Switch Witch

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I didn’t know about Switch Witch until our daughter was born.  Switch Witch, like any Magical Visitor, is probably very different in each household who invites her, but basically she is a Halloween visitor who collects candy and replaces it with a small gift.

I’m not a fan of the ingredients in many name-brand candy bars, and we also try not to allow much sugar-y food in the first place.  For the first several years, we avoided the trick-or-treating thing altogether.  It helped that we lived in a very small town and that many of our friends held a similar opposition to candy.  Instead our daughter wore her costume on small outings or when visiting our neighbors in October.  We had a couple of very simple Halloween parties so the kids could have a chance to wear their costumes together.  But, somehow, every year, at least a few pieces of candy found their way into our home, and so Switch Witch has been visiting our house for a few years now.  This year, her visit will be especially helpful since we have had way more opportunities for trick-or-treating events.

As with all our other Magical Visitors, the visits started out simply, but with time it’s become a bit more.  If you’re considering inviting SW visit your home (which you can do at ANY point in your kid’s life–simply write to her), here is a little about our Switch Witch:

-Her name is Duff, which is a long story, but that’s what she’s been called for years.

-Her font looks like this, and she writes on cute Halloween paper.

-When switching out the candy, she has left things like small Lego cars (which she found at a yard sale and keeps on hand for this time of year), a small wooden toolset, and a toy wind-up car.

-She cleans up ALL our Halloween decorations on Halloween night and puts them in our closet, which is why she’s one of my favorite visitors!  This is so nice to have out of the way as we roll into November.

-Her background is this:
–Our Switch Witch lives just west of the moors in the Back of Beyond in a cozy, thatched cottage in the wood.
–She sleeps during the day, since she does most of her switching at night.
–Her spells are always good ones, like helping people fall in love or find things they’ve lost.
–She addresses the kids as “my dearies” or “my sweets.”

 

I’m sure Switch Witch Duff’s story will continue to grow, but this is our SW as of now.  I love that Switch Witch can either collect all the candy or just some of it.  Being opposed to the over-consumerist culture our society has created, I really try to remind Switch Witch to keep it simple and set that precedent.  Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween!

Princess in Black series

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Princess in Black series
by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

Princess Magnolia is prim and proper and everything a typical princess should be.  But she has a secret.  You see, Princess Magnolia is also the fearless Princess in Black who saves goats from the very hungry monsters of Monsterland.  There are six books in the series so far.  With each new book, Princess in Black is gradually joined by other masked heroes who help her in her quest.  The books are technically chapter books, but they are quick reads and so much fun.  They’ve got clever humor, cute stories, a fun rhythm, and a wonderful blend of princesses and masked heroes.

I tried introducing these books a few years ago, and while our daughter did enjoy the first one, it wasn’t until she was five and a half or so that she really became a Princess in Black enthusiast.  For awhile there, we read these books WAY too many times to count each day and evening.  We are eagerly awaiting Book Seven!

Yes, Please

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Yes, Please
by Amy Poehler

I picked up Amy Poehler’s book a few years ago simply because it was displayed on the library bookshelf.  I don’t know that I would have sought it out; in fact, I probably wouldn’t have known it existed.  But I’m so glad I did read it.  And then, just recently (probably due to another Parks and Rec round), I felt inspired to check it out again. 

Not all of it was for me.  It’s DEFINITELY rated R.  I don’t know many of the Hollywood references in here and I really don’t have much interest in topics like the “obligatory drug stories.”  BUT, that being said, much of what Ms. Poehler shares was very genuine and thoughtful, and, of course, funny.  I feel like I know her so well already as Leslie Knope, but this glimpse into Amy’s past and philosophies was really an enjoyable read.  And, as an avid quote collector, I felt I found many lovely ones to pull from this book.  Thank you, Amy.

Bridget Jones’s Baby

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Bridget Jones’s Baby
by Helen Fielding

Unlike many of my other book posts on here, which are children’s books or young adult, this one is definitely rated R.  There’s language and adult topics, so just be forewarned.

Bridget Jones’s Baby follows the story of Bridget ending up pregnant at an “older,” although undisclosed, age.  The main trouble is that she doesn’t know who the father is.  If you’ve seen the movie version, the main difference is that Daniel Cleaver is one of the potential fathers in the book.

One of my favorite themes of this book is the line that keeps popping up from both Bridget and her mother, but which is probably felt all around–“This isn’t how it was supposed to be.”  I think one of the biggest lessons of motherhood, for me, is that we can’t plan how it’s going to turn out.  I try my best sometimes, I really do, but as I learned very early on in the journey, there’s no way to make it be what I planned, for better or worse.  And I really love that Bridget learns to embrace that.  She accepts the situation and keeps loving her baby and moving forward.  I love the hilarity of it all, but the scenes with Bridget and her dad are my favorites.

I’ve read the first two Bridget Jones books, and I was so upset at Mark’s death in the third (which takes place after this 4th one) that I couldn’t bring myself to read it.  After some poking around, I’m still a little unclear as to whether this book of Bridget Jones’s Baby was written before or after the movie.  During my research, I became side-tracked reading reviews, which I normally don’t let myself do, but the general consensus of this book seemed to be that people felt it was not up to par with the first three, nor with the movie version of it.  People brought up good points, and etc. etc.  But my personal take here is that these books are just fun.  And, I am not trying to downplay them at all by saying that.  I love the books AND, rare as it is for me to like movie versions, the movies too.  But I read and watch them as an escape and an opportunity to laugh out loud.  And that is what this one has been for me.  A quick, fun and funny read about the lovable and very human Bridget Jones.  So, if you’d like to examine the book and find faulty plot points or whatnot, don’t read it.  If you want a good laugh with your old friend Bridget, then I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Ever After: Book of Legends

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Ever After: Book of Legends
by Shannon Hale

At Ever After High, the students are all descendants of fairy tale characters.  In their 2nd year of school, they will sign the Book of Legends.  This book binds them to carry out their roles in the stories we know so well, as their parents did before them and so on and so on back in time. But Raven, daughter of the Evil queen from the “Snow White” tale, doesn’t like the idea of being stuck as the evil character of this story.  As Raven questions whether to “be good” by signing the book and agreeing to her fate of being bad or being rebellious so she can be good, her new friend, and potential future target, Apple White, tries her best to convince Raven to go ahead and sign on to the agreed-upon story.  Apple wants her happy ending, even if it means a poisoned apple along the way. 

I was initially drawn to Shannon Hale many years ago by judging one of her books by its cover.  With Ever After, however, I avoided it because of its cover.  But since we’ve been all things Shannon Hale in our house of late (and I love her work), I gave it a try.  It wasn’t until after reading it, I learned the backstory of how this book came about.  It was a concept created by Mattel to pair with its Monsters High line.  But, regardless of origin, and my aversion to the Bratz-style art, I always enjoy Ms. Hale’s books, and this was no exception.   The book is definitely geared towards teens, and perhaps reluctant readers, but the story was good.  I really enjoyed the age-old idea of deciding whether to embrace the familiarity and comfort of the life you’re expected to live vs. choosing to “write your own story,” even if it means you don’t know where it will lead.  (I’m also a complete sucker for puns, and this book is full of them.)

This book is a series, and I haven’t read the others yet.  And while it may not be for everyone, I thought it was an enjoyable read.