Thursday 13 - Odd Facts About Halloween

1.   Orange and black are the colors of Halloween because orange is associated with the fall harvest and black is the color of darkness.

2.  There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with Orange.

3.  Turnips and Beets once served as the original Jack O’ Lanterns.

4. Halloween is the second most commercially successful Holiday with Christmas being the first.

5.  According to superstition if you stand in front of a mirror at midnight, you’ll see the reflection of your future spouse just over your left shoulder.

6.  You can sprinkle salt and oatmeal on your child’s head to keep him or her from being possessed.

7.  In England, white cats instead of black ones are thought to be bad luck.

8.  Harry Houdini died on Halloween, in 1926 from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix.

9.  Burning a candle inside a Jack O’ Lantern on Halloween is believed to keep demons and evil spirits at bay.

10.            Put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night to meet a witch.

11. Gazing into the flame of a candle on Halloween night will allow you to see into the future.

12.            If you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween night don’t turn around, for it may be Death himself! And to look him in the eye is a sure way to hasten your own demise.

13.            If a bat flies around a house three times, it is considered to be a death omen.

* This is just a fun look at thirteen Halloween facts whether they are truth or superstition, you decide.

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Thursday 13 - Confidence Quotes

When I was growing up my two best friends were smart, athletic and confident.    I was small, an average student, shy, and far from being athletic.  I would become rather blue and my confidence would fall.  My dad would quote Max L. Forman " Always hold your head up, but be careful to keep your nose at a friendly level."

I think confidence is very important at any age.  Here's a few of my favorite quotes that pick me up when I'm feeling down.

1. Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.  ~Eleanor Roosevelt

2. It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes.  ~Sally Field

3. It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.  ~Author Unknown

4. We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies.  ~Roderick Thorp, Rainbow Drive

5. It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.  ~W.C. Fields

6. If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.  ~Vincent Van Gogh

7. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.  ~Veronica A. Shoffstall, "After a While," 1971

8. People are like stained-glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.  ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

9. I am not a has-been.  I am a will be.  ~Lauren Bacall

10. Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.  ~Peter T. Mcintyre

11. Never dull your shine for somebody else.  ~Tyra Banks, America's Next Top Model, "The Girl Who Is Afraid of Heights," original air-date 17 October 2007

12. Oliver Wendell Holmes once attended a meeting in which he was the shortest man present.  "Dr. Holmes," quipped a friend, "I should think you'd feel rather small among us big fellows."  "I do," retorted Holmes, "I feel like a dime among a lot of pennies."  ~Author Unknown

13. You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

Tasty Tuesday - Black & White Sundae

Why wait until Sunday to have a Sundae?

Here is a recipe for a perfect pick-me-up during the middle of the week.

1 -2 chocolate wafer cookies (or use a couple Oreos or mint cookies)

2-3 Tablespoons of Hershey's Syrup

1 scoop (about 1/2 cup) of chocolate ice cream, softened

1/2 cup of Hershey's Mini Kisses

1 scoop (about 1/2 cup) of vanilla ice cream, softened

1 Tablespoon Hershe's Cocoa or Special Dark Cocoa (optional)

1 Tablespoon powdered sugar (optional)

CRUSH cookies; place on bottom of ice cream dish. Cover cookies with syrup.

COMBINE 1 scoop of chocolate ice cream with chocolate pieces; place on top of cookies and syrup. Top with scoop of vanilla ice cream.

STIR together cocoa and powdered sugar,if desired. Sprinkle over ice cream. 

Garnish with whipped cream and cherry. Just make sure you have plenty of whipping cream left over in the event you may need it after you finish your sundae.

This is yummy to consume alone and perfect to share with a special someone.

Humpday Hottie - Football Season

Thank you Jared Hill for reminding us why we enjoy football so much.

Tasty Tuesday - Benefits of Chocolate

I LOVE CHOCOLATE!

All chocolate is wonderful but I prefer the darker varieties. Darling Hubby has treated me with gifts of chocolate he's collected during his jaunts around the world.

Did you know there are many PROVEN health benefits to consuming chocolate?

YEAH, BABY!

Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients. Made from the seeds of the cocoa tree, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants. (If you have an autoimmune disease like me, you appreciate antioxidants.) Studies show that dark chocolate can improve health and lower the risk of heart disease.

* Dark chocolate 70% and higher cocoa is considered nutritious. However, don't consume in large amounts due to calories and sugars. The caffeine amount is smaller than a cup of coffee. Trust me, a little square nibbled on while sipping red wine is a perfect evening snack.

* Quality dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, and a few other good minerals.

* Cocoa and dark chocolate have a wide variety of powerful antioxidants, more than most other foods. For fun add a few frozen blueberries or strawberries to hot cocoa in the winter. Not only will it cool the drink but add even more antioxidants during the cold season.

* Chemistry Lesson of the Day: The bioactive compounds in cocoa can improve blood flow in the arteries and cause a small but statistically significant decease in blood pressure.

Can I take a bath in chocolate?