Great Halloween Crafts and Recipes for Kids

It's almost that time of year again, the night when little ghosts and goblins roam the streets in search of treats. I know some have decided that Halloween is no longer politically correct. But I, for one, love it. Always have. It's the one time of year children can pretend to be whoever they want to be, whether it's a princess or a Ninja turtle, or have a little fun pretending to be something that otherwise would frighten them, like a witch or monster.

It's a fun holiday for adults too. I can remember dressing up, myself, when my children were small, and going door-to-door trick or treating with them. The kids loved it, and it gave me an opportunity to relive simpler days.

So in the spirit of Halloween, here are a few sites you might want to share with your kids. They're filled with great costume and craft ideas, spooky recipes, and even a little Halloween history:

Halloween is For Kids

Enchanted Learning's Halloween Page

Kaboose.com's Halloween Page

Britta.com's Halloween Recipes

Share them with your kids and have a great Halloween!

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The Hassle of a Family Move

If you read this blog often, you know that I recently moved to a new home. Unfortunately my living room still has a whole corner devoted to unpacked boxes, pictures that need hanging, and stuff I just don't know what to do with. I'm beginning to think those boxes will still be there when we move again, although I hope not.

I hate the whole moving process: going through and throwing out as much as possible, packing what you're taking to the new house. And last, but certainly not least, the actual packing and unpacking of the moving truck.

My daughters and I moved ourselves this time. We rented a truck, spent a whole Saturday loading it up, then broke down and called for backup on the unloading of the furniture and boxes. I hadn't moved in five years, and I had forgotten how exhausting it can be. All you're thinking about around 8:00 on moving day is how you can get that bed put together and sheets on it in time for bed.

So I've made a vow. Next time I'm going to call a moving company. There's a service called MyMovingquote.com, where you can fill out one form and get quotes, within hours, from selected moving companies in your area. And they check to make sure all the companies recommended are licensed and insured, so you don't have to worry about it.

I'm hoping to get some of those pictures hung and boxes unpacked this weekend. Wish me luck.

This is a sponsored post.

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New Work at Home Opportunity

There's a new company geared specifically to the work-at-home mom. Lifebushido.com is "building a global network of people working from home." The hours are flexible. You start out small and increase your hours as you go. And you are assigned jobs that match your unique skills and abilities. Right now, Lifebushido is seeking 100 stay-at-home-moms who are also MBA graduates for a "top secret project." Check them out.

And the dog? I just thought he was cute.

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Cool Site O' the Day

Love this site. It's Better.tv. Watch Halloween craft demonstrations. Learn how to cook a four-course meal or organize your pantry. It's all on video, step-by-step. Enjoy!

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Teach Your Children to Resist Evil

One of my youngest daughters and I were watching Ken Burns' The War this past weekend on PBS. It's a great documentary about World War II, and I would recommend it to anyone. But it was fairly graphic in its depiction of the Holocaust and the horrible crimes committed against the Jewish people, and my daughter became quite upset.

She had been exposed to the history of the Holocaust in school. And I think it's important that our children, by the time they're teens, know about the Holocaust. Because as someone once said - I'm not sure who - those who don't understand history are doomed to repeat it. My daughter could not fathom how the killing and torturing of so many innocents took place. Specifically, she could not understand how so many people could turn to evil.

And so when I found this article by Stanford University professor Philip Zimbardo, The Lucifer Effect, it seemed like serendipity. In it, he advises how you can resist negative or evil influences in your own life. There are 20 tips. My favorites, though, are #5: "Be ready to say the three most difficult phrases in the world: 'I was wrong', 'I made a mistake', and 'I’ve changed my mind.' Cut bait, accept immediate loss of money, face, etc. that could lead to bigger long term losses..." and #17: "Trust your intuition, gut feelings when you sense you are becoming a target of influence, put up your counter-arguing mentality, and dig down for sources for resistance." Good advice for everyone.

I was unable to give my daughter an adequate explanation as to why the Holocaust occurred, why so many willingly let evil guide them. I don't think it's a question anyone will ever be able to adequately answer. But Philip Zimbardo's article provides, I think, some useful talking points for parents to discuss the issue of evil and how to resist its influence. At any rate, it's a starting point.

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