Halloween Alternatives to Trick or Treating

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Maybe Halloween just isn't for you or maybe you don't want your children coming homes with bags of candy. Let's face it. Halloween isn't for everyone. With all the hooplah you may be looking for alternatives to celebrating Halloween.

My kids used to love the alternative Halloween celebrations that we came up with. They had so much fun that they never complained that they missed out on any fun and I never had to deal with a wagonload of leftover candy.

The are alternatives to celebrating Halloween. The trick is to find something that your family enjoys. Some of these ideas, like Trunk or Treat, get more popular every year. Other ideas are better suited for your family or for a small group. Whichever activity you decide to have this list of 7 great ideas for Halloween alternatives is sure to help!

Halloween Alternatives #1

Trunk or TreatOne of the most common alternatives to celebrating Halloween is becoming Trunk or Treat. These event is often sponsored in church parking lots on Halloween night. It works like a giant tailgate party with multiple families. Kids, dressed in costume or not, go from car to car to collect candy or other prizes. Sometimes food, games or karaoke are included.

Halloween Alternatives #2

Weiner roasts and campfires alternatives to celebrating Halloween. Friends, family or church members gather to roast hot dogs (and usually marshmallows) over an open fire. This usually doesn't involve toting huge bags of candy. The emphasis is not on Halloween but on spending time together with each other.

Halloween Alternatives #3

Fall parties work well as alternatives to celebrating Halloween. This can take place at a home or in a church. Kids can pick up dry leaves from the yard that day to decorate with or create their own. If you do have it at your home it's best to have some candy on hand. Some people might think that you are celebrating Halloween and come to your door by mistake. (Most people won't have this problem.) If that happens just give them a piece of candy and send them on their way. You can put a note on the door but this will only help the kids who are old enough to read.

Halloween Alternatives #4

Host a block party. This can be similar to the Trunk or Treat mentioned above. It can be open to the community or just for the kids on your block. The idea is to build community spirit and involvement while giving the kids a safe place to have fun.

Halloween Alternatives #5

Fall themed tea party. Kids get the fun of dressing up and seeing friends while having fun. Use a fall decorating theme. Instead of tea you can serve lemonade. Food can be spice cakes, cream cheese sandwiches, scones or any of the traditional items used for a tea party.

Halloween Alternatives #6

Organize a skating or bowling night. Gather your kids, their friends (and hopefully parents) and head to your local skating rink or bowling alley. See who can bowl the most strikes or stand on one foot while on skates. It can be a fun way to see friends and have a good time.

Halloween Alternatives #7

Have a hayride. Nothing says fall more than a hayride. Plans can be as elaborate as going to park or as simple as a lawn tractor, trailer and a couple of bales of hay. Snacks or drinks are usually a good idea. A hayride can be a fun way to get together with friends, enjoy the evening and makes a great Halloween alternative.

Sources:
Personal Experience

Click here for more articles by this author. Follow Gayle Crabtree on Twitter by clicking here.

Calhoun's West Knoxville Farragut, TN

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At the Calhoun's in Farragut, Hubby and I had one of the best meals that we have had in a long time. It's not that the meal was the most expensive or the fanciest. That wasn't what made it so great. It was the right combination of good food (served hot) plus friendly service at a reasonable cost that went into making this such a memorable meal.

We arrived not long after the ball game started. Both Hubby and myself expected the Calhoun's in Farragut to be packed with loudly cheering customers. Instead, it was nice and quiet. Actually, we were one of the few couples in the restaurant. It appeared that everyone else went to the game. We got a lot of undivided attention!

Our server at the Calhoun's in Farragut was spot-on for the entire meal. Our tea glasses never ran dry. Plates were cleared. She was friendly and efficient. There aren't too many servers like her around much. Calhoun's in West Knoxville should do their best to keep this little gem from the Hawaiian islands. She's worth the effort.

The appetizer that we decided to from the Calhoun's in Farragut was the Beer Cheese with Pretzels. Served hot, the beer cheese is a dipping cheese similar in consistency to nacho cheese. It has a tangy flavor. Accompanying the cheese is 7, 1" thick soft pretzels. These are the kind that you would find from a concessionaire at the county fair. A small cup of mustard comes on the side. The flavors work well together. It is my favorite appetizer by far and is the only Calhoun's where we have found the pretzels instead of chips.

Next up was a basket of bread. We had a biscuit, two pieces of garlic toast and a cornbread muffin. Like the appetizer these were served hot. I had a small bite of each. They were very tasty.

Our entrees were out before I was finished tasting the bread. Service was that quick at this day the Calhoun's in Farragut. There are many tempting items on the menu. These include barbeque, chicken and steaks. On this day, we just ordered burgers.

The burgers were hot. My cheese was melted to the side of the meat without running over. The criisp side of french fries were hot and tasty. The lettuce was cool to the touch. Food allergies prohibit me from eating onions and the burger was properly served without them.

Hubby indicated that his burger was also good and that he enjoyed his fries. The cost for the meal was just under $40 plus tip.

All in all, we had a very pleasant meal at the Calhoun's in Farragut. It was a job well done.

Resources:
Urbanspoon

Christmas Gifts for Newlywed Couples

Newlywed couples are fun to shop for at Christmas. The sky is wide open when it comes to gift ideas. Gifts for the home can be particularly useful for a new couple. Tops on the list are anything that can be used to decorate a home. Knoxville and East Tennessee have some of the finest shopping opportunities for Christmas gifts for newlywed couples that you can find anywhere. The hard part is not deciding where to shop but what to buy.

Some suggestions for Christmas gifts for newlywed couples include a Pfaltzgraff Christmas Platter,decorations and linens. Lenox offers personalized ornaments that are sure to be a hit. Couples who enjoy the outdoors might enjoy a portable gas grill, camping equipment or other outdoor items.

Are you looking for additional ideas for Christmas gifts for newlywed couples? If so, the following links may be helpful.

Nine Top Christmas Gift Ideas for Newlyweds

Gift Newlyweds with Christmas Ornaments

Firehouse Subs Emory Rd. Powell, TN Youve Been Reviewed

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Lunch at the Firehouse Subs on Emory Road in Powell, TN today was one of the most unique restaurant experiences that I have ever had. John and I visited there for lunch. The sandwiches were served fresh and hot. No problems with food quality there. John's Italian sub was perfectly made. He said it tasted great.

My Firehouse Sub was a different story. Piled on top of the meat and cheese was a nice bed of onion. I'm allergic and had asked them to hold these items. (I also asked them to hold the tomato. That's just because I don't like it.) Since the onion issue is a food allergy, I can't just pick off the offending item and eat the rest of the meal.

So, I took the Firehouse Sub sandwich back to the cashier. He promised to have a replacement out in a jiffy and he did. Unfortunately, this one was on the wrong bread. I started to keep it anyway but didn't. The employee said it would only take a few minutes to get a correct sandwich out to me. I said ok and waited. In a few minutes the first employee came back with sandwich #3. I had to look at it and laugh. Guess what? This one had tomatoes on it. At least I could pick those off (which is exactly what I did).

Once I finally got to eat my Firehouse Sub I can honestly say it was among the best deli sandwiches that I've had. (Except for locally owned Nixons of course.)  But I'm not sure that next time I'll want to go through 3 sandwiches and still have them get it wrong.

The manager was apologetic. Apparently the server noticed that I was furiously picking bits and pieces off my Firehouse Subs sandwich. He offered another one but there was no way I was going to wait for #4. (What happend to the 3rd time being the charm anyway?) The manager did give me a coupon for a free sandwich. It's good on my next trip to Firehouse Subs. That was nice but something tells me to give it some time before going back.

Review of the Kyocera TNT Cell Phone for Virgin Mobile

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Some time ago, I got fed up with having to sign a 2 year wireless agreement just to get a cell phone. My solution was to switch to a prepaid wireless company known as Virgin Mobile. Other than during my recent trip to Alaska through Canada the service has suited my needs perfectly.

One of the best things about Virgin Mobile is the number of inexpensive cell phones that are offered with no contract requirement. For $14.99 I was able to buy a brand new blue Kyocera TNT flip phone and wall charger. The battery lasts for about 2 hours of consecutive use. If  the phone isn't being used often it can go for two days on a single charge.

My phone needs are basic. I use Twitter so text messaging is a must and is has got to send and receive calls reliably. The Kyocera TNT Virgin Mobile cell phone works perfectly. I also like the speakerphone, voice dialing and speed dialing options.

For those of you who want fancy bells and whistles the Kyocera TNT Virgin Mobile may not be for you. There is no camera but you can download ringtones, surf the web and do other basic functions.

More information about the phone can be found in this article on Factoidz.

Budget Travel Tips for Families

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If you are looking for budget travel tips you have come to the right place. I love to travel but I must carefully plan for each penny that will be spent. Fortunately, it is easier than ever to travel on a budget.

The first step is to first decide how much you want to spend. This will largely determine how far you can go.

The second step in budget travel is to look at the costs of the motel rooms and round trip gas. These are 2 factors over which you have the least control. Once you have these figures it is easier to decide how long you want to stay.

Travel clubs like AAA and even a Sam's Wholesale Club membership can help you save on motel rooms. Be sure to check online travel sites. Before booking, call the motel and compare prices. Ask if there are any specials that you should know about. Some motels have internet only specials and others will save those value rooms for walk-in customers or callers. It is always worth phoning ahead. You also want to double check the price of the room at check in just in case a lower price option is available.

The last thing on the list is to look at attractions and meals. To save money, meals can be eaten out of a cooler. This can be the most convenient plan if you are traveling to the beach or to a park.

There are probably more budget travel tips that I didn't cover. Please share your suggestions in the comments sections below.

Read more on budget travel tips from the following websites:
Factoidz
Fall Travel Tips
Youve Been Reviewed

My Copyright Infringement Policy

This policy is effective October 18, 2009 and replaces the previous policy.

Copyright Infringement is serious. There is no excuse to steal someone else's work and post it to your blog or website as your own. Like most writers, I work hard to develop SEO content that will draw an audience and write for several different companies. Like most writers, this is how I make money to pay for bills and prescriptions or donate to charity. So please, think twice before posting my content to your blog or website without permission. If you do use my work please email me in advance to explore reciprocal linking options or other possibilities.

Before you copy and paste my work onto your website you should be aware of the following:

If you link to my work all I ask is that you email me at youvebeenreviewed@gmail.com for approval before my work appears on your website.  I also ask that you credit Gayle Crabtree or Gayle D'Ambrosio - Crabtree and that you link back either to the www.youvebeenreviewed.net blog to www.gaylecrabtree.com or the original url of the content.

Please note that your choice to use of any of my articles or blog entries on your website indicates your willing agreement to be bound by the terms of this article.

If my work is discovered on your website without prior authorization you are subject to being billed the following amounts:

A monthly non-exclusive user fee of $150.00 for each month that my work appears on your website. This time period will be calculated from the date that appears on your post or, if no date is shown, from January 1 of the year the work was discovered. The work is billed per month and runs from the first day of the month to midnight on the last day of the month during which my work appears on your site.

A flat 4% late payment fee for funds not received by the 10th of the month will be added per month.

Additional fees such as collection costs may be assessed and added to the above totals.

If you have any questions about this policy please contact youvebeenreviewed@gmail.com. I will be happy to work with you for the best possible outcome of all parties.

Thank you.

Blog Action Day 09 The Climate is Changing

Blog Action day for 2009 is about global climate change. For me, it's a timely topic. Blog readers know that this summer my daughter and I drove from our East Tennessee home to Alaska. We saw many beautiful sites and learned of some heartbreaking news - the climate in Alaska is changing. In Denali National Park we saw 6 million acres of untouched natural wilderness. We learned of the animals struggle for survival and about the cycle of life. That cycle is being impacted by the warming temperatures of global climate change.

During our trip to Alaska we also heard about the ways that climate change is causing problems in Alaska. We were told that the polar ice caps are melting and that the glaciers are shrinking. This causes coastal flooding and erosion problems. Threatened animals must go farther in search of food. This puts them in the way of people. In some areas, there is a problem with people versus animals. Some of the locals shared with us that this is a growing problem.

The saddest news  came when we visited Glacier National Park. There, mighty glaciers that have been there for hundreds or thousands of years are disappearing. We were told that 126 glaciers were in the park in the late 1800's. Now, there are fewer than 30 of them. It saddens me to think that my grandchildren will not see them.

In East Tennessee the climate change issues have been subtle. There seem to be more days when the ozone levels are high. I have asthma and don't breathe well on those days. When the air gets bad I have to stay inside. We don't need a meteorologist to tell me what the levels are. I know when I wake up in the morning and go to the mailbox.My lung functioning almost always correlates to the ozone levels. If I can still breathe when I get back in the ozone levels are low. If I can't, the levels are high. Other people at church talk about similar problems.

There are those who wonder if climate change is real. For me, I only wonder what we can do to slow it down. For my grandchildren and great grandchildren, I just hope that we can slow it down or even reverse the damage that we, and our parents and grandparents have done.

Resources:
Knoxville News Sentinel
Geology.Com
Nature Conservancy - Global Climate Change in Alaska

Old Town Amish Shop in Berea, Kentucky; One Tank from Knoxville

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This is a review for the following Old Town Amish Shop in Berea, Kentucky:

Old Town Amish Shop
Rick Thomas, Owner
201 Prince Royal Drive
Berea, KY 40404
Phone: (859) 986-0733
Hours are:
10:00 am -8:00 pm Monday - Saturday
11:00 am -6:00 pm - Sunday

I was on my way to Berea, Kentucky when the interstate sign for the Old Town Amish Shop caught my eye. It sounded like a place that my daughter would enjoy. Since I was meeting her at Berea College I decided to take her to explore the new business.

The Old Town Amish Shop is not far off of the interstate exit in Berea, Kentucky. If you are going north on I-75 get off at the Berea exit #76. Turn right and then left at the first traffic light. You'll see the Old Town Amish Shop just ahead and on your left. You are looking for a white building with an Amish - style buggy on the front porch. It's pretty hard to miss.

When we walked in I was struck by how neat the place is. Everything was whistle clean and lined up neatly on the shelves. The plants and fall décor all seemed to be in great condition and tastefully arranged.

The Old Town Amish Shop is a bulk food store. Most of the items that are offered are in larger sizes than you can usually find in grocery stores. There were hard to find and unique items, deli meats and a wide variety of cheeses filled coolers. We found fall mums, Indian corn, several types of apples, roasted peanuts, dry soup mixes, sorghum, molasses and much more. Every shelf was fully stocked.

Making selections at the Old Town Amish Shop was tough. We spent quite awhile in the store. Every employee was friendly and either smiled, said hello or offered to help. You don't find service like this at your local grocery store. They were busy too. We got there right after opening time on a Sunday afternoon. There were already several customers in the store. A steady stream kept the doors swinging while we were there.

As I suspected she would, my daughter fell in love with the Old Town Amish Shop. The bulk items fit her needs perfectly. As a college student she sometimes needs things that are easy to fix. Limited refrigeration makes keeping food handy nearly impossible. The bulk dry goods sold in the Old Town Amish Shop helped. There was an array of dry soups and hot chocolates. All she has to do is add water, cook for a few minutes and she's ready to go. She was really tickled at the selection.

I was ticked with the selection, store itself and the reasonable prices. For only $10, I bought 3 bulk packages of flavored hot chocolate, a large container of bulk dry broccoli soup and a good sized bag of roasted peanuts for Hubby.

We sampled a few of Hubby's peanuts from the Old Town Amish Shop when we got in the car. They were lightly roasted and salted and tasted great. Predictably they also made us thirsty. When I got home I decided to try both the hot chocolate and the soup mix. These were also tasty.

The next time my daughter phones home from college and says "Mom, I need..." I'll definitely being going back to the Old Town Amish Shop. Who knows? I might even make a special Sunday drive.

More about Berea, Kentucky:
Chamber of Commerce
Quilt Trail of Madison County
Berea College
Berea Folk Arts



Click You've Been Reviewed for more blog articles by this author on Associated Content. Follow Gayle Crabtree on Twitter @gaylesglimpses.

East Tennessee Nonprofit Hope for Healing.org Has Chance to Win $50,000!

The East Tennessee nonprofit Hope for Healing.Org has a chance to win $50,000. To do so they have to win the America's Giving Challenge on Facebook. They just joined the race today but I think they have a good shot at it - if everyone can pitch in to help. Giving details are on their Facebook cause page.

Tragically, the economy forced Hope for Healing.Org to close the doors of its Ministry Center in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee last month. From this rural center they helped victims of sexual and dometsic violence, distributed free clothing and household items, maintained a small food pantry and served as the only Restorative Justice worksite in the 37871 zip code!

Through volunteers and no paid staff, lives were changed and hope was restored but funding wasn't there to sustain the program expenses of rent and utilities.

Winning the $50,000 will guarantee the reopening of the ministry center. A few small pieces of property are available. Advertisements and sponsorships that are now on the website will help with long-term sustainability and operating expenses of the program.

To win the $50,000 Hope for Healing.Org will have to get the most donations to their cause. Supporters can give as little as $10. Just as importantly, we can also tell others about the opportunity to give and encourage our friends to join their cause. We all have tons of friends on Facebook. Let's see if they will join us in helping this organization.

The cause page will let us know how Hope for Healing.org is doing. They also have the chance to win daily prizes of $1,000 or $500. It''s all based on how many donations they get. How often do you get the chance to spend $10 to help an organization get $50,000? I've never had the opportunity before. Have you? Let's see if we can join together to help them.

More information:

See the Hope for Healing.Org cause page here.
Donate to them here.
View the website for Hope for Healing.Org here.

Dine with Your Dog Pet Friendly Dining Comes to Knoxville

Knoxville really is well on the way to being the most pet friendly place in the US and possibly on earth. When I heard that the Knox County health department will allow dogs on outdoor patios I just had to chuckle. We've not tried that yet and are waiting for the next pretty day to take Tomlin out to eat.

For us, dining at a pet friendly Knoxville restaurant is a chance for Tomlin to sharpen his skills as a service dog. For other people, it's a chance to go out to eat with their beloved family member. Pets add so much to our lives and ask virtually nothing in return except for love and a little attention.

Technically speaking, service dogs have always been allowed in Knoxville restaurants. The looks and stares that you get may or may not make the experience worth it. Now that pet friendly dining is in Knoxville life is definitely going to be easier for those of us with families members who need a service dog.

Knoxville is working hard on becoming more pet friendly. I just have to wonder if that won't also help us become more disabled friendly too. Eventually, time will tell.

We've been on the phone to verify that some restaurants are pet friendly. Click here for a blog entry with a partial list.

More information:
WBIR
Pet Friendliest Community
WATE

Pet Friendly Dinner Spots in Knoxville, Tennessee

The quest of Knoxville, Tennessee to become the most pet friendly town in the nation got a boost earlier this month. The health department announced that pets will now be allowed on restaurant patios across the city. Many Knoxville restaurants are willing to jump on board and allow pets, but not all. Before you get ready to hit the dining trail with Fido there are a couple of things that you should know.

First, pet friendly dining in Knoxville doesn't have to be free. Restaurants are allowed to charge a fee of up to $5.

Pets are expected to be well behaved. Knoxville diners who eat out with their pets may be asked to leave if the pet becomes a nuisance.

It goes without saying that pet owners are required to be responsible. This means keeping your pet on a leash and picking up anything that your pet leaves behind. It is always advisable to bring your own litter bag, just in case.

Call ahead to verify that the Knoxville restaurant where you want to dine will be pet friendly. Restaurants do have the option to refuse or to set certain hours. So far, every restaurant we've called has been on board and even excited about the idea. That doesn't mean every restaurant will follow suit. To be sure, it's always best to call ahead.

So what Knoxville restaurants will allow pet friendly dining on the patio? Just about every restaurant that I phoned was willing to accept pets. While I haven't gotten around to calling everyone yet here are a few that I did speak with. If you know of other Knoxville restaurants that will accept pets please add them in the comments section below.

Pet Friendly Dining in Knoxville

McAlister's Deli at the Shops at Deane Hill
Aubrey's, Cedar Bluff
Firehouse Subs, Cumberland Ave.
Rita's Water Ice, Market Square Mall
Stir Fry Cafe, Kingston Pike
Silver Spoon American Cafe', Kingston Pike
Panera Bread, Broadway
Mellow Mushroom, Cumberland Ave.

Is World Smile Day Celebrated in Knoxville?

For those who didn't know, today is World Smile Day! It's the one day that is designed to bring a smile to your face. I've had one burning thought as I ran around Knoxville getting my errands done. That thought is "Is World Smile Day Celebrated in Knoxville?"

I smiled from ear-to-ear as I greeted Hubby with a very cheery. "Happy World Smile Day!" John smiled back at me and calmly suggested that a caffeine reduction might be appropriate. (He must have gotten today mixed up with National Coffee Day back in September.)

My cell phone rang. I greeted the caller with a peppy "Happy World Smile Day". The voice on the other end quivered and asked "Mom, are you ok. You sound funny"? She didn't sound any less anxious when I asked if she was celebrating World Smile Day. She just asked if her dad was with me and if she could speak to him. College kids. They just don't have the sense of humor that they used to.

Throughout my day in Knoxville I wished people a Happy World Smile Day. And guess what? People smiled back. Ok, I did have to explain to a couple of folks that World Smile Day really is a legitimate day.

It was founded by Mr. Harvey Ball. Back in 1963 he was commissioned to come up with a simple logo that would improve company morale. If you guessed that it is a bright yellow smiley face you would be correct. This logo proved to be so popular that a foundation was started in the late 1990's. Now World Smile Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday in October.

The idea behind World Smile Day is simple. You do something nice for someone else just to make them smile. That's it. Pure and simple.

In this day and age of stress building headlines and crazy lives we can use a few more smiles. If you get the chance to celebrate World Smile Day in Knoxville please do so. It's easy. It's fun and it will make people wonder what you've been up to.

Now that makes you smile doesn't it? Happy World Smile Day!

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month

Did you know that October is Cyber Security Awareness Month? New computer threats happen daily. This month serves as a good reminder for us to review our computer security programs.

To undertand cyber security it helps to understand a few basic terms. These include phishing, virus protection and firewalls.

Phishing is the attempt of a criminal to get their hands on your personal information. Phishing attempts usually happen through the receipt of a bogus email message. Opening the email attachment is enough to trigger a virus to run on your computer. This virus can log your keystrokes and send them back to the person who originally sent the bad email.

The problem is that the email won't go directly to the criminal but through an endless sea of twists, turns and deceptive accounts before it arrives at the destination. This makes it almost impossible to track down the creators of these programs.

The best cyber security protection is to never open any email attachment from anyone you aren't sure about. Even if you are sure about the person who sent it never open an email that sounds strange to your or is peppered with misspellings and bad grammar. Those are two signs that the email may be forged. Simply turn it over to your spam filter and let it do the work.

Maintaining virus protection on you computer is a must for good cyber security. There are free programs that are available from reputable sites such as C-Net. Virus protection keeps programs from fraudulent emails from being able to open and run. Think of these programs as vaccinations for your computer. They have to be updated frequently but are an important aspect of cyber security.

Firewalls stop advertising bots and other phishing attempts from taking place. This of this cyber security necessity as a brick wall that fortifies your computer. These cyber security programs, like other virus protection programs, run constantly in the background of your computer and work to keep you protected.

For more information on cyber security check out these websites.

Department of Homeland Security
Symantec