Ok, how many of you honestly knew about this so-called pirate holiday?  I admit, I’d never heard about it until one of my friends brought it to my attention.  She has young children and admitted to playing up to the holiday as a great way to spend some quality time with her kids.  Well, it worked and over the years it’s spread throughout their neighborhood to where every September 19th, you feel as though you’ve just walked on to the set of Pirates of the Caribbean!

If this sounds like fun to you, check out how the original buccaneers behind “Talk Like a Pirate Day,” John Baur and Mark Summers came up with the idea, what it’s all about…fun and how you too can talk just like a High Seas Buccaneer.  Believe me, it’s a great fun-filled website and kids of all ages (even those grown-up ones) will have a blast bringing this holiday to life! 

However, to get the whole feel for the ”Talk Like a Pirate” Day, you must dress like one!  HalloweenExpress.com has all the pirate costumes you’ll need.  They have everything from a child’s Sassy Swashbuckler Costume to an adults Captain Black Heart Pirate Costume and everything in between. 

Don’t get caught without your pirate costume on September 19th or you’ll be made to walk the plank!

Do you remember the tv series Fraggle Rock?  It was a beloved children’s animated show in the 80’s created by Jim Hensen and made up of what else…muppets!  It was right up there in popularity with Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.  Well, it’s coming back to the US next month in the form of a DVD just in time for Halloween called “Scared Silly” and is sure to be a big hit!  It consists of three mysterious and magical Fraggle stories that will entertain kids and parents alike! 

The Fraggle Muppets of Fraggle Rock are curious, clever and brave.  The five main muppet characters are:

• Gobo – He loves exploring
• Mokey – She loves painting
• Red - She loves sports
• Wembley – He loves playing the bongos
• Boober – He loves doing laundry and cooking 

They live in a cave called Fraggle Rock and spend most of their time playing, exploring, and having fun.  I think that’s why children love to watch them!

And it’s not just the DVD bringing Fraggle Rock back into the spotlight, but these fun loving characters are coming out as Halloween costumes as well!  What a great idea for a group costume!   All you men that want to relive a fun memory from your childhood, grab a Boober or Gobo Costume and for the ladies wanting to get in on the fun be sure to order a Red or Mokey Costume and bring those lovable Fraggles back to life!

One of the best things about Halloween, besides candy, is taking on the haunted houses!  October 31st brings with it not only trick-or-treating and costume wearing, but all things spooky as well.

Haunted houses that people put on during the Halloween season are all in the name of fun.  True, some of these haunted houses are made to scare you right down to the bones, but in the back of your mind you know that it’s not real.  Or at least that’s what I try to convince myself of as I’m making my way through some of the scarier haunted houses!  If you’re thinking of building your own haunted house this year, check out these great haunted house props.  Believe me, the animated horror props will have your customers screaming for the exit!

However, there are haunted houses AND there are houses that are haunted – two completely different realms of terror.  Places that have had paranormal activity where ghosts have been seen or heard are definitely a little more spine tingling and hair raising.

Here are some of the MOST HAUNTED PLACES TO VISIT.    

The Amityville House As the story goes, on Nov. 13, 1974, Ronald Jr. (“Butch”) DeFeo killed six members of his family in a house in Amityville, New York. He claims there were demonic forces in the home that drove him to murder. When new owners moved into the house at 112 Ocean Avenue, they too experienced terrifying phenomenon, which led to a best-selling novel and two films.

Alcatraz – The infamous San Francisco Bay’s prison, a notorious penitentiary, known for its cold dark cells, saw many murders, riots and suicides during its 29 years of service. Now a national museum, it’s said to be haunted, with tales of inexplicable sounds, cell doors closing on their own, disembodied screams and scary apparitions.

Saint Augustine Lighthouse - Legend says three little girls died on the construction site, while playing with a rail car. When the car spun out of control, the girls were drowned in the water below. Now, visitors can hear a female crying, “Help me!” inside the tower, as well as mysterious lights and footsteps.

I love Halloween!  It’s a holiday for everyone, ages 2 to 92.  There are so many fun things to do from going out to haunted houses and pumpkin patches to staying home and watching all the great Halloween shows on television.  It’s a great time to get together with you family and friends, make some popcorn and enjoy the shows!

One of our all time favorite Halloween shows is by far, “It’s the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown“.  It’s a tradition in our family that goes way back to when I was young.  I hope my children watch it with their kids when they grow up and have their own families.  I know Charlie Brown will still be around even then!

Did you know that the Charlie Brown Halloween show has been on the air since October 1966?  It’s been on every year since then during the month of October.  That’s got to tell you something!  The show is adorable!  Who can resist Linus and his hope to see The Great Pumpkin? 

All the Peanuts characters are wonderful; Charlie Brown, Linus, Sally, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Pig Pen, Marcie, Schroeder and of course Snoopy and Woodstock.  Charles Schulz really knew what he was doing when he invented all these great characters.

HalloweenExpress.com now has a whole line of Peanuts costumes that will make a great theme if you’re looking for group costumes or even if you’re going on your own.  Looking for a Charlie Brown costume, then look no further!  Go as the whole Peanuts gang for Halloween this year!

I love anything personalized!  Having someone’s name or initials engraved on to a gift is the perfect way to say you’ve gone above and beyond to make this gift special for them.  Children love seeing their name on their stuff, whether it’s their toys, books or backpacks there’s just something cool about having your name on it. 

Halloween is becoming personalized in a big way this year! 

You can have your name engraved on just about anything Halloween!

• trick-or-treat bags
• decorations
• clothing
• bibs
• candy bowls 
• pillow cases
• door mats

Nothing makes the fall season look better than an adorable personalized Halloween doormat with a few ghosts, a few pumpkins and of course a black cat all surrounded with a ghostly welcome with your name at the bottom.  They really are cute and a great way to welcome all your little trick-or-treaters! 

My children especially like the personalized trick or treat bags.  They have their name engraved on them so that there is no mix up on whose candy is whose; of course we wouldn’t want that to happen!  They also make great gifts that they can give their friends!

This year personalize your Halloween with these great items from HalloweenExpress.com!