Unlike their owners, cats and dogs don’t always enjoy the fun spirit of Halloween. While we humans tend to get excited and go romping out into the neighborhood, frolicking through fallen leaves, ringing doorbells and bringing home the rewards of our labor in the form of sweet treats, many of our animal companions find this time quite stressful.

Your pet does not realize the costumes and sounds are make-believe and the people behind those getups are just that…people. You may find that your animal will panic when you answer the door for trick-or-treaters or when you dress up in your Halloween costume.

Keeping Your Easily Agitated Pets Safe from Harm

If you’re hosting a party in your home or invite trick-or-treaters to your door, one of the best ways to keep Fido (and those who are visiting) safe is to remove him from the situation completely. You can kennel your animal somewhere else for the night or put them in a room that’s off limits to guests. If your cat or dog is normally skittish around people, it’s best to keep them away from all the commotion on Halloween.

While many animals will freak out from all the holiday hoopla, there are some who love it just as much, if not more than you do. Here are some tips to allow your people loving, socialite pet to get involved in the festivities in a safe way.

Let them enjoy your visitors – from a distance.

You may find that your pet is not bothered by the costumes at all. Maybe your puppy or kitty likes to go to the door and welcome your guests. If this is the case, make sure he or she does not dart out the door while you’re handing out treats. Try leashing your animal within a safe distance from the door so they can enjoy the guests while remaining safe inside.

This will also help the children who like to see the animals but don’t want to touch them or be close to them. Because animals scare some children while others get very excited and want to run toward them and be the aggressor, a leashed animal will help you stay in control of the situation and allow both the children and your pet to enjoy the experience. 

Candy and Pets Don’t Mix

If you have children who will be trick-or-treating, you’ll have to pay careful attention to your pets once you return home for the night with the kids’ treats. While sorting and eating the goodies from the evening, make certain that all candy, especially chocolate, is out of the cat or dog’s reach.

Chocolate, even in the tiniest amounts, can be deadly to animals. Refrain from letting your little ones dump their trick-or-treat bags and buckets on the floor to sort their candy. Instead, head to the dining room table or a counter to pick through the yummy treats.

You Know Your Pet Better Than Anyone

As the “parent” to your pet, you know his or her temperament better than anyone else. If this is your first Halloween with a pet, don’t be surprised if he or she doesn’t find the day as pleasurable as the other members of the family. Keep these simple, yet often overlooked safety tips in mind this year. By taking simple precautions beforehand to prepare for the night, you can ensure everyone in the family and all your guests have a healthy and safe Halloween.

 

Pictures, albums and home video may be the only way children ever know they even participated in trick or treating as a baby. Who are we kidding? We all know the fun of baby’s first Halloween or two is more for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings.

Here are some suggestions for saving money on baby’s first trick or treat experience as well as safety tips to make the night as fun as it can be.

 

Be Frugal with Baby’s First Halloween Costume

The first Halloween costume should be special, but that doesn’t mean it has to break the bank? Before you go crazy spending out of your budget for a Halloween outfit for baby, try networking with other parents. Many parents save their own children’s first costumes. They may be open to swapping costumes with you or willing to sell their little one’s old costume at a minimal cost. If this isn’t an option for you and you find you need to purchase your baby’s costume, there are lots of children’s thrift stores and boutiques that carry precious Halloween outfits in the month of October. Another option for making sure baby’s first costume is cute and inexpensive outfit is to check eBay.

Safety Tips to Keep Baby’s Safe and Sound

• Pass On Inhibiting Costume Items
  

Babies do not like to wear masks and most will fight and cry in discomfort if you put them in costumes that restrict their movements.

• Avoid Scary Masks and Costumes

Don’t be surprised if older babies are frightened by other people’s masks and costumes as well. This is not a time to instill fear into your baby. Sometimes adults and older children find it funny to show babies “the ropes” without realizing they can inadvertently scare infants.

• Keep Weather Conditions in Mind

When choosing your costume, keep in mind what your weather will most likely be that time of year. In the northern part of the U.S., it is not unusual for children to wear coats over their costumes. The more south you go, you may have children overdressed in 80 degree weather. That adorable fur bear or lion outfit may not be the most comfortable outfit for baby if you live in an area that’s still a bit warm on Halloween. Don’t over or undress baby.

• Give Family & Friends a Call Ahead Before Visiting

You have special people in your life that you’ll want to share baby’s first Halloween with. A phone call ahead to these people to be sure they are going to be home will help ensure that pictures (or videos) of baby with this special someone can be taken. Try and make your plans up to a week ahead. You don’t want to be disappointed later when trying to scrapbook your child’s first trick or treat experience and someone is missing.

Celebrate Baby’s First Halloween Again and Again

Just like every other first for your little one, you’ll want to keep record of his or her first Halloween with pictures, video and other keepsake items. One way you can do this is by creating a scrapbook that will preserve these items for years to come. Get creative in how you layout your album. Don’t be afraid to take pictures with props that symbolize the holiday and the season. Hay bails and pumpkins are just a few ideas; you can also check with your local craft store for other embellishments such as stamps, stencils and more.

Memories are something we all have. With some extra care and planning, Halloween and your baby’s first trick or treat experience can be most memorable for everyone involved. Who knows, that adorable first Halloween costume might find its way into the senior year book later.

 

No matter what costume you choose or how you remember the day, keep the tips and suggestions above in mind for a safe, happy and fun Halloween.

This is my favorite Halloween treat and one of the reasons is because it makes the house smell yummy. This pinwheel design comes from spreading cream cheese filling onto a flat pumpkin square and rolling it up.

I double the recipe and freeze a loaf for later when I need something absolutely delicious to serve up. It takes a little work if you’re not used to handling your cakes, but once you’ve figured out the little tricks and how to mend your mistakes (if you make them) you’ll become an expert.

 

Some recipes you find call for making pumpkin puree. I have done this, but found that buying pure pumpkin is by far, easier, less messy and just as tasty. You’re going to add your own spices, so don’t buy the kind with them already added.

 

Let’s start! You will need to preheat your oven to 375 degrees and get your pan ready. Using a 15 x 10 inch pan (Texas sheet pan is what I call it) spray it with butter spray. You can use regular but I prefer the butter spray. I lightly flour this as well.

 

Now for the Pumpkin Roll:

 

• 3/4 c. flour
• 1/2 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 3/4 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. allspice
• 1/4 t. salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 c. sugar
• 1/2 t. vanilla 
• 2/3 c. pumpkin puree

 

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt into a large mixing bowl.
   
2. Set aside.
3. Beat your eggs and sugar together on high until fluffy (about 5 minutes). You will know when it is enough; the mixture is thick and forms a ribbon pattern off your beaters when turned off and lifted slowly out of the bowl.
   
4. Next, beat in the vanilla extract and pumpkin.
   
5. Slowly add in sifted flour mixture you set aside earlier.
   
6. Gently mix thoroughly.
   
7. Pour batter into pan, evenly spreading the batter.
8. Bake for 13 - 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
   
9. Don’t overcook.
   
10. You want the cake to “spring back” when lightly touched with your finger.
11. While pumpkin is baking, take a piece of wax paper and lay it on a flat work area.
    
12. Sprinkle this with powdered sugar and finely chopped walnuts.
13. Immediately, after cake is done, turn this carefully onto the dish towel that you have prepared.
    
14. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar and roll up the pumpkin roll, with the towel.
    
15. You want to do this while the cake is hot.
    
16. Set aside and wait to cool. 
    

Filling:

 

• 8 oz. Softened cream cheese
• 2 T. softened butter
• 1 c. powdered sugar
• 1/2 t. vanilla

 

1. Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
   
2. Add sugar and beat until smooth.
   
3. Once the pumpkin roll has cooled, you can carefully unroll it.
   
4. If you have breakage, you can use your filling to fix the cracks.
   
5. You will have fewer cracks if you roll the cake immediately out of the oven and wait until it is totally cool before filling.
   
6. Now spread your filling over the roll.
   
7. Keep in mind that you may have some squeeze out so you will probably want to put less filling on the outside 1/2 inch of your roll.
   
8. Once filled, re-roll your pumpkin roll.
   
9. Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar.
   
10. Wrap in foil and freeze.
    
11. When ready to serve, slice thin and enjoy.

 

If you’re like me, all that yummy smelling earlier from baking will make you want to eat these tasty treats right away.

It’s Halloween! With just a few little changes or additions to things that you probably already make, you can put the spirit of Halloween on your table.

Scary Eyeballs – Add a little more mustard into the egg centers or a thin dollop under where you will lay a black olive into the creamy center.

Ghost Sandwiches – Cut your bread into ghosts, add the filling of your choice and your children will have a ghostly treat for their school or after school sandwich.

Wormy Hot Dogs – Thinly slice your hot dogs and then microwave. This will make them curl to look like worms. Put them on a hamburger bun and dress with mustard, catsup and pickles to make a slimy swamp underneath.

Ghostly Toast – Toast your bread. When it is cool enough to cut, with a gingerbread girl cutter or a plain knife, cut to make a ghost body. Top with whipped cream cheese or flavored yogurt with raisins or dates cut for eyes.

Orange Jack O Lantern – With a toothpick, gently carve a face into the orange. Careful not to injure the meat/pulp of the orange, your child will have a small version of the Jack O Lantern that is healthy and edible.

Graveyard Snack – Take a cup of plain or buttered popped popcorn; add a half cup each of mini pretzels, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, goldfish crackers and raisins.

Spider Snack – Taking two round crackers, such as the ritz, put peanut butter in the middle. Take 8 small pretzels and stick all around, 4 on each side to make the legs. Add raisins for eyes.

Salty Bones – Making breadsticks for your spaghetti tonight? Here’s a Halloween twist. Unroll a tube of refrigerated breadstick roll and separate the triangle pieces. Stretch each individual piece to make a long bone like figure. Cut about a 1 and a half inch slit in each end with your kitchen scissors. Roll the remaining 4 flaps into what would make the end of a dog bone. Sprinkle with coarse salt and bake as directed.

Goblin Tongues – Using mini bagels, spread cream cheese or mayonnaise, your preference, onto bagel. Cut slices out of circular pieces of bologna lunch meat to look like tongues and put into the top center of the bagel, leaving it to hang out like a tongue.

These are just a small sampling of things you can do to impress the kids or grandkids. Nothing fancy, quite simple for you but they’ll love them. Presentation and excitement is part of children accepting new and different things. Let them help you when creating these treats and they may just be a little more receptive to the new Halloween changes in foods they already love.

Hi Everyone,


Well, tomorrow is Halloween, here are a few safety tips:

Haunted House Safety

So you want to get in on the scare craze this Halloween do you? That could mean having a haunted house or a yard haunt for friends and neighbors. Before you begin here are some safety tips to protect you as well as your guests.

1.Contact your insurance company. Hosting such a venture on your property involves liability. Be sure that any incidents during the night are protected under the policy. If this is your first time dealing with this issue, contact them at least two weeks ahead of time.

2.Light the path. We’re not talking flood lights all around the house. Lighting the path ensures that all guests go the proper way and no one ventures off of the track. Also, people can see where they are going without ruining the suspense.

3.Post warnings or have a release for guests to sign. This informs others that what they may see could be too frightening for the elderly and the very young. A signed waver and clearly posted signs protects you from prosecution should something happen.

4.Inform the fire department of your activities. They can go through your setup and identify points of danger. Also, they can be on alert to deal with calls from your home that night.

5.Check with your neighbors. The noise from so many people coming to your home could make you the least favorite person around. Inform neighbors about the upcoming event. One way to deal with this is to of course make sure all your neighbors are invited! Neighborhood associations may have rules and regulations regarding such activities so consult the association president.

6.Keep the gathering small. If this is a yard haunt, the fewer people the better as far as safety. With too many kids running around, someone is bound to have an accident.

7.Use battery operated candles in pumpkins instead of real candles. In the fun of the evening, pumpkins can be turned over or costumes can catch fire. No one wants the evening to turn tragic. Take all precautions.

8.Have enough guides along the way. To ensure safety in the haunted house or yard haunt, have other adult parents to guide small groups of guests through the haunt. This way, the guide always goes first and can comfort any scared kids.

A haunted house is great fun on Halloween. People love to be scared out of their wits. As they scream with fear and delight, you’ll need to be sure nothing goes wrong.

Enjoy your Halloween!
Magriet


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Hi Everyone,


Maybe you want to host a Halloween party on short notice, well here are some good tips:

Hosting a Haunted Halloween Party

No one says that you have to go out to have a good time on Halloween. Parties are one way to spend the evening at home and still have fun. Guests have fun and also find safety. Maybe this year you will host a Halloween party of your very own.

Send out invitations well in advance of the event. We know the date of the party so that is not a problem. Most people will either be attending another party, going trick or treating with the kids or attending your party. Let’s hope they attend your party.

Come up with a menu for the event. Ghoulish treats such as witch’s fingers or Jell-O eyeballs floating in the punch may be great for kids but a bit too macabre for some adults. In that case, stick with spooky decorations and normal looking food.

The best thing about Halloween parties is that they can be planned for both adults and children. Careful planning will give the adults time to unwind while the children are otherwise occupied. Tend to the children first.

In the early evening take the kids for a little door to door fun. While they are going through their snacks and eating finger foods that you prepared in advance, the rest of the work for the adult part of the party can begin.

If you want to serve drinks, keep it simple. Beer and wine involves less work than an open bar. Anyone drinking can’t drive home. Designate a driver or walk from home to the party. Neighborhood Halloween parties have the convenience of close proximity.

Have a few age appropriate Halloween videos for the kids to watch in the family room or living room when the guests retire to the patio or backyard for fun. Host a costume contest or a pumpkin carving contest. A little Halloween karaoke might break a few noise ordinances, but it will thrill the guests. Who knows all the words to “Monster Mash”?

Since the kids are a consideration, hosts can ask each invited guest to bring a dish to the party. This way, cleanup is faster and the host doesn’t have to do so much hard labor. They will appreciate the help.

Any types of games that are planned should be played before drinks are served. Too many accidents occur when someone’s judgment is impaired by alcohol.

Want to host a Halloween party? Grab the most frightening decorations, some eats, and creepy music, mix with a few friends and you’re sure to have a great time!

Enjoy your day,
Magriet
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Hi Everyone,


Some more Halloween fun:

Spooky Storytelling: Pass It On

Campers seem to love it. Passing on stories while the embers burn bright on a cool fall night is something we look forward to with trembling. Storytelling has been the most popular way to pass on folklore down through the ages. Here are some storytelling techniques to straighten their hair.

Storytelling on Halloween is expected. At least one ghostly story has to be told to an attentive audience. Movies are okay, but when the details are left to the imagination, the story takes on new life. Here are some tips to get everyone scared stiff with your story this Halloween.

1.Choose an appropriate venue. If you own a fire pit, let the storytelling begin outside. Cooler weather may mean you have to provide some blankets but that adds to the atmosphere. Inside the house, choose a quiet location big enough for everyone to sit in a circle. Instead of a fire, use a battery operated lantern or candle.

2.Turn off the lights. You can’t tell a good ghost story with the lights on. Outdoors, wait until the sun is completely down to start your tale.

3.Know the story. It can be read from a book or spoken from memory but get it right. A botched ghost story is like mangling a good joke by revealing the punch line. A good storyteller practices his craft so that his listeners won’t be disappointed.

4.Have an accomplice. Someone has to emphasize your high points with some creative theatrics. The theatrical help doesn’t need to be loud or overstated. A few noises or whispers that could be the wind or the trash can falling over are perfect to make the story more real.

5.Dress the part. No one will be frightened by someone in Bermuda shorts and a polo shirt. A dark cloak, some makeup, and a few well hidden props add to your fierceness. Some storytellers use a flashlight under their chin as the only source of light. This is a classic trick, but more light allows for listeners to catch a glimpse of your tricks as they unfold.

6.Choose a story that mixes fact with fiction. If you want to get people to believe you, adding a bit of fact will get the listeners thinking about the validity of the story. Also, choosing a story situation that could come true will put your story over the top.

Do you have a flare for the dramatic?If you do, consider telling a spooky story at the Halloween party this year.

This year consider Pumpkin Painting instead of Pumpkin Carving it is safer for kids, lots of fun and easy to do.

Download Pumpkin Painting Now, Access is INSTANT!!


Something else you may want to have a look at:

Halloween: 101 Frightfully Fun Ideas


So Have Lots of Halloween Fun With Your Pumpkin Painting!!


Enjoy your day,
Magriet

Hi Everyone,


Today's subject is very important and please give your attention to it!

Trick or Treat Safety Tips

Going out into the ghoulish night to troll for candy is not as innocent as it seems. It should be but it is not. Parents and children alike want to enjoy their bit of frightful fun without real dangers lurking around every corner. Here are some safety tips to accomplish that task.

1.Begin trick or treating during the daylight. It used to be that everyone waited until dark for greater effect. Unfortunately, there are those who want to cause trouble and can only do so after dark. Now, trick or treating begins at dusk even if the sun is not down.

2.For smaller children, drive instead of walk. The concept is the same as far as kids are concerned. Their friends will still see their costume and they still receive candy. As the night wears on it may get cold and little feet get tired quite quickly. A car means a faster exit when everyone is too tired to go on.

3.Check the candy before letting any be eaten. It is a safety precaution that protects the kids. Not everyone is out to harm children but there have been incidents in the past where blades and pins were found in candy.

4.Stick together. Never let a child go trick or treating alone. If you can’t do it, entrust your child’s care to another adult friend. Let them walk a few feet ahead to feel independent but not so far that they are out of your sight.

5.Choose costumes that fit properly. Wherever possible, use homemade costumes or non-toxic paint to replace store bought masks. Most masks are too hot and don’t provide an adequate visual field. Kids who can’t see where they are going can trip and fall.

6.Refrain from taking homemade candy and treats. Even schools don’t accept homemade food items anymore. It is too easy to get sick and the liability is high. Homemade candy apples look scrumptious, but there is no list of ingredients to tell you what was used to create them. Stick to prepackaged candy for children to eat.

7.Use a cloth shopping bag to hold the candy. Plastic bags can buckle under the weight of the haul and your child could lose their loot on the front step or in the street. Plastic pumpkins don’t hold as much candy and the strap can break with the same results as a plastic bag.

Trick or treat is a fun Halloween night tradition designed to scare us silly. In the process, don’t forget to take precautions so everyone is safe.

Enjoy your day,
Magriet


Easy Pumpkin Painting

Hi Everyone,


A few thoughts on trick or treat:

Halloween - Trick or Treat?

Many of us have uttered those words or ones like them since we were old enough to wear a costume. Some say cute little rhymes at each house they visit. But, what is the origin of our current candy grabbing tradition on Halloween?

Trick or treating goes back to the celebration of Samhain by the Celts on the British Isles. This pagan festival was one that celebrated nature and its gifts. The practitioners also believed that on that night the boundaries between the living and the dead were compromised and spirits could once again walk the earth.

In an effort to appease the spirits, people would leave offerings of food and drink on their doorsteps. These rituals were thought to protect their harvests for another year. This was also the time for a practice called “souling.”

Souling involved food in exchange for prayers. During the celebration, poor people would take to begging for food from neighbors. This food was granted in exchange for prayers by the receivers for the souls of dead family members.

As the tradition was passed down, the begging became food left for these poor individuals who would continue to pray for the dead. Eventually, children were sent from house to house to receive food or bits of money for the family.

In some countries, the wearing of masks and receiving of gifts is still called “souling.” Small food items or money are still received by children. Trick or treating is a thoroughly modern and American tradition.

When it first started, trick or treating was just that. If a homeowner didn’t provide treats, the costumed person would perform some trick. This could be playing a prank on them or egging the house. In some countries, this is a part of the mischief of the spirits. Any spirit that didn’t receive food was also likely to do something to the person of the house.

Now, kids go from house to house, saying this phrase and receiving a ton of sweet treats. People travel from neighborhood to neighborhood for sweet fare. Tricks are more a part of the fun of the night than a slight against any one person. If a neighbor is not participating, they turn out their porch light so children will know not to approach.

Of course there are those mischief makers that egg houses and cars, but most neighborhoods celebrate Halloween without incident. Even the adults get involved in the celebration with fog machines and costume parties.

celebration with fog machines and costume parties. Would you like to quickly make creative Halloween costumes that you and your children will be proud of -- for a fraction of the price of store-bought? Click here!

Pumpkin painting is so much safer than pumpkin carving with little children. Do go and have a look:

Easy Pumpkin Painting

If you are interested in Halloween Kids Crafts do go and have a look at our Fun Kids Crafts site.

Enjoy your day,
Magriet

Hi Everyone,

some Halloween Costumes news:

Most Popular Halloween Costumes for 2008

Each year, some costumes pop up more than others. Everyone seeks to be original, but the only way to be truly individual is to make your own costume. Barring that, you will look like someone else on that night. The trick is to look better than they do.

Here are some of the most popular costume ideas for 2008. Diehard Halloween fans are preparing as we speak for that one night of scary fun. The good thing about some of the popular costumes this year is that they work for kids, teens, and adults.

Trends in Halloween costumes often follow trends in movies. Popular movies always spawn a costume idea or two for October 31^st. The most popular film so far this year is The Dark Knight. Batman has achieved a new level of cool that everyone wants to emulate. Tall, dark, and mysterious is in this year as many scout the stores for Batman paraphernalia.

Who doesn’t love a villain? They allow us to imagine we are bad without actually being bad. All votes this year are for The Joker. The super villain of The Dark Knight is not the whimsical psycho we’ve seen in the past. He is the real deal and scary. Adults will take pleasure in dressing up as this character.

There have been several super hero movies of late. Super heroes are always in season because they champion the cause of justice, and their costumes are really cool. For this year, kids and adults will emulate Wonder Woman, Superman, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Spiderman. Adults will add a little sex appeal to those costumes so as to differentiate themselves from their kids.

Religious costumes are always a family favorite. For those who celebrate Hallelujah Night at church, dressing up as Noah, Moses, John the Baptist and Jonah still highlight these events.

Cartoon characters are popular for kids. Some of the most popular are Japanimation creations like Naruto, Yugioh, Digimon, and Pokemon characters. These characters are joined by Disney favorites like Hannah Montana, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

But, the life of the party is still the costumes with timeless appeal. We are speaking of the 20’s flapper girl, Betty Boop, doctor and nurse, witches, devils, and of course, Elvira. It wouldn’t be a party without at least one of these people showing up.

What will you wear this year? Go with the popular crowd or set your sights on a more unique invention. Either way, have fun not only the night of Halloween, but putting your costume together too!

Enjoy your costume shopping and for your decorations you may want to think about PUMPKIN PAINTING!

Enjoy your day,

Magriet

Easy Pumpkin Painting

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HALLOWEEN

Hi Everyone,

Sometimes I think we must think about this:

Halloween and Religion

So what is the big deal between Halloween and religion? Will one night of candy fun corrupt the soul? This is unlikely, but let us take a look at this ongoing topic of debate.

For many, many years, Halloween has been synonymous with witchcraft and evil. Satan’s one night of the year to claim souls for Hell has been the belief of the church and pious individuals. Those who practice dark arts would have us buy into that belief to keep the Christian world dazed and confused.

Let’s set the record straight. Knowledge is power, especially in this instance. Halloween began as a pagan festival of nature where people tried to appease the dead to prevent their intrusion into the world of the living.

But, we all know about superstitions. There was no distinction between the spirits so folks assumed precautions in case the spirits were bad. Unfortunately, it is the stories about bad spirits that have survived and given the celebration of Halloween a bad name.

In an effort to scare people, tales of the undead have been immortalized in books like Frankenstein and Dracula. Movies brought us Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, and the Scream guy. People love to be scared, but so much of the fiction has been confused with fact that Christians have been led to believe that the practice of Halloween is evil for their children.

Basically, children know what we tell them. The truth is always best. There are people who practice earth religions like Wicca and those who profess to be Satanists. They derive their greatest influence and media coverage on this night. Even those groups have been made gorier than they actually are through film and books.

Our children will learn that the practice of dressing up and receiving candy is not evil from the knowledge that we obtain. Spirits are not roaming the streets looking to take over their bodies or mess with their minds. In fact, for little ones, it is essential that we not expose them to the scarier side because they could be traumatized by it and fear the fun side of Halloween.

Christians have nothing to fear from Halloween as long as the truth is told. While there are groups who practice magic (the jury is still out) and contact with the dead, they don’t have exclusive rights on Halloween. They practice their crafts all year round and not just this one night of the year.

What will Halloween be without pumpkins? When you have little kids, pumpkin painting is sooo much safer that carving Jack o Lanterns.

Go there now and have a look:

Easy Pumpkin Painting

Enjoy your day,
Magriet

Hi Everyone,

Your other Halloween stuff will follow later, this is only a quick note to draw your attention to Halloween. Halloween is coming and maybe you are interested in some Halloween products from Amazon and Clickbank, so here goes:

First of all, Easy Pumpkin Painting, pumpkin painting is sooo much safer for the little kids and it makes a really fun activity. Your Halloween decorations can be totally original this year with lovely painted pumpkins.

The next are some costumes and accessories from Amazon. To finfish an outfit the right accessories are essential, Have a look!







For the people that love to read, here are a few good Halloween reads from Amazon:





Or maybe you prefer watching a movie, well have a look at all these Halloween DVDs:





An what about some Halloween mp3 downloads?





You may want some omre Halloween music for your Halloween Party, Have a Look!!





See you later with the quotes,
Magriet
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Hi Everyone,


Some fun Halloween accessories ideas:

Halloween Accessories

You can’t claim to celebrate Halloween without looking the part. Those who find the holiday comparable to Thanksgiving or Christmas go all out. Here are some must have items for Halloween.

They are ghoulish, green, warty, and wear black hats. I’m referring to witches. You can’t have a Halloween setup without witches. It could be silhouetted witches for the windows or a witch projection on the side of your home.

Don’t forget the broom. A witch is nothing without her broom. Perch one in the corner of the porch or beside a tree in the front yard. Many people use lifelike stuffed figures on their front porches to scare trick-or-treaters.

Dressed in all black, most people don’t even notice that they are even there. Mechanical figures will freak out the guests all the way to your door. A witch is a Halloween necessity.

What about black cats? You can’t have a witch without a black cat. They really aren’t any different from other cats, but they just got a bad rap over the centuries. That notwithstanding, a freaked out cat with ears perked and back arched, somewhere on the premises helps sets the mood.

One of the cutest things I’ve seen is a statue of three black cats emulating the see, hear, and speak no evil monkeys. Don’t worry kitties - we know you are purrrfectly safe. Sit one on the top of your mailbox to welcome the kids.

Glow in the dark paint works wonders for scary features during Halloween. A few well placed signs with this paint will entice even the most frightened person to check it out. Draw a few glowing monster footprints in the driveway leading through the grass. At least one person will follow the breadcrumbs.

What about the spooky vapors that rise from the swamp? No one wants a stinky swamp in their yard but the fog is okay. Fog machines can be positioned on the step or in the yard to create a ghostly atmosphere to your home. The fog can mask some ghoulish goblins and ghosts hanging from the trees.

Ghosts are also a key accessory for Halloween. Instead of stickers, drape huge helium balloons with white sheets and secure with a rope or rubber band. Let them hover around the yard all evening. Kids will want to know what’s keeping them bobbing around.

How do you accessorize for Halloween? There are so many things to choose from. Having too much will ruin the effect. There is a fine line between gaudy and sparse. Find the frightening balance.

Enjoy your day,
Magriet

Hi Everyone,


Here is a review of an excellent book with Halloween decorations, costumes, recipes and more. I think you will love it.

Halloween Fun - Better Homes and Gardens Halloween

If you and your family is into the spirit of a holiday such as Halloween, wouldn’t if you can have the décor to match the occasion? Or what about costumes that stands out in the crowd, one of a kind home made costumes? Better Homes and Gardens has created a book for such a spooky occasion.

Better Homes and Gardens Halloween is all about fun, festive, and tricky crafts, costumes, and more. You can count on a plethora of pumpkins to help you cast a cool magical spell that will have everyone in awe of what you have done for Halloween this time around.

A few of the contents in this blast of a book include:

 

• SUMMON A SPELL: Pumpkins on Parade; Haunting Your Home.
• TRICKS & TREATS: Patterns; Recipes
• GATHER THE GHOULS: What's Brewing? Eerie Edibles; Fright-Night Delights; Groan-Ups' Halloween Party.
• SCARE UP SOME FUN: Treats Incognito; Scare-able Wearables; Bewitching Decorations.

 

Halloween: 101 Frightfully Fun Ideas

There are 96 pages of great Halloween ideas for the whole family. Greet Halloween ghouls and goblins with decorations that will make them scream, holler, and laugh and make decorations from ordinary items found right in your home. No need to head out to the store and spend endless amounts of money for this ever-fun holiday. Just grab this resourceful book and learn how to do it all at a fraction of the cost.

All your friends will be amazed at your creativity and, I promise you, ask your secret. Will you tell them? That is a choice you can decide on and make it know or not. For the sake of great family fun, Better Homes and Gardens Halloween needs to be on your shelf.

Enjoy your day,

Magriet

Hi Everyone,

First of all I would like to draw your attention to Halloween party food ideas recipes I placed on our other sites and an article about Halloween decorations I placed on our Decorations site:


All Our Recipes & More


Good Food


Decorations


And here is an article about Halloween Party Games:

Halloween party games

Halloween is a great excuse for a party, and adults and kids alike enjoy ghoulish and ghostly Halloween party games. Here are some Halloween party games for kids, and a special idea for adults (older kids will also enjoy this one too!)

Halloween Party Games #1 - Stick a Wart on the Witch

A bit like pin the tail on the donkey, this is a good fun Halloween party game that is great for kids of all ages. Have someone with a bit of artistic ability draw a witch on a large piece of board, or if you have one, a whiteboard. Give all the kids a small piece of plasticine or play dough. Each kid gets a turn to be blindfolded, spun around, and then they stick their “wart” on the witch. The child to get closest to the witch’s nose is the winner!

Halloween Party Games #2 - Ghost Story Circle

Everyone sits in a circle, with lights dimmed and some spooky music playing in the background, and tells a story by taking turns around the circle. You might want to have each story teller take a torch and shine it upwards on their face as they tell their part, then pass it on to the next child.

If the children are young, you may need to start them off yourself. This Halloween party game is great fun to record secretly and play back to the children later – they will love the surprise!

Halloween Party Games #3 – A Costume Halloween Party Game for Kids

Instead of having the children come to your party in their outfits, get a good supply of dressing-up gear (don’t be shy to ask the other parents to contribute!) and then the party game is for everyone to dress up. It is great fun for the children, and great fun for the grownups to watch.

Halloween Party Game # 4 – Making Mummies

Adults love this Halloween Party Game for some reason! Split the players up into pairs, and give them each two rolls of white toilet paper. The players have to wrap each other in toilet paper to turn one another into mummies. The winning team can be the first to use up all their toilet paper, or the pair of best-looking mummies.

For a successful and stress-free party, keep your Halloween party games for kids and adults fun and simple. That way, you can concentrate on enjoying yourself rather than being a stressed host and games master.

Enjoy your day,
Magriet
Easy Pumpkin Painting

Halloween Food Ideas - Chili in a Jack

Here is one more of our Halloween Food Ideas. It is really tasty and you'll love it. When it comes to Halloween Food Ideas, it is important to use your imagination and you'll be surprised at how many "ordinary" recipes can be adapted to serve as Halloween food or snacks.

Ingredients:

• 3 cans (4.5 ounces each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (6 biscuits each)
• 1 can (15 ounces) mild chili with beans
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 6 slices Cheddar cheese
• Olive slices, bell pepper and carrot pieces for decoration

Method:

1. Grease your cupacake/muffin pan.
2. Press one biscuit round of dough into the bottom of each cup of the pan.Combine chili and corn and fill each muffin cup with a scoop of chili.
3. Cut out circles from the cheese with a round cookie cutter (or a glass turned upside down) and put the cheese rounds on top of the chili in the cups.Decorate with your peppers, olives, etc to make Jackolantern faces!
4. Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees or until cheese is melted and dough is baked and starting to brown.

Make a safe Halloween for the little kids, Do pumpkin painting instead of pumpkin carving. Keep the kids at home with a fun Halloween party, it is so much safer.

Easy Pumpkin Painting

You can also have a look at:

Making the kids costumes for Halloween is also great fun. Have a look at:

Would you like to quickly make creative Halloween costumes that you and your children will be proud of -- for a fraction of the price of store-bought? Click here!

And what about face-painting?

Would you like to be the life of the party? Click here!

 

Hi Everyone,

Halloween is not so far away and you probably are thinking about your decorations already.

I thought you may be interested in the review of a fun crafts book to make some Halloween decorations.

Cheap Halloween Decorations - Fun & Easy Halloween Painting Projects

SugarBrushSeasons

Sugar Brush Seasons: 12 Charming Seasonal Designs

If you are a crafter that loves to paint and enjoys Halloween, this e-book is for you. Even people who do not normally love crafting, but love creating stuff for Halloween will enjoy this book. This book will help you with making your own cheap Halloween decorations.

With these Easy Halloween Projects, crafters and non-crafters alike can enjoy their scariest Halloween ever with the help of painters, Margaret Wilson and Robyn Thomas. These "sugar brushes" show painters of all levels how to create simple, classic decorations that will say fun and boo all at the same time without going overboard.

These fun and easy Halloween Projects includes complete step-by-step photos and text for painting popular Halloween designs such as pumpkins, ghosts, candy corn and witches on an assortment of different surfaces. You will have fun creating these easy and cheap Halloween decorations.

In this book you will find 20 projects that you & the kids can finish quickly including:

• Votive candle holders
• Clay saucers and pots
• Photo albums and tote bags
• Table runners and placemats
• Magnetic mailbox sheeting and more
  

With Sugar Brush Seasons doing your home decorations for Halloween has never been easier. The projects are so painless, you an even have the kids help or if they are old enough, let them have a go of it alone.

Do not worry about your painting abilities, doing the crafts in this book in not difficult at all. You can have great looking cheap Halloween decorations and treats this Halloween without a lot of paint. A few simple items with some paint will do the job. A great way to get Cheap Halloween Decorations!

Sugar Brush Seasons: 12 Charming Seasonal Designs

Enjoy your Halloween crafts,
Magriet

Hi Everyone,

Halloween is not that far away anymore. We have added a lot of new content to our Halloween Site. Do visit it and have a look.

We have also added the first two of a series of Halloween recipes to our All Our Recipes & More Blog. Go there and have a look.

Enjoy your day,
Magriet

Easy Pumpkin Painting