Mzgraciev: hip halloween

Although I think using a pumpkin carving 'stencil' or 'pattern' is cheating, it's what most people use these days if they want a better-than-ordinary jack-o-lantern sitting on their front porch. Before I share with you links for pumpkin-carving stencils and patterns, I first want to share with you some of my most interesting posts on cool pumpkins from years past.

The Sculpted Pumpkins of Scott Cummins

Pumpkin Carving Grows Even Geekier

The Amazing Pumpkins by Maniac Pumpkin Carvers

One of the more popular this year are the AKC Dog Breed stencils featured on the Better Homes & Garden site. But rather than show you those formal images, the photo outtakes from the shoot are far more fun to look at:

Printable and download-able pumpkin carving stencils and patterns:

Zombie Pumpkins Stencils

Patterns from Pumpkin Lady

Better Homes & Gardens large selection of pumpkin stencils

More free carving stencils and patterns

For you dog lovers, here's a bunch of breed stencils

Now, you have no excuses for a lame pumpkin, Get carving!

Looking for a good adult ready-to-wear costume for this year's All Hallow's Eve? If you're opting for one that plays off popular culture, I've got some great ones for you.

There are a bunch of affordable (and some not so affordable) new costumes that have come out this year for the spooky Halloween holiday. Pop culture comes alive in the form of Lady Gaga, Jersey Shore's Snooki, Pauly D and The Situation, The Dude and Bowling Jesus from The Big Lebowski, Star Trek and of course, Star Wars.

There's no longer an excuse to be one of those people who cobbles together a lame version of a kitty cat or a pirate when costumes like these are available. But, the best costumes sell out quickly, so don't wait too long.

For Lady Gaga's Little Monsters
For both fans and wannabes, these Lady Gaga costumes rock -or should I say 'pop'? -and they are surprisingly affordable, too!

above left: Lady Gaga Black Sequin Dress Costume
above right: Lady Gaga Silver Sequin Dress Costume

above left: Lady Gaga 2009 VMA White Performance Costume
above right: Lady Gaga Star Dress Costume

above left: Lady Gaga Telephone American Flag Costume
above right: Lady Gaga Poker Face Blue Swimsuit Costume

Wigs, glasses and Gaga accessories for you Little Monsters are also available:

above left: Lady Gaga Poker Face Glasses and right: Lady Gaga Straight Wig with Bangs

above left: Lady Gaga Curly Blonde Wig above right: Lady Gaga Straight Wig with Bangs

above left: Lady Gaga Blonde/Yellow Two-Tone Wig above right: Lady Gaga Bow Clip Hair Accessory

Jersey Shore Costumes
Snooki and The Situation Halloween costumes are perfect for the couple who likes to tawlk with a Jersey accent: