What to Do with Costumes on November 1

Image via CrunchBase

So much time and effort into finding the best costumes- but once the trick-or-treating and parties are over what do you do with them?  69% of moms buy their kid’s Halloween costume, which can create a lot of post-Halloween waste.  Here are a few ideas from CafeMom(www.cafemom.com ) on what to do with costumes after Halloween has come and gone.

·         Donate them to the school’s drama department to be used for future shows. Even if they don’t use the entire costume they can use the materials or mix and match for what they need! (Demonstrate how the props form one costume can be used for something else i.e. a pirate’s sword can be used for Peter Pan)
·         Add them to the “Halloween Box.” When looking for new costumes you would be surprised at the things you can pull together by mixing old costumes! You can also use the box to swap with other kids. (Show a sample box filled with previous costumes)
·         Sell them in a yard sale that following summer- other moms are likely on the lookout for costume deals!
·         Save them for dress up- maybe next year’s birthday party can be a costume party! (Show images of kids at costume party)
·         If you don’t have the space the local thrift shop or good will would love to have them!

Source: CafeMom

Help Avoid Halloween Candy Overload!

74% of moms say their kids are going trick-or-treating this year, which could result in candy overload!  Here are some tips from CafeMom(www.CafeMom.com ) on how to keep the kids from eating too much candy without a battle.

Top 5 CafeMom Tips:

1.       After Halloween night store the candy away someplace the kids can’t reach it and dole it out in portions moving forward- maybe for good behavior or an after dinner treat. Some of our moms even recommend freezing some of the candy – show examples of yummy frozen treats to share later.
2.       Let the kids pick out their favorite pieces and take the rest to the office to share.
3.       Separate the candy into small zip lock baggies and give out the baggies throughout the year. Show the baggies in a lunchbox.
4.       Keep an eye on their bags when you are trick-or-treating and when you feel they have had enough let them know it’s time to head home! – You can avoid the battle- by getting excited with them and mentioning how you can’t wait to get home and see all the good stuff they have!
5.       Give the kids smaller bags to trick or treat with. We can demonstrate the size difference and how less candy looks like more in a smaller bag versus the pillow cases some kids are using.

Source: MomCafe

Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving - Halloween

Halloween means dark streets full of little kids distracted by candy and costumes. That makes it especially important to start planning a safe and sober ride home from whatever fun you'll be having that night - so your evening doesn't turn into a real nightmare.

Whether at a Halloween party, a costume contest at a bar or trick-or-treating through the neighborhood, many of us will be on the road this weekend. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council are reminding everyone that the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you head out for your Halloween festivities.

We have a lot of helpful information and tools that would be great to show your readers:

·        Our new Halloween poster (below) - A poster that reminds people that if you drive buzzed on Halloween, your evening could turn into a real nightmare.

·        Designated Driver Drink List - One of the most important things you can do before going out is designate a sober driver. If you're throwing a Halloween party, make sure to offer non-alcoholic drinks for the sober drivers. We've compiled a Facebook tab with 50 non-alcoholic party drink recipes.

·        Alternative Ride Locator - We've created a Facebook tab with a list of nationwide alternative ride programs that can help keep your readers safe.

·        Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving website - Your readers can sign a pledge not to drink and drive; play "Spot the Difference," an interactive game that simulates the effects of buzzed driving; and watch a real-life video about how buzzed driving changed one woman's life.

This Halloween, let's work together to put an end to buzzed driving. Don't  ruin your Halloween with a DUI - or worse. Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you begin celebrating. Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

Trick-or-Treating Trends

As costume fads change, safety concerns remain. Kids are still trick-or-treating but with 70% of Moms saying they would never allow their child to go trick-or-treating alone, safer alternatives are becoming the norm!  

To avoid the worries of tainted candy and erratic drivers lots of parents are opting for the alternative Halloween plans. Community events and malls are becoming more and more popular as locations to trick-or-treat.  Some ideas from CafeMom include:

·         Mall trick-or-treating – malls across the country open their stores to trick-or-treaters.  Associated Content reported earlier this year that The Mall of America hosts “The World’s Largest Trick or Treat.” Kids are provided bags and can stop by all the stores for treats. There is also a costume competition and lots of Halloween entertainment!
·         Kids Night on Broadway- kids ages 6-18 can see shows for free! An adult, whose ticket is not free, must accompany the child but that ticket also gets you entry to Madame Tussauds Halloween party as well as restaurant and parking discounts.  Many cities have similar events, so check your local theater listings.
·         Theme parks go all out for Halloween. From 6 Flags Fright Fest to Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream there are tons of activities and haunted houses to attend.
·         How about a haunted hay ride? Gather up some families in the neighborhood and pile in. Almost every town offers one of these! You will get many thanks for being the organizer!

Keep a look out for flyers at your church, school and local shopping malls. If you gather a few moms of your kid’s friends it could be something they really look forward to!

Source: CafeMom

Things just got easier for Moms with ‘Delicious Days…’

Delicious Days is Kraft’s new headquarters for all things seasonal. Watch featured videos to learn new recipes that really take advantage of fall’s unique vegetables – even picky eaters will dive right in! There are also tons of classic recipes that are sure crowd pleasers - your family will definitely be asking about your secret recipe stash when you serve them an apple crumble filled with fresh picked apples and fragrant cinnamon!

The site also features content the whole family will love. Check out fun games, budgeting ideas, and party planning must-haves. If you want to get creative in time for Halloween, Delicious Days also features fun recipes that are spookily delicious, like eyeball cupcakes and the Ghosts in the Graveyard cake, perfect for getting kids to help out in the kitchen! After these recipes, your house is sure to be haunted with delicious candy ghosts! 

While you’re at Delicious Days don’t forget to enter the AOL Home for the Holidays Sweepstakes* for a chance to win $2,500! It’s the perfect prize to get your family together in time for the holiday season.

Holiday Slowdown: How to Live the Slow While on the Go

The Big Three are around the corner: Halloween, Thanksgiving and the December holidays. Despite our very best efforts, we often slip into a familiar frenzy as our already fast-paced lives ramp up a notch. But whoever said the last three months of every year have to be one long string of adrenaline-drenched events? It can also be a time to challenge yourself to go slower than you normally do all year ‘round.

October

As the leaves drift to the earth, take a moment every morning to ground yourself. How you begin your day informs how the rest will go. Use this month to seek out solace before life begins one more day. Whether it is a meditation practice, five deep belly breaths before you get up, or a stated intention of what this day will bring, make it a ritual to start off your morning on a positive note.

Before the holidays are in full swing, list what you would like to accomplish by December 31^st. Be as specific as possible. Plot out times when you will work toward those goals.

Brainstorm how you would like the December holiday season to look. Visualize how you would like to feel at the end of the year. Now ask yourself what things need to be in place for those feelings to occur.

If you budget for the holidays now, you will be less likely to overdraw your account. Pay cash where you can. Manage your friends’ and family’s expectations about what you can afford.

November

You have over three weeks before Thanksgiving is upon us. State what you are grateful for every day. Start an email or Facebook gratitude list that you send to your friends. Encourage others to reflect on those things that are most important to them.

Plan a potluck holiday feast. Spread the love (and the work) by ensuring everyone plays a part in designing the meal itself. Instead of storming the malls on Black Friday (or the Internet on Black Monday), use that time to make a list of the people to whom you would like to send holiday cards. Stamp and label the envelopes now.

December

Consider how many holiday parties you want to attend this month. Determine your limit and stick to it. Practice the power of slow by saying ‘no’ to extraneous requests that would overstep your capabilities. Remain centered by remembering your commitment to a life worth living, not one worth escaping.

Celebrate with loved ones and practice a little extra forgiveness for yourself and others this month. Remember that even in the darkest of days, we have access to the very light that resides within us every day of our lives.

Start living the slow today.

Download your free three-month holiday planner at http://bit.ly/slownews to ensure you do!  

~© 2010 Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World, lives near Munich, Germany with her husband and two children. She occasionally takes on small TV and film roles to satisfy her inner thespian. Her book-related blog, http://PowerofSlow.wordpress.com, shares tips on how to slow down every day.

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