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Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Holidays!

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10.27.2015

Halloween Trick or Treat Decorations

Let me paint you a little picture. It’s 6:00AM, Monday morning, the week of Halloween. There’s a slight chill outside, as if Halloween is just setting in. Fog can be seen maneuvering it’s way around your front yard. Your alarm goes off, you struggle to get out of bed. After all, it is Monday morning. You make your way to the end of the bed where you have your work outfit already laid out, and attempt to get dressed in the dark. Your husband is sleeping quietly in bed, and you wouldn’t want to wake him from his peaceful slumber, so you keep the lights off. When that proves to be a challenge, you take whats left of your outfit into the bathroom where you close the door and turn on the light. And then it happens.

Halloween Trick or Treat Decorations Black and White

You sit down to use the amenities in the bathroom, while simultaneously picking up your shirt. You almost have your arms inside, when BAM! A big black spider flies off your shirt onto the floor. You’re mid-flow. You can’t get up to kill said spider, so you have to watch the massive beast crawl around on the floor, towards your tiny toes.  You pick up your feet and start to have a panic attack. After all, that spider could eat your cat, it’s that big. You must save yourself. You struggle to complete the task at hand, while trying to find something to kill the bear-like sized spider. You can literally see it getting larger by the second. At this point, you’re scared that when you kill it you’ll be covered in spider-guts. This is going to be ugly.

Halloween Trick or Treat Decorations BannerWhen you finally get your bearings, and that little sucker is flushed down the toilet, you can finally take a breath. You open the door to the bedroom where your husband assumes you have literally just flushed your own head down the toilet from all the commotion. You try to explain to him that when a spider is the size of your fist, there is little you can do to prevent a hysterical meltdown.

Halloween Trick or Treat Decorations - DIY Candle

It is Monday after all. And Halloween week. The only spiders I like crawling in my house are big, green, and glittery thank you very much. And even those are questionable. I think I owe the Halloween Gods a little appreciation, because apparently they’re spiting me with real spiders. So in honor of them, I shall add a few more green glittery spiders to my house. Hopefully that will ward off the real ones for a while.

Halloween Trick or Treat Decorations Sparkly SpiderI put together this little corner of our living room with black and white decorations with a little green flair. If you’d like to print your own Trick or Treat banner, you can find it here. I used a sequined ribbon to turn a simple white pillar candle into my added flair, and printed this Halloween Subway Art here.

Halloween Trick or Treat Decorations DIY

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Comments

  1. Bobbie says

    10.27.2015 at 12:06 pm

    Just think you could have stepped on the spider and thousands of baby spiders could have burst free. Then you would be in real trouble…..

    Cute decorations.

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.27.2015 at 2:39 pm

      Oh my gosh way to make me not sleep ever again!!!!!

  2. Britta says

    10.27.2015 at 12:07 pm

    Such a cute setup! I love the candle idea!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.27.2015 at 2:38 pm

      Thanks doll!

  3. B says

    10.27.2015 at 12:07 pm

    As Jerry Seinfeld says, “Explain to me, how a woman could put boiling hot wax on her leg, then rip the hair out by the root, but still be afraid of a spider…?”

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.27.2015 at 2:38 pm

      You know what Mr?! Next time I hope it flies onto your face. 🙂

  4. alice says

    10.27.2015 at 12:49 pm

    That sounds like my worst nightmare, congratulations on actually disposing of it, I still have a spider waiting to be disposed of that I killed a good couple of weeks ago that I just cannot bear to go near.. I know, it’s shameful. Love that your decorations are so festive yet so classy! xo

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.27.2015 at 2:38 pm

      Oh my gosh it is NOT shameful! I absolutely cringe at the thought of spiders, and I HATE killing them. Not because I feel bad killing them, but because it’s so disgusting and what if it doesn’t die and comes crawling after me?! Ahhhhh!

  5. Adele says

    10.27.2015 at 3:04 pm

    Oh dear! Spider-gate sounds terrifying but it made for some hilarious reading – I’ve been there. I love your DIY decorations, they’re the best I’ve seen yet!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.27.2015 at 3:07 pm

      Hahaha it’s a horrible situation when there’s spiders flying around! And thank you so much!! <3

  6. Jamie says

    10.27.2015 at 3:21 pm

    Such cute decorations! I’m not into the creepy/gory Halloween decorations so I love yours! Btw, I hate all spiders and bugs so I would’ve been dying if I were you!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.27.2015 at 3:28 pm

      Thank you!!! I agree, I hate gory decorations. And as much as I think that the cobwebs look cool – they are such a pain in the butt, so I’d rather keep them in the package at the store. 🙂

  7. Rob says

    10.28.2015 at 5:54 am

    Loved this, Shauna! I can’t wait for the big day (and some leftover candy!) I’ve nominated your blog, but no worries if you cant join in.

    https://weight2lose2013.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/r-e-s-p-e-c-t/

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.28.2015 at 8:23 am

      You’re amazing!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!! I will check it out right away!

  8. Laura says

    10.28.2015 at 6:26 am

    LOL – omg too cute but true! And this, speaking from MS. HALLOWEEN herself – I still get creeped out when I run into a web and definitely don’t like to be surprised by them.

    VERY cute decorations (as always) – I will admit, if you’ve seen the photos – I still end up adding some little glitter versions of decorations in the house too, especially the ones I scored from Home Goods store & Pier 1.

    Happy Halloween.

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      10.28.2015 at 8:20 am

      Ohhhh Home Goods! I just love that place. I should take a stroll through it this weekend and see if I can find anything on sale for next year! That…or Christmas decorations! I just cannot resist! 🙂

About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

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stayinghomesawyer

I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard t I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard the first part I immediately thought, “that’s the worst part too.” Then I heard the rest of the audio and just felt that. It’s so true. It’s the most bittersweet thing a human being goes through. Raising children.
We always see these crazy parties on social media, We always see these crazy parties on social media, but how much do they ACTUALLY cost? If you know me, then you know I’m the most frugal person on the planet, so my parties are destined to be inexpensive. I’m going to give you the real life breakdown, with all my money saving tips. Let’s go!

(Let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t cover)

This is one of my biggest tips, which is pretty obvious I suppose. Hand make EVERYTHING. Decorations, treats, food, etc. The only time I wouldn’t suggest making your own food is if you have a huge guest list, in which case ordering Costco pizza is your best bet.

For the paper chains, I’ll be honest, they’re not cheap. Finding paper that’s inexpensive is hard. So pro tip: you don’t NEED cardstock, regular paper will be cheaper (and easier to hang). I found these packs of red at Walmart on clearance for $1.50 each. The pictured chains was three packs of 50 pages. Also pro tip: use a generic stapler to staple them into the ceiling, tape doesn’t work.

Also, because I throw parties a few times a year, I have a general stash of party supplies. I try to use similar colors so that I don’t have to store every color. I happen to have a lot of pink (because, duh, two girls). So table runners and vases and such were things I already had. If you don’t, I suggest Temu. And if you’d like to start collecting a supply for future parties, get some nice ones in white because you can always use white! 

I made this box out of 9 pieces of foam board from the Dollar Tree, one roll of wrapping paper (back wall) from the Dollar Tree, and two cans of spray paint from Walmart. If you had more time, acrylic paint would be cheaper, as my spray paint cost $13 alone. My cost for the project could have been cut in half if I used acrylic from the Dollar Tree (they have extra large bottles for $1.25). I just didn’t have time to do a few coats of acrylic.

The backdrop was made from four sheets of poster board from the Dollar Tree ($2), and one roll of Dollar Tree wrapping paper ($1.25). 

My splurge. The larger scalloped plate is from American Girl and when we were at the store I couldn’t resist. That alone brought up my total by almost $10. Ha
She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And hones She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And honestly? I loved every second of it.

Because I know that at this age, some girls are already asking for Sephora trips and makeup tutorials, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But there is something so special about a little girl who still wants to play with dolls, have a themed birthday party, and lean into the magic of being a kid. 

I know I can’t keep her little forever, but I can stop rushing her into growing up. There’s no prize for growing up the fastest. The world will ask her to be older, cooler, and more mature soon enough. So if she still wants the dolls, the dress-up, the silly games, and the magic of childhood, I’m going to let her.

Because one day, I know I’ll miss these days more than I can imagine. And if I can give her a few more years of being little, I’m going to cherish every single one. 

Let them be little. There’s plenty of time to grow up. 

#americangirl #americangirldoll #diyparty #americangirlparty
Save for later. PS: This is my husbands rendition Save for later.

PS: This is my husbands rendition of a “Sexy Willy Wonka.” You know, because being Aladdin, Flynn Ryder, Prince Charming…he couldn’t just be a regular guy for one year. 🤣🤣
Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five things every night that you’re thankful for, and BE thankful for them. So much of our lives are spent waiting for the next best thing when in reality, it’s sitting right in front of us.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’ If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’s to SLOW DOWN.

So much of life is spent going, going, going. Waiting for the next stage. Telling ourselves, “Once we get through this, things will be easier.” Once the kids are older. Once life settles down. Once we have more time. But what if we’re missing the whole point? Because the moments we’re so eager to get through ARE the moments.

Today is the important stuff. The ordinary days. The messy days. The little conversations, the giggles, the routines, the chaos, the moments that don’t feel significant while we’re living them. We spend so much time wishing for the next chapter that we forget we’re already living one we’ll someday wish we could go back to.

So slow down.

Be here.
Pay attention.
Let the moment take as long as it needs to.

Because someday, these will be the days we miss.

**And if you know us personally, you know why I had to jump on this social media trend**
This is your permission slip to let the crafts be This is your permission slip to let the crafts be messy. 

They don’t need to match your house. They don’t need to be Pinterest-worthy. They don’t need to be made with a neutral color palette and a Cricut. They just need to be theirs.

Because someday I’m probably going to miss the paper scraps, the glue everywhere, the questionable color combinations, and the little masterpieces I had no idea what to do with. Let them make the ugly craft. Let them make a mess. Let them create something that looks nothing like what you had in mind.

Childhood doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be beautiful.
When you stop to think about the fact that one day When you stop to think about the fact that one day all of her toys will be someone else’s toys, she’ll be heading off to college, and all I’ll be left with are these videos…
This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy the This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy their kids are going back to school. My neighbors and I commiserate all summer long about how long the days are, how frustrating the kids can be, how much they’re fighting, etc. 

But my days are always like that, and even though it’s exhausting and overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Even if I only have ONE moment like this a day, it’s one moment a day I could miss out on if they were in a traditional school. 

So here’s to whatever choice you are making in regards to your kids education. What’s best for YOU is most important. And what’s best for us is this.
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