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 Simple Ways To Celebrate Valentines Day With Kids

Valentines is such a sweet holiday to celebrate.  We love showing our fondess for friends and family members and we love pink and fuschia so we celebrate in a big way all month long! See here for past Valentine’s parties and treat ideas. This year, we are making 1 new Valentine’s food/dessert each week leading up to Valentine’s for the entire month!  And we are hosting a series of playdates and parties to keep the celebration going!  How are you planning to celebrate this special holiday?  In case you needed ideas, I put together this list of 5 simple ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Kids.

kiddie valentine, kids' valentine, valentine's party, valentine's party for kids, valentine's ideas

  1. Deck the walls!  With easily, removable stick-on decals like these black hearts, you can easily transform any space into a photo-shoot worthy wall (and then use them again and again)!  Thanks Wall Decor Plus More! I also added banners to the mirror – the heart one was from the Target dollar bin, the pink flags were from a Michaels sale years ago and the other one is a random ribbon I had.  I find that hanging and displaying things in odd numbers like the 3 garlands here, makes for the best presentation. I learned that from a home makeover show on TV.  So it must be right, Right?  kids' valentine's party, be mine, wall decor plus more, wall decals, heart decals, valentine's day decorConcentrate on making one wall a focal point and you’ll have an Instagram-worthy backdrop in no time!
  2. Make your sweetheart a Valentine’s ice cream sandwich!  Take any ice cream sandwich, cut a heart out while frozen, and add pink/red sprinkles to the ice cream sides! (This is easy for kids to do by rotating the ice cream sandwich in a ziploc bag full of sprinkles). Or your child might want to decorate his/her ice cream sandwich by drawing a heart on top with frosting and adding Valentines candies to the side.  
  3. Make your own Valentine’s cards for your classmates without dolling out more candy.  Try this easy to create, goldfish cracker Valentine which reads, “Dear Valentine, I’m so glad we’re in the same school.”  And you’ll be a hit with the kids AND parents!  All you need is this printable, a clear baggy (without ziploc seal), and cute washi tape.  Print and cut printable, insert into baggy along with goldfish and tape up!  Kids can sign the bottom and will love being able to craft their own valentines with their own little hands. diy valentines, non candy valentines, valentines day cards
  4. Enjoy an UN-romantic mommy and me meal in a pink restaurant!  In NYC, I highly recommend checking out this darling, tiny restaurant so pretty in pink it will have YOU blushing!  Pietro Nolita (click through for full review and all the pics)  Extra points to you if you show up dressed in pink like our little divas did!pink restaurant, pink restaurant nyc
  5. Play Dress Up!  It’s far too often that moms are behind the camera shooting the kids and not with them in the picture.  Use the holidays as a reminder to track your child’s growth next to you by taking yearly Valentine’s picture with your most favorite Valentine!  Have the little ones choose the color theme.  Pink?  Fuschia? Red this year?  What will it be?  And have fun playing a little dress up together! Click here for more mommy and me Valentine’s outfit inspiration!valentines day outfits, fashion kids, minifashionista, minime

Want MORE ideas?  I’m glad you asked!  Click here for a homemade, heart-shaped, pop tart recipe,  here for 5 steps to planning a Galentine’s party for the little girls, here for a Wild Valentine’s party for toddlers, and here for 6 tips on hosting a Valentine’s pancake and pajama playdate!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment on which idea you liked best.  Will you be trying any of these this year?

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