Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Holiday Decorating

  • Have a Hauntingly Good Halloween

    Let’s get spooky and crafty! Below are a ton of fun Halloween recipes, critter-approved craft ideas, and of course, tons of clever costume ideas. 

    Halloween Recipes for All Creatures

    • Grab your spoons and get ready for delicious soup. Try this incredible pumpkin ginger soup or this curried coconut pumpkin soup recipe.  
    • This pumpkin bread recipe will result in one spectacular loaf that friends and neighbors will love.   
    • These spider deviled eggs are just as cute and creepy as they are yummy.           
    • It’s safe to say everyone loves pizza. Add a fun twist this Halloween by using each pepperoni as the center or body of a spider. Then place leftover red sauce into a piping bag and draw eight legs on each pepperoni side. Create a non-meat-lovers pizza that will be so good that people will not be able to take their eyes, or hands, off it. Start by placing slices of mozzarella around the pizza. Cut olives into slices and put a slice in the middle of each mozzarella to form the pupil. Then pipe red sauce around the olive to create a bloodshot look. 
    • This tombstone taco dip is to die for. Get ready for tortilla tombstones and refried bean dirt. 
    • For a healthy, spooky snack, grab a few apples and a jar of peanut butter. Take a green apple and a few strawberries and cut them into slices. Take a slice of apple and carefully cut out a sliver in the middle to resemble an open mouth. Shmear peanut butter in the sliver (the mouth) and place a thin slice of a strawberry sticking out of the bottom to create the tongue. Use sunflower seeds to make rows of teeth and place two candy eyes on top.

    • Check out these wickedly fun Halloween cupcakes that everyone will want to sink their fangs into. 
    • These spider web cookies will get you eight thumbs up. The first step is to cover a sugar cookie in white icing. Use black icing to draw a few circles that resemble a bullseye or target. Before it dries, take a toothpick and draw lines from the center of the circle outward, so it starts to look like a web. 
    • Mummy Oreo critters are a fun dessert that everyone will admire. First, dip your Oreos in white chocolate or white icing, covering the entire cookie. Then put white icing in a piping bag and going back and forth across the cookie pipe horizontal lines across, so it looks like mummy wraps. Then add two candy eyes, or you can pipe yellow eyes on yourself.

    • Dip caramel apples in the chocolate of your choice and add little candy eyes to make spooky yet scrumptious treats. Dip one apple in white chocolate to make a mummy and pipe on the eyes. To make a pumpkin keep the apple covered in caramel and use chocolate to pipe on a jack-o-lantern face. Create a Frankenstein by adding green food coloring to white chocolate and covering the entire apple. Then use dark chocolate to pipe on hair, stitches, and a face. Using caramel, attach little pretzel sticks to either side of the apple to create Frankenstein’s bolts. 
    • This boo-tiful dirt and worms cake is covered with crushed chocolate cookies and slimy, gummy worms. Your kids will love helping bake and decorate this delicious treat.   
    • You knead these spiced pumpkin doughnuts in your life. 
    • Creep it real with this tasty but gross-looking brain drink.  
    • Create spooky and sweet Halloween drinks that will raise your guests’ spirits. 

    Boo-tiful Halloween Crafts and Décor  

    • Upcycle toilet paper rolls to make a bunch of monsters. Paint a few rolls in a variety of colors and once they’re dry, draw on polka dots or scales. Create a mummy by wrapping thin strips of toilet paper around it. Paint one green and make a Frankenstein friend. Then use a black marker to draw on hair, a mouth, and stitches. Create as many as you want using items like googley eyes, glitter, tinfoil, and anything else to add some flair.

    • Use balloons to create fun floating ghosts and spooky creatures. Once the balloons are blown up, gently draw ghost faces on the white balloons, Jack-O’-Lanterns on orange balloons, or make any monster faces you want.  
    • Recycle old tissue boxes to create a merry band of mischievous monsters. Flip the empty tissue boxes upside down and paint the outside to make spooky little creatures. Paint one box green for Frankenstein, one orange for a pumpkin, and one white for a scary skeleton. Then just paint on their faces with permanent markers or paint pens. 
    • These wickedly fun witch decorations will put a spell on you and your guests.  
    • Light it up on Halloween. All you need are lanterns and black construction paper. Cut out moons, stars, bats, or any shape you want and attach them to the outside of the lanterns. Light the lanterns with battery-operated candles, and the black paper will form fun silhouettes as the light dances around the lantern. 
    •  Learn how to create Halloween decor from ordinary objects you already have at home.  
    • Use pom pom balls to make scary little spiders. For the body, glue one large black pom and one medium black pom pom together. For eyes, glue many small googley eyes to the front of the medium pom pom. To create the legs, cut black pipe cleaners into eight pieces and glue four along each side. 

    • Upcycle glass bottles to form spooky cool Halloween décor. Use different colored wax or old crayons and carefully drip wax down the top of the bottles. We recommend using black, red, and white wax. You can also drip red crayons down the sides of old white candles to give the appearance of oozing blood. 
    • Discover an assortment of Halloween wreaths that will result in a hauntingly good-looking door.  
    • Stitch together your very own Frankenstein. Since Frankenstein is a creation assembled from an assortment of humans… stick to the same approach. Each person in your family can contribute an article of clothing and stuff it with newspaper. Set up all of the limbs and pieces in a chair, so it resembles a body. For a face, decorate a pumpkin, place it on the shoulders and boom… your own personal Frankenstein. 
    • Uncover tons of frighteningly fun haunted front door ideas.  

    Clever Halloween Costumes 

    • Create an adorable sundae costume. Get a white t-shirt for vanilla ice cream and brown pants that look like a cone. Grab a white tutu that you will wear over the pants. Using various colors of construction paper, cut out a bunch of rectangles that will be your sprinkles. Glue the sprinkles onto the shirt. Glue a red pom pom ball onto a headband for the cherry on top and attach a stem cut out of paper. 
      I think we can all agree that pets in costumes are purely amazing. Check out these clever costume ideas for you and your pet.  
    • Get popping with this DIY popcorn costume. Buy a pair of red and white vertical striped bottoms to resemble the popcorn container. If you cannot find striped pants, buy red pants and use white duct tape to make the stripes. Grab an old white or light-yellow t-shirt and some white computer paper. Rip each piece of paper in half and crumple them up. Spray-paint the crumbled paper with yellow to give your popcorn some butter. Then glue the crumbled popcorn balls onto the shirt and all done. 
    • Transform your little one into an adorable yet mischievous mouse with this simple DIY mouse costume.  
    • Here are tons of easy-to-make kids costumes that you can make at home.  
    • Do the robot! Grab a small moving box for the head and one of the top four flaps off. Then cut a rectangular window for eyes on one of the sides. For the body, cut the top and bottom flaps off of a larger box. Then cut out two holes where the arms can stick out on either side. Paint the boxes silver or cover them in aluminum foil. Create robot buttons and added details by painting different colored bottle caps and gluing them on the front. You can cut out gears and other things using construction paper. Don’t forget to use straws or pipe cleaners to make its antennas. 

  • Let’s Celebrate Labor Day

    Summer is coming to a close, so make sure you enjoy the warm weather and sunshine by celebrating Labor Day the right way. Below you will find fantastic craft and décor ideas, an assortment of scrumptious recipes, and tons of outdoor activities.

    Creative Labor Day Décor

    Get crafting and tap into your creative side with these excellent décor and outdoor design ideas.

    • It’s time to upcycle! Use old glass vases or mason jars to create starry candle holders. Place star-shaped stickers on the outside of a clear vase or mason jar and spray paint the vase with a color of your choosing. Once the paint has dried, remove the stickers and place a candle in the center of the vase. The light will shine through the stars and create a beautiful ambiance.
    • Check out these red, white, and blue decorating ideas to make your home super stylish.
    • Transform old tin cans into stylish decorative vases. Paint the outside of the cans or jars with red and blue stripes, and once it dries, you can glue white stars onto the outside. Use the cans as centerpieces and place flowers or utensils in them.
    • Turn your balcony into an outdoor oasis using these tips and tricks.
    • Create red, white, and blue band sand candles that are perfect for a patriotic centerpiece.
    • Spruce up your pillows and give your plain white pillows a facelift. Cut a star shape out of cardboard and use it as a stencil. Hold the stencil against the pillow and spray around it with red or blue fabric paint. The result will be pillows that will leave you starry-eyed.
    • Uncover how to transform your patio into an incredible gathering space.

    Delicious Recipes

    The recipes below will result in happy stomachs.

    • Grab a toothpick and get ready to enjoy these scrumptious small bites.
    • Fresh and easy to make, your guests will love this cilantro cucumber-melon salad.
    • Perfect pesto! From sun-dried tomato pesto to basil pesto, you can’t go wrong with any of the following quick and easy pesto recipes.
    • This buffalo-style spicy chicken sandwich is finger-licking good.
    • You’re bacon me crazy with this maple-bacon corn on the cob recipe.
    • These healthy labor day recipes will keep you satisfied.
    • Dig into this berry delicious and berry refreshing blueberry ice cream pie.
    • If you’re in the baking mood, try making a three-layered funfetti cake with a Labor Day twist. You will need to make three cakes that are the same size. Add red food coloring into one, blue into another, and leave the third as is. Once the cakes have all cooled, stack them together using your favorite icing. When you cut into the cake, you will have a red, white, and blue surprise!
    • If you’re feeling patriotic, this red, white, and blue tart is tasty and quick to make.
    • Cheers to an assortment of fresh garden cocktail recipes.
    • Bake a strawberry or raspberry pie, but fill about 1/4 of the pie with yummy blueberries. Cut stripes out of a pie crust and place them across about ¾ of the pie. Cut out a few stars from the remaining pie crust and place them on the blueberry section, the ¼ that doesn’t have stripes. The entire pie will resemble an American flag.

    All Around Fun Activities  

    Discover a variety of games and activities that will result in lots of fun.

  • Have a Fantastic Father’s Day

    Have a fantastic Father’s Day with these fun activities, delicious recipes, and of course, great gift ideas that will be sure to put a smile on his face. 

    Father’s Day Activities  

    • Host a movie night in the backyard and watch your dad’s favorite movie. Don’t forget to bring his favorite snacks. Discover how to create a cinema in your backyard and read our top-notch movie suggestions here.  
    • No matter what your father likes, make sure you reserve some time for Dear Ol’ Dad. Whether it’s fishing, painting, board games, golfing, or gardening, set aside some time to do what he enjoys.  
    • Create your own backyard bowling alley. Paint ten 2-liter soda bottles and line them up. Then grab a tennis ball or softball and get the game rolling. 
    • Create your own version of ring toss. Grab 2-3 different sized buckets and drill or nail them into a fence or wooden post. Then all you need is ping pong balls, pool rings, or anything else you can try to toss into the bucket. The more difficult the bucket the more points you get.  

    • Spend quality time outdoors with these awesome yard games.  
    • Bean bag ladder toss. Set up a ladder outside and take several steps back. Take your bean bags and try to throw them between the rungs. Each opening can be worth a different amount of points. 

    Gift Ideas for Dad  

    • Make dad a playlist. Gather all of his favorite songs and compile an awesome playlist that mean something to both of you. Here are some feel-good songs he will enjoy.  
    • If you can’t celebrate in person, order his favorite dessert or food and have it delivered to him. Nothing says “I love you” like a plate full of someone’s favorite meal.  

    Father’s Day Recipes 

    Let There be Dad Jokes  

    Write a bunch of your favorite dad jokes on sticky-notes and post them all over your home. Nothing says I love you like a ton of silly jokes.  

    • If you want to go fishing, just let minnow. Fishing you a Happy Father’s Day!  
    • You’re the gratest Dad in the world! Sorry if that sounds cheesy.  
    • How does a penguin build a house? Igloos it together.  
    • How can you tell it’s a dogwood tree? By the bark.  
    • Never buy anything with velcro, it’s a total rip-off.  
    • What happens to an illegally parked frog? It gets toad. 

  • Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

    Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style. Below are fun activities, crafts, and recipes you can use to for a fiesta to remember.

    Let’s Taco Bout Cinco de Mayo Recipes

    • Don’t have any tortillas? These homemade flour tortillas are calling your name and easy to make using just a few ingredients you can find in your pantry. All you need is all-purpose flour, salt, water, and vegetable oil. There’s nothing better than a fresh–made tortilla hugging all your ingredients together.

    Cinco de Mayo Craft Ideas

    • Shake, shake, shake your maracas! Take plastic eggs and fill them with rice or beans. Place the eggs between the heads of two spoons and tape it in place. You can also wrap the spoons and egg in tinfoil and tape the outside for a smoother finish. Then just shake, shake, shake. Another option would be to fill empty water bottles with beans or rice and paint the outside with festive colors.
    • Create beautiful and vibrant tissue paper art that will brighten up your festivities. Let your creativity bloom with these beautiful paper flowers.
    • Get your hands in clay! Create clay pots by rolling your clay into a long rope and then starting at the bottom, coiling the rope around into the shape of a pot. Use quick-drying clay and once the clay is dry, paint it with vibrant colors.
    • No piñata, no problem. Learn how to craft your very own DIY piñata.

    • Make your very own beautiful paper flower headbands. Simply wrap a headband with green ribbon or pipe cleaners and then glue your paper flowers to the top of the band.
    • Get planting! Clean empty cans in order to paint and decorate them as planters. If you don’t have paint, wrap the outside of the cans with ribbon or colorful yarn. Fill the cans with the vibrant paper flowers you made to brighten up the room.
    • Discover tons of bright and fun Cinco de Mayo crafts that are perfect for kids. Make cute cacti out of socks or vibrant yarn banners to hang around your home.

    Cinco de Mayo Activities

    These ideas will help you throw a high-color, low-stress gathering filled with authentic fun.

    • Become the hostess with the mostess and check out these ideas for an outdoor Cinco de Mayo celebration.
    • It’s important to celebrate Cinco de Mayo respectfully. Read about the traditional Mexican holiday with a fascinating history.
    • The largest Cinco de Mayo celebration takes place in the city of Puebla, where the original battle took place. There are parades with dancing, singing, and re-enactments. Discover the beautiful traditional flowing dressings and traditional Mexican pantsuits.
    • Share these Cinco de Mayo fun facts with your kids.
    • Host a virtual happy hour with friends and family. Stir up some fun with these delicious cocktails.

  • Celebrate Mother’s Day

    Discover tons of fun and unique ways to bring a smile to the face of the special women in your life. Let’s celebrate all the moms!

    Activities Your Mom Will Love

    • If you are unable to visit, you can still share a meal over Zoom. Friends and family can also take turns sharing fond memories and things you appreciate about her.
    • Watch a movie together with “Netflix Party.”
    • Stir up some quality time and plan a virtual cooking date. If you are able to visit, spend time baking together and learn family recipes!
    • Uncover how to host the perfect Mother’s Day tea party.
    • If your mom enjoys gardening, spend a few hours soaking up the sun and creating succulent gardens together. Find a decorative stone and use a sharpie to write “I love you” for a nice final touch.

    • Pack a picnic with her favorites snacks and treats, and head to the park for a beautiful day together outside.
    • Spend the evening having a fun family game night.
    • Create a backyard cinema and watch her favorite movie outside under the stars. Don’t forget the popcorn!

    Sweet Mother’s Day Treats and Recipes

    The brunch must go on! Whether you’re in the same room or celebrating virtually, these scrumptious ideas will lead to a mouthwatering Mother’s Day.

    • If you aren’t able to visit, place a delivery order from her favorite local restaurant and video chat while you share a meal.
    • Send her a treat that will remind her of a meal you shared on a trip together.

    Share the Love

    Treat your mom, we all know she deserves it. Make sure you choose and order a gift with plenty of time to spare. Don’t forget to have it gift-wrapped!

    • Make her a playlist. You can even make a special one for each of her hobbies.
    • House plant or herbs in a cute planter.
    • Create an enticing retreat for your wife, mom, or friend. Learn how to transform your porch into a dream space she can enjoy.
    • Find a subscription she might enjoy such as a monthly book club, dinner kit, or craft box.
    • Create a basket filled with scented candles, bath bombs, and other things she can enjoy. If you’re feeling crafty, make your own bath bombs to help melt away her stress.
    • Check out these heartfelt Mother’s Day gift ideas for inspiration and ideas.
    • Make her something yourself such as this comfy DIY blanket.
    • If you can’t visit mom in person, here are sentimental gift ideas she will love.
    • Purchase a gift certificate to her favorite spa she can use whenever she wants.

  • Have an Eggcellent Easter

    Hop into Easter with these fun ideas! Below you will find fun activities, cute crafts, and mouthwatering recipes that are perfect for celebrating at home or at small gatherings. Make this an Easter you’ll never forget.

    Every Bunny will Love These Easter Craft Ideas

    Paper Eggs
    Create and draw your very own paper eggs as a family. Grab some paper, cut out several egg shapes, and get coloring! If you want to step it up a notch, turn on happy music and look up silly Easter jokes and write them on the back of the eggs. Have one person hide the eggs around the house and host your own Easter egg hunt filled with laughs.

    Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies
    Use toilet paper tubes to create cute little creatures. You can draw or paint little faces on the outside before you glue on bunny ears or other accessories.

    Bowling Bunny  
    Find six tin cans that are all the same size and paint them in your favorite Easter pastel colors. Stack them outside on a flat surface with three cans on the bottom, two on top in the middle, and one for the top and third row. You can use beanbags and throw them to knock them down or use a ball and roll it as if you’re bowling.

    Cup Bunnies and Candy Baskets
    Use cups to make bunnies or candy baskets. Paint them white, and once they’re dry, glue on paper ears and eyes. We recommend filling them with jellybeans or yummy chocolates.

    Decorate Easter Eggs
    If you want to decorate Easter eggs and are looking for some unique and new ideas click here.

    Homemade Easter Baskets
    Uncover fun ways you can create your own Easter baskets using everyday items at home.

    • Grab a few flowerpots and flip them upside down. Each member of the house can paint and design their flowerpot.
    • Take an empty tissue box and cut off the top. Paint the outside of the box or wrap it in bright wrapping paper. For a handle, glue a ribbon to either side of the box, or you can use a strip of fabric. Another option would be to glue cotton balls to the outside of the box to create bunny fur. Then glue on paper bunny ears and little eyes and a nose.
    • Use popsicle sticks to make a basket. For the bottom of the basket, lay six popsicle sticks flat, next to each other, and glue six sticks on top of those facing the other direction. Let it dry. For each of the four sides, glue five popsicle sticks vertically and glue five horizontally on top of those.

    Sock Bunnies
    Learn how to create the cutest sock bunnies.

    Hop into Action with these Easter Activities 

    Dress Up
    Just because you’ve been social distancing doesn’t mean you have to rock your pajamas on Easter. Take this time to try on fun spring attire or put on your favorite Easter outfit. Don’t forget to take photos!

    Fun Easter Games
    Discover several creative easter games for kids. These indoor and outdoor activities are perfect for the entire family, and easy to do.

    Connect with Family and Friends
    Schedule a FaceTime or Zoom brunch with your friends and family. Maintaining a connection is important and what’s better than seeing the faces of your loved ones?

    Virtual Adult Brunch
    Host a virtual brunch! Send your friends these breakfast and brunch cocktail recipes so everyone can have their celebration drinks ready before they sign on. Cheers!

    Home Photo Booth
    Set up a photo booth in your home! Hang a sheet as the backdrop and dig through old Halloween costumes for silly hats and props. You can also create your own photo booth props out of paper and glue them to the ends of chop sticks. Take silly pictures with your family that you will remember fondly for years to come.

    Easter Games
    Play some games! Download 6 free printable games for the entire family 

    Happy and Hoppy Easter Recipes

    Easter Cocktails
    Stir up Easter-themed cocktails. Try mixing it up with these incredible recipes.

    Fresh Side Dishes
    Try out a few of these fresh easter side dishes that will make your meal complete and scrumptious.

    Easter Brunch or Dinner
    Try cooking up some of our favorite Easter recipes. If you aren’t in the mood to cook, support your local restaurants and order in.

    Carrot Cake Cream Pies
    Whip up delicious carrot cake cream pies with yummy buttercream frosting and a small carrot on top.

    Sugar Cookie Décor 
    There are so many ways you can decorate egg-shaped cookies! Buy edible pearls and place them in horizontal or vertical lines or polka dots to create elegant cookies. Don’t forget to attach the pearls or sprinkles while the icing is still wet, so they stick. For a glimmering cookie, crush colorful candies in a bag and crumble them on top of your cookies. If you don’t have an icing bag but want to make your own designs, cut a small hole in the corner of a Ziplock and place the icing in your very own DIY piping bag.

    Orange You Glad you Made These Rolls
    These adorable orange easter bunny rolls are the perfect springtime treat.

  • Irish You a Happy St Patrick’s Day

    St. Patricks Day is all about having a golden good time! We have pulled together all the great ways you can celebrate the day with friends or at home. Below are crafts and décor ideas, fun activities, and delicious recipes that will have your friends green with envy.

    Clover Craft and Décor Ideas

    Your littles ones will love making these phenomenal St. Patrick’s Day crafts.   

    Let the colors shine bright and make your very own macrame rainbow!It’s not only an enjoyable activity, but a mindful one as well.   

    Break out your shamrocks and try these good luck charms to prepare your home for a small Irish-inspired get together.  

    Top o’the mornin! Make a leprechaun hat out of an old flowerpot. Simply flip it upside down and paint it bright green. Paint a black band around the bottom of the pot or glue a black ribbon around the base. Then paint a gold box around the black strip to create the buckle. 

    Paint rocks and stones with positive messages on them and leave them around the neighborhood. Not only will you have fun decorating them, but you just may cheer up someone else.  

    Golden Games and Activities

    Have a virtual scavenger hunt! Make a list of things people need to find in their home such as 5 different green items, something lucky, an Irish item,or a rainbow object.  

    St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t need to be all about green. Break out all the colors and uncover how to have the ultimate kids rainbow gathering.  

    Discover fun ways you can celebrate at home! 

    Hold a pot of gold scavenger hunt for your kids. Bake small round sugar cookies and paint them with gold edible icing or top them with gold sprinkles. Then place each one in a small individual bag and hide them around your home or backyard so the kiddos can fill up their pots with golden “coin” cookies.  

    Spend some time learning about what St. Patrick’s Day is and why we celebrate it. 

    Dress up your pets in festive green and Irish attire and take them for a walk so people can enjoy the cuteness.Don’t forget to take photos!

    Set up a face painting booth at home or in your backyard. Paint on rainbow eyebrows or paint a few four-leaf clovers on your kid’s face.

    Hold a virtual Irish beer tasting party. 

    Did you ever wonder why four-leaf clovers area symbol for good luck? Read 7 fun facts about four-leaf clovers to get in the spirit!   

    Pot of Golden Recipes

    Warm up your day with classic Irish soda bread.

    Find healthy and delicious St. Patrick’s Day recipes such as baked oven fries or an incredible slow-cooker stout and chicken stew.  

    Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the best Irish recipes that have been selected and reviewed.  

    These corned beef recipes will leave you satisfied for days.  

    Make an edible pot of gold! Create a scrumptious dirt cup and top it off with gold sprinkles. Then cut a strip of rainbow sour candy and stick it out of the top. 

    Check out these mouthwatering delicious dessert recipes.  

    Bake Rice Krispy treats but add a touch of green food coloring to the mixture. Cut them out in the shape of shamrocks before you munch on your delicious treats. 

    Tired of green beer? Here are plenty of tasty green drinks recipes that aren’t beer. Spice up your night with avocado margaritas or have a refreshing afternoon with a lemon-cucumber cocktail.  

  • Spread the Love this Valentine’s Day

    This Valentine’s Day, we could all use a little extra love! Whether you’re celebrating with friends, a partner, or family, make sure you show your loved ones you care. Below are ideas for virtual activities, recipes, fun crafts, clever gift ideas, and heartwarming décor inspiration.

    Valentine’s Day Crafts and Décor

    Box up your Valentines cards and treats in these adorable card boxes. They are the perfect thing to make with your kiddos.

    Craft beautiful yarn wrapped hearts. Take a piece of cardboard and cut out a few small hearts. Pick your favorite yarn color and hold one end of the yarn to the center of the heart and simply start wrapping the yarn around until all of the cardboard is covered. Use a glue gun to attach the other end so it doesn’t unravel.

    Share the love! Everyone could use an extra dose of joy right now. Create these easy to make cards to send to your friends with a note reminding them how much you love them.

    Don’t underestimate the power of flowers. Learn how to expertly arrange a gorgeous bouquet of roses for you, a friend or loved one to enjoy. Everyone should stop and smell the roses once in a while.

    Plant some love around your home with these incredible heart-shape houseplants.

    Create a string curtain you will adore using nothing but paper hearts, glue, and string. Cut out tons of tiny hearts using your favorite colored paper. Cut several pieces of string between 3-5 feet long and glue the hearts down the pieces of string using a glue gun. Using paint safe tape, attach the top of all the strings to a doorframe a few inches apart.

    My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine – make funny mini cards for your family and tape them around your home.

    • Line: Don’t go bacon my heart. / Image: Draw or print cute little pieces of bacon with hearts around it.
    • Line: We are mint to be. / Image: Tape mini mints to a paper heart.
    • Line: You’re my main squeeze. / Image: Tape a heart with the line onto your OJ or juice in the fridge for your loved one to find.
    • Line: You have always been my butter half. / Image: Tape a paper heart with line onto the butter container.
    • Line: I woof you. / Image: Draw a cute dog underneath the line or take your dog’s paw dip it in paint or ink and print their paw onto a piece of paper.
    • Line: You are a dino-mite kid. / Image: A super awesome dinosaur.

    Valentine’s Day Activities and Games

    Check out a ton of fun Valentine’s Day activities for kids, like making your very own at home skee-ball game.

    It’s game time! Uncover tons of games for kids that will leave your heart full and your family smiling.

    Cheers to virtual wine tasting with your friends. Send a list out a few days in advance so everyone can pick up whatever wine and sweet snacks they need beforehand.

    Have a romantic night in! You’ll fall in love with these at-home date ideas.

    Discover several things to do with mom this Valentine’s Day, like making a memory book or planning a virtual cooking date.

    Laugh it up with these silly Valentine’s Day jokes for kids!

    Valentine’s Recipes

    Don’t go bacon my heart. Make your partner breakfast in bed! Flip a few heart-shaped pancakes onto a plate and use mini chocolate chips to spell out XO on top. You can also use jam in a piping bag to write out LOVE or XOXO on the pancakes. You can also get toasty by cutting a heart shape out of the middle of a piece of bread. While the toast is lying the frying pan, crack an egg into the heart.

    Discover some of the best Valentine’s Day recipes of all time. 

    No reservations, no loud restaurant… just you and your partner and these romantic dinner ideas.

    Say goodbye to boxes of mediocre chocolates and stir it up with these mouthwatering dessert recipes.

    Let’s make the cookies crumble with these beautiful heart cookies.

    Did someone say chocolate-covered strawberries? This layered brownie heart is a decadent dessert your soul will delight in.   

    Gift Ideas for Your Valentine

    Order a photo cube that your loved one can cherish and glance at throughout the day. You can even make your own. Cut and glue your favorite photos onto each side of a tissue box. Each side can highlight a special memory.

    Make the perfect gift for your partner with these easy DIY Valentine’s Day gifts for him.

    Cut out paper hearts and write cute rhymes and things you love about your kid, partner, or loved ones on each heart. Use tape to stick them around your home so whoever you’re celebrating with can smile all day as they find new notes. It can be the start of a beautiful family tradition. Here are a few rhymes to help get you started:

    • I love spending time with you, I’m so lucky you’re my boo.
    • You always make me smile, every moment with you is worthwhile.
    • You’re the best kid in the entire planet, I love you so much I just can’t stand it.
    • I love you all the way to the moon, whenever I see you, I swoon.

    Make a gift basket containing several things your loved one enjoys. You can include their favorite candy, a sweet card, your favorite photo of the both of you, and something that will remind them of a cute inside joke or memory you shared together.

    Uncover great gifts for mom.

  • Tips to Get Your Kids’ Bedrooms Learning Ready

    The school year has kicked off and with it comes a new set of opportunities to remake your kids’ bedroom into an inspiring space that works for virtual learning, after-school homework, and relaxation. Whether your kids have in-person classes or virtual classrooms, a few updates can create a better, more motivating learning environment. Read on for our favorite tips for getting your kids’ bedrooms learning ready.

    Get Your Kids Involved As Karen Aronian, Ed.D., of Aronian Educational Design LLC tells Parents, “Empower your child by giving [them] a say.” Before you begin rearranging spaces, buying new tech, and reorganizing closets, sit down with your kids and talk to them about what they need and want in their rooms for this school year. From 1st graders to high school students, your kids will have thoughts about making their space inspiring and relaxing – even if they share the bedroom with a sibling.

    Set Your Learning Priorities

    Make a list of your family’s priorities as you delve into the school year. Will your kids be taking online courses in their bedrooms, or will the bedrooms be relaxation zones instead? Do they need new tech items? Do you need to reconfigure the room to divide learning and relaxation activities? Once you know your priorities, the easier it will be to start getting your kids and their spaces ready.

    Create a Learning or Homework Station

    Getting your kids’ bedrooms learning ready will mean creating the best possible environment for virtual classroom learning, studying, and homework. If your children are attending in-person classes, you’ll need to be sure that there is an area conducive to after-school work. Start with the desk or workstation. This might mean repainting or spray painting an older desk to give it a brand new feeling. As Parents reveals, “setting up a brand new space for your child … will help them feel focused and comfortable….”

    Do your kids share a space? Is the bedroom shaped in a way that makes it challenging to dedicate one side to schoolwork? Consider going vertical. College kids are pros at making small dorm rooms fit for multiple purposes, and their solutions could be your inspiration when remaking your child’s bedroom. Raised bed systems can be purchased, or you can create a system with a few supplies. The goal is to raise the bed high enough to make a safe second “room” beneath it. Rather than working on the bed, kids can work at a desk in the new space, complete with supplies, calendars, lighting, and fidget toys.

    If going vertical isn’t an option for you in the shared space, Real Simple recommends purchasing a room divider. A simple screen helps create privacy and enhances concentration when both kids are doing homework or taking online classes in the same room. Expert James Wheeler of Atlanta-based J. Wheeler Designs tells Real Simple that an ingenious tiered cube shelving system may be the perfect answer to getting your kids’ bedroom learning ready. He explains: “A tiered shelving unit [can double] as a room divider that also provides extra storage without blocking the light from coming through.” Kids can fill the cubes with clothes, books, folders, trophies, and toys – keeping things organized and adding some much-wished-for space separation.

    Choose the Right Tech

    If your kids have started the school year with virtual learning, ask the school for some guidance about any additional technology they need. Many school districts are distributing dedicated iPads to children for virtual classroom access. Even if you don’t have to supply an upgraded computer or dedicated iPad, think about the best access options available in your budget. For instance, your kids may need microphone/headphones that are comfortable and functional for long school days. “Noise-canceling headphones are effective [for blocking distractions], especially since some kids enjoy studying to music…,” explains Parents.

    An upgraded computer with a better camera system and faster processing might be something to consider. You may want to buy and install a Wi-Fi range-extender to improve the signal in your kids’ bedrooms if the router is stationed farther away in the main living area. This should allow them to get a cleaner signal from their virtual classrooms. These technology updates will allow your kids to successfully navigate homework, tutoring, and online cultural programs long after the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

    Accessorize the Bedroom

    Lighting, lighting, and more lighting – it is the critical element in creating a learning ready environment. A good desk lamp, multi-tiered ring light, or hanging lights are a great way to help ease eye strain during long periods of computer time, whether your child is doing homework after school or spending the day taking online courses. Natural light is always welcome, so be sure to have blinds or curtains that easily open to let the light flow during online classes.

    Does your child have a favorite hobby or sports team? Consider updating the bedroom with new artwork, banners, printed photos, or posters that reflect their current interests. Similarly, new bedspreads or throw rugs can help bring renewed energy to any bedroom.

    Organize School Materials Analyze your space. Is there free wall space above your kids’ workstation? Parents loves the idea of adding mounted shelves where “you can organize a single homework zone that does the job for several kids.” The editors at Real Simple rave about the advantages of using a colorful organizing cart. Each drawer in the cart is a different color, allowing kids to have a specific drawer for each class or activity. The wheels make this organizing tool priceless, as your kids can tuck it back into a corner when they don’t need it and move it near their workstation when they do.

    Deborah Gussoff, a certified professional organizer, tells Real Simple that she is a fan of versatile magazine files because “their vertical format is great for small spaces.” Do you want to be sure that your older kids always have a spot for their keys, phones, wallets, and other necessities before leaving for school? Gussoff recommends “putting [magazine files] by the door for an easy place to drop keys and other small items that would otherwise clutter the room.”

    Command hooks are ideal for hanging up school backpacks, jackets, baseball caps, and other miscellaneous items that might otherwise clutter desks, closets, or floors. Meanwhile, bulletin boards or chalkboards are terrific for visual reminders of class times, assignments, practice times, appointments, or other necessary information.

    Build a Relaxation Nook

    After long days in school or taking virtual classes, your kids will want a dedicated space in their bedrooms to relax or read. Even in small bedrooms, this is possible with very few adjustments. One of the easiest ways to do it is with command hooks and some light fabric. Real Simple recommends “[attaching] command hooks to the ceiling and [using] them to hang a curtain around the bed to create a private nook.” You can also place some ultra-comfortable cushions on the floor and drape fabric from the ceiling using command hooks or metal hooks to make a new relaxation space in just minutes. If you are particularly handy, building a window seat, complete with storage, can add a practical and inviting retreat to a multi-purpose bedroom.

    Rearrange the Bedroom Closet

    An organized bedroom closet will not only help your kids get ready for school on time but keep the room as tidy as possible – a great goal whether your children are taking virtual classes or getting have in-person schooling. Lisa Adams, designer and owner of LA Closet Design, tells Real Simple: “‘Ideally, every kid’s closet should have matching kid’s hangers (if you use adult-sized ones, their clothes will just fall off), pull-out belt racks and hooks, shelf dividers, drawer inserts, a hamper, and storage baskets for sporting gear’….” Make sure that your kids’ daily items are easily reached, while the top of the closet can be reserved for out-of-season clothes or storage. If you have additional dressers, consider adding drawer inserts. They allow drawers to be divided, easily configuring the drawer space for multiple purposes while keeping each side neat. If your kids share a closet, design an easily divided space, even if that just means attaching a temporary partition to a clothing rod.

    Over-the-door shoe organizers can bring much-needed relief to bedrooms with small closets. And they don’t have to be limited to storing kids’ shoes. The experts tell Real Simple that these organizers are perfect for freeing up drawer space, recommending that they can be used “as a hold-all for rolled T-shirts, clutches, and even umbrellas.”

    When the closet organization is done, the room is almost learning ready. The final touch? Decorating! Stickers, colored lights, and mirrors can easily be added to bring some personality to the closet. Even painting can be a fun family activity that sets the right atmosphere for the school year. As Real Simple explains: “[Paint] the closet walls your kid’s favorite color, or swap out boring drawer knobs with ones that have cooler designs.”

    And voila! Your child’s bedroom is learning ready.

  • Halloween – BHGRE Season of Sharing

    Halloween might look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a Spooktacular time! From fun ways to celebrate at home to costume ideas perfect for a mask, we have you covered. Check out our scary good recipes and compilation of great Halloween movies.  

    Boo-tiful Crafts 

    • Use balloons to create fun ghosts and creatures. You can draw a ghost on white balloons, Jack-O’-Lanterns on orange balloons, or create silly monster faces using sharpies. Step it up a notch by adding googly eyes or ribbons as hair. Remember not to use a hot glue gun, or it might pop. 

    • Transform your house into a Halloween world and give every room a theme! Turn your kitchen into Frankenstein’s lab with test tubes and fill different shaped glasses with different color food coloring. Fill the room with spooky fog using dry ice. Make the living room into a pumpkin world with orange streamers, pumpkins, and Halloween decor. Convert a bedroom into a witch’s room with candles, a fake spell book, and of course witch hats. Wrap purple or green ribbons around a broom handle in case a witch wants to fly. Here are 36 free Halloween printables you can also download right now to help you decorate! 
    • Create your own monsters with the kids using empty tissue boxes. Flip them upside down and paint the outside to make fun little creatures. Try painting one green for Frankenstein, an orange one with a pumpkin face, and a white one with a skeleton smile.  
    • Click here for more clever and fun craft ideas.  
    • Make a giant spiderweb on the wall with black string.  
    • Take old white candles from your linen closet and give them a spooky twist. Take red crayons and melt them so it looks like blood is dripping down the sides.  

    • Take old ping pong balls, paint eyeballs onto them and place them all over the house.  
    • Make your own family Frankenstein. Since Frankenstein is a creation assembled from an assortment of humans… do the same. Each person in your family can contribute an article of clothing and stuff it with newspaper. Set all the “body parts” up in a chair and draw a face on a pumpkin to be the head. You will have a silly family Frankenstein. Don’t forget to give it a name! 
    • Hang spider webs all around your home. Cut out little spiders to hang in the webs and glue pictures of your family’s faces on them for some added fun.  
    • Create your own bats! Cut old coffee filters in half and paint them black. Glue a small black circle on the straight side in the middle and glue eyes onto the head.  

    No Tricks, Just Treats

    Just because you may not go trick–or–treating doesn’t mean you cannot have something good to eat. Here are some easy to make Halloween treats you can enjoy with the whole family. 

    Scary Fun Activities

    • Schedule a zoom so you and your loved ones can carve pumpkins together. Maybe make it a contest and let your friends vote for the winner on social media. 
    • If trick-or-treating is off the table instead of just giving your kids candy, try to make it fun with a candy scavenger hunt! Hide candy all over your home and give them little cards with clues written on them. Here are some to help you get started:  
      • We usually come in a pair, we go with sneakers that you wear, so come and find us if you dare (Hide candy bars in their sock drawer) 
      • I am somewhere you go to get clean, where rubber duckies can be seen (Hide candy in the bathtub) 
      • When it’s dark I make it bright, I can help you see when it’s night (Tape candy to a lamp) 
      • I am where cold things get hot, come discover what sweet treats we got (Place some candy in the microwave) 
      • I am hiding somewhere that you eat, I’m also surrounded by many seats (Tape candy under the kitchen table) 
      • Find me where you dream at night, and the bed bugs never bite (Hide candy in their bed)  
      • You can find me underneath where you like to brush your teeth (Put candy under the sink the bathroom)
    • Have the kids strut their stuff on a Halloween runway! Lay out towels or sheets and make a “red carpet” for the kiddos to rock their costumes. Don’t forget to film it and send it to your family.  
    • Costumes are meant to be seen so schedule a zoom costume party and let everyone take turns showing off their costumes.  
    • If you are not comfortable leaving home, talk to your neighbors about setting up a safe trick-or-treating situation or neighborhood block party. Everyone can set up a table outside their doors in the fresh air and have candy laid out on the table so kids can touch only the candy they are taking. People can make little individual candy grab bags as well. That way you can avoid ringing doorbells and reaching hands into candy bowls but still trick-or-treat. 
    • Tape a bunch of small orange balloons onto a wood sheet outside in the shape of a pumpkin and play darts.  
    • It will be hard to keep your laughing under wraps as you make your family members into mummies. All you need… toilet paper.  

     Hauntingly Great Costumes 

    Here is a list of costumes that work great with a face mask underneath. By wearing masks under their costumes or helmets, children might feel that Halloween is still “normal” while also staying safe. 

    • Power Rangers  
    • Astronaut  
    • Super Heroes: Spiderman, Black Panther, Iron Man, Hulk  
    • Transformers 
    • Robot 
    • Ninja 
    • Mortal Kombat characters: Subzero, Scorpion, Kitana, Milenna, Jade, Ermac, Rain 
    • Buzz Lightyear 
    • Star Wars: Chewbacca, Darth Vader 
    • Pumpkin Queen/King 
    • Knight – with helmet 
    • A Lego character   
    • Pokémon 
    • Gladiator with helmet 
    • Sonic the Hedgehog 
    • Minecraft character 
    • Bubble Boy  
    • Gorilla 
    • Alien 
    • Mummy 

    DIY Costumes and Mask Ideas

    For those of you who don’t want to wear a helmet or full-face mask another option would be to decorate your own and incorporate it into your costume. Below are some ideas you can create or spend some time making with your family. 

    • Make a mermaid mask! Glue little confetti circles on a mask slightly overlapping to make them look scales. 
    • Paint any mask to look like an animal’s mouth. Paint a dog’s mouth, a cat nose and whiskers, or cute bunny teeth.  
    • Paint the mouth like a Dia de los Muertos skull mouth and then just paint the rest of your face as you normally would.  
    • Here are some ideas for no sew halloween costumes.   
    • All fairy’s need fairy dust… so why not cover the outside of your mask with glitter? Make sure you use a non-toxic glue and that it’s completely dry before wearing it.  
    • Create a robot with an old box, flip it upside down, cut the flaps off and then glue two straws on the top as antennas. Cut out a rectangular window for eyes in the front. For the body do the same thing with a larger box and cut out two holes for the arms on either side. Paint the boxes silver or cover them in aluminum foil. For buttons and added details you can paint different colored bottle caps and glue them on the front. You can cut out gears and other things using construction paper. 
    • Here is a great DIY Lego Costume  
    • Make an Astronaut Space Helmet and blast off! 

    Pet Costume Ideas

    We all knows pets are part of the family. Do a photoshoot of your four-legged friends in their costumes so you can share them and put a smile on other people’s faces. If you don’t want to buy a costume here are a few DIY pet costume ideas. 

    • Business Pup: Take any fun fabric and cut out a cute little tie that you can attach to their collar. Add polka dots or stripes to kick it up a notch.    
    • Beanie Baby: Take red construction paper and cut out a heart. Then paint a TY in white on the heart and tie it their collar so they can be the cutest Beanie Baby on the block. 
    • Ride Em Cowboy: Repurpose an old harness and glue a small stuffed animal or lightweight toy on the back of it so it looks like it’s riding your dog. If you have an old cowboy toy even better. 
    • Martini: Find an old cone and add some olive props.  
    • Out of This World Doggo: Have fun crafting with the kids while transforming your dog into an alien. Glue googly eyes onto an old harness or take pipe cleaners and any other materials you have and attach them in fun ways.  
    • Pumpkin Poodles: Take orange felt and cut out a piece large enough to wrap around your dog’s waist. Draw a Jack-o-lantern face on the top using a black sharpie or fabric markers. Use green felt and cut out a little leaf and stem to glue or sew onto the top of the pumpkin. To attach it to your dog or cat add strings to either side of the fabric and then you can tie it around their tummy. You can also buy Velcro and adhere that to either side so you can adjust the size as needed.  
    • Super Hero: Take fabric or an old t-shirt and cut out a cape for your pet. Add a string so you can tie around their neck or attach it to a collar. As a family come up with their very own superhero name and using fabric markers write it on the top of the cape.  

    Spooktacular Halloween Movies

    Create a scary movie watching zone to spook up the experience. Hang cobwebs all over your living room and use orange or purple lights to add ambiance. Cut out a few black bats to attach to the wall and create some ghosts out of white sheets or towels.  

    Here is a list of family friendly movies (that won’t result in the kiddos crawling into your bed scared): 

    • Hocus Pocus  
    • Halloweentown 
    • The Addams Family  
    • Toy Story of Terror 
    • Twitches  
    • Hotel Transylvania 
    • Casper 
    • Super Monsters Save Halloween 
    • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 
    • Under Wraps 
    • The Haunted Mansion 
    • Corpse Bride 
    • The Nightmare Before Christmas 
    • Double, Double, Toil & Trouble    

    Scary movies for adults 

    • A Nightmare on Elm Street  
    • Halloween (all 900 of them) 
    • The Shining  
    • Get Out 
    • The Exorcist  
    • A Tale of Two Sisters 
    • The Blair Witch Project 
    • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre  
    • A Quiet Place    

    Ways to Give Back

    Although it’s been a tough year there are a variety of ways you can give back to your local community this Halloween.  

    • As we all know – kids grow fast. Instead of just putting old Halloween costumes in a box in your closet, donate them to those who might not be able to afford their own. 
    • If you have time and enjoy crafting, sew costumes for those who can’t afford to buy them. If you’re not an expert sewer try creating simple pieces such as super hero capes. For some costume ideas that don’t require sewing, visit the DIY costumes section above. 
    • Donate your left-over candy. Operation Gratitude is a Halloween Candy Give-Back program where you can donate candy to deployed troops, veterans, and first responders.  
    • Offer to help your elderly neighbors decorate offer their front yard. Make sure you’re following the proper safety guidelines while decorating.  
    • Some families might want to decorate their yards but not be able to afford it. Try cutting out pumpkins from simple construction paper and attaching a string so they can hang them up outside. You can repurpose old sheets or towels to make spooky ghosts. 

     

    Click here to view all the Season of Sharing articles.