The thought of Black Friday brings strong emotions to many people. Some are filled with excitement and the thrill of a good deal, while others cringe in horror at the thought of rising at 3AM to fight a horde of people and possibly in up in a fight. For those that are brave enough to attempt Black Friday (and no it’s not really all that bad) here are a few tips to make things run smoother.
1) Check out the sales. You can look at www.bfads.net or others like it for an early glimpse of store sales. Some stores have the sales on their sites or you can wait and pick up a newspaper on Thanksgiving when all of the sales flyers are sent out.
2) Compare prices just like any other time. Determine which sales prices are the best.
3) Get a buddy. It’s always safer to travel in pairs, however, with this season being as tight as it is people may be a little meaner. Keep your cell phone handy and charged in case you and your buddy get separated.
4) Plan your strategy. Which stores open first? Which have a limited product only offer? What order are you going to visit the stores? Make a list of items and prices and what stores they are at.
***Special note for the “While supplies last”. Be prepared to be there first. I noticed a Walmart ad for a flat screen tv for only $398 on Black Friday. The ad audibly said “while supplies last” but the small print at the bottom it said “only 5 per store”. No joke 5 per store. So figure out if it’s worth your time and the stress if you’re not able to get one.
5) Don’t expect to be able to run in and run out. Even if you’re only purchasing one thing you may have to wait to check out. Have fun. Grab a cup of coffee. Expect long lines and a few cranky people. You’re all in the same boat so take a deep breath.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Do You Dress Up?
Halloween is a time of fun for both children and adults alike. We all like to dress up in costumes and attend great parties. The stores are flooded with children’s costumes, but unique adult Halloween costumes are a little harder to find unless you shop online. This article provides you with a few simple, but unique, adult Halloween costumes that you can easily make yourself.
Recycling Tub: Are you known for your love of recycling or, perhaps, the lack of recycling? Either way, this is a simple and fun costume that will be perfect for you. You will need to purchase a medium sized plastic container that is big enough to fit around your body. Then, you will need to cut a hole in the bottom of it, making sure it is big enough for your body to fit through. You can easily make suspenders by attaching rope to the container. Be sure that the top of the container rests between your belly button and chest. Next, decide what you are going to recycle such as empty plastic bottles, empty pop cans, or paper. Then fill the container about half way full with those items. You can even glue some of the items to your clothing to make the costume even more fun.
Black Cat with Litter Box: Simply dress in black, usually sweat pants and a sweat shirt work perfectly, then, you will need the ears and an attached tail which can usually be found at Target or Wal-Mart. The litter box is what really makes this costume complete. Find a regular plastic litter box and combine granola cereal and rolled oats together in it. Then, strategically place dabs of chocolate icing and softened chocolate candies throughout so you’ll have a special treat to offer your friends.
Scary Clown: The idea for this costume is to take the other guests by surprise. You want to look goofy and friendly from behind, but scary when face to face. So, you will need a pair of overalls, large shoes, a bright shirt, a wig and face paint. What makes this costume unique is the face paint. Face paint will allow you to create many scary looks such as a bloody eye socket, blood dripping from your mouth or the illusion of having a cracked skull. For the cracked skull, you can buy a plastic axe and position it in the clown wig to complete the look. The options are endless when you create your own look using face paint.
The fun thing about adult Halloween costumes is that the sky is the limit. You can find inspiration for a fun and unique costume just by looking at your surroundings. Think outside the box when looking for ideas, or if you need help, just search the web and you’ll find millions of them. The most important thing is to just have fun!
Recycling Tub: Are you known for your love of recycling or, perhaps, the lack of recycling? Either way, this is a simple and fun costume that will be perfect for you. You will need to purchase a medium sized plastic container that is big enough to fit around your body. Then, you will need to cut a hole in the bottom of it, making sure it is big enough for your body to fit through. You can easily make suspenders by attaching rope to the container. Be sure that the top of the container rests between your belly button and chest. Next, decide what you are going to recycle such as empty plastic bottles, empty pop cans, or paper. Then fill the container about half way full with those items. You can even glue some of the items to your clothing to make the costume even more fun.
Black Cat with Litter Box: Simply dress in black, usually sweat pants and a sweat shirt work perfectly, then, you will need the ears and an attached tail which can usually be found at Target or Wal-Mart. The litter box is what really makes this costume complete. Find a regular plastic litter box and combine granola cereal and rolled oats together in it. Then, strategically place dabs of chocolate icing and softened chocolate candies throughout so you’ll have a special treat to offer your friends.
Scary Clown: The idea for this costume is to take the other guests by surprise. You want to look goofy and friendly from behind, but scary when face to face. So, you will need a pair of overalls, large shoes, a bright shirt, a wig and face paint. What makes this costume unique is the face paint. Face paint will allow you to create many scary looks such as a bloody eye socket, blood dripping from your mouth or the illusion of having a cracked skull. For the cracked skull, you can buy a plastic axe and position it in the clown wig to complete the look. The options are endless when you create your own look using face paint.
The fun thing about adult Halloween costumes is that the sky is the limit. You can find inspiration for a fun and unique costume just by looking at your surroundings. Think outside the box when looking for ideas, or if you need help, just search the web and you’ll find millions of them. The most important thing is to just have fun!
Monday, October 5, 2009
How to Plan a Halloween Party
Hosting your own Halloween party can be a lot of fun, but if you don’t take the necessary time to plan you are likely to find yourself unorganized and running around like the headless horseman. To help you avoid that fiasco, I have put together a few planning tips that will help you have a successful party.
Pick a Date: Before you can have any kind of party, you have to decide when you want to have it. I understand that the ideal time for a Halloween party is on Halloween, but more often then not Halloween falls on a weekday. So, to ensure a better turnout, you may want to have the party on a weekend.
Invite the Guests: Next, you need to decide who you want to attend your party and how you want to invite them. The most convenient method is to either call or send out an email. However, your guests may enjoy receiving a personal invitation in the mail. If you decide to go this route, there are a lot of sites online that provide creative ways to do this.
Theme: Do you want to have a theme for your party? For instance, do you want to have your guests all dress up from a particular era such as the early 1900s or possibly as a Harry Potter character? If you decide to have a themed party, you need to be sure to include this information on your invitations so no one feels left out.
Games and Prizes: Consider having a game or two for your guests to play at your party. One of the easiest Halloween games is a costume contest. All the guests have to do to participate is arrive wearing a costume. Again, the internet is full of fun party game ideas. While prizes are not required, they can make the games more fun and interesting. Some simple prizes include: candy bars, scratch off lottery tickets, and gift certificates.
Decorations: Decorations can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want to make them. So, before you begin your decoration shopping you will need to decide how much you want to spend on them. Your local department stores such as Target and Wal-Mart will carry a vast variety of Halloween decorations to choose from. However, there are also many bargains to be found at your local Dollar Store for much less.
Treats: What is a Halloween party without treats? More is always better when it comes to creativity and Halloween treats. Food is usually the biggest expense for a party host. To help offset that cost, consider asking your guests to each bring a treat to share. To encourage your guests to be creative, offer a prize for bringing the scariest treat. If you plan on providing the treats for your guests and need unique ideas, there are endless Halloween recipes to be found on the internet, in magazines and cookbooks.
With a little planning, a Halloween party can be a fun and exciting time for everyone. Including the host or hostess.
Pick a Date: Before you can have any kind of party, you have to decide when you want to have it. I understand that the ideal time for a Halloween party is on Halloween, but more often then not Halloween falls on a weekday. So, to ensure a better turnout, you may want to have the party on a weekend.
Invite the Guests: Next, you need to decide who you want to attend your party and how you want to invite them. The most convenient method is to either call or send out an email. However, your guests may enjoy receiving a personal invitation in the mail. If you decide to go this route, there are a lot of sites online that provide creative ways to do this.
Theme: Do you want to have a theme for your party? For instance, do you want to have your guests all dress up from a particular era such as the early 1900s or possibly as a Harry Potter character? If you decide to have a themed party, you need to be sure to include this information on your invitations so no one feels left out.
Games and Prizes: Consider having a game or two for your guests to play at your party. One of the easiest Halloween games is a costume contest. All the guests have to do to participate is arrive wearing a costume. Again, the internet is full of fun party game ideas. While prizes are not required, they can make the games more fun and interesting. Some simple prizes include: candy bars, scratch off lottery tickets, and gift certificates.
Decorations: Decorations can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want to make them. So, before you begin your decoration shopping you will need to decide how much you want to spend on them. Your local department stores such as Target and Wal-Mart will carry a vast variety of Halloween decorations to choose from. However, there are also many bargains to be found at your local Dollar Store for much less.
Treats: What is a Halloween party without treats? More is always better when it comes to creativity and Halloween treats. Food is usually the biggest expense for a party host. To help offset that cost, consider asking your guests to each bring a treat to share. To encourage your guests to be creative, offer a prize for bringing the scariest treat. If you plan on providing the treats for your guests and need unique ideas, there are endless Halloween recipes to be found on the internet, in magazines and cookbooks.
With a little planning, a Halloween party can be a fun and exciting time for everyone. Including the host or hostess.
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