U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

Time to get scandalous!

By Sarah Ledford

It is Halloween, and we all know what that entails. Scary movies hitting theatres, tons of candy virtually everywhere, and crunch time to find that perfectly scandalous costume.

First and foremost, be safe this Halloween season. Here is a tip from the American Red Cross: Be extra aware and cautious with your costume. Stay clear of candles and open flames. If certain costumes make your vision not as clear, or may be a bit too long, be smart. No one wants to not be able to see things to the right or left of him or her, or to trip on his or her face.

Also, watch for young children crossing streets, and being out and about. It may be a little harder for them to see you in their costumes. Be cautious of people attempting to trick-or-treat at your house. Leave your porch light on, and kindly turn them away, or give them some candy; just do not invite them indoors. Something worth keeping in the back of your mind is where it may be best to place certain decorations and pumpkins in hopes of preventing them from being torn down or smashed.

Enough with safety — what do you do when searching for the perfect Halloween attire, or if you are planning on hosting the ideal holiday shindig?

There are a few costume stores located down the street in The Short North. The Garden and the Yankee Trader may be worth checking out this holiday season, if searching for a head-turning costume or flashy decorations. Yankee Trader, the only one around, is located conveniently here in Columbus, and does Halloween 365 days a year. Costume Specialists is another great place to check out before celebrating Halloween. Located on East Broad Street, this place offers costumes for rent and individual items for purchase. If you love Easton, then be sure to visit the Halloween Express. Whether silly, sexy or scary is what you are hoping to find, The Halloween Express may just have what you are looking for.

If planning on hosting a Halloween dinner party or get-to-together, here are some recipes that you may enjoy trying. According to the article "Halloween Drinks: Spooky Sipping," by Jennifer Anderson, try a green punch that is sure to please. Just freeze green punch in a gelatin mold along with plastic bugs, spiders, and eyeballs. Try placing some small glow sticks under the bowl, for the full effect when the lights are turned down. Also try this floating life-size zombie hand made from ice. Buy a couple of latex gloves. Wash them and turn them inside out. Pour in water and fasten tightly with a rubber band. This will turn out best if hung upside down from the freezer shelf. When ready, simply run some warm water over the glove to loosen it from the ice. Let this float in your punch, to not only keep it chilled, but to finish the full, spooky effect.

If trying to think of a great dessert to serve, try this clever idea — simply buy a bag of fresh apples, along with Popsicle sticks, two packs (14 ounces each) of caramels, milk chocolate chips, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and an assortment of candy, or other toppings of your choice. Combine the caramel, three tablespoons of chocolate chips, three tablespoons of water, one teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and teaspoon vanilla extract. Insert the Popsicle stick and dip your apples into the mixture. Allow your guests to choose from a variety of desired toppings to make the perfect caramel apple that is just right for their taste buds.

If trying to figure out decorating your place for the holiday, be sure to visit Target's dollar section, or the Dollar Tree, both suitably near campus for student's convenience. Luckily, both these stores allow you to get into the holiday spirit without having to burn a hole in your pocket.

With safety tips in mind, the ideal costume hanging in your closet, and the preparation to throw the top party this Halloween, mark off your checklist, and breathe a sigh of relief, 'cause you're set.

Happy Haunting!

Originally Published: October 15, 2008

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