Books - What to Buy (Barnes and Noble - Amazon) And What Not (What's Free)

The perception

In general, the popular perception is that every book needs to be bought and read - if one wanted to read legally.

Evolution of sources of books

The obvious choice is to buy the books from the bookstore as and when they are released. Or, even many days, months and years after they are released. Physical bookstores did that always - this is the traditional way of buying and selling books and still remains the same.

Up came the Internet, the the evolution of buying books found a new way - the online stores. Within a short number of years, great booksellers as Amazon and Barnes & Noble established themselves as the leaders. You could now order book from home on the Internet and get them delivered easily. Talk of saving time and energy to grab the book!

To leverage the readers who look for books with a heavy discount and are prepared to (or had to, for whatever reason) wait till much after the book was published, up came half-price book shops. The reader who were late in buying the books (even if because the reader was not born when the book was written) started being happy. The age-old selling of cheaper-than-original book culture now formalized.

Smart online book sellers started having low-price book selling features in their online stores where a reader could sell another reader a used book. And they kept a commission. This again was the value-add of saved time and energy for the reader to get the book easily.

Then up came book digitization projects. Many books were digitized across various efforts around the world. But not all books could be fully provided online because of copyright issues.

All books belonging to the Classic Literature category got identified as legal candidates to be put online on the internet. Classic literature is defined to be books where the author has been dead for long time - the exact number of years depends upon the country. For India, it is 50 years and for some other countries, it might go up to 75 years.

Summary

1. Newly released books are usually bought fresh from one of these two:

• bookstores
• online book sellers

2. Relatively older books (but the author is alive or has not yet been dead for the last several years) might be bought from one of the following:

• bookstores
• online book sellers
• half-price book stores
• online low-price book exchange sites

3. Classic literature books can be read online for free - no need to buy them - this is your free pool of literature - can be novels, poems, short stories and essays.

To find out which books today are Classic Literature and also to read free, one can try out the following resource along with other resources of similar nature:

http://www.webliterature.net/literature

http://www.webliterature.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Dey

Ben 10 on the Cartoon Network

Getting sick of the same old TV shows? Well even though Ben 10 recently went of the air, this is the show for you! Ben 10 is a show about a family, where the brother Ben, of course, stumbles upon an alien pod in the woods while on vacation! Found inside is a watch like device witch happens to be called the, "Omnitrix". The Omnitrix attaches to Ben's wrist and the gives him the power to transform into an alien, but only for 10 minutes so that his DNA doesn't permanently become damaged! From his new gained powers, Ben realized that now has the responsibility to use his powers to do good. Thru his journeys with his family, a sister Gwen, and grandfather Max, they do battle with many aliens, looking too take the Omnitrix from them.

The one warlord alien Vilgax, is one of Bens main nemesis's! Vilgax tried to conquer the galaxy by stealing the Omnitrix, by sending his alien drones, and even he himself tried too take it! But Ben and his family succeeded in defeating Vilgax! Ben even had to fight Kevin! Someone who could absorb some of bens powers from being around the Omnitrix. Kevin even eventually banded together with an alien named "Ghostfreak" who escaped the Omnitrix and tried too possess Ben! But luckily Ghostfreak and Kevin where eventually defeated! Toward the end of the fourth season of Ben 10, Ben even had to defeat a resurrected Ghostfreak and Vilgax! Ben even had to stop someone named Doctor Vicktor from cloaking the world with his corrodium beam project!

And Ben did all of this only with the help of his family and the power of the Omnitrix! A device originally designed to show the many races of the universe about one another, made by Azmuth. But the Omnitrix was eventually used for war because of its inherited power. The Omnitrix, binds too your skin, and is very hard to get off! Though very mechanical looking, it is organic in the sense of how it fits the user, growing and changing. It binds the users DNA with the DNA of the 10 aliens inside! Ben only has limited use of the Omnitrix, because of his inexperience, but the aliens that are after it have a better understanding of it, and can use it to its optimum function. Changing from one alien to another just by thinking it!

So as you can see the Cartoon Network show, Ben 10 is a very appealing show too a wide variety of people.

You may even want too check out the two Ben 10 movies that where released. The first, "Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix", and the second, "Ben 10: Race Against Time". Both moves dive deeper into the origins of the Omnitrix and the life of Ben and his family after the original 4 season series.

Phillip Bernard wrights on Ben 10. You can find more information at: http://ben10products.blogspot.com/

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Top 10 Most Wanted Toys For Christmas 2008 - Put These Under Your Tree

Figuring out what the top 10 most wanted toys for Christmas are is very important if you want to make sure that Santa gets things right this year. These toys are flying off the shelves with increasing fervor, so it's definitely best to act sooner rather than later so your shopping cart doesn't look sadly empty.

Toy #1 - Elmo Live

The first toy you need to make sure you have is Elmo Live. Elmo is a beloved character for the young and old alike. This Elmo is so lifelike you won't believe your eyes. For such a lifelike toy you'll be surprised at how low the cost is!

Toy #2 - Bakugan Starter Pack

The next toy you need to have on your list for the Christmas 2008 season is the Bakugan starter pack. Children love the anime series Bakugan, so you definitely can't go wrong when you decide to pick up these packs. They are also incredibly inexpensive, and make great stocking stuffers.

Toy #3 - Kidizoom Digital Camera

For that little photographer in your life, you'll want to buy the Kidizoom Digital Camera. This camera is incredibly tough and durable for even the most carefree of children. It also contains features you'd expect on an adult- and much more expensive- camera. This one is probably less than you think.

Toy #4 - Flip Video Camera

The Flip Video Camera. Okay, so this one is technically not a toy. Still, this is a great first video camera for kids because it's inexpensive, small, and very easy to use.

Toy #5 - Busy Ball Popper

For that baby or toddler in your life you'll definitely want to look for the Busy Ball Popper Toy. This one is great because it has colorful balls that go through a tube and pop into the air! Tons of fun for your little one.

Toy #6 - Furreal Friends Biscuit

Furreal Friends Biscuit Dog is a real winner for this holiday season. You can't help but fall in love with this little pup because he is so lifelike. This one is on the expensive side, but the expense is well worth it to see the look of happiness your little one has on his face.

Toy #7 - Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles

Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles are next on the list because they are fun for everyone. It's hard to believe, but this toy delivers in a big way by offering real night vision.

Toy #8 - Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is perhaps an obvious choice, but it's a great one! The Wii has been out for a couple of years now, but it's still hard to find. The interactivity and excitement is something your whole family will love.

Toy #9 - Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer

Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer is another great option. This toy allows your child to change their voice just like in the movies! It's great fun, and sure to bring some laughs.

Toy #10 - Little Big Planet

Last but not least, one of the top 10 most wanted toys for 2008 is Little Big Planet for the Playstation 3 console. This is one of the most innovative, interesting and fun games that has come out in years. You can't go wrong with this title.

Figuring out which toys are hot is half the battle! Now you've got to narrow down your list and choose the best Christmas toys for your own child this year. It also helps to learn about the best pricing deals so you can save money this year. Visit http://bestchristmasgiftsonline.com for more details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenn_Griffin

Top Christmas Toys

Christmas is fast creeping up on us and it's getting to that time of year when are minds are bending towards our children and the gifts we will be buying.

With most of us feeling the pinch, preparation is the key; shopping around will ensure the best deals enabling our budgets to stretch further. There are a huge range of top toys for boys on offer this Christmas and with shops grappling for your custom there are some great deals to be had. Once you've decided on the products you wish to buy, visit one of the price comparison sites in order to get the biggest bargins. This year it seems that boys have the best deal. Manufacturers have bought up the rights to many programmes ensuring a huge spectrum of toys for boys!

Top of the crop is Ben 10 . The cartoon has been a massive success and boys are desperate to get their hands on the Ben 10 Alien Laboratory and Vilgax Battle Ship - the ultimate arena for alien battles! Bakugan is another popular choice, with many stores fast running out of the Bakugan Battle Arena.

For younger children, Elmo Live is the toy creating the biggest buzz. Scarily life-like, Elmo sings and talks, telling stories and sharing jokes. He bobs his head, waves his arms and Elmo can even cross his legs! This high tech, Muppet mannerisms bring Sesame Street to life.

An educational choice is the groundbreaking LeapFrog Tag Reader , a touch reading system which allows words to talk, pictures to sing and story book characters to come to life, honing comprehension and phonic skills. With our technology ever advancing, the most intricate and exiting of toys are now on offer.

Kota the Triceratops is a life sized, 40 inch baby dinosaur that reacts to touch, creating realistic movement and noise! Touch him and Kota will move his head, tail and eyes - he will even roar in appreciation.

Spykee Robot is another huge craze that's selling out fast. Spykee comes with a built-in motion detector, so that it can detect movements, which is great if you want to keep your sister or brother out of your room, the Spykee will sound an alarm on your computer and incredibly send you a picture of the target so you have proof.

It's bound to cause a stir in any household! With such a wealth of toys to choose from, Parents should be able to find a gift to suit their budget. Finances may be tight, but we might find some comfort in the fact that it is a buyers market and there are deals to be had.

To find out more information about the top toys for christmas visit : top toys for boys

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10 Tips For an Exclusive Halloween

Halloween adds excitement to young and old. And the occasion demands style, trends, exclusive treats and more.

Halloween styles, treats, decorations and more are the focus of magazines and websites bringing to a peak festival excitement.

To make Halloween exclusive we bring you some expert tips:

1. Surf the World Wide Web to see what is haute and happening this Halloween. Websites host Halloween exclusive blogs and send out alerts on celebrity costumes and latest trends to registered customers. So update your knowledge.

2. Plan your families Halloween. Sit down with young and old to decide on a theme: renaissance, films, comic strip heroes, or traditional witches and imps!

3. Design the entire Halloween around the theme you have decided. Decorations, invites, treats, bags and more could all feature the "theme." So where its Flintstones, the Adams Family, or the teachers at Harry Potter's school or Batman and Batwoman; plan the adventure well.

4. Learn how to take exclusive photographs for Halloween-create the atmosphere of eeriness use effects to bring alive "Halloween" create eternal memories for generations to come.

5. Plan the Halloween decorations to match your theme. Jot down the list and visit discount stores and online Halloween special stores to find the decorations you need. Begin the gathering of decorations well in advance. If you live in a neighborhood that's friendly then plan with your neighbors a 'street look' for Halloween. Think about it is may be fun!

6. Make Halloween a safe celebration by following safety regulations that protect the kids and your home and front yard.

Elmo Live Toy
Cheap Toys

7. Make sure the treats you prepare are healthy and free from allergens and other poisons. Read about safe Halloween treats and only buy treats manufactured by reputed organizations.

8. Teach the kids about not eating treats while trick or treating and about safety norms. If children are small they must be accompanied by older children or adults. See http://www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_treats.html for some guidelines.

9. Take care of pets during Halloween. Many pets fall sick or die from eating treats or from accidents. While dressing up the dog may be fun think about the pet's safety and needs.

10. If you are planning a party make sure yours does not clash with any other planned within your group of friends. Plan the party around your theme and let guests know about costumes etc. Choose suitable music and take care that you only use approved colors for drink and food. Check out websites like halloweenpartybox.com/ for great ideas and buys.

Halloween can become a tradition in your family Many may not be aware but Halloween is an ancient festival; its origins lie in a Celtic celebration Samhain which was celebrated at the end of the harvest season. Traditional decorations of Halloween include the jack-o-lantern carved from a pumpkin representing knowledge and that knowledge would always triumph over evil. So enjoy Halloween in the modern way and carry forward an ancient tradition.

Matthew Pawlina is a freelance writer for Cheap Halloween Costumes, the premier website to find Halloween Costumes, Discount Halloween Costumes, Unique Halloween Costumes, Best Halloween Costumes, Buy Halloween Costumes Online, Easy Halloween Costumes, Online Halloween Costumes and many more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Pawlina

Decorate Your Home For Halloween

Create a memorable walkway. Trick or treaters will be coming up and down your walkway all night on Halloween. So you'll want to do something special for Halloween to decorate. An inexpensive way to decorate is with paper bag lumineres. You can make these with paper lunch bags, small rocks and tea lights. Cut small images in each paper bag -- like a pumpkin or a witch hat. Then add some rocks to the bottom of each luminere as it lines your walkway. Add a tea light and light it. The lumineres will glow softly and people will see the images that you cut out.

Add a Halloween-themed wreath to the door. Your door should have a Halloween-themed wreath to greet everyone that comes to your door. A fun Halloween-themed wreath to make is to use silk roses to create a wreath and then spray them to be colored black or even silver. A wreath that is a unique color will get lots of attention. A black wreath is especially attention getting for Halloween.

Don't forget Jack (O'Lanterns)! Now what would Halloween be without Jack O'Lanterns? Every home should have Jack O'Lanterns in front of their doorstep. But you want your home to look original. An easy way to get an original look is to do a Jack O'Lantern for each family member in a very simple carving style. Cut two holes for the eyes and a hole for the mouth. These bold, expressive Jack O'Lanterns will be the envy of the neighborhood and everyone will notice just how great your porch looks.

Set the scene with spooky music. Every home should welcome their Halloween guests with spooky -- or Halloween themed --- music. You can easily find soundtracks at party centers or large discount stores. Set up your CD player right by the door, or put a speaker in your mailbox. Another option is to open a second floor window and pipe the music through that. Be sure to be considerate of your neighbors and turn the music off before 9:30 p.m. as many will be putting kids to bed or turning in themselves.

Greet your guests dressed in Halloween style. Get into the total Halloween spirit with a Halloween costume that suits your home's decor. If your home is extra spooky, then you should be dressed in something spooky. If your home is quaint and cute -- then you too should be dressed in something quaint and cute. Party rental stores are great places to find adult costumes perfect to get for Halloween. Or you can easily purchase a Halloween costume to wear for this special night. Online resources such as http://www.pumpkinkits.com offer many ideas and this will give you the perfect looking home that the whole neighborhood will be talking about all season long!

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How to Achieve This Seasons Halloween "Hannah Montana" - "Glamour Goth" Look

Miley Cyrus stars as Hannah Montana, who has from her country girl roots turned "pop idol" and with this has adopted a "pop culture fashion look". To stay in keeping with Hannah's "pop idol" look, we have created a "Glamour Goth" look for this seasons Halloween.

Follow these few simple steps and you will be the envy of all your friends, while out "trick or treating".

Here are a few must do's & haves:

1. Find a pair of plain black leggings or straight legged black jeans, cut above or below the knee. Wear a black tu tu and decorate with glitter, rhinestones or sequins using a hot glue gun (ask Mum before using). Fabric glue can also be used.

Don't be afraid to add some Halloween bling to your tu tu.

Tip: If using stretch black leggings, don't glue on rhinestones or sequins as they could fall off, due to the fabric stretching. You could Try stitching them on instead.

2. Decorate a black singlet top by ripping large holes in it and glue sparkles all over. You could also wear a sparkle top underneath to showcase through the black top. Search out your local Opportunity or Thrift store and add a bolero jacket (from the 80s) or perhaps a short cropped black leather jacket.

3. Accessories - Decorate a 30mm wide black or purple ribbon, attach a rhinestone spider and attach around the neck for a choker.

Fancy wearing fangs to create a more "gothic" look! You can find them at any of the costume hire or party stores in your area. Try wearing the ones that fit over your eye tooth on either side, perhaps glue a diamante on each one for a bit of glamour.

Find a wide studded black belt if possible.

Who would Hannah be without her signatory "Cowboy boots"? Don't forget to adorn them with loads of glitter and studs.

4. To achieve Hannah's hair do, why not add some black hair pieces through your own straight blonde hair and tease. Perhaps purchase a blonde wig, add black hair pieces and spray dark glitter over hair.

Tip: Purchasing sequins and rhinestones can be expensive. Be on the lookout for Opportunity or Thrift stores, which stock used 80s clothing. You may find you can re-use many of the jewels and sparkles from these 80s clothes for your new "Glamour Goth" - "Hannah Montana" look.

Girls, remember to create this years "Glamour Goth" Halloween costume, just add loads of glitter, sparkle and rhinestones to black or dark clothing.

Why Not Have a Costume Making Party

To add to the fun and excitement, gather a few of your friends and have a costume making party. You could use this article as your guide. Throw a few ideas around and see what you come up with, perhaps for next years Halloween party.

Mandy O'Connor is the proprietor of Oke's Masquerade Fancy Dress Hire which is in the business of hiring costumes and now offers an online shop for costumes, eye masks and accessories. She has been in the business for over 14 years and has a wealth of knowledge in this area.

To find a "Hannah Montana" wig, and more ideas for Halloween costumes check out http://www.sydneyfancydress.com.au or http://www.costumeideas.com.au where Mandy will be happy to advise and assist you.

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Fancy Dress Ideas - Where Do I Start?

So you're going to a fancy dress party but need some ideas? You've come to the right place! This article is dedicated to helping you come up with fancy dress ideas for all manners of occasions such as:

• Halloween
• Christmas
• New Years
• Hen Night / Stag Do
• ...or just about any party with an excuse to dress up!

Fancy dress ideas themselves are not particularly hard to come by, good ones however are! More importantly perhaps, they must also fit in well with whatever budget you have to spend.

Cheap Costumes

When choosing a fancy dress outfit, people are often faced with a choice between purchasing a costume and hiring one. Costume hire is obviously cheaper, but owning a costume enables you to reuse it on different occasions; meaning you don't have to come up with more fancy dress ideas next time!

Most fancy dress retailers don't hire their costumes out online; due to the inevitable sizing problems, but many do have a selection of outfits for hire in-store, so if you are looking for a one time only costume pop down to your nearest fancy dress shop.

For those who wish to own a costume but don't want to spend top dollar; don't despair! You will find that there is a vast range of surprisingly cheap fancy dress costumes available both in stores and on online.

There are perhaps 3 main approaches you can take when buying a fancy dress costume; DIY, off-the-shelf and going all out.

DIY

For cheap but unique fancy dress costumes the do-it-yourself method of piecing together an outfit from different accessories is always popular. There is a huge variety of accessories available to choose from wherever you go which will likely inspire you with many costume ideas.

For parents looking for ideas for their children, piecing a costume together from fancy dress accessories is ideal, and can be a lot more fun too! Cosmetics such as face paints and hair spray are favourites with children.

Off-the-shelf

Fancy dress costumes available off-the-shelf are generally slightly more expensive than putting the outfit together yourself, but it is also a lot easier as you have a lot of full blown ideas to choose from.

Whether you are looking for specific costumes - such as Halloween costumes, Pirates, film characters etc. - or if you are simply looking for a fun, distinctive outfit for a generic fancy dress party, there are a huge amount of full fancy dress costumes available in every theme imaginable - just take a look around online for an idea of what is on offer; this should give you plenty of fancy dress ideas to work with!

Going All Out

If you feel like going all out on an outfit, you can combine both of the above methods to enhance your off-the-shelf costume with accessories. With this approach, you are not limited to the fancy dress ideas presented to you by existing pre-made costumes, but you are able to customise and tailor a costume towards your own requirements.

Party Boutique has a huge selection of fancy dress costumes available to help inspire you with fancy dress ideas.

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Halloween Party How To - Eerie But Easy Halloween Magic

A safe Halloween can mean having a house party instead of going door to door for tricks and treats. Simple and inexpensive decorations and quick and easy sweet desserts can be the answer to a fun Halloween party.

A haunted house with scarily clever touches will stop partygoers dead in their tracks. Use candlelight to create dark shadows in the corners of your rooms. Put ghostly white tapers in a flea market candleabra to enhance the creepiness of cobwebs and flying bats that can be found at most local dollar stores. Flea markets, garage sales, secondhand stores, and dollar stores are great places to use your imagination to find props for your haunted house effects. You can also trick out your jack-o-lanterns with bewitching handmade halloween masks that you cut out from black felt or construction paper.

Give "dressed to kill" a whole new meaning with a pumpkin headed specter. Here's how: Carve a grimacing jack-o-lantern, then carefully attach it to the top of an old dressmakers dummy, or something similar. Drape the "mannequin" with tattered looking two ply cheesecloth or torn up old white sheets, and position it in the foyer to greet your guests. If you are willing to spend a little more, you can purchase a smoke/mist machine that gives a really eerie atmosphere to your other decor. I have seen them retail for about $60 at some stores.

Try these easy ideas for a fright fest- conjure up a devilish looking dessert by frosting slice and bake sugar cookies with white icing. Then, starting at the cookie's center, pipe circles of black icing. Create creepy cobwebs by alternately dragging a toothpick from the center to the edge and from the edge to the center of the cookie. Scooped out mini pumpkins can become spidery votives thanks to tealights and pipe cleaners. After scooping out the pumpkin, make spider legs out of black pipe cleaners and place a tea light in the hollow of the gourd.

Adults and children alike can have a spooktacular time at a Hallowen house party. Let your imagination soar!

For more ghoulish Halloween party ideas go to http://www.besthalloweenpro.com

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Trick Or Treat - A Halloween Tradition

Trick or Treat - Smell My Feet - Give Me Something Good To Eat! These words are a Halloween tradition and have been uttered countless times over the years and will again come October 31. Are you ready for the parties and celebrations that will be here before you know it?

You need to make a list consisting of everything that must be done in preparation for this exciting holiday. It is not only the children who have to make their decision on who to masquerade as this year, you are invited as well.

Invited to participate as adults should - and to act like a kid again. Decorate your yard with pumpkins, scarecrows, and bales of hay. Plug the DVD in at the front entryway and play spooky, eerie sounds to greet your guests. Create a stuffed monster with an outfit filled with hay or old rags. Use an old mask on a ball or bucket as a face and set your creature on a chair, a swing, or standing under the tree.

There are many creative and totally unique ways to decorate both the outside and the inside of your home. Use pumpkins in your windows and as centerpieces for your tables; witches, ghosts and menacing monsters in your windows, on your walls, doorways and shelves also help to set the mood.

Don't forget the many visitors that could come to trick or treat on this special night. Be prepared with plenty of treats to hand out to the pirates, witches - both good and bad - the ghosts, skeletons, fairies, lady bugs and all the creatures that will be darkening your doorway.

Last, but surely not least, the Halloween costumes for everyone. There are parties to attend, or maybe you are hosting one? Dressing in disguise to celebrate at work? Or, go out to dinner at a special restaurant that encourages participation in the traditions of the holiday.

Halloween by all accounts, is a strange and peculiar holiday. The one night of the year that can fulfill your wildest fantasy, dress in costume, act (and look) silly, and it is all okay and widely accepted to do so.

Trick or treat time is a fun time. It is a time for parties and celebrating, so go have a good time, be safe and Happy Halloween. Trick or treat - a Halloween tradition - decorations, costumes and more. Explore Everything Halloween.

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Dress up as the Ghostbusters this Halloween by Andrew Doyle

Ghostbuster Halloween Costumes

One of the most popular costumes at Halloween always seems to be the Ghostbusters costumes, if you are inspired by the classic Ghostbusters films from the 1980's then there are various ways in which you can dress as your heroes this Halloween. There are various options available for people looking to buy a Ghostbuster costume over the internet. Usually the costume consists of a beige all in one jumpsuit with Ghostbuster logo on the sleeves, front and back, also many costumes come with an inflatable gun and backpack so that you can truly feel like a Ghostbuster. Also some added extras are needed, which include black boots or shoes and black gloves.

Making your own costume

The Ghostbuster costume can be a difficult costume to make but can be done relatively cheaply. Firstly you need a beige/white jump or flight suit, these can be found at most army surplus shops and then attach the Ghostbusters logo to the sleeves, these can be bought online. You will also need some black gloves and some black shoes or boots. Don't forget about the red and black name tags attached to the front. If you are interested in creating the full back pack then it can be made using wood and plastic and eventually painted black with added green and red buttons. Use house hold implements attached to a wooden board such as washing up bottles or toilet rolls. Obviously this is the hard part and I thoroughly recommend fully studying pictures and the film before attempting to do this element of the costume.

Family Costume Ideas

If you want to go as a family of Ghostbusters there are various characters from the film you can go as, including Dana Barrett from the film played by 'Sigourney Weaver', or you could dress up as Slimer which would be perfect for children or if you are feeling particularly adventurous you could try out a 'Stay Puft Marshmallow Man' costume. This can also be a difficult costume to make for yourself and there are few sites that sell the Stay Puft costume, so it will probably be a very unique costume at any Halloween party. Firstly it should start with a set of painter's overalls, make sure you buy the biggest size you can, and then fill the inside of it using billows. Then buy some blue felt for the bib around the neck, some white material to stitch into it and then some red cloth to tie around the neck. Finally buy a sailors hat and stitch 'STAY PUFT' using white thread into the front of the hat.

About the Author

The author is a contributing writer for allfancydress.com. All Fancy Dress are a leading provider of Halloween Costumes and Ghostbusters Costumes online.

All About Halloween Trick or Treat

The chief event in modern US-style Halloween the best known is trick-or- treating. This is the event where children dress up in costume disguises and visit door-to-door in their near neighborhood, ringing every doorbell and yelling “trick or treat!” This actually resembles the older tradition of guising in Scotland and Ireland. The ceremony begging on Halloween did not in fact appear in English language until 20th century, and it was developed independently later.

The occupants of the house (who may dress them selves in a scary Halloween costumes) would then hand out small candies, small chocolate bars, and sometimes even soda pop. Some American homes would use sound effects and vapor machines to assist set a spooky mood. Other house decoration themes (prepare themselves in less scary costume) are used to entertain young visitor. Children could often accumulate many treats on Halloween night, filling up their pillow and shopping bags.

In England as well trick or treating takes place, mainly in working class neighborhoods. In general, however, it is moped upon as at most excellent an annoyance and at worst a threatening form of begging. In some of the areas households have started putting decorations on the entrance door to state 'trick-or-treaters' are welcome, the thought being that 'trick-or-treaters' should not approach a house, which is not 'participating'. Tricks play less of a role in current Halloween, although Halloween night is frequently marked by damage such as soaping windows, egging houses or other stringing toilet paper throughout trees. Before indoor testing was so widespread, tipping over or relocating outhouses was a well-liked form of intimidation. Casting flour into the faces of terror neighbors was as well done once upon a time.

Typical Halloween costumes have conventionally been monsters such as vampires, ghosts, witches, and other devils. In the most recent years, it has become very common for Halloween costumes to be based on themes other than conventional horror, such as dressing up as a personality from a TV show or any movie, or selecting a familiar face from the public sphere, such as a politician (in 2004, for example, George W. Bush or John Kerry were both well-liked costumes in America). In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, for instance, costumes of, firefighters, police officers, or any United States military personnel became accepted. In 2004, a predicted 2.15 million children in the United States were agreed to dress up as Spider-Man, the year's most popular Halloween costume.

Tamil Selvi is a Copywriter of Toddler costumes. She written many articles in various topics such as medieval costume and halloween party. For more information visit http://www.halloweenfantasy.com Contact her at usharani.articles@gmail.com

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20 Non-Edible Halloween Treats to Give Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween is fast approaching and if you're like me, you're not especially thrilled to contribute to the expanding waistlines of our children by passing out candy.

It's no secret that there's an obesity problem in America. Parents and children both are eating more and more junk food while exercising less. This of course results in a society where people are getting fatter.

And along comes Halloween, where children are allowed to go from house to house collecting candy. It's ridiculous! No wonder we have a weight problem in this country.

But are you worried that if you don't pass out something then perhaps you'll get "tricked" instead?

Never fear! You can still participate in the Halloween fun by passing out one of these non-edible Halloween treats to your trick-or-treaters. All of these items can be purchased quite inexpensively from your local party supply store. They should cost about the same as it would cost to buy candy.

• Halloween pencils
• Small tubs of playdough
• Temporary tattoos
• Halloween erasers
• Coloring books
• Silly Putty
• Small toys
• Stickers
• Glow sticks
• Bubbles
• Pencil toppers
• Super bounce balls
• Masks
• Origami paper and instructions
• Small decks of cards
• False vampire teeth
• Coins
• Slime
• Plastic jewelry
• Tooth brushes

These goodies are great because they are all fun to play with and last a lot longer than a candy bar. Many kids will also appreciate the novelty of receiving something that is not candy. By handing out these non-edible Halloween treats, you will still be able to celebrate the holiday without the guilt that comes from giving trick-or-treaters even more candy.

Shannon Tani is a former fattie, who weighed over 220lbs. She has currently lost over 70lbs. One day she realized that people would rather hear dieting advice from someone who's "been there, done that" than a boring old doctor who's never been fat a day in his life. So she started the website Better Off Fat to share her experiences and ideas.

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Halloween - Trick Or Treat?

Where did Halloween come from? Halloween originated from an ancient Celtic harvest festival, in Ireland and ancient Britain, when the spirits of the dead were thought to revisit their homes in the forms of ghosts, goblin, demon and witches.

In the 9th century, the Catholic church observed November 1st as "All Saints Day" on honor of all the saints in heaven and the secular version is celebrated on October 31st became known as "All Hallow's Eve."

How did Halloween come the united States? Halloween was first introduced to the United States in the last century by Irish immigrants as a secular occasion for trick-or-treating and making mischief.

Trick-or-Treating: The practice of dressing up in costumes and begging for candy from door to door goes way back to the Middle Ages. This resembles the medieval practice of "souling" when poor people would go door to door receiving food in return for prayers for the dead.

Why do we wear Halloween costumes? This tradition is called guising because off all of the disguises worn by children in Scotland and northern England. This practice like trick-or treating only arose in the twentieth century.

Candy Apples a favorite treat: Because the holiday comes in the wake of the annual apple harvest, candy apples (also known as toffee, taffy or caramel apples) are a common Halloween treat. Apples are rolled in a sticky sugar syrup and sometimes rolled in nuts.

Religious perspective: In Ireland, Halloween is far more traditional with cultural and historical significance than in the United States. In North America, Christian attitudes are quite diverse. Some consider Halloween to be completely incompatible with the Christian faith and offer an alternative to Halloween as a fall or harvest festival.

To see crazy costumes people wear during Halloween, visit Halloween: Trick-or-Treat

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Halloween - History of Trick Or Treat

Halloween is celebrated every year on October31st. The history of trick or treat and the origin of this holiday has been traced back to 5th century BC, in Ireland.

The Romans adopted the celebration in approximately the first century AD. It was incorporated in with two different Roman traditions that also took place in October. As the belief in spirit possession lessened, the practice of dressing in costume took on a more ceremonial role.

Halloween was introduced to the United States by European immigrants in the 1840's. They brought with them various holiday traditions and customs. The act of celebrating Halloween was greatly limited during this time because of rigid religious beliefs.

Our distinctly American version of Halloween was a merger of sorts between the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as those of the American Indian, thus providing our history of trick or treat. The early celebrations were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors gathered and would share tales of the dead, repeat ghost stories, and tell each other fortunes.

The Irish immigrants helped to popularize the celebration nationally. Extracting from the traditions of the Irish and English, early Americans began to dress up in costume. They would go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that was to become today's trick or treat.

By the middle of the twentieth century, this holiday had evolved into a celebration directed mostly at children. The entire community became involved with the trick or treaters. It was a relatively inexpensive form of entertainment and fun.

Families could, in theory, also prevent from being tricked by providing small treats for the neighborhood children. A tradition was born from the efforts of our ancestors using centuries old customs and practices.

This holiday has continued to grow and now is not restricted to small children. The parties and celebrations today include children of all ages - adults included. Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in the United States.

Men, women, and children in every disguise imaginable are today participating in parades, attending costume parties, and wearing disguises to the work place. Many individuals decorate both their homes and their yards for this ghostly time of year. For more information on Halloween, the history of trick or treat, costumes to wear for Halloween, and ideas for decorations, follow this link to Everything Halloween.

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