Aunt Martha's tricks and treats

Aunt Martha digs Halloween. This time every year, I get a thick Halloween edition of Martha Stewart Living in my mail chock full of costume ideas and decorating tips. She usually does a special Halloween show.

This year, the editors of Martha Stewart Living have created an online Halloween Workshop with eight weeks worth of tips on how to make the most out of the season.

While we're on the topic, I'm curious as to when you think it's OK to put up Halloween decorations. I've got some orange lights for the bushes and my Bones McGhee skeleton that hangs on the front door and, of course, my plug-in Jack-o-Lantern. I usually give holiday decorating a one-month grace period before the holiday. For Halloween, I tend to wait until the first week of October has passed.

I noticed some orange and white lights up at a neighbors' house two weeks ago and was a bit aghast, although it might have been in support of the local football team.

When do you think its OK to decorate for Halloween?