Halloween, Again

Halloween is almost here and we already have a bowl full of candy! Salem is great. It is unique in it's Halloween celebrations. The Salem Witch Trials were here like 300 years ago. They hung and crushed to death 20 people in the span of only about a year. For a while it was embarrassing for the town but now it is embraced. Not the killing bit, but the witch bit. I feel like they missed the point somewhere, but who am I to break up the fun?

Back to the candy: Ryder got a ton during the Grand Parade at the beginning of the month. Then the following day he went trick or treating at the businesses on Essex Street.

Here he is as Foofarine (Wolverine to those not well versed in Kindergartener.)

It was a good time! This Sunday we will be getting candy at Salem State University. They have lots of free activities for the kids. It was fun last year so I am hoping for nothing less.

The Effing Ferris Wheel! This year they have turned it so it is no longer facing my house and I've got to admit that I miss it. It is also a different ferris wheel this year. Much more colorful. So maybe I shouldn't call it the Effing Ferris Wheel any more. I still will.

Finally the anticlimactic end to the month is, of course, Halloween. It is next Wednesday, in case you weren't aware. I am leaving work a little early because the roads around my house close and I would like to get home. I have some people coming over, which is fun in my little apartment. Then we will all go trick or treating. This year we will have a baby with us, I hope she dresses up too! Then, after we steal some of the candy from the kids (a tax, if you will) we will walk around downtown with the thousands of other people. We'll see great costumes and hopefully take some great photos for you!





Halloween is coming! Show us what your kids will be wearing.

World Mental Health Day: Depression A Global Crisis

Today is World Mental Health Day with a focus on depression.

If you have been around here for any amount of time you know that I suffer from depression. I have been depressed for my entire life. I don't remember a time before it. It has gotten really bad before when I have hurt myself or had thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, I am much more stable now with my daily medications, biweekly therapy sessions, and my loving, supportive family. I worry about my son because he is two to three times more likely to develop it because I have it. It is not something I should worry about, though, because I cannot change his genetics. I can just try and support him in any way possible.

World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has some great information on both World Mental Health Day and depression. People all over the world and in every culture suffer from depression. It is estimated to affect 350 million people, but fewer than 25% have access to treatment. Ethiopia, for instance, has only 26 psychiatrists for its 80 million people. Some countries only have a single psychiatrist. We need to expand education and awareness to people worldwide. We also need to make treatment available to all.

Adding SheaMoisture Baby Bar Soap To My Soap Collection

Who even knew that I would like soap so much? A new found love? A new item to collect? SheaMoisture Baby Bar Soap is definitely a new addition. I love the smell of the all natural ingredients! 

As in my previous soap review, I was a little skeptical when I opened the box. I don't, generally, use bar soap, but I thought I would give it a go. The dark brown color of the soap also made me hesitant, but once I opened it, I smelled the wonderful scent. I wish I could describe it to you, but honestly, I am no good at that. 

I have very dry, sensitive skin. I am also susceptible to eczema. This soap is "formulated with a special blend of unrefined, "raw" shea butter, argan oil, chamomile extract, frankincense and myrrh" which helps soothe eczema and keeps your skin moisturized. 

I haven't gotten Ryder to try it yet partly because of its color and partly because he is fond of his liquid soap. I just have to get him to smell it and I am sure he will want to smell pretty too! 

You can pick up this and a bunch of other SheaMoisture products at your local Target. At $4.99 a bar, it is a little pricey, but considering it is all organic, it is not that bad.

Disclaimer: I recieved this product complementary through the Naturals VoxBox program through Influenster. All opinions are my own.