Halloween Costumes: Quarantine Edition

 We are huge costume fans. My husband and I, even though we do not wear full costumes, have accessories (my favorites being several beautiful witch hats I've collected over the years), costume makeup, and hats that are fun for Halloween. 

Although we don't trick-or-treat (just doesn't work for our family), we still love getting costumes for the kids. Sometimes we even end up with several costumes in one year because the grandparents and uncles see them and buy them. It's cute and they play dress up in them all year. 

Some years we've bought costumes and some years, we've made costumes. However, in the last few years, I've been enjoying buying costumes that have a dual purpose and are useful to them to use all year. I've bought kid onesies, blankets, hoodies, and hats. 

I've found that this year, these are the perfect costumes since we are spending so much more time at home and finding ways to have fun at home, like hanging out at the fire pit, having family parties, spending a lot of time outside, and so much more. Why not enjoy Halloween all year with a useful costume. 

Here is a list of useful Halloween costumes that are perfect for Quarantine- dress up, watch a movie, and enjoy your family. (By the way, for most of these, I've bought Spider-Man, Dinos, Unicorns, and Minnie Mouse)

1. Onesies for kids

2. Hooded Blankets/ Blankets

3. Hoodies

4. Beanies

5. Pajamas

6. Costume that they will play dress up in all year

7. Have fun and buy a cheesy costume anyway

8. Have a craft night and make costumes

9. Just buy fun accessories that they can add to their outfits all year

10. If you have a preteen or teen, add some fun makeup or hair chalk to their collection

10+ Social Distancing Halloween Ideas

 I think back to March and cannot believe that we are still in this boat. Well, in our family, we aren't going to slack now. We've seen social distancing, masks, quarantining, and all through and we'll keep doing it, to keep those we love safe. We are in a different situation- both kids have immune issues, my MIL is a cancer patient, my husband's grandfather has a lot of health problems, my dad is diabetic, and my mom has asthma. We want to keep them all safe, so we do what we need to. 

Well, my favorite holiday is looming. I love Halloween and everything about it. We don't take the kids trick-or-treating, but we usually let them dress up and go do something fun. Not this year- we are just going to have a fun movie night with them. However, I've been thinking about those that are used to trick-or-treating. My heart breaks for those kids that have been looking forward to it. 

Well, I have some ideas that will make this year just as fun. Just remember, that will just make 2021 even better! 

1. Stay at home and have a family party of movie night

2. Porch drop-offs and pick-ups have been very fun this year!

3. Have a neighborhood Halloween parade in costume while keeping a safe distance (you can even camo the mask easier in a costume).

4. Give the kids bags of candy and drive around looking for Halloween lights

5. Candy slides (I've seen these all over the net made out of PVC pipes)

6. Have the kids make happy Halloween cards and drop them at the local children's' hospital for those stuck in a hospital bed. (be sure to call ahead of time to see about regulations). 

7. I've seen that some are just skipping it this year, but what's the fun in that. However, if Halloween is not a big deal in your family, it might be the right choice for you. 

8. Contact a local assisted living or nursing home to see if you can arrange for the kids to dress up in costumes and walk around and see the patients through the windows. Think about how much it would brighten the patients' days!

9. Plan to have your normal errand day (grocery shopping, etc) on Halloween. Put costumes on the kids and let them tag along, while still practicing what you've been doing all along. 

10. Do it up like Christmas. Decorate the house for Halloween like you would Christmas, we even put up a Halloween tree!

11. Go trick-or-treating as normal, but keep a safe distance and get people to throw the candy- why not? 

12. Have family fun all month long and close October with the best Halloween Movie- Hocus Pocus!!

Some ideas for fun all month long are:

Halloween Countdown Calendar

Watch a movie each night

Decorate Pumpkins

Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Visit a pumpkin patch that is equipped for safety

Find Halloween Recipes and make them each Saturday

Read Scary stories

Tell Ghost Stories (or Bigfoot stories) by the fire pit

Go Goblin Hunting (they come out in October after 5pm)

Start new traditions

Halloween Crafts

Halloween Bucket List

The ideas are endless

Have fun with your family- that is the most important

Our DIY Travel Art Kits

 I've had several people ask me about the kids "travel art kits," especially in doctors' offices while we are waiting. Well, they really are very simple. I made them from things we had laying around, but I thought I'd go ahead and share. 

I'll share some ideas of other containers to use as well. 

This is what is in the kits:

1. Melissa & Doug Triangle Crayons

2. Crayola Dry Erase Colored Pencils (I actually broke these to the correct length and then sharpened the rough end)

3. Dry Erase Eraser (The Kids also have dry erase spiral books in their backpacks)

4. Pretty Sticky Notes (I actually got these on clearance at Walmart, but any will do)

5. Mini Gel Pens

6. Multicolored pencil sharpened down

Other things you could include:

1. Mini pencil sharpener

2. Mini notebook

3. Tiny clipboard

4. Washi Tape

5. Stencils (look for party favors)

6. Party Favor sized play-doh

The container I used was from a Hatchimals lip gloss set (yes, both kids got one) and it was a perfect size, but there are so many more options:

1. travel soap dish (perfect size for crayons)

2. sandwich container

3. I've seen some cute ones with DVD cases (then you even have a dry erase cover!)

4. Storage clipboard 

5. I used to use a binder pencil case

Be sure to take a good look around your house for a container- I'm sure you have something that will work!!

I love the kids having these little kits in their backpacks. Why? Well, there are a couple of reasons. Not only do they always have something to do (besides tablets) in their backpacks, but sometimes I have them write or draw something about what we did so I can include it in our school records. 

Another good thing is that if we are doing school on the go, they always have crayons, and even have writing items, in case mom goes ditzy and forgets to pack them. 

They always have their backpacks with them, so no matter where we are, they have these art kits- even if they are spending the night somewhere else, being babysat, or on vacation, they have art materials. 

Plus, the backpacks stay packed, so its one less thing for mom to worry about!