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If you need reminding, I can tell you that it was IN our wedding vows to be the most popular house on Halloween night. And oh yeah – my husband made an insane Halloween costume in six days and won the costume contest at the parade last year. We talk about Halloween for every day of October, and September, and by the way – have you seen our house? It’s decorated!
Even though we sometimes pull costumes together on the last possible day, or in my husband’s case – six days before Halloween, we do decorate and plan our house in advance. We also get inspired to cook up some fall recipes to add to the overall theme of the seasons, and to bring out our favorite smells, tastes and sights of Halloween. Our kids are big fans of the holiday, just like we have always been. There are five ways we make Halloween come to life in our house for all of October:
1. We decorate, of course! We have a growing collection of decorations from our childhoods, and from our time together. Sometimes we buy decorations at the dollar store, to stick to a budget, or even AFTER Halloween for next year. I know that sounds strange, but you can get decorations at 50-75%, or more, and if you’re a patient person, like I’m not, it will be so nice to be ready for the next Halloween! We especially like glowing things, like the pumpkin above, as well as witches and skulls.
2. Costumes, of course! This is the biggest one, and sometimes we dress up all through October just for fun (well.. the kids do) and other times, we’re getting it all together right on Halloween! Either way, it’s a good time.
3. “We” craft or DIY. I put the “We” in parentheses, only because this is more what my family does, than me. The kids do crafts and decorations at school, or with Cassidy. “We’ve” (They’ve) been known to make luminarias out of plain paper lunch bags and votive candles. They might write “BOO” on the bags, or something to that effect. Another fun idea is to blow up balloons and drape sheets over them. If you place the tied end of the balloon at the top, you can insert a safety pin through the sheet and the tied end of the balloon to suspend the “ghosts” from the ceiling. They’ve also done tombstones, made out of Styrofoam, and spooky silhouettes made out of chalk. Black lights and fake spiders are also popular, as well as anything to do with leaves – making leaf art and playing with leaves too. There are just a million things you can do with leaves in October.
4. Candles! What could be better? So warm and inviting and SO delicious-smelling. I was so excited when I learned that American Homeโข by Yankee Candleยฎ brand products had launched at Walmart in the Home/Decor section.
Sure enough, we use the candles as decoration and to enhance our home during the month of October as we get ready for Halloween. With fragrances such as Buttercream Frosting, Ginger Apple Pie, and Pumpkin Apple Harvest, I can’t get enough! It’s so convenient to find the Yankee Candleยฎ brand products in Walmart, so close to home, and the American Homeโข line has affordable pricing. I was able to buy plenty to decorate my house, and make it smell great. They smell good enough to eat.
5. But don’t eat them. Make pumpkin stew instead! This recipe is strong in my family. I think we have three generations who love to make it, and maybe that will be more. Basically, cooking pumpkin IN a pumpkin is a wonderful way to celebrate.
Note: Recipe is VERY flexible. It can feed a small party or a very large family, so you might have leftovers! If you like one vegetable, rice, meat, spice, etc., substitute or increase/decrease levels. It is hard to go wrong.
You know I am going to have to make your pumpkin stew, but still would love if you could make and we could share it together. Still hoping and dreaming that this will happen soon for us! But seriously I am with you on all of the above for Halloween and so excited that it is almost here now ๐
Yes, that’s my dream! Come over and make stew with me! Or let Cassidy make it for both of us while we sit and eat it?
Yes.
Either way, I would be in heaven like a dream come true!! <3
Oh I know it. One of these days…
Wow have you been busy today!! I am definitely going to have to make some pumpkin stew now. That sounds fantastic.
I know, right?? I generally don’t like to post so much in one day or week! I have a friend who already posted four times today. I think that’s a record.
The pumpkin stew is SO GOOD.
I can just imagine your home on Halloween and I totally just knew that Cassidy was going to win that costume contest. There was no way he could have lost. I can’t wait to see what’s in the works this year. As for that pumpkin stew I just have to give that a try.
If Cassidy had lost, I’d really love to see what kind of costume could top that! I have no idea what’s in the works this year, but sometimes lightning strikes very close to Halloween.
I think you’d love the stew!
We always stock up on Yankee Candles, love pumpkin spice. Hubby and the kids decorate the out side, I contribute some mums;). Inside, its usually just a big bowl of gords!
Hey, a big bowl of gourds, some mums, and some candles? Perfect.
I am so bad about decorating for Halloween these days although looking at your pictures makes me want to! And we love Yankee candles…we have lots of them. I remember you talking about that pumpkin stew recipe…it sounds so good!
That recipe is really amazing! We only have it once a year but I did try to make it in December once and was surprised we couldn’t.. No big pumpkins! Who knew?
I love scented candles! We usually don’t do anything to plan out Halloween until a week or two before. My kids don’t even know what they are dressing up as yet.
Same here! Even Cassidy’s insane Groot costume was planned six days in advance. I still need a costume. Oops!
Halloween time – pumpkin time! Tonight we are going to have baked, stuffed acorn pumpkin, looking forward to that.
I don’t really like scented candles, sorry, some of them (vanilla, Christmas scent) actually give me headaches ๐ But candles are great!
Yum, I hope that was as delicious as it sounds!
Sorry about the headaches, but glad you like candles.
Candles are a must have all fall and winter long. Okay, who am I kidding? I need candles all year long. However, I love to have ample supply of pumpkin candles on hand for fall. I usually do pretty good at putting up Halloween decor, sadly, I cannot find my other Halloween box. HAHAHA! “I” when I say “I” I mean it like your “we” ๐
XOXO
Yes, me too! I love candles in the summer too. I love all the different seasonal fragrances. So. Good.
I hope you find your other Halloween box!
Buttercream Frosting?! I need that! I also need pumpkin stew! I love Halloween!
I wish I could actually send you pumpkin stew for your birthday. Bah! I can send candles, though!
Someday I will be there and we can eat pumpkin stew! I really don’t think it would ship well, LOL! Yes, candles are very ship-able, hahaha!
Oh, it would ship so awfully! Boo! Well.. our day will come.
I love scented candles, especially during the holidays. And your stew sounds amazing!
It is SO good. The first time I had it, my father-in-law made it and I was pregnant but didn’t know it yet. Three bowls of stew should have clued me in, right?
I love Halloween too. I have so many decorations, I don’t really have room for them anymore! Can’t wait to try that pumpkin stew!
I hope you have a big oven! Although you can bake it in a crockpot or ceramic dish too. It’s so good, that my stomach is growling right now.
you guys do halloween big! Can’t wait to see what is in store!
Same here! We’re flying by the seat of our pants because I have NO idea what it will be like!
I am totally making your stew this year and I have my Yankee Candles going already! I am really excited for Halloween this year. I am finally going to dress up again!
I can’t wait to hear about everything you just mentioned!
We buy Christmas decorations after Christmas for the next year for the savings. However, I never thought about buying Halloween decorations after the holiday. I only think about buying the candy that’s on sale…lol
Well, very smart! It really makes a difference for both holidays.
I always had visions of being the type of mom who would decorate her home for holidays and do lots of holiday-themed kids crafts. Alas, my reality is very different! We do have a pumpkin on our front stoop that we share with our fellow condo-owners…but I did not put it there! This has inspired me, though, to do some Halloween crafts this week with Eve!
I hear you. My mom put out all the stops for everything. She still does. Sometimes I get there, but only at the last minute and with Cassidy’s help!
That’s exciting!! We don’t dress up and decorate as much as you do. Reiko loves your photos!! He always watches pumpkins and jack o lanterns, skeletons and ghosts cartoons on Youtube. LOL
Thanks, Reiko! You can look at my photos anytime!
Those cartoons sound fun.
Such adorable photos! We don’t quite have a house yet and, sadly, our condo complex doesn’t encourage or participate in Halloween festivities (bummer, I know) but I look forward to the day we can be ‘that’ house! #client
Oh bummer about the condo complex! I wish you much luck on being “that” house. It’s an honor.
I love fall scented candles! They smell so comforting and cozy. I think I could burn Buttercream Frosting all year long ๐
Me too! And then keep forgetting that it’s a candle and thinking Cassidy is making yummy cupcakes!
I love Yankee candles – the fall food scented ones are my favorites. I’ve been burning them for a few weeks already.
I feel the same way. I do love the holiday ones and the spring and summer ones, but man, do they do fall well.
I need to get back to using candles! I kind of stopped using them once I had kids due to their craziness! Need to change that!
I definitely understand that. It’s getting better with Des because we run a pellet stove all winter long and I remember being petrified of him near it.
I have the most delicious smelling Moonlight Pumpkin candle burning right now. and it’s making it seem like it’s not actually only 7 degrees C outside (44 degrees in American). And I hear that Yankee Candle has this fantastic one called Mountain Lodge that will make it smell like beefy, bearded plaid wearing lumberjacks already set up a Christmas tree in my home. Want. The candle I mean. I already have the beefy Canadian in plaid. ๐
I wonder what makes a pumpkin smell like “moonlight pumpkin.” I want to know.
In American, it was 23 degrees this morning. I almost weeped.
I believe it is notes of cedar that is mixed with the pumpkin spices. it’s heavenly.
Whoa. Scarlet LOVES cedar. So do I. I’m doing it.
What a festive Halloween holiday at your home! You’ve got every base covered. I can’t wait for your big costume reveal.
Ooh, I hope it doesn’t disappoint! We finally worked out most of the details last night.
Cassidy’s costume last year was truly epic. Can’t wait to see what he pulls off this year. Love that your family turns Halloween into a month long activity, too.
Heh, me too. Honestly there is nothing in the works. I’m hoping inspiration still strikes him? There is time in Cassidy World.