Halloween costume originality

Keep in mind that when you hit the streets, you are sure to run in plenty of vampires, ghosts, and recent movie persona. So if you are hoping to stand out at the bar or be the life of the party, you may want to try and discover a Halloween costume that is more unique. If you do choose to go with a cliché Halloween spook, consider doing something about it that will make you stand out from everyone else.

One way to do this is to create your own Halloween costume. However, for most people, this is more laborious than it sounds, and the finished costume may leave much to be desired. An easier choice is to go to online Halloween costume stores. These will offer a much wider variety than your local costume retailer, allowing you to find something that is unique from everyone else.

Restrooms and crowded locations

If you are headed out to the bar or to a celebration, not all costumes are going to work. For instance, if you are going to go out for some drinks, then there is a good chance you will want to use the restroom at some time in the evening. A costume that is tough to get in and out of can make this a problem. If there is going to be a large number of people in a small room, then bulky Halloween costumes can make it difficult to move around. Watch out for the sizes of objects like wings and other accessories to make moving about easier.

Watch your layers

While attractive Halloween costumes can be proper for an indoor party, wearing one out on a chilly Halloween night to take the kids trick-or-treating can leave you shivering. On the other hand, the thick gorilla suit can cause you to faint from heat exhaustion in the center of a crowded party. So ponder where you will be on Halloween night and choose your costume accordingly. If there is going to be a assortment of venues, consider a costume that has removable layers so you can adjust it for the weather.

Carrying your essentials on Halloween

Ever notice that Wonder Woman never carries a handbag? If you are going out on Halloween night, you will need to consider how you are going to carry your essentials like your wallet and car keys. Many costumes do not have pockets, so you might need to get creative with how you do this. Look for accessories that can double as a bag or handbag. Hidden wallets like are designed for travelers will also work well with some costumes as a hideaway for your money or ID.

If you plan ahead, your Halloween costume will prove to be less of a chore and more suited for partying.

The French Maid

Even if sprucing up is not your thing, a French maid Halloween costume is sexy in any size. The puffed-sleeve dress and mini skirt shows off your curves in all the right places, and a feather duster can be a flirtu come-on tool.

Renaissance

Renaissance wear works well in all sizes as well. For instance, you may dress as the town wench with a lace up frock. Accessories with a dagger and an eye patch and this works as a pirate wench as well. Or go for a queen's design with a flowing gown designed for curves and a crown. You can most times find matching men's costumes in Renaissance wear if you are looking for a couples Halloween costume theme.

Elvira

The mistress of the dark has some curves of her own, and you can apply this to your advantage. Plunging necklines will accentuate your features and curves. Add a belt and dagger and Elvira wig and this costume is perfect.

Cleopatra

If you have ever dreamed of being an Egyptian princess, there are adult Halloween costumes in this design that come in all sizes. With a white dress with an Egyptian sash and gold accessories, you are set to rule the Nile. There are also many of men's Egyptian costumes as well, making this a good couples Halloween costume theme.

Super Hero

Ready to save the world? Super hero costumes are a perfect way to have fun on Halloween. You can often find these in figure-flattering shapes, complete with boots and cape. Many super hero designs come in men’s Halloween costumes as well.

Vegas Girl

You can make “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” your theme for Halloween night. Whether you wish to be a Vegas showgirl or Playboy bunny, many of these alluring Vegas girl costumes are found in plus sizes. The flattering corsets will help accentuate your curves, while cute accessories like stockings and bunny ears can help you to finalize your look.

Sexy Nurse

Is there a medic in the house? You can compliment his outfit with a sexy nurse’s uniform. Like many sexy Halloween costumes, these are intended to show off your curves. Accessories with a nurse’s cap and a stethoscope, and you are prepared to treat his every ill.

Schoolgirl

One of the classic sexy Halloween costumes, the schoolgirl outfit can be fitted for the plus-sized girl as well. Combine the cute plaid skirt with a sexy white top and knee high stockings, and you are ready for your Halloween lessons.

With a little planning, you can find the perfect plus-sized Halloween costume for any Halloween celebration.

This costume is ideal for Halloween parties and people to dress dangerously! Gangsters carry a certain connotation of danger and excitement, so it is not so hard to believe that even a lady might like to dress up in a sexy gangster costume. If that is what you would like to try, you do not have to wait for Halloween. These days, surprising your man with something different for his birthday or your anniversary is quite all right. Women find the hint of danger of gangster pretty sexy too. Also, some people like to throw costume parties. So, the need for a costume can come at any time of the year.

Well, after you decide that a sexy gangster costume is what you want, what next? Okay, you truck on down to your local costume store; easily done, if you have one. But, what if you live in a small town; or the nearest costume shop is miles away? When you consider the price of gas these days, you may want to re-think that plan. Fortunately, our modern high-tech world has the perfect solution: the Internet. Go online; pick out any of one of the more useful search engines, and type in the parameters you are looking for. You’ll get a list of good companies that have just what you are looking for, some of them have a full line of great sexy gangster costumes.

If you want an outfit that is appropriate for just about any party, the Glamour Gangster features a long skirt and crop top. While a bit risqué, it is still quite modest. On the other hand, if something a bit… friskier - is what you desire, they have several fine costumes. The Miss Mafia, the Gangster Girl Garter, Sexy Gangsta Girl, Bugsy’s Babe, and Bootleg Beauty Sexy all feature a very short skirt; some have crop tops, and most come with an appropriate hat. If your man decides to go as a cop, you can always have a game of “cops and robbers” after the party – or instead of going at all! If, guys, you want to be the gangster too, you have it easy – black shirt, white tie and pinstripe suit and you’re good to go, especially if you team the outfit with a gangster hat at a jaunty angle. Think of Al Capone in his heyday.

When it comes to making your purchase, these online costume shops has got a secure shopping system; so there is no need to worry about your credit card information getting stolen. Shipping can be had for as little as $4.99, or – if you need your sexy gangster costume quickly, for $17.99 you can have it in two to four days.

Now, if you decide to try the homemade approach, a gangster costume is not that hard to put together. Go to just about any old clothes store, Goodwill or thrift store. What you want to look for is a man’s old suit. Then it is just a question of what sort of outfit you want. Take it in, making it snug, and presto – a sexy gangster costume. If something wilder is what you crave, clip the pants short and do not bother with the jacket; just get a white shirt and cut the sleeves off. A nice fedora, a purse and toy gun, and your ensemble is complete. So, whether store bought, found online, or done on your own, you can get the sexy gangster costume you want!

The History of Halloween

Have you ever wondered why on earth we celebrate Halloween and where the idea came from? If you are like most of us, you simply enjoy the fun and games – and of course treats – and haven’t really given the origins of the holiday much thought. But the history of Halloween is a really cool story in its own right.

Way back in the day – about two thousand years ago – there lived a people known as Celts. They inhabited the area we call Ireland, and there were some in France and the UK, too. In fact, the language that is spoken in Ireland is not Irish, as you may think. It is Celtic.

Anyway, the Celtic people had a different New Year’s Day than we do here today. Their new year started on November 1st; this is probably because November marked the end of the plentiful, glorious, harvest season and the beginning of the cold, dark winter. Hence, it seems like a perfect time for marking a new year, right?

So, the Celtic people had a theory that their New Year’s Eve – October 31 – was the night when there was the perfect opportunity for the ghosts of dead people to return to earth, and so the worlds of the living and the dead combined for a night. On this night, the Celtic people turned to their Druid priests for insight into what was to come in the New Year. And some theories of the history of Halloween include the priests’ ability to know the future by learning it from the dead who returned to earth.

So, the early version of Halloween, called SamHain (“sow-in”), was born. The Celts usually built these huge bonfires and dressed up in the skins of animals. They gathered around the bonfires in these “costumes” and sacrificed some of their crops and animals to the Celtic gods in the hopes that the gods would be good to them in the coming year.

Later on, the Romans invaded Ireland and the other Celtic regions, and they added their own twist into what we now know as Halloween; subsquently the history of Halloween was changed a bit. They added a couple things into SamHain. First, they added a day called Faralia – which was a day the Romans had set aside as a day to remember and honor those who had died before us. Then, they also included a day to please Pomona – a goddess whose symbol is the apple. Remember those days of bobbing for apples as a kid? You can thank Pomona for that tradition.

Then, Christianity came to the area – around the 800s. The Pope at the time – Pope Bonaface – declared November 1st All Saint’s Day, which is still celebrated as a Holy Day by the Catholic Church. The Church often times tried to replace pagan holidays with related holidays in order to appease the pagan people who wanted festivals, but also to make Christian-based celebrations. The night before All Saint’s Day, SamHain to the Celts, began to be called All Hallow’s Eve or All Hallow’s Mass. Finally, it became known as Halloween.

If you have already started to plan this year's Halloween costume, you might have taken some time to look in a costume store or two or check out the selections online. A major part of the costume industry includes Halloween masks. A popular part of Halloween celebrations, Halloween masks are not the answer to everyone's costume needs. Here is a look at the good and bad of this Halloween accessory.

The good

One of the best aspects of Halloween masks is that they disguise who you are quite thoroughly. Whether you choose a Halloween mask that covers your entire face and head, or just a portion, the final effect of either is that it alters the shape of you face. This can make it even more difficult to recognize you than it would be with merely face paint.

Another positive of Halloween masks is that they are very simple to use. If you paint your face, you will need a good deal of time, patience, and some artistic talent to get the right effect. With a Halloween mask, you simply slip it on and you are ready to go.

Masks can also be an inexpensive costume idea. By wearing a solid colored outfit and slipping on a mask, you can instantly become the character that the mask represents – other accessories are optional. You can even combine Halloween masks with your everyday clothing to become a zombie doctor, a cat who is a chef, or other unique idea.

The bad

Halloween masks can be dangerous if they are worn improperly. Special care should be taken to make sure that the mask does not block your vision or your breathing. This is particularly true with children's costumes, since an improperly fitting mask could cause them to injure themselves while out trick or treating. You will want to try the mask on to make sure that it fits properly before wearing it on Halloween night. Remove masks when driving to ensure that you are able to see properly.

Halloween masks can also be hot, so if your Halloween evening will be spent in a warmer climate or a crowded party room you may become uncomfortable rather quickly. If you feel that you are overheating, remove your mask. Also make sure that you drink plenty of water during your Halloween celebrations.

While Halloween masks can be an inexpensive alternative to a full costume, they can also become quite pricey. The more detailed a mask is, the higher the price tag will often be. So if you are on a budget, you may have to settle for a less detailed Halloween mask, or an alternative like face painting, to achieve a similar effect.

Halloween masks can be an excellent addition to your Halloween costume, but they are not the perfect solution for everyone. Only you can decide if this Halloween accessory is right for you. If you purchase a mask and decide later on that it is not as comfortable or as safe as you would like, you can also use it as a creepy way to decorate your home.

Sell Your Halloween costume

If your Halloween costume was something special, unique, or expensive, and is still in suitable condition, you might consider selling it. This will allow you to recoup some of the money that you spent on it so that you can put this amount towards this year's Halloween outfit.

Consignment stores A consignment retailer is a bargain hunter's dream for Halloween costumes and other deals. You give the store the costume, and they do the work of finding someone to buy it. Once it sells, the store keeps a percentage as their fee and you get the rest. Online Auctions For people who prefer to sell their costumes themselves, online auctions can be a great option. You will have a much broader audience than your local retailer or garage sale. Always read the terms and conditions of the particular site before you submit an ad. Garage sales/newspaper ads Of course, if you want to sell your Halloween costume yourself, the traditional avenues of selling it at a garage sale or with an ad in the newspaper may also work. Keep in mind that you will often receive less money for the costume this way, though this way may be easier if you were already planning a sale.

Donate Your Halloween costume

If your Halloween costume is still in good shape, you could consider donating it. There are several places that would appreciate your donation. Here are some places that might be able to give your Halloween costume a new home.

Women's shelters Many of the women staying in shelters have kids with them. And when times are tough, extras like a Halloween costumes are not going to be in the budget. This is a special place to send kids Halloween costumes to so that another child can have a chance to trick-or-treat. They may also take adult costumes as well so that mom or older children can join in the holiday fun. Children Hospitals Staying in a hospital long term is not much enjoyable, so the staff at children's hospitals will often look for ways to cheer their patients up. Dressing up for Halloween, or even a day of silliness, can make their patient's times more enjoyable. Some hospitals will also encourage children to trick-or-treat around the rooms of the hospital on Halloween night. Churches (some denominations) Some churches will celebrate Halloween, or have a church friendly alternative where kids can wear their costumes. Families in need may approach their church first for help before looking elsewhere. You will want to call the church beforehand to make sure they would welcome the donation, and use this for your family friendly costumes. Charities Many charities like Goodwill and the Salvation Army will accept donated articles. In most cases, these organizations will sell your costume at their discount stores to help raise funds for the various programs that they run. Hospice retailers Hospice services often run small stores to raise money for their staff members. These people often do a lot with very little, and they will take almost any type of donation that is in good condition.

There is always someone out there that will be interested in your Halloween costume. Taking time to locate them can help you recover your money or make someone else's Halloween better.

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!

Most of my advice about Halloween safety for kids revolves around trick-or-treating. First things first, know what your children are planning to do. If they are going to a party at someone’s house, talk to the parents and make sure you know who is going, what will happen at the party, who will be supervising, and what time to expect your kids to return home. If your children are planning to go trick-or-treating, you need to sit down with them beforehand and plan out what route they will take.

General trick-or treating advice: avoid dimly-lit streets and parks, always travel in a group, carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing to alert passing motorists, don’t enter a strange house or car. You may also want to talk with your child about his or her Halloween costume. Make sure the Halloween costume is comfortable to walk in for several hours, provides necessary warmth, and is safe to wear. Perhaps they can bring along an extra pair of shoes if those wrapped mummy Halloween costume sandals become uncomfortable!

Lastly, talk with your children about your expectations for the time they are out and about, whether they will be at a Halloween costume party or trick-or-treating in a Halloween costume. Warn against vandalism, animal cruelty, drug and alcohol use, cars, and other dangerous situations. Some parents even provide their children with a cell phone to use in case of an emergency.

Halloween Safety for Adults for Halloween costume Parties

Although the following advice may be common sense, I’ll share it with you, just to be on the safe side. Halloween costume parties can be a wonderful way to get all your friends together, dress up in ridiculous Halloween costumes, eat delicious food, and dance the night away. But parties can also end poorly, both for the hosts and for the guests. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

For Halloween costume party hosts, make sure that you have provided appropriate food and drinks for your guests. You need to be aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions, and take extra steps so that everyone has something fun and festive to munch or sip. Be sure to put your household pets in a separate room, away from the noise and energy of your Halloween costume party. Take down and put away any fragile or cherished items. Remember that a Halloween costume party can quickly become a high-spirited dance party, and you don’t want anything of yours to be accidentally knocked over or stepped on.

As for Halloween costume party guests, remember that you are a guest in someone else’s home. Be respectful of their furniture, pets, knickknacks, and everything else. Also, be careful how much food and alcohol you consume. No one wants to be remembered as the Wicked Witch who danced the fox trot on the dining room table at the neighborhood Halloween costume party!

For a successful Halloween costume, you really need to start with the end in mind. What is it you want to be... Scary? Sexy? Glamorous? Just plain weird? If you've been invited to more than one party, you might even need more than one costume. After all, you might want to be a little more conservative at the office party than you would at your best friend's.

Once you have your goal in mind, a good costume shop will be able to help you get it together. You can buy your costume, but it can be a little too predictable if you wear the same one year after year. For that reason, a rental may be your best choice.

Of course, you can always opt for one of the pre-packaged costumes you'll find at your local store but honestly, they don't usually do it justice. If you spend the same money on a rental, you'll come out a lot further ahead.

A great costume really comes down to the little details. If you want to be unrecognizable on Halloween, these details can be critical. For example, a scary mask will hide your identity but it's far more effective to work with a costume shop that can use some theatrical makeup to completely transform you.

When your costume search is underway, be sure that you find a costume shop that offers everything you need. Some really don't have much of a selection so you'll have a much smaller chance of finding what you want.

Look for a shop that not only has the costume you want, but all the accessories you might need to personalize it and make it your own. Wigs, makeup, fake blood, fake cigarettes (complete with fake smoke) and other little things can make all the difference.

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 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.

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

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.