Please join us tomorrow for the start of a new series, A Taste of Thanksgiving.

All next week, we’ll discuss menus, favorite recipes, tips and tricks to simplify entertaining, and Thanksgiving memories. Detailed Black Friday shopping plans will be included, too!

Readers are encouraged to participate. If you have a question or comment, feel free to share. Thanksgiving can be very overwhelming—especially for first-time cooks—so we should all encourage and educate each other.

Who’s up for a trip down memory lane?

Like most of you, I will be busy with today’s festivities and it’s making me remember holidays from days gone by. Here is a little peek into my Halloween memories for the curious.

These are probably from my 2nd Halloween. I don’t remember it, obviously, but I do like the pirate outfit (note how I’m posed in the fireplace?!) As for the Jack ‘O Lantern, I’ve always been enthralled. We used to save the pumpkin seeds to roast. Does anyone still do that? I certainly don’t.

I’m guessing these would be around 4 and 5 years of age. The Rainbow Brite chair I’m sitting on was a coveted item in my childhood. The orange plastic bucket in the background was from McDonald’s and we used those to Trick-or-Treat. As for the infamous Black Cat costume, oh my, I loved that one and repeated it multiple times. I think it had something to do with the ears and bowtie.

Halloween with a friend, after we moved to Florida. I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t recall her name! I do, however, remember her costume like it was yesterday. She was a Hershey’s Kiss, which I found so clever. I’m on the right, dressed as some kind of princess (another look I loved & repeated as evidenced by this great pic with my sis. I’m thinking we’re 2 and 6 here. Isn’t she cute as a pumpkin?)

I wasn’t kidding about the Black Cat. Here I am on the left, Dad in the middle, and my two younger sisters. Notice how my dad is in total ’80’s mode, with the Tom Selleck facial hair and oversize glasses. I’m guessing middle sis was a ballerina and the baby was a dragon. Also taken in Florida.

It seemed like we ended up with mountains of candy when I was young. I don’t know if people were more generous then, or my memory is faulty. My favorite treats were always the Sugar Babies, Milk Duds, and red lollipops. We would dump all the candy onto the floor and my dad would “check” it for phantom razor blades (just another Urban Legend). Of course, every piece was safe, but he had to taste test a handful just to be sure. Once the all-clear was sounded, we’d gorge ourselves until we moaned with stomachaches.

I kept Trick-or-Treating until my early teens, but the little years were definitely the most fun. The older I get, the more I miss that time. I don’t dress up anymore, but I’d do it in a heartbeat if Hungry Bear would ever agree to attend a costume party—hint, hint!

Do you have a favorite Halloween memory? Feel free to comment!

Have you ever watched a documentary that was so bizarre it almost took your breath away? I experienced that feeling after viewing Virgin Tales.

Virgin Tales chronicles 2 years in the life of the Randy Wilson family which consists of Preacher Dad, Homeschooling Mom, 5 daughters and 2 sons. The kids are—you guessed it—all fanatical virgins who are saving even the first kiss for their wedding day.

In an effort to share their message with the masses, the Wilsons created the Purity Ball, an annual dinner dance where virginity is “pledged” to dads by their ever-so-obedient offspring.

According to the Wilson daughters, virginity makes them strong. It also makes them think whirlwind courtship are the norm and college is “wasted” on girls who aspire to be only wives and mothers.

Make no mistake, this is scary fundamentalism at its worst.

Most people, myself included, believe that teens should be abstinent. Teaching teens about potential consequences and encouraging them to remain virgins is admirable. What I’m totally against is the idea that fathers are in charge of their daughters sexuality. That’s not only inappropriate, but borderline obscene.

While the forced virginity is bad, that’s not the main offense. Girls deserve an education just like boys. Why do the Wilsons and other fundamentalists like them encourage sons to attend college and join the military but advise daughters to stay at home until marriage? Do they not recognize that this makes women isolated, ignorant, and financially vulnerable?

What happens, 20 years from now, when one of their girls wakes up and finds herself married to a Ted Haggard clone? Without any independence, she will be trapped in a marriage that’s loveless, miserable, and potentially dangerous.

Perhaps the Wilsons and other Evangelical Christians don’t realize that in a modern society girls can join the army (4-Star General Ann Dunwoody) and boys can be ballet dancers (Ronald Reagan Junior).

There is no need for such an exaggerated, unobtainable ideal of super-charged masculinity and femininity. Children should be taught morals, yes, but they shouldn’t be shamed and confused. They should be given the tools they need to make wise choices. They should be allowed to have their own identity—whatever that may be.

The biggest irony of Virgin Tales is that even with all the misinformation and insufferable patriarchy, it seems the Wilson girls still want to carve out their own paths. Married daughter Khrystian is a singer-songwriter while unmarried daughter Jordyn runs her own etiquette school. I hope both of them continue to grow and succeed in their chosen professions. They are pretty, capable, and ambitious ladies who deserve the best life has to offer.

I, along with Virgin Tales feminist filmmaker Mirjam von Arx, pray that they realize there is a better way…

Ever since I announced that my New Year’s resolution was to get on an ideal sleep schedule, I have been trying my best to shape up. Unfortunately, I continue to struggle in this area! Far too many nights, I have stayed up way past my bedtime and suffered the consequences.

How do you train yourself to wake up earlier, especially for those of us who tend to be night owls? Here’s what worked for me (mind you, it only works when I actually do it! My efforts have been intermittent). If you too are struggling, some of these ideas may help:

*  Determine to get up early at least 5 mornings a week for three weeks. Habits take time to develop. This is not a swift process.

*  Go to bed 5 minutes earlier each night, with a goal time in mind.

*  Set your alarm and make yourself get up when it goes off. No snooze button.

*  Do not get back into bed. Seriously. It never helps.

*  Drink a cup of strong tea or coffee. An additional cup is fine, but not an entire pot.

*  Read something inspirational. This could be a book, a blog, the Bible—whatever works for you.

*  Try some light exercise. Fitness begins with Gilad, aka “the Israeli stud muffin.” Unfamiliar with Gilad? Check him out & you’ll be transfixed!

*  Take a shower and get dressed completely. Staying in PJs all day is a surefire way to stay tired.

*  Set a daily goal. We all need something to look forward to. If you meet your goal, allow yourself a small reward.

By following any or all of these tips, you can enjoy a head start on the rest of your day and hopefully wake up refreshed.

If anyone needs an accountability partner, feel free to comment! Personally, I would love one (hint, hint!).