You Know Boo Is Coming, So Bake a Cake

If you are having a Halloween party this year, you might want some other dessert besides fun sized candy bars. A Halloween cake makes a great dessert, and can also be a fun centerpiece on your dinner table while the meal is being served. Here are two creative Halloween cakes that you can try on your own. Don't feel pressured to limit yourselves to these – you can always create your own Halloween dessert masterpieces.

The Happy Pumpkin

You can easily turn your everyday cake mix into a pumpkin creation with the help of bunt pans and decorative icing.

Take 3 boxes of your favorite white or yellow cake mix, and mix according to package decorations. Pour the batter into two bunt pans, and bake according to package decorations. Allow the cakes to cool completely and remove from the pan.

While you are waiting for the cakes to cool, empty three cans of vanilla frosting into a mixing bowl. If you are pretty practiced with cake decorating, 2 may be enough, but three cans will allow extra to work out unevenness and fingerprints. Add red and yellow food coloring to the frosting, stirring until the frosting becomes the desired orange color for your pumpkin. Frost the flat side of the bunt cakes, and then stack on top of each other to create your pumpkin shape. Then continue to frost the sides of the cake until you have an orange pumpkin.

If you would like to turn your pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern, simply use some black icing to draw your eyes, nose, and a mouth. You can also consider decorating a small cupcake with brown or green icing to create a stem. If you are very practiced in cake decorating, consider some pumpkin vines down the sides and back. Your company is sure to be impressed.

The Creepy Spiderweb

If you want something a little spookier for your Halloween party, consider a creepy spider web cake. A little frosting and a chocolate muffin can help you make this creepy cake.

Take one box of your favorite chocolate cake mix and mix it according to the package decorations. Bake in two round pans and allow to cool completely.

While the cakes are cooling, scoop 2 cans of vanilla frosting into a large mixing bowl. Combine yellow and blue food coloring (or yellow and green) until you come up with a spooky green color. Spread a layer between the two cakes, and the cover the rest of the cake with frosting.

Draw a spiderweb on the top of the cake using black icing. You can start by drawing lines straight across as though the cake was a clock – from12 to 6, 1 to 7, 2 to 8, etc. Then starting at the center of the cake, draw larger circles working their way outwards until the web is complete.

Take a chocolate muffin or cupcake and cut of the “stem” so you are left with the top. Frost the entire thing with chocolate frosting and then roll in chocolate sprinkles. Set onto the “web” and attach small pieces of black string licorice to be the legs.

If you would like to get even more creative, you can extend your web down the sides of the cake, and draw on bugs using different colored icing.

With a few cake decorating skills and some creativity, you too can create spooky Halloween desserts.

The 10 Fun Benefits to Halloween

Many people see Halloween as a time of fun, costumes and candy. Others see it as a way to honor the dead relatives that have passed or celebrate the coming of fall and winter. No matter what you think of Halloween, there are some benefits that celebrating this holiday can offer you. Here is a look at just some of them.

It's fun.

Halloween is fun all around. People enjoy dressing up and decorating. Fun can help people of all ages reduce the amount of stress, improve depression, and bring balance to their lives.

No dress code.

For the majority of your life, someone has dictated what you wear. Whether it was your parents or a dress code imposed on you by the schools or workplace. Halloween is the one day a year where it is socially acceptable to get a little wild.

Express yourself.

You may have a “going out” personality that you share with your friends and coworkers, and a totally different hidden side that you keep to yourself. However, it can be quite therapeutic to express that side of you once in awhile, and Halloween is a great way to do it. For instance, if you normally dress in dark colored, conservative clothes, a bright and flashy Halloween costume can be a lot of fun.

An excuse to socialize.

Everyone loves a party, but with today's busy schedules it can be difficult to find the time to get out and socialize. The many Halloween events help you to create opportunities to go out with friends.

Avoid being self conscious.

If you are normally they shy person in the corner at parties, then a Halloween party is one of the times where you can actually be yourself and become a social butterfly. Hiding behind a mask and costume can give you more self confidence to go out and meet people.

The gift of receiving.

Receiving treats while trick-or-treating is a lot of fun for children. Plus, it can be a teachable moment for parents to remind kids to be polite, speak clearly, and say thank you for items received.

The gift of giving.

By the same token, children can also learn about giving graciously. Whether it is helping to hand out treats or donating their outgrown costumes to the needy, it can be a great teaching moment.

Family moments.

Halloween offers plenty of moments for family fun. Whether it is a journey to the pumpkin patch, cooking up Halloween treats, or planning your own costume party, families benefit from spending fun times together.

Catching the spirit.

Even if you personally do not want to dress up for Halloween, it can be fun to see what everyone else chooses to do. There are always some unique and interesting costumes out there that might inspire you for next year.

Meet your neighbors. With everyone's busy schedules and the hesitancy of parents to send children out alone, you may not get the opportunity to meet those who live on the same street as you do. Trick-or-treating allows you to walk right up, knock, and say hello without anyone thinking twice about it.

There are plenty of other benefits that come along with the Halloween holiday, these are just a few. So why not create some reasons of your own?

The Perfect Halloween Mask

If messy makeup isn't your thing or you simply do not have the time or the artistic hand to apply it, a Halloween mask can be the next best option for you to complete your costume. And there are always plenty of options to choose from when you are shopping around.

Why a mask?

There are several reasons why you can consider a Halloween mask. For starters, they are a lot easier to take on and off than a face full of specialty paint. This means that you can easily go about your normal day and quickly don a mask for that after-work or after-school party. Masks can also be an inexpensive way to create a spectacular costume look. Depending on the mask you choose, you may need limited other accessories to complete your Halloween costume.

Creating your own look

Thanks to Halloween costume manufacturers you can find nearly any type of Halloween mask that you can think of. You can go with your traditional monster masks or something from the latest and greatest movies and TV shows that are out.

For instance, you could get a Napoleon Dynamite mask, complete with hair and glasses. Or, you can become your favorite Xman, Fantastic Four member, or other super hero. Movie characters can be a great way to coordinate a group of friends that are going trick-or-treating together or attending the same party.

If you want to stick to the creepy Halloween, you can look for Halloween masks in some of the traditional Halloween spooks. For instance, you could go as Freddy Krueger or Chucky or even the Wolfman. Some masks will even have realistic hair to help complete the look.

If you like the lighter side of Halloween, consider a comedy horror character like a member of the Addam's Family or Herman Munster. Kids might enjoy going as their favorite “monster” from Sesame Street or a character from one of their favorite kid's shows.

Consider a “Masktume”

Another option for costume seekers is to go with a “masktume.” Basically, this is half mask and half costume. A hand sculpted and painted mask is attached directly to the costume, allowing for the creation of a wide variety of monsters, ghouls, and other Halloween characters. They are definitely something different for the party goer that wants to stand out among more traditional costumes.

Getting the perfect fit

Keep in mind that for your own safety, you want to make sure that your Halloween mask fits properly. Make sure that you have full vision while the mask is on and that it doesn't slip down when you move about. You also should be able to breathe comfortably while you are wearing it.

If you want a costume idea that is easy, or even one that is different than everyone else's, going with a Halloween mask can help you complete the look that you want. Remember to shop early in order to find your perfect mask before they run out!

Popular Teen Halloween Costumes

When it comes to tweens, particularly boys, choosing a Halloween costume will be as much about what is “cool” as it is about what they like. You can now find fancier and fancier costumes targeted for tweens for Halloween, in fact the choices are nearly endless, so be creative!

The fact of it is, Halloween is becoming a holiday that can be enjoyed by the whole family – not just the very young. However, there seems to be a gap between the sexy adult Halloween costumes and the Halloween costumes worn by children in preschool and elementary school. This gap is becoming filled by a set of costumes marketed directly by to this middle group.

Superman and Supergirl/Superwoman

The cartoons, movies, and comics have made these characters popular with all age groups. While a simple costume may seem childish, a few tweaks and it can be sexy and cool. Everyone loves a super hero, and you are sure to see a few of these flying about your town on Halloween night.

Batman

Another member in the superhero lineup, the darker side of Batman seems perfectly suited for Halloween, especially the version from Batman Returns. Like the Superman costume, this is a classic for all ages, though certain detailing will definitely differentiate and adult/teen costume from a child's costume.

Soldier

Due to the chaotic world events, the popularity of soldier costumes is increasing. Plus, this costume can be relatively easy to put together with all the camouflage clothing that is readily available. Some face paint and your look is complete. Parents should be aware, however, that this costume does offer low visibility to oncoming traffic at night.

Ghosts and demons

These costumes are also relatively easy to put together with the help of a mask and/or some face paint, making them a popular choice for young adults on the go. The “Scream” movie ghost is one popular addition to this category.

Klownz

Bad spelling aside, these clown costumes are marketed towards the young adult crowd. They have a more modern design look to them, and are not as scary as an adult costume might be but not as silly as a child's costume. Instead of the robes usually worn, these costumes often utilize jackets and jumpers, making them popular with teens.

Fading light Phantoms
For teens willing to spend a little extra money on their Halloween costume, these specialty masks can give a spooky effect after dark. Basically the mask includes mounted lights that are set to fade in and out, creating a creepy effect in the dark. Add to that they are easy to wear, and it is no wonder they are so popular with teens.

Parents should keep in mind that many young adult costumes are not designed to be as visible to cars and other people as a child's costume might be. Because of this, some parents choose to attach reflective tape to the costume in some fashion, or have their children carry flashlights or glow sticks to make them more visible to oncoming traffic.

Keeping Halloween Diet Damage to a Minimum

If you are trying to avoid sugary sweets, either to lose weight or simply to have a healthier Halloween, this can be a frightful challenge. No other night of the year can compare to the amount of sugary temptations that are available, in fact, most Halloween activities center around candy. Before you run screaming this Halloween, here are some suggestions for limiting the sugar overload.

Choose healthier choices

Instead of putting all of the focus on the candy that is received at Halloween, why not put some of the focus on healthier alternatives? For example; have a costume party, create Halloween crafts, have a spooky scavenger hunt, or attend one of the Halloween alternative parties or festivals that are often offered by churches. This gives kids fun things to do on Halloween night instead of going trick-or-treating.

If you want to keep trick-or-treating in your routine, but are worried about the sugar, why not pass out goodies that are not candy? Often, children will be just as happy with a toy or other item given in lieu of candy – stickers, pencils, or even single serving snacks can be healthier alternatives to candy.

Limit the intake

Chances are, even if you aim for a healthier Halloween in your own home, somewhere along the line your child is going to come home with candy anyways. There are several strategies that you can use to dispose of it. Some parents will set a limit as to how many pieces a day can be eaten. Others will offer a trade of the candy for a toy or other item that the child has been desiring. You can also buy the candy back for a few dollars. These alternatives will help you get the candy out of sight and out of mind of your children.

Get rid of it

If you are also tempted by Halloween candy, having it hidden at the back of the cupboard may work for your kids, but often not for you. If you cannot handle the temptation of having it sitting out, find a way to get rid of it. Freeze plain chocolate to be used in recipes. You can also save some of the mini candy bars to hide in lunch boxes for a fun surprise now and again. Chop up candy bars and create cookies to send to neighbors, senior citizens, or your child's teacher. Or use the candy to bribe some neighborhood teen into raking your leaves or watching the kids while you run to the store.

Make it a learning opportunity

Halloween can be a good time to talk about good nutrition and moderation of sweets. Explain to kids why you want to limit their sweet intake, but don't take it away entirely or dwell on the topic. Doing this will only tempt them to sneak the goodies when they think you are not watching. Keep it fun and show them how they can share the goods.

Halloween doesn't have to be all about candy if you take the time to get a little creative and make smart decisions.

Keep Halloween from Breaking the Bank

Halloween costumes are creative and they continue to evolve each year with new and innovative materials, ideas and technology. The price can also evolve, thus, if you are strapped for cash, but still want to have a memorable Halloween, here are some tips for you.

Keep costumes traditional

The majority of the budget is often spent on Halloween costumes. The selection of costumes varies every year, with the current trend in movies and TV often influencing what is popular. In fact, you may see more Spiderman and Hannah Montana costumes on Halloween night than your traditional Dracula and fairy princess.

If you want to stretch your Halloween costume dollars, consider returning to the more traditional costumes and putting your own spin on them. You can often buy Halloween costume accessories, like clown noses, princess tiaras, and vampire teeth, inexpensively. You can then combine these other accessories such as capes, wands, and swords for an inexpensive, yet fun and creative costume.

Buy treats in bulk

Another big expense on Halloween night is in the purchasing of treats to hand out to the trick or treaters that will come ringing your bell. If you live in a neighborhood that sees a lot traffic on Halloween night, you can end up spending a small fortune in Halloween treats.

One of the easiest ways to avoid this is to buy in bulk. Warehouse stores can offer you candy for much less than the grocery store – and in big bags. If you are looking for a healthier alternative to the fun size candy bar, you can also look for bulk packaging of popular snack foods that are individually wrapped into single servings.

Another alternative is to skip the food altogether and choose a treat alternative. Dollar stores, party supply stores, toy stores, and even teacher supply stores can be a great source of Halloween-themed items like toys, stickers, pencils, and novelties. These can be an inexpensive and fun alternative to the candy bar.

Keep decorations simple

A third expense for Halloween night is the decorations. Traditional jack-o-lanterns are cheap enough to create. However, if you want to create a spookier atmosphere, consider making decorations yourself. Cardboard tombstones, bed sheet ghosts, batting cobwebs, and other handmade decorations can be as spooky to young children as the electronic gizmos that are sold by retailers. Even a few well placed spot lights and candles can give your own home a creepy atmosphere.

Of course, if you really want some of the fancier, high tech Halloween decorations, consider shopping the clearance sales in November. You can get this year's hottest decorations at a much lower cost and save them for future Halloweens.

Saving money on Halloween is all about shopping smarter and planning ahead. With a little forethought and creativity, you can come up with other Halloween money savers that will allow your budget to go a lot further this year.

The Halloween Age Debate

Each year, those handing out candy are seeing older and older kids come knocking on their doors – often later at night, after the younger kids have already been by. This crowd is typically pre-teens or teens, and often without adult accompaniment. This on occasion leaves parents wondering how old is too old for Halloween.

The age debate

Seeing preschool and elementary-aged kids on Halloween is often a cute sight. They are dressed in adorable little costumes, and are obviously caught up in the excitement of the holiday. They often have mom or dad along with them, both to keep an eye on them and to snap the occasional picture. The older kids, on the other hand, are another thing entirely. They may or may not be in costume – or their version of a “costume” is to smear some fake blood on. Often without parental supervision, they roam the streets as a group late into the night.

Some parents may argue that there is no problem with this and the teens are merely having fun. However, it bears remembering that the teenager years are often a time of experimentation – and running around the streets at night unsupervised can lead to all sorts of activities. Even if drugs, alcohol, and sex aren't concerns, the fact of the matter is that few of these kids are going to look both ways when crossing the street or be wary of unsavory characters that might be lurking in the shadows. And it doesn't take much for the “mob mentality” to tempt even good kids to do something that they normally wouldn't do on Halloween night.

All in all, Halloween is a time for fun, costumes and lasting memories. If you warn them of the dangers and ensure that they are highly visible, with glow sticks and other similar reflectors, is often a good idea to allow your children to trick-or-treat at any age.

Choosing alternatives

Should you rather, alternatives to trick-or-treating do exist!

Does your child still want to dress up? Have him or her dress up and be in charge of handing out the candy to visitors coming to the door. You can then let him or her have the leftover candy at the end of the night (just make sure you have a bag left over).

Or, how about hosting your own Halloween party for your teen and his or her friends? They can then still get to hang out, dress in costumes, and eat themselves silly on candy – all in the safety of your own home. Your teenager may even enjoy decorating the house with a spooky theme. If having a dozen teens running around doesn't appeal to you, then you could also consider harvest parties at local churches, or doing another family activity like visiting haunted houses or hayrides.

While there is not an age limit on trick-or-treating, alternatives do exist and they allow Halloween to be a fun holiday for all ages. All you have to do is find some age appropriate activities that everyone can participate in

Keeping Your Halloween Party Budget Friendly

Halloween parties can be fun for all ages, but they can also become expensive quickly if you do not have a budget in mind. And while everyone wants to invite all of their friends, the more people, the more money the party costs. After all, you have to figure in the decorations, entertainment, food, and costumes. However, with the right planning you can create the perfect Halloween party on any budget.

Make it a potluck

Potlucks are a great idea for any party. For starters, you do not have the work and expense of creating multiple dishes yourself. You also get the advantage of trying new and different recipes. It is often easiest to make the main dish yourself, and assign dishes to different party goers (for instance, asking one family to bring a side dish, another dessert, another salad, etc.). You can also make your Halloween party snacks or desserts only.

Plan ahead and shop on sale

If you host an annual Halloween party, paper supplies and decorations can often be bought cheaply in November for the following year. If this is your first year hosting a Halloween party, start buying as soon as Halloween merchandise starts hitting the shelves so that you can take advantage of the lower prices and better selection.

Look for items that can be used more than once

If you can get two uses out of one item, you have saved money right there. Pumpkins that are painted or left natural (no carving) can be used to make baked goods after the guests have gone home. Fall decorations can work just as well in November as in October, provided that there is nothing specifically Halloween about them. Also look for Halloween decorations that can be reused from one year to the next. That way, if you do invest much money this year, you won't have to next year.

Small and intimate beats large and loud

While a large party involving the entire neighborhood may sound like fun, the amount of money that it will cost, let alone the amount of room that you will need, can make this a bit prohibitive. Consider making the party for adults only, or limit to only the families that you are closest with.

Shop at warehouse stores

Buying in bulk is often less expensive, especially when you need to buy a large amount of items. Candy, paper goods, and treats for the goodie bags can often be found for less than you would pay at the department stores.

Chances are, if you spend more money on your Halloween party than you were intending, it is only going to stress you out. So by shopping smart and planning ahead, you can have just as much fun without the stress.

Keep Your Diet in Check on Halloween

The biggest problem with these Halloween sweets is that they have plenty of calories per serving and little nutritional value. Plus, the smaller “fun-size” treats often fool dieters into thinking that they can eat multiple pieces without harming their diets. But t only takes 9 of these mini-candy bars to add a quarter of a pound of fat to your body.

Beyond candy, Halloween is also filled with other indulgent treats. Whether it is pumpkin pie, gooey popcorn balls, or sweet candied apples, there is no shortage of calories during the month of October.

What can you do?

Obviously, there is no way that you can totally eliminate candy from Halloween with spoiling all of the fun. So here are some tips to help you stick to your diet, while still allowing yourself the occasional sweet indulgence.

• Walk when trick-or-treating. Not only is it a good idea to supervise your kids while they are out trick-or-treating, it will help you burn some extra calories while you do it, even if you are walking slowly.

• Store leftovers in the cupboard. If you leave the Halloween candy out in plain sight, you will be more likely to indulge in the “occasional” snack. Storing it in an unmarked container in the cupboard will help reduce the temptation to have a taste.

• Wait until Halloween to buy candy. Yes, it does mean a little bit of last minute shopping, but having candy in the house prior to Halloween is merely a temptation to eat it. If waiting until Halloween to shop is just not practical with your schedule, only buy candy that you personally don't care for.

• Provide candy alternatives. Whether it is treats for the trick-or-treaters or munchies for your Halloween party, thinking healthy when you shop can help keep diet damaging foods to the minimum. Consider handing out stickers or pencils to trick-or-treaters, and look for veggie trays with healthy dips and other low fat snacks for your party.

• Give Halloween candy a deadline. Choose a date when all Halloween candy needs to be out of the house or eaten by the kids. Any remaining candy on that day should be thrown out. Alternatively, divide up surplus candy into freezer bags and store in the freezer. This will help prevent the temptation to snack.

• Focus on other activities. If you can, consider skipping trick-or-treating altogether and focus on an activity that doesn't center around food. Hayrides, haunted houses, and bonfires can all be fun activities that the whole family can participate in.

Of course, if you can't keep your Halloween temptations to a minimum, your other alternative is to spend some extra time at the gym working the pounds off. The choice is up to you.

Make Sure Your Costume Fits

There is nothing more frustrating than finding the ideal costume and then once you get it home realizing it does not fit. So before you start shopping for your perfect Halloween costume, make sure that you have all the information that you need to ensure a proper fit.

Measurements

Before you go out costume shopping, get a tape measure out. A cloth or plastic tape measure found in craft stores is going to be a lot easier to use than a heavy construction-grade one, and you can usually find them in the same section as other sewing supplies. Take a full list of measurements, including arm, chest, hips, inseam, neck, and waist. You may need to ask for assistance if you are taking measurements on yourself. That way, when you are looking at the size charts for the particular brand of costumes, you can make sure the one that you are buying will fit.

Sizing Notes

When you are shopping you will often see sizing notes from the manufacturer. Take those to heart, and if it says an item runs big or runs small believe them. If there are no notes, you can usually assume that the costume runs true to size. Some people still choose to buy a size larger in some styles to allow them to wear layers underneath if the weather is cold. Remember that trick-or-treating and Halloween parties can go on for several hours, and an ill-fitting costume will not be comfortable for very long.

Don't forget accessories

Some accessories can also be dangerous if they do not fit properly. Make sure that masks do not slip down into your face and watch for any dangling accessories that could become tripping hazards.

Shorten things that are too long

Fitting kids for costumes, and even smaller adults, can be a bit of a challenge if a costume is designed to fit “most” people in that size range. Skirts, slacks, and long capes and robes can present a tripping hazard when you are out at the party or running from house to house while trick-or-treating. Long sleeves can catch on items and tear, or accidentally fall into candle flames and catch fire. Always wear these costumes with care, and if it is a child's costume consider hemming or pinning the costume to avoid accidents.

A properly fitting Halloween costume will make your Halloween much more fun and memorable. By knowing how to fit the costume properly, you can guarantee that you will find the right costume the first time.

Halloween Party Games

So you want to have a Halloween party, but are unsure how to keep the kids entertained while they are there. After all, there is only so much pizza and candy that a kid can take! If you are tired of the traditional games, like costume contests and bobbing for apples, here are a couple of alternatives that can help keep everyone entertained.

Spooky Storytelling

On a creepy night like Halloween, telling spooky stories can help set the mood. Before the party, you will want to take a small deck of index cards and write story-starting phrases. You will want at least one per party goer, and more if you want the game to continue longer. Keep them appropriate to your party's age group, but you can include things like:

It was a dark and stormy night...
The door creaked open and we saw...
The witch cackled over her cauldron, stirring what looked like...
I peaked under the bed and saw...
There was a knocking at the window and...
I heard a horrible scream and I knew...

To play the game, sit everyone in a circle and dim the lights. Consider having a flashlight to pass to the person whose turn it is to tell the tale. Have everyone pick a card, and then someone starts the story. Set a timer for one or two minutes, and that person has to start the story with the phrase on their card. When the timer goes off, the flashlight gets passed to the next person, who then continues the tale with the phrase on their card. This continues at least until everyone has a turn, or longer if you have the time.

Mummy Memory

Get a large serving tray and fill it with small Halloween goodies. Toy spiders and bugs, stickers, pumpkins, and other Halloween party favors can be a good way to go (plus, you can recycle these items into the goodie bags to go home when you are done). Cover the tray with a cloth, and give everyone a piece of paper and a pencil. Remove the cloth, giving everyone a minute or two to study the tray, and then recover. Everyone should then try to write down everything that they remembered, with the person remembering the most winning a prize.

Terror Tag

You need a larger, empty room for this game. Before the game starts, secretly assign each person to be a ghost or a mortal. An easy way to do this is to give each person a slip of paper with their designation on it – but make sure they know it is to be a secret! You should always have a much higher ratio of mortals to ghosts, so most of the time one or two ghosts will be plenty. Then, turn down the lights so that it is dark in the room (or you could blindfold players). Have them go about the room, shaking hands with other players, and whispering to them if they are ghost or mortal. If you shake hands with a ghost, you must freeze in terror. This continues until there are only ghosts left.

Halloween party games can be fun to play and help pass the time. If you need more ideas, consider giving any of your regular party favors a Halloween twist and using them.

Halloween Meal Planning

So you've decked the house out in creepy accessories, and picked out the perfect costume. The candy is ready to go for the trick-or-treaters and the music for your Halloween party is downloading into your MP3 player. What else could you possibly do for the holiday? Why not come up with some fun Halloween items for lunch or dinner? Here are some fun ideas to get your creative juices flowing while you are planning your menus.

Ghost sandwiches

The best way to make these is with all white ingredients – think of things like turkey, swiss cheese, white bread, miracle whip, etc. Make the sandwich like you normally would, and then use a large, ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut it into a ghost shape or cut the sandwich with a knife. You could even use a small amount of ketchup or other condiment to draw eyes and a mouth on your ghost.

Bat and Cat cookies

The easiest way to do these is to buy a tube of your favorite sugar cookie dough from your local store. Roll out the dough, and use a cookie cutter to cut them into bat and cat shapes. Bake the cookies like you would normally. While the cookies are baking, melt some dark chocolate. When the cookies are cooled, brush the chocolate over the top to create “black” cats and bats. If you are feeling very creative, consider using red or green candies or sprinkles to give your animals creepy looking eyes. Allow the chocolate to harden, and keep cookies in a cool place to prevent them from melting.

Pumpkin Wraps

Take a tortilla and spread it with your favorite orange ingredients – pimento or cheddar cheese, slices of ham, orange peppers, etc. all work well. Roll the tortilla tightly to create a wrap, and then cut into half inch slices (you may need to use a toothpick to hold the wrap slices together, consider getting the decorative ones in green to be the “stem”). Lay slices on their sides, and using small pieces of veggies or cheese to create the eyes, nose and mouth on your pumpkin.

Pumpkin Pizza

Spread your favorite pizza dough or ready-made crust with sauce and cheese. Then, using pepper slices and pepperonis, create the ridges of the pumpkin and the face of the jack-o-lantern. Bake as usual and serve.

Graveyard Dirt

You can make this dessert in one large pan or individual cups, depending on the size of decorative tombstones you can find. Start by crushing an entire package of chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos) and layering a portion of them in the bottom of the cup/pan. Combine ½ cup of butter, 8 oz of cream cheese, 1 cup of powdered sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine 3 cups of milk with 2 – 3.5 ounce packages of instant pudding (your choice vanilla or chocolate). Fold in 1 12 oz tub of Cool Whip (again, your choice regular or chocolate). Then fold together the two mixtures. Layer a portion on your cookie layer, then continue layering pudding mix and cookies until all have been used. While you are creating your layers, you can consider hiding in some gummy worms or plastic skeletons so that bits and pieces poke at the top. Garnish the finished product with a couple of decorative tombstones and you have a creepy Halloween dessert.

Use these and your own ideas to create some fun and creepy Halloween meals!

Halloween Games for Kids

While adults may be jumping on the Halloween bandwagon, first and foremost Halloween is a kid's holiday. Besides trick-or-treating and costumes, Halloween parties are one of the many activities that kids can look forward to each Halloween. If you are thinking of jumping in and hosting your own kid's party this year, one thing that you will need to think about is the games.

When planning kid's party games, keep in mind that many games will only have one winner. So be sure to play enough games that every child can be a winner, or consider providing second and third place prizes to help avoid hurt feelings. If you don't want to use candy for prizes, Halloween party favors and small toys also make great prize ideas.

Ghostly musical chairs

Almost everyone is familiar with the game of musical chairs, so you probably won't need a detailed expression of the rules. All you need is one chair less than the number of kids attending the party (so 9 chairs for 10 kids, for example). Cover the chairs with white sheets and paint some eyes and mouths on them to make them look like ghosts. Line the chairs up or arrange them in a circle. To play the game, play some music while the children walk around the chairs. When the music stops, the child left without a chair is out. Remove a chair, and keep playing until there is only one child left.

Dress the scarecrow

If you have some of dad's old clothing lying around the house, this is a fun game for kids. Divide the children into small teams, and give all teams some clothes for their scarecrow. Jeans or overalls, flannel shirts, boots, gloves, and a straw hat are typical, though you can use whatever you have on hand. One child in the team is the scarecrow, and has to stand still while the others of the team put the clothes on. The first team to complete a scarecrow is the winner.

Meet my mummy

For this one, you will again want to divide children into small teams and have one child volunteer to be the mummy (preferably a child who was not the scarecrow if you play both games). Give each team a roll of toilet paper, and have them wrap their mummy with it (you can also use rolls of streamers in Halloween colors if you would prefer). The first team done wins.

Pin the nose on the jack-o-lantern

Create a large pumpkin out of cardboard, or make one out of construction paper and pin it to a bulletin board. Paint or glue eyes and a mouth on the jack-o-lantern, leaving the area where the nose should be empty. Cut out several yellow triangles, writing the child's name on the front and placing a small piece of double-sided tape on the back. Blindfold children and have them attempt to pin the nose where it belongs. To make the game more difficult, spin the child in circles several times before having them pin the nose on.

Almost any child's party game can be converted to a Halloween game with a little creativity. Of course, leave plenty of time for snacks and the ever-popular costume contest.

Halloween Family Fun

Halloween is a great family holiday. There are plenty of activities that the kids of all ages in your family can participate in, so why not get out of the house and join in the fun? Most cities will have plenty of options for Halloween fun in the month of October.

Trick-or-Treat

One of the most popular Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. If you are concerned about your kids heading out on their own on Halloween night, why not tag along? Don a costume yourself, and take the time to enjoy the scenery and everyone else's costumes. You might even get some candy of your own.

Deck the yard

And the halls, and yourself. If you choose to stay at home on Halloween night, why not make it fun for everyone who comes to visit you? Decorate your yard, entranceway, and yourself and get ready to enjoy the trick-or-treaters that come to call.

Costume parties

If you enjoy costumes, why not attend a costume party or host your own? This can be a great way for adults to have a more mature Halloween celebration, or just a fun way to allow the kids to enjoy their costumes for a little longer.

Haunted Houses

If you really want to get creeped out on Halloween, consider taking a tour through your local haunted houses. Most are designed to be gory and scary, so keep that in mind if there are little ones in your group. These attractions are usually quite popular, and are often open the entire month of October, so if you don't want to wait in line consider visiting them earlier in the month.

Boo at the zoo

If there is a zoo in your city, it might be worth checking to see if yours offers any special events in the month of October. Usually taking place on the weekends, Boo at the zoo usually allows your kids to dress up in costumes, receive treats, visit their favorite animals, and participate in fun activities.

Movie night

For movie buffs, some theaters will set up all-night horror film festivals. They often feature select cult classics like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as others. This can be great entertainment for those who plan on staying up all night. Alternatively, if you want to stay home, consider having your own movie night at home with your personal Halloween favorites.

Haunted hayrides

For another traditional Halloween activity, consider taking a haunted hayride. Often hosted by local farms (quite possibly the one you pick your pumpkin from) these after dark activities include a spooky hayride, bonfire, and snacks and are usually appropriate for all age groups.

Research your ghostly neighbors

Nearly every town has an area or building that is “haunted” by some local ghost. Visit your local library or historical center to find out where these places are, and take your own local tour. In some areas, paranormal investigation teams will take tours out on Halloween to do some ghost hunting of your own.

Read a book

If curling up at home alone with the leftover candy is more your speed, consider reading a suspense/horror book. Your local library can surely recommend some good ones depending on your tastes.

Halloween always offers plenty to do if you take time to do it.

Halloween Crafts for Kids

Many kids love Halloween. There are parties, costumes, and every kid's favorite – candy. Trying to keep kids entertained until Halloween night can require the patience of Gandhi himself. Here are some easy Halloween crafts that you can use to keep the kids entertained.

Puppets

Ghost puppets are easy to make and can inspire hours of creative play. Get a white handkerchief, black marker, and a rubber band. Drape the handkerchief over your child's middle three fingers, secure with a rubber band, and draw on eyes and a mouth with the marker. You can also put the cardboard from a paper towel roll and stuff the head with cotton balls if you want a more permanent puppet.

Lollipops

If you are planning on handing out lollipops as part of your treats for trick-or-treating, you kids can help you decorate them. Cover the lollipop with a tissue, tying securely with a rubber band or piece of ribbon. Use a marker to draw eyes and mouth on your ghosts and they are ready for giving.

Spider webs

Take 3 craft sticks and glue them together so that they make a star shape. Taking white or black yarn, weave it over one craft stick and under the next, working your way outwards from the center. When it is finished, glue down the end and attach a plastic spider. Your creation is now ready for hanging.

Candy Cauldrons

Find an empty plastic container and paint it black. You will also need to paint three small wooden balls black as well. Once everything is completely dry, glue the balls to the bottom of the cauldron. Add a wire handle if you would like, and fill your cauldron with your favorite Halloween candies.

Paint a pumpkin

Pumpkin carving is a bit messy and difficult, and can be dangerous if you do not want small children handling the knife. Instead, get some permanent markers or acrylic paint your pumpkin to look like a monster, clown, or other Halloween character. For kids, the smaller “pie pumpkins” or even the mini-pumpkins will work perfectly for this craft.

Paper plate masks

While your child may not be able to dress up in their costume until the day or evening of Halloween, you can easily create your own masks. Help your child cut eyes and breathing holes out of a paper plate. Punch a hole on either side to attach a ribbon or string to tie the mask on. Then you can allow your child to decorate the mask with crayons, marker, paint, or by gluing items to it.

Reusable treat bags

Purchase some reusable cloth totes or shopping bags as well as some Halloween-colored fabric paint. You can also look for iron-on transfers and stencils to make decorating easier. Allow your kids to decorate their own bag. If you do this a few days before Halloween, it will be dry and ready to go along when trick-or-treating.

A little creativity and you can come up with your own Halloween crafts for kids as you wait to celebrate this fall holiday.

Creative Halloween Decorations

If you walk around your neighborhood, there is a good chance that you will see very similar decorations at every home. Jack-o-lanterns, orange lights, trash bag pumpkins, and witches that have “crashed” into garage doors and nearby trees are incredibly common. However, if you are looking for something different to do this year, read on for creative ideas.

Masks

Hang a creepy mask on your front door. Decorate your scarecrow and garden gnomes with them. You can even hang them in the windows to look like someone creepy is peaking out. You can amp up the scary tone by placing a flash light on the ground, turning it on, and adjusting the light to illuminate the mask. Just make sure that any masks used outdoors are waterproof and fastened down so that they do not become ruined or fly away.

Vases

Glass vases can be an interesting way to decorate inside of your home. Consider filling them with different objects in fall and Halloween colors – colored leaves, black and orange marbles, Halloween candies, or even plastic bugs. You can then reuse the vases by making a few changes in the contents for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays. You can often find a variety of “fillers” at your local craft or dollar store.

Webs

Fake spider webs can make your front yard look creepy, but you can also use them inside, where you get the added benefit of having them last longer. Hang them in doorways and in corners throughout your home. You can even consider adding on some creepy inhabitants to perfect the look. Another benefit? You won't have to worry about dust? You may want to consider spraying the webbing with an insect repellent to keep the real deal from moving in. You will also want to make sure that you do not hang them anywhere that could be a potential fire hazard.

Murals

Have some budding artists in your family? Consider designing your own Halloween mural. You can then hang this in a bay window, a blank wall, or even outside if the weather permits. Have older children design their own Halloween scene, while younger children can color in the words “Happy Halloween.” This can also be a cute memento to pass on when your children get older to help remind them of childhood Halloweens.

Accents

If you don't want to go all out with your Halloween decorations, a few tasteful accents can help set the Halloween mood without turning your home into a Haunted house. For instance, you can hang orange and black curtains or bring out some Halloween themed throw pillows. Look for a Halloween welcome mat or move your smaller potted plants into plastic Halloween trick-or-treating containers. You can even look for Halloween knick knacks and static window clings.

If you are tired of the traditional Halloween decorations, a little creativity can help you create your own Halloween display. Simply look for items that you like that fall into the Halloween theme and create your own designs.

Carving the Perfect Pumpkin

One of the most time honored Halloween traditions is the carving of the pumpkin to place on the front porch. Many families make it a part of their fall traditions to drive out to the local pumpkin patch, pick out the perfect pumpkins, and then come home to carve creepy or funny faces into all of them.

Creating your own pumpkin masterpiece is easy. You can come up with your own designs, or you can look online for different templates if you want something truly different and spooky. However, even the perfect design will flop if you don't follow good pumpkin carving techniques. Here are some tips to help you create a work of art.

Find the right pumpkin

Of course, the perfect jack-o-lantern starts with the perfect pumpkin. Find one that is large enough and the proper shape to hold your design ideas. You will also want to examine the pumpkin for any bruising or defects that could cause it to deteriorate faster once you have taken it home.

Make sure the pumpkin is cleaned out

The start of any great jack-o-lantern begins with scooping out all of the seeds and mess that is inside. You should also take it a step further, however. Once the seeds have been removed, continue to scrape the inside until you have about a quarter of an inch of rind left. A thinner pumpkin is easier to carve – especially if you are hoping to successfully do fine detailing in your carving. Thin walls will also help your pumpkin keep longer after it is carved. They may make it more fragile, however, so use caution when moving your creation.

Pumpkins like it cool

From the time you bring your pumpkin home from the patch until it is time to throw it out you will want to keep it in a cool, dark area. If it is still warm where you live in October, store your pumpkin inside during the daytime. Always avoid sunlight during the day. If your pumpkin gets warm, it will start to rot quickly. Placing your pumpkin on the porch only in the evenings and taking it inside during the day time can help it to last longer.

Remember to moisturize

Not you – the pumpkin! Rubbing petroleum jelly on the cut surfaces of the pumpkin will help keep your pumpkin from drying out as quickly, which will cause it to lose its shape. Only do the cut edges, not the inside, especially if you plan on using a candle as it is a fire hazard.

Allow your pumpkin to breathe

When carving your pumpkin, place a small notch or hole in the lid. That way, when you place the candle inside, the smoke and heat have a way to escape. Otherwise, the pumpkin may start to cook, which will cause your jack-o-lantern to deteriorate more quickly.

Once you have found the perfect pumpkin to create your jack-o-lantern masterpiece, following these simple steps will help keep your creation looking spooky for several days' worth of Halloween fun.

Accessorize with Halloween Jewelry

For many people, the holidays are some of the best times of the year. They often mean a chance to take a little time off of work, gather the family together, decorate, and basically just have fun. Having fun and happy times make the day to day drudgery of the everyday that much more bearable.

For many people, the holidays are some of the best times of the year. They often mean a chance to take a little time off of work, gather the family together, decorate, and basically just have fun. Having fun and happy times make the day to day drudgery of the everyday that much more bearable.

Of course, some people dive into the holidays a little harder than others. And everyone has their own personal favorite – some like Christmas with the lights and the gifts, others Easter with cuddly bunnies and chocolate eggs, and then there is Halloween, with scary costumes and more candy than you know what to do with. And for those who dive whole heartedly into the holidays, accessories are just a part of the celebration.

A new trend

Wearing holiday jewelry is a newer trend. Starting with Christmas, it has now spread to the other holidays as well. So while you can have candy canes, nativity scenes, and packages in December, there are other things that you can wear throughout the year to celebrate the other holidays as well. Bunnies and crosses for Easter, snowflakes and snowmen for winter, menorahs for Hanukkah, and flags four the Fourth of July and Memorial Day are all popular additions to holiday accessories.

How you can accessorize for Halloween

While Christmas might still hold the lead for holiday accessories, Halloween is a close second. You can now choose anything from little ghosts, witches, pumpkins, black cats, spiders and more. And these Halloween icons can be found on earrings, pendants, bracelets, and other jewelry items so that you can mix and match your favorites into your everyday wardrobe.

Why do it?

You might wonder what would possess someone to don a pair of skeleton earrings during the month of October, or sport a brooch shaped like a black cat with glowing red eyes. However, it is an easy way for you to celebrate the holiday that you love without being obnoxious about it.

Take, for instance, the average office situation. Chances are, there is probably a dress code that you have to follow involving wearing business attire. So unless your office takes a casual day and allows you to dress up, wearing the clown, monkey, or witch costume to work on Halloween is probably going to be considered inappropriate. However, most bosses will not say anything about a tastefully chosen jack-o-lantern lapel pin or earrings shaped like black cats. So it can be a discrete way to observe the holiday without putting your job at risk.

Halloween accessories can also be that finishing touch that you need to your costume. For instance, what glamorous witch would you be without some flashy bat earrings or a large spider ring to complete your look? Halloween jewelry will add that finishing touch.

If you are looking for a fun, and possibly discrete, way to observe Halloween, or any of your other favorite holidays, choosing some holiday jewelry can be a fun way to do it.

A Finishing Costume Touch – Contacts Lenses

If you are looking for a way to make your Halloween costume complete and stand out above everyone else, you can consider special effect contact lenses. Here is a look at how these creepy contact lenses can help you complete the look.

If you are looking for a way to make your Halloween costume complete and stand out above everyone else, you can consider special effect contact lenses. Here is a look at how these creepy contact lenses can help you complete the look.

Will I be able to see?

Most of the special effect contact lenses are designed so that you can see while wearing them, including the blackout styled ones. The center portion of the lens remains clear. The exception to this is the ones that are designed to make the entire eye look white, since they hide the pupils. As you will have limited vision, it is suggested that you wear these lenses in only one eye at a time.

Can I still wear them if I wear prescription contacts?

Halloween contact lenses come in styles for both those who need corrective lenses and those that do not. However, the selection of corrective powered lenses is more limited, and do not go higher than a -6 prescription. Some styles are only available as non-corrective lenses.

Will they be comfortable to wear?

If you go with a higher quality brand of contact lenses, they should be comfortable. However, if you do not wear contacts normally you will probably notice that they are there. You should also keep in mind that costume contacts do not allow as much air flow to the eye as your traditional lenses, and so can start to feel irritated sooner. Most costume contact manufacturers do not recommend wearing the lenses for longer than 8 hours at a time.

Can I wear them more than once?

The typical name brand Halloween contact lenses are designed to last for a year, just like your regular contacts would. With good care and only occasional wear the nicer brands can last up to 18 months. Some brands are designed for only temporary wear and will last about 30 days. Less expensive than the other styles, these can be a good option if you only plan on wearing your Halloween contact lenses once.

Are there any risks?

There are some FDA warnings about Halloween contact lenses, and most are associated with the proper wear. You should always see an optometrist before ordering contacts, and purchase them from a registered contact lens retailer. Never share your lenses with another person. Do not sleep in lenses or wear them for longer than 8 hours. Remember to carry a case and contact lens solution with you so that you can remove your lenses if they become uncomfortable. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses.

How much will they cost me?
Traditional Halloween contact lenses range in price from about $60-$80 a pair. Hand-painted Halloween contact lenses are much more expensive and can cost over $200 a pair.

Where can I buy them?

You can often purchase Halloween contact lenses from your regular optometrist as well as online retailers. Since they are often special ordered, make sure that you allow enough time for them to arrive and order early for Halloween orders.

Halloween contact lenses can be a great way to add a finishing and unexpected touch to your Halloween costume.