Whether you’re planning a costume party or simply looking for tasty treats to give out throughout the Halloween season, there are a number of spooky recipes that people of all ages will love. Here are just three fun, creative Halloween-themed desserts that are just as scary as they are delicious.

Chocolate Orange Spider Cupcakes [parenting.com]
This is a slightly advanced recipe that any avid baker will have fun experimenting with right before Halloween. It involves making your own chocolate cupcakes from scratch and jazzing them up with an orange zest, but the real finishing touches are the cookie sticks and round candies that you’ll use to transform each cupcake into a cute and crawly spider.

Giant Candy Corn Cookies [food.com]
While not everyone is a fan of candy corn, you can guarantee that almost anyone will love this candy corn-inspired cookie. By dying boxed sugar cookie mix with three different colors of food coloring, you can create pretty simple cookies that look just like the popular Halloween candy.

Spooky Witches' Fingers [allrecipes.com/]
For a treat that’s much scarier than most, this recipe is a great pick. While the actual recipe is fairly traditional, molding these cookies into the shape of severed fingers certainly isn’t. Top them off with half an almond to create the “fingernail.”

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr ChodHound

Local burger fans love Burger 21 for its creative burger menu and range of unlimited dipping sauces. The top-selling burgers at Burger 21 include the Tex-Mex Haystack, the Bacon Cheesy, the BBQ bacon burger, and the Philly cheese. You can also try one of Burger 21’s chicken burgers, such as the chicken marsala, or a seafood burger, like the ahi tuna. Vegetarian options include the Greek and the black bean burger. Definitely get the toasted marshmallow sauce for your fries or sweet potato fries! Though it’s a sweet sauce, it complements the saltiness of the fries well. Place your order at the counter, then take a seat!

Finish your meal with one of Burger 21’s popular milkshakes, such as the bananas Foster, the chocolate malted milk ball, the chocolate peanut butter, or the crème brulee.

Burger 21
43800 Central Station Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 726-0112
www.burger21.com
www.yelp.com/biz/burger-21-ashburn

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Edsel Little

Regardless of how on-trend your decor was when you initially adorned your apartment, it's only a matter of time before you feel like your surroundings are outdated. But when a home makeover isn't really in the budget, you might feel stuck with the interior design you've got. You aren't, though. There are tons of budget-friendly approaches to decorating that can spruce up your apartment. Here are just three of them to get the creative juices flowing.

1. Upcycle existing embellishments. If your home-decorating instincts take you to Amazon, let your money-saving instincts lead you to Pinterest instead this time. Look for DIY ways that you can revamp that old coffee table or update worn throw pillows. It might be as easy as picking up a can of spray paint or some ribbon and fabric glue.
2. Frame free pieces of "artwork." You don't have to break the bank on a piece of art in order for it to add something to your room. Prints or photos from magazines and books can have just as great an impact on the aesthetic of your bedroom or living room as expensive artwork. Just find a cheap frame at Target or the thrift store to complement your makeshift work of art.
3. Break out the sewing machine. If you're handy with a needle and thread, there's a lot you can do in your apartment without spending much money. For example, you can easily create new curtains or pillowcases. These are both simple ways to spiff up your apartment that conserve both time and money.

Budget Decorator: 15 No-Cost Ways to Invigorate Your Space [Houzz]
15 Budget Decorating Secrets [HGTV]
The 10 Most Important Tips For Decorating On A Tight Budget [freshome]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr emily @ go haus go