Ghoulishly Good Halloween-Themed Desserts

Whether you’re planning a costume party or simply looking for tasty treats to give out throughout the Halloween season, there are a number of spooky recipes that people of all ages will love. Here are just three fun, creative Halloween-themed desserts that are just as scary as they are delicious.

Chocolate Orange Spider Cupcakes [parenting.com]
This is a slightly advanced recipe that any avid baker will have fun experimenting with right before Halloween. It involves making your own chocolate cupcakes from scratch and jazzing them up with an orange zest, but the real finishing touches are the cookie sticks and round candies that you’ll use to transform each cupcake into a cute and crawly spider.

Giant Candy Corn Cookies [food.com]
While not everyone is a fan of candy corn, you can guarantee that almost anyone will love this candy corn-inspired cookie. By dying boxed sugar cookie mix with three different colors of food coloring, you can create pretty simple cookies that look just like the popular Halloween candy.

Spooky Witches' Fingers [allrecipes.com/]
For a treat that’s much scarier than most, this recipe is a great pick. While the actual recipe is fairly traditional, molding these cookies into the shape of severed fingers certainly isn’t. Top them off with half an almond to create the “fingernail.”

Have You Tried the Marshmallow Dipping Sauce at Burger 21 in Ashburn?

Local burger fans love Burger 21 for its creative burger menu and range of unlimited dipping sauces. The top-selling burgers at Burger 21 include the Tex-Mex Haystack, the Bacon Cheesy, the BBQ bacon burger, and the Philly cheese. You can also try one of Burger 21’s chicken burgers, such as the chicken marsala, or a seafood burger, like the ahi tuna. Vegetarian options include the Greek and the black bean burger. Definitely get the toasted marshmallow sauce for your fries or sweet potato fries! Though it’s a sweet sauce, it complements the saltiness of the fries well. Place your order at the counter, then take a seat!

Finish your meal with one of Burger 21’s popular milkshakes, such as the bananas Foster, the chocolate malted milk ball, the chocolate peanut butter, or the crème brulee.

Burger 21
43800 Central Station Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 726-0112
www.burger21.com
www.yelp.com/biz/burger-21-ashburn

Wallet-Friendly Ways to Revamp and Rejuvenate Your Rental’s Decor

Regardless of how on-trend your decor was when you initially adorned your apartment, it's only a matter of time before you feel like your surroundings are outdated. But when a home makeover isn't really in the budget, you might feel stuck with the interior design you've got. You aren't, though. There are tons of budget-friendly approaches to decorating that can spruce up your apartment. Here are just three of them to get the creative juices flowing.

  1. Upcycle existing embellishments. If your home-decorating instincts take you to Amazon, let your money-saving instincts lead you to Pinterest instead this time. Look for DIY ways that you can revamp that old coffee table or update worn throw pillows. It might be as easy as picking up a can of spray paint or some ribbon and fabric glue.
  2. Frame free pieces of "artwork." You don't have to break the bank on a piece of art in order for it to add something to your room. Prints or photos from magazines and books can have just as great an impact on the aesthetic of your bedroom or living room as expensive artwork. Just find a cheap frame at Target or the thrift store to complement your makeshift work of art.
  3. Break out the sewing machine. If you're handy with a needle and thread, there's a lot you can do in your apartment without spending much money. For example, you can easily create new curtains or pillowcases. These are both simple ways to spiff up your apartment that conserve both time and money.

Budget Decorator: 15 No-Cost Ways to Invigorate Your Space [Houzz]
15 Budget Decorating Secrets [HGTV]
The 10 Most Important Tips For Decorating On A Tight Budget [freshome]

What to Do This Weekend: Bowl and Play Laser Tag at The Zone

The Zone not only has an arcade, laser tag, and a four-lane bowling alley, this Ashburn entertainment venue also serves food that's good enough to write home about. It is truly the whole package when it comes to recreation!

The Zone is not only a great place to enjoy lunch or dinner, it is also a great place to host a birthday party or go to summer camp. If you choose to have your child’s party here, all you have to do is show up. They handle everything else. If you send your child to The Zone for camp, they can enjoy a full or half day, and have fun with the establishment activities. They will also learn to cook, swim and enjoy nature, as well.

The Zone
43811 Central Station Dr. Ste 100
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 724-9663
www.thezoneusa.com

How to Use Color to Brighten Your Home at BLVD l Loudoun Station

It’s not uncommon for renters to have restrictions when it comes to making changes to the look of the unit; however, there are a number of other ways to brighten up your space without the use of paint. Here are just a few!

  1. Add a pop of color in the kitchen by mixing and matching brightly hued chairs with a neutral table. Paint your existing set in a bright yellow, rich navy blue, or trendy turquoise.
  2. Set out vases of fresh flowers throughout your home for an all-natural burst of color. Think daisies, hydrangeas, and tulips in equally colorful vases.
  3. Top your bed and sofa with a variety of mismatched throw pillows in complementary hues. While they don’t all have to match completely, choosing one color scheme will help you to keep things looking stylish.
  4. Add artwork from local thrift stores and home decor shops housed in painted frames. You can also try a “dipped” look by painting the entire bottom half of the painting and frame in one bright shade.
  5. Add removable wallpaper that you can easily peel off when your lease is up. Use a floral or striped style on one accent wall for a magazine-worthy look.

20 Ways to Add Color to Your Home Without Painting [Brit + Co]
Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space [HGTV]
7 Ways to Add Color to Your Dining Room [Dwell]

Let the Good Time Roll at The Zone in Ashburn

Local families say The Zone offers a good time for all with bowling, arcade games, and laser tag for patrons of all ages. The contemporary bowling lanes at this Ashburn facility can detect which players need the bumper rails and which do not, so every member of the family gets a fun and frustration-free playing experience.

Regulars say the food here is pretty good for bowling alley fare. Menu offerings include the grilled peppercorn sirloin salad, the Zoom burger, the grilled Atlantic salmon, and the smoked baby back ribs. Enjoy food and beverage service right at your table next to the lanes. You can even catch the game on the big-screen TV while you bowl.

If bowling isn’t your thing, or if you’re just not ready to call it a night after you’ve bowled your last frame, take the kids to the arcade. If you’re on a grown-ups' night out, enjoy a drink at the sports bar or on the patio.

The Zone
43811 Central Station Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 724-9663
www.thezoneusa.com

You’ve Heard of Spring Cleaning, But What About Fall Cleaning? Here’s How to Prepare Your Home for Cooler Weather

It's common to clean your home top to bottom every spring, but after a long summer of travel and recreation, it may need a good fall cleaning as well. Use this checklist to clean your home in a way that helps you to prepare for the fall season.

  • Wash all of the windows to remove the stuck-on summer bugs, dust and other summer debris.
  • Give hardwood or tile floors a good sweeping and mopping. Even though most people sweep their floors and occasionally go over them with a handheld spray mop, this is a good time to give them a really thorough cleaning.
  • Vacuum the carpets and shake out area rugs. If you have pets, sprinkle them with an odor eliminating powder before vacuuming.
  • Clean inside of light fixtures. This includes lamp shades, kitchen light fixtures (which can easily be removed with a screw driver), and any outside sconces.
  • Remove all of the contents from the kitchen cupboards and clean them. Do the same with the refrigerator.
  • Do a run-down of all of the clothes in your drawers and closets. Place the clothes that you don't wear in a pile to donate to your local thrift store.
  • Clean any patio or outdoor furniture. If you have a storage area, now is the time to pack the furniture away for the cold season.

Fall Cleaning Checklist [Real Simple]

Get Fit Without the Gym With These Easy Micro Exercises You Can Do All Day

If the idea of spending hours at the gym makes you dread exercise, you may be looking for a more enjoyable alternative. Instead of lengthy workouts, these quick micro exercises will help you to tone up and trim down without setting foot in a gym — in fact, you can do them even while you're doing other tasks!

  • Crunchless crunches. Strengthen your abs while sitting at your desk or walking around the grocery store. Simply tighten your abdominal muscles by sucking in your stomach slightly. Hold this move for 3 to 5 seconds, and then release and repeat for as many reps as you like.
  • Break for squats. While cleaning your house or even working in your cubicle, take periodic breaks for squats. Do 5 or 10 squats at a time until you complete a set of 100.
  • Relax into a wall sit. While reading documents at work or watching your favorite TV show at home, do a wall sit instead of sitting in a chair. Use your core muscles to keep you steady, and even work in some tiny pulses in your legs to tone your glutes.
  • Stop, drop and push up. When you're doing a somewhat active chore, such as walking the dog or doing the dishes, stop every few minutes to do a round of push-ups.

Mile Posts: 5 Easy Exercises You Can Do All Day [Women's Running]
Deskercise! 33 Smart Ways to Exercise at Work [Greatist]
5 Crazy Simple Ways to Fit in More Exercise [Women's Health]

Chow Down on Chinese Cuisine at Yens Cafe in Ashburn

If you do not like Chinese food, then you have not tried Yens Cafe. This Ashburn restaurant may not look like much from the outside, but on the inside is flavorful and gratifying cuisine.

Yen’s Cafe serves traditional Chinese dishes like General Tso’s chicken, Moo Shu Pork, and Orange Beef, just to name a few. In addition, they also serve a variety of soups including corn and ham egg drop soup, mixed seafood soup, and tomato and tofu soup. If you are looking to try something different, go for the stir fried shrimp with scrambled eggs or the crispy lemongrass fluke filet.

Lunch combinations are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and include the entree, salad, and a spring roll. Reservations are accepted and recommended for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Delivery is available within a six-mile radius.

Yens Cafe
43490 Yukon Dr. Ste 113
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 723-8811
yenscafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/yens-cafe-ashburn-3

Lesser Known Facts About America’s First President, George Washington

Born February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, George Washington is best known for his role as America's very first president, taking office in 1789. However, there's more to the life of this natural born leader, including a pivotal position as a general and commander-in-chief during the American Revolution. Here are three lesser-known facts about George Washington.

1) After Washington's father died in 1743, young Washington looked to his older brother, Lawrence, for guidance. Lawrence helped foster George's interest in military service and the arts.

2) Washington found great pleasure in the maintenance of his vast estate, Mount Vernon, which he inherited upon his brother's death in July 1752. Eventually comprising 8,000 acres, the estate hosted a variety of crops, orchards, and livestock. Washington's final years were spent here; he died in 1799.

3) A difference in political opinion caused a rift between Washington and his Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson advised Washington to side with France during the French Revolution, but Jefferson chose to remain neutral. The disagreement caused a breach between the two politicians that was never mended.

George Washington [Bio]
George Washington [Colonial Williamsburg]
George Washington [White House]

Pin It on Pinterest