All Hallows Eve

picture from www.goodlightscraps.com

Happy Halloween, everyone! Just the thought of Halloween almost causes cavities to form in my teeth, but this festive holiday has always been one of my very favorites. The decorative pumpkins and scarecrows, gorgeous leaves, clever costumes, and candy galore are a few of the reasons why this day has got me, as well as just about everyone else, hooked! So...why do we even celebrate this wacky day anyway?
Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve, can be traced back to approximately 5 B.C.E.   Celtics had a yearly festival known as Samhain, and they believed that spirits of those who had died would rise and mingle with the living on October 31. That day marked the end of their harvest season and prepared them for winter. People would leave food on their doorsteps for good spirits and would start bonfires or wear masks to drive the bad spirits away.

picture of Samhain from pagepaige.blogspot.com 

"Guising," or dressing up in a costume, door-to-door can be traced back to Scotland in 1895 on Halloween. Trick-or-treating for candy or other similar treats became popular in North America in the 1940s.
Classic costumes that children and adults alike don on Halloween or to a costume party include witches, pirates, celebrities, fictional characters, animals, a play on words (example: writing or wearing a book on your face or head would be "Facebook"), or other people or objects that are big in pop culture. This year, one of the most popular costumes was Miley Cyrus as she appeared at this year's Video Music Awards.
If you will be out trick-or-treating tonight, remember to stay safe! There may be cars driving fast without thinking about the people in the streets, so wearing bright clothing or a reflector is a cheap way to ensure a little extra safety. If you are worried about ruining your costume's image, try attaching something to your candy bag!


picture from www.pamsclipart.com 

Too old to trick-or-treat or wanted a change of pace? Handing out candy can definitely be a blast too! To set the mood, I suggest playing some Halloween music (I use Pandora) and perhaps sitting on your porch with some hot chocolate and a cozy blanket. Speaking from experience, I can guarantee this is one fun way to start your night. Most towns have guidelines on how long trick-or-treating lasts, so if the night is young and you still have time to kill before you call it a day, try having a movie marathon! Some popular picks for this day include several of my personal favorites! If you are in the mood for more children friendly yet spooky picks, just about anything that Tim Burton made would be a great choice. Anywhere from Edward Scissorhands to Alice in Wonderland, or Coraline to the Nightmare Before Christmas would be terrific. Not your type? Well how about The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Halloween, Scream, Scooby Doo,  Ghost Busters, Harry Potter, or Nightmare on Elm Street? One of these films should surely put a smile on your face.

If you are feeling generous....
For many, you will have an abundance of candy and not enough mouths to eat it all. If you have extra Halloween candy that you do not want or decide you do not need, you have a few options. You could save it for a rainy day by placing extra candy in a plastic bag in your freezer. To put a smile on someone's face, there are many groups or clubs that collect unwanted or donated candy and send it to our troops overseas. Others donate candy to patients at hospitals or people in nursing homes. Anything would be greatly appreciated, so this may be an awesome event for you to try out this year!


picture from  mrspedtechtalk.blogspot.com 

Citations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating

National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

photo and recipe from http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/deluxe-pumpkin-cheesecake

One of the things I look forward to most in the fall is pumpkin cheesecake. You can, of course, make this dessert any time you please, but it somehow tastes more magical and delicious in the months of October and November. My personal favorite is from the Cheesecake Factory, but there countless other recipes out there that would surely hit the spot as well. If for some insane reason you have never experienced the pure joy that is pumpkin cheesecake, then by all means, make it happen! Enjoy!

Evaluate Your Life Day

photo from http://hiphopworldmagazine.com/2013/10/03/video-review-brymo-down/

Today is the perfect day to sit back and take a breather because October 19 is Evaluate Your Life Day. Well gosh, that may sound pretty intimidating! How does one evaluate their life, you may ask? While this day might seem to be far too serious or scary at first, my challenge for you is to go ahead and give it a try. You may be surprised that you could learn quite a bit about yourself and perhaps even have an epiphany.  Maybe you will come to realizations that could have a substantial impact on what you will do in the future, how you will behave, or what your goals are. Life can become crazy with constantly being on the go, so now is a great excuse to take a personal day to really think. One popular method for doing such a thing would be meditation. There are other people who can clear their mind, concentrate, and think the best when they are out in nature or on a walk. Some are fond of relaxing in the bathtub and thinking about what is up with their life. The cool thing is, there are no rules about where you have to be or what method you choose to evaluate your life and self. If you are interested in meditating but are not really sure how to, this video will point you in the right direction. Try your best to refrain from using electronics today and just focus on you! Good luck!

 

The Sweetest Day of the Year!

picture from http://vi.sualize.us/funny_stressed_illustration_retro_picture_3oVp.html

     For everyone out there who has a sweet tooth, prepare to jump with joy because it is National Dessert Day! No need to count those calories today because you can pile your plate with as many sugary treats as your digestive system will allow. If you are insisting upon sticking to a healthy diet despite the fact that today is, indeed, a freebie day to eat as you wish, do not panic because there are some scrumptious snacks that won't cost you too much. Now it is simply time to break out those Easy Bake Ovens and gather your favorite dessert recipes!
     While baking can be a very fun and yummy hobby, we are not all  Betty Crockers...mhmm, you know who you are. If this is the case for you, don't fret! Baking can be a stress-free time if you just have fun with it. Botched your batch of brownies? No worries, that can just be your practice round! A few things I like to do while I bake to make the overall experience more enjoyable is pop in a good yet light-hearted movie that doesn't require my full attention, or I turn up the volume and listen to some music. Because today has an oh-so-sweet theme to it, why not go for movies such as Chocolat or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or songs like "I Want Candy," "The Cuppycake Song," "Sugar, Sugar," or "Tootsie Roll."

WARNING: The following recipes are so delicious that you may or may not go into a sugar coma.

If you love cookies...
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies: http://vi.sualize.us/funny_stressed_illustration_retro_picture_3oVp.html
Gooey Butter Cookies: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/gooey-butter-cookies/f7a9017b-870f-4b20-b37f-392f53c65fbc
Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/desserts/delicious-cookie-recipes-00000000056105/page20.html
Caramel Apple Cookies: http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/cookies/caramel-apple-cookies

If you love cakes...
Southern Red Velvet Cake: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sara-moulton/southern-red-velvet-cake-recipe/index.html
German Chocolate Cake: http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/German-Chocolate-Cake
One-Bowl Yellow Cake: http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/best-one-bowl-yellow-cake-recipe/


compilation of cookie and cake recipes


If you are health-conscious...
Frozen Peanut Butter Pie: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20463963_4,00.html
Strawberry Shortcake: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20463963_2,00.html
Nathan's Lemon Cake: http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/healthy-dessert-ideas-00412000076052/page10.html
Roasted Banana Pudding: http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/healthy-dessert-ideas-00412000076052/page51.html

healthier desserts

If all else fails...

picture from https://twitter.com/benandjerryspdx

You can't possibly go wrong with Ben & Jerry's! Enjoy!

Columbus Day

photo from ridic.tumblr.com 

Celebrated the second Monday of each October is Columbus Day when we recognize the anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in America on October 12, 1492. Although America had already been discovered by Native Americans, Columbus did discover for Europeans that the world was not flat like they had thought, and it did not end in the Atlantic Ocean.  In 1906, Columbus Day became an official state holiday for Colorado, and it became a federal holiday in 1937 for the United States.

Citations: http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day

World Egg Day

photo from thedesigninspiration.com 

In 1996, it was decided that a day should be given to spread awareness about the benefits of eggs. Since then, the second Friday of each October is entitled "World Egg Day." To those of you thinking that they give everything the honor of having a holiday nowadays, well, you are not too far from being wrong. There are, however, dozens (pun very much intended!) of reasons why eggs deserve their own day to be celebrated and recognized. As the International Egg Commission stated, eggs are a great source for your body to obtain nutrients it needs to grow and stay healthy, such as protein, vitamins, zinc, iron, pholate, and phosphorus. Eggs also are made up of the good kind of fat because it is lean and unsaturated.
How many recipes can you list that contain eggs as an ingredient? Probably too many to count! Challenge yourself to widen your horizon during the month of October by trying new ways to eat eggs. Poached, scrambled, sunny side up, fried, hard boiled, deviled, and omelets are just a few delicious examples of how to prepare your meal. Eggs are also a key ingredient in popular dishes such as quiche and eggnog!
These versatile objects are not limited to being used as a just food source. While it is a bit early to begin dying eggs in preparation of Easter, eggs can be used year round for Do-It-Yourself beauty purposes. Because they have Vitamin A, eggs are a good way to keep your skin moisturized and rid of excess oil. After washing your face with hot water to open up your pores, apply a beaten egg to your face  for 15 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly. The egg whites help to exfoliate, clean, and tighten the skin while the yolk moisturizes and soothes the skin. For hair that is damaged by chlorine or too much sun, try shampooing with an egg mixture! The combination of an egg, olive oil, and water will give your hair shine and volume.
One thing you will never be too old for is Dr. Seuss! Get in the spirit of World Egg Day by reading a classic, Green Eggs and Ham. While you are at it, go ahead and make it, too! By adding a couple drops of blue food coloring to your batch of scrambled eggs, you will have a meal worthy of smiles and giggles. Experience a blast from the past of your childhood by watching the video below!

Citations: http://www.natural-homeremedies-for-life.com/egg-face-mask.html
https://www.internationalegg.com/corporate/eggindustry/details.asp?id=49&cid=26
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULDtgnQ0fy4

Leif Eriksson Day

Happy Leif Eriksson Day! The Viking being celebrated today is recognized to be the first Norwegian explorer to reach the United States. He is said to have arrived in 1001 AD which is about 500 years before Christopher Columbus arrived! It was not until 1964 that Leif Eriksson had a day dedicated to him nationwide. Lyndon B. Johnson was the president who proclaimed October 9 to be Leif Eriksson Day. As somewhat of an uncommonly known holiday, a very memorable episode of SpongeBob Squarepants was created to inform audiences who he was and why he is celebrated. Check out the short clip from that episode below!

Citations: http://www.mnc.net/norway/LeifErikson.htm
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YqehGlg6m8

Are You as Mad as a Hatter?

gif from http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/mad-hatter-gif

 

The Mad Hatter is considered to be one of the most notable characters from Alice and Wonderland, so why not set aside a day to celebrate him! This silly day was created in 1986 in Boulder, Colorado.  In the 8th century, hatters used mercury in a process called "carroting," and this actually resulted in some of the makers becoming crazy, or "mad."

Make your way on over to a library, video store, or costume store so that you can join in all the fun too!

Citations: http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/October/madhatterday.htm

World Smile Day

photo from http://www.worldsmileday.com/
 

The smiley face that is now recognizable just about everywhere and symbolizes goodness and happiness was created by Harvey Ball in 1963. Ball, born in Warcester, Massachusetts, put this symbol on pins for employees at The State Mutual Life Assurance Company to wear as a reminder that they should smile while completing tasks. By 1970, an unanticipated five million smiley face buttons were sold.
After over thirty years later, Harvey Ball was concerned that people were beginning to lose sight of the actual importance and meaning behind the smiley face. He thought that at least one day per year should be devoted to being kind and making others smile. Thus, World Smile Day was born. The first one was celebrated on October 1, 1999, and it has continued to be celebrated the first Friday of October every year. The slogan for this sunshiny day is "Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile." What makes you smile? Whether it be your friends, family, pets, music, favorite movie, sports, or even a hot fudge sundae, set a goal to make people smile and feel happy today. Maybe you want to play it safe and are shooting for making five people grin, or maybe you feel ambitious and want to impact one hundred people's day! Whatever you can do to contribute and get involved is wonderful. Although Harvey Ball passed away April 13, 2001, World Smile Day still lives on and becomes more popular each year.

Here is a list of some of my favorite songs about smiling, and they are sure to put a smile on your face!

1. "Smile" by Nat King Cole
2. "Smile" by Uncle Kracker
3. "When You're Smiling" by Louis Armstrong
4. "Bubbly" by Colbie Callait
5. "Smile" by Lily Allen
6. "Smile Like You Mean It" by The Killers
7. "Smiley Faces" by Gnarls Barkley
8. "Make Me Smile" by Pearl and the Puppets
9. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" from Annie
10. "That Smile" from It's Only Life

                                       And don't forget this quote!!

photo from stylegerms.com 

Citations: http://www.worldsmileday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33:about-wsd-art&catid=17:aboutwsd&Itemid=43
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Ball

This Post Is So Fetch.

photo from http://twicsy.com/i/Mu3Xuc

Because of the memorable scene pictured above, October 3rd has been recognized as National Mean Girls Day ever since this hit movie made its debut in 2004. Tina Fey wrote the screen play for Mean Girls which was based off the book written by Rosalind Wiseman in 2002, Queen Bees and Wannabees. This must-see comedy stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Jonathon Bennett, Tina Fey, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert, to name a few. For a full list of the cast members as well as interesting trivia about the movie, head on over to IMDb or click on this link http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377092/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. To celebrate this hilarious day, my friends and I quoted this movie all day long and then, of course, ended the day by watching it. I strongly recommend watching this movie because it should definitely make you laugh, and, coming from a fan who has seen it dozens of times, it really never seems to get old. However, please be aware that it is rated PG-13 for sexual content, language, and underage drinking.

On Rory Cashin's list of the top ten most quoted movies of all time, Mean Girls is ranked number three! If you want to see some of the funniest quotes in a gif form, click on this link: http://www.eonline.com/news/466464/the-20-best-mean-girls-quotes-ranked-from-grool-to-totally-fetch. Even the White House made a reference to Mean Girls on August 13, 2013 by tweeting a clever picture of Bo with a tennis ball.

photo from newsfeed.time.com 

Well, what are you waiting for?! Break out the popcorn, candy, and soda and start warming up your DVD player! If you are already in love with this movie, check out some witty apparel at redbubble.com-->   http://www.redbubble.com/shop/girls+mean+t-shirts. Enjoy!