My granddaughter had advertisements in her trick or treat bag

[Blue Diadem]

Pampered chef and Avon..with an attached bag of micro-popcorn. Kinda cute way to advertise. She looked disappointed but then saw the popcorn and asked to microwave it right away. Of course, my daughter and I went through the booklets last night.

She also got a tiny can of playdough. I think that's a first around here.

[Arugula Latte]

1. I think that's kinda sad.

We can't do anything as Americans without corporate intrusion. :(

[Kali]

3. Candy isn't corporate?

[Radio_Lady]

4. Yes, but you can't give out anything homemade anymore. When I

was a child, you'd get candied apples and other items made by neighbors -- that was until someone evil decided to put razor blades in the fruit.

So, what are the options except for wrapped candies from well known corporations?

I gave out quarters one year but that got pretty expensive!

[SteppingRazor]

6. Actually, that was until parents panicked over an urban legend...

about razor blades in the fruit.

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/needles.asp

As FDR said, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Your neighbors are not monsters. They're just like you.

[ikojo]

19. This proves the power of the media in this country as well as the

gullibility of the American public. People at work stills say how dangerous halloween is today compared to "when we were kids." I think kids miss out.

Say something is injurious to children and Americans will be more than willing to sign their rights away.

[Radio_Lady]

24. Very interesting! In any event, there certainly were some adulterated

fruit scares in the 1980s.

[Blue Diadem]

7. My granddaughter actually got a homemade cookie last night

We know the lady. She still loves to bake(she's in her 80's now) and still loves to give the kids a homemade treat when she's able.

I do miss the days of homemade candy apples and homemade popcorn balls. When I was a kid, one lady invited me and my two girlfriends in to help her finish her popcorn balls. She'd run out and was making more and needed help in forming and wrapping them.

[Blue Diadem]

9. I see your point..it was mine too when I first saw the pamphlets

but then a note was attached with the popcorn, saying a Halloween popcorn treat for you and the booklets are a treat for Mom. I thought it was a cute way to do it.

[lildreamer316]

23. Oh, that's cute!!

I really like that idea..if it's not misuesd (you know what I mean).

[Radio_Lady]

2. The play dough was a good idea! Wish I'd thought of that.

(Unless, of course, it looks good enough to eat???)

[Blue Diadem]

11. I'd wondered about the kids who may not get their candy checked right away

It was a little tiny container..couldn't be much more than a tablespoon full of playdough in it. My granddaughter loved it though..that's what counts.

[RebelOne]

5. You must be in one of the Rapture Ready's kook's neighborhood.

She was handing out Playdough and Chick tracts.

http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=281737

[Blue Diadem]

14. No tracts this year..I remember my kids getting some when they

were little though.

[seemunkee]

8. My mom used to give out little toys at Halloween

chinese finger traps, spider rings and that sort of thing. She figured they got enough candy why not give out something different

[Blue Diadem]

13. Those chinese finger trap things are cool..I remember getting some

when I was a kid. That's a good idea..maybe I'll check to see if I can get some for next year.

[seemunkee]

15. Check with Oriental trading Co.

She got a lot of stuff from them
http://www.orientaltrading.com/

[LibertyLover]

10. After I took my 4 year old daughter trick or treating last night

(we only go to a few houses on our street because she is still so young) she helped me hand out candy, which to her is almost as good as trick or treating. One group of 11 or 12 year old girls came up for their treats and told her that she looked very cute (she did, being a little Chinese kid wearing a Cinderella costume) and then thanked her. Bethan beamed. Then as they were walking off the one little girl turned around and said "Just remember, Jesus loves you and you can be with him in heaven if you accept him into your heart." I was so astonished at the audacity that I was literally speechless. By the time I had thought of a good comeback that group was down the street. Luckily my little one has no interest and didn't even ask what the kid meant. I would have preferred advertisements.

[Blue Diadem]

12. OMG..

I understand your being speechless. What a thing to say to a child.

[LostinVA]

16. The Play-Doh is a new thing -- I saw it in the stores

It's specifcally made for Halloween.

Pretty neat idea, for the little kids.

[Blue Diadem]

18. I haven't seen that size before..

It's a cute idea..and she was definitely pleased with it.

[barb162]

17. A lady escorting a bunch of kids was trying to sell a puppy

last night. She had three other dogs with her beside the puppy she was carrying. A breeder. I couldn't believe it. It was cold last night here AND IMHO SHE SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE PUPPY HOME AND WARM.

[Blue Diadem]

20. Awww..poor pup.

That's definitely one of the strangest stories I've heard. I hope the pup ends up with a good home.

It was winter coat weather here too last night.

[youthere]

21. It must have been a big thing with pampered chef..

because my kids got them too...of course I told them they could NOT host a pampered chef party until the y were much older.
About homemade treats:
I live in a really small town and there are several older ladies here that still make homemade treats for the kiddies (and parents). There is a woman who would be run out of town if she didn't make her famous carmel corn, and my husband's aunt makes dozens of hand-decorated frosted halloween sugar cookies
every year.
We also have a lady who makes the world's NASTIEST popcorn balls each year, but everyone oohs and aahs over them and insists they MUST have one just to make her feel good.
It's one of the nice things about living in a small town.

[meegbear]

22. Had a guy running for city council giving out bags with his ad ...

stupid.

[crim son]

25. We got some black playdough too, and some water balloons.

No advertisements though, happily.