Happy Halloween!!

In today's paper, (Thanks to an article by the Washington Post) ... I learned that the candy we eat says something about who we are. Hmmmmmmm!! My favorite candy is Reese's peanut butter cups. Do you like those too? If so, here's an 'inside scoop' about what this candy says about you and me:

A generous soul. You understand the salty in life, as well as the sweet.

:)

I so hope my kids get a whole lot of those yummy chocolate, peanut butter yummies tonight ... Because I plan on being really generous and giving them to myself to devour ....

Cheers to a the sweet and salty.

Halloween Trick-or-Treat bag Instructions/Ideas ...

meow / cat bag ...
(for my daughter who loves to pretend to be a cat) :)

Ghost bag ... the tombstone says: R.I.P
(for my oldest son who wanted something a little scary)

Pumpkin bag
(for my youngest son who just wanted something happy)

Easy Felt Trick-or-Treat bag -

Supplies needed:
2 felt squares (can be matching colors or different)
Shapes for the bag (ghost, cat, pumpkin …)
Let your kids draw their own shapes ... they love it!
Felt squares for the shapes (I used different colors than the ones for the bag)
Ribbon for handle
Buttons for embellishments
Sewing machine


Step 1:
Cut your desired shape (cat, pumpkin, ghost …) out of the felt pieces that are going to be sewn to the felt that will be the bag. Then hand stitch the shape to the front of the bag. Kids can help with this part!

Sew a button to the front of the bag – for embellishment.

Step 2:
Use a decorative stitch and sew around the sides and bottom of the two felt pieces.
I just sewed them together. Back to back … I like the stitch showing on the front of the bag.

Step 3:
Sew the ribbon to the top of the bag for the handle.

Ta-dah - its spooktacular!!
:)

Created in 2006 by Wendy Christensen & her kids ...!
Feel free to use the idea and have some special Halloween
moments at your home ...

Two quotes for the road ...
(Turtle pace please !)

I recently read an interesting article about frustration. This article was talking about how easy it is for people to get down and out about their business endeavors or other things going on... Have you ever had that? I like to call them 'frustration moments' – sometimes, they hit hard! But do not let them stop you from trying to achieve!!

There is a quote I use that comes in handy with the ‘frustration fits’. I found it in "Life's Little Instruction Book" by H. Jackson Brown:

"Remember that overnight success usually takes about fifteen years."

I like that quote - it helps put things in perspective!

Another quote I like to use is -

"Every step of the journey is the journey"

:)

Cheers to life and the beautiful lessons that come from our day to day moments.
Use them well!!

{Tuesday night movie wrap}

Movie: "Sweet Land" (PG)
Official movie website:
http://www.sweetlandmovie.com/about.htm

Are you looking for a good love story??!
Add "Sweet Land" to your movie queue... You won't be sorry.
I cried, I laughed and I enjoyed every moment of this beautiful film!

The movie starts with the following quote:

"Let us hope we are all proceded
in this world by a love story"

Yeah - the film had me at "Hello".... :)
Ahhh how I love a good love story.

Product of the week...

If you are looking for a way to spice up your dinner tonight - I highly recommend you grab a bottle of Frank's RedHot Chili & Lime sauce. Add it to your salad, steak, grilled chicken or to your favorite Mexican dish! YUM … :)

I give this hot item - 5 stars out of 5.

Dancing with the STARS ...

We needed some 'mood music' in the house tonight so I pulled out our "Monster Mash" CD full of Halloween-ish type songs. I had no idea the songs would have such a powerful impact on our MOOD. :) Before I knew it, the front room turned into a dance studio and we were busting a move, getting our groove out...WOW!


My son, Kaleb, has moves that defy the laws of gravity!! Would you like to have your own Monster Mash night in your house? OK all you need is the following playlist (turn up the volume) and bust a move baby!!!! :)

Monster Mash

(Party Music)

1. Monster Mash
2. Ghostbusters
3. Spooky
4. Bad Moon Rising
5. Macho Man
6. Abracadabra
7. Soul Man
8. Wooly Bully
9. Stayin' Alive
10. Batdance

What 'stars' are you dancing with? :) ...

Saving the Praying Mantis...

I seem to have an internal signal (a beacon perhaps) that sends a flashing light out to praying mantis creatures. They are the only ones that can sense it and are reluctant at first to receive the much needed rescuing - but in the end are grateful (I believe) to have been saved!
It's possible that they pray for my services? :)

In the past month, two praying mantises have taken advantage of my "I can save you signal." The first rescue mission occurred at the grocery store. My daughter and I were on a quick dash to grab a few things for dinner and to our surprise - there in the back of our grocery cart was a big, green praying mantis. It was hanging onto the metal cart with all its might. My daughter and I immediately knew we had a mission. This creature needed to be rescued from the store. As we shopped, the critter would move along the cart assessing the situation. It seemed tempted to jump into the fresh produce section but we assured it would be better off out of the store. At the check out stand, the cashier (who was a guy) said: "Wow, that thing is creepy. You want me to take care of it?" Lauren and I gave him a look from the dark, scary place and replied: "We love these things - we'll make sure it's safe!" Mission Accomplished, we let him go outside on a flower garden. One praying mantis safely rescued. Ahhhhhhhh ...

My second mission happened yesterday. I was making dinner and heard our dog growling outside the back door. I couldn't figure out what she was getting so upset about so I opened the back door and there on the door was a big, brown praying mantis. Sadie (our dog) felt this creature was invading her space... So I got a big stick and took the praying mantis to my rose bushes in the front yard. Another praying mantis saved!

I think I need to get a special badge to wear that says:

Proud to be a praying mantis HERO!

Abracadabra!
Ahhhh the magic of a Cross Country Race –

Have you ever attended a cross country race? If not, you need to go at least once! Last weekend, I was driving through my town and noticed a bunch of school buses and kids in running shoes jogging all over town. This kind of action and school bus invasion could only mean one thing – It was Richland Invite Cross Country weekend! I couldn’t help it – I got all excited like a giddy school girl with a crush on the History teacher. {Remember those days??!}

Anyhow, I dashed home and informed the family that I would be attending that meet the next day. And anyone who wanted to join me could. Were they as excited about it as me… no. But that didn’t squelch my enthusiasm.

My oldest son, Kade, and I ended up on the Cross Country course on Saturday after his soccer game. He was a bit sluggish and wasn’t overly excited about being there. Did this hamper my CC excitement? NO! And after watching the JV boy’s race … my son was very into the entire energy and feel of the event. No way was he leaving until he had seen the big guns run the Varsity race.

The winner of the Varsity boy’s race (3.1 miles) won with a time of 15:06!
This kid was flying and it was inspiring to see him run the miles with such ease and speed.

As Kade and I were walking to the car he asked: “Mom, that was fun I’m glad we did that.”

And with a HUGE smile and a couple of tears running down my face I replied: “Kade, Cross Country running for me helped me become who I am today.”

“I’m going to run Cross Country.” He said.

{Big smiles and more giddy excitement on my end}

I can’t wait to cheer for him and watch him grow and become through the magical experience of being part of a team and feeling the satisfaction that comes from finishing something challenging.

Cheers to the challenges in life – the hills, the finishes, the miles, the wins, the losses and to all the memories!

PS:
The above runner’s tag was from my freshman year in High School. Our Varsity boys and girls team had qualified for the State Meet. It was the last cross country race I saw my brother run. He was the #1 runner at our school. He died the following summer in a car accident … I do hope he finds time to remember all the miles he ran and races he won!!! I reflect on those quite often.

Random Tuesday Musings ...

"No. I don't think I will kiss you-- although you need kissing badly.
That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often--
and by someone who knows how."

–Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind, 1939)

http://www.reelclassics.com/Audio_Video/Quotes7r/gwtw_gable_kissing.wav

(Click the link to hear the famous Rhett Butler quote ....)

I don't know if it's just me but it seems like those classic movie stars from days long gone
knew how to kiss and sweep a girl off her feet .... !!

Cheers to old movies and kissing - 2 of my favorite things!! :)

Wiggle Like a Fish on YouTube

Footage from our Opening Act for the Nickelodeon LIVE Show - Enjoy the clip and feel free to share it with your friends! Come on - Get up and Wiggle ...

"Stay true to your dreams,
To your heart, to yourself,
Let your own unique voice be your guide.
Stay true to the things
that you care about most,
And you’ll always know joy deep inside."

- Artwork by Wendy Chrstensen 2006 -