A favorite, all-American dessert is the Rice Crispy Treat, a lip smacking pairing of marshmallow and crispy rice cereal into a crunchy, sweet dessert bar. To make a fabulous dessert to bring to the neighborhood Halloween costume party, prepare the Rice Crispy Treats according to your favorite recipe.

When it comes time to press your gooey mixture into a baking dish, use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to shape your tricky treats. Use chocolate chips to create eyes and a mouth for a Jack-o-Lantern perfect for a Halloween costume party. You can also use other Halloween costume shapes like a ghost or a witch to make them. I’ve opted to use different ingredients to make a wide variety of Rice Crispy Halloween costume party treats, like caramel chips to create the pumpkin’s orange color or green food color to make the Wicked Witch an emerald green.

Everyone Likes to Be Tricked and Treated at Halloween costume Parties

At my elementary school, everyone longed for the day that they would be in Ms. Larsen’s 4th grade class. She was known as the festive holiday chef, and she would tailor her lessons and class activities to fit with the current holiday. At Halloween, she would let us all wear Halloween costumes to school, and in all her years of teaching, she always wore a Halloween costume, too. One beloved class tradition was making Spooky Soil, or put simply, Dirt. It sounds rather unappetizing, doesn’t it? Just keep in mind that the ingredients are crushed Oreos, chocolate pudding, gummy worms and spiders, and fudge. It’s one of the simplest recipes out there. You just need two prepared packages of pudding, a bag of Oreos, some creepy-crawling gummy worms, insects, and spiders, and a warmed-up jar of store-bought fudge or chocolate syrup. Mix up all the ingredients, and serve in clear throwaway cups. I’ve made this “dish” and served it at Halloween costume parties in a black plastic cauldron. Let your ghoulish guests ladle out worms and layers of delicious dirt!

Try to Add Festive Extra Touches to your Halloween costume Party Recipes

Many trick-or-treaters and Halloween costume party guests have savored the delectably sweet bites of a candied apple. What a great combination of crisp, fresh apple and lick-your-lips melted caramel! This year, why not hand out (or serve at your Halloween costume party) an extra special variation on the candied apple? Melt 14 ounces caramel with about a tablespoon of water on your stovetop. Be sure to stir constantly, so that your sugary mixture does not burn. Using six washed apples of your favorite variety (many people prefer the tart, tangy taste of Granny Smith), dip apples individually in the caramel mixture. Set the apples on a sheet of wax paper. Let cool for 10 minutes. Next, melt 4 ounces chocolate chips over the stovetop, and dip apples halfway into melted chocolate. Let cool entirely on the wax paper, and serve in a festive bowl. It’s a wonderful way to change up your menu at your Halloween costume party—and the three layers look great!

If you ask children what their favorite holiday is, the most likely response from most children will be Christmas, with Halloween coming in a close second. Some children will choose Halloween as their first favorite. But this holiday, with all its goblins and ghouls, likely makes the top two favorite holidays on most children's' lists.

To that end, then, it's always fun to have a raucous Halloween class party. With lots of fun games and activities, and plenty of candy for prizes, it's sure to be a hit with kids of all school ages.

For younger children how about a game of pumpkin bowling? Find some of those inexpensive plastic pumpkin treat buckets and stack them up on a hard floor. You can stack them as high as you like, but you have to start with at least three buckets. If you get many buckets, you can make a pyramid out of them. Find some lightweight plastic balls - plastic bowling balls are excellent for this. And let the kids go bowling! The kids love knocking over the pumpkin heads and all the kids who play should get a prize for this game.

Kids of all ages enjoy making mummies out of themselves and their friends. Here's how this works. You bring in toilet paper, lots and lots of toilet paper. Divide the kids into teams of 2. When you begin timing the kids, they must wrap their friend up in the toilet paper, mummy style. The first team who is all wrapped wins. The child who's wrapped up like a mummy can then break out of the toilet paper wrap with a scary "roar" and the game begins again so the other child can also be wrapped. Be sure to play some spooky Halloween music while this game is being played to add to the atmosphere.

Circle time! Have all the kids get in a circle and begin a spooky story. The story can begin with the classic, "It was a dark and spooky night..." and then the person next in the circle continues the story. Each child adds something to the story as it moves around the circle. If the children are young, you can keep the story on the straight and narrow by indicating no gruesome elements will be allowed. If the kids are older, you can decide how scary the story can be. Be aware that children in higher elementary grades will not only like their stories fairly scary and gruesome, but some might even add "booger" and "snot" and "throw up" elements to their story. You can set the rules ahead of time to prepare for this type of storytelling.

No game has held onto children's interests for more years than the classic "musical chairs". This version includes playing Halloween music (think "Monster Mash" or "Thriller" by Michael Jackson) and asking the kids to act as spooky and scary as they can while they race around the chairs. You can up the rules depending on the ages of the children. For example, for children in the lower grades you can tell them to just walk around the chairs until the music stops. As they get older, you can add challenging elements, such as make scary faces as you walk around the chairs, do the monster mash (whatever that means to the individual kid) and other things like that. You're sure to get some creative responses.

Kids love cakewalks, but they aren't practical in the classroom. You could, however, have a treat walk. Save enough space in the classroom for this one. Again, play some Halloween-themed music and have the kids walk around in a circle as they do for cakewalks during other school events. Instead of having them walk onto number squares or circles, however, you can have them walking onto cardboard discs that include pictures of ghosts, monsters and the like. The person running the cakewalk will stop the music and pull a matching picture out of a pumpkin head. Instead of calling "#14", for example, as the winner of the cakewalk, it will be "ghost head" or "monster mouth".

Halloween is one holiday that most children really enjoy, but too many parents get stressed out over it. Some simple planning though will help you get ready for it instead of dreading it. Costumes are always an issue for children and they should have some say in what they get to wear. Put a dollar amount limit on it if they want to have a costume purchased instead of made.

All costumes should be tried on so you know they are going to be a good fit for your children. Too many accidents happen due to eye holes not lining up correctly and them tripping over the bottom of it. Take care of these issues before Halloween so that they can just slip it on that night and go out.

Make sure you explain Halloween safety to your children before the big night. This way they will pay attention because they won’t be overly excited. Try it out during dinner the week of Halloween to ensure it is fresh in their minds. Explain they need to use sidewalks and never dart between cars to cross the street. This should only be done at the crosswalks. It is a good idea to give each child a flashlight or a glow stick so they are easier to notice. They also need to refrain from eating any candy that they get until an adult has carefully inspected it.

It is easy to serve up a fun and scary Halloween meal without too much effort. Since you know the little ghosts and witches will be eating plenty of candy in the days to come you can be proud to serve them something healthy as well. For just a couple of dollars you can purchase brain Jell-o molds. Mix up a meat loaf and let it sit over night in the refrigerator. These molds are made from plastic so you can’t bake in them but the design will become indented in the meat as it sits overnight.

Serve up plain white rice or even broccoli rice with the meatloaf on a plate as brains and maggots. Your children will really enjoy eating them and this doesn’t take very much effort to complete either. You can also make a delightful and delicious punch to serve with it. The night before fill up rubber gloves with water and tie the ends shut. Make sure you separate the fingers as you place them in the freezer.

In a punch bowl mix black cherry juice with a two liter of 7-Up. Place the hands into the mixture for icy hands that are very real looking. To make the punch even for Halloweenish, add some scoops of rainbow sherbet to it.

Getting ready for Halloween doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming so have fun with it. This is a holiday that people of all ages can enjoy. Start making your plans for it today so that everyone can have a good time without worrying about last minute details.

Halloween Coloring Pages for the Classroom or a Rainy Saturday

Look around you and you will probably find a lot of adults who really love to get out the Crayolas and stay inside the lines. One of the greatest joys of childhood is one of the ones that starts really early for most kids – coloring. There is just something magical about putting colored pencil or crayons to a sheet of paper and making magic with color. I don’t think any of us ever really outgrows the sense of joy and wonder that coloring brings. In fact, I am convinced that one major reason people decide to have children is to have the chance to sit down and color again – without anyone looking at them sideways.

So, if you are in charge of some kids this year – whether they are your own children, the friends of your kids, or a classroom full of wee ones – you should not let the Halloween season pass by without giving them the chance to fill in some beautiful or scary or just plain fun Halloween coloring pages.

You can do the old fashioned thing if you like and head out to the discount store and buy a few Halloween coloring books, but with technology what it is, you don’t really even have to make that much effort to put the fun of coloring into your classroom or living room this Halloween.

All you really need to do is get online and type in a search. Just type in “Halloween coloring pages” and you will come up with thousands of different sites that are related to Halloween, and there will be so many Halloween coloring pages to choose from. Just go to a few different sites and download or print whichever ones you like the best.

It is a good idea to match the Halloween coloring pages with the age of the people who will be coloring them in. The older the children, the more complicated the pages can be. If you have mostly toddlers, pre-schoolers, or kindergartners, you will want to stick with basic, easy coloring pages that have big areas to color and simple things like pumpkins or witches or black cats.

If you want to, it can be great fun to hold a Halloween coloring contest. If you own a local business, this is a great way to add a little flair to the Halloween season in your front office or below your cash register. Just print the Halloween coloring page and make plenty of copies; then, let your littlest customers color them and return them. Judge the best one a week or so before Halloween and give out whatever prize you want.

Halloween coloring pages are a great way for teachers to decorate the classroom or hallways, too. Kids love to see their work displayed for everyone to see, and the coloring pages can serve as decorations, too. So, give your students some time to make Halloween magic with crayons and provide them some Halloween coloring pages to set their creativity ablaze.

Halloween is not just a kids holiday anymore. Over the last 30-40 years, it has become more and more popular, with adults getting into the spirit as well as children. And of all the Halloween traditions, costumes are the biggest one for all ages.

Right from the time kids are babies, they're getting dressed up for Halloween (although for babies the thrill is more for the parents than the kids!)

There are almost unlimited ideas for kids costumes, but the most popular from one year to another are the licensed characters from their favorite movies and TV shows. And usually the most popular is any character from the past summer's biggest hit movies.

More tried-and-true costumes like pirates, witches, ghosts and aliens always work too. As kids get older, they usually get gorier every year. Fake wounds, scars and blood are common sights with older trick-or-treaters. And the less their parents like it, the better.

Grown-up halloween costumes are getting more popular every year as well. There are tons of licensed costumes for adults as well as many of the old standby's.

When adults get dressed up, they quite often like to stick to a theme - everyone at the party dresses according to theme or perhaps a couple will dress in matching costumes of some kind.

Historical costume like Renaissance or Medieval outfits are also popular with grown ups. Or "decade" costumes - flappers from the Roaring 20's or a 40's zoot suit.

One difference between kids costumes and adults is that adults often put together their own outfit, with more attention to the details. Kids are perfectly happy with a costume that you bought in the local drug store.

Adult costume can get quite detailed - something that would be right at home on a movie set. Costume makeup and high quality masks and clothing are quite common.

Costume rental stores can help with putting all this together. A high quality costume can cost a considerable amount of money and renting it might make sense, especially if you want to have a different costume every year.

Bird watching is just about the most unobjectionable hobby in the world. With Halloween approaching, however, it is time to discuss the dark, dark, dark side of birding.

Bird watching enthusiasts are always looking for good spots to whip out the binoculars and visually hunt for a new life bird. There are really only two potential downsides to this for bird watchers.

What Are You Looking At?

For backyard birding, one runs the risk of neighbors thinking you are a pervert of some type trying to look in their windows with your binoculars. This can usually be overcome by spreading the word in the neighborhood that you’re an avid birder and the binoculars are not pointing at anyone’s windows. Really.

If this doesn’t work, invite the offended neighbors over to do some watching. They will either grow bored and leave or get hooked. Either way, you’ll benefit and no longer have to deal with negative gossip.

Buffy the Bird Watcher

Cemeteries! Not just for demons, vampires and Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

A nasty little secret in the bird watching world is the fact cemeteries are good places to bird watch. Generally, the cemetery is quite, has lots of trees and hunters typically aren’t bold enough to have a go at the fowl. In short, a perfect place for birds to congregate and you to watch.

Now, it goes without saying that bird watching in a cemetery requires a certain etiquette. First, the staff at the cemetery may have a “get the hell off the property” policy towards birding enthusiasts. This can quickly be overcome by explaining that uncle/aunt [look at closest grave stone] was an avid bird watcher and you are bringing their equipment in remembrance. A little wailing may help with senior staff, while cigarettes seem to be preferred by staff carrying shovels.

Having dealt with the staff, small mention should be made regarding actual funerals. If a dearly beloved is being interred, do not pursue your birding within site of the event! Doing so could result in serious physical injury, as funeral goers do not seem to react well to a person with binoculars staring in the direction of funeral and writing down things. Keep in mind emotions are justifiably high. This means they can outrun you.

Typically, most will cluck in dismay at the idea of bird watching in a cemetery. You may be doing so now. Ah, but as Halloween approaches and you’re dying for a new sighting, you just might start to feel differently.

After all, where else will you be able to finally see Vladious Vampirous in its natural habitat?

It’s a night for scary surprises, lots of free candy for kiddies and the chance to dress up in pet halloween costumes. And, even though he cannot eat chocolate, Fido may enjoy getting all dolled up for a night of fun. In recent years, designers have begun manufacturing pet halloween costumes for pets. In creations ranging from super heros to villains, pet costumes are gaining in popularity both locally and through online merchants.

With the internet being the largest shopping mall in the world, albeit a virtual one, the selection of pet halloween costumes is much greater in cyberspace. Designers and specialty stores around the world have the opportunity to showcase their latest ideas and fabrics that are sure to please even the pickiest of pet owners. Anyone who plans to order via the internet can expect to pay a shipping and handling fee, but with pet halloween costumes being lightweight, this additional cost won’t likely be a significant one.

When selecting pet halloween costumes for pets, it is a good idea to measure your cat or dog beforehand so that you will know what size to purchase. That’s right. Not all halloween costumes for pets come in a one-size-fits-all cookie cutter shape. In fact, most quality outfits will be specially made for various size animals. A yellow lab and a poodle probably wouldn’t agree on the same size costume, so stay away from designers that gear toward the one-size-fits-all design.

When selecting halloween costumes, it is a good idea to choose one that will be most comfortable for your furry little friend. Remember, they are also wearing a fur coat, so anything that is breathable will be ideal. It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that most pets will be resistant to halloween costumes at first, simply because it is a new concept. If you plan to show them off on Halloween, make sure that you break them in several days prior to the big night. One way to do this is by showing them the costume, putting it on for a few minutes and then removing it. Afterward, give them a treat and praise them for good behavior. After several of these exercises, not only will your pet be happy to wear the costume, but he/she will also be looking forward to a treat afterward. So, just make sure that you have a special treat for them on Halloween as well - but no chocolate.

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.

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.

We want our kids to have fun during Halloween, but have you thought about the safety of their halloween costumes? Most of us want our children to wear cool costumes when trick-or-treating, but neglecting a kids’ Halloween costume's safety can turn that experience sour.

Are your kids' halloween costumes too dangerous to wear? Find out if those halloween costumes are safe to wear, tips for buying safe kids’ halloween costumes, and how your children can wear cool costumes without sacrificing safety.

Are Your Kids' Costumes Really Safe to Wear?

Are your kids' halloween costumes really safe to wear? The answer is yes and no. In 2001, the Disney Store recalled 54,000 Princess Ariel costumes after one girl received burn injuries. Keep in mind that kids’ halloween costumes are required by law to use flame-retardant materials.

Another problem is ventilation in full-masked halloween costumes. Most costumes don't provide enough ventilation for kids to breathe, resulting in carbon dioxide poisoning. If your child wants to wear a mask, nose holes aren't enough. Carbon dioxide builds up over time, causing your anxious child to faint from the lack of oxygen. You want your child to wear a well-ventilated mask to prevent any nasty side-effects.

Another lesser problem with kids’ halloween costumes is visibility. This isn't just about how well your kids can see; it's also about how well people see them. A mask limits visibility. If little Joey can't see where he's going, he'll trip and skin his knee. If costumes aren't visible after dark, people -- more importantly, vehicles -- won't see the kids’ halloween costumes, blindly running over happy trick-or-treaters. halloween costumes aren't all bad news, however. Carefully selecting your kids' costumes and preparing it for night wear eliminates these catastrophes.

How to Select Safe Kids Costumes for Halloween

Before buying your kids' halloween costumes, you'll want to make sure it's safe. Here are some guidelines:

o All kids’ halloween costumes are required by law to use flame-retardant materials. You can't depend on companies adhering to this law, however. Pick clothing that fits well and doesn't hang. If your child wants to wear a cape, make sure the cape isn't long. If your child wants to wear a dress, make sure it doesn't drag on the ground. People love to decorate during Halloween, and some decorations include fire. If a loose costume accidentally brushes against this, it won't be a happy Halloween!

o Masks should be well-ventilated. Masks should have multiple ventilation areas with big holes, such as hockey masks. Most masks have little ventilation, so skip these kids’ halloween costumes if you can. If your child insists on looking like their favorite masked character, use makeup instead.

o Make sure that the mask's eye holes are big enough. Holes should be twice the size of your child’s eyes. Make sure the mask lies flat on their face. o If you can, stay away from dark clothing. It decreases visibility.

o Don't pick anything that covers their face, such as a messy wig.

Once your kids' halloween costumes are selected, you'll need to prepare it for night wear.

How to Make Your Kids' Halloween Attire Safe

There are two ways to prepare your kids for a safe Halloween outing:

o Use reflective tape. This can be bought in most stores. Place two strips on your kids' shoes and two strips on their Halloween costume. These strips shine in the dark and alert drivers.

o Have your kids carry a flashlight. If your kids don't like it, find a flashlight with a strap. They can hang it from their wrists and keep it out of sight.

Of course some kids won't like your safe ideas. Some kids want to wear full-face masks when trick-or-treating. Some won't like wearing reflective tape. So how do you make your kids happy without sacrificing safety?

Getting Your Kids to Celebrate Halloween Safely

Getting your kids to like your safe ideas is difficult. Here are some suggestions:

o If your child insists on wearing a full-face mask, have your child wear it around the house for a while. Chances are your child won't want to wear it any longer this Halloween.

o Does your child refuse to wear reflective tape on their Halloween costume? Put it on their bag instead.

o If your kids insist on long clothing, have them wear it around the house. They'll get tired of it and opt for another kids’ Halloween costume.

If your children still refuse to wear safe kids’ halloween costumes, talk to them about why it's important to stay safe on Halloween. Illustrations or stories are very effective with younger children.

Again, it's always important that your kids are safe this Halloween season, so start with their kids’ halloween costumes. Make sure their costumes fit snugly, are marked with reflective tape, and don't interfere with their visibility. It's important to make the kids’ halloween costumes safe so they have a happy, safe Halloween -- a great Halloween you and your kids will remember for years to come.

Halloween is the one day when children get to go to strangers homes and beg for candy. In most place, the weather on Halloween is a little on the cold side, but this does not mean that Halloween fun is only for kids, or that you cant stay in your nice warm house on All Hallows Eve and indulge in a little grown up fun.

If you have never bought a sexy costume for Halloween before, you may be a little confused as to how to choose one. Some costumes online probably look more like lingerie, while some look like costumes you could wear to an adult only sexy costume party, and probably nowhere else, without halting traffic dead in its tracks that is.

The first thing to consider when choosing a sexy costume is where you are planning to wear it. If you are not going to leave the house, then a harem bikini costume might be perfect. If you are, you may want to opt for a she devil or mermaid costume, but then again, you may not. This leads us to the next factor to consider when choosing a sexy costume, your individual personality.

Are you confident, daring, and possess a little bit of a wild streak? If so, why not try a sexy nurse, French maid, harem or slave girl costume? Are you a little more inhibited? A mermaid costume, or a costume that covers a little more of your body might be more appropriate for you. Whether you decide to bare a little or a lot of your body really depends on you, because only you know which parts of your body you feel most comfortable showing off or downplaying.

When you decide on a costume, particularly if you are ordering one online, take the time to measure yourself to ensure the right fit. It may take a little longer than just automatically clicking the buy button, but it will save you time, and the hassle of returning a costume, in the long run.

Ultimately, whatever costume you choose should be a reflection of you, your personality, and should make you look your very best at the same time. For more sexy costume ideas, and photos, the Internet is a great resource, and once you find one that you like and are sure of the fit, ordering it is easy and fast.

Masks have mesmerized people from all different cultures and countries from the time of the ancients until this modern day. Masks have been used for many different reasons, from religious rituals, theater to the delightful play of children. Although, many masks are still used today in all these different ways one of the most popular reasons for wearing a mask is in celebration of Samhain, Halloween and magnificent masquerade balls. Masks have such a whimsical allure that you will find many antique masks on display throughout many countries of the world.

For some people, when they begin to determine what they would like to dress up as for Halloween, may start with their costume and then go about choosing just the right mask to accentuate their Halloween costume, while others will first choose their halloween mask and then build their costume around it. Since everyone is different, neither of these choices is better than the other when it comes to choosing a halloween mask and accessories. In other words, choose your Halloween costume and mask in the manner that best fits your needs.

halloween masks add both excitement and mystery to your costume while being wonderful accessories. However, while choosing the perfect halloween mask you should know that some of the most realistic looking ones are the latex masks. When choosing a latex mask you can be just about anything from an alien, animal or insects. You may also choose from a wide assortment of halloween masks that include your favorite television shows, movies and cartoon characters.

Unless of course you would rather show up in a scary mask while trick or treating, door to door or simply enjoying time with friends and family while carving a Halloween pumpkin, there are so many to choose from. Such as Jason or Freddie masks as well as a large and wonderful assortment of goblins, ghouls, corpses and creepy clowns. Although, we should not forget the classics like Frankenstein, werewolves, zombies, ghosts as well as Presidents, goons, monsters and other masks of mayhem.

There are also witches, wizards, pirates and Mardi Gras masks. Old men and women masks are also popular as well as going to a haunted house wearing a Game Face sports ball mask. Although, you may also choose a halloween mask that is not so frightful such as queens, kings, princess, angels, fairies, unicorns and dragons.

Therefore, you see there are many different kinds of halloween masks such as these and so many more. Whether you choose to wear a theater mask or a bush mask, you will be able to enjoy October 31 while wearing your favorite holiday fashions as you masquerade about on All Hallows Eve.

You may be interested to know the most popular halloween masks for children last year were, Princess, Pirates, Witch, Spider-Man, Superman and Disney Princess as well as Power Rangers, Pumpkins, Cats and Vampires. The most popular masks for adults last year were the Witch, Pirate, Vampire, Cat, Clown as well as the Fairy, Gypsy, Superhero, Ghost and Ghoul. This means that there is a wide variety of choices on the market when considering a halloween mask and accessories. However, you should also keep in mind that if you wait to long that all the great halloween masks will be picked over quickly, so if you are in the mood for celebrating Halloween by wearing a mask, you should start early.

Halloween is a fun time of year, especially if you love making craft projects. Homemade Halloween craft projects can range from the very simple Halloween paper crafts, to an elaborate display. If the whole family is going to participate in making Halloween decorations, then you should plan way ahead of time and know exactly what items you’ll need to create all the spooky critters and creatures that will adorn your home.

It’s a good idea to buy either plastic drawer organizers, and/or storage boxes to keep all of the common tools and craft supplies you’ll be using--all in an easy-to-find place. Do your shopping early so that you’ll have plenty of time to find everything you’ll need. It’s also a good idea to keep specific items in separate compartments or boxes and label them clearly.

Here is a list of craft supplies and tools you may want to have on hand:

Tools

** Art brushes ** Craft knife ** Decorative edge craft scissors ** Dressmaker’s wheel ** Foam Paintbrushes ** Hot glue gun and glue sticks ** Kitchen knife ** Hole punch with a heart, star, or other designs ** Paintbrushes ** Palette knife or plastic knife ** Paper scissors ** Pinking shears ** Pencils and ballpoint pens ** Rubber mallot

Supplies

** Acetate film ** Acrylic craft paint ** Cardboard ** Clear acrylic sealer ** Colored construction paper ** Decorative grommets ** Double-sided tape ** Epoxy adhesive ** Flexible jewelry wire ** Foam-core board ** Liquid fabric stiffener ** Magnetic tape ** Masking tape (regular and black) ** Manilla paper ** Poster board (especially black) ** Rubber bands ** Scrap paper and old newspapers ** Sharp-tipped markers ** Snaps ** Spray adhesive ** Spray matte finish ** Tacking glue ** Tracing paper ** Transfer or carbon paper ** White paper glue

Decorations

** Artificial gemstones ** Attachable alphabetical letters ** Battery operated tea lights ** Beads ** Buttons ** Cheesecloth ** Christmas lights ** Craft sticks ** Flat stick-on foamies ** Foam plastic balls and 3D shapes ** Glitter ** Googly eyes ** Liquid beads ** Microbeads ** Mosaic tiles ** Pipe cleaners ** Plastic bugs and other critters ** Polyfill webbing ** Pompoms ** Preformed cardboard shapes ** Ribbon ** Sequins ** Taper, tea, votive candles

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.

Halloween is fun. It is a day of fun. Everybody across all the age groups enjoys Halloween. On such a day, it is fun to send ecards. With so many ecards available, it becomes difficult to get ecards that make you feel good and give joy to the recipients. After all the ecards are supposed to spread joy. Let me tell you how to do this.

Get Free - with so much free content available on the net, it is no use paying for ecards search for websites that are offering free ecards.

Flash - In this age, to use static small JPG ecards looks little out of place. Look for flash ecards that have lot of movement in them.

Size- Don’t chose very small or very large sizes. Chose sizes that nicely fit in the screen. Your recipient will be able to view the ecard easily and enjoy it.

Music - Use ecards with scary music. The flash with music will add to the fun of Halloween.

Message - chose a service that gives space for putting your message and a notification to you that your ecard has been viewed.

Selection of ecards requires little search if you know what you are looking for. The card size/weight should be small so that the ecard opens easily. The ecard should have a click to view in the beginning. Halloween offers you a grand opportunity to connect with all friends and family members. Send more than one ecard to most of them. The ecards are free. Why not send more? Halloween is fun. Ecards for Halloween add to that fun and make your day really enjoyable.

Many blocks of a neighborhood are decorated with all kinds of eerie things. As children wander from house to house with their parents by their side, they might come across several homes with doors that are making eerie sounds. When some children hear these strange noises for the first time, they make it very difficult for the parent to coax them to walk up the sidewalk to the house.

Some doors are so scary that children will refuse to knock on the door. Some older children might have to do it and yell "Trick or Treat" for them. The children might be staring at ghosts that are floating under trees. Some children in the group might be captivated by a large spider that is crouching in a huge spider web that has been expertly formed by a homeowner on the corner of the porch.

Parents are almost certain that the children are not thinking about candy at this point. They can see that the creaking door that made eerie sounds has had a dramatic affect on the children. The children might not recover from their rigid posture for many hours on Halloween night and the parents will have to avoid any other Halloween door decorations that make eerie sounds.

Halloween is normally a joyful event that brings out all types of ghosts and goblins into the streets. Children that walk with parents have probably already heard a speech about none of it being real. When doors make eerie sounds, some children are too young to understand this crazy logic and will hold tightly to the legs of parents and still refuse to go up another sidewalk. They might even rely on a big brother to bring them the candy that was being handed out at that eerie house.

Some children will not believe that halloween costumes are not real until they remove a monsters mask and look the wearer directly in the eye. Some children are bothered by this small task on Halloween because some people are pranksters and have chosen to wear more than one mask on this Halloween. When the children remove the monsters mask they will be shocked to find themselves looking at an ogre with only one eye.

Some little ones are very saddened on Halloween because they see their favorite cartoon character with an arrow piercing their forehead. Other children might think it is quite funny to see some characters they know in love totally out of character. With these little quirks to people they can relate to a child is able to start seeing the jovial attitudes that surround Halloween.

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I’ve been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I’ve actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn’t go quite the way I expected. . .

The Garage Sale

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone’s sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren’t selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Trying Again

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea – let’s do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather – upper 60’s by “game time.” We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

Halloween is Here

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn’t wait to set up! We got everything out – ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy – to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

The Results

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

The Lessons

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did – and what we accomplished. $32. I didn’t even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

• We had fun both planning and doing the event.

• We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

• We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others – through our actions, not our checkbooks.

• We made a memory we will talk about for years.

• We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

• I got the subject for this essay.

• A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

• And we did add $32 to the Riley Children’s Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn’t reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn’t raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren’t. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that’s OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don’t know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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.

Halloween Pregnancy Costume Ideas

The minute you begin your pregnancy everything is changing, your body, your clothes sizes, even your looks. But that doesn't mean you have to skip out on your favorite holidays, like Halloween. Being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t dress up. Whether you are buying your costume or making them yourself, you can have fun. There are many costumes you can buy for couples or just for yourself. The Pregnancy couple may want to go as a baker and an oven, or an egg and bacon bit. Both outfits are really cute and creative, you can even make them at home if you chose too.

If you want to get really creative you can make your own costumes, here are a few costumes that you can make just using your belly and normal clothes are:

The eyeball- This is something my husband created, all you need is a little facial paint and black clothes. This is something even a person that can't draw can have a little bit of fun with. Wear all black clothes on Halloween and paint your belly white, make the center of the eye whatever color you desire and don't forget the red veins. Make it scary or cute, whatever fits your desire. Have a bit of fun and show off that tummy by keeping the shirt up or wear a shirt that shows your tummy. My husband got a kick out of this one and was so excited that he got to do the artwork.

If you want to dress up completely but not stand out, try going as a human pumpkin. Wear a tiny green cap or make one out of felt and all orange, if you can cut a slit in your shirt for your belly to stick out. Now, paint it orange and decorate your pumpkin.

A pea is another simple costume you can make and stay warm. Go find some green jeans or sweats and a green sweatshirt. Keep the shirt up or cut a hole in it to make your little pod stick out and paint it all green.

If you aren't feeling up to having a full body costume, you could always just paint the belly and proudly show it off. After all, how often will you be pregnant? Think of anything that is round: basketball, volleyball, soccer ball, a bowling ball, etc

Don't forget witches were mothers too, so if you've always dressed as a witch for Halloween you don't have to stop the tradition. This year go as a pregnant witch or maybe a witch holding a pumpkin. Use that belly!

A Bun in the oven- Get a medium or small box, cut it out so that you can wear it over your shoulders. Make room for your head to slide through. Decorate it with paints like an oven. Cut open the front of the box so that it will open and close. On the outside of the box write, “Bun in the Oven.” Paint your belly a light beige for all to see the little baby bun.

If you have never owned a pet, the idea of dressing up a dog in a Pet Halloween costume definitely sounds a little silly. After all, it's not like Fido is going to go around asking for candy, right? To some, it may seem like a childish obsession to need to dress the family pet up like you would a person, to others just another way that the big companies of corporate America have decided to try and squeeze a few extra bucks out of patrons this Halloween season. For others, however, there is a certain charm to family pets being dressed up in celebration of the holiday.
Icebreakers and attention getters
As any kid can tell you, dogs are a great way to get to know people. Especially ones dressed in costumes. With the exception of the few people who might be afraid of dogs, many love to come up and say hello and offer a pat to a dog that they see on the street.
Of course, every kid out trick or treating has one goal – get as much candy as you can. Having a dog in a costume is a great way to do that. The houses that you visit will love the cuteness factor of the whole get up. Plus, it is sure to inspire some conversation, and the friendlier you are to people the more likely you are to receive candy in return. Get a dog costume that matches your own for extra cute points.
Protection and safety
A loyal family pet is going to look out for its family. So even though it is a good idea for mom and dad to come along while trick or treating, a dog is an extra bit of protection for your child should he or she get lost. Even a small dog will bark at something that is amiss, and larger dogs have the whole intimidation factor. Many children are also more careful about crossing streets when they are with a family pet.
Choosing a costume
There are a wide variety of costumes for dogs. Consider one that coordinates with your child's costume. As with costumes for any member of your family, you will want to be sure that it fits properly. Avoid any with long hems that could cause your dog to trip while walking. You will also want to make sure that wearing the costume will not interfere with attaching a leash. A few dry runs of walking around the neighborhood with costume on may be required to get your dog accustomed to wearing it.
If your child is going to be the one walking the dog, make sure that they are able to control it. You do not want your beloved family pet running off into the night. Also consider your dog's personality – very aggressive or very fearful dogs are not going to enjoy going out with all of the ruckus going on. And of course, be the responsible pet owner and always clean up after your pet.
Choosing a doggy Halloween costume can add even more fun to the holiday by allowing your family pet to join in.

Halloween Games for Kids and Adults

Whether you decide to take the kids out for an hour of trick-or-treating and then come back for the party, or just forego the neighborhood wanderings this year, it is an absolute must that you have a fiendishly good time by playing Halloween games. This holiday is usually considered a kid’s day, but I like to think of Halloween as a time to become a kid again, and Halloween games – even if they are really designed to please the kiddies – can really be Halloween games for both kids and adults.

Here are some great ideas for Halloween games to make everyone giggle and have a good time:

• Pass the Pumpkin – This game is great fun and all you need are three pumpkins and some people. Just group up the players into groups of pretty even ability levels, or make it kids against the adults or boys against the girls if you like. Each group starts with a pumpkin and the first player passes it to another in the group. Then that person passes it on to someone else, and so on. The winning team is the team that does not drop the pumpkin. Ohhh…did I forget to mention, you should put some Crisco on the pumpkins first? Howling good fun! This is an outside game of course!

• Mummy Maniacs – This game is way cool and all you need is some white crepe paper or rolls of toilet paper. First, divide up the kids (or adults) into teams of two players each. One takes the paper and makes the other one into the mummy, being sure to wrap the legs together, not separately. Then, the non-mummies run around in a roped-off area, and it is the job of the mummies to “capture” an enemy partner. The first one to hug the enemy is the winner.

• Witches Broom Dancing – This is a variation on follow-the-leader, and all you need is a broom. Put all players in a circle. The first person takes the witch’s broom and dances around the circle with it. Then, she hands it to whatever player she chooses, and that person must imitate her dance exactly. If she doesn’t she sits down and another person takes a turn. The last player standing wins.

• Spider Sack Relay Race – This game makes players into spiders and requires just a little forethought and before-the-party preparation. All you need are three old pairs of panty hose and some old rags to stuff inside them. Put the rags in the legs of the pantyhose. Then, divide the players into three teams. The first player ties the pantyhose around his waist so that the legs dangle on his sides. He bends over and crawls on his hands and feet (or hands and knees, whichever) and goes to the finish line, where a teammate waits for him. Then, the teammate takes off the dangly pantyhose spider legs, and puts them on herself and crawls back to the beginning. Play continues until all players have crawled. First team to get everyone across a finish line wins.

It’s easy to become a kid again on Halloween night and make it a special night with your friends and the kids. All you to do is put your thinking cap on and introduce everyone to one of the above games or another Halloween game you come up with.

Halloween is the time to send Ecards to friends. Halloween is the time to send Ecards to family. How to get Free Halloween Ecards? One must share the fun of Halloween but how to get very good quality Ecards that look different and don’t cost? Let me tell you.

Free Halloween Ecards - tips on selection

Internet offers paid and free, both kinds of Ecards. How to get the best at no cost? Let me give you few tips.

1. Search for Free Halloween Ecards. It is not necessary that the best Ecards will be always on the first page of search results. That may be even in the third or fourth page. Search engine searches with different criteria and the first result need not be best for you. Therefore look at few websites. The very first page - home of the website should give you idea about the quality of the content. Ask these questions- is the homepage well laid out? Are the fonts and colors pleasing? Does the design look professional? Does the website offer small content or large content? Once you are sure that you have located a good website, click the Halloween Ecards.

2. View few Free Halloween Ecards. Look at the colors. Is the size right? Or the Ecard is very small? Is the Ecard designed in flash or plain JPG? If they are JPG, move to another website.

3. What about the Ecards text? Does it evoke the spirit of Halloween? Listen to the music. Is the music matching the mood of the Ecards? If not, select another.

4. Does the Free Halloween Ecard open and begin playing immediately? Or you have to click the Ecard to play? The later is good because it gives you the opportunity to view the Ecard carefully and enjoy it. The Ecards that begin playing immediately as they open give no opportunity to the recipient to watch it and enjoy. He/she will have to replay it again to view it. Why trouble the recipient? Send an Ecard that has to be played. That will give enough time to watch the Ecard.

5.Write whatever message you want below the Ecard. The message should be personal- between you and the recipient. Make it sound funny and nostalgic. The final test of a good message is simple- will it make the recipient feel good? If yes, go ahead. Send as many free Ecards as you wish.

Much like the fun-filled traditions associated with Halloween in the United States, Mexico embraces the somber autumn holiday with a variety of celebrations and activities. Known throughout Latin America as El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Cancun offers visitors a truly unique version on this popular holiday, with many events incorporating both Mayan customs and modern Mexican traditions. Beginning on October 31 with celebrations for the returned souls of the departed, the party continues each year until November 2.

As Cancun is in the center of the historic region known as the Mayan Riviera, many of the city’s events incorporate Hanal Pixan – the Mayan ritual of the dead. Both in Cancun and at most of the Mayan sites outside the city, candlelight prayer services are held on October 31 to commemorate the deceased. After this period of reflection, Hanal Pixan quickly transforms into a friendly meal shared by hundreds. Tamales are often baked in an underground pit and served to both the living and the dead, as it is believed that the deceased absorb the essence of the food placed at their graves. Handmade wines and candies are also passed around for all to enjoy, but Hanal Pixan marks only the beginning of this amazing holiday.

October 31 is also marks the beginning of a three day culinary feast in Cancun, taking place both in the streets and all the best restaurants. At the city’s gastronomy festival, visitors can sample local delicacies and gourmet international cuisine prepared by Mexico’s best chefs. Held outdoors along the Caribbean waterfront, this festival is anything but a sober Day of the Dead ritual, as guests are invited to eat and drink as much as they like. If you dine in any of Cancun’s restaurants throughout the three day holiday, you will be treated special local recipes reserved for Day of the Dead. At night, many visitors move from the restaurants to the bars and dance clubs where special events such as costume parties have become the norm.

One of the most fascinating traditions associated with the Day of the Dead is the creation of colorful altars – known in Mexico as ofrendas – to honor deceased loved ones. Anywhere you travel in the city, you will pass numerous altars containing all kinds of offerings. Set on tables with white cloth, the altars of Cancun display everything from fresh flowers and chocolate skulls to wooden crosses, personal mementos and photographs. Though the tradition of honoring the deceased might seem solemn, the positive atmosphere of the holiday extends to these personalized displays, as awards are handed out for the most elaborate and beautifully decorated altars.

The newest Day of the Dead activity for Cancun’s visitors takes place south of the city in the Xcaret Nature and Cultural Park. Last year, the park unveiled The Bridge to Paradise – one of the world’s most unique cemeteries. Composed of 365 lavish gravesites created by local artists, The Bridge to Paradise serves as a creative representation of Mexican history and culture. For instance, a colorful sculpture of a bed complete with linens references the country’s dreamlike mythology, while a miniature replica of a cathedral reminds visitors of Mexico’s religious culture. During the celebrations surrounding the Day of the Dead, visitors are served candies and other refreshments from altars set up throughout the cemetery. Much like the celebrations in Cancun, the events at Xcaret and its cemetery rejoice in life and the cultural traditions of Mexico on this seemingly dark day.

Much like the American tradition of Halloween, children are encouraged to don costumes and trick-or-treat during the celebrations of Day of the Dead. However, Mexican myth and tradition contribute some interesting items to the children’s experience. As most trick-or-treating takes place of November 2 – the day when, as myth has it, spirits must leave the homes of their loved ones and return to the other side – all children wear bracelets of red string to ward off the more nefarious spirits traveling to the underworld. As with all the other events surrounding Day of the Dead, visitors are encouraged to participate in the local traditions.

Furthermore, as the holiday takes place just weeks before the beginning of the peak travel season, Day of the Dead may be one of the best times to visit Cancun. Many airlines and resorts will feature special rates during this week, making travel to this luxurious destination affordable for any family.

Though Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Latin America, few destinations observe the holiday as colorfully as Cancun. If you want to experience one of the region’s most treasured holidays, visit the city where modern luxury and Mayan tradition meet to create an unforgettable vacation.

Halloween is a time for scaring folks, becoming what you always wanted to be (a princess or a superhero) or would never hope to be (a monster or a mummy), eating delicious sweet treats, seeing ghostly images, and hearing Halloween sounds that make your blood curdle.

Halloween sounds are a big part of the holiday fun, and you should not overlook the sense of hearing when decorating for your party or rigging up the scariest house in the neighborhood for the trick-or-treaters.

Halloween sounds of things that go bump in the night, screams of helpless victims, songs of monsters, fling bat wings, and spooky howls can add just the right frightening touch to any scene – whether it is your charity’s haunted house fundraiser or your own front yard that awaits the pounding feet of little tykes dressed up in all their finery.

There are a few different ways you can accumulate some scary and fun Halloween sounds to your life this holiday.

You can head to your local costume shop, party superstore, WalMart, or probably even dollar store and pick up a pre-recorded CD or tape of classically frightening Halloween sounds and noises. This is easy, and they are usually only five bucks or less.

For a little more of a personal touch, you can make a recording of your own Halloween sounds. Just get out a tape recorder and bang some pots and pans together. Have your kids enter a screaming contest, and record the screams as they get louder and louder.

Make your voice sound hoarse like you used to do when you wanted to get out of going to school, and say monsterly things like, “Come here you little ones,” or “Have I got a treat for you?” Basically, anything that sounds like it might be creepy after dark will work. Then, of course, on Halloween night, just put it on the porch and let it play.

For a higer-tech version of Halloween sounds, you can turn to your new best friend, the Internet. There are lots of sites out there that have free WAV files and other noises that you can download and burn onto a CD right on your own computer. Just look around for a while and record anything you think sounds pretty darn scary – or even funny – if you prefer, and you will have a CD you can pop in your computer or stereo and play after dark when the little goblins are heading up the sidewalk or driveway.

Scary-loking decorations like spider webs, skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, and tombstones are way too much fun to describe, but be sure to include some Halloween sounds into your Halloween decorating plans to make for a really spooky night.

Halloween can be a day of fun for both young and old. It is also one holiday that is designed for parties. Spooky themes, fun costumes, and plenty of treats make it a good time for all ages.

It has been said that in the past Halloween was reserved mainly for children. There would be costume parties at school, and then an evening of trick-or-treating and other fun. However, more and more adults are starting to take part in the spirit of the holiday as well. After all, who doesn't enjoy getting dressed up in a fabulous costume and eating candy? Plus, this also makes Halloween a family holiday, since both parents and kids alike can dress up, decorate the house or yard, and participate in the holiday fun.

The history of Halloween parties

Halloween started out as a Celtic holiday known as “Samhain” which celebrated the end of summer. The Celts believed that on the night of Samhain, the souls of the dead would come back to visit the living. Along with them, dark spirits like goblins and witches would also come out. Fires would be lit to keep these dark spirits away, and the Celts would dress in masks and costumes as part of the festivities. Food and lanterns were often left out as gifts for the dead. Over time, these customs turned into the holiday festivities that we know today.

Kids parties

Themes for kids Halloween parties can generally be kept pretty simple. Most kids get excited over dressing up and eating sweets, and there is plenty of room for creativity. Consider having games like bobbing for apples, decorating treat bags, and costume contests for all of the little ones. Of course, food is usually a required part of the fun, and you can get very creative that way. Caramel apples and popcorn balls are fun fall treats, and you can often use a little imagination and food coloring to turn everyday treats into something festive.

Adult parties

While adult parties can still involve costumes and food, you may have to up the ante a little bit when it comes to expectations. Costume contests can still be a great way to encourage guests to get creative and come dressed up. For more mature themes, you can create a Day of the Dead celebration, and celebrate the holiday Mexican-style with authentic foods and treats. Or, you can do a costume ball and play music all night long and serve fine desserts.

Planning ahead

You do not want to leave your Halloween party plans for the month of October. If you start planning ahead of time, you can not only come up with a spectacular theme, but you can find everything you need. Watch for sales and stock up on party supplies like paper plates and cups. Look for fun new recipes to try so that you can wow your friends. And of course, don't forget to look for a costume – by shopping early you will be able to find the best selection and the best prices.

Long known as the “bad boys” of the sea, pirate halloween costumes can be sexy for both men and women. Both sexes can utilize high black boots, eye patches, sashes, and hats for accessories. For women, a short skirt and crop shirt can help finalize the look, and for men, tight black pants and unbuttoned shirts to show off their chests will work. Remember your own personal touches of gold jewelry and other accessories.

Fallen Angels

This sexy Halloween costume is largely geared for women. The idea here is that more is actually less. Combine the traditional halo and wings with a full-length, form fitting gown and sexy shoes.

Sexy Superhero

What is a sexier than a superhero coming to your rescue? Many superhero costumes will automatically be better fitted to show off your superhero physique. For men, this includes fitted pants and top, and for women, a fitted top and short skirt. Pair it off with a cape and you are ready to save the world (or at least your party)!

Not-So-Innocent Schoolgirl

The schoolgirl outfit is a traditional sexy Halloween costume for women. The idea is to give off the naughty girl vibe while still appearing “innocent". Most of these costumes include a tight shirt that features your cleavage, plaid mini skirt, and knee high white socks. Add some pigtails to your hair and grab a book and your disguise is perfect.

Mysterious Egyptian

Bring the heat of the Nile to your Halloween party! These sexy couples halloween costumes are perfect for both men and women. For women, transmit your inner Cleopatra with a revealing frock, high-heeled sandals, and rich makeup. For men, you can transmit your inner King Tut with lavish robes, fitted pants, and sandals. Some gold jewelry or a crown will aid to complete the style.

Love Slave Being a slave for Halloween is definitely one of the naughtier costumes. Either sex can dress in somewhat exposed clothing and fake “chains.”

Inventive Sexy halloween costumes

Almost any Halloween costume can be redesigned to a sexy Halloween costume with a little work. Swap out full length dresses for mini-skirts, opt for low-cut necklines, or select fitted dresses or pants.

However, you should keep in mind that not all sexy halloween costumes are proper for every occasion. If you are hosting a family party, for instance, you may choose for a costume that is appropriate for all ages and put aside your sexy Halloween costume for an adults only party. Several costumes can be converted either way by choosing a longer skirt or looser pants for daytime wear or picking out different accessories to complete your look.

With a little ingenuity and swagger, you can make your sexy Halloween costume work flawlessly for your strut!

There are lots of people who are nuts about Star Wars. After all, just look at how many people would line up for days or even weeks before each new movie was released. And if you ever saw one of the movies on opening night, you probably saw some Stormtrooper suits and Darth Vader costumes in the crowd.

If you've ever found yourself dressed up as Darth Vader, you're probably a bit of a fanatic about the Star Wars movies. After all, the costume is not a simple one to put together, and it's certainly not easy to slip in and out of.

Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted a real, high-tech Darth Vader suit. I remember seeing one in a movie memorabilia store back in the 80's, and my young imagination started picturing me in a heated lightsaber duel with some Jedi Knight.

The imagination may be a little less active these days, but I'd still like to go all out one year for Halloween and splurge for a super-detailed Darth Vader. I've never been one for those nerdy conventions where everybody argues the little details about Star Wars that George Lucas most likely never thought of himself so Halloween is the only time I'd get away with dressing as the Sith Lord.

If you're thinking of a Darth Vader costume for Halloween this year, it's time to get on the ball. The big night isn't far away, and the best costumes get harder to find as you get closer to the night.

If you're thinking of ordering online, the best costume websites will ship right up until a couple of days before Halloween but by then you might be stuck as an Ewok - the cool characters could be sold out.

Unless you've got a professional costume shop close to home, you'll find a much better selection (and much higher quality costumes) on the internet. The average superstore or drug store costume just doesn't cut it if you want to really get into the part.

And the great thing about Darth Vader is it doesn't matter who you are - male or female, young or old. It's a full body suit and mask so nobody even needs to know who's under there if you don't want them to. Just be prepared for a lot of heavy breathing and "I am your father" quotes!