Everyday is Halloween, Right?

Cuteness in costumes abounded at our Halloween book reading hosted by the Story Book Mom, Nili Yelin! After the kids heard some sweet books, they got to decorate mini pumpkins, courtesy of Kerry at the Easel Art Studio! All complimentary book readings begin at 10:30 on Wednesdays, so be sure to come on down for all the educational fun!

20% Off This Week's Founders Favorites

Because You Said So, the Vans Pink Checkered Crib Shoes will join the picks of the week and be 20% off starting now! Head over to the site to view/shop all the picks, and stay tuned for the next cool, crazy vote and make your voice heard!

A Quick Q&A With Little Miss Ann!

Terrifically Spooky Answers to 3 Halloween Questions with Little Miss Ann!

1. What is your favorite candy?

"Heath bars and anything butterscotch flavored."



photo courtesy of mastgeneralstore.com




2. "I Want Candy or "Candy Girl?"

"I Want Candy"




photo courtesy of soundtracktomyday.blogspot.com




3. What was your favorite Halloween costume?

"Yoko Ono. My husband was John Lennon"



photo courtesy of artcelebs.com


Want to hear more from Little Miss Ann? Meet us at her Halloween Concert (costumes encouraged, y'all) at Subterranean Saturday, October 30that 3pm! The first 50 kids will receive a treat from Psychobaby, too! To get tickets, go here-->>>

Hug Life!

Get your baby some bling with our latest collection of gifts for the Bottle Hugs-n-Harmony crowd!

Halloween Boo-sic for the Family!

Come on down to the Concerts for Kids at Beat Kitchen and Sub-T and get more use out of that costume you worked so hard on, while you rock out with your blocks out!  For more info, go here--->>

Because You Said So - This Week's Founders' Favorites

Because You Said So, the Rowdy Sprout Woodstock Romper will join the picks of the week and be 20% off starting now! Head over to the site to view/shop all the picks, and stay tuned for the next cool, crazy vote and make your voice heard!

You're the Top, Reese's!

When I was a little kid, my brother and I would go out for blocks and blocks and blocks collecting candy. Then we would return to the house for the Candy Ritual- we'd dump our bags on the table so our parents could check for the stuff of the school memo home: razor blades, apples and open packages. (Looking back on it, while we are sure our parents were protecting us with the Candy Ritual, we are also sure they were scanning for their favorites because our bags were always WAY lighter in the morning. Our mom would say that's why we are still cavity-free as adults, but this may also be why we both buy an extra bag of candy just to have at the house now that we're all adult and stuff.) 

Once we had the apples and all fishy-school-memo-weirdness taken from us, we would take out those icky orange-wrapped candies (ew and boo, btw - does anyone like those????) and then.....we would trade. Everyone has a favorite candy- and thankfully ours were not the same! Snickers be gone for me- I wanted Reese's - or better yet, the full candy bars you could only get at the house with the big porch, or if you trick-or-treated the nuns.  Those cost two small bars, but were WELL worth it.  This year, my favorite (Reese's, not the nun candy) tops the list (nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah bro!) along with 2 classic favorites, Pop Rocks and Blow Pops.  I wish you all a giant bag of your favorite candy, with none of the ew!  Happy Halloween!

-posted by Kristina

What gift combo will make you the hit at the baby shower?

Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore

Psychobaby Halloween Costume Party 2010

Disney & Football Over Gaga: Top Halloween Costumes 2010

Why is this 'lil Snow White so happy?  Well, past the fact she has 7 dwarves to keep her entertained and a lovely prince, it may be because the Disney crew beat out Lady Gaga (even in that meat dress!) and pirates (pirates!) for the top overall costume search of 2010, according to Yahoo!  Following along these classic lines, the Top 3 baby costumes this year are a football, a peanut and a turkey.  We await our Halloween party at the store to find out if these baby turkeys are the animals, or if the Goo-Goo set is following  the GaGa!!!

image courtesy of celebritybabies.people.com

-posted by Kristina

A Dreamy Chicago Night of Halloween Fun

Benefiting the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation.

"Chicago’s Premiere Halloween Event for Families! Featuring a fantasy-come-true “Trick-or-Treat Lane” with fabulous costume characters, amazing treats for kids, arts & crafts activities, face painting, sponsor reception, gourmet food from Chicago’s finest restaurants, stage shows, live and silent auctions, celebrity sightings and other fabulous surprises!"

 Saturday - October 23, 2010

Time: 5:00 - 8:30

Windy City Fieldhouse
2367 West Logan Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60647
Tickets are pricey (they start at $100) but it will make a big difference in someones life.

We're Lovin' our new additions!

Visit the newest additions to the Psychobaby Custom Shop -->

Hey pumpkin- you are going to turn into brownies!

While you are carving up that pumpkin and giving it goofy eyes and a monster grin, make a batch of brownies- because everyone needs more sugar around Halloween! Many ghouly thanks to Elena at the Kids Table for sharing the yummy!

Pumpkin Brownies

Makes 1 9x13 pan

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt2 tsp vanilla
2 cups roasted and pureed pumpkin* (thin with a little water if necessary - consistency should be like applesauce)
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine first six ingredients (flour through salt) and whisk well. Add vanilla and squash and stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

2. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Transfer batter to baking dish and spread evenly. Bake until top is springy and brownies are cooked through, about 25 minutes.

*Feel free to use any winter squash for this recipe, such as butternut, acorn or delicata. To roast squash, cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds and pulp. Place cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and roast at 350 degrees. until tender (about 25-35 minutes, depending on size of squash).

posted by Kristina
photo courtesy of pearltreemanor.com

No tricks, only treats at Psychobaby!

Is your little ghost or goblin ready for Halloween this year? Here are some super spooky ideas for a screaming good time. View more spooky Halloween styles or customize one of your own at the Psychobaby Custom Shop.

20% Off This Week's Founders Favorites

Because You Said So, Honest Baby's 'I heard Einstein was a late talker' tee will join Lisa and Marlo's picks of the week and be 20% off starting now!  

View All of this week's Founders' picks + Your Facebook pick now!

Windy City Monster Madness. For Reals.

Sure, you can attend that hayride, and go to the pumpkin patch for Halloween fun. We'll probably see you there- and at the haunted village, too. But we would also like to suggest a Hairy and Scary Tour of the Windy City, where you can see a monster blob, a GIANT eyeball and other Halloween fun that will have your little monsters roaring in delight!



Tony Tasset's behemoth Blob Monster will delight every child who dreams in melty crayons! Made of poured colored resin, metal, wire mesh and paint, viewing this multi-colored monster is sure to kick your Halloween season off right!

Hubbard and Racine. For more info, visit the Kavi Gupta gallery.







Now, normally, we would not say that taking your four-year-old to see the door of a marketing and design firm would be The. Best. Day. Ever. In this case, since the door is a giant monster door, and the giant monster door belongs to cool peeps who are toy innovators, it will be. And you don't have to take my word for it - see the Young At Heart gentlemen to the left for proof!

21 S. Racine. For more info on Big Monster Toys and their giant door, visit bmttoys.com












It's a bird! It's a plane? It's a giant eyeball made of painted fiberglass! Tony Tassett has made the list twice because you won't be able to take your eyes off his larger-than-life sculpture!



Pritzker Park. For more information on EYE or other exhibits, visit the Kavi Gupta gallery.










Need a monster bonus for your older kids? Take them to the newly relocated OhNoDoom Gallery in Wicker Park to view the Monsters vs. Robots exhibit and find out who's the winner of that age-old battle once and for all.



1800 N. Milwaukee Ave. For more information about the exhibit, visit OhNoDoom. More fun monsters are also available to view, courtesy of Justin Parpan, who created the cool piece you see on the left (and also works at jibjab, which scores him points in out book.)



images courtesy of the Kavi Gupta Gallery and Justin Parpan

posted by Kristina

Kids' Table Cooking Craft Spooktacular!

Crafty ghouls and goblins: easily turn ordinary ingredients found in your kitchen into these ghosties to decorate the mantle during Halloween! Many thanks to Elena from the Kids' Table for this cooking craft spooktacular!

Salt Dough Ghosts

Makes 2 ghosts or other creepy creatures!

What you will need:

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup salt

1/4 cup water

Whole cloves*

How to make your ghosts:

1. In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt and stir until well combined. Addwater and stir until absorbed. Knead dough until smooth (you can add a little extra water 1 tablespoon at a time if dough is too dry).

2. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Shape dough into ghosts, making a flat base so it will stand upright. Use cloves* to make eyes and even a mouth, pressing the stems of the cloves into the dough. Place ghosts on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 30 seconds at a time until ghosts have hardened (about 2 minutes in total). Let ghosts cool.

*If you don't have any cloves, you can use a black marker to draw eyes and other features after you harden ghosts in the microwave.
posted by Kristina

Kids, we are having meat hand for dinner again

photo:Not Marth.org

This is disgusting, no this is delicious, no this is disgusting! It's both and oh so clever!
This recipe is an example of why Halloween is my favorite holiday! It's an opportunity to get creative no matter how old you are. There's candy, costumes, pumpkins and spooky cool houses! It also happens to be my husbands birthday (which explains EVERYTHING!). This meat hand is definitely on my menu for his dinner celebration.
Do you have a favorite spooky recipe or craft? Share it with us and we'll post it on our blog. Send it to pr@psychobaby.net

20% Off This Week's Founders' Favorites!

 

 Because You Said So, the Mini Sizzlin' Kitchen AND Micro Me's Black/Leopard Skinny Pants will join the picks of the week and be 20% off starting now! Head over to the site to view/shop all the picks, and stay tuned for the next cool, crazy vote and make your voice heard!

Laura Doherty Returns to SubT this Saturday!

Please come on out and join one of Chicago's favorite musicians amongst the under three foot high crowd. Don't worry parents, between Laura's upbeat music, her super clever lyrics and the cool venue, you won't be able to stop yourself from grooving with your Psychobaby!

Saturday October 9th. 3:00-4:00
Subterranean
2011 W. North Ave.
Tickets: $5 at the door

The first 50 kids three feet and under will receive a Spooky Halloween tee compliments of Psychobaby!

Spooky Halloween Facebook Contest

Attention Ghoulie Goblins- Psychobaby's having a Halloween Photo Contest! Starting today (through 10/15) post your frightfully funny, creative or scary pics of you, your kids, or your pets on our wall.
On the 15th, entries will be grouped together in an album, so you can vote with your likes and tell us who should be the winner!
The three photos with the most likes will be announced on 10/22 and get Halloween treat bags full o' loot!
Go to our Facebook Fan page and give us your best scare!

Honest, you'll love this new line!

Founder of Honest Baby, Jill Besnoy, started this line out of frustration with the myth of
"perfect parenting".
Honest Baby pokes fun back at all the crazy parenting advise we get bombarded with. When I had my first son, Oliver, everyone from my mother-in-law to the sweet little lady on the street was sure they knew exactly what was going on with my little guy. "Put a hat on him", it was summer. "He's hungry", no, he was just a colicky baby and had not slept and no intentions of doing so! "How about using a pacifier?" "Pacifiers will give him bad teeth". Yikes!
Three kids later, I have always found that motherhood requires a sense of humor and these tees might remind you or your next critic to lighten up and laugh a little! We don't know it all and as soon as we figure it out it changes.

Founders' Favorite Picks For This Week - 20% Off! Why? Because I Said So!

Because You Said So, the pink check Vans will join Lisa and Marlo's style picks of the week and be 20% off starting now!   View All of this week's Founders' picks + Your Facebook pick now!