We all know it’s true: Halloween is one the most popular holidays among college students. Costumes get extreme, it’s celebrated multiple weekends, and it’s just down right intense. But if you are opting to stay in this year, you can still enjoy all of the wonderfulness of Halloween. Whether you plan to invite over a few friends or spend the evening by yourself, try a few of these fun ideas to make the most of the holiday without an extravagant outing. (Of course you can still wear your costume around your apartment….)
Halloween Movie Marathon
Now this one is a given. Sometimes the best thing in the world is to curl up in a big blanket with a massive bowl of buttery popcorn and watch a movie… or ten. Some all time classics to add to your list include Hocus Pocus, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Halloweentown (all of them), and Nightmare Before Christmas.
Spa Night
A night of pampering might not be the first thing you think to do Halloween night, but a little TLC is never a bad thing. Light a few of your favorite fall scented candles, like “Leaves” from Bath and Body Works and run a bubble bath. Dig out some of your summer nail colors and paint your nails orange or experiment with cute ghost designs on your fingers. You can even try a homemade pumpkin facial mask like this one from sheknows.com:
Combine 2 cups of pumpkin puree, 4 tablespoons of unflavored yogurt, 4 tablespoons of honey, 1/3 cup of ground almonds, and ¼ teaspoon of olive oil. Once all the ingredients are mixed well, apply to the face and let the mask sit for about 10 minutes. Wipe off with a washcloth.
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Candy Themed Potluck
Sure, we might all be a bit too old to trick-or-treat, but we can absolutely still indulge in all of the yummy candy. Invite your girlfriends or neighbors over for a candy themed potluck. Have all of your guests bring a dessert made with their favorite candy or Halloween inspired dessert. Check out some of these recipes:
Candy Corn Poke Cake
http://www.wineandglue.com/2013/08/candy-corn-poke-cake.html
Halloween Rice Cereal and Marshmallow Treat Pumpkins
http://spoonful.com/recipes/rice-cereal-and-marshmallow-treat-pumpkins
Pumpkin Butterfinger Blondies
http://thenymelrosefamily.com/2013/10/leftover-candy-desserts.html
Pumpkin Carving or Painting
Carving a pumpkin is one of the most classic Halloween activities. You can buy a pumpkin carving kit at a local grocery store or drugstore for a few dollars. You can even print out cute, extravagant designs for inspiration if you’re feeling extra ambitious. Just be careful with all of those sharp tools when you’re carving. Also, don’t forget to lay down a tarp, garbage bag, or old newspaper so that you don’t make too big of a mess.
If carving is not your area of expertise, fear not! Grab a few Sharpies, some paint, and a few brushes and draw a face or design onto your pumpkin, instead. For you extra crafty collegiettes, pull out your craft supplies box and make good use of all the glitter and feathers you probably have on hand.
Now who ever said staying in can’t be fun? These great ideas can lead to a fun Halloween night without all of the craziness that comes with going out.