every single fall, it never fails. we head to target for laundry detergent, then one hour + $100 later, we emerge with a cart filled to the brim with target dollar-spot items, fall foliage + halloween decorations. and no detergent. now that’s spooky. only this year, we’ve decided to embrace the inevitable + share our must-haves for a sweet stash this october. here are our top picks from target this halloween season along with (boo!) 1 new surprise in the fitness aisle.

[for spookin’ up your space]
this is the only month of the year when you can have cobwebs in your house + get away with it, so we might as well go all in! there’s just something about spooky skeleton candelabras + pumpkin-shaped candy dishes that really get us in the spirit of the season.

hand votive holder
we absolutely loved this pick from the halloween decor section. it’s neutral, it’s utilitarian, but it’s got a slight edge that’s perfect for halloween scares.

mini witch’s broom
this is a dollar-bin item that serves a two-fold purpose: it’ll liven up any empty corner of your home or front porch pumpkin display this halloween, but it can also serve as a last-minute witch’s broom for your child’s halloween costume.  

pumpkin covered bowl
another score from the bargain bins, this $5 bowl can be used to serve food, hold candy or just look pretty on a shelf.

tin candy dishes
the great thing about these cheapo little cups: you can repurpose them after halloween is over and use them for things like corralling pens + crayons.

[for perfecting your pumpkins]
sometimes we just don’t feel like carving a pumpkin. there, we said it. for those of you who are also pumpkin-gut-averse, whether you can’t stand the mess or just don’t have the time, your pumpkins can still be uber adorbs with these spooky and/or silly stick-ons.

blingy boo decal
peel, stick, done. need we say more?

stick-on mustaches
one look at a gourd sporting one of these furry mustaches + your trick-or-treaters will be all “man, that is one ridiculously handsome pumpkin!”

stick-on spiky studs
who needs jagged, carved grins + scary vampire jack-o-lanterns when you’ve got spikes coming out of your pumpkin??   

[for a quickie costume]
we’ve all been there: you spend so much time on your kid’s (or dog’s) costume, that when october 31st finally rolls around, you realize you’re completely costume-less. As always tar-jay’s got ya covered.

face decal
the quickest face-painting job there ever was. hello, lion costume!

cat ear headband
it doesn’t even matter what else you’re wearing. if you’ve got the headband on, then, as the mean girls would say, “i’m a cat, duh.”

sequin face masks
these dollar-bin finds are a great option if you just wanna show a little halloween spirit at work or if your kid is begging you to wear a costume for trick-or-treating.

[for the candy cauldron]
halloween goodies don’t have to be all artificial colorings + corn syrup. it is possible to break from the norm + offer up slightly healthier options without getting your house egged (like that neighbor who always insists on giving out dental floss). these picks are all free from synthetic dyes, flavorings + high fructose corn syrup.

surf sweets organic spooky shapes
a yummy, allergy-friendly alternative to those starbursts or skittles, your little ones will love the halloween-themed shapes as well.

yum earth organic gummy fruits
if for some reason you have leftovers (not likely), these will be a fun little treat to send in your kids’ lunch box every now + then. also allergy-friendly.

justin’s organic peanut butter cups
if you love reese’s, you’ll love these. bonus: the ingredients are simply better.

rxbar kids
these bars can double as an after-school snack for your kids.

angie’s boom chicka pop
kids are always rollin’ in candy on halloween night. they’ll actually welcome a salty respite from the sugar overload!

[for parental pats on the back, post-trick-or-treating]
no tricks, just treat yoself as you celebrate getting the little goblins in bed + have a go at their candy hauls. these spooky scores will have you relaxed in no time.

wine glasses
these are actually cute enough to take on-the-road for trick-or-treating as well. because if they’re halloween themed, they’re basically a costume, so no one will judge you for imbibing while on trick-or-treat duty. rather take a roadie that won’t shatter or spill? we may or may not have been known to bring along our fitfuel mixer filled with wine rather than protein shake. ;)

his + hers halloween socks
keep those tootsies warm and in theme as you snuggle up by the fire after a long, cold hallow’s eve.

halloween koozies
fingers frozen to the bone after braving those chilly trick-or-treating temps? these cute koozies will save the day by allowing you to sip a frosty beverage while defrosting your digits.

[for halloween hangover detoxing]
let’s face it, the day after halloween isn’t always so pretty. too much sugar + too little sleep doesn’t exactly make you (or your kids) feel your best. that’s where these little lifesavers from the fitness aisle come into play.

eat fit kit shopping list + meal planning pad
this convenient notepad is the best square-shaped addition to our lives (and the target fitness aisle) since the inception of instagram. and even better, it won’t give you major life envy. a 2-sided list with your weekly meal-plan on one side + healthy shopping list on the other, it is absolutely essential for helping you plan out + organize your meals for the week, as well as the items you’ll need to prepare them. this means you’ll be less likely to fall prey to unhealthy take-out + more likely to eat a nutritious meal at home. take THAT, halloween-candy-hangover!!

fitbook fitness tracker + food journal
this little log can not only help you get back on track after that inevitable halloween derailment, it can actually help prevent it in the first place. because who wants to have to log that they devoured 11 fun-size kit-kats, 8 mini snickers, 3 mini boxes of dots + a bag of skittles when they’ve been working so hard to eat well? our advice? give yourself permission to enjoy the night + snag a couple pieces, then resume your normal routine with zero guilt. the fifth bite never tastes as good as the first anyway!

and the best part? you can find all of the above on your next target run (because let’s be honest - this is at least a weekly occurrence for most of us).

hot tip: snap a pic of you with our goodies in the fitness aisle, post on instagram stories or facebook (or shoot, email 'em to hello@getfitbook.com) + we're pickin' 5 of you to win a $15 gift card to shop on our site! bonus points for creativity and/or hilarious halloween costumes. 

spookily yours,
the "ghouls" of fitlosophy