I don’t think anybody really knows me.

The episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer hush still gives me nightmares to this day. I'm too freaked out to google image the gentlemen, so here's a photo of Buffy rollerblading instead. #scaredycat

LOST! There's another corker that falls into my top five TV shows of all time. The intricate and eerie plot created magnificent viewing. So many questions, so few answers. Also, the thread of sarcasm weaved in the script always slayed me.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALT!

The episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch where RuPaul guest stars had to make the cut. Did any other British kids collect the Sabrina magazines circa 2002? I still have the 'roll on megadust' that came free with the first magazine somewhere! I can't believe each magazine cost as much as Vogue lol and even came with a purple box to keep each editions lipgloss/eye shadow/glitter in... who needs a mac pallete, ey?

There's also a special place in my heart for Salem.

There were only a handful of English speaking series on Greek TV in the late 90s when I lived there. I distinctly remember how when we lived in a wee village on the cusp of Pelekas called bizatika, my brother and I would race behind our father's car on our scooters up the hill as he would leave for his night shift after mesimeri. It was the same time every day like clockwork and as he drove off to Corfu town in the distance, we would scoot back home as fast as we could, past the web of olive trees until we reached our grand 7ft+ castle-like front door. We'd swing them open JUST in time to catch the opening credits of CHARMED. 

SO MUCH NOSTALGIA!

I saw a few posts on Tumblr recently that made me giggle. If only the Book of Shadows had a spell on how to ruin a fuckboy’s life. Grams come through. Also, Melania Trump constantly looks like Prue from Charmed when she’s using her powers:

I thought I'd end with a classic episode of Twilight Zone which is close to my heart. The episode is called 'Time Enough at Last' and the lasting impression it's had on me reminds me to be grateful and present.

If you're after a wake up call, you can watch the full episode here!

The Invaders is also an incredible episode that pits size vs science weapons. I wouldn't recommend anyone who suffers with claustrophobia to watch it though!

Right, that's your lot folks ~ Happy Halloween!

+ remember...

Friendly Reminder, Chickadees!

I'm The Ghost With The Most, Babe!

Hi scamps,

Here's a bunch of films that I revisit at this marvellous time of year - oh who am I kidding? I've been known to watch hocus pocus mid July in the blazing Greek heat. Anywho, one of my favourite things about Halloween - besides getting to make use of my cloak - is the nostalgia of watching childhood classics.

Here's past me getting my Medusa on at my dear friend Antigoni's flat in Thessaloniki. // March 2016.

#1 HOCUS POCUS (1993)

It only seems right to mention this belter first as I've already watched it twice this week.
The cast, the costumes, the one liners; electric!

You know, I’ve always wanted a child. And now I think I’ll have one ON TOAST!” -Hocus Pocus (1993)

There's a crushed green velvet floor length coat on ASOS at the mo - which, let's be real, is a modernised version of Winifred Sanderson's cloak - that is currently top of my birthday wishlist! It costs a pretty penny but looks so darn cosy ~ should I bite the bullet?

#2 BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA (1992)

There's something so erotic and spellbinding about this adaptation.

I have crossed oceans of time to find you.

The soundtrack is particularity thrilling and my go-to when I'm writing tense chapters and need that little je ne se quois to get me into the zone!

The mastermind behind the decadent costumes was also non other than the legendary Eiko Ishioka(!!) The movies exquisite costumes actually won Eiko the 1993 costume design Oscar ~ I'll be dedicating an entire post to her stellar work real soon!

Speaking of kickass costumes, Isabella Rossellini's in Death Becomes Her springs to mind. I suspect it's where Queen B gained her inspo for her killer 2003 debut album Dangerously in Love! No Friday night playlist is complete without track 1 ;-)

*Honorary mention: the masquerade ball scene in 2004's Van Helsing is also rather iconic!*

#3 REAR WINDOW (1954)

I had to write an essay on this classic for one of my screenwriting modules during my first year of uni and was captivated. Hitchcock's finest ~ one of my top five movies of all time.

#4 THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)

There's a regular at the coffee shop I work part time at (medium americano, hot milk) that is the spit of Anjelica Huston. I have to stop myself from asking how Wednesday and Pugsley are.

You're dearer to me than all the bats in all the caves in all the world. / MORTICIA <3 GOMEZ

#5 SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)

Just added cornettos to the top of my shopping list.

#6 BEETLEJUICE (1988)

The year I first watched this, I insisted on gifting the DVD to all my friends on their birthdays. I, myself, am strange and unusual.

Every day is Halloween , isn't it? For some of us... - Tim Burton

How cosmic was Sophia Webster's AW16 collection directly inspired by this Burton classic, in particular Ryder's character Lydia Deetz. The rich palette, gossamer thin veils, thigh high lace heels, holographic butterflies, crowns... 

I'll actually be working at a sweet shop this Halloween - I know this must be confusing as I've already mentioned that I work in a coffee shop. I actually have three jobs at the minute. I'll be writing a post soon to explain this madness and how three jobs has ironically given me peace of mind. - So as I was saying, this year Halloween falls on a Monday which means I'll be at the sweet shop dressed as a witch on what hopes to be our busiest day of the year! ;-) 

The owner is super open to creative input, so I've been brainstorming ways to draw in the crowd. I'm thinking we could share an easter egg on our social media pages: if you come into the shop and say 'beetlejuice, beetlejuice, beetlejuice' a surprise awaits you.. OOoo! If you have any other dotty suggestions, leave 'em below ~the weirder the better!

#7 THE SHINING (1980)

The opening credits alone give me goosebumps!

The staircase in my old flat in London used to have the same carpet from the movie ~ pretty neat!

#8  CASPER MEETS WENDY (1998)

From one Shelley Duvall classic to another lol. This is hands down the movie I've seen the most out of the line up and yet wildly underrated. When I was little I used to zap my fingers and dream of having an Aunt Velma, Thelma and Zelma of my own. Oh who am I kidding? I still do!

#9 IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (1966)

P.S. If you really are a fake, don't tell me. I don't want to know.

Heart shatters.

#10 THE WITCHES (1990)

I'm 22 and still don't trust women with square-toed shoes.

Double, double toil and trouble!

#11 THE CRAFT (1996)

The first time I was taught about the rule of three: whatever you send out, you get back times three.

#12 THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987)

Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon + Jack Nicholson. The cast (& HAIR) says it all.

#13 KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE

If you're yet to dip your toes into the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli, Kiki is your key to unlock the portal. You're welcome, in advance, for the visual feast that is Koriko! 

My oh my, I think I'm getting a little carried away. Better stop now at lucky 13 ;-) Don't forget to equip yourself with a fridge full of goodies before you dive in. No Halloween movie marathon is complete without devilishly delicious snacks. Shops are stocking more obscure candy this month ~ why not try a matcha kit kat or pumpkin Reese's? Go on, I double dare you!

Here are a few groovy snacks we're stocking at the sweet shop...

I've even created a bunch of limited edition 'witches' brew' pick n' witch!

The bag retails at £2 and features fizzy fangs, black cat liquorice, white chocolate mice, frogs, sherbet lemons (Dumbledore's fave!), a giant snake, a raspberry ripple lollipop - which awfully resembles an eye ball, a mega death sour ball... 

& oh yes, you besta believe I own the coolest mug in the staff room ;-)

Speaking of food, if you have little tinkers, Halloween is an ace time to get them enthusiastic about cooking! Why not rustle up a cobweb cheesecake, witches' brew stew or pumpkin fondue cauldron? I have a tradition of baking a big batch of dark chocolate + cherry muffins the night before Halloween! & when it's past their bedtime, why not sneak a festive bevvy? My favourites are toffee apple cider + this Wychwood Dunkel Fester ale!

If you haven't already guessed by now, this is basically me:

What will you be watching tonight? I will go insane and I will take you with me!

P.S: HOLY SH#T! I almost forgot this masterpiece:

If you're blue

& you don't know where to go to

Why don't you go where fashion sits?

PUtTtTtiIn On ThE RIiIIiIiIITzZZz

If you're in the mood to howl with laughter, Young Frankenstein will do just that.