When we think of Halloween-level ambiance, we immediately think of turning the lights down low and sparking a few candles to get just the right creepy vibe. And with these Halloween candles, you can truly choose how ghoulish you want to get.
Are you into the theatrical side of the season, looking for a color-changing candle that melts into a pool of blood-red wax? Do you prefer a refined, subtle vibe, using tapers, tea lights, and sculptural shapes to set the mood? Or are you purely interested in enjoying the rich scent of the autumn season, with its olfactory reminder of all the macabre celebrations in store?
No matter your spooky preference, these are 23 standout Halloween candles — all available from makers and small businesses on Etsy — that’ll light up the witching season.
Human Brain Candle in Skull Candle Holder
$34.00
This two-piece Halloween candle is for die-hards only. Choose the colors for both the brain and skull and the seller will craft it just for you. Just make sure you allow some time for delivery.
A pool full of bloodshot-red fiery eyeballs will definitely make your guests do a double-take! These floating candles come in a set of three, and you can take a cue from the seller and fill a glass bowl with water and red food coloring to really amplify the look.
This skeleton candle is for the sensitive souls out there. Available in a pair, this dainty 3-inch piece displays incredible detail and is touted by reviewers for its beautiful look.
Whether you’re starting a backyard garden and don’t want to spend a fortune on fertilizer or are simply hoping to cut down on waste (like grandma would have), there are plenty of reasons to start composting your kitchen scraps.
Food waste is terrible for landfills, nitrogen-rich soil is great for plants (like our lawns, flower beds, and food gardens are made out of) and it’s just plain sensible! In fact, many cities and municipalities are even starting to collect food waste separately from other trash, so they can compost it.
If you’re going to collect your kitchen scraps—whether it’s for your own backyard compost pile, for a local community garden, or because your city, county, or town is starting to collect it separately—you’ll want some place to collect it.
That means finding a place to put bits of food where they don’t make a mess, and won’t smell. You could, of course, put everything in a gallon-sized plastic bag. But that way tends to be messy, so usually a small dedicated container is the way to go. Any lidded plastic container will do, though you want it to be big enough to hold a day’s scraps (and not so big that it sits around for a week — phew!).
Together, an airtight lid and charcoal filter help to control and trap odors. The contraption is also resistant to rust and leaks and at 1.3 gallons, big enough to hold several days worth of waste. It boasts thousands of positive reviews and is one of Amazon’s all-time best-selling compost bins.
Worried about the smell? This smart silicone bin is designed to be stored in your freezer. When it’s full, simply flip it upside down and squeeze, and the frozen scraps drop right out. It’s also dishwasher safe.
This beauty of a bin will take pride of place on your countertop. Made from sustainable bamboo materials, the sleek design and pretty wood handle will be right at home in your modern kitchen.
Say hello to the most timeless swim wear silhouette: the high-waist swimsuit. These two pieces are mad comfy and effortlessly cool. They offer more coverage than a typical string bikini and, like your favorite mom jeans, the cut helps to keep the waist snatched (if that’s the look you’re going for).
A good high-rise swimsuit offers up the perfect in-between, with both the benefits of a tiny bikini and a full-coverage suit. Personally, I will wear nothing else–and once you try your first set, you’ll 100% see why. Shopping and inspo ahead, fam!
The top-rated blenders for every budget (and smoothie!).
Whether you’re whirling up bananas and berries for smoothies or making a pitcher of frozen margaritas, a quality blender should be able to process your ingredients into smooth, creamy perfection. In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab, we’ve tested more than 75 blenders over the years to find these high-performance blenders.
To test these blenders over the years, we ground about 10 pounds of whole coffee beans, blended nearly 30 pounds of frozen strawberries, and pulverized over 2,000 ice cubes. We also made kale smoothies, milkshakes, and frozen drinks. When testing, we rate the helpfulness of the owner’s manual and evaluate how easy each model is to assemble, use, and clean. We also consider how noisy each blender is while operating.
Finally, we check how well blenders resist staining from tomato sauce, and measure the damage after 14 cycles in the dishwasher. These are the best blenders you can buy in 2020, according to a combination of testing and in-home use.
3X Bluicer Pro
$399.95
We love this smart combination appliance for blending or juicing! The juicer attachment works just like Breville’s popular centrifugal juicer that performed very well in our juicer test – it juiced apples, carrots, kale, and celery without any pulp. It aced our separation test in which we store the juice in the fridge for three days to see if and how much the juices separate. The blender is powerful and makes thick smoothies. In our tests, we had to experiment with the blender speed to achieve drinkable smoothies.
This highly popular Cuisinart blender/food processor combo has a low-profile 40-ounce glass jar, which has the benefit of not discoloring, scratching or absorbing food smells like a plastic jar may. This 500-watt blender is not the most high-powered. It features seven blending and processing options that are clearly marked and easy to use. We love that it comes with a compact food processor for chopping, stirring, and even shredding. All parts are dishwasher-safe.
This well-priced and high-powered blender comes with three jars: a 64-ounce pitcher for large batches, and two different personal-sized cups (32 ounces and 24 ounces with a handle.) Both cups have lids that make it easy to take your smoothie to-go. It features an “extract” button that blends smoothies in preprogrammed variable speeds. We blended kale smoothies in all three jars – there were no flecks to be tasted! It also blasted through frozen strawberries effortlessly to make a delicious, evenly processed daiquiri. The base is not much larger than previous NutriBullet bases and it has suction cups on the bottom that reliably prevent it from shifting around. Just remember to unscrew the personal blending cups from the base instead of the cups–it’s easy to accidentally make a mess.
It’s officially summer and you know what that means — it’s time to break out the warm weather essentials. While you’re stocking up on sunscreen and sun hats to protect your skin this summer, there’s also another important area that needs protection: your eyes!
Sunglasses are a fun and easy way to express your style. With so many different colors, sizes and styles out there, there’s no shortage of options to choose from. Why not take eye protection one step further? That’s where polarized sunglasses come in.
Wowsun Polarized Sunglasses
$ 15.99
Don’t be afraid to try sunglasses with bold colors and prints like these yellow leopard print frames with purple lenses from Wowsun! There are 14 different color and pattern combinations for single pairs and 18 options for packs of two.
These semi-rimless frames are an Amazon bestseller and it’s easy to see why. They have UV400 protection to keep your eyes safe and come in plenty of styles and colors.
If you’re going for a more retro look, try these sunglasses with a rounded frame. They are made with TR90, a durable and lightweight thermoplastic material that comfortably conforms to your face. You can choose from over a dozen available options.
May your school supplies be as cute as your outfit.
Everyone knows that the best part of going back to class is shopping for glossy stack of brand new school supplies and breathing in that fresh notebook smell. Mmmmm. Your list might read “pens, notebooks, pencil case,” but what that really means is GLITTER GEL PENS, SPARKLY NOTEBOOKS, FURRY PENCIL CASE! There’s a lot of really stylish desk stuff out there just waiting for you to click “Add to Cart” and you can shop all of it right here in this article.
Glitzy scissors, holo pencil cases, tie-dye backpacks, and compostable phone covers–all that and more cute school supplies are right up ahead. Enjoy!
Cable Bite
$6
Now you’ll def remember to charge your phone (maybe)(probably not).
Toddlers and plane rides aren’t exactly the perfect combination.
In fact, it’s more of a perfect storm—enclosed space, tons of strangers in close proximity, pressure changes, etc. You get the picture and have also likely experienced traveling with your toddler first hand, so you know it can be quite a daunting experience.
There are tons of articles dedicated to traveling with toddlers, including packing lists, advice and tips. Of course, you’re going to want to bring tons of snacks and perhaps a tablet, but there are also lots of fun, engaging plane toys that are easy to pack.
We’ve rounded up 12 of the best plane toys for toddlers that are not only super entertaining but will also spark their imagination, help them develop fine motor skills and even help them learn a thing or two about STEM.
Toddlers can learn to button, snap, zip and tie with this awesome plush toy by Playskool. This toy is great for practicing fine motor skills and also makes a fun travel buddy.
Musical toys are great for keeping kids entertained, but not so great for the adults who have to listen to them play over and over again. This Mozart Magic Cube is actually soothing and encourages toddlers to put together sounds and music to create their own masterpiece. There is even a low volume setting perfect for plane rides.
This cloth activity book has built-in handles and includes fun first activities like buttoning, buckling, peek-a-boo, counting, matching and telling time. The soft material makes it easy to pack in a carry on or toddler backpack.
We’ve officially entered the next phase of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, and fans are eagerly waiting for what comes next—Black Widow is getting her own movie this July, Thor is coming back for another film, and many of our favorite superheroes have appeared in several Disney+ shows, including The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
And what better way to celebrate the upcoming Marvel slate than with merch? This father’s day, buy your dad Captain America-inspired cuff links or a Groot pen holder! Hell, buy yourself a Marvel-themed waffle maker or pizza cutter! When it comes to the world of Marvel-branded merch, your options are endless, which is why found the very best for you to choose from. Below, some of the best Marvel gifts to get someone who loves superheroes (and items you might as well splurge on for yourself, too).
Shop our favorite retailers for the perfect pregnant bridesmaid dress.
So you have a pregnant lady in your bridal party. First thought: Yay! Second thought: Oh, boy! (Or girl!) How to dress all your bridesmaids—including your pregnant bridesmaid—in the bridesmaid dress of your dreams? Don’t fret! You’re not the first bride-to-be with an expectant bridesmaid in your bridal party, and you certainly won’t be the last. Thankfully, many bridesmaid dress companies are recognizing that fact. Believe us: There are plenty of stunning maternity bridesmaid dresses to choose from today, and we’re putting them all in one place for you! Whether you’re going with mismatched bridesmaid dresses (i.e., giving your ladies a colour or style to look for and letting them choose the dress they feel most comfortable in) or crave a more uniform look, we’ve found gowns you (and your pregnant ‘maid) will love.
For an endless variety of cuts and colors, it’s hard to beat The Dessy Group! In addition to carrying go-to brands like Alfred Sung, After Six and its own collection, the store has a dedicated lineup of maternity bridesmaid dresses. Better yet, many of the styles come in dozens of shades for any wedding color palette. We like this long maternity bridesmaid dress for its empire waistline and unique neckline. It doesn’t hurt that it comes in everything from a moody, black floral “Noir Garden” pattern to a solid, purpleish peony hue called “Enchanted.” And FYI, everything sold by The Dessy Group comes in plus sizes up to size 30.
Seraphine—a favourite of Duchess Kate and Zoe Saldana’s—is known for its stunning collection of formal maternity dresses, including pregnant bridesmaid dresses. While the brand is pricey overall, the quality and refined details are hard to beat. We love this floor-length blush stunner for its lace bodice, cap sleeves and jewelled waistband.
This fast-fashion retailer may not be dedicated to wedding wear, but it actually has a vast assortment of bridesmaid dresses—including maternity bridesmaid dresses. The site is our source for inexpensive, trendy options, with some timeless styles thrown in there too. (It’s also got an inclusive array of tall, petite and plus size attire for the rest of your bridal party.) Can you stay stunning? This springy yellow maternity bridesmaid gown has a trendy off-the-shoulder neckline, a sparkly sequin bodice and pretty pleats. Oh, and it won’t break the bank. (It also comes in a cool silvery gray shade.)
We’re always looking for ways to make our outdoor spaces more comfortable and inviting. Sure, there are plenty of ways to keep busy in our own backyards, from tending our garden and weeding the flowerbeds to firing up the grill or even setting up an outdoor movie theater for the kids. But once all of that work is done, you’re ready to relax, and you’ll be looking for a comfortable place to take a load off.
This affordable hardwood option has timeless appeal, and it comes with a three-year warranty, so you can rock with confidence. One five-star reviewer raves, “I purchased 2 of these chairs and I just love them. Exactly what I was looking for. They seem sturdy, constructed well, and fairly easy to put together. All for a decent price.”
