Now that the election is over, TV ads are reminding people that Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s time to start shopping for gifts. As you go on the hunt for bargains, don’t forget that you can also weed out purchases from previous years that you no longer use by boxing them up and calling ClothingDonations.org to schedule a pickup.
Tag: clothing donations
Plot a Patriotic Election-Night Party
With the World Series over, the next big event on everyone’s mind is the 2016 election.
While most people in the United States are sick of hearing the stump speeches and the sordid details, the presidential election has been driving news coverage for almost two years and will soon come to a dramatic end—and that’s an excuse for celebration.
With a little creativity, you can host a party that celebrates the democratic process, helps those who serve or have served in the military, and entertains friends (on neutral turf) as the returns come in.
First, you’ll need some supplies. The thrift store—often stocked with clothing and other donations from clothingdonations.org—is a great resource for lightly used red, white and blue paraphernalia left over from July 4th. You can find items such as American flags, maps, games and clothing with a patriotic theme.
A few patriotic refreshments are in order. Adult beverages can include Blue Hawaii and Cosmopolitan cocktails to suggest the two major parties by beverage color. Blue-state/red-state beers might include Pabst Blue Ribbon and Red Stripe.
Food can be as simple as all-American hot dogs and apple pie, or chili served with red, white and blue tortilla chips. Or you can get creative, and serve red, white and blue popcorn; (left- and right-) chicken wings; donkey, elephant, flag and star-shaped cookies; and more.
For entertainment, presidential trivia contests are fun and relatively nonpartisan, and for children, you can stage games of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey/elephant. Political junkies can submit their 50-state electoral projections to win door prizes such as vintage campaign memorabilia or red, white and blue ribbons. Assuming political differences don’t get in the way, a balloon drop is an inexpensive and easy way to celebrate the final outcome.
When the night is over, make sure to recycle, whether or not the Green Party makes inroads. And instead of tossing those t-shirts, campaign caps and other election-themed goods into the dustbin of history, bag them up with anything else you no longer need and contact clothingdonations.org for a pickup. Your donations will help fund valuable veterans’ programs and keep trash out of landfills.
Many Happy Returns!
Halloween costume inspiration
For Halloween costume inspiration, check out Netflix or your TV programming guide for celebrity ideas. With some large frame glasses, your daughter can look like an old-school Taylor Swift. With Pokémon Go all the rage, it should be easy to create some fantasy creatures for your youngsters to wear. For “Duck Dynasty” look-alikes, you just need some dark yarn for beards.
Shop vintage for Halloween loot
Many young women and parents haunt vintage shops for Halloween loot. You can find plenty of ideas at these shops for 1920s flapper costumes, for example, or to represent book and movie characters from “Gone with the Wind, ” “The Wizard of Oz” or early TV shows such as “I Love Lucy.” You and a friend could find all of the right fashion for a Lucy and Ethel pairing or Lucy and Ricky for a couple.
Presto — you’re a pineapple!
If you take an active interest in garage sales, you can probably pick up some ready-made Halloween costumes or gather up arts and crafts supplies to make your own for kids and adults. You won’t need many supplies for a Scooby-Doo character, for example. And, all you need to represent a popcorn box is a red and white stripped skirt or pants and a white shirt. If you want something really simple, use a few green leaves to adorn your hair and a yellow shirt. Presto — you’re a pineapple!