People, we have serious problem over here. There is way too much sugar in our home. It’s flowing out of cabinets and on to the floor. And into my mouth.
Backstory:
Halloween in the Queendom was cold and rainy. Our girls looked adorable, we traveled to the home of friends and had a pitch-in (potluck for everybody who doesn’t live in Indiana) dinner.
We determined it was too cold to go outside. So the all of the adults hid in different rooms of said home (After promising my friend Tricia that we wouldn’t look behind us at the mess because she is like you and me and only cleans what’s necessary before people come over. Keeping it real, Lords & Ladies.). The kids then dispersed throughout the entire house and since we had all brought candy, there was more than enough for each room in the house to be a trick-or-treating destination. That would have been enough (and in fact it was for the littlest of our friends). But here’s where it gets a little crazy. The bigger elementary aged kids still wanted to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.
So, four of my fabulous friends took seven kids out in gale force winds and freezing rain to beg for candy trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. As a side note, you should have such friends. Because the King and I stayed inside eating chili and sipping hot apple cider while our two girls were able to navigate the streets safely in their costumes to collect treats.
Few people were as crazy as my warrior parent friends (again, you should have warrior parent friends, too) and that meant almost every house that they went to gave them about 4Xs the candy as a “regular” year. This also does not include the house that handed out Fiber One Fruit Snacks because they were pretty concerned abut my kids’ digestive needs which honestly wasn’t a bad idea because ALL OF THE CANDY.
Today, I’m the prowl for places where I can donate/get something for/beg someone to take all of the sugar out of my house. Don’t worry, I’ll let the girls keep some but I kid not when I say we have two GALLONS of candy in our house. Ain’t nobody who needs enough candy to fill up one of those coolers on the side of the football field. And now, where you can make a difference and/or exchange your candy for something else:
Halloween Candy Buy Back
My friend Margaret suggested Halloween Candy Buy Back which is ridiculously easy to use and populated by lots of dentists who want to save your kids’ teeth and maybe you even a few dimes when you don’t have to have cavities filled. It’s super duper user friendly. Enter your zip code and bam, you have all of the options in your area.
Noodles & Company
While it doesn’t look like a nationwide campaign this year, you can check with your local Noodles & Company. In the past, the Sunday after Halloween local stores offer a buyback and you receive a bowl of Mac-N-Cheese (mmmm). I’ll keep my eyes peeled this week for any local announcements and let you know.
Operation Gratitude
So this video makes me laugh and uncomfortable at the same time. You should watch it and feel the same way so you understand my pain. Some of these kids are the CUTEST. And some? Not so cute. I love the “We’ll get some more next time.” and the “That’s ok.” kids. Jimmy Kimmel asked parents to “prank” their kids and tell them they ate all of their Halloween candy and then record the results. There’s lots of wailing, a few “I hate yous,” and there’s a little bleep at the end just so you’re fair warned. Not something I would do but I do love that they call attention to Operation Gratitude which ships candy to men and women serving in the military.
Don’t want to donate? Check out this post from my friend Jill with a recipe for Post Halloween Cookies.
Are you aware of other programs? Leave them in the comments for me, please. I’ve got to unload these Fiber One Fruit Snacks somewhere. Oh and the other sweets calling my name from the cabinet.
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Awww, thanks for linking up!!
Love the Operation Gratitude opportunity! We ended up handing out treats with our apartment neighbors and didn’t even scratch the surface of using our candy, so we need a place to donate it!