National Chocolate Day

The Best Day ever is one where chocolate is Enjoyed!  I was craving chocolate this morning and was lucky enough to have a little in my "secret place".  I was breaking off bits of my symphony bar when I received notice from my sis in law that it was National Chocolate Day!  Well okay, I don't need to be told twice....I will celebrate! (some more)☺

I have heard that chocolate makes you happier.  I believe that is true....at least it is for me!  I'm happier when I have chocolate! ☺  I looked up a few facts about chocolate...take it or leave it....

1. Lowers cholesterol, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2003. (The white chocolate consumers, the control group in this study, experienced no health benefits.)
2. It is good for your skin; the flavonoids found in dark chocolate offer some protection from UV damage.
3. May improve your ability to see in low-contrast situations, such as poor weather according to study, from England’s University of Reading in 2011.

4. The fiber in chocolate has been shown to reduce the rate of colorectal cancer. It may even slow dementia.
5. Cocoa has anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).
6. It has been shown to repair liver cells after alcohol consumption!

7. It has been shown to help stimulate insulin, thus stopping the insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes.
8. The ingredient phenylethylamine that gives chocolate the reputation of being the ‘love food’ raises serotonin and dopamine level, which stimulates the nervous system, and even raises libido.
9. Could keep you from coughing, according to doctors at the British National Health Service.

10. Chocolate helps with Math, according study in Northumbria University in the UK.
11. Women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff, according to a 2011 Swedish study.
12. Chocolate eaters have lower stress levels.

Halloween Dinner

Tonight we had our Halloween Dinner.  I love planning what to make.  This is the first year I haven't had dinner in a pumpkin.  I didn't feel like taking the time to clean out a pumpkin and so I opted to not have our dinner in a pumpkin.  We had brains and guts in a bowl instead.  By calling it that I had a few that would not eat it.  I think it's funny that the power of suggestion is so strong.  I am careful what I make since I know how my kids have reacted in the past. (nothing to creepy or gross looking) We had mummy dogs, spider eggs, fingers and smiles.  It turned out pretty good for being such a busy week and day.

This morning I took Kimleighel to her friends (Trevor) farewell which was so good.  Another missionary was also leaving and everyone spoke on teaching with the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost was present in the meeting and Kimi and I both felt it many times.  I was really glad I took her.  We came home for a little while and got a few things ready for dinner and then we went to Mt Green to listen to Lawson Toomer report on his mission.  I could have listened longer to him...he did such a great job!  He served a great mission you could tell! It was a great Sunday and I felt the spirit and Love of God a lot.

We got home and finished making the rest of dinner just in time for everyone to come.  It was fun and I love this Halloween Tradition.  Nothing too fancy but some fun memories!

BeWitching

I love Witches Night Out at Gardner Village.  It's a fun place to be.  I have only attended as Glinda..the Good Witch.  Being Glinda is fun because everyone knows your name...or at least a lot of people do. The little witches think Glinda is a princess and want their pictures taken with her.  It's just so much fun.  

Since Kathy and I were going again I decided I would change things up.  I had another costume I could wear and decided since I had bought it I might as well wear it.  I didn't want to be scary though and decided since I had a "peacock" purse (a white elephant gift) I would go with a peacock and spiderweb sorta look.  OK....my hair reminded me of a peacock and that's about all and I'm sure no one else noticed my purse.  I just know I wasn't scary and still had a good time.  I took a bunch of little suckers in my peacock purse and when I saw cute kids dressed up I asked them if I could have my picture taken with them and then I gave them a treat.  It was so much fun.  I had thought about bringing treats next year and decided since Kathy and I were going again I would try it out this year. The kids loved having us ask to have our picture with them and the treats were happily accepted as well.

Kathy had a great idea for us to go "cackle" to her grandson since it was his birthday.  They weren't far from where we were and so on our way home we detoured just a little and went and "Cackled" Happy Birthday to Isaac.  It was fun!  Not too many kids have witches come to their home on their birthday to sing to them.

Kathy's neighbors were having a Halloween Party and so we walked over to say "Hi".  A lot of them might have been "high" or maybe just drunk.  Christy throws a party every Halloween and there is always a great turn out.  Everyone dresses up and Christy goes all out in decorating.  They had lots of yummy treats inside and I think all the "bubbly" was in the garage where the main party was going on. We visited with Christy by the fire for a minute and then we left.  Halloween is a fun Holiday!

It was another Spooktacular night and a lot of fun and laughter

Book Club....we're shrinking

Our Book Club is getting smaller and that is okay. (the others will be back soon after their missions) We have grown in sisterhood and friendship and I don't think we will be getting bigger any time soon. In a few years we will be together again and hopefully we will still be meeting when it's mine and Larry's turn to serve a mission and they can wait for us to return. ☺

Today there were three of us and we went to Taggarts for lunch and to report about the books we read. At this point in my life I think if we didn't have book club I wouldn't be reading at all.  So, I am glad for my book club no matter what size it is.  I am glad that I am challenged to read so that I can report and return the books I have borrowed.

Reading is an escape for me and I learn so much from the things I read.  I really enjoy autobiographies and learning what is going on in the world around us....makes me even more thankful we live where we do and have the freedoms we do.  I prefer my "bubble".  I love reading all varieties of books.  My favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks, Kimberly Krey, Mary Higgins Clark, and authors of their own life stories.... 

This month I read Hitchhikers by Bernard Poduska.  It was a good book (true story) about a boy that was homeless through his childhood and how he survived.  His life wasn't easy or pleasant by any means but he made the best of it.  He has succeeded and was converted to the LDS faith when he was older.  Because of the experiences he had he has been able to bless others.  (isn't that true for each of us?)

The other gals hate when I pull out my camera so I had them take a pic of me at least with my huge sugar cookie.  I brought home half my pita and three fourths of my cookie (I kept breaking off pieces on my way home) and shared the left overs with Kevin and Jared.  The drive to Taggarts is worth it....their food and treats are so yummy!

I love Book Club and the gal's I read with!

                                            

SNAP (Special Needs Activity Program).....Halloween Party

I love my calling of serving with the Special Needs.  These people are so much fun and have the best spirits anyone could have.  They are so sweet and accepting. (most of them..wink)  They love having fun and very gracious to those that provide their entertainment.

The leaders of SNAP were planning on throwing a Halloween Carnival for the group but a week before we were planning on having it a Young Men/Women Group from Plain City volunteered to do it all for us.  It was so nice just being able to go and mingle with the group without having to be over anything. The ward did a great job!  They made it so fun for our group and I know everyone loved it!

They had face painting, ghost suckers to make, treat bags they could make, bobbing for doughnuts, bowling, cake walk and bingo.  There were lots of treats and fun Halloween Music.  It was such a fun night.  Everyone got to take a pumpkin home too.  What a blessing it is to rub shoulders with such special people.  I love it!

Fun at the Crepery...again!

I love getting together with my friends as often as possible.  The funnest days to me are those spent with family or friends laughing and having fun.  After seeing that Jodi and I had visited the Crepery last week, Kim asked if we would like to come again since she lives up there.  You don't have to ask me twice....I jumped on the invite.  I wanted to include whoever wanted to come and so I posted for all the gals.  Just a few were able to go.  I even ditched my bowling day so that Kathy could come too. (my bowling friends weren't happy with me but I know I will bowl and I didn't know if we would get this set up with Kim if we put it off) I'm glad we made it happen. 

I know I need to make another run to Logan soon to visit my friend Denece...hopefully soon.  I could eat at the crepery every week.  I love their crepes.....they are so yummy!  Eating out is such a good excuse to get together.  This place is a fun place and they don't mind us staying for hours....(I think we were there for four)  There were lots more people coming and going this week...the place was buzzin!

It was so nice visiting with Kim in person.  Because she does live in Logan and is going to school we don't get to see her much except on Face Book. (I love FB because some contact is better than none) And of course it was wonderful spending time with Kathy and Jodi too.  I love these ladies.  They make me laugh and enjoy life.  We have so much fun together being silly!

Life is so good and even better when we share it with others.  We all build each other up and add so much to others lives.  This is such a fun stage of life for me.  I have always enjoyed my friends and I've loved every season so far in my life.  I loved taking my kids to meet other friends and their kids so we could play.  I love getting out and doing.  I have always loved being on the go...

There's so much around us that can bring and joy and should.  I don't think we notice all the time.  I'm at point in my life that I am noticing more.  Like leaves....remember as a kid playing in the leaves was so much fun....it still is!  There is something to say for the scripture....become ye as little children!  Life is better through the eyes of a child....can we still see?

Scattering More Sunshine

Today I remembered a Sunshine Bag as I headed to Logan with some friends to meet another one of our friends for lunch.  I knew there was going to be someone to share it with.  We had ordered our lunch and a young mom with a few kids came in to order.  I knew she was the one.  I wasn't paying much attention to her for a minute or so and she left.  I was feeling kind of bad that I hadn't given her the Sunshine Bag because I knew when I first saw her she was the one to receive it today.  It wasn't long and her and her kids returned.  I didn't waste any time this time.  I went right over to her and gave her a Sunshine Bag.  It made her smile!  I know it will make her smile even more when she opens it up and reads the cool quotes.  She had her arms full (literally) and I know how wonderful that feels but also how stressful it can be.  I'm glad I was able to share with her some of my Sunshine today.  (I totally give God credit....He's the one that gave me the idea and whispers to me who needs them...I'm just the lucky messenger)

***just a little side note...the next day (Friday) I passed a guy on the Corner of 1900 W and 5600 S in Roy.  He had a sign that said homeless veteran.  He had a dog, and backpack and was listening to something with his headphones.  Anyway I didn't have any cash to give him (I seldom have cash) and so I looked at him...smiled ☺ and gave him the peace sign.  He returned the smile and peace sign to me and I seriously got chills.  The chills lasted for a few minutes and I wondered if I had just exchanged a smile with an angel....it was such a small gesture but it sure meant a lot to me.