I have always enjoyed Halloween.  There is just something about dressing up in silly costumes and going door to door for candy.  I think I enjoy it just as much as the kids.  The only thing I don’t enjoy is the weight gain.

Here are some pics of the costumes the girls had this year.

I don’t know about any of you, but my head is absolutely spinning with all the info on the H1N1 vaccination.   At first I was all for it and now I’m not so sure.  I’ve heard some convincing arguments and some not so convincing arguments. It’s hard to distinguish between fact and fiction. Hubby is pro vaccination. He volunteers in the health field and is getting the vaccination.  I’m still investigating and only wish I could weed out the “truths” from the “falsehoods”.  One of the reasons I may choose to do so is because I know someone of significant importance in the medical field. She is pro-vaccination and really knows her stuff.  She received a Rhodes Scholarship and is well known in the medical field.  I really trust her judgement.  So do I vaccinate or not? That IS the question.

Case in point.  A young artist, Taylor Swift arrives on stage at the VMA’s to accept her award and thank her fans only to be interrupted by another artist claiming Beyonce had the best album of last year.  I’m glad Beyonce had the class to call Taylor up and allow her to finish her thank you speech.

Holding the door open for the people behind you.  Is it really that hard? Especially when you see a mother with kids and her hands are full. Or what about an elderly individual or someone with special needs?  A few weeks ago, I held the door open for a student on crutches…twice! I didn’t get so much as a “thank you” or even a smile.

The other day, we were visiting with a friend.  My daughter had demanded a drink and when I didn’t hear her, she yells “can you hear me? I want a drink of juice!”  You can imagine how that went over.

How did we get to this point?  I know I will be more conscious of teaching my kids proper manners.  There needs to be more selfless acts of kindness and I don’t think holding a door open for someone or saying “please” and “thank-you” is really too much to ask. Do you?

The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any. ~ Fred Astaire

Good manners can replace morals.  It may be years before anyone knows if what you are doing is right.  But if what you are doing is nice, it will be immediately evident.  ~P.J. O’Rourke

It’s almost that time of year again.  The day that you stuff yourself silly with turkey and all the fixins!  We are going to my parents cottage for thanksgiving.  My brother is deep frying a turkey.  Hopefully, we will have no grease fires, but hubby is a firefighter, so no worries there! I am making a trifle. But not just any trifle. It is a caramel apple trifle….yummmmmmmmmmm!

Doesn’t it look yummy!!!  I couldn’t find the recipe online, so I will share the recipe from halloween cookbook I have….enjoy!

Caramel Apple Trifle

3 tbsp butter

4 cups chopped peeled tart apples

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp apple pie spice

1 pkg cream cheese softened

1 jar of caramel ice cream topping

1 tub of cool whip dessert topping

2 loaves of pound cake cut into 1 inch cubes

In a large skillet, melt butter and stir in apples, walnuts, brown sugar and apple pie spice. cook and stir for 10 min or until apples are tender.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. beat in 1/2 cup of caramel topping and remaining apple pie spice. fold in 2 cups of whipped topping.

In a large trifle bowl, layer a third of the cake cubes, cream cheese mixture and apple mixture. repeat layers twice. garnish with the remaining whipped topping and drizzle with caramel topping.  sprinkle additional apple pie spice if desired.  cover and refrigerate at least 1 hr before serving.

in goes the bird!

my trifle..it was delicious!

 

The last time I was enrolled in university was 13 years ago.  A lot has changed since then.  Gone are the days when you use to take notes with pen and paper.  Now, the professors post all notes and assignments on a secure network for the university students.  If I want notes from a certain class, I just go online and print off a copy…brilliant!!!  Overhead projectors are becoming extinct as well.  They are usually sitting in the corner collecting dust while the professors use a projector system linked to their computers.  There are also facebook groups for some of my classes.  Students can go to the group and share information and resources.  It is absolutely amazing the things you can do when it comes to technology.