| How to Choose a Halloween Costume Posted: 25 Oct 2021 05:00 PM PDT With Halloween coming up, if you haven't already chosen a costume, it's possible you're stuck for ideas. Never fear, there are plenty of ways to come up with creative, original ideas for a costume and still keep within a budget. Rest assured that this article will help you to pick the perfect Halloween costume for you. [Edit]Deciding on your Look - Find your own style. Are you sexy? Scary? Funny? Cute? Perky? Angry? Your Halloween costume is a great excuse to project a side of yourself you don't usually get a chance to share if you'd like to "hide" behind something really fun, wacky or scary. Or, the costume could emphasize a side of you that everyone already knows and loves well, such as being zany, cheeky or bright.
- In finding your own style, think about what you wear on a daily basis and what's comfortable for you. This alone may help you to think of a costume right away. For example, do you usually wear cute skirts? A dress? Jeans? Can these be paired with something a little more exciting to form a costume, such as sticking a cloak over the top of jeans or a witch's hat on top of a dress?
- Think of the colors you normally wear. If you wear black, you probably wouldn't want to be a fairy, although a dark fairy could be a good option. If you like bright colors, think of pumpkins, elves, fairies, ghosts, rainbows and similar costumes. If you like darker colors, think goth, vampires, skeletons, dark wizards, evil geniuses, etc. However, don't be afraid to mix and match, as it's Halloween and anything goes.
- Think back to the styles of costumes you wore in previous years. Are they still something you'd like to build off, perhaps turning an existing old costume into a different costume? You don't have to be something that is exactly like you, but it would make more sense to dress up as someone or something that reflects your personality.
- Think of your interests. What do you like to do? Make a list of the things you enjoy, be it sport, cosplay, cooking, playing games, dressing up, reading, etc. For example, if you like soccer, be a famous soccer player; if you're into a certain TV show, dress up as one of the characters you like most; if you like animals or food, dress up as your favorite pet or dessert. Match the list of options to the items you have available and be creative.
[Edit]Setting your Budget - Decide on a budget. Halloween costumes can range from cheap to very expensive, so it's important to have an idea on what you'd like to spend. When choosing, always check to see what's included in the costume, as some costumes will be better deals than others when add-ons are accounted for.
- A costume containing, for example, a shirt, pants, hat, wig, and belt is a good deal if you get the lot for a single price. On the other hand, a single dress or costume item could cost the same amount as that deal, so you would need to balance up whether or not it's worth it to you and fits within your budget.
- Generally, it's recommended that you be willing to spend around $20-$40 on your costume, as most decent costumes are within that price range.
- Look for sales. Stores have sales all the time for Halloween costumes, especially if it's very close to Halloween. Be sure to check the TV, internet, and newspaper ads for upcoming sales on Halloween costumes. By checking the sales, you could get a great costume for a small price. If there are no sales, try using coupons and gift cards, if you have any.
[Edit]Planning Ahead - Keep time in mind. Are you planning on making your Halloween costume? Make sure that you have enough time. You'll need an idea, first of all, so start thinking about a month before and try to allow yourself at least two weeks ahead to make and adjust the costume if you're making your own. Although it seems early, thinking ahead gives you the space to make something that fits well and gives you the chance to run down and buy more fabric or items if needed.
- Avoid last-minute decisions. Try not to buy costumes at the last minute as this will often mean the best costumes are already taken and out of what is left, they may not be in your size or to your liking. However, if you do manage leave the costume until late, read How to make a last minute Halloween costume to remedy things fast.
[Edit]Considering Other Factors - Check the weather. It's important to be prepared to go out in any sort of weather, be it rain, hail or shine. Have a raincoat, poncho and rain boots option that can be thrown over your costume if needed.
- Check the weather beforehand, both in the days leading up to Halloween, and on the day itself. This will help you make the right choices about what to wear and whether you can get away with not wearing an overcoat and tights or an umbrella.
- If it's hot, don't wear thick leggings, a jacket, or a heavy costume. Avoid layers, and wear something fairly thin. Lighter colors are better than darker ones. Try putting your hair in a ponytail so you won't get extra hot. However, if you need to wear layers (if your outfit is inappropriate), just find another costume.
- If it's cold, bundle up. Wear a coat, and wear a shirt under your costume so you won't be chilly. Try wearing boots as well.
[Edit]Group Costumes - Consider a group costume. If you're trick-or-treating with some friends, one cool way to wriggle out of being original is to have matching costumes. This can be hilarious for onlookers who see a bunch of the same characters or similar ones coming to their door for trick-or-treating.
- Either choose the same costumes or stick to a theme, such as Sesame Street characters. Consult your friends first to agree upon an idea that everyone likes.
- Sometimes there are online sales for costumes that include three or four similar costumes.
[Edit]Costume Ideas - Be inspired in your costume idea from other people's picks. Still stuck on costume ideas? Here are a few suggestions that you may like.
- Classics – witch, ghost, Frankenstein, mummy, angel, fairy, mermaid, werewolf, Vampire, princess, devil, pirate.
- Sesame Street – Oscar, Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, etc.
- Crayons – Blue, purple, red, green, yellow, orange, or make up a shade of your own.
- Harry Potter – Harry, Hermione, Ron, Snape, Voldemort, Dumbledore, etc.
- Spongebob Squarepants – Spongebob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Plankton.
- Vampire series – Bella, Edward, Jacob, etc.
- Food – Banana, pickle, hot dog, ketchup, ice cream cone, etc.
- Animals - Cat, dog, horse, giraffe, kangaroo, mouse , etc.
- Fantasy animals - Unicorn, My Little Pony, dragon, Bigfoot, griffin, etc.
- Other – Albert Einstein, a hobo, a nerd, cheerleader, ladybug, bumblebee.
- Overseas – Costumes from other cultures or areas.
- Make sure the costume is comfortable. You'll be trick or treating/going to a party in it, so make sure you are able to walk around in it.
- Don't be afraid to start early! There's nothing wrong with thinking of a costume in September.
- Halloween costumes do not usually come with shoes, socks, and tights, so you'll have to find your own for these items.
- Add on to your costume, like wearing a candy corn bracelet if you are a candy corn witch.
- If your boyfriend/girlfriend is willing, coordinating your costumes can be a fun option. You can match (for example, both being pirates, vampires, and so on), or you can contrast (for example, an angel and a devil, or other opposites).
- Make sure to check what the weather is going to be like on the night of Halloween.
- Be age appropriate where necessary. If you're dressing young children, it's not recommended to dress them in looks that are too adult in nature. Instead, encourage them to choose costumes of personal interest related to their age group. And if you're responsible for shepherding young children around for Halloween night, tone down any overly sexy costume until they're tucked into bed for the night. Cover any low cuts in shirts and dresses with a t-shirt underneath and have appropriate lengths for the shorts/skirt/dress. If the clothing item is short, wear leggings or tights under it; adding these may also improve the outfit's appearance and warmth.
- Be something that no one would think of if possible; at the very least, don't do what your friends are doing just because you can't think of something else. Above are just some of the many ideas you can use.
- If you're a child and your parents say "no" to a costume because of the price, suggest that you pay half of it; you'll be more likely to get it.
- Go over things you already own and find your favourite ideas to find what works best for you.
[Edit]Warnings - Avoid costumes that may be offensive or offend other peoples' race and/or ethnicity.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Related wikiHows
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| How to Offset the Carbon Footprint of Flying Posted: 25 Oct 2021 09:00 AM PDT It's undeniable that the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from air travel contribute to climate change, a fact that can easily leave you with flyer's remorse. Fortunately, you have options when it comes to reducing your carbon impact while flying. For example, you can pay for environmentally-friendly "carbon offsets" that help balance out the CO2 emissions from your flight. You can also cut your personal carbon footprint by flying as eco-friendly as possible, and help on a broader level by reducing your daily carbon emissions and advocating for widespread change. [Edit]Fly with airlines that have carbon offset programs. - Some airlines donate to carbon offset efforts for an extra fee. Airlines with carbon offset programs estimate the cost of offsetting your flight's CO2 emissions, add the cost to your ticket, and donate that fee to carbon offset efforts.[1] Unfortunately, participating airlines often don't go out of their way to promote the fact that they offer carbon offsets, so your best bet is to contact individual airlines directly and ask.[2]
- Major airlines that currently offer carbon offset programs include JetBlue, United Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa, and Air Canada, but this list is subject to change.
- Carbon offsets might include planting trees as well as broader social efforts, such as rolling out renewable and fuel-efficient energy resources for those who might not have easy access to them.
- Carbon offsets aren't always cheap—the longer you fly, the more you pay.[3] Some airlines allow you to donate frequent flyer miles in place of money, though, so check what the program offers.
[Edit]Donate to carbon offset organizations yourself. - You don't have to rely on your airline to offset your flight. If your flight's only "heavy lifting" is lifting you off the ground, you can always offset your emissions by contributing to an offset organization directly. Use an online emissions calculator to plug in your basic flight information and figure out how much you need to donate to offset your emissions.[4] Then, search online for a Gold Standard-certified carbon offset organization, as they're considered the safest and most sustainable.[5]
[Edit]Choose eco-friendly airlines. - It helps to pick an airline that's doing their part. Some airlines don't put much effort into being environmentally friendly, but there are others that make an effort to offset their flights, cut down on emissions, and switch to sustainable fuel sources. If you can, book with an airline that's actively working to have less impact on the planet. Here are a few ways to find eco-friendly airlines:[6]
- Pick airlines with newer planes. Old planes tend to need more fuel for shorter distances, meaning more CO2.[7]
- Use flight-booking websites that offer an "eco-friendly" option that can help you find low-emissions flights. The tools aren't perfect, but it's better than nothing.[8]
- The ICCT periodically ranks airlines by fuel efficiency, so you can look at their lists to make a more environmentally-friendly decision.[9]
[Edit]Sit in economy class. - Economy class has better fuel efficiency. You might be tempted by the extra amenities (and legroom!) of business class and first class, but the fewer people seated on the plane, the more fuel being used per person. If you book your seat in economy class, it'll cut down your personal carbon footprint.[10]
[Edit]Take nonstop flights to limit layovers. - A nonstop flight burns less fuel than a multi-flight itinerary. Booking that layover might cut your travel costs, but you'll pay the price in emissions: planes use a significant amount of their fuel during takeoff and landing.[11] That means every layover causes your carbon footprint to shoot up. If you can, fly directly to your destination—and if transfers are unavoidable, only book the ones you need.[12]
- If you can't avoid a layover, try to pick one on the same direct path, or close to it. (For instance, if you're flying from San Francisco to Buffalo, pick a layover in Chicago rather than Virginia.) These may be more eco-friendly than more out-of-the-way layovers, and they're often less hassle, too![13]
[Edit]Fly on mid-size passenger planes. - The size of the plane can make a big CO2 difference. It's true that flying on a private jet is bad for the environment, because it transports fewer people while using a similar amount of fuel as a larger plane. At the same time, though, extra-large passenger planes are less fuel efficient in many cases as well. Therefore, try to fly on single-aisle passenger planes, instead of jumbo jets or private planes.[14]
- Ideally, you want to fly on a full flight.[15] But you can't control the number of people on your flight, so don't feel guilty if it has empty seats.
[Edit]Take daytime flights for minor environmental benefits. - Flying at night traps solar heat, while daytime flying helps reflect it away. To be clear, flying during the day instead of the night won't make a noticeable impact on your specific carbon emissions. However, the contrails and cirrus clouds created by jet flight, as well as the body of the airplane itself, help reflect solar radiation back into the atmosphere during daytime flight. Conversely, nighttime contrails and cirrus clouds help trap heat that would otherwise dissipate higher into the atmosphere.[16]
- It may seem like a small difference, but when it comes to combating the rise in global average temperatures, every little bit helps!
[Edit]Take ground transit for shorter trips. - Trains and cars emit less carbon over shorter distances. Flying is faster than ground travel, but if you're only traveling a short ways away, the environmental impact usually isn't worth it. If you need to travel a relatively short distance, look into driving or taking a train instead.[17]
- In many countries, trains are more eco-friendly than planes or cars, so they're often your best option.
- If you're taking a car, pick a smaller gas-powered car, or an electric car. Driving a giant gas-guzzler long distances can actually be worse than flying, especially if you're traveling solo.[18]
- Sometimes it's not always clear what's more environmentally friendly: a short-distance flight or a long-distance drive. It depends on the distance and your car's mileage, so you'll need to calculate the carbon emissions of both.
[Edit]Fly less often. - Unnecessary flights are a huge part of your carbon footprint. You don't have to sacrifice all visits with long-distance family members or feel guilty about taking an occasional vacation, but at the same time, you shouldn't fly if you don't need to.[19] To cut down on air travel, you can:
- Conduct business meetings over phone or video calls.[20]
- Take vacations closer to home, so you don't need to fly.
- Stay longer at your destination.
- "Budget" your carbon usage: take one long trip every few years, instead of multiple trips every year.[21]
- Skip frivolous flights, like helicopter tours.
[Edit]Advocate for emissions reform and legislation. - Slashing airline emissions will need widespread legal regulations. It's always good to reduce your personal carbon footprint, but that won't ground planes—and flight emissions clocked in at 918 million metric tons in 2019 alone.[22] Obviously, if you're not a politician, you can't pass laws yourself. But that doesn't mean you can't take any action, either. There are several ways you can advocate for legal regulations, such as by:
- Donating to or volunteering with environmental or climate-action groups to educate others.[23]
- Joining demonstrations calling for emissions regulations or climate action.
- Contacting your elected officials to ask them to take action.[24]
- Voting for politicians who support action on climate change.
- Cutting your daily emissions has a larger impact than offsetting your flight. While it's always better to offset your flights than not, the truth is that offsets alone don't cut it.[25] That means it's also important to "wipe up" your carbon footprint in everyday life, whether through big or small changes. Here are some things that will help:[26]
- Walk or bike rather than driving, or carpool.
- Change your diet; eat less beef and store leftovers.
- Reuse and recycle more often.
- Hang your laundry to dry instead of using the dryer.
- Cut down on AC and heating where possible.
- Buy your food from local sources.
- Switch to LED lighting.
- Use a smaller car, or an electric one.
- Install solar panels on your roof.
- If you take a flight, pull down your window shade while the plane is taxiing—especially if it's warm out. The plane's cooling mechanisms need fuel to work, and closing the shade means the plane uses less fuel.[27]
[Edit]References |
| How to Make a Cat Hammock Posted: 25 Oct 2021 01:00 AM PDT Your furry friend deserves a comfortable place to hang out. Instead of buying an expensive cat hammock, create your own with items you probably have at home. For an easy, no-sew option, all you need is some cozy fleece and a cardboard box. If you'd like a hammock that you can spread across a cage or under a table, add loops to comfy fabric. Stretch out either hammock and watch your cat relax. [Edit]No-Sew Hammock with Cardboard - Choose a sturdy cardboard box that's larger than your cat. Find a medium-sized cardboard box that's not bent or damaged. Try to use the strongest cardboard you can find like corrugated cardboard. Close up the box and glue or tape the ends shut.[1]
- Corrugated cardboard has smooth outer layers and a strong, wavy layer in between. If you use thin or single-layer cardboard, it won't support your cat or kitten's weight.
- If your cat is overweight, build a lightweight wooden box frame that you can wrap the fleece hammock around. This way, the structure can hold your cat's weight.
- Trace a straight line from each edge of the box on every side. Hold a long ruler from an edge of the box and draw a straight line along the side of the ruler. Then, move your ruler to another edge of the box and trace another line from the edge. Keep doing this for every edge and side of the box.[2]
- Once you finish, you'll have traced a smaller box on each side of your cardboard box.
- Make all of your lines parallel with the sides of the box.
- Use a box cutter to cut the lines and push out the center cardboard squares. Be really careful when use a box cutter or craft knife to slice along each guideline that you traced. Once you've along each line, push the center of the cardboard so the square falls out. Repeat this for each side of your cardboard box and set it aside.[3]
- Recycle or discard the 4 cardboard squares that you're left with since you don't need them for the hammock-tower.
- If you're making a wooden frame, nail 4 vertical wooden pieces to the corners of a flat, wooden base. Then, lay a matching wooden base piece on top and hammer a nail into each corner to complete the wooden frame.
- Get out fleece or a fleece blanket that's larger than the bottom of your box. Find a fleece blanket or cut a piece of fleece material so it's bigger than your box dimensions. Cut the fleece so it's wider on each side.[4]
- For example, if your box measures , cut the fleece fabric or blanket so it's .
- Make a diagonal slit in each corner of the fleece. Spread the fleece flat and cut a slit from each corner towards the center of the fabric. Cut each slit long so you have enough material to tie to the corners of the box.[5]
- If you want a guideline, place your ruler diagonally in the corner and draw a line with a fabric marker or bit of chalk.
- Make 2 small holes on each corner of the box near the top. Take an awl or closed pair of sharp scissors and carefully punch it through 1 side of the box. Make the hole about halfway to two-thirds up the side of the box. Then, push another hole on the other side of the corner so it's at the same level. Repeat this for each corner of the box.[6]
- You'll make a total of 8 holes around the 4 corners of the box. These are the holes that you'll feed the fleece corners into.
- Push the fleece slits through each of the holes and tie them around the corners. Take a corner of the fleece and feed 1 of the slits through a hole you made. Push the other slit into the hole that's next to it. Then, pull tightly and tie the fleece slits together in a knot on the outside of the box corner. Repeat this for each fleece corner so the fabric hangs in the middle of the box.[7]
- Lay another piece of fleece in the bottom of the hammock-tower o give your cat another cozy spot to rest.
[Edit]Fabric Hammock with Hooks - Cut 2 pieces of soft fabric into squares. Pick out of tightly woven cotton or fleece in any color or design. Feel the fabric so you know it's soft enough for your cat. Then, use scissors or a rotary cutter to make 2 equal-sized squares.[8]
- To customize the size of your hammock, cut the fabric so it's larger on each side than the size you want the finished hammock to be.
- If you're making a hammock for a heavy, adult cat, choose the strongest, thickest cotton or fleece you can find.
- Iron a hem along each side of both squares. Lay the squares so the wrong side of the fabric faces up and fold each edge over towards the center by . Then, iron over the edges to keep the hemline flat until you can sew it.[9]
- If you want to make the hammock thicker, cut a piece of batting that's about smaller than each side of your fabric. Then, pin it to the wrong side of 1 fabric square.
- Read the care instructions for your fabric so you know what temperature to heat your iron to.
- Cut webbing ribbon into four strips. Unroll a length of webbing ribbon and use your ruler to measure from the end. Cut the ribbon to make a strip. Then, cut 3 more strips that are each long.[10]
- Don't use decorative ribbon since it's not as strong as webbing ribbon, which is tightly woven and durable.
- Fold each strip in half and pin each loop onto the corner of 1 fabric square. Bend a webbing ribbon strip in half and lay it diagonally across a corner. Arrange the loop so the bottom edge is from the point of the corner. Then, push a sewing pin through the loop and into the fabric before you repeat this for each corner.[11]
- It's important to place the loops onto the square so you're able to sew it in place. If you put the loop on the very edge of the square, it would be tricky to sew.
- Sew over each loop several times to stitch it to the square. Set your sewing machine to make straight stitches and sew back and forth across the end of each loop. It's important to sew a few rows of stitches on the loop so it doesn't tear off when your cat gets into the hammock.[12]
- You might need to switch to a heavy-duty sewing needle since your machine will be sewing through 2 layers of webbing ribbon, fabric, and possibly batting.
- Stack the fabric squares so the wrong sides touch and pin the edges in place. Once you've sewed the loops to the wrong side of a square, lay it wrong side up. Then, place the other fabric square on it so the wrong sides touch and the edges line up. Insert sewing pins every few inches along the edge to hold the layers in place.[13]
- If you don't want to use sewing pins, use fabric clips to keep the edges together.
- Sew around the edges of the hammock 2 times. Keep your machine set to make straight stitches and sew as close to the edge of the square as you can. Sew around each side once. Then, move your needle over by and sew around the square again.[14]
- Although you could sew the hammock by hand, machine stitches are stronger so your hammock will hold up better under your cat's weight.
- Clip a carabiner onto each loop to hang the hammock. Fasten a metal carabiner clip through each loop and hook each carabiner onto wall hooks or the sides of your cat's metal cage.[15]
- Carabiners are great for securing the hammock since they have metal latches that snap closed. Don't use plastic hooks or clips that don't close since these may loosen or break under the weight of your cat.
- If you don't want to cut out a cardboard box, overturn a small table so the legs point up into the air. Tie your fleece blanket to each of the legs to secure the hammock.[16]
- Attach bungee cords to the carabiners if you want to stretch the hammock farther.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]No-Sew Hammock with Cardboard - Medium-sized cardboard box
- Ruler
- Box cutter
- Fleece blanket or fabric
- Fabric marker or chalk, optional
[Edit]Fabric Hammock with Hooks - Fleece or fleece blanket
- Ruler
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- of webbing ribbon
- Iron and ironing board
- Batting, optional
[Edit]References |
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