HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Have a Happy Halloween! There are so many great ways to enjoy this fantastic holiday. Maybe your perfect Halloween means having a creative costume. Or perhaps it wouldn't be Halloween without a spook-tacular party. Maybe the highlight for you is decorating your house with spider webs, ghosts, and ghouls. Or you like to spend the night eating candy and watching scary movies. And who doesn't love passing out candy to trick-or-treaters? However you like to spend Halloween, go all out and have a great time!

And that's your daily good thing!


a couple of my favorite Halloween costumes...

Harajuku Girls for Halloween in Hong Kong.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Harmonize

Sharing music with friends and loved ones is a great pick me up. From exchanging mixed tapes and burning cds for one another, the gift of music is timeless. I am always excited anytime a friend burns me a CD. Whether the songs have special meaning, have great lyrics, or are just fun to dance to, there are few things that can beat sharing great music with a friend or loved one. There are so many ways to share music now. If you hear a great song on the radio and it reminds you of someone, text or call them to tell them about it. Or send them a link to the youtube music video of the song. And of course you can't ever go wrong with burning a CD of your favorite tunes and giving it to someone special.

As I get older, my world gets bigger and I now have friends all over the world. Sometimes I will send a cd in the mail, or e-mail them the name and artist of my new favorite song. But I have found an even better way to share music with loved ones who are far away, or even ones who are close by. Check out www.projectplaylist.com . You download songs to your profile, and you can access those songs anywhere that has internet. It is really fun, and easy, to make a "joint" project playlist with friends. One person has to make the account, and then share the username and password. Make the ultimate playlist with your friends and loved ones. "Harmonize" your music tastes.It is a really great way to share music, and to feel close even if you are far away. Here I am having way too much fun listening to music from my boyfriend.


Making a playlist with a friend or loved one, and having that music to listen to, is an easy way put a smile on your face.


And That's Your Daily Good Thing!

Reconnect

Reconnect with an old friend. With the technology these days, facebook, twitter, cell phones, e-mail, it is easy to do. Think of someone that you have grown apart from, and that you would like to be back in touch with. Take a few minutes and send a thought felt facebook message or e-mail, or even muster up the courage to give that person a phone call. Maybe it is your best friend from middle school, or your lab partner in chemistry, or that friend that you used to go camping with. Whoever it is, reach out and see how they are doing, let them know what you are up to, and that you miss having them in your life. Not only will this totally make someone's day, you will feel good for making the effort. Maybe they will become a great pen pal, or you'll arrange to see each other more. Or maybe you will message a few times, reminiscence, and drift apart again. Either way, it is definitely worth a little time.
Here is a picture of me with one of my childhood best friends and neighbors. We got back into contact last year and she ended up visiting me in Hong Kong. We had a blast, and are still in contact. Since it is almost Halloween this seemed like an appropriate picture.

So take a little time and reconnect with an old friend. You'll be happy you did. And that's your daily good thing!

Fall into Autumn

Get in the Autumn spirit by taking a trip to a nearby pumpkin patch. You don't even have to buy one, just enjoy the atmosphere. If you have younger siblings or children make it a family event, or go by yourself and people watch the pumpkin pickers. Bring a camera and be inspired by the vivid colors. You could even treat yourself to some pumpkin pie or hot apple cider to really get into the spirit of fall.

Fall only comes once a year, so make the most of it, and enjoy yourself.

And that's your daily good thing!

Mix It Up

Add a twist to a favorite recipe. For example, I was craving pasta in a rich, vodka cream sauce, but had no vodka and no cream. So I got a little creative in the kitchen, and ended up with something I like even better. Try these easy additions to take basic pasta and tomato sauce to a whole new level. And don't be afraid to substitute your favorite veggies with the ones I use. I mix it up a little bit every time I make it.


Tomato Cream Sauce with a Twist
(served over pasta)


INGREDIENTS
Your favorite dry pasta (I like using Angel Hair)
1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
1 head of broccoli
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 Large yellow onion
1/2 Yellow Bell Pepper (or red if you prefer)
3 tsp of cream cheese
Ground Pepper (to taste)
Olive Oil


EQUIPMENT
1 medium size sauce pan
1 medium size deep skillet
knife
Cutting board
Pasta Strainer

STEPS
1. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Pour olive oil in the skillet, heat for about a minute, add the onion and garlic. Add fresh ground pepper. Keep heat low.
2. Start to boil water in the saucepan for the pasta. Add salt and cover the saucepan for faster boiling.
3. While the onion and garlic is cooking, chop the broccoli into small florets. I like to chop them really small so they are easy to mix in with the pasta. Add the broccoli florets to the skillet. Stir often with the spatula.
4. Chop the bell pepper into small pieces. Add to the skillet. Depending on how much olive oil you started with you might need to add some more. Stir all of the ingredients together and turn the heat up to medium-low.
5. Your water should be boiling by now, so add the desired pasta. Different pastas take different amounts of time to cook. One of the reasons I like using angel hair is that it cooks quickly.
6. While the pasta is cooking add 3/4 of the jar of the desired tomato sauce. Stir the vegetables into the sauce. Let simmer for about 2 minutes. Then add the cream cheese. Sounds strange but I promise it is delicious. Stir in the cream cheese evenly. The cream cheese will not only add creaminess but will also thicken the sauce.
7. Let the sauce simmer for another 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. While the pasta sauce is simmering your pasta should have finished cooking. Again, this depends on what kind of pasta you used. Drain and rinse the pasta.
8. Turn off the heat under the pasta sauce. Instead of adding the pasta and sauce back into the saucepan, simply add the pasta to the skillet. This makes clean up easier. Note that this will only work if you have a deep enough skillet.
9. If you like, add bits of shaved or grated parmesan reggiano.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Viola! A delicious veggie pasta dish that feels absolutely decadent but is good for you. The vegetables add a satisfying crunch and the bell peppers give it a little kick.

You can also refrigerate and re-heat in the microwave for up to 3 days.

And That's Your Daily Good Thing!

LEARN

Learn something new! Enroll at a class at your local community college. Have a friend teach you their favorite recipe. Take an online tutorial (they have them for just about anything). I just started taking an Excel class at my local community college and am loving it. Here is a picture of me holding my Excel manual in front of the building my class is in. I'm planning on signing up for a photography class later this month.

Taking the time to learn something new, whether it is a big thing or a small thing, will give you a sense of achievement and accomplishment. Plus, you'll have a new skill or a new set of knowledge. Congratulate yourself.

And that's your daily good thing!