Easiest, Last-Minute Treat for Halloween Parties!

How many classroom parties are you attending tomorrow? Here is the PERFECT last minute Halloween treat: marshmallow pops. How cute are these?!?! A DC-based cookie guru, the Decorated Cookie, is the genius behind these treats.



All you need are: marshmallows, skewers, and a cookie pen (I see these at our local Safeway and Giant; no need to make a special trip).



Just skewer that marshmallow and sketch!



Yum!

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First Tweens Receive H1N1 Vaccine

According to the White House Blog, First Tweens Malia Obama and Sasha Obama received both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine last week. The girls got vaccinated the same week the vaccine was made available to D.C. public school children, and the White House physician "applied for and received the vaccine from the DC Department of Health using the same process as every other vaccination site in the District" according to the First Lady's Press Secretary, Catherine Mccormick-Lelyveld.

There is a fair amount of debate over the H1N1 vaccine (whether to vaccinate or not), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that vaccine to all eligible patients, with a priority on young people under the age of 24, pregnant women, and people with underlying conditions. More information on the vaccine can be found at www.flu.gov

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Taylor Swift Weighs-In on Appropriate Halloween Costumes for Tweens

Tween singing superstar Taylor Swift says her mantra for Halloween is NOT to be sexy, but to be scary. Ms. Swift gave an interviewto MTV sharing, "I felt all the girls in our school kind of used Halloween as an excuse to take all their clothes off and parade around." She added, "They would tan weeks in advance so that they could bare it all on Halloween. I'm like, 'That's not the point.' You're supposed to be scary." Last year, Ms. Swift dressed up as Chewbacca along with her best friend explaining, "Abigail and I have always been sort of anti-teeny-tiny, little costumes."

It is refreshing to see tween celebrity favorites voice common-sense and independence on such topics and to treat their positions as tween role models responsibly. Ms. Swift is to be commended on her stance of not bowing to peer pressure and demonstrating how going one's own way doesn't detract from the festivities.

There have been several news stories recently about the sexualization of tween girls on Halloween, and it can often be difficult to find age-appropriate costumes. Thankfully, girls this age are creative and resourceful, and many opt to craft their own unique looks for Halloween. As a parent of three tween girls, I am thrilled to have another example of a high profile tween celebrity reinforcing a spirit of independent thinking and resistance to peer pressure.

Readers, please share: what is your tween dressing up as this Halloween?

Photo from Kevin Mazur/Wire Image

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Finally - A Glee for Tweens

We've blogged frequently about whether Glee is for tweens given its often edgy content (but we LOVE the music!). In January 2010, Nickelodeon will debut a show about a girl entering a performing arts high school in Los Angeles. The show stars Victoria Justice (she of Zoey101 fame) and is called "Victorious" (I guess this is Nick's answer to Disney's custom vehicle for Demi Lovato, "Sonny With a Chance").

The series will feature original songs and performances (a la Glee), and fans will be able to purchase the music from Sony. This show promises to show the high school students as part of families (so there will be parents on screen) and to be geared specifically for tweens. Production began today.

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The Latest From Miley on Being a Role Model, the End of Hannah Montana (?), and Twitter

The tween star performed at the Concert for Hope to benefit City of Hope (a leading cancer research hospital and long-time favorite charity of the Cyrus clan) in Los Angeles yesterday. Miley Cyrus was joined by fellow Disney tween queen Demi Lovato and tween heart-throb Jesse McCartney in headlining the event.

Before the show Ms. Cyrus field questions from Tiger Beat reporters about the future of Hannah Montana, the responsibility she feels to be a positive role model in both behavior and dress for her younger sister, Noah Cyrus, and why she quit Twitter. Give a listen to the video below - this young woman offered thoughtful responses and a refreshingly positive perspective on her responsibility to her fans and her family.



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Emily Osment's Album Released Tomorrow!

The Disney tween machine rolls on: Emily Osment, who plays Lily on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, launches her singing career tomorrow with the release of her first album, "All the Right Wrongs" (audio warning: this site automatically plays tracks from the album, so you might want to check the volume control on your computer). (Yes, Ms. Osment is related to Oscar-nominee Haley Joel Osment)

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Taylor Swift D.C. Concert Sold Out in Minutes

Despite the economy, tween concerts are still selling out. Taylor Swift's Fearless concert tour slated for 19 U.S. cities sold out within minutes. The concert will be at the Verizon Center on June 2, 2010. Perhaps the economy will have improved by then.

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More on the Wonder Girls

Looks like MsTwixt scooped People Magazine! Our blog post on the Wonder Girls ran last week introducing our readers to a new tween group. People Magazine has some more info to share on the group today including that their fashion icons are Twiggy and Audrey Hepburn.

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Taylor Swift Attends Candy Party for Katy Perry

Tween singing sensation Taylor Swift attended a fabulous Willy Wonka-themed candy party to celebrate Katy Perry's birthday in Los Angeles today. There was a candy bar, Oompa Loompas, giant lollipops, and A LOT of sugar. Guests were asked to dress in all white and were doused with neon paint during the event. We think Taylor's dress looks better this way - what do you think?

Treats by Twixt offers candy-themed parties for your tween including a Peeps chocolate fountain, candy jewelry design workshops, candy photo frames and more. Email us at info@shoptwixt.com to book your event.

Photo by BigPicturesPhoto

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Harry Potter Exhibit Opens in Boston - Neville Longbottom in Attendance!

As we blogged about earlier, the Harry Potter Exhibition opens at the Museum of Science in Boston this weekend. The Gala Opening was Thursday night, and Matthew Lewis, aka Neville Longbottom, attended.

Mr. Lewis is the first Harry Potter film star to see the exhibit, and he raved about it saying "It’s fantastic! It’s quite mind-blowing to see how much stuff they have from the films. I’m going to text Emma Watson later to tell her how incredible it is and tell her to come up here."

As Ms. Watson attends Brown University, perhaps she'll make a short road trip up to Boston from Providence to view the exhibit?

Photo by Angela Rowlings

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