Halloween Chocolate Candy DIY Edible Craft

Celebrations



Me in the 1960s, Vintage family photo 



MBE partnered with Hershey's for this story, Post contains affiliate links

Most Americans I think will agree that Hershey's Kisses is a classic candy.  One that just about anyone who loves sweets, especially chocolate, has enjoyed for various holidays, special occasions and/or on a just-because basis at one time or another. So when the brand approached me to write a Halloween theme post about their specially-designed packages for this Fall, I eagerly accepted the assignment to share the latest on a product I was first introduced to during my Baby Boomer childhood.


This season kids and adults are in for a real treat (or two or three) when it comes to the new big Classic Bag of Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses. These are packaged in a family size 11 ounce bag adorned with fall leaves. Inside you'll find Kisses not only wrapped in the original familiar silver foil but also in copper and red foils reminiscent of Autumn foliage colors. Hershey's Chocolate Kisses are also available in 1.55 oz size individually wrapped packages

I tasted a few of these pretty little chocolates last night and these are indeed as good as the Kisses I remember enjoying so much when I was a little girl.


Hershey's Fall Chocolate Kisses Candy


Certainly these colorfully-wrapped candies are great for eating right out of the bag whenever you are in need a chocolate fix. They're also easy to serve in a candy dish after dinner or to give out by the handful to trick-or-treaters that stop by your house on Halloween this year.

But if you're looking for a really creative, fun and easy to make presentation of Hershey's Kisses this Halloween, consider making DIY firecracker style candy tubes like the ones I created especially for this post using recycled toilet paper or paper towel rolls and a few other craft supplies you probably have lying around your house. 


Eco Friendly DIY Craft

Halloween Kisses Treat Tubes

Hershey's Chocolate Kisses Treat Tube Craft


How to Make
This project is so simple yet very festive and impressive and would be a blast for kids and/or adults to make. In most cases even the most craft-challenged will be able to create these candy tubes filled with Hershey's Kisses in under 15 minutes. A fun and green alternative to packing individual Halloween treat bags, these not only make thoughtful small gifts for your child's classmates or teachers but will be equally appreciated by the mailman and your co-workers at the office. Beautiful, too, as a party favor, table setting accent or gathered together into a centerpiece for any fall holiday you celebrate from Halloween to Thanksgiving.

Supplies
Recycled cardboard toilet paper or paper towel rolls
Fabric scraps or colored tissue in several patterns and colors
3/8-1/2" satin ribbon 
Glue stick and scissors for assembly
Hershey's Kisses to fill tubes

Directions
1. Remove all paper residue from cardboard rolls. Note if using paper towel rolls cut them into two separate tubes before starting. Set aside.
2. With a sharp pair of scissors (adults only please) cut a 13" x 5-1/2" rectangle of a single layer of fabric if using paper towel roll or 11" x 5-1/2" if using toilet paper roll for each treat tube you want to make. Alternately, if using tissue paper instead of fabric, cut 3 layers of paper in the desired size using two contrasting colors.
3. Working with one paper tube at a time, take glue stick and lightly cover the outside of a paper roll. Then starting at the edge, roll tube and fabric (or tissue paper) together all the way around till covered. Seal the seam with the glue stick.
4. Cut 2 or 3 pieces of ribbon into 20" lengths for each side of the treat tube. Tie the first side of the tube into a bow with several pieces of ribbon. 
5. Fill the tube from the open end with 24 Kisses for paper towel tube or 18 Kisses for toilet paper tube. Same as the first side, tie the other end of the treat tube into a bow. Your Halloween Treat Tube is now ready for you to give!


Hershey's Kisses 
GIVEAWAY 
Ends 10/25/12

Prize Package Includes
THREE (3) Big 11 oz Bags
Classic Milk Chocolate Hershey's Kisses!!!


Hershey's Chocolate Kisses Bag


HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends October 25, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner selected at random from all entries will win a prize package that includes three (3) 11 ounce bags of Classic Milk Chocolate Hershey's Kisses. Winner will be notified via email and must reply within 24 hours with shipping information to receive prize in time for Halloween. 

Required (Mandatory) Entry
Simply leave a comment below this blogpost telling about why you love Hershey's Kisses. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter 
2. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Facebook

***Bonus Entries***
You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet to copy and paste:

Hershey's Kisses Fall Halloween Candy GIVEAWAY, Hurry Ends 10/25 #Halloween #candy #kids http://tinyurl.com/9pefvz5


Hershey's Fall Chocolate Kisses


Hershey's Kisses has a bountiful harvest of other ideas for fall crafts and recipes, like creating acorns from their candy. So be sure to visit CelebrateWithHersheys.com for more cooking and crafting inspiration for a range of holidays. Additionally, you won't want to miss stopping by the Pumpkin Day-specific Hershey's Boo Boulevard site for Halloween costume ideas, fun activities and stuff -- like screen savers, color pages and more -- plus all the details on Hershey's Halloween products. 
 
More Family-Friendly 
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE



FTC Disclosure: Hershey's is providing the prizes and shipping for this giveaway.  MommyBlogExpert received products to facilitate this review but did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Twitter Party Calendar October 21 - 27 With Prizes to Win

Twitter Parties




Updated 10/25/12

Get all the details in this free constantly updated Twitter Party Master Calendar listing tons of family friendly parties including specifics on prizes you can win and links to RSVP and participate. Be sure to check back often every week as new events are added on an ongoing basis -- often with new prize-winning opportunities added several times per day. You'll also get a sneak peek at Twitter parties coming up next week and in the month ahead. Now listing a few Facebook parties with prizes in every issue too.



Be the first to know when the latest Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party schedule goes live by following MBE on Twitter Facebook and/or by subscribing to this blog right now.


THIS WEEK

Monday, October 22

Gun Safety Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @DaisyOutdoor @Outnumberedmama @notinsanemom talking about BB gun safety. Prizes: FOUR (4) $100 Walmart gift cards #BB4me #cbias RSVP

Best for Kids Twitter Party at 7 pm ET tweeting highlights from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Convention hosted by @momsandbrands. Prizes: Mobi, Colic Calm and My Teethease RSVP

The Children's Place and Pajama Program Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @Resourcefulmom @TheMoms. Prizes: TEN (10) winners each receive $50 gift card. #PLACEHoliday RSVP

Travel With Babies #TMom Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @TravelingMoms @KimOrlando @DebMomof3 @CindyRichards @StressFreeBaby. Prize: BRITAX B-Ready Stroller valued at $499. RSVP

Green Halloween Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @GreenHalloween talking about Earth-inspired Halloween activities and DIY ideas. Prizes from @HonestTea @ESC_Chocolate @CascadianFarm @BrainardsNatRem @PlumOrganics @GreenAmerica. #GreenHalloween RSVP

Tuesday, October 23

The Amazing Spider-Man Twitter Party at Noon ET talking about everyone's favorite super heroes. Prizes: Walmart gift cards will be given away in the following denominations $50, $100, $150 and $200. #SpidermanWMT RSVP

Going Green with Heinz Vinegar Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @loveandcents @RebeccaEParsons @LizLongcrier. Prizes $250 in WalMart Gift Certificates: TWO (2) $25 GCs, TWO (2) $50 GCs and ONE (1) $100 GC. #HeinzVinegar #cbias RSVP

Go Daddy Cares Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @TheBlogFrog and NASCAR driver @DanicaPatrick talking about Breast Cancer awareness month. Prizes: $25 Visa gift cards. #GoDaddyCares RSVP

Kleenex Cares Twitter Party at 3 pm ET talking about the importance of caring for others with @KCcorp @momcentral. Prizes: TWO (2) pre-party winners and SIX (6) party winners will receive $50 Amazon gift codes. #KleenexCares RSVP

Halloween Twitter Party talking about the dangers of decorative contact lenses for costumes at 7 pm ET. Hosted by @5minutesformom @geteyesmart @jennifer_sikora @susancarraretto. Prizes: ONE (1) $50 Amazon gift card and THREE (3) $25 Amazon GCs. #scarylenses RSVP

Trick or Teeth Twitter Party at 7 pm ET with @SunStarGum @MomStart. FOUR (4) $75 prize packs (gift card + products); ONE (1) $150 Grand Prize Pack (gift card + products)  #TrickorTeeth RSVP

Walk This Way Safety Halloween Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @Resourcefulmom. Prizes: FIFTEEN (15) winners each receive a Fed Ex/Safe Kids Walk This Way trick-or-treat bag prize package that includes everything for a safe Halloween. #WalkThisWay RSVP

@MomitForward Girls Night Out #gno Sweet Pickles Twitter Party at 9 pm ET talking about kid's favorite books with @SweetPickles @jylmomIF @dadventurous @troypattee @MomitForward. Prizes: TEN (10) winners will win a Sweet Pickles Title of their choice; ONE (1) Grand Prize winner will win their choice of an iPad Table or a Kindle Fire. #gno #SmartMomsKnow RSVP

Fluff n Treat Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @DiaperShops. Assorted baby, diaper, eco-friendly and accessory prizes, too many to list. Grand Prize: a lifetime supply of GroVia cloth diapers and accessories valued at $750. #Fluffntreat RSVP

Join this Twitter Party at 9 pm ET and you could win one of four Coffee Cakes from Coffee Cake Connections that will be given away. Party with @dede_watson @seedsofsocial @twivaparty @coffeecakelady #TwivaParty Info

Wednesday, October 24

Orb Factory Twitter Party at 1 pm ET. Prizes: Kids jewelry boxes and plush craft kits. Follow @OrbFactory and use #orbparty hashtag to participate. Info

Barilla World Pasta Day Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @BarillaUS @DinnerLoveStory @MomCentral Prizes: TWO (2) pre-party winners and SIX (6) winners during party each win $50 Amazon Gift Code + Barilla products. #BarillaWPD RSVP

@One2One Network presents The Middle and Suburgatory Live Viewing Twitter Party 7:45 pm ET for #The Middle switching to #Suburgatory at 9 pm ET and running til 10 pm ET. Also talking about Halloween tips and tricks. Hosts @StacieinAtlanta @AlyWalansky @MooshinIndy @DesignHerMomma. $50 Amazon gift cards to be given away throughout the party. RSVP

Next  Monroe and Main Twitter Party at 8 pm ET talking about quick fixes for looking your best during the holidays.  Fashionable prizes from their site. Follow @MonroeandMain and use hashtag #MMSlimmingSecrets to participate.   Details.


Dupont Teflon Winter Prep Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @Busymommymedia @momstorm @TeflonBrand talking about how to prepare for the Winter and holidays. Prizes TBA #TeflonWinterPrep RSVP

Haunted Halloween of 2012 Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @Totalbookaholic @BoundbyBooks. Prizes: books and SWAG. No RSVP needed, just use hashtag #Haunted Halloween

It's the weekly @TheOnlineMom Twitter Party chatting about cyber security and staying safe at home at 9 pm ET. Prize: To be eligible to win a Home Monitoring and Control Kit RSVP & participate in party with hashtag #SmartHome.

BabyTime Show & Snuggle Bugz Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @snugglebugz @babytimeshows. Win Prizes, get show coupons #btssbchat RSVP

Stop Zombie Mouth Twitter Party at 9 pm with @PopCaps @ADAMouthHealthy @DawnSandomeno @BethRosen @RoleMommy @Partybluprints @EvolvingStacey. Prizes: THREE (3) $50 Gift Cards w/ PopCap Games + Trading Cards; ONE (1) Grand Prize $2oo Gift Card w/ PopCap Games #StopZombieMouth RSVP

Thursday, October 25

Join the #DisneyPrincessWMT Twitter Party at 1 pm ET talking about Halloween costumes with @lomargie. Prizes FOUR (4) $100 gift cards. #cbias RSVP

@Staples Twitter Party at 2 pm ET hosted by @MarioArmstrong. Prize: Win8 laptop/tablet. To participate use hashtag #StaplesWindows8

@Hersheys Twitter Party at 8 pm ET hosted by @audreymcclellan @verasweeney. Prizes TBA. Participate with hashtag #Hersheys 

Fall Foodie Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with hosts @CleverlySimple @MommySavesMoney @GettingFreedom @CouponNW @Savings @Savings_Nation. $250 in prizes to be given away. #SavingsNation RSVP

Ladies Night Out Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @mompact @TheIQMom @HorridHousewife talking Tricks and Treats. Prizes: Mom SWAG. #Mompact RSVP

Travelin' With Baby Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @sebg_blog @jennhull. Prizes: fun and practical stuff for moms and baby. #BabyTravels RSVP

Friday, October 26

The Family Buzz Twitter Party hosted by @theOnlineMom talking about smartphone photography at 3 pm ETPrizes Verizon Insider SWAG Bag or Samsung Galaxy Nexus plus $125 Verizon Wireless giftcard. To be eligible to win participate in the party, use hashtag #VZWBuzz and RSVP

Mamavation is holding a Facebook Fan Page Party for CA Right to Know with @BookieBoo and @CARighttoKnow at 10 pm ET. Talking about labeling GMOs Prop 37. Prizes: Wine, books, gift baskets and more. RSVP

NEXT WEEK


Monday, October 29

Howlween Halloween Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @PetSafe talking about dog costumes, treats and safety. #HowloweenPawty. Must RSVP to be eligible for prizes

Tuesday, October 30

Lean Cuisine #FrozenFavorites Twitter Party at Noon ET with @loveandcents @wahmdiva @leancuisine. Prizes: $250 in Sam's Club gift cards; Grand Prize is $100 Sam's GC. RSVP

Virtual Shelter Dog ASPCA Halloween Twitter Party at 7 pm ET Live of YouStream at http://www.ustream.tv/aspca with @Dogtipper @ASPCA. Prizes TBA RSVP 

Wednesday, October 31

It's the weekly @TheOnlineMom Twitter Party chatting about tech and family life at 9 pm ET. Prize: TBA. To be eligible to win a prize RSVP & participate in party with hashtag #TheOnlineMoms.

Thursday, November 1

4th Annual Contest Corner Holiday Gift Guide Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @hardertobreathe @jaided. Almost $350 worth of prizes including $50 and $25 Amazon gift cards, clothes, games, toys and other gifts too numerous to list. #CCGiftGuide RSVP 

Friday, November 2

Join the #theonlinemom #VZWBuzz @VerizonInsider for the weekly Twitter Party hosted by @theOnlineMom at 3 pm ET. Prizes TBA. To be eligible to win participate in the party and RSVP


COMING SOON

Tuesday, November 13

The Aflac Holiday Duck Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @Shespeaksup @AflacDuck. Prizes TBA. Stay tuned for more details and link to RSVP soon

Wednesday, November 14

Kikkoman Twitter Party hosted by @MySmiley360. Prizes TBA. More details coming as soon as they're available.

More Twitter Parties constantly be added to this list as soon as they're scheduled so stay tuned by following this blog. 

About this Weekly Twitter Party List Compiled by MommyBlogExpert.com Twitter Parties are listed free of charge in this weekly schedule. If you'd like to add an event to the Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party Calendar email janis at janiselspas dot com with Twitter Party in the subject line including all the details and links in the body of your  message. 

Also available, for a nominal fee, to host, co-host or serve as a panelist for your own brand Twitter party. To inquire, please email janis@janiselspas.com for information with Twitter Party Consulting Query in the subject line. 

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert does attend some Twitter parties as a guest and also works as a host, co-host, and panelist on others. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

NASCAR Behind Scenes - Making of a Mom Fan

Sports


Before attending my very first NASCAR race last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, I was just another woman who watched car racing once in awhile only if it happened to be on TV when I walked by. I didn't get it, never mind have any sort of appreciation or passion for the sport. I thought, "How could watching high speed drivers making hundreds of left hand turns going around in circles for hours on a track while racing each other to the finish line be very exciting?"

MBE partnered with Toyota for this post


Me in a Camry Racecar, Charlotte Motor Speedway

All that thinking changed drastically when Toyota Women Influencers Network (TWIN) hosted me and ten other influential women bloggers for an intensive NASCAR behind-the-scenes immersion trip experience in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is the story of how a unique and tactile opportunity turned me into a new fan of a sport I'd previously known little about.

Looking at this picture I know what you're thinking. I'm an unsafe race car driver that's not watching the road or wearing a seatbelt, helmet or any other safety gear, right? Don't worry. The image above was not taken in a moving, speeding vehicle, this is an actual race car that's been rigged for taking fan photos.


Liberty Walk near the NASCAR Hall of Fame

As I learned during my visit, Charlotte is indeed rich in Colonial history. But it's also a center for car racing history, too, and the NASCAR organization and the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum are based here.

Historic Charlotte, North Carolina

For sure, working with Toyota as a member of  TWIN for the past nine months has been an adventurous ride for us privileged ladies hand-picked for the ambassador program. Along the way I've had the opportunity to learn and write about company news and a number of Toyota community initiatives like the Toyota Racing Dream Car Build as well as to do multiple vehicle test drives and reviews of various Toyota models including the Prius v, Prius c, and FJ Cruiser.


Lined up ready for the Start your engines! command

I've also had the chance to work with the brand's awesome in-house social media and marketing communications teams and interact with the racing promotions group as well as Toyota's external advertising and PR agencies Saatchi & Saatchi and Golin Harris.  Meeting and working together with some of the best women bloggers in the business has been really cool too, only adding to the thrill of this journey together.


Dollar General 300 Winner Joey Logano with us
L to R Dan Zukowski, Pam Jansen, Marc Spiegel, Golin Harris
Clint Bowyer exults on Victory Lane, Courtesy of Toyota

Simply put, this Toyota NASCAR adventure has got to be the sparkling crown jewel of  my TWIN experience thus far. Looking back with the sights, smells, vibrations and sounds of cars racing still fresh in my mind, it's hard to believe all we learned and everything we did in just the space of a little over two days on this trip.


TWIN gals with Denny Hamlin's Mom (Center)

The top-tier women bloggers on the TWIN NASCAR sojourn included

Me in the Toyota Suite overlooking the Speedway 
Toyota - Golin Harris team made this dream trip come true 

Not only did we have the opportunity to enjoy a bird's eye view from the Toyota Luxury Suite of two major NASCAR races: the Dollar General 300 in the Nationwide Cup Series and the Bank of America 500 in the Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We also were treated to an afternoon to play at the race track's Midway in the afternoon and to explore the Toyota PitPass pavilion.


M&Ms Camry Race Car most colorful on the track

Below in this view from the glassed-in Toyota Suite high above the track is a short 36-second clip I shot of the high speed race action at the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that featured the requisite 43 world-class qualified race car drivers. Nine of the ten top-tier race drivers competing for the Chase -- the World Series of car racing -- drove in this race. Driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., son of the great late Dale Earnhardt and the tenth Chase candidate, was sitting out this race because of doctor's orders after suffering a concussion at an earlier event.



Video by MommyBlogExpert.com

Just as exciting, Toyota provided us with a personalized and informative guided tour and Hot Passes to walk the grid, visit the garage and pit stops, and to go inside the roped off area at Victory Lane to help Toyota team driver Joe Logano celebrate his win. Another Toyota team driver Clint Bowyer (we got to meet and talk to some of his team's members in the pit before the big race) took the trophy for the Saturday night race. So I have a feeling that us TWIN gals were lucky charms for both these guys in Charlotte.


My tickets & credentials for Charlotte Motor Speedway


Clint Bowyer's pit crew chats with us before the BofA 500 win

But it wasn't only about going to the racetrack. We also had the chance to join in the fun of a NASCAR Fan Fest where drivers were signing autographs and where we met and talked with driver Denny Hamlin's mom in addition to doing some really fun interactive race-related activities. Plus we got to view various historical race cars and exhibits as well as to learn about and see what goes into building a winning race car by touring three different well-known shops in the area: Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Darrell Waltrip Racing.

At his namesake shop -- also the setting for the Fan Fest -- 3-time Super Bowl Championship coach Joe Gibbs treated us to a fascinating presentation just for our group and a walk on the floor of his working shop. 

During our Charlotte visit we visited Michael Waltrip's shop which offers tours to the public,too. Then, at another legend's racing shop we got to meet, chat and have lunch with retired race car driver super star Darrell Waltrip. Here we enjoyed his walk down memory lane museum of historical cars that he's personally driven -- a favorite stop for many of us including me.


Joe Gibbs and TWIN gals at his name sake shop 

Darrell's resume, BTW, truly is impressive. Not only is he one of just nine race car drivers ever to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame but because he is the voice of the character Darrell Cartrip in both of Disney's Cars movies on top of being a high profile sports commentator for Fox TV. He is also brother to fellow racer Michael Waltrip. With his engaging and down-to-earth style, Darrell -- who's darling wife of 43 years was with him for this event -- was truly the life of the party.


Vintage Fire Suit at Darrell's Harrisburg, NC shop
Darrell Waltrip tells about modern racing safety

Lunch with Darrell was entertaining
TWIN bus mate Katherine checking the itinerary

Since no Toyota event is ever complete for me without a community service element, I was also excited to be there when Samantha Busch, wife of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, was declared winner of the Toyota Racing Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirt Contest benefiting non-profit Breast Friends.


Two of the the Toyota Breast Friends T-shirt Finalists  
Driver Kyle Bush reveals winning design by his wife Samantha
TWIN gals congratulate Samantha on her win

In between everything NASCAR that was going on there was even time for us mom and women bloggers to visit with each other and talk about our blogs and families back home. Over the course of our trip as Toyota's guests we enjoyed lunch, dinner and cocktails in several popular eateries in uptown Charlotte. These included elegant Aria and The Kings Table, a not-for-profit restaurant serving Southern cuisine that donates 100% of profits to feed those in need in the local community.


Office Depot Pit Crew rolls their car to the track


So many memories that I think will last a lifetime. Lucky I took hundreds of pictures with my own camera to try and capture it all. Still, it's a good thing to know that not only my ten TWIN gal pals were snapping away. Toyota had a dedicated photographer traveling with us the whole time to document the entire experience to make sure we didn't miss any of the many great photo opps!



A photographer snapping photos of our group


Another bucket list item checked off: Wearing a real fire suit -- this one previously worn by Martin Truex Jr. who is among the elite racers competing in the Chase -- during our tour of the Michael Waltrip Racing Shop. This trip was amazing and I can't wait for my next opportunity to go to another NASCAR event.



Me in one of Martin Truex Jr.'s fire suits, Image Courtesy of Toyota

FTC Disclosure: I attended this awesome NASCAR immersion trip as a guest of Toyota as a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective.  I did not receive payment to write this post. The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the views of Toyota or any of its brands. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.