Things to Buy - Aidan's Monsters

Saw on LikeCool.com today that a five year old artist is selling his art to pay for his chemotherapy. 


Aidan's Monsters on Etsy. 

Things to Do - Make Pizza

Watch this video, a guy named Scott Weiner makes NY style pizza in everyday oven, and it will inspire you to try it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/economybites/homemade-pizza-oven_b_766798.html

Things to Do - Enter Halloween Photo Contest

Disney has a Family Halloween Photo Contest going on. I wish I had known before I bought our costumes, I would have tried to put together a theme for my entire family (which I guess I could always do next year).

Things to Watch - Kid Videos

The Cat in the Hat Knows Alot About That

Kid Mango - Online Kid's TV

Things to Do - Visit Cornell University

I parked on College Avenue at a meter this Sunday (on weekends you don't need to pay the meter, which is good since I did not have change with me), and I strolled through Cornell to watch the sunset, #28 on this list. Highly recommend it. 

What's Up This Weekend - Catskills Harvest Festival

I wonder how far Delhi, NY is? This looks like it could be a neat little festival at Maple Shade Farm. 

Still Seeking - Pumpkins

Looking for great pumpkins at great prices. They are $.30/pound at Grisamore Farms. I've seen lockboxes at the side of the road that sell them for $3.00 each. Are there prices better than that? I want a place I can get great big ones, and not feel too guilty. 

What's Up This Weekend - Mackensie Childs Fall Festival

Hmmm...never gone to this MacKensie Childs event. I wonder what it's like. We've been to their Christmas Tree Lighting, that was cold, but interesting. Best part of that evening that I can remember though was eating at Fargo Bar and Grill...yummy. Hey, just noticed there's also a Halloween event, and the Great Pumpkin will be there. 

Things to Do - Iron Kettle Farm

I have been to Iron Kettle Farm three other times during the fall, but for some reason, I did not know they had kid's rides there. They have a small train, and a corn maze, an obstacle course, a fun barn walkthrough, and a scary barn walkthrough, a hay bale castle, a trike track, and a wiggle scooter ride-on area. I have two kids, and I had to buy a dozen tickets for each (which cost $13/dozen). They do have an ATM. And plenty of portopotties and picnic tables. We had a great day; there was tons to do. We didn't even get to ride the hay ride. 

Things to Do - Carve Pumpkins

Free Pumpkins Carving Templates, available at Pink Raygun. Just click on the template you like and print out the PDF. 

Places to Avoid - Ithaca Apple Festival

The Ithaca Apple Festival is great for Downtown Ithaca. Tons of new students from both Cornell and IC flood the commons and probably bring in tons of money for local businesses and vendors. And yes, there's tons of tents and stuff to see, if you can see above the crowd, but it is just NOT a place to bring kids and strollers. There are just too many people. And the lines are just too unstructured. Your stroller-ed child will be staring at the backs of knees above all else, and you will invariably hit and run over pedestrian toes no matter how careful you are. And un-strollered children will not fare much better, as they will be tossed and squeezed through tiny cracks of spaces all in an effort to just make it back to your car. Or, maybe it's just best to go on Friday, and avoid the weekend. I haven't tried that yet. But it will take me a long time to get up the gumption.