Simplify Your Halloween!

Written by: Christina Katz; Photo: Fotolia.com

Halloween becomes more commercialized every year. But a classic approach to Halloween will keep your budget intact and a grin on your face throughout the spookiest time of year. If you want to restore the playful spirit of Halloween and spend more quality time with your family, let these reminders help you centre your celebration on old-fashioned, frightening fun. Make memories this Halloween rather than too many trips to the store.

Pump up your pumpkin power

What’s Halloween without those bright orange globes of autumn spirit? I’m referring to pumpkins, of course. Set a date for that trip to the pumpkin patch where family members can each select a choice carving pumpkin. Then set aside a few hours one week before Halloween for jack-o’-lantern carving.

Here are some classic pumpkin designs to inspire you:

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• Smiling Jack
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• Evil grin
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• Cat in profile
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• Flying bat
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• Spider with web
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• Wise owl
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• Spooky ghost
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• Puking pumpkin
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• Your family’s name
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• Halloween words
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Go green when choosing costumes

When it comes time to brainstorm costume ideas, challenge your kids to pull costumes together from scratch rather than purchasing pre-made. Try to inspire more creative self-expression from them and less you making it all happen for them. You’ll find ample tutorials on the Internet and lots of costume accessories to choose from at your local resale shop.

Here is a list of Halloween costume types to get the ideas popping:

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• Animals
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• Bugs
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• Heroes
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• Celebrities
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• Monsters
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• Magical Creatures
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• Professions
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• Foods
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• Cartoons
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• Fictional characters
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• Use down-to-earth décor
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Don’t go over the top with Halloween décor. Often, a few natural-looking items added to your front steps or porch are all you need. Or search online for easy craft tutorials related to the following images.

Build up a repertoire of decorations that you expand gradually over the years rather than going over the top with Halloween décor every year:

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• Bats
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• Crows
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• Pumpkins
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• Spider webs
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• Ghosts
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• Skeletons
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• Witches
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• Cats
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• Owls
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• Branches
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• Tombstones
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• Compile a Halloween playlist
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Spooky songs are to Halloween what Christmas carols are to Christmas. Recruit your kids’ help and make a Halloween playlist.

Here are some blasts-from-the-past many parents will recognize. Turn them on to turn your kids’ chore time into a dance party:

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• “The Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett
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• “Thriller” by Michael Jackson
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• “This is Halloween” by Danny Elfman
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• “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
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• “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon
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• “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
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• “Time Warp” by Richard O’Brien
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• “Abracadabra” by the Steve Miller Band
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• “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
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• “Spooky” by Andy Williams
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• “Witchy Woman” by the Eagles
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• “I Want Candy” by Bow Wow Wow
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• “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by the Charlie Daniels Band
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• “The Addams Family Theme” by Vic Mizzy
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• “The Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley
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• “Witchcraft” by Frank Sinatra
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• “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” by Arlen and Harpburg
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• “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival 
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• Create annual movie-watching traditions
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Sharing family films is a terrific way to chillax during a busy time of year. Gather the crew and get in the Halloween mood with movies that startle without scaring the pants off anyone.

For the whole family to watch together:

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• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Not Rated; for ages 4 and up)
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• The Wizard of Oz (Not Rated; for ages 8 and up)
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• E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Rated PG; for ages 8 and up)
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• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rated PG; for ages 9 and up)
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For older kids - family movies to watch with teens:

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• The Goonies (Rated PG; for ages 11 and up)
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• Hocus Pocus (Rated PG; for ages 11 and up)
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• Edward Scissorhands (Rated PG-13; for ages 13 and up)
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• The Addams Family (Rated PG-13; for ages 13 and up)
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Transform candy into décor

Halloween candy isn’t merely for eating. Display some classic candy choices in glass jars to inspire seasonal fun. Or use classic candy to decorate a wreath form to hang on your front door during trick-or-treating. Search for photos online and choose the wreath style that matches your level of ambition.

Here are some candies that can add visual sweetness - minus the calories and cavities:

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• Candy Corn
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• Candy Pumpkins
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• Autumn Colored Gummies
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• Autumn Wrapped Candy
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• Jelly Belly Autumn Mix
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• Chocolate Eyeballs
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• Black and Orange Hard Candy Sticks
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• Caramel Apple Lollipops
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• Harvest Blend M&Ms
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• Gummy Worms
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Brainstorm imaginative party themes

Hosting a Halloween party? Keep it simple with classic Halloween party themes.

Here are some ideas to get you brainstorming. Search online for easy homemade décor ideas:

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• Salem Witches
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• Sleepy Hollow Headless Haunts
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• Aliens
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• Black and White Horror Movie
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• Transylvania Vampires
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• Zombie Apocalypse
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• Shakespearean Tragedies
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• Dancing Skeletons
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• Wizard School
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• Mystical Journey
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Serve satisfying potluck meals

If you plan to bring a meal to a potluck or just want to fill bellies with savory sustenance, serve something simple. Trick-or-treaters need substantial meals to counterbalance all the sugar typically consumed on Halloween.

Try your hand at the following favorites:

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• Chili with Corn Muffins
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• Sweet Potato Soup with Zucchini Bread
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• Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Coleslaw
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• Chicken and Dumplings
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• Beef Stew with Crusty Bread
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• Shepherd’s Pie
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• Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas
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• Meatball Subs with Potato Salad
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• Lasagna and Caesar Salad
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• Vegetable Soup with Pumpkin Muffins
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• Clam Chowder with Apple Muffins
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Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina always thinks of Halloween as the kick-off to the busy holiday season, followed swiftly by Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, so she tries to take it slow and simplify as much as she can.