Have no fear: It's easy to scare up decorative touches
Boo me if you like, but sometimes the little touches make for a nice Halloween treat, too.
Our favorite finds won't dent your candy budget -- and they'll last a lot longer.
Super scooper: How does this work? Crate & Barrel's pumpkin scoop ($5.95) looks like a magnifying glass -- without the glass. The shape is genius, because it doesn't get all gummed up with pumpkin guts. And the plastic has enough give to really follow the shape of the pumpkin as you scrape the sides. I found it works a lot better than the scoop that comes in pumpkin-carving sets, or my old standby, a kitchen spoon.
Petite pumpkins: Floating candles from Pottery Barn ($14 for eight) are classier than the usual Halloween decor. You can kitsch them up for the kids by adding green or black food coloring to the water. If you don't burn them out, reuse for Thanksgiving.
Who needs candy: Having a few friends over for some grownup Halloween treats? Trick out your wine bottles with stoppers from Target ($7.19 for a set of four, on sale). The ghost is Casper cuddly, and others are pretty cute, too.
-- Anna Madrzyk