1. Create a time capsule. It works for school children why not your family? Purchase a box of some kind house your lists. Usually a time capsule has one date in the future when it will be opened. You can create more than one time capsule: one year from now, five years from now, ten years from now and so on. For kids who are too young to write, place a current picture of them in the capsules to see how they change over the years.

2. Place your resolutions in a hat. During your family time on New Year’s Eve, give every family member a piece of paper. Write down one or two of the most important things you want to accomplish in the coming year. Don’t write your name on it but put it into a hat. Then, each member picks a piece of paper from the hat. Try and guess whose resolutions you have. During the year, you can help that person reach their goals.

3. Lift your resolutions to the heavens. This requires helium balloons and some ribbon. On a slip of paper, each family member will write a single goal for the next year. You can write as many as you want on different slips of paper. After all are written, the family can gather in the back yard. Read your resolution and tie it to a balloon. At the same time, release all of the balloons.

4. Write yourself a letter. In this letter, write about the goals for yourself for the year and why they are important to you. Seal them when you are done and address them to yourself. Place the letters in a safe place until December. Have mom add stamps and mail them from the post office. When you receive your letter, open it. How did you do?

5. Get advice from those who know you. This is a take from a baby shower game. At your family New Year’s Eve gathering, give each person one sheet of paper for each family member. Have each person in turn say a resolution. The others will write their advice for that person on the designated paper. After everyone has voiced all of their resolutions, distribute the papers to the right person.

Use the New Year’s Eve tradition of making resolutions to give you a jumpstart on the coming year’s goals with these five ideas.

1. Watch some movies. There will certainly be enough time before midnight for everyone to throw a movie they like into the mix. You can give your movie night a theme. Choose a variety of movies celebrating other holidays in the year. You’ll have scary, funny, romantic, dramatic and jingle bells thrown in for good measure. How’s that for eclectic?

2. Play board games. On a regular night it might be hard to get everyone together to have a family game night. But, on this night, everyone is at home. Bring back a little of those childhood years with games like Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders (that’s a really old one), Sorry! And Life. For a large family, set up more than one game station so everyone can play what they like.

3. Play team games. This is when people traditionally play charades, drawing games and others. Divide into teams and see who can put on the best game face. Keep changing teams so that each family member gets to be on a team with each other. You can also make up your own games like a team scavenger hunt throughout the house.

4. Reminisce with old pictures. Who is that kid in the plaid pants and butterfly collar shirt? It might be you. Use this time to bond as a family. Go through old photo albums and remember times gone by. There may be a few pictures of folks you don’t remember. Or, there could be some interesting stories that are told just from a photo. Before you know it, everyone’s sides will threaten to burst from laughter.

5. Make a dessert. All this other fun may make you want to feed your sweet tooth. For those who want to, let them make a dessert for the family to try. The more desserts you have, the more yummy goodness you can enjoy.

What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? These five ideas offer fun for the family who wants to spend time celebrating together.

Once the decision has been made, decide if you want to do an all-new toy drive or new to gently used. Both can be successful but it needs to be clear what you are collecting. Either way, it is best to have the gifts that are donated left unwrapped so that the volunteers can screen the gifts and get them sent to a child that matches by age and gender. Be sure to check all toys for broken or missing pieces. It’s also a good idea to check them against any recall notices.

Christmas stocking.

Start getting volunteers to sign up in early November. This way people have time to plan and adjust his or her own holiday celebrations. Start advertising the toy drive by Thanksgiving. Contact the newspaper, radio and TV stations to see if you can get free ad space or airtime as a public service announcement. Set up dates to wrap and distribute the toys. Try to have the distribution as close to Christmas as possible, maybe even Christmas Eve.

Be sure to also thank all those who helped publicly. Again, have the media thank the community and businesses that assisted in the drive. Thank all the volunteers, maybe even with a small token, even if it’s just cookies and hot chocolate for them after the work is all done.

Glittery Christmas ball.

Do you have a flower garden during the year? Save the petals, dry them and make your own potpourri. You could buy cinnamon sticks to add another scent and texture. Put it in small containers or mesh bags.
Everyone likes to snuggle up with a soft blanket on a cold evening. You can make a blanket and never sew or crochet a stitch. Purchase a piece of fleece the size that you want your blanket (the clerks at the store can help you figure out the right amount). Simply cut fringe in about two inches from all the edges about an inch apart. You can either let the fringes hang loose, or tie knots to make a pattern around.

Homemade cookies, fresh from the oven, are a great treat. A lot of people just don’t have the time to make them. You can make a frozen cookie kit. Mix up a batch of their favorite cookies. Roll them out into balls and flatten them slightly. Flash freeze them by putting them on wax paper on a cookie sheet until they are solid. Remove them from the sheets and place them in a freezer bag. Bake for two to three minutes more than the normal time or until golden brown. They can be baked in small batches, even in the toaster over, or all at the same time.

Another nice handmade gift could be writing a poem for a family member. Poems don’t even have to rhyme. Print it out in a nice font or in calligraphy if you know how, and put it in a nice frame. It’s a gift someone will treasure for years to come. You can have kids help write one for different family members. An easy poem type project is to take someone’s first name, write it along the left margin and then think of a word associated with that person for each letter. For example, Sue could be Sweet, Upbeat and Energetic or Bob could be Brave, Outgoing and Baseball.

No matter what your homemade gift, be sure to include lots of love in the making and it will sure to be a hit with it’s recipient.

If you’re hosting a party in your home or invite trick-or-treaters to your door, one of the best ways to keep Fido (and those who are visiting) safe is to remove him from the situation completely. You can kennel your animal somewhere else for the night or put them in a room that’s off limits to guests. If your cat or dog is normally skittish around people, it’s best to keep them away from all the commotion on Halloween.

While many animals will freak out from all the holiday hoopla, there are some who love it just as much, if not more than you do. Here are some tips to allow your people loving, socialite pet to get involved in the festivities in a safe way.

Let them enjoy your visitors – from a distance.

You may find that your pet is not bothered by the costumes at all. Maybe your puppy or kitty likes to go to the door and welcome your guests. If this is the case, make sure he or she does not dart out the door while you’re handing out treats. Try leashing your animal within a safe distance from the door so they can enjoy the guests while remaining safe inside.

This will also help the children who like to see the animals but don’t want to touch them or be close to them. Because animals scare some children while others get very excited and want to run toward them and be the aggressor, a leashed animal will help you stay in control of the situation and allow both the children and your pet to enjoy the experience.

Candy and Pets Don’t Mix

If you have children who will be trick-or-treating, you’ll have to pay careful attention to your pets once you return home for the night with the kids’ treats. While sorting and eating the goodies from the evening, make certain that all candy, especially chocolate, is out of the cat or dog’s reach. Chocolate, even in the tiniest amounts, can be deadly to animals. Refrain from letting your little ones dump their trick-or-treat bags and buckets on the floor to sort their candy. Instead, head to the dining room table or a counter to pick through the yummy treats.

You Know Your Pet Better Than Anyone

As the “parent” to your pet, you know his or her temperament better than anyone else. If this is your first Halloween with a pet, don’t be surprised if he or she doesn’t find the day as pleasurable as the other members of the family. Keep these simple, yet often overlooked safety tips in mind this year. By taking simple precautions beforehand to prepare for the night, you can ensure everyone in the family and all your guests have a healthy and safe Halloween.

Halloween is a great opportunity to give candles and candle holders. They need not be joke gifts (though that never hurts). An elaborate pair of silver candlesticks can do double duty. They can serve as a lovely Halloween decoration on the snack table and later be used to dress up the house for all sorts of celebrations. Add a pair of aromatic candles and the gift is complete.

A beautiful wreath is another option. Halloween wreaths made of faux red and yellow leaves are a very good front-door decoration for the holiday. And they can be equally appropriate to spruce up the home the entire Fall.

Flowers in a lovely vase are another gift that everyone appreciates. Choose some blooms that are appropriate to the season, such as pansies, asters or certain tulip species, and they will fit right in with the holiday. Add a crystal vase and you have a gift that will be used long after the trick-or-treaters have come and gone.

Treats are always appreciated this time of year, even when they’re not in the form of Halloween candy. A gift basket filled with a variety will serve that purpose well. Pumpkin swirl cheesecake is another option.

Halloween-themed puzzles make for a great gift to young and old during this festive season. The kids can get into the spirit early by putting it together the week before the holiday. Adults and young ones can enjoy a good bonding experience by working on it jointly.

Halloween is one of those occasions when the kitchen can get busy. Mom will start churning out fudge or cookies or a dozen other tasty dishes that trick-or-treaters may never see. That means cooking implements, aprons and more will make superb gifts during this holiday season.

And, if you pick out a Teddy Bear in a ghostly outfit, it will make a great surprise for the child who is thinking only of treats at this time of year.

Enjoy!

How To Use Halloween Makeup

Clown faces, skulls, vampires, kitties and a thousand other makeup designs are possible for the Halloween holiday. But makeup can be a real chore to apply. Here are some tips from the Hollywood pros to make your face-decorating safer, less work and more fun.

Use quality makeup and facial products. All contemporary department store makeup is designed to be healthy for your skin. But things like spirit gum, heavy green or black face coverings, or (yikes!) dyes can cause problems. Stick to well-made products from trusted manufacturers that are specifically meant for Halloween and you can’t go wrong.

Test for allergic reactions on small portions of the face, neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Each of these sections can react differently to different compounds. The skin is a different thickness in each area, has different kinds of hair and varying pore structure. Apply and allow to dry for an hour, then remove it and look for any undue reddening and bumps.

Similarly, avoid using any makeup that causes eye or lung allergies. Spirit gum is particularly noxious to some, since it sits right under the nose and around the mouth. Any eye shadow or facial cream that produces tearing should be discarded.

Pancake or base is usually the first to go on. It helps create an even ‘canvas’ for your face and permits easier makeup removal later. Theatrical pancake has been used by stage actors for generations and the quality and usefulness just keeps getting better and better. Apply lightly with a sponge then powder.

Cream-based makeup is perfect for creating an overall color for ghosts, devils and more. It feels somewhat like grease paint (a very old type of thick makeup), but is much easier to remove and better for your skin.

For those all-important highlights, a tube stick is perfect for highlights, lines and small special designs. Use them sparingly. Never substitute an ink pen, magic marker or similar device. Not only will you have to scrub forever to get the material off, but it’s unhealthy for the skin.

For overall body painting, buy makeup that is specifically labeled as body paint. Apart from the need to easily remove it later, and health issues, it will spread more evenly without permanently staining skin or clothes. Speaking of health, always leave patches around the body unpainted. Air has to pass in and moisture out for the body to regulate itself properly. Some makeup can hinder that function.

Mustaches, fake eyebrows and more are applied with adhesive. Spirit gum is traditional, but can be difficult to remove. Here again, be sure to buy a quality product and you will protect your skin from harmful compounds.

Latex is best reserved for those who have more experience. Skin tearing, ammonia used in manufacture, and more can cause problems for the novice. Latex prosthetics are another matter. They are formations made from this special rubber-like material and attach to the skin with adhesive, rather than cover it like a second skin. Different considerations apply.

Use makeup the way the pros do and you’ll have a safe and fun Halloween.

Halloween Makeup Removal Tips

You don’t necessarily have to limit yourself to Halloween makeup that can be removed solely with soap and water. But what you use and how you apply it can make the job ultra-easy or absurdly difficult. To make your after-Halloween chore closer to the former than the latter, follow some of the methods used by the Hollywood pros.

Soap and water will work for some types of makeup, but for many a real makeup remover is best. Not only does it get rid of all the makeup, but it cleanses the skin and leaves the pores open.

Removing all Halloween makeup after the evening’s festivities is a must. Leaving it on for hours is hard enough on the skin. Sleeping in it keeps it on for hours longer and grinds it into the pores, almost guaranteeing problems. The skin has to exchange air, in and out, to stimulate healthy reactions and minimize acne. Clogged pores are the major factor in creating pimples and other problems.

Also, be sure to use a remover that is appropriate to the type of makeup you’re trying to get off.

Non-oil based makeup is used for eye shadow, blush and powders. Here, soap and water may be enough. But specially formulated remover will do a more thorough job and leave pores in the best condition afterward. Naturally, you’ll want to be especially careful around the eyes, just as you would with everyday makeup.

Oil-based makeup types are used to apply lip covering, mascara and other heavy coatings. Because they contain various fat derivatives, a distinct remover is needed. This second type of makeup will also take a bit more effort to remove completely, which is even more important for this category.

Thick makeup left on for long periods clogs pores even more than non-oil based types. Nevertheless, avoid excessive scrubbing. Irritating the skin via harsh pressure with a washcloth or sponge is just as likely to produce skin problems as the makeup itself.

Mineral oil can work with eye makeup that comes off easily. A cotton ball is best whenever it is enough to do the job. Heavy eye makeup can often be removed with petroleum jelly and a damp washcloth. Use warm water and be patient. Cold cream is another option.

Stubborn eye makeup requires a solvent. Using it, even thick mascara will come off easily without scrubbing. A gentle rub, taking care to avoid the eyeball itself of course, is all that’s needed. It also rinses cleanly, where mineral oil will take quite a while to wash off.

Once you’ve removed all makeup completely, follow with a gentle soap and wash as you would at the end of a regular day. Pat dry and allow the skin to recover a while before pressing or covering any part with a pillow. A little moisturizer is a good idea, but don’t overdo it. Some people swear by toners, but pros know they can be drying. Proceed with care.

Monitor the skin closely the next couple of days for dry patches, redness or other signs of allergic reaction.

Makeup White Cream Tube Face Paint Professional Theatrical Halloween Costume ...

Blue Cream Makeup

One way to accomplish that is to limit your prosthetic to something small on the head. That can be a fake bullet hole in the forehead or a large faux gash or just a pair of devil’s horns.

The cheek is a favorite spot of novices to apply a prosthetic and there are advantages to that. It’s easy to see and you have a soft, wide surface area to work with. But prosthetics are not makeup. They can interfere with movement. Also, the piece is much more likely to come off when you eat or drink if it’s on that area of the head.

If your costume really demands a nose prosthetic be prepared for some inconvenience. Large ones interfere with drinking and eating. Who wants that? Small ones are prone to fall off. But a securely fashioned and correctly shaped nose prosthetic can work.

An extra nostril is pretty gross, especially if there is green goo coming out of it. Yuck. A split nostril (easy to make with a little formed latex and a black marker and some stage blood) is another way to go. The idea is to keep it small and simple.

By contrast, ears are a convenient place to use prosthetics. They don’t experience too much motion though there is some when you move your jaw. They also provide a very easy-to-use shape to hang things on or to add fake parts.

Fake pointy Spock ears have now been vastly overdone. Not to mention it’s been years since a Star Trek movie or TV show was made. But classics like hanging fleshy parts, made nicely gory with stage blood, never go out of style. Huge (fake) gashes are another favorite that never gets old. It’s Halloween, after all.

It should go without saying that you want to avoid anything that could harm yourself or anyone else. It should, but some people get a little too into their costume idea and need reminding.

For example, never strap an ankle to your thigh. Yes, the ‘no leg look’ can be ghoulish. But if done for anything longer than a couple of minutes you are looking at hindered circulation and that can be dangerous. You can lose the limb permanently if the tissues start to die from lack of oxygen.

Reconsider that hard plastic (or, god forbid, metal) Captain Hook appliance. You don’t want to gash anyone and it just means one less hand for you to work with, anyway.

Let makeup complete your prosthetic look and you will have no need to create one that reduces your party fun.

Gorilla Face Foam Prosthetic - Costume Accessory

There are dozens of recipes for making your own inexpensive version of fake blood. One ultra-simple recipe uses a tablespoon of water added to 3 tablespoons of corn syrup. That will serve as a good base. Then add red food coloring for bright, fresh-looking blood. For an aged or deep cut look, add a bit of blue. This type will work well on fake facial or arm cuts.

For applications calling for more volume or a wider area, a spray bottle works well. Thin down the mixture, whether homemade or purchased, and spritz a little on a t-shirt or prop.

Soy sauce works well for simulating blood spatter from a shotgun wound. Pour some into flexible plastic tubing and seal at one end. Use a syringe at the other end hidden inside a shirt to quickly force the sauce outward.

Another method involves using something called a ’squib’. These are small packets containing the stage blood mixture that release their contents under pressure, usually from a fake body blow or knife stab. The packets are sewn or taped inside pockets or glued onto the skin, then covered with latex. A sharp, short pressure squeezes the packet, which bursts and splatters ‘blood’ around.

For situations calling for a thicker blend, a little corn starch or flour can make it nice and gooey. For a darker, more gel-like mixture chocolate syrup works well. To get a truly thick, wet blend that works perfectly for dripping, try some dishwashing soap mixed with gelatin. Add food coloring to get just the right color. It can be poured slowly down a fake hand to simulate an oozing wound. Yuck.

Often, stage blood is used to simulate wounds in which the liquid oozes from the mouth, nose or ears. In these applications, take care to buy or make a mixture that is safe for internal use.

Most of the blends above are harmless, provided they haven’t been exposed to air at room temperature for days. Otherwise they can serve as a medium for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria. They don’t all taste so great though. Ah, the sacrifices actors make…

Another thing to watch out for is staining. All of the mixtures above will wash out of clothing, except for those that use chocolate. If you mix that in, be prepared to discard anything it comes in contact with, unless you don’t care what the garment looks like later. Also, make sure that anyone near one of your effects doesn’t mind getting stained.

Trick Costume Knife with Disappearing Blade

Decoration Props

Decoration props sit, hang or otherwise remain stationary. They can decorate inside or outside the home.

Standard round gravestones make for a great prop to use for a front yard cemetery. But even cooler are the centuries-old Saxon Cross tombstones that really add a sense of style. Anything that evokes a time long gone by fits right in with Halloween, which had its origins in the Middle Ages.

A fog maker is another excellent addition to the toolkit, both for cemetery scenes and near the front door. They can run for several hours and create just the right atmosphere for a spooky Halloween scene.

Don’t forget the bats, either. What would Halloween be without lots of scary bats? Evoking vampires, dark caves and things that grab your hair in the night, they’re the perfect prop to add to your holiday fun.

Costume Props

You might need a prop not so much for decoration but to complete a costume. Plenty of choices there.

One is a simple skeleton’s arm that pokes out above the back of your collar. Sew it to an undershirt and let the hand grab the back of your neck. Add to the effect with a little stage blood and you’ve got a great looking prop.

Fake hands are a staple of Halloween props, just as they are in horror movies. Sprinkle a little stage blood on the end and let it sit on your shoulder. Sit one on a table to guard your drink. Creep out your date by dangling it above her head as she adjusts her costume in the mirror. Use your macabre imagination, you’ll find a dozen uses for these props.

Your character this year might be Leatherface, Jason, or Freddy Kruger, two favorites of many Halloween partygoers. A prop chainsaw, machete or those scary razor hands are essential to complete the look. What would those ghouls be without their slicing tools?

Animatronics

‘Animatronics’ used to refer to robotic animals used in films, at Disneyland and elsewhere. Now it means any prop that moves. And there are plenty.

An animated gargoyle is the perfect prop for the front door. He comes alive right when the trick-or-treaters reach to knock on the door. Or, put one in the window and let some sound effects complete the ghoulish display.

Coffin lids that open by themselves are always great fun at Halloween. Add a bloody hand that crawls out from the crack and you’ve got a holiday hit. Put a leaping spider or flying bats inside and no one will want any candy after that.

Complete your Halloween fun with the right props for decorating and costume completion and get the most fun possible out of this spooky holiday.

Scary

Scary works, for sure. But gross works even better. Make it grotesque, make that mask really creepy, crawly and otherwise disgusting and you’ve got a hit.

Once-popular monsters like Frankenstein are passé. The character is just too camp to make anyone shiver today. But Grub Face or Gooey Flesh, yeah that’s still tops. Of course, you could get any of the masks of popular politicians and really frighten the horses.

Creatures

Sometimes a creature mask might be that of a cute Wookie. The ever-cool Planet of the Apes mask continues to be a favorite years after the last movie was made and forgotten. The choices here are endless.

Seventy years after the original movie was made The Mummy continues to be a Halloween perennial. Even the 1940s Mr. Hyde somehow keeps coming back generation after generation. And the book was first published in 1886! But some of the latest creatures are bound to become classics, too. Alien will never go out of style. The Green Ghost from Ghostbusters is a favorite of many. Yoda is here to stay, like it or not.

Animals

For the young kids, animals are a simple and cute option that is perpetually popular not only with parents but the kids themselves. An original idea that’s hot today is a bird’s beak. Flat masks are the norm, so having something with a little bit of depth is a way to be a little different.

Pig Masks are another way to give a mask a good 3-D effect, but with less risk of the nose bumping into something. They’re easy to make, too. But a pre-made latex option doesn’t have to be expensive, and they’re sturdy and comfortable.

Make-It Yourself

Masks are especially fun when your young one gets to make it. Plaster of Paris used to be the way to go. But that’s a lot of work. Today, you’ve got much easier methods available. A digital camera can take a snapshot of your child, the family dog, or a bird that hangs around the yard.

Take the digital snapshot, transfer it to the computer. Then just use the digital photo software that came with the camera to print out a color photo on heavy card stock. Cut-out the mask, slip some string through a couple of holes and you’re ready for Halloween.

Take a photo of each of the kids, then have one wear the photo-mask of another. That should confuse everyone!

Rubies Costume Co. V for Vendetta Mask

Superheroes and Villains

Whether it’s the Joker thanks to a recent Batman movie or the latest TV show, superheroes and the villains they conquer are always near the top of any list.

It’s not just the associations with popular characters that does the trick, though. Just think of all the cool makeup possibilities with someone like the Joker. He’s gone through several variations from TV and films from the past 50 years. Superhero masks offer an outstanding way to avoid that trouble, though. Pop it on and you’re ready to party.

And, one of the best things about this category is it works for both genders and all ages. Whether the wearer is male or female, one or 100, a superhero or villain costume fits, in every sense of the word.

Celebrities

Celebrities like Hannah Montana are a close relative to superheroes. These days, they’re treated like ones, anyway. Lots of tweeners love the fashion options that come with picking her, but there are lots of other choices, too.

For the older crowd, celebrities from the past are often a big hit. They bring a little nostalgia to the party that can produce big laughs. Anyone remember John Travolta’s white suit in that disco movie… what was the name? Oh, yeah, Saturday Night Fever. Who could forget!

Sexy

Of course, if you happen to be an adult, sexy is always a hit. Naughty Librarian is right up there with the all-time favorites. Cool Cop works for the guys (or gals) every time.

The possibilities are endless, not least because what is sexy to one Halloweener is a big yawn to someone else. That means you have lots to choose from without worrying about whether someone else is going to show up at the party with the same outfit.

Fantasy and Fairy Tales

For kids and fans, this category continues to be a crowd pleaser. That crowd starts with the parents, but the Halloweener get just as much fun from them.

Fairy Tale Princess has been the choice of the little princess in the house forever. But add a frog to the mix for the little (or big) guy who goes with her and you have a winning combination.

An Alice in Wonderland theme opens up tons of possibilities. There’s Alice herself, of course. But Tweedledum and Tweedledee are a perfect pair. The White Rabbit is easy and comfortable on a Fall night.

Easy Choices

Rubies Costume Co. V for Vendetta Mask

American Apparel Flex Fleece Zip Hoody

Suppose you plan to build a graveyard scene in your front yard. You’ve lit the scene and now you’re ready for the final touch. Just think of all those camp horror movies with the about-to-be victims skulking through a darkened cemetery. What do they play in the background? A loop of ghoulish organ music would be the perfect choice.

For candy-seeking visitors to the front door, your options are broad. One great way to make a selection is to comb through old movie soundtracks. Hollywood filmmakers of the 1940s made tons of silly, spooky films. The background tracks featured everything from light-hearted ghostbusters themes to cheesy dramatic music ala Dracula.

Apart from background music, there are lots of sound effects that can add just the right atmosphere to your Halloween holiday.

Breaking window sounds of shattering glass are a great auditory ‘decoration’. Everyone jumps whenever they hear that. After the initial ‘crash’ you can follow it with the tinkling sounds of shards falling to the ground. Then, play a little ghostly cackling combined with the sounds of the departed walking over the pieces. Punctuate the effect with some “ouch, ouch, aye my foot!” ghostly voices.

Compilation CDs are an easy way to get all the Halloween sound effects you need. They offer evil laughs, screams, booming thunder and a whole host of other useful sounds.

Creaking doors are a must, of course. They’re easy to find and you can put a speaker near the front door to play the sound every time you greet the trick-or-treaters. Or, navigate to the track that plays a crash of thunder just as you flash the ‘lightning’ (a strobe light) when you open the door.

Animal sounds always make for excellent additions to the sound effects toolkit. Hooting owls are standard. But snarling wolves are a good idea, too. Add some bears growling in the forest, swarms of bats on the wing, and a few howling hyenas and you’re ready to go.

Add a wide range of music and sound effects to your Halloween scene and you’ll create a fun time for all.

Haunted Sound and Scary Tales - Double Play - Cassette Tape - Halloween

Miniature Coffins

As tiny props around the candy bowl, hung on the front door frame or sitting in a window sill, coffins only six inches long makes a great decoration. They can be filled with flowers, candy or dolls to complete the picture.

They’re also super easy to make. Just use your favorite drawing program on the computer and make the classic coffin shape. This is the ‘toe pincher’ style in which the overall shape narrows at the bottom and top, with a wider section in the middle.

Use the software to help you get the angles right (slightly larger than 90 degrees at the base and top, about 150 degrees at the ‘elbow’ section). The sides, foot and head section are rectangles.

Then just print out the results on stiff, black cardstock, using bright lines for the outline of the pieces. Cut out the shapes and use ice cream sticks or toothpicks with a little household glue to put the coffin together.

Full-sized Coffins

For a life-size prop the effort is a little greater, but the plans are basically the same. Acquire a few slats of plywood for the base, top, sides, foot and head sections. With careful planning three 4′ x 8′ pieces of plywood will be plenty.

Here, a protractor can help you get the angles right. Or, you can use large sheets of plain wrapping paper or blank newsprint to make a template. You could draw lines directly onto the plywood, using a protractor and tape measure. Or, you can make an outline of the piece on these large sheets of paper then tape them onto the wood.

Then, just use a standard power saw to cut out the pieces you need. A handsaw would do, but that’s a lot of work for eight sections. To assemble the result into a safe, sturdy prop L-braces and hinges are the easiest way to go.

With a power screwdriver/drill you can attach L-braces to the base in a few minutes. Then attach the foot, head and sides by using screws to connect those parts to the base. Now all you have to do is attach the lid or top.

Standard, kitchen cabinet hinges work best. Screw four of them along one side on the inside of the coffin, near the top. The hinge center should protrude just above the rim of the side piece. Then flip the hinge ‘open’. Get someone to hold the lid above the ground or benchtop and insert screws into the lid through the hinge flange.

Paint the coffin black using standard black primer. Spray paint would work, but that method takes a long time and a lot of paint.

Go to your favorite Halloween site and decorate your coffin with a skeleton, or a stuffed dummy, blow-up doll, or whatever ghoulish figure you can dream up!

One of the easiest ways to build the whole scene from scratch is to get a series of gray cardboard slats. They can be purchased from a stationary supply site, or in the form of a pre-made Graveyard Scene in the decorations section of a Halloween site.

They assemble in a few minutes, either with clips or a little bit of household glue, sort of like a 3-D jigsaw puzzle, only much simpler. Then they’re fitted with something to help them stand up. That can be as elementary as a bent coat hanger, or a few short, thin wooden stakes that glue to the back.

Put a few up in the front yard and you are already half way toward having a complete graveyard scene for Halloween. But as they stand, so to speak, they are only half of the total picture. Creating the other half is almost as easy.

The gravestones can be decorated in several ways using ordinary household items. A can of glow-in-the-dark spray paint is an excellent way to put funny names or phrases onto the headstones. Cobweb mesh or spray is another atmosphere-generating decoration that is super easy to add.

Now, for the element that will really make your Halloween graveyard scene shine, literally and figuratively: lights.

In order to give the decoration that Hollywood finish, emulate what the pros in Tinseltown do. Create lots of deep shadows around the headstones, alternated by spotlights at the right places.

That can be done in a jiffy by placing some ordinary lawn lights on the backside of select gravestones. The solar-powered type works best, since there is no need to run any wires around the yard that the kids can trip over. Just drive the stake into the ground behind the display and you’re done. Don’t overdo the number, though. One light will serve well for up to three or four headstones.

To supplement the scene, a few atmospheric lights on the roof can give the perfect accents. Keep everything at a low wattage and pointed indirectly to create those long, spooky shadows. A single one on the porch near the front door can serve double duty, lighting the doorway and spilling some illumination out into the yard.

To give it the final touch, if you live in a climate where you have access to them, lots of big leaves can really help. Leaves help create a scene of quiet suspense. You can even spill some off the roof every once in a while to give a cooperative actor in a skeleton suit a fright for the happy trick-or-treaters.

Enjoy!

Rubies Costume Co. Indiana Jones Sachtel

Pumpkins

Ok, no doubt you have to have some carved pumpkins. What’s Halloween without them? But here’s your chance to be really creative. The smiling Jack o’Lantern with big teeth has just been overdone.

How about shaving part of the skin and carving something that resembles the family cat? Or, you could slice part of the skin off in a spiral and make the attached peel look like intestines by sprinkling it with stage blood. Give it some thought and you’re sure to come up with a neighborhood prize-winning design that is wholly original.

Candles

Spooky candles are a must to create that Halloween atmosphere. But don’t just light some six-inch tall, boring, white sticks and be done with it. Go for something really different.

Picture a Gothic-looking candlestick holder topped by skulls with some short, fat candles on the top. Now, that’s unique. Or, buy some holders three-feet high and put two-foot high, two-inch wide candles inside like the monks used in the Middle Ages. After all, where do you think Halloween came from?

Gothic Coverings and Wall Decor

To really make the house over to capture the Halloween look, Gothic coverings are the perfect decoration. That might be a blood-soaked tablecloth or a cover that turns your nice beige couch into a brooding black coffin.

Add to the effect with a hanging Gargoyle light. Spread plenty of cobweb mesh in the corners or spray the windows with fake cobweb thread from an aerosol can. Complete the look with a mirror that sports plenty of spooky skulls around the frame.

Front Door Hangers

Don’t forget that door knocker. Skulls are always a good choice. But you could make the effect really wild by going for the gooey guts look. Some sausages sprayed with stage blood make for the perfect Halloween holiday wreath.

One clever Halloween decorator even developed a mirror that hangs on the door… whose reflection shows the person as a ghost! You can get the same effect by skillfully using digital photo software on the computer. Just take an online stock photo of your favorite ghoul, darken the background, and fuzz things over a little by making it out of focus. Print it out on a color printer and hang on the door. Then just lower the lights on the porch.

Dishes and Table Settings

Remember that when you serve the guests you don’t want to destroy the look you’ve worked so hard to create. Some skeleton-arm glasses where the arm is the stem and the hand is the cup keep the atmosphere alive. Or is that dead?

Plates that disappear in the dark, except for the shadow of a ghost that shows up in the dim light, will make serving snacks an unsettling experience. Let’s just hope it doesn’t unsettle their stomachs.

Paradoxically, one of the major factors to effective lighting is not light at all, but the shadows cast by lit objects. It’s those deep, high contrast shadows that turn a pastoral daylight graveyard into a frightening nighttime cemetery. So, to get the same effect for your front yard cemetery scene, front porch or the areas around your bushes do what the pros do.

Aim your lights at steep angles. That creates very long shadows. It’s what we can’t see that really counts. Also, don’t use too many lights. One or two is plenty to cover a wide area. You want to cover, not reveal.

Continue that ‘theme’ by keeping the wattage low on all lights. That hides detail and adds to the air of mystery. When we can only see dimly, we imagine all kinds of things, especially when there are the right kinds of props and decorations to help our fears along.

Light from unusual angles. Your face looks normal when illuminated from above and to the side. It creates shadows beside the nose, beneath the eyebrows and under the jaw that we don’t even notice consciously. But reverse the direction of the light, come from below, and suddenly you have a scary look. It creates shadows we do notice, and it makes us uncomfortable.

The same principle applies when you’re lighting your home or a Halloween horror house. We can see objects, but they appear strange. Things don’t look like we’re used to and that is unsettling.

Anytime the eyes and brain can’t perform their normal function efficiently – picking out and identifying objects in the environment – we feel threatened. That’s because we know that under those circumstances we can’t deal very well with what might pop out. That creates a sense of foreboding. And that is just right for creating the mood in a Halloween scene.

Changing colors helps, too. Normal daylight is white with a yellow tinge. Change it to a deep blue, a harsh red, or that purple that comes from blacklight and again you have changed the normal environment. That helps create the sense that things are new and, in dim light, hard to anticipate.

Achieving that effect is easy. Use blacklights or red bulbs. Put colored gels (plastic filters) over a white bulb. Drape blue cloth in front of a fixture. Just make sure to keep all plastic or cloth far enough away to eliminate any fire hazard.

Change the way things look with shadows, dim light and colors and you can inexpensively light your Halloween scene the Hollywood way. You’ll be a big hit with the fans.

When you’re creating those characters you’ll need some advice on how to apply or remove makeup, but that is easy to find. That should include how to use a prosthetic that doesn’t get in the way of enjoying the party. It would also cover how to make or apply stage blood. But whatever the specific task, there’s lots of easy-to-follow advice available on maximizing that Halloween adventure.

Houses on Halloween now get almost as much attention as they do at Christmastime, too. Whether it’s decorating with a dozen creatively carved pumpkins or a superbly scary coffin, they will all look great. You can find with ease hundreds of stencils to guide your pumpkin carving efforts. And making your own decorative coffins, large and small, is very simple. Create a cemetery scene for the front yard and your spooky atmosphere will be complete.

Lighting is key to any overall decorating scheme. Strobe lights, spotlights and candles all help create the ideal look: sinister, scary and just a little unnerving. But don’t forget to use plenty of props. Flying bats, garish ghosts and scary skeletons are a must for creating that Halloween look. Add sound effects and you now have an entire Hollywood movie set at your home address.

Exchanging gifts is another Halloween practice that is rapidly becoming a new tradition. Neighbors can pick out decorations to use around the house. A Teddy Bear wearing its own little costume is just right for the little ones. The whole family will have great fun picking out the perfect gift.

Complete the Halloween festivities with some delicious snacks that are reserved for the family. Creepy cookies, horrible ham dishes and more are all ghoulishious at this time of year. Exercise your culinary creativity while someone else takes care of the dreadful decorations.

Halloween is now one big party on block after block, in neighborhood after neighborhood. Everyone gets into the fun spirit of the day with costumes at work and parties at night. The goodies overflow the plate and even a fine wine fits right in with the celebration of All Hallow’s Eve.

Give some thought to how you want to create your character, spruce up your home and fill your table with food and drink. You’ll find it’s easy and lots of fun.

Twilight (Two-Disc Special Edition)

an eco-friendly alternative

Think about this, to produce an oak floor it takes several trees. Other trees used to make hardwood floors take upwards 15 to 100 years to grow to maturity. Bamboo takes 6 years. By choosing bamboo flooring, you’re choosing an incredibly sustainable resource.

Bamboo is also just as durable, if not more so than many other types of wood used to create hardwood flooring. In fact, horizontal or vertical bamboo flooring is harder than oak, which is the most popular material used for hardwood floors and strand woven bamboo flooring is harder than the most expensive hardwood, Brazilian Walnut.

Bamboo flooring is also the most economical type of hardwood flooring options available. And for those who do not want the standard light color of bamboo flooring will be happy to learn that bamboo actually can come in a variety of colors from a light honey to a dark amber.

However, it should be noted that all bamboo flooring products are not created equal. Vertical and horizontal grain bamboo flooring may contain urea formaldehyde as a binder, which will emit toxic substances and engineered bamboo may not be really made from bamboo at all. Grainless or strand bamboo may use a low emitting phenol-formaldehyde binder. When purchasing bamboo simply ask how the boards are bound to find out if you’re bringing a potentially toxic substance into your home. Not all manufacturers use this type of binding and there are safe options.

Additionally, for the most environmentally friendly bamboo you may want to choose flooring that comes from a bamboo farm where it is raised specifically for this purpose rather than to choose bamboo, which is cut down in the forest.

Bamboo starts around $2.00 per square foot, which makes it an extremely affordable option. Bamboo is perhaps the single best material for hardwood flooring available. It is sustainable, durable, beautiful and will last you and your family for as long as you live in your home.

Three Body and Beauty Types

Ayurveda defines three body types:

1. Vata
2. Pitta
3. Kapha

Each body type has their own unique characteristics including a tendency toward oily or dry skin, curly or straight hair and so on. You can find much information about these three body typs online.
Regardless of your body type, there are great ayurvedic natural beauty recipes. Here are 5 to get you started on your natural beauty regimen.

Rose Facial Mask

2 tablespoons oatmeal ground in a blender to a fine powder
2 teaspoons goat milk powder
½ teaspoon clay—yellow clay from India, or plain white kaolin clay
1 teaspoon rose petal powder
1 teaspoon sandalwood powder
2 drops rose attar

Mix all ingredients except rose attar in a jar with a lid. When ready to use, pour half of the jar of powder into a small container and stir in one ounce of warm water and one drop of rose attar. Apply the mask and wait 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water. The clay in this mask is great for oily skin.

Fruit Acid Peel

1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup plain yogurt

Blend all ingredients in a small bowl. Apply it to your face and wait 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water. This mask works well to exfoliate.

Acne Clarifier

1 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon goat’s milk

Blend all ingredients in a small bowl. Apply to acne and leave on for 20 minutes.

Almond Milk Cleanser

20 whole almonds soaked and peeled
1 cup water
2 ounces rose lavender hydrosol
4 drops geranium essential oil
1 ounce vegetable glycerin

Blend 1 cup of water and soaked and peeled almonds (soak almonds in water overnight and peel). Strain and combine remaining ingredients. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Use to clean and exfoliate skin.

Facial Scrub

1 cup rice bran powder
1 cup chickpea powder
¼ cup hibiscus powder
¼ cup rose powder
¼ cup sandalwood powder
¼ cup coriander powder

Blend all ingredients and store in a sealed container. To use, add water to a few tablespoons of scrub and apply to damp skin.
Ayurveda Natural Beauty treatments combine the best ingredients to provide you with simple and healthy solutions, no matter what your body and beauty type.

Radon - Radon kills about 20,000 people a year. It’s a primary cause of lung cancer and unfortunately it’s an odorless, tasteless and invisible. Radon is produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. Which means it can easily seep into your home through cracks in your foundation and drains. You can purchase tests at your local home store to test for radon or hire a professional to come out and make sure your home is radon free.

Adhesives and paints - Epoxies, rubber cement, glues, acrylic paints, carpet adhesives, paint cleaning solvents markers and other art supplies often contain carcinogens. The good news is there are many environmentally friendly options today.

Dry cleaning stores use a often use perchlorethylene, a known carcinogen, to clean them. If you cannot find an eco-friendly dry cleaner in your area, remove the plastic from the clothing and let them air out in a well-ventilated area before placing in your closet.

Pesticides - Products like those flea and tick collars and even lice control products often use lindane-based pesticides to keep these creatures away. Lindane is a neurotoxin and a carcinogen – keep it out of your home and away from your pets and family.

Asbestos - While asbestos is no longer used in home building products and insulation. If you have a home built before 1980 you may want to check to make sure you do not have it in your home. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer.

Candles - Candles made from petroleum, as many scented candles are, release chemicals into the air. Many of these chemicals are known carcinogens including formaldehyde, toluene and benzene. A healthier, non-cancer causing, candle base would be beeswax or soy, which both burn fairly clean.

Cancer causing agents are all around us, however, due to increasing awareness of these chemicals healthier options are available. Take care to fill your home with safe, natural and environmentally conscious products. Your family, your body and your planet will thank you.

Polycarbonate.

This plastic is responsible for releasing Bisphenol A which has been in the news a lot lately because it’s found in a number of water bottles, certain types of Nalgene bottles, baby bottles, car parts and other common manufactured food storage containers. The easiest way to identify this plastic is to look at the recycling label on the bottom of the container. If it says 7, other, or PC then steer clear of it.

Polyethylene Terephthalate

This plastic is commonly used for water bottles and soda bottles. It’s safe for one time consumption however multiple uses, like refilling that same plastic water bottle over and over again, is not healthy. The plastic will begin to degrade and leach and bacteria can begin to grow.

High density Polyethylene

This is what milk containers and those plastic grocery bags are made from. It is recyclable and is generally labeled HDPE

Polyvinyl Chloride

This is an extremely toxic plastic and is commonly called PVC. It’s used in window frames, to wrap meat in your grocery store, in shower curtains in your plumbing and in many baby toys like rubber duckies and mattress covers. To identify this plastic look for the recycling label 3 or PVC.

Polystyrene

This plastic is used to make plastic silverware, coffee cups, take out containers and egg cartons. It’s commonly called Styrofoam. It has been linked to cancer. It’s labeled PS or 6 for recycling.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene or PPE is a commonly used and safe plastic. You’ll find food bags, cups and plastic bottles, medicine bottles and other food storage items are often sold in this plastic.

Low density polyethylene

Another safe one, this plastic is what makes up your garbage bags, ketchup squeeze bottles and the plastic wrap you use to store food in your refrigerator. It’s commonly labeled 4 or LDPE for recycling purposes.

By and large manufacturers are getting better about using safe plastics to create their products. However, it always pays to know what your buying and potentially putting into your body. The plastics to look out for are PVC, Polycarbonate, and Polystyrene because they are the most toxic and when thrown away will continue to leach toxins into the soil. Keep your family safe and learn what plastics are toxin free.

Turn it off. Whether it’s lights or the water faucet, turn them off when you’re not using them. Every day we leave the water running while we brush our teeth, wash our face, shave and shampoo our hair. Turn it off when you’re not using it and save thousands of gallons of water each year. And if you’re in the habit of leaving the lights on when you leave the room a simple change in habit, turning them off when you leave the room, will save energy and money.

That goes for your computer too. When you’re not using it, rather than putting it into sleep mode, turn it off.

Adjust your thermostat. This is an easy one. Simply lower your thermostat in the winter by 5 degrees and raise your thermostat 5 degrees in the summer and you’ll save both on your electric and gas utility bills, and you’ll save resources.

Walk when you can. Walking is great exercise. It allows you to get valuable fresh air and sunshine and walking conserves fuel. If walking isn’t an option, consider a bicycle. You can cover the same amount of distance in about half the time and biking is exceptional exercise. You don’t have to be Lance Armstrong to get on a bike, and your bike doesn’t need to be fancy. They’re making wonderful cruiser bikes which are comfortable and uncomplicated, no gears or disc brakes to worry about, and they’re good for holding baskets which you can fill with groceries or other items.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. We’re not just talking about the basics here. Yes, it’s great to reuse that bag your last birthday present came in however what about reusing the same water glass throughout the day to save washing the same dish repeatedly. You can also pour the stale water in your pet’s water dish into your plants. You can use food containers to pack your lunch instead of plastic baggies and plastic wrap. The options to reduce, reuse and recycle are endless. Take a look around your home and see where you can conserve

When your light bulbs burn out, instead of replacing them with another standard light bulb, replace conventional bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They’re energy smart and while they cost a touch more than a standard bulb, they last 10 times longer.

As you run out of cleaning products in your home, replace them with natural or environmentally friendly cleaning products. Look for biodegradable products and if you’re unsure whether a product is environmentally safe, look for the health warnings. If it’s warning free, meaning nothing on the label says toxic, dangerous, warning or any other alarming notation, then you’re probably safe.

There are hundreds of small steps you can take every day to make the planet we live on a healthier and safer place to be. Start with these everyday tips, integrate them into your daily routine. Once they become a habit you can look for new eco friendly habits to adopt.

Insulation Facts

Insulation is measured by R value. The greater the R-value, the greater the insulation power of the insulation.

The US department of energy recommends an R-value of R-49 for the attics of homes in most states.

If you live in south Florida, Texas, or California then R-38 is typically all you’ll need.

Most regional building codes for new construction require a minimum of R-19 in walls and floors.

Three Types of Insulation

Insulation comes in more forms than the pink roll you see on television. The three main types are:

Blown-In Insulation. This type of insulation is the easiest to install and is usually the ideal choice for upgrading your home. Essentially, insulation ingredients are fed into a blower and then it’s forced into the necessary spaces. This type of insulation is usually made of cellulose, rock wool, polyurethane foam, or fiberglass. Cellulose, made of recycled newspaper treated with a flame retardant and is the most popular choice.

Blanket Insulation is probably what you’re most familiar with and is typically used in new construction. It comes in rolls where it can easily be laid onto floors and ceilings and inserted into walls. It’s made of rock wool or fiberglass. Easy because it doesn’t require professional installation.

Rigid Insulation is tough and offers R5 per inch. The panels are comprised of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) or extruded polystyrene foam (XPS). This insulation is typically used on basement interior walls.

The drawback to this type of insulation is that it is flammable and composed of an ingredient that isn’t degradable or recyclable. Both mineral wool and cellulose are environmentally friendly. Though cellulose is flammable unless treated with a flame retardant.

Where Do You Insulate?

Attics are the primary place people think to insulate. The recommended minimum amount of insulation is usually a minimum of R-49.
Crawlspaces are another common place to insulate because they are prime areas to lose heat and energy.

Walls are the final location to consider insulating. This includes both exterior and non-insulated above ground basement walls.

House Insulation R Values

• R value of Blown in Cellulose Insulation is 3.70 per inch
• R value of Fiberglass Insulation is 3.14 per inch
• R value of Expanded Polystyrene is 4.00 per inch

Remember you’re looking for an R value of 49 for your attic. This means if you have less than 15 inches of fiberglass for example, then you’re home needs another few inches of insulation.

Insulating your home is a valuable way to save energy. With a little research into the present state of your insulation, you can quickly ascertain whether your home could benefit with a little extra padding. Pay attention to condensation on your windows and your roofline during the winter. Rapid snowmelt on your roof and condensation on the inside of your windows can be signals that you have too little insulation.

The Tree Principles of Homeopathic Healing

Homeopathy is based on thee main principles. They include:

Like Cures Like

This principle is often seen in the treatment of allergies. For example if a person is allergic to grass pollen then they will regularly receive injections with a small amount of grass pollen in the solution. The theory being that they will slowly build up a tolerance for the allergen until they have little or no reaction. The same holds true for many of our vaccines. If you’re getting a flu vaccine, you’re receiving a small amount of the flu virus. Your body recognizes it and defeats it thus, when that particular strain of the flu comes around you won’t get it because your body knows how to combat it.

Minimal Dose

Homeopathic healing takes the approach of extreme dilution. Theorizing that your body doesn’t need to be inundated with an element to adapt and respond. How diluted are the dosages? We’re talking about 1 part homeopathic element or remedy and 1,000,000,000,000 parts water.

The Single Remedy

Have you ever had a cold but didn’t have the cold medication to cover all your symptoms so you took a decongestant, a fever reducer and cough medicine combined to try to make it through the day? This is the opposite of how homeopathy approaches healing. Because you’re dealing with having the body heal itself, homeopathy believes that only one remedy is taken, usually it’s the presumed cause of the illness that is the remedy.

Who Can Use Homeopathy?

Homeopathic healing is deemed safe for everyone. This includes pregnant women, children and even babies and the elderly. Treatment is easy and typically involves, once a diagnosis has been made, taking a powder or small tablet orally. The tablets are designed to dissolve in your mouth and may need to be held under the tongue for a few seconds until it’s completely dissolved. While some treatments may require only one tablet taken daily, others may require several tablets each day. The treatment depends on the diagnosis and the practitioner.

Why use Homeopathic healing?

Believe it or not, homeopathy is the second most widely used form of healing in the world. And its popularity in western civilization continues to grow. By and large, this success is due to the fact that Homeopathy is extremely effective, when properly diagnosed. It’s also extremely safe and results in virtually no side effects and it can be taken with other medication without the fear of interaction.

Homeopathic remedies are also natural. You’re not putting potentially harmful chemicals into your body. In addition, as more and more people adopt a more holistic approach to healing, it’s much more natural and effective to treat the cause of a problem rather than the symptoms. Homeopathy treats the cause.
When it comes to healing, homeopathic healing has a long and successful history and a bright future. To find a skilled homeopathic doctor you can visit one of the online directories or associations or you can speak to your medical practitioner for a recommendation.

1. Pull the shades tight. Our bodies are regulated by our circadian rhythms. These rhythms are directly influenced by light. That means even a trip to the bathroom where you turn on the light can have a negative effect on the rest of your sleep that night. And a cumulative effect over time. Pull the shades tight so you’re sleeping in darkness. To wake, consider investing in a natural alarm clock, which gradually brightens emulating the rising sun.

2. Turn off technology. Television, computers and video games are all stimulating and can impede sleep. Give yourself at least an hour before bedtime without these distractions and by all means, keep them out of your bedroom.

3. Cool it. If your bedroom is too hot, then you’re not going to be able to sleep. Experts recommend keeping your thermostat no higher than 70 degrees though the cooler the better.

4. Create a schedule and stick to it. Sleep schedules are important. They tell your body what to expect and you’ll sleep better when you develop and stick to it. For example, doctors and health experts recommend 8 hours of sleep a night so you could go to bed at 11pm each night and wake at 7am.

5. Routines help. Just like a schedule helps your body know what to expect, a sleep routine can also help get your mind prepared for a good night of sleep. Many people read before they go to bed, they listen to calming music, journal or pray. Create a sleep routine that calms your mind and prepares you for a good night’s sleep.

6. Avoid sugary foods before bed. For a long time people advised against eating before bed however, the problem isn’t necessarily with eating, it’s what you eats. Starchy carbs and foods high in carbohydrates can cause a spike in blood sugar and a subsequent plummet. This blood sugar roller coaster ride is terrible for sleep. Instead, if you need a snack, consume a lean protein with a bit of whole grains.

7. Avoid Caffeine. Some people are particularly sensitive to caffeine and may not know that the cup of coffee they’re drinking in the morning may be preventing them from sleeping that night. If you’re a caffeine addict, all hope is not lost.

Consider quitting caffeine for a few weeks and monitor your sleep. If your sleep doesn’t improve when you’re off the caffeine then you know that’s not your problem, however it’s still wise to not drink any caffeine after noon. Be aware that teas and some foods also contain caffeine, not just coffee.

8. Consider Melatonin. Your body naturally produces melatonin, a hormone that influences sleep. Light and darkness play a role in your body’s production of this hormone however sometimes it can get off kilter and the result is poor sleep and insomnia. You can find melatonin supplements in your natural food store.

9. Valerian. Another item you’ll find in your natural food store is the herb, valerian. While it smells something awful, it’s commonly used to treat insomnia by calming and relaxing. It comes in both capsule form and valerian tea, which tastes much better than it smells.

10. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol makes sleeping quite difficult for most people. While it’s a depressant and causes relaxation alcohol doesn’t let your body fall into the deeper stages of sleep. This means you may fall asleep quite well once your head hits the pillow however you’ll wake a few hours later and be unable to fall back to sleep.

Ultimately, diet and exercise play an important role in your sleep and in preventing insomnia. The better care you take of yourself, the better you’ll be able to sleep. That being said, these 10 natural insomnia remedies are safe and effective whether your insomnia is an occasional occurrence or a chronic problem.

Passionflower

Passionflower has a long history as an anxiety reliever and was commonly used as a folk remedy. More recently, passionflower has been studied as an effective means of reducing anxiety. However, passionflower is not without side effects, as is the case with many herbs. Passionflower side effects may include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and rapid heartbeat.

Massage and acupuncture

For many there’s nothing more relaxing than a massage. Massage helps to alleviate tension stored in your muscles as well as to improve body function therefore making it easier for you to manage anxiety. Sometimes just knowing you have a massage on your schedule can help to alleviate anxiety. Acupuncture, on the other hand works to balance your body’s systems and to create a mind body balance so you can better manage anxiety, stress and other challenges you may face.

Meditation

Meditation has long been held as a popular relaxation technique. There are a variety of meditation approaches from walking meditation to focused breathing. Meditation not only helps to relieve anxiety it can help you achieve clarity, mental focus, and an overall sense of well being.

Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins – feel good hormones. These hormones have a tremendous effect on your mental wellbeing. They not only soothe our weary nerves, they virtually banish anxiety. After a hard workout, there’s no room for anything else. You’re too tired. Even better, these endorphins last for quite a while so the effects of anxiety busting exercise can last well through that nerve-wracking presentation you have to give. Mind/body breathing exercises, physical exercise, yoga, tai chi, self-hypnosis, meditation, and biofeedback are just some of the stress reduction techniques used for anxiety. Try different techniques and determine which routine you can stick to with a hectic schedule.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a means of essentially training your mind to control your body. It measures your physical responses to anxiety, like an increase in blood pressure, and helps you to recognize them. Once you recognize the physical symptoms of anxiety, you can then begin to control them.

Valerian

Valerian, an herb commonly used to treat insomnia, is also used to treat people with mild anxiety. Side effects of valerian may include mild indigestion, headache, palpitations, and dizziness. It has a strong scent many find unpleasant however, you can take it in capsule form, rather than tea, and alleviate much of the scent.

Kava

Kava, an herb that is Native to Polynesia, is also an anti-anxiety remedy. However, there is a potential risk of severe liver injury resulting from the use of dietary supplements containing kava.

Gamma-aminobutyric Acid aka GABA

GABA is an amino acid. Scientists know that prescription anxiety drugs work by affecting the GABA receptors in the brain and have deduced that GABA supplementation may have a positive effect on anxiety however more research is needed to validate the theory.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a tried and true natural anxiety reliever and typically works best for moderate anxiety. Essential oils of bergamot, cypress, geranium, jasmine, lavender, neroli, rose, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang can be added to baths, placed in a diffuser, or inhaled.

Vitamins and Minerals

Calcium, Magnesium, and B vitamins all help your body to deal with stress and anxiety. In fact, you can often find ‘stress vitamins’ that contain B vitamins and minerals. They work by influencing your body’s physical reaction to stress and anxiety. Of course, to receive the anxiety busting benefit, you must take these vitamins and minerals on a daily basis.

Anxiety doesn’t have to rule your life and destroy your health. Embrace these natural anxiety cures and start feeling calm and relaxed today – no matter what life may throw at you.

>Hydrogen Peroxide

Some studies have shown that the flu enters the body through ear canals. If you’re able to catch your symptoms within the first few hours, try placing a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear every few hours. The peroxide kills the virus before it has the opportunity to multiply and really take hold. You may still have flu symptoms for a few days however, that’s much better than the standard two-week recovery period.

Colloidal Silver

Colloidal silver, a liquid suspension of microscopic particles of silver, is used as a natural antibiotic and antiviral. Practitioners believe it has the ability to essentially eliminate an enzyme that bacteria and viruses need to survive in your body. Like hydrogen peroxide, the best time to use colloidal silver is right when you first notice flu-like symptoms.

Elderberry

Elderberry, an antioxidant, is commonly used to boost immunity however, studies also show it may work as an antiviral. This means during flu season elderberry supplements, such as elderberry juice, syrup or capsules, may be able to help you avoid the flu and if you do catch the flu, elderberry may help shorten your recovery time.

Oscillococcinum

Oscillococcinum, is a homeopathic product that’s manufactured in France and sold in health food stores around the world – particularly during flu season. Homeopathic comes from the principle that “like cures like.” Oscillococcinum is made from extremely diluted parts of the hearts and livers of ducks, which are believed to be particularly vulnerable to influenza viruses.
Oscillococcinum is used to shorten the duration of the flu once you’ve caught it, it does not prevent the flu.

Echinacea

Echinacea, an herbal remedy most often used to prevent and treat colds and flu, has been shown to shorten the duration for flu sufferers. There are many types of Echinacea the leaves, flowers and stems of Echinacea purpurea seem to have the most effect. It’s typically recommended to take Echinacea, usually in capsule form, every two to three hours immediately after recognizing symptoms.

North American Ginseng

“North American ginseng” is a popular natural flu remedy used to shorten the duration of the flu. However, Ginseng also comes with some serious side effects including negative interactions with many pharmaceuticals, estrogen properties, which can complicate hormone related conditions and other symptoms and side effects that may cause heart complications among other things.

With any herbs, it’s important to check with your doctor to make sure there aren’t any adverse reactions. Having the flu is one of the most miserable experiences, it’s nice to know there are so many natural flu remedies available to lessen the symptoms and help you recover as quickly as possible

Avocado, honey and milk shampoo (for dry hair)

1. peel the avocado and place in blender

2. Add a tablespoon of honey to avocado. This will not only help to smooth and nourish the hair but will give it a lovely sweet smell

3. add ½ cup of milk to avocado and honey.

4. Blend on high until smooth and use within three days. If you have some left over you can simply cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge.

Honey, seaweed and lemon shampoo (for oily hair)

1. place ¼ cup of dry seaweed pieces (available at health food stores) in a large bowl.

2. Add 1 tablespoon of honey to seaweed.

3. Add the juice of one lemon to seaweed and honey.

4. Mix well and set aside for 30 minutes so that ingredients can infuse together. Use on hair and cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

The lemon will make hair less oily while giving it a lustrous shine. The seaweed will nourish the hair while the honey will make it smell gorgeous and remain frizz free.

1. Get ingredients ready. For this easy recipe you will need:

   9 oz of lye – set this aside in a large measuring cup

   Then together in one large bowl:

   4 ½ cups olive oil (use the very cheap kind and not extra virgin – the cheapest makes the best soap)
   2 cups coconut oil
   2 cups grapeseed oil

2. Warm the oil to medium temperature while letting the lye cool slightly. Both the soap and lye should be the same warm temperature. You can use a thermometer and wait for both to be at around 110F or simply feel by hand (touch the side of the bowls and judge when both are at similar temperatures). Pour lye into the large bowl containing all oils
    
3. Using a hand-held blender slowly mix the oils and lye together. This will take about 2 minutes.
    
4. Add two teaspoons of your choice of natural oils – lavender, cinnamon, rose – the choices are endless.
    
5. Pour the soap mixture into the mould. A baking tin will do.
    
6. Wrap the tin with several heavy towels to keep the heat in. Set aside for 24 hours approximately – perhaps a 28.
    
7. Cut the soap into usable sized chunks.
    

Let’s look at 20 natural remedies for scrapes and bruises:

1. Witch hazel. This plant is actually a deciduous shrub and the bark and leaves are an astringent which can be used to disinfectant to clean skin.  It’s also commonly used to treat sore muscles and swollen tissue.
2. Aloe vera is a common treatment for sunburns and rashes. A succulent plant grown in warm, tropical climates, it protects and moisturizes the skin.
3. Arnica Gel, which comes from a perennial in the sunflower family, is excellent for treating muscle aches and bruising.
4. Raw garlic.  Despite the very unique and potentially unpleasant aroma, garlic cloves can be used to disinfect cuts and scrapes. It’s an antiseptic.
5. Comfrey, a perennial flower, is used to treat sprains, strains, bruises and broken bones.  The roots of the flower are ground into a poultice and placed on the injured area.
6. Yarrow leaves, when dried and ground into a powder, can be uses to disinfect cuts and scrapes and to stop the bleeding.
7. Lavender essential oil, when combined and diluted by jojoba oil or olive oil, relieves pain, burns and bee stings.
8. Tea tree essential oil, when diluted with jojoba or olive oil, is an antiseptic and antibiotic.  It is great for cleaning minor cuts.
9. Thyme essential oil, when diluted with a base oil like olive or jojoba has both antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.  Use it to clean minor cuts and scrapes and to soothe bruised and sore muscles.
10. Castor oil can be used to treat bruising and reduce swelling.
11. Calendula oil is used to soothe rashes and minor scrapes.

In addition to these 11 natural remedies, homeopathic remedies can be designed to treat swelling and bruising and flower essences can be used to reduce stress and alleviate shock symptoms.  Mother Nature has provides you with a number of first aid remedies.  Create your natural first aid kit today and take advantage of all nature has to offer.