Halloween Blog

When it comes to Halloween, kids’ costumes are one of the most popular purchases.  However, shopping for Halloween costumes can be a nightmare for parents.  Here are some tips for making the shopping experience easier for everyone.

Talk to your child

You will have the most success with your Halloween costume if you involve your child in the decision.  Assuming that they are old enough, sit down and have a conversation about what he or she would like to be this year.  Keep in mind that many kids costumes will go along with popular movies and cartoons.  Others will be the classics, like witches or princesses.  If there is a costume that you are against (such as your 5 year-old going out as Michael Myers because that’s what his teenage brother wants to be) start talking about it now so that there is no argument later.

Window shop first

Before you go shopping for kids costumes you should have an idea in mind of what kind of costume you are looking for.  Does your child want something silly or scary?  Do they want a favorite movie character or a classic costume?  If you aren’t sure what kind of costume you are shopping for, try some “window” shopping first.  A great way to start your shopping experience is to look around online.  That way you can get a good idea of the type of kids’ costumes that are available and which ones you like.

Know your sizes

Before going to shop it is helpful to have a general idea of what size costume your child will wear.  While you will still want to try Halloween costumes on, it will go faster if you have the basic measurements handy.  Height, waist, chest, and hip measurements will be helpful in choosing a costume.  Also knowing things such as shoe and dress size will make it easier to find the right kids costumes.

Set a budget

If you wait until you have chosen the costume to start negotiating the price, chances are you will end up spending more than you intended.  Have a budget in mind when you start shopping so you can look at kids’ costumes in your price range.  Don’t forget that some costumes may need additional accessories, wigs, or makeup, which will affect your final cost.

Halloween is a great time to take pictures.  With all of the kids and adults running around in Halloween costumes, the leaves changing colors, the jack-o-lanterns glowing, and so much more, you are sure to get some good shots.  Here are some photography tips to think about this Halloween.

Find something interesting

This is the easiest part of Halloween photography.  Figure out what your point of interest or focal point is, and go from there.  Experiment by taking the picture from different angles and zooming in or out for different views.

Get a new perspective

If you think about the average photographer, they will be shooting straight on at the scene.  Instead, try getting a new angle to see what sort of images you can capture.  Get below your subject and shoot up, or get higher and shoot down.  And don’t forget about getting shots from both sides as well.

Think of the details

Many people will take broad group shots showcasing the kids’ Halloween costumes or the decorations put up by the next door neighbors.  However, you can create some amazing shots by getting in close to see the details.  Zoom in on treats at the end of the night, the amazing makeup job done by your sister, your grandma’s fun treats, and more.

Think candid

Posed group shots serve a purpose, but you will get more stunning images by looking for opportunities for candid shots.  Take pictures of the kids getting ready or crashed out asleep after trick-or-treating.  Try taking candid shots at the Halloween party or the costume parade for fun memories.

Think about your light

The trickiest thing about taking Halloween photos is dealing with the low light.  Many Halloween activities take place at dusk or after dark, which can make it a challenge to get good shots.  Avoid the bright light of flash photography by diffusing your flash.  Try using alternative sources of lighting to get a spooky image, such as a light source from below to create creepy shadows on faces.  Jack-o-lanterns can be particularly hard to photograph.  Try placing a few extra candles in the pumpkin to get extra light and turn your flash off.  You can also try various forms of back lighting to get good shots.

For many kids, Halloween is one of the best holidays of the year.  After all, how often do kids get to run around in costume all day long and receive candy for doing so?  However, not all Halloween costumes work well for kids when it comes to safety concerns.  Here are some things that you will want to watch out for.

• Visibility. It is dark at night, and for the safety of your child you want him or her to be visible to other trick-or-treaters and oncoming traffic. Light colors work the best for this purpose. You can also add reflective tape to the costume or the bag to help them be seen. Carrying a flashlight not only makes your child more visible, but makes it easier for them to be seen.
• Walking safety. Halloween night involves a lot of walking from one house to another, so you want to make sure that your child can walk safely in his or her costume. Longer costumes should be hemmed so that your child can walk without tripping. Shoes should be sturdy and comfortable. Any scarves, capes, and hats should be secure so that they cannot come loose and drag on the ground.
• Seeing and breathing. Masks, hats, and other garments worn near the face can impair visibility and breathing. Instead of a mask, consider using non-toxic face paint. If you do wear a mask, make sure that your child can see well enough to walk and can breathe freely.
• Flammability. With many pumpkins being lit up by candles and luminaries being a popular way to light sidewalks, the chance of catching fire is always a concern. Choose a Halloween costume that is made from flame retardant material. Also review the stop-drop-roll concept with your child in case their costume does catch fire. Avoid trailing skirts or capes that could fall into flames.
• Impalement hazards. Many Halloween costumes include pointy accessories such as swords, wands, or staves. Make sure that any of these accessories are flexible so they won’t impale a child if they should fall on it.

Many parents balk at the idea of spending large amounts of money on kids Halloween costumes.  After all, most kids will only wear the costume on Halloween, unless they’ve been invited to a costume party or other costumed event.  By the time next Halloween rolls around, they’ve either outgrown the costume or are disinterested in wearing it.  So, how do you make sure that you get your money’s worth?  Here are some tips.

Use them for dress up

Many kids love playing dress up, and Halloween costumes lend themselves to imaginary play.  Once Halloween is over, use the costumes in your costume box and allow the kids to mix and match accessories as they play house, put on skits, and engage in other imaginative activities.  Swap the costumes out occasionally to have fun all year long.

Have a costume exchange

If the kids’ costumes are still in good condition after Halloween, consider swapping them with friends or neighbors the following year for a size that you need.  Classic costume that never go out of fashion work best for this purpose, allowing multiple years’ worth of wear from one costume.

Host a costume party

Need a way to break up the winter doldrums?  Host a costume party for your child and his or her friends.  Whether you want to host a tea party for all your little princesses or a movie night where you come dressed as your favorite character, costume parties allow your kids to revisit their favorite Halloween costumes.

Donation

You can also choose to donate your kids’ costumes to a worthy cause.  Women’s shelters often have kids living there as well who would appreciate the costume. Or you could consider donating it to your favorite charity for them to resell to raise funds.  While you won’t be using the costume again, you can use the donation as a tax deduction.

EBay

If you spent a lot of money on a popular kid’s costume, you could consider reselling it.  EBay, Craig’s List, consignment shops, or even your next garage sale can be a great way to earn back some of the money that you spent purchasing the costumes.

As fall hits the air and Halloween quickly approaches, many parents start thinking about Halloween costumes for their kids.  If it is your child’s first Halloween, Halloween costumes can be a great photo opportunity.  They also are great for trick-or-treating or Halloween parties with the family.   However, finding the best Halloween costume can be a bit of a challenge, so here are some tips for finding the perfect baby Halloween costume.

• Always try it on. Keep in mind that baby costumes can vary in size from one manufacturer to another. You don’t want the costume to fit too snugly or to swim on your child. Also, be mindful of the weather where you live. If it is chilly on Halloween nights, then you will want the costume to big enough that you can wear clothing underneath.
• Careful with the hats and hoods. Sure hats and hood will make for some cute costumes, but many babies do not like it if the movement of their head is restricted. And few people find a screaming baby to be very cute. Again, trying the costume on ahead of time can prevent any problems on Halloween night.
• Don’t get too complicated. Let’s face it - no sooner than you have gotten your little doll into his or her Halloween costume you will find yourself smelling that hint that the diaper needs to be changed. Choose a costume that allows for real life to happen, whether that is changing a diaper or feeding the baby.
• Choose cute over scary. You might think that a baby covered in gore is in keeping with the Halloween spirit, but chances are your unique sense of humor will not be appreciated by the masses. Keep it simple and go for a cute or silly costume instead of a gory or scary one.
• Everyone feels better after a nap. If you are planning on going Halloween shopping, make sure your little one is rested, fed, and changed before you go. A happy baby will be much more accommodating when it comes to trying on costumes than a fussy one. The same goes for Halloween night.

Halloween is a time for costume parties, trick-or-treating, Halloween costumes, carving pumpkins and more.  In order to have a safe and fun Halloween, you do want to remember some basic health and safety tips.

Avoid being alone

Trick-or-treating is more fun in groups and it is also safer.  Always trick-or-treat with a group.  Younger children should be accompanied by an adult.  Stick with your group while you are out, cross streets together, and don’t loiter by yourself.

Test your makeup

While most face paints are safe for the average user, if you have sensitive skin or allergies some makeup may be very irritating to you.  Try testing the makeup in a small area of skin a few days before Halloween to check for an allergic reaction.  Don’t forget to remove all of your makeup before going to bed on Halloween night.

Think healthy snacks for parties

As soon as the kids head out for trick-or-treating, they will be on sugar overload.  Because of this, think of fun and healthy snacks for the party instead of sugary sweets.  Fresh fruit, vegetables in dip, cheese and crackers, and trail mix are all fun party food that won’t cause an extra dose of sugar.

Get some physical activity

If the sugar overload wasn’t enough to pack on the pounds, the fact that winter is just around the corner is sure to.  Take advantage of the few nice fall days that are available.  If weather permits, try hosting your Halloween party outside with some physical games to pass the time.  Take a walk around your local pumpkin patch instead of picking a pumpkin from the store.  Try apple picking at a local fruit farm.  This will help you get some physical activity before winter sets in and makes outdoor activities more difficult.

Keep pets safe

Many families like to include their four-legged friends in the Halloween activities.  However, Halloween can be a bit dangerous for pets.  Pet costumes, while cute, can present a choking hazard.  Many Halloween sweets are poisonous to pets, especially the combination of dogs and chocolate.  Keep dogs and cats away from the door on Halloween night to keep them from accidentally getting out, and make sure that all ID tags are up-to-date so that they can be returned to you if they accidentally get out.

Halloween is coming, and you know that there will be trick-or-treaters hanging out around your doorstep soon.  Or maybe you are responsible for bringing in the Halloween treats to the class party this year.  On the other hand, maybe you are looking for a way to boost office morale by wearing your own Halloween costume and coming up with Halloween treat bags.  Here are some ideas of treats that you can do easily.

Buy in bulk

If you know that you will literally be feeding the masses this Halloween, then you will likely have a budget for your Halloween treats.  However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with it.  Try buying larger bags of Halloween candy and then sorting it into party favor bags.  This is a good way to make sure that each trick-or-treater or coworker gets the same amount.  If you aren’t into sweets, many warehouse stores also offer larger packages of single serving popcorn, chips, crackers, and other snacks.  If you want to be the favorite house on the block, look for deals on the regular-sized candy bars in bulk (like would be used to stocked vending machines) to give kids a real surprise.

Bake it yourself

While this method is not recommended for trick-or-treating unless you really know your neighbors, it can be a great way to take Halloween treats to school or the office.  Most of your favorite recipes can be made into Halloween treats with well-used food dyes, creepy gummies, and iconic shapes.  Apples are in season around Halloween, and so caramel and candied apples are another favorite homemade treat. When handing out, try dressing up in your favorite scary costume, such as a witch or goblin to add to the eerie ambiance of the treats.

Use your local stores

Not much of a cook?  Then don’t forget your local supermarket bakery for fun Halloween treats.  In October you are sure to find spookily shaped cookies and cakes, as well as other treats like hand rolled popcorn balls and candied apples.  If you plan on giving these away to trick-or-treaters, make sure that each is individually wrapped by the store.

Another option is to check out your local fast food restaurant.  Many will see booklets of $1 gift certificates around Halloween, often with the proceeds going to charity.  This allows everyone to pick their favorite Halloween treat, plus benefits a good cause.  This can also be a great way to send a Halloween treat in a card to a friend that is not local.

When it comes to Halloween, adult costumes are starting to be as much fun as the ones for kids.  More and more adults are jumping on the Halloween bandwagon and dressing up to take their kids trick-or-treating or to have a Halloween party of their own.  Some workplaces will even allow you to show your Halloween spirit by suspending the dress code for the day.  If you are short on ideas for adult costumes this year, here are a couple of ideas to start you off.

Ideas for women

For adult costumes, women definitely have the most variety.  From sexy adult costumes to silly ones, there are plenty to choose from.  Revisit your childhood by recreating that fairy princess look that you always wanted.  Or, surprise your kids by dressing up with them as one of the fairies from Tinkerbelle.  Superheroes are always popular, and CatWoman and Wonder Woman are returning favorites.  Movie characters like Hermione Granger or Arwen are popular choices.  And of course there are always the traditional favorites that you see year after year, such as witches, Playboy bunnies, devils, and more.

Ideas for men

While men may not get as many adult costume ideas as women, there are still plenty of characters to choose from.  Superheroes and their villain counterparts remain popular, so if you always wanted to be Batman or the Joker you still can.  And with a surge in comic book-themed movies, costumes like Ironman, the Hulk, Spiderman, and more are easier to come by.  Other movie favorites include characters from the Lord of the Rings, the Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Matrix.  If you prefer a more traditional Halloween adult costume, there are plenty of those as well - Count Dracula, Michael Myers, the geek and the jock are returning themes that are seen year after year.

Ideas for couples

Half of the fun of putting on an adult costume for Halloween is having someone to share it with.  If you plan on spending this Halloween with your significant other, couples costumes could be something that you want to look into.  Often, couple’s costumes are centered on iconic couples, such as Barbie and Ken.  Movie couples are also popular, and often are easy to find at costume stores.  Another idea is to look for the humor in the situation - such as going as a plug and an electrical socket.

When it comes to Halloween, tricks and treats are part of the fun.  Sadly, too many of the Halloween tricks become malicious in nature, are destructive, or are downright criminal.  So instead, here are some easy Halloween tricks that you can play on your friends.  Beware!  Starting a prank war could mean finding yourself on the receiving end of some of these pranks next Halloween.

Honk if you love…

Know someone with a long commute to work?  Try sneaking a fake bumper sticker on their car.  Simply print out a fake bumper sticker that says “Honk if you love (insert your own item here)” and tape it to their bumper.  The idea is to come up with something that will cause everyone to honk at them on their way to work.  Then wait to see if they say anything.

Caramel onions

Caramel apples are one of the more popular Halloween treats.  If you want to get a laugh, however, try dipping peeled onions in caramel instead of apples.  The final look will be about the same, but imagine your friends’ faces when they take a large bite of “apple.”  This can also be a good way to enforce the message of not taking food from strangers to your kids.  Do not use with anyone who has an onion allergy.

Pizza delivery

If you know that your pizza (or other local delivery service) guy has a sense of humor, this can be a fun prank.  When your food is delivered, hand the delivery guy a handful of candy, and compliment him on his Halloween costume and what a great impersonation he is doing before shutting the door again.  Of course, you’ll want to re-open the door right away and pay for your pizza and have a good laugh.

Yard decoration

This Halloween trick is a classic, yet still manages to catch people every time.  Dress up as a scarecrow, a zombie, or other character that matches your house’s decorations.  Find a comfortable spot near the door, and sit absolutely still.  Wait until the trick-or-treaters come near, then jump up and yell Boo!  You are sure to get a few screams with this one.

When it comes to Halloween costumes, kids aren’t the only ones who are going to be dressing up this year.  Adults are also looking at Halloween costumes, but often for different reasons.  If you are looking for a way to spice up you Halloween evening, sexy adult costumes could be the way to go.

In the bedroom and out

Choosing the right adult costume depends on the even that it will be for.  You can go with a sexy costume for an adults-only Halloween party, you will just have to use caution as to how much you are willing to show off.  Of course if this is a private Halloween party for just you and your significant other, then you can go as revealing as you desire.

Sexy doesn’t have to equal skimpy

When many people think of sexy adult costumes, they picture a skimpy Playboy bunny costume that barely covers your assets.  However, you can go sexy without baring it all.  The trick is finding an adult costume that flatters your body type and the occasion.  So, that skimpy Playboy bunny costume may not be the right idea for taking the kids out trick-or-treating, but a fitted witch’s gown with plunging neckline might be.  And there is always something sexy about leaving a bit of mystery behind.

Go for the right fit

The important think with choosing a sexy adult costume is finding a costume that fits properly.  Even a spectacular costume will not look great on you if it is too big or two small.  Since many of the adult costume retailers do not allow returns, it is important to know your size before you go out shopping.  Have someone help you take your measurements before you shop, and use the measurements versus the size on the tag to help you find the costume that is right for you.

Keep in mind that a medium at one company may fit like a small from another or a large from a third, so it is very important to read the descriptions carefully to make sure the adult costume that you buy will fit properly.