On our old street, where neighbours were strangers and housing lots were two acres big, we didn’t do Halloween. I mean, the kids went trick or treating – but in a different neighbourhood that we had to drive to. The first year we lived there, we carved a pumpkin, bought a large box or two of chocolate bars, and I sat at home (also heavily pregnant) and waited. And the doorbell never rang. And no one else on the street decorated or suggested they were handing out candy. This situation was one of the reasons that I never enjoyed living there. We never really knew anyone. There was no sense of community.
This will be our first Halloween in our new, dense, urban neighbourhood and I’m so looking forward to it. I already know we’re going to get a ton of kids to the door – and I’ll be waiting, either sitting on our porch heavily pregnant or with a newborn (fingers crossed), ready to give out candy to their eager hands. What fun it will be to see all their costumes, to carve a pumpkin this year not just for our own enjoyment. The kids have already started decorating the porch, inspired by neighbours – they’ve made giant sheets of cardboard with skulls and skeletons and Star Wars figures scrawled on, and have left out a creepy green skull toy that I think is part of a Hot Wheels set. I’m thinking we may have to get a few more items from a shop to decorate some more before next week.
From this year forward, we get to start our own Halloween traditions that have been missing up until this point – and although Halloween may not feel as important as some of the other holidays in the year, I love it because it’s just pure fun. Costumes, treats, trying to scare each other silly. No expectations of family gathering or the pressure to buy presents? Perfect!
Mom Central Canada and the Allan Candy Company have teamed up for a blog tour that I am participating in. Allan Candy is a Canadian company, with all of their Halloween candy made in Canada. The company has been around for almost 80 years. I was particularly interested in their Halloween line of candy because it’s certified peanut-free (important in this neighbourhood if kids want to take any treats to school for a snack). Allan Candy sent me a selection of:
Allan Intense Jubes & Jellies
Allan Chewy Rascalz – Big Foot, Sour Big Foot, Green Thumbs and Hot Lips
Allan Fruit Buddies – Sour Watermelon Slices, Peach Slices, Sour Cherry Slices, Tangy Wild Strawberries and Sour Grape Slices
Candy isn’t an everyday treat for my kids, but for Halloween, I don’t have any problem giving out sweet things instead of nutritious selections or, I don’t know, pencils. It’s Halloween – do you remember how excited you were to fill up your pail or pillowcase with forbidden foods?! Plus, I’m totally going to steal the Peach Slices if they get any in their stash. Or maybe I’ll just forget to give out that bag…
You can find Allan Candy Halloween treats at major retailers like Loblaws and Wal-Mart.
Disclosure – I am participating in the Allan Candy Company program by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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October 23rd 2011 at 9:00 pm
You should put up spiderwebs – cheap and easy. you know that’s what I always choose.
Wonderland’s Halloween Haunt treasure hunt gave the kids big Foot and hot lips candy. I loved the blast from the past. Save me some please!