Halloween Ideas on the Web

We are well into October but it doesn't feel like it here in the East. Warm temps or not, Halloween is around the corner, and while it's easy to stock up on treats fast, it's more of a trick to whip together last-minute, eye-catching costumes and crafts for the kids as one of the funnest days in their year approaches.

The web is here to help, with lots of great sites for costume ideas and how-to's, and yummy and creative treats and crafts to make as October draws to a spooky close. Here are some of my favorite finds on the web to get ideas for costumes and other Halloween fun.

Looking for costume ideas? Start with Costumzee, a blog dedicated to costume ideas, and this Yahoo! Buzz look at costume trends for this year.

For easy-to-make and last-minute costume ideas, this iVillage list of 20 Halloween Costumes You Can Make with Items Around the House is a good place to start. Think sweatpants and sweatshirts—you've got lots of options if you've got these in various colors in the kids' drawers. Family Fun breaks down costume ideas into categories like classics, most unique, and last-minute. There are 10 last-minute ideas, including a spa girl and construction worker. But if you've got a little more time, this cave kid costume is pretty cute and fairly easy to put together.

Family Fun also has some of the best ideas for Halloween parties crafts, games, treats, and even quick printouts for little ones to get into the Halloween crafts scene.

Real Simple has some good advice on hosting a pumpkin-carving party, including how to pick a good pumpkin, and how long that carved pumpkin will really last before the squirrels have their way with it (3 to 4 days.) 

Now I'm getting into the Halloween swing of things. If you've come across any great web sites and tips to help make this a spooktacular Halloween for the kids, post below.