Our Spirit Sunday focus at Marilu.com is more on the part of our lives that is not physical – not tied to food or exercise, but to our thoughts and feelings and a sense of interconnections.

Today the word “spirit” brings a different image to mind – ghosts! We remember the trauma of wanting to be a ghost for Halloween one year and realizing that there was not a single white sheet in the house. Every sheet was either striped or floral. Of course, it was a last-minute idea, and there was no time to run to the store. (We ended up as a gypsy with the best earrings ever – hot pink blown glass balls. It was a great costume, and we’re still begging mom for the earrings.)

Think about your favorite Halloween memories. Share them with family and friends. Who had the scariest Halloween? The tamest? Who had the best costume? Did anyone pull any tricks? How old were you when you stopped trick-or-treating?

Have fun today. Smile and laugh. Get into the spirit of the holiday by dressing up (or at least doing fun makeup). It’s a good day to play.

Image by prestonluxon

Baby steps have a better chance of leading to success than great leaps, when it comes to your goals.

Whether your goal is losing weight or building your bank account, you’re more likely to stick to your plan and reach those long-term (really big! really exciting!) goals.

• Lose weight 2 or 5 or 10 pounds each month.
• Build savings $25 or $50 or $100 each paycheck.
• Eat more vegetables by adding one or two servings a week.
• Get more sleep by going to bed 15 minutes earlier each week.
• Drink less caffeine by cutting out 1 -2 cups a week.

You’ll meet your big! exciting! long-term goals slowly but surely. And isn’t surely the most important part of meeting your goal?

Before you start abdominal crunches, take a minute to get yourself centered.

1. Lie on the floor with your knees bent, feet on the floor.
2. Tip your pelvis up a little to get the small of your back on the floor.
3. Then lift your shoulders, neck and head up a little and roll them down slowly to lengthen your neck.
4. Slowly slide your feet out so they’re about two feet from your booty.
5. Put your hands behind your head, gently cradling your head in your fingertips.
6. Take a slow deep breath in through your nose, and slowly blow it out through your mouth.

Now you’re ready to crunch.

Well, not really…

But it might remind you of The Great Pumpkin. At least we hope it does.

This is a feel-good tune that you can use for motivation (feeling good, keep going, you can do it!), or meditation (it’s a glorious day!).

Right now, use it to get up and do a happy dance. Because the Great Pumpkin is coming, of course!

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Did you know that the number one day that teachers call in for substitutes is the day after Halloween?

It’s because of the candy. Kids are hyped up on sugar from the night before (and sometimes from candy for breakfast), and they’re tired from the excitement of the night before. They have almost no focus … and then they have a sugar crash, and they get cranky and sleepy. What teacher wants to deal with that?

Do your kids – and their teachers – a favor. Ration the candy. Trade their candy for something way more interesting to them – a new toy, new music, some sports equipment. Let them choose 10 pieces to keep and throw the rest away. Just don’t send your kids to school on a sugar high.

Here are a couple of recipes for Halloween snacks. Of course, they’re good any time. If you’re watching football on Sunday, serve these as halftime snacks.

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Creepy Spiders
Green * Makes 1

For each spider:
2 round organic crackers
2 teaspoons creamy organic peanut butter (no sugar added)
8 small organic pretzel sticks
2 organic raisins

Spread the peanut butter on one cracker, and put the second cracker on top for a sandwich. Insert the pretzel “legs” into the filling, putting four on each side. Put a small dab of peanut butter on one quarter of the top cracker and set the raisin “eyes” into the peanut butter.

Repeat to make as many as you need!

Brain Dip
Blue * Makes about 1 cup

1/2 cup organic natural peanut butter or other nut butter
1/3 cup reduced-fat organic silken tofu
3 Tablespoons maple sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh organic lime juice
2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, crushed

Assorted vegetables for dipping. See below.

Place all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth, scraping the sides as necessary. (It’s easier to blend everything but the peanut butter first, and when the tofu is smooth, add the peanut butter, and blend more.)

For extra fun * Place the dip inside a hollowed out cabbage head, and use other vegetables to make a “skeleton.” Sliced zucchini and yellow squash rounds can be lined up for a spine, cherry tomatoes are joints, baby carrots are ribs, celery sticks are arms and legs, broccoli and cauliflower are hands and feet. You can make one big skeleton, or make a smaller one for each person (put the dip in a tomato half, scooped out, or in a leaf of Bibb or butter lettuce.

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Think about it.

What’s the best thing in your life?
What gives you the motivation to be your best?

Tap into whatever it is today. Celebrate the best thing in your life. Be your best. Choose to put out more than 100% in everything you do.

Get started here with a little sweat equity.
Put your best into your workout.

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Eat more fruits and vegetables! They’re nature’s medicine cabinet.

• Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy and cauliflower contain many different cancer-protective phytonutrients.
• Leafy greens such as kale, chard and spinach help alkalize your body, making it a less-friendly environment for cancer cells.
• Colorful fruits such as blueberries, cherries and red grapes are loaded with antioxidants that reduce harmful free radicals in your body.

Today’s recipe is a fun snack for Halloween – or any time. Make this for the kids in your house.

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Witches’ Hands
Yellow * 12 cups

8 cups air-popped organic popcorn
3 cups mini-pretzel twists
1 cup roasted peanuts
2 Tablespoons dairy-free margarine
1/2 cup Sucanat®
1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
clear plastic gloves, optional
spider rings, optional

In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, pretzels and peanuts.

Make the toffee syrup by melting the margarine over low heat in a medium saucepan. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the Sucanat® and continue stirring until the mixture bubbles. Remove from the heat and stir in the maple syrup until the toffee is smooth.

Drizzle the toffee onto the popcorn mixture, tossing to glaze evenly. Cool the mixture.

For special Halloween presentation (and to make the recipe name true), distribute the mixture into the plastic gloves and tie the gloves closed. Put a spider ring on the middle finger of each filled glove.