Sharing the Halloween spirit with kiddos (+ a Target giveaway!)
Hi friends! This post is sponsored through my partnership with Bitsy’s Brainfood and includes an awesome Target giveaway!
Even though I think Liv has always *enjoyed* holidays, she really has the hang of it this year. She is looking forward to Christmas, her birthday, and won’t hesitate to tell you what she’s going to be for Halloween. (“You have to guess first!”) I’ve always been a fan of the holiday season, and find that it’s even more enjoyable and magical with a little one. It’s so much fun to share traditions with her, create our own, and share in the holiday spirit.
(Liv’s first Halloween as a little sushi roll.)
Since Halloween is on the way, here are some of the things we’ve been doing to enjoy this season:
Crafts
Martha Stewart I am not -in fact, if she saw my caramel apple abomination in the fridge she would die laughing- but I love doing simple crafts for each holiday.
Some of our favorites:
Mummy jars. Our babysitter got this at the One Spot in Target and brought it over to do with Liv. She said they have a ton of different Halloween characters.
Painting pumpkins. We had a pumpkin painting party when Liv was itty bitty, and last year, painted pumpkins on the patio.
This easy and whimsical bat craft.
Simple cut and glue work: I cut out the pumpkin, stem, eyes, nose and mouth, then gave her a glue stick and she put him together.
(Proud mama moment: Liv only needed help making the “V” and the “A” in her name. Blown away!)
Fun with food
Injecting some spooky spirit with these little mandarin orange “pumpkins” and banana ghosts
Cake batter rice crispies
We’re officially obsessed with this recipe, and added Halloween sprinkles to the latest batch
Decorating
For us, just dragging things out of storage is exciting!
While I don’t go too over-the-top with Halloween decor (Christmas is another story), it’s fun to have some Autumn-esque touches here and there.
Pumpkin patch
It doesn’t feel like fall until you’ve made it out to the pumpkin patch! There’s a nearby town called Julian that we’ve been wanting to check out, too. Not only can you pick your own pumpkins and apples, but word on the street is that they have the best pie.
Music
I’ve had way too much fun introducing Liv to “The Addams Family,” “Monster Mash” and “Thriller.”
Costume parties
Oh wait. That’s every day around here.
Books
Some of our favorite Halloween books:
Pinkalicious: Pink or Treat
Franklin’s Halloween
It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse!
Picking out treats!
Liv was SO excited to see her beloved Bitsy’s cookies at Target amongst the Halloween snacks, and that’s what we’ll be giving out this year.
(She insisted on having a pack to “test them out” haha.)
Not only are they nut-free and certified organic but it’s a nice way to switch it up from the overly sugary sweets. These cookies taste amazing, and are also a great way to get in some bonus nutrition through fruits, veggies, healthy fats and fiber. An awesome deal if you’re shopping for Halloween trick-or-treaters: the Bitsy’s products are 15% off this week via the Target Cartwheel app.
I think our trick-or-treaters will be very happy. 🙂
And now, it’s giveaway time!! Bitsy’s Brainfood kindly offered a $50 Target gift card to one lucky winner. Enter via the widget below and the winner will be announced one week from today.
Ready, set, go!
xoxo
Gina
This post is sponsored by Bitsy’s Brainfood. Thank you so much for supporting this blog and the companies who help support our family. <3
331 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
i love cuddling up with my fiance while watching a scary movie!
I just love handing out candy.
Handing out candy to kids and making pumpkin cookies with my mom.
Liv is adorable! Can’t wait to see pics of your new addition! I have enjoyed following you this pregnancy. I am 36 weeks today and FTM. Watching you go through everything right before I have had to has made things easier! Thanks for being so honest in your post 🙂
My favorite thing about Halloween is it being over so that Thanksgiving is one day closer. #HalloweenGrinch
LOVE dressing up for Halloween!
all things pumpkin!!
Love Bitsy’s Brainfood. I buy them for my two toddler nieces. And I feel good about the treat I’m giving them. So much better than candy.
since i don’t have kids yet – i’m not super into celebrating halloween but I enjoy the excitement of the upcoming holidays- the halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, new years, and all of the pumpkin spiced things between now and then 🙂
I love getting dressed up and seeing all the creative costumes people come up with.
Embarrassing–I think I just posted an empty comment by accident. I just found your blog last week, and I’ve really been enjoying reading through the archives. Thank you for writing! Oh, and my favorite things about Halloween are carving jack-o-lanterns and sneaking into the trick-or-treat candy!
This will be my first year passing out candy and I am so excited, thinking I may dress up a little for it even!
I love all the halloween themed baking mixes and snacks!
My favorite thing is all the little princesses we see walking around!!
Love seeing all of the creative costumes!
All of the fall decor and pumpkin everything!! Oh and the candy. Can’t forget the candy! 🙂
I don’t celebrate Halloween, but I am a fan of chocolate
My favorite thing about Halloween in the past few years is watching my son get dressed up and get totally into character. This year he is going to the The Hulk and since he’s now almost 4 he’s REALLY getting into it. I love it. And Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love the candy, the decorations and all of the fun costumes and festivities! 🙂
I really enjoy all the holidays especially with a young one! My favorite thing about Halloween now is seeing how excited our son gets but I also enjoy painting pumpkins together and watching Halloween movies.
Also, I really gotta try and get my son to try those cookies….they look delicious, and fun!
This is our first Halloween with a little one so we’re excited to dress him up and take him to see the festivities in the area.
Going trick or treating with my boys!
Halloween is so much fun when you have children. My boys are grown so I have missed enjoy the holiday. My grandson will be 2 New Years Eve so it is fun reliving the excitement of the holiday through children.
I will be checking my local Target for those cookies. My Grandson is allergic to so many things and we are always looking for healthy snacks for him.
I love fall/Halloween decorations and everything pumpkin!
Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but now that we have kids, I love getting them dressed up and watching my husband go trick or treating with them. Last year, he was Curious George and my 2 year old was the man in the yellow hat. It was super cute and fun.
This is the first year we live in a house, so I am a little excited about giving out some candy for once.
My favorite thing used to be handing out candy, but now it’s going around the neighborhood with my daughter hearing “twick or tweat” at each house. 🙂
My favorite thing about Halloween is the trick or treaters! I love to see the littles in their costumes!
I love all the treats!
I love seeing my daughter with the holidays and making traditions
I love pumpkin everything!
I’m honestly not into Halloween very much… but my hubby’s birthday is the day before so we absolutely party it up every year 🙂
I love seeing people’s creative costumes. and carving a pumpkin when I have the chance!
I love meeting new people in the neighborhood when we pass out treats from our house!
My favorite thing about Halloween is that I can have an excuse to eat all the candy corn and Reese’s I want! AND… my birthday is the day before.
Ive been wanting to try those myself 🙂 Great choice!!
I love the cool, crisp evenings that come with Halloween!
My favorite thing about Halloween is walking the neighborhood with my children, meeting neighbors, and passing out candy – my husband and I take turns being home to each enjoy the experience. My favorite was when we set up a warm beverage tent (hot cider) for parents. Sadly we don’t get as much traffic in our newer street to make it worthwhile.
I am finally getting excited about Halloween. Even though we do not have kids, hubby and I love carving our pumpkins!
Great idea!
I love the costumes and the fall colors.
LOVE those ideas and LOVE Target.
I love seeing how creative people get at their parties and on their lawns!
I’m a cosplayer, so my favorite part of Halloween is getting to dress up! It’s even more fun now that I’m actually getting invited to parties.
My favorite thing about Halloween is seeing all the kiddos dressed up, the feeling in the air of Halloween, and this year… Dressing up my 4 month old little lady!!!
My favorite thing about Halloween food is the chocolate!
I love the decorations and watching scary movies!
I love seeing the costumes that are so creative and impressive!
Any and all types of candy, of course!
I enjoy our local pet costume parade!