Apartment Blog

There are many reasons to love Halloween.  Here are 5:

• 1. It means that Fall is really here. You get to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall and even enjoy the cool weather before the fresh winds of November roll through.
• 2. Candy is in abundance and you don’t have to feel guilty about purchasing lots and lots of it. People will automatically assume that you are buying candy for the neighborhood kids, but you may just be buying it for yourself! Enjoy it, it will be your last candy binge before Christmas!
• 3. Potential to meet new neighbors. Halloween gives you a reason to interact with neighbors that you may have been shy to meet in the past. It may also help your kids meet good friends in the neighborhood
• 4. Kids! Well, you may not be a fan of kids but you won’t be able to turn them down in their cute costumes. Even if you don’t have your own, you can spoil other people’s kids, see their smiles, and then see them leave. This might be the ideal interaction with kids.
• 5. Another excuse to have a party. The last quarter of the year can be extremely stressful and any occasion to have a party is a good occasion. Don’t miss out this year.

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

I saw this recipe on Goneraw.com, submitted by evergreen last October and I just knew I had to share it. For me, any ‘treat’ that’s healthy is a double bonus! Plus with a name like Boo nanners, who wouldn’t like it? Here’s the recipe that was submitted with a few supplemental ingredients.

Servings:  2 per banana
Ingredients: 

peeled banana, cut in half
orange juice
dried shredded coconut
currants or raisins or chocolate sprinkles
popsicle sticks

Preparation: 

1. Sprinkle banana with orange juice

2. Roll in coconut… you may find it a little easier and neater to use a zip top bag for this step if the kiddies are making these

3. Gently press in currant eyes or two chocolate sprinkles if you think they kiddies would like that more

4. Place on popsicle sticks, you can either put it in the freezer to keep them for later or have the healthy snack now!

Isn’t Halloween for the kids?  Adults may never want to grow out of the Halloween costume phase; but, this holiday SCREAMS kids. Here are two main activities they can get involved in on Halloween night:

• 1. Trick or Treating- Kids love candy and their supply of candy will be increased exponentially on Halloween night. Trick or treating allows kids to dress up and walk around the neighborhood to collect candy. Once they bring it home, do your best to inspect the candy. If you’re have kids are participating this year, make sure you are with them at all times during this activity. There are too many things that can happen to just let your kids roam around, even if they are borderline teenagers. You don’t necessarily need to hover at every door, but make sure you can see them as they walk around. This activity is also a good way to meet neighbors and have your kids meet the neighbor’s kids.
• 2. Harvest Carnivals- Not everyone celebrates Halloween, but they don’t want their kids to be left out of the fun either. Organizations will hold Harvest Carnivals on Halloween night to celebrate Harvest instead of Halloween. Harvest carnivals usually have lots of candy and games for kids to enjoy. Even if the kids do a little trick or treating first, they may want to end the night at a harvest carnival where they can meet and have fun with other kids in the community in safe environments.

Make it very clear to the kids what your intentions are before they get excited to do one or the other.  Their friends will surely start making plans early, and you don’t want to thwart their fun altogether.  Let them know what the rules are now.  Have any other ideas of activities for kids?

If you plan on throwing or attending a Halloween party, don’t you want to be the center of all the festivities?  Don’t let anyone outdo you this year.  When wearing a costume you get to become someone else for one night.  Why not make it memorable for you and all attendees.    We’ve posted a blog about Halloween Couple Costume Ideas, but here are some hot costumes for Guys and Gals:

Guys

• 1. Geico Caveman- Team up with a buddy or two and purchase caveman masks. You can wear the laidback button up shirts seen in the commercials or even go with the biker outfits. This will surely garner a lot of laughs when you arrive and will make it easier to talk to the women at the party. Who can resist a rugged and famous Caveman?
• 2. Iron Man- If rugged and hairy is not for you, maybe you want to show off the iron you have been pumping. Even if you haven’t been pumping iron, I am sure that the Iron Man costume comes with pre-pumped muscles for you to show off. If ladies love the man of steel..wouldn’t they love the man of….Iron?
• 3. Michael Jackson- This year we tragically lost the King of Pop. Many people will probably wear a Michael Jackson costume in commemoration of him, but make sure that you go all out. You must have the infamous white glove and you might want to learn a few moves before showing up so that you can battle against all of the other Michael Jackson wannabes!

Gals

• 1. Pirate of the Caribbean(Elizabeth) - Argghh..Nothing cooler than a female pirate. With the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise, pirate clothing is still in. Make sure to bring your sword with you because you may have to show Iron Man and the Caveman who is boss!
• 2. Race Car Driver- Danica Patrick is kicking butt in the racing world and you can remind all of the men at the party with your race car driver costume. Make the super heroes look outdated and the athletes look lost.
• 3. Betty Boop- If you get sea-sick or car sick, the Pirate and Race Car driver costumes may not be for you. They won’t be believable. But, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind showing up as a starlet. Let it be your night and come to the party knowing that all the attention will be on you. Maybe you can even bring your own fans and lights. Why not?

This can be your year to win the “Best Costume” prize.  Don’t let the opportunity pass you by!

For some people Halloween means as much to them as Christmas would to another person. As such, this occasion would be deemed gift giving. I have actually received a card and flowers from a friend on Halloween because it is her favorite holiday. Regardless if you are the gift giver or receiver, here are some great Halloween gift ideas.

Get Creative! Potion labels are a cool way to personalize a bottle of your friend’s favorite drink or bottle of wine. Just add a themed label appropriate for Halloween and you’re set!  Or creating a collage scrapbook already decorated, just waiting for the photos of this year’s party to frame or bind.

Homemade goods are a unique way to show your friends, or guests at a party, that you appreciate them. Everyone loves a good homemade treat. For this holiday, why not do a candied apple or pumpkin spice bread or ghost shaped cookies. 

Tickets to a fun Halloween themed event. There are bound to be places in your city that will celebrate this spooky holiday. Why not help the Halloween enthusiast in your life celebrate by buying them a ticket. It could be a hayride, haunted house, roller coaster theme park or maybe even a special movie premier.

Provide some type of entertainment by purchasing a Halloween book or movie. If your friend is into the whole scary experience, there are plenty of Halloween movies guaranteed to spoke him or her. Check out our list of 10 Awesome Halloween Movies.

If there are other Halloween gifts you have given or received, let us know! It would be nice to see all the imaginative ideas for this holiday.

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’re planning on wowing your friends with your costume ideas you’re going to need to start planning ahead. To take care of the hardest part, thinking of the ideas, we’ve taken the liberty of researching awesome couple costumes.

Take a look:

• Jim and Pam-famous couple from the series ‘The Office’ are getting ready to get married.
• Peter and Lois or Stewie and Brian from the series ‘Family Guy’ are guaranteed to be a hit at any party!
• Danny and Sandy from the infamous movie ‘Grease.’
• Edward Cullen and Bella Swam from the hit ‘Twilight’
• Johnny Cash & June Carter
• Shrek and Fiona from the ‘Shrek’ movies

Whatever costume idea you choose, have fun with it. Halloween costume parties are always so much fun. Happy Halloween!