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Top 20 Halloween Movies of All Time

by Shannon Lintott

All Hallow’s Eve is just around the corner and with the cold weather moving in what better way to spend an evening than watching scary movies to celebrate the holiday of mini chocolate bars and costumes! Whether you are the face coverer, arm grabber, mocker of friends or jumper there is a scary movie just waiting to be watched by you and yours. Here are my top 20 favourite scary movies to watch with friends and family this Halloween:


The Exorcist (1973 Drama/Horror, Rated R)

Possession, priests and pea soup, oh my! In my opinion this is the best scary movie ever made because it has stood the test of time not only in its own genre but in cinematic history. A must see, especially with the lights off and the doors locked.

 

Hocus Pocus (1993 Family/Comedy, Rated PG)

One of my favourites as a kid, this movie is still awesome. This movie is filled with child-friendly-scares coupled with a talking cat and scores of humour which makes it just as enjoyable for the rest of the family.

The Ring (2002 Horror/Mystery, Rated PG-13)

One of the best teen-scares I’ve ever seen, it leaves out the blood but doesn’t hold back with the jumps and screams. A great psychological horror that will make you and your friends think twice before turning on the television for a few days.

The Fourth Kind (2009, Sci-Fi/Thriller, Rated PG-13)

This is easily one of my top 5 favourite sci-fi horror films I have seen. It’s filled with shocking footage, a gripping story and will make you fear things you never thought were remotely scary before. You’ll probably have trouble falling asleep later but it will be worth it.

Martyrs (2008 Horror/Thriller, Rated R)

NOT family friendly. Not friendly to most people who don’t normally enjoy horror films. This is the most shocking, gruesome, horrifying, etc. films I have seen to date. Do not watch this movie unless you normally like horrifying images and lots of gore. That being said, it is easily one of the best horror movies ever made. Ever. You were warned.

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lifestyle

IronKids Gummies and Adult Essentials Gummies Review

by Maria Lianos

Getting kids to take their vitamins is not often an easy task.

My boys tried the cartoon character variety of multivitamins but my eldest refused to eat them.  I tried one myself to see what the issue was and I couldn’t blame him!  The cartoon gummies still had an aftertaste and were tough to chew.

But when they tried the IronKids Gummies, they both loved them!  I was shocked since my seven-year-old refused to take his vitamins for so long.  Now, it’s like a little treat.

The gummies are fruity and chewy.  The best part is that they don’t even taste like vitamins!

When I tried the Adult Essentials, I too was hooked. Although I don’t have a problem swallowing horse pills like other people I know who tend to gag on them, they are like a little treat for me.

The fact that the Adult gummies come in a variety – Multi-vitamin, Vitamin D, Omega 3, Advanced B-Complex and B-12 – is also wonderful.

Adult Essentials

I was given IronKids Gummies and Adult Essentials Gummies to try and review. These opinions are my own.

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News

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

by Mariana Morales

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Every year, there are thousands of Canadians affected by breast cancer – not only the people with the disease, but also family and friends. It is the most diagnosed cancer in women and it is estimated that 23,200 Canadian women will have it in 2011.

Breast cancer can also be diagnosed in men since men have breast tissue just like women do.  Although less common, it can be found in men of all ages.  Approximately 190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Canadian Cancer Society helps create awareness through programs and campaigns to educate women about breast screening. They are investing around $2.7 million to support breast cancer research which includes preventing it for those high risked women and for the treatment.

Around 64 women in Canada are diagnosed with breast cancer every day!

With these staggering numbers, we need to learn how to fight back this disease and to get educated. It is best to be ‘breast aware’ by checking your breasts regularly for any changes.

There aren’t precise causes of breast cancer, but there are ways that may reduce the risk. It is recommended to maintain a healthy body weight to be physically active. Avoid tobacco smoke, and limit alcohol consumption.

The Canadian Cancer Society creates awareness months for different health issues. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month as well as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness.

For more information on The Canadian Cancer Society, visit: www.cancer.ca.  For more information on the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundations and ways to get involved, visit: www.cbcf.org.

 

Mariana Morales is a full-time student at Conestoga College studying Print Journalism. She enjoys photography and is a volunteer at the Snap KW newspaper. What makes her different? She loves video games. In her spare time, she writes articles for a gaming website called Hooked Gamers. She hopes one day to work in the video game industry.  Follow her on Twitter.

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Halloween Cookies
Food

Easy BOO-tiful Halloween Cookie Recipe

I’m no longer a child but I still love Halloween! Ghosts and goblins, oh my! These easy BOO-tiful Halloween cookies are simple to make and fun for the kids to decorate.

BOO-tiful Halloween Cookie Recipe

Sugar Cookie:

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

 

Method:

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy and beat in sugar in three additions.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.  Stir into butter mixture in three additions.

Divide dough in half and shape into discs. Wrap and put in the fridge for an hour.  Take them out of the fridge for a few minutes.  You may need to work each disc with your hands to soften and may need to roll out several times.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each disc to ¼-inch thickness. Using Halloween cookie cutters, cut out shapes. Place one inch apart on prepared pans.

Bake in top and bottom thirds of 375-degree oven, rotating and switching pans halfway through, until lightly golden on bottoms and edges, about 10 minutes.  Let cool on pans for about a minute and then transfer to racks to cool.

halloween cookies
Halloween Cookies

Glaze

In a bowl, mix two cups icing sugar with three tablespoons milk until smooth.  Tint with orange or black food colour paste. Brush or dip cookies with glaze and decorate with candies right away, before the glaze dries.

If you prefer to decorate cookies with icing, use this Royal Icing recipe.

Royal Icing

3 cups icing sugar

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 egg whites, beaten

In a bowl, sift together icing sugar and cream of tartar. Using a stand or electric mixer, beat in 2 beaten egg whites for about 5 minutes or until mixture is thick enough to hold its shape.  Add food colour paste if desired. Use piping to decorate cookies.

 

Halloween Cookies
Halloween Cookies
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Featured

Are We Trying to Raise Healthy Kids or Just Skinny Ones?

by Marci Warhaft-Nadler

As parents, it’s our responsibility to guide our children through life’s many obstacles. We encourage, instruct, advise and help them make, what we feel, are the “Right” decisions in day to day life. We want to give our kids the tools they need for success. However, I strongly believe that when it comes to their bodies and their health, we could actually learn more from them than the other way around.

These days, we hear constant messages about the fact that our kids are apparently eating too much and exercising too little. We’re told that there are more overweight kids than ever and “Junk Food” is killing them slowly. As a result, too many parents have started stressing over every bite of food their child takes and every minute of TV they watch. Interestingly, this type of stress is actually more dangerous than a few Oreos or video games.

Research shows that putting too much of an emphasis on food and weight will not encourage healthy eating but may initiate a preoccupation with body image. In fact, a journal published by the American Academy of pediatrics found that “Anti-Obesity campaigns, though positive in intention, may enable unhealthy dieting and compulsive exercise, while breaking down self-esteem by tying self-worth to weight”.

Believe it or not, this is an area where we could learn a lot from our kids. Our bodies are amazing machines that let us know when we’re hungry and when we’re full. Newborn babies, for example, will cry when hungry and stop when they’ve had enough. Sadly, at some point we start judging our bodies instead of listening to them and put ourselves on restrictive diets where we eat only as much as we think we “should” eat and only foods we think we “should” eat. This throws our systems completely off track and creates a relationship with food that is less than harmonious.

Kids are different. They haven’t been manipulated by years of diet propaganda and shouldn’t be thinking about calories or fat grams. Is there an insane amount of fast food and candy out there? Of course, but if we demonize certain foods, it creates emotion around them. These sinful foods either become terrifying or even more attractive. Food is food. Some of it nourishes us; some of it just tastes good. None of it needs to be BANNED completely. It’s about balance.

Eating should always be a positive experience. Feel free to introduce new foods to mealtimes, have your kids prepare meals with you; offer a wide variety of tastes and textures. Truth be told, exposing your kids to food in a healthy way will not make them overweight….but hiding it from them just might.

 

Marci Warhaft-Nadler is the mother of two very active tween boys and has spent the last few years bringing her Fit vs Fiction workshop to schools in an effort to change the way kids treat and feel about themselves.

 

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Featured

Balancing Being a Mom and a Woman

by Bruno LoGreco

Once you become a mother, your time is no longer your own: your career, once the main focus of your life takes a back seat and your hobbies, interests and often even your friends, are cast aside while you attend to the needs of your children. Even if you love being a mom, putting your children’s needs ahead of your own year after year can take its toll, leaving you struggling to remember who you were before becoming a parent. If you find yourself becoming increasingly bitter or resentful, consider viewing your decision from a different perspective.

Acknowledge that you put your life on hold to be a mother.

There is no question that motherhood involves sacrifice. You surrender your body to aches and pains during the nine months of pregnancy and into labour and delivery. Once your child is born, you sacrifice your time, energy and, from time to time, your sanity. You may also feel that when you became a mother you lost your sense of identity. Gone are the days when people addressed you by name–now, you are so-and-so’s mom.

Instead of mourning your former self, try to acknowledge and embrace your decision to make loving, nurturing and caring for your child your number one priority. Your career may be on hold and your hobbies and interests taking a back seat, but your family is no doubt flourishing as a result.

Be proud of your accomplishments.

Your life is a culmination of the choices you’ve made. Putting aspects of your life on hold to care for your children may not be how you envisioned your future in the years before becoming a mom, but be proud of your choice to make their happiness a priority.

Motherhood can be a thankless job but the rewards are plenty. Providing your children with the security of a loving home and teaching them the life skills and values they’ll need as they grow into confident, well-adjusted individuals is no easy task, but one that you should consider as a major accomplishment.

Build upon the foundation you’ve created.

Motherhood doesn’t have to be all work and no play. A night off or a weekend away is a great way to reconnect with the love of your life and get some much-needed rest and relaxation. Since a spontaneous night out is probably a thing of the past, book the babysitter ahead of time and schedule monthly date nights like you would a doctor’s appointment. After all, both appointments are designed to improve your health!

Even taking a trip with the entire family and enjoying each other’s company in a different setting can help spice up your daily routine. Your kids will enjoy seeing their mom in a more-relaxed role as you create family memories you’ll enjoy sharing for years. The family that plays together, stays together!

Fulfill your needs and share your wisdom.

As your children grow older, take advantage of the “extra” time to rediscover what interests and inspires you, what brings you joy. Take a class, upgrade your skills…expand your horizons. Once again, it’s your turn to grow, to learn new ways to express yourself and share your gifts–and your wisdom–with the world.

 

As an author, national spokesperson, and contributor to television shows Style by Jury and Save Us from Our House, nationally renowned Master Life Coach Bruno LoGreco has helped Canadians from all walks of life discover the strength inside themselves to lead healthier, happier lives and walk with confidence on the path to success.

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lifestyle

The Beanbag Boss is Boss of Bean Bags

When I was asked to try out the Beanbag Boss, I was a little skeptical at first.

Why?  I’ve never been a big fan of bean bag chairs.  They just take up a lot of space and look ugly, in my opinion.

But when I took a look at the Beanbag Boss website and saw all of the different colours, patterns and fabrics, I was impressed.  I thought – my kids will love this!

I let my boys look at the website and had them pick out the pattern they wanted.

Of course, they chose this:

The Beanbag Boss bags are really big –  4.5’  x 5’ square shaped pillows of fun.

I love that they can be formed into a variety of seating options and the array of designs and colours.  It comes in solids, patterns, plaids, faux leather and even lamé.

You can easily morph the seating to your liking because of the lightweight foam bead stuffing.  My kids love sitting in it but I love just laying down on it to watch TV or read.

I think the chair could really double up as a mini-bed for movie watching or even a sleepover.

The kids love it – especially when they are involved in a wrestling match:

What surprised me the most is how much my husband and I like the Beanbag Boss too.  My husband has already been caught sleeping on it too… until the kids woke him up.

With the Christmas season right around the corner, they’re a really cute idea – around $150.  Shipping is also free right now.

If you’d like one of your own, The Beanbag Boss is offering our readers $10.00 off their own beanbag.  Use code Amotherworld-999  for the discount which expires December 1, 2011.

 

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Entertainment

Boo at the Zoo! Win a Family Pass to the Toronto Zoo

Win a pack of four passes to the Toronto Zoo!

Did you know the Toronto Zoo is opened all year round?

The Zoo offers programming and events all year long, including the upcoming Halloween event Boo at the Zoo! Boo at the Zoo is a safe, family fun Halloween event taking place on October 22, 23, 29 and 30. Families can look forward to a day of fun-filled activities including:

  • Trick-or-treating on the Pumpkin Trail
    • Critters and Creatures costume parade
  • Hay Maze
    • Animal meet and greets
    • And special guest appearances from YTV! Meet the cast of YTV’s new hit show Life with Boys! (Oct. 22 ONLY)

The best part: Up to two kids in costume (12 and under) get in FREE when accompanied by an adult!

ENTER TO WIN a pack of four passes to the Toronto Zoo!

You can enter by filling in the form daily!  Contest ends November 1st.

  1. (required)
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  3. (valid email required)
 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

 

For information on the Zoo and its annual events and programming, please visit the Toronto Zoo website and the Toronto Zoo Facebook Page. 

 

CONGRATS TO KELLY COCHRANE OF PORT HOPE, ON!!!

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parenting

Work at Home Moms Should Be Work Anywhere Moms

by Danielle Christopher

I caught the tail end of a conversation on Twitter with @vancouvermom and @TwellMedia on changing WAHM to WAM (work-anywhere-mom.)  I agreed that I am a Work Anywhere Mom, since I am writing this in the car while my two-year-old is taking a car nap.

Rarely do I actually work-at-home when my two daughters are running around me and needing me. It’s challenging to say the least to make tight deadlines. So, I do it outside the home.

My youngest is happily playing at pre-school now. My oldest is in Full-Day kindergarten. For the first few weeks I followed a small schedule for myself to enjoy the five hours I get kid-free a week:

  1. Go out for coffee with cell phone close by and enjoy a hot cup or two in peace.
  2. Get some articles outlined while sitting alone.
  3. I saved my phone calls for that time. To have an uninterrupted phone call was such a pleasure.
  4. Go window shopping.
  5. Enjoy some non-kid T.V. at home with an open couch.

And please, DO NOT do housework for the first while.

I am sure when both girls are in full-time school I will be working more at home. It is amazing how much I can get done when alone.

I update my calendar, filling in my family’s schedule and it shocks me.  Christmas break is in over two months.  I look back to my sleeping preschooler. I predict I might get a chance to quickly go through the drive-thru nearby for some coffee before she wakes up. I might as well sneak some time while I can. And that is okay.

My name is Danielle. I am a WAM!

Danielle Christopher is a stay-at-home mom of two daughters, ages one and three.  She blogs for The Momoir Project and writes book reviews for Women’s Post.  Her teen story is in the collection “Parent/Teen Stories: Without Judgement”.  She lives with her husband of seventeen years and her girls in Langley, B.C..   Follow her on Twitter.

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