All Hallows’ Eve

With less than ten days until Halloween, I’m frantically looking for a costume (where did the month go?) and stocking up on candy for the big day. While any holiday that includes dressing up, candy, smiling pumpkins and crazy makeup sounds perfect to me; Halloween post college bears some getting used to. After four years of frat-tastic Halloween parties it’s time to throw one of your own with a few of your favorite sisters!

Here are five tips to have the best Halloween bash yet:

1. Go Back to Basics. Nothing beats Hocus Pocus or The Nightmare Before Christmas in the week leading up to the big night. Have the girls over to craft and coordinate themed costumes and plan Pinterest-inspired snacks. While you’re together you can even enlist their help in spreading spider webs over the windows and carving pumpkins!

2. Make themed treats. Whether it’s pumpkin cupcakes or vampire blood punch, there are a thousand different Halloween nibbles and nips to spice up your party. Stock up on some seasonal craft beer, fill up a pumpkin with punch and invest in some orange and black sprinkles and food coloring! A few of my favorite tips include putting fake eyeballs at the bottom of martini glasses and adding dry ice to the drinks!

3. Decorate your home as spookily as possible. First of all, undecorate before you decorate – if you don’t take down your normal household objects things will look cluttered instead of creepy. Then just replace with decorations and props!  One easy way to do this is by lighting only with candles. Black candles are eerie and easy to find in different shapes and sizes. Pumpkins are also always perfect for themed décor, but you don’t have go through the trouble of carving them – some glow in the dark paint or glitter will do the job, especially with the candlelight:

Whatever you do, make sure you go all out! Halloween isn’t a holiday to go halfway. Find something that worked particularly well or have some favorite show stopping party favorite? Comment below to share!