Crazy for Candy Corn – Sweet Toothed Trivia

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Who does not love candy corn? Hardly anyone can recall a Halloween spent trick-or-treating without receiving a handful of these sweet, delightful kernels – and rightly so. First produced in the 1880s, this classic candy has become an American favorite, and has even inspired a Christmas tree design!

But did you know that there’s more to candy corn than meets the eye? Here are some crazy candy corn facts that you probably haven’t heard:

  1. National Candy Corn Day is celebrated on October 30. This date being the day just before Halloween, we bet it was invented by adults as an excuse to get candy corn into their tummies before kids could take them away!
  2. Candy corn has 3.57 calories per kernel. In fact, one cup of candy corn has only 140 calories – lower than the calorie content of one cup of raisins. These little kernels contain mostly sugar and corn syrup, with small amounts of marshmallows and fondant for a soft texture. It’s also completely fat-free!
  3. If you put together all the candy corn made in a single year, you’d have 35 million pounds or 9 billion kernels — enough candy to go to the moon and back 21 times if laid end-to-end.
  4. Candy corn used to be available only between March to November because of the availability of the ingredients. Since then, corn syrup and sugar have become available year-round, letting you buy candy corn whenever you feel like it.
  5. Candy corn is not just for Halloween. Different variants include “Indian corn”, a brown, orange, and white kernel for Thanksgiving; blueberry coddler candy corn, a uniquely Canadian variety; “reindeer corn”, with a green end and red center made for Christmas; and the red-and-pink “cupid corn”, which is available during Valentine’s Day.
  6. History played a role in making candy corn what it is today: when it was first made in the 1880s, candy corn (which was called “buttercream” back then) was a hit with farmers because of its appearance and because it provided them with energy for long days in the field.
  7. Because of its popularity, candy makers experimented with other vegetable shapes, such as turnips. In the 1970s, many candy companies had to close shop due to a rise in sugar prices. Other companies stayed afloat, thanks to the seasonal demand for candy corn.
  8. Candy corn was first made by hand. The ingredients were combined and cooked in large kettles. The mixture was then poured into hand-made molds. It was a backbreaking process that required a lot of labor. Of course, everything is now made by special machines.

Next time you open a pack of candy corn, think of the history and the effort that made it the holiday favorite that it is now. As you chew on those cute little kernels of fun, remember that you are not just enjoying a candy; you’re also taking part in a tradition. Enjoy munching!

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How to Host a Game Night

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Whatever the occasion, a game night is a great opportunity to gather friends, family, and new people together and have fun. Offering a night of entertainment for all ages, game night is often a popular choice over parties when it comes to catching up with family and making new friends. So if you want to get people together for a simple yet fun celebration, here are some tips on how to host a lively game night:

Choose an enticing theme

Setting a theme is a wonderful way to catch everyone’s interest in participating, and it’ll also limit what you need to prepare yourself. Besides, it allows participants to mentally prepare for the event, making the game more exciting when it’s finally time to play. Whether you’re playing classic board games, trivia games or modern games like Settlers of Catan, you’ll all get to know each other in a different way.

Select a suitable game

The kind of game depends on many things: the number of guests, the age group, and how long you want the activity to take. For larger audiences, opt for games that are more flexible and have simpler rules. Try classics like Trivial Pursuit, Taboo, and Pictionary. Board games like Monopoly and Scrabble are ideal for smaller, more casual or family-oriented gatherings, although kids may not be too keen on serious games. Wii games and other popular board games like Snakes and Ladders are great options if a lot of kids are on the list. You can also divide the night into different games based on age (example, grandparents’ round).

Have a game master

Just like quiz nights, game nights need a master of ceremonies to keep the event organized and rolling. This should be someone energetic who can establish a laid-back, fun ambiance. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if this person knows all of the participants and can put them at ease. The game master also clearly lays down all the rules of the games to avoid confusion.

Prepare your home 

Find the largest space in your home where you can set up tables and chairs or position rugs and pillows for people to sit on. Set a festive ambiance by providing upbeat music.

Serve sumptuous food

Food and drinks definitely spell more fun. Get an estimate of the number of people you expect to arrive so you’ll have enough (but not too much) food. Choose snacks that are simple to eat, like finger foods, and something popular with most people. Chicken tenders, salads, bread sticks with cheese dips, chips, and sweets like brownies are great energy boosters. Wine and cocktails are perfect for an adult audience, but if you’re serving alcoholic drinks, it may be wise to limit the amount available.

Get everyone over

With game nights, invitations need not be formal, though you still need to invite people early. Just make sure to have an RSVP so you know how many guests are most likely to make it.  

Careful preparation is the number one rule for a host. So get a team together, brainstorm, and plan all the details for a game night to remember.

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Oktoberfest Trivia 2012

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Oktoberfest Trivia 2012

Beer and more beer – the two things that often come to mind when you hear the word “Oktoberfest.” But if you think beer covers everything the fest has to offer, think again. There’s more to the biggest beer festival in October than lager and lederhosen. Here are some not-so-well-known facts surrounding this well-known event:

The first Oktoberfest celebrated a wedding

In 1810, the first Oktoberfest was held in Munich to celebrate the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. More than 40,000 citizens of Munich attended the festivities held in front of the city gates, which lasted 5 days.

Beer was not available at the first Oktoberfest

Only alcohol was available and it had to be bought outside the venue. Beer was only made available at Oktoberfest when organizers opened the activity to vendors and beer halls became popular.

Oktoberfest starts in September

Oktoberfest takes place over 16-19 days. While the first Oktoberfest was held in October, it now begins in September, with the last weekend of the fest held in October. This is to take advantage of better weather (it is less chilly).

Non-alcoholic drinks are aplenty

From coffee and tea to water and lemonade, other beverages are also available for those who choose to drink something other than beer during the festival. Sparkling wine, some of the best of which is produced in Germany, is also widely available. Average statistics for Oktoberfest show 222,725 liters of coffee and tea, and 808,765 ½ liters of water and lemonade are consumed at each festival, albeit this is a far cry from the approximate 6,940,600 liters of beer!

Oktoberfest is family-friendly

With carousels, carnival rides, parades, musical performances and the like, Oktoberfest is a fun festival for the entire family. There is even a Family Day every Tuesday when special discounts are given until 6PM.

The fest is also a haven for food lovers

Aside from the millions of gallons of beer downed at Oktoberfest, sumptuous food is also aplenty. From hendl (grilled chicken) to brezel (giant German soft pretzels), you’ll enjoy not only a variety of the best beer around, but also an array of specialty foods that are unique and simply delish! Relish Shweinshaxe (Bavarian pork knuckles), or try an oxen dish, Knockwurst (German sausage), or Kasespatzle (cheese noodles) while enjoying your beer or sparkling wine.

Oktoberfest hosts an annual crossbow shooting contest

Another anticipated event, this contest is held in the Armbrustschutzenzelt tent every year.

Festivities have been cancelled 24 times

Tragic events led to the cancellation of Oktoberfest, such as cholera epidemics in 1854 and 1873, the Franco-Prussian War, World War I, and World War II.

“O’zapft is” is Oktoberfest’s magic phrase

Meaning, “It is tapped,” this is the phrase that officially opens Oktoberfest. The mayor of Munich taps the first beer barrel and shouts this phrase to the crowd. What happens next is history.

Go ahead and join this famous food and beerfest. Just make sure to watch out for bierleichen (beer corpses)!

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Refreshing Home Design with a Rainbow Tabletop Tree

Posted by Treetopia in Artificial Christmas Trees | Decorating Tips | Features - (0 Comments)

Many people hope to establish a home design that needs minimal redecorating throughout the year. Decorating the space according to season and holiday is fun, but homeowners with limited time aim for a versatile design that can be updated with simple additions.

A great way to have an effortlessly beautiful home design all year is to choose colorful yet elegant accents. Tabletop trees are ideal accessories, especially colorful artificial ones. These trees fit well in any room, even in offices and lobbies. In addition, tabletop trees are splendid embellishments in small homes and apartments, saving space without diminishing the festive mood of special occasions or holidays.

Treetopia’s I’m Just a Rainbow Tabletop Christmas Tree is a lovely addition to any home design that kids and adults alike can appreciate. The vibrant rainbow colors make it  a captivating accessory in living room side tables or accent tables against dining room walls. It blends easily within any color scheme, theme, or season.

For different festivities, this tree enlivens the home whether you hang ornaments and lights or leave it unadorned. Place some tiny bird or butterfly ornaments to welcome spring or string a few clear lights on the tree in time for Halloween.

Intersperse cottony balls on the branches for winter and hang tiny candy canes or Santa ornaments when winter and the holiday season rolls in. Think up a theme each year and decorate to your heart’s content with less ornaments and in less time because of its convenient size.

Spread cheer throughout the year with attractive and stylish tabletop trees. With the Rainbow Tabletop Tree, your home becomes more chic and vibrant.

 

Patriotic Home Decorating Ideas for the 4th of July

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Red, white, and blue are the colors of patriotism for many Americans especially when Independence Day rolls in. The 4th of July is the perfect time to transform your home into a stylish display of American pride. Though this special day is only celebrated once a year, simple changes to home design can instill a festive atmopshere that befits the occasion. Here are some home decoration ideas that you can try:

Flaunt the colors of Americana

A favorite way to exude patriotic vibe in your home is to go for the red, white, and blue color theme. Check your cabinets for functional items that come in these colors and mix and match for a balanced look. Spruce up kitchens and dining areas with colorful trays, dish towels, and containers. Bedrooms come alive by bringing out old-fashioned quilts, layering red and blue linens, and replacing a contemporary lampshade with a red gingham one.

Bring color to windows, shelves, and tables with red, white, and blue flowers like geraniums and hydrangeas. Use blue metal buckets or ceramic pots with red patterns as planters or put  some cutflowers in stylish white vases with red ribbons tied around them.

If you want to go beyond the color scheme, shoot for the stars—and stripes. Revive living rooms with throw pillow covers or rugs with stripes-and-stars patterns. Create a fitting garland by cutting out red stars strung along a blue and white ribbon.

Set the ambiance with flags

Nothing replaces hanging the Old Glory for the 4th of July. Hang the flag on your front porch and add red, white, and blue accents like blue hydrangeas tied with red ribbons on the white fence.  You can also hang a couple of smaller flags on one wall of the living room for a bold impact.

A creative way to go about this is to set up the Vote for Me Tree in your living room. An interpretation of the flag, this patriotic tree exudes true American vibe.

Add vintage accents

Vintage items spell old Americana. Scout stores or garage sales for enamelware you can display or use as containers in the kitchen.  Arrange antique ceramic décor like figurines or family heirloom on shelves and hang paintings in traditional frames in the living room. Rustic watering cans can be hung on the porch or used as a unique vase or planter for an outdoor table.

Make dining a patriotic affair

Make your 4th of July gathering complete with a table all decked out with patriotic flavor. Start off with a table cloth with vintage design or a simple white linen with red and blue table runners. Place mini flags in tiny glasses beside each guest’s plate and tie table napkins with red and blue ribbons. Whether plastic or ceramic, go for dinner ware that come in red, blue, or white solid colors or patterns. Set this on top of place mats in contrasting color.

With these decorating ideas, your home is ready for a truly happy Independence Day celebration. Now you only need to sit back as you watch the fireworks light up the night sky. Happy 4th of July!

Broken Hearts and Broken Legs: Famous Romantic Faux Pas

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Let’s be honest – Valentine’s Day drives everyone nuts. Every year, countless people make grand romantic gestures in the throes of this temporary insanity and wind up falling flat on their faces.

If you think getting rejected in front of all your friends is embarrassing, be thankful you’re not always in the public eye like celebrities are. While we always have the chance to conveniently forget our romantic faux pas the next time February 14 rolls around, the more famous folks among us have to live with each agonizing mistake recorded forever on tabloids, news sites, and artificial Christmas tree company blogs. This Valentine’s Day, we’d like to give you the gift of schadenfreude with this list of famous romantic mistakes:

Having a Spur-of-the-Moment Wedding in Vegas

So you meet someone and you feel like it’s love at first sight. You’re in Vegas and after three rounds of shots, you both decide it’s a good idea to tie the knot. Britney Spears did it with childhood friend Jason Alexander, and Britney had the marriage annulled just hours later. Pam Anderson had her own Vegas wedding after a night of bar hopping – she and short-time hubby Rick Salomon got an annulment two months later. See the trend?

Sure, less-famous people do the same thing every day, but their mistakes aren’t front-page tabloid fodder for the next week. Here’s a tip for you lovebirds out there: alcohol + wedding chapel doesn’t automatically mean romance. Stay clear of this gaffe and avoid the hangover of your life (along with some pretty hefty lawyer’s fees) by not partying too hard in Sin City.

Tattooing Her Name on Parts of Your Body

It’s permanent ink. It hurts. It’s usually in easily-visible parts of the human body. It’s a horrible, horrible mistake if you’re part of a Hollywood romance.

Johnny Depp was once so in love with his Edward Scissorhands costar that he had “Winona Forever” tattooed on his right bicep. Ten years later, he’s had kids with another woman and she’s been in court for shoplifting. The tattoo is still there, but he’s had to have additional work done to change it to “Wino Forever”. Denise Richards got “Winning” star Charlie Sheen’s name tattooed on her ankle. After their divorce, it was reworked into a fairy.

When you’re a big star and want to forget a failed romance, you probably don’t want to have lasers and needles involved. Instead of getting a tattoo of your partner, go for flowers and candy instead. They may not last forever, but your relationship might not, either.

Having an Affair with a Married Person

Husband-stealer, home-wrecker, tramp – there are dozens of words we wouldn’t want associated with us, ever. When you’re in the spotlight and dating someone else’s significant other, however, random strangers on pages all over the Internet get to call you that.

Leanne Rimes and Eddie Cibrian were the focus of an Internet mob when they were caught by their respective spouses cheating with each other. Adopters extraordinaire Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt supposedly started their affair while filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith, despite Brad still being married to Jennifer Aniston at the time. What followed suit was a pop culture war between Team Angelina and Team Jennifer.

Tabloids love it when celebrity couples ruin their marriages, and people just love to eat these stories up. Having illicit affairs with paparazzi following you around will make sure that it all gets discovered and airs on television the next day. So as a helpful reminder from us here at Treetopia, please don’t like it if someone else put a ring on it.

There are countless other stories out there, each more cringe-inducing than the last. This Valentine’s Day, let’s all take some time to be thankful our romantic faux pas aren’t plastered all over magazine covers.

 

Image by Dewet, accessed via commons.wikimedia.org.

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