Halloween Games - Adding Frightful Fun to Your Haunt

So the ghosts are hung in the treetops with care, in hopes that trick or treat-ers soon will be there?

If you've went to the nines with your haunt - don't stop at just the Halloween decorations. Delight the ghouls and boo-ys with a few fun and frightful games that are sure to put your family on the map for the best house on the block!

Graveyard-Themed Headless Horseshoes

Buy a few garden stakes and stick these lovelies right into the ground. Then, simply instruct your guests that the Headless Horseman really enjoys a good game of horseshoes. And if they ring at least three of his undead friends, they win a mini pumpkin. (A nod to his favorite choice for head replacement of course.)

Ghoulish Duckies

A contest is a great way to add excitement to your haunt. If you have smaller ones in the crowd, don't leave the little kids out. Look for some really cute rubber ducks with a Halloween theme (available at Oriental Trading or Amazon.) From vampire ducks to witches and wizard ducks, a 12 pack usually costs about $10. Write numbers on the bottom of your ducks and place them in a faux caldron. The number they draw from the duck is the number of prizes they will receive at the door!

*Cute hint: Place a sign next to the ducks that say "Under Three Feet? Special Treats!" Also, if you don't plan on using them next year (or you'll simply buy new ones), let the little monsters keep the duckie they've picked too!

As you gear up for the big night, remember that Halloween is all about fun and games. Think of ways to put your signature twist on the ideas. For instance, if your haunt has a cute "harvest" theme you could take the Headless Horseshoes idea and turn it into a Ring Around the Pumpkin game. Create a little pumpkin patch and instead of throwing small rings, toss hula hoops. There's lots of fun variations!

Guest post by Chris Molnar, editor of a theme party website.

How to use a wishing stone

Have you seen the little smooth stones at almost every gift or souvenir shop? They usually have one word (or short phrase or image) carved into them. They are called wishing stones or, as I’ve recently discovered, worrying stones.

If you’ve purchased one as a worrying stone, you would rub it between your fingers continuously thus worrying the stone instead of mentally dwelling on whatever your dilemma is. If it’s a wishing then rubbing or holding it should grant your wish. Do you think it works?

I’m going to find out. About a week ago I bought a pink wishing stone with “love” etched into it. I carry it in the side pocket of my purse and often reach in to rub it between my fingers or hold it in my hand. Each time the word love reverberates in my mind… almost meditatively.

As I was thinking about the love I wish for, I wondered if I was doing it correctly. I really think that rubbing the wish stone may bring love into my life because that’s what I’m focused on, but it may not bring the exact love I’m thinking of. I could get even more love from my friends and family, which would be great too.

You can find some stones that have ancient symbols and rock art images that have profound meanings. There are others that are meant to be given a special significance by the owner. According to a site where I found some very reasonably priced stones, “Rub your wish stone to relieve stress, or use it as a talisman to promote inner growth.”

It’s that simple: Purchase the stone (or I’m sure you could make one yourself and rub it while focusing on your intentions.

Have any of you ever used a wishing or worrying stone? Do you believe in them or know of any stories about them?

**The image of the Baby Feet Stone is from WorryStone.net. I would have shown you a picture of my Love Stone, but I’m laying in bed and I can’t get up. LOL

Free virtual Comfort Package from Hanes

To promote early cancer and provide mammograms for people in need, Hanes has created a new Facebook app that allows its fans to send virtual comfort packages. For each package sent, Hanes will donate $1 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

I tried it!

It’s easy to send a virtual Comfort Package, all you have to do is go to the pink tab on the Hanes Pink Facebook page and personalize the package for your friends and family. In order to get an idea of how sending the virtual Comfort Package works, I clicked over and customized one to send to my cousin. After choosing the pink tab, I chose the little note to write a short message. I was going to send the package with just the note, but decided to add music and a t-shirt – even adding those was a piece of cake. There were about six t-shirts and songs to choose from so it wasn’t overwhelming or difficult.

The info behind the idea

The premise behind the comfort package is this: Do you know how you have a favorite sweatshirt or shirt that you get comfort from? Well, Hanes realized that comfort can also come from memories, music and words of encouragement. Now you don’t have to go to the store (online or IRL) and you don’t have to pay to send that type of encouragement. And this comfort package will bring the same smiles and comfort to your friends, fans and family on Facebook.

In their words: “The Comfort Package is fully customizable with photos, videos, recipes, T-shirt designs, music and messages. Sending a Comfort Package is one of many gestures that can brighten someone’s day and help provide support and comfort to a loved one.”

Not only is it an important package to send in order to encourage and friend or family member, but the $1 donation per package is given to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (up to $25,000) to promote early cancer detection and provide mammograms for those in need.

It’s your turn

So, why don’t you brighten someone’s day and support a good cause? Go to Hanes Pink Facebook now? I’m going to go back and send some more.

Disclosure: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in the post are my own. For more information review my complete policy.

Past & Present Unite

A burst of original poetry, song, visual or story can happen at anytime. Sometimes you never know what or who will fuel the creative fire, but you just have to go with the flow. Here’s my most recent attempt at a little creativity. Since my muse has been sleeping for quite some time, I’m quite pleased that she woke up briefly to spend some time with me. Unfortunately, she fell asleep before she could help me finish. Let me know what you think

Decades ago there was a mysterious young man with an initial plan on his mind. It came to him when he saw a girl and only wanted to rock her world. Unexpectedly she turned out to be more than he imagined. He opened his heart and she became apart of his time, space and attention. It wasn’t one-sided, by any means, ‘cause she always wanted him around. He intrigued her, he pleased her and he moved her feet from the ground.

Under wraps where no one saw she hid her biggest fear; she worried she would lose him that he didn’t hold her dear. Four years her senior she wanted him for the long run, but – as it does – their grown-up lives took them on the run. They both experienced some happiness and, of course, some times were sad. Years passed and she asked, but his path no one knew. What she didn’t know was he often asked about her too.

Decades moved by and the surprise of proximity they learned, but it still wasn’t in the cards for them to reunite. Business, careers, spouses, children and the like, coming and going all the time. Thoughts of him drifted in and out of her brain, and when she could finally pay attention she still didn’t pursue any gain. Rejection she feared, lack of interest would be worse, but the desire to see him returned like a nagging thirst.

Just when she thought she’d only have memories to savor there was an opportunity to meet. The connection they had will always be true, but the difference in their feelings was definitely there too. They were friends from the start and will remain until the very end.

The time they spend together now is either a chance or a season. There’s a desire behind her eyes that really wants a reason. There’s no pressure, no rhythm and no plans to meet. Just two spending occasions together and not going too deep.

Will it conclude the story or begin a new chapter in their lives?

Lauren Klein Jewelry promotion, donations to support breast cancer research

One of the best things about buying jewelry (and other items) for myself or to give as gifts during the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is that portions of sales are donated to support breast cancer research. Lauren Klein Jewelry is supporting breast cancer awareness as well by donating 10 percent of all sales during this month.

Lauren Klein Jewelry has something for you as well. You can get 15 percent off your entire order and all you have to do is “like” Lauren Klein on Facebook. It’s a great way to support a worthy cause.

My son, the artist

I’ve always been very pleased that each of my children have shown artistic abilities. My oldest daughter, Amber, has a beautiful voice and is a fabulous writer in her own right. My two young daughters are very creative artists who have a knack for creating the funniest and most interesting drawings. But it’s my son Andre, who is almost 8 and has been drawing for a couple of years, who continues to amaze me with his artistic talent. And, to my surprise, he’s very good at developing story ideas off the cuff – some that go along with his drawings and others that just come to him.

I’ve watched as his self-taught skills have improved, almost daily. He spent months drawing dragons until he perfected the one he liked and it met his approval. Then he started drawing a cartoon character (I think that’s what he calls it), which looks like a super hero and eventually perfected him. In between these two he has drawn various animals and he’s such a perfectionist that he’ll draw the same image over and over again freehanded.

Right now he’s drawing birds. He has an old book of Amber’s that is about all the states and he’s going through each one and copying the birds. He doesn’t trace – he just looks back and forth to create what he sees on the page. I’m extremely impressed with his talent and creativity, and absolutely, thoroughly proud of his ability.

(Sorry the photo at left is blurry, but I think you can get an idea of how well it’s done … especially for a 7 year old.)

There are a lot of times when I haven’t seen Andre and I’ll ask one of the girls what he’s doing and they’ll find him in his room drawing. (How cute!) I continue to encourage him and I don’t stop him when he decides to draw instead of doing something else. In fact, when I see something on the subject that I think will interest him I am sure to show it to him. He’s bought a book that taught about the stages of drawing different items and I read him an article about a man who is an artist and uses his talent to write comic strips and books.

(I really love how he drew the sun’s rays in the picture on the right, above – creative choice. The bird in the book – right, below – is what he was working on before he went to bed.)  

 

 

 

 

 

As parents it can be difficult to find the time to encourage and nurture our children’s talents and interests, but it’s important that we do. Regardless of whether my son pursues art throughout his life or if this is going to be just a hobby, I want it to be a positive experience that serves some purpose of growth and realization.

(When little Miss Anna saw me taking pictures of Andre’s current creations, she insisted I get a picture of her picture as well. I was happy to oblige. Right before she drew this abstract piece she was drawing pictures of me that we named Mrs. Potato Head.)

What habits and hobbies do your children have where they are showing natural abilities and/or true talent?

Build your online resume

Landing a job nowadays is not as easy as some think. There’s a lot to learn about How to Write a Resume and job seekers can do that by checking out a free online Resume Builder. The referenced resume builder site has be top-ranked in Google and touted by educational institutions as well as government agencies.

Don’t take any chances when it comes to finding a job; start with a great online resume to land the job of your dreams.

Free shipping on cosmetics

I’m an online shopaholic so when I come across a great deal on something I normally buy, I can’t resist taking advantage of it. In fact, CosmeticCosmos.com has a free shipping deal on all orders of $40 or more until October 15th. That makes it a perfect time for me to try my hand at some liquid eyeliner. I recently ordered some shades of lavender shadow that brings out my brown eyes so I think adding eyeliner to my look will be the, uh, icing on the cake.

You can take advantage of the free shipping deal as well. Just enter “freeship” in the promo box at checkout. What beauty must-have is on your shopping list, right now?

Disclosure: This is a paid post. Compensation will be received for writing this post and any opinion expressed is my own. For more information review my complete policy.

How I preserved my adult child’s childhood memories

I am a multigenerational mom. The title comes from the fact that I have a 20-year-old daughter along with three elementary-age children. Being the mom of two generations of children can prove to be a little difficult, but that’s a subject for an entirely different post. What I’ve been doing recently reminded me of just how many years have passed since my oldest daughter Amber was a little girl.

In trying to get my apartment organized and decorated to my satisfaction, I have been coming across memories from Amber’s childhood: pictures, art projects, notes, cards and much more. Some of those memories are in her siblings rooms because she let them have the majority of her childhood books as well as some toys.

A favorite book that I bought her when she was in elementary school was a sticker cling one with scenes of Mickey Mouse and the gang. Some pages were colorful with missing items of the picture, which the reader has to find and put in place. The other pages were black and white – identical to the colored pages – so the child could color it to either match the picture or use their own creativity.

Amber took such good care of that book that all of the pieces were still together for her younger siblings to enjoy. I used to keep the book out of their reach so that it would be preserved then when I let them play with it I would see sticker clings all over the place. On the floor in the living room, stuck to someone’s sock and transported back and forth from bedroom to living room or into the bathroom, they just ended up any- and everywhere.

Seeing the pieces strewn about so haphazardly really annoyed and upset me. I would pick them up, set them to the side to be reunited with the book and other pieces, which I had carefully placed in a Ziploc bag. After weeks – if not months – of doing this over and over and over again I became frustrated.

Why weren’t this children adhering to the important code of keeping Amber’s book in price-winning condition? Then it dawned on me. With my first daughter, who is now 20 years old, out of the home, in her third year of college and living in her own apartment, I was still trying to hang on to pieces of her. So, I decided to dispose of the book.

I just couldn’t do it.

I played with the book a bit then sat it on the floor and just looked at it. What could I do to minimize clutter, which is an ongoing goal, but preserve this important memory?

Eureka!

I’m in the process of decorating the children’s bathroom with a Mickey Mouse theme. I took a few of the sticker clings and adhered them to the mirror in their bathroom. That way we could all enjoy them, they served a purpose and I would feel bad about trashing the book. It worked beautifully and my children love it!

Each time I venture into their bathroom I have to smile. Not only are Mickey and Minnie Mouse a joy to look at, but I get to see about five or six pieces of my daughter’s book that bring back such great memories. Other memories will be added to scrapbooks and photo albums.

Take a look at the other Mickey elements I’ve added so far:

This Mickey nightlight is great. It’s really bright and has an on and off switch.

Here’s Mickey peeking around his curtain before he puts on a show. I actually cut this off of a folder that came with Mickey Mouse promotional items last year.

Aren’t these shower hooks adorable?!

There’s one Mickey Mouse banner on the wall opposite the mirror and four triangle shaped Mickey hats that match the banner. It’s definitely a Mickey explosion.

  

Is there a memory from your child’s childhood that you can’t part with? And, do your children have a dedicate bathroom for them? If so, does it have a theme?

Choosing sinks when remodeling your kitchen

A lot of you – my friendly blog readers – know that I moved out of my home earlier this year and downsized to an apartment. The stress of not up keeping an “elderly” house was a huge weight off of my shoulders, but sometime in the future I suspect I’m going to want to have a home again. And, when I do, I’ll want to have the exact features and appliances that I’ve always desired. For instance, like the  granite sink I’ve always had my eye on.

It’s possible that I will buy from "Shop Sinks and Faucets" brand kitchen sinks because they offer same day shipping, low prices and are better business bureau accredited. I’m not one to take on a remodeling project, but if I find one of those granite sinks I like then I may turn into a DIY girl.

Disclosure: This is a paid post. Compensation will be received for writing this post and any opinion expressed is my own. For more information review my complete policy.

Addicted to eye shadow

I don’t think I’ve ever told you that my oldest daughter graduated from Barbizon Modeling school around the time she started high school. She’s always had a knack for taking the perfect picture and applying her makeup flawlessly and Barbizon gave her a chance to learn more and hone her skills.

Although Amber is not one to wear a full face of makeup she’s always been enthralled with beautifying her eyes. She’s an expert at applying eye shadow and she’s absolutely addicted to it. Anytime she gets a chance she buys a new pallet of colors. She was stoked to hear that Cosmetic Cosmos always sells cosmetics at affordable prices and will ship for free on all orders of $40 or more until October 15th.

If you want to get the same deal Amber is going to get on her eye shadow just enter “freeship” in the promo box when you check out. This, my friends, can’t be combined with any other promotions or discounts. Hmmm… I think I need some more lip gloss. IJS.

Disclosure: This is a paid post. Compensation will be received for writing this post and any opinion expressed is my own. For more information review my complete policy.