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Author Archive

The Pros and Cons of Halloween Masks

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
by Colin Joss

Stroll up and down the aisles of Halloween costumes and you’ll spot a wide variety of masks. Along with pumpkins and candy, Halloween masks play a big part in the holiday, but some folks don’t like to wear them. Before chosing your next costume, think of the pros and cons of wearing a mask.

A mask hides who you are better than anything else. It’s up to you how important that is. Masks can cover your face and head. Or they can hide only one part of your face. But when you wear any mask it’s more tricky to tell who you are. Painting your face is another way to disguise yourself but not as well as a mask.

Masks are simple to use. Face painting takes some skill and the paint might need touching up during the evening. With a mask you simply put it on and off you go. And even if you don’t have a fancy costume, you can put on a mask and a black outfit and you’re ready. Masks can be the cheapest costume you buy.

Of course there are some dangers to wearing a mask. Not wearing a mask properly can lead to problems. Check that you can breathe clearly through both your mouth and nose, and that you it doesn’t cover your eyes. Try on the mask and make sure it’s right for you. And of course, take it off when driving to be on the safe side.

Another disadvantage of masks is that they can be rather hot. If you’ll be outside and you live in a colder environment, the heat of the mask may not be an issue to you, but if you’ll be attending a party where you expect to be crowded into an area with lots of other people, wearing a hot mask can be uncomfortable. Make sure that you don’t overheat, removing your mask from time to time when you need to get some fresh air, and always drink plenty of water. In this respect, face painting or not covering your face at all can be a huge advantage.

Finally, masks can cost a lot. Elaborate masks can be expensive even if it is the only part of your costume. Don’t forget you can create great Halloween costumes from your closet without spending a penny. But if you do want to wear a mask, make sure you set aside some money for it in your Halloween budget.

Mask aren’t for everyone. You may find a great mask but if you’re concerned about safety or comfort wear it only for brief amounts of time. Remember, spooky masks make great decorations too. Halloween masks are fun but remember to be safe.

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Safety Tips For Trick or Treat

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
by Colin Joss

Each year at Halloween, children put on scary costumes and head out into the night in search of the best treats. Trekking from house to house trick or treating is a long held tradition. But before heading out, parent remind their children to stay safe - check your candy before you eat it and stay in a group. But being careful as a treat provider is just as important. Read on for some safety tips for providing treats this Halloween.

Stay safe. Women and older couples are the ones usually at home during trick or treating. And with the growing popularity of trick or treat with teenagers there’s a growing feeling of mischief. Some demand candy with menances - threatening to toilet paper homes if the best candy is not handed over. If you’re happy to give treats this Halloween, keep your home well lit and all door and windows are secure. Invite over some friends to help, so you’re not alone when handing out candy.

Parents will appreciate a careful choice of candy. Check that none are damaged and the pieces are individually wrapped. A healthier option like a granola bar or trail mix will be appreciated. To stop the spread of germs, hand out the candy rather than have each child pick from the bowl. And to stop squabbling and help the parents get round all the houses quicker, give each child the same kind of candy.

Keep track of the children that come trick or treating. Ask their names and where they live. If there’s a problem when they’re with you, you’ll know who to speak to. Children can wander far from home lured by the thought of free candy. If a parent comes searching for their lost child, you’ll be able to tell them if they’ve visited you, when, and which way they headed.

Having spooky fun at Halloween with trick or treating is a great tradition. But it’s not just all about the children. If you’re giving out treats on Halloween, take care of yourself and your home. By protecting yourself and your visitors you’ll make it a fun Halloween for everyone.

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The Top Three Recipes Every Halloween Party Must Have

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
by Colin Joss

Is your house the typical spot for a Halloween party every year to loads of guests? Then the Halloween recipes you make are probably the same year after year. While there are many favorites that cannot be overlooked for a traditional Halloween party, it is a good idea to explore the ways in which the same old can be made into brand new Halloween recipes while keeping the terrifying tastes.

1. Eyeballs and Fingers. A bowl of peeled grapes and raw hotdogs as eyeballs and fingers is a Halloween tradition. But no one ever eats them. At the end of the night, you throw away these inedible leftovers. Body part snacks that everyone can eat is a much better idea. “Intestine stew” can be simply curly cue noodels. “Brain mush dip” is really guacamole and chips. Gross out your guests with yummy food this Halloween.

2. Dirt Desert. Pudding with broken Oreos and gummy worms is a winning Halloween desert. To remake this classic can be tricky. Instead of making a pudding try other types of deserts. A dirt pie with Oreo crusts and cheesecake filing or a dirt cake with chocolate frosting are both great ideas. Add as many gummy worms as you like. And serve the desert like dirt. Put it in little buckets or in a big bowl with a shovel for serving.

3. Apples and Pumpkin. Basically making anything out of apples and pumpkins in late October is a treat of the autumn season. Spicing these fruit up to something spooky and smoking is not as hard as you think. Steer away from pies and explore some more rustic varieties. Bake apples whole for side dishes and toast pumpkin seeds for appetizers. Having rich fruit as a part of Halloween recipes can be filling and sweet. For children parties do not forget activities around food like bobbing for apples and pumpkin picking. Dipping apples in caramel may be typical, but why not try other dips and set up a buffet of candied apples. As for those who do not like the taste of pumpkin, hollow one out and use it as a serving bowl.

The best Halloween recipes are those that are both good to eat, nice to look at, and fun to make. Take these things into consideration when brainstorming your same old Halloween recipes. Also, do not forget to ask guests for suggestions or create a potluck type list of what dishes your visitors would like to bring to share. Great for adults or children, there are some treats that are best served in the dark, spooky time of Halloween. By keeping your Halloween recipes hip and updated, you will be guaranteed to throw the best party of the whole year!

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Stay Safe Trick Or Treating

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
by Colin Joss

Every Halloween, children dress up in their spookiest costumes and set out in search of the best candy. Wandering the neighborhood at night, going from house to house searching for the best treats is a great tradition. Sensible parents remind their children of the safety rules - stay in a group and check your candy before eating it. But those handing out the treats need to be cautious too. Here’s some safety ideas for handing out treats.

Keep safe. Old folks and single women are commonly at home when it comes time for trick or treating. Now that trick or treat has become more popular with teenagers and young adults, there’s often a tone of menance. Threats to toilet paper homes if the best candy isn’t supplied are getting more common. If you do want to hand out treats switch on all the lights and lock all doors and windows. Have friends round to help you so you’re not alone handing over the candy.

Parents will appreciate a careful choice of candy. Check that none are damaged and the pieces are individually wrapped. A healthier option like a granola bar or trail mix will be appreciated. To stop the spread of germs, hand out the candy rather than have each child pick from the bowl. And to stop squabbling and help the parents get round all the houses quicker, give each child the same kind of candy.

Keep track of the children that come trick or treating. Ask their names and where they live. If there’s a problem when they’re with you, you’ll know who to speak to. Children can wander far from home lured by the thought of free candy. If a parent comes searching for their lost child, you’ll be able to tell them if they’ve visited you, when, and which way they headed.

Celebrating a spooky holiday with bags of Halloween candy and frolicking throughout the night is a long honored tradition enjoyed by many. Remember though, Halloween does not end with children. When you find yourself being a treat provider on this night, take an important look on what you are giving out, including your home, Halloween candy, and your observance. By actively protecting your home, your visitors, and your self, you can ensure a fun and safe Halloween night for everybody!

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Every Halloween Party Must Have These Three Top Recipes

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
by Colin Joss

Is your house the typical spot for a Halloween party every year to loads of guests? Then the Halloween recipes you make are probably the same year after year. While there are many favorites that cannot be overlooked for a traditional Halloween party, it is a good idea to explore the ways in which the same old can be made into brand new Halloween recipes while keeping the terrifying tastes.

1. Eyeballs and Fingers. Having a bowl of peeled grapes as eyeballs and raw hotdogs as fingers is a staple addition to creep out your guests. However, how many people actually eat them? Probably not very many and you are left with inedible leftovers. Try coming up with new body-part snacks that are actually edible. Making any dish and calling it something eerily disgusting can have the same effect. Such as “intestine stew” with curly cue noodles in it or “brain mush dip” of guacamole or chip dip. It is easy to gross out your guests with really delicious food.

2. Dirt Dessert. Vanilla pudding, crushed Oreos, and gummy worms combined have definitely been the winning dessert of Halloween recipes. To remake such a yummy classic can be difficult, but also fun. Instead of making dirt pudding, try interpreting it into other forms. A dirt pie with an Oreo cookie crust and cheesecake filling or a dirt cake with vanilla batter and chocolate frosting are both big hits. Gummy worms can be added to any variation. Also, think about how you serve a dessert like dirt. Get little buckets for individual dishes or put a shovel in the bowl for serving.

3. Apples and Pumpkin. Basically making anything out of apples and pumpkins in late October is a treat of the autumn season. Spicing these fruit up to something spooky and smoking is not as hard as you think. Steer away from pies and explore some more rustic varieties. Bake apples whole for side dishes and toast pumpkin seeds for appetizers. Having rich fruit as a part of Halloween recipes can be filling and sweet. For children parties do not forget activities around food like bobbing for apples and pumpkin picking. Dipping apples in caramel may be typical, but why not try other dips and set up a buffet of candied apples. As for those who do not like the taste of pumpkin, hollow one out and use it as a serving bowl.

The best Halloween recipes are those that are both good to eat, nice to look at, and fun to make. Take these things into consideration when brainstorming your same old Halloween recipes. Also, do not forget to ask guests for suggestions or create a potluck type list of what dishes your visitors would like to bring to share. Great for adults or children, there are some treats that are best served in the dark, spooky time of Halloween. By keeping your Halloween recipes hip and updated, you will be guaranteed to throw the best party of the whole year!

About the Author:

Are Halloween Masks A Good Idea?

Saturday, January 26th, 2008
by Colin Joss

When you walk up and down the aisles of Halloween costumes, you’re bound to see a number of masks. Masks are as instrumental in the holiday as candy or pumpkins, but not everyone likes to use them. There are both pros and cons to using Halloween masks, so consider carefully before you plan your next costume.

A mask hides who you are better than anything else. It’s up to you how important that is. Masks can cover your face and head. Or they can hide only one part of your face. But when you wear any mask it’s more tricky to tell who you are. Painting your face is another way to disguise yourself but not as well as a mask.

Wearing a mask is easy. Painting your face takes time and skill, and might need a touch up throughout the night. Put on a mask and off you go. Wear a mask with black pants and a black top and you’re all set. One of the cheapest costumes you can buy is a mask.

Of course there are some dangers to wearing a mask. Not wearing a mask properly can lead to problems. Check that you can breathe clearly through both your mouth and nose, and that you it doesn’t cover your eyes. Try on the mask and make sure it’s right for you. And of course, take it off when driving to be on the safe side.

Masks can get really hot. If you’re outside or you live in a cold climate, it might not be an issue. But at a crowded party, wearing a hot mask can be a nightmare. Take off your mask now and again to get some fresh air and drink lots of water. This is where painting your face or not wearing a mask can be a big benefit.

Finally, masks can cost a lot. Elaborate masks can be expensive even if it is the only part of your costume. Don’t forget you can create great Halloween costumes from your closet without spending a penny. But if you do want to wear a mask, make sure you set aside some money for it in your Halloween budget.

Remember, masks don’t work for everyone. If you see a particularly great mask but are worried about its comfort or safety, consider wearing it for only a short time. You can also use especially cool masks as decorations in your home! Halloween masks can be great, but only if you use them correctly.

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Six Ways To Save Money At Your Next Halloween Party

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
by Colin Joss

Halloween parties are a lot of fun, but they can also be extremely expensive. The more people you invite, the more food you have to provide, and decorations, entertainment, and costumes are also a part of the party atmosphere. Don’t worry-you can have a great party even on a tight budget. Here are six steps to saving money when you planning a Halloween party.

1. Try a potluck. Why plan snacks yourself, when your guests can bring the food. But tell your guests if you’re making the main dish or the desserts. Or instead of a meal, try finger foods if you’re party’s at night. But if you want a meal, make it simple like sandwiches or cold cuts.

2. Don’t spend a fortune on a costume. You’ll have lots of other expenses. Rather than buying a costly costume, make your own home-made version. A pair of overalls and a shirt can become a farmer’s costume or a bed sheet can be a great start as a toga or a ghost. Rake through your closet and become inspired.

3. Get ready early. Buy party supplied in November when they’re on sale, if you hold a party every year. Obviously, you’ll need to buy candy and other food fresh, but costumes and decorations can be boughtly cheaply after October 31. Visit party stores but remember to for great bargains and discount and department stores too.

4. Make your money go further. Pumpkins can be painted by kids at the party and the insides can be baked into pies the following day. Keep decorations, lights, fake spiders, and other stuff for using again next year.

5. Keep the party small. I know it’s tempting to invite the whole neighborhood, but you probably don’t have the space or the money to do that! Make your list and then cut back. A good way to do this is to keep it adults-only, or you can just invite your closest friends. Don’t feel bad about keeping people off of the list. Everyone understands that planning a party is hard and if it’s too large it will be too expensive.

6. Buy in bulk. When you can, buy items in bulk-especially candy. You can find great deals if you buy larger sized bags, and whatever candy you don’t use you can stick in the freezer to use throughout the year.

Enjoy yourself. If you’re worried about money go to someone else’s party. Or if you do have your own party, follow the tips above to save some money.

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