First you need a recipe. Try this one…

Xmas Recipe for awesome cookies – California Style is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

• Trick or Treat in groups - There is built in safety in numbers so please make sure you do not allow children to go trick or treating alone on Halloween night. Parents should always accompany the youngest children and never allow them to go trick or treating with other children only.

• Ensure that masks are comfortable and allow for good visibility and breathing – Mask design has greatly improved over time however parents should always check for good fit . Make sure the eye and nose openings are wide enough to allow the your child unobstructed vision at all times.

• Use reflective clothing – When your children are out trick or treating, make sure that everyone in group is wearing some sort of reflective clothing. If their costume does not contain reflective material you can buy some reflective tape, cut it into strips and apply it to several different areas of the costume.

• Bring some flashlights – Always provide your children with several working flashlights. Oncoming traffic will be able to see the trick or treaters sooner, thereby decreasing the possibility of any injury involving a motor vehicle. Children will also be less likely to trip or fall if they can properly see where they are going.

• Inspect all candy – Make sure to let your children know how important it is for candy to be checked before they can eat it. Tell them not to eat any candy during trick or treating. A great way to keep them them from eating candy while trick or treating is to give them their favorite goodies before they go out.

Halloween Trick or Treat Safety Tips from Linda Moore is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

If you have the tenacity to endure a trifecta of terror the Scream Zone Del Mar has once again transformed the Del Mar Fairgrounds into an underworld of ghoulish goings on. You can check out their three themed environments featuring the Haunted Hayride, House of Horror and The Chamber. New for 2010 in the House of Horror are the Rodeo Clowns, the Ward, the Infirmary and many other spooky surprises. They offer the following packages: Triple (Combo) Haunt: House of Horror, Haunted Hayride & The Chamber all 3 for $27.99 Double Haunt: The Chamber plus House of Horror or Haunted Hayride $18.99 Single Haunt: House of Horror or Haunted Hayride $14.99 This attraction is recommended for teens and above.

The Haunted Hotel, located in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp district, is another favorite fright spot. Named by Haunt World Magazine as one of the top 13 haunted houses in America and also featured in “America Haunts IV” on The Travel Channel in 2009. Admission prices range from $15 to $27 depending on the night and whether or not you want a VIP fast pass bypass the general line. The Haunted Hotel is not recommend for those under 10.

Another fiendishly favorite outdoor thrill is the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park. This mile long stroll will take you on some twisted turns through a trail of terror with surprises around every corner. Back by popular demand is the Carnival of Carnage Maze complete with crazy Carny folk who take sheer delight in frightening the faint of heart. Price packages range from $15 to $32 with a separate admission to visit the maze and VIP fast passes are also available. The Haunted Trail is not recommended for those under 10.

If you crave a little history coupled with some truly frightening experiences, your spirit can be transported to documented historic haunted locations throughout San Diego on the Haunted San Diego Ghost Tour. Complete with ghost stories told outside each grisly stop on the tour, featured fright spots include the famous Whaley House, a Victorian manor containing a sinister secrets, a dark mysterious mansion, a romantic Gaslamp Quarter hotel, and an infamous San Diego graveyard. Prices for the 2 hour tour are $35 and advance purchase is required. The tour dearly departs each evening at 7:00 pm from the The Best Western Hacienda Hotel (Directly Outside of The Lobby Door) 4041 Harney Street (Just behind The Whaley House Museum)

Haunted House Update 2010 is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

Once the seed are cooled you can add them to the trail mix recipe below:

• Select an assortment of your favorite breakfast cereals as the primary ingredient for your trail mix. Cereals such as Honey Nut Cheerios, Raisin Bran, or granola are great choices for this
• Choose nut products that will compliment the pumpkin seeds. Almonds, cashews and sunflower seeds provide added texture and flavor. You can also add pretzels, sesame sticks or soy nuts.
• Grab an assortment of dried fruits you would like to add to your mix. Dried fruits such as Banana chips, raisins or dried apricots taste great when mixed with pumpkin seeds.
• Choose a sweet addition to finalize the the mixture such as candy corn,chocolate chips or M&Ms.
• Pour all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and stir.
• Once evenly mixed, you can add a little honey if you like your trail mix to be clumpy
• Divide the trail mix into individual zip lock bags and enjoy for the week to come!

Linda’s High Energy Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

Preparation for Carving

• As a general rule the lighter the color of the pumpkin the easier it is to carve so reserve these for the youngest members of the family.

• Create a well lit area for carving and cover the surface with newspapers to catch the pumpkin innards. The pumpkin pulp is very slippery and should be kept off floors to prevent falls.

• Keep sharp tools away off the floor and out of reach of the hands of youngsters.

• Ensure that the pumpkin surface and all tools you will be using are clean and dry.

• Give very small children the job of painting or tracing the pattern on the pumpkin to make them feel included. They should never be doing the actual carving.

Pumpkin Carving Tips

• Before carving make sure the inside of the inside walls of the pumpkin are scooped such that they are approximately one inch thick. This will make it much easier to carve.

• Older children should be supervised when using sharp tools or knives. It’s recommended to use flexible serrated saws that come with many carving kits as they are more maneuverable and require less force to do the job.

• Remember to use short strokes moving the cutting hand away from the body.

Tips for Preserving the Pumpkin

• Coat all exposed freshly cut edges of the pumpkin with a petroleum jelly based product to seal and protect the surface to prevent premature decay.

• Spray the interior/exterior of the pumpkin, as well as the underside of the pumpkin’s cap with a bleach based cleaner such as Clorox Clean Up

• To help revive an older Jack-O-Lantern try soaking it in a bucket of cool water for a couple of hours.

Linda’s Pumpkin Carving Protocol is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

Fall Pumpkin Patches In Encinitas is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

Linda’s Apple Pie Entices Fall Buyers is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

My weekend blog is always dedicated to fun and interesting things to do in Encinitas and this weekend I would like to share one of my favorite places to uniquely experience the Fall and Halloween season. For my readers who have never made the journey, there is nothing quite like a trip to Julian to satisfy your senses. Within a 90 minute drive from your Encinitas home, Julian is a completely different environment from the coastal region of San Diego and offers both residents and visitors a perfect place to relax and take in the changing of the seasons by experiencing some of the most beautiful and vibrant fall colors found in Southern California. Nestled in and among the Cuyamaca mountains the fall season in Julian is well known for the area’s best apple picking orchards and the variety of B&B’s that surround this charming community. Julian, a former gold mining mecca, boasts a collection of quaint shops and art galleries featuring lots of vendors selling hand made gift ideas for the holidays. Much of the town has been historically preserved, allowing visitors to feel like they have literally been brought back to the late 1800′s. One of the best ways to view the town is to take a carriage ride transporting you back to an era where life flowed at a more relaxed pace. Many of the original gold mines have been kept alive so folks visiting Julian can tour their depths and even try their hand at panning for gold! In addition to all the amenities of the town itself, there are plenty of natural refuges and parks offering camping, hiking and fishing activities. Julian also has some of the areas most well known wineries offering tours and wine tastings daily. There is even a tour of the Pioneer Cemetery, a fitting tribute to the town’s early residents. With so much to do a weekend may not be enough to experience all that Julian has to offer. The above link to the Julian Chamber of Commerce contains details of all the fun fall activities going on this weekend!

Viewing Fall Colors And Apple Picking In Julian California is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

I love Halloween simply because it permits our imagination to take us to dark and magical places where anything and everything is possible. It’s also a great  time to let the child within you come out to play! Over the years I’ve found that the spirit of the season can be best enjoyed when accompanied by a delicious variety of homemade treats. Whether your the parent of a toddler or a teen, or just a big kid yourself, be sure to take time to create some of your very own ghoulish treats to eat and drink. To help celebrate this creative holiday, I’d like to provide my readers with some wonderful recipes, game and costume ideas in preparation for the parade of ghouls, witches and goblins to come!

Linda Moore’s Halloween Recipes for Kids Of All Ages is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog

One really cool group that meets regularly is the San Diego Men and Women Cooking & Dining Meetup. As the name suggests, this meet up is great for both men and women. They last about a couple of hours and each meeting offers you the chance to hear and exchange awesome cooking suggestions. It does not matter if you are a beginner cook or are an experienced five star chef, attending such a meeting can be of great use! Just as every other meet up, everyone possesses a great attitude and is willing to help.

Another neat group is One Love Yoga, a donation only yoga group with the intent of bringing the benefits of yoga to everybody. As you may already know, yoga can be very beneficial to your physical, mental, and spiritual well being. The organizers of One Love Yoga  have caught on to this notion and are willing to spread its wonders to people from all walks of life. A donation is suggested but not mandatory. Check the link for more information!

Check Out MeetUp.com! is a post from: Encinitas Realtor Blog