November 10th, 2014

Halloween Cocktail Party

Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Last Saturday night, I hosted a little Halloween cocktail party at my apartment for a few close friends. Halloween, both for kids and adults, is half about the junk food, and half about dressing up – so I had to make sure both elements were present at my party.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
I asked everyone to dress in costume, and laid out a spread of sugar and other assorted junk food to celebrate the occasion. There were cookies, candies, chocolate, chips, popcorn, and more.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
When you’re a kid, you have to go door-to-door to earn your stash of treats. One of the many joys of being a grown-up is that you can have as much as you want!
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Another great difference between childhood Halloween and grown-up Halloween is there’s booze. I set up a little mini bar with a gin and tonic station for my guests.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
For those rare birds who maybe didn’t want to leave my party with diabetes, I figured I should offer at least one healthy thing. I saw a cute idea on Pinterest to draw little jack-o-lantern faces on tangerines with a Sharpie, so that’s what I did.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Aren’t they cute?
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
I bought these frosted Halloween cookies at the supermarket two days before my party. While shopping, I was concerned they might go stale before the event, so I checked their expiration date. They wouldn’t have expired for another YEAR. Now that’s spooky!
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
To go with all the sweet things were some salty treats: freshly-popped microwave popcorn and three different flavours of chips – salt and vinegar, BBQ, and original Ruffles.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
And of course, what Halloween would be complete without candy corn? For those of you who don’t have candy corn where you live, you must try them if ever you get the chance, they’re the best.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Candy pumpkins, as I discovered, taste exactly the same!
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
The last thing I served were these “monster bites” I put together. They’re Granny Smith apple slices for lips smeared with Nutella for gums, and white chocolate-covered raisins for teeth. Scaaaaarily delicious, though a bit messy to eat.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Shoutout to Pinterest for giving me the inspiration to make these, as well. (Though the ones I saw online were made with peanut butter instead of Nutella, and I’m-not-sure-what for the teeth.)
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
I skipped the traditional Halloween decorations, like fake cobwebs, spiders, and ghosts, and went with a simple Halloween greeting on my gold framed chalkboard instead.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
As a final touch before my guests arrived, I lit a few autumn-scented candles, like this delicious Cranberry Woods one from Bath & Body Works. (The vase is from the Nate Berkus Target collection, and while the gold has sold out, a similar white one is available here.)
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Not only does it fill the house with a wonderful scent, the flickering light looks beautiful in a room, too.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Monica was first to arrive, dressed as the cutest Little Red Riding Hood I’ve ever seen. I was so happy to see that my guests has obliged me and really gone all out with their costumes!
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Angelika did a fantastic job dressed up as Lisbeth Salander, from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. So much so that it took me a second to recognize her when I opened the door!
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
She even temporarily coloured her hair, added short bangs, and put some fake facial piercings on. That’s the kind of detail I appreciate! (If you want to see my Lara Croft costume, go here.)
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Wendy and Daniel did a cute DIY couples costume they called “Struck by Lightning”.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Despite being electrocuted, they managed to reconcile their differences and hug it out.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Nik and Jennifer did a very original (and very science-y) couples costume too. From what the rest of us could gather, they went as Pluto before and after it was reinstated as a planet. Way to go, Pluto.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Theo dressed up as a very dashing Prince Charming, and Cindy came as Misty from Pokemon.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
She did a perfect job, and even arrived with her own little stuffed Pokemon in tow.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
…Until she found a real-live Pokemon to snuggle with instead.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Nikola brought a Frankensteinian creation of his own: a mix of tequila and pumpkin juice. We all had a taste, and the reactions were not favourable.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
They ranged from what I called “thoughtful dissatisfaction” to utter disgust.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
^ There’s that “thoughtful dissatisfaction” face again.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Once we had all confirmed it was disgusting, we served up the remainder in a miniature pumpkin to use as punishment in a game that required intense concentration.

There was never such a good incentive not to screw up and lose the game.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Yeah…losing really wasn’t fun.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
After we finished that game (and the last of the awful concoction), we transitioned to several different card games, which occupied us for the rest of the night.
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
Halloween Party | Sara du Jour
I hope you all had a fantastic Halloween, too. Let me know what you dressed up as this year in the comments! xx

– Sara

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4 comments

  • Adriana

    wow!! you’re so creative, why I don’t have you as a friend ;A;, really it seemed awesome with food and decoration, my favorite was the “monster bites”!!! and I think even if halloween is over I’ll try and make those! :D, and although it’s in another entry your costume was awesome!!! I didn’t dressed up, but hey maybe next year I’ll try!

    • saradujour

      Thanks, Adriana! I hope you do dress up next year. Let me know who or what you go as! x

  • guest

    thank the heavens for booze.
    AND AGAIN WITH ALL THE CUTE FRIENDS? where do you find them all?

    • saradujour

      Hahaha. Sometimes I wonder if there’s more to life than having really, really ridiculously good looking friends.

      Nah! xx (if you got that reference you win at life.)