Growing up, I had one “homemade” Halloween costume that I can remember.  Our yearly ritual usually consisted of picking out a prepackaged costume that included a hard plastic mask that left your face all sweaty, and a generic plastic jumpsuit printed with your character on the front.  I had fun picking out my costume each year, but I was really focused on the upcoming candy haul.  Then one fall a neighbor let me borrow an old witches costume she had made when her children were small.  Although this costume was a 20 year old hand-me-down, it was GREAT and I tried it on every day in the weeks leading up to Halloween and for several weeks after!  The cardboard witches hat had long, flowing gray hair that I think came from a mop.  I had always wanted long hair.  The full black cape was lined with satin.  And the shoes, oh, the shoes…they looked like real witches shoes, with curled up toes and high heels!  This was the first pair of high heels I ever wore and I can still remember the click-click-click they made as I walked along the sidewalk.  I’m not a “shoe girl” by any means, but boy, was that fun!  I can’t believe that one costume can still invoke such fond memories 25 years later.

Taco Bell

Chipotle

Just show up at any Chipotle dressed like one of their meals on Halloween and you’re in for a FREE Boo-rito! Hmm, I wonder if the Painted Hen can do one of these costumes out of cardboard and aluminum foil!?!

Applebee’s

Children 12 and under in a Halloween costume get a FREE kids’ meal at lunch or dinnertime on October 31 (with purchase of adult entree)

Boston Market

2 kids eat FREE through October 31, 2009. NO costume required(but you do have to buy a $6 adult meal to get the deal). Details here.

McDonald’s

Visit a participating McDonald’s in costume on Halloween get a FREE cheeseburger or hamburger! (You might want to call ahead to see if your local restaurant is participating)

Breyers YoCrunch

For up to two weeks following Halloween, parents can send any candy wrapper to YoCrunch and receive a coupon for a FREE Breyers YoCrunch yogurt.  Get all the details here.

Michael’s

Come in on Halloween for a free kids Trick-or-Treat Pail, plus a FREE coloring activity, FREE Crayola pencil topper demo with Crayola Model Magic Fusion and a Make-It Take It Halloween Frame. And if that’s not enough, kids also get a FREE balloon and candy too. Check out the details here.

Brunswick Bowling

Get a coupon good for one FREE game of open play bowling for up to 6 people in a single visit.  Valid only on Halloween. Click here to grab the coupons.

The Picture People

FREE portrait sheet of Halloween wallet size prints. Get spooky here.

Sears

On October 31, bring your child dressed in their Halloween costume to the new Sears Toy Shop and receive a FREE toy from Mattel. They also have a printable coupon for $5 off a $20 Toy Purchase. Get the details here.
Also, get a FREE portrait collage ($44.95) at Sears with no sitting fee. Better hurry though, it ends tomorrow 10/31/09!

World Wildlife Fund

If you haven’t already carved your pumpkins, check out these FREE pumpkin stencils from the World Wildlife Fund. Get the stencil info here.

Spooky iPhone Apps

Rotor Blog has found 9 fun iPhone apps to liven up your Halloween. Check them out here.

So what cooking style do I enjoy most?  Fast, easy and especially at this time of year – FUN!  Halloween and Christmas are my favorite holidays, so these are the times I jump in with some festive snacks that are simple to prepare and will make the kids smile!  Two favorites that my youngsters always ask for at Halloween are Mummy Dogs and Bug-Eyed Blobs.  I have made these creepy treats “healthier” by using veggie hot dogs and a reduced sugar cake mix, but we also love making them the traditional way too.  These recipes have been around for a while and they are still a hit at our house!

Mummy Dogs

Ingredients
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls
2½ slices American cheese, quartered
10 large hot dogs
Mustard or ketchup, if desired

1. Heat oven to 375.
2. Unroll dough; separate at perforations, creating 4 rectangles.  Press perforations to seal.
3. Using a pizza cutter, slice each rectangle lengthwise into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough.
4. Cut cheese slices into quarters, making a total of 10 pieces of cheese.
5. Place one cheese piece on each hot dog.
6. Wrap hot dog with 4 pieces of dough to look like “bandages”, stretching dough slightly to completely cover hot dog.  About 1/2 inch from one end of each hot dog, separate “bandages” so hot dog shows through for “face.”  (Optional:  Using a sharp knife, cut small holes for “eyes”)  Place wrapped hot dogs (cheese side down) on ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until dough is light golden brown and hot dogs are hot.  (Optional:  With mustard, draw features on “face”)

Source:  www.pillsbury.com

Bug-Eyed Blobs Cupcakes

Ingredients
2 cans (16 oz) vanilla frosting
Neon-green food coloring
24 cupcakes
1 bag (16 oz) large marshmallows
Candy eyes (available online if you can’t find in your local store)
Wax paper

1. In large glass bowl, tint frosting bright green using food coloring.
2. Spread a thin layer of frosting on tops of cupcakes.
3. For each cupcake, cut 2 marshmallows in half and place randomly on frosting.
4. Place cupcakes on a wire rack over a sheet of wax paper.  (Optional:  Tape a strip of wax paper around base of cupcake to protect from frosting “runoff”)
5. Microwave frosting 10 to 20 seconds or until frosting is the consistency of whipped cream.
6. Slowly spoon over marshmallows to cover completely.
7. Add candy eyes to cupcakes before frosting hardens.

Source:  Parents October 2005

One of my most enduring Halloween memories was receiving a small orange milk carton from my school teachers every October.  The box had the acronym UNICEF emblazoned upon it.  And every October 31st, I would diligently tramp around my neighborhood, ringing doorbells, and asking “Trick or Treat? UNICEF?”.  And I would always smile when I heard the sound of pennies or dimes drop into that little orange milk carton.  UNICEF and Trick-or-Treating always went hand in hand for me.  So, I find it fitting to challenge our readers to find a way to help UNICEF this Halloween.

What is UNICEF?

UNICEF is the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (now technically known as the United Nations Children’s Fund).  UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. According to UNICEF, the tradition of ‘Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF‘ began in 1950 in the United States, when Philadelphia schoolchildren first went door-to-door at Halloween collecting money in decorated milk cartons to help their global peers. They raised a grand total of $17, kicking off a campaign that has since brought in millions of dollars each year to help UNICEF provide medicine, better nutrition, safe water, education, emergency relief and other support to children in more than 150 countries.

According to Charity Navigator, UNICEF is rated a four star charity.  That means, they’ll use their donations the way they say they will.  View UNICEF’s full Charity Navigator profile here.

What Can You Do?

If you or your children have a UNICEF box, put it to good use and fill it up this Halloween while you’re Trick-or-Treating. If you don’t have a UNICEF box, don’t worry, you can still help:

• Make a donation right now on the Five Hens UNICEF Trick-or-Treat Online page.  Our goals is to raise $200 for UNICEF this year.  Please help us reach it by adding your donation, large or small, to our drive.  Head over to our UNICEF site, donate what you can, and “Do Good” today.
• Create your own Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF fundraising webpage in just a few easy steps. Then invite your friends and family to help you raise funds to help kids all over the world survive and grow! Click here for all the details on how to create your own UNICEF website.
• Volunteer! If you have an undergraduate degree, several years of work experience and are interested in long-term volunteer opportunities in developing countries, you may be eligible for entry into the United Nations Volunteer (UNV) program. This is a United Nations common program, which recruits volunteers for assignments throughout the United Nations system, including UNICEF. Application procedures and information are available at the UNV Web site.
• Support UNICEF through charitable donations and purchases.  UNICEF relies heavily on people like all of us to help build a world fit for children.  There are many ways you can give to UNICEF, including purchasing unique cards and gift from the UNICEF store.

I have always been in awe of people with creatively carved Halloween pumpkins. At our house, we are lucky to get two eye triangles of approximately the same size. But this is my year! World Wildlife Fund has posted cute, simple wildlife pumpkin stencils on the web. There are several designs: a monarch butterfly, dolphins, gorillas, coral, polar bears, rhinos, tigers, turtles, the African plain, and of course the WWF panda. For all stencils, the pattern must be printed, taped to the pumpkin, then holes are poked around the pattern. The pumpkin is cut using the pattern, leaving you with a beautiful, creative pumpkin! Easy, impressive, and FREE. And what kid doesn’t love animals?

Since 1961, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been working to conserve nature. With almost 5 million global members, they work at every level from grassroots to government to protect natural areas and wildlife with a special focus on endangered species. WWF works to advance science to create a world where human needs are met in harmony with nature. According to Charity Navigator, WWF is a four star (top rated) charity meaning they use donations the way they say they will.

A lot of us carve pumpkins for Halloween, so why not do something other than traditional jack-o-lanterns this year? When you get compliments from your neighbors (and you WILL get compliments), steer them to World Wildlife Fund. The more people know about this first class organization, the closer WWF will get to accomplishing it’s worthwhile goals.

Here’s a slideshow of all the available stencils, plus information on each endangered animal or ecosystem.  Just click a thumbnail to see a larger image and start the slideshow.

Over the years I have found that my medium of choice is simple, inexpensive cardboard and hot glue.  Using hot glue on unpainted cardboard is easy, dries fast, and results in an amazingly strong and sturdy costume.  It’s up to you how much to embellish afterward.  I cover my creation with spray paint as it gives an even coat and dries quickly.  Then I look around for unusual items that will add that special, authentic touch.  Remember to do all of your hot glue before you paint; it will not bond painted pieces strongly.

Here are three of our recent cardboard costume creations:

Robot

What You’ll Need:

• Large cardboard box
• Small cardboard box
• Utility knife
• Hot glue gun
• Silver spray paint
  

Optional Accessories:

• Silver dryer venting
• Black cable organizer
• 2 small, rectangular gift boxes
• Battery-operated mini Christmas lights
• Upholstery nails/thumbtacks
• Antenna
• Mini drain covers

How to Make it:

1. Cut off bottom of large box and cut out holes for head and arms.
2. For small box, cut off one side for face opening and one side for neck opening.  Check fit of costume, and glue head box onto body.  (Optional:  Glue small gift boxes onto front and back for 3-D circuit board “effect”)
3. Spray paint costume and let it dry completely.
4. Look around the house for accessories!  Use silver dryer venting for arms.  Add black cable organizer tubes for accents around the base and head opening, and inside the arms to hold the metal dryer venting in place and prevent scratches.  Upholstery nails or thumbtacks look like rivets (poke into cardboard with a dab of glue).  Print out pictures of circuit boards or other graphics for accents.  A special touch is to raid your Christmas wreath for battery operated mini-lights to have your circuit boards flash.  We put the lights inside the gift boxes so that the wiring was contained and out of the way.  Just poke holes through the cardboard for the lights.  This makes it easy to see your little one at night and I’m all for added safety.

Here’s a slideshow with more details for the cardboard robot costume. 

Monster Truck

What You’ll Need:

• Newspaper or large sheets of paper for pattern (download our pattern here)
• Large cardboard box (appliance size works best or several smaller ones)
• Utility knife
• Hot glue
• 2 cans spray paint (black and your child’s favorite color)
• Silver paint
• Small paint brush
• 4 large plastic drink bottles – check the bottoms to see if they look like “wheels”
• 4 screws
• 4 nuts
• 5 ft. Velcro (1 1/2 “ thick)
• White and black construction paper

Optional Accessories:

• Foam pipe insulation
• Mirrors
• Reflectors
• Flame stickers

How to Make it:

Truck Pattern (click to download PDF)

1. Sketch the outline of the truck pattern on newspaper and check length for your child.  Make sure width of truck is large enough for child’s torso and “sunroof” opening is large enough for child’s head to fit through. To download a PDF of our pattern click right here. Adjust size of pattern as needed.
2. Transfer the pattern to cardboard and cut out with a utility knife.  Cut out side windows and a sunroof, but do not cut out holes for front and back windows.
3. Fold the pieces to shape the truck and hot glue together.
4. Spray paint truck with whatever color your child likes and let it dry completely.
5. Make front and back “windows” using black and white construction paper.
6. For the wheels, cut off the bottoms of large drink containers.
7. Using silver paint and a small paint brush, paint the inside, center of the “wheels” to create the hubcaps. Let dry completely.
8. Using black spray paint, paint the inside of the wheels to create the tires. (Note: you’ll be spraying black over the silver paint on the inside of the bottle, but on the outside, you’ll see the silver hubcap and black tires).
9. Attach the wheels to the truck with a small screw and a nut.
10. To support the costume on your child’s shoulders, glue a strip of Velcro along the inside front and back windows of the truck.  Stick two long pieces of Velcro “suspenders” between them.
11. Again, look around the house for accessories!  Print out some auto logos and glue them on.  Use pipe insulation tubes for the bumpers and roll bars.  Hot glue will melt the insulation foam, so put the glue on the cardboard first and then attach the foam.  We purchased mirrors, reflectors and flames from the auto parts aisle of our local discount store, but you could use bicycle reflectors or colored construction paper.   For some nighttime color and “tricked-out” special effects, tape glow necklaces/sticks along the inside bottom of the truck.

SpongeBob SquarePants

(with thanks to my neighbor Jesse)

What You’ll Need:

• Three pieces of yellow poster board
• White poster board or construction paper for decoration
• Green paint
• Craft paint (Green, brown, black, pink, and red)
• Sponge
• Circular foam stamps in two sizes
• Large rectangular cardboard box
• Utility knife
• Glue

How to Make It:

1. Add “texture” to the three yellow poster boards using green paint, sponge and foam stamps.
2. Using white poster board and craft paints, decorate one yellow poster board as the front of SpongeBob and one as the back of him.
3. Measure location of “eyes” from the top of the poster board to match up with your child’s and cut them out.
4. Cut open holes in the side of the box for arms.
5. Cut third yellow poster board to fit on the sides and top of the box, making sure to leave the arm holes uncovered.
6. Glue all three poster boards on box.  Cover top and sides of box with pieces from third piece of poster board.
7. Cut out eye holes in box to match the eye holes in the poster board.
8. There you have it.  Or as Spongebob would say “Oh barnacles Squidward! Remember, licking doorknobs is illegal on other planets!”

Here’s a slideshow with more details for the cardboard robot costume. 

Back in the day, Halloween was different.  It was a time to create, be imaginative, and it was a low-budget holiday.  I still remember the countless decorations and costumes that were made out of old sheets and cardboard, not bought.  The treats were homemade and trick or treating was done on foot.  We used old pillowcases as candy bags!  Back then, Halloween was green and it didn’t even phase us.  It was fun.  Now, almost $6 billion a year is spent on costumes, candy, decor and other accessories, most of which are made from unhealthy, unsustainable materials, by people who may not be paid living wages or treated fairly.  Most of the stuff – what isn’t consumed – winds up in landfills.  It is time to get back to basics – having good clean fun!

Environmentally minded businesses are increasingly finding one another to join together and strengthen the message.  GreenHalloween is a non-profit, grassroots initiative striving to create healthier, eco-friendlier holidays – starting with Halloween.  The mother and daughter team has come up with 25 Green Halloween tips to help with planning and reducing the cleanup.  Here are some of their tips (to read all of their great tips and ideas, go to www.greenhalloween.org):

• Apply the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) to all of your holiday choices: costumes, décor, goodies, etc. Of the 3 R’s, reducing is the best for the Earth, our wallets and, in regard to food, our waistlines. Rent, borrow, make or acquire used, when possible, to avoid buying new, especially disposables.
• Consider your costumes. The truth is, many store-bought costumes and accessories contain toxic chemicals that not only are a potential hazard to your child, but also to the environment and the people who helped to make them. Choose fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk or make costumes yourself from materials you know to be safe.
• Trim your trick-or-treats. Hand out less ________ (fill in the blank). Preferably your goodies of choice are healthy and/or Earth-friendly, but even if they’re not, handing out just one (rather than the conventional handful) of something is better for kids, better for the planet and better for your bank account.
• Choose eek-o-décor. Say ‘no’ to disposables and instead, re-use or re-purpose items you already own. Look also for items from nature and don’t forget to decorate with food (consumable décor). If you must use disposables, look for products that are reusable and recyclable items like Kids Konserve Party Pak.
• Instead of buying a goodie bag use your Kids Konserve Reusable Lunch Sack or Kids Konserve Drawstring Bag.
• Make your own face paints – the recipe can be found in the book, Celebrate Green!
• Invitations – use e-invitations or make your own from reused, recycled or tree-free sources.
• Start small and build your confidence. Start simply by having (and using) a recycle bin at your party or by going bottled water-free. You can green up each of your next celebrations a little bit at a time until celebrating green-style becomes old hat.  Small things add up to big things.
• Don’t drive to trick or treat.  Encourage your neighbors to go green and then go door-to-door near you. It’s good for you and the planet and builds community.

Kids Konserve Giveaway

To help out with making your Halloween Eek-o-Friendly, Kids Konserve and Five Hens are kindly giving away a Kids Konserve Goodie Bag to one of our lucky readers.  The Goodie Bag includes a recycled canvas lunch sack and a 20 oz. stainless steel water bottle.  Click here for details on how to enter for a chance to win.