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Hudson Valley Holiday Events Guide 2022

Posted on November 22, 2022 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s hard to believe that it’s already almost December and the holidays will be here before we know it. Although it may be cold out, it’s also one of the most magical times of the year. There are plenty of events taking place now through the new year to get you in the holiday spirit! Check out this year’s Hudson Valley Holiday Events Guide to help plan your month of fun!
As always, please check directly with the venue for the most up-to-date information.

A Frosty Fest: (Ulster Park) Enjoy 12 attractions including a choreographed light show, a drive through Frosty’s Enchanted Forest, an outdoor photo with Santa, a walk through Frosty’s Adventure, “Jingle the Elf” stage show and more.
Dates: Weekends only (Friday-Sunday) November 25 – December 23
Tickets/Price: $21.95/adult + service charge and tax, $18.95/child (under 12) + service charge and tax, Free/children under 12 months
*advance ticket purchases are highly recommended

Boscobel Twilight Tours (Cold Spring) Enjoy a self-guided tour of the mansion, decorated for the holidays. After the tour walk the grounds that are decorated with lights.
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays November 18 – December 10
Self-guided tours at 4:00 PM, 4:20 PM, 4:40 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:40 PM, 6:00 PM, 6:20 PM
Tickets: $29/adults, $24/seniors, $17/children (5-18), Free/children under 5, discounted tickets for members

Grand Holiday Illuminations at Untermyer Park & Gardens: (Yonkers) This annual holiday light show will take place at Untermyer Park & Gardens. See over 100,000 lights that illuminate the Walled Garden.
Dates: December 9 – January 1, 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Tickets/Price: Free, no tickets required

Holiday on the Hill at Lasdon Park and Arboretum: (Katonah) Enjoy the annual Holiday on the Hill exhibit and train show at Lasdon Park and Arboretum. The show has been expanded to include an outdoor display. Santa will be in his cottage for scheduled visits that are coordinated with ticket times. The Bona Bona Ice Cream Truck will be at the event on select dates. Tickets $20/adult, $15/senior, $10/child (ages 2-12)
Dates: November 26 & 27, December 1 – December 31, Thursday through Sunday
Scheduled Time Slots: 10 AM – 10:45 AM, 11 AM – 11:45 AM, 1 PM – 1:45 PM, 2 PM – 2:45 PM, 3 PM – 3:45 PM

39a623e0om julie larsen maher 2159 holiday lights in snow bz 12 03 19 hy 1 — *Photo Credit: Bronx Zoo*

Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo: (Bronx)
Enjoy five lantern safaris throughout the park, ice-carving demonstrations, costumed characters and more.
Dates: Select dates November 18 – January 8
Tickets/Price: $39.95/Adult (Age 13+), $24.95/Child (Ages 3-12), $34.95/Senior (Age 65+), $20/Parking

Holiday Tea Musicale at Caramoor: Listen to live music. Then enjoy a tea service in the Music Room at Rosen House that includes tea sandwiches and holiday treats.
Dates: December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 at 2 PM
Tickets/Price: $70/adult, $35/child (12 and under)

Holiday Train Show at NYBG: (Bronx)
The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show is back. Advance tickets are recommended.
Dates: November 19, 2022 – January 16, 2023, 10 AM – 6 PM
Tickets: $35/adult, $31/seniors (65+), $20/children (2-12)

Hommocks Park Ice Rink Skate with Santa (Mamaroneck) Enjoy an afternoon of ice skating with Santa and his friends!
Date: December 18th, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Admission: $11/adults (12+), $10/child (11 and under), skate rentals: $5

Kevin McCurdy’s Holiday Spirit Festival: (Wappingers Falls)
Enjoy 15 attractions on your Winter Wonderland Walk including a North Pole village, train exhibit, Santa’s Reindeer Barn, holiday entertainment, characters and more.
Dates: November 25 – 27 and Weekends Only (Friday-Sunday) December 2 – December 23, Fridays 6 PM – 9 PM, Saturdays 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Sundays 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Tickets/Price: Adults: $19.95 plus online fees and NYS sales tax, children: $17.95 plus online fees and NYS sales tax
Advanced ticket reservations required

LUMAGICA Light Show at Harvest Moon (North Salem) Enjoy a walking tour of illuminated animal structures and decorations through the apple orchards at Harvest Moon
Dates: November 18 – December 30, 4 PM – 9 PM
Tickets: $29.99-$35.99/adults + booking fees (depending on date of visit), $22.99 – $28.99/child (ages 3-12) + booking fees (depending on date of visit)
*Tickets are for timed entry

Menorah Lighting at Ridge Hill (Yonkers) “Join us and Chabad of Yonkers to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with a traditional Menorah lighting ceremony and celebration! Head to Ridge Hill beginning at 4PM for family-friendly activities, delicious Hanukkah treats, and more! Plus, don’t miss out on the Gelt Drop, featuring our friends at Yonkers Fire Department! Collect all the chocolate gelt you can as they rain down from the highest point of the fire truck’s lift.”
Date: Sunday, December 18, 4 PM – 6 PM at Fountain Plaza

Most Wonderful Time of the Year (White Plains) “Experience all the music and the magic of the season we call “the most wonderful time of the year”. From classics like “Winter Wonderland” to “O Holy Night”, radio hits like Darlene Love’s “Christmas” (Baby, Please Come Home), Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” and classic holiday songs from stage and screen like “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”,”Silver Bells” and more. This concert is a merry celebration of all things holiday, guaranteed to lift your spirits and warm your heart this season!”
Dates: December 21, 2022 – 7 PM
Tickets: $43-$50

Muscoot Farm Holiday Lights on the Farm (Katonah) See the farm decorated for the holidays and enjoy some treats.
Dates: December 3, 10, 17, 5 PM-8 PM
Price: $25/family (up to 4 guests), registration required

NYBG GLOW: (Bronx)
GLOW is an evening, outdoor illuminated experience at the New York Botanical Garden. During your visit you can also enjoy ice carving displays, dancers, musicians and other outdoor fun.
Dates: November 18-19, 23, 25, & 26 December 2-3, 9-11, 15-17, 22-23, 26-30, January 1, 7, 14
5 PM – 10 PM
Tickets/Price: $39/adults, $24/children (2-12), Free/children under 2
Get a discounted combined ticket with the NYBG Train Show $54/adult, $39/child

The Octagon House: Victorian Christmas Tour (Irvington) “Celebrate the holiday season in this lyrical, eight-sided home surrounded by the sights of Christmas in 1872. The restored National Landmark will be filled with elaborate holiday décor featuring wreaths, garlands, and the sparkle of ornaments on a grand Christmas Tree inside the salon. With the help of original feather trees and antique ornaments, the 1-hour tour will fill you in on the history of Christmas, and how it was celebrated in the 19th Century.”

Tours are recommended for ages 12+. Parking is free but limited. Masks must be worn during the tour.
Dates: Fridays – Mondays, November 11 – December 30 Tours are at: 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM and 4 PM
Tickets: $29/general admission

Peace, Love, Lights: Drive-Thru Holiday Lights Experience at Bethel Woods: (Swan Lake) Enjoy an over one mile drive-thru holiday illuminated experience from the warmth of your car.
Dates: November 25-27, 2022, December 1-4, 8-11, December 15 – January 1, 2023
5 PM – 10 PM
Tickets/Price: $30/car

While you are at Bethel Woods, you can also enjoy Dinner with Santa before or after your drive-thru experience.
Dates: December 16-17, 5 PM – 8 PM
Price: $55/adult, $30/child

Pop-up Ice Skating Rink at the Cross County Center: (Yonkers) The Cross County Center has a Pop-Up Ice Skating rink. It’s located at Center Court near the Christmas tree. Admission: $10 for a one hour session and includes skates. Debit/credit only – no cash. Must be 5 years or 42 inches tall.

Ridge Hill on Ice: (Yonkers) “Lace up and skate over to Ridge Hill On Ice as we transform The Town Square Lawn into an outdoor ice rink for the holiday season! Guests will need to book ice skating reservations in advance to ensure a skating time slot. Walk-ups are also welcome, but we cannot guarantee you will be able to skate at that time.”
Dates: November 20 – January 29
Monday – Thursdays: 4PM to 9PM, Fridays: 4PM to 10PM, Saturdays: 11AM to 10PM, Sundays: 11AM to 8PM, Holiday Hours: 10AM to 9PM (Dates: December 26th – January 1st) Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Price: $18 (plus tax)/person includes skate rental and 75 minutes of skate time, $14 (plus tax)/children 12 and under includes skate rental and 75 minutes of skate time

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland: (Valhalla) Enjoy Westchester’s Winter Wonderland drive-thru Holiday Light Extravaganza. Enjoy a 1.2-mile illuminated drive from the warmth of your car.

Dates: Open every night November 25, 2022 – January 1, 2023 (except December 24 and December 25), 6 PM Monday – Friday, 5 PM weekends
Tickets/Price: $25/car off-peak, $35/car peak, large passenger vans/limos additional fee

White Plains Holiday Market: (White Plains)
This holiday market will be held on Court Street between Martine Ave. and Main Street. Over 50 vendors and artisans will be selling their wares in individual walled sheds.
Dates: December 9 – December 18, 12 PM – 7 PM daily (8 PM on Friday and Saturday nights)

The Wonderland of Lights (Rhinebeck) Taking place at the Dutchess County Fair Grounds, enjoy this drive through holiday light experience.
Dates: November 25 – December 25, 2022 – 5:30 PM – 9 PM
CLOSED: November 28, 29, 30 & December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14
Tickets: $25/car online in advance, $30/car at the gate

Photos with Santa:

Cross County Shopping Center: (Yonkers) Santa will be available for photos and visits in his new winter wonderland cabin. Reservations are recommended but not required.
Dates: November 17 – December 24

Jefferson Valley Mall: (Yorktown Heights) Reservations are strongly recommended.
Dates: November 25 – December 24

Ridge Hill: (Yonkers) Reservations are strongly recommended.
Dates: November 21 – December 24

The Westchester: (White Plains) Reservations are strongly recommended.
Dates: November 25 – December 24
Pet Night, Sunday December 11 from 6-7 PM

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Posted on December 10, 2021 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Christmas Candylane is back at Hersheypark for another season of holiday festivities! Our family has never visited an amusement park during the December holidays, so I thought it would be fun for us to head to Hersheypark during Christmas Candylane.

We arrived at the park at 1 PM and headed for Hershey’s Chocolate World. You can spend an entire day here with the free chocolate tour ride, the 4D Chocolate Mystery Show, Hershey’s Unwrapped Chocolate Tasting Journey, Create Your Own Candy Bar and Hershey Trolley Works. Please note that everything but the chocolate tour ride has an additional cost. It was very crowded and we waited 45 minutes on line for the Chocolate Factory tour.

Hersheypark opens at 2 PM. We exited our factory tour about five minutes before the park opened and there was a huge line of people waiting to get in at the main park gates. We were fairly surprised of the popularity of the park on a chilly day. You should know that not all of the rides are open during Christmas Candylane. Although the website shows 46 rides operating, not all of them were open during our visit. A majority of the rides were for younger kids. Because there are a limited number of rides open, the lines for everything were super long!

My husband and daughter rode Candymonium. This is one of the newer rides at Hersheypark and is also the tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster in the park. They got on line as soon as we entered the park and still waited almost an hour. But they both said it was a great ride.

While they were on line, my son and I rode The Howler and Wild Mouse. Then we all rode The Whip.

We waited on line for almost 90 minutes to ride Laff Trakk and almost came within sight of getting on the ride. Then the news circulated that the ride was broken and they didn’t know when it would be open again. Cutting our losses, we moved off the line to other areas of the park. By that time, it had gotten dark and every ride had over an hour wait time.

We grabbed pizza at Dispatch Pizzeria. Dining options are limited in the park, so again, there was a bit of a wait for food. If you want a sit down meal, visit the newly opened The Chocolatier restaurant.

In my opinion, one of the biggest draws of Christmas Candylane is the lights and holiday decorations. And Hersheypark goes all out! There are over 5 million lights throughout the park which is so beautiful to see once it gets dark.

Some of the rides even have themed holiday lights.

As you walk along the path connecting Pioneer Frontier to Midway America you will see the 12 Days of Christmas in lights!

A stop at TREEville at the Boardwalk is a must. There are more than a dozen decorated trees to view and several pretty photo ops. While we were walking around we noticed a cocoa and cookie crawl taking place. We learned that you could buy tickets at the park entrance for $20. There were several booths set up around the Boardwalk serving cocoa and different cookies. You could visit each booth and they’d punch your card.

Little kids will want to visit Santa at his workshop. They have a socially distant couch set up for pictures and he is there through December 24th. You can stop at Santa’s Reindeer Stables to visit his reindeer.

Due to our poor planning and a lack of time we missed the Noel light show. The show, presented by UGI, features more than 250,000 flashing lights synchronized to music. The show plays every half hour starting at 5 PM.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is a sight to see for the holidays! Experiences may vary based on the day you visit. However, I recommend that you be prepared for large crowds and long waits. You can make a weekend out of your visit by staying at a Hershey resort or one of the many nearby hotels.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
100 W. Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, PA 17033

Open: now through January 2, 2022

Weekdays: 5 PM – 9 PM
Weekends: 2 PM – 9 PM

Tickets: $47.95/person (age 3+) when purchased online

Parking: Free during our visit

Hershey Sweet Lights: $22.15/car in advance, $39.15/car at the gate

Tips:

*Download the Hershey app. This will be your guide for your visit. It has a map and shows you the open rides and wait times.

*Arrive earlier than the opening. You’ll have to wait on line but you’ll be near the front. Then head to the ride that you REALLY want to go on for the shortest wait time.

*Don’t plan on being able to do everything in one day. It’s very crowded and the lines are long for EVERYTHING!

*If you really want to try to do all the rides and attractions I recommend adding Fast Track to your ticket. Fast Track allows visitors to skip the regular line once on featured rides. With Fast Track Unlimited guests can skip the regular lines on the featured rides all day long. Prices fluctuate by day.

Hudson Valley Holiday Events Guide

Posted on November 11, 2021 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

The lights, the music and of course Santa Claus! While we are still not quite back to “normal”, more holiday events are taking place this year throughout the Hudson Valley. Check out our Hudson Valley Holiday Events Guide for all the info! Tickets are going fast for some of these events so reserve yours now!
As always, please check directly with the venue for the most up-to-date information.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage (Chappaqua) Enjoy a liver performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. The show is 90 minutes including intermission. Stay for a sing-along with the cast after the show.
Dates: Select dates and times December 3 – December 19
Tickets: start at $25

A Christmas Carol at the White Plains Performing Arts Center (White Plains) A holiday show the entire family will enjoy. See the musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic.
Dates: Selected dates December 3 – 30, 2 PM and 7 PM
Tickets: $39 – $61

A Frosty Fest: (Ulster Park) Attractions include a new for 2021 choreographed light show, a drive through Frosty’s Enchanted Forest, an outdoor photo with Santa, a walk through Frosty’s Adventure, “Jingle the Elf” stage show and more.
Dates: Weekends only (Friday-Sunday) November 26 – December 19
Tickets/Price: $18.95/adult + service charge and tax, $14.95/child (under 12) + service charge and tax, Free/children under 12 months
*advance ticket purchases are highly recommended

Boscobel Twilight Tours (Cold Spring) Enjoy a tour of the mansion, decorated for the holidays. After the tour walk the grounds that are decorated with lights. Tours are approximately 45 minutes and are limited to 10 guests
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays November 26 – December 18, 4 PM – 7 PM
Tickets: $25/adults, $15/children (5-18), Free/children under 5, discounted tickets for members

Grand Holiday Illuminations at Untermyer Park & Gardens: (Yonkers) This annual holiday light show will take place at Untermyer Park & Gardens.
Dates: December 10 – January 2, 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Tickets/Price: Free, no tickets required

Holiday on the Hill at Lasdon Park and Arboretum: (Katonah) Enjoy the annual Holiday on the Hill exhibit and train show at Lasdon Park and Arboretum. The show has been expanded to include an outdoor display. Santa will be in his Holiday Cottage for visits. Tickets $10/child, $20/adult
Dates: November 27 – December 31, Thursday through Sunday

Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo: (Bronx)
Enjoy five lantern safaris throughout the park, ice-carving demonstrations, costumed characters and more.
Dates: Select dates November 19 – January 9
Tickets/Price: $39.95/Adult (Age 13+), $24.95/Child (Ages 3-12), $34.95/Senior (Age 65+), $17/Parking

Holiday Tea Musicale at Caramoor: Listen to live music. Then enjoy a tea service in the Music Room at Rosen House that includes tea sandwiches and holiday treats.
Dates: December 16, 17, 18, 19, concert starts at 1 PM, tea service at 2:15 PM
Tickets/Price: $65

Holiday Train Show at NYBG: (Bronx)
The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show is back for its 30th year. Advance tickets are recommended.
Dates: November 20, 2021 – January 23, 2022
Tickets: $32/adult, $30/seniors (65+), $18/children (2-12)

Hommocks Park Ice Rink Skate with Santa (Mamaroneck) Enjoy an afternoon of ice skating with Santa and his friends!
Date: December 12th, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Admission: $10/adults (12+), $9/child, skate rentals: $5

Kevin McCurdy’s Holiday Spirit Festival: (Wappingers Falls)
This year the Holiday Spirit Festival will be an all outdoor event. Enjoy the Winter Wonderland Walk through a North Pole village, train exhibit, Santa’s Reindeer Barn, holiday entertainment, characters and more.
Dates: Weekends Only (Friday-Sunday) November 26 – December 19 and December 22 and 23, Fridays 6 PM – 9 PM, Saturdays 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Sundays 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Tickets/Price: Adults: $16.95 plus online fees and NYS sales tax, children: $13.95 plus online fees and NYS sales tax
Advanced ticket reservations required

LUMAGICA Light Show at Harvest Moon (North Salem) Enjoy a walking tour of illuminated animal structures and decorations through the apple orchards at Harvest Moon
Dates: Weekends only (Friday – Sunday) November 26 – December 12, then everyday December 17 – 23 and December 26-December 30.
Tickets: $31/adults, $28/child (ages 3-12)
*Tickets are for timed entry

Muscoot Farm Night Tours (Katonah) See the farm decorated for the holidays and enjoy some treats.
Dates: December 4, 5 and December 11, 12, 18
Price: $20/family, registration required

NYBG GLOW: (Bronx)
GLOW is an evening, outdoor illuminated experience at the New York Botanical Garden. During your visit you can also enjoy ice carving displays, dancers, musicians and other outdoor fun.
Dates: November 24, 26, & 27 December 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, January 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22
5 PM – 10 PM
Tickets/Price: $35/adults, $20/children (2-12), Free/children under 2
Get a discounted combined ticket with the NYBG Train Show $49/adult, $34/child

The Octagon House: Victorian Christmas Tour (Irvington) Enjoy a Victorian Christmas tour of the Armour-Stiner Octagon House. The eight-sided home will be decorated for the holidays. Tours are approximately 1 hour and recommended for ages 7+. Parking is free but limited. Masks must be worn during the tour.
Dates: Fridays – Mondays, November 12 – December 30 Tours are at: 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM and 4 PM
Tickets: $29/adults, $26 (youth ages 7-17)

Peace, Love, Lights: Drive-Thru Holiday Lights Experience at Bethel Woods: (Swan Lake) Enjoy an over one mile drive-thru holiday illuminated experience from the warmth of your car.
Dates: November 19, 2021 – January 2, 2022
Sunday – Thursday 5 PM – 9 PM, Friday & Saturday 5 PM – 10 PM
Tickets/Price: $28.75/car (with fees)

While you are at Bethel Woods, you can also enjoy Dinner with Santa before or after your drive-thru experience.
Dates: December 3- December 18, 5 PM – 8 PM
Price: $50/adult, $25/child

Santacon at The Valley (Yorktown Heights) Dress up in a Santa suit or an ugly Christmas sweater and enjoy a bar crawl around the mall. There will be activities for kids along the way, drink specials, Best Santa contest and more.
Date: December 11, 2 PM – 6 PM
Free to participate – food and drink sold separately

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland: (Valhalla) Enjoy Westchester’s Winter Wonderland drive-thru Holiday Light Extravaganza. Enjoy a 1.2-mile illuminated drive from the warmth of your car.

Dates: Open every night November 26, 2021 – January 2, 2022 (except December 24 and December 25)
Tickets/Price: $25/car off-peak, $35/car peak, large passenger vans/limos additional fee

White Plains Holiday Market: (White Plains)
This holiday market will be held on Court Street between Martine Ave. and Main Street. Over 55 vendors and artisans will be selling their wares in individual walled sheds.
Dates: December 5 – December 19

Cross County Shopping Center: (Yonkers) Santa will be available for photos and visits in his workshop. Reservations are recommended but not required.

Jefferson Valley Mall: (Yorktown Heights) Reservations are strongly recommended. Santa and his helpers will be wearing masks and guests are required to wear masks as well.
Dates: November 27 – December 24

Welcome Santa on November 27 at 9:30 AM and enjoy breakfast with him. There will be arts and crafts, “Letter’s to Santa” writing opportunities, special guest appearances from costumed characters, Holiday Bounce House and more.

The Westchester: (White Plains) Reservations are strongly recommended. Santa and his helpers will be wearing masks and guests are required to wear masks as well.
Dates: November 12 – December 24

Enjoy pet photos with Santa on November 21, November 28 and December 5 from 7-8 PM

Cookie Decorating Kits {Where in Westchester?}

Posted on December 14, 2020 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Cookie decorating is a fun, indoor holiday activity! It keeps the kids entertained and you end up with a tasty treat to enjoy! I am fortunate that my kids are old enough to help make sugar cookies which we recently did. However, making the cookie dough and then letting it chill, baking the cookies, making the icing and then finally getting to decorate the cookies takes a lot of time!

Here are some of the places in Westchester County where you can purchase DIY holiday cookie decorating kits. Everything is prepped, packaged and ready so you can immediately get to the fun part, decorating! Most of these businesses require you to preorder the kits. If you want them in time to do with the kids over the holiday break, get your orders in soon!
*Please check with the vendor directly for the most up-to-date prices and information.

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Flour and Sun Bakery: (Pleasantville) Kits cost $15.00 and include 6 cookies (2 different shapes) with 2 tubs of royal icing and sprinkles.

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Flowerbake by Angela: (Pelham) Flowerbake by Angela sells puzzle cookie decorating kits. You can purchase a baked cookie kit which includes an instruction sheet as well as all the cookies and icing, a dough kit – which includes a ball of cookie dough, cookie cutters, icing, parchment paper and instruction sheet or a cookie dough mix kit – which includes the sugar cookie mix, cookie cutters, icing, parchment paper and instruction sheet. Prices range between $35=$38. Available for pickup or delivery.

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Mama Ingram Bakes: DIY Christmas cookie kits – $15 for 6 cookies or $30 for 12 cookies. Kits include cookies, icing and sprinkles.

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Sugar Mama by Kim: (New Rochelle)
Kim sells DIY cookie kits that include 12 cookies, 3 bags of icing, a container of sprinkles and decorations for $35. She also sells Paint Your Own cookie kits. Each cookie is $6 each or 6 for $30. Orders are submitted via a form that can be found on her Facebook page.

Sugar & Sweets by Stacey (Yonkers)
Sugar & Sweets by Stacey is selling Winter themed cookie kits. They are $39 and includes 12 cookies, 3 icings, 6 popsicle sticks and 2-3 containers of sprinkles. There are 4 different themed kits to choose from: gingerbread men and women, snowflakes and snowmen, mittens, hats and penguins and ugly sweaters. They are also selling stencil cookie kits for $33. These kits include 6 cookies and 3 paint brushes. Orders can be picked up in Yonkers or delivered.

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Wildly Cakes: (White Plains) Cookie kits are $35 and include 12 baked cookies in the shape of your choice, frosting to match the theme, sprinkles and directions. Orders must be placed one week in advance. Pickup in White Plains. Delivery is available for an additional fee on a first come, first serve basis.

Westchester County Experience Gift Ideas

Posted on December 5, 2019 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

It’s that time of year again, where we start making our lists of everyone we need to buy presents before. Before you run out and buy more “stuff” think about giving an experience gift this year. There are plenty of fun things to do in and around Westchester County. Check out some of these experience gift ideas! Below are links to past posts that offer a comprehensive list of Westchester County experience gift ideas! Even though some of the posts are a few years old, the ideas are still relevant. Only the prices may have changed. Please check websites for the current pricing. If you know of any experience gift ideas that we have not included, please let us know!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Westchester County Families (2016)

Holiday Gift Ideas for Westchester County Families (2017)

Experience Gift Ideas for Westchester County Families (2018)

Advent Calendars for Everyone in the Family!

Posted on November 13, 2019 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

*(This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for additional info.)*

The day after Halloween seems to unofficially begin the start of the holiday season. While that may be a little early for us, there is something special about the December holidays. Advent calendars are a fun way to count the days until Christmas. Although you don’t start opening Advent calendars until December 1st, now is a great time to start shopping for them. We have rounded up Advent calendars for everyone in your family to help you enjoy counting down the days until Christmas!

Toy Advent Calendars for Kids

L.O.L Surprise OOTD Winter Disco – This set contains one L.O.L. doll with 24 fashion pieces including outfits, shoes and accessories. There’s also a regular L.O.L. Surprise OOTD set.

Paw Patrol Advent Calendar – This calendar contains 24 presents including collectible figures, a sleigh, snowman and more.

Disney Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar – Tsum Tsum fans will love this Disney advent calendar. It includes 18 tsum tsum figures, 6 large, 6 medium and 6 small. It also comes with 6 holiday themed accessories.

Hot Wheels Advent Calendar – The Hot Wheels advent calendar includes eight decorated Hot Wheels vehicles and sixteen accessories.

Hatchimals ColleGGtible Calendar – This advent calendar comes with 50 + surprises including paper craft decorations, small presents and stickers. The calendar box also doubles as a winter backdrop.

Thomas & Friends Fisher Price Minis – This calendar comes with 24 MINIS engines, including 6 special edition Christmas-themed designed MINIS.

Advent Calendars for Pop Culture Fans

Funko Pop Harry Potter – This calendar contains 24 mini Harry Potter figures. The box then folds out as a playset for the figures.

Funko Pop Marvel – This calendar contains 24 mini Marvel figures including both villains and heroes.

Lego Star Wars – The Lego Star Wars calendar comes with 24 figures or Lego also has a a Lego City and Lego Harry Potter advent calendar for 2019 as well.

Haribo – Maybe stretching this in the Pop Culture category, but Haribo gummies are super popular. This calendar comes with 24 individually wrapped gummy candies in a mixture of fruit and cola flavors, marshmallow, licorice and gums.

Super Mario Brothers – This calendar has 24 days of surprises. Each numbered door has either a figure or accessory behind it.

Funko Pop Fortnite – This calendar has 24, 1.5 inch Fortnite figures.

Advent Calendars for Foodies

Bonne Maman – We love Bonne Maman! This calendar has 24 1 oz. jars of fruit spreads and honey. This set includes holiday exclusive flavors like rhubarb & strawberry, purple fig with cinnamon and more. This set is sold out on their site, but is currently available at World Market.

Jerky Advent Calendar – This calendar includes 12 days of jerky. There are a variety of different brands and types of jerky, which totals to almost 2 pounds worth.

David’s Tea – This David’s Tea calendar has 2 servings of tea per day and includes 24 loose leaf teas like Candy Cane Crush, Gingerbread, Let It Snow and more. There are many other tea advent calendars available

Joe & Sephs Popcorn – This popcorn calendar has 24 days of snack size popcorn. There are 12 unique flavors, including Strawberries and Cream, Chocolate Orange and Banoffee Pie, so there must be two of each flavor. However, the popcorn ships from England.

BYOB Hot Sauce – This set contains 25, 2 oz. Christmas-themed hot sauces. Each has a different Christmas label and are made from peppers including Scorpion, Ghost Pepper, Banana, Habanero and more. Perfect for the hot sauce lovers in your life!

YAWN Coffee – This YAWN coffee advent calendar has 24 sachets of specialty coffee and comes in either ground or whole bean. This is the only 24 day coffee advent calendar. Unfortunately, the company is based out of and ships from England. However, there are many 12 Days of Christmas coffee sets including this Christmas Sampler, this K-cup Christmas sampler and more.

Makeup and Beauty Advent Calendars

Body Shop Dream Big This Christmas Beauty Advent Calendar – This calendar includes 24 bath and beauty products from the Body Shop. Priced at $70, it has a $120 value. They also have a Deluxe ($110) and Ultimate ($170) set as well.

OPI Hello Kitty – This set contains 25, 3.75 ml mini nail polishes in colors like All About the Bows, Hello Pretty and more.

Target 12 Days of Beauty Box – This box contains 12 sample sized beauty and personal care items.

Sephora Frosted Party Advent Calendar – This set contains a combination of 24 beauty, skincare, body and accessories products, 11 of which are limited-edition.

NYX Sugar Trip – This Advent calendar comes with *** NYX also has a Love Lust Disco Greatest Hits Lip Advent Calendar as well.

Macy’s 25 Days of Beauty – This calendar has 25 beauty products including masks, makeup, creams and more from brands like Clinique, Origins and Sunday Riley.

Alcohol Themed Calendars

Hard Seltzer Advent Calendar – This calendar contains 12 curated hard seltzers from brands like Truly, White Claw, Henry’s and small-batch hard seltzer brands.

Aldi Wine Calendar – This calendar contains 24, 187 mL bottles of wine. The wines come from all over the world (Italy, France, South Africa, USA, Chile, Argentia and more) and include a variety of red and white wines. They are only being sold in store though and customers are limited to 2.

Heritage Distilling Spirits Calendar – This calendar has 24, 50 mL bottles of spirits. It includes vodka, bourbon, gin, rye and whiskey. Due to shipping restrictions, this calendar can only be shipped to a few select states.

Beer Advent Calendar – This calendar contains 12 top rated craft beers.

Other Fun Advent Calendars

Bic Advent Calendar – For the stationary lovers, the Bic Advent Calendar comes with 24 writing products, including pens, pencils and more.

Mr. Holmes’ Advent Calendar: 24 Solve-it-Yourself Christmas Crimes –

Hasbro Classic Games Twelve Days of Socks – Fans of Nickelodeon will love getting socks with SpongeBob, CatDog, Rugrats and more. If Nickelodeon isn’t their thing, there are many other Twelve Day of Socks sets including Marvel, The Office and more.

Bark the Halls with 24 Days of Cookies – Don’t forget about your pets! This calendar comes with 24 cookies for your dog. Trader Joe’s also has a dog and cat treat calendar this year.

Voluspa 12 Days of Gifting Candle Set – This 12 scented votive candles set includes scents like Prosecco Rose and Violet & Honey. The candles are made from coconut wax and come in pretty glass votives. Each candle has a 15 hour burn time.

Kurt Adler Wooden Snowman Advent Calendar – This is a reusable wooden advent calendar from Kurt Adler. Each day open a drawer and take out a mini ornament and hang it on the tree.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Tween Girls

Posted on December 5, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing through them, NY Foodie Family makes a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog!)

Last week I posted some stocking stuffer ideas for tween boys. Today I’m sharing some stocking stuffer ideas for tween girls. I find there are many small items, perfect for this age group, that can easily fill a stocking. Here are a few ideas that my eleven-year-old daughter has enjoyed in the past, or would like this year!

To EAT:

Candy and gum is always a hit with this age group. Stock up on her favorites so she can share with her friends!

TO WEAR:

Hair Accessories – My daughter has long hair and enjoys wearing braids and pony tails. She is always in need of hair ties. We found this set at Justice that includes matching colored bobby pins. Claire’s and other accessory stores sell all kinds of fun hair accessories too.

Jewelry – Jewelry is always a great idea for tweens and I don’t think you can ever go wrong with earrings (if her ears are pierced), necklaces or rings.

Lip Balm/Chapstick – As much as my daughter would like to wear makeup, I think that she’s too young. Since she can’t wear lipstick she loves lip balm. Her current faves include Lipsmackers and eos. They come in a variety of flavors and shades.

Nail Polish – Just as with lip balm, a tween girl can never have too much nail polish! Tweens love fun colors and designs. Nail files also make great stocking stuffers.

USEFUL:
Portable Power Bank – Although my tween doesn’t have a cell phone, she does enjoy using her Ipod….A LOT. It’s always in need of charging and with a power bank she can charge it while out.

School Supplies – Even though school started several months ago, kids are always in need of pencils, pens and other school supplies. Holidays are a great time to replenish their pens, pencils, post-its and more. She will love it if you get fun, designed supplies.

JUST FOR FUN:

Bath Bombs – Tween girls are obsessed with bath bombs! This bath fizzers look like a lot of fun. As it dissolves the user will find a small surprise inside. It could be a small toy, a key chain, charm or more.

Phone/Ipod cases – This is another item that girls never seem to have enough of. My daughter is always changing out her Ipod case. There are so many fun cases with quotes, designs and characters. Unicorns are big right now and my daughter would love this case.

Slime – Slime is still a hit with the tween girls. They especially enjoy making it and I know my daughter will love this Galaxy Slime starter kit.

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Soft’n Slo Squishies – My daughter and her middle school friends are obsessed with Squishies. Made by Orb Toys, these are squeeze toys that rise back to their original shape, very slowly. They are stress relief toys for kids! They come in a variety of collectible shapes and sizes. The newest Squishies are Costume Cutiez, that come with swappable costumes.

What are you putting in your tween daughter’s stocking?

25 Children’s Christmas Books

Posted on December 1, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing through them, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog.)

Last year, I posted a Christmas book daily for “25 Days of Christmas Books.” This year, I decided to combine all of the children’s books into one post for a more useful resource. Click on the link to go to the full review. I also added some new, recently published books to the collection. Hopefully, this will help you add to your Christmas book collection or give you some new holiday reads to pick up at the library!

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1. Clark the Shark Loves Christmas

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2. The 12 Sleighs of Christmas by Sherri Dusky Rinker
Illustrated by: Jake Parker
Published by: Chronicle Books, October 2017
Pages: 40
Price: $16.99

From Chronicle Books: Which elf will build the coolest sleigh for the Christmas ride? SANTA will decide!
When the elves discover that Santa’s sleigh is in a terrible state, they let their imaginations go wild—and soon there are sleighs of every kind, inspired by big rigs, motorcycles, zeppelins, and much more! The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and the celebrated illustrator of Michael Chabon’s The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man team up for spirited vehicular silliness and classic Christmas cheer in this turbo-charged read-aloud destined to become a holiday classic.

Review: This book told in rhyme, has bright, colorful pictures. Children will enjoy seeing all of the different sleigh designs that the elves come up with. This is a fun holiday read that will entertain young readers.
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3. The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold

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4. Santa’s Underwear

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5. Candy Cane Lane

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6. The Christmas Boot
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7. Gingerbread Christmas

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8. Don’t Push the Button! A Christmas Adventure by Bill Cotter
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, October 2017
Pages: 22
Price: $8.99

Review: This board book is a companion to Cotter’s previous book, Don’t Push the Button! This is a fun, interactive book, with a Christmas twist. Children will be pushing the button, shaking the book and more.

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9. Fly Guy’s Ninja Christmas

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10. Maple & Willow’s Christmas Tree

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11. Babushka: A Christmas Tale

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12. The Doll People’s Christmas

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13. A Boy Called Christmas

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14. The Christmas Eve Tree

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15. The Great Spruce

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16. Giselle The Christmas Ballet Fairy

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17. How to Catch an Elf

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18. What I Love About Christmas

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19. Only You Can Save Christmas: A Help-the-Elf Adventure by Adam Wallace
Illustrated by: Garth Bruner
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, October 2017
Pages: 40
Price: $16.99

Review: It’s Christmas Eve when elf discovers that Santa doesn’t have a present for Mrs. Claus. He finds a list on Santa’s desk and needs the reader’s help in collecting everything on it. This book takes a humorous and modern approach to the classic Twelve Days of Christmas. It’s a fun, new holiday read.

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20. Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey
Published by: Scholastic, September 2017
Pages: 32
Price: $14.99

Review: This is the fourth book in the Pig the Pug series. Pig is a bit greedy when writing his Christmas list. He stays up waiting for Santa’s arrival. Unhappy with the amount of presents he receives, Pig shows his displeasure by biting Santa. While this book touches upon holiday greed, Pig doesn’t really learn a true lesson. If your child is a fan of Pig the Pug they will enjoy this book. Otherwise, there are better holiday reads out there.

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21. Young Scrooge

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22. The Lost Gift

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23. The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen
Published by: Paula Wiseman Books (Simon Schuster), September 2017
Pages: 32
Price: $15.99

Review: A little girl befriends a lost reindeer on Christmas eve. The two go off on a magical adventure, but the reindeer must return to Santa. The illustrations are in black and white with pops of bright red color and cutouts on several of the pages. This is a sweet, enchanting Christmas story.

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24. The ABC’s of Christmas

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25. The Biggest Smallest Christmas Present

For more Christmas books, check out the 2015 Christmas Picture Books collection.

2015 Christmas Picture Books

Posted on December 15, 2015 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Every year dozens of Christmas-themed pictured books are published. Fortunately, this year, we have been able to read several of these books. Here is a summary of the most recently published Christmas books that we have read. There is almost two weeks until Christmas, which leaves plenty of reading time! You can find most of these books at Barnes & Noble, your local bookstore or the library!

All books are linked to Goodreads.

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The Adventures of Bella & Harry: Christmas in New York City! by Lisa Manzione – Bella and Harry are Chihuahuas who are visiting New York City with their human family. The two wander the streets of New York City taking in all the sights at Christmas time. Since we live close to New York City we are very familiar with all of the places mentioned in the book. The book aims to be educational, but it seemed very forced to us. I didn’t realize that there’s a whole series of Bella and Harry books that describe their different travels around the world. I’m not so sure that we’re interested in checking out these other books.

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The Best Parts of Christmas by Bethanie Denney Murguia – For Fritz, the best part of Christmas is the tree. From picking out the perfect tree, decorating it and opening presents by it, Fritz loves his tree. So he is sad when Christmas is over and he needs to say goodbye to his tree. But, he comes up with a solution that makes him happy. This is a short, simple story.

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Cork & Fuzz: Merry Merry Holly Holly by Dori Chaconas – This was our first Cork & Fuzz book, but it appears that there is a series of books by Chaconas that feature the duo. Cork, the muskrat and Fuzz, the possum search for a good thinking tree. Cork knows that today is special but can’t remember why. If only he could find a “piece of quiet.” With Fuzz’s help, the two eventually find the perfect tree. This book doesn’t really place a big emphasis on Christmas, besides the “Merry Merry Holly Holly” and focuses more on friendship.

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Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein written by Amanda Peet and Andrea Troyer – This picture book is co-written by actress Amanda Peet. In this story, Rachel Rosenstein loves everything about Christmas…..except that she’s Jewish. This year, she writes a letter to Santa, leaves him latkes with chocolate chips and decorates the house in hopes that he will come to her house. Rachel eventually accepts that the fact that she is Jewish and that not everyone celebrates Christmas.

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The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas by Laura Murray – This is the third and newest Gingerbread Man book by Murray. Told in rhyme, this book follows the Gingerbread Man and his classmates as they deliver acts of kindness to community members. When the class heads back, Gingerbread Man has one last gift to deliver. Very cute story that highlights free “gifts” that children can give at Christmas.

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How to Catch Santa by Jean Reagan – Ever wonder how to catch Santa? Well, this book give s a detailed description on how to do just that. Filled with colorful illustrations, this is a fun Christmas read.

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The Knights Before Christmas by Joan Holub – This is a fun, medieval take on the classic story The Night Before Christmas. The knights are protecting the castle from an intruder, Santa Claus. He arrives on eight dragons trying to bring presents to the castle, but will he be successful?

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Merry Christmas Mr. Mouse by Caralyn Buehner & Mark Buehner – The wife/husband author and illustrator team of this picture book are also the creators of the Snowmen at Night book. In this story told in rhyme, Mr. Mouse moves his family into a new nook where he sees a family preparing for and celebrating Christmas. When he tells Mrs. Mouse what he overhears about a holiday called Christmas, the two decide to celebrate with their family too. This was a cute story that we enjoyed.

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Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano – Only after reading this book and the author bio did we discover that Manzano plays Maria on Sesame Street. This story takes place on Christmas eve, where the roast Jose’s mami is preparing doesn’t fit in their oven. Jose and his dad bring it down to the pizzeria to cook it in one of the ovens there. On their way, they pass many neighbors, none who seem in the Christmas spirit. On their way back, the wonderful smelling roast seems to uplift everyone’s spirits. This is a super colorful book that showcases how a diverse group of neighbors come together to celebrate the holiday.

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The Night Before Christmas: A Brick Story by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Amanda Brack – This is the classic telling of The Night Before Christmas, illustrated using LEGO bricks. While we are LEGO fans, we thought the LEGO brick illustrations were just okay.

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Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas by Rubin Pingk – It’s Christmas eve and Yukio wants to have an epic snowball fight. The other ninjas refuse, not wanting to be on Santa’s naughty list. So, Yukio schemes to get the snowball fight that he wants, but has he ruined Christmas for his friends? This was definitely a different type of Christmas book. It wasn’t one of our favorites, but will appease any ninja lovers out there.

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When Santa Was a Baby by Linda Bailey & Genevieve Godbout – This picture book describes what Santa was like as a baby and how his parents knew he was destined for great things. The illustrations have a “classic” feel to them and beware, there are several pictures of baby Santa’s behind, which of course cracked the kids up!