For all of you who’ve been scratching your heads for months, trying to figure out what to wear on Halloween, to really stand out on the 31st of October, we’ve got your back. We’ve compiled a list of Halloween costume ideas to give you the burst of inspiration you’ve been looking for!
Despite the fact that Halloween will be very different this year due to COVID restrictions, you can still have an exhilaratingly spooky time.
Carving pumpkins is a classic Halloween ritual that begun in Ireland hundreds of years ago. They would carve faces into turnips and potatoes, but it wasn’t until Irish immigrants in America discovered pumpkins that they began pumpkin carving.
You can find pumpkins in supermarkets or you can pick your own from a pumpkin farm. To make your carving more interesting, see who can do the best/scariest carving amongst your friends and family.
Part of the joy of Halloween is walking down the street and observing spookily decorated houses. Just because things will be different this year, don’t let that stop you from creating your own haunted house. Get the spiders webs, ghosts, and flickering lights out and make your house as scary as possible. You could even collaborate with your neighbours and create a whole street of haunted houses.
Are you more Hocus Pocus or A Nightmare on Elm Street? The Adams Family or The Conjuring? Whether you’re a lover of scary films, or prefer the family classics, host your very own Halloween movie night this 31st October. Snuggle up in some comfy PJ’s, lots of blankets, and plenty of snacks, and watch your favourite Halloween films over the course of the evening. Just make sure that you don’t get too sleepy watching them, because you never know what’s hiding under the bed…
We may not be able to go out trick or treating this year, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t dress up. Get the face paints, fake blood, and masks out and have fun transforming into a new person, creature, or thing for the day. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures to show your friends and family just how ghoulish you can be.
Give in to your inner witch or warlock and mix yourself a spooky drink in your cauldron. Get creative with your concoction and try out a variety of flavour combinations. Give your drink that extra edge by including ice cube spiders and zombie eye limes.
2020 has made us all experts at hosting virtual events. This Halloween, get your costume on, mix yourself a spooky drink, and gather all of your friends and family for a virtual party. Complete with a ‘Best Dressed’ competition and spooky playlist, you can have all of the fun of a Halloween party, from the safety of your own home.
Release your inner child by bobbing for apples, playing Halloween bingo, and making the best mummy from toilet paper. Buy some sickeningly sweet treats for the winner of each game and have some childish fun.
Halloween is a great time to get creative and bake some spooky snacks. Try making eyeball cake pops, spider biscuits, and black cat cupcakes. Once you’ve made your beastly bakes, share them with your loved ones. You just need to think of a trick to go with your treat.
Halloween would not be complete without dancing to the Monster Mash. Create your very own Petrifying Playlist and dace the night away to all of your favourite spooky sounds. Don’t forget to share your playlist so that all your fellow ghosts and ghouls can enjoy your mix as well.
If you want something creative to do this Halloween, then why not take part in some Halloween crafts. Create your own spiders web, make a mummy, or even get messy with some Halloween slime. The messier the better.
Our only trick is delivering your freshly dry cleaned laundry to you completely contactless. Treat yourself to a Laundryheap service by visiting the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app.
Once you’re finished with your detergent bottle there is so much more that you can do other than recycle it. Here are just some ideas.
During the autumn and winter months birds find it harder to forage for food. Help feed the birds, and save the environment, by making your very own laundry detergent bottle bird feeder.
Make sure that your detergent bottle is completely empty and give it a through rinse before beginning to form your bird feeder.
Once you’ve cleaned out your bottle, cut a bird-sized hole into the front of it. This will be how the bird accesses the food, so make sure that it is big enough for a standard sized bird to fit through. Underneath your hole, create a small perch for birds to rest on by pushing a wooden pencil or dowel through the bottle.
After you’ve constructed your bird feeder, decorate it in any way you see fit. Use paints, streamers, glitter, whatever you have laying around to make your bird feeder as attractive to the birds as possible.
Leave your bird feeder to completely dry before placing any bird food inside it. Once it is dried and filled with food, place it outside and in plain sight for the birds so that they can begin feasting.
There’s no need to pay for a gym membership when you can make your very own weights at home.
Once you’ve used all of your laundry detergent, give the bottle a thorough clean. Next, fill the empty bottle with water or sand, creating weights. Depending on how heavy you want your weights to be depends on how much water/sand you add to the bottle. If you want to change the weight for your at-home workout, simply add or take away the amount of water/sand inside the bottle.
This is an easy, cost effective, and safe way to stay fit and healthy, especially during COVID19.
Keep your plants alive and well with this easy laundry detergent bottle watering can.
Simply give your bottle a thorough wash to remove any soapy residue and poke watering holes in the lid of the bottle. To make your homemade watering can more appealing, decorate it however you see fit. Paint it a bright vibrant colour, and add some designs. People will never know it was originally a laundry detergent bottle.
Once you’ve finished using your shop-bought laundry detergent, re-fill the empty bottle with homemade detergent. The process of making your own detergent is easy.
Get crafty and turn your laundry detergent bottle into a piggy bank.
Begin by thoroughly washing out your empty detergent bottle to get rid of any soapy residue. Once you have done that, drill four small holes on the long flat side of your bottle. These will be the holes that you attach your pigs legs to.
Next cut a rectangle slit in the handle of your detergent bottle. This will be where you deposit your money, so make sure that your slit is large enough to deposit all sizes of coins.
Next, decorate your piggy bank with whatever you can find in your house. Give it a thorough coat of paint to cover the base of the laundry detergent bottle before adding eyes, ears, and decorating the bottle cap as the pigs snout.
Insert 4 screws into the drilled holes at the bottom of your detergent bottle, these will be what your piggy bank stands on. Once your screws are screwed in make sure that your piggy bank can stand up and is stable. You may need to tighten and adjust your screws to allow your piggy bank to comfortably stand.
Once you are satisfied with your piggy bank, it’s time to start saving. To access your piggy bank money, simply unscrew your pigs nose (the bottle cap) and empty it out. Happy saving.
Whilst you are busy up-cycling laundry detergent bottles, let us take care of your laundry. We launder all of our clothing with the environment in mind, which is why we do not use harsh chemicals on your clothing, and we offer low emission delivery slots.
To book your Laundryheap service head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Wedding planning can be incredibly stressful, but it’s important to note that there is no such thing as ‘the perfect wedding.’ As long as your wedding is perfect for you and your partner, it will be perfect.
The current pandemic we are facing may have put your wedding on hold, but there is no reason why you can’t take this time to meticulously plan your special day. Here’s how.
When planning a wedding there is a lot of things to think about. From choosing a venue to considering what floral arrangements you want, you have to consider the smallest of details. To ensure that you achieve your perfect day, it’s best to organise your ideas as soon as possible. Create mood boards for the different aspects of your wedding to narrow down your initial ideas. Create a check-list of things that need to be completed before your big day. Split your to-do list up into monthly tasks to make the list more manageable, setting yourself goals on what you want to achieve leading up to your special day. Preparation is key to achieving your perfect wedding, the more organised you are the easier it will be to achieve your perfect day.
Your big day should be the perfect amalgamation of yours and your significant other’s vision. Your guests should see both of you reflected in every aspect of your wedding. That is why it is vital that you include your partner in the wedding planning. Discuss exactly what the vision for your wedding is and build your to-do list together. Then, divide your tasks between yourselves. This will make it easier to get through the wedding prep and ensure that your wedding is prefect for both of you.
Planning a wedding is hard and you should not be taking on the challenge on your own. Enlist the help of family and friends to help you make decisions and organise your special day. You could even enlist the help of a wedding planner who will take your vision for your perfect wedding and organise everything, with your oversight of course. This can drastically lessen the stress you may feel and make the process more enjoyable.
Weddings can be incredibly expensive, so it’s essential to set a realistic budget. Take into consideration what you want from your wedding, what you have to pay for and what you can realistically afford. Your budget may limit what can be achieved for your big day, but the sooner you establish what you can afford the easier it will be to plan your special day.
Given the current situation, it’s near impossible to pin down an exact date for your wedding. That being said, you can decide what season, and maybe even month, you would like to be married in. This will give you a realistic time-frame of when you need to start preparing for your big day.
After you’ve established what season your wedding will take place in, it may be easier to choose a colour scheme. For example, a winter wedding could have a darker colour scheme than a summer wedding. Consider the colours that you and your significant other like. Are there any colours that you feel signify your relationship? After picking a colour scheme, you can begin planning floral arrangements, place settings, decorations- all of the smaller things that will bring your wedding together.
Once you’ve decided on your venue and your wedding date, you can begin considering who will be on your guest list. Think about who you want as part of your bridal and groom squad and work from there. The more time you give yourself and your partner to consider the guest list the easier it will be to send out those final invitations without the fear of forgetting anyone. In addition, the sooner you send out your invitations the more time your guests will have to clear their schedules and save your date.
One of the most important parts of anyone’s big day is their outfit. You want to look perfect. Take your time looking for an outfit. Browse all your options and don’t rush into a decision. It doesn’t matter if you have to visit 10 shops, try on 100 different looks and order a couple of back-up options online. It’s your big day and you should feel comfortable in whatever you decide to wear. Don’t forget to consider your shoes and accessories as well.
Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life and you will want to remember every moment of it. That is why it’s so important to get a good photographer and/or videographer. Take your time to look through the portfolios of multiple photographers and videographers and pick one with your dream style. You can even reach out to a handful of them and ask for additional samples of their work. Your wedding photos and video will serve as a reminder of your big day for the rest of your life, so you want to hire the best person for the job.
Planning a wedding can be stressful. There are a lot of decisions to be made and a lot of planning to be done. That being said, don’t forget to have fun. Organise a crazy hen/stag night. Have your friends and family round for a planning party. Take this opportunity to have some quality time with your partner, orgnaising your perfect wedding. Most importantly, allow yourself to be excited. It’s your day and you should enjoy every moment of the process, planning included.
We are here to help with all your pre and post wedding laundry needs. If you need your wedding dress dry cleaned, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free app to book your laundry slot.
We will all be spending this Easter weekend in self-isolation. But that does not mean that we can’t have a fun-filled Easter. Here are 10 fun activities to do in self-isolation this Easter weekend.
Easter egg hunts are an Easter weekend staple that doesn’t have to stop because you’re in self-isolation. Whilst shopping for your essentials, pick up some Easter eggs of varying sizes. Utilise the space that your home has to offer and hide them in new and inventive places- think inside a plant pot, hidden under a lampshade, etc. If you have a garden, utilise that space as well.
To make the hunt more interesting why not make it themed? Or leave clues scattered around your home that hint to where the eggs may be. You can even video call your friends and family and get them involved.
Egg decorating is just as fun for children as it is for adults. Plus, decorating eggs provides you with colourful new Easter decorations for your home. Either hard boil or poke a small hole into the bottom and top of an egg to drain all of the liquid from inside of it. Grab all the crafty things in your home together- pens, paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, anything at all- and let your imagination run wild. You could even make this activity into a game and award a prize for the most inventive egg decoration.
Easter nests are easy to make and come with the added bonus of being edible.
You will need:
Begin by melting your chocolate either in a saucepan or in the microwave- make sure to keep a close eye on it to ensure that it doesn’t burn. Once the chocolate is melted stir in 3 tbsp of your golden syrup and your cereal of choice. Stir the mixture well to make sure that ALL the cereal is covered in chocolate. Spoon your mixture into cake cases and complete your birds’ nest with a sprinkling of chocolate eggs. Leave them to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes before digging in to an eggcellent Easter treat.
Bingo may come with connotations of pensioners but Easter bingo is fun for all ages. It’s much the same as normal bingo, but instead of calling out numbers you call out Easter related words. You can even make the game more interesting by including Easter themed images. If you head over to Pinterest, there are an abundance of free Easter bingo print-outs you can use, or you can spend an afternoon making your own before settling down for a night of friendly Easter competition.
Get messy this Easter and finger paint your own Easter bunnies. All you need is an array of colourful paints, plain paper and your own fingers. This activity is perfect for keeping your children, and your inner child, entertained for an afternoon. Just make sure that all hands are washed before they touch anything other than their canvas.
Who said that Pinata’s had to be saved for birthdays? Why not get creative and make your very own Easter chick piñata?
You will need:
Firstly, blow up you balloon and tie off the end. Then, cover your balloon in strips of newspaper dipped in glue, 3 layers should be sufficient. Once the glue has dried, cut off the bottom so that you can insert your sweets. Mark on the eyes and mouth, before painting the balloon yellow until no newspaper is showing. Next, cut your crepe paper into 2 inch squares. You will need to completely cover the balloon, however they don’t all need to be uniform. Cover your piñata with the squares, being careful to avoid the eyes and mouth. Use your card to form a beak for your chick by cutting out two triangles. Draw on your chicks eyes, or, if you have them available, use googly eyes. For the finishing touch, cover your piñata in feathers and insert your sweets, making sure to glue the bottom of the balloon back on to seal them in. Grab your household and enjoy an Easter Fiesta!
Awaken your competitive spirit this Easter and host your very own Easter Olympic Games. Gather your household and set a series of challenges to be completed, each with an Easter twist. Think, egg and spoon race, bunny hop challenge, and even pin the tail on the bunny rabbit. Award each challenge with a bronze, silver and gold award, until the person with the most gold medals is declared the winner. Take your Easter Olympic games one step further by creating your own medals out of yogurt lids and string. May the best athlete win!
Another way to get your households creativity flowing this Easter is by making Easter masks.
You will need:
Firstly, cut out two eye holes so that the mask wearer can sufficiently see. Next, think about what Easter character you want to create. Are you going to be a chicken? A bunny? Or maybe a lamb. Once you’ve decided on your character, use your crafty materials to construct your character however you see fit. Once done, and any wet materials are dried, cut a length of string that can reach around the back of your head without being too tight or loose. Use two bits of sellotape to secure each end of your string to your mask and then show off your creation to the rest of your household.
Sometimes the best way to spend Easter is by relaxing with your loved ones, feasting on Easter eggs and watching Easter films. There are plenty of films to be enjoyed by all the family, and plenty of chocolate to eat, so don’t forget to have some downtime this Easter weekend.
From all of the team at Laundryheap, Happy Easter!
Kids are full of energy, but when it comes to doing chores… not so much. It’s just not a fun and appealing activity for them (just as it isn’t for us either!), but it’s gotta be done!
Here are 5 ways to make chores fun for kids:
Kids LOVE playing games! So what better way to make chores interesting for them than to incorporate their favourite games within the chores you want them to do. How about a game of throw the laundry into the basket (like basketball) or the floor is lava, so they have to pick up their toys before it ‘melts’. If they’re washing dishes, add some rubber toys in there or a floating boat to make it fun.
Just be creative!
Turn those games into competitions! The one who gets it done first will win or the one who does the most chores will win! Whether you have one or many kids, friendly competitions are not only fun but a great distraction from the thought of it being a chore. You can also use these competitions as a way of training and developing their skills; they can try to do their task better/ quicker the next time.
Make your kids feel proud of their accomplishments by rewarding them for their efforts and hard work. Take them out for a treat, or create a reward system where they’ll have to do a certain amount of chores to be able to get an item they’ve always wanted.
Praising your kids for their achievements will encourage them to do more and will give them a sense of positivity when completing chores.
Kids can get bored and distracted easily when activities become less interesting. It’s best to keep their chore time short and switch up their schedules every so often; exposing them to different tasks.
Gather a list of your child’s favourite music and let them sing and dance to it whilst they’re doing their chores. This will surely keep them entertained and motivated! You can join in too and it will feel like they’re having a mini party.
