Break Out The Bats! Everything I’m Obsessed With This Spooky Season

This post is sponsored by Walmart.

My girls have been begging me — begging me — to decorate for Halloween since July. Lana, in particular, is a wee bit obsessed with all things tamely spooky. And living in Half Moon Bay, where pumpkins have been popping up on chartreuse, twining vines along the highway and even front yards for months now, it’s impossible not to feel the tiniest tingle of anticipation for all things fall.

So they were ecstatic when I mentioned I intended to up our indoor halloween decor a bit with my latest Walmart haul. Lana literally watched the door for the delivery truck and then not-so-discreetly slipped nowwwww can we open it pleaaaase into every millisecond of silence once the boxes were delivered.

mirror | crows | bats | resin skulls | black drape

left: top (size up) | jeans (4) | burlwood tray | hurricane lantern (small) | led candles | pumpkin dish (or this pie version!) | crows | bats | resin skulls | black drape
right: propagation station | resin skulls

Shop All The Spooky Decor In This Post

Honestly, I was pretty giddy, too. I love any excuse to subtly lean into a theme, and I wanted to do something that brought in just a touch of spooky drama without being overly cheesy. And guys, Walmart completely came through.

Easy, Not-Cheesy Halloween Decor That Kids (And Grown-Ups!) Love

It’s been a treat getting reacquainted with Walmart’s massive collection of brands and learning just how much selection they offer both in-store and online, and I’ve been super pleased with the quality of everything I’ve tried recently, from the absolutely epic boucle chair that 8,000 people agree is worth a 5-star review (seriously, it’s stunning) and this gorgeously gilded, oversized mirror to the impressively designed utility jacket I’m wearing in this post.

And, of course, there’s the Halloween decor.

If you’ve seen photos of our decor from past years, you know that the bats are non-negotiable. Probably my favorite of all holiday decorations, period. This year, we bought the larger scale ones for a little more realistic impact, and the result was stinkin’ perfect.

mirror | crows | bats | resin skulls | black drape | top (size up) | jeans (4) | socks

Paired with a few ominous crows and the coolest little resin skulls — I’d love to be the person behind-the-scenes deciding which fantastical beasts deserve to be immortalized in miniature — our living room was completely, easily, transformed. A little spooky black drape for extra oomph (I love impactful holiday decor that also packs away to nothing) and the girls were absolutely tickled. Me, too.

top (size up) | jeans (4) | socks

burlwood tray | hurricane lantern (small) | led candles | pumpkin dish (or this pie version!) | crows | resin skulls | candy

Found: Affordable Wardrobe Foundation Pieces for Fall

But it’s Walmart’s fashion finds that have brought me the most joy.

Ok, no, I love — and I mean L-O-V-E love — that chair.

But we’ll put Walmart’s affordable basics, playful accessories and exceptionally well-designed Free Assembly brand at a very close second.

jacket (S) |top (size up) | jeans (4) | socks | initial necklace | earrings

Shop Everything I’m Wearing

I’ve been looking for a mockneck black top for layering for a while, and this one is long enough to tuck with subtle ribbing. (Note that reviews said it ran small, so I sized up to a medium.) If you’re still on the fence about barrel jeans, these are a great way to try the trend without the splurge. I’d been wanting to add a washed black version to my collection for a while, and they’re soft and stretchy, which if different from my other jeans of the same style but makes for a verrrry comfy fit.

top (size up) | jeans (4) | initial necklace | earrings

And this utility coat, friends, is a freaking gem. It’s got such cool proportions and well-made details, plus a slick, quilted lining that makes it super cozy and perfect for layering. It’s also available in black and camel, but I couldn’t resist the autumnal allure of this chocolatey buffalo check.

At this quality, I’d expect to pay four times as much for something from a contemporary designer, but happily it’s under $35 and is such an easy piece to reach for every morning.

In a nutshell: it’s a piece worth building your fall persona around. I know I have.

jacket (S)

So glad for this excuse to get spooky a little early in the season — and to discover a few pieces that I know will be key to my fall style story.

xo,
Em

Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post. My girls were absolutely delighted with all of the halloween scores, and I was equally pleased with the quality, affordability and the speedy shipping. And thank you for reading along and choosing to spend some of your busy day with us here on The Mom Edit. We genuinely appreciate your support so much.

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Photos by Carolyn Stockman. This was a fun one. Thanks, friend!