Gina A. Herrera

Halloween is almost upon us, and we all know what that means: Pumpkins, costumes, and lots of candy. And who can forget the most anticipated Halloween activity for every kid – trick or treat.

Sometimes, however, you have to stay indoors and miss the outdoor Halloween fun. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a spook-tactular time at home without the worry of wandering out on the streets.

You can host your own trunk or treat party at home and give your kids the Halloween experience without having to leave your own parking lot. If you’re wondering how to set up for the perfect party, follow these creeptastic tips for some fabulous Halloween inspiration.

1. Set Up A Spooky Theme

The first thing you need to do is set up your party area. For your party to be great, you have to make it look great. And a fun way to do that is to work with a unique, spooky theme.

Come up with an engaging theme for your party and have your party guests follow it. Consider going for a theme that excites the kids and encourages them to dress up in fun costumes. Some fun ideas are a Marvel heroes theme, a Disney villains theme, or a Willy Wonka theme.

Decorate your venue to jazz up your party space. If you’re hosting a trunk or treat party, the best area would be your front or back yard or your parking lot. Hang up a string of pumpkin themed fairy lights around the area. Set up some cardboard ghosts and jack o’lanterns in different corners. You can even hang up some toilet paper on tree branches to give off that mummy vibe.

2. Deck Out Your Car Trunk

The most important part of a trunk or treat party is, of course, a decked out car trunk. Many neighbourhoods and communities have left behind the traditional trick-or-treat scenario for a much more convenient and unique alternative. So gather up your family and friends, ask them to bring their cars, and spend some quality time sprucing up your car trunks.

A fun way to decorate your car trunks is to base them on the theme of your party. For instance, if you’re hosting a Marvel themed party, set up each car trunk to represent a Marvel hero. Put up a cardboard cutout of your favorite hero on each trunk and set up some … Read the rest

In this life, we all have to provide energy for our bodies to function. This energy comes from what we eat and we all make food choices every day. If you are a vegetarian, then your choices keep you away from animal protein, but there is still a bounty of food to nourish your body.

You are eating a vegetarian diet because you want good, wholesome food for your family to enjoy. It shouldn’t empty your wallet to eat this way. There are many strategies to make your veggie bucks go further. It is the best way to take care of your family and your budget.

Even though you are buying lots of vegetarian options, it doesn’t have to break the bank. You can have your carrot cake and eat it too! Here are some great ways to eat vegetarian on a budget that you can implement into your daily routine:

Make a Meal Plan

Start with a meal plan. This is one of the most effective ways of saving money on your groceries. If you aren’t planning out what your meals will be, you may not have the ingredients you need when it’s time to cook. Then you will probably end up going out for take-out or delivery.

Make a list of veggie meals your family likes and shop for everything you need once a week. You will save serious cash here because those drive-throughs beyond meat burgers add up fast.

Cook All Your Own Meals

Now that you have a plan, you can start making meals every night. This keeps you from eating out all the time and will save you a boatload of money. You can plan a special dinner at a restaurant once or twice a month if you can afford it but make the rest of mealtime at home.

This not only brings the family together, but you can also get them involved in cooking too. It’s a vital life skill so share the load. Younger kids can do prep, while older ones can have their own weeknight to make the meal. Cooking is really a labour of love and a way to keep that tight budget intact.

Use a Meal Delivery Service

Sometimes it’s hard to come up with a variety of healthy vegetarian recipes for every meal, every day. It is also hard to keep up with meals when you are busy shuffling … Read the rest

With Halloween fast approaching, everyone is itching to get out and reconnect. After almost two years of virtual interaction, most likely, Halloween parties will be the venue to gather once again and reconvene on a physical level. The vaccines played an important part, and the best way to celebrate is to throw a memorable bash to celebrate life and second chances.

This article will be a one-stop shop on throwing an unforgettable celebration for the books that will resonate until the following year. If you do not know where to start, never fret. Party ideas are broken down into categories for your convenience and ease of execution.

Make First Impressions Last With Spooky Invitations

Make a great first impression with the invites. Invites must be straightforward, detailed, and centers around a theme. Make electronic invites to make it interactive.

The Haunting The Theme, The Better

Identify a theme and center everything on it. Typically, party ideas are general, and attendees usually go as their character of choice. Popular ones include Harry Potter, Marvel, or Hollywood.

Infuse Magic Into The Menu

The heart of every party is the menu. The food, from appetizers to entrees down to drinks and desserts, must be rich and filling. Halloween appetizers can be an amuse-bouche with whipped cream cheese, pistachios, smoked salmon, and nutmeg.

Viand may be a roasted turkey with baby potatoes and a saucy rosemary rack of lamb. Finish it off with a dessert of apple, pumpkin pie, and eggnog. Drink flavors that capture Halloween are vodka, pumpkin ice, pumpkin pie, and cream soda for garnish is a staple.

Play With Quirky Drinks

A party is not a party without booze and mocktails. Set up a bar cart made from metal material that can be wheeled around the venue. Repurpose and decorate mobile metal carts from recycling facilities. With this, there is no excuse to let any cup dry. Check out a scrap metal Kansas City facility if you are in the area. They might have items that you can convert to a mobile bar to liven up any occasion. Brass candlesticks may also be available to give it a more spooky feel. Complete the look with various liquors, liqueurs, syrups, and bar tools.

Let Creative Juices Flow With Silly Decor.

Design and decorations must revolve around the theme and cover the salient places of the venue, such as the entrance, main hall, … Read the rest

A fashion faux pas is an intentional or unintentional item or idea on an outfit that robs it of its glow, cheapens it, or embarrasses the wearer. Ever felt bad for a lady or gent confidently strutting their stuff oblivious to a glaring food stain on their backside? Or that partygoer trying too hard to be cool in heels they can barely stand-in? You were glad it wasn’t you, and rightly so.

Fashion faux pas can have far-reaching implications. That unironed blouse can ruin what could have otherwise been a perfect job interview, or cost your company that sought-after deal. It could give the impression that you care less about an occasion than you do. You, therefore, want to do everything in your power to avoid falling foul of the unwritten rules of fashion.

Popular Fashion Faux Pas

You might want to know that not all fashion faux have a bad ending. Some of them have blossomed into trendy fashion statements paraded on the biggest catwalks across the globe. Have you ever bleached out your jeans by mistake? Those ugly white spots and streaks have now been turned into a denim trend that even celebrities want in on.

There has been a recent surge in fashion icons and celebrities spotted in that socks-and-slippers combo that traditionally never made it past the front porch. The tie-dye print shirts that were considered dead and buried after the 70s are coming back into fashion. But not all faux pas find reincarnation as fashion trends. Therefore, it is wise not to base your look on some of these quirky fads, which often prove to be fleeting.

Avoiding The Biggest Fashion Faux Pas

Here is a run-down of fashion faux pas that can be hit or miss:

• Sandal-Socks Combo– The jury is still out on this one. While some still consider it an absolute no-no, some big-time artists are still rocking the look in their music videos.
• Low-Rise Trousers Exposing Underwear– There are catwalks where you will still see this look, but only the most daring souls still want to revive it. R&B icon Aaliyah and other stars popularized it in the 90s.
• Over-Accessorizing– Big, glittering chains have always been a big thing in hip hop, but you will be hard-pressed to find a situation on a regular workday where this look won’t feel out of place.
• Fanny Packs– These were a thing in

Did you know that it’s often recommended that Americans save as much as between $1 and $2 million for retirement? These days, it seems like fewer and fewer people are hitting their retirement savings goals by the time they are ready to leave their career lives behind them. And with the cost of living increasing across the country, this is becoming a bigger problem for many Americans.

No matter where you are in your career, it’s important to start thinking about your retirement savings today. If you’re not sure where to start, you can begin by considering these five handy tips. Read through and find out what you can do to jumpstart your savings.

The Earlier You Start, The Better

Maybe you’re 24, you just landed your first full-time job, and the thought of retiring in 40 to 45 years seems distant and impossible. However, even if you’re still young and just starting your career journey, it’s still a good idea to start saving as soon as you can. Because of the power of compound interest, starting early means that you’ll wind up with a much bigger sum once you’re actually ready to take the leap and retire.

Know Your Options

Did you know that there are multiple different kinds of retirement accounts available to savers? A few of the options include:

• 401k
• Roth 401k
• IRA
• Roth IRA

Typically, 401ks are offered through your employer. They’re included in your benefits package or offered as a perk after working for your company for a while. IRAs are individual retirement accounts. You can set them up whenever you like with the investment broker or bank of your choice.

Need more help? Check out an online investing resource center for educational content.

Estimate Your Costs

Retirement costs likely won’t be the same as the day-to-day costs you encounter during young and middle-age adulthood. Maybe the kids are out of the house and earning their own income, but you might also have more medical or at-home care expenses. It’s important to start building your retirement savings with your likely expenses in mind.

As you approach retirement, it’s a good idea to estimate the costs you’re likely to encounter. And, once you have your costs tallied up, it’s a good idea to think about how to reduce them. That brings us to the next item.

Consider Downsizing

Unless you’re a superstar gold-medalist saver, … Read the rest

Halloween is creeping up on us, and if you’ve decided to take on the task of throwing the Halloween party this year, there’s a lot you have to think about. First, you have to think of who you’re going to invite. Are you going to have a smaller party limited to close friends?

Or are you planning on throwing a bigger event? What about decor? Food? Drinks? And let’s not forget about a costume, of course. The party host’s costume has to be iconic. So even if Halloween might feel like a long time away, it’s never too early to start planning.

But whether or not you’re keeping things low-key this year, or want to go all out with your decorations, you can never go wrong with DIY decor. DIY halloween decorations will not only save you money, but they are also fun to make. So break out your glue and glitter and check out these 5 DIY Halloween party ideas:

1.  Carve Pumpkins

No Halloween party is complete without pumpkins. Carving pumpkins is fun to do with friends and family and it makes for great DIY Halloween decor. All you need is a pumpkin and some carving tools and let your imagination take over. And if you really want to get creative, you can use a pumpkin carving pattern book to create more intricate designs.

2.  DIY Your Costume

If you’re feeling extra creative this year, it is always a fun idea to make your own Halloween costume. It’s definitely more time consuming than buying something from a store, but you get the freedom to create your costume exactly how you imagine.

A DIY Halloween costume is something we should all attempt at some point. And if making your own costume doesn’t interest you, you can buy an outfit and make the accessories yourself to add your own personal touch. There are tons of costumes to choose from, from matching couples costumes to individual ones.

3.  Paint Plastic Glasses

Every Halloween party needs a good cocktail, so why not paint your own cocktail glasses to add a spooky touch? Rather than handing out plain, boring plastic glasses for your guests to put their drinks in, take some time to paint them. You can paint spider webs, ghosts, pumpkins- the options are endless! All you need is plastic glasses, paint, and you will be good to go.  … Read the rest

As a new parent, you likely have numerous questions, concerns, and worries, especially considering the fact that childhood trauma can lead to issues down the road. While we may not be able to relive all of the above, we can definitely take the time to share a few things that you need to know.

Starting your new family is a joyous occasion and though we could probably turn this into a book with hundreds of tips, we want to make sure to try and make it as easy of a transition as possible.

1. The Dangers of Talc

Johnson & Johnson was recently in the news for settling a lawsuit due to their knowledge of the dangers of talcum powder and studies have linked regular use to mesothelioma, ovarian, and other cancers. Stick with talc-free and hypoallergenic powder for the health sake of your baby

2. Sponge Baths

Give your newborn sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off and completely heals. Keep the umbilical cord dry and it will fall off sooner. If it does get wet, use a clean towel to dab it dry. You should also take the time to learn how to give your infant a sponge bath.

3. Finding the Right Diaper

The wrong diaper is not only going to be uncomfortable for your newborn, gaps and openings can leave a real mess. Use a diaper sizing guide to help you find the right one throughout their diaper-wearing lives.

4. Dry Skin is Normal

Dry skin, small pink bumps, diaper rashes, and even baby acne are all normal and nothing to worry about. Use some fragrance-free, hypoallergenic baby lotion to help alleviate these issues.

5. Using a Swaddle

Some babies sleep more soundly when they’re swaddled but of course, you should use a hypoallergenic blanket. Check out this handy guide from Pampers to learn how to properly swaddle.

6. Remember – Back to Sleep

Your newborn should sleep on their back and you should place their head in alternating directions in the crib every night. In order to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and suffocation, the newborn should be placed on a mattress that is covered by a fitted sheet and no other bedding or soft objects in the bed. They should never be left to sleep in chairs, sofas, or armchairs.

7. Car Seat

Just as you have your … Read the rest

Weighing scales find widespread use each day. This is the case locally and globally. Unfortunately though, it’s not always easy to establish which weighing scale can be ideal for a business. Although everyone understands generally the task that weighing scales do, it’s far less often understood how weighing scales should perform specifically. So let’s look now at key questions to ask when looking to establish which weighing scale is right for your business. 

What Format Should the Scales Use?

Scales can actually measure weight in a range of formats. Commonly in kilograms, pounds and grams, but they’re available in many measurements beyond these three. 

Consider How Will the Scale Display Its Key Information?

Given weighing scales come in many different formats, the way in which their information is displayed can differ also. There are the platform weighing scales that’ll sit flat, and these display information on a digital LCD screen in a familiar fashion to how a standard bathroom scale displays weight. Then there are hanging weighing scales, which can be used to measure the weight of goods placed on the scale’s weighing hook. For such devices, a reading of the weight will still be shown, but it will often appear right in the middle of the device as opposed to the top which is commonly seen on a platform weighing scale. 

Is Readability a Critical Consideration?

It’s worthwhile to consider the differences between analogue and digital scales when deciding which is ideal for a particular business. This said, digital scales are usually preferable over the analogue format owing to the display they have. While analogue scales are slightly more cost-effective given they do not require batteries to run, they’re also harder to read precisely when compared to digital scales. So for any business where a scale will be used frequently,  using a digital over an analogue scale will typically offer a far easier experience for the eyes. 

Do You Want the Scales to Be Battery-powered?

A terrific feature of weighing scales is the ease in which they can be powered. Many people believe because of the precision in which weighing scales do their task that they may have to use a great deal of power in order to do their job. But this simply isn’t the case. Analog scales will not require power to use. Although there can be some variables across the wide range of weighing scales … Read the rest

Chinese food belongs to the country China. As China is a country of traditions and architectures. So the Chinese buffet near me follow the same theme and traditional looks of the country China. A Chinese theme makes a moderate restaurant to a high-class Chinese one. The Chinese looks affect the environment while having delicious Chinese food.

There is no doubt that a good and leisure environment can help to enhance the taste of food. So it is always preferable to promote the ancient Chinese themes that will automatically promote the running capacity of the restaurant. If the theme of any restaurant is convincing one that will automatically lead the intake of more clients.

Atmosphere Of The Chinese Buffet Restaurant:

As the atmosphere of any Chinese buffet near me enhances the taste of food with all of its soothing effects. As a Chinese buffet restaurant owner, one must keep a deep focus on the restaurant atmosphere.

Chinese cultures in the atmosphere create the food in delicious mode. That is why everyone searches a Chinese buffet restaurant which is maintaining the soothe and ease of Chinese style atmosphere.

Variety Of Chinese Buffet Restaurants:

Chinese restaurants use fresh and local ingredients for the proper taste according to the taste and aroma of original Chinese traditional foods.

These Chinese buffet restaurants include high-quality seafood for appealing mouthwatering deals. It also includes appetizers and delicious desserts after a meal. Natural flavors turn a food into most delicious Chinese table cuisine buffet where is the nearest chinese buffet.

Topmost Deals Of Chinese Buffet Are:

• Noodles
• Chicken fried rice and chow mien.
• Hot and sour soup.
•  Crackers
• Prawns.
• Chinese rice.
• Boiled vegetables
• Egg and spring rolls.
•  Mushrooms
• Bacon

And much more

Distinctive Measures Of Chinese Buffet Near Me:

Best Chinese buffet near me reflect the true culture and traditions of Chinese. There are a different style and Chinese themed restaurants and dine-ins that are opened with the best quality of Chinese food for the customers and tourists.

A best Chinese buffet near me is one that provides a huge attraction point for the family members and friends for having a high quality of the meal.

The customers are served with high-class aroma and taste for the best mouthwatering delicious tastes. These are the luxurious styles restaurants for they are well known in cheering their guests.

A best Chinese buffet near me is the one which … Read the rest

Kratom is now available to buy online from various retailers, and with regulations surrounding the botanical becoming increasingly relaxed, it’s easier than ever to get your favorite Kratom strains. However, there are many myths about Kratom, especially since it was formerly misclassified as a Schedule I drug in the U.S.

Because of these misconceptions, it’s understandable that people want to be discreet about their Kratom purchases, even though they’re legal federally and in most states. Some people just prefer more privacy for their online purchases than traditional banks allow.

Cryptocurrency is a powerful option for conducting any online transaction privately and safely. Although cryptocurrency seems intimidating at first glance, it’s easy to understand and use once you grasp the fundamentals.

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a form of digital money that is usually not tied to the currency of any country. It is a decentralized currency that uses cryptography to determine its authenticity and value instead of being backed by gold or another physical standard.

Cryptocurrency has come about in the past ten years as the technology required for securing it has improved. It’s now possible for public use thanks to vast increases in computing power required to keep it running daily instead of just in limited quantities.

Cryptocurrency is designed to be accessible to the public as an international substitute for genuine money. It is available in multiple individual currencies, each with its own value relative to other currencies.

Although this sounds complicated on the surface, most of the hard work goes on behind the scenes. Programmers have worked hard to make cryptocurrency as straightforward and accessible to the public as possible. You can buy and use cryptocurrency just as easily as you can use any other online payment platform.

Investment Fluctuations

One of the crucial things to remember about cryptocurrency is that its value fluctuates relative to real-world currency and can lose value over time. However, its changing value has made it a popular option for tech-savvy investors looking to jump on board the trend.

Popular currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even Dogecoin have netted millions of dollars for early investors after demand rose and their value skyrocketed. Although some investors then sold their currencies, some have continued to hold it as a long-term investment and use it as a payment method.

This success has led to a flood of new currencies, some of which don’t have the … Read the rest