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Halloween is upon us, as are fall temperatures. Your backyard is a spooktacular place for a monster bash. Make use of these tricks and treats, and you’re sure to be a hauntingly good host.

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Do It Yourself Decorations

Halloween parties are a great excuse to get crafty—and the bill for supplies doesn’t have to be scary-expensive. Check out websites like Pinterest and MarthaStewart.com for unique ideas, then head to a discount store or dollar spot for materials. Or, for an ultra-thrifty solution, see what you can do with household items, like trash bags, tissues, or toilet paper.

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Transform Your Awning

During the day, your awning will do an excellent job of protecting your vampire guests from the Arizona sun. By nightfall, it can be transformed to set the mood for a ghoulish gathering. Try decorating your awning with spiderwebs or string lights, which come in all shapes and colors. Hunt through the Halloween aisle at your nearest superstore to find a set in bewitching purple, devilish red, or even goblin green.

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Spooky Snacks and Sips

What’s a Halloween party without the treats? No need to burn yourself out on preparation. These snacks and drinks can be made so frighteningly fast, the only zombies at your party will be the ones you invite.

Candy Corn Snack Mix

1 cup candy corn
1 cup M&Ms
1 cup salted nuts

Mix ingredients in a serving bowl. Store in an airtight container.

Worms ‘N Dirt

1 package Oreo cookies, crushed
2 cups milk
1 package chocolate instant pudding mix
8 ounces of Cool Whip thawed.
1 package gummy worms

Mix pudding per instructions.
Mix in Cool Whip.
Spoon pudding mixture into cups.
Top with cookie crumbs and gummy worms.
Serve chilled.

Green Punch

2 cups sugar
2 packages lime Kool-Aid
2 quarts water
46 ounces pineapple juice
1 quart ginger ale

Dissolve sugar in water.
Stir in pineapple juice and Kool-Aid. Stir in ginger ale.
Serve over ice.

Blood-Orange Cocktail

1 1/2 cups fresh blood-orange juice
6 tablespoons Solerno or other blood-orange liquor

Combine ingredients in a pitcher.
Chill for 30 minutes.
Serve in test tubes or other small glass.

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Party Playlist

Bring your party to life with a monster mash-up of tunes. Create your own playlist, or plug-in the Halloween Party station from Pandora.com. The station can be accessed for free, and plays classic tracks that will raise spirits among all of your guests.

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Here’s to hosting a Halloween bash that every monster, witch, and ghost will remember.