Halloween Chaos, Purple Cobras & the November Reset

Well, I missed a blog post last week. Again. Between work, motherhood, sports schedules, and the fact that Halloween was rapidly approaching, something had to give. And apparently, that something was my blogging schedule.

But now that the costumes have been put away, or more likely tossed into the guest room, the candy has been thoroughly inspected (for quality control purposes, obviously), and we’ve survived another Halloween, I figured it was time for a little catch-up. Because between inflatable aliens, questionable driving decisions, a spectacular soccer game, and my ongoing mission to eliminate Millennial Grey from this house, there’s plenty to discuss.

Halloween at Casa Coastal

First of all, we could not have asked for better Halloween weather. It was beautiful and sunny, and the temperature was actually pretty comfortable until the sun started going down. Which, considering how unpredictable New York weather can be in late October, felt like a small miracle.

Of course, before we could get into the Halloween festivities, we had a soccer game. Because naturally we did. Thankfully, it was in the morning at our home field, so we didn’t have to travel far. The boys were already itching to get into their costumes and start trick-or-treating the second we got home.

Unfortunately for them, the adults still had approximately a million things to do. Candy needed to be put out. Animatronics needed to be checked. Costumes needed to be assembled. And somehow, we all needed to transform ourselves into our Halloween alter egos. You know, the usual relaxing Saturday.

The Inflatable Costume Situation

This year, both boys decided to go with inflatable costumes, which might have been the best entertainment of the entire day. B dressed as an astronaut being carried away by an alien. His head poked through the astronaut portion, making it look like he was actively being abducted. H went as a giant purple Among Us Imposter. And I cannot adequately describe how hysterical it was watching these two run down the street.

H, in particular, was absolutely ridiculous. Every time he jumped, it looked like he might actually float away. The costume would jiggle and bounce around him as he ran, and we were all convinced he was going to topple over at some point. But nope. Somehow, he stayed upright the entire time. It was like watching a giant purple balloon develop a mind of its own.

Of course, the downside of dressing like an inflatable cartoon character is that apparently you get HOT. So H had several wardrobe changes throughout the day. At one point, he abandoned the Imposter costume for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi. Once the temperature dropped, the purple inflatable made its triumphant return. And by nighttime? He had changed into his New York Rangers jersey and was happily handing out candy.

Three costumes in one day. Honestly, relatable.

Globo Gym Takes Over the Neighborhood

Meanwhile, my husband and I decided to embrace our inner villains and dress as the Globo Gym Purple Cobras from Dodgeball. He was White Goodman, complete with the insults and an occasional dodgeball launched at an unsuspecting neighbor. All in good fun, obviously. Nobody was harmed in the making of our Halloween.

And I was Fran Stalinovskovichdaviddivichski. Yes, THAT Fran. The deadliest woman in the world with a dodgeball. And yes, I committed to the space buns. If you’re going to dress as a ridiculous character from a ridiculous movie, you might as well fully embrace it.

Between the Purple Cobras and the inflatable children, we were quite the sight.

The Great Halloween Street Barricade Debacle

Now, let’s discuss the street closure. If you’ve followed along with our Halloween decorating adventures, you know that our neighborhood gets pretty into Halloween. We have a lot of trick-or-treaters, and keeping everyone safe is a priority.

This year, we received a permit from the town to close off two of our streets to through traffic during trick-or-treating hours. Emergency vehicles and local residents could still access the street, of course. The goal was simply to prevent people from using our neighborhood as a shortcut while hundreds of kids were walking around.

Seems reasonable, right? Apparently, not to everyone.

Most people were perfectly fine with it, and I am absolutely glad we did it. But then there were the drivers who were deeply offended that they couldn’t cut through our neighborhood to avoid the main roads. A few people moved the barricades to get through and didn’t bother putting them back.

Others actually THREW the barricades aside and sped down the street. The street filled with children. The street with signs clearly stating it was closed for the safety of trick-or-treaters. That street.

By the evening, my husband and a couple of our neighbors had to start confronting people who were moving the barricades and driving through. And when someone had the audacity to ask who gave us the authority to close the street?

My husband yelled: “THE TOWN THAT IS WRITTEN ON THE BARRICADES!”

I mean. Sir. The answer was literally right in front of you.

Listen, I understand that road closures can be inconvenient. Nobody loves having to take a different route. But we’re talking about one evening a year, on a residential street full of children, with a town-approved permit. Surely we can survive a minor detour.

Toward the end of the night, once trick-or-treating had started to wind down, we reopened one section of the street and kept the other closed while the neighbors continued hanging out. Despite the occasional barricade-related drama, I’m still incredibly happy we did it. Seeing the kids enjoy Halloween without constantly worrying about through traffic was absolutely worth the effort, and honestly, the neighborhood atmosphere was exactly what I love about Halloween.

Well, minus the people treating traffic barricades like optional suggestions.

Meanwhile, on the Soccer Field…

Before any of the Halloween festivities even began, B had one of the biggest soccer games of his season. We’re getting toward the end now, with only two games left, and the standings are incredibly tight. Our goal is to finish first or second in our division so the team can move up to the top division next season.

The catch? Our final three games are against the three teams sitting above us in the standings, because apparently we enjoy a challenge.

Halloween morning was the first of those three games. And WE WON. Not only did we win, but we handed that team their first loss of the season. The final score was 3–2, but honestly, that doesn’t even tell the whole story. Our boys controlled what felt like 90% of the game. They moved the ball beautifully, worked together, and played like an actual team.

And that’s what I love most about this group. They’re not a collection of individual all-stars trying to do everything themselves. They pass, communicate, support each other, and genuinely understand that they’re better when they play together. Watching that kind of teamwork develop over the course of a season has been so rewarding.

The next two games are going to be tough. Really tough. But I have faith in these boys. Regardless of where we finish, I’m incredibly proud of how far they’ve come. They’ve already been promoted every season they’ve played.

Although, for the record, I would absolutely love that promotion to the top division. Just saying.

My Mission to Eliminate Millennial Grey

Now that Halloween is behind us and soccer season is winding down, I’ve decided it’s the perfect time to start a couple of home projects. Because apparently I don’t know how to sit still. And because I am officially over Millennial Grey.

You know the grey. The grey walls. The grey furniture. The grey everything that seemed like such a good idea ten years ago. At some point, I looked around my house and realized I wanted more warmth, more color, and a little more personality. Last year, I painted our living room a gorgeous deep blue, and I absolutely love how much character it brought into the space.

Now I’m moving on to the kitchen and our entrance mudroom.

A Little Sage for the Kitchen

Our kitchen is getting a very pale sage green. Something soft, airy, and calming that still brings a little color into the room. I want it to feel cozy and timeless without making the space feel dark or heavy.

Think coastal cottage meets classic New York home. Warm, welcoming, and a little more interesting than grey.

An Olive Green Mudroom (and Hopefully Some Organization)

The entrance mudroom, on the other hand, is going a deeper olive green. And this project is about more than just paint. We desperately need better organization. Between soccer, swimming, jiu-jitsu, and everything else the boys are involved in, our entrance has become a dumping ground for sports bags, equipment, shoes, and random objects that apparently have no other place to live.

I’m not exaggerating when I say there are days when the front door can barely open. We have an entire house, and yet, somehow, every sports bag we own needs to live directly in front of the entrance (except for the hockey bags – those always stayed in their closets because they were just massive).

So along with the new paint, we’re adding wall hooks and making the space a little more functional. Ideally, I’d like to be able to open my front door without first relocating half a sporting goods store. Ambitious, I know.

And yes, the never-ending decluttering project is still happening in the background. Because owning a home means spending the rest of your life trying to figure out where to put all your stuff.

November, I’m Ready for You

As much as I love Halloween, I’m actually really looking forward to November. And no, that doesn’t mean I’m immediately decorating for Christmas. I love Christmas. I absolutely adore it. But I also love autumn, and I’m not quite ready to rush past it.

There’s something about November that feels a little quieter. The trees are still holding onto some of their color. The mornings are crisp. Sweaters become a daily necessity. And the evenings practically demand a cozy blanket and something warm to drink.

I’m hoping that with soccer season wrapping up, our schedules might finally calm down a little. Of course, the boys still have their other sports and activities. So when I say calm down, I mean our particular family’s version of calm, which is probably still someone else’s idea of a logistical nightmare.

We have Friendsgiving coming up in a couple of weeks, which I’m really looking forward to. And thankfully, we don’t host Thanksgiving. I love a beautiful holiday gathering, but I am more than happy to let someone else handle the turkey and the logistics.

My contribution is dessert. And over the years, I’ve developed a few that have become regular requests. White chocolate raspberry cheesecake is always a favorite. So is my chocolate cherry bourbon pecan pie. And then there’s the cheddar apple pie, which might sound a little unusual if you’ve never had cheddar with apple pie, but trust me, it works.

I actually love being the dessert person. I get to spend time baking, bring something homemade, and then enjoy Thanksgiving without worrying about whether the turkey is done. A very reasonable arrangement, if you ask me.

A Little Christmas Magic on the Horizon

And then, of course, comes Christmas. I know. I know. I just said I’m not rushing through November. And I’m not. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t already thinking about the holidays. I want Christmas to feel magical for the boys for as long as possible. The decorations, the traditions, the lights, the little moments that make the season special. All of it.

Of course, everything seems to cost approximately a small fortune these days, so I’m also trying to be a little more intentional about how we celebrate. More traditions. More cozy nights at home. More experiences and memories that don’t require spending a ridiculous amount of money.

I want the house to feel beautiful and festive, but I also want to actually enjoy the season instead of spending the entire month stressed out and running around. We’ll see how successful I am at that. Considering our track record with extracurricular schedules, I’m cautiously optimistic.

Here’s to the Rest of Autumn

So that’s where we are. Halloween was chaotic and wonderful. The boys had a blast. The Purple Cobras made their neighborhood debut. We survived the inflatable costumes and the Great Barricade Rebellion of 2026.

Soccer season is coming down to the wire. I’m preparing to paint half my house various shades of green.

And somewhere in between all of that, I’m hoping to enjoy a little bit of November before the holiday madness begins.

Maybe I’ll finally have a quiet weekend. Maybe I’ll make a cup of coffee, curl up with a book, and enjoy the last few weeks of autumn. Or maybe I’ll spend Saturday moving soccer bags out of the way so I can open my front door.

Honestly, both seem equally possible.

Until next time,

xx Valerie Coastal 🖤