We hope your day is full of hauntingly good fun. If you need ideas to have fun with your ghosts and goblins, here are a few resources:
Happy Halloween!
Mile High Mamas is appearing on 9News My 20 this morning in the 8 a.m. hour to share some of favorite last-minute treats and hacks for Halloween.
Free Printable Tic Tac Halloween Favor Labels by Somewhat Simple
This surgical glove bag by The Queens Card Castle is great to stuff with treats or non-food items for kids with allergies.
These DIY Mummy Candy Cups by The Taylor House are a super cute and easy craft for kids.
While you’re at it, why not make Frankenstein cups? All that you need: grapes, googly eyes and a Sharpie!
Baskin Robbins’ Piñata Pumpkin Patch Cake. Perfect for candy lovers, this new ice cream cake is dressed up like a jack-o-lantern and features a candy-filled center.
Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup Ball. Made with cream cheese, chopped Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups and rolled in Reece’s Pieces, this delicious dip is best served with cookies, graham crackers, pretzels or fruit. Or nothing at all.
Fangs that double as a napkin holder can dress up any meal.
foodnetwork.com
These Demon Eyes will light up your tree or yard.
Top off your treats with these healthy(ish) kabobs from sheknows.com.
And finally, my go-to resource for fall treats: Nestle Toll House’s Pumpkin Spice chips. I found mine at Target and include them in everything from pumpkin bread to cookies.
What are your suggestions for last-minute Halloween treats?
My sister-in-law recently shared this recipe for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Cream Cheese Ball and has earned a new nickname: Satan.
But with cream cheese, Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups AND Reese’s Pieces, this delicious treat is a crowd-pleaser.
Plus, if served with fruit, the calories don’t count, right?
You don’t need to be a ballerina to enjoy this fairy tale-come-to-life!
On November 5-8, 2015, Colorado Ballet will host the first annual Colorado Ballet Nutcracker Market in a heated tent in Skyline Park in Downtown Denver at 16th and Arapahoe Streets.
The market will consist of an upscale retail market, with additional artisan and high-end craft booths. In addition to the holiday market, Colorado Ballet will host other events and activities including a kick-off cocktail party, two Breakfast with Santa events, a food court with a variety of food trucks, and live music by local chorale and music groups. Colorado Ballet Academy students will also perform on November 8.
“Colorado Ballet takes great pride in hosting our first annual Colorado Ballet Nutcracker Market, which will kick-off the holiday season in Denver,” said Sarah Treviño-Anderson, Colorado Ballet Special Events and Boutique Manager. “The Nutcracker Market will showcase the best Denver has to offer for holiday gift ideas with great entertainment and holiday festivities.”
The event will be held annually during the first weekend of November in Downtown Denver and will benefit Colorado Ballet and its affiliate programs.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children ages 12 and under are free. Breakfast with Santa costs $30 and includes breakfast, visit with Santa, cookie and ornament decorating, and admission to the market for one day. The Kick-off Cocktail Party on November 5 costs $50 for a single ticket or $75 for a couple and both tickets include hors d’oeurves, two drinks and market entry on one of the following days. For more information on the Colorado Ballet Nutcracker Market, visit www.coloradoballet.org/nutcrackermarket.
Mile High Mamas is giving away 4 entry tickets to the market and 2 tickets for Breakfast with Santa. You may enter as many as five times.
At least 1 in 3 kids will be bullied during school. UP TV set out to answer the question “in an increasingly disconnected world, who will stop the bullying?”
They conducted a social experiment where they placed hidden videos across the street to secretly film two tween girls being cruel bullies to a younger classmates at a bus stop. One by one, strangers took a seat on the bench just across the way from the girls as they overheard nasty comments and insults, like “You definitely need makeup.” “Do you have any friends… ones that aren’t imaginary?”
If these kind, concerned strangers are any indication, we all will put an end to bullying.
It’s that time of year…. Parent-Teacher Conferences. Some parents love hearing about their child’s successes, but some parents don’t have that experience. Instead they receive a troubling report.
If you’re reading this, you probably sat in the tiny chair in front of your child’s teacher and absorbed the classroom your child occupies five days a week. You scoured the walls looking for your child’s artwork and reminisced on your own school days for a minute.
You were a little excited and a little nervous to get the scoop on how your brilliant child is excelling in school but the teacher spent about 30 seconds on your child’s strengths and the rest was about how he’s struggling.
Struggling to grasp academic concepts…
Struggling to stay focused…
Disrupting the class…
Not performing well on tests…
Or even struggling socially…
Struggling just enough to be cause for concern and just enough to not make sense. You know your child is brilliant and you experience it at home, but your child’s teacher isn’t quite accessing it. It can feel like your child’s brain is turned off at school or amped up so high that they can’t learn.
Regardless of the teacher’s feedback you left the conversation puzzled and not really understanding how to get your child up to speed. Maybe this type of parent teacher conference isn’t new to you, but you’re not seeing changes and you weren’t given any direction on how to create change.
Here’s some valuable information for you to look into. Many children are experiencing sensory challenges that are going unidentified in schools or are being incorrectly diagnosed as behavioral issues, ADHD, or even autism spectrum disorder. Sensory challenges are 5 times more likely than autism spectrum disorder yet most professionals your child is encountering are not trained to spot it.
Sensory challenges just mean that a child’s brain responds to sensory input differently and some sensations may create an over-responsive action, like hitting back when being lightly touched. Other times a sensation like touch or someone trying to get the child’s attention may go unnoticed because the brain is under-responsive. There are many other variations of sensory challenges that can prevent your child from entering “the learning zone”.
Sensory challenges show up differently in each individual and most doctors are trained to respond to sensory concerns from parents as if the child will “grow out of it”. Teachers are rarely trained to understand what sensory challenges are so they are often looked at as behavioral issues or laziness. For many children, the sensory challenges continue and even get worse without treatment as they grow.
Once a sensory issue is identified, the child can receive the direction they need to enter “the learning zone” they haven’t been able to access at school.
If you think your child may be experiencing a sensory challenge visit the STAR Center resource page. STAR Center is equipped to assess children who are experiencing sensory challenges so you can be clear on how to get your child in the learning zone. In partnership with Mile High Mamas.
Do you ever really pay attention to what you say to your children?
In this new video from the hilarious moms of The BreakWomb, they are having an adult conversation…as if they are talking to their kids.
Mothers who have given birth via cesarean delivery (C-section) are not automatically reserved to deliver the rest of their children in the same way. Many of my patients come to me asking about vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) as an option for their next delivery. I often field a number of questions from my patients regarding the viability and safety of VBAC. Here are a few of the most popular:
Many of my patients who gave birth via C-section qualify for VBAC. Perhaps the most important qualification for VBAC is the type of incision made on the uterus during your previous delivery. Moms wanting to give birth vaginally after a C-section must have given birth with the assistance of a low transverse incision. Performed in a majority of C-sections, a low transverse incision uses a horizontal cut made across the lower part of the uterus. In opposition, if a vertical incision on the higher, thicker part of the uterus was used in your first C-section, VBAC is not an option.
Additionally, patients who had their first C-section due to breech or fetal distress have a better chance of VBAC success as opposed to moms who had to have their C-section after failure to progress.
For patients who qualify for VBAC, the risks are minimal. In fact, only .5 – 1 percent of patients have complications. However, this does not mean that all mothers who go into labor planning on VBAC are able to deliver vaginally. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates between 60-80 percent of women who try to have a VBAC succeed.
Because labor is different for every mother, difficulty progressing, breech or fetal distress may necessitate a second C-section to ensure the health of both you and your baby. For this reason, every mother planning on VBAC delivery must deliver in an approved hospital with 24-hour obstetric coverage and full access to anesthesia and surgical capabilities.
Patients who deliver vaginally spend less time in the hospital than those who deliver via C-section. Because C-section deliveries require major abdominal surgery, hospital stays afterward tend to be longer. VBAC also allows for more mother participation in the labor and delivery process. If you plan on having more children, VBAC delivery helps avoid the risks of multiple surgeries, which can cause the development of scar tissue within the abdomen and pelvis.
There are risks and benefits of each method of delivery, and often times the best approach depends on each individual’s unique case. As I tell my patients, my job is to guarantee the safety of you and your child no matter the method of delivery. If you have any concerns or questions about VBAC, your OB/GYN is a fantastic resource and partner in helping you make the right decision for your family. (476)
** This blog post was written to serve as suggestions for VBAC and should not be taken as concrete medical advice, nor do the views above reflect the views of Women’s Care of Colorado or the HealthONE organization. As with any medical questions or concerns, please make an appointment with your physician to discuss your own personal situation and treatment options.
Dr. Lara Lane has more than 15 years of experience as an OB/GYN physician and is the former chief resident in obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Santa Clara, Calif. As a member of the Women’s Care of Colorado team, Dr. Lane is primarily focused on childbirth and gynecological needs and is dedicated to helping women better manage their health. In partnership with Mile High Mamas.
Halloween is Saturday, which means the next few days are jam-packed with hauntingly good fun. Be sure to check the websites for admission prices and additional details.
Wednesday, October 28. Colorado Adventure Point’s Halloween Adventure in Lakewood will have cauldrons of homemade root beer and apple cider, creepy games with tasty prizes 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. South High School Trick or Treat Street in Denver will have games and treats for kids ages 2-8 from 5-7 p.m. Help throw a Halloween party for families in need for Volunteers of America’s Halloween bash at their downtown headquarters from 4-6 p.m. Sign up to bring treats and meet the Great Pumpkin (1,400 pounds!)
Thursday, October 29. Denver Union Station Kids Halloween Parade & Party, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Trick-or-treating palm reader, balloon twisters, a costume parade and costume contest with prizes for best overall and best group/family costumes. Colorado Adventure Point’s Halloween Adventure in Lakewood will have cauldrons of homemade root beer and apple cider, creepy games with tasty prizes 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Glendale Sports Center Halloween Party will have treats, haunted house, crafts, music and dancing from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, October 30. Boo After Dark at the Denver Zoo offers more than 25 trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal demonstrations and exciting family-friendly entertainment 6:30-9 p.m. Bass Pro Shops Halloween Party, Denver. Go trick-or-treating through the store, get a free 4×6 photo, arts and crafts and a costumer parade from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Olde Town Arvada Trick or Treat Street. welcome little ghosts and goblins for a spookingly fun good time. The Firestone P.D. will host a Halloween Safe Night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with trackless train rides, costume parade, games, prizes, trick-or-treat bag. Haunted House & Carnival, Denver. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fun haunted house and carnival with games at St. Charles Recreation Center. Trick or Treat Street in Castle Rock will have a costume contest, arts, crafts, pony rides, face painting, balloon animals and more from 2-5 p.m.
Saturday, October 31. Boo After Dark at the Denver Zoo offers more than 25 trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal demonstrations and exciting family-friendly entertainment 6:30-9 p.m. Boo & Brew on Colfax Avenue, Denver will have FREE kids activities from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at businesses along E. Colfax from York to Colorado Blvd with Made-to-order candy bars, bounce castle, face painting.Longmont Halloween Parade & Trick or Treat Street starts at 10 a.m. Loveland’s Halloween Family Fun Festival. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Southlands Trick-or-Treat Trail, Aurora. 10 a.m. to noon. Boo on the Bluff at Bluff Lake Nature Center, Denver. 10 a.m. to noon. Trick or Treat for Health in Aurora will have Halloween activities and free flu shots for adults at Health One Saddle Rock ER from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Halloween at The Gardens On Havana, Aurora from noon to 4 p.m. Highland Haunt, Denver will have pinata stations, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Munchkin Masquerade on Bouder’s Pearl Street from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Trick or Treat on Mainstreet in Parker, 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Trick or Treat Off The Street at the Outlets at Castle Rock from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aspen Grove Trick or Treat Street, Littleton from 5-7 p.m.
The Joint. Celebrate National Chiropractic Health Month at The Joint with a free exam and adjustment. Follow this link to schedule yours free! Seriously…no strings.
Nuggets Family Night. October 30 is Family night at the Nuggets. Get 1 Ticket and 1 Meal and Pepsi Voucher for just $22!
Chipotle. BooRito for just $3 if you show to on Halloween (October 31) in a costume with an unnecessary accessory. https://www.chipotle.com/boorito
IHOP. October 30 is Scary Face Pancake day at IHOP. Between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. kids get a FREE Scary Face Pancake. Kids create their own by using strawberries, whipped topping, oreo cookies and candy corn.
Ski and Snowboard Expo. The 24th Annual Colorado Ski & Snowboard Expo opens Friday, Nov. 6 at noon at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. Known as Colorado’s single biggest ski and snowboard sale, shoppers arrive to make purchases on equipment and clothing with discounts ranging from 40-75 percent off. The Expo is open from noon to 10 pm on Friday, Nov. 6; 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, Nov. 7; and 10 am to 6 pm on Sunday, Nov. 8. Representatives from Colorado resorts and other western mountain destinations will be selling season passes and lift tickets. Adding to the festive atmosphere, plenty of interactive and kids activities are included with admission.Try the high ropes course that stretches over the Expo, an introduction to the combined sport of Nordic biathlon that involves a Ski Erg machine that simulates cross-country movements to raise heart rate and then having participants drop to the ground and aim at a target with a laser rifle. Admission is $15 for adults or $12 with a discount coupon available in The Denver Post or at any Colorado Ski & Golf location or at http://www.bewisports.com/expos/boston/buy-tickets#/select. Kids 12 and under are free.
Southwest Airlines. Dreaming of where you might want to go on vacation. Want to put your toes in the sand instead of the snow this winter? Southwest Airlines has a lot of great deals. I’m kind of thinking of taking my daughter to the Mall of America (in Minneapolis) for some Christmas shopping or maybe we’ll go to a Disney park.
Soybu. Our favorite Colorado-based women’s activewear company Soybu is offering an exclusive 25% discount off all order through Oct. 31. Check-out their darling fall fashions, including their Starmaze collection. Simply enter in the code MileHigh25 at checkout.
Email me if you know of any great Denver deals!
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If you’re on Twitter follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93). If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out.
Kids Eat Free Mile High Mamas has rounded up a huge listing of local restaurants where kids eat free or for a discount with a paying adult.
221B Baker Street has been transported to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science from now until January 31, 2016. The interactive International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes has several parts, but starts with the history of this character and and includes a replica underground train station (circa 1895) where you can receive detective’s notebooks (available in English and Spanish), and go station-to-station to learn about the different techniques and aspects for solving crimes. At each station, you stamp your detective notebook or receive a decoder (read the instructions or ask for help), because each station is different.
At the end of the station, you get a special decoded message from Sherlock Holmes that tells you what to do next. The game is definitely afoot, as you examine a crime in a Victorian-era home, stamp your book so you can take clues with you and then walk the streets of London to gather clues. At each of the final stations, you analyze all the evidence with hands-on interactive stations.
The various stations include a sitting room at 221B Baker Street, London, depicting the very room where Dr. Watson and Sherlock discuss cases. The various stations make it fun for adults and children alike to enjoy solving a case and exploring the concept that “things are not always what they seem!”
Be prepared for some fun, interaction, and a whole lot of Sherlock Holmes. If you love a mystery and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creations, you will definitely enjoy this exhibit at the DMNS. But, be careful and observe every detail, because “to a great mind, nothing is little.”
A few things of note for this exhibit specifically:
For more information, visit International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes.
Ratna Gupta blogs as Get Clued In! at http://getcluedincolorado.com, and lives and plays in Colorado with her husband and her two kids.