Trick or Treat

Be safe and stay dry!

A Fun and Safe Halloween For All

Halloween is probably the most celebrated holiday besides Christmas that I know of. And most loved by kids! Well, why not, it's the only time they get to dress up and more importantly hoard candies with 100% permission from us, parents. Yes, all that sugar that makes all the kids jump from wall to wall all night! And again, why not? It only happens once every year, right?

Now what if you can make this year different? Will you do it if given the chance? Have you heard of Reverse Trick or Treating? A project to help end child slavery in cocoa fields and promote fair trade. The gist is, it is the kids who will be giving treats to adults on Halloween. Check Global Exchange if  it's something you want to participate in. They provide the kits inclusive of free chocolates and flyers.

Or you can simply pay it forward with this great idea of Booing! from the fabulous Mom it Forward which was adapted from another creative fellow blogger Skip to my Lou. Just Download this special Ghost door Hanger , gather some treats and start booing your neighbors! 

And to make sure yours and your kids costumes doesn't catch fire while you knock on the door or ring on the doorbell trick or treating next to a candle-illuminated jack-o-lantern on Halloween, just grab this useful recipe that you can easily concoct at home and brew it before heading out the door Halloween night.

And oh! armed yourself with Halloween Etiquette too or mon dieu! Debrett, Britain's Etiquette authority will come after you! So remind the kids to always say "Thank you".!

Yoda of Star Wars courtesy of Telegraph.co.uk

By the way, if you need help carving out that pumpkin, Scott Cummins might be able to help you. He does 3-D version of famous faces like the picture above. Now I'm not sure I would want my face on a pumpkin, do you?

Well, I hope these great tips helps make your Halloween a big barrel of fun this year! And PLEASE feel free to share any tips and whatnots for a Halloween-well-worth-celebrating by leaving a comment for us to learn from.

A safe and Happy Halloween to all! Trick or Treat???

Project Bonding - Windows to my World Wednesday

Pumpkins on the Wall

at school outside the classroom

My little Girly's Pumpkin Diva Creation

Her Turkiness!

If there's anything rewarding beyond the tons of paperwork that my kindergartener brings home each day from school, the Fall Craft projects are one we both enjoy since we work on them together! It has become our own little bonding moment. Doing the projects together also encourages her creativity and at the same time promoting cooperation and participation. A great lesson for her to learn. So, what little ways do u do as bonding moments with your kids in this very hectic life?

Talking about hectic, I'm posting this really late today which is why Mc Klinky is not up. Let me know if you want to participate next week. See you then. Thank you! 

Pledge your Time - Help Save a Child

Would you consider pledging the one hour you'll gained on November 1st to help save a child? I did. If you know me, I've been passionately involved in several charitable projects just this year alone and when Mom Select asked me to help spread the word about this cause, I said yes right away. I'm a mom and this project hits close to home with me.

*Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner teamed up to support Save the Children's CHANGE program, dedicated to providing nutritious snacks and promoting healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty in the United States. Frigidaire has committed to donate $250,000 to this worthy cause.

Now here's the fun part, when you pledge to spend an hour with your child, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children's U.S. Programs. And you will be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Professional double wall oven.  How cool is this?

I pledged to listen to or play music together with my daughter since both of us love music! Make your pledge now if you haven't yet and help support this awesome cause. Please CLICK HERE and make the pledge today. You've got nothing to lose, but rather you're saving lives!

Help Save a Child today.

Make the Pledge. 

I know I can count on you...

*Note: This is not a paid endorsement.

Pumpkin Fest with a Twist

So this Saturday we were invited to a neighborhood Pumpkin Fest minus my hubby who was away as a Volunteer Crew Team Leader for Avon Walk for Breast Cancer for the 2nd year (Bless his heart). As it is, It was just me and our little girly. Thanks to our dear friend Nigel who picked us up from home and treated us with a First Class pick-up service inclusive of scrumptious Chick-Fil-A meal on board, we definitely felt like VIP's. "I could get use to this." I told him and I know I will.

Now I had no clue what to expect in a Pumpkin Fest - being this my first - I was clueless but guessed it would be filled with Pumpkins? Well, as I found out it was not.

Instead, it was dominated by a horror tent and ghoulish freaks: a walking mustard bottle, an ostrich, a pirate, gypsy, rockstar, a bubble wrap superhero, SWAT kid, an abused bride (dead of course) and a witch to name a few! Then you have these silly humanoids and their pets crashing the party. I thought "so this is Pumpkin Fest...?" Not bad. It was actually fun even in the absence of the pumpkins!

Dancing the Hokey Pokey with the Ostrich Man

My little girly was beyond happy to get the chance to dress up and have a blast. Dressing up gets her into an enigmatic and animated mode, there's almost a sense of her being transformed to a different persona so akin of Dr. Jekyll and Hyde or The Mask - but in a very cute way of course!

Bubble Wrap Girl and the Charmed Witch to the rescue!

Here are 5 things I learned about Pumpkin Fest ala for the dummies 101:

a) A great way to get your neighbors together for a meet and greet event.
b) Chance to taste different foods and swap recipes.
c) Fun and safe way to kick off pre-Halloween for the kids in the neighborhood.
d) Karaoke fun! - having a voice is all that's required.
e) Best of all, a chance to dress up, play a part and have a blast in the process.

A Pumpkin Fest is a great neighborhood idea as I've observed. Where I live, it is not celebrated so it was a liberating experience to be in one. Another great way to kick off Halloween before Halloween are the Boo Bash events hosted by local shopping centers around town which is chuck full o' fun for the kids, FREE food and discounted shopping treats for the adults!

One popular event as such in Charlotte is the BOO BASH at Blakeney which I missed this year in place of the Pumpkin Fest. No regrets there (crickets) although I was a bit disappointed that I didn't. My mom groupie at Moms Like Me.com were a-calling my presence at the event where they have set up a table but alas, I could not! Oh well, next year...

I hope the idea of Pumpkin Fest inspired you to create a similar one in your community or even as a family event to get together to kick off an unforgettable Halloween week. I would love to hear what ideas your family do to celebrate pre-Halloween, traditions or whatnots, just leave your insightful comments below so we can all see it and pick up an idea or two! Thank you...

Happy Pumpkin Fest everyone! BOO!


Check this State hosted Pumpkin Festivals for more ideas:
New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival
Illinois Pumpkin Festival
California Pumpkin Festival
Wisconsin Pumpkin Festival
Maine Pumpkin Festival
Kentucky Pumpkin Festival
All things Piedmont NC

Above all else is Charity

After my successful project for Dress for Success in behalf of Moms at Work Luncheon September of this year, I have been on all-time high since. It feels good to be able to give. Makes it more special when you give of yourself and your service. No money can top that.

I have no money to give but I have something else to give like my hair. I'm growing my hair again this year for Locks of Love. It will be my 3rd year. I also did the Shop for Cure Summer of this year in support of Avon Walk for Breast Cancer while my hubby will again be a Volunteer Crew Team Leader for their walk the 2nd time this year in honor of her sister who is a survivor.

Now we all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and if you're looking for simple ways to take part and support Charitable causes, here are some companies that can use some of your help :

My favorite restaurant Panera Bread has re-launched the Pink Ribbon Bagel. Good Taste for Good Cause! The idea was developed in 2001 by Sue Stees, one of Panera Bread's first Franchisees and also a breast cancer survivor herself as a way to help support the cause.

Hungry Howie's launched Love, Hope and Pizza in support of the cause.Great for Pizza lovers. Enjoy your pizza while helping fight Breast Cancer.

Organic Bouquet has a Breast Cancer Awareness Collection that includes organic cookies in support of the cause.

My shop Golden Flower Creations is also participating to support the cause by donating a portion of it's sales of some of these items below for the whole month of October:

Giving is a virtue and there are many ways to help and support any cause. I know it's hard to give when you have nothing to give but it sure does feel good inside when you've done something good. Total Nirvana! 

Please let me know if you're running a fund drive or cause for any organization so I can add them in the list. 




Note: Products mentioned here are not paid endorsements, just my personal choice.

Poor Mens GPS - Window to My World Wednesday

You like our GPS? Cute eh?
 We were on our way uptown Charlotte where it's so easy to get lost. 
We needed a little help.

Here's a better look! What do you think?

It is a very simple device and less complicated to use. 

Most of all it is dirt cheap! Try it!

SEE, EVEN A CAVE MAN CAN DO IT...

You liked what you saw through my window today?

Let me have a peek on yours.

Link your Wednesday posts below so I can get lost in your world today!

Your window, your world... 
Window to my World Wednesday

Don't forget to link up on Who's your First Blog Hop. Great way to pay tribute to the first person who commented on your blog and get to know NEW bloggy friends along the way!

Who was your first?

A-ha! Naughty minds! Well, we don't want any dirty talk here - though dirty minds are allowed once in a while - just for fun. Call me prude but we'll stick with wholesome, shall we?

So let's have a little fun while we're at it. Today, I was tweeting with the fabulous Renee Ross. Nothing super-special about that you say BUT did you know that I was the first person to comment on her blog?

Yes I was.

I never knew that until later on when she pointed it out in one of her posts. It is a special bond I share with her  now. Today as I exchange tweets with her, it made me think of how that first comment created this special relationship between us. Has my first comment sparked a deeper love for blogging? I'll have yet to ask her. As for me, the first person who commented on my blog was also the first person who showed me the way to blogging. You wouldn't be reading me right now if it wasn't for her.

Now the FUN begins. Let's pay it forward and pay tribute to the first person who commented on our blogs by posting a short story remembering who they are, where they are now and how that first comment changed your perspective about blogging or what it sparked in you. My tribute goes to:

Meeya of Confessions of a Domesticated Party Girl.

Meeya has always been the social butterfly. The PR gal among the mom group I use to belong to locally. Her and her family moves a lot due to the nature of her hubby's job and blogging was her outlet. That's how I found out about blogging. She was very supportive when I told her I've created my blog. As soon as it was up, she was there commenting like crazy! I loved it. I never looked back since. Last I've heard she's back in the Philippines.

                   ***********************************

Now it's your turn. Who was your first? Join this fun trivia blog hop and let us know who it was so we can all pay tribute to them. Also a great way to meet more fabulous bloggers and new friends along the way. Not  to say new traffic to your blog and search engine exposure as we hop along. Don't miss out on the fun! All you need to do is Link your post to Mc Klinky here  or below. Grab the code to join the blog hop and post it in your blog post then grab this Golden Award for your Tributee!

Let's get rollin' and blog hoppin'!

Be Grateful of What You Have

There are times when I dwell on the things I don't have or can't have and fret and sulk about it to a point that sometimes I feel self-pity, it's sickening. I know that it is not healthy to do so but it gets tough not to do just that when times are really rough and you feel really inferior. It doesn't boil from lack of self-esteem but from lack of not having what you crave. To doubly work hard to achieve it while others seem to have it real easy is just disheartening. We all call it the Keeping up with the Joneses Syndrome. Who can't relate to that right?

I was feeling exactly this way when we were up in Huntersville applying our own Guerilla Tactics for a business venture that my hubby is planning to establish in that area. Life since last year has been tough which got rougher due to the bad economy. It was hard to keep a happy perspective when you're scrambling to make finances meet most of the time. Keeping up with the Joneses is nil.

So we went about the day then took a short breather at a nearby Target store. As we were heading towards the checkout aisle to pay for our little indulgences, my eyes caught the figure of this young lady in one of the cashier's booth just next to where we ended. She was unsteadily maneuvering the grocery bag on the bag pedestal while hastily scanning the items infront of her to keep her line up to pace. I must have been watching her so intently that she noticed me looking. She looked at me blankly. No twinkle in her eyes. Not even a sense of care nor a smile. At that point she's probably thinking "here goes another nuts". I looked away embarrassed. But that didn't stop me from secretly eying her again. I was mesmerized with profound admiration.

No, I was not attracted to her. I was attracted to her will-power. This lady got only one arm!I was dumb-founded. Here I was feeling blue about my life and here was someone going against all odd to function efficiently to get on with life. How ironic! I do believe I was meant to see her...

A gentle reminder that we are all blessed in different ways but we just don't see it. All our cares has made us blind. I was blind. But she will be a constant wake up call for me from now on. Her image is etched in my mind and will always think of her when I feel worthless. It may or may not work but there's never any harm in trying.

Noteworthy:

Jessica Cox
Born without arms, Jessica now flies airplanes, drives cars using her feet. The first person without arms in the American Tae Kwon-Do Association to get a black belt and the first woman pilot in aviation history to fly with her feet. A degree in Psychology and is pursuing a career as an international motivational speaker!

 

Barbie Guerra

Lost her arms when she was two. Her story was featured in Ripley's. A mom turned body builder.

What about you? Do you have any poignant experience such as this? And How did it affect you?

Bringing Sexy Back!

I'm a person who's always loved challenge and thrive in it. The more daring it is, the more I'd persevered. This is how I managed all these years. I've survived a major killer earthquake, lost a brother and my father to death, the second war in Iraq, and a totally new culture in which I now call home. I would like to think that I can conquer anything else except when it comes to my weight.

I must admit I feel like a major loser when it comes to overcoming the challenges of losing my weight. I've let 5 years worth of fat who's found home on my belly and on my waist rule me which in turn affected my health. I'm prone to get sick and tire easily. In my defense, I did start a walking regimen but thank you to all these germies floating around, I haven't done any in 2 weeks. But I have a gameplan and I'm taking back control. I want to bring my healthy and hopefully my "sexy" body back! I deserve it. Enough with all these unwanted fat and hiding under huge clothes!

I've taken the first step by submitting a video to EA Sports Active "Active for Life 6-week Challenge" to help me jumpstart my intentions. It didn't matter if I was looking sick or not feeling well in this video below. What I wanted was to send a message across that this is me now, I needed help and I'm up for the challenge.



I invite you to take this challenge with me. EA Sports active has inspired a lot of men and women to get active and be healthy. I want to be one of them and you can too. You can submit your Challenger Video and to get more information about the challenge here: Active for Life. The deadline to submit is on Monday, October 19.

I know that there will be great struggles ahead but If these fabulous challengers did it, I know I can too. All I need to do now is get passed the first step...

And if you're up for a little Party to celebrate being healthy & active, come check out Mamavation Launch Twitter Party where EA Sports Active is one of the sponsors. Don't Miss out!

Priceless

A very Magical time with Mickey and Minnie
last week

Enjoyed and shared with Great Friends

And lovely Girlfriends

at a fabulous show: Disney on Ice 2009!

Priceless...

Here's more:

Join me...
OR See the rest of my review on Rivyoohoo.

Sick of being Sick!

No I ain't smilin'. Get ready to die you germies!

Bah-humbug virus loves my daughter so much!

She's sick again. Which means hubby and I are too.

I've declared an all out war with these nasty germies. They've gotten so bad in my 'hood. I'm all for murderous rampage. Kill. Kiiiiiillllllll.

Really, I'm done with this sickness and so done with my daughter! I know tending to your sick child is part of motherhood but 6 freakin' days of constantly repeating myself and telling her: "blow your nose!" "cough it out!" "drink your water" - I almost sounded like a broken record I should have just recorded my voice and saved myself the trouble. She loves her phlegm so much, she now have both ear infected! Oh yeah. Evil eyes from her doctor made my day.

Window to My World Wednesday - Up in the Sky

Traveling the friendly (or unfriendly) skies do have its' perks especially when you're traveling across the world...

Somewhere above the North Pole
the sun was setting behind us


It started going...


going...


rising ???

Sunrise!? yes sunrise.

This magnificent occurrence happened in the course of an hour. The quickest Sunset to Sunrise I've ever seen! It was one of the marvelous display of God's wonderful creation as we crossed the equator and across the timeline that goes around the globe. The best reward I got from flying almost 24 hours from Asia back to the US. It was fun seeing it but my poor derriere was more than happy to be off that plane - 24 hours was enough to make a permanent butt impression on that seat! Not to say the butterfly effect of going back in time - literally...

If you missed the first Episode, you'll find it here. Come back next Wednesday for another great feature.