My Ghouls and Halloween

To say that Halloween is not one of our favorite holidays during the year would be a frightful lie!  

The month of October is ALWAYS jam packed with a ton of FUN and SPOOKY things to do and we always look forward to the festivities every year. 

Fall is by far my favorite season and I can't honestly narrow it down on why...

It could be the change in weather (which we have yet to see here in Central Arkansas)

Maybe its the fact that Halloween is always a blast...

Or the colors and the cool air

Wait! It might be all the festivals and fun...

Or a HUGE combo of all! 

Either way though I personally LOVE fall it is also a HUGE family favorite to boot! 

But I MUST warn you for a picture overload... :) 

At the beginning of October the house has usually transformed and is decked out in Halloween decor. We always do this as a family (though mommy usually puts it away) and each year we add a few more items and details to the collection! 

The girls and even the hubby look forward to walking around stores looking for just the right additions every year! 

This year for fall we are trying something different and we are doing a Fall Bucket List.

Surprisingly this is working better than I thought and the girls and Hubby are REALLY enjoying it! 

As per tradition and bucket list we just HAD to carve pumpkins!   

A dear friend of ours had to work over the weekend and we were honored to have his boys for the day. He was generous enough to bring over pumpkins and carving kits for all the kids to enjoy! 

Granted due to mother nature not getting the memo it is FALL our pumpkins didn't last the week before rotting and meeting the trash can...

But it is what it is and we had plenty more fun planned for the ghouls to enjoy! 

Since we have moved here back in 2011 we have gone to the annual Spook City that our "new" hometown host every year. 

This year according to their records was the BIGGEST turn out to date and I BELIEVE IT! 

We got there early like usual but we didn't even get to every booth this year! 

The streets crowded quickly and the lines got long and the kids were OVER IT....

For the first time this year we did get the arm bands which the kids LOVED but we skipped the annual funnel cake and this mamma was disappointed...

Our Spook City Crew!

The day after Spook City the Elementary school hosted their annual Fall festival where they open the doors with games, a haunted house, crafts, concession and more for the families. 

This year I figured the older two girls were a little old for it and got to spend the time with just our youngest. 

She adored the time with just mommy and it was fun to see her socialize and have fun with her peers. 

And of course she ran into her FAVORITE teacher! 

Of course on actual Halloween we just HAD to go trick or treating!

I think that this year will be our last though since the girls are getting older and I can honestly say I think I'd rather host a Halloween party...

But we shall see...

This year we cranked it up a notch or five and had a TON of kids join us for the fun! 

The WHOLE Trick or Treating CREW!

Before hitting the block!

Our Ellen Inspired selfie....

 This year we had three families join us and I am glad that the adults weren't TOTALLY out numbered this year! 

I hate that the hubby wasn't feeling well either but I am so grateful he didn't bail on me though he probably should have stayed home and rested... 

We love this time of year and though the house is cleaned up and ready for some fall or Christmas decor Halloween 2016 was a HUGE SUCCESS!

But before I go here is a closer look to the ghouls and their costumes this year!

Alora was Little Red Riding Hood...

Aaliyah was a broken doll

And Dakota was a Freakshow Clown...

Hope you all had a safe and fun Halloween! 

XOXO

SJ

Fall Bucket List 2016

As a mom of three I am always looking for ways to have fun, to spend time as a family and NOT spend a small fortune in doing so. 

With our girls growing up faster than I like I thought this fall season I would try something a little different to accomplish those three factors. 

As you all may know I am sorta in love with two things... Fall and Pinterest. 

While wasting time browsing on pinterest recently I have seen TONS of seasonal bucket lists and I got to thinking...

So this morning I decided fuck it and threw together our first ever Fall Bucket list!

I kept the list to about 20 activities and tried to make sure theta they were all something everyone would enjoy and if not everyone the majority of us with as little bitching and complaining as possible... which in this house with teens is a task...

So with out further ado here is our 2016 Fall Bucket List! 

I will be sure to document and keep you all posted about this :) I am kinda hoping it goes over well and we can do one for each season. 

Are you a bucket list kinda person? 

 

5 Reasons Why I am Looking Forward to Fall

I know summer still technically has 37 more days to reign but I can honestly say that one we hit the first day of school fall seems to come so quick! 

Though I do LOVE the summer months fall is by far the most favorite season for me and October is my favorite month which is just 45 days away! 

Fall to me is a fun jam packed season for many reasons like:

1: Pumpkin Flavored EVERYTHING! 

All of us girls love our pumpkin flavored items! From coffees to cakes, cheesecakes to beer and most everything in between. 

2: Amazing Outfits! 

For the Man in your life

LIttle girls

For the Tween

For the Teen

For Me :)

 I LOVE using Pinterest to find outfit inspirations. I usually try and find an adorable outfit and make my own version finding the pieces cheaper and within our budget. To me this is a great way to still be "hip" without breaking the bank! 

3: Hoodies

 Whatever your style or preference is a hoodie is a staple in the family. We all have our favorite designs, colors, what we find comfy etc but you can be sure we own at least one. My oldest and I are so attached to them that you might even see us wearing them year round :) 

4: Festivals, Fairs and Community Events

This area is HOPPIN' with events and festivals this time of year and the fair is also in town! 

One of our favorites and one that we go to annually is Spook City. 

This year it is on October 22 and I have already got it in my planner to attend. 

The girls have amazing things happening at school in the fall too and there is usually something going on if not right here in our town then the near towns have it going on an we try to take a short day trip to enjoy the festivities and our little family! 

5: Holidays

 The fall months host some of our favorite holidays! 

The girls and I really like Halloween and all the festivities from carving pumpkins to trick or treating and more! 

 Then there is the hubby who enjoys thanksgiving...but then again who doesn't love to eat?!

 Each of these holidays holds a tradition or two for us and we do look forward to them each year!

 What is your favorite season? 

XOXO

SJ

Halloween Weekend 2015 Recap

 

Another All Hallows Eve has come and gone and let's just say it was a CRAZY yet fun weekend here!

This last week every parent in Central Arkansas was eyeing the weekend forecast as we all begun to reach stalker status waiting and watching to see if our 100% chance of rain would disperse so we could enjoy our Halloween traditions without having to sport rain gear!

Friday afternoon Ant got off early so we decided to treat ourselves to a lunch date. 

When you have three kids getting a real date out of the house is like winning the lottery so we jumped at the chance and played our numbers!

We opted for one of our favorites the Dixie Cafe. 

 

If you are ever in the region where these are trust me and stop in for a bite to eat!

We love the family-friendly atmosphere and the food is always great. 

I opted for my favorite baked potato and salad lunch combo and Ant chose the hamburger steak with mashed potatoes and chicken and dumplings. Of course we both topped it off with the south's famous sweet tea!

 

While at lunch Ant and I decided we needed a relaxing evening since we knew as long as mother nature would be nice our Saturday would be JAMMED packed with all things Halloween. 

We opted for a quick and easy drive through dinner...

And of course to one of the best stores around Hastings to grab some movies to kick back too.

 

Our movie choices were Pixels, Southpaw and Max.

All were AMAZING choices in our book and have made our movies to buy wish list of course. 

We were only able to squeeze in Pixels and Southpaw Friday night since I was back and forth playing taxi for our daughter Dakota who had a date that night at our local skating rink.

 

Saturday was go go go...

In the afternoon we teamed up with one of the neighborhood families and joined forces as we celebrated the spooky holiday.

The first thing on our agenda was trick or treating at the Outlets.

 

 

 

The idea was great but I honestly have to say that I was kind of disappointed to find that this was not something all of the stores were participating in. 

I think that it should have been an all or nothing kind of deal but either way the girls all enjoyed themselves and that is what mattered. 

Since the trick or treating was held later in the afternoon we did our one quick lap and then it was a rat race to get dinner in, adult costumes on and the game plan set for the evening.

I totally cheated and surprised the girls with some hot and ready pizza pizza! 

  

Ant and I decided at the VERY last minute to join in the fun and dress up with the kids so we threw together our costumes maybe 10 minutes before hitting the block.

This was the FIRST year we have ever dressed up and I think it is something we should do again... now if Ant will agree....

 Ant opted to squeeze into my dad's old firefighting gear and I threw on some make up to make it look like I was dressing up...

Maybe next year we will get it together!

 

We had our plan figured out and it was time to get our trick or treatin' on!
Round one we made the trip close to home before venturing off further.

This was the loot after our first round!

We decided for round two we would pile the kids young and old alike into the truck. 

Our neighborhood in mind was a few miles down the road so we stopped and hit an extra neighborhood on the way.

The kids were super excited to reach our final destination. It is a neighborhood that I have taken my girls to for the last three years. They always do well there and most importantly they are safe.

Our final candy count!

The nights fun ended with a sleep over and a little movie

 we all call Hocus Pocus 

and a very worn out Mom and Dad.

Sunday was ALL about relaxing and doctoring our sugar hangovers. 

We de-halloweened the house and put all the decor into the attic.

We got the chance and watched Max and enjoyed the peace and quiet the day had brought.

Sunday Ant and I also celebrated our dating anniversary and did absolutely NOTHING and really enjoyed it! 

What was your Halloween weekend like?

While We Were Away: A Weekend Recap

This weekend was a wet and rainy one for us, the weather was SCREAMING fall which meant for us a laid back, indoors kind of weekend...

We were looking forward to our cities annual Spook City, but thanks to the rain it was delayed until tonight. Unfortunately, the weather is not looking like it will play in our favor again to continue the tradition and I will have to say I will be so very disappointed along with the kids if mother nature doesn't play nice this year. 

We have gone to Spook City every year since we have moved here and we all always look forward to it.

Since we were stuck indoors most of the weekend the hubby and I found it to be a great opportunity to finish cleaning out the house. 

I have been working my ass off going through every room cleaning it out, going through things and reorganizing from top to bottom. 

The rainy wet weather gave us the chance to tie up the loose ends and call it a wrap! Now to have my yard sale SOON! 

Since the weather rained us out on Saturday night's plans of Spook City we decided we would make it a fun night for the girls and do a Halloween themed movie night with Hocus Pocus (which they had never seen before) and Addams Family Values with junk food and candy!

Over the weekend though we did also throw in Captain America: The Winter Solider, Jurassic World, a few Transformer movies and Gremlins.
After trying to do a weekend of JUST Halloween based movies I have come to find out that our selection for the holiday is sad... which is REALLY sad seeing that we own close to 1000 movies... UGH!

This week we are celebrating Red Ribbon Week at school and all of the girls have a list of ways to dress up to be involved with the Awareness week.
Dakota (Junior High) and Aaliyah (elementary school) have their list at home and have prepped all weekend for the BIG week. Alora (the Middle School) announce it daily so thier is no list.. bummer...
Here is what we have to look forward too...

Elementary

Junior High

I will be sharing how it all went and what they came up with next week so stay tuned!


Also over the weekend through our social media I asked you our readers for help...
Check it out :

I hope you all have an amazing Monday!