1: ARE THERE A LOT OF CHILDREN IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

​One thing you need to ask yourself is if there are a lot of children in your area. Our first year in our neighborhood, we got maybe two trick-or-treaters the whole night. I was so disappointed, especially because I had purchased so much candy to hand out.   The truth is that most families will take their children to a number of neighborhoods during Halloween. It won’t hurt for you to skip out this year if there aren’t many children in your area.

2: DO YOU ENJOY HANDING OUT CANDY?

For me, the answer is yes. But for others, they feel obligated. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where there are a ton of children, or there are at least a ton of trick-or-treaters each year.   If you aren’t into it, or feels more like a chore, skip out this year or leave some candy outside.

3: ​DO YOU HAVE OTHER PLANS?

​Don’t skip out on your plans because you feel obligated to hand out candy. Heck, you still have time to MAKE plans. This could be a small get together with friends, or a whole party! Whatever you choose to do, make sure you’re having fun, too!

SO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS YEAR?

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​I love to scare people and to be scared in a less interactive way. I also know that some people will say that “I’m just being stupid” or “this happened when you were a kid and wasn’t serious, so just get over it.” I understand why you would think that way, but sometimes things in our lives can affect our abilities down the line. This did that for me.

BACKGROUND ON THE MEMORY

​When I was younger (between the age of 7 and 10, I would say) and still had my dad and his parents in my life, we would often go trick-or-treating with my mom and then go to a trick-or-treat event at my dad’s mom’s church. For the rest of this post, I’ll call her my grandmother.

After this, we would usually go back to my mom’s house or continue trick-or-treating.   There was this one family in our town that always did an all-out haunted house each year. I vividly remember seeing a man dressed in what I think was a Viking costume chopping off a fake head with an axe.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED

As you know by now, my cries didn’t stop my grandmother from driving up to the house. My brother was hesitant, but he leaped out of the car and ran to the door with my cousin to get some candy.  This was the type of haunted house where the “haunted” part was out on the expansive front lawn.

​The person saw my brother and cousin leave the van. As you know, in most cars, the light comes on in the interior of the car when the door is opened. I am thinking that the man saw me in the back of the car before the door was slammed shut and the lights went back off.

I all but bolted my hands over my eyes, and I started crying and screaming. My grandmother kept telling me to calm down between muted laughs. ​It was so traumatizing. After that, I found it really hard to go back to anything similar.

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CHRISTMAS TREE SHOPS

Don't let the name fool you. This shop is one of the best places to find decor for all of your favorite holidays.  There is also a personal care section as well as an everyday home needs section for things like lamps, dishes, tablecloths, curtains, and much more! Here's a look at some of the selection!

My favorite piece, which I think I saw in each of these stores, are these yoga pose skeleton candle holders. They're so cute, creative, and funny. I personally didn't get them, but I wouldn't mind adding them to my mantle. I already have so many sugar skulls, though! Maybe next year!

A.C. MOORE

I know that the outside of this location is looking pretty spooky! I absolutely love shopping at A.C. Moore for Halloween decor in particular. I'm sure that they have amazing deals year round for different holidays. I love A.C. Moore for their prices, not necessarily the selection.

What I mean to say is that there are a lot of options, but they don't seem to change much year to year. I really like these steampumpkins (lol), but they were there last year. However, there are ALWAYS sales (like ridiculous ones for 40-60 percent off)!

OLD TIME POTTERY

Last but not least, I adore shopping for Halloween decor at Old Time Pottery! This store is a lot like the Christmas Tree Shop. There are household items and decor items. I am happy with this place because I was able to find what I needed for my DIY Halloween decor here.  This place is super affordable and the stuff is super cute!

My favorite piece from this store would have to be these adorable posing skeletons sitting on top of a happy jack-o-lantern. I love how it pairs the cute and happy with, well, skeletons. I'm sorry most of my favorites were skeletons, but that's how it goes!

WHERE DO YOU FIND THE BEST DEALS?

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GO ON A HAY RIDE AND PICK PUMPKINS

Last year, when I first started getting serious about my blog, we went on a hay ride and picked out some pumpkins to carve a few days later. I really enjoy doing this, as it gets me into the spirit for fall. Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year, so I'm really looking forward to celebrating it again in October with a ton of interesting and fun content either here on the blog or over on our YouTuber channel!

DIY HALLOWEEN DECOR

I have already gathered some supplies to make some of my own DIY Halloween decor for my home. I love to decorate our house, and I love to DIY. I also love to save money. One of the projects I plan to do is a few no-sew pillows made from these 1-yard precuts.  Our couches are red, so I wanted to make sure whatever we picked would somewhat match. Jonathan helped me narrow down to these choices. I believe this is set to be a video, so be sure to head over to our YouTube channel and subscribe for videos this October!

HOST A HALLOWEEN PARTY

I don't have a ton of friends in the area, but I'm hoping that I can throw a small party for Halloween this year. We don't get a lot of trick-or-treaters, so I feel like buying a ton of candy is just a waste.  Having a party will be fun, so I'm really excited at the possibility of doing that this year. Details are to come!

TRY NEW PRODUCTS

I always make it a point to pick up something new to try each month so that I can review it and put it in my monthly favorites if it makes the cut! I would love to do the same in October. I know it will be super busy with everything going on, but I'm hoping to fit that in!

MAKE SOMETHING NEW

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FLANNEL MINI CANDLE, BATH AND BODY WORKS

While visiting home this past weekend, my mom wanted some lotions from Bath and Body Works, so we stopped in and I picked myself up a few things, including two mini candles. My favorite of the two is a seasonal candle called "Flannel."  I like the candle because it smells like men's cologne, and that's one of my favorite scent families. I also picked up "Leaves," which is good, but not as good as this one in my opinion. The two candles were $18 together.

MORPHE LIPSTICK IN THE SHADE "WHIPPED"

I have a Morphe brush and a Morphe palette, but I didn't yet have a Morphe lipstick, so I thought I'd give this one a try. I actually really like this one. The consistency is good, although I don't think it is really matte as most of my other lipsticks are. However, it is a darker nude color, which is one of my favorite color families for lipsticks. I think this one cost around $9, but it was a gift from my mom! Thanks so much, mom!

MORPHE X JEFFREE STAR PALETTE

I have only ever owned a lip scrub and a lipstick from Jeffree Star Cosmetics. Mostly because his stuff is pretty pricy and, by the time I decide on a palette, it is usually sold out. When I saw that Morphe had collaborated with Jeffree on a palette (which I totally missed, by the way), I had to snatch it up, especially because it was only $35! My favorite colors are the purple/pinks and the greens.  Thanks to my brother for the gift card I used on this! I love using this already!

NYX EYEBROW POWDER PENCIL

Your girl is finally trying to do something about her eyebrows! I have always disliked my eyebrows because they are pretty thin, but I do not have the skill to draw them on, at least not yet. I liked this pencil because I can use the pencil to fill in my brows to make them look thicker, but I can use the spoolie to blend it out so it doesn't look crazy. I was shocked to find some Nyx stuff at Walmart, because I thought they were only in Target. So, this was very affordable, although I can't remember exactly what I paid for it.

BATH AND BODY WORKS MINIS

I haven't used a Bath and Body Works lotion or body spray in FOREVER, but I decided to get three during my trip to the store. I got this set and a lotion in their scent "Gingham." I thought these were the perfect size to throw into my purse for use on the go. Although, I will have to replace the spray bottle because the spritzer isn't working in this one. I love the scent of the "Kaleidoscope" collection, and I am in love with the packaging! The set of three costs $12.50.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH | HUSTLERS

Destiny moves to a be a stripper in the city because she hears she will make more money. Soon enough, a veteran stripper, Ramona, takes Destiny under her wing. Life changes for Destiny after she has a child, but she meets Ramona stumbling into the same club with a man who looks REALLY drunk. She finds out that Ramona and some of the other former strippers are hustling wealthier men out of their money. How far will it go? I absolutely loved the movie. It is, obviously, raunchy in some places. I still don't know what J-Lo is doing to maintain a near-perfect physique at the age of 50. Yes, she is 50!

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WATCHING THE LEAVES CHANGE

COOLER WEATHER (CAN I GET AN AMEN?)

It has been so hot here in North Carolina. I always pity my poor husband who has been out working in this heat. However, we have already had a few days of cool temperatures, and it was amazing. I can't wait for this to be the new norm in a few weeks (hopefully)!

SCARY/HALLOWEEN MOVIE MARATHONS

CHECKING OFF MY OCTOBER BUCKET LIST

There will be a blog post on this next week in the first week of blog/vlogtober! ​I'm so excited to do some basic fall activities like visit a farm for a hayride and pumpkin and watch a ton of scary movies.

MY BIRTHDAY (OCTOBER 1)

ALL THE BUGS GOING AWAY FOR COLD SEASON

I am not kidding when I tell you that the bugs have been TERRIBLE this year. I can't walk outside in warmer weather without being eaten alive and not even knowing it.  I'm excited for these bugs to retreat for a while!

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1: IT IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

One of the biggest impacts humans make to the environment is the emission of carbon dioxide from different industrial processes and from driving our cars. These emissions add to greenhouse gases in our environment.

2: IT CAN HELP YOUR AREA KEEP FUNDING

I learned at this meeting that some grants that your city or town are likely using may require for your city or town to maintain a certain emissions rating. If the emissions rating is too high, it can result in losing these grants that pay for vital aspects of your town's maintenance.

3: IT MAY PROVE TO BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN TRADITIONAL GASOLINE

At times and in different areas, gasoline can be rather expensive. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline. ​If you have access to one of those renewable energy resources that I mentioned earlier, your gasoline prices could pretty much vanish entirely.

4: MORE ATTRACTIVE ELECTRIC CARS ARE BEING PRODUCED

I don't know about you, but I actually picture something like the car to the right whenever someone mentions "electric cars." These may be cute, but how practical are they? There seems to be little room for your legs, let alone room in the trunk for your things.

FIND YOUR LOCAL EVENT!

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OIL DIFFUSER AND FRANKINSCENSE SCENT

So hopefully you saw yesterday's video over on We're The Allisons, but if you didn't you don't know that we recently transformed our junk room/cat room into my office space.  Since I'm still kind of sharing the space with the cat, I knew I needed something to make the room smell nice because, well, you know! I had to do some research to find a scent that was safe for dogs and cats. I say dogs and cats because my dog likes to lay on the bed in this room while I'm working. I found the oil diffuser on Amazon for $27.99. I love that the "tank" has a larger capacity. I found the oil at Walmart for between $3 and $5, I believe. If you have pets, be sure to check which scents are safe for them. Otherwise, I think oil diffusing is a great option for everyone!

TARTIEST PRO TO GO PALETTE

I can't remember exactly how much I paid for this, but I know I got it on sale off of Tarte's website. Tarte is quickly becoming one of my favorite makeup brands. If you're new to these posts, you might not know that I haven't had a "branded" eyeshadow palette until this year when Jonathan (hubby) purchased me a Morphe palette. The Tartiest PRO to go palette doesn't disappoint. The color payoff is amazing and the product smells SO good! I think my favorite colors are boss and hype. I really love the gold colors.  Even though those two are my favorite, I love all of the shades. I rarely purchase a palette if I don't like 90 percent of the shades it offers. I love this and it is great for travel!

HYDRATING SHAPE TAPE FOUNDATION

When I tried Shape Tape concealer by Tarte last month, I knew I wanted to try their foundation. The concealer was so impressive.  I decided to get the Hydrating Shape Tape Foundation and was happy with the formula. The one thing that I didn't like about this product is the doe-foot applicator. I get it for concealer, but I would much rather have gotten a pump.  Anyway, the foundation provides great coverage. They even have a matte version if dry skin isn't an issue for you. I paid about $25 for this foundation because it was on sale. It retails for about $39. I would recommend trying this foundation if you are cool with the doe-foot applicator. If not, I'd skip it.

Sugar Rush 24K Lash Curler Set

My mom always had a lash curler, but I have never invested in one for myself. When this set was on sale, I decided to give it a try. The Sugar Rush 24K Lash Curler Set comes with the lash curler and a mini size of the Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. I've loved adding the lash curling process to my makeup routine. I absolutely adore this mascara and I hope to get the larger size after I run out of this mini. I'm sorry there was so much Tarte stuff in this review, but I've just been loving the brand and the deals they give to their customers!

DR. JART + CICAPAIR SKINCARE COLLECTION

I was gifted the Dr. Jart + Cicapair collection through an Influenster campaign to try and review, but was in no other way compensated by any of the parties involved. I really like the Dr. Jart + Cicapair collection, obviously liking some products more than others. My favorite three are the serum, which I put on every day before makeup; the calming gel cream; and the calming mist. I find that these in particular really help to hydrate my skin and cut down on irritation following a workout or a hot day. I would recommend this skincare line for people who have sensitive skin or those who feel red spots are an issue. I am still using the smallest container, which is a color correcting treatment. I haven't been using it long enough to see any changes. Check out some more reviews on Sephora. I will say that each of the products can be a bit expensive, but they are luxury skincare products.

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However, I would be lying if I said I hadn't donned one of these bows as an adult! Excuse the quality of the photo to the right. It was taken circa 2013. I'm wearing one of my duct tape bows in this photo.  The thing I love about these bows are the amazing duct tape designs you can use to make them. This one was a "when pigs fly" duct tape that depicted winged pigs soaring through the sky. There are so many unique patterns and prints. So, let's get started:

1: CUT A STRIP OF TAPE

So you need to start off with a strip of duct tape. The size can depend on the size of your bow. I personally did a foot of tape and cut it down later, which I would recommend doing if you're trying this for the first time. You will think that you have enough tape but, when you do the next step, you will see you needed more than you thought you did.

2: MEET THE TWO ENDS IN THE MIDDLE

This is very important. You aren't "folding it in half" in a traditional way. You are going to take the two ends of the strip and meet them in the middle. It isn't vitally important that the seam is in the exact center. However, you should make an effort to get it as close to the center as possible.  It should look something like the picture to the right after you've done that. Flatten the pieces together totally before the next step.

3: FOLD ACCORDION-STYLE AN ODD NUMBER OF TIMES

Next, take your strip and fold it accordion-style an odd number of times. I folded mine five times. If you fold an even number, the ends will be pointed in the opposite direction. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but you can fold four times and look at it to see what I mean. ​After it is folded like this, you can trim to size and add a scalloped edge if you'd like to. That's what I did here.

4: WRAP TAPE AROUND THE MIDDLE TO SECURE

Now that you have your duct tape folded, you need to secure it. You will likely need to cut a piece of duct tape from the role and cut it down further so the strip is not as wide. You could also use a different color of duct tape or a different pattern to make your bow really pop. After you wrap it around the center, your bow should finally begin to look like a bow!

5: ADD A BOBBY PIN TO THE BACK AND ROCK IT!

Cut another piece of tape the same width as the one you used to secure the middle of the bow. Sandwhich the tape between the bobby pin with the sticky side touching the straight side of the bobby pin. Secure this around the middle of the bow, and now you or your child can wear it as a bow in their hair.  You could also attach this to some elastic and make it a bow tie for your dashing young man. I made one for my mom's old puppy that I attached to his collar. There are so many uses for this unique craft. Below is a picture of it in my (messy) hair.

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1: HE IS MY BEST FRIEND

There are so many marriages that are so stiff and lacking life and love and genuine happiness. I'm so happy that I married someone who I consider a best friend. It takes the pressure off. I've always felt comfortable in trashy clothes and no makeup, but I love dressing up to go out with him. ​These things matter!

2: HE IS HANDSOME

I don't put a lot of stock in looks because they will fade, but I've got one handsome husband. When he reads this, he will say he isn't handsome. I couldn't disagree more! He always wants to dress nice when we go out. He takes longer than I do to get ready sometimes.

3: HE SPOILS ME

4: HE LETS ME SPOIL HIM

5: HE IS KIND

I remember this day. It was a day or so after he had taken pictures of me around campus for my mom. He really is one of the kindest men I know. He gets that from his dad for sure! He is always willing to help someone. He gives rides to people who need them, helps people who are in need, and will cry his eyes out of there's a hurt animal around him. His kindness warms my heart, and I thank the Lord each day for sending me such a kind husband.

6: HE LOVES MUSIC

Jonathan and I met in band. We both love music and have grown up playing and/or singing it. I love how passionate he is about learning music and making music of his own. He is so talented at pretty much any musical instrument he picks up. I love that about him <3.

7: HE IS A MAN OF GOD

8: HE HELPS OTHERS

9: HE CARES ABOUT MY MENTAL HEALTH

I've encountered a lot of people who turn their noses up at the words "anxiety disorder." I so wish I didn't live with it, but it impacts my day. Something will happen and everything will flood over me. He listens and comforts me in whatever way he can. On Sunday, I had a really tough night. ​On Monday, he tagged me in this, and it made my heart happy. He knew I needed validation and gave it to me in a public way.

10: HE IS SO CREATIVE

Jonathan loves to draw, which is something I'm not sure a lot of people know about him. Throughout our years together (pre- and post-marriage), he has drawn me these cute little pictures to show me that he loves me.  ​It's so sweet <3.

11: HE MAKES ME LAUGH

Get you a man who can make you laugh. I can't even remember what he said to make me laugh in this photo, but it was hilarious.  ​Having someone who feels your days with laughter is so important, and I'm glad I have that in Jonathan.

​12: HE IS LEVEL-HEADED

13: HE BRIGHTENS MY DAY

He always makes sure to ask me about my day. He will send cute messages to me throughout the day. All this without being asked, of course. There's something so special about a spouse who takes that extra time to show you some love and make you smile out of nowhere!

14: HE HAS EMPATHY

15: HE LOVES ANIMALS

16: HE MAKES CONTENT WITH ME

This is from blogtober last year. He went with me to a pumpkin patch. I know he likes to make content because he is doing it with me and because it makes me happy! I love all of the awesome things we've done together and look forward to more!

17: HE DOESN'T FOLLOW GENDER ROLES 

This might be sort of confusing, so let me explain. My husband protects me and is quick to speak up for me in that regard. When I say "gender roles," I mean that sometimes I take out the trash and sometimes he does the laundry. There are things I definitely do and definitely does. He always mows our lawn and I pretty much always do the dishes. It is important that your relationship isn't bound by gender roles. Sometimes your spouse needs you to do more and sometimes they need to do more for you. I love that there is such equality in our marriage.

18: BUT HE KNOWS WHEN TO SPEAK UP FOR ME

19: HE CALLS ME EVERY DAY AFTER WORK

20: HE ALWAYS TRIES TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER WHEN I AM SICK OR SAD

He literally ordered Cold Stone ice cream - yes, COLD STONE ICE CREAM - to the house the other night when I was feeling sad. We never do that, but he did it because he knew that some of my favorite ice cream would cheer me up. ​He's always doing that :).

21: HE ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING NICE TO SAY

When we first started dating, he would say, "I'm not trying to be mean, but..." and then would proceed to say something that was true, but definitely not mean. He is too sweet. He thinks that saying something in truth out of love is mean. Me being a woman from the South, well, I was expecting a little more when he said he wasn't trying to be mean. His soul is pure and his spirit is so sweet.

22: HE IS POSITIVE

23: HE HAS SPENT 5 YEARS WITH ME

Between dating and marriage, we've been together for five years this year. Time really does fly by when you're with people that you love.  I'm so blessed to have been a part of his life for this long, and I'm so looking forward to being a part of his life for years and years and years to come. Happy Birthday to my best friend, my confidant, my protector, my true love, the father of my fur babies (and future babies, hopefully). Love you!

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