Where I come from…aka my parents family….we DO holidays.  In fact we love them.  Growing up with seven children and two adults who never grew up it was always someone’s favorite holiday.  My mom loved to decorate and my dad loves to celebrate  so no matter what we had Great Holidays!

Where my husband comes from….(his parents family)…they Don’t Do holidays. At least that is they don’t do them anymore, and haven’t for a while. I mean when you are okay to stay at home and not go see the big firework show for the Fourth of July you really Don’t Do holidays.

Well this always puts me in the fine predicament of finding that perfect balance! Of teaching my husband and son about the joys of a little holiday while hardly spending anything or over scheduling  anyone’s time.

This year in particular, as many of you might be feeling, it doesn’t make much sense to through a big Halloween bash. At least not for my family. Starting out we haven’t got much by way of the years which would mean acquiring all the decorations, food, and festivities necessary for a fun, goulish time! I talked with my mom and she is throwing a big schindig for all the neighbors….but after 29 years of having children in the house she has practically everything she needs already! (This is why it’s always a good idea to have friends at different stages in their lives…..everyone is rich in something after all!)

That doesn’t mean we cannot plan celebrations and have a great time.  Halloween doesn’t take much, as the holiday itself consists basically of a costume, bag and candy….but we can make it fun all week with just a little bit of planning.

First and most important the costume:  After years of dressing up I have come to three simple solutions to the costume problem:

#1 Decide Early and Be Happy: Don’t stress about having the perfect costume. You didn’t when you were young so don’t start now. If you want to be superman….and everyone else does to..So What!  By deciding early you can have all those little extras that make your super man super!

#2. Simple Can Be Fabulous: If you have followed my advice in #1 then this will be so much easier to follow. Generally everyone has “stuff” around the house that when put together can make a super costume! (Infact you can even start with this step) You never know what odd items will come in handy as you build your costume. This year for instance I used two of the most unlikely items around my house for costume accessories. A sippy cup lid became the perfect completion for my hubby’s coach costume headset. And an old pair of slippers cut apart and hot glued back together became the awesome set of shoulder pads for my 18 month old and his football outfit.

#3. While it may be inciting to have a different costume for each party you go to No One really cares.  I am absolutely serious about this. When I was in college and the HOWL was the ultimate rage of parties to be at for Halloween. I went with some friends one of which spent quite a bit of money creating the perfect AllyG costume.  Very Distinct, Original, and Unmistakable when I saw him grace the party the following year with a new girlfriend and a different group of friends I realized…NO One Cares!!! Where is the rule that says you have to come up with something new? Not saying you can’t, just saying you don’t have to the point is to dress up and have fun!

All in all we only spent $15 on three costumes this year (that’s $5 a costume, and trust me they won’t look like $5 costumes) So what’s the next big part of Halloween? The Pumpkins Of Course!!! Always one of my favorite parts. Carving a Jack-O-Lantern.

Growing up we all had our own pumpkin to carve, which we would pick out from the pumpkin patch at the local farm. Living in southern Florida we just don’t have that option….there went one fun activity…:( But you know it doesn’t really matter. In fact I only bought ONE pumpkin this year. We carved it today and had a blast.

My baby didn’t need his own. For as much as he likes to get dirty he was actually a little shy about sticking his hand in the pumpkin goo.  It was great for our relationship making it a team effort. The design we picked was quite challenging…yet we each took turns and are equally proud of our accomplishment.

So as for the rest of the week. We have a few simple, yet fun activities planned. Tomorrow is our church harvest party. The teenagers have set up games and fun for the little ones. We’ll all dress up and have a ball. Wednesday, I think we will roast marshmallows over the little pumpkin, and thursday or friday we’ll mix up some rice crispy treats and decorate with candy korn and m&m’s. Then come Halloween we will trick or treat and maybe watch a scary Supernatural!

It will all be over, we’ll have made a few memories, spent very little money, and I’ll post some more pictures here on the blog.

TTFN

Bridget

What’s in a name? As I try desperately to come up with a name for my soon to be daughter I realize just how much rides on a name. Often peoples first impression of you is impacted by what they read into your name as much as what they read into your appearance.

Names can give the sense of strength, charisma, intrique, coldness, or armth. Oft times people can perseave you as weak, boring, or a stick in the mud based on the rhythmic sound of your name.

With so many names in the world, giving your child a truely unique name that he/she can make or break is difficult if not improbable. Besides that so much more of the impression is based on the phonetic sound of the name more so than the name itself.

Much like, dressing oneself, or decorating a room whichever particular style you choose to go with, while it has its inherrient feel and look will come across succesful if the correct flow and togetherness is achieved.  Ie. Minimalist may not be your style but when looking at a perfectly balanced minimilast room everyone agrees it is a thing of beauty.

It is only when we try too hard and over indulge that we are left wanting. That being said here are my five top pics for names. Would love it if you would share your feedback.

1. Kiara Icelyn Short

2. Scarlett Elizabeth Short

3. Tessa Elayne Short

4. Lillian Drue Short

5. Shelby Isabell Short

Thanks I really appreciate any thoughts. Now for my friends seeking salvation read Chapter 9 in 2 Nephi. Ponder it. For it is in the pondering that you are able to apply it to your life.

TTFN

Bridget