Author Archives: Bethany

Halloween DIY: Eyeball Topiaries Made Easy

A spooky-sweet Halloween DIY for the mildly macabre.

Read more: Halloween DIY: Eyeball Topiaries Made Easy

Okay, confession time: I’m really not into creepy or gory Halloween decor. I know, I know—it’s practically a seasonal requirement. Nevertheless, this year, I decided to lean into the spooky side just a little… mainly because my husband loves all things eerie and unsettling this time of year. As a result, I created these Eyeball Topiaries, a Halloween DIY that’s dramatic, a little weird, and surprisingly chic.

And the best part? Every single item came from Dollar Tree. Budget-friendly and spooky? That’s a win in my haunted book.

Supplies You’ll Need:

  • Black candlestick holders (plastic or wood)
  • Styrofoam base (I used a pumpkin shape!)
  • Plastic eyeballs (the more, the eerier)
  • Faux black flowers and leaves
  • Craft glue or hot glue
  • Optional: black spray paint or glitter for extra flair

How to Make Eyeball Topiaries:

1. Prep Your Base First things first, if your candlestick holders aren’t already black, give them a quick coat of spray paint. Let them dry completely. While you’re at it, go ahead and paint your styrofoam ball or pumpkin base too, just in case it peeks through the faux florals.

Next, glue your styrofoam pumpkin (or ball) securely onto the top of each candlestick to create the topiary base.

Want a taller, more dramatic look? Glue a second candlestick directly on top of the first styrofoam ball, and add another styrofoam ball to the top of that. You’ll end up with a stacked topiary base that’s perfect for layering eyeballs, florals, or spooky accents.

2. Add the Eyeballs Once your base is ready, start gluing plastic eyeballs all over the styrofoam. You can go symmetrical or totally chaotic—either way, choose whatever suits your spooky style. I clustered mine in groups for a slightly “watchful” effect.

3. Fill with Florals After that, tuck faux black flowers and leaves between the eyeballs to fill in gaps and add texture. This step really elevates the look from “crafty” to “creepy-chic.” Additionally, you can add glittery accents or dark feathers for extra drama.

4. Style & Display Finally, place your finished topiaries on a mantel, entryway table, or party buffet. They make great conversation starters and pair perfectly with moody lighting or flickering candles.

Final Thoughts

These eyeball topiaries were a fun way to dip my toe into the spooky side of Halloween without going full horror movie. They’re weird, whimsical, and just creepy enough to make my husband happy.

On the flip side, if spooky or creepy isn’t your vibe, check out my Ghost Family Gallery Tutorial for a softer, sweeter take on Halloween decor. Pink cheeks and bows included.

Happy haunting—your way!

And if you make your own eyeball topiaries, I’d love to see them—tag me on Instagram @ohwaitimamom so we can share the spooky love!

With a coffee in one hand and a plastic eyeball in the other,

💛Bethany

Pumpkin Hunt Magic: A Fall Tradition for All Ages

A Whimsical Fall Tradition Full of Clues, Laughter, and Magic

Read more: Pumpkin Hunt Magic: A Fall Tradition for All Ages

Autumn is in full swing—the air is crisp, the leaves are crunching underfoot, and the scent of cinnamon and bonfires lingers just enough to make you smile. It’s that magical time of year when the world slows down, sweaters come out of hiding, and every moment feels a little more golden. And in our home, that means one thing: it’s time for the annual pumpkin hunt.

This isn’t just a game, it’s a tradition. One that started with a few tiny pumpkins tucked behind couch cushions and has grown into a full-blown adventure that winds through the yard, sneaks into the kitchen, and even tiptoes into the laundry room. Each pumpkin holds a clue, and each clue leads to the next. It’s part mystery, part scavenger hunt, and all heart.

So if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the season, create some memories, and spark a little joy, this pumpkin hunt is for you. Let the clues lead you, let the laughter carry you, and let autumn wrap you in its warmest embrace.

Let the hunt begin!

How It Works:

· Hide 10-20 small pumpkins in various locations—indoors, outdoors, or wherever your little ghouls roam. No pumpkins? No problem. The clues are shaped like pumpkins, so we’re calling it festive enough.

· Attach a clue to each pumpkin that leads to the next. Keep it simple or spooky, depending on your crowd!

· The final pumpkin holds a special prize or treat.

· BONUS – Before the hunt begins, read a short pumpkin-themed story to get your little hunters in the spirit. It sets the scene, builds excitement, and turns the whole adventure into a magical fall moment.

Clue Trail:

I whipped up a sample set of clues and an answer sheet to kickstart your pumpkin pursuit, ready to print and primed for adventure. Feel free to tweak, twist, or totally transform them to fit your turf. After all, every great hunt deserves a local flavor!

The Grand Finale:

Once all pumpkins are found, reward your hunters with:

  • A pumpkin-shaped cookie
  • A small toy or trinket
  • A spooky story time session
  • Or even a DIY pumpkin decorating station!

✨ Tips to Make Your Pumpkin Hunt All-Ages Friendly ✨

Tiered Clues by Difficulty

  • Color-coded pumpkins: Use different colors or stickers to indicate clue difficulty (e.g., orange for easy, green for medium, black for tricky).
  • Dual clues: Attach two clues to each pumpkin—one simple rhyme for younger kids, and one riddle or puzzle for older participants.

Easy Clues for Little Ones

  • Use visual cues like arrows, drawings, or photo hints.
  • Keep clues short and rhyming: “I’m soft and warm, where you take a nap—look under the pillow for a pumpkin trap!”

Challenging Clues for Older Kids & Adults

  • Incorporate wordplay, riddles, or trivia: “I hold stories without speaking, and adventures without moving. What am I?”(answer: A book)
  • Add logic puzzles or scavenger-style tasks: “Find something round, something blue, and something that rhymes with ‘boo’ before your next clue.”

Team Play

  • Pair younger kids with older siblings or adults to solve clues together.
  • Create family teams with shared clue sheets and roles (e.g., clue reader, pumpkin spotter, prize carrier).

Physical & Mental Balance

  • Alternate between active clues (e.g., “Run to the tallest tree!”) and thinking clues (e.g., riddles or memory games).
  • Include rest stops with cider, snacks, or storytelling to keep energy up.

Age-Appropriate Prizes

  • Toddlers: Stickers, plush toys, mini pumpkins
  • Kids: Halloween trinkets, glow sticks, candy
  • Teens: Gift cards, spooky accessories, mystery boxes
  • Adults: Seasonal treats, candles, or even a “Best Pumpkin Sleuth” certificate

Whether your pumpkins are hidden in pillow forts or perched beneath porch steps, this hunt is more than just a seasonal game—it’s a celebration of curiosity, connection, and the little joys that make autumn unforgettable. So gather your crew, grab your clues, and let the rustling leaves be your soundtrack. Because when pumpkins lead the way, adventure is never far behind.

With coffee in one hand and a clue in the other,

💛Bethany

Ready to play? Download the full printable clue set below—including blank pumpkin templates so you can write your own riddles, jokes, or challenges. Make it yours, make it magical, and let the fall fun begin!

Pumpkin Hunt Clues (1)Download

Make a Boo Crew: Easy Ghost Family Craft

Create a DIY Ghost Family Gallery with Printables

Read more: Make a Boo Crew: Easy Ghost Family Craft

This year, ghosts are having a moment—and not the scary kind. Instead, I’m talking adorable apparitions with pink cheeks, tiny bows, and the undeniable urge to hold something cute. From candy buckets to coffee mugs, these little spirits are embracing their accessory era. So naturally, I had to join the trend with a twist that’s totally family-friendly and display-worthy.

Introducing: The Ghost Family Gallery, a reverse canvas craft that turns your crew into the cutest haunted hallway on the block.

Why You’ll Love It

  • Customizable: Print adult and kid ghosts to match your unique family vibe.
  • Adorable: Each ghost holds a mini pumpkin, because fall is a mood.
  • Display-ready: Hang it in your entryway, hallway, or wherever your spooky spirit lives.

What You’ll Need

  • Printable ghost family set (adult + kid ghosts)
  • 8×10 Dollar store canvas (1 for each ghost)
  • Mod Podge
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • X-Acto knife or box cutter (to remove canvas from frame)
  • Mini pumpkins (or item of choice)
  • Optional: ribbon, paint, or embellishments for extra flair

How to Make Your Ghost Family Portrait

To begin, print & cut your boo crew. Choose the ghosts that resemble your family. Mix and match adult and kid ghosts to build your haunted household. Cut them out carefully.

Next up: paint your canvas and let it dry like a ghost waiting for midnight mischief.

Once dry, carefully cut along the edge to remove it from the frame, leaving enough excess fabric to reattach later.

Next, pull the leftover canvas loose from the staples and snip off any stubborn stragglers still clinging to the edges.

If you’re feeling bold, paint or decorate the frame for a pop of color and personality.

Then, Mod Podge the ghosts. Arrange each of your ghost members on a canvas backing and glue them down with Mod Podge. Smooth out any bubbles and let dry.

Optional: With the glue still tacky, I used a rolling pin and parchment paper to press out the last of the bubbles.

Reassemble by gluing the canvas to the back of the frame.

Make sure your artwork faces forward and the frame sits proudly in front.

After that, add the pumpkins. Glue a mini pumpkin into each ghost’s hands. It’s the perfect seasonal touch—and yes, it’s ridiculously cute.

Tidy up the edges by trimming any canvas that’s hanging past the frame.

Finally, flip your canvas and glue on some ribbon or string for easy hanging.

Hang it up with eerie confidence—your spooky-sweet gallery is officially ready to haunt the halls in style!

Why It Works

Ultimately, this craft isn’t just about Halloween decor—it’s about celebrating your family in a way that’s festive, funny, and full of heart. Whether your ghosts are holding pumpkins, candy, or tiny coffee cups, they reflect the chaos and charm of real-life parenting. And for moms? It’s a chance to slow down, get creative, and make something that feels personal.

Grab Your Printable Ghost Set

Grab the full ghost family printable below—featuring blank-handed boos just waiting to be accessorized. Then, show off your haunted hallway magic by tagging @ohwait.imamom on Instagram. Let’s celebrate spooky season with sass, sweetness, and a generous splash of Mod Podge!

With coffee in one hand and a ghost in the other,

💛 Bethany

Adult Ghost 1Download
Adult Ghost 2Download
Child Ghost 1Download
Child Ghost 2Download

A Hauntingly Fun Halloween Countdown

13 days of spooky dares, silly crafts, and snack pairings that won’t scare off your sanity.

Read more: A Hauntingly Fun Halloween Countdown

If you’ve got a tween in your house, you already know Halloween isn’t just a holiday—it’s a whole mood. Costumes are debated like Supreme Court cases, candy preferences shift hourly, and suddenly your child is too cool for pumpkin patches but still wants to carve a jack-o’-lantern with dramatic flair.

Somewhere between working full-time and writing blog posts with coffee in hand, I realized: Halloween doesn’t have to be one big sugar-fueled sprint. It can be a slow, silly countdown filled with connection, creativity, and just enough spooky sass.

So this year, I created a countdown that’s equal parts spooky, silly, and tween-approved. It’s 13 days of Halloween magic—with daily dares, easy crafts, and snack pairings that won’t require a culinary degree or a glue gun meltdown.

Begin on October 19th or pace it through your weekends—this countdown blends laughter, creativity, and a pinch of delightful disorder to keep the spirit alive.

The Countdown Breakdown

Each day includes:

  • A Dare: Light-hearted challenges like “Speak only in spooky whispers” or “Invent a monster dance move.”
  • A Craft: Quick DIYs like ghost garlands, slime potions, or bat bookmarks.
  • A Snack: Tween-tested treats like pretzel mummies, monster trail mix, or ghost bananas.

You can follow the full 13-day plan or mix and match based on your tween’s mood (and your energy level).

Sample Days

Day 1: Ghoul Goals

  • Dare: Create a spooky nickname for everyone in the house.
  • Craft: Decorate a “Haunted Homework Folder.”
  • Snack: Ghost bananas with chocolate chip eyes.

Day 5: Monster Mayhem

  • Dare: Invent a monster dance and perform it at dinner.
  • Craft: Make slime with googly eyes.
  • Snack: Monster trail mix with candy corn and pretzels.

Day 7: Costume Chaos

  • Dare: Create a costume using only items from one room.
  • Craft: Make a mini costume for a stuffed animal or pet.
  • Snack: Mummy pigs in a blanket.

Printable Countdown Calendar

I’ve created a printable calendar with checkboxes and a “Ghoul-o-Meter” to rate each day’s fun. Tally the ghost ratings each day and keep track at the bottom using the Spook Score Tracker. You can hang it on the fridge, tuck it in a lunchbox, or use it as a countdown to the big night. And to make things even easier, I’ve included step-by-step instructions for every craft and snack, so you can spend less time Googling and more time giggling.

Why It Works

This countdown isn’t just about crafts and candy, it’s about connection. It gives tweens a chance to be silly, expressive, and involved in the season without feeling too “little kid.” And for moms? It’s a chance to sneak in some joy, creativity, and maybe even a moment of peace between costume debates and candy negotiations.

Want to join the countdown? Download the printable, tag me in your haunted hijinks, and let’s make this Halloween one to remember—without losing our minds or our glue sticks.

Stay spooky, stay silly, and may your snacks be ever in your favor.

13 Days of Halloween with instructionsDownload

With coffee in one hand and spooky treats in the other,

💛 Bethany

DIY Bookmarks: Fall in Love with Reading Again

I love reading. I really do. But between the chaos of everyday life and the siren call of streaming services, my bookshelf has started to look more like a decorative accent than a source of adventure. Still, when fall rolls around, something magical happens: the air gets crisp, the blankets get fluffier, and suddenly, curling up with a good book using one of my DIY bookmarks feels like the only reasonable way to spend an evening.

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Pumpkin Spice & Parental Advice: Lessons from the Drop-Off Lane

The air is crisp, the lattes are cinnamon-dusted, and my car smells like a seasonal candle gave up halfway through. That can only mean one thing: fall is here, and so is the daily school drop-off rodeo.

Between dodging rogue backpacks and waving at moms I only recognize by their sunglasses, I’ve gathered a few nuggets of wisdom—steeped in caffeine and survival instincts.

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