I am the worst when it comes to Halloween enthusiasm. My husband calls me the Halloween Grinch. I don't get enthusiastic about costumes, buying candy or decorating the house. Even as a kid I stopped trick-or-treating after fifth grade. Give me Thanksgiving and Christmas any day!

Well, this bad attitude must stop because now I have a kid who is aware of Halloween and the fun surrounding it. So in order to make Halloween more meaningful to me, I've decided to look for ways to make it eco-friendly. I'm going to make Kellan's costume rather than buying something. I'll try to piece together items we have on hand and fill out the rest at a fabric or craft store. One idea I had was a pirate's costume. Rather than buying one of those fancy feathered hats and a pirate coat, I'll put Kellan in a striped t-shirt and put a red bandana on his head (we did a little preview and practiced the "pirate face"). I can make an eye patch out of felt and elastic. I'll finish it off with black sweatpants and an old pillowcase with a skull and crossbones painted or ironed on. I think that's a pretty decent costume for a three-year-old. If you are not crafty, you should check out consignment shops for second hand costumes. It's another form of recycling and a great way to save money. Also, check out NGKids for some cool, out of the ordinary home-made costume ideas.

I also like the idea of not using masks. Face paint is fun for kids and much safer. Make sure your face paint is safe to use. You can go green by using petroleum- and paraben-free products or whipping up your own at home. You can make DIY face paint with cold cream, water, cornstarch, and food coloring. As with anything you put on your child's face, it's best to do a patch test a few days in advance to make sure it won't irritate his/her skin.