Costumes, Decorations and Parties, OH MY!

    It will be here before you know it.  The stores are already getting their shelves stocked with candy. Parties are being planned.  You know how you hate waiting until the last minute to try and  throw something together.  

     Here are a few ideas to help with a stress free Halloween.  Whether your stumped on what to wear or how to decorate,  I've got a few suggestions.  And just think, getting started early means you can throw that party you have been dying to throw year after spooky year.  

    Decorations

An ice cream scoop works great for cleaning out the pumpkin's pulp.  A drywall knife will provide better control than a kitchen knife when carving your pumpkin.

Combine 2 parts lemon juice to 1 part water in a spray bottle.  Use this to spritz your carved pumpkin inside and outside for mold prevention.

Before putting a candle in your hollowed out pumpkin, sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon in it.  When the candle burns it will smell as if you were baking homemade pumpkin pie.

Have a pumpkin carving contest at your party.  Either carved ahead or during.

Use black light bulbs or even some green light bulbs in place of your regular ones to create a creepy Halloween atmosphere.  

Don't forget the spooky music!

Party Treats

Floating hands for the punch can be accomplished by filling rubber gloves with water, closing them tightly and then put them in the freezer the day before needed.  When they are frozen solid and you're ready to put them into the punch bowl, carefully peel off the gloves.

Floating eyeballs can be made by peeling red seedless grapes.

Bloody up popcorn by mixing red food coloring into melted butter and drizzle it on.  

Individual plastic cups filled with chocolate pudding and sprinkled with chocolate cookie or cake crumbs, looks like soil.  Now all that is left is to add a few gummy worms.

Costume Ideas

Castaway - Shred the bottoms of an old pair of khaki pants or shorts.  Wear them with a T-shirt that's ripped, torn, holey, stained, or whatever.  You get the picture don't you?  Men would not shave for a few days for this costume.  Women need to rat up hair and spray to hold.  And don't forget your little buddy.

Wilson

Junk Drawer - Wear a black sweat suit or a black leotard and tights.  Pin on the stuff found in a junk drawer like odd pieces of string, a used-up tape dispenser, coin wrappers, buttons, etc.

Wearing a black sweat suit or black attire of some kind and then adding the right stuff opens up ideas for all sorts of costumes.

Movie Theater Floor, Teachers Blackboard, Basement Floor, Gym Locker,etc... 

These guys have a few costume ideas...