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I miss the portability! I miss being able to blog from the comfort of the sofa, or from the van, or from the free wi-fi at Starbucks! Being chained to my desk has been monstrously miserable. Don’t get me wrong, the majority of my work has always been done from the desktop, but just I can’t wait to be portable and free again!

I didn’t even realize just how much I did with the laptop until I got the flu a few weeks back and I couldn’t do anything because I was sick in bed. I was miserable and cranky with my laptop to get things done, like answering and archiving emails so that my email account wouldn’t be a mess when I was recovered…. yeah, it was a disaster after almost a whole week of being down sick.

So, yes, I would like a chance at winning an awesome netbook, and I suspect you might want a chance too! So, go enter. Or not…. after all if you don’t that’s better for my odds -LOL- I’m kidding…. sort of.

I honestly don’t even know where to begin today….

The word Halloween itself traces back to “All Hollows Eve”, the night before the Catholic tradition of “All Hallows Day”, also known as “All Saints Day”. November 1 was set aside to honor the saints of the church. Due to it being the same date as the ancient Celtic new year celebration, Samhain, elements of both have blended together over the years.

There are many different conflicting stories about the Celtic celebrations at this time, with some claiming human sacrifice had it’s part. However, more recently it is thought to have been a fire lighting ceremony, symbolic of the old year ending, and the new year starting. The families would put out all the fires in their homes and go to a common light source – a bonfire tended by the druids. They would take home some of the fire to relight their own hearths.

Trick or treating also has had some varied opinions on its origins. Some stories indicate that people would dress up as scary beings and wander the streets in an attempt to avoid being possessed by the spirits of the dead who were wandering on All Hallows Eve. Others connect it to the practice of “souling” on November 2, or “All Souls Day”, where beggars would wander and beg for soul cakes in exchange for praying for those who gave.

The trick part came into play in the 1800’s and 1900’s with something called “mischief nights”. Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland would play pranks on Halloween night. By the 1920’s, people started to organize the kids into a “trick or treat” night, to help avoid the tricks by taking them door-to-door to collect treats.

The jack-o-lantern has had some bad press over the years, with some people believing a story that the druids used candles made of human fat, put in carved pumpkins to light their human sacrifices (after going door to door, looking for someone to sacrifice). Not only has research shown that the druids did not perform human sacrifices, they couldn’t have used pumpkins as they are a North American plant.

There is also an 18th century legend about a man named Jack, who tricked the devil into climbing into a tree and trapping him there. After Jack died, he was given a light in a gourd to see by while wandering – neither in heaven nor hell. It was quite common to carve out things like turnips or beets to be used as lanterns. This was adapted to the jack-o-lantern made with pumpkins popular in North America.

It is easy to see that Halloween has a varied and often confusing, history. There are many sources and legends that have blurred together over the years. While no one may know the complete history, it is fun to see where some of the traditions may have come from in the past.

References:

Rupert, Dennis. “The History of Halloween- It’s Probably Not What You Think.” The History of Halloween. 29 Dec 2006. 21 Jul 2007 http://www.new-life.net/halowen1.htm

Wilson, Jerry. “History and Customs of Halloween.” History and Customs of Halloween. 2002. 21 Jul 2007 http://wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm

Do you stress out getting ready for Halloween? Do you want your house to be the most fun on the entire block this Halloween? Get ready for an easy Halloween party planning and treat making solution!

This recipe booklet is crammed full of 35 fun easy Halloween recipes for you and your family to make your Halloween party the spookiest most fun on the block without breaking your budget.

Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you can still make great use of the fun Halloween recipes in thise recipe booklet to make your night special. Add a ghost story or two and you’re all set for the perfect October 31st with your family.

Easy step by step directions for each recipe! If I can make these treats, anyone can make them.
Keep it Simple Spooky!

Bonnie Parker (Bonnie and Clyde): “As the flowers are all made sweeter by the sunshine and the dew, so this old world is made brighter by the lives of folks like you.”

Tombstone Arizona: “Here lies Lester Moore; Four slugs from a .44; No Les No More.

Pennsylvania Tombstone, US: “Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake. Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.”

England Tombstone: “The children of Israel wanted bread and the Lord sent them manna. Old Clerk Wallace wanted a wife…and the Devil sent him Anna.”

Massachusetts Tombstone: “Under the sod and under the trees, lies the body of Jonathan Pease. He is not here, there’s only the pod. Pease shelled out and went to God.”

Dentists’ Tombstone: “John Brown is filling his last cavity.”

Can you come up with more funny or spooky tombstone ideas?

Who Can Make the Most Words?

On a piece of paper write the words “Trick or Treat”. See who can make the most words using only the letters found in the phrase.

Possible Answers: (There may be more, but here are quite a bit to get you started): rock, ate, tick, tack, race, oat, are, rate, crate, car, rack, trace, tart, tort, crater, racer, rice, track, or, tea, tire, ace, ice, ore, tore, rico, roar, kite, tear

Do you stress out getting ready for Halloween? Do you want your house to be the most fun on the entire block this Halloween? Get ready for an easy Halloween party planning and treat making solution!

This recipe booklet is crammed full of 35 fun easy Halloween recipes for you and your family to make your Halloween party the spookiest most fun on the block without breaking your budget.

Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you can still make great use of the fun Halloween recipes in thise recipe booklet to make your night special. Add a ghost story or two and you’re all set for the perfect October 31st with your family.

Easy step by step directions for each recipe! If I can make these treats, anyone can make them.
Keep it Simple Spooky!

Do you stress out getting ready for Halloween? Do you want your house to be the most fun on the entire block this Halloween? Get ready for an easy Halloween party planning and treat making solution!

This recipe booklet is crammed full of 35 fun easy Halloween recipes for you and your family to make your Halloween party the spookiest most fun on the block without breaking your budget.

Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you can still make great use of the fun Halloween recipes in thise recipe booklet to make your night special. Add a ghost story or two and you’re all set for the perfect October 31st with your family.

Easy step by step directions for each recipe! If I can make these treats, anyone can make them.
Keep it Simple Spooky!

Material List

• Paper Plate (One per child/adult)
• Scissors
• Leaves
• Glue Sticks
• Orange Construction Papers
• White Construction Paper
• Black Construction Paper
• Washable Black Marker
• Black Yarn (optional)

Adult Preparation: (To Be Done Prior to Actual Wreath Making)

Cut the center from each paper plate prior to giving one to each child. These will be the base for the homemade wreaths.

Day 1: Grab the kids and head outdoors.

Gather as many fallen leaves of different shapes and colors as you can find. Once you’ve collected enough leaves to cover each paper plate, head back inside and glue them to the paper plates. You can glue the leaves to cover the entire plate, randomly around the plate or even as a border around only the edge, whichever you prefer. Once you’ve glued the leaves to the paper plate, leave the plates to dry for 24 hours or at least overnight.

Day 2: Creativity

Depending on how much time you have to complete this project you can have the children do the next step after the leaves have been glued on, while you’re waiting for them to dry or you can make another day of it.
Let the children draw Halloween images on the construction paper. Here are some ideas for each color of paper:

Orange – Pumpkins (Use the black marker to draw the face on their pumpkins)

White – Ghosts, Mummies, Bones

Black – Cats, Witch Hats (You can use the yarn to put a tail on the cat and hair on the witches head if you’d like to put that under the hat)

Once the children have picked out and drawn which decorations they’ll be using, carefully cut them out and paste them to the wreath.

Tip: Pre-placement (before gluing) will give the child an idea of what the wreath will look like once it is all glued together. When the children are happy with the way the decorations are placed, it’s time to glue them to the leaves.

Again, allow the decorations to dry completely.

Day 3: Decorating Time

Congratulations! You’ve made your very own homemade Halloween wreath. Enjoy your child’s creation by hanging it on the front door or his or her bedroom door for all your friends and family to see and admire.

Do you stress out getting ready for Halloween? Do you want your house to be the most fun on the entire block this Halloween? Get ready for an easy Halloween party planning and treat making solution!

This recipe booklet is crammed full of 35 fun easy Halloween recipes for you and your family to make your Halloween party the spookiest most fun on the block without breaking your budget.

Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you can still make great use of the fun Halloween recipes in thise recipe booklet to make your night special. Add a ghost story or two and you’re all set for the perfect October 31st with your family.

Easy step by step directions for each recipe! If I can make these treats, anyone can make them.
Keep it Simple Spooky!

1. What did Dr. Spook give the witch who had a sore throat?
Answer: Coffin Drops

2. What do Ghost’s wear when their eye sight is failing?
Answer: Spookicles

3. How do you make a witch stew?
Answer: Make her wait!

4. What do lady ghosts put on their skin?
Answer: Vanishing lotion

5. What do you get when you cross a witch with an iceberg?
Answer: A cold spell

6. How do bats learn to fly?
Answer: They take batting lessons.

7. If you worked in a mortuary, what would you call your free time?
Answer: Coffin Break

8. Why do skeletons always catch a cold?
Answer: the get chilled to the bone.

9. What is a vampire’s favorite fruit?
Answer: Necktarines

Do you stress out getting ready for Halloween? Do you want your house to be the most fun on the entire block this Halloween? Get ready for an easy Halloween party planning and treat making solution!

This recipe booklet is crammed full of 35 fun easy Halloween recipes for you and your family to make your Halloween party the spookiest most fun on the block without breaking your budget.

Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you can still make great use of the fun Halloween recipes in thise recipe booklet to make your night special. Add a ghost story or two and you’re all set for the perfect October 31st with your family.

Easy step by step directions for each recipe! If I can make these treats, anyone can make them.
Keep it Simple Spooky!

Be Frugal with Baby’s First Halloween Costume

The first Halloween costume should be special, but that doesn’t mean it has to break the bank? Before you go crazy spending out of your budget for a Halloween outfit for baby, try networking with other parents. Many parents save their own children’s first costumes. They may be open to swapping costumes with you or willing to sell their little one’s old costume at a minimal cost.

If this isn’t an option for you and you find you need to purchase your baby’s costume, there are lots of children’s thrift stores and boutiques that carry precious Halloween outfits in the month of October. Another option for making sure baby’s first costume is cute and inexpensive outfit is to check eBay.

Safety Tips to Keep Baby’s Safe and Sound

Pass On Inhibiting Costume Items

Babies do not like to wear masks and most will fight and cry in discomfort if you put them in costumes that restrict their movements.

Avoid Scary Masks and Costumes

Don’t be surprised if older babies are frightened by other people’s masks and costumes as well. This is not a time to instill fear into your baby. Sometimes adults and older children find it funny to show babies “the ropes” without realizing they can inadvertently scare infants.

Keep Weather Conditions in Mind

When choosing your costume, keep in mind what your weather will most likely be that time of year. In the northern part of the U.S., it is not unusual for children to wear coats over their costumes. The more south you go, you may have children overdressed in 80 degree weather. That adorable fur bear or lion outfit may not be the most comfortable outfit for baby if you live in an area that’s still a bit warm on Halloween. Don’t over or undress baby.

Give Family & Friends a Call Ahead Before Visiting

You have special people in your life that you’ll want to share baby’s first Halloween with. A phone call ahead to these people to be sure they are going to be home will help ensure that pictures (or videos) of baby with this special someone can be taken. Try and make your plans up to a week ahead. You don’t want to be disappointed later when trying to scrapbook your child’s first trick or treat experience and someone is missing.

Celebrate Baby’s First Halloween Again and Again

Just like every other first for your little one, you’ll want to keep record of his or her first Halloween with pictures, video and other keepsake items. One way you can do this is by creating a scrapbook that will preserve these items for years to come. Get creative in how you layout your album. Don’t be afraid to take pictures with props that symbolize the holiday and the season. Hay bails and pumpkins are just a few ideas; you can also check with your local craft store for other embellishments such as stamps, stencils and more.

Memories are something we all have. With some extra care and planning, Halloween and your baby’s first trick or treat experience can be most memorable for everyone involved. Who knows, that adorable first Halloween costume might find its way into the senior year book later.

No matter what costume you choose or how you remember the day, keep the tips and suggestions above in mind for a safe, happy and fun Halloween.

Do you stress out getting ready for Halloween? Do you want your house to be the most fun on the entire block this Halloween? Get ready for an easy Halloween party planning and treat making solution!

This recipe booklet is crammed full of 35 fun easy Halloween recipes for you and your family to make your Halloween party the spookiest most fun on the block without breaking your budget.

Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you can still make great use of the fun Halloween recipes in thise recipe booklet to make your night special. Add a ghost story or two and you’re all set for the perfect October 31st with your family.

Easy step by step directions for each recipe! If I can make these treats, anyone can make them.
Keep it Simple Spooky!

Your pet does not realize the costumes and sounds are make-believe and the people behind those get ups are just that…people. You may find that your animal will panic when you answer the door for trick-or-treaters or when you dress up in your Halloween costume.

Keeping Your Easily Agitated Pets Safe from Harm

If you’re hosting a party in your home or invite trick-or-treaters to your door, one of the best ways to keep Fido (and those who are visiting) safe is to remove him from the situation completely. You can kennel your animal somewhere else for the night or put them in a room that’s off limits to guests. If your cat or dog is normally skittish around people, it’s best to keep them away from all the commotion on Halloween.

While many animals will freak out from all the holiday hoopla, there are some who love it just as much, if not more than you do. Here are some tips to allow your people loving, socialite pet to get involved in the festivities in a safe way.

Let them enjoy your visitors – from a distance.

You may find that your pet is not bothered by the costumes at all. Maybe your puppy or kitty likes to go to the door and welcome your guests. If this is the case, make sure he or she does not dart out the door while you’re handing out treats. Try leashing your animal within a safe distance from the door so they can enjoy the guests while remaining safe inside.

This will also help the children who like to see the animals but don’t want to touch them or be close to them. Because animals scare some children while others get very excited and want to run toward them and be the aggressor, a leashed animal will help you stay in control of the situation and allow both the children and your pet to enjoy the experience.

Both our dogs are super friendly, but we keep them leashed when it’s time for trick or treaters to come around. It keeps them from getting too excited and either jumping on or heaven forbid happy tinkling on a little visitor. Unfortunately, we don’t get many trick-or-treat visitors in this new place. We’re actually considering skipping trick-or-treat and going to the movies on Halloween instead this year.

Candy and Pets Don’t Mix

If you have children who will be trick-or-treating, you’ll have to pay careful attention to your pets once you return home for the night with the kids’ treats. While sorting and eating the goodies from the evening, make certain that all candy, especially chocolate, is out of the cat or dog’s reach. Chocolate, even in the tiniest amounts, can be deadly to animals. Refrain from letting your little ones dump their trick-or-treat bags and buckets on the floor to sort their candy. Instead, head to the dining room table or a counter to pick through the yummy treats.

You Know Your Pet Better Than Anyone

As the “parent” to your pet, you know his or her temperament better than anyone else. If this is your first Halloween with a pet, don’t be surprised if he or she doesn’t find the day as pleasurable as the other members of the family. Keep these simple, yet often overlooked safety tips in mind this year. By taking simple precautions beforehand to prepare for the night, you can ensure everyone in the family and all your guests have a healthy and safe Halloween.

Do you stress out getting ready for Halloween? Do you want your house to be the most fun on the entire block this Halloween? Get ready for an easy Halloween party planning and treat making solution!

This recipe booklet is crammed full of 35 fun easy Halloween recipes for you and your family to make your Halloween party the spookiest most fun on the block without breaking your budget.

Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you can still make great use of the fun Halloween recipes in thise recipe booklet to make your night special. Add a ghost story or two and you’re all set for the perfect October 31st with your family.

Easy step by step directions for each recipe! If I can make these treats, anyone can make them.
Keep it Simple Spooky!