Keep this in mind this Halloween..

Devils Night

The night before Halloween, October 30th has traditionally been a night of pranks and mischief in much of the Midwest and some of the northeastern United States, as well as some parts of Canada.

Devil’s Night in Detroit can probably be traced back to mid-1880’s Ireland, where the night of mischief was originally attributed to fairies and goblins. In the United States, the holiday morphed into a night of soaping windows and toilet papering (a verb) trees.

In other words, October 30th was the “trick” to Halloween’s “treat” and gave suburban kids a night of rebellion and anarchy.

Mischief on October 30th

Region to region, the night has different names, but the activities remain very much the same: ringing doorbells, egging cars, dumping rotten produce and setting a bag of poop on fire. Camden, New Jersey calls the Holiday Mischief Night, while other parts of New Jersey call it Cabbage Night. Cincinnati, Ohio calls it Damage Night, while other parts of Ohio call it Beggar’s Night. In other regions of the United States, it is known as Doorbell Night, Trick Night, Corn Night, Tick-Tack Night and Goosey Night. In Canada, it is known as either Gate Night or Matt Night.

The Southwestern United States Doesn’t Celebrate

As widespread as the phenomenon seems to be, many parts of the United States, most notably states in the south and west, never heard of it and apparently reserve all their mischievous hijinks for Halloween.

Devil’s Night in Detroit

In Detroit and much of Michigan, the night is known infamously as Devil’s Night, a moniker now eternally linked with widespread arson. Devil’s Night was once, however, just a different name for more of the same: mischief. In spite of the notoriety of Devil’s Night, Detroit is not the only region to experience an escalation from pranks to arson on October, 30th.

Five Ways to Fight Holiday Stress

A classic holiday tune tells us this is the most wonderful time of the year. But with parties to attend, food to prepare, and gifts to buy and wrap, it can feel overwhelming.

Here are five tips to stop stressing and enjoy the season.

Create a gifting game plan

Write down everyone who’s made your list—naughty or nice—along with ideas for each person. Then, create a rough estimate of how much you can afford and think of ways to stick to your budget. You’ll also want to set aside enough time for shopping, wrapping, and mailing.

 Avoid party overload

Swamped by invitations? Prioritize! Write all the events you’re invited to on a calendar, and circle the ones that are most important to you. Don’t feel guilty if you can’t attend them all.

 Organize your decorations

Decking the halls can be merry for some—and miserable for others. When you store your decorations, think about what you’ll need for next year, and organize your decorations by type or by where you display them. Keep the decorations you hang first most accessible.

Simplify your dinner party

Write down exactly what you’ll be cooking and how many people will be attending. Make a grocery list, and determine what can be made in advance, and what you’ll need to prepare the day of. Don’t be afraid to ask your guests to bring a dish to pass or a bottle of wine.

 Share the holidays

If you don’t have many people with whom you can share the holidays, there are plenty of options for keeping busy and feeling merry. Consider volunteering at a toy drive or a soup kitchen. Or, enjoy some alone time and curl up solo with hot chocolate and a favorite book or movie.

Consider a Different Type of Holiday Gift: Blood Donation

The holiday season is a time when we reflect on what makes us grateful: perhaps family, friends, or good health. Donating blood is a great way to pass on the gift of health to someone in need.

Blood donation is an excellent way to reduce the amount of iron that accumulates in your body. While iron is a necessary mineral, excess iron can damage body tissues and oxidize cholesterol, which is harmful for the arteries. Studies have shown regular blood donation can also improve circulation and reduce the risk of heart disease. When you give blood, you’ll also lower blood cholesterol and may even shed a few extra calories.

About 40% of U.S. adults are physically able to donate blood, but only 10% do. Every time you donate blood, you could save as many as three lives. And the benefits go beyond helping save the lives of others. When you donate, that voluntary act of kindness can actually support your own well-being!

Health Screening
Donors are asked to share a brief health history and are screened for basic physical health before donation. You’ll learn your blood pressure, body temperature, cholesterol, and hemoglobin levels.

If you are interested in becoming a blood donor, it is important to first check with your doctor to ensure you are healthy enough and are not at high risk for dizziness, nausea, or fainting.

To find out where you can donate blood in your area, visit the American Red Cross.

Sobering Statistics: December is National Impaired Driving Awareness Month

Every day, 28 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, or roughly one death every 53 minutes. In 2014, nearly 10,000 people were killed, accounting for one-third of all traffic-related deaths. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion.

Holiday celebrations often involve alcohol, but there are ways you can stay safe and do your part to reduce drunk driving injuries and deaths.

Many variables play a part in how impaired you may become: what you’re drinking, how much, and for how long; how much you eat; current health conditions; weight; and gender. And those who don’t often drink may underestimate their level of impairment.

Don’t take chances. Designate a sober driver who agrees ahead of time to avoid alcohol that evening. And if you find someone who’s impaired and trying to drive, stop them:

• Be gentle but firm.
• Explain why you don’t want them to drive: because you care and don’t want them to hurt themselves or others.
• Suggest alternate ways of getting to their destination, like a sober driver, a cab or ride-sharing service, or public transportation, and help make it happen. If that fails, recommend they sleep over.
• Enlist a friend to help. It’s more difficult to say “no” to two (or three or four) people than one.
• If possible, take away the person’s keys.
• Call law enforcement. It’s better to have a friend arrested than for them, or innocent people, injured or killed.

Click here for more ideas on how to prevent impaired driving, and ensure a safe and joyous holiday season.

Apple Dumpling Day

FOODCrescent Roll Apple Dumplings Are Better Than Pie

Like Shared on Facebook By Tijani 16 September 2016

     

 

There are many different types of dumplings that are oh, so delicious…savory dumplings, sweet dumplings – the list goes on and on. Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings are very likely the easiest you’ll come across, and with ingredients you’ve likely already got on hand, this dish is out of this world.

The secret element that adds a sweetness like no other is the 7-Up added just before baking that makes the dumplings sticky and caramelized. These dumplings have a pie taste that will remind you of home with classic cinnamon and sugar.

 
Ingredients:

2 (8 each) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough

2 sticks of butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon or to taste

12 ounces 7 Up (or Mountain Dew)

2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9×13 baking dish.

Wash the apples, peel and cut into eight equal slices.

Unwrap the crescent roll and separate the triangles.

Place a piece of apple on each triangle of dough (on a wider side) and roll it in a croissant.

Place rolls inside buttered baking dish.

In a separate bowl, combine the butter, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla, mix until you get a liquid mixture without lumps and pour over the roll.

Pour soda between rolls (but not over) and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until they become golden brown.

Serve immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

A few more halloween pages

 

 

 

Change your clock change your battery

Most people in the United States are getting an extra hour of sleep this weekend, thanks to the annual shift back to standard time.

Officially, the change comes at 2 a.m. Sunday, but most people set their clocks back before heading to bed Saturday night.

For young children, Halloween night is one of the best of the year.

For young children, Halloween night is one of the best of the year. But trick-or-treating can be dangerous if kids and parents aren’t careful. Take a look at some vital trick-or-treating tips before you accompany your child.

There are five basic reasons why children are more likely to be hurt in pedestrian accidents:

1. They often choose to take the shortest route, which may mean darting out between parked
2. They’re poor at evaluating potential traffic threats.
3. They have a tendency to believe they’re indestructible and are more likely to take risks.
4. They need to be told that some people driving cars will not slow down for them.
5. They may be distracted by other children’s costumes, behaviors, and home decorations.

Path to a meaningful life.