Do you know what you’re going to be for Halloween? If you haven’t started planning yet, don’t worry. You can still scare up some great ideas for Halloween at the eleventh hour. Here are a few tips for spooky costumes, sweet treats, and devilish tricks.

• Thrift stores are a smart and inexpensive place to shop for costume components, but how can you be sure to find just the right items? Hit the racks with more than one idea by brainstorming a few fun getups before you go. As you browse the merchandise, you can decide which costume is best served by your thrifty finds. Then it’s no big deal if you don’t find the right gear to be an alien cowboy because now you’re going to be a crime fighting ninja princess.
• For parental peace of mind, hand out the usual individually wrapped fun size candies at the door. Inside with family and friends, dig into some frighteningly tasty goodies. Here’s a fun and easy idea for Halloween cupcakes. Bake chocolate cupcakes. It’s okay to use a boxed mix. Frost generously with chocolate frosting; then cover the frosting with crumbled Oreo cookies. Finally, insert two M&M candies of the same color on their sides deep into the frosting to make it look like eyes peering through the darkness.
• A little bit of Halloween mischief can be lots of fun. With a good vantage point and an old baby monitor, you can surprise approaching trick-or-treaters at your front door. Set up the parental unit of the baby monitor near the door where it can be heard. Find a place where you can see but cannot be seen. You can whisper spooky greetings or howl unearthly screeches at your visitors through the baby unit. This is a fun way to occupy an older child who might not be interested in going door-to-door.

Don’t lose your head over Halloween. This year, you’ll knock ‘em dead with costumes, treats, and tricks that are scary good.

There’s a computer technician working on your favorite machine in the gym, and your trusty biometrics app once again needs to be reinstalled. If your workout routine has gotten a little too technological lately, why not take a step back in time? 

Hiking is one of the oldest forms of exercise, and with crisp air and glorious fall colors, autumn is the perfect time. With that in mind, here are some safety tips to make sure your fall hikes stay injury-free:

• The days are shorter now, and darkness comes early. Be sure to plan your hikes accordingly and bring a flashlight.
• Watch weather reports. The fall months can often be unpredictable, and you never know if a warm sunny morning will turn cold and rainy, or even bring snow.
• Dress appropriately. Layers are the key to staying comfortable.
• Make sure your hiking boots have been broken in properly before tackling long hikes. There's no sense in having painful blisters ruin your good time.
• Autumn is also hunting season. Wear something bright and stay away from earth-toned colors as well as brown or black. Also make some noise so that hunters will hear you—whistle, sing, or carry on a conversation.
• Watch out for leaves on the trail. Newly fallen leaves can camouflage the terrain, making navigation difficult. Wet leaves can cause slippery conditions.
• Be careful walking near water, particularly on slippery wet rocks. You may not realize how tired you are until you try to swim to safety.
• Although the days are cooler, you can still get sunburned. Wear a hat and sunscreen.

A few precautions can make all the difference in your autumn hike. Stay safe!

If you're looking for some fall fun, an apple-picking adventure may be just the ticket. But before you head out with your friends or family, it’s time to brush up on some apple trivia!

• An experienced apple picker picks at least six tons per day.
• Apples are 75% water—which makes them a great thirst quencher!
• The tradition of apple bobbing comes from the ancient Celts. During one of their annual celebrations, the first person to bite into an apple floating in the water would be the next to marry. 
• Tossing an apple to a girl in ancient Greece was a marriage proposal. Catching it was an acceptance.
• If you ate a different variety of apple each day, it would take you more than 20 years! There are over 7,500 different varieties in the world.
• Apples are part of the rose family, just like plums and pears.
• Apples float because 25% of their volume is air.
• In recipes that call for white wine, you can substitute apple juice.

And speaking of recipes, try one of these!

• Are you a bigger fan of the crust than the fruit? Try these Apple Crumble Bars. 
• Doesn't the idea of an Apple Slab Pie sound irresistible? This recipe from Pillsbury has received great reviews. 
• And apples aren't just for dessert—why not whip up some Apple and Gouda Grilled Cheese Sandwiches?  
• Need it gluten free? Try this beautiful Gluten Free Apple Tart.

As the old saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants and dietary fiber. Enjoy one of these tasty fruits today and just send the doc a postcard instead.

All around the great wide world,
Columbus sailed the ocean
To prove the world was big and round--
That's real devotion!

(--Sung to the tune of “Pop Goes the Weasel”, by unknown author)

For many people, commemorating the US holiday Columbus Day is a way of both honoring Christopher Columbus' achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. The facts surrounding Columbus' discovery of the New World over 500 years ago still spark controversy. 

Even one of the basic ideas that most of us learned in school—that Columbus wanted to prove that the world was not flat — is not true. Most educated Europeans did understand that the world was round; however, they were unaware of the existence of the Pacific Ocean, believing instead that the Atlantic was the only ocean between Europe and the East Indies. 

Here are a few bits of trivia about Columbus and Columbus Day:

• Records show that despite being sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Columbus received no payment until 1493.
• Columbus was the captain of the Santa Maria. The captains of the Pinta and the Nina were the Pinzon Brothers. The youngest, Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, is considered by historians to have been the first to discover Brazil.
• Columbus Day is celebrated in Latin American countries as The Day of the Race (El Dia de la Raza), honoring the many different peoples of Latin America.

For more information, you can visit the History Channel and see what you can ‘discover.’

Once school starts in the fall, it’s inevitable that your calendar is going to fill up with parent-teacher conferences, recitals, sports practices, plays, club meetings and other extracurricular activities. Sometimes it can be quite a challenge to find the time for these things. Other times, the sheer cost of your kids’ recreational activities can leave your wallet in rough shape. 

It’s important to set realistic expectations for what you and your children can handle. You shouldn’t be taking on the job of a full-time unpaid chauffeur in addition to your other duties. And if your kids’ undertakings are interfering with homework, sleep or real meals, then something will have to give.

If there are certain after-school activities that you and your child agree upon, but you can’t provide transportation, you can always ask other parents involved if they can give your child a ride sometimes, as well as consult with family members who might be willing. If money is a barrier, check with the program’s leader to see if scholarships are available.

If there are just too many obstacles, don’t fret. There are still things kids can do after school that they can do when they have the time, and most don’t require much money. If you can find things that you can do as a family, or perhaps one on one with your child, so much the better. 

Supporting your kids can take many forms, but once it starts affecting the family, you may need to make some adjustments. Finding that perfect balance can be tricky but it’s well-worth the effort. Your blood pressure will thank you.

One hour before hitting the road: Is there anything more delightful and exhilarating than a road trip?

After one hour on the road: Is there anything more long and boring than a road trip?

That’s why car games were invented, to save the road trip!

We know the usual ones—I Spy, the Alphabet Game, Spotting License Plates. And while they’re easy to play, these tried and true heroes of the open road, they can also get a little dull, too. 

So let’s try something different!

Would You Rather…? is a game for all ages. Everyone takes turns questioning other passengers, and the answers can often spark some entertaining follow-up questions. It’s also a game that can be altered for additional silliness, like giving the choice between completely dissimilar things. For example: “Would you rather eat chocolate or dance?”

Guess Who I Am, also known as 20 questions, is an oldie but goodie. One person picks someone everyone should know, and the other players ask yes or no questions until someone guesses the correct answer. 

Movie games are popular to play in the car. One game involves describing the plot to a famous movie in a way that, while factual, is not the way most people would describe it. For example, “Little girl gets lost and makes new friends” for The Wizard of Oz.

Road trips don’t have to be boring if you have a game or two up your sleeve. Be prepared and have fun!