Halloween Archives | While He Was Napping

October 17, 2017 by Krista

5 Ways to Get a Great Last Minute Halloween Costume {on a Budget}

5 Ways to Get a Great Last Minute Halloween Costume {on a Budget} was originally published on While He Was Napping in 2014. This post has been updated and edited for accuracy and to maintain working links.

Halloween is almost here! Do you have your candy all picked out and stashed away? What about the costumes? All set? Just in case you need a last minute Halloween costume on a budget, I’ve got 5 tips and tricks to help you out.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #1

1. Pajamas. How easy would it be to turn this set of Batman pajamas into a costume?! All you need is a mask, the pajamas come with a cape! And the purple girly version is an option too if your little lady wants to be The Dark Knight for a night. And bonus: your little one can wear these for more than just a single night (or a couple of nights if you’re a bit of a party animal). Just add a mask and ta-da!

We found a Chewbacca pajama set – similar to this one – that Little J wore last year. The costume was pretty simple and didn’t need much added to it, so we concentrated on face make up instead and it turned out awesome. And Little J still wears those pajamas at least once a week – 1+ years later!! Totally worth it!

These Paw Patrol’s Marshall PJ’s would be perfect. Put a plastic fire hat on your kiddo and maybe a tail pinned to the back. And voila! You’ve got an adorable little pup. Or those Woody and Buzz Lightyear jammies! Aren’t they cute?! Here’s a hat to complete the Woody costume. Get a purple hood and maybe some wings for Buzz. Or the Superman jammies, they come with a cape too. Superman is practically a complete costume.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #2

2. Sweats. You can turn sweat pants into almost anything. Seriously. Some of our best Halloween costumes EVER have been glorified sweats. And they all turned out incredibly cute. It doesn’t get more comfortable than sweats and they are warm too. Perfect for little ones and trick or treating. If you do it right, they can wear them again or just add them to the dress up stash. Sneak peek of our sweats costumes:

I added a hood to the zebra and the rest was felt embellishments – zebra ears, monkey ears and a monkey belly. If that’s more work than you’re looking for, check out this Mickey Mouse hoodie. Just add a pair of black sweatpants, white gloves and a tail. Green sweatpants to complete the Ninja Turtle and a pair of regular old jeans will finish off that Minion.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #3

3. Raid the closet. You would be surprised what you have already in your closets. Big J insisted on being a scarecrow when he was 3. Yes, a scarecrow. I didn’t want to have to buy a scarecrow costume… when was that ever going to get used again? After going through his closet, and attaching a few embellishments, he was a pretty darn cute little scarecrow… for FREE! That same year, Little J was a dinosaur made from a one-piece pajama set he already had in his closet, a bit of felt, hot glue and a couple googly eyes. If my husband hadn’t re-organized the server and hidden our family photos somewhere, I’d show you… Completely FREE costumes and everything came out of our closets!

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #4

4. Only buy accessories. A full Halloween costume can be pricey! And, even late in the game, you don’t have to cough over the big bucks or settle for what ever is left to have a great costume. Use what you have and only buy the extras. When Big J was two, he was a cowboy for Halloween. He already had jeans, a button-down shirt, a bandanna and shoes that passed as boots. We found a costume set for $10 that had a soft hat, chaps, and a vest. Because his costume only cost us $10 we decided to splurge on a $20 stick horse that made the costume. The hat, vest and chaps are now in our dress up box and the stick horse is still used as a weapon toy at least once a week.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #5

5. Buy things you’ll be able to wear after you use them as a Halloween costume. This year, Mr. Napping and I needed costumes that matched. Do you know how hard it is to find matching clothes in men’s and women’s sizes?! And Mr. Napping is three sizes bigger than me… We both ended up getting a new pair of pants and a matching men’s shirt, but we can wear the pants after Halloween and Mr Napping says he’ll wear the shirt too. My shirt will probably get turned into a kid-sized apron after Halloween. While this is a little more expensive, you’ll get use out of it for more than one or two nights.

And there you have it. How we keep our Halloween costumes in our budget and make excuses for what expense we do incur. Halloween was never a big holiday in my home while I was growing up. I can count on one hand the number of times I went actual Trick-or-treating. I don’t want my kids to miss out on all the fun of Halloween. We did our first family themed costumes a few years ago – #2 and #5 are the methods I used to put these together…

How do you keep Halloween costumes in your budget?

October 5, 2017 by Krista

Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar

This Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar originally appeared on askannamosely.com in 2014 as a contributor post. Content, possibly including links and photos, may have been updated or changed to maintain the integrity and accuracy of this content since it was originally shared.

Are you looking for some new October traditions? Does the witching hour seem to hit even harder once the weather starts to chill? Do you want to celebrate this month but don’t know how to squeeze it in? Then this Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar will be a great addition to your October!

WHO IS THE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN PRINTABLE BOREDOM JAR FOR?

In less than 30 minutes and with just a handful of materials, you’ll have a whole bunch of fun activities to celebrate this month that you can grab when you need it most. Are you:

looking for some fun new traditions?
just trying to keep the kids from demolishing the house?
fighting to keep cool and sane until bedtime?
making family time a priority this month?

Don’t miss out on all the fun that October has to offer with this fun project the kids can help put together and then use when you need a little fun and family time or a few minutes with the kids occupied.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN PRINTABLE BOREDOM JAR:

Materials Needed:

Clean jar or other container to store the activity slips
FREE download of my KIDS’ HALLOWEEN ACTIVITY JAR
Scissors or paper cutter
Tape or glue to adhere the label to the jar

Directions:

Print out the Halloween Jar Activities.
Cut out each colored rectangle and the square jar label with the scissors or paper cutter.
Fold each activity in half or in fourths, whichever you prefer, and put them in the jar.
Apply the label to the outside of the jar and you’re all set for some Halloween fun!

WANT MORE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN FUN?

This set includes 10 activities plus the jar label – perfect for a weekend activity or those after school evenings when there’s just a little too much free time, the weather is a little too chilly or you need something to entertain the kiddos for a little bit. If you’d like to download the entire set – which contains 36 activities+a blank template to write in your own traditions and activities. Full set also includes updated labels and full printable instructions – you can get it in my Etsy shop.

Happy October!

October 3, 2017 by Krista

10 Halloween Treats That Aren’t Candy

10 Halloween Treats (that aren’t candy) was originally published in 2013. Content, including links and photos, has been updated to maintain accuracy and working links.

We are no strangers to the sweet tooth in our house. I’ve always had a sweet tooth. which is absolutely the reason I bake more than I cook… but I do try to limit the amount of sugar my kids inhale. And once the holiday season begins, the sweet stuff seems to be everywhere! But these Halloween treats have made apples irresistible and crackers are the new cool snack! Check out these {healthy} Halloween treats from around the web.

10 HALLOWEEN TREATS – THAT AREN’T CANDY!

How insanely adorable are these Silly Apple Monsters found on Fork and Beans?! Protein, fresh fruit and a little sweet treat make these the perfect snack!

These Cracker & Pretzel Spiders via La Jolla Mom are a HUGE hit with the whole family. They are quick, yummy and only 4 ingredients. Can’t beat that!

My kids devour olives like they are life-giving. This Olive Snake via Cute Food for Kids is one of their very favorites. They will even make olive snakes themselves before they eat the olives. These are super fun and delicious with salads.

Cute & Delicious! When I was pregnant with my oldest I craved fresh fruit and veggies. To this day, the kid will still choose broccoli over cookies most of the time. This Veggie Skeleton via Clairey Hewitt would completely make his day. How could you not love eating this?

While my boys aren’t ones that love vegging out on carrot sticks, these Witch Carrot Fingers via Mom on Time Out are just innocently morbid enough that my boys think it’s hilarious to hold the carrots at their knuckle joints and pretend they are eating their (or each other’s…) fingers off. Boys.

My boys struggled a little with these Pumpkin Deviled Eggs via Foodista, simply because they were a little too spicy for their delicate little palates. However, Mr. Napping thought they were just absolutely amazing. He may or may not have eaten half a dozen eggs in one sitting. Whole eggs. Better than a bag of potato chips, though, right?!

This Monster Eye Dip with Monster Apple Mouths via 30 Handmade Days is the ultimate after school snack for my kids. Between the monster eyes, the apple mouths and the fact that they are both delicious it is a no-brainer and a total winner at our house. Yum!

I’m not one that loves hot dogs, but it’s one of those things that is super easy to fix and I know my kids will eat it. Especially if it looks like a bug. This Hot Dog Centipede via Cute Food for Kids is always a favorite quick and easy lunch for my boys. It works wonders when they are going through a phase that makes getting them to eat anything so difficult.

These Clementine Pumpkins & Banana Ghosts via One Little Project are some of my favorite Halloween treats. I don’t love celery, but I don’t even mind it with a tasty clementine. And the chocolate with the banana… mmm, yum! Besides, these are super easy and quick to make and a great way to get my kids to eat a little more fruit.

(as mentioned on One Little Project, I couldn’t track down the original source for this idea. Almost every pin or google image I looked at was the same photo – not this photo though – but they all linked to different sites. So, I choose this tutorial since Debbie has such a great set of directions.)

HALLOWEEN CAN BE HEALTHY… OR AT LEAST HEALTHIER

While my kids love fruits and veggies, and it’s usually not a fight to get my boys to eat them, they still REALLY like candy too. Despite my best efforts, I’m sure they will still eat their weight in candy this month, and in cookies and goodies in the months to come. But, at least (maybe? hopefully?) I can get a few good Halloween treats in them too with these super cute Halloween treat ideas and a little less fight to satisfy their sweet teeth (sweet teeth?) … The simplicity of most of these are winners in my book.

September 8, 2017 by Krista

The Best Pumpkin Spice Play Dough Ever

Hi there! Welcome! I’m glad you’re here! Do you ever feel like the two hours after dinner seem to drag on for eternity? Or is that just me?

Everyone is cranky and snappy and whiny. And it’s only 6:11pm.

I’ve found that the best way to deal with this is to distract my kids. If they are busy doing something, they aren’t fighting.

Usually.

If they aren’t fighting, I can cross a couple things off my to-do list. Like the the dishes or picking up toys or laundry. There’s always laundry.

This play dough has been my go-to lately. It’s fun, it’s easy and it smells amazing. Sure, it dries your hands out a bit, but that’s just the excuse you were looking for to give yourself a little DIY mani after the kids are in bed, right?

PUMPKIN SPICE PLAY DOUGH

Pumpkin Spice Play Dough Ingredients

1 cup salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp cream of tartar
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
extra flour (I added about another 1/2 cup)
orange food coloring (I used red and yellow)

Pumpkin Spice Play Dough Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine the salt, water, flour, and spice over low medium heat. Stir to combine. Texture should be like glue.
Turn off the heat and add the food coloring to get the shade you desire. I put in about 15 yellow drops and about 10 red drops. You can adjust the ratio to your liking.
Mix until well combined and texture is smooth.
Add additional flour, approximately 1/4 cup at a time and mix until the paste becomes a dough. It should form a ball and be slightly difficult to stir.
Remove from heat and let the dough cool a bit. It will be hot.
Sprinkle flour generously on counter top and, as soon as the play dough is cool enough to handle, dump the dough on the floured counter top and knead in the flour until it is no longer sticky. Keep adding flour until you reach your desired consistency.

Store in an air-tight container or ziptop bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal. Play dough keeps for 4-6 months, depending on environment.

Tips & Tricks to get the most out of your Pumpkin Spice Play Dough

Older kids can totally help with this, especially the kneading part. Just make sure the play dough is cool enough for them to handle.
The cream of tartar will help preserve the dough, so don’t skip it if you want it to last longer. If you just need a few play sessions or a one-time-use activity, you can omit it.
There is nothing in this play dough that will harm your kids if ingested, although it won’t taste very good. So… they probably won’t eat much of it and will only try it once. There’s the silver lining.
We love using cookie cutters when we play with play dough. I especially love this set of cutters – there’s a full set of letters that are perfect for some fun letter practice, a great variety of holiday shapes and some fun everyday shapes – like animals and transportation – too.

October 11, 2016 by Krista

13 Spooky Fun Halloween Projects {for you and the kids!}

October is zooming by! That’s okay though, there’s still time to get some great Halloween projects in before another one comes and goes.

Want some fun craft projects for you? These Halloween projects are some of my very favorite projects I’ve ever done. Seriously. I’m glad Halloween is at the end of the month so I get to enjoy them for 31 whole days.

Looking for kid activities to do with the kids this month? We’ve got some fun ones (#9 has been a TOTAL hit this year! I had to make another set so my little ones would stop fighting over it!).

And, of course, there’s some fun snacks to help you celebrate this month.

13 HALLOWEEN PROJECTS

HALLOWEEN PROJECTS FOR YOU

#1. DIY Spell Books with 12 Spells. For several years, I had dreamed of creating some spell books. I want to be able to open up the books and to even have spells in them. I got the project done a couple years ago and it is still one of my favorite Halloween decorations.

#2. Life-Size Witch’s Broom. You’ve got the spell books, but what about the broom? This project is practically free and you can find all your supplies while you’re out for a walk. The kids can help with this one too!

#3. No-Sew Witch’s Hat. Finish up your witchy collection with this no-sew DIY hat that you can really wear. It’s a great afternoon project that will really kick up your witchy ways this Halloween.

#4. DIY Potion Bottles. Whether you use these with your spell books or because you have a mad scientist, you’re gonna love these potion bottles. The best part is coming up with what to put in each bottle and what to call it. Don’t worry, there’s a list of suggestions if you get stuck.

#5. Directional Halloween Sign. This was a project I did last year and didn’t get to show off nearly as much as I wanted to. I love the color on this sign and all the fun street names. It’s definitely set up camp in my flower bed for the month.

HALLOWEEN PROJECTS FOR THE KIDS

#6. Slime. This is one of my boys’ favorite activitites and they love it when we creep in up just a bit for Halloween. Add plastic spiders, creepy crawers or have a contest to see who can hold the most slime for the longest.

#7. Monster Mash Munchies Mix Printable Snack Labels. A fun way to give our your Halloween goodies this year. Just print, cut and staple to the top of plastic ziptop bags for a hauntingly good treat.

#8. Halloween Bingo Printable Game. The kids will love this Halloween Bingo game and it’s FREE! Come grab your set and keep the kids entertained while you cook dinner tonight.

#9. Build a Jack-O-Lantern Printable. We love this printable because there are SO many ways to play with it. Play a game of pin the face on the jack-o-lantern, practice numbers, talk about emotions, and see how many different faces you can make. My little especially love this one.

#10. Halloween Countdown Jar Printable. Want to make some memories and maybe a few traditions too. This fun FREE printable countdown jar is super easy to put together. Just print, cut and fold. Put all your October bucket list activities in the jar or use the included ones for fun all month long.

#11. 5 Ways to Get a Great Last Minute Halloween Costume {on a Budget}. Creating costumes with the kids is the way to go! These are some of my favorite go-to ways to create costumes that don’t break the bank, whether it’s last minute or not. Way #1 is especially my favorite, I love that they can wear them for more than one night!

HALLOWEEN PROJECTS YOU CAN EAT

#12. Make Halloween Cookies. Here is a collection of 10 cookies that anyone can make. No amazing crafty, super baker skills needed. These are perfect to do with the kids… or without. They are all pretty quick and easy too!

#13. Halloween Treats That Aren’t Candy. Maybe you’re on sugar overload (or the kids are!) and you just need something that isn’t dripping with sickly sweetness. Try one of these great treats. Fun Halloween eats without the sugar rush? Yes please.

BONUS HALLOWEEN PROJECTS TO EAT:

Thirteen was too perfect a number to stop at, but these nachos are still some of my favorite Halloween food we’ve enjoyed. In fact, they are tradition in our family on Halloween night.

Spiderweb Nachos

Happy Halloween! Now, go do some celebrating!