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Halloween Party Decorations

It just wouldn?t be a decent Halloween party without some creepy or campy Halloween party decorations. The question is do you just want to have some simple store bought cut-outs or do you want to convert your home into a pseudo haunted mansion? As with everything else in life, you?re only limited by your imagination and your budget.

Just like when you plan any party, you have to consider your flow. Will you be setting out a buffet table of food or just having bowls of snacks scattered about? Having a buffet table could really set the tone for your Halloween party decorations. You can intersperse your platters of goodies with rubber body parts such as hands or feet. There are also plenty of edible gross candies like white chocolate maggots and cockroaches that you can intersperse around your Halloween buffet table. Maybe you can have something really scary like a fake head under a dome platter.

For another creepy Halloween party decoration idea, consider adding dry ice to a punch bowl. Have you ever seen a campy horror movie with drinks that have ?smoke? coming out of them? That is dry ice. When dropped in any liquid dry ice smokes up but isn?t harmful, unless you touch it directly. Use tongues or gloves anytime you are handling dry ice.

Around the house you can opt for replacing your regular light bulbs with orange or red bulbs available at most Halloween stores. Think about adding cobwebs to lights, plants or just about anything else around the house. Fake cobwebs can be bought in packages much like fake snow at Christmastime. You can even pull apart rolls of medicinal cotton for the same affect.

Remember what a big hit Mrs. Bates was in ?Psycho?? Dressing up a mannequin or placing a stuffed scarecrow in the corner is another fun idea for Halloween party decorations. These can just be simple ?dummies? or you can turn them into bloody corpses with a little theatrical stage blood.

Of course there are also all manner of ghouls, goblins, witches and skeletons you can buy to hang from the proverbial rafters. Just like with Christmas decorations plan ahead. The day after Halloween, hit the stores and stock up on half-price Halloween party decorations. Tuck them away in a labeled box and you?ll be good to go next year and every year!

Uncategorized Food, Home

I have to admit it, I am a Star Wars costume fanatic. Not the new Star Wars either. George Lucas sold out, and that is that. I have gone to thousands, or at least dozens of science fiction conventions in my life, and almost every time, I have worn a Darth Vader costume. From time to time, I have gotten to be creative in my custom choices, but my favorite of all is my Darth Vader costume. There is something about dressing up as the bad guy in my Darth Vader costume that I have always loved. I even get a thrill out of dressing up in a storm trooper costume, although no one wants to be one of the troops. Dressing up in a Darth Vader costume sort of fulfills a fantasy of mine. Think about it. Darth Vader is powerful, evil, and a master of the force. The only character in the entire universe that was more powerful than Darth Vader, in fact, is the Emperor. But the fact is, in my opinion, that Darth Vader still has it over the Emperor. After all, a Darth Vader costume is much cooler than an emperor costume. All that the Emperor wears, after all, is a robe and white makeup.

You can try making your own Darth Vader costume, but it can be pretty difficult. Oh sure, the Darth Vader robe is easy, and even the Darth Vader gloves, but try making a convincing mask for your costume on your own. I’m not saying that it cannot be done, but it seems like more trouble than it is worth when you can just go out and buy one. That has always been my choice when it comes down to it. I do not have that many hobbies besides dressing up, and for me the end all and be all of dressing up is the Darth Vader costume.

The best thing about my craze for the costumes is that it is something that I can share with my kids. Each of them loves to dress up in the Darth Vader costume, or one of the many other Star Wars costumes that are out there. What Halloween time comes, you can bet that they are overjoyed! They just can not get enough of the dress up games that we all play together. For them, they have one of the coolest dads in the world, and for me and get a kid all over again. Everyone gets to win!

Uncategorized Kids

We live in an area with many tree farms. Many people do not realize the work that goes into growing Christmas trees. The trees need to be planted, trimmed and harvested. Many of the farms plant a variety of trees because of the different rate of growth for each species of tree. Because we live close to several of the tree farms we go out and cut our own tree each year.

When I was growing up my parents had Norway pines on one end of the property. We always cut down one of these trees and dad would try to shape it before bringing it into the house. The long needles made it difficult to hang ornaments. Since I have been married we have tried many varieties of trees. Our favorite is the balsam Christmas tree. We also like the looks of a blue spruce, but it is so prickly that you have to wear gloves while putting on the lights. The balsam Christmas tree has a wonderful fragrance and is soft to the touch. It has short needles and sturdy branches so it is easy to hang many ornaments on it. The balsam Christmas tree also holds its needles very well so there is not the problem of shedding that many of the other short needle varieties have.

Last year when we went to cut down our tree we were told that a new field had been opened for cutting. This field featured the balsam Christmas tree that we were after, but also had several of the Frasier firs. The Frasier fir is suppose to be the most aromatic of all evergreens and does not shed. We tried one a few years ago and liked the looks of the tree and the fragrance; however the branches are very soft. The soft branches cannot hold the heavier Christmas ornaments that we have collected through the years. This meant that many of the ornaments that had the most meaning to us were placed in the inner branches. We decided that because of this we would not spend the extra money for a Frasier fir again.

Many of the tree farms offer a shaker service as well as a bagging service for the trees that are cut. The tree is placed in a stand on an automatic shaker that helps get rid of dead needles and other debris that may be in the freshly cut tree. The tree is then shoved through a barrel that has netting on the end. The netting is cut the length of the tree and tied on both ends. This allows for easy transport as well as ease in getting the tree in the house. The tree growers are always looking for ways to make getting your Christmas tree more enjoyable. We are looking forward to going to cut down our balsam Christmas tree again this year.

Uncategorized Men

Just say no to drugs? Kids need a little more information

There’s no question that drug use is a serious problem in our society. Nancy Reagan’s campaign against kids using drugs had a catchy slogan, “Just say no to drugs!” However, as we all see, this campaign was ineffective at best. This strategy might be compared to telling a dieter, “Just say no to sweets!” It’s well known to psychologists that a forbidden pleasure always holds an allure that’s hard to dispell.

One must also wonder if Mrs. Reagan had any prescription drugs in her medicine cabinet as she exhorted the nation to just say no to drugs. The problem of drug abuse is not confined to illegal drugs, but is well entrenched in legal drugs prescribed by doctors. The guy who wouldn’t think of using cocaine or methamphetamines might readily pop an excess of pain pills to gain relief from a legitimate condition. Remember the case of the radio show host who became addicted to pain pills, to the tune of 60 per day?

We live in a drug culture here in the U.S. Virtually every kid can look in the parent’s medicine cabinet and find a flock of bottles from the pharmacy. These same kids watch television ads, hawking pharmaceuticals to the public at large, for conditions ranging from heartburn to fibromyalgia. These ads invite you to ask your doctor if you should be taking this preparation. The scary part is when, in hushed undertones, a voice like Mom or Dad advises you of possible side effects. To my mind, the side effects are typically far worse than the condition!

So there’s an element of hypocrisy inherent in the just say no to drugs message. Why should our kids listen and follow this advice when we, the parents obviously are allowed drugs, even to the point of abuse?

Then there are the lines of demarcation drawn, which purport to separate the ‘good’ drugs from the ‘bad’ drugs. The message seems to say, if prescribed by your doctor, drugs are OK. If they’re sold on the street, they’re bad. This argument doesn’t hold water either. Some of the drugs kids can buy on the street are prescription drugs, such as tranquilizers and pain medications. Alcohol is legal for adults, but look at the harm abuse of this substance can cause.

A local television station in southern Oregon recently launched a campaign to combat the epidemic use of methamphetamines among young people. Their approach is closer to the mark than the overly simple just say no to drugs message. Their ads list some of the more poisonous substances used in the manufacture of methamphetamines, such as brake fluid and battery acid. “Do you really want this stuff in your veins?”

The truth be known, the Just say no to drugs campaign yielded little more than snickers from young people. They’re primed to rebel anyway. Give them a few reasons to stay away from drugs and perhaps we’ll realize greater success.

Uncategorized Kids, Men, Television

It’s that time of year again. Just like last year, you have no idea what to get him. He hated the Jovan Musk you got him for Christmas, so that cologne idea is out the window. Maybe this time you can try some fancy deodorant or socks, NOT! Get a clue women of the world. This is not a decent birthday present for men. If we wanted that garbage, we’d buy it ourselves. How would you like a nice egg beater for your birthday, or possibly an oven mitt? Yeah, I didn’t think so. The truth is, most guys aren’t into cologne. If you truly want them to wear the stuff, go ahead and purchase it for nothing. Pick some up randomly one day when there is no special occasion like a birthday or Christmas. Guys generally want guy toys. However, the crucial aspect here is knowing what your guy is into. Get the picture?

Here’s the basic list. For all the women out there searching high and low to find a decent birthday present for men, here you go. It all starts with electronics. Men love electronics. I’m talking all men. There are men who love sports, there are men who love guns, and there are men, who love more intellectual leisures, but one thing is for certain, and that is they all enjoy electronics. Computers, televisions, high-tech cell phones, PDA systems, fancy DVD players, portable DVD players, gadgets, you name it. We men go gaga for electronic devices. This means you probably won’t go wrong purchasing a 50 inch flat panel television with Bose surround sound. Now, I do realize that this birthday present for men is rather pricey, but you should keep in mind that you’ll be watching it too. There’s nothing quite like benefiting from a present you purchased for someone else.

Finding out your man’s interests is imperative. So, what is he into? Personally I’m into knives. My wife knows this, and pays close attention to the new knife I’m raving about. This way it’s not a challenge for her to choose the ideal birthday present for men. At least this man anyway. Choosing the right gift has to do with knowing the person you’re buying for. Think about this before your next purchase. It will pay off.

Uncategorized Men, Television, Women

The pros and cons of buying cheap shoes

When you need a new pair of shoes, does price play into your decision? Most people would say, “Sure, it does!” The trick is knowing when cheap shoes are your best value. In certain cases, you’re better off spending a little more. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the shoe purchase issue.

Men typically have a few pairs of shoes, but women tend to have as many as can fit in the closet. Men are usually best off investing in a well-made, albeit expensive pair of shoes. Men aren’t so much into the fashion aspect as durability and comfort. On the other hand, many women change shoes as often as they change hand bags. Women want a variety of styles, so their shoe repertoire offers many options for their costumes.

Let’s say you’re attending a wedding and need a pair of shoes to match that fancy dress. You may not wear these shoes but a few times. If you find the perfect match at a cheap shoe sale, take this factor into consideration. They’ll look great, but may not stand up to continuous wear. The cheap shoe may also be lacking in comfort. You make the choice. For just a few hours wear, why spend $100 on a shoe that will last, but you’ll not have the occasion to wear?

Casual shoes, like beach sandals, usually don’t warrant paying a high price. Cheap shoes are probably a good choice here. If you’re running around in the sand or digging in the garden, this sandal is going to sustain damage quickly. However, with a fancy pair of sandals, such as you might wear out partying or to the office, a better quality shoe will serve you better.

If you’re into sports, cheap shoes won’t do. Invest in shoes that will be comfortable and durable. So-called bargain hiking boots will be a waste of money. If you’re a runner, avoid the blisters. Just bite the bullet and pay the price of a good shoe. A good shoe will last many times longer than the bargain shoe.

When buying shoes for growing children, don’t buy cheap shoes. Buy the best you can afford. Children’s feet are growing and developing. These little feet need a good last to prevent flat feet, a comfortable fit for all that running around and good construction for protection against injuries during play. Poorly fitting shoes as a constant shoe diet can lead to bone deformities as well. Although kids outgrow shoes quickly, a better shoe is well worth the price.

So now you’ve got the basic rules on buying cheap shoes. There are plenty of occasions to take advantage of that BOGO shoe sale!

Uncategorized Fashion, Garden, Kids, Men, Women

Don’t you just love to read? This is a favorite past time for many of us, worldwide. Once you sit down with that perfect book and truly get involved, you may not get up until it’s completely finished. I know I’m this way when it comes to scary books. I can always take-on a new and exciting horror novel. The truth of the matter is I go nuts over Halloween books. There’s just something about that “day of the dead” that gets my juices flowing and heart racing. i just can’t wait for that next frightful and ghoulish night full of tricks and goblins. Yes indeed folks, there is definitely something to be said about the occasion when all bets are off. So, have you read any good Halloween books lately?

When it comes to Halloween, my daughter and I are experts. Experts at having fun that is. We love to sit up late all week long and read Halloween books. What’s better than that? You light up the fireplace, turn out the lights, and get cozy with a nice frightful tale. I think her absolute favorite Halloween books have to be from the notorious author, R.L. Stine. If anyone can write a great, and spooky tale, it’s him. I think the guy is actually in the Guinness Book of World Records for his talents. So, what do you like to do on that cool and unpredictable night when the creatures and ghosts prowl the earth? Maybe you’re an avid trick-or-treator, who simple can’t wait to fill his/her bag with loads and loads of goodies. This can be the experience of a lifetime, but you may want to consider calling it quits once you’ve hit those upper teenage years. For some darn reason many of the folks out there aren’t too partial to middle-aged trick-or-treaters. Whatever! What a way to spoil someone’s good old-fashioned Halloween fun.

Are you currently in the mood for terrifying Halloween books? Or maybe you had something for the little ones in mind. Well, have no fear; these days there is certainly much to pick and choose from. Aside from your local book stores, you can also find a plethora of Halloween books to tickle anyone’s fancy, online. Delve into the darkest realms of cyberspace in search of those hair-raising tales that will keep you up all night.

Uncategorized Fashion

??T h e t r u t h a b o u t p i r a t e c o s t u m e s

O k . I t ‘ s b e e n a t l e a s t t e n y e a r s n o w . P i r a t e c o s t u m e s h a v e t a k e n o v e r H a l l o w e e n f o r t e n y e a r s , i t i s t i m e f o r t h e m t o s t o p . P i r a t e c o s t u m e s o v e r k i l l i s f u l l y i n e f f e c t a n d i t s h o u l d e n d a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e . Y e s , t h e r e w a s a t i m e w h e r e a g o o d p i r a t e c o s t u m e o r t w o w o u l d b e a h i t f o r t h e p a r t y . I r e m e m b e r s e e i n g a p i r a t e a t a H a l l o w e e n p a r t y s e v e r a l y e a r s a g o a n d t h i n k i n g , w o w , w h a t a c o o l c o s t u m e . T h i s p a s t y e a r , I s a w a t l e a s t t w o d o z e n d i f f e r e n t p i r a t e s a n d I t h o u g h t , w o w , w h a t a l a m e c o s t u m e . I f y o u w a n t t o h a v e t h e w o r s t c o s t u m e a t y o u r H a l l o w e e n p a r t y , g o w i t h s o m e p i r a t e c o s t u m e s .

O k , m a y b e t h a t i s a l i t t l e h a r d o n p i r a t e c o s t u m e s . M a y b e s o m e o f t h e m c a n b e r e a l l y c o o l , e s p e c i a l l y t h e f e m a l e p i r a t e c o s t u m e s . S t i l l , i f y o u w a n t a g o o d H a l l o w e e n c o s t u m e , y o u a r e b e t t e r o f f p i c k i n g s o m e t h i n g o t h e r t h a n a p i r a t e .

T h a t s a i d , i f y o u a r e g o i n g t o g o f o r a p i r a t e l o o k , h e r e a r e a c o u p l e o f s u g g e s t i o n s t o m a k e i t s l i g h t l y l e s s o b n o x i o u s . F i r s t o f a l l , p u t t i n g o n a n e y e p a t c h a n d t a l k i n g w i t h a n a r g h d o e s n o t m a k e y o u a p i r a t e . I f y o u w a n t t o d r e s s u p a s a p i r a t e , f i n e . J u s t p u t i n s o m e e f f o r t . T h a t s a i d , i f y o u d o w a n t t o d r e s s u p , m a k e s u r e t h a t y o u d o n o t g o o v e r b o a r d e i t h e r . O n e s i g n y o u m i g h t b e o v e r – c o m m i t t i n g t o y o u r c o s t u m e i s i f y o u s t a r t g r o w i n g o u t y o u r f a c i a l h a i r m o n t h s a h e a d t o g e t a n a u t h e n t i c – l o o k i n g g o a t e e , c o m p l e t e w i t h b e a d s . T h a t i s a l i t t l e m u c h .

A t t h i s p o i n t y o u m i g h t b e t h i n k i n g a b o u t w h a t t h e n e x t p i r a t e c o s t u m e s m i g h t b e . I n o t h e r w o r d s , i f p i r a t e s a r e t h e o l d f a d t h e n w h a t i s t h e n e w o n e ? H e r e a r e s o m e p o s s i b l e c o s t u m e s t h a t w i l l e c l i p s e p i r a t e c o s t u m e s i n p o p u l a r i t y . F o r m e n , I h a v e t a r g e t e d a c o u p l e o f d i f f e r e n t m e n ‘ s c o s t u m e s i d e a s t h a t c o u l d c a t c h f i r e o v e r t h e n e x t f e w y e a r s .

F i r s t o f a l l , I t h i n k t h e f i g h t e r p i l o t c o s t u m e i s a g o o d o n e . I t h a s a c e r t a i n c o o l n e s s t o i t a n d p l e n t y o f p o t e n t i a l r e f e r e n c e s t o T o p G u n . A n o t h e r g o o d p o s s i b i l i t y i s S h e r l o c k H o l m e s o r o t h e r d e t e c t i v e c h a r a c t e r s . F i n a l l y , c o n s i d e r n a u t i c a l t h e m e s s u c h a s s a i l o r s o r f i s h e r m e n .

I n c o n c l u s i o n , i f y o u a r e g o i n g t h e p i r a t e c o s t u m e r o u t e , c o n s i d e r t h e t h i n g s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e . P i r a t e c o s t u m e s s h o u l d b e n e i t h e r t r y i n g t o o h a r d o r t r y i n g t o o l i t t l e . B u t m o s t o f a l l , y o u s h o u l d a v o i d p i r a t e c o s t u m e s . T h e y ‘ r e u n o r i g i n a l a n d l a m e .

Uncategorized

Four out of the ordinary easy chicken salad recipes

During the summer months, none of us are much into spending hours behind the stove preparing dinner. We want easy, light menus that are satisfying and quick to fix. Here we’ve got four easy chicken salad recipes that fill the bill. Each is different enough to keep your family’s palate boredom at bay, with a diversity of tastes and seasonings that keep them asking for more.

These easy chicken salad recipes are also easy on the budget, a major consideration for most of us today. Chicken breast meat is low in fat and easily and quickly prepared. In fact, should you find a sale on chicken breasts, stock up! Cook the whole lot in batches and freeze in meal sized portions for even greater efficiency of meal preparation. Watch for sales on ‘natural’ chicken for a big bonus in taste and nutrition.

Now let’s see what can be done with a chicken breast, easily transformed into a delightful and easy chicken salad recipe.

Broil, grill or bake your chicken breasts until done. Allow to cool and then cut into julienned slices. If you’re working with a large batch, separate in to three or four bowls. Season each bowl with a separate flavoring. For example, one might be seasoned with a lemon pepper sauce, another with a good dose of fresh cilantro or parsley and one with a teriyaki marinade. Leave another plain.

If you want to freeze some of the chicken for future use, put each portion in a freezer bag with enough chicken broth to cover. This technique retains the fresh texture and flavor of the meat until you’re ready to serve.

Number one on our list of easy chicken salad recipes is the chef’s salad. This salad is ready in minutes. Lay a generous amount of greens, including crisp, dark green lettuces and some mesclun on your serving plate. Mound the julienned chicken breasts in the center, plain or seasoned. Surround the chicken with a variety of veggies, such as black or Nicoise olives, green onions, finely sliced, tomato wedges, sliced fresh mushrooms, diced sweet onions and hard boiled egg slices. Put some crunch in your salad with crisp sweet bell peppers, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, celery or crispy chow mein noodles. This chef’s salad is a concoction of your desired tastes and textures. Add a handful of croutons and grated cheese of your choice. Bellisimo!

The fruit-based version of our easy chicken salad recipes? Try a combination of fresh diced pineapple, mangoes and melons for a light and refreshing chicken salad. A simple bed of greens, combined with these tropical fruits and a centerpiece of your chicken breast slices can be dressed with a sprinkling of shredded coconut and a bottled honey sesame seed salad dressing for a sensational summer salad.

For yet another variation on the easy chicken salad recipe, dice your chicken in a medium sized bowl. Add sliced celery, including the greens, along with finely diced Spanish onion. Add mayonnaise, or a mixture of mayonnaise and sour cream to the consistency of your choice. Grate some lettuce and layer into a pita pocket. Add the chicken mixture and top it off with a mild salsa.

Last, but not least, in our lineup of easy chicken salad recipes is the pasta salad. Cook a batch of cheese and spinach tortellini. Drain and refrigerate until cold. Add a quantity of diced, cooked chicken breast, diced onions and sliced black olives. Season with fresh, chopped Italian parsley. Fold in just enough mayonnaise to make a consistency that suits your taste. Serve on a plate of greens and enjoy!

We hope to have inspired you on the many ways you can prepare an easy chicken salad recipe in minutes, delicious, nutritious and memorable additions to your menus!

Uncategorized Family, Men, Recipe

2007 halloween costumes in a 2009 world

2007 halloween costumes might seem passe, but it’s best to remember that what all things that once were, can be again, and
2007 halloween costumes are no different.

The big thing to remember is that 2007 was a great year for politics, so it’s worth looking through some of that year’s biggest stories to find a costume that makes sense for you. There is, of course, the president and vice president of the time. George W. Bush was winding down his presidency in 2007, and that’s a great place to start. A Bush mask is in itself a perfectly good costume, and in the context of 2009 it has almost a totally different meaning than it had in 2007. In 2007, Bush was on his way out, a hated (his approval rating was just 23% at the time) relic of an ugly age that was mercifully coming to an end. In 2009 he remains a relic of that age, but is almost viewed as a tragic figure who was manipulated by those stronger and more clever than he. Throw a dunce hat on, then, and you’ve got your 2009 version of the best George W. Bush 2007 halloween costumes.

Those who were stronger and cleverer than Bush, and probably manipulated him throughout his two-term presidency (I still can’t get over that), start with Dick Cheney, Bush’s vice president. Cheney kept a relatively low profile near the end of Bush’s second term, but this isn’t 2007 anymore. Since Barack Obama took office, Cheney has been a relentless critic of the new president, making speeches, giving interviews and even writing a book in which he details he criticisms of Obama, but reveals the fractures between himself and Bush during their final years in office. So in a way even though Cheney fits the model of 2007 halloween costumes, he makes an even better 2009 halloween costume. He makes sense on both levels.

And of course going as Barack Obama himself makes sense as one of the better 2007 halloween costumes in a 2009 world. Obama was a public, national figure starting in 2004 when he made a famous address to the Democratic Nomination Conference that received plaudits throughout the country. But he became a household name only in 2007 when he began his run for the presidency – a run that was originally dismissed as the consummate darkhorse, but a run that eventually landed him in the white house.

Uncategorized Politics