Friday, October 21, 2011

Spooktacular Halloween Themes


It’s a given there will be a party or two to attend during the Halloween season.  If you are the host of that party, here are some great ideas for spooky, ghoulish themes that are both frightening and fun!
Get the party started with the right decorations and props to turn your space into a room to be remembered!  Why settle for a plain card table and a homemade paper chain when you can add oh-so-fantastic embellishments to your event that will make guests go “wow” when they walk in the door.
The easiest way to start off your party is to pick a theme.  This will help decide the best decorations, guest list, and ideas for your specific party.  A few great ideas are:
·     Bats - A Bat Halloween theme party is a great idea if you've got a mixed crowd -- guests of all ages, boys, girls, guys and gals, will love this batty party.
·     Pumpkins - Pumpkin-carving is enticingly messy and squishy, and it's a Halloween tradition that's been celebrated for centuries. Keep little ones celebrating this fall with a pumpkin-carving party.
·     Glam - Get the girls together for a night of Halloween fun. Easy and cute decorations as well as bite sized foods will make a party they'll love. Top the night off with an adorable purse favor filled with grown up Halloween goodies!
·     Monsters (zombies, vampires, and werewolves oh my!) – For these party guests, grisly and ghastly is the only way to go.  Let these tough types test the strength of their spine with a party that oozes with heart-stopping surprises, cringe-worthy costumes, and a menu into which only the boldest vampires would sink their fangs.
·     Budget – Scare your guests, not your wallet with easy DIY decorations and invitations.  There are many online resources you can print for free to give guests a great time and your wallet a rest.
·     Creepy Haunted House - The touch of a cold corpse, the sound of a howling wind, and the taste of your heart in your throat...the senses truly come alive as they enter your chilling retreat.
·     Adult - Halloween isn't just for kids anymore! Mix decorations and recipes for a perfect, upscale adult Halloween party. Choose a spooky costume; mix with a creepy cocktail for an unforgettable evening!
·     Party Scene Investigation – Send invitations early to get guests intrigued so they will want to investigate this criminally perfect party!  Have a mystery game ready so you can find out which of your guests is a super sleuth.
      Halloween is a fun holiday for all ages, so get creative and incorporate the best party ideas for your theme.  Create a party plan and remember to include invitations, decorations, games, activities, party food, gift bag favors, costumes, and gifts.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Halloween Recipes

Throwing a Halloween party provides the perfect opportunity to delight guests with spooky food creations that set the mood for an evening of thrills and chills. Guests are sure to enjoy your scary treats, even if they're a little grossed out by the presentation. Halloween is the ideal occasion to offer such a disconcerting array of creepy, yet tasty options.
Brain Mini Cupcakes
Brains!  That is what every zombie is in quest of so serve your guests these mini cupcake brains.
Ingredients:
·         Red velvet cake mix
·         Cherry or raspberry sauce
·         Candy Brain mold
·         Jello (green) or green fondant
·         Mini cupcake wrappers
·         Cream cheese frosting
Directions:
1.       Make the cake box recipe according to directions on the box using mini cupcake wrappers and pans.
2.       Once cooled, add cream cheese frosting to each mini cupcake.
3.       Make jello according to directions but add to candy mold and let set in fridge until firm. (If using fondant, roll fondant and press into mold, take out immediately).
4.       Carefully, take brains out of mold and add to top of cupcakes. 
5.       Spoon cherry sauce on top and around brain to add effect.
Forked Eyeballs
These scary-good Halloween treats, prepared and eaten on the same fork, begin with a doughnut hole dunked in white chocolate.
Ingredients:
  • 2 bags white chocolate chips
  • 12 doughnut holes
  • Semisweet chocolate chips
  • Red decorator frosting
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:
  1. To coat the doughnut holes, melt white chocolate chips and oil over low heat (and keep the chocolate warm while you work). With a fork, spear each doughnut hole and submerge it in the melted chocolate to coat it, and then gently tap off any excess.
  2. Stick a chocolate chip with its point cut off onto each doughnut hole, cut end first. Place the forks (handle side down) in a glass and allow the chocolate coating to harden.
  3. Use a tube of red decorator frosting to add squiggly veins radiating out from the pupils.


Swamp Juice
Filled with gummy creatures and fish eggs, this sweet, bubbly drink looks like something scooped up from a deep, dark bog. Try making a batch for a Halloween gathering or as a spooky after-dinner treat.

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup small tapioca pearls
  • Food coloring
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • Gummy fish
  • Seltzer water
  • Lemonade
  • Gummy worms 
Directions:
  1. Bring 6 cups of water to a boil and add the tapioca pearls. Reduce the heat slightly and boil the pearls, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes.
  2. Divide the pearls, with the remaining water, between two bowls. Add 4 drops of food coloring (use 3 drops of yellow and 1 drop of green in one bowl, and 4 drops of blue in the other) and 2 tablespoons of sugar to each bowl. Stir the mixtures, and then allow them to sit uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and rinse the pearls with cold water.
  3. Spoon 2 tablespoons of pearls into each glass and drop in a gummy fish. Fill the glasses with seltzer water, and then add a splash of lemonade. Place a gummy worm around the spoon as a creepy finishing touch.
Monster Toes
Kids will love the gross-out factor of this tasty finger food. Parents will love the fact that it is candy-free. Try some for a party or pre-trick-or-treating dinner.  
Ingredients:
  • Cocktail Wieners
  • 6 inch tortillas
  • Ketchup or BBQ sauce
  • Toothpicks
Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut a small wedge into the end of each cocktail wiener to make a toenail.
2. Cut the tortillas into strips about 4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Discard the ends.
3. Soften the strips in the microwave between damp paper towels for 10 to 30 seconds.
4. Roll each wiener in a tortilla strip and secure with a toothpick.
5. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and then fill the toenail with ketchup or mustard. Remove the toothpicks before serving
.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

2011 Costumes

Just like any previous year, 2011 will present some exciting new choices in Halloween Costumes.  While some may already know what their perfect costume will be, others seem to have difficulty finding the costume that suits them best.
With all the costume choices out there, it’s always hard for the indecisive to narrow down a final choice for the Halloween season.  I’ve come to the rescue and let you in on what are the most popular and interesting costumes for the 2011 Halloween season.
Steampunk is huge with adults this year.  Both men and women can get into this gear head meets Victorian romance merger that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy.
I have to mention zombies, since zombies are the new vampires.  This is an effortless costume to pull off as well because you come with unwashed hair, and dirty clothes.  Just add some gray makeup and a limp, and you’re good to go.
Men always love the zany, wacky costumes so go as something completely unexpected this year such as a pool table with removable balls or a rubix cube hat that also twists like the real game. 
Another popular option is the morph suit.  These costumes are breathable and you can actually see and drink through them.  Although form fitting, others are not able to see you through them.
Women tend to dress as nutty celebrities they see in the media.  Lady Gaga is still big this year, but so is Black Swan, Jersey characters, and, you betcha, your favorite Alaskan mom. 
Also, women want to relive their youth, so anything decade is always fun.  There are so many choices from the 50’s to the 90’s that are great.  So go retro Madonna or Farah Fawcett.
A lot of parents are looking back at what they were for Halloween as kids and some old-school costumes are also making a comeback such as Ghostbusters, Strawberry Shortcake, and Super Mario Brothers.
Don't forget one of the most important things a costume can do: encourage your child to play.  There are many ways to incourage imagination, but one of the best is through costumes such as pirates and princesses.
Super Heroes have always been the ultimate choice for boys but move over Super Man, there is a new crop of super heroes in town thanks to all the movies lately.  Your boy will feel like he’s got super powers in his Hal Jordon or Captain America costume.  Any of the Justice League or XMen are big (should I say Super Big) as well as transformers.
Princesses have always ruled this area, but lately princesses have turned to a darker side and so I suggest the Monster High characters.  Your little lady still looks cute in her costume and gets to act out her inner vampire or werewolf in a school girl skirt.
These little tykes will look adorable in anything but here are a few favorites.  Bugs and animals are always fun and usually the costume goes over clothes and comes with a hood to keep little ones warm while trick or treating.  Characters are great alternatives as well, such as Yo Gabba Gabba, Thomas the Train, and of course, the ever popular Smurfs.
Couples love to have ensembles that really work well together such as ketchup and mustard, Hansel and Gretel, or celebrity couples such as Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio or Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson.  Be creative and think outside the box in this area.  I once went with my husband as a gypsy and he was my crystal ball (short hair or bald heads work well for this).
Really anything goes when choosing a costume as long as you put a little thought and creativity into it.  Which means, don’t decide what to be on Oct 29th.  The sooner your search begins for that perfect ensemble, the better the creative outcome will be.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Pink Party

Usually October conjures up dark images of orange and black, but in the last few years October has taken a more feminine turn and is now associated with the color pink to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.  Show you care and are aware by throwing a Pink Party to honor those who have beat the disease and also to shed light on research to find a cure.
Start by sending out personalized invitations on light pink stationary or cards and add the signature pink ribbon of the breast cancer movement to it. If doing a charity tie-in, don't forget to tell your friends beforehand so that they know they can make a donation during your event. 
Make your Breast Cancer Awareness event stand out by encouraging guests to wear all pink and white to the party as well.  Don a pink wig or pink lashes to add to your ensemble.  Hand out pink feather boas or leis to your guests as a fun party favor.  This also thanks your guests for their support. 
A pink party can be either a large or small gathering, but you should always make sure to have enough paper goods for all your pink goodies.  Luckily, there are countless pink decorations available, and the best part is that you can be eco friendly and reuse these products for other events like a sweet 16 or bachelorette party as well!   As far as decorations go, don't be afraid to go big and bright or use different shades of pink.  Hang a large personalized banner welcoming your partygoers to an inspiring and fun event. Decorate with balloons and streamers in a variety of shades of pink and even incorporate larger balloons with pink ribbons on them. Try hanging wall decorations and tea lights in the shape of pink ribbons all around your venue to liven up the atmosphere.
Create gift bags for your guests and include pink ribbons, pink pens or pencils, and several other thoughtful mementos to remind them of the great party they have attended and what a great cause they supported.
A pink party is perfect all year long, but is especially poignant during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every year thousands of women across the U.S. battle the disease, and every party and fundraiser held helps raise money brings us one step closer to finding a cure.  Hosting your very own pink party is a way to bring community together and celebrate a great cause. 

Monday, October 10, 2011

Zombie Walk

4th Annual Zombie Walk
Zombies everywhere come together one day a year to walk the undead walk at the 4th Annual Omaha Zombie Walk.  This year Omaha will hold the Zombie walk on October 15th, 2011.  The theme is Voo Doo Zombie and benefits go to the Siena Francis House - the largest Omaha shelter that provides emergency overnight shelter and food for those in need. They also operate an addiction recovery house as well.
The walk starts at 2:00 at the Waiting Room Lounge– 6212 Maple St. Omaha Ne 68104 and later features Kepi Ghoulie to perform an acoustic set for the undead.  This walk is brought to you by the NYDM Nebraska Chapter.
A zombie walk is an organized gathering of two or more people who dress, act, and participate as zombies or victims during the walk.  They usually have makeup done and limp around grunting and groaning to stay in character during the walk.  Come early and get your face painted for $3 by makeup artists.  There are a few rules to remember about the walk, which are featured below:
Rules:  For Zombies
·    If you use blood it cannot stain the sidewalks or anything else for that matter, which means no bloody handprints on the light pole or pedestrians.
·    Stay on the sidewalks and do not jaywalk.
·    Do not use profanity (you can scream for brains though, in fact it’s encouraged).
·    Do not attack anyone who is not a designated victim (more on that below).
·    Do not enter a business unless they have made it clear it is okay and that they like zombies.
·    Do not touch cars, windows, or other personal or private property.
·    Even the undead need to be law abiding citizens.  This is a no-brainer right?  (He he).
Rules:  For Victims
·    Identify yourself as a victim by placing a duct taped "X" somewhere noticeable on your clothes.
·    Once caught by a zombie (oh yes, they will catch you!) they will swarm around you and you can apply makeup or rip your clothing to become a zombie as well.
·    If you want your clothes ripped, place a starter hole in them and rip yourself.  Zombies should not be doing this in case a victim does not want his/her clothes ripped.
·    Scatter yourselves along the walk so you are not all in one place at one time.
·    Do not run into the streets or places not allowed to get away from zombies, but have fun with it and scream and yell.
So come out and join the undead while scaring all the living away.  There are zombie walks all over the country so check your city or state to see if there is a walk close to you.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Children's Halloween Party

Children’s Party
By Poppie
Halloween conjures up images of haunted houses, trick or treating, and ghoulish monsters.  Sometimes it can seem a bit scary for the little ones.  I wanted to host a Halloween party that the children would remember but not be frightened to participate in.
My daughter’s birthday just so happens to be November 1st so we decided to have a Halloween party last year to celebrate her birthday.  We wanted it to be fun but not scary so these are a few things I did to ensure the children had a great time. 
She had all her friends come in costume.  To avoid scary masks, we specified on the invitations that it would be easier to eat cake and ice cream if there was no masks.  We had a contest to see who had the best costume which was awarded with a "Best Costume" trophy
For decorations, we took toilet paper rolls and folded one side in to make ears and made various creatures with them.  We had a cat, the Where the Wild Things Are monster, a bat, and an owl.  We set them by a black cauldron that I placed various piñata toys and candy in.  Each child could grab what they wanted and put in an orange sack to take home.  We also made “potions” out of lemonade and soda that we stuck in thin vases and labeled with ingredients such as “Potion Number 5 – snake tails, bat wings, sugar, spice, and everything naughty”.
We dimmed the lights and lit the jack o lanterns in one room to create ambience for our guests while they ate cake and brains (okay, green Jello shaped like a brain).  Painted mini pumpkins were sporadically placed around the room to go with our glowing centerpieces. 
For drinks, we had another black cauldron with punch in it and dry ice to create a spooky effect.  The drinks were served in paper cups with cute, glittery spiders or pumpkins stickers placed on them.
We played pin the spider to the spider web.  I had taken a pumpkin carving tracer sheet of a spider web and traced it on a paper plate.  Then my girls painted the web and little spiders that we cut out and numbered with sticker numbers.  Each child was blind folded and placed their numbered spider on the web.  The closest to the center of the web was the winner.  The prize was an oversized chocolate bar.
This was such a fun party, that my daughter wants to do a similar party this year as well.  We’ll change a few of the decorations for a fun twist and add a theme this year to limit which decorations we decide to put up and stay on budget.   This party is no trick to do and quite a treat for the children!

Monday, October 3, 2011

How to Decorate for a Zombie Party

Zombies are all the rage this Halloween so creep into Halloween with a Zombie Party for your friends and family.  I love zombie parties for the simple fact that I don’t even need to worry about having a spotless house before the party!  Of course you can always add extra ambience with these ideas.
The invite:
Send Toe Tag invitations to all your guests a few weeks in advance outlining your gruesome night ahead.
The costume:
A zombie party is the one social occasion where the idea is to turn up looking your worst! In fact it’s advised that you throw your zombie party while having gone several days without washing or brushing your hair with wrinkled or torn clothes.
The Ambience:
Scare your guests before they have even entered your house. Use these decorations to turn your yard into a graveyard and rope off your yard with party tape and signs that say “Beware of Zombies”. 
Inside the house, more important than decoration is the scene setting.  Dim the lights, use candle lights wherever possible and low voltage or colored lights for the rest of the house.  Use a fog machine by the front door so guests feel they are entering the undead zone.
It is also a good idea to stick faces or words on your mirrors in small rooms such as the bathroom or coatroom so they see a gruesome sight as soon as they walk in.  This bloody “beware” mirror cling is a great choice.
Leave your TV on all night it on silent playing zombie films.  Keep the haunting noises going with a scary soundtrack.  Add bloody gauze as a table cover.  Serve food and drinks on it.
The drinks:
There is no better cocktail for a zombie themed party than the brain hemorrhage. This is a great visual drink that your fellow zombies will love!
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
1 tsp. Bailey's Irish Cream®
1/2 tsp. Grenadine

First, pour in the peach schnapps, and then slowly pour in the Irish Cream.  Do not mix!  The cream will clump together and settle at the bottom of the schnapps.  Pour the grenadine over the cream for a completely disgusting look, yet completely tasty drink.
Another option is adding fake eyeballs to your ice cube trays so each guest has a frozen surprise staring back at them as they drink.  Or you can add two olives to a pick and put in your martini glass so the olives look like eyes.
The food:
Zombie food is one of the easiest ones to get.   Just call for take-out and eat the delivery boy!!!
If the delivery boy doesn’t appeal to you, you can always offer a buffet of cold meats to your guests. Add “fresh flesh” signs by the buffet table. Some meats that you can use for fresh flesh are cuts of ham, smoked fish, turkey or roast beef.  For the sweet tooth, you can have trays of jello brains or ice-cream with candy worms sticking out.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Zombie Costume Ideas

Zombie Parties are becoming extremely popular as costumes are very easy to make. There’s nothing funnier than having a building full of zombies and then venturing out to town to scare the local populace!
This theme is perfect for a Sunday party after you have been to several parties over the weekend. This is the only party where you do not need to look fresh and pretty.  You are supposed to be dead and stiff in the joints and with your flesh saggy and pasty.  So you will be perfect even if you have been partying all weekend!
To pull off a zombie costume, choose from one of the following:
·         The green zombie, think Herman Munster.
·         The sexy zombie, think pin-up girl converted to zombie.  For this look you can choose your favorite dead movie star and bring her back from the dead.  You can dress sexy and just add a few zombie touches like messed up hair and gray makeup on your skin.
·         The rotting zombie. A bit more complex to achieve, you will need lots of disgusting accessories like guts, worms, grey skin, dirty clothes, and flesh falling off.
·         The ready-made zombie costume which you can get all the accessories you need at Nobbiesparties.com.
Of course, no matter what zombie type you choose, there are a few things to help give your costume that extra edge.
1.       Cover yourself in grey make up.  Go heavier under the eyes!
2.       Go over parts of the grey in green and other parts in red.
3.       Achieve the crusty look by mashing potato, dying it green and plastering your skin with it. Leave it on for ten minutes, enough for it to set and when you take it off you’ll have an awesome green flaky skin look.  You can get this same effect with latex or gel makeup.
4.       Choose your oldest and worst clothes as they’re going to get messed up! The day before your party bury your shirt in the dirt overnight.
5.       Put rips in your shirt, pants and jacket etc. If you can, make it so there’s strips hanging which look more authentic.  You could chop one leg off your pants if you wanted or a hole in the knee and put your foot through the hole.
6.       Style your hair so that it purposely looks disheveled and your hair is all messed up (or just don't wash or brush it for two days).  
7.       Wear odd shoes so you’ll have an awesome limp enforced upon you, no need to act it out.
With these tips, you should be the star of the undead with the best zombie costume for any party you attend this fall.