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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

What's Up Wednesday ·

What’s Up Wednesday {09.25.19}


What's Up Wednesday Graphic

Happy Happy What’s Up Wednesday !

It’s almost October.

Me too, Anne.  Me too.

Today’s WUW has a random assortment.  This month, Sheaffer is blogging something fun in her world, so make sure you check that out!  For the rest of you who like to link up, please do so at the bottom of my post.  We’re always so happy to have you participate!

Now, if you’re new to WUW, on the last Wednesday of every month, Sheaffer and I host this little linky party where we share what’s going on with us right now.  It’s a little food, a little family, a little what we’re wearing, a little what we’re doing, a little what we’re watching and a little bit of everything else all in one post.

Let’s get started with…

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:

Yes, yes, yes to meal planning!  Do you meal plan?  I have to do that or else when dinner comes around, I’m ordering pizza.  You can see how I meal plan for the month HERE.  You can also see this week’s Meal Planning Monday HERE.  Tonight, we’re having this for dinner…

Best Slow Cooker Roast

…the BEST slow cooker roast!  My house already smells delicious!

Also, I don’t want to sound overly dramatic or anything but…

…my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread is the best quick bread you’ll ever make 😉 .  See the recipe HERE.

2. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

…Halloween!!

Okay, I need your help.  What should Smith be for Halloween this year?  We are having a HARD time coming up with things!  He says he’s too old to be superheros now (insert me crying), he doesn’t want to be a sports figure because that’s not really a costume (it’s what he wears all the time), and a lot of the movie characters you could dress up as, he hasn’t seen the movie.  For instance, I told him he could be Maverick from Top Gun, but he’s like “it’s not fun if I’m not old enough to watch that movie”.  True, true.  Any ideas?  I’ll take anything!  What’s a good boy costume idea for an almost 10 year old?????

3: WHAT I’M LOVING:

Thanks to a sweet reader’s suggestion, I bought this for Kensington’s birthday, and it’s been a HUGE hit!  It’s from BeachGalPals on Etsy!

4: WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Run, Ashby, run!

Guys, she’s doing GREAT at soccer!!  She even scored her first goal last week!!!  Our life right now is running from one sport to the next, but the kids are all having fun, so I can’t complain one bit!

5: WHAT I’M DREADING:

Ashby’s last surgery was without a doubt the hardest…so, I’m very much dreading her next one.

6: WHAT I’M WORKING ON:

Chilling out.

Sometimes, my mom brain knows we need to accomplish 400 things a day (from homework to therapies to sports practices to household chores to dinner to on and on and on and on), and I get anxious when it’s not getting done (because I’m Type A and like to check things off my to-do list!), but I’m working on chilling out over some of that stuff.  This is definitely an area that I need to improve upon.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT:

It’s Oktoberfest in McKinney this weekend!!!  You guys know that this is one of my FAVORITE McKinney things to do, so I.AM.PUMPED.  If you’re local, you should come check it out!  It runs Friday through Sunday on our historic town square.

8: WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING:

I’m finishing up my last book of the month so that I can share all of my good reads with you next Monday!  Be on the lookout for my SEPTEMBER BOOK REVIEW then.

In the meantime, you should read one of these…

And I just finished Game of Thrones (you can read all about my thoughts on that show HERE!), so now, I think I’m going to take time off from binging shows until January.  I think I’ll stick to holiday movies and/or Hallmark movies as my background noise between now and then.  That being said, I think Hart of Dixie is next on my binge list!

9: WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

See answer above 😉 .

10: WHAT I’M WEARING:

Right this very minute?  Here I am…

…that’s me still in my workout clothes on a Monday afternoon.

Other than that, my “uniform” is typically jeans, a top and a neutral pair of shoes…

FLUTTER SLEEVE (40% OFF!)//ORANGE SWEATER//GREEN TOP (IT COMES IN A MILLION COLORS!)//SLEEVELESS TOP (40% OFF!)

On Friday, I rounded up four tops I’m loving!  Two of them are 40% off right now, one is from Amazon and one is PERFECT for October!

And I want to take a minute to talk about the jeans in these pics above…

…okay, I was walking through Nordstrom and saw a camo pair of jeans that looked cute and when I went to pick them up, I put my hand down on the pair of jeans next to them and friends, they were so soft that I forgot all about the camo pair and ended up coming home with those jeans.  I wore them FOUR DAYS IN A ROW LAST WEEK!  Now, I know they’re pricey (I hate that!), but they are really the softest jeans I’ve ever had, and I wanted you to know.  I have never heard of this brand before, but I’m now a huge fan.  I bought them true to size and had them hemmed for my length (I’m 5’3″), so they’ll probably work great on taller girls too.  And of course, I’m wearing them with these booties from last year 🙂 .

11: WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Cheers to Oktoberfest!!

 12: WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

Everything.

13: WHAT ELSE IS NEW:

I need help!  I posted these pic on IG a few weeks ago…

 

…and so many of you asked me where I got my kids’ Halloween pjs.  Now, in those pics, Madeley is wearing this top with these pj pants while Smith is wearing these pjs…but my question for you is, where do you buy your kids’ holiday pjs?  For over 10 years, I bought mine at Gymboree, but now that they’re out of business, I’m kind of clueless.  Gymboree made the BEST Halloween/holiday pjs!  Where else can I get some???  I’d love your suggestions!

Okay, that wraps up WUW for September!  If you blogged today, make sure you link up below!  I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! xo

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Comments

  1. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    Gosh, you guys always have the best Halloween costumes! Out of suggestions for Smith, but I’m sure you’ll think of something great! 🙂
    –
    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

  3. Emily @ The Portion.Co says

    Those glow in the dark pj’s are adorable!! And I need that chocolate chip pumpkin bread in my life. I’m right there with you on the “chilling out” part. The daily to do list is just unrealistic and it’s exhausting!

  4. Erika Slaughter says

    Talk about a HARD right turn…from Game of Thrones to Hart of Dixie? Hmm…you might need to slowly make your way there? hahahaha!

  5. Mary Straus says

    Good Morning Shay
    Check out Hanna Anderson.com. They not only have fun Halloween pajamas, but cute kids clothes as well.☺

  6. Holley@BeeSimplyOrganized.com says

    I always love your WUW!! I’m trying to remember what my brothers were at 10 for Halloween….my parents used to keep a big box of Halloween/dress-up clothes and we had to choose from that box it felt like once we hit around 9/10 years old. We used to dress up as things like Doctors, or an injured person..kinda zombie like, or a chef…I will keep thinking! Let us know what he decides!

      • Cara Payan says

        Hanna Andersson has the softest, most well made pjs. We have been getting them for the last ten years. They even have adult sizes for matching. One disclaimer, I made a pumpkin pj purchase for myself recently and I needed to exchange the top at my local store due to a minor flaw and their computers were down for more than two weeks. I basically gave up because I love them so much but I would confirm their system is fully operational before making a major holiday pj purchase. That being said other than this recent snag I have loved dealing with this company since my 14 was a baby. Good Luck finding pjs!

  9. Dana says

    Carter’s makes great pajamas…holiday ones too! That’s pretty much all my daughter has worn for 5 years.

  10. Lynn says

    Have fun at Oktoberfest this weekend! What if Smith dressed up in Lederhosen for Halloween? That would be cute!!

  12. Mary says

    Harry and Marv from Home Alone is what I want my sons to dress as. Maybe he could go with a friend? My 10 year old doesnt even want to do Halloween anymore. ?

    • Kristin N. says

      Agree! Hanna Andersson has great family matching pjs for all times of the year as well as fall and Christmas outfits that have items for men and women to match as well.

  14. Janelle Fox says

    Halloween!!!! Yay!!!! How about a Mad Scientist costume for Smith!!!! There are a ton of ways to do this, but my favorite is a Lab Coat, big round glasses, a colorful (out of control wig), black pants, and converse tennis shoes!!! :). Good luck!

  16. Brandi N says

    Halloween is our FAVORITE and I only have boys. Last year we were all trophy’s and my oldest was the Heismann. It was the biggest hit – but involved lots of crafting. Is he into Star Wars yet because that has a whole host of age appropriate costumes. We considered going as characters from the Sand Lot this year, but that might fall under “what he looks like every day.” My second grader wants to be Dogman – so maybe a favorite book character? Or a favorite mascot. Shoot me an email if you go the trophy route and I can send you pics of ours and tips on how to do it.

  17. Sheaffer Sims says

    I need some of that pumpkin chocolate chip bread IMMEDIATELY!!! And listen, we haven’t even had 1 conversation about Halloween yet. Last year Carter was dying to get one of those inflatable things, so he was a guy “riding” an inflatable dinosaur. 🙂

  18. Stephanie Hasenberg says

    I’m a teacher and the most creative costume that I have seen for a boy Smith’s age is a toy army man costume. Look it up on pinterest. I think it’s pretty unique. Most of it is DIY, but it is mostly paint and doesn’t seem too difficult.

  20. Kristen Thompson says

    My nephew was Indiana Jones after seeing the show at Disney when he was 10! He never saw the movies but just loved the action and adventure from the live show! We got our family holiday pjs at Hanna Anderson last year but I also love Gap kids for seasonal PJs! The company store does cute pjs too!

  21. Margo S says

    My kiddos, same ages as K and S, are going to be Artemis and Apollo- the Hunters/Gods/twins. Basically, archery costumes. Maybe some Percy Jackson interest has trickled from K to S? Or a Dave Pilkey character?

  22. Jill says

    Hanna Andersson for pjs! They are pricey, but usually have 40% off around Black Friday. They are so soft and hold up very well so you can pass them down.

  24. Cindy says

    My son dressed up as a UPS man when he was about Smith’s age. It was my fave costume ever. And , it’s brown pants, button up shirt, and hat and I printed UPS logos to put on them. He carried a shipping box for candy!

  25. Meagan Clanahan says

    Check out Hanna Andersson for PJs. Plus they almost always have sales going, too. Super soft and well made. Old Navy should have some fun Halloween/holiday pjs as well.

  26. Lois says

    Hi Shay I love your WUW. But I’m so worried about sweet Ashbee. Soccer gets more violent as the kids grow up. Will she still be able to play?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there! For now, her doctor says to let her be seven and enjoy that…but yes, things will change as she ages.

  27. Jill says

    Search the stores for those full zip skeleton costumes or green screen guys. The cover everything and fully zip over their head. The boys think it’s hilarious. I bought both my boys the skeleton ones and they wore them two years in a row. Look up skin suit at Walmart.com. Lots of choices!

  30. Amy says

    Aladdin Genie from the reboot, Any of yhe characters from star wars a character from tge books he reads…a traditional character from Octoberfest

  31. Jill says

    I have a 9 year old boy as well and we have are having the same problem trying to come up with a halloween costume! And it makes me sad that we’re at that stage already. ? Right now he’s thinking about an army man because he likes the grenade and walkie talkie that come with the vest. ? I tried talking him into Where’s Waldo or Harry Potter but he wasn’t having it.
    We’re also missing those Gymboree holiday jammies! I have been able to find cute ones at Carter’s and Hanna Anderson though.

  32. Elan Klein says

    I have an almost 9 year old and he loves to dress up as a ninja or Star Wars character. He can watch the original episodes with Cary Fischer and Harrison Ford if that helps 🙂

  33. Kristi says

    I’m making your Maple Orange salmon tonight and wondered how you bake your whole sweet potatoes? Thanks!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Poke holes in them first, then microwave them for about 10 minutes, then put them in a super hot oven to finish (like 425 for another 15ish minutes!).

  34. Caroline Zielinski says

    I discovered Frame jeans last spring – I got a pair of white ones for the summer and I’m obsessed. They are so cute and comfortable!!

  37. Nicole says

    Boo! I always got ours there too! I found cute, festive ones on Carters website…they have a couple brands on their site too. Very similar to Gymboree!! Old Navy and Gap too. But I liked Carters selection better!! Happy shopping!!

  38. Paige M Wright says

    When my son was 11 he went as a serial killer…cereal boxes on his arms and legs and taped on his torso:)

  40. Kelly says

    My son wants to be one of those Big T-Rex for Halloween! I think they are so funny! I saw them on Amazon!

  41. Melissa Terry says

    Has he read Harry Potter? We did that at 10 and also Clayton Kershaw (our oldest’s fav baseball player but he said no sports). My mom has gotten the kids cute holiday pjs from Boden and I’ve found Old Navy and Gap to have good selections too.

  42. Kelly says

    My 10 year old son was a stick figure for Halloween last year and the neighborhood LOVED it! He wore all black clothes, and the lighting clipped on from head to toe. We got it from Glow City – check out their website. It was really neat in the dark!

  44. Gretchen Dall says

    Smith could be a sandlot character? Bill Snyder? Zombie? T-rex (those big blowup ones)? sSugar skull? Hope that helps! Go Cats!!

  45. Kelsey says

    I need that Hallmark movie watching blanket! Costume Idea for Smith: my 6 year old looooves Dude Perfect and is dressing up like one of those guys for Halloween.

  46. Kitty says

    ??Old Navy for jammies? And for Smith…what about something like this….always cracks me up to see these glow in the dark on Halloween night while they trick or treat….
    https://www.amazon.com/amscan-Halloween-X-Ray-Skeleton-Costume/dp/B07SXD8H61/ref=pd_sbs_193_t_0/138-4744354-9306521?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07SXD8H61&pd_rd_r=5feab4d4-5780-4717-9476-02be4b141d0d&pd_rd_w=2shqJ&pd_rd_wg=MTB76&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=VCZ2DNYDDMNY1V9JYAA0&refRID=VCZ2DNYDDMNY1V9JYAA0

  47. Jess winne says

    My son last year at 10 was a glow in the dark skeleton morf suit – super cool looking!!! They have many options to choose from

  48. Andrea Hibma says

    Hanna Andersson PJs! They are frequently on sale and great quality! Plus they have some matching dog PJs which is a hit with kids!

  49. Anneka says

    In terms of pajamas, I love Burt’s Bees and Carter’s. I’m not sure exactly what he’s seen, but Indiana Jones and James Bond popped into my head. I feel like a Star Wars character would work for an older guy too. Or a snowboarder or historical figure like Abe Lincoln, General Patton, etc.

  50. Nicole says

    Smith’s take on movie characters is wise and true!!! I think go back to basics with traditional Halloween costumes; vampire, mummy, zombie, etc…

  54. Amanda Wilson says

    Morning Shay! For Smith you could go with old fistfuls like Dracula, Frankenstein. What about Stitch that trouble Akers. That what my 10 year old wants to be….and Madely would be the cutest LILO!!

    I am right there with you with wanting to slow down!! I feel like this is the craziest September we have ever had!! I love October so much!!!

  55. Becky says

    Hi! I have a 9 year old son who has never been into super heros so Halloween costumes have always been a challenge. He is going as a Minecraft creeper this year. Last year he was a Lego skeleton and that was a big hit. The skeleton part glowed in the dark (he wanted to just wear his glow in the dark PJs but that was a no with mom :). Chasing Fireflies had a few cool costumes for boys – one being a roller coaster seat, which was unique and cute. And I second Hanna Anderson for PJs. They are more expensive, but super cute.

  57. Stephanie says

    Best holiday (and regular) pajamas are Hanna Andersson!! They are pricey, but the have food sales and the quality and cuteness can not be beat!

  58. Michele says

    How about a policeman, fireman, doctor or a uniform from one of the armed forces for Smith. Super heroes without capes ?

  60. Cara says

    I am so sad about Gymboree. 🙁 Although, they’re supposed to have a line at Children’s Place starting in the spring. My go-to for PJ’s is Carter’s.

  61. Beth Elliott says

    My recently turned 9 year old boy in being a lego ninja guy. If Smith plays any video games, he could be a character from one of those. Minecraft, Mario, ninja turtle or I know fortnite is very popular (I don’t let my kid play it, but just a thought). Hope he finds something he loves!

  62. Kati Wallace says

    Yes! Please give some tips on how you are chilling out! I pick my kids up and feel my anxiety go through the roof because of All The Things!! Ideas so welcomed!!:)

  63. KM says

    I literally just bought Christmas jammies yesterday from Carters – for the whole family! They have baby up to adult sizes in some cute styles!

  64. becky says

    Costumes my son wore back in the day: Harry Potter (black robe, round glasses, wand), Alien (silver robe, silver face paint, silver antenna balls on a headband), hippie (tie dye everything, black curly wig, peace sign necklace, etc), Old lady (gray wig, long dresscoat or whatever it’s called, furry shoulder wrap, old purse.. can find a lot at thrift stores). Hope these help!

  65. Laura says

    Are you Dude Perfect fans? My son got a hat, shirt, and socks from Dude Perfect and that’s what he wants to be for Halloween! Best part… he can wear it again!!
    Oh, I also ordered that blanket!! ?

    • alice h says

      my son was the Panda and Ty from Dude Perfect one Halloween. I even painted him on a beard. I wish I could share the picture. LOL

      • Callie Kesel says

        We loved Gymboree! We made the switch to Hannah Andersson, and now can’t seem to get anything else! I buy them a bit bigger so my boys can wear them longer (and they are a bit more expensive). The quality and guarantee on all their clothes is amazing!

  66. Melissa Sexton says

    Maybe Smith would like to dress up as his favorite book character? Or his favorite YouTuber? That is what my almost 10 year old suggested:)

  69. Valerie Allen says

    Shay, I’ve been trying to get one of my girls to go as a mad scientist or a NASA scientist, but they won’t do it. Smith could rock either one of those.

  70. Julie says

    Hi Shay-
    I always say, if you want to make a quick billion, invent a kids PJ business! They are so incredibly hard to find these days. And also, my bigger two (12,13) do not like matchy sets anymore (waaaah!) so it’s hard to find mix and match stuff for them. Anyway, we now do most of our PJs on amazon! You can find holiday pairs and my boys like fleecy plaid pants paired with plain white t-shirts. Target also occasionally has really cute holiday PJs. For Halloween, would Smith consider being a ghostbuster? My 9 yo loved that because there was an inflatable “ghost gun” back packy thing that came with the costume. Indiana Jones?

  72. Jen Zimmerman says

    My older boys have both had fun in the past wearing those morphsuit costumes (where you look like a complete blue man, or whatever color) and one year they did the inflatable suit, so you were a gigantic blue man. That one was really hilarious. Even my 5th grader would wear it. :). All found on amazon!

    • Gardner says

      My two year old has been saying for months that she wants to be hummus for Halloween. Yes, you read that correctly – HUMMUS. So my friend and I are going to make her a costume because I’m all for it. Hope that makes you laugh as you’re trying to figure out what Smith can be!! Also, Old Navy and Target have the best pajamas, holiday or not!

  73. Sheena Snook says

    Hi Shay, Zombie or mummy’s are always good 🙂
    Also, Carters Osh Kosh / Big Kosh always has great holidays pjs 🙂

  74. Tracy says

    I think my son went as a ninja when he was Smith’s age. He also had a couple years when he went as characters from video games (took some creativity and a few trips to the thrift store to pull those off). Does he like Mario Bros.? Maybe he and Nixon could go as Mario & Luigi. Those are EASY costumes. Good luck!

  75. Nicole Rhoads says

    I’m also going to suggest Hanna Andersson pajamas. They are pricey, but as others have said, there are sales often, and the quality is fantastic.

  78. Sandra says

    My boys are 8 and 12 and they are really into the inflatable costumes. My 8 year old was the wavy guy you see at auto parks and my 12 year old was an alien carrying a human. They were hilarious and got lots of compliments on their costumes.

  79. Kristin says

    Get ready to not be able to stop when you start watching Hart of Dixie! As far as pajamas, Hanna Andersson all the way.

  80. Nicole Egdell says

    One of my most favorite Halloween costumes for my boy was him as a baseball card. His favorite player at the time was Bryce Harper when he was a Washington National. We had a graphic designer put my son’s name as the baseball player and blew it up to poster size. We cut a hole for his head to peak through. He wore his baseball pants and jersey and walked around as the card. It was so fun!! Smith could be a Yankee!

  81. Kimberly B says

    Last year my son went as a shark, my husband was shark attack victim and I was a lifeguard. It was a hit 🙂

  82. kali says

    My almost 10 year old decided this year he wants one of those big animal heads they sell at walmart…he’s thinking monkey head with a brown shirt! Either that or one of those inflatable costumes.

  84. Ranisa says

    I am really hoping when Gymboree comes
    Back in the spring they still have great pajamas. They will be in select children’s place Stores and online.

  85. Ashlie says

    Yes!!! I am Right there with you about struggling with a 9year old boy costume! We are having a difficult time this year! Can’t wait to read some suggestions!

  86. Amy says

    One year our son dressed as Santa Claus for Halloween. It was SO random and unexpected that he was the talk of the neighborhood!

  87. Nerine says

    Ok this is funny, I was planning on asking YOU where you’ll get your kids holiday PJs this year, since Gymboree is no longer!! You’re right they were the best! I’ll have to read your comments to get ideas, but I think Gap has been stepping up their PJ game ever since Gymboree went out of business

  88. Sara says

    Is he old enough to watch Back to the Future? I saw a little boy around his age dressed as Marty McFly last year and thought that was super cute.

  89. Lara says

    Shay – you and Kensington (and maybe the rest of the family!) NEED these Hallmark movie watching socks to complete the ensemble! Adorable!

    https://smile.amazon.com/VoVii-Womens-Watching-Hallmark-Christmas/dp/B07VK8CZJN/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=if+you+can+read+this+hallmark&qid=1569417871&s=gateway&sr=8-4

    https://smile.amazon.com/FADAZAI-Christmas-Movie-Funny-Socks-Unisex-Womens-Novelty/dp/B07W92NXWJ/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&keywords=if+you+can+read+this+hallmark&qid=1569417964&s=gateway&sr=8-19

  92. Heather says

    Carters for holiday pjs! I LOVE LOVE LOVE their pjs, especially the holiday ones. My daughter has been wearing them since she was a newborn and is almost 7. I am going to be SO sad when she no longer fits in them!

  93. Jessie says

    I’ve gotten holiday pjs from Carter’s for years! Old navy and target have some too. But carters is the best. They go up to 14 or 16 I think!

    Also, it’s been a very challenging boy Halloween. My 8 year old couldn’t find anything he wanted to be. We ended up with a nondescript ninja, very large swords and all. My 5 year old is a SWAT officer. He referred it as SQUAT for a week or so and I kind of loved it! Lol

  94. Tanya Latch says

    Hey Shay, I have a fashion question for you. I’m old(er) and am of the old school, no white pants after Labor Day. My daughter says no way! What is your opinion on that?

    Thanks!

  95. Alicia Lindenmayer says

    My new favorite is Burt’s Bees for pjs. They have matching family sets too! Gap also has cute ones

  96. Emily Maybin says

    Shay! When my oldest was 10, he chose to be a football coach of his fav NFL team – all the gear, headset and a clipboard to cover his mouth when talking! 🙂 It was simple and fun!

  97. Yvonne says

    Hi Shay, I sent you an email of the Halloween Costume my son had when he was 10 years old. Super simple and I have never seen it done, we had lots of compliments on it! Hope you enjoy!

  98. Kim Bean says

    When my son was 10 he was an iPhone! We made a replica on foam board for front and back and attached with duct tape straps. It was so cute and super fun to choose the apps. Other ideas he’s done or considered since are Seahawks super fan with face paint, blue hair etc, Monster energy drink, Rubix cube and that huge inflatable dinosaur. That’s always a winner!!

  99. Kara says

    Congratulations to Ashby scoring her first goal!! So exciting. I am so glad she is enjoying soccer and being a 7 year old kid.

  102. Staci Patyrak says

    Doesn’t Smith love the Dave Pilkey books? Could he be a character in one of those? If not one of those, a character from another book he is reading perhaps?

    LOVE all the fall activities!

    I need that pumpkin chocolate chip bread in my life.

    Can’t wait for the book review. I just read The Whisper Network…SO GOOD!

    • alice h says

      and when my older son was 10 (he is now 18), he wanted to go as a cardboard box. so he cut a hole through the top and sides and went as a cardboard box LOL – it was pretty funny though. He would stop on the street corners and sit in the box and scare people.

  104. Michele says

    Shay, does the green top from amazon run small? I am not your size at all, but that’s ok, God made us all different. 🙂 Of course, you exercise and eat right…and I eat. LOL! I’ve never ordered from Amazon before and not sure how their clothes will work. I would normally order the XL. Thanks, and your kids are the cutest things ever!!

  105. Bre says

    I’m sooo missing the festive Gymboree jammies too!!!! I’ve recently been liking Carters festive PJ’s for both Halloween & Christmas.

    Ideas for Smith…. video game characters (Minecraft diamond armor, Minecraft creeper, Mario/Luigi, etc), Dude Perfect, Ninja, Pilot, Airforce/Army soldier type of costume, Sandlot.

  106. Amy says

    My nephew once went as a gorilla businessman. It was hilarious. He wore a shirt and tie, had a gorilla mask and carried a briefcase. I don’t know why it was so funny, but it was a hit!

  107. Leah Reinemund says

    What if Smith was just a pilot instead of Maverick?? He could wear a flight suit and aviators just the same! Pilots are pretty cool my brother is a Pilot in the Air Force 😉

  108. Heather O. says

    Smith should go as another holiday character! I had a friend go as Santa one year and it was AMAZING! Or introduce him to an old cartoon (if he hasn’t seen them already) and do Fred Flinstone! One of his friends could be Barney! Or get all the kiddos in on it!

  109. Lori says

    Hi Shay,
    If you have any tips on how you’re trying to chill out and what to share them, I would love that! I’m in the same boat! Lives to short to worry about everything being perfect but my brain hasn’t got that memo yet! I love your blog! And I really hope you do a Fall Decorating post! You have the cutest darn pumpkin stuff!!!

  110. Mrs. Plank says

    It would be pretty funny if you could borrow a Segway and he could be Paul Blart Mall Cop. My kids are STILL obsessed with that movie. Also Napoleon Dynamite is pretty funny. If he had a buddy that wanted to be Pedro that would be hilarious.

  112. Shirley says

    Some of my favorite sons’ costumes were Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean (not sure if you let Smith watch that yet…my kids did in the 4th/5th grade and thought it was great!). I sewed the clothes for it but you could find similar items in stores, I’m sure. We splurged on a dreadlock wig and it looked fantastic! My youngest was a mad scientist one year, complete with a white lab coat, plastic test tubes set with different colored water in each tube, we spiked up his hair with gel and sprayed it with white hairspray, big black “nerd” glasses….it was a riot! My oldest wanted to be a jailbird one year so I bought an orange jumpsuit and painted the jail & prisoner number on the back, messed up his hair, and face-painted a black eye and pretend cut on his face – the funniest part about that costume was my kids were the BEST kiddos, so everyone thought it was absolutely hilarious that he was a “criminal!” We were sooooooo into Halloween when they were young! They are now 21 and 25 years old. WAAAAAHHHHHH! 🙁

  113. Sara says

    I don’t know if Smith has seen this or if it’s too grown up but he could be a “Ghostbuster”…. That’s what our family costume is ??

  114. Stephanie says

    I m so making that chocolate pumpkin bread tonight!! Have Smith dress up as Tab, aka referee, bald head and all!

  115. paige says

    My 10 year old boy LAST year was a gorilla. The costume was really awesome! I got it on amazon, and it was very legit looking. It was kind of his first “scarier” costume! It got a little hot running around, but it was a big hit overall! This year, at 11 1/2, he says he’s too old to dress up. So live it up Smith!!! 🙂

  116. Robin says

    I only get pjs at Hanna Andersson. Like everyone said they can be pricey but I usually buy when they have a sale. They hold up well and wash better than any other pjs that I’ve bought.

  117. Lizounette says

    I also am at a loss without Gymboree and their holiday jammies.
    For Smith – what about a funky mask? They have so many that a creepy / funny / interesting he could just pick some sort of monster!

  119. Rachelle Sims says

    Smith would be such a cute Maverick! Let him see the movie and just fast forward when needed LOL LOL LOL

  120. Megan says

    My 9 year old is going to go as a glow in the dark stick figure (you can look it up on pinterest). Not sure how it’ll work during the day for the school parade…might do something different for that and then the glow in the dark for trick or treating 😉

  122. Jenn says

    My 11 year old goes for the funny costumes. He went as an inflatable pineapple last year and will be a cheeseburger this year. Target has loads of good choices on their website—divided out into categories for browsing.

  123. Bre says

    A lumberjack for Smith! My nephew did this a couple of years ago and it was awesome – plaid shirt, jeans, fake beard, wool hat, toy axe.

  124. Allena says

    I think my 10-year-old boy is going to be a zombie – we did it a few years ago and it’s so easy – I find some clothes he’s outgrown and rip them up and roll them around in the dirt and get them all nice and gross. Then we buy zombie make-up/fake blood (Amazon has a little kit) and cover him in dirt/make-up/fake blood and mess up his hair. It’s so fun haha. I bought that Loft top (sleeveless version) a few weeks ago and have worn it every week – it’s so perfect – comfortable but you look nice – which is always my goal as a work-from-home mom (always trying to find that balance of not looking like a slob)!

  125. Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says

    Those are the cutest halloween PJs!! I love your fall tops too! I have to say I blogged a little bit about Nantucket today in WUW and your recommendations for Something Natural were spot on!!! I want to go back just for the lobster salad sandwich!! Can’t wait to see what Smith decides to be!!
    xo
    Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams 

  126. Linda says

    Hannah Anderson by far! Shay, my daughter is your close to your age. I still have the pair I bought for her. Even though they were pink and cream her brothers wore them also. ? They still look great. With three granddaughters someone will be wearing them in the near future.

  127. Chelsea says

    I hate it when they just want the scary costumes for Halloween. Some costume ideas my boys have done are werewolf, zombie knight, and zombie football player. This costume takes so much time to make but I loved making my son a vending machine costume by spray painting a box and adding Plexi glass and snacks to dispense.

  130. Kim says

    Ideas for Smith’s costume: My son loves dressing up in something that makes people look twice. Two years ago we got a grim reaper costume at WalMart with eyes that glowed through the robe. It wasn’t scary, but it really caught people’s attention. Last year, we bought a giant gorilla head from Target and he wore that with all black clothes.

  131. Stacy says

    My 7 and 9 year old just watched Men in Black and I ordered them cheap black suits and sunglasses off of Amazon to go as the agents. If Smith and Nixon have seen that maybe they would like to do that together? Then maybe one of the littles could be an alien!

  134. Katie says

    Zombie, Zombie Football Player, Zombie Baseball Player. One of my friends kidos was a Rodeo Clown last year which was super funny (I’m sure that could be turned into Zombie as well. Ha.
    Also – what is your go to toe nail polish color this time of year?

  135. Suman Ali says

    Smith should be an astronaut!!! Me and my bf just bought our costumes from Spirit Halloween (20% off coupon on their website) and the are soooo nice plus they’ll be warm late October!

  136. Katie says

    & (oops forgot a question!) How do the FRAME jeans sizing run? What size are you wearing? I’m all about soft denim! Thanks!

  137. Casey Holter says

    My son was a headless horseman last year and the boys in his class thought that was great! Lots of compliments on it!

  139. anita says

    Shay, please share how a mother of four kids, a husband and all your other responsibilities manages to binge watch all these shows and read all these books? Please give us your secret!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Well, it took me six months to watch this show, so that’s a loooong time! I watch shows when I eat breakfast and lunch (because I eat those meals by myself each day) and then anytime I fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, put on makeup, and do my hair. All of those moments are ones where I’m by myself and can just turn a show on my phone and multi-task! I watched every GOT episode but two on my phone (I watched two of them on the actual TV with Andrew). As far as books go, I read mostly at night and then anytime I’m waiting on my kids. If they’re at speech, the dentist, dance, tumbling, if I’m in the car waiting for them to get out of school, etc, I’m reading a book. The Kindle app on my phone makes it easy because it picks up where my Kindle left off at home, so I can just pull it out and start reading. Little bits add up!

  140. Misty S says

    Hanna Andersson for PJ’s. I also LOVE, LOVE Hanna Andersson’s mix and match tunics and leggings(or shorts). Last and last on active kiddos. They are the best! Sadly, my high school freshman won’t let me dress her up in them anymore. LOL

  142. Jaeme says

    When my son was 9 he was a girl for Halloween. He thought it was the funniest thing ever! And all I had to buy was a wig…he wore his sister’s clothes ?

  143. Sarah P says

    We love Lands End for pjs because my boys like loose bottoms. They are great quality and frequently have a sale. Thanks for asking the Halloween question. My 8 & 10 year old are struggling too.

  144. Connie B says

    Dressing up for Halloween is long past in our house. But I loved making costumes for my boys! I’m not one for creepy, ugly, scary so most of ours were book, movie, other Mom approved characters. Some of my favorites that they went as were Harry Potter, Sam I Am, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Indiana Jones, George Washington and even Santa Claus. I do miss those days of creating their costumes!

  145. Mother of 3 says

    My youngest informed me he’s not going Trick or Treating his year.. he was my last one that wanted to dress up and I’m kind of bummed that Halloween is going to pass by like any other day of the year now. The last few years my son dressed in animal/pokemon onesie costumes from Amazon. Here in New England we need WARM costumes with lots of room for clothes underneath and they were so comfy he almost didn’t care what he dressed as.

  146. grace says

    Hi!

    Love that blanket! What are your favorite Hallmark Christmas movies?? Kensington’s?

    A fun and easy costume for a boy is to be Waldo from Where’s Waldo!! Inexpensive and not cumbersome to move around in.

    Good luck to Smith in deciding!!

  147. Kyann says

    My son loves Minecraft so is going as Steve from that! Target has a Steve costume! Or you could just take him into a store and see if anything jumps out at him??

  148. Elizabeth says

    Hanna Andersson pjs are the best!!! They are really the only place I get pjs now and they last forever (well, until they out grow them!). I’ve also found some at Gap and old navy sometimes.

  149. Marianne Carlisle says

    Is Kensington’s Hallmark blanket light gray or taupe? I’m having a difficult time distinguishing between the colors on the Etsy site. Thanks!

  150. Abbie says

    Hart of Dixie is a great binge worthy show!! I binged it and loved it!! It’s cute and sweet and a little bit a cheesy but you love all the characters! Reminds me a tiny bit of Gilmore Girls because of the small town!

  151. Erin Harris says

    Halloween costume….Smith could be a bottle of Gatorade! {you might need to make that one though…I’m envisioning orange hair though ;)} Goes with his love for sports and isn’t an actual player or sports figure.

  152. Becky Kohl says

    My friend Jamie’s son went as a “chick magnet” last year. She mad the costume and it was adorable!

  153. Johnna says

    We like Carters and Children’s place for holiday pj’s. Hart of Dixie is awesome! I think you’ll love it.

  154. Amanda says

    Gap has great holiday pajamas usually. I bought skeleton ones for my boys at Target last week that look like the ones in your picture.

  156. Misty says

    Old Navy is my favorite place for seasonal jammies. They always have a great selection online. I’ve gotten several pairs of glow in the dark skeleton ones there. Gap is another place that has super cute jams.

  157. Kim C says

    I love Carter’s for my kids’ holiday pjs. My oldest son is just about grown out of Carter’s brand so last year I bought him Old Navy ones which were super comfy too. Every year they get new Christmas jammies, and Halloween too if I see cute ones.
    I have a house full of boys and they’re leaning towards Avengers costumes….. ALL 3 OF THEM….. AGAIN! I wish I could break that cycle now that we’re on year 3 of that theme and get them to explore but I don’t want them to hate their costumes either.

  158. Kelly W says

    My 10 year old dude went as a Kit Kat bar last year for Halloween and this year he’s going to be a stick man – found the idea on Pinterest, it’s super easy and not something you usually see! Good luck! Costuming gets harder the older they get, doesn’t it?

  161. Amy H. says

    My son loves all sports!! Last year he was an MLB umpire for Halloween and it turned out great, it was a big hit! Wish I could post a picture.

  163. Terri says

    Have Smith be a nerd! There are lots of silly things you can do to make this fun – a pocket protector and taped up glasses are the clinchers.

  164. Meghan says

    My son was an in n out employee one year. He won most creative costume and it was a hit. We asked the manager at our local store for a shirt and he even gave us the badge and apron. We bought white jeans and then you can get a hat from the store. He even passed out the stickers they give out. I bought the safety pin for the apron and a tray on their site. It was awesome.

  167. Sarah says

    Great places to get cute jammies is target, Carter’s, primary.com. Great costumes are popular singers, zombies,or Harry Potter!

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