These Halloween hairstyles for the whole family will scare, mystify, and even melt a few hearts.

 Halloween Hair Styles For The Whole Family

I'm so thankful for those crafty people out there who not only figure out how to create these styles, but make it look easy, too! 

Create an adorable kitty cat face bun with felt, hot glue, and bobby pins! 

Start with a ponytail, then wrap the hair around a mummy, spider, doll... you get the point.

Turn your child's hair into a spooky spiderweb. Create asymmetrical parts and tie off with small rubber bands as you go. The clip plastic spider rings around the rubber bands.

This is a super cute bun style that could work for many holidays and parties! 

Homemade toll hair! 

Wrap wire around a headband then tie strips of tulle to the headband and bring everything together at the top! 

Here's a fun last-minute school or outing idea! 

Super fun and easy HALLOWEEN Makeup For The Whole Family

Whether you're going for super scary, super cute, or super slutty, these Pro Tips For Party Perfect Halloween Hair + Makeup are super easy to pull off. And fun too!  Just make sure you use safe, fresh makeup so you don't look scarier after you wash your face! 

HALLOWEEN MAKEUP

These makeup ideas are so cool and so easy!

1. Considering the mermaid or reptile look this year? Use a cheap pair of Dollar Store fishnet stockings to get the scales you've always wanted! 

2. Take your kitty cat costume to the next level with a big-mouth Cheshire Cat look. Draw the outline above and below your natural lip line and then fill in the big teeth! 

3. Want a more menacing cat mouth? Same as above: use your upper lip line and chin as a guide for an open mouth!

4. Want big eyes? Use white to draw an exaggerated outline under your lower lash for cartoon eyes, and finish the look with thick eyeline and glue fake eyelashes along the thick black eyeliner line!

5. Need to get a full Spider-Man face? Use liquid eyeliner to make precise lines that last! You could honestly create any face mask thanks to the endless range of liquid eyeliner colors available today!The possibilities are endless.

6. For the crazy eye look, without wearing irritating contacts, incorporate design on eyelids. Hold closed for photos and shock factor.

ABOVE ALL!!! Make sure the makeup you use is safe for little faces. Crappy makeup can end a Halloween before it starts.

Now that the basics are out of the way, here are a few more Halloween makeup tutorials that look complicated but are easy to recreate!

1. Double Vision: Draw your eyes and lips under your eyes and lips for a super wild look that will get you plenty of double takes! 

2. A little more liquid eyeline ideas... Oooohhhhh Cheetah! 

 3. A Skeleton perfect for boys and girls! 

4. Spoooooooky half skeleton face

5. Need a look that you can go from work to party, fast? Turn your hand into a fast face mask.

15 Fall + Halloween Crafts For Kiddos

Welp, there goes summer. Every year of my life seems to always go faster than the last. Do you just blink in your 80's and have a birthday? Shhhheeeeesh! 

To kick off the fall madness, I’ve rounded up 15 fun and festive family crafts to get you in the spirit of the season! BONUS: These crafty ideas are super budget-friendly and simple enough for the kids to join in on the fun.

If you are looking for adult fall fun... check out these five-star chili recipes. 

Are you ready for some cheap and easy fall fun that will make you feel like a fabulous parent??  Here you go:

1. Q-tip Fall Tree Craft bundle a bunch of Q-tips together and voila! Instant paint brush perfect for even the littlest of hands.



2. Autumn Handprint Tree - Use the Q-tip hack from #1 to make the leaves, or let it be a full-on finger paint free-for-all.

3. Autumn Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holders: These are so freaking cute!

4.  Pumpkin Salt Dough Handprint Keepsake I 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?

Planes, Passion, and Purpose: Letting My Baby Grow Up

The only thing worse than teenage hormones is realizing that, in what will feel like the blink of an eye, the little monsters will be ready to fly the coop. 

Letting my little guy grow up has been so hard. He's my one and only; I have absolutely zero desire to let him grow up! Unfortunately, I also have zero choice but to let him grow up. So, I am trying to find solace in watching him grow into a sweet, smart, driven, dreamer who is fearless. 

For as long as I can remember, Ollie has wanted to be a pilot. I can't help but wonder if his dream to fly planes has anything to do with growing up on a plane, long-hauling between the East Coast of the United States to Melbourne, Australia. In fact, I used to joke about the fact that he was infinitely better behaved on those 33-hour trips to Nana's house Down Under than his parents! Truth be told, he still is. 

The time finally came for me to let my little guy fly up, up, and away from me so he could start his journey to being a pilot, and, hopefully, one day, a captain.

This flight was ten years in the making — and the beginning of something incredible. 

I would say: “If only he knew at three, when he first boarded a plane bound for Australia, that he’d one day be flying one,” but, inherently, I think he’s always known. His passion for aviation is nothing short of awe-inspiring. 

He can tell what any aircraft is just by the placement of its engines or the configuration of its landing gear.  And to back it up, he is constantly whipping out his favorite flight tracking app to prove he got it right! 

I can’t wait to see where the beautiful blue skies take my sweet little pilot. But with all my heart, I know one day, I’ll proudly call him: Captain Oliver.

In the meantime, I'll try not to throw up and cry every time he takes to the skies. 

Here's a video of his first flight with his flight club. You can also view it directly on our First Time Mom and Dad YouTube Channel. 

How To Shop Amazon Prime Day Like A Pro

As much as I always want to advocate the importance of shopping local and supporting brick-and-mortar stores, with budgets getting tighter and tighter, super sales events like Amazon Prime Day, Target Circle Week, and Walmart Deals Week deserve a second look. 

After nearly a decade covering these large "tent pole" sales events as a Commerce Writer and Senior Editor, I've learned the good, bad, and downright ugly of these major annual sales events. And with Amazon throwing a major sales event nearly as often as a Macy's One Day Sale, I have covered countless articles on The Best Prime Day Deals.

How Do You Find The Best Prime Day Deals?

You are likely already seeing countless articles and ads served to you about The Best Prime Day Deals on things like TVs, Electric Bikes, Beauty,  and Health deals. To create these articles, Editors and writers are given an advanced spreadsheet from Amazon and PR companies showing which products will be on sale, the percentage off (or increased. Yes, some products raise the price on Prime Day. More about that later.)

After spending years poring over these spreadsheets, I have learned a few tips for finding the best deals when shopping on Amazon Prime. I am going to share with you!

1. Don't believe the hype: This IS NOT an all-out Blowout Clearance Sale. 

I always found that the majority of the sale prices were between 10%-30% off, and seemed to creep lower year after year. I also saw plenty of items that were literally listed as more during the sale than on non-sale days. It blew my mind that Amazon would even furnish us with a list that showed that nonsense! 

(**Pausing for a second to consider: Can be sued for telling the truth about the dirty side of Amazon Prime Day? <shrugging> I guess we'll find out!**)

2. It's not just Amazon that's having a big sale July 8 - 11

Before you click buy on Amazon, check prices against the other big retailers piggybacking the Amazon sale, like Target Circle Week and Walmart Deals Week. 

3. You can save BIG on everyday items. 

Basic household items can have pretty solid discounts, from cleaning products to toiletries to health and beauty. You can especially save big on hair care products like Olaplex, Nioxin, and my ALL TIME FAVORITE Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Hair Oil-- It's under $10 all day, (currently $6 for Prime Day) and you can get it just about anywhere from Target to Walgreens to the grocery. I have tested more than two dozen hair oils so far for work and for the money, it's the BEST! 

4. Snag back-to-school deals: 

If you need a new backpack or super cute bento box lunch box, it's worth your time to scroll through your back-to-school shopping list for those higher ticket items or bulk buys on tissues or Clorox wipes. 

5. Look at the Lightning Deals Page, but DON'T be impulsive!

Sure, you can get 57% off a Sony 65-inch 4K TV today, but do you really need it? This is where these sales can get you. If you need a TV or Electric Bike, definitly browse the deals, but still read the fine print to ensure you are buying from a repituble seller, check the reviews to make sure it's not going to be a scratch-and-dent sort of thing, and, above all, before you buy, check the price against other retailer sales and places like Costco that always offer solid discounts. 

6. I have seen firsthand on sales spreadsheets the percentage off actually being PLUS 115% of the normal selling price.

That's right, the really awful sellers will raise the price WAAAAY up during these events. It's like all those awful turds that raised prices "due to tarrifs" that actually never happened. Or advertised tariff-free sales that meant absolutely nothing. 

Greed is the freaking worst! 

Please, don't buy anything of value unless you price check it. And even though these are big sales events, if it seems way too good to be true, it probably is. 

Bottom Line: Even knowing the ugly side of these events, I always take the time to browse the page devoted to Prime Day Deals on Everyday Essentials. I'm always up for saving on everyday items! 

Happy shopping!! 

Note: I may or may not make a tiny percentage if you buy something from links on my site. Likely not, but I have to say this by law. 

Silly me, how could I expect my teenager to be on board with this?

 I am soooo sorry for the delay on a new post. Silly me, I thought my teenager didn't care what the hell I did or said.

It turns out, he does. 

Me: Hey, buddy!  I am going to start my blog up again and make YouTube videos. Fun, right?

Teenager: **Looks up. Blinks. No words. Goes back to his game.**

Me: I need your help with videos!

Teenager: **Finally looks up from his game** Wait. You're doing that mom blog thing again about you and dad sucking at parenting?

(That was the fastest and easiest way to explain the blog to a then eight-year-old, and it stuck.)

Me: Yes! That! 

Teenager: Mom, no. That's dumb. And you can't talk about me, my friends will read it.

Me: Yeah, that would require you and your friends to not only find the blog online but also read the posts. 

Teenager: You said YouTube too? Are you trying to ruin my life?

I pause: I totally didn't expect him to care. Instantly, I regret saying anything. Of course, he would think it's a dumb idea. He thinks every idea I've had since he turned 12 was dumb.

Teenager: What are you going to write about me? It can't be embarrassing. I need to see it first. Same with videos. 

Me: Deal!

Fast forward to my first post talking about how EVERY time I walk past my child during the summer, he asks for something to eat. I feel like I spend half my day feeding my child and the other half shopping for food! So. Not. Cool.

Y'all, I'm here to tell you, a "growing boy" eats non-freaking-stop. Like, an absurd amount of food!

In all seriousness, with the exorbitant cost of groceries today, I thank my lucky stars I only have one child to feed! My heart goes out to every parent struggling to keep up with the constantly increasing cost of living. I see you. It sucks. 

I finish the post about me essentially spending summer 2025 as a private chef to a growing 5'10" thirteen-year-old and email it too him to read. 

Teenager: **His bedroom door flys open** WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME FAT?

Me: I am not calling you fat! I am talking more about how hard it is to keep up with grocery shopping and meals during the summer.

Teen: No, you are calling me a fatty McFatFat. You can't post that. Riz killer. 

Me: GHAAAAAA. Fine.

Next post: We live like feral animals during the summer. It's seriously IMPOSSIBLE to keep the house clean during the summer. There are shoes EVERYWHERE. Socks in every corner. Towels at the door. Sunblock on the floor. 

Y'all, I try, But, it gets to the point where I am done trying and yelling! 

So, until September, I'll be inviting in my home by saying: Welcome to my shithole. 

I've resigned to the fact that we will be feral af until the fall when we are back on a normal routine. Sorry, not sorry. 

News Flash: This post, too, did not pass the teen-test. 

Teenager: You can't tell people we live like dirty animals! Riz killer. 

Me: What can I talk about?

Teenager: Your garden.

Fear not, I will figure out a way to revive this beautiful space, and I'm no longer worried about grumpy teenager backlash. Besides, from what I understand from friends with older teens, my son is going to be perpetually annoyed by my ideas and even presence until he is 18 years old, so I might as well give him a good reason for it!

This is by far one of the greatest pranks I have ever pulled on my Australian husband

In honor of FTD's citizenship, I thought I would share one of my favorite funny stories from when I first brought FTD to the US to meet my family.  FTD, this Friday Funny is for you. I can't believe you stuck around... hahahahahahaha

When FTD and I came back to the US for the very first time so he could meet my family, I lived in the top floor of a third-floor walk-up on the fringe of a beautiful sprawling tree-filled park. It was one of those perfect summer evenings: warm air, birds singing, a gentle breeze drifting through. FTD was out on the balcony, and I was inside doing something when I suddenly heard him yelp. I rushed out to see what happened, and there he was, completely dumbfounded, looking like he couldn’t believe what he'd just seen.

FTD pointing out into the air, at absolutely nothing, and says, "Holy shit!  Did you see that?"

Me, now equally dumbfounded, say,"What?"

"THAT!" FTD still pointing into the air, "THAT BLOODY BUG JUST LIT UP!!" 

It took me a second, but I realized he was talking about a firefly.  

Another second later, my lightbulb went off. 

Once I got over the initial shock that they don't have fireflies in Australia, a stroke of genius hit.

I looked at him blankly and said,"Oh! Those are government bugs. They take photos of us periodically for the census and immigration."

In complete disbelief, the man nearly fell over. Shook and mumbling, he proceeded to walk right to his computer. 

I couldn't believe it, he bought it!! hahahahahahhaahhahah

A minute later he yells out, "It's a fucking firefly!!!"

Y'all. He stayed with me. hahahaha

Seventeen years later, and that shit is still so damn funny to me!!!  He really bought it!  What in the hell do people think goes on over here in the US??? hahahahahahah

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!!! Xx