Creative Pumpkin Ideas for Halloween

“Ah, we’re decorating for Halloween tomorrow, if you want to

come over.”

“Are you kidding? I have major skills in this area.”

“Great, you can carve the pumpkin. The boys are 

old enough now to realize how lousy I

am at it. Come by later. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

The Next Always

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Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4595130

It’s that time of year again! Time to decide how to decorate your fall pumpkins. We’ve gathered 15 project ideas and tips that will make your pumpkin the best on the block!

Family Handyman 

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The hulls would serve as decorations on her front porch. 

Big, fat, scary pumpkins to entertain the neighbors and

children.

She was up to her elbows in pumpkin meat and seeds 

when Zack strolled in the door. "I get to do the

third one." He came up behind her, wrapping his 

arms tight, nuzzling her neck. "I'm a jack-o'-lantern

master."

"The things you learn about people."

Dance Upon the Air

The First Warning Sign

“He could walk to the corner for a quart of milk and forget how to get home. 

He could forget who he is, and if they can’t stop it, 

one day he could just go away inside his mind 

where none of us could reach.”

Honest Illusions

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By José Moutinho from Leça da Palmeira, Portugal - 

Walking aloneUploaded by JotaCartas, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25204383

The First Warning Sign of Alzheimer's May Surprise You

Problems navigating new surroundings crop up before memory loss, 

and long before any clinical diagnosis of the disease, 

according to a recent study published in the Journal of 

Alzheimer's Disease.

MSN

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"I think when he started to forget stuff, it helped him to

blame it on the whiskey instead of—you know."

"Alzheimer's. Yeah."

Falling for Rachel

Kids Totally Nailed Their Letter To Santa

Dear Santa,

We have been good.

Zeke wanted to put in very good, but Zack, the conscience, rejected the idea.

All I Want for Christmas

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Florida Memory [No restrictions or Public domain], 

via Wikimedia Commons

Spare a thought for Santa. He gets millions of letters a year to trawl through, with the vast majority of them boring and formulaic along the lines of “Dear Santa can I have an X-Box for Christmas please.”

However from time to time there are little nuggets of genius or hilarity that must surely make the jolly old guy crack a smile. Kids are known for speaking their mind, and are especially forthright when it comes to making requests (or demands), so we here at Bored Panda have decided to make a list of the funniest, frankest and most bizarre Santa Letters kids have ever sent.

Bored Panda

The Joy of All-Female Gatherings

"I've got the wrong equipment to be Nell's girlfriend, Rip. 

Just… just see if you can spend some time with her. 

Go out on the boat, or go shopping or…" He gestured vaguely. 

"Paint each other's toenails."

"Excuse me?"

"Give me a break. I don't know what you 

people do in your mysterious caves when men aren't around."

"We have pillow fights in our underwear."

He brightened because she wanted him to. 

"Really? I was afraid that was a myth. So, be a friend, okay?" 

Dance Upon the Air

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By Michael Vincent Photography for Bride's Night Out, Inc. -

 Contact us/Photo submission, CC BY 3.0,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4483329

In the newsletter Dolly Mail, London-based writer Violet Hudson made the case for lady-only gatherings. “There are covens all over this city,” she says. “The libations we make are spilled red wine. The spells we cast are conversation. And the potions we brew are pasta or roast chicken. The Wiccan religion that we all practice is simple: girls-only hang outs.”

A Cup of Jo

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“She said she had some things to do, and you’re 

supposed to keep me company. So what does the

Quartet do after pizza when the guys are away?” 

She sat across from him, took a sip of wine. “Oh,

we have slow-motion pillow fights in our underwear.”

“Another fantasy come true. Want a cookie?”

Happy Ever After

Letters to Santa From Kids

Dear Santa, 

We have been good. 

Zeke wanted to put in very good, but Zack, the conscience, rejected the idea. 

All I Want for Christmas

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By Archives New Zealand from New Zealand - Letter to Santa, CC BY-SA 2.0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51248704

Every year, kids all over the world write letters to Santa Claus wishing him a Merry Christmas, listing their holiday gift wishes, and well, asking and telling him things that only hilarious kids could think of. From commenting on his appearance to ratting out their parents who say they "can't have a dog," these letters to Saint Nick are going to make you laugh out loud.

MSN

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You have lots of time to find the mom and make the biks so you can enjoi the hollidays. Thank you. Love, Zeke and Zack.

All I want for Christmas

Lies about Santa? They could be good for your child

“It’s her.” He hissed it to his brother, rapping Zeke hard in the ribs. 

“Who?” 

“It’s the mom.” Zeke stopped playing with the action figure he’d had stuck in his pocket 
and looked up onstage, where Nell was now directing the alto section. 

“Kim’s teacher is the mom?”

“She has to be.” Deadly excited, Zeke kept his voice in a conspiratorial whisper. 

“Santa’s had enough time to get the letter. She was singing a Christmas song, 
and she’s got yellow hair and a nice smile. She likes little boys, too. I can tell.”

“Maybe.” Not quite convinced, Zeke studied Nell. 

She was pretty, he thought. And she laughed  a lot, even when some of the big kids 
made mistakes. But that didn’t mean she liked dogs or baked cookies. 

“We can’t know for sure yet.” 

Zack huffed out an impatient breath. “She knew us. She knew which was which. Magic.” 

His eyes were solemn as he looked at his brother. 

“It’s the mom.” 

“Magic,” Zeke repeated, and stared,  goggle-eyed, at Nell. 

“Do we have to wait till Christmas to get her?” 

“I guess so. Probably.” 

That was a puzzle Zack would have to work on.

All I Want for Christmas

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By kodomo no tomo - kodomo no tomo, Public Domain, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3137790

Developmental psychology suggests that fantastical beliefs in children are associated with positive developmental outcomes. 

And parents need not worry, children will bust the Santa myth themselves, when the time is right.

THE CONVERSATION

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Just the bikes, Dad, they told him. 

Santa’s making them, and he’s taking care of the big present. 

What big present? Mac wondered. 
No interrogation, no tricks, had pulled out that particular answer. 
For once his kids were closed up tight. 

That was an idea that disturbed him. 
He knew that in another year, two if he was lucky, they’d begin to question 
and doubt the existence of Santa and magic. 

The end of innocence. 

Whatever it was they were counting on for Christmas morning, 

he wanted to see that they found it under the tree.

All I Want for Christmas

Dogs dream just like us

Lucy was sprawled beside the bed in a deep sleep that he envied. 

Every now and then her legs would twitch as she chased dream gulls 

or swam in her dream inlet.

Dance Upon the Air

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In the photo: Budha (our dog napping)

Have you ever looked at a sleepy pup and wondered just what was going on inside that fuzzy noggin? New research suggests they dream just like humans do.

NEWSHUB

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On the floor beside them, Moe twitched and made excited sounds.

"What did you do to Moe?"

"I gave him a dream, a harmless, happy dream. He chases rabbits on a sunny spring day. 

It will keep him safe and occupied, as we have much to talk about, you and I."

Key of Knowledge 

Your Wine Personality

From the way she looked—elegant sex in a three-piece suit—Zack figured her for

one of the trendy little restaurants that served complicated pasta dishes and

white wine.

Falling for Rachel

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What Your Wine Choice Says About You

An unscientific analysis of your personality type based on your favorite vino.

ELLE DECOR

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“So, are you interested in sharing a bottle of wine, Dr. Maguire?”

He slid the wine list toward her. “You pick.”

“That’s brave of you.” She opened it, scanned. 

“I’m not a wine buff, I just take pictures of them, but they do

have this Shiraz I like.”

Even as she spoke, their server stepped to the table with a bottle of Shiraz.

“That’s excellent service,” Mac commented.

“Mr. Maguire? Mr. Brown phoned and would like you to have this with his compliments. 

Or, if it doesn’t suit, whatever bottle you’d like.”

“Those Brown kids.” Mac shook her head. “They never miss. I’d love a glass, thanks.”

Vision in White

Back-of-the-Box Recipes

"Do you ever make those cinnamon rolls? You know the ones with that sticky white icing?"
"Mmm."

"I make them sometimes."

"Really." She began to cut the dough for tarts and glanced back at him. 
He looked so… male, she
thought, leaning back on the counter with his ankles crossed and a mug of coffee in his hand.
"I didn't know you cooked."

"Sure, now and then. You buy these tubes down at the market. Then you take them home, rap them against the counter and peel the bun things out, cook them, and squirt icing on the top. Nothing to it."

It made her laugh.

Dance Upon the Air

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At The Daily Meal we value preparing a homemade meal every night, but that's not often the case for everyone. For some people, the thought of standing over the stove exhausts them, and peeking into the takeout menu drawer seems like a much simpler alternative. Whether it's a busy lifestyle or the concept of making something "from scratch" is intimidating, there are things that hold some of us back from getting into the kitchen.

So stop letting the kitchen intimidate you and take some help the best back-of-the-box recipes. Before you know it, takeout menus will be a thing of the past.

SHINE

eat when you're depressed

Just a headache didn't send a woman bolting out of someone's house as if the devil were on her heels.
Which was exactly how Gladys had described it. "You look pretty rough, honey, so I'm going to fix you the traditional Todd family restorer."
 

"I'm not much in the kitchen, but I can manage this—just like my mother did when one of us wasn't feeling right. Got any jelly?"

It was right in front of his face, she thought crossly. What was it about men that struck them blind the minute they opened a refrigerator door? "Second shelf."

"I don't—oh, yeah. We always used grape, but strawberry should work. Go ahead and work. Don't mind me."
 

"What are you fixing?"
"Scrambled eggs and rolled-over jelly sandwiches."

Dance Upon the Air

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5 Foods To Eat When You're Depressed

Foods That Boost Mood

 

Feeling blue? Many people seek comfort from favorite foods like chocolate kisses, salty chips, and pillowy pastries when they're feeling down. But if you really want to boost your mood, make different choices, nutritionists say. 

 Although clinical depression is a serious illness that requires treatment beyond nutrition, changing what you eat can help beat garden-variety blues caused by stress, and will boost low energy, too.

 

SHINE

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