So everything is turning orange....

So we are coming up to Halloween - it will actually be my second since moving to the US but I have to say this English Girl is still amazed how the Americans really do take this event to their hearts.  In England, kids of course dress up and play trick and treat on neighbouring houses on All Hallows Eve, but nothing prepared me for the extent of the American love and embrace for everything Halloween related.  Maybe it's because it is described as the first of the of the three big "holidays" that gets them all excited - although the holiday tag tricks you as amazingly for America there is no actually public holiday (a.k.a day off work) attached.   

Seriously - the build up to Halloween is like the English greeting card's assault on Christmas beginning in early September.  For nearly two months now we have been orange tinted, pumpkins adorn every store front, whole Halloween stores open up dedicated to the provision of Halloween costumes, toys, tricks and every Halloween related treats you can imagine.  "Pumpkin Patches" appear -for kids to actually go and choose their own pumpkin right from the earth or any other vacant lot - my favorite being on an disused car sales lot on Wilshire.... Grocery stores import every size shape and style of pumpkin known to man and all pre-packaged cakes and biscuits seem to have orange icing or be shaped like and believe me everything from a latte to pies are all flavoured with pumpkin.  And try to find a pack of snickers bars or any other treat that has not been reduced to "funsize" packaging for the "treaters" is to be honest exhausting!

Medusa at the 2009 Parade

That's not to say this English girls hasn't got caught up in the frenzy - as anyone who knows me knows I am partial to a spot of fancy dress like the next woman.  And with that in mind - The Annual West Hollywood Fancy Dress Parade is it has to be said awesome - the creativity and thought that goes into the costumes which are paraded up and down Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood is a definite sight to be seen and probably where this English Girl will end up this years Halloween's evening too.  Although after last year's choice of costume had many random women stranger asking my better half (who was dressed as Zorro) for pictures with him every two minutes - I may relegate his costume to a more conventional zombie one.....!

Hope to see you there - Just don't even think about giving me another slice of pumpkin pie.