October’s spookiest day is around the corner, which means it’s time to get creative and put together a halloween disguise. Now, you may be thinking that going door-to-door around the neighborhood and yelling “trick-or-treat” might be a thing of the past for you. If that’s the case there’s no need to panic!
Whether you’re scrambling around for a last-minute costume or you’re just tired of the idea of trick-or-treating, there are many alternatives to celebrating Halloween that don’t include knocking on doors across the neighborhood and asking for candy.
With October 31st slowly creeping upon us, here are four alternatives to trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
Decorate a Pumpkin
via flickr
‘Tis the season of pumpkin spice and everything nice. What better way to celebrate Halloween night than to make a visit to your local pumpkin patch. Find your perfect pumpkin and then purchase a carving kit and begin decorating. You can print free stencils online or put your artistic skills to the test and carve your pumpkin freehand. If you’re feeling competitive, a pumpking-carving contest can be a great contest to have amongst your friends.
Have a Scary Movie Marathon
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Ditch the scary costumes and put on a few scary movies. Set the mood by getting some popcorn and turning off the lights. If you’re watching with friends, see how long you can go without getting spooked. Perhaps you can turn it into a drinking game and take a shot every time someone screams. But if you’re not into scary movies, try putting on some Halloween classics such as “Casper” or “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to get you in the Halloween spirit without all the jump scares.
Host a Halloween Party
via Timeout.com
Try bringing the festivities to your home. Put together an epic monster music playlist and have your family and friends arrive in their best costumes. Entertain your guests with a bunch of halloween-themed games and activities such as “pop goes the pumpkin” or “bobbing for apples.” Instead of going door-to-door for candy around your neighborhood, spread halloween cheer by purchasing a bunch of treats and having your guests indulge in all of the sweets. You can even host a contest to see who has the best costume.
Have a Spooky Bonfire
If you’re not feeling a halloween party, you can enjoy the crisp autumn air by cozying up with some friends in front of a bonfire. Make this low-key night a festive one by heating up some s’mores and pouring out some warm apple cider or hot chocolate. Grab a hoodie and a scarf, kick back and relax, and exchange spooky stories.
via Spirited Table
Avoid the doorbells and doorsteps this halloween. Whether you feel like you have outgrown trick-or-treating or are just looking for something different to do this year, spend your evening with these fun alternatives.
Milvian Prieto is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com
Put down that pumpkin spice latte and untie that flannel from around your waist. Yes, you. If you or anyone you know is in danger of becoming basic this fall, do yourselves a favor and try some of these highly sophisticated fall activities.
1. Have a Pumpkin Guts Food Fight
What’s better than kicking off the fall season by carving a little orange bundle of joy? Having a pumpkin guts food fight afterwards, that’s what! Why be basic and throw away all those perfectly good pumpkin guts when you can show your friends and loved ones just how much you care by pelting them with pumpkin seeds? It’s not only fun, but also one of the best ways to bond AND work off any pent-up anger you may be harboring this pre-holiday season. Safety Disclaimer: Protective goggles are probably a good idea if you plan on going ham.
2. Build Your Own ScareCROW
via express.co.uk
Add a new twist to this fall-favorite activity by decking out your homemade scarecrow in Crow (i.e. Game of Thrones Man of the Night’s Watch) attire. Gather up as much warm, black clothing as you can. If for some reason you can’t seem to find the thick, black cloak you’ve been saving for when winter finally comes, a fuzzy black blanket will suffice. Your Jon Snow scareCROW may or may not scare away the annoying black birds, but it will definitely bring all the wildlings to your yard.
3. Go Pumpkin/Apple Slingshotting
via playgroundtalk.com
Don’t be basic and make apple or pumpkin pie this fall. Instead, fling those fruits (yes pumpkins are fruits) through the air and use them for target practice. Most farms have slingshots set up and give away prizes for hitting the bullseye. If you have the misfortune of living near a basic farm that does not have a slingshot stand, you have my deepest condolences.
4. Purposely Get Lost in a Corn Maze
via etschfarms.org
Who says the proper way to participate in a corn maze is to find your way out in the quickest amount of time? Screw the rules set up by the farm lords! Here’s what you do instead: Split up into teams of two and go up to random strangers in the maze and tell them to follow you if they want to find the way out. Purposely lead them around in circles, getting them even more lost and confused. The team that gets the most people to blindly follow them wins!
5. Volunteer to be an Actor at a Haunted House/Haunted Hayride
Nothing’s better than scaring the pants off people for a good cause. Only basic betches say boo, so get creative with your scare tactics. Grab your ghoul gear and strap on a GoPro to capture your best/most hysterical scares. Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and get to appear on Ellen for the amazing viral video you created!
6. Headless Horseman Barhop
via neatorama
Fallify your basic barhop, headless horseman style! It’s exactly like your run-of-the-mill barhop, except when you hop from bar to bar, you tuck your head under your shirt so it looks like you’re headless. Assign each horseman a DWP (designated walking partner) so you don’t run into people and/or things along your path to the next bar. Drink and walk responsibly!
Tina Cherrillo is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com
Clerical work is typically the most common job for recent grads. This entails sitting at a desk or cubicle for hours on end staring at a screen. Working a desk job means that everything becomes a routine and sooner or later that routine can start to bore you and put you to sleep. However, there are ways to stay awake and prevent sleepiness and boredom. Here are some tips that help me get through the daily grind of the 9 – 5!
Wake up and Shower
Wake up any where from an hour to an hour and a half earlier to add a shower to your daily routine. Though it’s definitely going to suck for the people who have that long commute, I advise everyone tries to add waking up early and showering to their mornings even if its just a couple of times a week. It will truly do wonders if you don’t do it already. Even if you just stand in the shower and let the hot water hit your body, you will come out of the shower feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Coffee/Caffeine
If you’re like me and not a morning person, caffeine might just become your new best friend. Whether it be in the form of coffee, energy drinks or tea, these caffeinated drinks can help you stay awake and alert during work.
SIDE TIP: My go-to drink is coffee. Whatever your drink of choice is, just be careful not to get addicted. I try to only drink coffee on the days where I’m feeling really drowsy. I don’t want to be throwing my money to Dunkin Donuts five days a week and neither should you.
via freshmorningquotes
Breakfast
Breakfast is key! Everyone from your mom to your teachers will implant it in your mind that you can’t forget the most important meal of day. Even though we’d rather hear our alarm go off and stay in bed for those extra twenty minutes, getting up to grab or prepare a breakfast could be essential to making your work day a successful one. Whether it be a quick meal for the ride such as oatmeal or fruits or classic cereal with milk, breakfast can be a life-saver. If you’re feeling lazy just pick up a bagel while you’re over at Dunkin Donuts.
Snacks
If you can eat at your desk, I highly suggest you do. It keeps you moving without actually moving! Get your mouth going and chomp on some granola bars or chips
SIDE TIP: I recommend choosing snacks that will give you energy such as fruit, veggies and dip, or granola. This will help boost your energy levels making it easier to stay alert throughout the day.
Take a Break
Even on your busiest days, get up and walk around for at least 5 – 10 minutes a day. This brings circulation back into those legs that fell asleep and gets you away from the desk. Make it a thing to walk away from your desk every two hours or so, even if it’s just for two minutes. Bother a co-worker, refill your bottle at the water station or just take a bathroom break and enjoy every minute of it. Even though some may want to work through their break just to get their work done and out of the way, 15 – 30 minutes a day is a must. It’s important to take care of your body at work.
SIDE TIP: I suggest packing leftovers or a good, hearty lunch so you are not forcing yourself to go out and purchase lunch. A packed lunch will give you something to look forward to in the middle of the day and you’ll also have more time to relax on your break instead of having to rush out to buy food.
Positive Thinking and Motivation
Go into work with a positive mindset, leave work with a positive mindset. Not every day will be great but remind yourself that life is good and this job is only temporary if that is the case. You did all you can for your eight-hour day and tomorrow will be another chance to do better. Keep yourself motivated and looking forward to other things during the day whether it be the happy hour drinks you’ll enjoy after work or the weekend festivities you have planned. This will help move the day along quicker than you might think.
Working is a part of life. There’s no way around it. Clerical work becomes routine and boring especially for new graduates who are not used to working a 9 – 5, Monday – Friday, day in and day out. Hang in there and use some, if not all, of these tips to aid you in surviving the day! Good luck! ~
Pauline Ybañez is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com
Iced or hot and black or green are not your only options when it comes to tea. Whether you’re an avid tea drinker or only sip it when you’re feeling blue, tea has been known for its many health benefits. Tea contains many antioxidants that can help your body prevent loads of illnesses, cancers and even prevent a heart attack.
If you’re a relatively new tea drinker, get your water boiling and pick up your mug as some of these teas might interest you.
Oolong
via wikimedia
Similar to black tea, Oolong is fermented for a shorter time which provides a stronger taste. This tea has the second-highest caffeine level (after black tea) and is rich with antioxidants. If you’re looking to manage your weight, oolong helps with controlling the metabolism by activating specific enzymes in your body.
White
Mild in flavor and containing less caffeine, white tea leaves are picked young and are often uncured and unfermented. Similar to green tea, this tea contains catechin, a type of antioxidant that may help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Chamomile
via wikimedia
Commonly known as the “night time” tea, this daisy-like herb helps with boosting the immune system, easing insomnia and even reduces menstrual cramps. The antioxidants in this tea also help with complications from diabetes such as vision loss and kidney and nerve damage.
Herbal
Packed with a combination of herbs, dried fruits and flowers, some may argue that herbal teas are not teas at all. Also called “tisanes”, herbal tea is caffeine-free and hydrates the body. The look and smell of the herbs and the spices will definitely pleasure your senses. This type of tea is enjoyed best when it is deeply steeped.
There are many health benefits that come with drinking these different types of teas. If you’re interested in purchasing them, you can find most of them at your local supermarket. If you’re not sure which one would be best for you, just try them all! Get going and sip away!
Milvian Prieto is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com
Whether it be the bare necessities or high-end glow kits or matte liquid lipsticks, more and more people are becoming fascinated with makeup and all its wonders.
As someone who considers themself the Queen of Basic and Bare Necessities, I’ll be able to share with you some tips and recommendations on what you should be carrying around for a basic, yet productive, arsenal of make-up essentials.
The Right Make-Up Bag
In order to carry around make up, you need the perfect make up bag. A make up bag is definitely a necessity if you want to stay organized and not lose your prized possessions.
Recommendation: Department stores such as Marshall’s or TJ Maxx carry solid choices for bags that can get the job done with ideal sizes and appearances. If you’re looking for a more expensive bag, Sephora or Ulta can do the trick, but just know you’ll spending a few more pennies.
If you want to carry around this make-up bag in your purse, keep in mind travel size options for certain items because they will end up being your best friend.
Face
Moisturizer:
It is essential to have any type of moisturizer. It preps your face for all the crap you’re going to be putting on and a good moisturizer will benefit your face overall.
Recommendation: I rarely carry around a face moisturizer but it’s handy to have one if your face tends to get dry. Cetaphil is a great moisturizer and it’s what I use on the daily but it is also can be a bit pricey.
Foundation: This piece is key to have if you want to pursue a “flawless” look and cover up the unevenness that can come with applying makeup.
Recommendation: Is it necessary? Probably not, if you don’t believe in caking your face. I am pretty basic when it comes to foundation so I only use it on special occasions such as a wedding or a nice date. If you feel like you need something there but do not want to go too heavy, a tinted moisturizer is your best bet. It also kills two birds with one stone because you can just carry that & ditch the basic moisturizer.
Concealer: A great item because it hides all of them stubborn bad boys on your face. Essential to have if you are having those rough days and the redness and dark circles can’t be tamed with just foundation.
Recommendation: NYX and Covergirl have reasonably priced concealers compared to some of the more high end products. A great concealer will act like a handy dandy magic eraser on those bad days.
Contouring & Highlighting: The newest trend of 2016, specifically highlighting. I love highlighting, . Now, I myself have not mastered contouring yet but it is great to use to highlight and bring out specific features in your face.
Recommendation: I would recommend an All-in-One palette. You can also just get a basic matte brown and highlighter separately. For starters, I would not recommend getting any glow kits or contour palettes. There is just too many colors that you will end up not using anyways. We don’t want to waste money. If you’re looking for an awesome highlighter, Laura Geller’s Gilded Honey Highlighter is bomb!
Eyes
Eye Shadow Primer: A good eyeshadow primer is needed to keep your bold or natural eye-look stay intact all day.
Recommendation: A basic eyeshadow primer is good enough to tackle the job. I use the Urban Decay Primer Potion in the travel/smallest size that is sold because only a small amount is needed and it can last a long time unless you’re doing eyeshadow every day.
Eye shadow Palette: Give your eye a pop of color and make the colors of your eyes stand out with the array of shades out there.
Recommendation: For starters, the most basic natural brown palettes are great. They have everything you need for that every day look. They have more unique colors as well if you’re into that.
Eyeliner: Eyeliner puts the look together. Without a wing or smudged liner on the water line, a full eye make-up could potentially be underwhelming.
Recommendation: Liquid liners, gel liners, and pencils are all of the necessary tools you could use. It’s all about preference. Try them all and find out what works best for you.
Mascara: The Holy Grail of it all. Even on your worst days, some mascara on its own can do the trick.
Recommendation: Once again, mascara is all about preference. It comes down to what looks well with your face and what you feel comfortable in. I prefer the Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara because quite frankly it’s just “better than sex”.
Eyelash Curler: An essential if your eyelashes are nowhere near curled at all. Very handy and a must have to do before mascara.
Recommendation: Any will do the trick. Go get one!
Brows
Brow Pencil/Gel: Get them eyebrows on fleek! Make your eyebrows pop.
Recommendation: Anything that works for you! If a matte eye shadow or basic pencil does the job, roll with it. There’s no need for the high end stuff if you’re comfortable with whatcha got. I do dabble in Benefit’s new eyebrow line as well as Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer because I’ve grown comfortable with them.
Eyebrow Brush/Comb: Tame them bad boys!
Recommendation: Any basic one, just lick your fingers and smooth them out. Side note: make sure to groom them bad boys or they’ll look like little hair beavers above your eyes.
Lips
Chapstick: Not only moisturizes cracked or dry lips but also a good base before any lip look.
Recommendation: I love Blistex, Blistex is my best friend. But once again, preference, man.
Lip Liner: Keep your lip look within the lines.
Recommendation: Universal lip liners are life and so are lip kits.
Lipstick: So… Many… Colors… So many choices.
Recommendation: Try all of the options if you can. There’s lipsticks, tints, stains, liquid mattes, chubby lip pencils. It’s whatever your desire and whatever color works best with your skin color. You can basically pull off anything. They range in prices so it can be affordable or questionably pricey depending on where you go. Have at least one of each in your arsenal.
With the right amount of items from the ones named above, you’ll be carrying a A1 makeup bag in no time. A make up bag at first, but once you keep testing out more and more options, you’ll be owning your very own makeup suitcase! Good luck beauty boos!~
Pauline Ybañez is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com
Is your living space feeling a bit stuffy? Take these plants into consideration to up-level your indoor air quality.
By Milvian Prieto
Are you ever feeling a bit stuffy at home or at the office? Does this stuffiness cause you to have adverse reactions such as sneezing, dizziness or fatigue? Well if you’re feeling this way, it may be due to poor air quality. The cause for this poor indoor air quality may be inadequate air circulation, causing toxins or chemicals to be trapped indoors. According to theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some sources of indoor air pollution include:
Household Products used for cleaning
Dirty Central heating and cooling systems
Excess moisture
Certain materials used in furniture
Fuel-burning appliances
Although we may use the above products and appliances on a daily basis, there are some simple steps we can take to reduce pollutants from entering our home eco-system. To start, switch to “green” cleaning products that do not have strong smelling, irritating ingredients like ammonia and artificial perfumes. Limit the use of products off-gas and leave behind odors and pollutants that linger in the air. Above all, introduce beautiful plants that will naturally purify the air. House plants have the ability to brighten up your indoor space while helping to clean and filter the air around you. Here are a few of the best air-cleaning plants to bring into your home or office:
Boston Fern — Said to act like a natural humidifier, this plant removes pollutants such as xylene andformaldehyde, a colorless yet strong smelling chemical compound that is commonly used in building materials. The Boston fern is one of the top air purifiers among plants so it is important to provide it with the best care. Not sure how to tell if the boston fern needs more water? If the leaves start to turn yellow, then the plant is not receiving enough water. This plant prefers to be in indirect sunlight and must stay hydrated.
Peace Lily — This perennial plant is easy to grow, can live for years and will flower for much of the summer. The peace lily has the ability to remove benzene, a common carcinogen and household chemical. This plant is best kept in a shady area and is ideally placed in bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens due to its ability to remove mold spores in the air. The peace lily also removes airborne chemicals found in household cleaning products such as trichloroethylene, removing acetone and alcohols.
Bamboo Palm — Similar to the Boston fern and peace lily, the bamboo palm is proven to filter formaldehyde and remove pollutants such as benzene and trichloroethylene from the air. This plant thrives when it is away from direct sunlight and when its soil is moist but not entirely drenched in water. In addition to filtering your home’s air, the bamboo palm serves as a spider mite repellent. This plant is pet-friendly and can grow up to 12-feet high, making it as stunning to look at as it is beneficial to air quality.
Aloe Vera — Aloe vera is one of the easiest plants to care for. Place the plant on a window that is exposed to a lot of sunlight and keep it well hydrated. Not only does aloe vera filter formaldehyde from the air, this plant’s leaves are great for your skin and digestive system. Containing a liquid gel filled with vitamins and amino acids, aloe vera serves as an alternative medicine for skin conditions such as eczema, dry skin, psoriasis, inflammations and sunburn.
If you’re looking to add some functional decor in your home or office, look no further. The plants mentioned above can be found in your local nursery or garden center.
Milvian Prieto is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com
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