Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. While it is more appropriate for children, I enjoy watching scary movies on TV and eating candy. The candy I buy to give out just happens to be the ones I like -- such as coincidence!
Believe it or not, Halloween is just around the corner. Look, I know you are busy -- many Americans are working harder than ever nowadays. Are you behind on your holiday planning? Don't worry, Microsoft is here to help. You see, both Cortana and Bing -- two wonderful services -- are here to help you.
"Halloween is creeping up. Whether you need a terrifying costume for your dog, tips for carving the perfect pumpkin, or a recipe to concoct a bubbling potion for your party, Bing can help. Using the top Halloween-related searches, we've scared up some tricks and treats to make your fright night even better", says The Bing Team.
Here's the deal, parents -- you probably aren't up to date on what makes a cool costume. Cutting two holes in a sheet and calling your kid a ghost is lame. If you do a Bing image search for "halloween costumes for kids", you will be presented with a carousel at the top. Some popular choices are Elsa from Frozen, Darth Vader and a Zombie. Do you need a costume for yourself? Search for "halloween costumes for adults" instead. You can also ask Cortana "what should I wear for Halloween?".
Once the trick-or-treating is over, it is time to relax with a scary movie and some food. While you can stick to such classics as Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th, why not try stepping out of your comfort zone? Do a Bing search for "top horror movies" and you will see a long list of great films. Try watching one you've never seen before -- you might discover a new favorite. If you can stomach some snacks after the scary movies, do a Bing search for "Halloween desserts" to get some yummy ideas.
The most important Halloween tradition, of course, is pumpkin carving -- you can see yours truly in the patch above. While I stick to the classic jack-o'-lantern, there are far more intricate designs nowadays; it is crazy how detailed people get. If you want to carve a piece of art this year, do a Bing search for "Printable pumpkin carving patterns" to get some inspiration and stencils.
Want a cool Cortana Easter egg? Say to her "Tell me a scary Halloween story. I did it on Windows 10 and got the below result.
Lastly, if you want to visit some scary haunted houses, Bing Maps can make that happen. Want to see a cool map like below? The Bing Team explains, "starting today you can opt-in to the Spooky Map to see the frighteningly fun color palate and a new set of Halloween-themed icons to denote landmarks. We've even curated a list of haunted houses in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada".
Photo Credit: supparsorn/Shutterstock
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