Are you ready for all the Halloween festivities? This week and next will be crammed full of trunk-or-treats, fall fests and door-to-door trick-or-treating. 

Although I live in one of the most popular neighborhoods for trick-or-treaters, Ross and I don’t hand out candy. In fact, our lights will be off Halloween night. Surprised? Yes, I’m a Halloween fan, but spending $200 or more on candy isn’t in my budget because they come by the truck load. Seriously, it seems like we get all the trick-or-treaters.

Now before you scold me for lack of holiday spirit, let me explain. Unlike most people in the community, I don’t have to wait until Halloween to see all the adorable, creative and sometimes creepy costumes. In fact, as a reporter, I typically cover at least two events of which I’m photographing kiddos walking around collecting candy.

However, I do make special treat bags for our friends’ kids. This year I constructed monsters out of brown paper bags hot gluing eyes, teeth and colorful circles to its body. Filled with goldfish, Motts gummies, GoGo Squeez pouches, fruit leather, Dove milk chocolate and a glow stick, it’s more of a health conscious snack bag alternative. 

Ross and I also do a table for our church’s Fall Fest. I learned my lesson last year with face painting as my artistic capabilities with a brush are severely limited. Sorry kid, I can’t make you Spiderman, but how about a small spider on your cheek?

This year, we’ve bought a bunch of temporary tattoos for the kiddos. So, instead of spending 15 minutes per child, it will be more like 15 seconds. We ordered dinosaurs, cute monsters and other Halloweenish tats with pumpkins, mummies and Frankenstein heads. 

I’m pumped and I’m not the only one. Uncle Marc and Grandma have upped their game this year. Apparently, there is some serious Halloween competition in their cul-de-sac. Grandma has made witch’s broom treat bags with sticks and brown paper bags. As for Uncle Marc, his plastic treat bags seemingly weigh a pound filled with Sour Patch, Twix, ring pops and more. 

This weekend, I still have a few last-minute fall activities to squeeze in before October ends. I’ve got to watch "Hocus Pocus" and carve a pumpkin with Zoers. I typically don’t have time to watch a bunch of Halloween movies, but I also enjoy "The Addams Family," "Halloweentown" and "Casper." Yep, childhood classics it is. No, horror for me. 

Oh, and I also got a cute velvet dress from Target with spiders on it for my “costume” along with some mismatch earrings. Betsey Johnson always has perfectly weird jewelry for Halloween. The ones I got are dangly gold tone with crystal ghosts and spider webs. I’m pairing that with a padded velvet headband from Walmart and witchy makeup.

Just remember, you’re never too old to enjoy the holidays. Oh, and word to the wise, if you run out of candy on Halloween, just flick those lights off and call it a night!

Standard reporter Lacy Garrison can be reached at 473-2191.