Chasing Rainbows

Thought for the Day

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.  "(Ronald E. Osborn)

Obsolete Word of the Day

Forswunk ... completely worn out with work

Fact for Today

Every second there are 418 Kit Kat fingers eaten in the world.  (yum!!)

How Much Halloween Candy is Too Much?

Well, it is Halloween and that means parties and costumes and scary masks and things that go bump in the night!  But it also means excited children all dressed up as their favorite characters carrying huge Trick-or-Treat bags just waiting to be filled with candy and gum!  I recall my Trick-or-Treat days and the excitement that ruled my very thoughts.  I recall hoping that the neighborhood folks would give out really popular candies and gums....anything was better than those dried up home-made popcorn balls that were more kernels  than popped corn.  YUK!!!  However, now we are adults and we must make the same decision our parents had to make....how much candy do we allow our children to consume in one sitting?  I used to hate it when my mom or my dad would take my bag of candy from me as soon as we got home from Trick-or-Treating.  They always explained that they didn't want me to get sick from too much candy....or even worse....the dreaded cavity and toothache reason for taking my bag from me!  Were any of you thinking about cavities on Halloween night?  Hell no we weren't!!!  I found the following article that defends the position that our parents took regarding candy consumption....all I have to say is Bah-Humbug!

Besides tasting good, candy has few redeeming qualities (although, maybe tasting good is enough). Many people believe that candy is a major contributor to tooth decay. In addition, while providing calories, candy rarely provides any nutrition. And although science has never corroborated the claim, many parents blame the sugar in candy for causing hyperactivity in children.

Halloween: A Candy Celebration

Halloween is here and kids are excited. Halloween ranks right at the top as far as favorite holidays go. Not only do children get to put on fun costumes, but they also get to collect pillowcases full of candy. What could be better?

As fun as Halloween can be for kids, it can be a challenge for parents. As a parent, how do you keep the holiday fun but make sure that your child doesn't overdo it when it comes to candy. Most experts agree that the first step is setting guidelines in advance of the special night.

Picking a Candy Plan

After trick-or-treating, have your children spread their candy on a table or the floor. You can try one of these three approaches:

• Let your child pick 10 favorite pieces to keep. Donate the rest of the candy to a senior citizen center, shelter, or some other charitable organization.
• Let your child pick out two or three pieces of candy to have each day. You will probably have to deal with a little whining and begging in the first few days, but stick to your guidelines and she will adjust.
• Let your child pick a set amount of candy for the week. Once the week's allotment is gone, don't let your child fish back in the bag for more.

Or, develop a system that works well in your home. Whichever approach you choose, make sure you let your child know what the plan is before the big night. And if it works well, stick with it every year.

Resources:  American Academy of Pediatrics  http://www.aap.org

American Dietetic Association  http://www.eatright.org

Beliefnet.com:  Halloween:  Let them eat candy---But how much?  by Mary Calvagna, MS

Thought for the Day

I've never stayed awake at night over a chance I took that failed, but I've stayed awake over chances I didn't take.   (Garth Brooks)

Fact for Today

Stephen Moulton Babcock

Birthday 1843: Bridgewater, New York, USA

Stephen Moulton Babcock was educated at Tufts and Gottingen. He became chemist to the New York Agricultural Experiment Station and then professor of agricultural chemistry at Wisconsin. He devised a method of estimating the fat content of milk, and worked on pasteurization and curing of cheese, and the nutritional value of animal foodstuffs.

Obsolete Word of the Day

Malison ... a curse (opposite of "benison," a blessing)

Moving Week

For those of my readers who caught my post on October 1st, you already now know that I have officially purchased my new  home after being forced to do so by the O'Hare International Expansion Program (Also known lovingly as the "Land Grab").  This week I am in the process of sorting, packing and moving.  Each day is a new adventure of finding things I never knew I owned or discovering old memories in worn out boxes and torn bags.  Thus far, I have scrapped over 60 bags of garbage filled with memorabilia and broken items.  If any of you have lived at one address for over 30 years as I have, you understand what I am saying here regarding the sorting and packing.  I may not be online as much this week to keep my blog updated, so please bear with me until I am back into my routine.  My cable hook-up should not take too long once I am moved and settled in.  Wish me luck and God's blessings upon my new residence!

Thought for the Day

I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it.  (Harry Emerson Fosdick)

Fact for Today

According to scientists at Imperial College London, the bromine found in chocolate is a third more effective than codeine at stopping persistent coughs.  (another good reason to eat chocolate...ain't life grand!!!)