S&A Magazine Issue 6 – Volume 2
October 2021 Issue
Issue 6 – Volume 2
Table of Contents
- Holiday of the Month
- Sketchbook Page
- Quote of the Month
- Craft
- Drawing Prompt
- Sustainable Fashion
- Main Article
- Recipe
Holiday of the Month
Halloween
Introduction
Halloween is one of the most popular holidays celebrated in America. On Halloween, people can get together to dress up, decorate neighborhoods, and enjoy treats and candy. The thrilling and spooky holiday is a favorite amongst people of all ages. However, it seems no one has wondered: where did the trick or treating, jack-o’-lanterns, and creepy spirit come from?
History
Halloween’s story can be traced back up to 2,000 years ago in Europe. Celts in Ireland and Britain celebrated November 1st as the end of the harvest season. They would hold feasts on this holiday that started on October 31st. It was believed that during this holiday ghosts and goblins would come to Earth to cause chaos. The Celts would continue to celebrate this holiday until many years later when Romans spread their culture across Europe. Eventually, Roman holidays and the Celt’s holiday were combined and celebrated as one holiday. Once Christianity became more popular in Britain, the pope declared October 31st as All Hallow’s Eve. The word ‘Hallow’ means ‘Saints’ and ‘Een’ means ‘Evening’, so the word Halloween means ‘The evening before All Saint’s Day.’ From this point, more of the traditions we associate with Halloween developed. A practice called souling was when people went around neighborhoods to pray for the souls of the dead in exchange for food. Historians believe that trick or treating stemmed from this practice. Other traditions like dressing up and carving jack-o’-lanterns came from Ireland. When immigrants from Britain and Ireland came over to America, they introduced All Hallow’s Eve with them, which helped develop the Halloween we know and love today.
Fun ways you can (safely) celebrate Halloween this year!
Make a costume out of spare materials in your house
You may think it takes a lot of time to make a whole costume, but by using cardboard, paint, and other spare materials, you can make Halloween costumes that you’ll talk about for years. Some easy ideas are a cloud, a rainbow, a houseplant, or an item of food! You could even try incorporating a face mask into your costume. If you plan on trick-or-treating this year, make sure to do it safely!
Instead of carving pumpkins, paint them
Although people traditionally carve pumpkins, another creative idea is to paint cool designs on them. You could even try melting crayons on white pumpkins to make a colorful rainbow pumpkin! This is a fun activity to try with kids and an easy way to make decorations.
Make goodie bags to hand out to trick-or-treaters
A fun way to add a little flair to your goodie bags is by drawing on them or adding cool decorations. A sustainable way to do this is by using paper bags, which can be recycled.
Watch a spooky (or not spooky!) movie
Get cozy with blankets, pillows, and candy, and try this classic Halloween tradition! If you’re not a fan of horror movies, watch your favorite movie instead.
Make your own candy
Instead of buying candies individually wrapped in plastic, you can find candy recipes online or experiment with your own recipes. Plus, homemade candy is healthier than store-bought candy.
Conclusion
While you may not be able to celebrate Halloween as you did before the pandemic, there are still plenty of fun and sustainable ways to celebrate this holiday. We hope that you have a safe and enjoyable Halloween this year!
Sketchbook Page
It Looks Like a Little Kid Drew That!
One of the most common things I tell myself about my own art is, “It looks like a little kid drew that!” Every time I say this about my art, I feel worse about my skills, which makes me less motivated. However, it’s impossible to expect great results without practicing first. This realization inspired me to draw something that a little kid would actually draw! I decided to draw a scene from a lullaby that I used to love when I was younger. For this month’s sketchbook page, I drew when, “the cow jumped over the moon.”
Quote of the Month
October Quote
This month’s quote is “bloom where you are planted.” This quote is inspired by nature and I chose it because it means that if you use the resources you are given and try hard, you will succeed.
Craft
DIY Sugar Lip Scrub
This DIY lip scrub is one of the easiest crafts to follow! It’s also very customizable- you can make it any color, add in any extra ingredients, and different scents to make it your own! You know your skin best, so if there are any ingredients you are sensitive to, you can swap them with other ingredients. All the materials you need for this sweet lip scrub are also common things you can find in your pantry!
Materials
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 6 drops rose water (or any other scent like peppermint oil)
- 1/4 tsp chapstick
- few drops of food coloring (optional)
Directions
- First add in your sugar into a small bowl.
- Then, add in your rose water a few drops at a time. You want to make sure you don’t put in too much so the sugar does not dissolve.
- Melt your chapstick for just a few seconds in the microwave. This step will make it easier to stir. Even if your chapstick is just softened, you won’t get clumps in your scrub so don’t skip this step!
- Pack your scrub into a small airtight container. You can use this scrub daily by applying some on your lips and washing it off after you are done using it.
Drawing Prompt
Make a Drawing Using Only One Color
This month’s drawing prompt–as the title says–is to make a drawing using only one color. The first drawing I made was in my sketchbook, and I was just practicing by sketching but it turned into a drawing I really like! The second drawing which I made using only the color turquoise and used an art app called procreate for the watercolor texture in the background. You can send a picture of your finished drawing prompt to sandazine@gmail.com!
Sustainable Fashion
Quince
Quince is a fashion brand that creates luxury essentials at affordable prices. They make sure to use sustainable fabrics for all their items. Quince works with local factories that ensure every worker is paid fairly and in a safe environment. Quince is also making a goal to completely use compostable materials for their packaging by the end of 2021. Each product they make is very high quality and can be worn for years on end, creating less waste.
Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater in Ivory – $50
Main Article
Easy Ways to Conserve Energy
In this day and age, conserving energy is more important than ever. It not only benefits the earth, but it also benefits you! Conserving energy can help you save more money on electric, gas, and water bills. Saving energy can also direct you on a path leading to a more sustainable lifestyle by mitigating your carbon footprint. Below are some suggestions on how you can conserve energy.
Turn off the air conditioning/heat when you don’t need it – If the temperature is nice outside, just turn off the air conditioning or heat and let some fresh air into your house! Try to be aware of the temperature outside so you can catch when to turn off air conditioning or heating. Even if it’s a bit chilly, try layering up and stay cozy inside your house.
Switch to LED light bulbs – LED light bulbs typically cost a little bit more than regular light bulbs, but they use much less energy. Along with using less energy, LED lights last longer and provide better light quality.
Turn off lights and unplug appliances when they’re not in use – Even if something is turned off but still plugged in, it can generate energy and add to the cost of your electric bills. Not to mention, turning off lights reduces your carbon footprint. Also, during the daytime, if you have windows, you can just use those as a source of natural light.
Hang your laundry on a clothesline – This old-fashioned way of drying clothes is very sustainable because you aren’t using a machine powered by lots of energy. In addition, drying clothes on a clothesline can make clothes last longer because the air is more gentle on fabric.
Install Solar Panels – This is not always affordable, but if you are considering purchasing solar panels, they are definitely worth the investment. Installing solar panels also allows you to earn tax credits and increase the value of your home.
In conclusion, saving energy is efficient, sustainable, and worth the extra cost. By taking simple steps like these, you are helping the Earth in many different ways. So next time you leave a light on or a tap running, remember it is up to you what choice you make. In the end, you can play your part to reduce the amount of energy the world takes up and reduce carbon emissions.
Interested in more ways to conserve energy and be sustainable? We already wrote an article specifically about conserving water in Issue 9 – Volume 1. You can find it here. We also have an article in Issue 5 – Volume 1 about living a minimalist lifestyle. You can find it here.
Recipe
Oreo & Cream Cheese Truffles
This three-ingredient, no-bake recipe is ridiculously simple but delicious! You can add your own spin to this or follow the recipe as it is shown here. You can try this recipe out and send us a picture to sandazine@gmail.com!
Adapted from https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/127491/easy-oreo-truffles/
Time: 1 hr.
Serves: 15
Ingredients
- Half of one 16 oz package of OREOs
- 1 cup cream cheese
- 1 package of semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted
Directions
- Using a food processor, crush the OREOs
- Put the cream cheese in a medium bowl, and stir in the OREO bits.
- Roll pieces of the mixture into evenly-sized balls
- Refrigerate truffles for approximately one hour before serving.
Thanks for reading S&A Magazine!
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