I didn’t grow up celebrating Halloween. I remember looking out of the window observing all of the trick or treaters frolic up and down the streets on Halloween night. As I got older I enjoyed and participated in Halloween festivities full force. As a mom and crafter I use the occasion to think outside the box: pink confetti covered ghosts, not so scary Haunted Houses and last year I made BOO Bags for all of Hen’s classmates complete with google eyes. I enjoy celebrating and being creative, luckily my little tribe enjoy it as well. This year I am going to share how we are enjoying Spooky Season, from Fall Craft Kits to Festive pajamas.

Craft Kits

Shop Sincerely Schwartz :: www.shopsincerelyschwartz.com

Crafting is an activity the whole family can participate in. I’ve created a Fall Craft Kit that can be easlily assembled for ages 4+ baby James will be helping me glue! Crafts also nurture creativity and spurs innovative abilities. It inspires creative thinking and empowers crafters to explore new ways of accomplishing goals instead of just following directions. Crafting also develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children. Visual-spatial skills, the aid in the identificaiton, interpretation and implementation of visual information are all benefits of crafting.

My Craft Kits are designed to inspire creativity in children. Created so that parents can encourage their children to be imaginative and teach them to work with less guidance.

Pajamas

Hanna Andersson:: www.hannaandersson.com

I LOVE coordinating outfits. Hanna Andersson has adorable prints for all things Holiday Pajamas. I have a 20% off code if you signup using my link: here. I got introduced to Hanna Andersson from a friend. She has 3 daughters and she gifted me some hand-me-downs that looked incredible. When I asked her about the clothes she raved about Hanna Andersson and the quality, I was sold! The print and quality are the two reasons why I purchase Hanna Andersson.

State Fair

South Carolina State Fair :: www.scstatefair.org

Going to the state fair is a must do for fall. The South Carolina State Fair is an annual 12-day state fair held in Columbia, South Carolina. The fair a fun way to explore, ride on farm equipment and to get some fair food, like fried Oreo’s! Check your local department of agriculture to see if your state hosts a state fair. Going to the fair is an activity I’ve been attending in since I was little. The fair has something for everyone.

Chili Cook-off

A tradition introduced to me by the Army Family Readiness Group, Chili Cook-offs are definitely a highlight of my fall. A chili cook-off is an event, where competitors prepare their own special recipe of chili con carne and submit it for taste testing. Typically, in the Army world, the winning team receive a day off from PT (Physical Training). My kids don’t really like chili, they like the cornbread I make on the side. It’s nothing special, just a box of Jiffy Cornbread Mix!

Boo in The Zoo

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden:: www.riverbanks.org

An annual Halloween spook-tacular, Boo at the Zoo is a great family-friendly event. During the month of October, our local zoo hosts this event Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes which is a special treat in itself. The hours of the event are after the zoo closes, 6 to 9pm each evening. The spook-fest offers a Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, an eeky freaky DJ dance party and a trick-or-treat trail with candy and more!

That sums up what we are going to do during spooky season this year. I am sure we will add to this list. I know Brandon wants to attend a Gamecocks Football Game. I’ve been planning and prepping for Lena’s Birthday Party. Not to mention family photos! If you are new to the Columbia, South Carolina area check out this incredible resource here. Thanks for reading, be sure to follow me on Instagram to see if we do indeed attend a Gamecocks Football Game this season.

"Boo to you from our crew."

-The Schwartz Family

Sincerely,Schwartz