One of the spookiest things about Halloween is how it gives me and a lot of other moms a giant case of the guilts. In the part of my mind where memories of Beaver Cleaver's house still exist, I picture myself sitting at the sewing machine making my little Andrew a pony costume with a yarn mane. Andrew's long out of the costume phase -- he was married earlier this month -- and I never did find the time.

On the other hand, no matter how busy we are, it's fun to find little ways to celebrate a holiday. Here are some quick and easy ways to create some Halloween magic:

Festive Foods
Here are some simple ways to spice up everyday foods:

1. Put a licorice straw into the breakfast orange juice, and pack an orange-dyed hard-boiled egg in the lunch box.
2. Make American cheese the sandwich of the day, and cut a pumpkin shape onto the top slice of bread.
3. Poke cloves into an orange to make a smiling pumpkin face -- or just draw one on with a marking pen.