This can be a “dangerous” time of year… for your diet that is. Every where I look I see bags of my favorite candies. That is because Halloween is fast approaching and stores want you to stock up with plenty of goodies for the trick-or-treaters.
I can’t buy Halloween candy too far in advance because I know it will all be eaten before Halloween night. If I feel I must get candy ahead of time I buy bags of candy that no one in my family likes. That way I know it’s safe to keep in our home.
My kids don’t go trick-or-treating anymore because they are teenager. When they were younger they would come home with an insane amount of candy. What I would do it immediately go through it and pick out a good chunk of it and give it to the teenagers who came to our home late at night (or I’d leave it in a bucket outside our door). My husband would also take a lot of it to work with him and leave it in a bowl on his desk so that his co-workers can enjoy it (especially those without children).
Don’t get the wrong impression – my kids still had plenty of candy. We live in a huge condo/town home complex and my kids got more then they would ever need. They had so much that most of it wouldn’t be eaten. I would find bags of candy around Christmas time that was from Halloween.
When I was younger I would hoard my candy and eat every last piece of it. That might explain why I’m overweight.
Author Audrey Kinsman has a fun idea to help take control of the crazy amount of candy children receive for Halloween. In fact her idea is so ingenious that it can be a new holiday tradition in your home.
Audrey wrote a book called Switchcrafted: The Story of the Switch Witches of Halloween. The book is intended to encourage children to swap out pounds of unhealthy candy in exchange for a fun toy.
As a mom of two young boys, Audrey believes magic of the holiday. After one Halloween where her sons brought home eight pounds of candy she knew she had to find something to take control of all that candy. This was her inspiration behind Switchcrafted.
Says Kinsman, “Switchcrafted updates a classic holiday tradition and incorporates it into real-life parenting scenarios. Getting my kids involved in the magic of Halloween verses the quest for the biggest bag of candy was my motivation. My own family suffers from allergies like celiac disease and lactose intolerance therefore the majority of candy was off-limits. I needed to find a fun alternative to keep the tradition alive.”
The hardcover book is available with an adorable Switch Witch plush toy and comes in a keepsake box so the book and toy can stay together when it’s not Halloween season. There is also a signature trick-or-treat bag.
Here is a brief synopsis of this super adorable book.
On a cold and windy Halloween evening, children everywhere asked “Why are witches part of Halloween?” The story needed to be told, and the children deserved an answer. Witches are part of Halloween because they desperately need your candy!
In the mysterious world of cauldron bubbles, flying broomsticks and black cats, witches cast their spells turning nobles into beasts, straw into gold and magic lamps into wish-giving genies. Staying up late and flying a broomstick to conduct all of these tasks requires lots and lots of energy. And for witches, energy only comes from candy–any kind of candy to be precise! But the one spell that no witch can ever cast is the candy spell!
During the month of October, the Switch Witch is invited into your home. Show her your best behavior and she gets the go-ahead from the Switch Witches to perform the magic of Switchcraft on Halloween night. She takes your candy in exchange for a new toy! That’s the deal…
“Remember that only good kids can trade, So be on your best behavior and a Switchcraft will be made”
Think of the Switch Witch as being similar to the Elf on a Shelf where the witch is keeping her eye out on your child/grandchild to make sure they are on their best behavior. If the witch thinks your child has been behaving well their Halloween candy (not all of it of course) will be taken on Halloween night (or whatever night you see fit) and in it’s place will be a toy that your child wants.
To keep my kids from having too much candy when they were little the Easter Bunny used to bring books, coloring books, crayons, a small toy and/or plush bunny (instead of a basket full of candy). I like the idea of swapping out tons of candy for something healthier like books, crafts or a small toy.
What you do with the candy that Switch Witch takes is up to you. You can donate it or give it away. You can even donate it to our military troops.
This is such a wonderful idea. I’m glad the author and publishers put this delightful package together. It’s going to make for a super fun Halloween tradition.
The doll is adorable. She has a movable head and Velcro on her hands so that you can pose her in many different ways and locations in your home.
The book is wonderfully written with colorful and charming illustrations. The book even asks children to name their witch. Our witch is named Stella. I don’t know why. It’s just the name that came to us (no offense to anyone named Stella – we like that name :-)).
If you would like to learn more please visit www.Switchcrafted.com. On the site you can also find Halloween recipes, craft ideas, candy swapping solutions, game and activities for both parents and teachers.
You can also check out Switchcrafted on social media (Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram) under Switchcrafted. The Twitter handle is @SwitchWitches.
I have a Switch Witch package to award to a lucky reader, compliments of Switch Witch.
This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only and will end on October 15, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.
To enter please comment on this post and tell me why you would like to win this giveaway?
For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries wont’ qualify (I do check). Extra entries are optional.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Micki says
I would love to read this book to my goddaughter, who thinks witch books are fun! Thanks for the chance to win.
Maureen says
I have a young niece who will be undergoing heart surgery right around Halloween and she is going to miss the trick or treating. This little girl is only three but knows what it is all about because of her three older brothers. This book would be special just for her.
Maralea says
I would love to share this with my grandkids! Such a fun gift.
Kelly Brown says
I would love to win this for my family! We love to play new games and this is one we definitely do not have! I always love reading stories to my son too so this would be perfect for us!
Darlene Jones-Nelson says
My Grand Kids would love to have this! I know one of them wants to be a witch for Halloween
Kimberly Schotz says
I would like to win because my granddaughter would love this.
Melissa christian says
My girls loved the Elf on the shelf at xmas. But halloween is the one holiday they loved doing with their late dad (it was their favorite). It just has not been the same so maybe this would help get them back into the spirit.
Kristen says
We bring toys and fun things to the kids at our local Ronald McDonald House and there might be a family there who would like to have this.
Jenn says
I would like to win this prize so I have something special to give my granddaughter.
Betty says
This book is a great twist on traditional Halloween. And I like your suggestions what to do with extra candy. I’ve known too many mothers who let their kids pick out a certain number of candies to keep and eat and then throw the rest in the garbage. Such a waste and I think disrespecctful for the friends and neighbors that they sent their kids to trick or treat at.
DEBIJOT says
The grandkids would love for this to come out every Halloween.
Vicki Hale says
Hello, I would like to receive this to share with my 5 yr old grandson. Thank you. Vicki
BeckyM says
Super cute… my kids would love this!
Ken Ohl says
my little niece would love these prizes. thankyou, ken
D Schmidt says
I would like to win because I think this would be a great gift for my children and very original! They would be thrilled.
Brynn says
I would love to win this for my daughter!
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I’d love to win because I think it would make a fun tradition with the kids! I’ve never seen this before!
Christine says
This would be a great way to trick my kids into giving me all their candy. 🙂
Tabitha says
I like it because it’s new and fun.
I’m always up for that =)
Pat Nolan says
It looks like its a lot of fun.
sara says
My middle daughter is a witch this year, she would love this.
Melissa says
I love decorating for halloween, this would look great! 🙂
Ellie Wright says
I’d love to win for my grandchildren. So cute!
Katie Amanda says
I’d love to share this with my goddaughter. Thanks!
Jane (EJ ) says
October brings so much family unplugged fun time, this is the perfect addition this year.
Leigh Anne Borders says
I would like to win this because I think my children would enjoy the story and idea behind the book.
Wendy McBride says
I would like to win this for my Niece’s daughter. It is so neat and I haven’t seen anything around like this. She loves to read and I want to encourage that.
wendym at cableone dot net
Tina M says
i want to win this for my little one.
Michele L says
I love Halloween and anything related to it. This would be a cute addition to my picture book collection for the grandchildren
Vicki Wurgler says
I’d love to give this to my granddaughter
Justina Justice says
would love to share this halloween story with my boys during this fall season.
Noreen says
My kids get sick fro artificial dyes and gmo so most candy makes them sick. I love this idea!
Robin Wilson says
I would love to win this for my niece. She really doesn’t have a problem with behavior, though she is not perfect for sure, and I think she would get a real kick out of this!
Jennifer says
I would like to win this because my kids would enjoy it!
Jessamine D. says
I’d like to win this because I know my 2 daughters will like this. 🙂
Alisha Kostiuk says
I would like to win because my niece loves witches.
Maryssa T. says
I want to win this for myself! Lol. It looks fun!
Yona Williams says
I’d like to win because I think this would make a really cute gift for my god-daughter.
Shawn says
This looks so cute and I have someone special in mind that I would love to give this to.
wendy rozema says
I’d like to win this for my kids!
Annmarie W. says
I’d love to win this for our young niece who lives out-of-state! She’d know we were thinking of her!
lisa says
My kids would love something so fun for Halloween.
Terra Heck says
I like the concept of this and think it would be fun for the kids during Halloween. Thanks
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Seyma Shabbir says
My sons love to read! This would be fun!
Stephanie Grant says
I would love to win this giveaway because I think this would be a very fun little book to add to our Halloween book collection :)! Thanks for the opportunity, have a fantastic Friday!
soha molina says
I wanna win it because it is very cute.
Dawn Monroe says
I think my granddaughter would enjoy it. She is dressing as a witch this year.
Tammy H says
As a parent/grandparent you want the kids to enjoy the tradition of Halloween but the idea to make it more fun is even better. great concept!
Nancy says
I’d like to win this so I could read this book.
Lesley F says
I would love to win this for my niece