Spooky Science at The Maryland Science Center

The Desi Clan from Federal Hill had a great time at the Maryland Science Center's Spooky Science Bash on Saturday! They were the lucky winners of our ticket giveaway. You have to admit - - their lil elephant is pretty darn adorable.

We had an opportunity to stop by with the Bug and catch some Mad Pumpkin Science, too!


Which local Halloween celebrations were your little goblins haunting?

12 Days of Halloween: Halloween at Our House

I had the best intentions to go all out with Halloween this year, figuring that the Bug would really get a kick out of it. The cookie baking, pumpkin carving, house decorating - - you name it. I was aspiring to be a real life 20-something-Martha.

Yeah, then reality, that thing called 'life,' set in: the ick. The horrible, debilitating ick that infested our home and finally left just in time for trick or treating. The ick pretty much derailed pre-Halloween festivities. We bought the pumpkins, but somehow never got around to carving them...

So maybe the house wasn't decked out, but the Bug was. And boy did she look cute! My sincerest thanks to Pottery Barn Kids and Grandma Cathy.

I have to admit that my inner Martha diva is feeling a little shafted. Christmas might be nuts...

12 Days of Halloween: Whoooo's the lucky family going to Spooky Science?

The very lucky family winning the four FREE passes to Spooky Science at The Maryland Science Center is...

Commenter #1! Fed Hill Desi's! We can't WAIT to see what adorable costume your daughter is showing off. Take lots of photos!

(cool) progeny will be at Spooky Science tomorrow too, with some live tweeting and photo blogging. We CAN'T WAIT to see all of the budding scientists in their Halloween garb. Looking forward to some serious swordfighting, too.

Ever wonder how we select our winners? With random.org. It's 100% fair and keeps us from even being tempted to play favorites!

12 Days of Halloween: Prancing is Required

It's wordless Wednesday... Enjoy!

12 Days of Halloween: Where to Boogie with the Friendly Ghouls

There are LOTS of Halloween Celebrations happening in and around Charm City this weekend. Here are "young kid" friendly ones (no frights or screams here!) that are simply not to be missed:

Spooky Science at the Maryland Science Center
Saturday, October 30 from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Singing pirates, spooky experiments, haunted mystery items, and much more will be available for you to explore at the second annual Spooky Science. Witness live presentations on the Demonstration Stage at 1:20pm and 3:20pm about the experimental history of the famous Dr. Frankenstein which began with testing on pumpkins. Is it an eyeball, a finger, or a brain? Let your hands do the exploring at our Mystery Boxes and try to figure out what item is in each box. Decorate your very own spooky pumpkin and create your own Raven or Parrot puppet to take home with you. Save room for more spooky fun as Pirates for Sail take the stage in our harbor lobby with live shows on the hour at Noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm and 3:00pm. Wear your costume to make this a truly spooky day! NOTE: We're GIVING AWAY 4 tix! Here's how to win them...

Family FALLoween Festival at Port Discovery
Saturday, October 30 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Port Discovery's Family FALLoween Festival combines the fun of Halloween with engaging visual arts programs and musical performances designed to rouse your imagination and inspire your inner creative spirit! Dress in your favorite costume and enjoy fun activities like: Dance performances by Commotion Mania, Make your own Fuzzy Skeleton, Sing along songs with Mr. Norman, drum along in Monster Mash Drum Jam and more!

Hallowings and Things at The National Aquarium
October 25th - October 31st at 12:00 noon
Animal Encounters are becoming spooktacular this season! During October, Wings and Things mysteriously transforms into a haunting new program with some of the Aquarium's creepiest and crawliest creatures—from warty toads to hissing cockroaches and slithering snakes. Special Halloween animal encounters are at 12 p.m. on weekends in October and weekdays October 25 through Friday, October 29. Dare to enter what was formerly known as the Harbor Overlook… now known as the Harbor Spooky Nook!

The Great Halloween Lantern Festival and Parade in Patterson Park
Saturday, October 30th from 3 PM - 9 PM; Parade Line-up begins at 7:00 PM
A Baltimore tradition! A pre-Parade party-fest, the Haunted Hamlet, features hay rides, hot cider, last minute lantern making, spooky storytelling, food, and live music. The Parade rises, glows, and grows on a new route, powered by over 1,200 paper lanterns, spangled stilt walkers, constellation stars, ribbon rockets, whimsical floats, the Bone Band, and lots more community-made magic.

ZooBOOOO at The Maryland Zoo
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore hosts ZooBoooo! on October 29, 30 and 31 from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. ZooBOOO! takes place in the Wicked Waterfowl Lake Pavilion and features special themed areas such as Cricket Wireless's Farmville, CFG Community Bank's Pirate's Cove with a free bounce house, the Stifel Nicolaus Not-So-Spooky Hay Maze, as well as costume contests at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm each day, games, crafts, and, of course, FREE trick-or-treating!

Elephant Giant Pumpkin Smash at The Maryland Zoo
Friday, October 29 at 10:00 AM
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore's African elephants, Felix, Samson, Anna and Dolly will kick-off the ZooBOOO! weekend by taking part in the Annual Giant Pumpkin smash. Pumpkins are a special treat, available only at this time of year. The elephants love them, but first must break them open in order to enjoy. Can Samson smash open his own pumpkin this year? Come find out!

Gilda Joyce - Psychic Investigator at Boordy Vineyard
Sunday, October 31st from 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Kids get in free to Boordy's Autumn Festival on Sunday, October 31st if they are under 21 and in costume! They will have The Crawdaddies playing zydeco, pumpkin painting, hayrides and a book signing by Jennifer Allison, author of Gilda Joyce- Psychic Investigator. $12 for Adults, $10 for teens 13-20, $5 for Children 2-12, under 2 free (unless the kids are in costume!).

Creepy Crawly Hunt at Irvine Nature Center
Saturday, October 30th, 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Millipedes, spiders, and salamanders... oh my! Explore different creepy crawly habitats and learn about the fascinating animals that live there. For ages 5 and up, with adult. Free for members, $10 for non-members.

Toddler Time Halloween Celebration & Costume Parade at the B&O Railroad Museum

Wednesday, October 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Join the B&O Railroad Museum for the year's last Toddler Time, featuring a classic railroad story and Halloween celebration. Children will parade in costume around the Museum campus to collect special treats. Kiddie train ride too! All included with paid admission. Recommended for ages 2-5.



B&O Railroad Museum's Halloween Bash

Saturday, October 30 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Come celebrate Halloween with the B&O Railroad Museum with a costume party beneath the pavilion. Join them for a spooktacular afternoon of fun that includes Halloween games, crafts, music, and refreshments. Party cost is $5.00 per child (2-12) with paid admission. All aboard for a monster of a good time! Recommended for ages 4-12.

Halloween Spooktacular! Lemony Snickett's The Composer is Dead at the Meyerhoff
Saturday, October 30th at 11:00 AM
Experience the BSO's premiere of Lemony Snicket's The Composer Is Dead. Kids can dress up in their favorite costumes and may even win a special prize. The BSO Family Fun Zone starts at 10am and features the World Rhythm Drum Circus, the ZOOmobile, face painting, and more. Order tickets in advance ($12 - $20).

Spooky Forest Fact Frolic at Oregon Ridge Nature Center
Saturday, October 30th and Sunday, October 31st from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Kids search for clues and win prizes as they explore the park on their own. To begin the quest, pick up a clue booklet at the Center. Return to the Center to collect a prize. Advance registration is required.

Halloween in Baker Park!
Wednesday, October 27th through Friday, October 29th, 6:30 - 8:30pm.
The City of Frederick's Parks and Recreation Department presents evenings filled with Halloween surprises and performances! Baker Park comes alive with ghosts, goblins and creatures of the night as you make your way along the dark, and the ever so eerie, paths of Baker Park. Free nightly performances in the Baker Park Bandshell. DON’T WAIT – REGISTER EARLY – time slots sold out last year! Registration for the guided Halloween tours through Baker Park is open now. Tours are scheduled for 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 pm plus an 8:30 pm tour on Friday night only, all tours last about 45 to 50 minutes. Register for your guided tour by calling the William Talley Recreation Center at 301-600-1492. The cost is $6.00 for all city residents and $8.00 for all non-city residents

Lantern Night at The Fire Museum of Maryland
Saturday, October 30th from 6-8pm
See forty antique fire apparatus in a new light: etched glass signal lamps and kerosene lanterns. Visit with staff in period attire. Wear your Halloween costume & get in for Half-Price.

Wilde Halloween Monster Revue Puppet Show
Friday, October 29th at 4:30 PM
Wilde Lake Community Association at Slayton House, Columbia will hold their annual “Wilde Halloween” on Friday! Join Carousel Puppets for a special Halloween puppet show entitled “Monster Revue”. This event is for children ages 3 through 10. The performance begins at 4:30pm followed by trick-or-treating in the village center – be sure to wear your costume! Each child will be given a bag for trick or treating. Tickets are $5 for children and adults to see the show. Purchase tickets in advance or on show day at Slayton House.

Special Halloween Performance of Captain Louie at The Children's Playhouse of Maryland
Saturday, October 30th at 1:00 PM
Captain Louie, written by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin), tells the story of a young boy who moves to a new neighborhood just before Halloween and is missing his old friends. With the help of his magic red toy plane, Louie discovers the joys of both old and new friendships in this trick-or-treat fantasy. It is a story for all ages. Guests are encouraged to come in costume, enjoy the performance and then parade over to the “B” Building for a party with games, prizes, food and treats. Tickets are $15.

PreSchool Halloween Party at Eden Mill
Friday, October 29th from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Wear your favorite costume! Meet some critters from the nature center, listen to a story, enjoy a snack, make a craft, and have fun at the Eden Mill Nature Center! For ages 1-6, reservations required by 10/29.

Photo Credits: Associated Press, IAPP, Baltimore-Etsy Blog and Port Discovery

12 Days of Halloween: Toddler Costume Advice from the Bug

Halloween costume advice from a toddler, for a toddler:

1. All costumes must be tried on in advance and get the great grandma seal of approval. From ALL of your great grandmas. And grandmas. Be advised - - there will be picture taking, followed by oohs, ahhs, and an occasional squeeze. If any of your great grandmas can't see your costume in person, you must send a photograph. A smiley one.

2. Tutus 'whoosh' when you walk. You get used to it.

3. Comfortable shoes are necessary. It's preferable that your costume go with fuzzy purple light-up slippers. Comfy and uber-fabulous. Note: fluffy purple slippers will not work for trick-or-treating in the rain. You must have cute boots as a back-up. Hello Kitty rain boots will work well, too.

4. Wheels are important. You will get tired walking around everywhere. Princess cars go with all ensembles. The little red wagon will work in a pinch. That might be better actually. Because then your mom or dad will pull you.

5. Hats and headbands are not for everyone. That's ok. You might have to throw two or three temper tantrums to get your parents to understand this. But they will get the idea. Be prepared to take a few grouchy photos before the hat or headband disappears for good.

12 Days of Halloween: Spooky Science Ideas (& we're giving away FREE admission to Maryland Science Center's Spooky Halloween Celebration!)

Halloween doesn't have to be all treats - - especially when you have some educational tricks up your sleeve. Here are some fun ideas:

• Make Green Slime: What is more fun than ooey goeey slime? eHow has a great tutorial for making your own, all with ingredients you have lying around or can snag at your local grocery store: Elmer's glue, food coloring, Borax and water.
• Alien Monster Eggs: Not for the wee ones (or weak ones!), but Alien Monster Eggs from The Kitchen Pantry Scientist are a fun way to observe how vinegar affects eggs.
• Screaming Cup: Steve Spangler Science has a great experiment for making a-run-of-the-mill plastic cup screeeeeechhhhhh...
• Pumpkin Seed Scavenging: Your preschooler will love going pumpkin seed scavenging! Cut a pumpkin in half and give him or her spoons, tweezers, rubber gloves and cup to collect seeds.
• Halloween Shadows: PreSchoolRocks.com has a fun activity that will teach your little guy or gal about shadows - - friendly ghoulish ones, of course.

Want more spooky science adventure in your life? Then plan to walk the plank to the Inner Harbor for a spooktacular good time at the Maryland Science Center’ s annual family Halloween costume party -- Spooky Science-- on Saturday October 30, 2010 from 12 – 4 p.m.

Inspired by the Maryland Science Center’ s new exhibition, SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure, Spooky Science offers a bounty of freaky family fun including: pirates for sail, swashbuckling swordplay (interactive and entertaining lesson in sword-fighting), creepy crafts and erie experiments. Mad scientists will take over the Demonstration Stage for some hair-raising science!

We've got FOUR FREE tickets for a lucky (cool) progeny family to attend Spooky Science! To win, all you need to do is leave a comment with your email address and why you want to go to Spooky Science! Want an extra entry? "Like" (cool) progeny on facebook and leave a comment telling us you did. A second extra entry? Follow us on Twitter. In order to get multiple entries, you need to leave a separate comment for each one. You have until Thursday, October 28 at noon to enter! Good luck, mateys!

12 Days of Halloween: Have you been BOOED?

Have you been booed yet this year? If not, try this nouveau tradition in your own neighborhood. Just like a secret santa, put together a package of ghoulish goodies for a neighborhood family - - then door bell ditch them, leaving the package on their stoop. Be sure to include a "We've Been Booed" sign for them to stick on their door (so they don't get booed again!) and instructions for how to boo someone else.

If karma works like it should, you'll definitely be booed back! Plus, it's a great way to send a message of giving to your little ones in a season full of asking for treats.

Although it seems this tradition is routed in neighborhoods, you could try it with family members, co workers, at your child's school... it's all about spreading the joy and doing something nice for someone else!

Want to get in on the fun? The TomKat Studio has a fun FREE printable "You've been Booed" sign, but I also {{love}} the basket Nichole at PaperTreyInk came up with, too. Pam from Keeping Life Creative also has two adorable free Boo printables too: a poem and boo sign. The treat cone idea above came from Aimee over at Smiling Mama - - she's got a great tutorial! In case you can't tell what's in them, they are filled with varying assortments of plastic fangs, glow in the dark bracelets, Halloween stickers, Halloween pencils and lollipops. The pumpkin cache masquerading as a black cat is a dressed up idea from Skip to My Lou. Have a paint tin lying around it? Decorate it like Kim at Olive Juice Studio! In case you need a little basket filling inspiration, the basket pictured is what Scary Mommy's family scored from one her neighbors during a booing last year. (Side note: anyone know where I can find that wine?)

If you'd like to add a little rhyme to your package, check out this adorable poem from about.com:

The air is cool, the season fall,
Soon Halloween will come to all.

Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore...
Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do,
In fact a spook brought this "Boo" to you!

The excitement comes when friends like you,
Copy this note and make it two.

We'll all have smiles upon our faces,
No one will know who "BOO"ed who's places!

Just two short days to work your spell,
Keep it secret, hide it well.

Please join the fun, the seasons here .
Just spread these "BOO's" and Halloween cheer.

If you're planning to boo your neighbors, be sure to pack a few things that let the whole family get in on the action. A two year old probably won't be munching on caramel popcorn, but they'd probably love a fun cookie, finger puppet or lollipop. A small bag of full-leaded coffee for the parents might be a nice touch too - - fuel for the morning after the sugar coma.

Our neighbors be wary - - a booing may be coming your way!

12 Days of Halloween: Tricky Inspiration for Treats

In the midst of the craziness that life can be, did you remember Halloween is next weekend? We didn't forget necessarily - - 'back burnered' is probably a more accurate term. But for the next 12 Days, we're counting down with fun tips, ideas, inspiration and (cool) events that will make even the scraggliest of Halloween scrooges get in the "boo-action."

Need something fun to bring in for the class Halloween party? Having a little harvest fest of your own and need some treat ideas? Want to sweeten the festivities for your own family celebration? Check out today's baked treat inspiration board. Don't worry if your inner baking diva isn't being brought back to life. We've also got some fabulous fake-it-don't-bake it tip below, too!

• Candy Corn Cupcakes: These adorable mini-cupcakes from MB Sweets Cupcakery are toddler sized and scrumptiously munchable! If you're local, you can nab a sample during Wee Chic's Tea Trunk Show on Thursday, or contact Melanie and order up a dozen. Not local? Mini-cupcakes with candy corn on top would work beautifully, too!
• Candy Coated Caramel Apples: This fun idea from All Woman Blog combines the sweet 'n tart caramel covered apple with your favorite candy. A fun get-your-kids-in-the-kitchen activity, too. The caramel is really a bag of melted soft caramels... super easy.
• Halloween Cake Pops: Bakerella made the Cake Pop famous, and Shanelle and Julie at Seven Little Monkeys created these kid-friendly pops! Don't want to to actually bake? Use marshmallows like I did for Lila's Ladybug Birthday party Bug Pops! It's not too late to order pops from Bakerella, either!
• Halloween Goody Tubes: Don't you love these spooky little toilet paper roll candy holders from The Muddy Princess? If you're not feeling inspired to put a little creativity into your baking, stash some candy in these! Kimberly has a great tutorial on her blog.
• Ghostly Strawberries: A ghouly twist on chocolate covered strawberries originally from a Taste of Home, but I found it on Gordon's Gossip (a ridiculously fun blog find, by the way). Sweet treat with less guilt?
• Witches Cupcakes (in a Hat Cone): Probably the most complicated inspiration on today's board. Up for this challenge from Parents.com? It would definitely be a crowd pleaser!
• Top o' the Cupcake: Simple homemade or store-bought cupcakes in your future? Add a printable topper from the Happy Halloween Collection at TomKat Studio! An easy way to dress up any cupcake in Halloween fun! Consequently, The TomKat Studio is one of my favorite party inspiration blogs!
• Hooo Says Candy Houses are just for Christmas: Make a spooky gingerbread or cookie house, just like this one from elfster blog!

Have a spooktacular baked treat to share? Or fake 'n bake treat? We'd love to hear it!