HALLOWEEN AND BINGE WATCHING

I love everything about Halloween week.

The baking.

The decorations in my neighborhood

and in my house.

And this weather with all those gorgeous leaves scattered about.

But what I really go bonkers over is…

…a decked out Trick or Treat Table.

Every year I try to offer something a little better than the year before, and I invite the kids in to pick what they want.

Here’s last year’s table.

This year I listened to my kid’s gripes and dropped the fruit snacks and the occasional granola bar — and just went for what kids really want.

This year I bought about 80 full-size candy bars, 24 Butterfingers skulls, a couple dozen bags of cookies, a couple dozen bags of Cheez-its and about 50 bags of various chips.

I also made 36 Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

with Ghosty potato chips atop.

I have very vivid Halloween memories as a kid going to this or that house — the ones in which the adults were really excited to see the kids and rewarded them with the big candy bars.

I remember thinking, ooh, that’s the kind of adult I want to be. I want to surpass kid’s expectations and I want them to come back next year.

And trust me, if you offer 5 kinds of full-size M & M’s and 3 kinds of Milky Way Bars, you will see those little dickens again next year.

It seems more important to me than ever, because my own kids are growing up and I’m starting to miss seeing them dress up, and when they do, it’s for less time.

I was lucky in that I was still able to convince Oliver to dress up to go to just a few houses with his sister and a neighbor who idolizes him.

Say howdy to my Fifties Girl and Secret Service Agent.

As a mom, it’s always a bit shocking when you see your daughter wear makeup– especially when it’s the same Chanel red lipstick you like to wear.

I let my kids pick something from the table before all the kids came — why shouldn’t a 16 year still get treats?

And then I watched as all the candy, chips, crackers, glow sticks, cupcakes and tattoos scooted out the door.

I had to finally close up shop because after completely restocking the table twice, I then ran out of goods. Sorry — see you next year!

But here’s a question. Are you the type of parent that has your kids give away their stuff, or are you likely to give away your extras to co-workers?

Is there anyone else out there who looks at the candy on sale afterwards to see if there’s anything that need be picked up for holiday baking?

(Regrettably, I saw no Junior Mints.)

I could have used them this week, because we’ve been binge-watching this season’s hit phenom.

Stranger Things.

It’s been sooo good!

There has been a lot of pizza and more than a few meals on trays this week in front of the TV as we plowed through the entire Season 2 of this show.

Now that’s finished, we’re a bit bereft and are now looking for the next big binge-watching blowout.

Readers and friends have clued us into Lost, Suits, Person of Interest, The Mentalist, The Tunnel, Ballers, Sherlock, Big Little Lies, The Killing, New Girl, Goliath and And Then There Were None — and they’ve all been a hit with my crew.

Have you another series you and yours have loved?

I’d love to hear your suggestions– plus preferred go-to binge treats!– STAT.