Our House For Halloween

All for under $40. 

WE ARE READY FOR SOME TRICK-OR-TREATERS!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN. 

What's your favorite Halloween Decoration? 

You've Been Booed!

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A few mornings back we got the best surprise on our front door step! We had been booed. It has been years since I’ve been booed. The look on my children’s faces once they say the bag of goodies was priceless! It amazes me how neighbors can come together and bring joy to each other’s faces with just a simple thoughtful gift.

If you have been booed before then you probably are familiar with the guidelines. Once you receive your goodie bag you will need to put the “You’ve Been Booed” note on your door or window so your neighbors will know not to Boo you again. Then you will have two days to bring the joy to two other families. Now you have to be as sneaky as a mouse so no one sees the ghost. :)

The fun part is picking out what to put into the Boo Bag. My kids and I took a trip to Target and hit their $1 bins. For us this can be dangerous, but we put a $10 limit on each bag so we wouldn’t go crazy. I personally feel that with Halloween just around the corner kids don’t need an overwhelming amount of candy, so we stuck with getting goodies that were personal to the recipient. Here is what we put together:

Boo Bag for a little girl:

2 Age appropriate books

Sticker book

Halloween socks

Frozen Headband Set

Plastic Halloween cup

Pack of Halloween pencils

Bath Paint

Witches hat with cotton candy in it

Candy Vampire teeth

Skittles Pumpkin

M & M tube

Boo Bag for a Boy:

Age appropriate book

Halloween Socks

Pack of fake mustaches

Halloween cup

Halloween pencils

Glow Sticks

Bouncy Eyeballs

Candy Vampire teeth

Sour Patch Kids

Air Heads

Witches hat with cotton candy in it

My son picked out the pumpkin and monster cloth bag to put all the goodies in, but you can make your Boo Bag out of anything you would like. You can use the plastic pumpkins for trick-or-treating or you can make something.

For the FREE PRINTOUT of the “You’ve Been Booed” ghost that I designed CLICK HERE.

HAPPY BOOING!

Fall in New England is Simply the BEST

As the weather begins to get colder and the leaves change in color, well kind of change, my longing for New England grows stronger. There are defiantly some advantages to living in Texas, but a fall in New England is like no other! It has been three years now since I took the drive up 93 to look at God’s beautiful painting. Oh how i miss it! For some reason fall just doesn’t feel like fall this year, which is sad because fall is my favorite time of year! I can’t wait to pull out my UGG boots and North face jacket. I jump for joy when Starbucks brings back the Pumpkin Spice Latte! This year i just want to bring a little bit of my home to Texas. 

I miss driving down the road and being taken away by all the different colors within the trees.

I miss Apple picking in the cold crisp air.

I miss drinking warm apple cider while sitting around a fire outside. 

I miss wearing sweaters, scarves, and boots because its cold outside….not just for fashion.

I miss shopping down Newbury Street wearing just a North Face fleece window shopping for Christmas. 

I miss holding a Pumpkin Spice Latte to warm my hands 

 I miss all the Halloween festivals and events  

But most of all I miss the smell! There is no way to describe the smell of New England other than… Perfect! 

What is your favorite thing about Fall? 

It's Okay!

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What do you do when you realize you aren’t living the life you dreamed about? The life you saw displayed in magazines, movies, and television shows, the type of life that society has associated with “normal”. 

All my life I had depicted this image of what a “normal” life, marriage, and family were supposed to look. I would grow up to be a mother of four beautiful children who wore pearls and dresses while tending to the house and kids. I would smile all the time because there was nothing to be sad about. My husband would come home after a hard day at work to a gourmet meal on the table and his family exchanging stories about their day.  We would live in a standard suburban home with a well-tamed dog and excellently manicured lawn. I would dive the children around to their activities and sports in our minivan and cook for the bake sale and booster club.  Fights between spouses and daily troubles were not thought of.

Check Out Tinyme's Awsome Range Of Wall Stickers

Ok…you can laugh now!

There is no fairytale life, marriage, or family. There is no “normal”. One of the biggest lessons I have learned after 3 years of marriage and 2 kids is that it is ok to just be you. It is ok to do what works for your family. What works for you.

I drive myself crazy trying to be the best mother and wife I can be for my family. I never want my husband or my children to be without or feel like they could have had someone better. This may sound crazy to you, but I just like to be my best. I think it is the control/ OCD side of me. I am still fairly new at this whole wife and mother thing, but I have found that it is important to find our families own identity. I cannot compare my family to that of those on television or in magazines because lets face it….THEY ARENT REAL!

• It’s ok to want to hide in a closet and cry when times get tough
• It’s ok to have arguments with your spouse. It can even be healthy for your relationship
• It’s ok for you house to not be wicked clean and tidy all the time
• It’s ok to have mac-n-cheese for dinner occasionally
• It’s ok to just want to be alone
• It’s ok to wonder what you life would have been like if you went down a different road
• It’s ok to skip bath time and go straight to bed
• It’s ok to not do the dishes every night
• It’s ok to totally hate the Disney Channel and all the characters on it
• It’s ok to just let you children cry themselves to sleep after a long day
• It’s ok to skip a few pages at story time to get to the end faster
• It’s ok to not put all the toys back where they are suppose to go
• It’s ok to want to have an adult conversation at the end of the day
• It’s ok to have your husband cook dinner and clean up
• It’s ok to get mad and yell
• It’s ok to be overwhelmed
• It’s ok to watch reality TV and eat candy in bed
• It’s ok to give into your kids and give them what they want just so they will stop whining or crying
• It’s ok the laundry has been sitting there for a week
• It’s ok if your lawn and landscaping isn’t perfect
• It’s ok if you have week old fast food bags left in your car
• It’s ok that you hid that really annoying toy your kids love and tell them it’s lost
• It’s ok to make bedtime a little early just to have time with your husband
• It’s ok to get a babysitter and enjoy a night out with your husband
• It’s ok that your still in your pajamas and your hair isn’t brushed
• It’s ok if you don’t sit at the dinner table as a family

IT IS OK TO JUST LET YOUR FAMILY BE YOUR FAMILY!!!! LET YOURSELF BE YOURSELF! LET YOUR RELATIONSHIP BE ITS OWN!

Ebola Infects Halloween Candy

I am not one to write about politics or world issues, nor is this blog about such topics, but I fear the Ebola virus. With Halloween just around the corner this article sent me into a panic attack. Yes, I might be an overactive mother, but that is ok with me! The fact that 3 Ebola patients have been diagnosed close to home is terrifying! ….and now this. When are we going to be able to enjoy a holiday and not have to fear for the safety and health of our families?

The following article is from Fox News :

Some of the world’s largest chocolate companies are joining the fight against Ebola, as the virus threatens the world's chocolate supply.

Nestle, Mars and Hershey are among the companies pledging support to combat the disease wrecking havoc on nations that border Ivory Coast --the world’s biggest exporter cacao --the raw ingredient in chocolate. 

Ivory Coast has shut down its borders with Liberia and Guinea, two nations hardest hit by the Ebola virus, shutting out migrant workers needed to pick the beans that go into M&M, Snickers Bars and Hershey's Kisses, reports Politico. Though Ivory Coast has yet to report a single case of the deadly virus, residents are fearful that the disease may quickly cross borders.

The World Cocoa Foundation, a non-profit that aids small cocoa farmers, has enlisted the help of many of its 113 members, including Godiva, Ghiradelli, Mars, to raise money for those affected. The organization has not released figures on how much has been raised, and more details are likely to emerge at the group’s annual meeting this Wednesday in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“As a member of the WCF and a supporter of the CocoaAction strategy, Mars is pleased to see the industry coming together to help organizations on the ground in the prevention and eradication of the Ebola virus,” Mars told Politico in a statement.

Prices for cocoa beans have risen in recent weeks due to Ebola concerns, but it's unclear if Americans stocking up on Halloween candy will feel the pinch.  If prices continue to rise, chocolate producers could replace some of the cocoa with fillers, or could just pass the cost onto consumers. This follows a spike in chocolate prices this summer, when cocoa prices jumped by about 8 percent.  

Donations from the chocolate companies will be distributed to the International Federation of Red Cross, the Red Crescent Societies, and Caritas, a charity affiliated with the Catholic Church, according to CNN.

According to the World Health Organization, over 4,000 people have died from Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Chocolate magnate Nestle is said to be “deeply concerned” about the devastating potential spread of the virus through West Africa which is home to many of its 6,300 African employees. 

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Keeping Your Family Safe from Ebola

One of the hottest topics in the news around the United States right now is the scare and risk of Ebola. Is the United States Ebola’s next target for an epidemic? Is Ebola our generations AIDS? Should we be scared to walk out our doors, let alone function in normal society?

It was not until the news started reporting of Ebola hitting the United States that I have buried my head in the news just waiting to hear our world is slowly crashing down one germ at a time.  The good news is that there has been no form of Ebola contracted within the United States. The bad is that there have been 3 individuals treated in our hospitals across the United States. The fear of this potentially fatal epidemic did not really hit home with me until Ebola started taking over our news here in Texas.  Are we more vulnerable? Are my kids safe?  These questions among many more pass through my head everyday.

What really is Ebola?

According to WHO, the World Health Organization, Ebola (hemorrhagic fever) is a rare and serious disease caused by infection with one of the five virus strains. Fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas,

monkeys, forest antelope, and porcupines that are found ill or dead in the rainforest host the virus. The virus is then introduced to humans through the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of the infected animals. It has been reported that this is commonly transmitted through eating raw meat of an infected animal.

The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo where there were 318 reported cases with an 88% death rate.  From 1976 the majority of Ebola cases were reported across Africa. The most recent outbreak first reported in March of the year, is the largest and most complex outbreak since 1976.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM EBOLA. CLICK HERE 

How can we get Ebola?

Ebola is spread among humans by the direct contact of an infected human’s blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids. This includes semen and breast milk. Men who were infected can transmit Ebola through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery. Ebola can also be spread through surfaces and materials contaminated by an infected person’s bodily fluids. 

Unlike other viral outbreaks, the Ebola virus is not spread through the air, water, or food.  There has also been no evidence that the virus can be spread through insects.

What are the Signs and Symptoms?

Level 1:

• Fever greater than 101.5 degrees F
• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Sore throat

Level 2:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal (stomach) pain
• Rash
• Symptoms of impaired kidney and Liver function
• In some cases internal and external bleeding

A person will not become infectious until the onset of the symptoms that arise between 2-21 days after coming into contact with Ebola. During a blood test low white blood cell and platelet counts will be noted, along with elevated liver enzymes.

How do you keep your family Safe?

• WASH YOUR HANDS!!!
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid other people’s blood and body fluids
• Disinfect all surfaces – especially those in public
• Wear gloves in public if unsure of your surrounding
• Avoid anyone who you suspect might be infected
• Avoid contact with bats and nonhuman primates
• Boost your immune system
• Be cautious of public restrooms
• Do not touch your face without sanitizing or washing hands
• Keep all wounds bandaged properly

If you are like me, germs are your worst nightmare. The fear of contracting some weird virus, let alone Ebola is overwhelming! I fear more for my children than anything else. I constantly have to grab unknown objects out of their hands and mouth. Store shopping carts, public restrooms, store counters, and credit card readers are some of my worst enemies! To help limit the risk of my family coming into contact with Ebola, I have invested in high alcohol content hand sanitizer, portable Lysol wipes, and Lysol disinfecting spray. Yes, I am that woman with a can of Lysol disinfecting spray in public.

Don’t let the media scare you with all of the Ebola stories. Know your facts and practice careful hygiene to stay germ free, especially during the winter months. 

References: 

"Ebola Virus Disease." WHO. World Health Organization, Sept. 2014. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/>.

"Prevention." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 07 Oct. 2014. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/prevention/index.html>.

"Answering Your Questions About Ebola Treatments And Vaccines." NPR. NPR, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/10/355184997/answering-your-questions-about-ebola-treatments-and-vaccines>.