Listen at your own risk: 5 dark and scary podcasts to get you in the Halloween mood

Ghost stories around the campfire and murder mysteries in the dark! That's what Halloween should be all about; being scared. Especially when you're an adult. There's not much I like more than a truly scary story. I've been reading horror since I was a kid, beginning with In a Dark Dark Room, then graduating to RL Stine's Goosebumps and Fear Street. I still love reading horror, but I don't often have time to indulge my lust for all things frightening. That's where podcasts come in!

I can listen to an episode of a podcast while I'm walking Hazel, house cleaning, taking a shower or snoozing my alarm clock. Podcasts make it easy to enjoy spooky stories- and no better time to enjoy them than spooky season. These are my top five scary podcasts about murder, horror, and things that go bump in the night. Listen if you dare!

Fall Reading List: And Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell is a tearful and terrifying tale 

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I rarely cry read a book that makes me cry, despite being someone who reads books almost exclusively about murder. I teared up a few times when I was reading And Then She Was Gone. As I read the Epilogue I started bawling, squinting at the last words on the page through watered-down eyes. As difficult as it is to conclusively determine this, I think I can confidently say this is my favourite Lisa Jewell book I've read. 

Book review: Ruth Ware's books keep climbing up the bestseller list, One By One

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Ruth Ware has done it again! She keeps crafting creative mysteries and plots that propel the reader forward, and One By One is no exception. This is the ultimate Fall Reading List book. Set on a snowy mountain in France, the story is as chilling as the white powder that swallows the characters whole. 

 Book review: A Southern supernatural thriller about a seedy swamp and all its creatures

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Andy Davidson's The Boatman's Daughter paints a dark and bloody tale of the painful lives of outsiders. While Davidson's book was wildly creative, it failed to draw me in. I kept reading, hoping it would be a slow burn, however it never caught fire for me. I did enjoy the Russian folklore in the book and the mysticism, but being a huge fan of witches, I was hoping for a more interesting witch. I will give the author this: the prose is beautiful at times and I LOVE the cover!

October featured pets: Happy Halloween from these haunted howlers!

Happy Halloween spooky pet owners! This month we asked you to send in photos of your pets wearing their Halloween costumes and you did not disappoint! Here are the October featured pets. Happy haunting!

Happy Halloween: My favourite past Halloween DIY projects

Happy Halloween everyone! This is my favorite holiday and usually go all out decorating and celebrating. This year will be a little different due to Covid-19, and due to the fact that I don't live in a house anymore, so I can't do my haunted walkway. I'll admit I'm a little sad about that. BUT I will still be watching Hocus Pocus and Trick R' Treat! Since the celebration this year won't be as spooky, here are some ghostly DIY Halloween projects, decor, and crafts I've done in the past. I hope I inspire you! Have a safe and happy Halloween!

  October featured pets: We want to feature your pet's Halloween costume

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm not talking about Christmas- it's spooky season! Halloween is my ABSOLUTE favourite holiday! I love scaring people- and being scared. I love everything about it- the candy, the horror movies, the scary decor, the witches spells, the city draped in my favourite colour- orange! 

Ask a Vet: Top 5 Halloween dangers to your pets PLUS 3 vet-approved tips to keep your pets safe

 October featured pets: Does your pet have a Halloween costume? Send us a photo!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm not talking about Christmas- it's spooky season! Halloween is my ABSOLUTE favourite holiday! I love scaring people- and being scared. I love everything about it- the candy, the horror movies, the scary decor, the witches spells, the city draped in my favourite colour- orange! 

Thank you to Patty McLaughlin of the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre for illuminating the Raven for the Paws For Reaction readers!

Halloween's haunted animals: The truth about the ominous and dark trickster; the Raven

When I think about Halloween symbolism, things that come to mind are spirits, monsters, witches, and vampires. But what about the animals? Black cats with their backs arched, howling werewolves, slick Ravens crowing warnings, and swooping bats are all signature Halloween animals. Folklore and mythology weave their way into the spooky stories we tell and animals are the stars of these terrifying tales. 

Book review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is the vampire book you didn't know you needed

I kicked off my spooky Fall reading list with a bang- or a bite I should say. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix is so unexpected. In most cases, I'm able to predict the twists and turns in the books I read, but this book is truly unpredictable. 

   October featured pets: Send in a photo of your pet wearing a Halloween costume to be featured 

 October featured pets: Send in a photo of your pet wearing a Halloween costume to be featured on Paws For Reaction

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm not talking about Christmas- it's spooky season! Halloween is my ABSOLUTE favourite holiday! I love scaring people- and being scared. I love everything about it- the candy, the horror movies, the scary decor, the witches spells, the city draped in my favourite colour- orange! 

Guest blog: My Reiki journey; a discovery of healing energies and the power within 

Guest blog by Robyn Thomas. So excited to welcome her to the Paws For Reaction extended family!

Many are unaware of Reiki healing and its vast healing possibilities. The Usui Holy Fire Reiki system incorporates Reiki symbols, attunement placements, distance healing methods, and hand positions for working with oneself and others. As a practitioner, I connect with and direct universal life-force energy that surrounds every living thing, to balance the life-force energy within. This involves channeling source energy, setting intentions, connecting with Reiki symbols, Mother Earth, and myself to balance and ground mind, body, spirit.