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It's The Tortured Poet's Department release week and we're anxiously awaiting Taylor's newest album over here. We've curated this TTPD-inspired gift guide for the Swifites in your life! From typewriters and books to poetry-inspired gifts that your inner tortured poet will enjoy. TTPD Inspired Gift Guide Vintage Style Typewriter - Let's bring back typed, purposeful, letters. This vintage typewriter would make a great gift and I honestly love the mint green color but they have it in other colors as well. Edgar Allen Poet Magnetic Poetry Kit - This is so playful and fun! Feather Quill and Ink Set - I'm getting this to write all my birthday/holiday cards with from now on. Custom Library Stamp Embosser - This is stunning! I want a custom one for my home library. TTPD Sweatshirt - Stay cozy while you rep your TTPD sweatshirt Emily Dickinson Poetry Book - This is a beautiful book of poems by Emily. Candlestick Holders - These "mismatched" candlestick holders make a stunning centerpiece. Journal - for pouring out your heart and soul The Lines Puzzle - Just like the one Taylor displayed at the Spotify library installation. Ceramic Face Flower Vase - It just feels like TTPD Poet Sign - Show everyone a poet lives here with this cute sign. Typewriter Vase - This would make a cute piece on a bookshelf or side table TTPD shirt - We love the style of this tee, black and white feels fitting Writing Dice - These dice are great for writer's block or a fun writing exercise to get the creative juices flowing. Peace Hand - Taylor signified "two" a few times, throwing up this hand symbol at the Grammy's when she announced her new album. This would look cute on a bookshelf or to hold rings and jewlery. Typewriter Prop - The prop is the exact one that Taylor uses to promote her new lyrics Fountain Pen - Write with "pitch black ink" with this fountain pen.

My husband is into craft beer and I thought it would be fun to wrap up different craft beers as a 12 Days of Beer Advent Calendar . If you’re looking for an advent calendar printable, we’ve got you covered. I painted these watercolor wreaths and I’ve turned them into advent tags that can be used for so many different types of advent calendars. I personally think a book advent calendar would be super fun! Today I'll be sharing how I turned these watercolor advent wreath printables into a beer advent countdown! DIY Advent Calendar – Beer-y Christmas! I’ve been a busy little elf. I’ve been working in secret to create this craft beer advent calendar for a special little elf (my husband). Supplies: Wooden Craft Crate gold spray paint (optional) Holiday Tissue Paper 12 craft beers Ribbon to decorate your crate with Watercolor Advent Printables To create my beer advent calendar, first, I hit up my favorite shop for wine, beer, and spirits – Total Wine. I scoured their craft beer section and picked up 24 different craft beers. Winter ales, IPA’s, stouts and more! You can do as many or as little as you want to create your advent box. This would even work for unique sodas, mini wine bottles, books, or little trinkets. I wrapped each bottle with red tissue paper and tied a numbered advent wreath tag that I cut out ( download the pdf ) around the neck. This wooden crate (spray-painted gold”) made a perfect container for my craft beer advent calendar! Tie a big festive ribbon into a bow around your crate and you’ve got a fun adult gift that keeps on giving throughout the holiday season! What kind of DIY advent calendar will you make with these printables!? Let the holiday season begin! Shop for Gifts for Dads , Swiftie Gifts , Gifts for Happy Campers , and Outdoor Toys for Kids !

How is it almost the end of the year? December is right around the corner and we're starting to get things ready for the holiday season. An advent calendar is a fun way to count down to the Christmas holiday and we found some of the best ones for kids and adults! Here are some fun advent calendars your family will enjoy. Check out our collection of Advent Calendars For Little Kids advent calendars for little kids, older kids, teens, and adults! Shop By Section: Advent Calendars For Little Kids Advent Calendars For Older Kids Advent Calendars For Teens/Young Adults Advent Calendars For Adults Fill Your Own Advent Calendar Advent Calendars For Little Kids Bluey Suprise Advent Calendar - If your kids love Bluey, they will love this Bluey advent calendar. 24 different Bluey figurines, accessories and stickers to open each day. The characters even have adorable Christmas jumpers on! Train Advent Calendar - Each day you get to open one of 12 different wooden train pieces. Each train is magnetic and connects together to build a long train. Kiwi Crate Christmas Village - This special advent crate allows you to build a festive Christmas village. For 24 days, you'll open a special envelope with the supplies to build a new feature of your village. You can also get Santa's Train and Winter Wonderland advent crates. Lego Friends Advent Calendar - 24 mini surprises including 2 Lego friends and 8 Lego pets. Build a festive playground where they can play throughout the month of December. Fidget Toy Advent Calendar - The holildays can be stressful and this fidget advent calender has 24 fun fidgets to open and play with! Advent Calendars For Older Kids Hidden Game Advent Calendar - 24 mysterious letters from all over the world, one to open each day as you solve the puzzle and play the game. Diamond Painting Advent Ornaments - If your kids enjoy diamond painting they will have fun creating these mini diamond keychains that double as ornaments for an advent calendar. Magic Advent Calendar - Add a little magic to your every day. This magic inspired advent calendar from National Geographic has 15 different magic tricks and 9 science magic experiments to open and do! This one is sure to impress the friends! Family Game Advent - 24 fun games to play daily with the whole family! Recommended ages 6+ Advent Calendars For Teens/Young Adults Beauty Advent Calendar - With all the holiday events and celebrations this beauty advent will be a fun gift this holiday season. This advent contains 20 different beauty-related products for hair, face, eyes, lips, and more! Brain Teaser Advent Calendar - Challenge your mind with these 24 metal or wooden puzzles. Great for those out-of-the-box thinkers. Christmas Tree Building Toy Advent Calendar - Build your own mini Christmas tree with LED lights and tiny decorations. Each day has something new to create your tree and by Christmas Eve you'll have your own mini tree built. Taylor Swift Car Vent Clips Advent Box - This cute vent clip looks like a tiny record player. There are 24 different records that double as scent incense diffusers to "play" in your car. ******* This is no longer available, but you can still get the car air freshener mini turn table , just not in an advent box. Be sure to check out our other Swiftie gifts ! Advent Calendars For Adults Hot Sauce Advent Calendar - Spice things up this year with this hot sauce advent calendar. 24 days of 20 different hot sauces to unwrap! Wooden Advent Tree - This classic wooden tree will make a beautiful decoration for years to come. Open a new ornament each day to decorate your tiny tree. Perfect for small spaces, offices, or bedrooms! 12 Days of Socks - For the person in your life who likes to wear those silly holiday socks! This "12 days of socks" calendar will be fun to open leading up to the holiday season. Puzzle Advent Calendar - A 1000-piece Christmas scene puzzle comes in 24 different boxes to open and put together. Sounds like a cozy activity for the winter. Fill Your Own Advent Calendar Christmas Village Advent Calendar with Drawers - This reusable advent calendar is beautifully crafted with a village on top and drawers to fill with your own treats, goodies, or activities. Christmas Tree Pocket Advent - This Christmas Tree hanging has little pockets with ornaments that you decorate the tree with. You could also add a little chocolate to each pocket (or random pockets) as a fun surprise. Wooden Tree with Drawers - This feels so classic. Like something you could pass down for generations to come. This wooden tree with drawers could be used for so many Christmas styles. Fill it with your favorite goodies and enjoy all December long.

Fall is just around the corner and we’ve been struggling to hold off on our love of all things pumpkin, Halloween, and Autumn! One of our favorite ways to incorporate pumpkin into our baking is these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. The kids eat them up. I pack one in with lunch or for a snack with a big glass of milk after school. These cookies are so moist, soft, and chewy! Just how a good chocolate chip cookie should be. The pumpkin and spices pair nicely with the chocolate chips for a hit of savory and sweet. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies 1 stick butter, softened 1/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup light brown sugar 1 large egg 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups flour (all-purpose) 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoons salt 1 cup milk chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cookie sheet with non-stick spray. Beat together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar. Mix in the eggs and add vanilla and pumpkin and mix until combined. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices (nutmeg, cloves, and ginger). Slowly add in the flour into the pumpkin mixture until mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand Using a tablespoon, scoop onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes until slightly browned around the edges. Cool cookies on a wire rack and enjoy. I enjoy eating these cookies with coffee, cause why not. This recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies. They usually don’t last long with my kids though! Shop this recipe

It is officially pumpkin coffee season aka the best season in my opinion. I love a good pumpkin latte but I can't justify getting a Starbucks coffee every day, so I whipped up this recipe to make my own Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam recipe at home. It's a pretty good Starbucks copycat recipe! It uses real pumpkin so there is no artificial flavor there and this batch makes about 4-6 servings, depending on how much cold foam you put in your coffee. I'm sipping on one as I type this. Now, let me share this yummy treat with you so you can enjoy one too. Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam 1 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon brown sugar 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice 1 teaspoon vanilla In a jar, I use a mason jar with a lid, add together all your ingredients. Blend the ingredients together using a handheld milk frother . Once it's blended and creamy, store it in the refrigerator with the lid on it. I usually serve mine over a glass with cold brew but I've also stirred it into hot coffee and it's good like that too! Watch our tiktok where we make this drink ! This recipe makes about a mason jar full. That will make me a pumpkin latte each day for about 4 or 5 days. You may also like our pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and butterbeer milkshakes .

Oregon has so much to offer - family fun, seafood, quirky towns, coastal gems, and so much more! It makes a great trip in the Fall. We are sharing our 4 full days in Oregon (plus travel days) including a day trip to the Oregon coast, as well an evening in St. Helens where you can celebrate the movie Halloweentown by taking pictures by the giant pumpkin and take part in the events. Here's how we planned our Oregon Trip with kids during Fall! Oregon Trip with Kids Highlights: White Stag Sign Oregon Trail Museum Aerial Tram Powell's Books Haystock Rock and Cannon Beach Fun at Seaside Lewis and Clark Multonmah Falls Japanese Gardens International Rose Garden OSMI Peculiarium Halloweentown Day 0 - Travel day, Portland Fly into Portland. Once you check into your hotel, head to Old Chinatown for dinner and then as the sun goes down you can take pictures with the white stag sign . Day 1 - Portland Head out early and drive to Oregon City to visit the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center . This is an interactive museum; kids can even make old-fashioned dolls and candles while they learn about life on the Oregon Trail. After a bit, head back into Portland and take a ride up the Aerial Tram . You get cool views of the city as well as Mt Hood and Mt St Helen. The fares at the time of this post are $8.50 for a round-trip ticket. Stop for lunch at Growler Guys if you want some local beer and good burgers. Grab some Voodoo Donuts and take a selfie by the "Keep Portland Weird" sign which is literally right across the street. Head over to Powell's Books for the afternoon . Powell's Books is a bookstore is a whole city block and several stories high, so you could honestly spend days browsing. They even have a rare book room where you can get special passes and go check out their oldest and most coveted books for sale. Once you've stocked up your TBR pile, head over to Old Town Pizza and Brewing . This is a haunted pizzeria with spooky vibes. Maybe you'll see Nina, the resident ghost. Adults can tour the old tunnels underneath the restaurant (21+). Day 2 - Drive to Oregon Coast Drive out for a day at the Oregon Coast. We drove straight to Cannon Beach and enjoyed tidepooling around Haystack Rock looking for hermit crabs, sea stars, and anemones. When we were there it was so foggy and different than any beach I had ever been to. It was so ethereal! There is public parking at 163 Grower St. Head to Wayfarer for lunch for a selection that includes fried razor clams, oyster sandwiches, Dungeness crab sandwiches, and clam chowder. After lunch, go up the coast a little further and stop at Seaside. You can check out the  Lewis and Clark Salt Cairn  for some history and learning. The Seaside Aquarium is a small but fun stop for kids and you can even feed seals and stick your hands in touch pools! We stopped at Seaside Candyman for saltwater taffy. They have over 170 different flavors of saltwater taffy and some silly mirrors to get the kids giggling. We took our blanket down to the beach and walked in the edge of the water, read some books, and ate some salt water taffy. We marveled at the wide beach with low clouds. Be sure to take a picture by the statue of Lewis and Clark at the End of the Trail monument . Find a spot for dinner on Broadway Street and end the night with some games at Funland Arcade before you drive back to Portland. Day 3 - Portland Nature - Multnomah Falls, Japanese Gardens, Cathedral Park, and International Rose Garden. Start the day off by driving to Multnomah Falls . It's just outside Portland and not a very long drive but the view is amazing. You can do the short hike up to the bridge. There is no permit to visit the falls in the Fall. There is also a restaurant and shop there. If you didn't get food at the Falls, head back to Portland for a light bite to eat at Elephant Delicatessen at 115 NW 22nd Avenue, Portland, OR. They have a varity of salads, sandwhiches, soups, and deli side dishes. They also have fun gifts to browse. Head to the Japanese Gardens for some zen. The Koi fish pond was a favorite with our group and the volunteers are very knowledgeable. There are so many pretty spots to stop and admire. They also have Umami Cafe where you can get Japanese tea but you need to make reservations ahead of time as they fill up fast. Please note, the Gardens are closed on Tuesdays. Stop by Cathedral Park to take a stroll and admire St. John's Bridge. In my Opinion this is the prettiest bridge in Portland and this park is believed to be one of the landing spots of Lewis and Clark. Lastly, head to the International Rose Test Garden . It's free to visit and there are over 10,000 rose bushes planted there. It was created in the early 1900's as a safe haven for European roses during WWI to protect them from bombings. Portland has a lot of delicious choices for food. We went to Backwoods Brewing for dinner. Day 4 - Donuts, Museums, St. Helens and Halloweentown As soon as you wake up, head to Blue Star Donuts before they sell out! You can preorder for pickup. Once you're fueled for the day, head to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and explore and play for the morning. We grabbed a yummy lunch at Shalom Y'all which is a Meditterian spot with bright and fresh flavors. We had a quick stop at Freakybuttrue Pecularium (maybe 45 mins) where we posed with Krampus and Big Foot. For the evening, we drove to the quaint riverside town of St. Helen's where we saw the Twilight Swan House (this is an AirB&B but we did not stay here) and where some of Halloweentown is filmed. We got to pose by the courthouse and big pumpkin. Because Halloweentown was filmed here the town goes all out with The Spirit of Halloweentown activities and events. We only got a small taste of it because we were there on a weeknight. It's free to walk around the event and take pictures by the signs or pumpkin but if you want to meet/greet celebrities or do something like the haunted house, you need tickets. You can read more about our visit to Halloweentown here . We drove back to Portland that night and headed back home the next morning. What would you be most excited to check out in Oregon. For more Fall fun check out: Witchy Books for Fall Crockpot Chicken Chili DIY Cheesecloth Ghosts

We're in the mood for all things Halloween and that includes our TBR pile! Our witchy booklist is full of magic, mystery, romance, found family, revenge, and more! Check out these 13 witchy books to read this fall! The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna - An orphan witch is taught to hide her magic away until one day she gets a message to come to a house where they teach young witches how to control their magic. She becomes part of this secret society. When danger comes knocking, the real fun begins. In Charm's Way by Lana Harper - Explore the effects of trauma and rage with a witch who has memory loss and performs a powerful spell to gain back her lost memories. It works, but she becomes a beacon for all things supernatural. This book is part of the Witches of Thistle Grove series but can also be read as a stand-alone novel. The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry - The story of a young woman named Biddy who washed up on an island as a baby and is taken care of by the magician. She learns to love and protect magic as if it was her own even though she can't do magic of her own. When the magic begins to dry up, the magician leaves to make sure the magic is evenly distributed. But, he's been keeping secrets and Biddy starts to question everything, Big Little Spells by Hazel Beck - The second book in the Witchlore series. When Rebekkah was 18 she was stripped of her powers and banished from her town. Now, 10 years later, she's back with the coven that presides over the magical world, but her return becomes sinister when they think she's a threat to witchkind. A witchy journey of self-discovery and healing Now she is Witch by Kirsty Logan - A lyrically written book about witchcraft, wise women, and folklore. Else discovers rumors of witches in the north are running rampant, her mother was accused of witchcraft, and now a stranger appears with a wolf in tow. Not tied to a specific time or place, it feels very much like a story told over time and has the feeling of being historical and modern at the same time. Weyward by Emilia Hart - Three separate stories that span generations of a family and we follow three women who are connected in many ways. Each woman has to deal with the expectations that society places on women in their own times and men who try to control them. We follow the women as they find their own strength and power with a hint of magic weaved in. Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs - When two estranged sisters are given the task of guarding the family's library of magical books, they work together and unravel a deadly secret at the heart of their family. Loyalty, betrayal, and the pursuit of magical power. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman - Their family has been cursed since the 1600s when an ancestor was charged with witchery. Now, generations later, three unique children have rules like no walking in the moonlight, no cats, no candles and most importantly never fall in love. As the uncover their family history, they discover who they are, and are determined to escape the family curse. Two of the children in the family grow up to be the beautiful aunts in Practical Magic. The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre - Iris, who is terrible with money and who everyone calls the "chaos bunny" suddenly inherits a house from her great aunt. She turns the house into a B&B and it ends up attracting all kinds of misfit boarders who are of the paranormal type. This is part of the Fix-it Witch series but can also be read as a stand-alone book. The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy - Gracelynn lives with her grandmother on Tin Mountain in the Ozarks helping her with herbal remedies. We get steeped in old folk magic following two viewpoints as a man moves to town and something seems off with him. Danger is closer than it seems. Pre-order these witchy reads that are coming out this month! Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland (Available September 12th) - Each witchy sister in this family has her own magical gifts. Sage's gift is that of botany and that causes her to have to work closely with someone in her past who broke her heart. It's a book of complex sisterly bonds, second-chance romance, a little bit of plants, and a lot of magic! What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher (Available September 26th) - Aline is a witch who can talk to ghosts. She uses her powers in secret to help lost souls find their way home. Along the way, she sets off on a quest to find a town that doesn't exist, or does it? Full of magic and Alice in Wonderland vibes. Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn (available September 26th) - When two sisters inherit a house they begin to have haunting experiences. They discover their families is that of witches and someone doesn't want them to have the house. They come face to face with an enemy that has been stalking their shadows for years and they discover the awful truth about what happened to their mother. Do they have the power within them to survive Bone Hill?

I wanted to create a simple DIY Halloween bunting banner that could be used for different Halloween décor not only for this year but for years to come as well. I kept it simple with a classic black-and-white color combination. I found black pre-cut burlap bunting at my local craft store and I used white craft paint to freehand paint my letters on the bunting. I added simple ghosts for a little spooky touch. It looks great with my DIY cheesecloth ghosts . Easy DIY Halloween Bunting SUPPLIES Black burlap (or sturdy black fabric cut to shape, felt might work too) White craft paint and paintbrush Twine Large needle White scrap fabric Cotton balls Black marker White thread DIRECTIONS: Step 1: Cut your fabric to the shape and size you want. Mine are about 5 x 7 inches, and then I cut it angled in at the bottom to make the bunting shape I wanted. Step 2: Using white craft paint, paint “Happy Halloween”, one letter at a time, on each of the bunting pieces. This took a long time but was worth it in the end. You may have to do 2 or 3 coats to get the white just right. Step 2: To make the ghosts I just used 4 jumbo cotton balls wrapped in a piece of white fabric and tied with white thread. I drew on black eyes with the marker. Step 3: Using a large needle and some black and white twine I threaded on each letter to make my banner. I made 2 separate buntings, one for the word “Happy” and another for “Halloween”. Step 4: String the ghosts through the head on each end of the word “happy” to complete your banner. Hang and enjoy for many Halloweens to come! I made mini versions of these buntings when I made my DIY cheesecloth ghosts . Head over to that post to make this craft . Looking for more Halloween? Check out these posts: 13 Spellbinding Witchy Books to Read this Fall Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Starbucks Copycat Recipe

I remember a family friend making cheesecloth ghosts when I was a child. Although I loved them at the time, I never made them myself until I was a mom with kids and wanted more "homemade" Halloween decor. These ghosts are simple but make a big impact and are seriously so cute! The ones I remember from childhood were simple, but I added matching buntings to my ghosts to match my DIY Happy Halloween Bunting . Supplies: Cheesecloth Liquid starch Balloons or Christmas ornaments Jars, glasses, or vases Pipe cleaners , any colors Pans (to set ghosts in while they dry) Bowl (to soak cheesecloth) DIY Cheesecloth Ghost Directions Step 1: Create the shape for your ghosts by setting a blown-up balloon in a vase or jar. I used a pipe cleaner under the balloon to create arm shapes. Play around with different sizes of ghosts to see what you like best. I used pieces of tape to secure my balloons to the jars before I began adding my cheesecloth. This will give your ghost a head and arm shape. *Note: Be sure to put your ghost shapes on a clean tray to keep the mess contained once you add the liquid starch. Step 2: Measure and precut your cheesecloth to fit your ghosts. I discovered I liked 3-4 layers of cheesecloth to achieve the transparency I desired. Make sure to leave enough cheesecloth at the bottom of each ghost to puddle and create a base for the ghosts to stand up. Step 3: Pour some liquid starch into a bowl and wet your cheesecloth. Be careful your layers don’t get too bunched up. When your cheesecloth is completely wet, sloth off some of the excess and arrange it on your ghost mold, draping from front to back. You have time to arrange it how you like making sure you leave a puddle of cheesecloth around the front and back for your ghost base. Once you are satisfied with your ghosts, let them dry overnight. Step 4: While you wait for your ghosts to dry you can create their banners. I wanted my ghosts to be holding bunting that matched my DIY Happy Halloween Bunting. I used a few extra pieces of the black burlap bunting and cut mini buntings to match for my ghosts. Step 5: Cut rectangles the size you need and then snip out a triangle shape from the bottom going from each corner at an angle to the middle of your rectangle to creating a bunting shape. Using white paint, create your letters. I made my buntings say “boo” for the big ghost and “trick” “or” “treat” buntings for the 3 smaller ghosts. Step 6: Gently remove the ghosts from their mold. I popped my balloons and just loosed the ghosts from the ornament molds. They look awesome don’t they! Step 7: Now you can attach your buntings. Thread your bunting letters onto twine and attach them through each of the ghost’s hands. Tie a knot on the underside of the ghost hand to keep the bunting attached. These DIY Cheesecloth Ghosts make a great centerpiece for a Halloween party or just use them to decorate around your house. Make large ghosts and place battery-operated tea lights under them to line your steps or walkway outside! They just make me so happy! Shop this project: More Halloween Fun: 13 Witchy Books for Fall Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies

Did you know you can really visit the town where the Halloweentown the Disney movie was filmed? Take a trip to the Pacific Northwest this Fall and plan a trip to visit "Halloweentown" in St. Helen's Oregon, a quaint little riverside town. We went last year and it was so much fun. This blog guide will help you plan your trip to Halloweentown. Put on a spooky outfit and channel your best witchy vibes. Plan a Trip to Halloweentown While we spent the day in St. Helen's, Oregon, we really planned the trip to visit Portland, Oregon, and the Oregon coast so I'll touch on some of that in a later post if you're interested in our entire trip. But let's dive right into some Halloweentown tips and tricks to plan your trip. How Far is St. Helen's from Portland? St. Helen's is only a 40-45 minute drive from Portland so it makes a great day trip. Because it was so close we knew it would be a town to visit to kick off the Halloween season and put us in the Halloween mood. When to visit Halloweentown? St. Helen's is a regular town so you can visit any time of the year, but they really put on a show for Spirit of Halloweentown from mid-September all the way until Halloween (Sep 16-Oct 31, 2023). Because of our trip itinerary, we visited on a weekday which was much more chill, but if you visit on the weekends, they open their main attractions and it's much more fun! What to do in Halloweentown? The main attraction in my opinion is the plaza in front of the courthouse with the large Halloweentown pumpkin! This is open on the weekends (weekdays for free) for photo ops and walking through. You can also see Benny the cab driver and pose with him for a picture. On October 7th , they have a big Halloweentown parade that ends with a pumpkin lighting so that's fun! On weekends you can purchase tickets to other attractions as well such as the haunted house, Big Halloween Exhibit, boat ride to Sand Island to hunt for Big Foot, a decorated houses tour, alien museum, movie theater showings, celebrity photo-ops and more! They host a costume contest every Saturday and Sunday with cash prizes up for grabs so go all out! Weekend attractions are usually open from 10 am to 5 pm unless otherwise noted. Halloweentown Photo Op Places? Giant Pumpkin - Halloweentown Plaza City Hall/Courthouse Plaza - Halloweentown Plaza at 275 Strand Street Benny’s Cab - Parked along Halloweentown Plaza (it's not exactly the cab from the movie, but Benny will be there in the driver’s seat and it's a fun photo to snag!) Bus stop - Halloweentown Plaza Old Theater : 212 S 1st Street (You can actually watch movies here including Halloweentown!) If you're looking for Aggie Cromwell’s house, it's located at 3814 SE Martins Street, Portland, Oregon so that's a bummer. Special events in Halloweentown? On October 21st- 22nd it's the 25th anniversary of the original movie and they will have special guests including "Sophie, Dylan, Luke, and Marnie" there, where you can get paid autographs and/or pictures with the cast. There is even a pizza party with Sophie, Dylan, and Luke you can attend. You can go inside the courthouse and see part of the movie set as well as scripts and other props and view the Halloweentown movie in their theater to celebrate! Other weekends are a host to special events such as Twilight weekend (September), Hocus Pocus weekend (September), Haunted Hotrods (October) and Witches Beer Fest and Witches Celebration (October). If you're a Twilight fan, the Bella Swan Twilight house is also in St. Helen's. You can stop by to see it and take your picture out front as well. Where to park for Halloweentown? During the weekdays you can park in the city on 231 S First Street and it's free. On the weekends, because it's a small town that pulls a big crowd, they offer parking passes for 1810 Old Portland Road and will shuttle you into the town. Parking on weekends costs $15 a day online and $20 in person so plan ahead. To get more information and purchase your tickets for attractions, celebrity photos, parking, and more, visit their Halloweentown website . Visiting Halloweentown is such a fun trip and such a unique place! If you are planning a trip to Portland or the Oregon coast, come back soon for my 4-day trip itinerary and guide! Looking for more Halloween fun? Check out our DIY Cheesecloth Ghosts, 13 Witchy Reads for Fall , and Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Recipe .

I'm a sucker for holiday-themed and cute food. To celebrate Halloween, here are 7 fun Halloween foods I enjoy serving my kids during the Halloween season. These ideas are sure to make this last week festive and fun! 7 Fun and Easy Halloween Foods Yes, I have served all of these fun foods to my kids either this Halloween or last Halloween. They love themed food and I’m totally that mom who loves making it! I might as well enjoy it while they’re young and still think my quirkiness is cool. Check out some of my favorite Halloween foods for kids. 1. Green Eyeball Pasta I love making this for Harry Potter movie night as well as Halloween. We call it Mad Eye Moody Meatballs if we are serving it for Harry Potter. You can also dye spaghetti green for a brighter pasta which I have done here to make it more spooky. Full recipe here . 2. Pumpkin Face Pancakes and Boo-nanas Create pumpkin pancakes and then cut them out with pumpkin-shaped cookie cutters . Give the kids candy corn and chocolate sauce to make faces (or make it for them). Add chocolate sauce to half a banana for boo-annas! 3. Mummy Pizza and Spider Eggs On half of an English Muffin make a cheese mummy pizza using strips of mozzarella cheese and olives for eyes. Serve grapes (spider eggs) on the side with a plastic spider ring on top for them to wear during their meal! 4. Mac and Cheese Jack-o-lanterns Jazz up some basic stovetop Mac and cheese for Halloween. I added about 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree, extra cheddar, and served them in orange bell peppers that I carved to look like mini jack-o-lanterns. 5. Candy Corn Waffles I made a batch of Pumpkin Spice waffles . Before cooking them in my waffle maker , I separated the batter into 2 bowls and added orange and yellow food coloring. Pour the orange batter in the middle and some yellow around the outside. Once they are cooked, separate the triangles and dip them in a simple milk, vanilla and powdered sugar glaze to create the white tip. Yum! 6. Zombie Brains These sushi zombie brains are super creepy but fun for sushi-loving kiddos. I didn’t want to make a whole batch of sticky rice, so I used Annie Chun’s white sticky rice and it worked perfectly! Check out the video on our TikTok to see how easily these come together. Full recipe here . 7. Jack-o-lantern Quesadillas We made jack-o-lantern quesadillas to eat for our pumpkin carving night. I just cut pumpkin shapes (or have older kids make their own pumpkin faces) out of one tortilla and then line up two tortillas to cut the pumpkin stem at the top. Fill with cheese, spray the outside with cooking spray, and bake in a 400-degree oven for 8-10 minutes until melted. Make these Halloween treats even more festive by serving them on Halloween plates ! Which one looks the most fun to make? Let me know in the comments. Shop Halloween Deals

Boo baskets are such a fun gift-giving activity for the Halloween season. My daughter recently made a boo basket for a friend as a gift exchange. She was being creative, so she got a skull and filled it with pink goodies to look like a brain. We had fun finding all pink themed things to fill her boo basket with. Here is a sneak peek at her boo basket and some ideas to make your own pink boo basket this Halloween! Build a Pink Boo Basket Start with your basket Halloween Tote Skull Basket Pink Pumpkin Add something cozy fuzzy pink socks Pink Halloween Blanket Fluffy Ghost Slippers Cat Plush Choose a fun cup *You can add a drink as an option. Cocoa, tea, or soda! We found some pink peace tea and added that to ours. Pink Stanley Hello Kitty Halloween Mug Glass Pumpkin Tumblers Pink Ghost Mug Add a few fun things pink satin bows Fillable bath brush Lip masks Semi Cured Gel Nails Gel Bead Eye Mask Finish with Something that smells good Pink Candle Rose Bath Bombs Body Scrub What would you choose to put in your boo basket?