Costumes

• Host a costume swap

Make it into a party. Your digs won’t be new, but they’ll be new to you.

• Thrift store

Visit The Barn or another local thrift store to find costumes or recycled clothing that can help you to create your own.

• Make your own costumes

Why not be a soda bottle, spider web or snapchat filter? Use items you already have to make the perfect costume. Here are some ideas.

• Fake blood

Instead of buying fake blood with unknown ingredients, make your own at home.

• Use non-toxic face paint or make your own

If you plan on painting a face this year, know that many products out there contain small amounts of heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead or mercury. Exposure to these products has been linked to developmental delays, hormonal imbalances and cancer. Here are some safe alternatives and a diy face paint recipe.

The Halloween party

• Email invites

To avoid using unnecessary paper, send out party invitations through email. Try Paperless Post or Punchbowl for some amazing options.

• Avoid plastic plates, cups, utensils

Even though there will be extra clean-up, use regular dishes and ask guests to bring reusable containers for takeaways.

• Buy local, organic food

Head to the markets and farms to buy fresh ingredients for party meals.

• Make your own treats

Instead of store bought cookies, cakes and treats, bake your own. Here are a few fun recipes.

Trick-or-treating

• Organic candy

Who knew that Airheads were vegan? Try to be more conscious and purchase candy that has less of an impact on the environment (and your body!) Click here for a list of vegan and organic candy options.

• Avoid cheap plastic toys

You know the ones we’re talking about that come in the variety pack at the dollar store.

• Walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation to hot-spot neighborhoods

Get your candy fix and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.

• Bring a trash bag to avoid littering

Eating candy on the way to the next house is a given, just make sure you dispose of wrappers properly and even pick up a few that may have been dropped!

• Use reusable bags

In that same vein, avoid using plastic by bringing extra shopping bags, canvas totes or a pillowcases. (Pack more to share with friends!)

Pumpkins

• Light with beeswax candles

Use beeswax, a renewable all-natural wax produced by honey bees, instead of soy or paraffin-based wax, which is a non-renewable byproduct of petroleum, coal or oil shale. Not to mention it’s not hypoallergenic, so terribe for people with allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivities.

• Eat the seeds

Clean, salt and roast the pumpkin seeds for a yummy fall snack instead of throwing them out. Not only do they contain lots of antioxidants, but they are low calorie and delicious.

• Save the pulp

The slimy insides can be used to make delicious pies, muffins and soup that are perfect for the season. Recipes here.

• Compost, Compost, Compost

Throw jack-o-lanterns and any food scraps in the compost for great soil. If you don’t have one, check out the Earth Machine from the Ministry of Public Works for a compost bin.

• Grow your own

A great post-Halloween activity is to plant your own pumpkins and watch them grow!

This article was originally published in the October 2018 edition of the RG Green Pages supplement.

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Here are 10 amazing Halloween makeup ideas:

1. Desi Perkins: “Witch Doctor or El Cucuy?”

Halloween has been dubbed “Desi-ween” by her 3.1 million YouTube subscribers and just by looking at the thumbnail of this 2018 tutorial, Desi Perkins runs the season. This year her subject is her husband and cameraman, Steven but does the Witch Doctor compete with her previous “demon”, “Beetlejuice” and her most popular (5.1 million views)  “melting skull” videos? You be the judge.

2. Chrisspy: “Llorona”

Known for her cinematic tutorial intros, Chrisspy (1.6 million subscribers) turns herself into La Llorona, also known as the Mexican weaping woman. In the tale, a young woman drowns her children in a fit of rage after being betrayed by her husband. Other halloween tutorials include her ‘Gangster Clown’, ‘Snow White’ and ‘Werewolf’.

3. Alissa Ashley: “Pop Art Makeup”

In a short amount of time, Alissa Ashley has become a force to reckon with on YouTube. Her creative video ideas paired with her ability to photograph herself in the highest quality to promote her work on social media has gained her over 1.6 million subscribers. Here she transforms herself into a pop art cartoon. Other memorable videos are her recreation of Rihanna’s Vogue cover and her Bratz Doll makeup.

4. Aaliyah Jay: “Creepy Halloween Clown”

With her 1.6 million Instagram followers and 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, Aaliyah Jay is one of the most popular social celebrities of colour. Her creepy halloween clown gained 83,000 likes on Instagram last year, so this year she decided to recreate the look and film a tutorial.

5. Nikki Tutorials: “Reversed upside down eye makeup”

Looking to keep it simple and glam but still creep your friends out? Nikki Tutorials shows you how with this upside down eye makeup.

6. Courtney Little Makeup: “Wybie’s Forced Smile”

Based on the character Wybie from the 2009 fantasy horror film, Coraline. Check out more of Courtney Little’s detailed makeup tutorials here.

7. James Charles: “It Pennywise Glam”

Last year, IT was the most raved about Horror movie that prompted thousands of Pennywise inspired makeup tutorials. James Charles’ (9 million subscribers) recreation boasts 2.6 million views. This year’s halloween tutorial features reality star and CEO of Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Jenner. Click here for the video.

8. Tina Halada: “Easy Spider Illusion”

Following her successful Pennywise tutorial, Tina Halada starts her halloween series off this year with a spider illusion tutorial. Other notable looks are her ‘bunny’ and ‘golden skull’ tutorials.

9. Alex Faction: “Scary Smiley”

Here’s another one for the guys, a Scary Smiley tutorial using liquid latex and tissue.

10. Amanda Ensing: “Pink Vampire”

Looking for something quick and easy? Grab some pink face paint to create Amanda’s girly vampire!

Interested in trying any of these halloween makeup looks? Leave us a comment below!

The post 10 Halloween makeup ideas appeared first on RG Magazines.

Eat, drink and be Scary this year with your very own Halloween Party! Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for many. Costumes, decorations and the biggest opportunity to be extravagant.

If you are looking to throw the most memorable Halloween Party start with the decorations. Make sure to walk through your home or event location to figure out how much wall space you have, the height of the ceiling and any shelf space available to place your decorations on. Don’t stress yourself B4theParty is selling fun Halloween Décor to help you make it happen! Here are a few tips to get you started.

As the host, you want to mesmerize your guests from the moment they enter! Carved lighted pumpkins on the doorstep, bone chilling skeletons with glowing eyes in the corner, bloody doormats paired with cobwebs infested with spiders, can do the trick. Bloody footprints, bubbling cauldrons, balloons, strobe lights, hanging pumpkins, “Keep Out” tape and cobwebs never get old. It’s the little things that bring it all together.

Even though it is an adult party, selfies are everything! Pull out the creepy cloth, “Police Lineup” backdrops, spooky photo props and mugshot plates. Encourage the silliness amongst your guests and create an amazing atmosphere.

The final touch to the whole party is the host’s Costume!

Firstly, you should decide on your look. Whether it is Sexy, Scary, Funny, Cute, Angry or even a Couples costumes. This is the chance for you to share a side of yourself that you usually don’t get to. Think back to previous costumes you have worn for other events. Did you prefer to wear flats as the Peanut Butter to his Jelly? Heels to portray Charlies Angel? Or sneakers as the Referee?

Secondly, set a budget and stick to it! This might mean having to DIY part of your costume. Expect to spend anywhere from $40-$120. Keep in mind how much time you have to actually plan and execute your costume so you can avoid last minute decisions.

Lastly, accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Some of the best costumes to date were made beyond epic by the accessories added to the look. i.e. An Egyptian Goddess not only needs a Toga but also the Gold Leaf headband and Silk cords paired with amazing highlighting makeup; or the Crazed Clown with Red Hair that is missing his bloody scissors and squeaky horn.

Whatever you come up with during this festive Halloween season, may you have a hair-raising experience, chills and thrills this Halloween!

The post Throwing a Halloween party? appeared first on RG Magazines.

If you’ve ever tried to carve a pumpkin you know it’s a messy business.  Before you can get creative with a knife you have to take out those slimy seeds and pulp. Speaking of knives, you really don’t need the extra stress of worrying that your five-year-old will chop off a finger.  Plus, since it doesn’t really get that cold here, those rotting cut-up pumpkins are an open invitation to the entire neighborhood of bugs and creepy crawlies. Eww.

Thanks to the creativity of other people and the magic of Pinterest, I’ve put together eight great ideas for non-carved pumpkins. Don’t forget to Pin your favourites for later and click on the images to tutorials.

Have you ever seen a more stylish pumpkin?  Halloween may be a lot of fun for kids but that doesn’t mean that your pumpkins can’t be all grown up.  These would look great in any adult space and I love the glamorous metallic touches.  A paint pen is all you need!

If you prefer your pumpkins fun and funky use acrylic paint in bright colours to give them a vibrant look then splatter with metallic gold for a bit of sparkle!

Spooky!  Instead of carving our scary faces, paint them and arrange on a mantle or the dining room table.  It will make a fun centerpiece!

…or give your pumpkins faces made out of yarn.  Use a cardboard cut out to plan your design, outline in pins or thumbtacks and connect the dots with string.

For another truly spooky Halloween pumpkin raid the crayon box for moody shades of black, grey and white.  Cut the crayon in half (adult job), glue to the top of the pumpkin then melt with a blow drier.

Do you have left-over nail polish?  Here’s an easy tutorial to turn your pumpkins (the smaller the better) into marbled works of art.

Husband has banned glitter at our house so use a little extra and think of me!  I can only imagine how these gold dipped pumpkins sparkle in the light.  TIP:  After applying glitter, spray your project with a clear sealer to make sure the glitter stays put and doesn’t make a mess all over the house.

Mummy!  Mummy!  Wrap your pumpkin in gauze (or toilet paper!), glue on a pair of eyes and voila!

Karolina and her husband Justin De Costa took over Rowe Spurling Paint Company in 2007 after the senior De Costas, Pamela and Neviile, retired.  Both Karolina and Justin studied theatre at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.  This gave them a foundation in architecture and design while helping to fuel their creative endeavors.  They continue to evolve Bermuda’s oldest paint store, providing the latest in coatings technology as well as inspiring their customers in their own home and professional projects.

The post Eight great pumpkin ideas appeared first on RG Magazines.