Using Time Wisely

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2011 Halloween Adventures

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Amanda Sicard)

With Halloween only 3 days away, the activities are stacking up. In our local vicinity, we have a number of Halloween options:

Church Festivals and Trunk-or-Treats. Do you have trunk-or-treats in your area? This is an event where the church members fill the trunks of their car with candy. Then the kids wander from car to car to fill their buckets, baskets, or bags.

Local Recreational District events. Check your local and county recreational district’s web site for possible Halloween events. Our activity runs Thursday through Saturday in the evenings and includes carnival games, costume contests, inflatables, and treat-or-treating in the forest.

Local mall. Some malls promote treat-or-treating in a safe environment for all the little princesses and pirates.

Local grocery store. Our Publix offers free games to play for prizes, food, and candy throughout their store on Halloween evening.

Local home improvement stores. One year, Paul and I took the kids to the Home Depot where they had candy in each department throughout the store. My kids wore their Home Depot aprons which thrilled the employees. 🙂

Neighborhood. Our subdivision will be flooded with kids. Be sure to know the rules of your neighborhood. On our street, treat-or-treaters are only to go to homes with the outside lights on. If no light is on, then we skip that house and look for another. Most of the kids follow the rules to keep the evening enjoyable and safe for us all.

These are some of the Halloween activities provided in our area. For other Halloween events, be sure to check the event’s page of Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page. All the activities listed include details and links to the event’s web site.

Whether you plan to distribute candy, chaperone kids treat-or-treating, or spend a nice quiet evening at home, I wish you a safe and enjoyable event while using time wisely. Happy Halloween!

Question: What costumes will be worn in your family this Halloween? Be sure to take pictures and upload them to Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page.

Inspiration: Additional Halloween Party Ideas – Part 3

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Camille Styles)

With our schedule slowing down a tad and all these great Halloween party ideas, I think our family will host another Halloween party this year. My eldest daughter is already talking about last year’s party and who we should invite this year. Thankfully, I have most of the items needed from previous years, and these great party ideas just add to the flavor of the event.

To keep the inspiration coming, here are 6 additional party ideas for your Halloween gathering:

Non-spooky Decorations

1. Pumpkin Carving Tips

2. Jack-O-Lanterns from baby food jars

3. Bats and Mice made with black construction paper

Yummy Seasonal Menu Items

4. Pumpkin Butter

5. Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats

6. Free E-book: 23 Unforgettable Halloween Party Recipes

NOTE: You do not need to sign up for the newsletter. Just click the “close” button to download your free copy. Remember, you can place this e-book in your free Kindle for PC application.

With all these great party ideas, will you change your mind and host a ghostly event? If so, please be sure to post pictures for us to enjoy. Happy planning!

Question: What is your favorite Halloween decoration or food item? Keep the inspiration moving by adding your answer to the comments.

Family Activities: 2011 Halloween Weekend Adventures

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Photograph Credit: Lowe's

Besides December and May, I think October is the next busiest month for my family. With field trips, fall festivals, family birthdays, and Halloween events, we stay very busy.

Though we do not participate in every activity offered through the month, we have lots of choices to keep us busy. Here are some of the local and national activities going on this weekend:

Friday, October 21, 2011

6:30 p.m. – Free Movie Night at our local minor league baseball field (entrance on Field Street only).  Bring blankets to sit on to watch Toy Story 3 in the outfield.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  –  Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic: Monster Truck

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Michaels’ Halloween T-shirt Event

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Simon Kidgits’ Halloween Event

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – A.C. Moore’s Halloween Costume Event

There are lots more Halloween events being offered. Be sure to stay updated on continuing family outing opportunities by checking Using Time Wisely’s Facebook Event page. As I hear of different events, I will post them with details on Facebook. If you find other activities, please be sure to add the information in a comment or on a post. Hope you enjoy using time wisely with your family this weekend.

Question: What activities do you plan to attend this weekend?

Inspiration: More Halloween Party Ideas – Part 2

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Kimberly Cadena)

Pumpkins are purchased, our fall festival is complete (more details coming in later posts), and life is returning to normal busyness. As I look at the calendar, the Halloween events for our family begin this weekend. If you are planning a Halloween celebration and need some more inspiration, try these great party menu ideas:

Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Pumpkin Pie Dip, Popcorn Witches, Ghost Pretzels, Cheese Fingers, and Ghost Poop (My kids will love this last one.)

Halloween dinner with spaghetti, sauce, meatballs, and green peppers for spiders

Spook-tacular Yogurt Cups

Beverage service from a pumpkin – love this idea!

Are your creative juices flowing? Lots of great ideas for making your next Halloween party a great success. If you need tags for your menu or decorating, check out these free printable labels. My kids will love to cut and decorate with these labels with or without a party.

I think I might be making the Halloween dinner with spaghetti, sauce, meatballs, and green peppers before Trick-or-Treating. In fact, I could see this dinner becoming a new family tradition. However you celebrate, enjoy making your Halloween adventure special!

Question: What are your Halloween traditions? If you feel comfortable doing so, leave your answer in the comments.

Family Crafts: Halloween Skeleton and Cat

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Susan Dox)

With Halloween around the corner, my kids are mesmerized by the spiders, ghosts, and skeleton decorations in our neighborhood. On a family walk, we had to stop to check out the Halloween decorations at a few houses along the way. My oldest daughter is quite concerned about the skeleton which lost his head. 🙂

To continue the fun of the Halloween season, here are two crafts that might get your family in the spooky Halloween mood:

Black Cat

This craft idea, posted by thekrazycouponlady.com, gives detailed instructions for creating a cat out of a paper plate. If we end up hosting our own Halloween party, I just might use this craft for the children.

Skeleton

From empty milk jugs, thekrazycouponlady.com shares the supplies and directions for creating your own skeleton. This craft would be a fun family activity where everyone helps out.

In using time wisely, I enjoy making crafts with my kids, especially when they help to decorate my home for the next holiday. Whether you create a cat, skeleton, or spider, enjoy spending time with your family as you decorate your home.

Question: Do you make your own seasonal decorations? If so, please share what crafts you are concocting in the comments.