Top Sexy Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween is just around the corner. If you are looking for a sexy costume to wear this year now is the time to start shopping. More and more adults are looking for sexy Halloween costumes this year, so the variety is greater than ever. But if you are looking for something truly fun, you’ll need to shop early before styles sell out.

No longer a kids' holiday
For a long time, Halloween was regarded as a holiday for children. They dressed up in cute Halloween costumes and went door to door knocking and asking for candy. There might be a Halloween party at school or maybe a block party, but that was it.

Now, Halloween is a celebration for kids of all ages. More and more adults are having parties of their own. Whether it is a masquerade ball or a sexy Halloween costume nightclub party, more and more adults are stepping out to costume stores in October.

Less equals more
The theme behind sexy Halloween costumes is the idea that less equals more. Halloween is becoming more of a chance to show off your fashion sense instead of a way to scare your neighbors. Popular costume ideas include:

· Alice – Yes, the popular children’s character is getting a whole new face lift with this sexy Halloween costume. Instead of her traditional gear, look for one with a high cut apron dress, sexy stockings, and other Alice accessories. This also offers numerous characters for your date to play.

· Beer garden girl – Do you and your significant other like a pint of the German brew? A beer garden girl can be cute with its short cut dress and petticoat. Do your hair and carry around a stein and you are sure to attract the eye of every man at the bar.

· Warrior babe – look out Xena, warrior costumes are hot. Whether you are going for a sexy Halloween costume with leather armor or chain mail, the bustier and short skirt is sure to turn heads. Don’t forget to accessorize with your weapon of choice.

· Sexy sports girl – what man doesn’t love sports and the women that love them too? Of course, you can catch more attention than a last minute touchdown with a sexy sport uniform designed to show off your winning moves.

Guys aren’t left out either
Before, guys were often left out when it came to sexy Halloween costumes. Now there are more options on the market to help them shine with their sexy counterparts. Like the female sexy Halloween costumes, the male ones are designed to show off the male physique to the maximum. So be prepared for shorter sleeves, tighter pants, and even some “package enhancers” in the male sexy Halloween costumes.

Halloween is not only becoming a more adult holiday every year, it is also becoming a sexier one. And sexy Halloween costumes are sure to turn heads. So why not set aside the blood and gore this year and try a sexy Halloween costume on for size.

Article Courtesy of the Halloween Costumes Retailer InCostume.com

Obama vs McCain Halloween Masks

Who would you go as this Halloween? Obama or McCain?

or

Frightfully Fun Twists To Halloween Celebrations

With Halloween season just around the corner, soon the streets will be filled with pint-sized princesses, cowboys, ghosts and goblins. Along with the thrills and chills of fabulous costumes comes the "spook-tacular" goodies that make this frightful night one of the most anticipated holidays of the year.

So as the graves begin to turn, it's time to start thinking about planning for your next hair-raising party. Following are a few frighteningly fun ideas to make your next ghoulish gathering one to remember!

• Enjoy a "boo-tritious" treat. Simply mix a couple drops of orange, green or black food coloring in with vanilla yogurt (an excellent source of calcium and vitamins) for a ghastly appeal no one will forget. Add layers of low-fat granola and sliced bananas for a delicious dose of fiber and potassium. Nutritiously festive, this morning parfait is a surefire way to get ready for the fright night ahead.

• Break and bake bewitching cookies. Save time in the kitchen preparing freaky treats with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Halloween Swirled Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Ready in minutes, these decorative indulgences add a festive twist to America's favorite cookie. For a "spookalicious" flair, try NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Pumpkin Pals Sugar Cookie Dough. Precut with a variety of jack-o'-lantern faces, these vibrantly orange, ready-to-bake treats brighten up any party.

• Lend a hand...or two. Add an eerie twist to a bowl of punch with hand-shaped floating ice cubes. Pour water into plastic gloves, filling the gloves loosely with room for the fingers to move. Fasten gloves with twist ties and set on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Freeze for three hours or until firm. Then carefully cut gloves off hands and float in your favorite witches brew.

• RIP with a devilish indulgence. Place a few creepy crawlers on kids' cupcakes for a "boo-tiful" surprise they will love. WONKA® SweeTARTS® Skulls N' Bones from WONKA® Monster MIX UPS assorted candy bag are great to have on hand for recipes and treat giving. If you're looking to really impress the crowd, go all out with this recipe for Graveyard Cake. Featuring chocolaty tombstones, gummy bugs and spooky words written in icing, this frightfully delicious cake will be the "life" of the party!

Graveyard Cake
Makes 12 servings

1 package (18.25 ounces) devil's food or yellow cake mix
1 container (16 ounces) prepared vanilla frosting
12 NESTLÉ® CRUNCH® Fun-Size Candy Bars
1 small tube white decorator icing
1 (1.76 ounces) NESTLÉ® BUTTERFINGER® CRISP Candy Bar, chopped
Gummy bugs or worms

PREPARE cake mix according to package directions using one 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Cool completely in pan. Invert cake onto serving platter. Frost cake, using a little more frosting than usual on top ("tombstones" will be pushed into frosting).

WRITE spooky words such as "RIP" or "Boo" on Crunch bars using tube icing. Let sit for a few minutes to dry.

PRESS Crunch bars into cake to create "tombstones." Sprinkle chopped Butterfinger Crisp bar next to tombstones to create "dirt." Creatively place gummy bugs over top of cake.

For more celebration and decorating tips, as well as festive family-friendly recipe ideas, visit VeryBestKids.com.

A haunting treat for ghoulish gatherings, this graveyard cake features gummy bugs and chocolaty tombstones.

Courtesy of NAPS/North American Precis Syndicate

SpiritHalloween.com Coupons

Check out these great coupons for SpiritHalloween.com. Hurry, these coupons expire 9/30/2008!

$5 off $50 at Spirit Halloween use code SPAF5 valid through 9/30/08


$10 off $100 at Spirit Halloween use code SPAF10 valid through 9/30/08


10% off entire order at Spirit Halloween use code SPAF10P valid through 9/30/08

Amazon.com Launches Costume Store

Amazon.com’s Costume Store makes it easy for you to shop thousands of costumes in one place. From Harry Potter to Batman to Tinkerbell, we have costumes for every man, woman, and child. We even have costumes for pets. Complete your look with wigs, masks, hats, shoes and other accessories.

Save money on costumes by shopping early. Customers spending $50 on costumes and accessories from a single merchant can get $10 off plus free shipping. Offer expires September 30, 2008.

Do’s and Don’ts for Halloween Trick-or-Treating

Whether you are a young parent accompanying your kids on their first Halloween or a seasoned parent speaking to your teenagers, before they head to a Halloween costume party, there are several things you should keep in mind so your children stay safe and happy. There are many words of wisdom about trick-or-treating and Halloween costume parties, so remember to also use your own good judgment in situations. Remember: it is a night of tricks and treats, mischief and tomfoolery. Try to maintain a balance between fun and fright. When else can your children don an outrageous Halloween costume and race around the neighborhood, gathering large amounts of candy?

Do’s for Halloween Costumes and Trick-or-Treating

Do help your children pick out his or her Halloween costume. Remember that a Halloween costume also serves as a way for your child to let loose, explore a new side of their personality, and have a little fun. Be understanding if your five-year-old wants to dress up as a cow or if your ten-year-old wants a Barbara Walters Halloween costume.

Use caution when providing feedback and suggestions, and try to stay positive and encouraging. Do provide your child with a flashlight, a few dollars to use in an emergency, and, if possible, a cell phone or pager.

If you will not be accompanying your child and his or her friends, make sure you know the route they plan to take and even a few houses where they can go in an emergency. Do trust your children, but make sure they know that your household and family rules still apply on Halloween. Even your son dressed up in his Dracula Halloween costume must obey his parents!

Don’ts for Halloween Costumes and Trick-or-Treating

Don’t ignore, insult, or otherwise mock your kid’s Halloween costume. Many children opt to make their own homemade Halloween costumes out of sheets, cardboard, and other household items. This is a time where they can be creative and imaginative—be encouraging!

Check in with the parents of the other children. Don’t assume that everything will take care of itself. You need to know where your children will be, which route they will take around the neighborhood, and when to expect everyone home.

Be sure to stress the responsibility that comes with Halloween, and emphasize that you trust your kids. If, for any reason, the thought of trick-or-treating or a Halloween costume party makes you nervous, talk to your kids, talk to other parents, and try to resolve the situation or even come up with an alternative. Trust your instincts.

Lastly, don’t forget to check over your kid’s Halloween candy. Yes, the razor in the apple story is more urban legend than fact, but you need to look over the loot and discard any suspicious, opened, or otherwise harmful items. Some families decide to hold onto all the candy and, every day or so, give out a few pieces to their children.

This decision is up to you. If you would rather dole out the candy, that’s fine. It may help your children avoid stomachaches, nausea, and cavities from way too much sugar! And don’t forget to carefully store your kid’s Halloween costume. You may want to use it again, or you may to want it as a reminder of your family’s fun Halloween celebrations.

Article courtesy of InCostume.com.

How To Make an Origami Bat

You don't have to wait until Halloween to get your fill of creepy critters—fold a whole colony of bats and string them into a spooky mobile.

Frightful Flowers Make Halloween ‘Boo-tiful’

What could be scarier than some fake spider webs and a leering jack ‘o’ lantern this Halloween? For millions of Americans, the answer seems to be a bare front porch and undecorated home totally lacking in spirit.

In 2007, nearly 50 percent of Americans decorated their homes or yards for Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions survey. The survey estimated total Halloween spending, including decorations, at around $5 billion last year.

Many serious Halloween acolytes add one or two major items of decoration to their collections every year. Larger pieces, especially those that feature movement, light or sound, can cost hundreds of dollars. But it’s possible to create a fresh, fun or even frightful atmosphere with a cost-effective, timeless decorating tool – cut flowers.

“It’s easy to take home decorating for Halloween a step beyond store-bought decorations by using flower arrangements,” says Jill Slater, flower designer for flowerpossibilities.com. “While simple, Halloween-themed floral creations can be enjoyed during the fall holiday season, fresh-cut flowers can be enjoyed in the home throughout the year.”

Flowers are especially versatile as Halloween decorations because they can be used to create fun or frightening effects. Whatever the atmosphere you plan to evoke, remember that color is key.

For scary effect, choose cut flowers in powerful colors like blood red, or ghostly white. Crimson roses, lightly laced with somber white genistra and presented in a creepily cracked urn can make a frightfully good -- and eerily elegant -- decoration for your grown-up Halloween display..

For fun arrangements, choose seasonal colors like golds, yellows, oranges and burnt umber. Accent seasonally hued floral arrangements with harvest-themed extras like dried corn husks, wheat stalks or gourds.

Flowerpossibilities.com offers several “recipes” for fun Halloween floral decorations, including:

Spooky Sheriff

Materials:

* One 6-inch round pumpkin (real or hollow artificial)

* Three stems protea

* Two stems orange gerbera daisies

* Two stems yellow gerbera daisies

* One stem yellow lily

* Three stems boxwood

* Three or four stems sword fern

* One red bandana

* One small cowboy hat

* One brick floral foam

* Floral clippers, scissors and knife

* Floral preservative/food


Directions:

1. Soak floral foam for at least 30 minutes in water treated with flower food/preservative.

2. Cut and scoop out pumpkin. With permanent marker, draw eyes and nose of Spooky Sheriff.

3. Cut the wet foam to fit and insert the floral foam into the pumpkin. Set the cowboy hat on top of the floral foam.

4. Cut flowers and foliage to approximately 4- to 6-inches in length. Begin inserting stems under the cowboy hat and into the exposed floral foam. Place the colorful yellow lily and yellow gerbera daisies front and center and position the dried wheat and orange gerbera daisies to one side. The protea and sword fern are used to fill spaces of the bright flowers.

5. Tie the bandana around the base of the pumpkin.


Floral Creepy Crawlers

Materials:

* One decorative wire basket

* Two bricks floral foam

* One stem each: orange standard carnation and pin-cushion protea

* Colorful shredded bunny grass

* Two 2-inch clay pots

* Six Chenille Bump stems of pipe cleaner (available at craft stores)

* Four stick-on plastic eyes (available at craft stores)

* Glue gun and glue

* Halloween candy

* Floral clippers, scissors and knife

* Floral preservative/food


Directions:

1. Soak one brick of floral foam for at least 30 minutes in water treated with floral preservative/food.

2. Cut the floral foam that has been treated with floral preservative/food to fit the inside the clay pots

3. Cut the pin-cushion protea to about 2-inches in length and insert it into the center of soaked floral foam.

4. To make the spider legs, cut the pipe cleaners in half. Then shape them by wrapping around index finger. Insert the pipe cleaner legs into the floral foam surrounding the flower at spaced intervals. 6 legs are used for each spider.

5. Adhere eyes onto the flower using the glue gun.

6. Repeat steps two through five to create the orange standard carnation spider in the other clay pot.

7. Cut dry brick of floral foam to fit inside of the basket, and place securely inside to use to prop up accessories and your floral creations.

8. Cover dry floral foam with colorful bunny grass and set one Floral Creepy Crawler inside the basket and the other just outside.

9. Sprinkle Halloween candy throughout the bunny grass.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Fall Home Decor Trends: One Part Nature with a Twist

As Mother Nature wows us with fantastic fall colors and scenery, the latest trends in fall decorating and entertaining bring the beauty of the great outdoors inside. Give your home some fall-time flare by adding nature-inspired decor with unexpected crafty details.

“This fall, decorating trends are inspired by nature, but the key is to use these elements in new and exciting ways. Interesting themes, new colors and surprising details are making fall 2008 distinctive,” says Susan Atchison, manager of trend development for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.

Here are some decorating ideas and trends that you can try in your home:

1) Make pumpkins fun.

Pumpkins are the quintessential symbol of fall, but why not put a new twist on a classic? When ordinary pumpkins just won’t do, paint a collection of pumpkins and decorate them with scrollwork designs for instant I-did-it-myself appeal.



“Try painting artificial pumpkins, called Fun-Kins, a variety of colors. Rich blues and reds will provide a classic look. Then decorate with dimensional copper paint or iridescent brown paint,” says Atchison. “For a fun, brighter look, get inspiration from traditional prints by painting argyles, dots, checks, plaids and stripes in exciting color combinations for a fun mix-and-match pumpkin grouping that can be used year after year.”

2) Make it a crafty Halloween.

Halloween is a frightfully fun time, and with the holiday landing on a Friday this year, there’s bound to be a little extra celebration. Consider using inexpensive or leftover craft items to create frightfully fun Halloween decorations for little cost.

Atchison suggests making Jack-O-Lantern Illusions, which are made out of a quilt hoop that is painted orange with a fun jack-o’-lantern face hanging in the center with clear thread. They’re quick and easy and look fabulous hanging from the ceiling indoors or on trees outside.

3) A table aplenty.

Showcase the essence of fall’s natural beauty with a sparkling centerpiece everyone will adore. Fill jars and bowls with decorative fruits like apples and grapes, but add pizzazz with nontraditional fruits such as pomegranates or mangos.

“Put your own creative spin on the project by adding things you’ve purchased or found on a nature walk like pinecones, dried flowers or feathers,” says Atchison.

Add a special touch for your next dinner gathering by creating personalized handcrafted harvest place settings. Choose a decorative foam or plastic fruit and use copper paint to inscribe the guest’s name. Add a feather or other decorative detail and you have a tasteful place setting that turns into a fun take-home party favor once guests are ready to go.

4) Accents around the home.

Adding a touch of color throughout the home can transform it into an autumn environment in no time. Utilize colors to bring the feeling of the season into any room, from bathroom to kitchen to porch. Gorgeous golds and oranges, rich burgundies and browns, plus touches of teal and sage vividly reveal fall’s splendor.

Add a splash of color with a wine-toned table runner or visual appeal with a simple bunch of dried fall flowers filling the air with the pleasant aroma of the season.

“This fall, decor with a natural essence is popular, but be creative. Adding unique details to traditional items or utilizing colors in new and exciting ways can really make your house stand out,” concludes Atchison.

For more information and to get supplies for creating the perfect fall decor for your home visit www.Joann.com.

Craft 1 - Scrollwork Fun-Kins
Skill level: No experience needed.
Approximate crafting time: 1 hour each plus drying time.

Supplies and tools:
* Fun-Kins Carvable Pumpkins, various sizes
* Acrylic paint in colors of choice
* Paintbrushes -- 1-inch and 1/2-inch flat
* Spray gloss varnish
* Dimensional paint, copper and iridescent brown
* Plate for paint

Directions:
1. Basecoat the entire pumpkin with acrylic paint. Let dry.
2. Shake the dimensional paint bottle to get a full load of paint at the nozzle. Beginning at the stem, create a swirl. Continue around the stem, varying the swirls, and building upon the original ones. Continue about a quarter to a third of the way down the pumpkin.
3. Add dots to the design, if desired.
4. Return to the stem and decorate it.
5. Set pumpkin aside to dry.

Tip:
Paint Fun-Kins Carvable Pumpkins in 2 stages -- first with stem up, second with stem down. When painting the bottom, stand it stem down in a container that supports it until it’s dry.

To get spray gloss varnish at the base, insert a disposable cup or other tall object inside the hole at the bottom to lift it from the surface. After spraying the surface that faces you, rotate pumpkin to get the other surfaces. Spray the stem from the top as well.

Craft 2 - Jack-O’-Lantern Illusions
Skill level: No experience needed.
Approximate crafting time: 1 hour each plus drying time.

Supplies and tools:
* 14-inch, 16-inch and 18-inch quilting hoops
* Acrylic paint -- three different orange colors
* Foam brush
* Clear polyester thread
* Thin hand-sewing needle
* 9-by-12-inch craft foam, 3 sheets 3 mm thickness, black
* Tacky glue
* Scissors

Directions:
1. Paint inside and outside of all hoop sets and allow to dry thoroughly. Use a different color orange for each size. Two or three coats may be needed to achieve desired effect. Hang to dry.
2. Design jack-o’-lantern faces and cut out from black craft foam.
3. With clear polyester thread and needle, poke tiny hole through top of each face piece and tie to inner hoop to make face mobile.
4. Glue the outer hoop at right angles to inner hoop.
5. When dry, tie a piece of thread to hoop screw and hang.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Plan a Monster Bash

You’re invited to a “Monster Bash.” What’s more fun than Halloween? Young or old, everyone seems to get into the spirit. Why not gather a group together this Halloween and have some spooky fun along with a frightening feast?

When planning a Halloween party, it is best to consider the ages of all goblins that will be attending. Adults and children may both love the fun of Halloween, but the fright factor will be different. Once you have established your guest list, you can start to plan “tricks or treats.”

For tricks, start the guests off by having a “frightening fashion show” where they walk down a red carpet to show their costumes. Cover the carpet with spiders and webs and, if everyone is brave enough, turn the lights down low. Be sure to play some ghoulishly good music, such as “The Monster Mash,” so that your party ghosts and princesses can get into the spirit. This is a good way to “break the ice” and let everyone showcase their costumes before the party begins.

Follow up the fashion show with a few games such as pass the pumpkin or bobbing for apples. If guests will be heading out for candy, be sure to feed them a selection of healthy “treats.” Why not start with deviled eggs?

The incredible edible deviled egg is a party favorite and fits perfectly into a Halloween theme. The high quality protein from the egg will help witches and mummies feel full longer, which could help minimize their munching on candy. Deviled eggs are also the perfect appetizer before serving a Halloween meal such as “creepy crawly chili” (chili topped with gummy worms) and “tombstone tossed salad” (decorate the salad bowls with funny tombstones).

If you really want to get into the spirit when planning your menu, why not dress your basic deviled egg recipe up in a costume by trying this recipe? For more recipe ideas visit www.incredibleegg.org.

Mystery Pirate Ships
Yields: Six servings

Ingredients:
6 hard-cooked eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 package (2.5 ounces) smoked sliced, chopped, pressed, cooked ham
12 green olives, optional

Directions:
Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks. Set whites aside. Place yolks in a one-quart plastic food storage bag. Add mayonnaise, relish and mustard. Press out air. Close bag. Press and roll bag until yolk mixture is thoroughly blended. Push yolk mixture toward bottom corner of bag. Snip off about 1/2 inch of the bag corner. Squeezing bag gently from the top, fill reserved whites with yolk mixture.

Place each filled egg on one ham slice. Turn two opposite corners up over the yolk mixture and gently press. For masts and flags, stick wooden picks topped with olives into the boats, if desired. Chill to blend.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

New for Halloween 2008

Check out these new arrivals at SpiritHalloween.com this year!

The Joker Batman the Dark Knight Why so serious? Let's put a smile on that face! Liven up the party in this officially licensed Joker costume and give Gotham your card. Additional Specifications: Costume is a 100% polyester violet jacket with screen printed green vest, shirt and necktie and full face Joker mask complete with green hair. Fits jacket size up to 44 Joker gloves, pants and shoes not included.

Toxic Zombie Animated Prop Toxic Zombie is the stuff of nightmares! Direct from the abandoned factory comes something evil, sealed up, left and forgotten long ago to fester and rot, only it's alive and leaking in a most troubling way. This sound activated toxic waste can raises and lowers its lid to reveal a Toxic Zombie looking left, right and straight at you with illuminated eyes and evil intentions. Run!

Transformers Bumble Bee Deluxe Child Costume Be a busy Bumblebee, the fuel efficent and highly agile, warm-hearted, human-friendly Autobot! Battle the evil Decepticons to save the Earth in this character-inspired full jumpsuit with attached eye-popping 3-D foam chest, upper arms and foam cuffs with character mask. Additional Specifications: Deluxe Transformers costume is a bright yellow jumpsuit with attached foam chest and upper arms detailed with black graphics and red emblem, two foam cuffs and yellow and gray with black and light blue trim character mask. Fits Child Small 4 to 6 Socks not included.