| Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
It’s time to deck out your porch with pumpkins, start carving them, and begin thinking of Halloween snacks and costumes when the leaves begin to change orange and yellow, the temperatures begin to fall, and you begin to pull out sweaters and jackets.
Trick-or-treating is just around the corner, and spooky fun and perhaps some Halloween party games are in store. For adults, trick-or-treating may even be more thrilling as an excuse to sip on a boozy Halloween cocktail and enjoy some once a year dress up.
Organizing Halloween tricks and treats can be a little stressful, though, especially if you have kids who are excitedly expecting a LOT of spooky fun. That’s why I have compiled this Halloween organization guide, to help you get ready for the scariest, but least stressful, Halloween ever, both for kids and adults.
Easy Organization Tips for Halloween Trick Or Treating Fun
For kids, Halloween is one of – if not the – most exciting holidays of the year. If you are a parent, on the other hand, it can be one of the most stressful.
Brainstorming, locating and assembling all the elements of great costumes. Gathering everyone together at an appropriate time to trick or treat, figuring out where to trick or treat. Trying to prevent your little ghouls and goblins from gobbling all the spoils of their evening’s candy hunt in a single session. In a nutshell, it can all be a bit much.
However, as most parents don’t want to deny their children the chance to enjoy the Halloween rituals they almost certainly did themselves as kids, no one wants to stymie the fun either. The good news is that with some pre-planning and organization Halloween this year does not have to be a nightmare. In fact, you may even get to have fun. Here are some Halloween tips:
Plan Costumes Early
Leaving costume planning to the last minute is a sure-fire way to add stress to your Halloween night, therefore planning them well in advance is a must. This does not just mean the theme and the basic costumes, but all the little extras as well, right down to the makeup and a plan for what might need to change if it rains or the weather takes a turn for the chillier.
Need some costume inspiration? Pinterest is an excellent place to start, and rather than heading to straight a department store if you plan to buy full costumes check your local thrift stores first, as they may have some unique offerings at very reasonable prices. And of course, if you are very short on time, Amazon is full of Halloween costumes for everyone, even your pets!
Gather Those Treat Collectors
Every trick or treater needs a treat container. The obvious choice is one of those sturdy plastic pumpkins as they are roomy, inexpensive and easy to track down at the local dollar store. However, if the kids costume calls for something different, or they just want to stand out from the crowd there are some great ideas for DIY treat gatherers here. Just make sure they are completed by the time the big day comes around.
Make a Trick Or Treating Travel Plan
Decide where your trick or treating journey will take you well in advance as well. If you will also be attending parties (or the kids will) and other events like mall trick or treats, figure those into the equation as well, so you can determine just how long you will be out.
On the Day
- On the morning of Halloween lay out all costumes and make sure that everything is there. If something is missing, this way you still have a few hours to do something about it.
- Have a healthy after-school snack ready. Have the kids eat a healthy snack before heading out to gather candy. This way, you can at least ensure that they’ll get something decent and won’t just fill up on junk (which they’ll have plenty of anyway).
- Prepare an easy meal. A pot of chilli or something similar that can sit in a crock pot so dinner-on-the-go can happen whenever it’s convenient. Throw to the wind any idea of having a pleasant sit-down meal on Halloween.
- Get your Halloween hand-outs ready. Find a large bowl or decorative container like a cauldron and keep the trick-or-treat candy handy near the door.
After The Trip
Organize and Store the Trick or Treat Spoils
When you all return from your spooky excursion, it’s important you organize the incoming candy deluge. Here are some tips:
- Start by sorting it. Give your kids some zipper sandwich bags and let them sort and count it all up. Putting like kinds together will also help to keep the candy from getting that awful mixed candy taste and smell.
- Store It Properly. Don’t mix treats that absorb moisture. For example, don’t mix hard candy with treats that lose moisture, like fudge. Once the candy is sorted into bags, store the bags in airtight containers and place them some place that they can be rationed sensibly over the next few weeks.
- Freeze the Chocolate. Chocolate can be frozen for up to 6 months. The trick is to wrap it tightly with freezer wrap or bags and acclimate slowly in the fridge before freezing.
- Proper Put-Away. After Halloween, take the time to store and organize costumes and decorations in sturdy, reusable clear storage containers. You will appreciate having it all organized when you pull it out again next year!
A little Halloween home organization can go a long way. Anything you can prepare before Halloween day chaos ensues will help to make this exciting day more enjoyable for everyone, even the grown-ups.
Need help with organization at this very busy time of the year? Whatever you need, from general decluttering to help with your holiday decorating, Just Organized by Taya is standing by! Book an appointment here and let’s get started.
Easy Organization Tips for Halloween Parties
Are you terrified of the prospect of organizing a Halloween party? Don’t panic! I’ve put together a Halloween checklist that includes everything you’ll need for your Halloween party planning so that guests of all ages can have a good time.
Food and Drink
Creepy Candy and Loot Bags
Set out glass jars full of various candies and little scoops, and invite guests to fill their own tasty but creepy goodie bags to take home. From disgusting gummy body parts (feet, ears, and eyeballs) to classics like Pixy Stix and Bazooka, stock up on a range of sweets and add some savory treats for those trying to avoid too much sugar (packaged pretzels are a great choice)
Halloween Punch Bowl
A frightening punch is a must-have for every Halloween celebration. Use dry ice to make an unsettling mist and serve one that’s blood-red, ghastly green, putrid purple, orange, or black.
Terrifying Tableware
Offer a range of plates, cups, cutlery and napkins in colors and patterns that match your Halloween home decor scheme. A festive Halloween table covering will make your everyday tables party-ready in an instant. Top tip: you’ll find some of the best Halloween tableware at the dollar store or other discount retailer such as Five Below. Amazon.com also offer some excellent, often more unusual fare.
Dastardly Drinks (and Cups)
Plan on three to four cocktails per attendee for a two- to three-hour party if you’re serving alcoholic beverages. Also, don’t forget to offer something fun and alcohol-free for the teetotalers and kids in your group. If you’re serving something hot, like mulled cider, make sure you have heatproof mugs on hand.
Appalling (but Tasty) Appetizers
To counteract all of the Halloween candy, provide a variety of savory treats and dishes. Make as many things ahead of time as possible to reduce your party host stress. There are some great Halloween themed recipes you can try here.
Sinful Sweet Treats
Cupcakes and sweets are simple to prepare and decorate for Halloween (for example: cookies shaped like ghosts and cats and cupcakes topped with orange frosting or mini pumpkin candies). Make pumpkin cupcakes and top them with candy corn for even more holiday cheer. Alternatively, use Halloween candy in unusual ways, such as a Twix cheesecake pie or chocolate bark adorned with candy corn.
Halloween Party Scene Setters
The Right Spooky Music
No Halloween party would be complete without a spooky soundtrack. Obviously, this is 2021 so no-one has to volunteer to play DJ and miss out on the fun if they don’t want to. As a professional organizer I love to make use of Spotify playlists, as they help ensure that the tunes keep coming without me having to do a thing. Check out of a few of my spooky Spotify favorites below, and Apple Music and Amazon Music also offer up some great spooky soundtracks if you prefer to make use of them.
Spooky Movies
To get guests in the mood, play iconic horror flicks in the background on a decent sized TV (on mute if you don’t want the sound to be annoying), such as the IT movies, Friday the 13th, The Exorcist, or, of course, Halloween. Try The Addams Family, Beetlejuice, or—the most feel-good Halloween film ever—It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown for less terrifying classics that nonetheless set the tone.
Halloween Costume Extras
It’s always great to have some extra dress-up gear around, whether you’re throwing a costume party or not. Set up some masks and wigs, fake fangs, hats, a cloak, a tiara, a feather boa—whatever you like—and encourage your guests to get creative and have fun creating their own spooky looks.
A Halloween Party Photobooth
Set up a photo booth (even if it’s simply an area with a blank wall) and a few Instagram-worthy vignettes to entice attendees to post, though most won’t require any extra encouragement to strike a pose. Many discount stores, including the aforementioned Five Below, sell outstanding photobooth items at inexpensive prices.
Halloween is just the first of the big winter holiday events. There are plenty left to come! At Just By Taya we offer special holiday home organization services to help get your home guest ready as well as seasonal decorating services, including our popular Christmas tree decorating package. Give us a call today, or book a free Zoom consult to talk about just how we can help make your holiday season even more magical – and organized – this year!
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
- How Decluttering and Organizing a Kids’ Closet Can Benefits Parents & Kids - March 13, 2025
- How to Create and Organize a Foyer Space in a Home That Doesn’t Have One - March 10, 2025
- Top 10 Things to Declutter If You Have a Spare 30 Minutes - March 5, 2025
