"The Trash Pack" Toys and 9 More Ideas for Non-Candy #Halloween Treats

Our children's school has a strict policy against sweet treats, such as cupcakes, candy, and cookies for school celebrations.  Some people think that the policy ruins the fun, but I have to disagree.  Our children do not seem to mind having alternative treats, both food and non-food items.  Last year, we handed out The Trash Pack toys to trick-or-treaters and the children just loved it.  Our own children enjoy collecting these little Trashies, as do many of their friends at school.  So this year, Moose Toys sent us enough single-pack Trash Pack toys for my children's teachers to hand out to all their students on Halloween.  I will be sending each of these jack-o-lantern buckets filled with Trash Packs to school as a surprise for the classes.  I have even managed to keep it a secret from my own children.

Ideas for Non-Candy Halloween Treats:

1.  The Trash Pack Toys
2.  Fun Pencils
3.  Mini Boxes of Raisins
4.  Pencil Toppers or Erasers
5.  Temporary Tattoos
6.  Granola or Fruit Cereal Bars (But, be aware of any nut allergies)
7.  Bookmarks (To promote literacy)
8.  Superballs
9.  Whistle Keychains (Handy as emergency whistles for kids)
10.  Mini Magnifying Glasses (To encourage exploration and discovery)

What items would you add to this list?

To learn more about The Trash Pack, including where to buy them, visit www.TrashPack.com, where you will also find fun free games and downloads.  You can also find The Trash Pack on Facebook.


Thank you to Moose Toys for providing complimentary product samples for us to donate to our school.

Getting Ready for #Halloween with Party City Decorations and Kids Costumes

There's a week and a half left until Halloween and I am happy to report that we are all ready for the holiday.  Our decorations are up, we have cool goodie bags to hand out to the trick-or-treaters, and our children have settled on their costumes.

Last year for Halloween, we had put luminaries in the windows.  This year, we wanted to do something fun and slightly spooky, but not so spooky that the young children in the neighborhood would be scared by the decorations.  I ended up choosing two items from Party City for the door and two more for the window.  On the door, we have the 17" Vacuform Keep Out Sign (only $.99) and the 34" Shackles on Chain (for $4.99), which are actually a costume prop.  In our window, we made a display with a 21" Small Fabric Ghost (only $2.99) and a 12' Metal Link Chain.  If you have a ghost, you have to have chains for it to rattle, right?

We have 30 Magic Wand Goodie Bags waiting to be handed out to the trick-or-treaters.  We made those using Wizard of Waverly Wands ($2 per 4pk), Spider Party Bags ($1.99 per 15pk), Spider Rings ($1.29 per 30pk), and the Charms Candy Carnival Assortment ($9.99 for approx. 150pcs).  You can find the instructions for making them here.  I do want to note that, although the description for the bag of candy says "approximately 150 pieces of candy", there were really only about 100 pieces.  I used 3 pieces in each of the 30 goodie bags and only had just less than 10 pieces leftover.

We were also sent the Party City Exclusive Boys Brave Crusader Costume along with another mass market crusader costume.  When it came time for the boys to choose which costume they wanted to wear to King Richard's Faire earlier this month, they immediately chose the Party City costume.  It really was not a tough choice because that costume had so much more detail, such as a cape, gauntlets, structured boot coverings, and a sash.  My only complaint is about the gauntlets.  The same size gauntlets came with both the size Medium and the size Large costumes, so the fingers were far too long for our 5-1/2 year old son.  Also, part of the seam on one of the fingers started to come apart on our 8-1/2 year old's glove, but I was able to repair it after the fair.

Here are the boys in the mass market costumes.  Their first complaint was that the extremely large paper tags inside were itchy, so we had to remove them right away.  Aside from being a little long, the costume looks okay on our 5-1/2 year old son, but it just does not look tailored.  A huge problem we came across was that the hood and the boot coverings were the same size in both costume sizes, except this time they were both the smaller size.  Our 8-1/2 year old could barely get the hood on and it was uncomfortably tight.  The boot coverings only covered 2/3 of his shoes and kept falling down because they are unstructured.

We also received a Girls Deluxe Rainbow Fairy Costume (also a Party City Exclusive) plus a mass market version for our daughter.  Again, the Party City costume was far more detailed and included sequined-trimmed wings that attached with Velcro, sequin trim on the attached tulle tutu, leg warmers, arm puffs, and a headband.  This costume seemed to run a little large compared to other costumes.  The elastic on the arm puffs were not tight enough to stay up on their own on my daughter's upper arms.  I ended up pulling them over her shoulders instead.  I also had to bring the straps together at the back of the costume because the bodice was sitting too low on her.  I should mention that this costume is a dress and does not have a built-in leotard.  I really thought that the tulle trim on the neckline and the tulle arm puffs would irritate my daughter's skin, but she said that they were not itchy at all.  I do wish that this costume came with a matching wand because the colors and look of this costume are pretty specific.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

The mass market rainbow fairy costume was sized for 3 to 5 year old girls.  My daughter would not have been able to fit into it if she was a half an inch taller or wider.  This costume is a leotard style and also does not come with a wand.  Our daughter actually liked the look of this costume better because it is wispy and had flowers and gems on it.  The other one is more bold and modern.  The mass market costume came with a separate pair of fairy wings that hooked around her shoulders with elasticized straps.  I could not for the life of me get the wings to sit straight.  They kept tipping no matter how I tried to bend them to balance them out.  Quality-wise the Party City costume is better hands down, but our daughter preferred the softer look of the other costume.  Personally, I think the Party City costume is perfect for Halloween and the mass market costume would be more practical for dressing up during pretend play.

What do you have left to do to get ready for Halloween?  Checkout the party supplies, decorations, and costumes at your local Party City store and on www.PartyCity.com, who is now offering 25% off all Halloween merchandise plus Free 3-Day on orders of $60 or more.


Thank you to Party City for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.

"I Am A Smartie Pants!" Math-Themed Smarties Candy Favors (#CBias)

With Halloween just around the corner, I wanted to share this easy tutorial for making math-themed treats using Smarties candy and some free printables I had made.  These little sweet treats will put some fun into practicing basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication.  The "I Am a Smartie Pants!" treats would be perfect for handing out to students in the classroom, to trick-or-treaters, or to use inside goodie bags.  Another great thing about these Halloween treats is that you can change the theme from Halloween to just about anything simply by using different stickers.  If you will be making these to hand out in the classroom, you will not have to worry because Smarties are gluten-free, peanut-free, vegan, and fat-free.

Today's Project:  "I Am a Smartie Pants!" Math-Themed Favors

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Smarties candy rolls

Free printable "I Am a Smartie Pants!" pages

Halloween-themed stickers (1-1/4"H or smaller)

8" satin or 12" curling ribbon per favor

single hole puncher

scissors

Step 1.  Print out the desired number of "I Am a Smartie Pants!" pages below.  (NOTE:  Each page contains 4 favor tags.)

TO PRINT:  Make sure your computer's printer is turned on and ready to print.  Click on the desired image to enlarge.  Then right-click on the image and select print.  Use your browser's back arrow to return to this page.

Addition & Subtraction

Multiplication

Step 2.  Cut out each tag as instructed on the sheet.  Be sure to leave each column of 3 boxes intact.

Step 3.  Fold each tag into an accordion shape with the words "I Am a Smartie Pants!" facing out and the other two printed boxes facing each other.

Step 4.  Place a fun sticker in your theme of choice on the front of the tag right above the words "I Am a Smartie Pants!"  Be sure to leave enough room above the sticker to punch a hole.  (I trimmed my large rectangular stickers with scissors to fit my tags.)

Step 5.  Using your single hole puncher, punch a hole through all 3 layers above the sticker near the top of your tag, making sure it is centered horizontally.

Step 6.  Take an 8" to 9" piece of satin ribbon and fold it in half.  Then tie the halfway point of the ribbon around one end of a roll of Smarties candy.  (If you are using curling ribbon, please see the instructions below the Step 9 photos.)

Step 7.  Bring the two ends of your ribbon together and tie in a single knot close to the ends.  Trim the ribbon above the knot with scissors to make the ends even.

Step 8.  Next feed the knotted end of you ribbon through the back of your tag and out the front of the hole you had punched.

Step 9.  The last step is to put the end of the Smarties candy roll that is not tied to the ribbon through the ribbon loop on the front of your tag and pull it through.

The result should look like this , , ,

If using curling ribbon, follow the instructions below:

Feed the curling ribbon through the hole you had punched.  Make sure the ends are even.  Tie a knot about an inch above the top of the tag.  Then place a roll of Smarties candy above the knot you made and tie the end of the candy roll in place.  Use a double knot to make it secure.

Then use the blade of your scissors to curl the ribbon.  The result should look like this . . .

If you make these "I Am a Smartie Pants!" Treats, I would love to know what theme you used and what the children thought about them.  For more fun ideas, visit Smarties on Pinterest.

This treat is extremely inexpensive to make.  I bought a whole bag of Smarties for under $3 and the pack of 18 stickers for just $1 at Walgreens.  You can also find Smarties in the Halloween candy section at your local Walmart, Target, Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree stores.


I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Smarties. #CBias #SocialFabric #IAmASmartie.  The prize pack for this contest has been provided by Collective Bias™ on behalf of Smarties.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our "I Am A Smartie" Prize Pack includes:

1 Theater box Smarties

1 small bag Original Smarties

1 small bag Tropical Smarties

1 small bag X-Treme Sour Smarties

1 small bag Smarties in a Pouch

1 small bag Seasonal Smarties

Magic Wand Party Favors for #Halloween Party Guests or Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween is just two weeks away!  Every year that my children grow older, I become increasingly excited about this holiday.  Last year, we handed out Trash Pack toys to the trick-or-treaters and that was a huge hit.  This year, with the help of Party City, I have created Magic Wand Party Favors to hand out.  I cannot wait to surprise the trick-or-treaters with these!

This party favor idea would work for themes other than Halloween.  You would just need to change the style of cello bags you use.  How cool would these favors be for a Harry Potter-themed party?

Today's Project:  Magic Wand Party Favors

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Wizards of Waverly Wands (Or use covered/painted wooden dowels)

Halloween-themed Cello Bags

Twist Ties (if not included with your bags)

Spider Rings (Or another small toy)

Charms Candy Carnival Assortment

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Step 1.  Fill a cello bag with treats.  (Ours included 2 types lollipops, 1 piece of small candy, and a spider ring.)

Step 2.  Wrap a twist tie around the tip of a magic wand, as shown below.  Then give the tie one twist to help it stay in place.

Step 3.  Twist the neck of a filled cello bag twice.  (This step is optional.  You may find it easier to not twist the bag, depending on what type of bag you are using.)

Step 4.  Attach the filled bag to the magic wand by placing the neck of the bag against the tip of the wand and then using the twist tie to secure the bag in place.  Twist the tie at least 3 times to ensure that the bag stays closed.

Step 5.  Wind the wand (like you would the handle of a vice or a tourniquet) until it feels tight.  This keeps the tie snug around the wand so that the goody bag stays at the top of the wand, rather than sliding downward.

I made 30 of these to hand out on Halloween.  A Halloween bucket was the perfect thing to hold our Magic Wand Favors for the trick-or-treaters.  If you are making these for a Halloween party, you could find a more creative way to make an impressive centerpiece for your treats table.  If you have any ideas, please do share them with other readers by leaving a comment below.

Thank you to Party City for providing complimentary product samples for us to use in this project.

Light the Way Safely on #Halloween Night with Pelican ProGear Flashlights

I love high quality products. There is something about metal and great craftsmanship that just hits me right. When Karen asked me if I wanted to try and write about the Pelican ProGear 2370 flashlight I was excited. I have been a fan of Pelican products for many years.  We used to use the Pelican cases for our dive gear when I was a teenager.

Although I knew what the dimensions were when I agreed to try the Pelican 2370, I was still a little surprised to see how small it was when it arrived. It is about the size of a toothbrush case. But do not let the small size fool you: This flashlight is serious business and you know that the moment you touch it.

The 2370 has a heft to it that does not match its size. You feel like you're holding a tool and feels great in your hand.. I have owned some great flashlights, but the Pelican 2370 is in a different class.  The all alloy body fits nicely in your hand and is balanced. The power button is on the end and is made of thick rubber (more on this later). Attached near the end is a belt clip for easy carrying when not in use.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

The Pelican 2370 uses a single ultra bright LED bulb for regular illumination (this is a VERY bright LED light for its size). In addition to the standard LED, the 2370 also has blue and red LED’s for special illumination needs. Great for star map reading at night, guidance, or maybe even special operations!

As amazing as the Pelican 2370 is, I do have a couple “complaints”. Although the power button is high quality, the placement is not intuitive. It feels like it should be where your thumb naturally rests as you use the light. The button on the end requires two hands to turn it on and off or for you to reposition the light.

The second issue is the quality of the lens. The overall quality of the 2370 is so high that the plastic lens really stands out. In all fairness it may be a very high tech plastic, but it feels thin and does not match the rest of the light. It also should be mentioned that the lens is set into the light and surrounded by high quality alloy.

Do my “complaints” change my overall opinion of the Pelican 2370? Not much. This light is so bright and high quality for the price ($59.95 retail) my concerns aren't a big deal for me. The 2370 is perfect for night time events, emergencies, and to keep in your vehicles. You could buy 2-3 of the Pelican lights for the cost of just one of its higher end competitors.

To learn more about the Pelican ProGear 2370 LED Flashlight and others from the ProGear line, visit www.pelicanprogear.com.


Thank you to Pelican for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

The Trash Pack Goodie Bags

This year on Halloween, we had the pleasure of handing out The Trash Pack  toys to trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood.  Although our 3 children were going crazy over them, I was not sure how well a non-candy item would go over with some of the children.  I have to admit, I did have a small basket filled with candy for those who wanted their treats to be sugary.  I also wanted to have candy on hand for the children who were under 5 years old.

After our children went trick-or-treating, they came home and sat on the steps outside to help hand out the The Trash Packs.  I was so surprised at how well they were received by young children all the way up to kids who looked like they might be a little too old to be trick-or-treating.  For the children, both boys and girls, who already knew about The Trash Packs, their faces just lit up when they saw what was in our basket.  For those who were not familiar with this new toy, they were just delighted to have received something to play with.  The parents, too, were thrilled for their children to receive something other than candy.

Since The Trash Packs were so well-received, I have decided to use the remaining ones to make The Trash Pack goodie bags to send into school for our oldest son's 8th birthday.  The school puts a strong emphasis on not sending in sweets, such as cupcakes and cookies.  Our goodie bags will contain one of each of the following items . . .

The Trash Pack Goodie Bags

Trash Pack toy

All-natural fruit snacks

Pencil

Eraser

Bookmark

Our son will be so excited to hand out these goodie bags to all his classmates just as he was handing out The Trash Packs on Halloween.  I am also planning on sending in one or two games (another great alternative to sweets) for the classroom to keep that the children can play during indoor recess since it will be too cold to go outside in January.  I am slowly getting into the mindset of always looking for alternatives to sweet treats.


Thank you to The Trash Pack for providing complimentary product samples for us to distribute.