Trick-or-Treat

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!  Remember to go with an adult or in a large group.  Have a buddy so no one gets left behind.  Use glow sticks.  Only go to houses with their porch lights on.  Look for cars when crossing streets.  Say trick or treat and say thank you!  Manners are NOT overrated.  I hope your costumes bring you lots of goodies!

Most of all-HAVE FUN!!!!  Happy Halloween!!!

What to Pack?

I am getting so freaking excited for next week when I go to Chicago.  I am trying to think of what to wear.  The lows for next week should be in the upper 30s and highs should be in the 50s.  No skirts for me unless I have tights!  I still want to have some swank outfits though.  Any ideas?  I did make a pretty sweet shirt out of 2 otherwise blah shirts.  Still trying to figure out the other 3 outfits though.  I am going out 4 nights to clubs plus going to derby bouts Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  I think I am just wearing jeans to the bouts so I can be comfortable.  I am bringing workout clothes too.  I wonder if I am going to have room in my 2 free checked bags.  I did not mention yet that I am also taking food, and makeup and hair stuff and....See what I mean?  I think I just need to figure this out so I can fit it all in my bags this weekend instead of trying to figure it all out on Tuesday night when I pack.

What are all you winners going to WFTDA championships wearing?

Joy in the Kitchen

There is pleasure in cooking and baking for me.  Last night the kids, my husband and I carved pumpkins.  I roasted pumpkin seeds and made banana bread.  I also fried green tomatoes in there somewhere and managed to make it to bed at 10.  Not too bad.

I can't help but love cooking and baking, except the mess part, but if I clean as I go it's not too bad.  It is almost like a therapy of some kind.  I think the banana bread recipe I make is the best I have ever had.  It is soooo moist and yummy.

Banana Sour Cream Bread

Ingredients:

1/4 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 cup butter

3 cups white sugar

3 eggs

6 very ripe bananas, mashed

1 (16 ounce) container sour cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking soda

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease four 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.

2. In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 cups sugar. Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in nuts. Divide into prepared pans.

3. Bake for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Give of Yourself

"Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need."  -Gillian Anderson

"Research has shown that people who volunteer often live longer."  -Allen Klein

When you choose to volunteer a service, you help someone in need and also help yourself to feel worthwhile, maybe learn a new skill, and also give yourself a boost in self-confidence and self-esteem.  Volunteers also help their community as a whole.  There are MANY other reasons volunteering is good both for the volunteer and the recipient of the services.  People make connections this way.  The world would be a more loving place if everyone would take just an hour a week or month to volunteer.

If you would like information on where to volunteer in your area and what services are available, go to http://volunteer.truist.com/omaha/volunteer/ today.  There are literally thousands of opportunities waiting for a person like you.   

Championship Picks

WFTDA Championships are just over a week away.  I am so excited to be able to go!

In my opinion, I think bout match-ups will conclude this way:
Bout 1-Bay Area
Bout 2-Minnesota
Bout 3-Philly
Bout 4-Oly
Bout 5-Gotham
Bout 6-Rocky Mountain
Bout 7-Philly
Bout 8-Oly
Bout 9-Rocky Mountain
Bout 10-Oly
Bout 11-Gotham
Bout 12-Rocky Mountain

I think Rocky Mountain has what it takes to take the championship this year, but Oly is a VERY STRONG possibility as well.  Whatever happens, good luck to all players next weekend and congratulations on making it this far!  You go girls!  I will be cheering everyone on regardless of the outcome.  Let's see some sweet derby action!

Nebraska's Proposed Sexual Orientation Ordinance

I am verrryyy angry that I got a certain email this morning.  A Yahoo group I belong to for educational opportunities for my children felt the need to send an email out to persuade people to email their city council members and let them know how they feel about this ordinance.  What angered me was this statement, "Basic human decency demands women and children be protected from sexual predators.  But next week, Omaha's City Council is likely to pass an ordinance that would allow a young girl to enter a public bathroom not knowing if a sexual predator is inside - legally."  This just goes too far!!!



Excuse me, but my gay friends are NOT sexual predators who will prey on your children and it brings a lot of negative feelings to my heart and soul that they would think that of people I love.  This has NOTHING to do with sexual predators.  It has to do with making people feel loved and accepted regardless of who they are and what they believe.  It's is about stopping the hatred that is felt by people who have different sexual orientations, gender expression, and gender identity.  My children and their children are being affected by this hate regardless of their sexual orientation.  These people are so wrapped up in their religion that they are blind to the fact that they are not doing God's work.  



Let's counteract what these people are doing, and believe me it will be a lot.  This is a huge group of people with a lot of networks within the city of Omaha.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take the time this weekend to send a letter to the list of city council members below.  Your friends and family depend on you to help stop the hate.


Here is the list of who we need to call and reach out to in the next
day (and over the weekend)
Mayor Jim Suttle
Councilman Pete Festerson -http://www.cityofomaha.org/citycouncil/council-members/district-1/contact
 Councilman Ben Gray    - http://www.cityofomaha.org/citycouncil/council-members/district-2/contact
Councilman Chris Jerram -http://www.cityofomaha.org/citycouncil/council-members/district-3/contact
Councilman Garry Gernandt -http://www.cityofomaha.org/citycouncil/council-members/district-4/contact
Councilwoman Jean Stothert -http://www.cityofomaha.org/citycouncil/council-members/district-5/contact
Councilman Franklin Thompson -http://www.cityofomaha.org/citycouncil/council-members/district-6/contact
Councilman Thomas Mulligan -http://www.cityofomaha.org/citycouncil/council-members/district-7/contact
444-5557 is the council's office
444-5555 is the mayor's office

Carbon Footprints

My family's carbon footprint is approximately 222.54 metric tons of CO2 per year.  A VERY LARGE majority of that comes from our auto usage.

You can easily find out your own household's carbon footprint by googling carbon footprint calculator.  The sites you go to also list ways you can reduce your carbon footprint.

In my opinion there is not much I can do unless my whole family starts riding our bikes everywhere.  I would have a hard time biking to work now that I work at 9 a.m. and my kids can't go to school any earlier than 8:30.  It takes me 25 minutes to bike from their school to my work and if I didn't care what my hair looked like for work I wouldn't worry but I have to wear a bike helmet for safety and my hair just doesn't look good after it comes out of the helmet.  Everyone has their excuses, myself included.

Since I have so many excuses for using my car(s), I have to try to reduce my carbon footprint where I can.  I recycle but I should start doing compost.  I turn off lights and don't turn on my heat/air until absolutely necessary and keep it at a temperature that makes it more efficient.  I have started replacing all bulbs with the energy efficient ones.  There are many other things I can be doing, what can you be doing?

Shin Splints

I took 3 weeks of leave from roller derby.  I just went back last night.  What was my reward?  Shin splints.

Shin splints cause pain from just below the knee to about 6 inches down the front of the leg.  The cause of shin splints is not really known except that they stem from overuse, inflammation, and possible injury to the posterior peroneal tendon.  I don't get them very often myself so I hope last night was only temporary.  I was able to work through them and endure practice so they are not bad enough to make me give up.

I have done some research on the best way to treat shin splints.  Doctors used to think either resting all together or working through the pain.  Neither seemed to work but doctors instead have found that a few treatments together can effectively treat shin splints.

Workouts such as bicycling or swimming will keep up the cardiovascular workout while treating the shin splints.  Ice reduces inflammation so applying ice a few times a day will certainly help.  Anti-inflammatory medications can also reduce discomfort.  An Ace bandage wrapped around the area can alleviate the discomfort.  Stretching the calf and front of the leg will aid in relief as well.  Stretch at least twice a day.  Proper running shoes are important as well.

May you be shin splint free.  :)  Have a terrific Tuesday!

Expect the Unexpected

Well those of you that voted that my 6-year-old daughter would take the first chicken exit out of Shadow's Edge haunted house on Friday night were wrong.  :)  Myself included.  I voted that she would go out of the chicken exit.  She told me she would be brave.  She was right.  I am so proud of her.

She high-fived a monster at the beginning, and didn't scream when the people with chainsaws came out even though I sure did.  She didn't scream when she saw bloody people or when people came running at her.  She did make a couple of gross-out sounds when she didn't like something.  She didn't like it when she couldn't see, but she was being carried by her daddy so she felt pretty safe.  I think what helped her was I told her no one was as scary as her daddy.  I think she believed that.  :)

She was so proud of herself and I am so proud of her too.  My brave girl.

BANG!!!!!

I don't like what color you're wearing!  BANG!!!

You stood next to my girlfriend!  BANG!!!

You're standing in my territory!  BANG!!!

You're not part of my group!  BANG!!!

I cannot believe this is the way some people are handling disagreements.  The mentality "I don't like that we are different or that we disagree so I will just kill you," has got to stop.  Lives are not being valued anymore.  Violence is an idiotic way to solve an argument.  Enough said.

Please answer the poll at the bottom of the blog post.  Thank you and have a great Friday!

Price Match Princess

Yes, I have become one of those.  And I even clip coupons!  If you are in line after me, you will probably wait longer than the average time as I spout out the price of each item and the clerk enters them.  I make a list of the things I buy that are on sale in the ads every week.  Then I buy only those things unless I NEED an item.  I plan my meals around those items.  It has been saving me HUNDREDS of dollars.  Literally.

I used to spend anywhere from $160 to $200 weekly for groceries.  For the last 2 months I have been diligently price-matching and using my coupons and spending anywhere from $70 to $150 every week. 

I get some attitude from clerks sometimes, but I don't care.  Money is money and I save where I can.  I have found little ways to save lots of money over the last couple of years when I used to work at home.  Grocery shopping was a tremendous bill and even an extra $50 makes a difference long-term.  I have not been great with money previously.  I have had to train myself to be thrifty which has taken years.  The changes I have made have had a tremendous impact on my household budget and my stress as well.

Charter Schools for Nebraska

Charter schools receive public money, but are not subject to the rules and regulations that apply to public schools.  They are attended by choice and cannot charge tuition.  People who pay tuition for school should not have to pay education taxes at the same time.  Well we know that is not going to change so the alternative is to make a charter law, which Nebraska is 1 of only 10 states without a charter school law.  Since charter schools receive public funding, the parents wouldn't have to pay tuition and pay education tax at the same time.

If public school doesn't work for a child, then the state should still be obligated to provide a free education.  My son was being bullied in an Omaha Public School with several reports and no changes made, so I decided to send him to a private school.  Fortunately this school operates on a sliding fee scale so it makes it affordable for my family.  Unfortunately many parents still cannot afford this cost and shouldn't have to.  If the state fails a student, they should still pick up the cost to educate them since our children have a right to a free education.

If you would like to support the passing of a charter law in Nebraska, please contact the Nebraska Charter School Coalition at 230 68th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68132 or by phone at (402) 558-4644.  You could also write to your congressmen and senators about this issue. 

No News is Good News

"When you watch the news with all its propaganda, spin doctors, and edited footage you are being brain-washed into accepting that our world is in a state that it is not in!"  -Erin Pavlina


I hardly ever watch or read the news anymore.  Not because I don't want to be informed, but I don't want to see all the bad stuff going on in the world.  I hear enough from FB or Twitter or word of mouth.  Watching the news makes me feel fearful, sad, depressed, helpless, frustrated, angry, suspicious and a whole slew of other negative emotions.  Why do I want to keep filling my mind with all that negative energy?  Yes there are OCCASIONAL good news stories, but not enough to counteract all that negativity.  I feel all that negative energy is dangerous to a person's well-being.

News is based on fear most of the time and I just can't support trying to go around putting people in fear.  The news has an agenda.  They would rather report more bad news because negativity gets a stronger reaction from people.  When our brains react to something negative, our body releases chemicals that cause us to feel even more negative feelings such as fear, sorrow, or anxiety.  The right side of our brain is responsible for our negative emotions and the left side is responsible for positive ones.  However, our brain also sends messages from right to left, making copies of the feelings we have.  If your brain is copying more negative feelings, you are going to keep having more negative thoughts.  Thoughts are recycled over and over.  The cycle goes round and round.

There is a saying, "The right brain feels what the left brain thinks."  Our brains also have a direct influence on our immune systems.  Even if you are "left-brained" you can train your right hemisphere to be more dominant.  The more positive thoughts you think, the more positive thoughts you will have.  A good way to do this is find one thing everyday to be thankful for. 

"Thoughts and feelings are what create the circumstances and results you face in your life.  Thoughts have a vibration or frequency which will produce an appropriate emotion which will cause you to take an action, or not take an action which lines up with that emotion."            -Brenda Blindenbach

So think positive and try not to take in so much negative news.  You can stay informed without being affected by all the negativity.

Hay!

Hayrack rides are a blast!!!  This weather has been perfect for them too.  If you get a bunch of people to go and split the cost it can be an inexpensive yearly event to celebrate fall and let loose and have a good time. 
You may want to take your allergy medications before you go.  :)

Hay fights are a good way to get people laughing and laughter is good medicine.

You can attack other hayracks when you pass each other.  This is really fun!

You can have a bonfire afterward and roast hot dogs and marshmallows.

Good things to wear on hayrack rides:
Turtleneck to try to keep hay out of your shirt.  Tuck that into your JEANS.  Wear a cotton sweatshirt that the hay will brush off easily.  Hay doesn't come out of fuzzy clothing very well.  You should wear boots too so the hay doesn't get to your socks easily.

Bring your drink cooler and have a great time! 

Don't Cheat Yourself

I always hear, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day."  Then I see people who are overweight and hear them say they skip a meal or meals during the day, then load up at night.  I don't see how anyone can do this and expect their body to like it.  I used to be overweight.  I also used to skip breakfast.  When I stopped smoking over 2 years ago I started eating breakfast regularly.  Now I can't go without breakfast (or any meal for that matter) or I feel terrible.  I have lost weight gradually in the last 3 years and have maintained my current weight for almost a year.

I am not saying that everyone should eat breakfast.  I am saying that it is not the best idea to go for several hours during the day without eating.  When you deprive your body of food, your body decides to slow down the metabolism to hold on to what it gets later and try to make it last.  Food is fuel and in order to keep going, your body needs it.  I have found that I keep a more regular weight when I eat every 2 to 3 hours, even just a piece of fruit. 

Men need approximately 2500 calories a day, women need about 2000, and children aged 5-10 need about 1800.  These numbers vary based on age, weight, muscle mass, and activity level.  You can figure out your personal caloric intake by using this method:

Adult women:

655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)

OR

655 + (9.6 x weight in kg) + (1.8 x height in cm) – (4.7 x age in yrs)

Adult men:

66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) – (6.8 x age in years)

OR

66 + (13.7 x weight in kg) + (5.0 x height in cm) – (6.8 x age in yrs)

The number you get from this would tell you how many calories your body needs if you spend the day lying in bed.  This is called your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

If you multiply that number by your activity level percentage, you get the number needed to maintain your CURRENT weight.

Activity Level:

• Sedentary (no exercise, sit at a desk most of the day): BMR x 120 percent 
• Light Activity (no exercise, on feet during the day, eg. shop work): BMR x 130 percent
• Moderately Active (exercise 3 or more days a week for 30 minutes or more): BMR x 140 percent
• Highly Active (exercise 5 or more days a week for 30 minutes or more): BMR x 150 percent

Example:
I am 5'3" (63 inches) and weigh 134 pounds and I am 35 years old.
655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)=

655 + (4.3 x 134) + (4.7 x 63) – (4.7 x 35)=
655 + 576.2 + 296.1 - 164.5 = 1362.8
My BMR is 1362.8 or I need 1363 calories if I just lie in bed all day.

We all know I do not lie in bed all day, at least not since derby.  :)

Now I am highly active because I exercise 5 or more days a week for 30 minutes or more per day.

So I take my BMR of 1362.8 and multiply that by 150% or 1.5 which gives me 2044.2.  In other words, I need to take in 2044 calories to MAINTAIN 134 pounds. 

Let's say that I would like to lose 10 pounds.  I have to under-eat by 3500 calories to lose 1 pound.  If I shave off 500 calories per day (3500 calories less a week), I will lose about 1 pound per week.  It would take me 10 weeks to lose 10 pounds. 

If you overeat a lot and have more to lose than 10 pounds, you could shave off up to 1000 calories per day and maybe more, but you should NOT take in less than 1000 calories per day as that would have negative effects on your body. 

My point is, skipping meals is counterproductive to weight loss.  You should eat regularly, but take in less calories AND exercise if you want to lose weight.  This will help regulate metabolism so that your body can maintain a healthier weight.

The Christian WRONG

"I join the ranks of those who are angry, because I have watched as the faith I love has been taken over by fundamentalists who claim to speak for Jesus but whose actions are anything but Christian."

—Robin Meyers

I get really irritated by people who call themselves Christian and go around pointing fingers at people who don't live as they believe and make a bad name for Christians like me who try not to judge other people by their actions.  You cannot change other people by going around and pointing out their faults.  I believe this alienates people more.  AND "Christian Right" people have faults just like anyone else but you don't see them going around baring their sin for all to see.  Forcing beliefs on others is counterproductive.  This Christian right hypocrite crap bothers me a lot. 

I believe true Christians love everyone regardless of what their faults are and leave the judgment up to God.  I have friends who are gay and I love them.  I am not going to stop loving them because they are gay.  Who am I to tell them whether being gay is right or wrong?  I really don’t know myself if it’s right or wrong.  Yes the Bible says it is wrong, but it also says it is wrong if a wife doesn’t submit to her husband which I know I am guilty of not submitting to my husband.  I know the Bible contradicts itself a lot, but let’s face it, it was written by men so I don’t take it literally.  I still read it because it is good reading.  I just talk to God about what I do not understand and He almost always shows me the truth.  Call me crazy, I don’t care.  Why does being gay have to be a bigger sin than others?  To me, no sin is greater than another, and the bible says as much.  I have friends who have had abortions, and I would never want to be in their position.  I also believe by telling them God hates what they did we are sending them farther away from Him instead of using that energy to pray for them to grow closer to Him.  I would rather love them and be there for them in the midst of their pain than shun them. 

I feel that sin is what gets in the way of a relationship with God, which is why it makes sense to me that Jesus died.  Jesus died so that when we sin, we can still have a relationship with God.  I believe it is the relationship that is important to God, not the sins we commit and whether he will forgive us or not.  I think God is a parent in the sense that no matter what we do, He will still love us and forgive us.   He just wants us to talk to him about it and pray to him about things.  The more we do this, the more we grow spiritually.  The more spiritual growth, the more peace is felt.  The more at peace someone is, the better they handle life situations.

Really my argument goes very deep because Christian Right groups are so adamant about “doing the right thing,” yet support wars that kill people when the Bible clearly says killing is wrong.  They are doing much worse things than this as well but it would take me forever to write about it all.

In my opinion, the Bible is not there for Christians to use as a list of rules for people to follow, it is there for me and you, if you so choose, to strengthen a relationship with God.  I don’t go around quoting the Bible to my friends so I can point out their flaws.  I would rather tell them I am praying for them and that I am there for them.  Hypocritical “Christians” will not be able to bring glory to God in my opinion.  The glory is in the joy of love that they are missing completely.

Almond Milk is All Right

I have recently started to drink almond milk.  It is pretty good and very good for you. It is also a better alternative to soy milk if you don't like it, which I do not. 
 

Almond milk also furnishes the body with high levels of manganese, selenium and vitamin E. Manganese plays an important role in activating enzymes in the body. Manganese along with phosphorous also plays a role in keeping bones and teeth healthy. Vitamin E, an antioxidant protects the cell membranes by destroying the free radicals that cause damage to them. Selenium on the other hand is good for the functioning of the immune system, for reproduction and for metabolism of the thyroid gland. 

The magnesium obtained from almond helps break down the food consumed into energy. It also assists the functioning of the parathyroid glands, which are responsible for production of hormones known for good bone health. The potassium present helps maintain normal blood pressure. Almond milk is also a good source of flavanoids. This is because, almond milk is prepared by crushing the almonds with the skin. The skin is rich in flavanoids, which is good for cardiovascular health, thereby providing protection against various heart diseases.

You can make your own almond milk if you don't want to buy it.

Almond Milk Recipe

Ingredients:

Raw almonds, 1½ cups

Filtered water, 4 cups 

Instructions:

Soak almonds in water for minimum six to eight hours. Drain the water, and blend the almond with 4 cups of water, until it reaches a milk like consistency. Strain it to remove almond skin and granules. One can store almond milk in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator for four to five days. If you want it to be sweeter, then blend in a few soaked dates as well.

You can buy a half gallon of almond milk for around $3 at the grocery store.  Vanilla flavor is my favorite.  I like to mix almond milk with my regular milk to add flavor and get the nutrients from both.  I will also put almond milk in my oatmeal along with a little brown sugar.  It is very yummy that way!  Whether you are lactose intolerant or just don't like the taste of milk, almond milk is a great option.

 

One serving (8 ounces) of unsweetened almond milk contains about 30-40 calories, 2.5-3 g of fat, 1 g of protein, 1 g of fiber and some vitamins and minerals. Almond milk is loaded with unsaturated fat, which means almond milk is beneficial in reducing the risk of heart diseases. Moreover, almond milk does not contain cholesterol and saturated fats. The protein content in almond milk helps the growth and repair functions of the body. Besides proteins, almond milk also contains omega fatty acids.

Throwing Food Together

I love throwing things together sometimes to see how they turn out.  It's good therapy.  Last night's thrown-together dish turned out pretty good.

I had ground beef, spaghetti, and tomato sauce products but wasn't sure what to make.  I looked up recipes on Allrecipes.com to get an idea.  I saw a couple of pasta bake recipes that called for sour cream or cream cheese which I did not have on hand so, I went upstairs to see what I could substitute.  I found cheddar cheese soup so decided to add a little milk to that with some eggs.  Here is what I made.

Spaghetti Bake

Ingredients:
1 pound cooked ground meat
1-16 oz box spaghetti
1 big can tomato puree
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
8 oz shredded triple cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Drain. 
2.  Mix tomato puree, soup, milk, eggs, meat, garlic, salt and pepper and seasoning.  Add cheese and stir together. 
3.  Mix sauce mixture with cooked spaghetti in a 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Add extra cheese on top if you desire after baking and let it melt.

My kids liked it and my husband thought it was pretty good.  I thought it was great for just throwing it together.  My thrown-together recipes don't always turn out as great but this one is worth making again so thought I'd share.  I imagine it would have been awesome if I had the cream cheese or sour cream to add to all this.

Beat Bullying

These stories that are coming to light lately with children committing suicide due to bullying are heartbreaking.  Many parents feel helpless and hopeless for their child because it is not something we as parents can control, and many parents may not have many options.  Then the unthinkable happens and a parent feels lost without their child, leaving unwashed sheets on the bed for over a year because they can still smell their child when they lie down in it.  I thank God everyday that I removed my son from his bullying situation before he did something drastic. 

I chose to pull my son out of public school where he was being called names like faggot daily, people knocked his books out of his hands, tried to pick fights with him, etc.  His self-esteem and grades were going down drastically and the only time he would open up to me would be when he was angry with me.  I tried SEVERAL times to discuss this with the school and at times it was almost as if they blamed him for the bullying.  They said he didn't always talk nice.  I really didn't feel they took it as serious as it was.  I decided to make a change.  I placed him in a private school with 1 classroom with 14 kids ages 5-13, where he was the oldest and it has done WONDERS.  My son's grades went from Cs and Ds to As and Bs in 1 quarter.  He gets to show younger kids how to do things which boosts his self-esteem.  He feels important again.  He feels like he matters.

Please talk to your kids about bullying.  It is IMPORTANT!!!  Tell them it is not okay to pick on other people because they look different, act different, dress different, smell different, or do anything else different.  We are SUPPOSED to be different.  We should embrace each other's differences and treat everyone with love and respect, even when they don't deserve it.  If you treat everyone with love, you can walk away proud.  If you bully someone, do you really feel proud?  It has to stop somewhere.  Spread the message that it will not be tolerated.  Educate yourself, your children and their children.  Bullying is just not okay.

Costumes Made Easy

Our family is being thrifty this year when it comes to Halloween Costumes.  For my daughter, I found a sparkly dress that she can't wear much longer.  My daughter said she wanted to wear it and be a princess.  The dress will be a little short on her so I suggested she be a fairy princess.  She loved that idea.  She has a wand and a crown so we are borrowing wings and voila!  Done.  Easy peasy.

For my son, he is being a not-so-happy-camper.  We will have him wear his scout uniform or some other camping-like outfit.  He will have a fishing pole and we will make him look like he got mauled by a bear.  Also easy peasy.

Now for mine and my husband's costumes, I will not give them away but less than $10 will be spent on them because we have most items already for them.  If you want details, ask me after Halloween and I will post pics.

For some GREAT costume ideas go here>>>  http://www.costumeideazone.com/

As I have said before, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  Happy Halloween time!!!