If you need an easy Halloween costume in a hurry, look no further. Everything below is Amazon Prime Eligible so you can have it delivered within a day – SO EASY to simply put on and go! 🛍️ This post contains affiliate links– thank you for supporting us.
Halloween Ponchos
Heritage Lace Skeleton Poncho – I have this poncho and I love it! All I do is wear black leggings and a black top underneath and maybe add some face paint or a mask for a little extra fun. It is on the large size, so I would not recommend this poncho if you are very petite. Find it here: https://amzn.to/307DY6r
Spider Web Poncho – While we are on the topic of ponchos, and honestly a costume can’t get much easier, here is a Spider Web Poncho! Again, just wear over black leggings. Find it here: amzn.to/2O880j6
Crayon T-Shirts – Cute Group Costume Idea! These shirts come in Men, Women and Children’s sizes so each family member or group member can wear a different color! Find the yellow here: https://amzn.to/31uhpoV
A superhero t-shirt – Another very easy costume you can pair with whatever pants you have. These shirts come in Superman, Batman, The Flash and Wonder Woman. You can turn it into a couples costume by getting both the Superman and Wonder Woman! *Note: Some reviews say to go up a size. Get it here: https://amzn.to/33klyMM
Flapper Capelet and Headband – If you have a simple black dress, just add this capelet and headband to easily complete a 1920s Flapper Look. Find it here: amzn.to/304CycY and amzn.to/307QaUy
90’s Rocker Wig and Accessories – Want to rock out? Put on your favorite ripped jeans and a black t-shirt to complete this look! Easy Peasy. Find it here: https://amzn.to/33jTWax
I am always looking for easy, non-expensive costumes for my dog. My girls LOVE taking our dog with us when we go trick-or-treating. I also usually wait at the bus stop on Halloween afternoon with her in costume and all the kids on the bus get so excited to see her dressed up. Last year she was a Jelly Bean, before that she had been a strawberry and a pumpkin. This year she will have a Harry Potter dog costume!
My 8 year old decided to be Hermione Granger for Halloween this year. I was so excited for her to embrace the Harry Potter series – I loved reading the books when I was younger. So naturally, our dog just had to be a Harry Pottery character. The problem was that I could hardly find anything online and if I did, it was too expensive for a dog costume IMHO. That’s why I decided to make one for her! This costume cost me a grand total of $2!
See below for links to buy materials
This costume is a NO-SEW costume which makes it easy and quick to make. You need felt in the correct colors for whatever house you want your dog to be in, (Gryffindor: Scarlet and Gold, Ravenclaw: Blue and Bronze, Slytherin: Green and Silver, Hufflepuff: Yellow and Black) hot glue and a scissors. That’s it! I wanted our dog to match my daughter, so she is officially in Gryffindor House. I bought black for the robe, white for her collar, and yellow and red for the tie and scarf.
Looking a little concerned as I measure.
I bought the felt in two sizes, the larger piece in black was just about right for the size of my dog. It was 12 inches x 18 inches. My dog is a Boston Terrier Pug mix, so she is relatively small and I didn’t want the robe to be dragging on the ground. If you have a larger dog, you may need to go to a fabric store and get a yard of black for the robe, then cut to fit. The red, yellow and white are all half the size of the black, 12 inches x 9 inches. Again, if you have a large dog, you may need larger sizes of colored felt. I got all of my felt at Michael’s.
Harry Potter Style Robe
First, you will need a rectangle or square of the black felt for the robe. I wanted to round the neck area out, so I cut a curved piece out of one of the long sides of the black felt. (See picture above for cut – I enlisted a helper with this step, the kids loved being involved in this project.) I then cut the white felt into three equal pieces, I only needed two for the collar. I laid them on an angle under the curved collar area, glued the to the underside of the black felt then folded them over and glued them to the top side. See pictures below.
Gryffindor Tie
Next, I made the tie. I cut out a tie shape of red felt in a length that wouldn’t hit the ground when my dog walked. I cut equally wide strips of yellow felt to make the stripes, glued them down with hot glue, then trimmed the excess.
DIY Gryffindor Scarf
Next was the scarf. I cut the yellow felt into two equal strips and laid them end to end to make the scarf long enough. Again, you’ll need to make the scarf bigger or smaller depending on how large your dog is. I then cut equal sized rectangles for the stripes on my scarf and glued them down to the yellow. Finally, I cut some fringe at each end of the scarf as you’ll see in the pictures.
At this point, all the separate pieces are done, now you can decide how you want to attach them. I hot glued the tie to one side of the neck of the robe. You could use a piece of velcro beneath that with the matching piece of velcro on the other side of the neck. I chose to just glue the tie to both sides of the robe so my costume just slides over my dogs head.
I put a big glob of hot glue right in the middle of the ties “knot” and then pressed it to both sides of the collar.
Options:
You can cut a small slit along the back of the robe if you use a harness with your dog. Just put your dogs harness on first, then the costume over it to measure where to cut.
You can choose to glue the scarf to the back of the robe if you don’t want it to slip off as your dog walks. That is what I did.
You can make a pair of Harry Potter glasses out of a few black pipe cleaners. I made two small circles out of pipe cleaners, then I twisted a small piece between the two circles as the bridge for the nose and to hold the circles together. Then I made a long loop instead of standard earpieces on glasses by twisting two pipe cleaners together and to the ends to each of the circles. My dog did not love the glasses and they are just for pictures. She doesn’t have much of a snout so the glasses didn’t want to stay up on her head.
She was such a good sport trying to keep the glasses on her head. 🙂
Have fun – Happy Halloween, everyone!
Materials List:
Below I have affiliate links to all the materials I used in this post. I didn’t have to purchase anything but the felt making this project just $2!
We scoured Amazon for some fun fall-weather finds! From chunky cardigans to porch decor, there is something for everyone. Happy shopping! 🛍️ This post contains affiliate links– thank you for supporting us.
Halloween Pillow Covers: https://amzn.to/2otNdfl Black and White Plaid Covers:https://amzn.to/2prD7Mp Orange and White Plaid Covers:https://amzn.to/2nSL8JG Pillow inserts if needed: https://amzn.to/2mZkzCb One of my favorite ways to easily decorate for any holiday is to switch out the covers on my throw pillows! Add a pop of orange to ring in the Halloween season. And of course, my favorite black and white plaid pillow covers match perfectly!!
Keep it comfy in this Hocus Pocus T-Shirt: https://amzn.to/2mZIvFz. I am obsessed with the movie and this t-shirt, I just might pair it with the oversized cardigan at the beginning of this list!
WoodWick Candle: https://amzn.to/2nKC7CJ Bring your fire pit inside – these candles make a crackling sound with their specially designed wicks when they burn. I have and love the Fireside scent, everyone that comes over asks where I got my candle! They also make GREAT gifts.
Hello Fall, Hello Pumpkin Mugs: https://amzn.to/2nYlAel Make some hot chocolate and gather around a campfire this season with one of these super cute mugs.
Some gold and white Fall Glass Pumpkins to class up your mantel all the way through Thanksgiving! They light up with LEDs and have a timer for effortless lighting decor. https://amzn.to/2n3pzFY
A great pair of Rain Boots for when you stomp through the mud picking pumpkins and apples! I love that these have a drawstring for rainy days. https://amzn.to/2poketB
These Galvanized Jack-O-Lantern Buckets are a versatile way to decorate for the season. You can use them to decorate your porch with candles, fill them with flowers for a rustic tablescape, or even dress up the front of your fireplace with rustic farmhouse Halloween flair! https://amzn.to/2nPynjl
After our Canadian adventure I wrote about a few weeks ago, we drove back to Maine for the second half of our trip. What a beautiful piece of America to experience. We were so lucky to be able to stay with Nanette’s family in her house in Damariscotta during this part of our trip. It saved us a bundle and gave all the cousins a lot of time to spend bonding and making family memories.
There is so much to do in Maine with kids, from beaches, historic museums and lighthouses, to the fresh lobster and Acadia National Park, there really is something for everyone. One of the first items on our list was whale watching. We really wanted to do and see things we couldn’t do here in Illinois. So, we drove to Boothbay Harbor and boarded a boat from CAP’n Fishes Whale Watch in our whale-watching quest. While the boat was definitely rocky, and some in our group had a little bit of queasiness from the motion, we did get to see some incredible ocean wildlife. We saw seals, porpoises and finally whales! Minke and Fin whales to be exact. The kids were all SO excited to see these animals in nature. *Special note: bring a jacket or sweatshirt – it gets cold on the water!Also, binoculars are not a bad idea. Afterwards we couldn’t leave without doing a little souvenir shopping in the cute town around the waterfront area and stopped for a Whoopie Pie at Wicked Whoopies. I can’t resist getting a sweet, local treat when on vacation!
The next day we ventured out to Acadia National Park. All I can say is WOW. This is now my favorite National Park I have ever been to, and we’ve been to quite a few. The views from the top of Cadillac Mountain are incredible as are the natural rock formations along the trail we hiked. There are lots of trails at differing levels of difficulty, but none that we hiked were too hard for our 5 & 7 year old children. The park has a loop with limited parking, so we took their shuttle bus from one location to another. This ended up being perfect as it gave the kids a chance to rest their legs in the air-conditioned bus between stops.
Next up was Pemaquid Point and particularly the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse which is featured on the Maine State Quarter. There is a small entry fee which gives you access to a trip up to the top of the historic lighthouse itself, the light keepers house with a small museum inside, bathroom, and of course the beautiful coastal grounds. A few key notes, our younger daughter was just below the height cut-off for entry into the lighthouse. They did allow her to go up, but with our very careful and diligent supervision. The stairs up the lighthouse are very steep and it could be an issue for unsupervised children or people with limited mobility.
After the lighthouse was a stop at The Contented Sole, a local restaurant, for the quintessential Maine meal – lobster rolls. Fresh and delicious, a trip to Maine is not complete with some lobster! We also took a moment to explore some coastal tidepools while in Pemaquid. We went to the Rachel Carson Salt Pond Preserve. The kids loved searching for crabs and other small sea creatures during low tide. It was a fun, hands-on experience for them and completely free!
I would not hesitate to go back again, we had a great time, but like most vacations you just can’t see everything. If you want a place to visit with your family, add Coastal Maine to your list of destinations – you won’t be disappointed.
(I know the title of this graphic novel lists Mighty Jack first, but given that the girls and I read Zita long before Jack came around, I prefer to think of this as Zita’s book. Just sayin’.)
We’ve been readingZita the Spacegirlin our house for years at this point, and author and artist Ben Hatke’s work appealed to our girls from the moment I brought her first book home. As I hate giving away too much information about a story (I’m looking at you, lengthy movie trailers that spoil everything), I’ll simply say that our girls found Zita’s original trilogy of graphic novels to be just the right combination of adventure and suspense, with a little heart-tugging thrown in for good measure. Zita’s was the kind of kids’ story that, once you finished it, you wish you could forget the entire thing just so you could read it all over again with a fresh brain. Her original story wraps up really nicely, which is a tough thing to do in any genre, but regardless, we were sorry to see it end. Like most fans, we hoped for – someday – just a little bit more. Just one more tale, perhaps.
That’s what made it so great to have her pop up in Jack’s latest adventures. Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl is a great combination of storylines; Jack’s is a fantastical take on the beanstalk mythos, while Zita’s is one of intergalactic adventure, and the story of their meeting and consequent quest to save Earth is told as only Ben Hatke can tell it. This book has the same combination of emotions – the real heart of Hatke’s stuff – that made his work on both Zita and Jack so great. We enjoyed Jack’s first two graphic novels – Mighty Jack, and then Mighty Jack and the Goblin King – and while I might be a far cry from the intended demographic, I was honestly happy to bring home another tale starring Zita, even if she was sharing the spotlight.
I know this writeup is a little vague, but I really want to avoid giving anything away. Suffice it to say, fans of Zita will see a lot of familiar faces in this book, and fans of Jack will see the wrapping-up of his overall storyline. It felt good to see them both back in action. And it felt good to see our girls’ faces when they saw that Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl was going to be the Books at Bedtime selection for the next several nights.
Please, pick up some work by Ben Hatke. Start with Zita, read Jack, and then read this latest offering starring both titular characters. I really don’t think you will be disappointed.
Do you want your cat to be the coolest feline on the block? Here’s your chance! If you love Halloween and have a cat, or know someone who has cats, then you’ll love Target’s new spooky product: a Double-decker Cat Haunted Mansion. Let your cat enjoy the season just as much as you do! They can sit inside or on top and even scratch their claws on the floor’s scratch pad of this 5-star reviewed cat house. What will they think of next? (I kinda wish I had a cat just so I could buy this, so fun!)
While you’re at it, grab a pair of these Glitter Wings for your cat so she’ll feel extra festive!
As a kid, I LOVED getting an Advent Calendar at the beginning of December. You know, the paper kind with a tiny piece of chocolate behind a door you opened each night leading up to Christmas? As a fan of everything Halloween, I thought I would search for something similar for the month of October. Enter: Countdown Calendars for Halloween!
Super cute! They don’t come with chocolate, but instead have either a spooky joke behind each door or a clue to lead you to which door to open next. I love these because they are just as fun to open, but don’t offer kids even more sugar during October. Also, they’re not too expensive which is a plus! Now, comes the hard part – picking which one to get.
If you’re looking for something a little larger, check out this Felt Countdown Calendar. It comes with a cute little bats that you put into a new pocket each day of the countdown and detachable ghost ornaments. You can get it here with our affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2kAX1Cr. Happy Haunting!
For the first two weeks of 1st grade my daughter would come home with her shoelaces tied in what seemed like hundreds of tiny knots. She is still learning how to tie her shoes so in her rush during the school day she resorts to just tying knots. This method does not successfully keep the laces off the ground – so it isn’t safe.
I did an investigative search on Amazon and found these gems. No Tie Shoelaces from Homar. They are very reasonably priced and they work!! It takes a bit of time to get them through the lace holes but once installed they make getting shoes on soooo much easier.
Hint: Be sure to cross the middle two laces and thread them through the loop on the tongue. This will keep the tongue from sliding down when your child puts their feet into the shoe.
These no ties shoelaces come in a wide array of colors, even rainbow. They have them for kids and adults. I have even used them on a pair of sneakers to make them slip-ons! Check them out using our affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/2LEgUDf
2. Outdoor Wood and Rope Lantern – Perfect for your fall front porch decor along with some pumpkins and potted mums! See it here: goto.target.com/q6j1y
4. More animal print! These slip-on sneakers work well with pretty much any color and are so easy to slip on your feet when running to the bus stop. Shop them here: http://goto.target.com/j6L4n
6. Bring a little bit of Fall colors indoors with this Goldenrod Faux Arrangement. An easy way to bring your decor into the new season. Find it here: http://goto.target.com/VD5KR
7. I am obsessed with this Hobnail Terracotta Footed Bowl – narrow enough to fit on most mantels while also looking right at home on a dining or entryway table, this bowl is truly a versatile piece. See it here: http://goto.target.com/0KN53
9. Boys’ Fleece Jacket – Fall is coming, keep him warm during this transitional weather with this modern-look fleece jacket. Get it here: goto.target.com/j6L6n
My kids just recently had a taste of their first cookie cake ever. They were amazed and obsessed immediately so when it came time for my daughter’s birthday, she insisted I make her this triple-layer cookie cake we saw over at Life, Love and Sugar. Never one to back down from a challenge I gave it a shot and it was amazing! What a great way to make a girl feel special on her birthday.
Chocolate, Funfetti and Chocolate Chip
We created 3 cookies to make the layers: one Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie, one Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cookie and one Chocolate Chip Cookie. I made the recipe as written for the cookies, but chose to create a chocolate whipped cream frosting instead because our family don’t really care for buttercream. It – was – delicious! I used this recipe for the frosting. The only thing I did differently was to add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of dark cocoa powder.
Let me tell you, holy cow! This frosting was so light, fluffy and delicious that I could have eaten the whole bowl right there in the kitchen. Thankfully, I didn’t and popped it into the refrigerator for a few hours to help it set up for piping on the cookie layers. I used this Cake Decorating Tool from Wilton to pipe and decorate the cake. I couldn’t find the exact cake stand I have, but I used a Turntable Cake Decorating Stand similar to this one to both frost and serve my cake on. My kids love helping by turning the stand while I frost the cake.
Seriously decadent, impressive looking and actually not that hard to make! Here are some tips from my experience:
I cooked two of the cookies the day before, wrapped them well in plastic wrap and they held up perfectly overnight on my counter.
I did use some skewers that I cut to size to help prop up the cake layers so they didn’t completely squish my frosting. These cookie cakes are very heavy!
Make sure to keep the whipped cream frosting very cold before you start piping and put the cake in the refrigerator right afterwards. The cold will help your frosting keep it’s shape.
Use lots of sprinkles, life is better with sprinkles.
Today I need a... 