The Spooky Times

Harry Potter costumes are always so much fun, especially since there are a ton of interesting characters in the story that you can dress up as. And if you’re the kind who likes dressing up as the bad guy, then there are plenty of those type of costumes as well. The Death Eater costume would have to be one of the more popular Harry Potter villain costume. They’re ugly and they’re evil; what more can you ask for in a bad guy?

Even though there can only be one Voldemort, there can be hundreds of Death Eaters walking about on Halloween night. Transform yourself into a loyal witch or wizard follower of the Dark Lord with one of these amazing Death Eater costumes.

• Bellatrix Lestrange Costume. She was one of the most devoted and zealous followers of the Dark Lord and now you can be the crazy witch with this costume. It features a black v-neck rayon dress with polyester lining and an attached hood. It also has a highly detailed corset and an a-line hem as well as a wand holder on the left side of the corset. Put on a frizzy, curly wig and you’re set.
• Death Eater Costume. If you don’t want to reveal your true identity then this Death Eater costume is perfect for you. It’s a three piece costume that includes a long black robe with a sewn in shirtfront and long sleeves with hand covers, which only reveals your fingers and thumb. Also featured is a silver mask with swirl details and eyes, mouth and nose holes.  
• Female Death Eater Costume. For a more feminine flare to the Death Eater costume, opt for this female version. This costume features a floor length black polyester dress with long sleeves and an attached hood. A three piece black foam belt adds depth to the dress and it also includes a similar detailed silver mask.
• Severus Snape Costume. Put a face to a Death Eater and dress up as Severus Snape. This character has always had an underlining deviousness to him so it’s no surprise that he would be a Death Eater. Put on his navy blue coat and pants and a half blood professor wig to complete the transformation.
• Lucius Malfoy Costume. Anyone can become this dark and deceptive wizard. A long black coat, a straight blond wig and his infamous walking stick will do the trick. You can purchase the wig and coat in a lot of costume stores, the walking stick with hidden wand inside can be order from specialty shops or online.

You and your friends can terrorize good witches and wizards on Halloween night with these Death Eater costumes. With so many Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger walking about, a few dozen Death Eaters here and there is definitely a must. You don’t always get the best reputation from playing the bad guy, but it sure can be a lot of fun. So get your Death Eater costume ready for a night of darkness and mischief.   

Celebrating Halloween with toddlers brings a certain element of innocence to the mix. With a toddler, it may not be possible to go out and party like you normally would, and trick or treating can get tiresome for your toddler very quickly. Safety is always an issue with toddlers as they are very naive and can be scared very easily. Here are some top tips to keep your toddler safe and still enjoy the holiday.

* Avoid scary costumes. Children, especially toddlers, are prone to night frights. It is also very difficult, if not impossible, for toddlers to separate reality from the “monsters” that they may see walking around. If you plan to dress up, make sure your child knows that it is you behind the costume and keep the costume simple; for example, go easy on the make-up.

* Trick or treating may not be the best idea with a toddler. If you do decide to take your toddler trick or treating, keep the trip short and visit just a few houses on your block. If your friends and family live close by, it is a good idea to visit those houses as your toddler will be more at ease with them than a stranger’s house. Any more than that and your toddler may not only lose interest, the costumes may also cause your toddler to panic.

* Hold a party at your house. This is a great way to enjoy the holiday and still keep it relatively simple for your toddler. Holding a party at your house as opposed to going to someone else’s party means that you can set the terms for your party and keep it toddler friendly. Invite other people who you know have toddlers to enjoy a mellow, yet festive Halloween party.

* Candy is a big issue when it comes to protecting your toddlers. Toddlers are not aware that some candies may be too hard for them to chew and pose a potential choking hazard. Keeping your child away from the candy bowl, however, can prove to be a bit of a challenge. Make sure the candy bowl is out of reach and that older children and adults know not to give your child any candy without approval from you. It is always best to be near your child just in case.

Halloween can be fun for toddlers but safety must play an important role. Toddlers are usually not able to separate reality from the costumes that may be around, causing your child to panic. Trick or treating is not usually a long event with toddlers, if you do choose to take them out. Visiting the houses of friends and family will help to keep your toddler at ease while still enjoying the trick or treating.

Holding a party at your house is a great way to keep your toddler safe, yet enjoy the holiday. Always make sure that your child is not able to reach the candy bowl should they grab a hard piece of candy that may pose a choking hazard. By following these tips, you are not only protecting your toddler, but making sure they are able to join in on the Halloween fun as well.

There’s an eerie chill in the air. Witches and goblins galore roam the streets. There’s a low, keening wail that sends shivers through even the most stalwart of us. On this one night of the year when the spookiest of the spooky come out by the hundreds, the tricks can be as plentiful as the treats.

But who says that Halloween has to be about the fright? There can be lighthearted laughter, too – and you would fit right in by selecting one of the funny mens Halloween costume ideas listed below.

Nothing could be as sunshine bright as the Man in the Yellow Hat costume. You’ll get everything needed to be the laugh of the party. If you’re going with someone else, get a curious monkey costume to go along with yours.

You can elicit laugher and fade into the background by getting the Where’s Waldo costume. In this shirt, hat and glasses, you’ll certainly ‘blend’ right in. Remember the comic strip Spy vs. Spy? Well now you can get either the black or the white costume and join in on the antics of MAD’s most popular spies.

Another funny men’s Halloween costume choice includes the Super Mario Bros Nintendo costume, which is the jumpsuit with the inflatable belly, the mustache, gloves and hat. For a duo idea, have your friend or partner dress as Luigi.

How about the Cat in the Hat? Dr. Seuss’s stories were always good for a laugh or two and now you can bring that laughter on Halloween night by dressing in the Cat in the Hat Thing 1 costume.

The bright red fleece jumpsuit is perfect for creating a lighter bit of mayhem on the spooky night. Don’t forget if you’re looking for a friend’s costume, to suggest the Thing 2.

Animal costumes can be quite funny and the Comfy Flying Squirrel costume is sure to elicit some laughter. This cozy jumpsuit and hood only needs some large acorns for adornment for you to enjoy the festivities.

You’ll get a lot of crazy laughter by dressing in the Men’s Straight Jacket Costume – which, by the way, would make a great Hannibal Lector costume, too. Have your friend or loved one dress in a doctor’s coat and tag along!

Funny men’s Halloween costume ideas can also include fruit – and there’s a funny banana just waiting to be picked. This is a lightweight costume that would mingle well with a few apples and oranges!

Another funny costume is one of the favorites among the Muppets – Muppets Gonzo Costume . This bug-eyed character with the hooked nose is bound to bring both applause and laughter. For a group costume outing, have your friends dress as other members of the Muppets gang.