A Lesson on Halloween inDelaware is available on: https://hauntrave.com/

A Lesson on Halloween in Delaware

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

The Garage Sale

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Trying Again

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

 

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Delaware, click here

 

Halloween is Here

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

The Results

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

 

Find the best haunted houses in Delaware, search here

 

The Lessons

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

The following article A Lesson on Halloween in Connecticut is available on: www.hauntrave.com

A Lesson on Halloween in Connecticut

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

The Garage Sale

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Trying Again

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

 

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Connecticut, click here

 

Halloween is Here

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

The Results

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

 

Find the best haunted houses in Connecticut, search here

 

The Lessons

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

A Lesson on Halloween in Colorado is courtesy of: https://hauntrave.com/

A Lesson on Halloween in Colorado

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

The Garage Sale

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

 

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Colorado, search here!

 

Trying Again

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

Halloween is Here

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

The Results

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

 

Find the best haunted houses in Colorado, click here

 

The Lessons

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

The following article A Lesson on Halloween in Arizona is available on: Haunt Rave

A Lesson on Halloween in Arizona

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

<b>The Garage Sale</b>

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Arizona, click here

<b>Trying Again</b>

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

<b>Halloween is Here</b>

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

Find the best haunted houses in Arizona, search here

<b>The Results</b>

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

<b>The Lessons</b>

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

The post A Lesson on Halloween in Alaska is available on: https://hauntrave.com/

A Lesson on Halloween in Alaska

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

<b>The Garage Sale</b>

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Alaska, click here

<b>Trying Again</b>

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

<b>Halloween is Here</b>

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

Find the best haunted houses in Alaska, search here

<b>The Results</b>

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

<b>The Lessons</b>

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

A Lesson on Halloween in Alabama is republished from: Haunt Rave Haunted house reviews

A Lesson on Halloween in Alabama

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

<b>The Garage Sale</b>

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Find the best haunted houses in Alabama, click here

<b>Trying Again</b>

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Alabama, search here

<b>Halloween is Here</b>

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

<b>The Results</b>

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

Find the best haunted houses in Alabama, search here

<b>The Lessons</b>

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

A Lesson on Halloween in Illininois

A Lesson on Halloween in Illininois is available on: https://hauntrave.com/

A Lesson on Halloween in Illinois

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me. As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

<b>The Garage Sale</b> Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year. Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Illinois, search here!

<b>Trying Again</b> The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect! Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili. As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

<b>Halloween is Here</b> Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill. Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready. It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught. The onslaught never came.

<b>The Results</b> By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses). It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

Find the best haunted houses in Illinois, click here

<b>The Lessons</b> I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened: - We had fun both planning and doing the event. - We strengthened neighborhood relationships. - We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks. - We made a memory we will talk about for years. - We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween! - I got the subject for this essay. - A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns. - And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work. However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome. If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book. We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them. Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on! I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

The following blog post A Lesson on Halloween in California is available on: https://hauntrave.com/

A Lesson on Halloween in California

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

<b>The Garage Sale</b>

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

<b>Trying Again</b>

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in California, click here

<b>Halloween is Here</b>

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

<b>The Results</b>

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

Find the best haunted houses in California, search here

The Lesson

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

The article A Lesson on Halloween in Arkansas is republished from: Haunt Rave Directory

A Lesson on Halloween in Arkansas

Halloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.

As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I've been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.

This year was different though. I've actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn't go quite the way I expected ...

<b>The Garage Sale</b>

Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone's sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.

Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren't selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.

<b>Trying Again</b>

The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea-- let's do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!

Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.

As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather-- upper 60's by "game time." We had the perfect setup for a successful event.

Are you looking for the best haunted houses in Arkansas, click here

<b>Halloween is Here</b>

Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn't wait to set up! We got everything out-- ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.

Two other neighbors were manning the candy-- to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.

It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.

The onslaught never came.

<b>The Results</b>

By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).

It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.

Find the best haunted houses in Arkansas, search here

<b>The Lessons</b>

I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did-- and what we accomplished. $32. I didn't even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:

- We had fun both planning and doing the event.

- We strengthened neighborhood relationships.

- We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others-- through our actions, not our checkbooks.

- We made a memory we will talk about for years.

- We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!

- I got the subject for this essay.

- A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.

- And we did add $32 to the Riley Children's Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.

However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn't reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.

If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn't raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.

We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren't. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.

Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that's OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!

I don't know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I'll let you know how it goes.

Discover Halloween Sounds is republished from: https://hauntrave.com

Discover Halloween Sounds

Halloween is a time for scaring folks, becoming what you always wanted to be (a princess or a superhero) or would never hope to be (a monster or a mummy), eating delicious sweet treats, seeing ghostly images, and hearing Halloween sounds that make your blood curdle.

Halloween sounds are a big part of the holiday fun, and you should not overlook the sense of hearing when decorating for your party or rigging up the scariest house in the neighborhood for the trick-or-treaters.

Find the best local haunted house in Chicago, click here!

Halloween sounds of things that go bump in the night, screams of helpless victims, songs of monsters, fling bat wings, and spooky howls can add just the right frightening touch to any scene-- whether it is your charity's haunted house fundraiser or your own front yard that awaits the pounding feet of little tykes dressed up in all their finery.

There are a few different ways you can accumulate some scary and fun Halloween sounds to your life this holiday.

You can head to your local costume shop, party superstore, WalMart, or probably even dollar store and pick up a pre-recorded CD or tape of classically frightening Halloween sounds and noises. This is easy, and they are usually only five bucks or less.

For a little more of a personal touch, you can make a recording of your own Halloween sounds. Just get out a tape recorder and bang some pots and pans together. Have your kids enter a screaming contest, and record the screams as they get louder and louder.

Find the best local haunted house in Chicago, click here!

Make your voice sound hoarse like you used to do when you wanted to get out of going to school, and say monsterly things like, "Come here you little ones," or "Have I got a treat for you?" Basically, anything that sounds like it might be creepy after dark will work. Then, of course, on Halloween night, just put it on the porch and let it play.

For a higer-tech version of Halloween sounds, you can turn to your new best friend, the Internet. There are lots of sites out there that have free WAV files and other noises that you can download and burn onto a CD right on your own computer. Just look around for a while and record anything you think sounds pretty darn scary-- or even funny-- if you prefer, and you will have a CD you can pop in your computer or stereo and play after dark when the little goblins are heading up the sidewalk or driveway.

Scary-loking decorations like spider webs, skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, and tombstones are way too much fun to describe, but be sure to include some Halloween sounds into your Halloween decorating plans to make for a really spooky night.

Search Chicago for a haunted house, click here!

Fun & Easy Halloween Party Themes and Ideas was first seen on: https://hauntrave.com

Fun & Easy Halloween Party Themes and Ideas

Halloween is the day of the year that has the most parties thrown in its honor. Everyone loves to dress up and attend Halloween parties with their friends. Most people end up getting several invitations to different Halloween parties that are often on the same night. If you are planning to throw your own Halloween party, how can you get all your friends to head to your shindig and not someone else's? You need to come up with some unique and fun ideas that will get everyone on your list so excited about your party they won't even consider going anywhere else.

Not Just Any Old Theme

Many people don't bother thinking of a theme for their Halloween party since it seems to be somewhat of a theme already. But rather than just putting up some Happy Halloween banners and fake cobwebs, why not come up with a great theme party idea? You can do anything from a haunted house or graveyard to a monster mash or horror movie bash. Once you've chosen your theme apply it to everything from your invitations to your party food. Guests will love some guidance on what to dress up as, especially if you do something a little different.

Find the best local haunted house in Chicago, click here!

Your Halloween party invitations are one of the most important aspects of your party. Invitations are the best way to get your guests excited about your party. Many people don't even send invitations anymore so even sending out simple ones will help your party stick in people's minds. Be sure to apply your party theme to your invitations. If you can't find any invitations at your local party store that go with your theme you can always use invitation templates that you can download for free from the Internet.

You can totally customize invitation templates and add colorful pictures as well. Guests will love to receive these fun invitations in the mail. You should send your invitations out approximately three to four weeks before your party to give everyone time to make plans to attend. If you're running short of time sending electronic invitations is a great idea too. You can add animation and sound to e-invitations and even check guest's responses online. Be sure to contact anyone who doesn't respond via telephone since not everyone checks their email often.

Spooky Decorations

Everyone will expect to see your house decorated to the nines on Halloween so be sure not to disappoint. Your decorations should match your theme, so give them plenty of thought. For instance, a haunted house theme should be complete with low lighting, smoke, a spooky soundtrack, and even live ghouls to jump out and scare the guests as they arrive. A horror movie bash might include retro horror B-movie posters stuck on the walls which you can find on the Internet and print off at home.

Find the best local haunted house in Chicago, click here!

Decorations can be found just about anywhere in the months leading up to Halloween. Even grocery stores carry a wide selection. Start shopping early so you can get the best selection possible and take advantage of any sales. If you can't find just what you're looking for you can always rent decorations from a local party supply shop or even purchase decorations from the Internet. The Internet has an almost endless selection and you can find just about any party supplies or decorations you'll need.

Music is an important aspect of any party as well. While some spooky tunes are fun at first, you'll want to switch over to some more upbeat music once the party gets going. People love to dance so have plenty of high energy songs ready to go. If you are inviting a variety of different people have several different types of music so no ones gets bored.

Tasty Halloween Treats

Food is an important part of any party. While you don't need to provide a full meal, some creative and tasty snacks and treats will help keep your guests fueled for the night's festivities. Turning simple party food into ghoulish culinary delights will surprise and please your guests. Try making some bewitching cupcakes, and put out snacks such as gummy worms and other Halloween candy treats.

Costumes are a given, since this is Halloween after all. If you are having a Halloween theme of some sort, let your guests know on your invitations that they should dress to fit the theme. For instance, if you're throwing a horror movie bash, you can simply say, "come as your favorite horror movie star". Don't expect all your guests to comply with your request. Some people have been thinking up their Halloween costume since last year!

Don't forget about the party favors! Depending on how many people you're inviting and how much you're willing to spend, the possibilities are endless when it comes to party favors. A simple idea is candy bags full of traditional treats such as candy corn. Something more substantial might be a pumpkin carving kit that comes with cutouts and tools. Your guests will love having a little something to take home with them.

Endless Costume Possibilities

If you really aren't into the scary aspect of Halloween, you can always break with tradition and hold a different type of Halloween party. Have a famous couples party or a crazy hat party instead. Guests can still dress up but might be more creative then a white sheet with holes cut out of it. Dressing up for Halloween is something that both adults and kids can enjoy so great creative and have fun with it!

Having games at your party isn't a necessity, but can be a great deal of fun for your guests. Games act as an excellent icebreaker if everyone doesn't know each other. Any games where you can break people off into teams will help to get everyone talking. Pumpkin carving contests are a good idea, as is bobbing for apples. Be sure to give a prize to the best costume as well.

Your Halloween party is sure to be a success if you take the time to plan. Leave yourself plenty of time and don't forget it's all the little details that help to make a fabulous party. Enlist the help of family and friends if you're feeling overwhelmed, and remember, planning is half the fun!

Search Chicago for a haunted house, click here!

Haunted Vacations St louis

The following blog post Haunted Vacations St louis was first seen on: https://hauntrave.com

Haunted Vacations

I see Dead People." Admittedly among the very best movie linesever spoken. From "Ghostbusters" to "Ghost" to "The Sixth Sense" Hollywood has actually had an attraction with the world beyond the living. Yet, why allow Hollywood have all fun? Probably on your next vacation, you wish to attempt your own hand at ghost searching.

There's inadequate room in one short article to list all the supposedly haunted sites in America. For that reason, I'm just mosting likely to familiarize youwith a few of these other-worldly destinations. First off, Moundsville, West Virginia. Don't know why, however West Virginia has greater than its share of hauntings and ghost trips. One such trip happens at the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia, one of the bloodiest prisons in The U.S.A.. The tour begins at 8:00 P.M. as well as lasts an hour. But, it does not end there. From 9:00 P.M. till 6:00 the following morning, you're cost-free to discover the jail under the guidance of a paranormal investigator, or, if you're the actually endure kind, by yourself. Alone. With no one however the spirits to maintain you firm. This excursion is available March via November. Yes, that's right, you can also go on Halloween-- if you attempt.

Our next destination lies in Dresden, Ohio. Right here you' llbe able to tour and also invest the night in Prospect Place, a 29-room mansion built in 1856 by activist George Willison Adams. Cost for a trip as well as guestroom for the evening is just $40, which consists of breakfast when you get up (if you get up, that is). For those not choosing to remain the night, there is a 90-minute trip on Friday as well as Saturday evenings when paranormal investigations are set up.

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And also, for the real hens amongst us (not directing any type of fingers) there is a daytime scenic tour arranged. While on the ghost tour watch for the lots of souls which obviously haunt the manor. They consist of: The Servant on the Stairwell; Constance, the little woman who dropped from the terrace; The hearts of the many slaves escaping enslavement through the below ground railroad who took sanctuary in the basement.

Currently we pertain to St Louis, MI.  for a Ghost and GravestoneExperience evening tour of several of that city's most haunted places. Themed trolleys will take you and also various other "ghost hunters" to different hauntings, showcasing the Whaley Residence, which some think to be the most haunted houses in The U.S.A.. (Okay, exactly what does "most haunted" imply? To me, just one ghost is plenty).
Whaley Home has a specifically unfortunate background-- it rests atop agraveyard of some of the almost 9,000 Kumeyaay, a regional Indian people who were transformed to Christianity by Father Junipero Serra's goal, that passed away of illness and also violence. The Whaley household itself held lots of Kumeyaay as slaves. It's claimed that a lot of these Kumeyaay haunt your home to this particular day. Various other haunted areas on the excursion include the Villa Montezuma, the William Health Davis home in the Gaslamp Quarter, along with one of the earliest burial grounds in San Diego. Walking footwear are recommended (or, running shoes if you're of the hen variety I mentioned over). The scenic tour is about two hrs long. Reservations can be made by calling 619-298-8687.

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The History Of Halloween is courtesy of: www.hauntrave.com

The History Of Halloween

Halloween is a holiday that is loved by many people especially the Americans. It is celebrated on the eve of November 1. People on the night of October 31 dress Halloween costumes which makes Halloween the second highest grossing commercial holiday since people who will attend Halloween parties intricate their costumes. Traditional activities on this day include visiting haunted houses, designing jack-o-lanterns, and making bonfires. In some ways to cut costs, people are making homemade costumes instead of buying one, using the Halloween decorations in the previous years, and buying inexpensive candies.

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The tradition of Halloween root back in Samhain, an aged harvest festival held during the end of Celtic year. The harvest festival marks the start of winter and the end of summer season. It was imagined that dead spirits returned on the eve of the harvest festival to play tricks and harm the crops of the living. The celebration of Samhain usually involved bonfires since it is believed in the ancient times that fires attract insects to the places which allured bats to that area. It mentions that wearing of masks and Halloween costumes are efforts to imitate the bad spirits.

In the early times, the arrival of the Romans to the Celtic territories including Scotland, England, and Northern France leave a mark in the celebration of Samhain. The Romans influenced the people in these countries by bringing their holidays such as Feralia, the day of the Romans where they show respect to the dead. The evolution on the history of Halloween has become known to several countries in which Halloween activities such as trick-or-treat have become popular in many countries including the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain. It states that during the old times, Great Britain showed resistance to the growth of Halloween, wherein British policemen threaten to perform legal action to parents who permit their children to carry the "trick" element. Also in continental Europe, the act of practicing Halloween is perceive with skepticism as the police have raised suspicion on this game in general.

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Today, some states in the U.S. like Iowa, Massachusetts, and Ohio have designated the night of October 31 for trick-or-treating also called as the Beggars Night. It states that with the increasing influence of the American culture through constant exposure to media such as television, the Halloween practice of trick-or-treat began to happen among children in Saudi Arabia and in many parts in Europe. The trick-or-treat is a children's activity in Halloween where they go house to house in costumes, asking "trick or treat?" The treat asked by children is confectionery such as candies. If the homeowner answers "trick," a threat to play trick in his property is given. The main tradition of trick-or-treat expects children in the neighborhood to buy treats for the trick-or-treaters. The history of trick-or-treat which serves as an adult invention to prevent Halloween activities from vandalism has not been supported.

Halloween costumes are a part of the Halloween history. The customary practice of wearing Halloween costumes on the eve of Halloween, as well as the begging of food door to door, are practiced since the Middle Ages. The trick-or-treat activity symbolizes the act of "souling," when poor people would go door to door to receive food in exchange of praying for the dead on All Saints Day, which is held in November 2. In Great Britain and in Ireland, the same practices of souling were the same as in Italy. Despite the lack of evidence that testify the practice of souling in the U.S., it is believed that treat-or-trick was adopted in the country.

In addition, the early documentation of ritual begging in Halloween happens in 1911 when an Ontario newspaper reported that is acceptable for smaller children to make street guising on the holiday such as visiting neighbors and shops, and being given with candies and nuts as a reward for their songs and rhymes. Also, many Halloween postcards made in the turn of the 20th century depicts to show something about Halloween but does not represent trick-or-treat. Also, the immigration of many Scots-Irish in the U.S. from 1717 to 1770 started ritualism of begging in Halloween which became uncertain in the U.S. until the generations that came after.

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The post Halloween Family Fun was first published on: www.hauntrave.com

Halloween Family Fun

Halloween is a great family holiday. There are plenty of activities that the kids of all ages in your family can participate in, so why not get out of the house and join in the fun? Most cities will have plenty of options for Halloween fun in the month of October.

Trick-or-Treat

One of the most popular Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. If you are concerned about your kids heading out on their own on Halloween night, why not tag along? Don a costume yourself, and take the time to enjoy the scenery and everyone else's costumes. You might even get some candy of your own.

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Deck the yard

And the halls, and yourself. If you choose to stay at home on Halloween night, why not make it fun for everyone who comes to visit you? Decorate your yard, entranceway, and yourself and get ready to enjoy the trick-or-treaters that come to call.

Costume parties

If you enjoy costumes, why not attend a costume party or host your own? This can be a great way for adults to have a more mature Halloween celebration, or just a fun way to allow the kids to enjoy their costumes for a little longer.

Haunted Houses

If you really want to get creeped out on Halloween, consider taking a tour through your local haunted houses. Most are designed to be gory and scary, so keep that in mind if there are little ones in your group. These attractions are usually quite popular, and are often open the entire month of October, so if you don't want to wait in line consider visiting them earlier in the month.

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Boo at the zoo

If there is a zoo in your city, it might be worth checking to see if yours offers any special events in the month of October. Usually taking place on the weekends, Boo at the zoo usually allows your kids to dress up in costumes, receive treats, visit their favorite animals, and participate in fun activities.

Movie night

For movie buffs, some theaters will set up all-night horror film festivals. They often feature select cult classics like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as others. This can be great entertainment for those who plan on staying up all night. Alternatively, if you want to stay home, consider having your own movie night at home with your personal Halloween favorites.

Haunted hayrides

For another traditional Halloween activity, consider taking a haunted hayride. Often hosted by local farms (quite possibly the one you pick your pumpkin from) these after dark activities include a spooky hayride, bonfire, and snacks and are usually appropriate for all age groups.

Research your ghostly neighbors

Nearly every town has an area or building that is "haunted" by some local ghost. Visit your local library or historical center to find out where these places are, and take your own local tour. In some areas, paranormal investigation teams will take tours out on Halloween to do some ghost hunting of your own.

Read a book

If curling up at home alone with the leftover candy is more your speed, consider reading a suspense/horror book. Your local library can surely recommend some good ones depending on your tastes.

Halloween always offers plenty to do if you take time to do it.

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Options for Halloween Fun is available on: Haunt Rave Directory Blog

Options for Halloween Fun

Halloween is a fun holiday for both kids and adults. It gives them to chance to dress up as a favorite character and eat tons of sweets. Plus, thanks to the commercialization of all holidays, there is always a variety of things to do during the month of October. Here is a look at some of the fun ways that you can celebrate the holiday.

Trick or treating

Perhaps one of the most time-honored tradition of Halloween, trick or treating can be fun for many children. What could be more exciting than dressing in a great Halloween costume and getting candy for it? Adults should always accompany the youngsters when they go out, and everyone should carry flashlights and stay in well-lit areas. Adults should also inspect the candy before allowing kids to eat it.

Due to safety concerns, some neighborhoods are setting assigned hours for trick or treating-- or even doing it on Halloween afternoon instead of after dark. Sometimes local shopping centers will do trick or treating events at their stores as well for parents who prefer a public locale.

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Haunted locations

For older children and adults, haunted houses can be a great source of fun for Halloween night. Some places will even have toned-down attractions for the younger ones. Call ahead to find out hours and pricing, as well as the age of admission for scarier attractions.

Some churches will have Halloween alternative activities planned that are open to the community. Often kid will wear costumes, and there may be other activities like face painting, apple bobbing, hayrides, costume contests, and more for a more family-friendly celebration of the holiday.

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If you are lucky enough to live near an amusement park, you can find out whether or not they have any Halloween activities. Some will have special evening hours where you can come in costume, ride the rides, and hang out with various spooks and characters. There may also be stations set up where you can play games or receive treats. In general, these events are designed to be more silly than spooky.

Staying at home

There are also plenty of alternatives that you can do at home to celebrate Halloween. For instance, you could create your own haunted house and invite the neighborhood to stop by for a visit. Or, throw your own Halloween bash. Some party planners will choose a special theme for the evening, while others will simply go with the traditional Halloween icons. Costumes are a must, of course, and you can have your own games and activities tailored to the specific age group attending.

If you would rather just spend a quiet evening at home, you could consider renting some of your favorite Halloween flicks. A bowl of popcorn and your favorite Halloween candy and you are set for a quiet evening at home.

There are plenty of ways that you can choose to celebrate the Halloween holiday. A costume, some candy, and a little holiday magic and you are all set for a "spooktacularly" good time.

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An Inconvenient Spirit: Selling Your Haunted House was first seen on: https://hauntrave.com/

An Inconvenient Spirit: Selling Your Haunted House

Selling a haunted house is a difficult proposition if the ghosts are particularly noisy or violent. Many home buyers eschew atmosphere for the dull life of the bright house or bungalow untenanted by a disturbed spirit. Therefore, fixing up your house to sell may involve various preparations to reduce the impact of ghosts, spirits, otherworldly emanations and other supernatural phenomena.

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Exorcism is one method of ridding oneself of a nuisance supernatural presence. However, it could be seen as discrimination and "supernaturalism", which could lead to the ghost's right to seek legal redress. Be aware that through adverse possession processes, the spirit may actually have legal rights to the house and mediation (as well as a medium) may be in order to resolve the conflict.

One must be sensitive to the fact that many ghosts come from diverse religious belief systems that would make using a priest from a Christian background extremely offensive. More importantly, it may not work if there is a lack of belief. In the case of an atheist ghost, you may have to resort to a copy of "The Origin of Species" to help form your exorcism rite.

Do not despair if exorcism does not work or, in the interests of equality, is not an option. There are other routes for the home seller with an inconvenient spirit. Many spirits are open to communication, but steps may have to be made to accommodate them. Rapping on the walls, table or doors may be the only mode of communication a spirit has and it is imperative to take all necessary steps to aid the corporeally-challenged in their quest for equal access to communication. It may help to engage the services of someone versed in Morse Code, as "yes" and "no" may not be precise enough to convey the particulars of a ghost's concerns.

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Try to have a seance with the ghost and attempt to impress upon it the importance of not creating an uncomfortable atmosphere until the sale is concluded. Mention the fact that if the house is not sold quickly, a reputation very quickly develops that makes it difficult to find buyers, not to mentioned the easily possessed or precocious children. If you can, have a copy of current real estate laws and related information for the specter to peruse; ensure that it knows that "pre-approved" does not mean "sold" and that it is wise to refrain from frightening new owners until it is certain that the house is transferred fully into their possession.

If the spirit is resistant to all forms of communication and/or exorcism, extreme steps must be taken. If the house is exceptionally well-appointed and in a smallish community with low crime called "Sunnyvale" or "Friendlyville", there will usually be no problem finding a couple from the big city seeking a nice house in the suburbs or a bedroom community for their children and dog. The only problem with this strategy is that you will probably have to lower the price to some ridiculously low amount that would make any other home buyer suspicious. Don't worry. The family from the city probably won't even have a home inspection done.

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Settle Down To Watch Some Ghostly Haunted House Movies This Halloween was originally published to: https://hauntrave.com

Settle Down To Watch Some Ghostly Haunted House Movies This Halloween

Ghosts, goblins and other creepy creatures roam the eve of Halloween. From trick or treaters to Halloween parties, October is the month when children and adults transform themselves into other-wordly beings. But not everyone enjoys going out during this autumn holiday. Some people enjoy turning the lights down low and passing the time watching mystery and horror flicks in front of the TV. So to set the mood, here are some Halloween movie rental ideas featuring haunted houses for those that prefer a good ghost-like mystery rather than a continuous stream of blood and gore.

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The Haunting (1963)-- A true classic horror film. Here we find four guests arriving at a mansion with a terrifying reputation. The guests are determined to debunk the idea of a house being possessed and so set up for the night. Strange occurrences soon make themselves known from muffled wails to strange unexplainable noises. The guests encounter a door that appears to breathe, unexplained writing on the walls and many other supernatural phenomena. A new remake of the film is also available (The Haunting (1999 )).

Haunted (1996)-- Nanny Tess Webb (Anna Masey) has been seeing visions. Her three children, as well as the family doctor all insist that there is no haunting and that she is just hallucinating. She invites Professor David Ash (Aidan Quinn), who is skeptic of the supernatural, to investigate the paranormal goings-on at her country estate. After spending some time there himself, the Professor also begins to experience unexplainable visions, including the vision of his young sister who died in a drowning accident.

Haunted Castle (3-D) (2001)-- After his mother dies, a young musician named Johnny is summoned to his mother's castle according to the final wishes in her will. He soon discovers that not all seems as it appears and that the castle is not only haunted by ghosts, it appears to be alive. He is eventually lead to a Mr. D who makes Johnny the same tantalizing offer that he made his mother twenty years earlier ... surrender your soul in exchange for fame and fortune.

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The Others (2001) - Starring Nicole Kidman as Grace, this is one of those few, rare movies that will keep you guessing until the end. The story is set in 1945 toward the end of the war. Living on a fog-enshrouded island off the British coast we find that Grace's husband has presumably been lost in the war and she is living on her own with her two young children. The children are hypersensitive to light and so live in a musty manor with the curtains and shutters perpetually drawn closed. Needing some assistance, Grace writes up a request for domestic help, but before she can go to town to post it, three strangers suddenly arrive in response to her as yet un-posted request. This film will certainly leave you guessing with its twists and turns.

Stephen King's Rose Red (2002) - Another true story haunting and originally a mini-series, this movie is based on a researcher investigating the paranormal who takes a team of psychics into a haunted house. We soon learn of the building's gruesome past - women who have disappeared without any trace and men meeting gruesome deaths. Soon after entering, the psychics themselves begin to experience many paranormal activities, including disappearing team members.

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Haunted Houses, Dead Tenants and a Big Tummy Ache was originally seen on: Haunt Rave Directory Blog

Haunted Houses, Dead Tenants and a Big Tummy Ache

World renown psychic and author Jane Doherty has found herself in a very prominent position on her new reality TV show called "Dead Tenants", which is hosted by The Learning Channel. I say it's a prominent position because of the phenomena that separates Jane's psychic abilities from those of other psychics.

Whenever there are ghosts around Jane, she has an amazing physical reaction to them and handling it is no small feat either. The reaction Jane has is that her stomach area actually enlarges by as much as six inches around within seconds. And, Jane tells us that it's extremely painful to her when this happens. If you watch Jane while this stomach expansion is happening, you're going to hear her moaning and see her wincing ... and trust me, it's not dramatics ... the woman's in definite pain.

With regards to her expanding tummy, Jane says, "It feels like a contraction when a woman is in labor, but it doesn't ever release me until the spirit leaves. Instead, the stomach expands as if I was nine months pregnant." Jane actually describes it as very intense muscle cramps, where her stomach is physically gripped by the ghost, and if you watch, the belly will actually lift up. Jane continues, "Often I can tell by the grip whether it is a female, male or child spirit. It first happened to me in 1990, when I investigated my first haunted house with a researcher."

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The belly area is associated with the third charka located at the solar plexus, which is the area that dominates the gifts of telepathy, clairvoyance, clairsentience and an awareness of astral entities. It's interesting that historically the belly area is associated with body's core of energy sometimes called the "Chi Point" or the "Hara", both of which translate literally to mean belly. It's also interesting that historically, psychics felt their gift came from their gut ... called "reading with the pit of the stomach" ... where today, most psychics describe their gift coming from their third eye charka, between the eyes and centered in the middle of the forehead. With Jane Doherty, it seems to make good sense that the physical phenomena of Jane Doherty's expanded stomach would be directly related to her psychic gift.

Jane's devout belief in the power of God comes through in all that she does because she feels strongly that her psychic abilities are a God-given talent. Using her psychic abilities allows Jane to bring comfort to people whose hearts are hurting, and hope to those who need it most. And, that's her personal goal on Dead Tenants whose families are in desperate need of help and knowledge to deal with their home's ghosts.

The Dead Tenants TV show follows the journeys of the Preternatural Research Society (PRS)-- a team of paranormal investigators-- through the attics, basements, living rooms and back yards of some of the most haunted houses in the country. Coming to the aid of families experiencing very unwanted ghosts and unexplainable activity in their homes, Jane Doherty and the PRS team do their best to assist the families. The Dead Tenants show weaves the historical, scientific and psychic into a rich tapestry to help the viewer better understand the hauntings.

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"There was never a question of how I would use my gift," Jane says firmly. "I have taken every possible opportunity to help others." Jane Doherty is the real deal, on TV and in print. Her words are like the words of her book - so compelling, you won't be able to put it down.

Jane Doherty's book, Awakening the Mystic Gift: The Surprising Truth About What It Means to Be Psychic, chronicles Jane's own psychic awakening and what it truly means to be psychic. For those seeking more information on what it means to be psychic, this book is a very compelling read.

Jane Doherty is a gifted psychic and medium of international acclaim. Many refer to her as the "real deal" because of her accuracy and sincere caring nature. In fact, Hans Holzer, known best for his many books on ghosts and paranormal activities, has named Jane Doherty as "one of the top twenty psychics in the world." A born teacher, Jane feels part of her own purpose in life is to teach others to open to their own psychic abilities, and for this reason Jane has brought her psychic teachings to an online format through the Herbal-College. com website. Here Jane has established a book club for her readers to explore more about their own psychic abilities with her personally, and Jane will also teach her multi-leveled Psychic Development courses at the Herbal-College. com website.

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