Throwing a Kids Halloween Party

We had a Halloween party this year a small but fun affair with one of Z-girls Classmates and some family. To make the food look festive I used food color and decorating gels. and found a super easy recipe for Cream Cheese Frosting (8 oz. of Cream Cheese, 1 Cup of Powdered Sugar and 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract, food color optional) for frosting our cupcakes.

The Goody bags contained flashlights, kazoos, coloring books, stickers and Tattoos and of course some candy (Pez and Lollipops). One Idea I had was to hide the Goody bags (kind of like an Easter egg hunt) but we also hid some "scary" stuff. Spiders, bats, and spooky pics. (Unfortunately we just handed out the bags)
The kids were dressed in their costumes. We had some princesses and Wonder Woman I was dressed a Shaggy from Scooby Doo.
For activities we had Halloween Songs which the kids were dancing to (pretty impressive in there princess high heels.) We decorated pumpkins with stickers, watched Scooby Doo movies
As the party was winding down we had story time and read Ten Timid Ghosts and The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches.

In the end I think the party was a success since later that night my daughter thanked me for the party and told me she had a lot of fun.

Deviled eggs Decorated with Olives, Dill, Pimentos, and Bell Pepper

PB & J sandwiches cut to look like pumpkins and Coffins then decorated with Cake decorating Gel and Deco Pics.

Crescent rolls with melted shredded Cheese and decorated with assorted Olives.

Decorating Pumpkins with Stickers

A Post Halloween Breakfast that you can feel good about

Pumpkin Buckwheat Pancakes are a seasonal treat you can feel good about. After gorging yourself on Snickers, Milky ways, Twix and Milk Duds you may need something to help curb the guilt of raiding your kids candy bowel. Below is a recipe from CTS Sports Dietitian - Alicia Kendig
Buckwheat and pumpkin are both loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals, and since buckwheat is a fruit seed and not a cereal grain, it is a great alternative for people who are allergic to wheat. Vegetarians and all active individuals will also benefit from the fact that buckwheat is a great non-animal source for all eight essential amino acids. It’s also rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, making it a great resource for people seeking to manage their cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
The pumpkin in this recipe is packed with beta-carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A – a well-known antioxidant – in the body. Besides being good for maintain your eyesight, cconsuming beta-carotene from pumpkin and other orange vegetables like squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes, may lower your risk of developing certain types of cancer and may provide some protection against heart disease.

Together these two ingredients provide a sweet tasting, moist, delicious and filling breakfast option. Whole grains and natural fruits will fill you up more than plain pancakes or waffles.

Ingredients: Serves 2
1 cup buckwheat flour
2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of cloves
Pinch of salt
1 1/3 cup low fat buttermilk
2 large eggs or egg substitute
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup fresh cooked or canned solid pumpkin or TJ's Pumpkin Butter

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla, then blend thoroughly.
Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix, stopping when everything is just combined. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in pumpkin.
Spray skillet and spoon ¼ batter onto skillet for each pancake. When the undersides of the pancakes are golden and the tops are lightly speckled with bubbles that pop and stay open, flip the pancake over with a spatula and cook until bottom is golden.
Enjoy with Maple Syrup or Fruit Topping

Being a Parent

About a week or so ago I posted a mock Job offer for a Mom or Dad. During that same time frame Ross from Will it change you posted an article asking the question Is Parenting Worth it.
My Answer was obviously yes and every day I am reminded of why. From a hug or some kind gesture to giving me a toy to take to work with me my daughter is a bright spot in my life.
She has reminded me to take time to laugh and play everyday .
In the Book You are what you think Author David Stoop states that there are 3 basic emotions: Love, Fear, and anger. These emotions are like primary colors with various blendings creating a complete palette. An example of this would be that you yell at your child because they are doing something that puts them in danger. You are yelling because you love them and don't want them to get hurt, Fearful that something really bad could happen, and angry that they are putting a pencil up their nose after you have told them not to 1,000 times before.
I try my best to operate with the emotion of Love (not always easy) but in the above example if you can catch yourself before you speak or yell you can remove the pencil in a gentle way and let them know that you are taking the pencil away because you do not want them to injure themselves and that putting a pencil up their nose is not a good health choice. Let them know that they can have a pencil again but for now we are going to do something else.
Some other ways I try to act out of Love is by letting my Daughter know that I Love her and think she is special This is a nice thing to do at the end of the day as she is winding down for bed. By verbalizing how you appreciate your child it lets them know that you appreciate and value the time you spend with them and recognize their achievements.
Be a compassionate observer - Try not to be judgemental or speak with a condescending or angry tone. Try to see a situation from your child's perspective.

Please feel free to share What parenting has been like for you and any joys or challenges you have faced and/or overcome I would love to hear about them - Thanks, Mike

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Affordable Halloween Get Away

Halloween Weekend Special October 31 – November 1, 2008
Bring your little goblins to Willow Valley for a fun filled spooky weekend.Package includes:
Breakfast Smorgasbord and two FREE tickets to Hershey Park in the Dark or Dutch Wonderland Happy Hauntings.
Activities include a bonfire with smores & hotdogs, hayride, pumpkin painting and more. Costumes are encouraged.
Rates from $139. Rates are per couple, per night. Two night stay required.

Where to Eat
Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center Dining Details
Willow Valley Family Restaurant:
Enjoy the best of what Lancaster County has to offer. The Willow Valley Family Restaurant has been a local favorite for 40 years. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner smorgasbords with a menu of homestyle favorites, you'll find something delicious for everyone.
Willow Valley Family Restaurant, Open Mon-Sat, 6am-9pm, Sun, 8am-8pm (smorgasbord only). Daily Smorgasbord hours vary. Call for details.
Sunday Brunch at Palm Court:
Our award-winning Sunday Brunch features delicious breakfast and dinner items. Begin with soup, salad, fresh fruit, freshly baked breads or croissants. Or opt for a country-style meal of eggs or omelettes – made-to-order, ham, sausage, bacon and homefries.
Save room for favorites like shrimp, crab legs and other seafood, hand-carved beef or ham, other freshly prepared entrees, theme dishes, pasta with your choice of toppings and sauce and the mouthwatering array of Willow Valley Bakery cakes and pies.
Sunday Brunch at Palm Court - Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Willow Valley Terrace Smorgasbord:
The Terrace Smorgasbord is located off the main lobby and is open Friday & Saturday nights for dinner, and Saturday for breakfast. Open Tuesday - Saturday in Summer. Hours vary by season. Please call for details.
Bakery:
Willow Valley is known for serving scrumptious homestyle Lancaster County favorites in its restaurants since 1966. But, did you know that the delicious baked goods are made fresh daily in their own on-site bakery?
From the moment you walk in, you'll smell the aroma of freshly baked sticky buns or shoofly pie. As you browse through the shop, you'll find a variety of pies, cakes, muffins, donuts, breads, and much more to take back home.

Weekend Planner October. 24-31

It is one week before Halloween and as we count down to the Friday the 31st. Activities are ramping up across our region. There are numerous Halloween-y things to do with your family ranging from Haunted Hayrides and walks to Pumpkin painting and Story telling. many of these events are free but may require Registration.

See our previous Post for Haunted Happenings
Some activities that I want to highlight for this weekend are:

Paint-a-Pumpkin at the Van Riper Hopper House Museum at 533 Berdan Ave., Wayne NJ
Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26 from 12:00 am to 3:00 PM.
Participants can choose a pumpkin and paint it with museum supplies and guidance. The program is recommended for children age 5 and up. Adults, with children ages 8 and under, need to stay and share in the fun.Cost $7.00 per pumpkin and paint session.

ZooBoo at Van Suan Park
ZooBoo, the Zoo's annual Halloween event, takes place on the Friday and Saturday night before Halloween. The evening includes a haunted train ride (recommended for adults and children over 8) and trick-or-treating inside the zoo (for all ages). In addition to the treat stations, there are magic shows and spooky storytelling throughout the evening. Tickets are not sold on the night of the event. For ZooBoo tickets, call the Zoo at the end of August to see if tickets are available. Zoo Members are offered advance ticket sales. For information about Zoo Membership, click here.

The "Halloween Hayride"
at James A. McFaul Environmental Center is held in late October. This program is geared to be a non-scary event and designed for young children. Please call the Environmental Center at (201)891-5571 for specific date and times.

Tenafly Saturday October 25: Annual Halloween Parade and Celebration. Join Tenafly Recreation at the Municipal Basketball Courts at 4:00 p.m. as we kick off the Halloween Parade. After a short march through town it's on to the Tenafly Middle School Gym for our costume contest, games, refreshments and the spookiest haunted house in Bergen County!

Tuesday October 28th 12-4 PM
Trader Joes in Edgewater NJ
Decorate a Pumpkin or color a spooky picture
Pre-register at the Lighthouse to reserve a seat.

Thursday and Friday October 30th-31st all Day
Trader Joes in Edgewater NJ
Come in for trick or treat wear a costume get a goody - All ages.

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In New York Check Out
Friday October 24th:
Ghostly Greenbelt Ghoul Fest with Cirque du Soleil
4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
A night of Fall excitement is waiting just for you! Come walk along the new haunted walk and enjoy Halloween crafts, games, pumpkin picking, and Autumn treats for the kids. Make sure to watch for the Headless Horseman as he rides the Greenbelt!
That's not all: members of the famous Cirque du Soleil's circus troupe will be on hand to entertain and amaze you.
Free. All ages welcome. Costume a must!
Location
Blood Root Valley
Greenbelt Recreation Center (501 Brielle Avenue between Walcott & Rockland avenues) Staten Island
Contact Number: (718) 667-3545

Scary Story Night
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Ghouls, goblins, and ghosts galore in the Greenbelt! Come sit by the fireside to hear spine-tingling tales guaranteed to keep you spellbound!
Fee for Greenbelt Conservancy members is $5; for non-members it is $6.
Call (718) 351-3450 to register. Registration and prepayment required.

Saturday October 25th
The 2008 Central Park Pumpkin Festival. This annual event will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 3-8 p.m. and all proceeds from the event will benefit Camp Sunshine, a national retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their family.
This year's Pumpkin Festival is gearing up to be the best yet, with exciting activities for all ages, including:
Scarecrow Design Competition - Bethesda Fountain
To celebrate the spirit of Halloween and creative expression, the Parks Department is hosting its first citywide scarecrow competition. Open to all NYC elementary and middle schools, Parks will award first, second, and third place prizes to the best scarecrow designs. Click here to learn more!
Spooktacular Haunted House - Bethesda Terrace Arcade
Designed by the same company that runs the popular annual haunted house in the Lower East Side, our haunted house will take you through six different rooms that feature bone-chilling zombies and other spooky surprises! Get a sneak peak of our Haunted House on Friday, October 24 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.!
Jack O' Lantern Tower - Bandshell
Due to popular demand, we are bringing back our 20-foot tall Jack o’ Lantern Tower in the Bandshell area! Our lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30pm, just as the sun is beginning to set…
Pumpkin Patch - Cherry Hill
Don’t forget to stop by the Pumpkin Patch to let your kids pick out their very own pumpkin! We will also have a photo booth on site so wear your Halloween best!
Live music and other entertainment - Bandshell
The entertainment schedule is PACKED with exciting performers for all ages, including Big Apple Circus, Laughing Pizza, Derek James, Evan Michaels, and a fire eater!
Big Apple Circus' Anna Jack and her Amazing Poodles - 3:30 p.m. - Don't miss the only NYC live performance by Laughing Pizza - 4:00 p.m.
Hayrides - 72nd Street Transverse
Perfect for young children, the hayride will start at the bottom of Cherry Hill and will continue along the 72nd Street Transverse giving kids a wonderful view of the scarecrows to the North and the Jack o’ Lantern Tower to the South.
Want to know more about what's going on for Halloween? Halloween Happenings in Parks

Sunday October 26th
Ghouls and Gourds
Noon–6 p.m.
Where: Brooklyn Botanic Garden,
900 Washington Ave.
(718-623-7200)
Kids Under 12 Are Free
Show off your costume, carouse with colossal puppets, make raucous rhythms, and shake your bag o' bones at Brooklyn's wackiest costume parade!
Enjoy music for families by the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, John Carlin & the Kids Music Underground, Guy Davis, Bash the Trash, Maracatu NY, and the Von Swing Family. Plus, chat with celebrated children's book authors and illustrators, cavort with stilt walkers, feed carnivorous plants, wonder at Phydeaux's Flying Flea Circus of Fate, enjoy Thai pumpkin carving, get inked at our tattoo parlor, and create recycled junk instruments, sprout necklaces, and gorgeous gourds.

If you have any other events that you would like to submit please leave a comment or drop us an email at Kidzense - Thank You

Unbelieva-Bills Halloween Drop-Off Party

Unbelieva-Bills
Halloween Drop-Off Party
Friday, October 24, 2008
6pm-9pm
$35 per child

Parents can drop the kids off (4+) by pre-registering or they can stay. Price includes unlimited play in our jungle gym, lazer tag, 20' rock wall, bumper cars, bowling, virtual sports, trampoline basketball, 3D movies, food, drinks and goodie bag.
Call to pre-register at 201.670.6340

140 Hopper Avenue
Waldwick, New Jersey 07463
201.670.6340

Job Offer

Title: Mom/Dad

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings, weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,20an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE : None required unfortunately.
On-the- job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION : N/A! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.BENEFITS :While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life.
(if you play your cards right)

** FOOTNOTE: This is a Permanent Position THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **

Get a Great Deal on your Childs Halloween Costume

When it comes to getting a great deal on a Halloween costumes it is no different than any other purchase you have to do your research. Lucky you I have done it for you. Over the past week I have visited countless websites and stores searching for the best price, quality costume, and in-store experience.

Make your own: This can be a fun endeavour or turn out "disastrous" depending on what your child wants to be and your talents at sewing and arts and crafts. My grandmother used to make us great costumes she was a very resourceful and a great seamstress. She made at least 3 of my costumes (A clown, Dracula, and Luke Skywalker) sorry no pictures. Your Costumes do not need to be elaborate and you can use items around the house to put something together that looks great Some Ideas are: Charlie Brown A yellow T Shirt that you draw the Zig-Zag Thing with a black marker, shorts, Brown Shoes and a Snoopy Stuffed animal (Bag of rocks optional) You can also do the Charlie Brown Halloween Costume get a white Sheet and Cut the Holes for the Eyes then draw some holes or Glue Black Felt Ovals and Circles on it.

Buy Online at Discount retailers:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/ - Discounted Costumes and Party Supplies
Shop online and enter keycode WC97382 during checkout to get free standard shipping on your purchase of $49 or more, within the contiguous U.S.

Here is how the online stores stacked up on the
Official Disney version of Ariel the Little Mermaid Costume for a child:
http://walmart.com/
$15.00 (not available in Stores online only) + .97 shipping
http://anniescostumes.com/ - $33.95
http://target.com/
$ 38.99 (Other Versions were between 14 and 21)
http://www.buycostumes.com/ - $38.99
http://www.halloweenexpress.com/ - $44.99
http://www.spirithalloween.com/
(Buy one get the 2nd ½ off) They Did not Have the Disney Version

Brick and Mortar Stores:
Advantage here is you get to try it on for fit and make sure its comfortable and safe (no scratchy fabrics, things to trip over, or obstructions to vision)

Party City - There is a $5.00 of 25 coupon for Party city in Parent Guide News (Paper Copy Only) I was able to get a version of the Ariel costume for $13.00 there accessories (shoes and tiara were 10 each) When I got it home to try on my daughter it was too small and the fabric was scratchy. Party City had an efficient and helpful Sales Staff but the store was extreamly crowded(They are also good about returns just save your receipt I got my money back no questions asked).

We then went to the Disney Store they were having 25% of many costumes and we got a really good quality costume that looks great and is comfortable for 30.00 The Shoes were $10 but a better fit and safer than the version we got at party city. Nice Store Lots of cool stuff and Nice Cashier on-floor help was okay.

I hope this comparison has provided some helpful information on how prices stack up and some options for costumes. To wrap up Wal-mart had the best price. If you are motivated and talented a homemade costume can be the route to go and The Disney Store came in tops for us in quality and price balance (they also have 50% off on select Halloween items)

Happy Halloween!