Jason Leathery holds his daughter, Madilyn Margaret, 1 day old, while Kimberly Fling takes photographs. -- SmartMamaPA.com - BIL BOWDEN

By LEIGH ZALESKI for Smart

Your infant’s first photos are an automatic must save. How could you forget what he looked like, eyes scrunched and face red, all bundled up in his bassinet?

Here’s another reason to hang on to them: Infant photography in some hospitals has become more personalized, similar to a baby photo shoot.

York Hospital contracts Our365 to photograph all infants’ first days. The company switched about a year and a half ago from taking photos of infants in bassinets to using portrait-studio-style photography.

“Bassinet photography wasn’t really like being a photographer,” said Kimberly Fling, one of the three photographers at York Hospital. “It was like pushing a button.”

Our365 offers eight poses for each infant. Some poses can include mom, dad and siblings.

Fling said mothers are informed about the pictures at their obstetrician’s office. She said many parents come prepared with outfits. She recently photographed a baby wearing a suit and tie. Some parents prefer the naked look.

Photo packages range from $29.95 to $149.95. Parents can also order birth announcements and keepsakes, such as holiday ornaments for $29.95 and a CD to reprint photos for $99.95.

Photographers take photos whether parents choose to buy or not. A photo of each infant born at York Hospital is posted on wellspan.org and at our365.com. The traditional pose is used for the hospital’s site.

Al Sexton, Our365’s director of hospital operations for the Northeast, said the portrait-studio photography allowed Our365 to expand its offerings in catalogs, but the prices are about the same as when bassinet photos were sold.

He said the company’s goal was to delight parents and offer a contemporary style. He said infant photos are incredibly significant to parents.

“It is a life event that parents will remember forever,” Sexton said. “It’s almost like a family heirloom. They want to remember that momentous occasion, and we help them capture that.”

The photo experience might hold more significance for Allison Hiser, 32, of Wrightsville. Her daughter Isabella Grace was born 12 weeks early in March. Babies in the neonatal intensive care unit don’t get their pictures taken until they’re ready to go home. Isabella still needed a final checkup, but she was ready to go for her photo shoot.

Hiser said Isabella’s dad, Ben Ferguson, was deployed to Afghanistan at the end of June, and Hiser wanted him to have the photos to take with him.

“I never knew hospital pictures could be so fun,” Hiser said. “It’s nice to have ­someone help you through this process.”

Allison Hiser holds her baby, Isabella Grace Hiser, about 2 1/2 months old, while Kimberly Fling gets ready to take photos. York Hospital contracts Our365 to take photos of infants. The company now offers portrait-studio photography, rather than taking photos of infants in bassinets. -- SmartMamaPA.com - BIL BOWDEN

Preparing for the shoot

Be ready to be in the photos.

Photos are taken primarily in the ­morning and afternoon. If you’d like dad and the baby’s siblings to be in the pictures, plan accordingly.

Have outfits ready, but realize that your newborn might not cooperate with being dressed and undressed.

Have cash, a check or credit card on hand, or opt to pay your bill later.

For new moms, have someone help you choose what to buy because it’s hard to decide when you’re sleep deprived or recovering.

Don’t worry about making the ultimate decision. You can always order more online after you get home.

About Our365

More than 2,000 hospitals nationwide contract Our365 for infant ­photography, said Al Sexton, director of hospital ­operations for the Northeast. Sexton said the company was one of the first to switch from bassinet photography to portrait-studio photography, which has become the industry standard.

To see photos of babies born at York Hospital, visit wellspan.org or our365.com.

Take your own photos

Infant photographer Kimberly Fling said the best time to photograph an infant is when he or she is fed, warm and sleeping.

“It’s impossible to pose a newborn baby when they are awake,” she said.

Also, use a white backdrop to eliminate redness in the face.

Other area hospitals

Memorial Hospital, Gettysburg Hospital and Hanover Hospital contract Cherished Memories for infant photography. Service consultant Deb Pascale said about 1,000 hospitals work with Cherished Memories. Infants’ pictures are taken in bassinets.

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Read about Karlye and her mom, Jennifer, on pages 24-27. For a free subscription, visit www.smartmamapa.com/subscribe.

The holiday issue of Smart magazine doesn’t hit mailboxes until the week of Nov. 15. But you can see it now by clicking here.

Get a FREE subscription to Smart, and sign up a friend as a gift for the holidays!

The post Check out the holiday issue of Smart magazine! appeared first on YorkMama.com.

Dr. Mara and Charlie the Tiger head out for some tricks and treats.

By KARA EBERLE
Smart Mama

While shopping for Halloween costumes this year, I noticed a theme.

Girls could choose from a wide array of princess, fairy and witch costumes.

Boys could be firemen, police officers, ship captains, ninjas and doctors.

And, although I know it’s just a Halloween costume, I couldn’t help but think about the message this sends to my little girl: Boys are protectors and professionals. Girls are fair maidens waiting to be rescued or ugly witches.

As Mara and I scanned the costumes, I tried not to influence her decision, except to point her away from the ones that cost more than $30.

When we came to the doctor costume in the boy section, she was excited.

“I want to be a doctor!” she proclaimed.

My heart filled with pride, no matter how silly or insignificant her decision might seem.

“Of course, you can be a doctor,” I said and put the outfit into the cart. I chose not to tell her it was supposed to be a boy costume, even though the tag clearly said “BOY” on it.

When we got home, Mara beamed as she told her daddy what she picked out. Mark told her that she could be a real doctor when she grows up. Mara maintained that she wants to be a princess.

“But you’re already a princess,” said my wise husband, “so you can be a doctor when you grow up.”

Mara seemed OK with that idea and then used her pretend stethoscope to check her baby brother’s heart beat.

***

Since that day, I have had many daydreams about my little girl being a doctor. “Paging Dr. Eberle” seems to have such a nice ring to it.

But, just as I don’t want costume manufacturers to influence my daughter’s decisions, I need to remember not to push Mara into being something just because I like the idea of it.

I’ll make sure she knows that I will be proud of her no matter what she chooses to do.

And I’ll tuck away this year’s Halloween costume in her hope chest, just in case.

Kara Eberle is editor of Smart. Sign up for a free subscription to the magazine at www.smartmamapa.com/subscribe.

The post More than just a costume appeared first on YorkMama.com.

Being  invited to a party at a friend’s house is a fun excuse to indulge in calorie-laden appetizers while chatting with the girls.

But what happens when the party also functions as an opportunity for an independent contractor to sell jewelry, kitchen gadgets, clothing, purses or makeup?

Should you feel obligated to buy something?

Should you stay home because you don’t have money to spend?

What’s the right thing to do?

Heather Rife, who has sold Silpada jewelry for more than three years, said she doesn’t expect everyone to make a purchase when she holds a party.

“Everyone’s finances are different,” said Rife, 34, of Spring Garden Township. “If they see something they like, I tell them how they can earn it for free (by) hosting a party.”

Patti Wentz, who has sold Thirty-One Gifts (purses, lunch bags and more) for about two years, agreed. “The only expectation I have is that everyone has a good time but is respectful of the hostess,” she said. “I do not take it personally if each guest does not purchase something.”

But would they rather you stay home if you don’t plan to buy anything?

The short answer: No.

“I think it’s worse to have a party where no one shows. At least if a few people come, it’s worth your efforts,” Rife said.

So what happens if there’s a small turnout?

Wentz, 47, of York, said she tries to make the best of every situation. “I have had shows with two guests, where the hostess earned lots of great free items. So it is always worth both my time and the hostess’ time to follow through on the show, no matter how many people come or how many place an order.”

What people might not understand is that being a consultant requires a lot of work.

“Many people don’t think of it as a real job, that consultants only do it for fun,” said Wentz, who quit her full-time job in June to focus on selling Thirty-One. “While it is fun for me, it is also a source of income.”

Thinking about throwing a shopping party?
Follow these tips to make sure it’s a success.

Invite lots of people.  Expect that only a quarter of the people invited will attend.

Get orders from people who can’t attend the party.

Check in with your consultant regularly.

Decide whether to serve ­alcohol. If you serve ­alcohol, hand out drinks after the show starts, so guests will be focused on the ­presentation.

Call guests the night before to make sure they’re still coming.

Source: ehow.com

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Give sweet potatoes a chance.

By BETH BENCE REINKE for Smart

If Thanksgiving is the only time you eat sweet potatoes, you’re missing out on a “super food” full of powerful antioxidants, said Shrewsbury Township resident Jack Osman, a retired health professor and sweet potato grower.

“Just one four-ounce serving of sweet potatoes will give you a whole day’s supply of beta-carotene.” And that’s not all. Sweet potatoes are a good source of other antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C, as well as iron and trace minerals, he said.

Each year in September, Osman hosts the PA Sweet Potato Festival to raise awareness about these nutritious orange gems and make freshly-dug sweet potatoes available to the community.

To work them into your family meals, try substituting sweet potatoes anywhere you would normally use white potatoes in cooking, Osman said. “My goal as a nutrition educator is to get people to eat sweet potato products twice a week, not just twice a year.”

Eating sweet potatoes year-round is the norm for Corinne Huenke of Stewartstown, who has whipped up countless sweet potato dishes for her husband and 11 children over the years. Whether growing her own or ­getting them from the PA Sweet Potato Festival, she likes to keep whole sweet potatoes on hand because they store well for many months.

“Sweet potatoes are a gold mine that a lot of people haven’t discovered,” Huenke said. “There are so many ways you can use them.” She believes moms can get the good nutrition of sweet potatoes into their kids by trying creative recipes with eye and taste appeal.

Yams or sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes and yams are the same thing, right? Nope. “Sweet potatoes and yams are two totally different foods,” Osman said.

The canned “yams” you buy at the grocery store are actually sweet potatoes, he said.

Why the confusion? Years ago, people started calling sweet potatoes “yams,” and the misnomer stuck. Osman explained that yams are large, underground tubers that grow in the tropics.

Yams are low in nutrition, very dry and not sweet. In contrast, sweet potatoes are classified as storage roots. Sweet potatoes are moist, sweet, packed with nutrition and come in a variety of colors, such as orange, yellow, white and even purple.

Commercially packaged sweet potato products, such as chips, pancake mix and frozen fries, are gaining ­popularity. Osman predicts restaurants might get in on the action soon. “I expect to see sweet potato fries at fast food restaurants in the near future,” he said.

Sweet potato mash

Sneak the good nutrition of sweet potatoes into your ­family’s meals by adding sweet potato mash to baked goods, pancakes, stews or ­casseroles. To make the mash, scrub five to six sweet potatoes, pierce with a fork and wrap in ­aluminum foil. Bake at 325 degrees for about 90 minutes (a little longer for larger ­potatoes.) Cool until easily handled, then slice sweet potatoes in half and scoop out flesh into a large bowl. Mash sweet potatoes and freeze in 1/2-cup or 1-cup servings. When you want to use sweet potatoes, thaw and blend into a recipe.

— Jack Osman, Shrewsbury Township

George Washington Carver Sandwich

2 slices whole grain bread

2 tablespoons peanut butter

2 tablespoons marshmallow fluff

4 slices cooked sweet potato

1 teaspoon brown sugar

cinnamon to taste

Spread marshmallow fluff on one slice of bread. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over marshmallow fluff. Arrange sweet potato slices on top of marshmallow. Spread peanut butter on other slice of bread and place on top of sweet potatoes to make sandwich.

— Jack Osman, Shrewsbury Township

Sweet Potato Muffins

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups sweet potato mash

1 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Blend in sweet potatoes. Sift flour, baking powder and spices. Stir into wet ingredients alternately with milk. Do not overmix. Fold in raisins and pecans. Fill greased muffin cups about half full. Bake 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Makes about 18 muffins. Batter can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

— Corinne Huenke, Stewartstown

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

4 medium sweet potatoes, unpeeled

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Wash and scrub potatoes. Cut in half lengthwise then slice into wedges the size of steak fries. Toss potato wedges with olive oil and arrange in one layer on baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 375 degrees about 30 minutes or until fork tender.

— Corinne Huenke, Stewartstown

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Lauren Marie Sweigart is the winner of the 2010 March of Dimes Beautiful Baby Contest.

Lauren Marie Sweigart, born Sept. 18, 2009, of Newport won first place in the 2010 March of Dimes Beautiful Baby Contest. Her parents are Dave and Kathy Sweigart.

Lauren won a bedroom suite from Wolf Furniture, a photo shoot with Smart magazine, a child’s art kit and a basket filled with March of Dimes ducks, stickers and animals.

The contest collected $6,065.86 for the March of Dimes, according to Kristen Campomizzi, community director for the March of Dimes.

For details about March of Dimes, visit marchofdimes.com.

Get more information about the contest here and check out the other adorable babies in the contest here.

The post March of Dimes Beautiful Baby Contest results: The winner is …. appeared first on YorkMama.com.

A wise mother of two grown boys shared this statement with me after I had my second child:

One is like two, and two is like 10.

She told me it was a saying passed down through generations of women, who, I’m guessing, were met with the insanity that comes with having more than one child.

I once heard a mama of two young children utter these words:

One is fun. Two is work.

Now that I have two kids, I understand what these moms were talking about.

I’ve considered changing the names of my children to Chaos and Mayhem to more accurately reflect the disaster they create, seemingly every second of every day.

Little Miss Mayhem, aka Mara, is fairly independent but seems to always be hungry, thirsty, cold, hot or in need of some type of attention. She’s also in kindergarten, which means there’s always a form to fill out or a paper to read or some trip or activity to remember. I need to remember to send in snacks, tissues and supplies and to not lose her library books or the bag for the library books. We also need to keep her school library books separate from the Martin Library books. And I need to make sure the baby doesn’t drool on, tear or try to eat any of her borrowed books.

Capt. Chaos, aka Charlie, is a crawling, standing, drooling, teething, eating, pooping and crying machine who can’t be contained. If I try to put him in his crib or playpen, he lets his disdain known with loud, long wails that cause my eardrums to vibrate. Because he’s crawling and on the brink of walking, I need to watch him constantly.

Each day, I dread bedtime, especially on a bath night.

Oh how I dread bath nights. Bathing Mara — a 5-year-old who wants to play with toys for a half-hour — and Charlie — an 8-month-old who needs to be held at a back-breaking angle and then diapered, lotioned, clothed and fed his bedtime bottle — is grueling.

I’ve tried giving them baths on alternating nights, but then every night is a bath night, which is even worse.

After their baths, ears need to be cleaned and teeth need to be brushed. Then there’s reading and the collecting of a sippy cup of cold water, blankets and stuffed animals for Mara, and a hunt for Charlie’s pacifier.

On a good night, it takes at least an hour and a half to get the children quiet and in bed. On a bad night, I can spend three hours. Really.

When it’s over, I usually need to down some ibuprofen because my back aches.

Then I start my other nightly duties: washing bottles, washing sippy cups, collecting wet towels from the floor and putting them in the washer, emptying the tub of toys and water, going through the mail, checking Mara’s backpack and setting out her clothes for the morning. At least once a week, I spend at least an hour paying the bills.

I usually don’t stop until about 11:30 at night when I get about 20 minutes of peace before Charlie wakes up for his midnight feeding.

As he eats, I try not to think about how I will find the energy for work in the morning.

At least once a day, I wonder why my husband and I ever thought having two kids was a good idea.

But then I see Mara and Charlie playing together.

Mara is an amazing big sister. Her main goal is to see Charlie smile. She climbs in the playpen to entertain him when he cries. She steers him away from choking hazards and sharp corners. She wants to help feed him, clothe him and carry him. I can’t wait until he’s a bit bigger so I won’t have to worry about him being harmed by Mara’s onslaught of affection.
Charlie can’t get enough of Mara. He watches her dance and run and sing and talk, absorbing and learning. He rewards her with a big open-mouthed laugh. He climbs her like she’s a human jungle gym, and she lets him.

Together, they are constant chaos and mayhem, but amid the rubble are two amazing little people who are more than worth the effort.

And I’m glad that I have both of them.

Kara Eberle is editor of Smart and is amazed by people who have more than two children. Sign up for a free subscription to the magazine at www.smartmamapa.com/subscribe.

From our Facebook fan page:

What we posted: You volunteer at school. You volunteer at church and Scouts and this and that and … pretty soon you find yourself spending more time volunteering than with your family. Ugh! Sound like you? How do you handle saying “no” to things and how do you pick and choose? Would love some help here friends.

What you posted:

Carol Shafer: Heard this one on Oprah a few years back and have used it ever since “thank you for asking me, I’m very flattered but I need to check my calendar and I’ll let you know by tomorrow.” (or whatever date you feel comfortable saying) that way I have time to figure out if it is something I really want to do or if it is something that I am feeling excited about at the time because I’m being included in a certain group.

Debbie Bailey Rutter: Since time is at a premium, I only volunteer for activities that have a direct impact on my kids’ lives. As my kids are getting older, I realize my time with them is limited. When they are out of the house, I will begin volunteering with local charities again.

Andrea Robson: So important to pick and choose where to spend the time. We’re already mothers, and we can’t forget that!

Not a fan yet? Search SmartMamaPA.com on Facebook and become one! You can also follow us @smartmamapa on Twitter.

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North Codorus Township. Kirsten is allergic to chocolate and Dylan is allergic to 'everything outside,' his mom said. SMART - PAUL KUEHNEL

By JESS KROUT for Smart

Is it possible the United States is too clean?

Children are immunized and use so many antibacterial wipes, hand gels and soaps that their bodies are not able to defend themselves, said Dr. Michelle Weiss of the Family Center for Allergy and Asthma in York Township. The dilemma, known as the hygiene hypothesis, has led to a substantial increase in allergies over the years.“There are more people with allergies now than 10 to 15 years ago,” Weiss said. “When I was young, I didn’t know anyone with food allergies, and now we all know someone with food allergies.”

Weiss said if one parent has an allergy, there’s a 50 percent chance each child will develop allergies. If both parents have allergies, there’s a 75 percent chance.

The best way to decrease the chance is to breast-feed, said Ann deBien, a nurse practitioner at Allergy and Asthma Consultants in Spring Garden Township and Hanover. The milk coats the intestines, helping to keep food allergens out of the bloodstream. “It doesn’t give any guarantee that your child won’t have allergies,” deBien said. But, “it’s the best way that you can protect your child.”

Keisha Ricks, a mother of three in North Codorus Township, has a 3-year-old daughter allergic to chocolate and a 9-year-old son allergic to “everything outside,” she said. The doctors told her it’s easier to say what her son Dylan’s not allergic to — cockroaches.

Ricks said she noticed her son’s asthma could happen at any time, and that’s when she asked doctors if it could be linked to allergies. It was.

“Whenever we have patients come in with asthma … almost always they have a very strong allergy testing result,” deBien said. “It’s so hand in hand. It’s like what came first, the chicken or the egg?”

Children can be tested for specific allergies at birth or at any age, Weiss said. Specialists can put an extract of specific foods, pollen, etc., on a toothpick and touch it through the skin. If a bump or small rash presents itself, an allergy is confirmed.

Once Dylan’s allergies were confirmed, doctors prescribed medication to lessen his symptoms. Ricks keeps his allergy and asthma medicine on hand at all times. “Even when Dylan is outside playing, I notice I’m very protective even though I’ve given him his medicine,” Ricks said.

There are three ways to treat allergies. If the allergy is produced by an irritant in the environment, the patient might consider running the air conditioning in the summer, not hanging clothes out to dry and so on.

If the allergy cannot to be treated with environmental control, Weiss suggests over-the-counter medications, such as Zyrtec and Claritin. She cautions against the use of Benadryl. “There are lots of studies of people taking Benadryl at 10 at night,” Weiss said, “driving at 8 in the morning and doing worse than people who are legally drunk. They think they’re fine; they feel like they’re conscious.”

But Weiss said anyone driving under the influence of Benadryl can be charged with DUI of a sedative drug.

A third option is an allergy vaccine, which will change the immune system over the course of three to five years of shots. “It’s a very long, built-up process,” Weiss said. “It takes about a year for them to start working, but it can really help people feel better. In the end, it’s less medicine and less money.”

On the Web
Mom Lyzz Jones deals every day with the ups and downs of her 2-year-old daughter’s food allergies. She searches for discounts and coupons on organic and gluten-free foods, plus she shares recipes at www.yorkblog.com/foodfight.

Key terms
Allergy: a predisposition to respond to harmful things called allergens, such as dust mites, pollen, pet dander, mold
Asthma: more than one episode of wheezing; could be attributed to ­allergies
Hygiene hypothesis: the idea that allergies are on the rise in westernized countries because the environment is so clean, children cannot develop antibodies to fight infections.
Allergic march: the thought that once you have one allergy, you could continue to get more as you age

Treatments:
Environmental control
Medications
Vaccines

Sources: Dr. Michelle Weiss, Family Center for Allergy and Asthma; Anna deBien, Allergy and Asthma Consultants

The post Stop the Sniffles: Allergies can be prevented and treated appeared first on YorkMama.com.

Ryan Fretz, aesthetic director for the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, uses some tools that the average home decorator doesn’t have available: a staff of designers, mechanics and gardeners.

His degree in fine arts doesn’t hurt, either.

Forget plain old jack-o’-lanterns. During October, dried-gourd ghosts haunt nearly every tree at the Manheim fairgrounds.

A 30-foot-tall pumpkin-headed scarecrow waves to visitors. Skinny gourds look like slithering snakes. Pumpkins seem to be afflicted with 16th-century-era leprosy.

Colorful sprays of corn husks and grasses dot lampposts.

This autumn, think outside the ­pumpkin.

Here are a few of Fretz’s tricks to make your home decor hauntingly ­boo-tiful.

Go off the beaten track

To get the most unusual produce at the best price, Fretz heads to the Leola Produce Auction, 135 Brethren Church Road in Leola. The auction is open to regular folks and not just garden centers on some days. Call 656-9592 for details. There, pick up for $4 a specialty gourd that would go for $15 at a center, Fretz said.

Think floral

For an elegant look, consider gourds as just another piece of a floral display. Fretz gathers seed heads from grasses, locust pods and corn husks, “pretty much whatever we have lying around,” and incorporates them into displays. Hot glue, wire and twine pull the pieces together, with a pair of gourds in the center.

Plan for next year

Don’t toss your gourds at the end of the season, dry them instead. Dried gourds weigh a few ounces instead of pounds, and they can be sanded, painted and crafted into wonderful shapes, either scary or elegant. Just put them away and forget about them for months. Be warned, though, the transformation isn’t pretty. “And you need to be willing to deal with some mold,” Fretz said.

Gourd glossary

Snake gourds: Long, green and, well, snake-like. They can be painted to look like snakes.

Apple and birdhouse gourds: These gourds can be dried and painted to ­resemble fruit. They also make great ­birdhouses once dried.
Cinderella pumpkins: These squat, wide and bumpy pumpkins look like something out of the fairy tale.
Jack-be-little pumpkins: The palm-sized pumpkins are great in crafts. Turn them into pretty centerpieces by tracing the shape of a tea light candle on top of the ­pumpkin, ­carving out the notch and adding the candle.

SMART TIPS

Don’t try to dry a pumpkin; only ­thick-skinned gourds can handle the drying process. “Pumpkin isn’t going to dry out,” Fretz said. “A pumpkin will turn into an icky mess.”

You can use fresh gourds for the ghosts, too. But remember that they weigh much more than dried gourds, so consider that when attaching the ghosts to posts and branches.

Get crafty
Drying gourds

Step 1: Find a dry place. “Some place that you just don’t have to look at,” Fretz said. Put the gourd in a cardboard box on a shelf in the garage or shed.

Step 2: Don’t look. “In the middle of winter, you don’t want to look at them.” All the moisture comes out of the gourd ­during a weeping process. “There will be an odor,” Fretz said. “It’s not terrible, but it will be distinct.”

Step 3: Craft the gourds. Dried gourds weigh just a couple ounces. To craft them, pull the seeds off the shell, scrub off the mold and, if going for an elegant look, sand down the shell.

Apple gourds and pear-shaped ­birdhouse gourds can be painted to look like the fruits.

Create a dried-gourd ghost

Step 1: Keep the dried gourd in its ­natural grayish-black dried look. Using a hammer, pop out eye holes and mouth.
Step 2: Using wire and hot glue, add pine branches to the bottom of the gourd.

Step 3: Cover with white fabric. Use wire or twine to attach the ghost to a tree branch or lamppost.

Make a corn-husk sunburst

Step 1: Gather similar-length corn husk leaves into a sunburst arrangement. Hot glue pieces together.

Step 2: Add a small round red or orange gourd to the center, attaching with twine, wire and/or hot glue, depending upon the weight.

SPOOKY IDEAS FOR HALLOWEEN

Creating a spooky mood on your front porch or front yard doesn’t have to be an expensive or time-consuming nightmare.
Here are some tips:

Build a scarecrow

Stuff old clothes with newspaper. For the head, a ­plastic milk jug covered with papier-mâché will do the trick.

Make jack-o’-lantern Jr.

Buy small plastic orange party favor bags and stuff them with newspaper. Tie off the tops with green or black ribbon. Let the kids draw faces on the orange “heads” with black markers. The miniature jack-o’-lanterns will look good dangling from tree branches or on the rail of your porch.

Shine an eerie light

Colored bulbs are available at many drug and discount stores. Look around the house for a lamp that’s easy to reposition and redirect and ­consider splashing the weird light against a wall or doorway.

Carve your own gravestone

Craft your own monuments by purchasing, carving and decorating pieces of Styrofoam, which cost $1.99 to $10.99 a sheet at Michaels. “But don’t use spray paint, it will eat the Styrofoam,” warned Michaels assistant manager Barbara Bennett, adding that you’ll have to hand paint it with acrylic paint.

— McClatchy Newspapers

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In Toy Story 3, Andy is headed off to college and contemplates the fate of his beloved toy collection.

Should he donate them? Discard them? Or decide not to part with them?

The story made me think of how I couldn’t part with my Pound Puppy when I went to college. I didn’t stop sleeping with her until I moved in with the man who is now my husband. I still have my puppy, but she’s sad and dusty in the attic now.

Share your “toy story” in 75 words or fewer,  and you’ll be entered to win a four-pack of tickets to Disney On Ice Toy Story 3 during its run from Nov. 3 through 7 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Your response could also appear in an upcoming issue of Smart magazine!

E-mail your story to keberle@ydr.com and include your name, daytime phone number and address. Photos are welcome, too! For  the complete rules, click here.

UPDATE: Congrats to our winners — Margie Lomenzo, Ashley Dively, Jennifer Mulle, Olivia Young, Teena Wise, Missy Fangmeyer, Marie Gush, Jayme Glover and Maddy Strine! Have a great time at the show!

The post Win tickets to Disney On Ice Toy Story 3! appeared first on YorkMama.com.