It’s Halloween again, and you’re excited to hang out with your friends and start spooking everyone out. Even so, wouldn’t it be nice if you can spend this creepy season with your family instead? Many families today have plenty of traditions to make their Halloween festive and exciting. You have to admit, though, that parties and trick-or-treating are starting to get old. Don’t worry; here are five unique, but simple family Halloween ideas that will surely bring lots of excitement to your home.

The Frightful Family Portrait

So everyone in your family loves to camwhore. If this is the case, then this idea is certainly for you. Have everyone dress up in their scariest and most creative costumes , then prepare a space in your home for the scary background (you can hang fake cobwebs and spiders). Set up a camera on a tripod, then ask everyone to come up with their scariest face when the camera flashes. Enlarge the photo, frame it, then hang it up somewhere your guests will see, such as above the fireplace or in the dining room. As the tradition continues every year, you’ll have plenty of scary family portraits to display.

You can even come up with unified costumes for the photo. Some ideas are:

• The Addams Family
• The Munsters
• Zombie Family

Welcome a New Creepy Family Member

If you’ve been celebrating a Halloween family tradition the same way and with the same folks every year, it can get boring easily. Chances are you’d like to bring someone in your circle, and make him/her join in the festive fun. Here’s a cool way to do this: create your own spooky family member. It can be anything (or anyone) you like, and should be assembled with simple craft items. Want to have a ghostly white lady in your place? Get an old sheet, a mask with long hair and a coat stand, and you’ll have one standing at your doorway. Maybe you want to have Mr. Pumpkin head; no problem, just make a jack-o-lantern, and dress him up in black sheets.

To make your new family member creepier/weirder, take him/her all around the house. Let him/her stand in a corner when you’re having your Halloween dinner, or sit beside you as you watch a scary Halloween flick. You can even create a “history” for your new friend. The possibilities are endless. Just don’t take him out of the house, or people will start to think you’re crazy.

Prepare a Foreign Halloween dish

Munching on the same treats and dishes every Halloween can get tiresome, especially if you prepare them every year. If you want to add a new twist to your annual family Halloween dinner, one awesome idea is to prepare a special, foreign Halloween dish.

Here’s one example you can try this year: Colcannon. It comes from Ireland, and although made simply with potatoes, cabbage and butter, has an interesting superstition behind it. It’s said that unmarried women should put the first and last spoonful of Concalnnon in a stocking, and hang it on their door. The first man to enter the door will become their husband. Another version is, a ring is hidden in the Colcannon, and whoever finds it will be married the following year. (Or you can try a snack mix for halloween, read how to make a Halloween snack mix)

The superstitions may not be true, but at least you will delight your family with these interesting tales, and fill their tummies with this unique dish. Here’s a helpful recipe for Colcannon.

Let the Family Pet Join the Fun, Too

Amidst all the busy Halloween preparations, you’re probably forgetting an important member of your family: why, your darling pet of course! Join them in all the Halloween excitement, by dressing them up in cute/scary/creepy costumes. There are many costumes made for pets in stores today or you can create one using simple materials. Just make sure the costume doesn’t irritate or harm your darling pet, or they’ll only become restless.

To the Forest You Will Go

Forests have always been included in Halloween stories, because of the dark creatures they hold. You never know what monsters and supernatural beings lurk in it. This year, bring your family to the great and scary outdoors. Go camping in a nearby forest, and have a great time scaring each other out. Just don’t forget to bundle up because it can be very cold at this season. Here are fun ideas you can do in the forest:

• Go on a nature walk. Collect rocks, leaves and pinecones that you can use for making Halloween decors at home.
• Tell chilling Halloween stories around a campfire.
• Have a pumpkin-carving contest. (Learn how to carve a pumpkin)
• Play a Halloween prank. You can pretend to be a ghost and scare the other campers as they sleep in their tents.

Spending Halloween at home is never boring! With these exciting and spooky ideas, the whole family will certainly enjoy this festive and chilling season. Have fun!

You’ve found the perfect house for a reasonable price, and it has enough room for you and your family. What happens when living in the seemingly perfect house leads you to experience strange events like hearing voices, objects being moved around and strange figures flitting around the corner of your eye? What if your house turns out to be haunted? Here’s how to deal with sharing a house with ghosts.

Types of Hauntings

Paranormal experts maintain that there are different types of hauntings that people experience. Knowing what type of haunting you’re experiencing in your house can help in deciding how to deal with them.

• Residual Haunting. Residual haunting means that there’s no actual ghost or entity in your house, just impressions of what they did there when they were living. They may come in the form of voices, footsteps and even figures walking in various parts of the house. They do not interact with living beings in any way. There’s no real way to get rid of them, and you may just have to get used to them. However, some suggest that changing or remodeling parts of the house may help dissipate the energies stuck in their old ways.
• Intelligent Hauntings. Intelligent hauntings can be applied to what is commonly known as ghosts.They can be mischievous, benevolent or downright hostile, their attitudes depending on why they are haunting the house in the first place.
• Poltergeists. Poltergeist refer to the mischievous or hostile entities who have the ability to move objects around. They can also manifest themselves through apparitions and voices
• Demonic Hauntings. Demonic hauntings are the most serious and most dangerous of all hauntings. Their aim is to break the human spirit and their free will until they can possess them. They do it in various ways, such as hurting people and inflicting psychological torment. They can come in forms of dark masses of shadow, humans or animals. Fortunately, they happen rarely, but if you run into them, seek professional help as soon as possible. Don’t try to deal with a demonic haunting yourself. There are a number of people who can help you like priests, spiritualists, exorcists and even paranormal investigators.

If you have an idea on what kind of entity you’re dealing with, you can then decide on how exactly you will deal with them.

Dealing with Hauntings

People who live with ghosts may feel scared, frustrated and questioning about why this happened to them. There are several healthy ways you can deal with hauntings, and they all start with yourself.

1. Never assume. People who have interacted ghosts and have done a little research easily fall into assumptions that they are dealing with entities of previous tenants of the house. This is not always the case. Demonic entities, for example, can assume the forms of humanlike apparitions to make you feel comfortable with them, opening yourself to them and making yourself vulnerable. Remember, you can’t see them, so keep assumptions on what you’re dealing with to a minimum. Never assuming can also refer to keeping a healthy skepticisim that you’re dealing with ghosts. Exhaust all logical means of explaining the mysterious events in the house before jumping to conclusions.



2. Keep a positive attitude. Negative energies like fear, anger and frustration only make the entities stronger. Fear may be unavoidable, but do your best to rise above the fear. Try to find out if your family members have problems that may be another source of the negative energy. Support each other and reassure each other that there’s nothing to be afraid of.
3. Don’t seek them out. Ghosts are not people you can sit down and have a reasonable talk with. Don’t get angry with them and don’t try to provoke them. They can’t be dealt with the same way we deal with living people who inconvenience us. Using an ouija board is usually a big mistake that many people make when dealing with hauntings. Trying methods to contact ghosts or entities usually make the problems worse, because you end up inviting them in or providing a portal in your home that cannot be closed. (But if you want to try for the heck of it, read how to contact the dead)



4. Avoid them. If the ghost tends to favor a particular area in your house, try to make it into a storage area or a room where you will rarely have to go to.
5. Hire the professionals. If you do want to contact whatever it is that’s haunting your house, do it by inviting professional paranormal investigators, priests or mediums who have had experience in dealing with this phenomena. They will most likely believe your story than other people.
6. They’re not vermin. Often, people get disappointed or angry when the entity comes back after a house blessing or after a ritual to drive them out had been done. Keep in mind that ghosts are not like rats that can be removed in one go, and that you’ll have to live with them more often than not. Many families in fact have learned how to deal with ghosts like unseen visitors who sometimes causes strange things to happen.
7. Leave the house. If the entities are very hostile, causing physical and psychological distress to you and your family, don’t waste time in getting out of that place immediately.

Joining a support group of people who themselves have experienced hauntings is also a good idea. It would help you to deal with your own experiences and be reassured that you’re not alone in what happened. If you enjoy reading this article, you’ll be amazed in learning the Top Ten Creepiest haunted places that will bring chills to your spine.

The Scorpions may have rocked the world like a hurricane, but in the wake of many calamities and disasters all over the world because of deadly storms, it pays to be prepared. Yet sometimes even the people most prepared for disaster become victims of it nonetheless; losing their homes, property, and risking their lives because of the wrath of Mother Nature.

Hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, and storms have devastated almost every continent in the world. Many countries in Asia and some areas of the United States are hit by some of the most dramatic hurricanes in the world (see Top Ten Hurricanes Of All Time). If you live in an area prone to the most devastating effects of hurricanes, these tips may help you survive the worst effects of it, especially when things take a turn for a destructive calamity.

1. Find Things That Will Float

A boat or an inflatable raft is a wise investment if you live in a hurricane-prone area. When the storm does hit and your place gets flooded in the worst possible way, you need a way to be able to get yourself to high ground. Here’s where tires, gallon-jug water bottles, and even big pieces of Styrofoam can be handy. As long as an object can float and can carry your weight, you may just be able to row your way to high ground.

2. Wrapped in Plastic… It’s Fantastic

Keeping dry is an important part of survival. Wet weather conditions can give rise to a lot of health risks like hypothermia, especially if the weather is cold and if the rising tide from the flood does get you wet to the bone. All those floating plastic bags may have caused the flood, but you can use them to protect yourself from the incoming torrent of rain or the rising flood. Plastic containers can also be used to catch rainwater, which is safer to drink than floodwater just in case you run out of supplies.

3. Look for Working Electronics

Communications can be a real problem during a hurricane, especially if you need to transmit information or have updates on search and rescue operations. Hand-cranked radios are a must-have if you live in a hurricane prone area. Hand-operated radios provide and generate their own power when the user turns the crank on the radio, giving you instant and reliable access to radio broadcasts that may describe weather patterns, weather conditions, or search and rescue teams that may be near your area.

4. Stay Visible

Floodwater can be so murky and dirty that it may be very difficult for airborne rescue teams to spot you as you float away on the rising tide. Brightly-colored plastics, flags, and banners can be used as beacons for rescue teams to be able to locate you from the murky surface of the water, and send help immediately. Visibility is also important especially if you’re in the evacuation site, so that relatives and members can spot you quickly.

5. Food and Water

The biggest problem in any hurricane is a steady supply of food and potable water. The good news is that there’s usually a supply of these essentials during emergencies, but sometimes aid can may not reach you in time to survive the worst effects of the hurricane, if it ever reaches the worst-case scenarios. Here are some tips to remember:

• Ideally, food should not be a problem. You may still be able to salvage stocks of canned food before the flood hits, or some of them may be floating around near flooded houses.
• Your biggest problem in any flood is a source of potable water. A portable stove or water purifying tablets can help the water you drink clean and potable. Do not, under any circumstances, try to drink floodwater. Floodwater contains many contaminants and bacteria that can pose a risk to your health. In extreme situations, it is generally safer to use a container to collect rainwater for drinking. (Learn how to make a portable water purifier)

Most hurricanes don’t cause the kind of devastation that reach international headlines, but you never know when a seriously terrifying and horrifying hurricane can rock your life for the worst. With these steps and tips, you can survive the worst effects of a hurricane, and help others survive their own ordeals as well.

The first thing you should try to do is talk to your husband about your feelings. Tell him how uncomfortable his mother makes you feel. 2 things may happen when you talk The Talk. First, he may agree with you and give you advices so you can deal with your MIL better. Second, he may not agree with you and tell you that you just don’t want to try to have a good relationship with his mother. When your husband does the first one, then you won’t have any problems. You’re sure that he’ll be there to back you up whenever your MIL gets in your nerves. If he does the second one, as bad as it may sound, you’re on your own. This is the best opportunity to try to do any of the following tips.

Live on the Safe Zone

Wives usually commit the mistake of picking a house as far away as possible from their in laws. What’s the greatest drawback of this? You’d have your in- laws stay for the night every time they come and visit you.

The safe zone is a place located not too near or too far from your MIL’s house. Living so near would give her all the chances for surprise and unwanted visits. Living too far would make each of her visits longer and would require her to stay over night. You won’t have any choice but to let her stay over unless you want to be called as a heartless wife.

When you’re on the safe zone, she won’t be able to visit you all the time as this requires a certain amount of traveling. When she does, she wouldn’t have to stay long because she’ll be thinking about her drive back home.

Convenient right? Small doses of bad medicine won’t kill you. Besides, you can’t keep your MIL from visiting, she’ll come over every chance she can. Living on the safe zone will give you less visits from her and shorten her stay. Now all you have to do is deal with her in the short time that she’s in the house.

Get a dog

Having a dog would warn you of approaching guests. This way, you’d have a few seconds to prepare yourself before you open your front door, especially if your mother in law loves surprise visits.

A noisy and needy pet would also make conversations unbearable. This is a very good and effective distraction. Let your dog bark all he wants until your MIL starts to complain, then give your dog a treat. This will calm the dog down. When your husband’s mother starts talking and you don’t want to listen to her, pet your dog. Tell his mother that it’s time for your dog’s bath or that you need to let the dog out on the yard for awhile. This would cut the conversation short.

If your mother in law likes pet, then let her play with your dog. This way, she’ll have all her attention on your pet and not on you.

Wrong Number?

One way of avoiding frequent calls from your mother in law is by frequently changing the recorded message in your answering machine. Record a message that would make it look like she dialed a wrong number. This may be a bit tricky as other people might think of the same thing, but most parents ,especially old ones would hesitate to leave a message if they feel like they’ve got the wrong number.

Make a Script

After a few meetings with your husband’s mom, you more or less have an idea what she constantly rants about. Take note of these and make a script. Prepare answers to all her complaints. When she starts to go into her long lists of complaints, mentally go over the script. This way, you wouldn’t have to listen to her as you already know what she’s saying. All you have to do is to answer in appropriate times. Go on autopilot and recite your lines.

Cook

Know the foods that your mother in law doesn’t like. Don’t ask your husband about this. It’ll give your plan away, instead, ask his mom’s favorite dishes and make sure not to cook those dishes. Come up with an excuse the day before the visit. A good excuse would be that you can’t find all the ingredients you need or that you don’t know how to cook the dish. Prepare the food that you think his mom won’t like. Make sure to give it your best. During meal time, everyone would compliment your good cooking except your husband’s mom. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to complain because everyone liked what you prepared. When she tells you that she doesn’t eat the meal that you cooked, say that you’re sorry and that you weren’t aware that she doesn’t eat, say grilled eel. Tell her that you’d take note of it so you don’t prepare the same meal again.

Kindness is your Greatest Ammunition

An overbearing and nosy mother in law can be gunned down with kindness. If she’s treating you the way she’s not supposed to, take a deep breath and continue showering her with love. This would require a lot of patience and hard work, but this is the most effective way to deal with your MIL. Let her know that your husband made the right decision of marrying you. She’ll eventually see your good points and make your life easy.

Keep that happily ever after within easy reach. Don’t let an overbearing mother in law make family life hard for you. With a little creativity and a huge amount of kindness and understanding, you’d be able to deal with your MIL and eventually have a good and loving relationship with her. For more information regarding this article, read how to deal with your in-laws.

Everyone is familiar with the health benefits of tea: it fights cancer, reduces risk of stroke and other diseases, and revitalizes body cells. Yet, after you’ve drained your delicious cup of tea, you find yourself discarding the used tea bags. Well, don’t. You’ll be surprised at the number of ways you can reuse these materials. Here are a number of unique and surprising uses for those old tea bags.

Soothe Tired or Injured Eyes

Crying all night over a breakup can result in puffy and red eyes. While regular ice bags would work, a couple of tea bags can do the trick. Soak them in ice cold water then apply over your eyelids, as compresses. The tea will rejuvenate your face, removing the redness and puffiness after a while. This method also works for healing pink eye. (More tips on how to get rid of pink eye)

Flavor Your Meat

Meat tastes great when cooked the right way, but when not prepared properly, it can turn out bland, tough and unappetizing. Here’s one way of solving that problem: use tea bags (or even leftover tea) to marinade your meat. The sweetness of the drink will add a savory taste to your barbecue.

Make “Less Sinful” Drinks

If you’re a health junkie, you’re definitely very much aware of the unpleasant effects of soft drink and alcoholic beverages on your body. To lessen the guilt of consuming these sinful drinks, you can substitute half of it with tea. Soak the used tea bag in hot or cold water again for a few minutes, then get the same amount of soft drink or alcoholic beverage and mix them together. There’s less calories and sugar, but the flavor will be improved.

Around-The-House Cleaner

Tea can effectively remove grease and grime on mirrors, floors and even linoleum, so why not use your old bags to make a cold brew, then use it as a cleaning solution? Mop your linoleum or wooden flooring with these. Clean your kitchen countertops with it as well. You can use this for unpainted wooden furniture. Just make sure you wipe it thoroughly, so it won’t stain.

Remove Warts

Warts are icky and unsightly. There are numerous around the house items you can use to remove them. Old tea bags are one example. Soak them in hot water, then put over your wart for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Make sure you dispose of the tea bag after using it on the wart. You can’t say it works as great (or as quick) as vinegar, but it’s worth a try!

Deodorize Your Place

Tea bags soak in water, but they can also soak in the stuffy and stinky smell of shoes or closets. Place a few unwrapped and unused tea bags on a small platter, then put this inside the closet. If it’s shoes, place one bag in every shoe.

Give Oral Relief

Got a painful canker sore? It can go away on its own, but if you want to quicken the healing process, soak a used tea bag, then bite down on it. The tea’s healing properties will soothe the pain and make the sore go away faster. This method also helps stop a pulled tooth from bleeding.

Sunburn And Acne Solution

Old tea bags can also be added to your bath, too! If you’ve got a bad case of acne, or if your skin is raw and red from tanning at the beach, use the old tea bags to provide relief. Wash off the affected areas with cold tea made from used bags. After several applications, you’ll feel the cooling and calming effects. (For more sunburn remedies, read how to relieve sun burn)

Fertilize Your Plants

Here’s a great way to reuse all the old tea bags you have around the house: use them for your plants. Tea bags can be used as an organic fertilizer for potted house plants, with many stimulant benefits from the nutrients in the ingredients. You can even remove the bags and mix the tea leaves inside with your soil, helping absorb water and retaining moisture. If your problem is leaking bottom holes in the plant containers, you can use teabags to prevent the leakage. This also works well for hanging planters.

Show Your Artistic Side

Why do we throw away old tea bags immediately, in the first place? Because they stain! Leave it on a surface for too long, and expect a nasty unpleasant surprise. Well, why not use this to your advantage? Use old tea bags as alternative to commercial dyes. You can paint on paper with, or use it to dye fabric and embroidery.

Used tea bags may belong in the trash, but if you don’t want them to go to waste, then these effective methods might be your cup of tea! soon, you’ll be saving up all those used ones you’ve got around the house.

Planning for a vacation in Las Vegas but gambling is not an option? If you’re travelling with children or you’re looking for alternative ways to enjoy your time in Las Vegas without having to go to the casinos, you can go to the places the locals go to themselves. Here’s how to enjoy yourself in Las Vegas without having to spend for gambling.

Get Remarried

While getting married in Las Vegas is cliché as it can get, remarrying certainly isn’t. Get married in a number of chapels, and you can even get your remarriage officiated by Elvis or even an alien. When it comes to Las Vegas, the possibilities are endless. (see The Guide To Vegas Weddings)

Hoover Dam

You can actually go to Las Vegas and enjoy the outdoors. How? By visiting Hoover Dam! Found on the border between Arizona and Nevada, Hoover Dam provides you a breathtaking view of the powers of nature. You can also take pretty good pictures of the real thing…no fake backgrounds needed.

Lake Mead

If you’ve just finished visiting Hoover Dam, you can stop by Lake Mead for a round of peaceful fishing. Lake Mead is actually formed by the water impounded by Hoover Dam. Being so close to nature can actually make you forget that you’re in Las Vegas, which is more famous for its casino strip.

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon is a place you must go to when you’re into hiking and rock climbing. Not only will you be able to enjoy breathtaking scenery, you’ll get to see beautiful rock formations and the Canyon’s own zoo. Animals are also abound in the wild, so keep your eyes out for them.

Ghost Town in Bonnie Springs

If you’re looking for something the whole family will enjoy, you’ll be definitely having fun in the Ghost Town in Bonnie Springs. The ghost town is also a wild wild west-themed extravaganza, a replica of the mining town built there in the late 1800’s. Located in Old Nevada, you can enjoy tours in haunted houses, visit petting zoos, go down haunted paths, enjoy magic shows and even listen to live bands. There’s also a train ride and an opportunity for your kids to look for “bandits” hiding in this quaint old town.

Visit the Mirage

If you ever are seized by an urge to gaze at white tigers, going to the Mirage is the place to go. You can watch them in their transparent cages and see them splash about in their pools. You can also watch the dolphin show, but of course, they’re not swimming with the tigers.

Catch the Shows

Casinos are usually related to gambling, but these days they play host to a number of interesting shows as well. From Celine Dion to Ziegfried and Roy to Cirque de Soleil, there are a number of shows that you can watch while in Las Vegas. Whether it’s music or arts or magic tricks, Las Vegas is ready for all your needs.

Good Eats

Las Vegas boasts of quite a number of good restaurants, but don’t let your avoidance of gambling circuits lead to avoidance of the casinos. Most casinos and their hotels have very good menus on their side. So take a chance and try out what they have to offer.

New York New York

Ever wanted to visit two places at the same time? Las Vegas offers a chance to visit New York without you ever having to board a plane. Visit Las Vegas’ version of New York whittled down to a 1/3 of the scale. If you’re a New Yorker, you can check the details if they all ring true.

Buccaneer Bay

If you and your kids are into pirates and maritime battles, Buccaneer Bay is just for you. Buccaneer at the entrance of Treasure Island features a maritime battle of the British Royal Navy against pirates, every evening from 4:00 pm to 11:30 pm. It features special effects, props and stuntmen battling it out!

Las Vegas can be very surprising outside the gambling. All it takes is a little more effort to look closer and appreciate its other facets. Take your time looking about and discover a whole new side to Las Vegas. Have fun! If you enjoy reading this article, you’ll surely be interested in learning how to save in Las Vegas.

In the rock universe, there are groupies, fans, and then there are rock gods. Not everyone can reach the status of a true rock god, much less live the heavy metal lifestyle associated with people who have made it to the Valhalla of rock and roll (see Top ten most amazing rock bands of all time). It takes a lot of time and dedication to be a true rock god, but if you’re impatient or if you want to look and sound impressive, you can always pretend to be one. Here are five ways that you can use to convince people you’re a rock god.

1. Growl Every Time You Talk

Screaming and shouting on stage, drug use, and an addiction to tobacco can take its toll on the vocal cords of the heavy metal vocalist. Lemmy of Mötorhead has a distinct gravelly voice not only when he performs, but also when he talks. While you don’t have to permanently damage your speaking voice or risk your health, you can always pretend to have permanently scratched your vocal cords from your “days in the garage.” Every time you talk to somebody who does not know you so well, keep a consistent, heaving growl that sounds impressive, and can scare the pants out of any new acquaintance.

2. Carry a Guitar (Even If You Don’t Know How to Play One)

Some people wear shirts or merchandise from their favorite bands, but unless you’re Iron Maiden, you’ll only stand among hundreds or thousands of groupies. One of the signatures of a bonafide rock star is the electric guitar adorned with stickers or an edgy-looking body. The more impressive-looking the guitar is, the better (Learn how to build an electric guitar). You don’t even have to know how to play it; you only need to carry it around like a warrior carries a sword. You may also want to adorn the strap with studs and rivets to make yourself even more like a true rock god.

3. Always Use the Corna

The corna (also called the “devil’s horns” or the “rock and roll salute”) was made popular by Ronnie James Dio during his days with Black Sabbath, and has been part of heavy metal culture ever since. To fully convince people that you’re living a rockin’ and rollin’ lifestyle, you may want to throw the horns around at every opportunity possible:

• After depositing or claiming money from a bank.
• Finishing up your order at a fast food restaurant.
• Filling your car up with gas, and paying the attendant.
• Raising your hand to ask a question in a meeting or in the classroom.

4. Hang Around With Hot Women

The goal of some rock god wannabees is to attract hot women, but a true rock god has hot women gravitate toward him. A good example of a womanizing rock star is Gene Simmons of KISS, who claimed to have slept with over a thousand women. If you’re in a party and you’re surrounded by attractive women, play it cool; let your natural rock god attract the women for you. Remember that rock stars don’t introduce themselves to hot women. Instead, hot women introduce themselves to rock stars just for those few seconds to bask in their glow.

5. Make Up a Band Name

One option is to play it like you’re a solo act, but it’s even more impressive if you have a “band.” You don’t have to have an actual band behind you to convince people how rock and roll you really are. All you need to do is to make up an intimidating, impressive-sounding band name that seemed to come from the very core of the lord and master of the infinite darkness. Here are some ideas you can use for your fictitious band:

• Biblical references are sometimes used by black metal bands, as long as you twist it a bit (and as long as you don’t offend other religious sensibilities). Try “Toxic Flames of Gomorrah,” or “Cana Alcohol.” You can also try names associated with destruction, like “Slaughterhouse Apocalypse,” or something impressive like “Guardian Angel Graveyard.”
• Heavy metal umlauts are particularly useful to give your fictitious band an impressive name when you have a couple of T-shirts printed. Even something as innocent-sounding as “Marshmallow Smores” becomes very heavy metal when you give it a Viking-like effect, like “Märshmallöw Smøres.”

There’s nothing wrong with pretending to be someone you’re not, as long as you do it in the right context, the right frame of mind, and if you do it all in good fun. Remember that there is a limit to all pretending and posing, and you don’t want to offend or tick off real rock gods that may be in your presence.

If you ask someone to name a common fruit they see in their kitchen, they’d definitely say “banana!” enthusiastically. Who isn’t familiar with this plant? It’s rich in potassium and other nutrients. Bananas also have a sweet flavor that blends well with various meals and dishes, from pastry, desserts and even as baby mush.

Since it’s highly versatile as a food, it’s no surprise that bananas can be used for various tasks around the house. If you’re curious as to how to put this fruit to unique uses, then read on.

Shoe Or Silverware Shiner

You just ran out of shoe shine just when you need it for a job interview. Not to worry. When you’re finished with your breakfast banana, don’t throw out the peel. Remove the stringy material from the inside, then rub the soft inside of the skin all over your shoes. When done, buff it up with a soft cloth or paper towel (More tips on how to shine shoes). The same technique can be used for silverware. Some even claim that it works on leather. Test in on a small area of the leather first, though, just to be on the safe side.

Houseplants Maintenance

Neglected houseplants can become dusty and worn out overtime. Instead of spraying water on them and spreading the dirt more, just use the banana peel to wipe the leaves down. Wipe the soft fleshy skin all over the green leaf surface to remove the gunk. You’ll be left with shiny and healthy-looking plants.

Wart Remedy

White vinegar and creams can effectively dry out a painful and unsightly wart, but when these remedies are not available, a banana will work. Mash up some and apply all over the affected area. You can also use the peel and rub its inside against your skin. Many say this plant’s high potassium content somewhat removes this skin problem. The bonus? It’s not even painful.

Banana Facial

For an instant glow and to relieve dry skin, make a banana facial pack. It’s soothing and it will moisturize your skin, making it soft and clean. Here’s an easy recipe you can try.

Materials:

• Two tablespoons of almond oil
• One ripe banana
• One egg yolk

Procedure:

1. Mash the bananas in a bowl using a fork. Make sure you remove all chunky bits.
2. Add the egg yolk and the almond oil and mix well.
3. Wash your face and pat it dry with a towel.
4. Apply the banana mixture to your face then leave it on for 20 minutes.
5. Wash with cold water and pat dry.

No more need to run down to the beauty store to buy gunk to put on your face. With this recipe, you’ll never need a botox ever!

Aphids Solution

Aphids that attack your rose bushes can be a headache. Cut up a bunch of banana peels, then bury them an inch or two around the plant’s base. The pesky suckers will soon say goodbye. A tip: never use the whole fruit, because animals and critters will dig them up and eat them. (For aphid extermination guide, read how to get rid of aphids)

Teeth Whitener

Bananas are yellow, but surprisingly enough, they can help whiten your stained yellowish teeth. Rub the peel in circular motions all over your teeth everyday for at least two to three minutes. In a few weeks or months you’ll see the results. Your dentist will be overwhelmed when she sees your sparkly whites.

Tenderize Roast Meat

After using the fruit and the peel, you can now use the leaves. If you’re tired of eating tough beef or pork for dinner, then try wrapping them in banana leaves to make them tender. This also works for fish (as seen in many Asian delicacies). While cooking, adding a ripe banana also helps. It also adds a delicious sweet flavor.

Birds And Butterflies Magnet

Does your garden seem lonely without bees and butterflies buzzing around? Put out some overripe bananas with a few holes on a platform above head level. This will lure the insects to your garden. Just make sure it’s elevated, since this can also attract wasps, bees and little critters.

With these clever methods, the banana will never again be left unused in the fruit bowl. Then again, you can always use it for a banana split or maybe to make a monkey very happy.

Party and alcohol are the ultimate duo to spice up a night. Do you know what happened last weekend? Maybe you don’t because you were so drunk to even remember who took you home. Partying all night without being dead drunk doesn’t mean you have to be a party pooper and miss your favorite vodka concoction. Here are 5 easy ways to avoid getting stone-drunk in a party.

Flirting is an Art of Self Expression

No, this is not to promote promiscuity. Flirting, though may be seen as an act of expressing romantic interests on somebody, is really just a way of social interaction. There’s nothing wrong with being a social butterfly once in a while. If you act and talk properly, you won’t be sending out wrong signals to people. Keep the conversations light. Get on the dance floor and show off your jaw-dropping dance moves. By the end of the night, you get to have 2 things : new names on your social network and a calendar packed with upcoming parties and events.

Warning: Just to stay on the safe side, remember that singles are for singles. Never flirt with fire. Of course, you already know what that means. (Tips on how to flirt)

Polish Up on Your Acting Skills

Ever imagined yourself as a Hollywood star? After a few wine glasses, act like you’ve already had enough. Squint your eyes a little and move your head slowly to make it look like the world is spinning around you. Master the craft of slurring. Interject incongruent words within a conversation and act like you didn’t just say anything out of context. Excuse yourself every couple of minutes to go to the powder room. Wipe your lips as you approach your table to show that you just puked. When drinking beer, burp as loudly as you can. If burps don’t appeal to you, hiccups are the next best thing.

Don’t exaggerate. You don’t want to get busted on your act. It might be hard to do this with your closest friends, but this will work when you’re with people who don’t know you that well.

Feign Amnesia

This technique would work best when you’re doing shots and you’re friends are already tipsy. Be the one in charge of passing the shot glass around. When it’s your turn to have a shot, fill the glass and wait for a few minutes. Get into an animated conversation. Distract all your friends’ attention from the shot, then give the shot glass to the person beside you. If you’re passing the glass to the person before you and he insists that he already took his shot, tell him you don’t remember seeing him down the shot. If you’re giving the glass to the person next to you, and your friend tells you that you haven’t had your turn, act confused and say that you already took your shot, you just can’t remember when because you were so into the conversation awhile ago. You may also just announce that you forgot where the shot ended and you have to do the round again. Start with the person farthest from you.

Booze Up

Offer to make your friend a drink and put more alcohol in his drink than yours. If you’re in a bar, ask the bartender to do this for you. You may also just get yourself a glass of sprite and say you’re drinking vodka sprite. No one will know the difference!

Malingering

This is the act of faking a medical problem. In simple words, act like you’re sick. Tell your friends that you’ve been advised to cutback on alcohol because of a condition like gastric ulcer or a liver disease. Dive into a medical conversation about your illness and you’re sure to have your friends putting alcohol as far away from you as they can.

There are many alternatives to stay sober in a party, but the easiest way is to just say no. Know when to stop and then stop. If you’re in the company of real friends, this won’t be a problem. Have a good party and go easy on that margarita! If you learn from reading this article, you’ll surely enjoy learning how to get rid of alcohol breath.

You’ve heard the horror stories about bridezillas: They obsess over every detail, harass their wedding coordinators and terrorize their relatives on how exactly to look so as not to overshadow the bride. You’ve sworn never to become one, but you want your wedding to be perfect! You’ve been dreaming about it your whole life! Remember: Even the nicest girls can become a bridezilla if they’re not careful. Here’s how you can still get the wedding of your dreams and still have someone other than your husband love you after the wedding.

It’s Not Just About You

This may take a while to digest. Ready? The wedding is not just about you. It’s also about the man you’re marrying. Since it is as much as his day as it is yours, he should be involved from day one until the wedding banquet is over. Plan things together, do things together, and you’ll realize that not only do you have to be so iron-fisted over everything, things may be put in perspective and you’ll have an easier time planning the wedding.

If you claim that your fiancé is “not that into that,” then maybe you’re not giving him a chance. He may not know anything about the right combination of flowers, but he can give you input on food and wine. He can also give you advice on what looks good on you. He can also help out with figuring out finances and coordinating tasks. Try to guide him in areas he’s unfamiliar with. When you think about it, planning your wedding is one of the first tasks you’ll do with him as a team, and it will be really indicative of how your teamwork as a couple will be in the future.

Learn to Compromise

No one in this world is perfect (not even your fiancé), and because wedding coordinators, wedding caterers and florists are only human, the only conclusion is that the wedding will not be perfect. Keep your demands on minimum. Learn when to make a compromises. After all, married life is going to be full of compromises too.

When do you compromise and when to say no? For example, if your budget can’t afford the type of flowers you want, then switch to another type. That’s a compromise. If the florist delivers ugly and dying flowers, you say no. Try to get the best service possible, but do not force the impossible.

Compromising can also mean letting go on the little details, such as the shoes of your bridesmaids (they don’t match!) or the last-minute change in the buffet table arrangement (For more information regarding bridesmaid dresses, read The Four Simple Steps for bridesmaid dresses). Don’t micro-manage everything. Be gracious to people working with you on the wedding, be polite to them, be articulate on what you want, reward them as you should, and don’t bully them. They are people, not your minions.

Stress Management

Brides often become bridezillas because of the stress of planning a wedding. As mentioned earlier, you can get rid of stress by having your fiancé pitch in. Another way to avoid stress is to start planning a year earlier so you don’t have to do a crash course on everything.

Other people can pitch in too, but don’t let them dictate what your wedding should be. In-laws and parents want to help, but they usually come with their own ideas for the wedding. Stick to your own game plan, and don’t let them bring unnecessary stress. Just remind them that this you and your fiancé’s wedding, and doing it your way is what will make you happy. (Tips on how to manage your time)

Take Time Off

Make a conscious effort to spend time with friends, family and fiancé NOT talking about your wedding preparations. Talking about it won’t help, so why not spend time catching up with your loved ones instead. Remember, talking about wedding preparations is only exciting to the bride and groom, rarely to anyone else. Spend your bachelorette party not talking about the wedding, and simply chill!

Another way to take time off is to volunteer at a charitable institution, like a soup kitchen. This will help put things into perspective and remind you of the more meaningful things in life.

Elope

If all else fails, and you just don’t want a fancy-pants wedding, just elope. You can surprise friends and family (no nagging!), plus you don’t have to wear a restricting wedding gown. In the end, it’s the marriage that matters, not the day-long event of the wedding.