Halloween... The After-Party!

Yep, we’re stuck on the Halloween theme… at least until next week!

So, Halloween is over; last night your kids probably counted, weighed, and sorted their candy; deciding quickly what they would keep for themselves and what they would give to moms, dads, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, and sisters. If they haven't already, have your kids sort it – it really is a great learning activity. Their teachers would be proud!!

Seriously though, you’ve probably got tons of it. Our boys always did and we didn’t know what to do with it, until the next holiday when we threw it away. I always felt so wasteful. Here are some great tips that you can do with the extra candy:

Use it in the Kitchen 

• Freeze it. You can add it to recipes throughout the year – cookies, brownies and the occasional milkshake.
• Bake it into cakes, cookies, or brownies.
• Use it in a healthy mix. Crush it up, and sprinkle it on celery or in yogurt, or add it to trail mix.

For the Home

• Use it to decorate your home. Make a craft.
• Make a candy cake. These make great gifts!
• Save it to decorate a gingerbread house in December.
• Make a candy wreath.

Drink it

• Share it with other adults. Chocolate is wonderful paired with wine!
• Use it to infuse vodka.
• Pop a piece in your morning coffee.

Teaching Tools 

• Have your kids use it to help them with math – addition, subtraction, counting, multiplying. All sorts of math problems can be done with candy. 
• Use it to inspire your child to write. Candy has all sorts of names that would be great for settings, characters, or interesting creative writing situations. 
• Give it to children when the practice their spelling words or do some extra reading. 
• Use it in a science experiment. 

Share It! 

• Send it into school with your child.
• Mail it to troops. Groups like Operation Shoe box love to add candy to care packages.
• Take it to the office and share it with your coworkers.
• Donate it to the fire department, a nursing home, many organizations accept candy.

Check out our Celebrate | Halloween Candy Leftovers Pinterest board for all sorts of recipes and ideas and follow us while you're there!

Happy Friday ~ have a great weekend!