Hauntoween Review and Top Tips

hidden hills CA, halloween popupWe love celebrating Halloween-do you? We kicked it off this season with a media preview of Hauntoween (in Hidden Hills, CA). And WOW was it spooktacular! If you follow us on Instagram, you know we are crazy about going to ALL the popups, so trust us when we say this one is GOOD. In fact, I dare say it was the perfect, family-friendly, way to celebrate Halloween. This interactive environment was created by Experiential Supply Co who also created the hugely popular, equally instaworthy and eye-popping, “Sugar Rush” popup years ago in the same location. If you’re familiar with that popup, you’ll understandingly be so excited to experience the same level of grandiose displays and over-the-top thematic environment again!

📍 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA (where these pics were from)

📍101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ (They also have another NJ location)

halloween, halloween activities in LA, skeleton pajamas, skeleton costume, family costume ideas, halloween activities in NJWHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

  • over 200,000 sq. ft. of incredibly decorated, outdoor space, with wow-worthy halloween installations everywhere you lookskeleton costumes, skeleton family, halloween costumes, halloween, hauntoween nj, hauntoween la, hauntoween review
  • Picturesque photo opps (and I mean, Disney style sets) at every corner
  • Theatrical moments with roaming costumed actors (they’re not there to scare you but rather make you laugh and smile)halloween, halloween activities in LA, skeleton pajamas, skeleton costume, family costume ideas, halloween activities in NJ
  • Complimentary face-painting! And hair color spraying! See important tip below on that!
  • Bubbling cauldron science experiments
  • Halloween sand art necklace making 
  • halloween, halloween activities in LA, skeleton pajamas, skeleton costume, family costume ideas, halloween activities in NJ
  • Green screen, broomstick flying special effects
  • A pumpkin: shaped bouncy house, patch and carving station 
  • Free rides including: a merry go round, a kiddie car ride, and a mini coaster
  • Food trucks, and alcohol + treat stations (purchase at an additional price)skeleton costume, skeleton pajamas, los angeles halloween, nj halloween, hidden hills ca, halloween popup
  • Carnival games, a hay stack mountain, and glow-in-the-dark neighborhoods
  • Trick-or-treating throughout!

INSIDER TIPS!

  • Buy tickets as far in advance as you can to ensure you get the dates you want and they don’t have on-site ticket purchasing options.  tickets start at $40 and are all- inclusive of the rides, games, activities, green screens , trick or treating, and face +hair painting. WORTH IT!
  • Parking is free and easily accessible as this (HIdden Hills) venue is at a mall.  Park off the entrance at Erwin otherwise you’ll have to trek all around the massive popup to find the entrance.  
  • We stayed for a full 3 hours to fully take advantage of ALL the activations, eat and to get all the photo opps but most people would only need about an hour or a little more.  
  • skeleton costumes, skeleton pajamas, what to do in la, things to do in la, halloween in la, halloween events in la
  • Children under 2 are free.  And it is super family-friendly event where you don’t have to worry about it being too scary and there is lots of entertainment for the littles!  It is also stroller-friendly.
  • Food and drink including alcoholic beverages are available on site but ONLY with cards, not cash.  There are food trucks and picnic tables at the end of the experience and drink and treat vendors throughout.
  • FIND THE FACE PAINTING station FIRST!  That way, all your pictures throughout has you in full costume.  We unfortunately only found the face painting booth at the end of the night so I am here to alert everyone that it is available and complimentary with your ticket purchase.  They have a couple experts on-site to help transform your costume to the next level. Take advantage!  The one at the Hidden Hills venue was easily missed as it is behind the vintage cop car and beside the happy parents area.  You are able to backtrack your steps at this popup (unlike many others in NYC where you are only allowed to traverse in one direction).  So don’t worry about having to skip some displays on the way there.  You can always retrace your steps and head back to whatever you missed after your face is painted.  skeleton costumes, skeleton family, halloween costumes, halloween, hauntoween nj, hauntoween la, hauntoween review
  • The most Instagramable spot is the pumpkin tunnel.  I suggest you head there immediately after getting your face painted in order to hopefully get there before all the crowds do.  You’ll have better light to shoot with at the earlier part of the period too resulting in more photos without extraneous people, and better lit shots. 
  • If you have kids that you want to photograph, make sure to entice them with the reward of endless rides (which are included in your experience).  Get all your important photo opps done first, and then reward them with the time of their lives at the end of the path where all the rides, games and food trucks are. skeleton costumes, skeleton family, halloween costumes, halloween, hauntoween nj, hauntoween la, hauntoween review
  • There are porta potty booths throughout in case of emergency but I highly recommend you remember to use the bathroom before arriving as these are never ideal.
  • Pets are allowed so if you bring them, make sure to get them in costume!

See my Instagram reels here and here to see more!

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5 Ways to Convince (Little) Kids School is Cool

Is your little having a hard time with the thought of going back to school? With the pandemic year(s) of schooling behind us, it might be hard to imagine normalcy and going back to school again. So if your child needs a little extra encouragement this year, read on!

1). Outfit of the day. I don’t know about you, but the best part of going back to school for me was all the back to school shopping. Preparing that first day of school outfit for example was such a fun thing look forward to. Let your little have a say in choosing what to wear and it will ensure they feel confident, comfortable and cool that first day of school! Click here for our favorite kiddie clothing subscription box which allows for your child’s input on style and free returns (clicking through will give you 30% off and free shipping & styling too)!  Bonus TIP- agree on and lay out everything the day before to ensure a quick and easy morning routine. You don’t wanna waste time the morning of wondering where that matching sock went or realizing your child has outgrown their shoes for instance.

2). Cool school supplies little ones love having a say in everything. And kids love to show off their stuff so let them get excited about all the little things! Whether it be shopping for a new backpack, lunchbox, pencil case or funny shaped erasers, allow them to have their way on these little things while checking off that school supply list! If your child is old enough for homework, make sure to arrange a quiet study space too. One thing that has helped us prepare this spot are these great, organizational rolling carts. They come in white, black, pink, and Tiffany blue and are under $40.back to school, back to school supplies, arts and crafts organizerWe keep our extra school related supplies and arts and crafts for future projects there! And I love how it easily rolls from the child’s desk to larger tables where parents can assist and join in on the crafting!

3). Memorable meal. We all know we can’t prepare an Instagram-able, picture -perfect meal every day of the year but why not aim to make their back-to-school breakfast or lunch extra special? (It’s ok if it’s all downhill from there lol). Whether it’s sneaking in a love note into their lunch box, or making their favorite breakfast and decorating the dining area with balloons and other back to school banners, make it memorable and the kids will have yet another reason to smile. Click here for pancake design supplies you’ll need to make these cute pencil pancakes like I did!

4). Prep them with the perfect books! Naturally, there’s a little anxiety that goes with the unknown. And little kids oftentimes have trouble walking into a new classroom feeling brave and ready to make new friends in such new environments. Books help manage expectations, show them all the fun there is to be had and offer valuable tips on making friends and ensuring a successful day! There are so many that target your child’s specific age and grade level but here are some of our favorites! 

 

 

 

 

5). Connect! Remind them of the fun social aspects of school by planning play dates, FaceTimes and phone calls with their old, school friends. And get them excited to meet this year’s teacher by encouraging them to plan a special teacher’s gift. We’ve prepared everything from small teacher appreciation gifts, to a cute introduction letter, to an art project made just for them.

When does your child’s school start? Have they started already? Now that we are in the CA school district, we start earlier than we did in New York. School starts this Wednesday. And we are ready but it’s a new school so wish us luck!!  kidpik, oculus nyc, nyc kid, back to school fashion

Wishing all you parents lots of luck and joy this school year!!  Click here to read about the one customized school item you ALL need and why!

 

 

 

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