The onset of October seems to divide families into two camps -- those for whom Halloween a big holiday, and those who don't realize it is upon us until October 30. Whichever camp you're in, Halloween is a great opportunity to spend time with your family, and the perfect time to start a new family tradition. We asked some of our favorite mom bloggers to share their favorite Halloween traditions and some easy, fun treats -- and you don't have to be a whiz in the kitchen to make them!
Whether you build the haunted house in your garage or you fashion an
eleventh-hour ghost costume, these ideas can help add to the spirit of Halloween night -- no matter what kind of Halloween you celebrate.
1. Have a pumpkin carving contest. Elizabeth Demers (
Bumpsmitten) competes with her husband against her best friend and her husband for the best pumpkin. "We're talking weeks of preparation, including researching the best design, buying the perfect pumpkin for that design and buying the ultimate tools. The winner is announced once we light it up!"
2. Host a spooky potluck. That's the Jill Smokler (
Scary Mommy) way to celebrate Halloween. "We have a big Halloween party for the neighborhood, which is always fun. We live in a very kid-friendly neighborhood; there's a mass pilgrimage to trick-or-treat and there's a potluck before where everybody brings their scariest food. It was quite a revolting buffet of food last year with witch fingers, eyeballs, and brains. Everyone really put on their most creative game but nobody wanted to eat anything because it looked so nasty."
3. Think big -- as in decorations. "Years ago, I made giant ghost faces out of black felt and white paper for my four front windows," says Jen Singer of
Momma Said. "We flip on the lights behind them and play scary music. Kids love it. "
4. Make "finger" foods. Whipstitch Fabrics blogger Deborah Moebes literally makes fingers! "Martha Stewart had a recipe years ago for
little shortbread cookies shaped like fingers, with food-coloring-dyed almond slices for nails--we love making those and being ghoulish!" Angie Lee of
Seven Clown Circus makes "Mummy Dogs": little hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls!
5. Paint your pumpkins. Instead of carving pumpkins, paint them! "Glitter pumpkins are a favorite craft do to with the kids and gorgeous on the table or the stoop," suggests Amy at
Chandelier Events. "I also happen to adore the idea of
pumpkins painted with family silhouettes!"
6. Set the mood -- indoors. "I hang plastic spiders from fake webbing on our dining-room chandelier, put webs on the bathroom mirrors, and replace all the candles in our house with tarnished silver candlesticks and black taper candles. I like the decor to be subtly spooky rather than too flashy," says Meagan Francis of
The Happiest Mom. Jaime and Jacinda at
Prudent Baby shared a favorite DIY Halloween decoration: a
spooky yarn bowl. This quick and easy decoration is a great way to bring the Halloween spirit into your house: all you need is black yarn, glue, a bowl, and cling wrap!
>>Get more ideas for a spooktacular night on our
Halloween Helper page!
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