How Do I: Halloween Safety & Bridal Gown Upcycling

Planning on going trick-or-treating this Halloween? If you are, you should follow a few tips so that you can have a safe Halloween. Take a few minutes to review these tips and stay safe this Halloween. For more information about Halloween safety, visit www.cdc.gov/family/halloween.

S - Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.

A – Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

F – Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.

E – Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

H –Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.

A – Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

L – Look both ways before crossing the street. Use crosswalks wherever possible.

L – Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

O – Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

W – Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.

E – Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

E – Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.

N - Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Recycle This

Finding the perfect wedding dress can be a time-consuming, frustrating task. But a simple solution could be hiding in your mother’s or grandmother’s closet. It is a tradition for some to wear their mother’s wedding gown. Some wedding dresses have been passed down through several generations. But, as fashion always does, styles change and a dress that was the height of fashion 50 years ago isn’t so hot at the moment. Don’t pass over your mom’s dress just yet!

It is possible to turn her dress into your perfect wedding gown.

Re-fashioning an old wedding gown is a growing trend right now and for good reasons. It’s a way to honor your mother (and grandmother possibly), carry on or create a new tradition, and save time and money. Wedding dresses are not cheap so why pay a lot of money for an outfit you will only wear once?

There are many ways you can change the look of an old wedding dress. If you, or someone you know is talented at using a sewing machine, then you could re-fashion the dress yourself. Otherwise, look for a professional dressmaker to create the new look.

A few ways you can change the dress are:

•         Remove all the frou-frou
•         Change the shape of the neckline or skirt
•         Add embellishments
•         Change the color. This will depend on the material of the dress. Find a professional dressmaker to dye your dress to ensure even color. 
•         Add accessories
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