halloween decorating, survival mode edition
Last week my husband was out of town, and when that happens, I go straight into survival mode. He’s such a big part of our family’s rhythm that I really feel it when he’s gone. Between four busy boys and a trio of pets, the days are full—and truthfully, we’ve gotten so good at dividing and conquering that I notice his absence right away.
When I’m solo-parenting, I try to make life a little easier on myself: planning the simplest meals, making a real effort to get to bed on time (early bedtime is the dream!), and sneaking in something that feels fun just for me. Last week, that little “something” was Halloween decorating.
It’s been years since I pulled out the spooky-cute side of things, but I was in the mood. I didn’t follow tutorials—most of these ideas came from quick inspiration while scrolling—but it was such a joy to just play. Here’s what came out of it:
Bubbling Cauldron – A cluster of Christmas ornaments mixed with twinkly lights.
Pendant Light Ghosts – Cheesecloth draped over our kitchen lights, with felt eyes for personality.
Spiders – Pink wire bent into shape and poked into glittery foam balls (from the Christmas aisle, of all places!) with silly hand-cut, hand-drawn eyes.
Spider Quilt – An old favorite quilt that always makes me smile. The pattern is the Spider Quilt by Pen and Paper Patterns- I highly recommend it.
Pink Ghost Pillows – A playful project from last year. Labels on the pillows are from Lolly Tags
Spooky Art & Bats – a couple of sweet, simple pieces made by me (free décor is always the best décor!)
The photos on our picture ledges are actually from Halloweens past, when I adored making costumes and setting up little photoshoots with the boys while they were small. Those little traditions are some of my favorite memories.
Decorating this year reminded me how much fun it can be to create playful, not-so-scary Halloween vibes at home.
✨ I’d love to hear from you—are you a “go big” Halloween decorator, or do you prefer just a few seasonal touches? And if you’ve made anything Halloween-inspired, what’s your favorite project?