Halloween Fun within a Budget: Go Green and Save

Here's a great article on how to prepare for Halloween simply and without having to buy, well let's face it, yet more Halloween stuff that you later regret buying. Go green this Halloween with these great tips, and stay within budget while still having celebrating Halloween! See more decorating ideas in this related article, "Frightful Flowers Make Halloween ‘Boo-tiful’."

Any suggestions or additional ideas for going green this Halloween?

Halloween ‘Howl To’s’

(ARA) - As Halloween approaches, the seasonal "to-do" list, typically marked with finding the perfect costume and trick-or-treat route, is a bit more complicated with the growing need to protect the environment and manage household budgets. In preparing for your neighborhood ghosts and goblins, try these easy tips and tricks to "go green," and spend less on your families' spook-tacular celebration.

Howl to be Green
Incorporating small changes into your holiday preparation will go a long way to create an eco-friendly Halloween. Whether you're hosting a party or adding colorful flare to the home or office, take inventory of your decorations and go back to nature by using locally-grown pumpkins, apples or fresh gourds to create tabletop and front porch accents. Organic, pesticide-free produce is widely available at farmers markets, grocery and specialty stores and leaves little waste once the celebration ends.

Also look for ways to "re-use" your Halloween accessories. Cloth or canvas shopping bags and pillowcases are great alternatives to paper, plastic bags and more traditional plastic jack-o-lanterns used by many trick-or-treaters to collect candy. Gather fall-colored scraps of fabric, ribbon, buttons or food coloring and spend the afternoon with the kids decorating a recyclable trick-or-treat bag. Use the custom creation to hand out candy at your door and your house will be the hit of the neighborhood.

Howl to Save
Spend less this Halloween by using old or outgrown clothes, sports equipment or dress-up items to make one-of-a-kind costumes. Unpack your graduation gown and buy a gavel at a thrift or prop store to transform your trick-or-treater into a judge. Dust off a wedding gown or bridesmaid's dress, polish an old pair of pumps and grab a wig from a costume store and you've got a princess. Host a costume trading party and make sure everyone comes with old clothing or accessories to trade. Let the kids use their imaginations and see how many new and different costumes come to life.

You can also save by using recyclable household materials to decorate. Bed sheets hung from the ceiling or tree branches make convincing ghosts, as do balloons covered with a white sheet, tied with a ribbon around the neck and black felt tapped on for eyes. The sheets can be taken down, laundered and returned to the linen closet once Halloween is over.

Howl to Have Fun at Home
Consider baking at home this year to get everyone in the Halloween mood. Find unique recipes for Halloween treats that can be used as decorations or centerpieces before you indulge.

Gather everyone around and make creepy "edible eyeballs" with mini white powdered donuts, Life Savers Gummies, red icing and chocolate chips. Cover the hole in the center of the donut with a thin layer of icing and top with a gummy. Next, dip the bottom of a chocolate chip in icing before layering it on the gummy. Make the eyeball scary by drawing lines from the center of the donut to the outer edge with red icing. Finish the treat by poking each donut with a lollipop stick and arranging them in a bowl of candy corn to make a freaky yet tasty centerpiece.

Howl to Be Safe
Set the seasonal mood by decorating trees and sidewalks with lights and lanterns while making it easier for trick-or-treaters to find their way from door to door. Neat, well-lit landscapes make everyone feel more comfortable and confident.
Another simple way to help ghosts and goblins find their way door to door is to use makeup to finish a costume as an alternative to masks. Face paint makes it much easier for trick-or-treaters to see … especially at night.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Easy Tips to Refresh Your Kitchen Decor

(ARA) - Looking for change with your kitchen decor, but not quite ready to call an interior designer? You can make small improvements now that will not only help you love your kitchen again, but will determine what your next steps need to be when you are ready to call in the professionals.

Let’s face it, we all get caught in the day to day routine and it shows in our kitchen. Keys, mail, homework, coupons, sale flyers, shopping lists and all kinds of crazy things end up piled on our kitchen counters. Begin by creating a place for all of these items so they will be easier to locate when you need them. Additionally it will reduce the visual clutter that makes you want to reach for the phone and call for take-out.

Use a small basket to collect car keys so that they are easily accessible as you walk out the door. Put an under-used decor item to use, such as the decorative canister set or cookie jar, by using it as a place to collect coupons and store your shopping list. Don’t forget about the refrigerator surface too. Take down all those mismatched magnets and outdated report cards and you will be surprised how a clear refrigerator door could have such an impact to the overall visual appearance of your room.

“Many professionals today are recommending built-in appliance garages,” says Kelly Spewock, academic department director for interior design at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. “You can replicate the effect by eliminating small countertop appliances you rarely use.” Do you really use your can opener or bread machine every day? If not, it might be time to clear out some space in the upper kitchen cabinets or nearby hall closet shelf to store these appliances so that they are still accessible, but out of sight. According to Spewock, clear and open counter space will give you more room to work and make your kitchen look bigger overall.

Consider simplifying your accessories or selecting functional items that are still stylish. Try replacing the old ceramic canister set with a clear glass set and use them to store pasta, cereals, and small snack foods. This can free up some storage space in your kitchen cabinets and make the food items easier to access.

“We tend to collect treasured items and gifts over the years and display them in our kitchens,” says Spewock. “Instead of displaying all of them, try swapping your accessories out with the seasons to give your kitchen a new look and set the tone for family meals and holidays.” Group items together to create pockets of empty counter space to create visual interest and keep your eyes moving around the space evenly.

Don’t forget your furry family members. Many of our pets occupy some space within our kitchens so plan accordingly. Organize treats, food and medicines in decorative canisters or baskets near your pet's feeding area. Use water and food dishes that match your decor and don’t forget to place a mat underneath to catch drips from sloppy eaters and protect your floors from stains and wear.

Ready for a bigger challenge? Changing the paint color in any room can make a world of difference. Properly preparing your kitchen wall surfaces for new paint is particularly important to ensure a good paint job. Since grease, food splatters and other food particles can get stuck on the wall surfaces, even in the cleanest of kitchens, it is important to take the time to wipe down all of the wall and ceiling surfaces prior to painting.

Also consider adding under-cabinet lighting. This is a really nice way to add task lighting at the counter surface and create a warm accent light during the evening hours. There are many options available and many do not require a hard-wire electrical connection.

Does your kitchen double as a homework area? This is common in most families. Allow the eat-in area of your kitchen to be twice as functional by painting one of the walls nearby with chalkboard paint. Your kids will love working out their math problems or practicing their spelling lists using this simple learning tool and you might even be able to cook dinner and help with homework at the same time.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when planning any room within your home is function. “Homeowners want to make their homes look fabulous, but don’t need to sacrifice style for practicality, especially in the kitchen,” says Spewock. Making small changes with organization tricks, smart accessories, lighting and even color can help you realize the potential of your room.

To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent