It's finally that time of year; the weather is reasonable, the sun has dropped to that angle in the sky where it inexplicably feels like Fall every day, and little pumpkins and witch hats haunt us everywhere we go. With the spooky holiday spirit in the air and an itch for all things creepy overtaking those with a taste for the weird and wonderful, it seems appropriate to remind the world of all the things that make Halloween so much fun:

1. Halloween is associated with Fall

Halloween is the herald of fall and all things cozy. Halloween nearing means sweater weather, hot cocoa, thanksgiving feasts, and lots and lots of pumpkins. Halloween means the heat is over and the holiday season is on it's way, and who doesn't get excited about that?

2. You get to play with crazy makeup

I am blessed with a roommate who was a world-class makeup artist in a past life, and Halloween makeup with her is a Halloween Horror Nights worthy project. This year, she has taken on the challenge of transforming me into a Day of the Dead skull, and the practice runs alone have sent chills up my spine. You can practice anything with a little plaster and fake blood, and the results are often wonderfully horrific.

3. Even adults are permitted to play dress up

Who doesn't love costumes? You can be anyone or anything you want. Kids love it; I recall an entire chest taking up the bulk of my closet during my childhood, filled to the brim with costumes for daily wear. You want to be a princess today? Go for it. You want to be a butterfly? Here are your wings. You want to be a ninja? Here's your hood and sword, go play. Sadly, as adults, we are expected to be "above" such behavior, but on Halloween, we get a free pass. For one night, we get to be that princess or that ninja, and no judgment is allowed.

4. Pumpkins everywhere

Pumpkins are the best. They are a symbol of Fall, and they are almost exclusively paired with cinnamon, so Halloween season means walking through a constant cloud of pumpkin spice aromas--not that I'm complaining. We get to carve pumpkins -- a messy and incredibly fun activity, especially when you throw your pumpkin's guts at your brother during the process -- and there is always an abundance of pumpkin pies and cute little pumpkin arrangements you can put on your dinner table.

5. It's acceptable to marathon cheesy Halloween movies

I don't know about the rest of the world, but when October rolls around, I bring out the old Halloween classics. That means everything, from horror to cartoons to the old Disney Channel movies -- with Halloweentown at the top of that list. It's an excuse to marathon horror movies and the cheesy childhood films we all grew up on, which I find usually brings a good balance: start by getting scared to death, and end with a silly movie that makes you smile.

6. Halloween Horror Nights

If you haven't been to Halloween Horror Nights, get up right now and go. With haunted houses, Halloween-themed food and drinks, interactive shows, and people with chainsaws chasing you through the streets of a dark amusement park, who wouldn't want to go?

7. Halloween Parties

Everyone loves a good party. Whether it's the raving-stay-out-all-night kind or the sit-on-the-couch-with-caramel-corn-and-Halloween-movies kind, Halloween parties are amazing. Hands made of ice cooling punch bowls, eyeball-shaped candy, bobbing for apples, spiderwebs, and strobe lights make for an amazing night any time, and Halloween is the time of year when you get to break out the creepy themes.

8. Candy anyone?

Candy is the best. If you're too old to trick-or-treat but haven't found young children to use as an excuse for still going, you can always find it at parties, club events, as gifts from teachers, or you can just go buy a few bags on sale at the end of the month and dig in. However you come by it, candy is a Halloween necessity, and whether you admit it or not, it's the best part of the holiday.

Whatever your favorite part of halloween is, whether it's the parties, the excuse to go out with friends, the creepy movies, or the candy (mine is the candy), I hope you have a Happy Halloween!