Last-minute Halloween tricks

Even though Halloween is just a few sleeps away, it’s never too late to jump on the Halloween band wagon. We’ve got some last-minute tips that will allow you and your family to enjoy a safe, budget- and eco-friendly Halloween.

Costume ideas

Don’t have a costume yet? Don’t worry. This babyvibe mom loves leaving costume shopping until the last minute. Reason being: markdowns begin to happen. Chances are if you leave the costume search until a day or two before Halloween, you will enjoy savings of up to 50 per cent off at most stores. However, the caveat is: the selection may be picked over.

If buying a new costume isn’t in your budget and you’d like to be green this year, check out used costumes at your local child’s consignment store, Craigslist or Kijiji. Often, you’ll find costumes at stellar prices that have hardly been worn. Even better, hit up your children’s closet and transform their everyday clothes into a costume.

This year, skip conventional costume makeup as it can contain hormone-disrupting parabens and other not-so-great ingredients, and go for a facepaint/body paint that is made from pure plant extracts. Available at Lavish & Lime. Better for your child and the environment too.

Treats

Skip the conventional candies and opt for a healthier version of your favourite Halloween treat. We are sweet on the YummyEarth line of candies, which include organic gummy bears and lollipops. The candies contain no artificial dyes, no corn syrup, and other chemicals often found in regular candy. The lollipops are coloured with organic veggie extracts and the gummy bears are made with real fruit juice. To make life easier, you can find them online at www.greenplanetparties.com. Also available at your local natural health food market. Other treats we don’t mind treating our trick-or-treaters to include organic chocolates that you can find at stores like Whole Foods, Planet Organic and Choices.

Jack-o’-Lantern fun

Pick up an organic pumpkin, which is free of pesticides, and once you carve the little orange ball, pop in a soy wax candle, which apparently burns longer and cleaner than standard paraffin candles that are made from nonrenewable petroleum. If you need some creative help when carving your pumpkin, check out SpookMaster, an online site that offers free pumpkin carving patterns plus ones to buy. Don’t forget about the nutrient-rich pumpkin seeds. Did you know that pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium, natural anti-inflammatory, help prevent osteoporosis, improve bladder function, lower cholesterol and more? To roast your seeds, it’s best to first wipe them clean from excess pumpkin pulp and then dry them overnight. After that, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and roast for about 15 to 20 minutes at 170 degrees F. Roasting a short time at a low temperature helps to preserve their healthy oils (from www.whfoods.com).

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Last-minute Halloween tricks

Costume ideas

Treats

Jack-o’-Lantern fun

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