Toddler Talk ~ Week 17 (Photo Challenge and Giveaway)

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Welcome to week 17 of Toddler Talk Thursday! Where Family and Life in Las Vegas, Crazy about my Baybah, and My Life as a Sippy Cup Mom talk about all things Toddler!

Toddler Talk Thursday was created as a place for moms and dads of toddlers to come together over a weekly topic and share ideas, go-to toys, or products. It is a great way to meet other bloggers of toddlers. Each week the topic will be different; we invite you to link up, share your weekly Toddler Talk!!

We decided to extend our photo challenge and giveaway! If you have not already linked up with us yet, please do!! We wanna see your cuties!!

In keeping with our theme Toddler Wonderland, this weeks special edition of Toddler Talk is a Holiday Photo Challenge!! We want you to link up your favorite Holiday photo of your little one from last year. Don't worry if you are not a professional photographer, neither are we. We just want you to share your favorite Holiday photo with us, and who knows, you just might win!

Win?! We told you this weeks edition was special. Chelsey from The Paper Mama has offered to giveaway a photo touch up or blog banner creation from her etsy shop to the winner! Squee!!! How awesome is that?! Along with checking out her blog and shop, also be sure to also check out her Holiday Card Photo Challenge. She has lots of great prizes already lined up. If you are not already a fan of hers, you will be.

Here are our favorite Holiday Photos!

Squishy from Family and Life in Las Vegas

Baybah from Crazy About My Baybah

Hayden from Sippy Cup Mom

Now link up your Holiday favorite for a chance to win a photo touch up or blog banner from Paper Mama! Linky will close 11/28/10 at 8:59 pm pacific, and winner will be announced on 11/29.

To Enter:

1. Link up your Toddler Talk post with your favorite Holiday photo in it to the linky below.

2. Please grab the Toddler Talk Holiday Photo Challenge Button and display it in your post so others can share in on the fun.

3. Stop by the hosting blogs and the other blogs that are link up, to see what their little ones looked like 1 year ago.

This link up is for families that have toddlers. Raising a toddler can be fun, crazy, exciting, and exhausting. Sharing what works for you could give other families another way to do things.

Have Fun!

We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

Halloween with Hershey's

Can you believe the 31st is right around the corner? Pretty soon children will be banging on my doorbell asking for candy. Their treat bags will be filled with candy much like this! We plan on donating candy to the YMCA trick or treat event we will be attending right by our home!! We also plan to take Squish out to Trick or Treat for the very first time in his super cute costume!!

According to a national survey conducted by The Hershey Company, personal candy preferences may provide insight into Halloween costume choices. According to the survey:

• About 30 percent of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Kit Kat Wafer Bar and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate lovers will do the monster mash this year as a vampire, witch or monster.
• Fans of Twizzlers Twists may get the chance to show their dance moves as they twist the night away dressed in garb from the 1950s. More than 41 percent stated they plan to dress-up in period piece costumes from different eras of the 20^th century.
• Jolly Rancher lovers will most likely sport a cape on Halloween, as 23 percent expressed a desire to channel superhuman powers as their favorite superhero.

You can check out www.CelebrateWithHersheys.com/Halloween for more information!!

Disclosure:
I am participating in a contest for a Hershey's Halloween Prize Pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club!

Way Back Wednesdays

Well, I am trying something new. A couple of my favorite mama blogs have done it in the past, and so this week I am going to join in on the fun.

It is called Way Back Wednesdays (as indicated by the title, duh!). I first heard of it here, so check The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom if you want some more details, or just click the button!

If you are interested in trying this too, all you have to do is grab the button, answer the questions, and link it up! So easy!

This weeks topic? Favorite Halloween Memories/Costumes!

I have always loved Halloween. I loved the fact that we were able to dress up, have parties in school, participate in the Halloween Parade instead of sitting behind a desk (at least for the Elementary years), and of course what kid doesn't love free candy.

COSTUMES

I grew up in Chicago, so it was 9 times out of 10 pretty VERY cold. Costumes had to reflect this, because if you wore a coat, you couldn't show off your costume. Some of my favorite costumes through the years were:

"A crow." It was a handmade costume composed of a black leotard with fabric feathers sewn all over it, black leggings, and a beak made of felt.with a elastic band to keep it on. I actually wore this costume more than once I loved it so much.

"A ninja." Okay, so I was a little tom-boy, but this was a great costume. You could only see my eyes, so it was super cool and super warm all at the same time!

"The Crocodile Hunter's Wife" / "Jane" which was one from my college years when I was in the best shape of my life. We had just got home from and away meet, and all decided to hit up a Halloween party. So the costume had to be something I had. I took my white button down shirt and tied it in a knot showing a little of my toned abs (hey, I was a college athlete), khaki shorts, hiking boots, white tube socks, my roommate's stuffed animal snake to wear it around my neck, my teammates canteen, and bought a rubber spider on the way to the party and pinned it on my canteen. Once I got to the party one of my teammates/guy friends had shown up in nothing more than a loin cloth, so I became Jane for the evening. It was a pretty fun night. (I actually recycled this costume this year I was pregnant, only I didn't have super toned abs anymore...)

This is me and my husband in 2008. (He went as Bubba the Gas Attendant). I was about 6 weeks pregnant.

MEMORIES
The Good Ones: The house that owned Long Grove Confectionery's and always gave away HUGE caramel apples. The house that always gave away King Sized candy bars. (We later learned the people who owned that house had awful memories, and we would hit it up 2-3 times!) Carving Pumpkins, Halloween Parties at school, Junior High Drop in which had a Haunted Tunnel, Dressing up in High School, and College.

The Bad Ones: The year I was ditched by my supposed friends while trick or treating in Junior High. Nothing says loser like being ditched and having to explain to my parents why I was home so early. Having one too many drinks at a college party and ending the night super early. Breaking up with a boyfriend just before Halloween and scrambling to find new plans, which didn't end up being much fun.

The Best Ones: This past year where I dressed my sweet little squishy up as a Caterpillar, and then attempted (4 times) to make a football costume for him. My husband and I went as Packer's Fans, and carried our football. We spent the night at our friend's house who have a son just a little older than Kellan, handing out candy to all the super cute little kids.

My Attempt at a football.

Me and my Squishapillar!

Kellan's 1st pumpkin (as you can see he is thrilled...)

I look forward to many more Halloween's as a mother. I can't wait to see the build-up, excitement, and sugar-highs that go along with being a child on Halloween.

Xoxxo,
Us


Linking up to SITS girls and Halloween Past!