Finally, a little bit of normal. iPlay America is open! You know we are big fans of iPlay America in Freehold NJ. Check out the specials they have starting this weekend including a little Halloween fun.
Kids who come in costume get a FREE light up skull mug with the purchase of a kids meal. As always Snap a picture of your high score, iTickets, or your prizes and tag it #iPlayWeekendWinner for your chance to WIN a $25 game card.
They also have a new Topgolf Swing Suite which is really cool for Date Night or with the family.
This is a very weird time for all, and Halloween is sure to be weird this year. If you live in NJ, odds are you know of Bev & Wally’s on the Keansburg Boardwalk.
We’ve been there this year, and felt it was clean and safe. Enjoy a FREE good time with your kids in the spirit of Halloween, and BONUS! Kids Under 12 in Costume get a $5.00 Game Card!
Another bonus, the beach is always free in Keansburg, and even though it’s going to be a cold day, it is supposed to be sunny and there’s nothing like costume pictures on the beach!
FREE Awesome family friendly SAFE Halloween Party at Bev and Wallys Family Entertainment Center / Keansburg Amusement Park 46 Beachway
About this Event
Our annual Halloween Party is ON !
Family Friendly with all precautions to make sure everyone is safe . We clean with Biocide 100 to make absolutley sure we are free from any problems . Feel safe bringing your family out for an afternoon of fun .
MASK REQUIRED at all times for all guests for everyones safety.
The party will run all day so come early or come late JUST COME OUT ! Wear your costumes and we’ll be taking photos of everyone .
We will have candy for the kids and plenty of GAME SPECIALS for the day.
Due to COVID we will not be having the face painting this time but as soon as things get better we will have the face painter back as well as the other things we have done in the past .
Free parking in the front .
Get your FREE Tickets today and come enjoy the fun this weekend!
Take a first look at all of this seasons top toys! Act fast because we all know this year has not gone as planned so far… That may be the understatement of the year. I’ve compiled a HUGE list for you!
Shop early to make sure you get everything on time, supplies are all limited due to COVID overseas as well and difficulties manufacturing and exporting.
My son is the absolute biggest Godzilla fan. He has been waiting for the new Godzilla vs. Kong movie since the spoiler at the end of the Godzilla King of the Monsters Movie. These toys will be BIG this year for sure! Stay tuned for amore in depth review of them, some available at Walmart now!
PLAYMONSTER Build to Battle SnapShips we previously reviewed. These are some of the items that made the toy of my tons Christmas list.
FAR OUT TOYS Crash Circuit
BONKERS TOYS with ALL NEW RYAN’S World Toys every kid has been waiting for!
Also from Bonkers Toys,
SK8 Wheel Braille toys. These are based off of the actual skate materials used by the Braille Army fans. There are some awesome blind packs and sets with ramps for all of the skate fans out there.
We got a sneak peek at the Holiday of Play Zoom meeting with Bonkers
PLAYMONSTER Drone Home is a fun one we reviewed during a play demonstration at Sweet Suite with Playmonster. Be careful though, do not try to catch the drone, I hurt my finger pretty bad!
Sing & Snuggle Plush, and the Musical Playpad, Power Treads, MiP Arcade, Hands Full, and Brite Brush, Game Brush and Power Treads:
STEP2 Side-by-Side Push Around SUV
STEP2 Ball Buddies Adventure Center **2020 Toy Insider Winner**
Ball Buddies Adventure Center is the 2020 Toy Insider Top Holiday Toy Winner!
BLUE MARBLE National Geographic Mega Science Magic Kits
Magic science your kids will love! These mind-blowing experiments aredesigned to be performed as a magic trick. This kit includes everythingyou need for 20 magic science experiments and a bonus experiment guidewith 30 experiments that can all be done with common household items.
•Great for ages 8 and up
•Perfect for virtual science magic show or distance learning activity
•Magic wand and gloves included to let your children play the part
•Illustrated experiment guide with kid friendly instructions
•Everything you need for 20 magic experiments
•30 bonus experiments using standard household items
Send your 6-8 year old kids deep into a world of imaginative play, where they can create their own stories and build and rebuild their favorite characters!
Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set (GLK80) SRP: $49.99 | 3Y+ | Available Fall 2020 at Amazon, Target and Walmart ● Sodor is usually an island in the middle of the ocean, but sometimes, with the Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set, Sodor can also be in the living room. ● This highly detailed playset features favorite places from the island of Sodor, including the Vicarstown Bridge, the Railyard, the Brendam docks, and Blue Mountain. ● It also includes motorized Thomas and Percy train engines who recognize and talk to each other when they meet on the track! ● Young conductors can help Thomas and Percy work together by dropping boulders down in the Blue Mountain cave for them to load and unload along with other cargo at Bulstrode the boat and by creating their own exciting adventures all around Sodor.
MOOSE TOYS Squeakee the Balloon Dog and #FailFix dolls
SPIN MASTER Present Pets, The Animal & Much More
SUNNY DAYS Ravel Tales, Pop N Play Playhouses, Wonder Wings plush, and Maxx Action trucks
IMC TOYS NEW Cry Babies & VIP Pets
THE POP INSIDER: The Pop Insider launched its second annual Geeky Gift Guide! Check out holiday gifts for every geek 🤓 on your list.
Disclaimer – I may have been given product in exchange for some items in this blog post but all opinions are my own.
For the truffles: You need 1 box of regular oreos and 1 stick (8 oz.) stick of cream cheese. THAT. IS. IT.
It’s important to only get the regular oreos, not the double stuffed or funky new flavors because it messes up the perfect ratio of these 2 things together.
Crush the full oreos, middle frosting and all, in a food processor, chopper, or blender, just get those suckers into powdery crumbs, no big lumps or it just isn’t the same. The should look like this when ready… Then, add 1 stick of cream cheese, if you have a stand mixer it doesn’t matter if it’s room temperature or fresh from the fridge. I prefer cold cream cheese negate ultimately the “dough” will hold its form better, but if you’re mixing by hand go with room temperature so you get the mixture all incorporated.
The mixture should look like thick brownie batter when ready.
Spoon equal amounts into your hand (wear gloves or wash wash wash your hands because you’ll be doing alot of rolling) and roll into equal size balls. It doesn’t REALLY matter since they aren’t going to be baking or abutting, but they look nicer when done if all are equal sized. I actually use my little measuring spoons and find the tablespoon size is just the perfect size, especially if you’re looking to add a stick to these and make them into cake pops!
Chill the rolled balls in the freezer, you can do the fridge too if you don’t have room but the freezer gets them nice and chilled quickly.
Chilling is important ONLY if you’re dipping them in chocolate. White or dark, I choose Ghirardelli melts because the just taste the best, but you can use any melting chocolate. After chilled for about 10 minutes, work by taking a couple out of the freezer at a time so they don’t get mushy in between. I like to dip and then put onto a wire rack, and then transfer to a wax sheet, but feel free to use your own method.
If you want to mix it up and not do all chocolate dipped, you can leave them plain (boring…) or roll them in powdered sugar, or some coconut flakes. Easiest way to do this is to not chill then so they sticky enough to pick up the topping. I like to just put the topping in a ziplock bag and drop 1 ball in at a time and shake. Coconut is great because you can add some food coloring and add alittle pop of holiday color to your finished product.
When you’re done, store all in fridge until ready to eat.
Since holidays are coming up quick, I purchased some treat boxes from Amazon and they come in handy for these. Enjoy!
Let’s face it. Everything these days consists of “in a Pandemic?” so why would kids activities be any different? You’re doing what in a Pandemic? That’s the question many ask and many answer “nothing” or staying safe at home.
That’s all fine and well however the days are still passing and if you have little ones, they may not understand why they can’t do their normal fun fall activities.
Here are some ideas to get the feel of Fall, but still keep simple and safe as needed.
Image: Just For Moms
1.Paint a pumpkin. Part of the fun is Pumpkin picking, but if you’re not ready to go out to public spaces just yet, pick a few up during your next grocery shopping trip, and some dollar store paint sets and you’re just about ready to get down to business. It’s much easier than carving, and much safer for little helpers.
Tip: Start with an idea from googling “pumkin painting” or use a favorite character photo. Draw the image onto the pumpkin with a pencil before committing with the paint.
2.Pick flowers and make plant baskets. By now your lovely outdoor garden is probably starting to whither. At least here in New Jersey we’ve gotten a slight frost or 2 and temperatures are sure to drop quickly. Instead of watching the flowers die or waiting to rip out a woody stick skelton version of your coleus plant, try picking the flowers and displaying their last bit of life in a vase indoors or pruning and potting your plants for inside or as front door decor.
Tip: Little hands cannot wait to pick flowers and any excuse to do so with consent is sure to be taken on with enjoyment. Identify the smells, textures and even the colors to make it extra fun! Hey, maybe you’ll wind up with a little future horticulturist on your hands.
Image: Pexels
3. Take a trip to the local zoo. If you’re feeling adventurous but not THAT adventurous yet due to the Pandemic, get a little normalcy in with a trip to your local zoo. Most zoos are limiting capacity even though mostly outdoor exhibits, and there isn’t much to touch, so you can enjoy a nice day out while the weather still cooperates and give the animals at least a reason to be where they’re stuck anyway (so sad). I’m sure they love to see people since they don’t have as many visitors these days, especially tiny ones with big smiles!
Image: Tasty
4. BAKE. Even if you’re not an avid baker there are many simple recipes including bake-free ones that little hands can get in on like oreo chocolate truffles which are one of my absolute favorites! Adding some orange food coloring to coconut flakes can create the Fall feel and with a dollop of green colored icing or chocolate you can even make them into cute little pumpkin replicas.
Another favorite that is so simple you’ll wonder how you haven’t been doing this your whole life is cake cookies.
5. Paint Rocks. Find some rocks by taking a walk around your neighborhood or maybe there are some in your yard or local park. If you cannot find rocks “in the wild” hehe, you can always purchase a bag of larger rocks from your local hardware store. There are some really cute designs or sayings online, and you can use finger paint to make it little kid friendly or better yet…you do the painting (maybe add alittle paint and sip action) and then let your little ones choose where they go outside. To a neighbors porch? A random location for someone to find? A gift for aunts, uncles, or grandparents? The options are endless!
I hope I’ve inspired you to get out and have some Fall fun in spite of the current situation in the World! And SMILE 😃
There are so many challenges out on Tik Tok and Snapchat that even some have been making the news that make you say “WHAT?!”. Well, here is a fun, safe, family challenge to keep you and your family occupied for at least alittle while while your stuck indoors once the weather gets cooler (and the Pandemic inevitably increases again).
How about a Disney movie challenge! Here’s how it goes. 26 letters of the Alphabet, 26 days of Disney Movies!
You have a member if your family chose a Disney movie (or any movie of the genre you want) that starts with the corresponding days letter stating with A and so on.
They must choose a movie that starts with that letter, or if it’s impossible to find one (such as X, then pick a movie that at least has that letter in its name somewhere). Yes it’ll get hard but that’s the point!
Not only may you discover some more Disney movies you love, but your family will have fun doing it and lasting memories.
Oh. And did I mention it eliminates the “I can’t choose a movie” or “there’s nothing to watch” slurs!
If you’re wondering how you get to these movies, many have Disney + these days or if you’re anything like me you have a huge Disney DVD collection (you don’t? Then start one at DisneyMovieClub), or skip the Disney theme all together and go with any movie with that letter that you have available to you. Either way it’s worth trying.
Have fun! Let me know some of your favorite Disney movie letters, mine is T!
Below is a list of Disney Movies in Alphabetical Order:
101 Dalmatians
102 Dalmatians
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
A Bug’s Life
A Far Off Place
A Goofy Movie
A Kid in King Arthur’s Court
A Tale of Two Critters
A Tiger Walks
A Wrinkle in Time
ABCD 2
African Cats
Air Bud
Air Bud: Golden Receiver
Aladdin
Aladdin
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland
Aliens of the Deep
Almost Angels
America’s Heart and Soul
Amy
Anaganaga O Dheerudu
Angels in the Outfield
Arjun: The Warrior Prince
Around the World in 80 Days
Artemis Fowl
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Babes in Toyland
Bambi
Bears
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Bedtime Stories
Benji the Hunted
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Big Hero 6
Big Red
Blackbeard’s Ghost
Blank Check
Blue
Bolt
Bon Voyage!
Born in China
Brave
Bridge to Terabithia
Brother Bear
Candleshoe
Cars
Cars 2
Cars 3
Charley and the Angel
Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar
Cheetah
Chicken Little
Chimpanzee
Christopher Robin
Cinderella
Cinderella
Coco
College Road Trip
Condorman
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Cool Runnings
D2: The Mighty Ducks
D3: The Mighty Ducks
Dangal
Darby O’Gill and the Little People
Dasavathaaram
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
Dinosaur
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Disney’s The Kid
Do Dooni Chaar
Dolphin Reef
Doug’s 1st Movie
Dragonslayer
DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
Dumbo
Dumbo
Earth
Eight Below
Emil and the Detectives
Enchanted
Endurance
Escape to Witch Mountain
Expedition China
Fantasia
Fantasia 2000
Finding Dory
Finding Nemo
First Kid
Flight of the Navigator
Flubber
Follow Me, Boys!
Frank and Ollie
Frankenweenie
Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday
Frozen
Frozen II
Fun and Fancy Free
G-Force
George of the Jungle
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence GITS2
Ghost of the Mountains
Ghosts of the Abyss
Glory Road
Greyfriars Bobby
Growing Up Wild
Gus
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Heavyweights
Herbie Goes Bananas
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
Herbie Rides Again
Herbie: Fully Loaded
Hercules
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Hocus Pocus
Holes
Home on the Range
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Hot Lead and Cold Feet
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Ice Princess
In Search of the Castaways
Incredibles 2
Inside Out
Inspector Gadget
Into the Woods
Invincible
Iron Will
Jagga Jasoos
James and the Giant Peach
John Carter
Johnny Tremain
Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience
Jungle 2 Jungle
Jungle Cat
Khoobsurat
Kidnapped
King of the Grizzlies
L’Empereur – March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step[a]
Lady and the Tramp
Lady and the Tramp
Lilly the Witch: The Dragon and the Magic Book
Lilly the Witch: The Journey to Mandolan
Lilo & Stitch
Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
Make Mine Music
Maleficent
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Man of the House
Mars Needs Moms
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins Returns
Max Keeble’s Big Move
McFarland, USA
Meet the Deedles
Meet the Robinsons
Melody Time
Midnight Madness
Mighty Joe Young
Million Dollar Arm
Miracle
Miracle of the White Stallions
Moana
Monkey Kingdom
Monkeys, Go Home!
Monsters University
Monsters, Inc.
Moon Pilot
Morning Light
Mr. Magoo
Mulan
Muppet Treasure Island
Muppets Most Wanted
My Favorite Martian
Napoleon and Samantha
National Treasure
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Never Cry Wolf
Never a Dull Moment
Newsies
Night Crossing
Nikki, Wild Dog of the North
No Deposit, No Return
Now You See Him, Now You Don’t
Oceans
Old Dogs
Old Yeller
Oliver & Company
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
One Little Indian
One Magic Christmas
One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing
Operation Dumbo Drop
Oz the Great and Powerful
Penguins
Perri
Pete’s Dragon
Pete’s Dragon
Peter Pan
Piglet’s Big Movie
Pinocchio
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Planes
Planes: Fire & Rescue
Pocahontas
Pollyanna
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie
Popeye
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Prom
Queen of Katwe
Race to Witch Mountain
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Rascal
Ratatouille
Recess: School’s Out
Remember the Titans
Return from Witch Mountain
Return to Never Land
Return to Oz
Return to Snowy River
Ride a Wild Pony
Roadside Romeo
Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue
Robin Hood
RocketMan
Roving Mars
Run, Cougar, Run
Sacred Planet
Saludos Amigos
Savage Sam
Saving Mr. Banks
Scandalous John
Secretariat
Secrets of Life
Shipwrecked
Sky High
Sleeping Beauty
Smith!
Snow Dogs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snowball Express
So Dear to My Heart
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Son of Flubber
Song of the South
Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale
Summer Magic
Superdad
Swiss Family Robinson
Tall Tale
Tangled
Tarzan
Teacher’s Pet
Ten Who Dared
Tex
That Darn Cat
That Darn Cat!
The Absent-Minded Professor
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin
The Adventures of Huck Finn
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
The African Lion
The Apple Dumpling Gang
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
The Aristocats
The BFG
The Barefoot Executive
The Bears and I
The Best of Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures
The Big Green
The Biscuit Eater
The Black Cauldron
The Black Hole
The Boatniks
The Book of Masters
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story
The Castaway Cowboy
The Cat from Outer Space
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Personally Fall is not one of my favorite times of the year as Winter is sure to come soon after, but I have to say that the cooler weather in the New Jersey area makes activities so much more enjoyable and gives the night time an entire feel and look
of it’s own.
However, Fall also comes with a few things you’ll want to be prepared for, especially when it comes to your home. For instance, now is the time to look at your roof and see if any maintenance needs to be done before the cooler weather turns too cold.
This will ensure that your home won’t in it’s best shape for the snow, ice, and winter wind that could keep your home’s value from dropping or worse, leave you with a large bill to fix. Below are a few tips to help you navigate what you should do first when it comes to your roof, especially if you are a new homeowner.
Image: Peter’s Roofing
1. Consulting With A Professional: It might seem easy to spot a problem with your roof but because you’re not an expert in this field, it also might be easier to have them come on just to be safe. Hiring a roofing contractor who specializes in roofing replacement is
key. They are the ones who can safely inspect your roof and spot any potential problems before the cold weather emergencies. This also will allow you to fix it before it’s too late.
After all, nobody wants to deal with a leaking roof in negative degree weather in the middle of December. Therefore, it is much easier to make the repairs necessary to your
roof in the fall when there is no snow or ice to worry about it. If you’re looking for a reputable company to help you with this decision, call Peter’s Roofing. These professionals install roofing to residential neighborhoods throughout the New Jersey area. I appreciate that they make safety a top priority and earned an impeccable safety record to show for it. They also have several years of experience as well as a solid team
to meet the demands of their clients.
All of their EPDM roofing service installations are covered by a full warranty and manufacturer guarantee so you can feel good about
having them take a look at your roof. It’s also a free estimate to have them come out and give you an expert estimate to help you determine which roof is best for you, your home,
and your budget.
2. Double Check The Gutters – If you haven’t even thought about cleaning your gutters, now is the time to do so. Debris, mud, twigs, and a whole lot of other things can have accumulated
inside of them which is tricky to see from the ground. As this pile grows, the gutters then become clogged. Rainwater, instead of draining down towards the ground, has nowhere to
go and if it’s can drain properly it’ll eventually spill back onto the roof. The water then begins to form a puddle, putting pressure and weight on various sections of your roof. This weight can then cause the roof to sage allowing for more rainwater to build until it collapses in that
spot. Now that you know, you’ll want to grab a ladder and check your gutters as soon as you
can.
3. Trim Overgrown Branches: Having trees in your yard is wonderful. They provide protection and shade from the hot sun but they can also cause some trouble for your roof. If branches start to overhang your roof you’ll want to make sure that you trim them because if the twigs
break off, they can cause damage to your shingles. The majority of damaged roofs actually are caused by falling branches so if a storm comes through, or if you have an older tree and has weak branches it could potentially fall on your roof. This is when you’ll want to keep an eye on it, especially when the winter arrives and the snow can make the branches fall with its weight.
4. Checking The Attic: While it’s awesome to continue to check the roof for areas of trouble but it’s also important to inspect the roof from the inside of your home. That’s right- I’m talking about your attic. Your attic can often lead to issues that might be missed from the
outside. For instance, look for any water leaks that can appear as any dark stain or discolored areas on the wall or floor. Check for signs of mildew or mold as well and don’t
forget to look for any warped ward. If your attic insulation is in good condition, you’ll want to be able to get the max heat retention during the cold months.
Are you starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with everything? Not to worry. The biggest and best thing
you can do for your loved ones and your home is first calling a professional to help take care of the
important things, such as your roof. They are the ones to know exactly what to look for and can help you with troubled areas as well as staying within your budget if repairs are needed.
2. Pick flowers and make plant baskets. By now your lovely outdoor garden is probably starting to whither. At least here in New Jersey we’ve gotten a slight frost or 2 and temperatures are sure to drop quickly. Instead of watching the flowers die or waiting to rip out a woody stick skelton version of your coleus plant, try picking the flowers and displaying their last bit of life in a vase indoors or pruning and potting your plants for inside or as front door decor.
