Thanksgiving is right around the corner (can’t wait!), however, so is American Education Week! Each year, the entire week before Thanksgiving is dedicated to honoring different components of education:

MONDAY: Open House Day – a great opportunity to celebrate education and an excellent time for parents to take a gander at their child’s progress in class.

TUESDAY: Parents Day – a day set up for parents to go through a day the way their children do.

WEDNESDAY: Education Support Professionals – a day on which individuals who dedicate their time and efforts to improving education are recognized for their work.

THURSDAY: Educator for a Day – community leaders are invited to teach for a day as a “walk a day in a teacher’s shoes” type event.

FRIDAY: Substitute Educators Day – a special day honoring substitute teachers.

Each day is a great opportunity to fund raise for educational programs and the school. Parents and teachers can unite to plan Bake Sales (use paper doilies for a decorative touch), School Supplies Sales (treat bags with pencils, rulers, erasers, Kleenex and other necessary items), etc. The ideas are endless.

Thanks to www.nea.org (National Education Association) website for this year’s education week layout.

We are almost exactly one week away from November, which is Peanut Butter Lovers Month! Although it may not be a widely known “celebration,” it is a fun opportunity to get together with the children and put together a few activities. Baking and cooking are always great hands-on projects.

A fun idea to honor Peanut Butter Lovers Month is to make home-made peanut butter. Whether you’re setting up for a few of your children or siblings, or a whole class, I would definitely suggest grabbing some plastic or paper table covers and disposable bowls. Distribute the plastic bowls among your students, and get ready to have some fun!

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups unsalted roasted peanuts
• 1 tbsp. peanut oil

Utensils

• food processor (you’ll need help from your adult assistant)
• large bowl
• mixing spoon
• storage container
• measuring cups and spoons

Directions

1. Mix the peanuts with the peanut oil and pour into the food processor.
2. Process the blend until it’s very smooth.
3. Store your smooth peanut butter in a sealed container in the fridge. It will be good for 2 weeks.

November 1 is the celebration of All Saints Day, a day that honors all saints, regardless of whether they are widely known or not. This feast is not unique to Catholicism, as it is observed by other religions such as Lutheranism, Methodism and Protestant.

In some Latin countries, “ofrendas” or offerings are made. Some cultures create altars on tables with pictures of deceased loved ones, an array of their favorite meals, trinkets, tiny skeleton decorations and other arrangements. Some altars are elaborately decorated with elegant paper table covers and candles.

In some parts of Europe such as Austria, Portugal, Spain and France, people visit the graves of dead friends/relatives and take them flowers.

In English-speaking countries, groups of people celebrate the festival by reciting the hymn, “For All the Saints.”

This year, All Saints Day is celebrated on a Sunday and is therefore a Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics. Regardless of what it has been named, this feast should be observed by all in remembrance of those loved ones that are no longer with us.

Find a wide range of Religious Party Supplies here for any commemorative events you may host.

Although it’s nice to have a reason to throw a party, because that would mean there is something to celebrate, a reason is definitely not a must. Fall is always an awesome season because the new school year begins, new TV show seasons premiere, there are two amazing holidays (Halloween & Thanksgiving), etc.

Those rare moments when you can get together with close friends and family in spite of everyone’s busy schedules, are the best. Even just fitting quality time with friends is the perfect excuse to host a small party or get together. Begin by sending a quick message to everyone providing tentative dates so they can select which day might work best.

At home, gather some autumn plastic table covers (for a quick clean-up) and grab a few bowls that can be filled with fruit, pumpkins, gourds and leaves. There’s no need to spend too much money on Autumn Centerpieces, so creating your own out of stuff you already have is the perfect way to set the mood. Create a playlist based on everyone’s favorites, or pop in an IPod, then grab your most outgoing friend (if you have a tie, grab two) and give them a tray of appetizers to start passing around. It’s the perfect ice breaker.

Make sure and lay out the food family style so you have the opportunity to eat and catch up with friends at the same time.

It’s fall again and let’s face it, it is officially hibernation weather. It may not be completely freezing outside quite yet, but it’s definitely getting there. Am I the only one who enjoys comfort foods, such as cruel carbs, exponentially more during the fall/winter seasons? Perhaps it is the body’s own way of creating heat, but I must say that pasta certainly makes it’s way into my menu a lot more often these days.

I once read a comic strip about a man who claimed, to his scolding wife, that if he added a crouton to his ice cream sundae, it made his dessert healthy. Although this was obviously a joke, there is some truth in this wise man’s theory. Pasta may not be the best item to feature on a daily menu, but salad is and I suggest pairing it with comfort foods for the next couple seasons.

Thanksgiving is almost here and you have plenty of time to create “practice meals” for the family. There is absolutely no excuse when the supermarket now sells pre-made salad kits (I love those!). Open a bag and throw it into a salad bowl. I suggest keeping a good one on hand as salads and veggies should be on the “daily menu” list. I suggest Premium Plastic Bowls and Salad Tongs.

Chocolate Brown is undoubtedly one of the most popular colors at this time. You see the color trend in everything from clothing fashion trends, to hair color, tableware, shoes, purses and even technology (my phone, ironically, is chocolate brown). Here at MyPaperShop.com, we have definitely noticed the trend in wedding color choices and party themes.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Chocolate Brown is obviously a favorite for table top decorations. Our Chocolate Brown Linen Like Table Covers (banquet or 82 Inch for round tables) will add that elegant look to your event, yet they’re disposable for an easy clean-up. No one wants to worry about cleaning up after hosting a big Thanksgiving feast! My mother usually hosts Thanksgiving for our family and she raves about this innovative product.

For more casual (usually outdoor) events, Chocolate Brown Plastic Table Covers (banquet or 82 Inch for round tables) are perfect. Almost any bright colored tableware accents will contrast beautifully with this color for the perfect fall themed party.

Brown is the current black.

Advice from the MPS Sales Team: Stock up.

I remember visiting my mother’s aunt years ago. I remember the long, hot drive and the emotional greeting between my mom and her cousin. I most vividly remember the heart-wrenching feeling I felt when I saw my mother’s sick aunt in her bed. She was plagued with cancer and today, she’s in a better place. She didn’t have breast cancer in particular, but I’ve experience first hand, the loss of a family member to one form of cancer.

Breast cancer affects both men and women and studies show survival rates are approximately the same in both sexes. Although it may clearly affect women in a different way emotionally due to self-esteem issues associated with physical appearance, neither gender is above it.

A large number of individuals and organizations are always doing their part to raise awareness about breast cancer research and advances in the medical field. To those committed persons, we commend you. To others who have yet to dip your toe in the pond, there are vast ways of offering help—the list ranges anywhere from small (or large) monetary donations to marathons and fundraisers.

Use Candy Pink Tableware to tie your treats in with your cause.