Are you getting ready for the ghosts,goblins and kids wearing funny costumes to visit you. Over the years, I seen the fun associated with Halloween deminished. I grew up looking forward to dressing up in my Moms oversized dresses, high heels shoes and a wig. I got my face all made up with rosey cheeks, lipstick and eyelashes. My cousin would wear a suit coat, a tie, and a hat, that were all to big for him.
We would laugh at each other, then get our trick or treat bags and off we'd go.
Nobody really cared what we looked like, we were on a mission to knock on doors of strangers to get candy and money. Sometimes my Aunt would take us to a local park or carnival for fun and games. Kids tryed to win prizes by tossing a ping pong ball in to a fishbowl, bobbing for apples and climbing up the grease pole. When it was a cold night they'd light a large bonefire in the middle of the park. Everyone would stand around and get warm, while eating food and candy. I always had a great time.
Unfortunately, by the time my kids came along the fun of Halloween seemed to be all gone. I remember making costumes for my kids, but they always wanted a store bought costume of a hero or cartoon character. There were 5 of them and money was tight.
I'd dress them up, put them in the car, find a "good" neighborhood and walk them to every door. They were told not to eat a single piece of candy till we got home. The candy was taken home an dumped on the kitchen table and every piece checked. It took all the fun out of it and soon we stopped taking them out to stranger homes. It was sad to think that people were intentionally doing things to harm children. I passed my fears of Halloween on to my Grandkids and they only went to the local malls to get candy from the stores and vendors or only went to family and friends they knew. I can't say that was any better. Now a days more people are having halloween parties at home, it's a lot safer.
Here are few good Halloween ideas if you decided to have a party at home:
Decorate your place in a Haunted House theme.
1. Hang skeletons, bats, witches and ghosts made from old white sheets.
2. Scatter dried autum leaves outside makes a crunchie sound as guest arrive.
3. Make scare crows from old jeans, strawhats and flannel shirts.
4. Stuff old costumes and sit them in chairs, great for taking pictures.
5. Fill the room with black and orange balloons and curlie ribbon.
( make sure to pop one every now and then to make people jump)
6. Things that move or talk when you approach them are great too.
7. Diming the lights or have them flash off and on add to the special effects.
8. Play spooky music or scary movies for sound effects.
9. Have lots of hot ice or a fog machine.
10.Drape the place in spider webs.
*Take a pair of clean gloves, fill them with water, tie the ends with rubberbands and put them in the freezer.
Cut the gloves from the ice, then add them to your bowl of punch to keep it cold.
 Play games like bopping for apples, pin the spider on the web.
Have pumpkin carving and best costume contest.
Take the Family to a pumpkin patch like my Co-Worker, Kay Starr did, who took this great picture. Select a big pumpkin for your Halloween and Thanksgiving party.
Make sure to have lots of food and candy, check the internet for great food ideas for Halloween parties.
Get all dressed up in your costume and wait for your guest to arrive and have a Happy and Safe Halloween.
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