Halloween is almost here, and my kids don’t have costumes. It’s not unusual for us to wait until a week before Halloween to put something together, but this is cutting it a little close, even for us. I searched the web for the best costumes that are easy to put together quickly and use things we probably already have around the house. I was also inspired to come up with a couple of ideas of my own. Here are 9 last-minute Halloween costumes for kids that can be made in no time and on a dime (OK, maybe a few dollars, max).

If you're also looking for quick and easy Halloween decor ideas or just need a fun mask, check out DIY Halloween 101. 

Because I have never been a big Halloween fan, our house has minimal Halloween decorations.  By minimal, I mean that we currently have 3 small, uncarved pumpkins adorning our front porch.  But this year, my kids have brought on the Halloween pressure.  In fact, they’ve started a “best decorated Halloween house” contest with the kids in the neighborhood.  We are losing.  By a lot.

So clearly I need to step up our décor game with the basics: scarecrows and jack-o-lanters!  Fairfield County offers plenty of design inspiration for those who are not skilled in the pumpkin and scarecrow arts. So roll up those sleeves, its time to get covered in pumpkin slime and scarecrow innards! 

There's plenty to do and see on this island of ours, and just because summer has come to an end, the weather is still nice enough for a little day trip to the end of Long Island. No, we're not talking about Montauk. Orient Beach State Park is located on the eastern tip of the North Fork of Long Island and boasts sweeping views of Gardiner's Bay. From beach to boats, this park offers up day-long adventures and fun for the entire family. If you already have an Empire Pass, entry is free, otherwise there's a vehicle use fee. The park opens at 8am for you early risers.

For more fun day trips, check out our Day Trip to Greenport post for a must-do list. In addition, peruse our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide for more ideas on how to enjoy life on the East End.

Salem Haunted Happenings is a month-long Halloween celebration of costume parades, haunted houses, ghost stories, candlelit tours, and live music. While many of the activities go for the big scare factor, there are plenty of kid-friendly events to choose from, too.

What? The kids just got used to being back at school and then they got a three day weekend! For others, this will be the first week of school after a leisurely summer. Either way, the kids at home still need something to do, and Mommy Poppins has a few ideas. Reading about dinosaurs at the library is fun, but seeing life sized ones in action is super cool. And for budding master builders this is the week to get to the Lego store for a free mini model. Speaking of free, it’s the first week of the month, so be on the lookout for no charge opportunities.

The US Open is here and in full swing. We've already told you about about fantastic public tennis centers in lower Westchester and in the northern part of the county. However, for tennis enthusiasts of all ages, Westchester also offers several private tennis clubs, offering everything from lessons and leagues to special family events. 

These clubs, offering varying levels of membership, offer fun opportunities and wonderful amenities to introduce even the youngest players to the game or sharpen the skills of more seasoned athletes. Read on for details on these family-friendly tennis clubs. Also, be sure to check out our Classes Guide and Class Directory for even more ideas for classes of all kinds, from athletic and enrichment to performing arts and more.