Pat's Blog

Halloween is a great reason to throw a party. It's so much fun to choose a costume, and the opportunity to experiment with fun food and drink is endless. But if you want to avoid the same boring pumpkin and witch-themed decor, try these tips!

Try a terrifying theme.
Selecting a theme can not only help you narrow down your menu and decorating needs, it can help guests more easily come up with a costume to wear. With a vampire theme, for instance, you could encourage guests to dress as their favorite fanged villain from pop culture, serve a deep berry punch, and make blood-spattered decorations.

Offer hands-on activities.
Any great Halloween party needs some frightening games to go along with it. You don't need to get overly complicated, but some exciting, hands-on activities, like a blindfolded guessing game, for instance, is perfect for both kids and adults.

There's no bigger Halloween tradition than carving the pumpkin. (Granted, kids may disagree.) Actually, this annual event goes back centuries in the US, as Americans are believed to have started carving pumpkins in the 1800s, following European tradition.

Traditions aside, though, these gourds sure tend to be messy, and they also can be a challenge to maintain. So give yourself a treat: follow the 5 tips below to make your pumpkin-carving experience easier—and enjoy the holiday to the fullest!

Cut the hole in the bottom of your pumpkin instead of the top.
Ready to turn your pumpkin-carving experience upside down? Then consider cutting your hole in the bottom instead of the top. When you are ready for your pumpkin to light up the night, simply lift it up, place a lit candle on the ground, and then carefully put the pumpkin back over it. This method not only makes the design of your pumpkin...