13 Spookalicious Halloween Party Snacks + Treats

Candy makes my kid crazy. Like, batshit crazy on dirty crack. I try to limit his candy intake, especially chocolate, to as little as possible, however, when it comes to the holidays, I let him have at it. Candy was key to my holiday happiness as a kid, so no way am I going to rob my son of that same cracked-out candy happiness.

That being said, I do not give him candy during the holidays, I let the strangers, friends, and family do that. I, try to shove as much healthy stuff in his mouth between bites of Kit-Kats washed down with pixie-sticks. If your kid is also batshit on candy, below are some of my favorite Healthy Halloween Treats For Kids so good to combat the candy-craze. 

Spider PB&J with pretzel legs!  I love this and so does the little man! 

Such an easy and fun way to turn hamburgers into Halloween hamburgers! 

These spider hotdogs are a favorite, too! 

Spider Eggs, Anyone?

 This is a fun way to get the kids eating veggies!  Hallow out a small pumpkin, line with foil or plastic, and pour in a dip. I did hummus for a party last year. Very cool!

MmmmmMUMMY PIZZA! Ollie Makes these himself. We cut calamata olives up for better flavor!

Have a class party coming up? Below are a few great ideas for semi-healthy to super healthy Halloween Party snacks for kids.

Juice Box Mummies!

This is a classic. As it should be. Easy, healthy-ish and kids love them!

Not into the sugar and additives in fruit cups? Try this...

Another kid pleaser!  You could also fill with cheese-its, goldfish... anything orange!

I love this idea of the glove and candy corn at the fingertips. 

Halloween trail mix is an awesome way to go 90% healthy and 10% candy. Add pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, and a few candy peices. You can make it as healthy as you want! 

Had enough of the healthy? It is Halloween after all!  Here's a family favorite afterschool treat.

Super Spooky Halloween Crafts To Make With The Kiddos

Are you throwing a Halloween party this weekend or just planning to decorate? Below are Super Easy Spooktacular DIY Halloween Party Decorations I found while looking for decor for my party, and just had to share. The following decorations are super cool, easy to do and best of all, inexpensive-creative genius! 

Start with last year's candy buckets! Spray paint all but the bottom of the plastic pumpkins white. After they dry, spray a coat of glow-in-the-dark spray paint and allow to dry. Once dry, grab a kid to paint the eyes. It's easy and fun to do for the kiddos. TIP: Keep white-out handy for quick fixes. 

Here's a faster, no-mess glowing eyeball decoration.  Got to the Dollar Tree and grab a few pop-lights.  You can make the eyeballs below, orange pumpkins, bats and more! 

Here's an even easier glowing eyeball! Except, you better start collecting toilet paper and paper towel rolls (Cut them in half) ASAP.

Dead bodies!

I've considered making a few to throw in the yard on Halloween. Stuff old clothes with newspaper then use garbage bags and duct tape to form a person. 

This refrigerator decoration is super cute and easy.
All you need is three pieces of black paper or one big black sheet from the Dollar Store. 


Soapy Bugs!
I LOVE this idea. So easy.
You could jam a fake finger in the soap too!





While you're at the dollar store, grab white and red candles to create a bloody mess!!
It'so easy to make these bloody candles. Melt red wax over the white candles. TIP: Melt red wax on the tray the candles are displayed on to make more of a bloody mess!

Don't forget the toilet!
I've seen everything from a hand creeping out of the top of the tank, to "Watch Your Back" written under the seat. But this one is a first... and so friggin funny!
Poor Moaning Myrtle.

And Last... The Halloween Decoration sweeping the nation, DIY Tape Ghosts

The concept is super cool and looks easy enough! Wrap a dummy, doll, human, in clear packing or duct tape. Start by wrapping the subject sticky side out first, then sticky side in.  Once completely covered, cut the tape mold away from the person creating sort of 'seams'. Gently slide the mold off, and re-tape seams to create a solid tape mannequin. Spray paint with glow-in-the-dark spray paint and put outside for unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.

TIP: Start Small scale with a hand, then move to entire body molds.

You Will Want To Make Every One Of These 5-Star Chili Recipes

Happy Fall Y'All! 

Waking up to crisp mornings, leaves falling at my feet and flocks of birds flying south, I can't help but be ready to get my chili-on! Just in case you were feeling the same, I thought I would share a few of the championship 5-star chili recipes I've saved to make this season. From vegetarian to meat lovers to eight-alarm, here are the best of the best.

30-Minute Chili. Yes, 30-minutes, total! With 5-minutes of prep and 25-minutes cook-time, this 30-minute chili from Southern Living had the reviewers swearing by it as their go-to for quick dinners and potlucks. Kid-approved, too!

This Blue Ribbon Chili recipe has over 2,200 reviews 95% are 5stars and ZERO one star. That means even the shittiest of chefs can pull this one off! Of course, it helps there's a video walkthrough. I'm totally giving this one a try. It's smooth chili, as opposed to the ultra-bean-y chili. (see above)

This 5-star 5-step chili recipe from, Betty Crocker, is super easy and ready in less than 2 hours!

This Vegetarian Chili with Avocado cream from Martha Stewert had the reviewers going wild.  One reviewer said, "I was so skeptical of this recipe - fennel and all that CELERY??? I was wrong. This is one of the best vegetarian chilis we've ever made."

Did you know there's an International Chili Society? Every year, ICS holds the world championship Chili-cookoff. Whether you like Texas Chili or 5-alarm, the ICS has a complete list of winner's and their championship Chili recipes. To see them all, click here! 

This Creamy White Chili from Taste of Home, makes it to the table in under an hour, has 552 5-star reviews and had one reviewer, a college student, singing it's praises. "I got this wonderful chili recipe from my sister-in-law, who made a big batch and served a crowd one night. It was a hit. Plus, it's easy and quick, which is helpful since I'm a college student. In all my years of 4-H cooking, I've never had another dish get so many compliments."

Why stop at 5-alarm? Epicurious is bringing out the fire department for their, Ding Dong 8-Alarm chili. Yes, EIGHT! How you wouldn't have to ice down your mouth and ass for 24 hours after a spoonful I don't know, but if this is your thing, or you hate someone and are going to their potluck, have a go at this insanity.

I remember my first turkey chili. When I found out it was made with turkey instead of beef, I was floored. I HAD NO IDEA! Truth be told, I pretty much only use turkey in my chili now. It's low-fat, heart healthy and NO ONE knows the difference. This 5-star turkey recipe is the clear winner with thousands of 5-star recipes. 

This weekend I'm making the turkey chili. Which is your favorite? 

15 Fall + Halloween Crafts For Kiddos

How in the hell it's already October 1st, I don't know. I thought it was late August or something. Was there even a September?

Anyhoo, the Calander doesn't lie... It's Fall Y'all! Get ready for decorations, baking your brains out and managing crazy kids jacked up on sugar.

To kick off the crazy, I thought I'd share 15 fun family crafts to do this weekend. (Read: This is cheap easy decorating that keeps the kids happy. (Not listed below, but recommended: Wine, Cheese, five-star chili.)



1. Q-tip Fall Tree Craft.



2. Autumn Handprint Tree (Use the q-tip hack from #1 to make the leaves)

3. Autumn Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holders

4.  Pumpkin Salt Dough Handprint Keepsake (LOVE THIS! Make Christmas tree ornaments while you're at it for an inexpensive super cute gift idea...)

5. Craft Stick Spiderweb

6. Tin Can Ghost

7. Glow-in-the-dark Pumpkins.

8. Bubblewrap Corn Sun Catchers

9.  Fall Leaf Sun Catcher 

10.  Salt Dough Leaf Impressions

11. Halloween Glitter Slime Monsters

12. Preserved leaf mobile

13. Fall Leaf Painting 

14. This leaf people craft is a great idea for a family park activity!

15. What fall craft list would be complete without a DIY pine cone bird feeder?