Quiet day at home, with uncertain weather

Not too sure what to do with ourselves. Took a ride to BJ's in Butler today, since our home phones are on the fritz. I knew they had a sale on these VTech DECT 6.0 4-Handset Cordless Telephone with Digital Answering Machine. They tether to your cellphones via Bluetooth, so you can answer your cell or your home phone from the handsets. They are still charging, but I'm excited about them.

They are $69.99 in store, plus you can print out this $15 coupon, which makes them just $54.99. They are still charging, so I'll post back a review at a later date. They are very lightweight and were super easy to assemble. If you buy them online, you have to pay shipping.

Keeping the kids busy

Obviously, we still had to occupy the toddlers, so we played some games and went for a walk around the neighborhood. My husband played our own game of "identify the potential projectiles" - despite warnings, many people in our 'hood seem unconcerned about the prospect of their belongings flying by.

Cooking

My kids love to bake. There was a sale on cake mix at ShopRite last week, so I had a few boxes. I decided to make cake batter cookies today with them (they mix and serve as taste testers). This is so easy to do.


Ingredients

• 1 box any flavor cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil

Baking Instructions
Add 1/2 cup oil and two eggs to one box of cake mix. Add chips, nuts, and flavorings if desired.
Drop by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Courtesy of Duncan Hines

They are really fast to make and delicious. I had some icing on hand, so jazzed them up a bit.

Hurricane Sandy threatening Halloween?
Enjoy all the fun-filled festivities today:

Saturday 10/27

• Kidgits Club Monster Mash (Willowbrook Mall, Wayne), 11am-2pm.Activities, games, music and a children’s costume contest with prizes.Free.
• Giggles (Rockaway, NJ). 4pm-8pm. Games, face painting, trick or treat with characters, ride ticket and a goodie bag. Come in costume. $10.95/child.
• Haunted Hallo-Wharton. (Hugh Force Canal Park, 180 West Central Ave, Wharton)4pm-10pm. Costume parade and contest for people and pets. Trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, a haunted house, jack-o-lantern float, and more. Scarecrows displayed on Main Street during and after the festival. Free.
• No Tricks, Just Treats (Morris Museum, Morristown),  10am-2pm. Kids in costume will be able to trick-or-treat through the galleries, paint a pumpkin or make a boo-tiful bracelet and other Halloween crafts. $7/child and $10/adult. Museum members free.
• Trail Trails (Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Chatham Township). Begins 5:30pm. Silly, slightly spooky, nature-themed and Native American storytelling, designed to by enjoyed by everyone! Walk is for ages 4 and up. $5 per person. Call 973-635-6629; must register.
• A Miller's Halloween (Cooper Gristmill, Chester). 1pm-3pm.Storytelling; children create corn husk dolls, color pumpkins, and play old time games. Be alert for spooks, spiders, skeletons, and surprises! Free, but donations appreciated.
• Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (Madison), 1pm-3pm. Halloween games and crafts. $5 for adults, $3 for kids 6 and up. kids under 6 free. 
• Liberty Science Center (Jersey City), 12pm-1pm. Costume contest and parade. The grand prize is a free birthday party at the museum. For kids up to age 12. Details here. $13 adults, $11 children.
• The Monsters' Monster, (Barnes & Noble, Livingston). 11am-12pm. Storytime for kids featuring scary monster stories. Includes small craft. Free.
• Haunted Denville Tours, (Denville Museum). Begins at 7pm. Ages 16 and older only. October 28th will be reserved as a rain date but the tour will begin at 6:00 pm from the Denville Museum. Check message at 973-625-1165 by 2 pm day of the tour for update in case of bad weather. $5/person; $3/65 and older OR under 21 years-old.

Great deal on Groupon for Nickelodeon Resort in Orlando

I've heard great things about this resort, super kid friendly and LOTS of fun. It's on my list of places to get to. Prices start at just $84, which is less than half price, although I've seen prices even higher during peak season, since I've been kind of watching for deals on this.

• Nickelodeon Suites Resort’s Character Breakfast. SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, join the meal to pause for photos. 

• 24-acre resort, which is full of family-oriented activities. 
• 4-D Experience films with wind, water, bubbles, and scents. 
• 3,000-square-foot arcade featuring a host of interactive games.
• Two outdoor water parks. The Lagoon zero-depth entry pool, an Oasis Olympic-style pool, interactive water toys, and a total of 13 slides and flumes. 
• At Studio Nick, audience members often become the stars at nightly live shows such as Double Dare and Family Karaoke. 
• The Mall houses the Kids’ Spa, where youngsters can get dressed up with mani-pedis and gossip about the upcoming lollipop shortage.
• Free WiFi
• Kids Spa
• Scheduled Bus Transportation to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom
• Less than 1 mile from Disney
• Scheduled Bus Transportation to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom

Visit Groupon to see more about this deal.

Kids eat free at Houlihan's on Halloween 2012

Free children's menu item, with purchase of adult entree.

Houlihan's Morris County location in Morris County:

645 Us Highway 46

Fairfield, NJ 07004-1556

973-808-1300

Print coupon below & present to server:

30% off Halloween Costumes at Kid'Swap Rockaway

30% savings on Halloween costumes and Halloween themed clothing at Kid'Swap Rockaway

350 Boro Plaza, Route 46, next to Giggles in Rockaway

Additionally, marked down items have been moved to the "bin cave," where prices are just $1-$2 per item. You have to be a hunter, but you can definitely find some deals. I picked up an adorable Gymboree shirt for $2 last week, as well as a cute pair of toddler jeans just last week.

There is an upcoming promotion beginning 10/29 and extending through 11/2 where you can get 20% off on casual wear clothing dated 07/31/2012 and prior.  Nightwear, Dancewear, heavy weight vests, coats and jackets, rain jackets are not included. Details here.

Some free Halloween crafts online:

My 4-year-old has been begging to make masks. Here's one you can print, cut and color from Chuck E. Cheese's: Mouse Mask.

Spooky Halloween cutouts to decorate with, from Country Living Mazazine.

Here is a really fun pasta skeleton idea from Martha Stewart!

And, finally some cute egg carton bats from Enchanted Learning.

Roundup: Halloween 2012 Events in Morris County

I will update cancellations due to hurricane Sandy as I hear about them. Please ensure you call and check before attending any events, as the weather is both unprecedented and unpredictable.

If you're looking for Halloween fun for kids, here's what's going on in and around Morris County:

Friday, 10/26

• Halloween Happenings (County College of Morris Student Center, Randolph). 4pm-6pm. T
• rick-or-treating, stories and song. Free. Suitable for grammar school students.
• Boo Zoo (Van Saun Park, River Edge). 6pm-9:30pm. Trick-or-Treating, storytelling, train ride. $5pp ages 2 & up.
• ImagineThat's Spookatacular (Florham Park), 5pm-8pm. Food, pumpkins, crafts, games, outdoor maze and prizes. Costumes encouraged. Children $13.99. Adults $10.99. Pay at the door, seats are not guaranteed. Pricing is $14.99/child and $11.99/adult. 
• Kid-Netic's Funtastic Halloween Party (Montville), 5pm-8pm.  Games, crafts, dinner and a Halloween costume parade. $18 for one child $15 for Siblings. Adults free.
• Too Cute to Spook @ NJ Children's Museum (Paramus), starts at 5pm. Trick-or-Treating, pumpkin decorating, hand and face painting and a costume contest. People can sign up for pizza dinner sessions starting at 5:30 pm, 6 pm, 6:30 pm & 7 pm. Purchase tickets online for $17.99 per person.
• Halloween Bash (Mennen Arena). 8pm-10pm. 
• Music, lights and games.P
• rizes such as lava lamps, t-shirts and more! Come dressed in costume and increase your chances to win a prize. 
• $7pp/
• Skate Rentals $3.50.

Saturday 10/27

• Kidgits Club Monster Mash (Willowbrook Mall, Wayne), 11am-2pm. Activities, games, music and a children’s costume contest with prizes. Free.
• Giggles (Rockaway, NJ). 4pm-8pm. Games, face painting, trick or treat with characters, ride ticket and a goodie bag. Come in costume. $10.95/child.
• No Tricks, Just Treats (Morris Museum, Morristown),  10am-2pm. Kids in costume will be able to trick-or-treat through the galleries, paint a pumpkin or make a boo-tiful bracelet and other Halloween crafts. $7/child and $10/adult. Museum members free.
• Trail Trails (Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Chatham Township). Begins 5:30pm. Silly, slightly spooky, nature-themed and Native American storytelling, designed to by enjoyed by everyone! Walk is for ages 4 and up. $5 per person. Call 973-635-6629; must register.
• Haunted Hallo-Wharton. (Hugh Force Canal Park, 180 West Central Ave, Wharton)4pm-10pm. Costume parade and contest for people and pets. Trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, a haunted house, jack-o-lantern float, and more. Scarecrows displayed on Main Street during and after the festival. Free.
• A Miller's Halloween (Cooper Gristmill, Chester). 1pm-3pm. Storytelling; children create corn husk dolls, color pumpkins, and play old time games. Be alert for spooks, spiders, skeletons, and surprises! Free, but donations appreciated.
• Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (Madison), 1pm-3pm. Halloween games and crafts. $5 for adults, $3 for kids 6 and up. kids under 6 free. 
• Liberty Science Center (Jersey City), 12pm-1pm. Costume contest and parade. The grand prize is a free birthday party at the museum. For kids up to age 12. Details here. $13 adults, $11 children.
• The Monsters' Monster, (Barnes & Noble, Livingston). 11am-12pm. Storytime for kids featuring scary monster stories. Includes small craft. Free.
• Haunted Denville Tours, (Denville Museum). Begins at 7pm. Ages 16 and older only. October 28th will be reserved as a rain date but the tour will begin at 6:00 pm from the Denville Museum. Check message at 973-625-1165 by 2 pm day of the tour for update in case of bad weather. $5/person; $3/65 and older OR under 21 years-old.

Sunday 10/28

• Pumpkin Illumination (Vail Mansion reflecting pool, 110 South St., Morristown). Bring carved pumpkin. Storytelling, professional pumpkin carving, contest and much more. Check my calendar page for more details. Free.
• Funplex (East Hanover). Begins at 1pm. Come dressed in your costume to enter into a costume contest, Raffle and receive 20% off you wristband (must be in costume). Pricing here.
• Point Pleasant Halloween Parade (Pt. Pleasant, NJ). Line up starts at 11, Parade begins at noon. All ages, Pets, Groups, Motorized Floats, Pull Floats, Judging takes place at noon, trophies and participation ribbons for all.2nd largest parade in New Jersey. Free.
• RadioTheatre in "Ghost Stories!" (MPAC, Morristown). Begins at 7pm. Classic tales of ghostly fiction from W.W. Jacobs, Edgar Allen Poe, H.R. Wakefield and F. Marion Crawford, adapted by the award-winning, critically acclaimed RadioTheatre. Tickets $12-20 via MayoArts.
• Morris K9 Campus Fall Festival.(Morris K9Campus, Randolph). 12pm-4pm. Participate in canine costume parade, interactive doggie demos, shopping, adoptions, caricatures, refreshments and more! Please bring donation of dog or cat food for shelters. Free.
• Historic Halloween Fun (Fosterfields Farm, Morris Township) 1pm-3:30pm. Revisit how Halloween was once celebrated in the 20th century. Decorate Halloween cookies, play games, and enjoy a scavenger hunt around the farm. Adults, $6; seniors, $5; children 4 - 16, $4; children 2 - 3, $2; children under 2, free.
• Historic Haunting (Historic Speedwell, 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown). 12pm-4pm.  Listen to ghost stories and participate inHalloween fun and games. Prizes awarded to winners. Children come in costume and participate in costume contest. $10 Adults, $8 Seniors, $6 Children (4-16 years-old).

Wednesday 10/31

• Kidgits® Halloween Party with Radio Disney (Livingston Mall), 3pm-5pm. Wear costumes. Bounce house, craft, spin wheel prizes, and more.Trick-or-Treat Bag. Free.

More details can be found on the calendar page!

I'm back....Trick Or Treating at NJ Malls

I'm back, after a very long break! There are so many fun Halloween events coming up that I couldn't resist and have been busy updating the calendar page.

For those who prefer the comfort of indoor trick-or-treating, I noticed NJ101.5 radio posted a nice page about what's going on at local malls.

Here's a quick rundown of Morris County malls:

• Livingston: 10/31 from 10am-9pm at participating stores. Details here.
• Rockaway: 10/31 from 4pm-until supplies last.
• Willowbrook: No trick-or-treating, but they are having a Monster Dance Party for little kids on 10/27 from 11am-2pm. Details here.

More details and a full list of NJ malls can be found on NJ101.5's website here.