October seems to sneak up on me every year, which is odd since it's one of my favorite months. The air turns crisp, leaves start to turn, the nights are cooler for sleeping...and then there's Halloween, which is the best kids' holiday for adults.

But the real reason I love October? It's National Pizza Month and National Popcorn Popping Month. Don't believe me? Check it out. As if Halloween doesn't give you enough reason to go off your diet!

If the kids had their way, we'd have pizza and popcorn for dinner every night next month. That's a bit too much for a nutrition-conscious mom, but I am willing to meet them a little less than halfway - by having pizza and popcorn night once a week.

Being a mom, I have my own motives for making pizza and popcorn nights for the kids: pretty soon we'll all be too busy to get everyone together - even once a week - for a family dinner. The kids will be studying for exams and writing papers. Their Dear Parents will be busier and busier planning for the upcoming holidays. Between early November and Christmas break, there are precious few moments when the entire family will be able to sit down and share a meal.

That's good enough reason to celebrate junk food nights for any mom!

Your "Hooray for Pizza & Popcorn!" Gift Guru,
Linda