Happy Halloween!

The History Channel has got some wonderful and fun interactive content surrounding the history of Halloween.

I often find that their online programming proves excellent for use in extension activities. The 'Hidden Spirits' haunted house game, for instance, is both brilliantly fun and a great way to extend reading and critical thinking skills.

Try it out (if you dare!)

TRICK OR TREAT OR TRICK YOUR MIND?

by Laura Discepola, RNCP/ROHP

Be rest assured, all hope is not lost, there are ways to keep your hands out of the candy jar and avoid the temptation this Halloween season!

HERE ARE SOME TIPS SO YOU DON’T FALL INTO THE HALLOWEEN CANDY TRAP:

1. Buy candy that you dislike and hand that out to the trick-or-treaters so you are not tempted to sample.

2. Buy healthier choices to hand out and be the healthy house on the block. Try boxed raisins, granola bars, boxed juices, individual fruit cups , apple sauces or fruit leathers (dried fruit sticks found in the produce section of your grocery store)

3. Skip the candy and hand out stickers, temporary tattoos, balloons, erasers or crayons instead – I’m pretty sure if those are around you will not be tempted to eat them!


Great! So you are thinking to yourself “What about when my kids bring home all their candy, what am I supposed to do then?”

1. Remember that it’s not your candy; it’s their candy so it’s not really yours to eat in the first place! You wouldn’t want them helping themselves to something that was yours without permission would you?

2. Ask your kids to say “no” when you ask for a piece – let them be the boss when it comes to your candy-eating habits.

3. Think out of sight, out of mind. Don’t leave a bowl of candy on the kitchen counter or in a place that you often find yourself looking like your main pantry or kitchen shelf. Place it in a solid container so that you do not see the contents and don’t get tempted!

4. When a craving does occur, try chewing on a piece of dried fruit – you will get a very similar, if not, the same satisfaction!

5. Keep some fruit leathers handy and don’t feel guilty having one once in a while if it helps you stay away from the candy trap.

7. Take a break. Call a friend, go for a walk and get away for a breath of fresh air will help curb that craving.

8. Manage your hunger by eating smaller, well-balanced meals (3 meals and 2 snacks) daily and control your hormones which will in turn control your cravings. Planned meals will make you less likely to get your hand stuck in that candy jar too!

9. Try making an herbal tea sweetened with stevia or home-made lemonade to satisfy that sweet tooth!

10. Craving chocolate? Make a healthy hot chocolate by combining skim milk, water and cocoa with a few drops of stevia for sweetness and you will forget all about the candy jar!

Contact:
Laura Discepola, RNCP/ROHP
laura.cnp@rogers.com
647.408.7142

Wishing everyone a happy, spooky and safe halloween

I've watched plenty of movies on Halloween night but to experience it in person would an entirely different experience, really frightening.. it’s something i have never seen or witnessed in person. Must be eerie and spooky like the movies, eh!? but something totally amusing.. i know, i know.. i've also grown up reading and hearing about it in books, and from my relatives and friends who live in those foreign lands :-)

Though i have watched movies depicting Halloween celebrations and heard so much, i was still oblivious to many questions i had in mind. Well, at last i couldn't stop myself from curiously hopping around the internet for history, traditions, activities, and some safety tips regarding the much awaited Halloween night.

I also know it’s a night where kids are prone to accidents. It’s obvious, and important as parents to practice cautiousness on festivals and occasions. To ensure everyone has a safe Halloween i've put down a few Halloween safety tips, and activities for kids. This is a post from my other blog (pregnancy and parenting).

I wish i could be part of the celebrations, i know i cant, but i can.. wish you all a HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN :-)

HELLBOY HALLOWEEN WORKOUT

Chest - Flat Bench Dumbbell - 4 sets 8-10 reps

Shoulders -Seated Dumbbell Press – 3 sets 8-10 reps

Triceps –Dumbbell Triceps Extensions – 3 sets 8-10 reps

Back - Lat Pulldown – 4 sets 8-10 reps

Biceps - Barbell Curl – 3 sets 8-10 reps

Quads – Squats – 4 sets 8-10 reps

Hams - Lying Leg Curl – 3 sets 8-10 reps

Calves -Standing Calf Raise – 3 sets 15-20 reps

Abs - Reverse Crunch 3 sets 15-20 reps

Hellboy

I'm gonna be sore in the mornin'!

Hollywood's Halloween Costume party

Halloween night is a few months ahead, yet the costumes are on demand from now on.. Nobody wants a last minute stitch or hairdo, isn't it! I have set my eyes on the sexiest, funniest, cutest and finest designed costumes from the store at http://www.costumecauldron.com. At the store there is an enormous collection of costumes ranging from varieties in each category like sexy Halloween costume, adult costume, kids, toddlers, teen, infant and pet costumes... But that's not the end, each category has every character possible you know from the 20's, 60's, 80's, geisha, ninja and samurai, serial killers, royalty and princess, animal and insect, witches, food, aliens etc etc.. And these are just a few! From the toddler and kids category, ariel, air force, barbie princess toddler, buzz light year and lots more!



I am imagining all the big stars of Hollywood invited to the Halloween party, and who else but Lady Pirate and Fred arrive an hour early, flying right through the hallway on the good witch Sabrina's broom! Ha ha.. You maybe wonderful what is so strange between them... It’s the theme of the party, opposites attract! Well that's actually Nicole Kidman inside the lady pirate costume and Tom Cruise inside Fred's costume. Nobody should recognize the unusual couple!! Any idea where the good witch Sabrina's off to? She’s left her broom to a good cause, i guess :)

The pirate costume is so ultra modern now days, because adults wearing these costumes give us a new outlook to fancy dressing on Halloween, especially we adults. Usually it would be youngsters wearing fancy dress to a party but our stars wear them on screen, why not off screen too. Fred's costume is so unusual. Would anyone want to be Fred for a day? Answer is, he's a nice and humble guy, anyone would want to dress themselves as him.

Wearing this beautiful princess 'Tiara', i picture the reining pregnant mom 'Angelina' and while she worn it, she'd out beat all princesses in beauty wise. Her glowing beauty knows no bounds these days. And where is Shiloh, Brangelina's biological daughter? Aha... Hiding inside that banana peel!

The store also has masks, wigs, decorations, audio and video effects and other props which you can mix and match and cook up your own style and theme for your party.

Psst psst readers... Check out the store online for there is a haunted house secret door somewhere on the homepage, near a brown comma??? Hurry, go on and search for your discount opportunity, it’s of great amount!! And remember shipping charges are only $6.99.