Happy Halloween!

55 daysToday is a day to enjoy! If you have children or grandchildren, there will probably be lots to do today. Be sure to charge your camera.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to join in on the party, get costumes ready, load up that bowl with candy for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters, and think about something quick and easy for dinner. You don’t want to miss a minute of the fun!

I Believe in the Great Pumpkin!

65 daysWhat would Halloween be without the Great Pumpkin? The answer is unfathomable. For many people, it was a part of childhood memories of fall and now it can mean just as much to your children during the month of October.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to get your hands on a copy of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” for your Friday Family Flick. Check to see if it airs on TV tonight, check it out at your library, or look around on-line for a way to instantly download it. It isn’t a very long film and you’ll embark on a trip down memory lane as you watch it again.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell about your favorite fall/Halloween movies!

ListPlanIt.comThis week’s giveaway is one that is unlike any other we’ve ever done.  It is not a giveaway to the fans and followers of 100 Days to Christmas, but to a worthy organization, designated by fans and followers.  ListPlanIt.com wants to give $.25 for every comment that is left between today and Friday, October 21 at 6 p.m.

You have several ways to vote for your choice of charitable organizations:

1) leave a comment here and tell us which organization you think is most deserving of this award and why,

2) tell your friends & followers on Twitter about how they can vote for an organization of their choice and increase the size of the donation when you tweet, “Visit http://100DaystoChristmas.com to learn how you can vote to support your favorite charity this holiday season with @ListPlanIt!”,

3) blog about your favorite charitable organization and encourage your readers to vote at 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

4) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “I support {your charitable organization} because {your reason}.  Visit http://100DaystoChristmas.com to learn how you can vote to support your favorite charity this holiday season!”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Friday, October 21 at 6 pm EST to enter.

100 days to christmas

Firm Up Your Halloween Plans

66 daysHolidays are a way to create fun opportunities and lasting memories for your family. Instead of leaving it to chance, take some time to develop a plan that makes the most of a special day.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to think about a way to add a little Halloween spirit to each meal. For example, use a pumpkin cookie cutter on the toast at breakfast. Put orange food coloring in the milk at lunch. Serve spaghetti and “eyeballs” for dinner. Check out what activities are going on in your community. Ask around for the best and safest places to trick-or-treat.

ListPlanIt.com’s Halloween Planner* provides a convenient place to lay out your plans for the special day.

What fun plans have you been concocting for Halloween? Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and let us know.

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download a blank Halloween Planner in Holidays & Occasions as a worksheet for your holiday advent planning.

ListPlanIt.comThis week’s giveaway is one that is unlike any other we’ve ever done.  It is not a giveaway to the fans and followers of 100 Days to Christmas, but to a worthy organization, designated by fans and followers.  ListPlanIt.com wants to give $.25 for every comment that is left between today and Friday, October 21 at 6 p.m.

You have several ways to vote for your choice of charitable organizations:

1) leave a comment here and tell us which organization you think is most deserving of this award and why,

2) tell your friends & followers on Twitter about how they can vote for an organization of their choice and increase the size of the donation when you tweet, “Visit http://100DaystoChristmas.com to learn how you can vote to support your favorite charity this holiday season with @ListPlanIt!”,

3) blog about your favorite charitable organization and encourage your readers to vote at 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

4) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “I support {your charitable organization} because {your reason}.  Visit http://100DaystoChristmas.com to learn how you can vote to support your favorite charity this holiday season!”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Friday, October 21 at 6 pm EST to enter.

100 days to christmas

Lots of Loot

72 daysWhether your child will be trick-or-treating or attending a church or neighborhood harvest party, they will most likely need some place to put all the good stuff. There are lots of options from traditional plastic jack-o-lanterns to fleecy treat bags to decorated pillowcases to paper sacks (think Charlie Brown).

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to begin to think about what your child will use for all that tooth-decaying loot. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to realize that your child really will have to use a paper sack. Consider a treat bag that is convenient to carry, light, and light-reflective. A family craft session might be a great excuse to produce something festive and original.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us what your children use to carry their Halloween loot.

holiday gift bagsThe holidays produce a tremendous amount of waste through wrapping paper.  Imagine if children opened their presents and then the wrapping was simply folded up and used for the next Christmas.  Today is the last day to enter to win a set of 4 reusable fabric gift bags from Living Ethos (value $28).

You have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment here and tell us how us which pattern or color is your favorite,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Twitter (it’s easy to do with our share buttons below) and leave a comment here linking to your Twitter handle (be sure to follow @100Days on Twitter, too),

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email (and get our daily posts delivered straight to your inbox) and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “I’d like to do my part to reduce paper waste this Christmas.  I’m entering to win some reusable gift bags from http://100DaystoChristmas.com!”

One of each of these per day please. You have until today, Friday, October 14 at 6 pm EST to enter.

100 days to christmas

Are You Ready for Trick-or-Treaters?

73 daysHalloween is a night to send out your own little Strawberry Shortcake and Spiderman to knock on doors in search of goodies, but unless you live in an isolated location, you will more than likely find trick-or-treaters knocking on your door as well.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to add candy or novelty items to your shopping list so that you will have them ready when Halloween night arrives (just over two weeks away now). Be sure you have a large bowl, tub, or container to put them in. AND DON’T EAT THEM UP BEFORE HALLOWEEN!

  • List of Non-Traditional Halloween Treat Ideas

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us your favorite trick-or-TREAT!

holiday gift bagsThe holidays produce a tremendous amount of waste through wrapping paper.  Imagine if children opened their presents and then the wrapping was simply folded up and used for the next Christmas.  This week, enter to win a set of 4 reusable fabric gift bags from Living Ethos (value $28).

You have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment here and tell us how us which pattern or color is your favorite,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Twitter (it’s easy to do with our share buttons below) and leave a comment here linking to your Twitter handle (be sure to follow @100Days on Twitter, too),

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email (and get our daily posts delivered straight to your inbox) and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “I’d like to do my part to reduce paper waste this Christmas.  I’m entering to win some reusable gift bags from http://100DaystoChristmas.com!”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Friday, October 14 at 6 pm EST to enter.

100 days to christmas

Hosting Halloween

82 daysWhether you have a neighborhood get-together before trick-or-treating, a big weekend costume bash or a party for your child’s playgroup or school, quite a bit of preparation goes into the planning of such an event.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to write down the specifics of the event such as a date and time, food ideas, possible activities, and guests to be invited. Create a Party Details* page. Even if you aren’t planning your own party, you will very likely be invited to one, so begin to think about what you’ll be bringing.

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download Party Details in Holidays & Occasions as a worksheet for your Halloween party planning.
  • List of Steps to Planning the Perfect Halloween Party

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us your tips for hosting a Halloween party!

Holiday plannerHow would you like your own personalized binder for storing your Holiday planning pages?  This week, enter to win a binder from ListPlanIt‘s Store.

You have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment here and tell us how you would use your personalized binder,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Twitter (it’s easy to do with our share buttons below) and leave a comment here linking to your Twitter handle (be sure to follow @100Days on Twitter, too),

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email (and get our daily posts delivered straight to your inbox) and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “If I win a personalized binder from 100DaystoChristmas.com, I’m going to use it to _____________.”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Thursday, October 6 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Costume Planning

83 daysWith just a month until Halloween, now is the time to start discussing your child’s costumes. You’ll need time to find a pattern or the necessary accessories, or even time to receive it in the mail if you are ordering it online.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to sit down with each child to print or create a Costume Planner* with costume options. Try to get them to narrow down their ideas to their favorite one. Once settled, you can use your Costume Planner to start listing what you’ll need for supplies and then begin to comparison shop and/or search for the components to complete the perfect costume.

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download Costume Planner in Holidays & Occasions as a worksheet for your planning the perfect costume.

See ListPlanIt’s Halloween Costume Board on Pinterest.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us what you have planned for Halloween costumes this year!

Holiday plannerHow would you like your own personalized binder for storing your Holiday planning pages?  This week, enter to win a binder from ListPlanIt‘s Store.

You have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment here and tell us how you would use your personalized binder,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Twitter (it’s easy to do with our share buttons below) and leave a comment here linking to your Twitter handle (be sure to follow @100Days on Twitter, too),

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email (and get our daily posts delivered straight to your inbox) and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “If I win a personalized binder from 100DaystoChristmas.com, I’m going to use it to _____________.”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Thursday, October 6 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Let the Halloween Season (Officially) Begin!

84 daysThe first of October officially began the month-long Halloween season. If you’ve been holding back, afraid of too much, too soon, then hold back no more!

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to dust off your Halloween décor, get out your goblins, and set out your spooky spiders. Kids (and adults) get so excited when they are able to go through the Halloween tubs and boxes to unearth the Halloween treasures that have been hidden for the past 11 months.

Read ListPlanIt’s article, Autumn Sensibilties

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us what you have planned for the Halloween season!