Let FabuLyss fall festivities begin!

We are officially in Oktoberfest, and what a boo-tiful month it will be. I love summer, but I love fall even more! There’s nothing better than wearing jeans, a new sweater, and walking through Central Park as the leaves start to change colors.

How do you celebrate fall? Have you gone apple- or pumpkin-picking? I will be taking my boys to the family-owned and operated apple orchard, Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard, located in North Salem, in Westchester County. Harvest Moon hosts a Fall Festival every weekend until Halloween with live music, pumpkins, bounce houses, hayrides, face painting, DeLysscious freshly made apple cider doughnuts, and wine tasting for the parents!

Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard [130 Hardscrabble Rd. in North Salem, NY, (914) 485–1210, www.harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com].

Of course, Halloween is right around the corner. Did you pick out your FabuLyssly creative costume yet?

Looking for something FabuLyss to do on Halloween? The DivaMoms Annual Spooktacular will be taking place at Dylan’s Candy Bar on Friday, Oct. 30 from 10 am to noon. Cupcake decorating, monster mash dancing, costume contest, candy fun, games, and much more. Perfect for babies ages 6 month to 3 years of age.

Dylan’s Candy Bar [1011 Third Ave. between E. 60th and E. 61st streets in Lenox Hill, (646) 735–0078].

If you’re in the mood for a fun treat this Halloween, check out MarthaStewart.com for “great-tasting, ghoulish-looking cupcakes that are a wickedly easy treat for a party!” (www.marthastewart.com/316456/wicked-witch-cupcakes).

Lyss Stern is the founder of DivaLysscious Moms (www.divamoms.com).

Martha Stewart wicked witch cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:

24 brown mini M&Ms plus more for filling (optional)

Hershey’s Chocolate Cupcakes

Dirty Green Simple Buttercream (See below)

12 chocolate sugar cones

1 pound black licorice laces, cut into 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch and 2-inch lengths

12 candy corns

DIRECTIONS: Using a melon baller, scoop out the center of each cupcake, and fill with mini M&Ms, if desired.

Cover the tops of each cupcake with a generous mound (about 1/3 cup) of buttercream. Insert one candy corn into each cupcake to form a nose. Using brown mini M&Ms, insert two into each cupcake to form eyes. Place two short lengths of licorice above the eyes to form eyebrows for the witch. Place the shorter licorice lengths above the eyebrows to form bangs. Place an inverted cone on top of bangs, pressing gently into buttercream to adhere. Place the longer licorice lengths under the cone hat to form the hair.

Dirty Green Simple Buttercream

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 pounds (6 sticks) butter, softened

1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

Red and green food coloring

DIRECTIONS: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt. Begin beating on low speed, increasing to high for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Using food coloring, tint the icing dirty green.

Camp Lee Mar

A private 7 week residential summer program offering a unique curriculum incorporating a strong Academic and Speech program with traditional camp activities. Our campers flourish at Lee Mar due to the structured environment we provide which allows our campers to feel comfortable and secure. Careful study is made of parent input, school (IEPs), camper interview, etc., so that the interests and needs of each child can best be determined for suitable grouping prior to the camper arriving. At Lee Mar the children find comfort and friendship with children of similar age and functioning level. From this foundation we encourage our campers to embrace and learn new skills and have new experiences which they can build upon on their return home. We also focus on building friendships which last throughout the year, as well as learning how to cope with the dynamics of group situations. Development of the whole child is our goal. We work hard at improving the daily living, social, and life skills of our campers, while giving them the happiest summer of their lives!

Blüm Autism Study

The Bl&uuml;m Study is currently enrolling children aged 3&ndash;8 with autism. Visit blumstudy.com for more information and to find a study location near you!

Extended Home Care

Extended Home Care is specially licensed to serve cognitively and neurologically impaired individuals across the age spectrum in all five boroughs. We offer in-home support to meet your family member's health, developmental and safety needs by providing Skilled Nursing, Home Health Aides, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Social Work.