5 Alternatives to Halloween Candy

Have you ever heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project? It's an initiative by the Food Allergy Research and Education group to make sure every child can go trick-or-treating on Halloween. While a majority of children are just fine when it comes to receiving and eating candy, a lot of children aren't because of allergies.

Becoming part of the Teal Pumpkin Project is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, provide non-food items for trick-or-treaters. Second, place a teal pumpkin outside your home so parents know you have non-food treats. Third, add your home to the Teal Pumpkin map.

It's important to note that you don't have to completely skip the candy to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project. You can do the non-food treats in addition to candy and let the trick-or-treater choose their prize. To avoid spending extra cash, replace one bag of candy with an assortment of treats.

Here are 5 alternatives to candy:

1. Stickers - I really like these from Target.
2. Glow Sticks - You can get the ones that make bracelets for like a dollar at Walmart. They're typically in the party favor aisle.
3. Coloring Sheets & Crayons - There are free printable coloring and activity sheets on the Teal Pumpkin resource page.
4. Small Toy - Think 'party favor.' You can keep to a Halloween theme with things like these spider rings, vampire teeth, and spooky bouncy balls, or you can buy evergreen toys like small slinkies, toy cars, etc.
5. Bubbles - Check the party favor aisle at Walmart for plain bubbles and/or the $1 section in Target for Halloween bubbles like these.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. I learned about the Teal Pumpkin Project several years ago and admire what they're doing. I've done two events on behalf of the magazine recently where I put the practice into action, offering candy and treats at the same time. It was a hit, and I didn't spend that much more by doing it. I hope you'll consider participating this and every year!

What I'm Wearing This Fall

Fall has finally arrived in southeast Alabama! Of course, we went from 90 to 70 in less than a day, which is typical of the area, but I'm not complaining. The break in the heat and subsequent humidity are so welcome, and I hope it lasts awhile. I started adding new pieces to my fall wardrobe in early September. Since I no longer work in an office, I was in need of some more casual pieces. Today, I'm sharing what I've bought.

Note: I didn't buy any of these items at full price. I either took advantage of sales or used coupons/points.

Plaid
Nothing says fall quite like plaid. Sadly, I don't have much of it. So I added this pretty blue plaid from Aeropostale and got this red and navy plaid from Kohl's to wear for some upcoming family pictures. I got the blue in a large, expecting it to shrink like literally everything else I've ever bought from Aeropostale, but surprisingly it didn't, so it fits a little looser. Wearing the red and navy in a medium.

Neutrals & Other Basics
I've been slowly adding in more neutrals and basics to my wardrobe. When it comes to cooler weather, I have plenty of nice blouses that can all be worn with jeans, but even so often feel too dressy for whatever I happen to doing at the moment.

Left: Shirt (new) - Aeropostale | Jeans (old) - Kohl's | Booties (old) - exact

Right: Dress (new) - Old Navy | Shoes (old) - Target 

Left : Shirt (new) - Aeropostale | Jeans (just replaced) - Old Navy | Boots (new) - ShoeDazzle

Right: Shirt (new) - JCPenney | Jeans (old) - Kut from the Kloth | Boots (old) - exact

Sweaters

Buying sweaters is tricky in the south. The last couple of years, I barely wore sweaters it was so warm. Of the three shown below, I've worn all but the blue. The love sweater is nice and light, and has split sides so if you wanted to half tuck it you could easily. The blue cable knit (middle) is so soft and cozy. And the oatmeal sweater (right) is even softer! I'm wearing a medium in all three.

Layering
The best way to survive a southern fall is to wear layers. You never know when a cold morning will turn into a hot afternoon! I highly recommend the vest in the first photo below. It's light and can be worn over so many things. I'm wearing a medium but could have went with a small. Thermal shirts are definitely on trend this season, so if you're in the market I recommend this one from JCPenney (2nd photo below). I'm wearing it open like a cardigan, but it can be worn completely buttoned up and layered under another shirt, or with the bottom tied. Also wearing a medium.

Shirt (new) - Old Navy | Vest (new) - JCPenney | Jeans (new) - JCPenney | Shoes (old) - similar

Left: Thermal (new) - JCPenney | Shirt (old) - similar | Jeans (old) - JCPenney | Boots (old) - Target

Right: Shirt (new) - Old Navy | Jeans (old) - Kut from the Kloth

Shoes

I am in love with these oxfords. I've had them saved pretty much all year, and got them with a pretty big discount thanks to some points I had saved up. I've only worn them twice so far, and I would say they're a little stiff but I'm hoping that'll work out with more wear. I ordered the boots at the same time as the oxfords. I had been wanting to try something a little more open for warmer weather. A lot of the reviews online recommend sizing down a half size but I'm glad I didn't. If I had my toes would have been cramped. These have a zipper in the back so if you do a lot of walking, it may rub.


What I'm still on the hunt for:
-button-fly jeans
-black combat (ish) boots
-casual animal print skirt

What trends or old favorites are you excited about slipping into this fall?

5 Truths About Working from Home I Didn't Expect

The past four months of working at home have been so great. I get to make my own schedule, make my own rules, and work in a relaxed atmosphere. Having said that, transitioning from the structure of working in an office to working above the garage has come with a learning curve. Last month I talked about the biggest adjustment - going from a 9-to-5 to a work when you want schedule. Today, I'm sharing five things I've learned in the last four months that were a little surprising.

1. I'm more productive when I "dress up," wear makeup and fix my hair. Not that I've ever truly been the person to spend all day in pajamas or sweats (unless I'm sick), but I've found I don't get as much accomplished on the days where I don't get dressed and do at least minimal makeup and hair maintenance. I certainly don't dress to the same standard as when I was the executive producer of a news station, but when I feel put together and ready for anything, I get more accomplished.

2. This one is so silly, but I feel guilty about taking my daughter to daycare and then going right back home. Of course, other people's attitudes about me not keeping her at home don't necessarily help this feeling. I find myself constantly having to remind myself how good our daycare, which is set up and run like a preschool, has been for Alexis. I couldn't do half of the things they're doing for her if I kept her at home, and I dang sure couldn't publish a magazine every month.

3. The free time is amazing but off-putting. It's an odd statement, I know, but I'm still not used to having so much down time in my day. I can get a load or two of laundry done each day; my kitchen actually stays clean; and I can read without staying up all night.

4. I still need breaks. Yes, I know how that sounds having just written out number three, but it's true. This job is based solely on working on a computer. After hours of sitting and scrolling and staring at a bright screen, I need a break. And because my husband also works, sometimes that break is leaving the house for a few minutes. Sometimes I drive down to the corner gas station and get a cold drink; other times I walk aimlessly around a store.

5. This may be the most frustrating truth about working from home. I still don't get to watch shows the nights they air. Even though our bedtime routine is no longer rushed. Even though most nights dinner has been cooked and eaten and the kitchen cleaned up by 7:00 p.m. I still don't get to watch my shows until the next day or sometimes the next week. That's called parenthood.

15 Free or Cheap Things To Do This Fall

It's my favorite time of the year! Fall means festivals and boiled peanuts and finally some cooler weather (eventually...). It also means your afternoons and evenings are probably filled with some kind of school activity, be it homework, clubs or sports. And while it's great having that routine back, it's important to throw some fun into the mix every now and again. In this post I'm sharing 15 free or cheap things you can do with your family with lots of links to Wiregrass attractions.

1. Visit a U-Pick Farm - This is one of my favorite things to do all year long. Alexis loves picking her own fruit and vegetables, and in the fall Aplin Farms pulls out all the stops. They have the most pumpkins to choose from, a fun playground, lots of kids activities including animals, and a corn and sunflower maze.

2. Go to a Festival/Fair/Carnival - Ride the rides, splurge on yummy fair food, catch a midway act, and support your local economy. Favorites in our neck of the woods include Fall Farm Day and the National Peanut Festival.

3. Play Hide and Seek with Glow Sticks - Take your favorite childhood game up a notch. Turn out the lights and give everyone a glow stick. Alexis loves this version of hide and seek!

4. Make Fall/Halloween Decorations - Whether you carve/decorate a pumpkin or make paper plate crafts, your kids will get a kick out of creating their own fall decor.

5. Have a Fall/Halloween Movie Marathon - There are so many fall and Halloween movies out there. If you don't know what to watch, check out my fall movie guides from a couple weeks ago.

6. Make Your Own Costume(s) - OK, so this is one we won't be doing because I'm not that creative, but even if you're in the same boat as me you can still get creative by using makeup and hair colors.

7. Bake Something - Even if it's just something out of a box, your kid'll have fun mixing up the ingredients, licking the batter off the spoon, and then eating their yummy creation.

8. Collect Leaves or Pine Cones - Have a scavenger hunt of sorts in your backyard! You can look for different shaped leaves or different shaped pine cones. Once you've filled up a basket, you can use them in art projects or to decorate! Just make sure you bake the pine cones to kill any bugs first.

9. Go on a Hayride - I have so many memories of going on hay rides as a child. Make sure you take cozy blankets!

10. Visit a Corn Maze - Nothing says fall like getting lost in a corn maze. If you're in the Wiregrass, you should definitely check out the one at CornDodgers Farm.

11. See Scarecrows - Spend some time outside with your family. You can pick your favorites, pose for silly pictures, and get ideas to make your own! Our favorites are at the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens.

12. Have a Bonfire - Even if all you've got is a fire pit in the backyard, throw some wood on and light it up! You can tell stories, sing songs, star gaze, and get in some quality family time.

13. Make S'mores - Who doesn't love a s'more? Grab some sticks or old wire hangers that have been straightened out, roast those marshmallows and squish them between some graham crackers with a Hershey bar. Instant good time.

14. Make Up Your Own Ghost Stories - Every town has some kind of urban legend or ghost story. Take a cue from them and make up your own. You could even do it round-robin style where everyone adds just one line.

15. Have a Backyard Carnival - You can paint faces, make your own games out of old cardboard boxes, and even buy little prizes for the winners. Keep it all in the family or invite the neighborhood!

7 Movies to Watch as a Family this Fall

It's the fourth and final day of our journey through fall and Halloween-themed movies for different members of your family. Today, I'm sharing some seasonally-appropriate movies you can watch together as a family...plus five date night movies for when mom and dad need a break. Let's get started!

1. The Mask (1994)
Rated: PG-13
Let's start with something sure to tickle your funny bone. This was one of my family's go-to movies back in the 90s. Stanley Ipkiss, played by none other than Jim Carey, finds a magical mask possessed by a mythical god. Whenever he puts it on, he becomes a different person - funnier, bolder, and a bank robber. Don't let the PG-13 rating fool you, this movie has a Looney Tunes feel about it with a lot slapstick comedy.

2. Mary Poppins (1964)
Rated: G
This movie is practically perfect in every way. Mary Poppins, played by the incomparable Julie Andrews, literally flies into the Banks family's life to act as nanny to the two children, Jane and Michael. She, along with her friend Bert (Dick Van Dyke), use magic, music and dancing to bring the family closer together.

3. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Rated: PG
It's hard to believe there might be someone out there who hasn't seen this movie, but if anyone in your family falls in that category schedule a movie night stat! Dorothy is swept from her home in Kansas to the magical land of Oz. There she makes new friends - the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion - as she makes her way to see the Wizard. She's also gifted a pair of powerful ruby slippers that the Wicked Witch of the East badly wants. The flying monkeys and some of the scenes in the dark forest may be a little scary for younger viewers.

4. The Blind Side (2009)
Rated: PG-13
You know I had to include a football movie on this list. This is the story of Michael Oher, a black teenager taken in by a white family, the Tuohy's. The family, specifically mom Leigh Anne, do whatever it takes to make sure Michael succeeds. He goes on to receive a college scholarship and be picked in the first round of the NFL draft. Based on a true story.

5. October Sky (1999)
Rated: PG
This movie is also based on a true story. Homer Hickam is the son of a West Virginia coal miner. His father wants Homer to follow in his footsteps, but Homer wants to become a rocket scientist after seeing Sputnik 1 cross he sky. So Homer and a group of friends start building rockets...a lot of them. Everyone but a teacher thinks it's a waste of time and encourages the boys to shoot for the stars and enter the National Science Fair.

6. Stepmom (1998)
Rated: PG-13
Make sure you have the tissues handy for this one. It's a real tear-jerker. Jackie and Luke have been divorced for three years when Luke decides to marry his much-younger girlfriend, Isabel. Isabel does not get along with Luke's ex or his children, but Jackie is dying and soon Isabel will be the only mom the children have.

7. Harry Potter (2001-2011)
I couldn't put together a list of movies to watch in the Fall and not include the Harry Potter series. There are 8 movies in total, so strap in for about 20 hours of magical goodness as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go up against Voldermort.

Thanks for hanging with me for four days! Let me know in the comments what movies you'll be watching this Fall!

ICYMI: 10 Movies to Watch with Younger Kids this Fall
12 Movies to Watch with Older Kids this Fall
15 Movies to Watch with Teenagers this Fall

15 Movies to Watch with Teenagers this Fall

All this week I'm sharing movies you can watch with anyone in your family. So far we've talked about movies for your younger kids and movies for your older kids. Today we've made it to the teenagers. What you'll notice about this list is that there's nothing animated on it and the scare factor is a little bit higher, although I wouldn't be too worried about nightmares. Let's jump right in, shall we?

1. Practical Magic (1998)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: Ages 13+
Sally and Gillian are sisters who were born into a magical family. Both unlucky in love, they've mostly avoided magic as adults, but they find themselves in need of witchcraft when Gillian's abusive boyfriend dies unexpectedly. They may be witches, but this movie is really about rediscovering love. Some of the scenes in this movie are pretty heavy, so I wouldn't recommend anyone under 13 watch it.

2. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Rated: R
Recommended: Ages 15+
This live-action take on Ichabod Crane stars none other than Johnny Depp. Ichabod travels to Sleepy Hollow to investigate numerous beheadings and discovers the legend of the Headless Horseman is real. This movie is rated R for blood and gore. There's also one sexual scene, although no body parts are shown.

3. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: Ages 13+
Is there anyone out there who hasn't seen this Tim Burton classic? Edward's creator dies before giving him hands, leaving him instead with scissors and blades. Edward is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter. But it's not meant to be. The ending is sad and beautiful at the same time.

4. Remember the Titans (2000)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 13+
A Virginia town is forced to integrate its high school and combine a white and black football team. Making things even more controversial, a long-time white coach is passed over for the head coaching position and a black coach is hired instead. As the football team comes together, so does the town.

5. The Covenant (2006)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: Ages 15+
Four best friends share a powerful secret - each is a warlock. Centuries ago their families entered a pact to protect that secret, but when a fifth warlock shows up in town to settle a 300-year-old grudge, the friends have to protect their secret and each other. There are some disturbing scenes, sexual content, and language, so mom and dad may want to screen this to make sure you're OK with your teens watching.

6. The Craft (1996)
Rated: R
Recommended: Ages 15+
When Sarah moves to Los Angeles, she falls in with a trio of witches. Together, the four of them cast spells on anyone who makes them mad. But soon Sarah wants out and the others won't stand for it. I'm not sure how this movie is rated R and The Covenant is not, but here we are. As with the latter, I recommend parents screen this before deciding to let your teens watch.

7. Dark Shadows (2012)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: 13+
Is this the third Johnny Depp film on the list? Oh well. This goofy horror-comedy is kind of like a modern-day Addams family. It's based on a popular show from back in the 1960s, although I can't say if it's anything like it. What I can tell you is that you should watch it at least once. Note for parents: there is some sexual content and drug use.

8. Warm Bodies (2013)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: 13+
It's a zombie love story! For real. A zombie takes a teenage girl under his protection. As their relationship develops, he realizes he's turning back human. R, the zombie, is understatedly funny, mostly because he doesn't actually speak, but his thoughts mixed with his zombie facial expressions are gold.

9. Zombieland (2009)
Rated: R
Recommended: 13+
And now to the other zombie movie on my list. Zombieland is about four people just trying to survive the zombie-apocalypse. Woody Harrelson's character is hilarious. Things parents should be aware of: there is a lot of violence against zombies in this movie which means there is a lot of blood and gore, but it's very theatrical.

10. The Goonies (1985)
Rated: PG
Recommended: 13+
Another cult classic that all teenagers should see. The Goonies are a group of friends who set out on a mission to find a pirate treasure and save their town. But they're not the only ones after the booty. An Italian crime family is also searching for the gold. The big lesson of the movie? Goonies never say die.

11. Ghostbusters (1984)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 13+
When Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd are together on screen, magic happens. This movie is comedic gold. Oh, and there are ghosts and demons trying to take over New York City. Google says this movie is appropriate for ages 8 and up, but I think 13 is a better age to start. Who ya gonna call?

12. Now and Then (1995)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: Ages 13+
This is the perfect movie to rent for your teenage daughter's next sleepover. It's all about friendship and growing up. Four friends reunite in their hometown when one of them is about to have her first baby. The movie goes back and forth between the present and the summer of 1970 when they all grew up.

13. Teen Witch (1989)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: Ages 13+
Here's another movie to add to your teen girl's next sleepover. From the over-the-top 80s fashion to the crazy dance sequence at the end, this movie is worth watching because it's so ridiculously bad. Louise gains magical powers on her 16th birthday and uses them to become the most popular girl in school, but in true movie fashion things don't turn out quite like she thought they would.

14. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: Ages 15+
Bad fashion, corny acting and lots of vampires. This movie is everything you'd expect a 90s movie to be - namely cheesy. When Buffy learns she's the Slayer, she teams up with Pike to save the world. This movie is big on girl power.

15. Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended: Ages 15+
Talk about a tale of forbidden love. Ethan and Lena are drawn to each other but their relationship ignites a dark curse. Lena is a caster who will be claimed for good or evil on her 16th birthday unless she can break the curse.

Tomorrow: 7 Movies to Watch as a Family this Fall
ICYMI: 10 Movies to Watch with Younger Kids this Fall and 12 Movies to Watch with Older Kids this Fall

12 Movies to Watch with Older Kids this Fall

On Monday we talked about movies to watch with your younger kids, focusing on Kindergarten and younger. Today I'm sharing 12 movies you can totally watch with your older kids, namely your tweens.

1. The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 8+
Most of the time theme park rides are based on movies. Other times, movies are based on theme park rides, but with funny man Eddie Murphy as the star you can't really go wrong. Murphy plays a workaholic real estate agent. He takes his family on a much-needed vacation but stops along the way to see a mansion he's been asked to sell. Little does the family know the mansion is haunted and its master believes Murphy's wife can free them all.

2. Scooby-Doo (2002)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 10+
Ok, I admit this live-action version of everyone's favorite mystery-solving pooch is a little cheesy, both in plot line and acting, but it's definitely a fun one to watch around Halloween. The gang gets back together when they're all invited to Spooky Island to investigate some paranormal happenings all orchestrated by someone who's well-known to the Mystery Inc. crew. There are the usual shenanigans, goofy traps, and the expected unmasking at the end. Be warned there is some ritualistic stuff and some of the monsters could be unsettling for younger viewers.

3. Corpse Bride (2005)
Rated: PG
Recommended: 8+
Has Johnny Depp met a Halloween-ish movie he couldn't slay? The answer is no. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is no exception. Depp's character, Victor, is whisked off to the underworld when he accidentally marries Emily, a bride-to-be who was murdered by fiance. Victor is desperate to return to the land of the living so he can marry Victoria, his very much alive fiance. His journey leads him to the truth about Emily's death and justice.

4. Halloweentown (1998)
Rated: TV-G
Recommended: 8+
This Disney Channel favorite is a must-watch. Marnie has always been a little weird, and this Halloween she learns that all of the women in her family, including her, are witches. So Marnie and her siblings travel to Halloweentown where they find themselves in a fight to save the magical world.

5. The Addams Family (1991)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 10+
Would it really be Halloween if you didn't watch The Addams Family? In this first movie about the spooky family, long-lost Uncle Fester returns, or so Gomez thinks. In reality, the impostor is out to steal the Addams' fortune.

6. Beetlejuice (1988)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 12+
Another Halloween classic. After Barbara and Adam Maitland die in a car accident, their spirits return to their home only to find it's been bought by a horrible family, the Deetzes. In their quest to scare the Deetzes away, the Maitland ghosts invite Beetlejuice into their home. Although it's not particularly scary, there are some disturbing scenes and a lot of dialogue about dying.

7. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Rated: PG
Recommended: 12+
We've arrived at my absolute, most favorite Halloween movie of all time. When the Sanderson sisters are raised, a couple of teenagers and one little girl spend all of Halloween night trying to send them back to Hell, teaming up with a cat who was once a boy and a zombie along the way.

8. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 10+
There's a reason this movie has become a cult classic, and that reason may be that Tim Burton is a genius. Halloweentown's pumpkin king, Jack Skellington, wants more out of his life than just Halloween, so he decides to take over Christmas. As you can imagine, a bunch of ghosts, goblins, and other monsters don't really take the place of Santa and his elves. While Jack is out ruining Christmas, his would-be girlfriend is home trying to save the holiday. I definitely wouldn't recommend this for young children, if for nothing other than Oogie Boogie. He still gives me the creeps and I'm in my 30s.

9. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Rated: PG
Recommended: 12+
A young boy and his siblings take in an alien, E.T., after it becomes stranded on Earth. At first, they keep him a secret, but the government gets involved when E.T. and the boy get sick. They manage to break out of quarantine in a race against the clock to get E.T. back home.

10. Dennis the Menace (1993)
Rated: PG
Recommended: Ages 8+
This was one of my favorite movies growing up. It's all about Dennis and his relationship with neighbor, George Wilson. When Dennis' parents both have to go out of town for work, Dennis stays with the Wilsons. Of course there's the usual Dennis shenanigans, but to add substance to the movie, a burglar comes to town and takes Dennis hostage.

11. Little Giants (1994)
Rated: PG
Recommended: 10+
Rick Moranis was the king of 90s family comedies. In this, he plays Danny O'Shea, widower father to tomboy Becky. When Becky's uncle refuses to let her on his football team, Danny starts his own team of local rejects and the rivalry begins. One of the reasons I love this movie is that it tells young girls they can do whatever boys can, while still being pretty.

12. Homeward Bound (1993)
Rated: G
Recommended: Ages 8+
I had to add this epic pet adventure to the list. When their family moves to San Francisco, Shadow, Chance, and Sassy are left with a friend on a ranch. But the three pets set out on a cross-country journey to go back home. They encounter many obstacles along the way and almost don't make it. If the very last scene doesn't make your eyes leak, are you even human?

Tomorrow, 15 Movies to Watch with Teenagers this Fall.
In case you missed it: 10 Movies to Watch with Younger Kids this Fall