Favorite Costumes For Women

If you love Halloween and dressing up in fun and fashionable costumes, then you must check out this list of the top 5 Halloween costumes for women.  They are some of the hottest, most beautiful and also the most affordable costumes available for Halloween this year.

1.  Marilyn Monroe Costumes

One of the most iconic legends of the silver screen, Marilyn Monroe is the definition of stunning.  Most Marilyn costumes consist of the famous flowing white skirt and a wig of bouncy blond curls.  With the right amount of attitude mixed with a shy confidence, you too could be Norma Jean this Halloween.

2.  Can Can Costumes

Some of the most famous dancers this world has ever know, can can dancer costumes are hot, hot, hot!  Ranging in style from sultry and seductive to flirty and fun, these costumes are sure to be a hit at Halloween.  Most costumes have a tight fitting corset style top and ruffled skirt that shows just the right amount of leg.  The perfect choice for a woman who isn't afraid to show off what she's got.

3.  Moulin Rouge Costume

Similar to the can can costumes, these popular costumes depict the sexy ladies of an era gone by.  Made even more famous and popular by the Hollywood movie of the same name, these showgirl style costumes will knock everyone's socks off.  There are plenty of styles, colors and sizes available in these hot costumes.

4.  Cruella Deville Costume

Instead of being the heroine, why not choose to be the villain for a change.  And what villain is better known than Cruella?  With her black and white hair and full length fur coat, this puppy-stealing witch is as wicked as they come!  But that's what would make a Cruella Deville costume so much fun!  So get a Cruella costume and get ready to cackle this Halloween.

5.  Beer Wench Costume

Want to wear the costume every guy loves?  Yes?  Then a beer wench is the costume for you.  After all,  what guy wouldn't want you to serve him his frothy ale wearing one of these flirty costumes.  These costumes come in lots of styles from a traditional beer garden girl to a more historical tavern wench.  Great fun!

If you need a great costume this Halloween and aren't sure what to dress up as, consider one of these top 5 costumes for women.  They are some of the best costumes available to help you celebrate Halloween or any other costume event.

A New Pool Doesn't Have To Be Costly

If you have been thinking about investing in a pool for your family, let me tell you that there are ways to keep it within your budget.  I know this first hand because it is exactly what my family and I did this past summer.

My kids absolutely love to swim so I knew that once we were settled in our new home, I wanted to install a pool.  Unfortunately, we found that an inground pool was way out of our price range but some of the above ground pool models were reasonably priced and would be just what our family needed.  Besides, I find inground pools to be a bit of a safety hazard when you have young kids anyway!

So we did a bit of shopping around to compare above ground pools prices, styles and designs.  After doing a bit of looking around, we decided that we weren't interested in a temporary or soft sided above ground pool.  We only wanted to look for permanent backyard swimming pools.  But this meant that we were maybe going to have to buy a used pool rather than buy one brand new.

So we checked the daily classifieds in our area and found a few people who were offering used above ground pools for sale.  We went and had a look and found just the right one.  It is a large rectangle and has plenty of room for our young family to enjoy countless summer days splashing around.

We took that pool apart and reinstalled it ourselves and it couldn't have gone any smoother!   This was one of the best experiences and I can't wait for the kids to get in and get wet!

Get Organized and Save Money

So it is the start of a new year and as always I am trying to think of ways to keep everything in  my house organized!  With three very busy kids, keeping everyone's schedules straight can be a daunting task.  So one of my newest purchases was one of those Dry Erase Calendars to put up on the fridge.

So far, it has been a real life saver!  I can easily write each family members daily tasks so that no one misses an important event, appointment or sporting event.  I use the column at the top to write everyone's names and then I number the squares for each day of the month.  The thing I like most about it is that once the month is over, I can simply erase it and start over without having to by a new calendar every year.

Some may think that this option isn't as pretty or decorative as a standard calendar, but the one I bought actually has really nice photos at the top so it doesn't look dull and business like.

This wasn't an expensive purchase by any means - I think the one I bought was under $20 so it was an affordable addition to the family kitchen.  For me, I love that I can walk by the fridge and take a glance at what the day holds as well as what is coming at me the following week.

If you have a busy family and have trouble keeping everything in your home organized, a dry erase calendar is a very good idea!

Inexpensive Christmas Decorating Ideas

When it comes to the holidays, there is no one on this planet who loves to decorate more than I do.  But unfortunately, I don't usually have a lot of extra money in my Christmas budget for splashy expensive Christmas decorations.

I have found over the years, that sometimes a very simple and affordable decorating choice can make all the difference.  So each year I focus on three easy and inexpensive ways to add to my Christmas decor.  This year, I have chosen one outdoor display, one addition to my beloved Christmas tree and one fun family Christmas activity that I can use to keep the kids occupied but also use the finished piece as a centerpiece this year.

For my lawn this Christmas, I have decided to decorate in the traditional fashion.  I will be buying one af the many available Outdoor Nativity Sets and proudly displaying it on my front lawn. 

For my tree, I am going totally elegant, sophisticated and simple.  I absolutely adore Willow Tree Figures and this year I am purchasing a few of these hand carved ornaments to adorn my tree.  They will look best with white mini lights and maybe some plain colored ribbon.

And lastly, for my family fun activity...... I will be picking up one of those Gingerbread House Kits for my family and I to construct.  The candy-coated cottages will make me smile each day when I look at them.  They will be a constant reminder of what the spirit of Christmas is all about.....love and family.

Oh and two other things that I adore at the holidays will also be proudly on display in my home.  A set of five inexpensive but utterly adorable Christmas Stocking Holders and of course, the Elf on a Shelf to keep a watchful eye over the kids.

Each of these ideas is affordable, delightful and fills me with so much Christmas joy.  I hope you and yours have a safe and happy holiday season and may the spirit of Christmas stay in your heart all year long.

Add Elegance With Brass Outdoor Lighting

If you want to add sparkle to the exterior of your home without breaking the bank, brass outdoor lighting is the perfect choice.  The glimmering gold light can add an incredible glow on a dark night.

Brass lighting isn't limited to standard porch lights either.  These days people are installing brass lighting fixtures to their garages, their garden steps and pathways as well as taking advantage of brass coach lights to line either side of their driveways or walkways. 

Brass lighting outdoors is a popular choice because of it's resistance to the weather.  Brass lighting is so durable that even harsh seaside air and moisture cannot damage the exterior of the brass lighting fixtures.  With the odd polish and cleaning, your brass outdoor lighting will look its shimmering best for many many years.

But all of these advantages can't even top the best thing about brass lights.  They are extremely affordable.  Some of the big online retailers like eBay and Amazon have incredible deals on a huge variety of brass lighting.  Just do your homework before you buy to be sure you are getting the best deal on a brass lighting fixture.

These types of lighting fixtures offer a wide variety of cheap decorating options.  Click here to read a few more ideas on how to use Brass Outdoor Lighting to enhance the look of your home.

Create Charm With Rustic Outdoor Lighting

Rustic outdoor lighting is an inexpensive and easy way to add some quaint charm to the exterior of your home.  These affordable lighting fixtures are a great way to add a bit of ambiance to your home and welcome your guests in style.

If you have ever walked or driven through a nice neighbourhood at night you have most likely noticed that houses that are nicely lit from the outside are far more welcoming than homes that are dark and lifeless.  This feeling of comfort can easily be added to your home exterior by adding a few extra lighting fixtures.

But the style of the outdoor lighting is also important.  It is important of course for the outdoor lighting fixtures that you choose to match the exterior of your home, but it is also important that they match the overall style of the interior of your house as well.

If you are choosing to decorate the outside of your home with rustic outdoor lighting, then be sure that the overall style inside your home is rustic as well.  You don't want lighting fixtures that are a throw back to days gone by if the main theme of the decorating inside your home is very modern or contemporary.

Where you choose to add lighting fixtures is also important.  If true rustic charm is the feeling you are looking for, then why not try some coach lights to light a pathway or long driveway.  These old fashioned looking street lamps are rustic charm at it's finest.

Click here to read more about how to make the most of Rustic Outdoor Lighting.

Faux Wood Blinds Are Best

If you are trying to decorate on a limited budget, one of the best ways to save a bit of money is to choose faux wood blinds rather than traditional real wood blinds.  These fake wood blinds look just like the real thing but have some really wonderful advantages.

Real wood blinds are far more likely to warp and crack than faux wood blinds and are also much more expensive.  Real wood blinds are also harder to clean and if you have children, they are more prone to easy wear and tear.

Imitation wood blinds on the other hand are very easy to care for and thay look and feel just like the real thing.  They are an economical choice and are a great option for rooms where durability is a must.  Children's rooms and busy family rooms are prime candidates for fake blinds.

Faux blinds come in a variety of sizes ranging from 1 inch to 2 and a half inches wide.  One downside to not using reall wood blinds for your window coverings is the lack of avaialble color choices. However, while color choices are somewhat limited, there are a number of varieties available.

Click here to read more about how to decorate your home with Faux Wood Blinds.