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Oh October: The Hunt for Halloween Costumes

Hello October! Why the heck did you have to sneak up on me like that?!  It seems as if time flies even faster when you have a little one!  Our son is 2 going on 12!  Our photos from Halloween of last year gets me a little choked up! He was still my baby back then! Now he tells me that he is NOT a baby anymore.  He is a BIG BOY.  His Daddy's big boy.

Here's my baby Yoda.  It was his first "trick or treating" experience.   He kept up with the bigger kids and had a great time.  This year his wants to be Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.  I was kind of hoping that he just might want to be a Ninja! He would fit nicely in his cousin's costume from last year! Nope. He definitely doesn't want to be a Ninja....  So Buzz Lightyear it is!

Have you already picked up Halloween costumes for your kids? Or am I the only one who hasn't yet?

Getting pointers from his Ninja Cousin

Ready?!

His haul:  Not bad for a first timer!
NOTE: He didn't eat any of this candy.. All he had was a Yummy Earth  Organic Lollipop, pictured at the top of the post.

I hope that you all have a safe Halloween!

King-size Snickers and Twix will be things of the past by 2014

King-size versions of Snickers and Twix bars will no longer be on store shelves in 2014, as their maker tries to improve the nutritional value of its products. (Photo by Candy Warehouse)

Mars Inc. will no longer sell chocolate products with more than 250 calories, Reuters reports. The giant Snickers and Twix contain a whopping 540 calories.

It's not the first time the Virginia-based maker has tried to improve its image. In 2007, "It said it would stop buying advertising time or space if more than a quarter of the audience was likely to be under 12 years old," Reuters reports.

Mars also makes M&Ms, Skittles and Juicy Fruit chewing gum, along with Uncle Ben's rice and Dove ice cream bars. (Read more)

The Halloween candy face-off: Real Simple magazine tries to answer which candy is healthier

A nutritional analysis by Real Simple magazine pitted favorite Halloween treats against one another to see which are healthier. While neither winner is necessarily good for you, the competition offers one way to choose the lesser of two evils. (Photo by Lucas Allen)

Snickers candy bars are a better choice than Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Kate Rope reports for Real Simple. Snickers "contains less fat, less saturated fat, and 10 fewer calories per two pieces," said Cynthia Sass, coauthor of "The Ultimate Diet Log."

Peanut M&M's or Skittles? Skittles are lower in calorie count, but M&M's will make you feel full longer.

Selecting Kit Kat over Twix will "save you 20 calories and rack up less saturated fat and sodium," Sass said, though it's a toss-up between Candy Corn and Tootsie Rolls.

What about Butterfinger or York Peppermint Patties? "Butterfingers boast 200 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 100 milligrams of sodium," Rope reports. "Meanwhile, three mini York patties pack 150 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 15 milligrams of sodium."

Jolly Rancher beat out Starburst, though not because there is a significant difference in calorie count, but because Jolly Ranchers take longer to suck and you're not as likely to eat several in a row.

Ther survey found for SweeTarts over Smarties; Milky Way over PayDay; Almond Joy over Mounds; Bubble Yum ove rTootsie Pop; and the classic caramel apple vs. candy apple. (Read more)