Unusual Halloween Costumes For Him and Her

You and your husband have been invited to a costume party for Halloween. But neither of you have anything to wear! Should you run to the local discount store and buy anything that will fit you? Of course not! Be unique and original with couples’ costume sets you can find online!

Some of the funniest choices for couples’ costumes I found were:

Salt and Pepper Shakers - These light-weight costumes would be perfect on those balmy Halloween nights. Complete with shaker top hats, these costumes will be the talk of the party.

Bowling Ball and Pin - There is no better couple than the bowling ball and pin. This set would be great at a Halloween party for your bowling league!

Hot Dog and Mustard - A holiday treat, even on Halloween, is the hot dog. Why not dress like one and be your own treat?

Ketchup and Mustard - The same mustard costume paired with its favorite complimentary condiment.

Pizza Slices - Your favorite pepperoni snack has now become a costume. Make a pizza box purse for that night’s festivities to complete the ensemble.

Traffic Lights - Whether you are thinking stop or go, these costumes will let you know! The front lights up for party fun. Included is a hat that resembles the top of the light.

Some of the more outrageous couples’ costumes I found were:

The Plug and The Socket costume set
The Ball and Chain costume set
The Lock and Key costume set
The Nuts and Bolts costume set
The Handcuffs costume set

I say “outrageous” because of the placement of the props on the costumes. When you look them up, you’ll understand.

Many of the couples’ costumes you will find should be worn to adult only parties. The hidden meanings of the various costumes won’t be lost on children and could make for more uncomfortable moments instead of good, clean fun.

Although some of these costumes are rather expensive, some are reasonably priced. Buy one this year and you’ll be the talk of Halloween parties for years to come.

Nicola always enjoys celebrating Halloween with her husband. Visit her Halloween site for tips and information about Couples Halloween Costumes at http://Couples-Halloween-Costumes.Best-Halloween.com

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Best-Halloween.com

Kids Halloween Parties No Tricks, Just Treats And Lots Of Fun Halloween Enjoyment

Door to door trick or treating may be a thing of the past, but Kids’ Halloween parties, done with imagination and creativity, can be an alternative not only every bit as much fun, but much safer than the door to door trick or treating you might have done in the past. You remember running excitedly from house to house on Halloween, yelling, “Trick or Treat!” and receiving goodies from everyone. A safer, more acceptable alternative is to easily and inexpensively entertain little ghouls and Goblins at your very own kids’ Halloween party.

It is important to make a guest list for your child’s Halloween party, and enlist the help of other parents who want a safe, but fun, alternative for their own children, to provide adequate supervision. Keep in mind that, to keep children entertained and occupied, you must provide more than treats. Games, contests, and activities are important as well.

Here are some safe, fun suggestions sure to entertain at your kids’ Halloween party:

A costume contest where each child votes for the best costume at the party, and the winner receives a prize.

Pumpkin decorating contests. Each child is given a miniature pumpkin, and allowed to decorate the pumpkin with sequins, glitter, markers, yarn, etc. The children then vote on the best decorated pumpkin, and the winner earns a treat. Each child is allowed to take their decorated pumpkin home with them after the party.

Musical ghosts: the children form a circle, and while spooky music plays they pass the ‘ghost’ (a white, plastic bag filled with goodies, tied with a rubber band, and painted to look like a ghost head) and the child holding the ‘ghost’ when the music stops is ‘out’ until only one child is left. That child is the winner, and earns the ghostly treat.

A game sure to find approval is “Who’s the Mummy?” where the children divide up into pairs, and each pair is given a roll of toilet paper. With one child wrapping, and the other child being the mummy, who ever wraps the whole roll fastest wins the game, and a treat.

Another great game for your kids Halloween party, would be a quest to find the ghost who ate the candy. Small, white bags, with ghosts’ faces drawn on, are filled with Halloween candy, and hidden throughout the party area. Children would be given hints and instructions, and allowed to search to find the bags filled with treats.

Though the days of children being able to go door to door yelling “Trick or Treat” may be a thing of the past, and your children’s memories may be different from your own, your Kids’ Halloween party can create wonderful memories to cherish, and be passed down from generation to generation, while keeping your children not only happy, but safe, at their very own Kids’ Halloween party.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Halloween Party Games, party planning tips, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

The Cat in the Hat History Trivia for Party Games

The Cat in the Hat is the perfect book for a rainy day party read. “The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.” Written by Dr. Seuss, the story was the first of many tales concerning the title character, The Cat in the Hat. The familiar story tells the tale of Sally and Conrad who are left at home while their mother is in 2A. The children are unable to go outside to play due to the fact that it is raining. The Cat in the Hat knocks on their door out of the blue and they let him and his side kicks, Thing 1 and Thing 2 in. At first the kids are amused with the antics of the Cat and his friends, but then things begin to get out of hand and the children recognize that things are going very badly.

The book was published by Random House in 1957 and became a cornerstone in their “”Beginner Books” series. Dr. Seuss wrote it specifically with a restricted vocabulary of just over 200 words so that children would have an easier time of reading this book on their own. The Cat in the Hat is one of the best children’s books ever written for one basic reason; it’s fun! Kids of all ages know and love the story of The Cat in the Hat and therefore it is a perfect idea for a party theme. Whether you are planning a birthday party, or a rainy-day play date, The Cat in the Hat is an easy theme to plan around. Invitations can be written in Seuss-like rhymes while other party accessories are easily obtained an online party accessory specialist. Oh the thinks you can think and the fun there will be, when you take my advice and have a Cat in the Hat party!

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or “just because” parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Kids Party Theme Ideas

A party theme for a kids birthday parties create a consistent festive feeling placing a fun focus on the event. Party Themes should flow throughout the birthday. Use kids party theme for invitations, party theme thank yous, decorations, party favors (loot bags), music and party supplies (paper products, centerpieces, party hats).

Superheroes are a popular party theme with the boys. American Hero Party Theme is a great patriotic theme which can be done in greens or red, white and blue. A Batman Party Theme can include Batman comics, movies, and toys. Dressing the birthday boy up in the Batman costume will help make him feel extra special. Incredible Hulk Party Theme and Superman Party Theme are more superheroes. Spiderman Party Theme is both a movie and a comic. Plus, the Justice League Party Theme which incorporates a few of the characters together including Batman, Superman, and Spiderman.

Sports is a fun party theme especially for an end of a season little league party. Include a personalized banner with all the team members names as a keepsake for the coach. T-Ball and little league Baseball Party Theme with basebase caps as the party favors. Pee wee football, Super BOwl to a college Football Party Theme with finger foods and the girls dressed as cheerleaders will help create a festive time for all. A car racing Nascar Racing Party Theme is a more unique party theme.

The girls love a Barbie Party Theme with colors of pink and purple. Placing Barbie dolls around the table and having a Barbie doll cake will make the party extra special. For the cat lovers a Hello Kitty Party Theme with colors of red and white. A hip doll is the Bratz doll. Perfect for dress-up parties. A cartoon and a movie would be a Powerpuff Girls Party Theme. Have the cartoon playing in the background. For party favor give out little Powerpuff girl figurines. Lizzie McGuire a character both in the movies and on the TV. For the princess fans a Fairy Princess and Disney Princess Party Themes are a magical idea. Wands make the perfect party favor.

The little girls love Strawberry Shortcake Party Theme, Princess Party Theme, Dora the Explorer Party Theme, Toddlers and little ones enjoy Blues Clues Party Theme a fun interactive TV show. The Rolie Polie Olie Party Theme is also a TV show along with a Wiggles Party Theme. A timeless classic is the Winnie the Pooh Party Theme. The Sesame Street Party Theme is an educational but fun TV show. The Care Bears Party Theme is fun for both the little girls and boys.

Classic books turned movie like a Cat in the Hat Party Theme and Harry Potter Party Theme. For the 15th year old girl a Mis Quince Party Theme and for the 16th year old girl a Sweet 16 Party Theme. Boys love a Bob the Builder Party Theme, Yu Gi Oh Party Theme and Construction Party Theme. Everyone loves the classic Disney Gang Party Theme. Finding Nemo Party Them a clever animated movie. Both a cartoon and a movie Scooby Doo Party Theme. Sponge Bob Party Theme a cartoon that even the parents can sing the song! Kids Party Themes can be TV characters, movie characters, dolls, action figures or create your own!

No matter which party theme is used, remember to follow the theme and colors from start to finish!

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Go here to buy discounted party theme favors and supplies.

Why Choose Discount Duvet Covers

Buying all new bedding can quickly add up to a hefty expense. If you really are trying to cut corners without compromising quality consider purchasing a cheap duvet cover.

A cheap discount duvet cover can be an economical choice for people who want to achieve a new look for their bedroom without spending a lot of money. There are some tricks to making a cheap duvet cover work well with your bedroom.

Most people choose the colors of their bedroom walls before they purchase the bedding. One way to save money is to buy a cheap cover first and then plan the rest of the room. Once a year most major department stores will have a bedding sale. If you can wait to redesign your bedroom until this time you will save a substantial amount of money. Many vendors now have online stores where they sell all kinds of linens and beddings.

Regardless of where you find your duvet cover you’ll appreciate the money you’ve saved. When looking to buy a discount duvet cover, there are many sources you can try to get yourself the best deal possible on the quality time you are looking for. The most common sources are discount stores. A lot of these places receive overruns. Wanting to not have them in stock, they sell them for less to the discount stores. Buying this way, you may get fewer choices, but you’ll get a good quality discount duvet cover.

Another place to look to save money on your purchase is bedding websites. They don’t have the same overheads as stores do, so they can afford to lower the prices and sell you a discount duvet cover. Even fine bedding stores will have sales periodically where they will sell you a discount duvet cover. They will lower prices during off-season to encourage purchases or if they find themselves overstocked. A good opportunity to buy a discount duvet cover can be when a store is going out of business.

Neil Day is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Discount Duvet Covers He provides more free information on cheap duvet covers, kids duvet covers and designer duvet covers that you can research on his website.

Grow Your Own Food; Find Health and Fitness in the Garden!

This week there has been much excitement in our household; we picked our own vegetables and ate them for the first time; ok so it was only a bunch of salad leaves, but they whipped the pants off salad in a bag from the shops. What’s more, I only started to grow things a few weeks ago, but have still eaten salad from the garden three nights running. I started by clearing a messy flowerbed, and bought some runner bean plants and a couple of tomato plants from a local gardening shop. I though that this would satisfy my botanical cravings, but then my mum gave me some seeds, and baby lettuce plants, and suddenly it was looking a little more like a real veggie patch.

Before I knew it, I had run out of space, so I used some old wooden fruit crates from the green grocers, lined them with a compost sack, and filled them with earth; now they are housing my herbs, pepper plants and some Borlotti Beans. The little kitchen garden has taken on a life of its own and moved out of the flowerbeds and into every container that I can find. There are runner beans, peas, black turtle beans, borlotti beans, red peppers, chili peppers, basil, parsley, chard, lettuce, spicy mizuna and other hot leaves, 2 varieties of rocket, parsley, tomatoes, little Alpine strawberries for the children, and courgette plants in big pots.

I have really been enjoying my time in the garden; I burnt a good few calories turning over the flower beds, and digging out some stubborn old roots, have spent some beautiful hours in the sunshine, and watering my little plants in the evening is less of a chore, and more a time for relaxation and contemplation. The children have been very excited about the vegetables, and spend happy moments watering or collecting snails in a bucket (to be relocated). There has been great anticipation waiting for the tiny strawberries to ripen, and searching under the leaves to find them.

If you have any space at all, you can rediscover your link with real food by growing something. There is still time to throw some lettuce and rocket seeds into a pot, or pick up some young plants to grow-on. You can put runner beans in a pot, supported by a wig-wam of canes, or grow some chili peppers on a kitchen window. If you have a spare pot, buy some salad leaf mix, the young plants grow quickly and you will be picking your own summer salad within the month. I cannot recommend the experience highly enough; growing your own food is great exercise, the process is educational for children, and the end results give satisfaction and superior nourishment. There is a different time scale in the garden; nothing happens immediately, and you are forced to slow down and relax the pace of life, something we could all benefit from; the complete opposite of fast food.

The crowning glory has been collecting things to wash and put straight onto the plate, so here was my dinner last night to give you some inspiration:

Roasted Vegetable Bruchetta with garden salad:

Roughly cut some onions (red and white) and some sweet pointed red peppers, and roast for about 30-40 minutes in a little olive oil, salt, pepper and any herbs (I love thyme).

Toast some bread (I used home made white) and when it has cooled, rub with a peeled garlic clove (I use the whole thing, but I really love garlic) and drizzle some olive oil over the top.

Pile the roasted vegetables onto the garlicy toast, and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

Serve with lots of leafy salad and rocket from the garden, and some sliced tomatoes; a perfect summer dinner.

Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser and runs successful Community Exercise classes. Vikki is a consultant in Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living newsletters. Vikki lives in Bristol in the U.K. with her partner Jeremy and two young children.

Enquiries for nutritional advice, personal training, corporate wellness and general enquiries visit http://www.getfitter.net

Tips to Keep Kids Safe in the ER when Sports Accidents Occur

It’s back-to-school time, which means school sports and sports accidents.

The biggest fear of parents who have children in sports is that their child will be injured. That’s what happened to a Chicago area father whose 13 year-old son was hit head-on at football practice. He and his girlfriend rushed the boy to the ER, where doctors began a series of x-rays and examinations. As the couple waited anxiously for a diagnosis, one of the physicians asked what medications the child was allergic to, but never once asked if the teen was currently on any medications. When the doctors came back with a treatment recommendation, the father’s girlfriend informed them that the teen takes a prescribed medication on a regular basis. Now that the doctors had this information, they realized that the medication they were going to give to the teen could have had serious side affects. It was a good thing that the girlfriend knew to ask.

What would you do if your child is injured and you have to take them to the hospital? How do you avoid medical errors? How do you avoid medication errors? How do you take a proactive role in your child’s care and serve as their advocate? These questions, and more, are answered in a new film called Things You Should Know Before Entering the Hospital. This film gives viewers a step-by-step guide based on the advice and experiences of experts and real patients. It also answers the question: How can you avoid infection? Reports from the CDC estimate that as many as two million patients contract an infection from U.S. hospitals or medical centers each year, accounting for 90,000 deaths.

In the film, patients and their advocates are advised to ask the following seven important questions each time a member of the hospital staff prescribes or brings medication:

1. What is this medicine for?
2. Who prescribed it?
3. When am I supposed to take it?
4. How am I supposed to take it how often, for how long?
5. What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
6. Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements?
7. What food, drink or activities should I avoid while on this medicine?

“Human error is a fact in healthcare just as in the rest of life, and we all must be educated on what to be watchful of regarding things that might go wrong,” said Martin J. Hatlie, Esq., former lobbyist for the American Medical Association and President of Partnership for Patient Safety. “The film, Things you should know before entering the hospital, is an exceptional safety guide for everyone who is a patient or takes care of one. Watch it and learn what we all need to know to prevent injuries and save lives.”

The film should be viewed by the patient as well as their family and friends. It stresses the importance of having someone with you around the clock as your advocate for the entire length of your hospital stay. Available on DVD and VHS video tape for $29.95 at http://www.patientsafetyvideo.com, Things you should know before entering the hospital gives valuable insight into the potential hazards of the hospital visits without instilling fear or blame. The film is direct, to the point and narrated by Emmy-award-winning actor Ben Hollis. Ben’s affable approach engages viewers through his unique sense of compassion and caring humor. Most significantly, it educates and informs. The filmmakers have included a comprehensive checklist in each DVD/video so that patients can have a quick guide to take with them in the event they have to go into the hospital.

Betty Hoeffner is a freelance writer who writes on a variety of subjects.

Lead By Example, Help Your Kids Learn How To Exercise Properly

Remember when you were young, you could play all day and wake up the next morning without any soreness. And I am sure you remember it was much easier to keep weight off. Children and teenagers are just naturally more flexible, they have a higher metabolic rate and a lot of energy to burn. To help them continue to build strength and not become overweight, it’s important they follow some type of exercise program.

In today’s world with PlayStation, Xbox and all the other electronic gizmos, children and teenagers tend to exercise less than they should. But these are the growing years that lay the groundwork for what will eventually become either a healthy or poor lifestyle in terms of eating and exercising.

Young people are likely to become bored more quickly trying to follow exercise programs designed for adults. Nothing will bore a child more quickly than 30 minutes on a treadmill or elliptical machine. A basketball game with friends, bicycle riding, martial arts, swimming are all choices that kids would likely make.

If you are encouraging your children to exercise, and have not already done so, you should set the example and begin an exercise program. Not only will it show your child that exercise is important, but it will also allow you to share quality time with your son or daughter. Plus, when they are spending time with you, they are staying out of trouble and hopefully, learning how to exercise safely.

Like anything a child does, they prefer it to be fun. If you force your child to engage in activities they find a boring, they’re very likely to quit exercising. Keep it simple and keep it fun. It is important that your children understand the need to warm up and stretch before engaging in any type of activity. Even though they are more flexible than you are, a little stretching will go a long way in avoiding injury.

Obviously the age of your child should dictate what type of exercise program they began.

Children in the age range of 3 to 7 are better served if they focus on activities that develop basic physical skills. It is during these years that the child’s motor skills and eye-hand coordination are going through the greatest development. Children typically learn these activities very easily and include jumping rope, hopscotch, pogo stick and other simple exercises that aid in the development of these skills.

Children in the age range of 8 to about 12 or 13 should perform exercises that are more intense keeping their metabolic rate fast so food does not turn into fat. Again, it is your responsibility to help your child develop good exercise habits so they avoid injury. Children in this age range should also avoid weight machines. They can be dangerous and at this young age, are really not necessary.

Gymnastics is an excellent choice for children in this age category. Gymnastics is great for building on the basic motor skills learned at an early age. It also helps in the development of greater strength and balance.

As your child becomes a teenager, they will now have developed a sense of what they want to do in terms of exercise. Your son may choose to lift weights, play football, soccer, baseball, etc. and some may choose to do all of those activities. Your daughter may choose to play softball, further develop gymnastic skills or perhaps become a dancer. If you help your children develop consistent, safe exercise habits when they are younger, those lessons will carry them well into their adult life.

Mike Conley is an accomplished Webmaster and publisher of http://www.physical-fitness-and-health-articles.com/ where he provides information on fitness and a healthy lifestyle. We encourage you to crab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and see what Mike has to say on the subject.

Kids and Spice

Back in the mists of time, once long ago, we were adventurous cooks and eaters, taking in everything from the spices of the Orient to European starchy comfort food in the course of a day’s eating. Then we were hit by a culinary upheaval in our lives: our children, one by one, arrived.

Our first child agreeably downed mild chicken korma baby puree and we celebrated. Our children would be cosmopolitan in tastes, we would not have to adjust our eating patterns to accommodate fads and fussiness, or so we deluded ourselves. Until he was nearly two he ate everything we offered him, then something in our smug demeanour must have alerted him that he was missing out on a developmental stage. One by one he eliminated most of his previously favourite foods from his diet, until for a while he subsisted on plain boiled rice, plain yoghurt, apples, bananas, potatoes and bread with an occasional piece of plain meat. Note the emphasis on plain! No sauces were permitted to enliven the pure unadulterated ingredients. No foods might touch each other on the plate. Thus began the downhill slope into nursery food.

While we still had only the one child, I managed to cook us a separate adult meal in the evenings. When the second and third joined us I gave up the struggle. One meal would have to do the whole family from now on. No more clearing up a children’s meal only to start cooking again for the two of us, just when I felt like collapsing on the sofa. For a few years I have managed to feed us all with a repertoire of traditional English dishes, most of which had their roots in the nursery. Stews and casseroles were tolerated, as I could pick pieces of meat out for the kids, stir-fries likewise. The favourite was roast chicken with roast potatoes and maybe a tiny floret of broccoli for a bit of colour.

The once over-flowing spice rack, however, became a sad dusty relic of past flavours. Out of date cumin and turmeric faded into insipidity. My husband occasionally would express a wistful hope of something spicy. Memories of Thai restaurants in London tantalised our dormant taste buds.

Recently therefore I have tried to reintroduce a little spice into our gastronomic lives. Nigel Slater’s Moroccan chicken recipe, with a slightly reduced amount of spices, made it past the flavour censors. Another recipe I tried from Madhur Jaffrey’s Cookbook was rejected. Reading through her book, which has languished unexplored on our shelves for years, I found a few vegetable recipes that were simple enough to do alongside a main meal and inspiration struck. A spicy vegetable side dish for the parents. Now I can feed us all the vegetables that the kids won’t eat. Aubergine/eggplant, spinach, peppers with a variety of authentic Indian spice combinations, liven up our anaesthetised palates and embellish the rather dull, plain meals that are all that the children will accept. Maybe one day they’ll be sufficiently intrigued to try the grown-ups’ special dish and then we will take the first step towards the cosmopolitan family gastronomy that we once so optimistically hoped for.

Here is Madhur Jaffrey’s recipe that broke new culinary ground for our family recently.

Neela’s Aubergine and Potato

4 tbs vegetable oil

Beginner Piano Lesson for Parents - How to Have Fun with Kids in Piano

Raising children can be trying. At times so much so that it even tempts devoted parents to wonder, “How does the world manage to re-populate itself?” So keeping a sense of humor is really important. Here’s some crazy things kids say when taking piano lessons and practicing that parents need to be prepared to laugh at. Let’s start with the whining. Amazingly these are things I’ve heard young, beginning piano students say right after they have played a simple piece of music beautifully?

Student: “But it’s too hard.”

Parent: “It’s only too hard if you think it is.”

Student: “My fingers nails hurt.”

Parent: “We can trim your nails.”

Student: “Why do I have to look at the music?”

Parent: “Do you think I should look at the road when I’m driving?”

Student: “I’m thirsty.”

Parent: “I’m Dad.”

Student: “When can I play Fur Elise?”

Parent: “When you know how.”

Student: “When will I know how to play every song on the piano that I hear?”

Parent: “When you’re 18.”

Student: “Why do I need to play at home when I played piano at my lesson?”

Parent: “Because we can’t afford to play on your teacher’s piano every day.”

Here’s what parents of young children need to get. Kids whine. Everything your child complains about doesn’t mean anything. It’s kind of like my cat. He always stands at the door and whines, even when I just let him out. He will then whine by his food dish even though I just filled it up with his favorite kitty pellets. Why? Because it makes him feel secure to see me open the door for him one more time, and put a few more pellets in his bowl. Will he ever get tired of me opening the door and giving him more kitty pellets that he isn’t going to eat? No.

So don’t take your little kitten in piano lessons too seriously and in a few years they’ll be saying, “I can play the piano better than my parents, because I’ve been taking lessons and they didn’t get to do that.”

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com