Halloween 2008 -- Friday Night Delight

(ARA) - This year we’re in for an extra-special treat as Halloween falls on Friday night.  Already the second biggest decorating holiday each year -- Halloween becomes even bigger when there’s no work or school the next day. Experts are predicting Americans will make Halloween 2008 the biggest in history.

And, in what’s sure to be another dynamic election year, Halloween may be just what the doctor ordered for the country as it will be the perfect way for both “red” and “blue” Americans to relax and celebrate together in orange and black only days before Nov. 4, 2008.

Phil Rist, head of strategy research at BIGresearch, an online market intelligence and interest research company, states, "Halloween is no longer considered a children's holiday." He concludes that adults view Halloween as a way to ease the stress of work and everyday life. Richard Laermer, author of 2011: Trendspotting for the Next Decade, agrees, suggesting that fantasy is crucial for stressed-out adults. According to Laermer, "The idea of pretending is something that we all just realized is not only possible, but absolutely essential."

“Adults also like to reconnect with fond moments from their childhood” explains Rick Ruffolo, senior vice president of brand, marketing, and innovation at Yankee Candle. “People want to return to the happy, carefree days of their youth. It’s like trick-or-treating down memory lane.”

Besides decorating earlier and more completely this year with spooky Halloween scenes of candlelit chandeliers and jack-o-lanterns, many people will use scent as a way to enhance the experience throughout October. Ruffolo adds. “Numerous studies have proven that scents are the most powerful trigger for memories, as well as the emotions associated with them. Feel-good fall candle scents such as Pumpkin Pie, Autumn Leaves, Pomegranate Cider, Cinnamon Stick, and Farmhouse Apple will remind you immediately of Halloween celebrations as a kid.”

All three make convincing points for getting into the festive spirit of the occasion. Experts agree that not having to get up early the following day will help Halloween 2008 be the biggest in history. People will begin getting in the mood by decorating all throughout the month of October. Happy Halloween! Courtesy of ARAcontent

 Easy Ideas for Bringing the Beauty of Fall Into Your Home

(ARA) - Bringing the look, feel and fragrances of fall into your home doesn’t have to mean hiring a decorator or going on an accessory buying frenzy at your local home design store.  

According to design experts at The Art Institutes schools, just a few simple and easy-to-do ideas can usher a beautiful and colorful autumn right into your home.

For Mary Saleeby, an Interior Design instructor at The Art Institute of New York City, the arrival of fall means, “It’s time to put summer behind us and escape into cranberries, pomegranates and lovely leaves.”

In her Manhattan home, Saleeby likes to fill glass cylinders with Clementine’s and branches, and  for a wonderful smell, insert four or six whole cloves into the fruit before making the arrangement or centerpiece. The cloves release their smell and the arrangement maintains it’s fragrance for weeks.

Pomegranates arranged in baskets are also a wonderful and affordable addition to creating a fall look for your home. Saleeby recommends taking a shallow dish or platter, lining the bottom with fresh cranberries, and insetting pumpkin scented pillar candles of various heights. “This idea works as a random arrangement or a centerpiece,” she says.

“Try adding an indoor fragrant wreath or swag designed for the season,” says Alma Yoss, an Interior Design instructor at The New England Institute of Art in Boston. Yoss, who lives in New Hampshire, likes to ”locate the wreath close to the entry of a home and complement this with seasonal potpourri at strategic locations where people will be sitting or congregating.”  

Changing the color of candles and throw pillows, Yoss suggests, is another inexpensive and creative way to change your décor seasonally.

And nothing says fall like mums. Mums are very affordable at most home garden centers, and can be found in all sorts of colors, sizes and varieties. “Mums are hearty, long-lasting plants. Fill wood baskets with mums, and place them throughout your home to add freshness and color,” recommends Mary Saleeby. If you live near the woods, use the great outdoors as your home design store. Saleeby likes to make door arrangements using acorns, dried leaves berries and dried apples.

Lastly, Saleeby says, “Use that special copper pot for mulled cider which will be simmering on your stove with a few cloves and cinnamon sticks.”    
For more information on The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.  
Courtesy of ARAcontent

Host a Fall Festival or Harvest Party

A table centerpiece of apples, pears, and grapes, and a big red apple  with Harvest Turkey Paper will help carryout your harvest theme. A farmer carries your invitation neatly folded in his hip pocket. Make the farmer by cutting a yellow straw hat, green coat., blue trousers, and brown shoes from construction paper. Fit them together and paste on a 4 by 6 inch sheet of heavy brown paper. Cut a ½ inch slit along the farmer's waistline and tuck the invitation into it.

As the guests arrive, give each girl a sunbonnet and each boy a straw hat. To make a sunbonnet, cut a 6 inch square of crepe paper and a strip of crepe paper 8 inches wide and 18 inches long. Sew the strip around three sides of the square, and attach ribbons tie under the chin. For the hats, cut round open brims out of cardboard and paste yellow paper over and under them. The hats do not need crowns.

Divide your guests into harvest teams for an apple relay race. The apples, laid on the floor two or three feet apart and in rows, must be picked up and placed in baskets set behind the starting line.

After this race, the guests may enjoy coloring outlines of farm pictures, or making vegetable animals. Each group of four should have a small table to work on. You can show them a curious animal which you say you have found n your garden. It may have a summer squash body, a small potato head, green tomato feet, and a long radish or carrot tail, all held together with toothpicks. Give each guest vegetables and toothpicks to make their own animal. Have someone judge the best animal and give a prize for it.

Call the guest to the dining room with a dinner bell. Seat them at a table spread with Fall Tableware. Potato salad, hot dogs, carrots, milk pumpkin pie, and candy corn would make a good harvester’s dinner.

Decorate the outside of your porch with this Tom Turkey Flag.

Ideas: You can plant your own pumpkin patch on your Fall buffet table.

Check out the many Autumn and Thanksgiving
theme selections and party supplies.

Johnny Appleseed's Birthday / September 26

These are great for the beginning of the year or to say goodbye. Also during the apple harvest season. 

1 large marshmallow
1 Red or Golden Delicious apple
2 ropes black or red licorice
liquid yellow food coloring
2 tsp. flaked coconut
1 tsp. vanilla frosting
2 miniature choc. chips
1 maraschino cherry

For head, secure marshmallow to apple with a toothpick.  Cut licorice into two 1-1/2 in. long pieces for arms and two 3 in. long pieces for legs.  Secure arms and legs to apple with toothpick halves.  For hair, combine 2 drops yellow food coloring and 3 drops water in a small re-sealable bag.  Add coconut; shake well.  Spread a small amount of frosting on top of marshmallow.  Press coconut hair in place.  Dip chocolate chips in frosting; insert into marshmallow for eyes.  Cut a wedge of cherry into a smile; dip in frosting and place on marshmallow.

Yield: 1 apple person
Thanks to Apple Person.

S’more Box...
Necessary Ingredients:
Bag of Marshmallows
Hershey's Chocolate Bars
Graham Crackers
Skewers
Cold Snowy Weather (or crank up the air conditioning)
Adult Supervision

Put a marshmallow on skewer. Place over open flame. Toast marshmallow to your liking. Place a piece of chocolate on one half Graham cracker. Gently place toasted marshmallow on the chocolate, cover warm soft marshmallow with second half of the Graham cracker. Cuddle with your kids and ENJOY!! Process may be repeated as many times as desired. Best served after 8PM.

Thanksgiving Dinner Tableware

Thanksgiving Scene Setter

Fall Trees Scene Setter

Autumn Landscape Scene

Autumn Greeting Cards

Autumn Date

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

Thanksgiving Decorations

Thanksgiving Dinner Tableware

Fall Harvest Paper Goods
Thanksgiving Paper Goods

Rustic Leave Guest Towel
Thanksgiving Guest Towel

Turkey Mini Snack Tray
Leaf Snack Tray

Fall Tinsel Wreath
Fall Leaves Tinsel Garland
Turkey Tinsel Garland

Thanksgiving Scene Setters

Fall Trees Scene Setter
Autumn Landscape Scene

Cornfield Scene Setter
Leaves 50' Border Roll

65" Turkey & Pumpkins Cutout
Scarecrow Cutout

30" Pilgrims Cutout
Pilgrim Hats
30" Pilgrims

Thanksgiving 54" Banner
Thanksgiving Day Banner
Happy Thanksgiving Banner

Turkey Leg Hat

Carlson Craft
Personalized party invitations, cards, & announcements

Halloween Parties or Fall Festivals

Thanksgiving Day Greeting Cards

Thanksgiving Gift Baskets
Send good wishes with this beautifully wrapped basket.

Thank You Basket
Gold Bow Gift Basket

Large Fruit Box
Small Fruit Bowl Box

Thanksgiving Candy Gram

Thanksgiving Table Centerpieces and Garlands

Menu Cards

Turkey 18" Centerpiece
Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Thanksgiving Leaves Centerpiece
Friends Give Thanks Centerpiece

Turkey Centerpiece Kit
Autumn 6" Candle
Straw Bale

Turkey Tinsel Garland