Cute costumes, candy apple dessert, Costco + clutter-free kids' art!

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

THIS WEEK, ON THE BLOG:

Our family enjoyed "Fall Fest" over the weekend -- a free community Trunk-or-Treat hosted by our church and the local library every October.

Nora and several friends dressed up as Disney princesses and passed out candy at our trunk (isn't her hair perfect for Belle!) Dave and I helped at the information table (we heard lots of "you found Waldo" jokes all night long.) The younger 3 (dressed as Winnie, Piglet, and Eeyore) enjoyed eating lots of candy and donuts while running around with friends and cousins.

As I looked through the pictures, I couldn't help but smile, thinking of how our costumes fit our personalities.

Dave (Waldo) = always content to be "in the background" and not too visible.
Me (searching for Waldo) = the perfect companion for Dave... and always making sure everyone is accounted for and where they need to be.
Nora (Belle) = a quiet beauty who gets lost in books for hours and hours.
Simon (Eeyore) = fiercely loyal, somewhat pessimistic, and although he doesn't have a tail, he would likely lose his head if it wasn't attached.
James (Pooh) = the sweetest, most genuinely happy bundle of joy -- we've called him "Joyful James" forever.
Clara (Piglet) = tiny, love pink, nervous at first, and then a non-stop chatterbox.

I also ran into a few blog readers at the event and it was fun to talk in person! I know I say this often, but I am so very grateful for each one of you (if you've never commented before, I'd love to hear from you! 🥰)

Enjoy your week,

simple food.

One of my favorite desserts to make with our buckets of Halloween candy is this EASY and super delicious Candy Apple Dessert.

It's fun for kids to help with, it's perfect any time of year (but especially in the fall), and there are endless ways to customize it based on whatever candy you have in the house.

get the recipe -->

organized home.

Is kid's artwork threatening to take over your home (and your fridge)?

These 10 out-of-the-box ideas will help you cherish your kids' creativity while maintaining a less-cluttered home... finding that elusive balance between sentimentality and simplicity!

learn more -->

intentional living.

Our family has enjoyed a Costco membership for many years... and I constantly get asked if I think it's worth it or not (yes, I do, or I wouldn't renew the membership!)

If you're unsure about if a membership is right for you, there are 9 ways you can shop at Costco without a membership!

keep reading -->

**How to shop at Costco without a membership**

In other news...

Halloween: I often get asked if our family participates in Halloween activities or not. As you can see by the photos above, we are very OK with dressing up and handing out candy at our church's Fall Fest. However, there are plenty of Halloween things we don't participate in.

I recently listened to 2 podcasts on opposite sides of the subject -- I shared them below for those who want to listen (our family falls somewhere in the middle). 🎃

Anti-Halloween as a celebration of demonic forces (Now That We're A Family)
Pro-Halloween as a cool outreach opportunity (Family Life Today)

Daffodil Bulbs: On a less controversial note, I'm experimenting with bulbs for the first time! Honestly, I'm not a fan... yet. They feel like too much work, but maybe I'll change my mind when hundreds of glorious yellow daffodils brighten our early spring landscape. 🌼