Halloween is creeping up, and while diving into the festivities is fun, we all know the feeling of juggling too many ideas. It’s like keeping a cauldron full of bubbling projects from spilling over… simply ghoulish!

All kidding aside…

That’s why I’m sharing the Idea Parking Lot tool with you today. It’s simple, yet powerful. This tool helps you capture all those ideas swirling around in your head so you can stay focused on what you’re currently working on, without losing any sparks of brilliance.

Business Recipe: Idea Parking Lot

Here’s how it works:

• Write it down – When a new idea, task, or project pops into your mind, instead of getting distracted, jot it down in your “Idea Parking Lot.” (Paper or digital… whatever works for you.)
• Review regularly – Set a time to revisit your parking lot each week or month. Some ideas may be your next big project, others might need to wait, be delegated, or be removed from your list.
• Keep moving forward – By parking your ideas for later, you’ll keep your focus sharp and prevent fragmented efforts (like trying to juggle too many eyeballs at once).

The reason for this simple yet powerful tool is so that your mind can let go of that idea (for now) because you’ve captured it somewhere and it won’t get lost or forgotten. You will be more focused on the important task and moment at hand. Then you can determine later whether it’s a viable idea and when to take focused action on it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Now, let’s dive into some fun because no Halloween is complete without a few spooky treats! I’m sharing these a week ahead of time so you can be ready, whether you’re prepping for a party or simply indulging in some holiday spirit. These three recipes will bring a little magic to your ghoulish experience.

Food Recipe: Spooky Halloween Treats Bat Cupcakes

Easy Halloween Bat Cupcakes – get your chocolate fix!

Delicious cupcakes with wings and spooky eyes are easy to make and a blast to decorate.

Ingredients:

• 12 chocolate cupcakes, homemade or store-bought
• Chocolate icing, homemade or purchased
• 24 sugar candy eyes (in the cake decorating section)
• 12 Oreo cookies, for the body
• 12 chocolate wafer cookies (allow extra for breakage and nibbling)

Directions:

• Spread chocolate icing (thick enough for Oreo wings to stick in).
• Separate the Oreos so that one side has the white filling and the other is plain.
• Carefully break the wafer cookie in half for the wings.
• The Oreo cookie is the head/body and it’s placed on the iced cupcake (a little bit to the front of the cupcake and on an angle) so you can stick the wing tips into the cupcake icing, behind the head/body (as pictured).
• Now with a piping bag place a little dab of icing on the face, where the eyes will go (this will act like glue for the sugar candy eyes).
• Put eyes in place.

Spider Cookies

Spooky Spider Cookies… yummy and fun!

Creepy crawly cookies made with simple ingredients are a crowd favourite!

Ingredients:

• 12 large chocolate chip cookies (homemade or store-bought)
• 12 chocolate Whopper balls
• 12 Aero Milk Chocolate Minis
• 24 sugar candy eyes (in the cake decorating section)
• Chocolate icing (in a piping bag)

Directions:

• Use chocolate icing as glue to place and stick 1 Whopper ball (head) and 1 Aero Mini (body) on each cookie.
• Now using chocolate icing create 8 legs (4 on each side as in the image) with the piping bag.
• Use a dab of icing for the eyes to stick them to the front whopper ball.

Witch Fingers

Creepy Witch’s fingers for Halloween fun!

These eerie witch fingers will add a spooky touch to any table, perfect for Halloween gatherings.

Ingredients:

• 12 pretzel rods or breadsticks
• Green candy melt wafers
• Black licorice (cut in half and in short pieces to look like nails), pumpkin seeds, or slivered almonds*

Directions:

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment.
• Break pretzel rods or breadsticks in half (24 pieces to work with).
• Melt green candy melt wafers, as directed on the package.
• Dip each pretzel or breadstick into the green melted candy, gently tapping off the excess melted candy.
• Attach a piece of licorice, pumpkin seed, or almond to resemble a fingernail.
• Using a toothpick, draw 3 knuckle lines in 2 different places on each finger to resemble knuckles on a finger to make it more realistic.
• Allow time to set.
• * Special tip: Although I used black licorice in this version, I would use pumpkin seeds in the future for a better effect and to make it easier. The licorice was really difficult to cut in half to look real.

It’s best to decorate all of these treats the same day or the night before so they don’t get mushy or too soft. Tons of fun for all ages to make and enjoy!

What’s one idea you can park today so you can focus on what matters most in business and life? Let me know in the comments if you’re trying out these recipes, or how the Idea Parking Lot tool helps keep those fragmented thoughts in check.

Stay magical and focused!