What Makes Halloween Magical and Memorable
It’s almost Halloween, and soon the neighborhood kids will be knocking on your door for a sweet treat. You have gone to the grocery store and picked up several bags of candy, but you may be wondering if your choice in candy will be a trick or a treat? And what about the guests you have invited over for a spooky eve filled with fun and conversation? How will you entertain them? Here are a few ideas for this week’s fun.
Most Popular Treats (No Tricks)
I am always so impressed with the creativity that goes into treat bags with everything from temporary tattoos to spider rings. Although we know, most kids will go straight for the sugar! When passing out candy, I have noticed in the past, the chocolates are always the winner. M&M’s, plain and peanut, Twix, and Reese’s Peanut Butter, shaped like ghosts or jack o’lanterns, are the top choices in my neighborhood. Butterfingers are also popular, as well as Snickers and Almond Joys. Although not chocolate, Sour Patch and Skittles are also very popular.
Save Trick-or-Treaters from the Food Allergy Scaries
Having a nut-free and dairy-free option is much appreciated for families with food allergies (we love Yum Earth’s selection).
Boo! It’s Better to Skip These Sweets
Although they are nostalgic and look good in candy jars, Candy Corn, Necco Wafers, and Good & Plenty are on the “trick” list for most kids. A good rule of thumb is, if the bag of candy is oversized and the price point is too good to be true, it’s probably a good indicator that you should keep walking to the next aisle. After all, watching the kids’ faces light up when they see their choice of candy is a big part of the fun.
Boo-tiful Charcuterie Boards
What about the people inside the house, enjoying a buffet style meal or beautifully planned charcuterie board? My friend, Austyn Burgamy (Austyntatious Kitchen on Instagram) created the perfect board for me this year, and I plan to recreate it on Halloween night. She adds an assortment of delicious cheese, fruit, dried meat, honey, olives, pickles, crackers, and more. We skip the nuts because my adult daughter is allergic, and I want her to enjoy the fun. Here is a look at what Austyn created for this year’s table, part spooky, totally cute, and deliciousness in every bite.
A Home Filled with Harvest Fun
While the fun is going on outside of my front door, there will be more entertainment inside because the creative details make up a good deal of the ambiance, both inside and out. I have three little witches that were gifted to me many years ago, and I still enjoy bringing them out once a year to grace my coffee table. They are conversation starters and a great memory of a good friend. I put out vintage Halloween cards I have collected from another friend who makes me a card made out of buttons every single year. My living room includes lighted garland, an assortment of pumpkins and battery operated orange votives to make the room glow.
One of my favorite decorations is a wooden pumpkin, another gift (my birthday is in October so there is definitely a fall theme to my birthday gifts) that I place against a mirror and light up with battery operated twinkle lights. Each decoration tells a story and reminds me of the place I purchased the item or the person who gifted me.
The scent I chose this year is Tomato from Bath and Body. It smells like fall and doesn’t overpower the room. Everyone who walks in comments on the scent and asks where they can buy it. I have my favorites, and this is one of them.
Have a Happy Halloween!
You may also like Party Etiquette for the Host and Guest (Halloween and Beyond).
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