Year in and year out, #thrift and secondhand stores are a source of inspiration for #inexpensive and #crafty #Halloween costumes. Browse the aisles of #donated #clothing and household goods and consider your options: Maybe an’80s aerobics instructor clad in dayglo Spandex? A Mario brother in overalls? A classic pirate in pantaloons and eyepatch? Whatever the concept, you can pick up lots of foundational #clothing and props — and if you shop #thrifts supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org, part of every purchase funds programs that help the nation’s veterans. #ThriftStoreHalloween #HalloweenCostumes
Tag: Veterans
Congrats to the Dads & Grads
June is the month of #dads and #grads. Different accomplishments, yes — but the two events can get you #celebrating all month long.
Father’s Day is straightforward enough: You #thank dear old dad for helping raise the family. That may involve cooking a favorite meal, taking him to a game or concert, or any number of other gestures to show how much you appreciate him.
Grads are a little more complicated. You want to mark the milestone and give them a good sendoff if they’re heading to college. This often involves the ceremony, a big potluck, friends and family from various eras of their young lives, and more.
Good #gifts include anything they will need as they move toward independence with nominal life skills: air fryers, a decent set of sheets, maybe a new laptop. And just as practical, Oprah Daily says, are gift cards and cash they can spend on meals and other supplies.
If you really want to go overboard for a college-bound teen, the latest celebration idea is a college reveal party, TLC says. While are a bit controversial, the new trend often includes parties decorated in college colors, “reveal” photoshoots and mailed announcements.
New graduates should take a few days during the summer to #declutter the #stuff that has amassed over the first 18 years of their lives, Making My Way says: “You obviously can’t bring everything to college, and storing everything is just too much of a hassle.”
Want to cut the #clutter and pad your teen’s pockets before sending them off to an expensive trade school, college or university? Ask them to #organize, #declutter, and sell their excess #junk at a #garage or #yard #sale. They can keep the cash to fund the first year.
Dads can benefit from a good #decluttering, too. They usually have even more years’ worth of accumulated #stuff they can afford to part with, and some of them may be getting older and need to #downsize.
You can always #donate that extra #stuff to ClothingDonations.org — and that donation will help fund valuable #veterans programs. Best wishes to the dads and grads this month!
Observing Proper Memorial Day Flag Etiquette
On #Memorial Day, American #flags should be raised “to full staff briskly, then lowered to a half-staff position, where they will remain until noon,” according to the Farmer’s Almanac. If you wish to volunteer to place small flags or wreaths on the #graves of those who served, contact the local chapters of #veterans organizations such as Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion or Daughters of the American Revolution. “The ritual of visiting family graves and memorials was never a morbid tradition,” the almanac says. “Rather, it was an annual act of #remembrance, as well as a chance to clean and decorate family memorials.”
Make Memorial Day Meaningful
While most Americans see #Memorial Day as an excuse to kick back, cook out and watch a parade, make time to remember those who gave their lives in service, the Wounded Warrior Project says. Pay tribute to their memory by flying the #flag or placing flowers or wreaths on deceased service members’ graves. When it comes to #thanking a #veteran, remember that the holiday is reserved for those who lost their lives in conflict, so ask living veterans to have a “meaningful” Memorial Day and/or say the name of someone who made the ultimate sacrifice, the project says. “You can even say, ‘Today and always, I’m remembering [veteran’s name].’” #MemorialDay
Be True to the Red, White & Blue
#Memorial Day is a great time to break out the patriotic red, white and blue decorations, says The Pioneer Woman, including #flags, wreaths and bunting. To observe the original spirit of the holiday and honor those who served, do a patriotic reading such as “In Flanders Fields” — the poem that inspired the wearing of poppies. You might also write letters or send care packages to active-duty members of the military or lay a wreath on a grave at the local #veterans cemetery. And to celebrate with a #cookout, try baking a red-white-and-blue trifle for your family. #MemorialDay