October has always been a big deal in my family. Growing up, my mom didn’t simply buy us Halloween costumes and call it a day. She made our costumes from scratch, decorated the house and turned the weeks leading up to Halloween into part of the fun. As a kid, I never thought about how much work went into any of it. I just knew October was exciting. Now I understand where my tendency to go all out comes from.
I love decorating our house for Halloween. All the seasonal decor comes out, the kids get involved and I probably add a few more decorations than we actually need every year. Creating that excitement for them takes me right back to what my mom did for us. I understand the work now, but I also understand why she did it.
Another tradition I refuse to skip—pumpkin carving. Everyone chooses a pumpkin and has a very definite opinion about what to carve. Then we cut them open and make an enormous mess.
By the time we’re finished, the table is a disaster and pumpkin seeds are everywhere, but seeing all their pumpkins lined up outside makes it worth it. I hope that years from now, my kids remember nights like these the way I remember the Halloween traditions my mom created for us.
Apparently, going all out doesn’t stop at home. October is one of the biggest months of the year in Fort Lauderdale. When the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show arrives, you can feel it reverberate throughout the city. The waterways fill with incredible yachts, the marine industry comes in from around the world and our hotels, restaurants and docks are packed. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, the boat show was simply part of October. Now, seeing just how many people travel here for it makes me appreciate what an enormous event our hometown hosts in its backyard.
Naturally, the boats take center stage in this issue. We take you aboard some incredible yachts, explore what’s new on the water and give you plenty to dream about before heading to the show.
Before the show officially gets underway, we have another October tradition: our Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show kickoff party. And if you know us, you know we don’t do that halfway either.
On October 22, we return to the W Fort Lauderdale for the night I look forward to most. We put a lot into making it special as the boating industry comes together before the show begins.
This year, couture designer Odalys Marino, whom readers met in our September Fashion issue, will present her collection in the evening. By the time her models hit the runway, the W will be filled with friends, familiar faces and people from across the boating industry. It’s exactly how we like to kick-off boat show week.
Between decorating the house, carving pumpkins, putting together this issue, preparing for the boat show and throwing one heck of a party, October is busy. But I grew up watching my mom put that same kind of effort into making Halloween memorable for us.
She taught me early that if you’re going to do it, go all out. Clearly, I was paying attention.