There are various different aspects you need to think about when it comes to your party, from what you will serve to eat and drink to how you will keep your guests entertained. You also need to think about the finer details such as buying and sending out invitations for your Halloween event.

If you are planning to throw a Halloween party, you should try and get planning as early as possible so you can ensure everything runs smoothly.

Some of the Key Points to Consider

If you are planning to throw a Halloween party, you should try and get planning as early as possible so you can ensure everything runs smoothly. Also, get your invitations out quickly, as otherwise people may end up committing to someone else’s event. Some of the key factors you need to consider include:

The food you will serve

One of the key things you have to think about is what food you will be serving at your Halloween event. This could vary based on the number of people you are inviting and the age of those invited. The easiest option to save you time, hassle, and money is to put on a finger buffet but adapt the food to make it more fit for the occasion. You can do this by using things such as food coloring and you will even find many food items in shops that are already colored and shaped appropriately for Halloween. You can even get Halloween themed paper plates and cups for people to enjoy their food on.

The drinks you will offer

Again, the drinks you need to buy in will depend on the number of people coming and their ages. If you are having a family event, make sure you have plenty of soft drinks and fruit juice in. Also, remember that even the adults may not be drinking if they are driving so take this into consideration as well. You can think about going online to get some recipes for Halloween cocktails – again, you can add a spooky touch with coloring and even smoke to really impress your guests. Cocktails such as a Bloody Mary are ideal for these occasions.

The décor you will opt for

A Halloween bash wouldn’t be right without appropriate décor, so you need to think about how you will decorate the inside and outside of your home for your event. There are many great decorations you can buy for a very low price online, so see which ones most appeal to you and fit in with your budget.

By making sure you plan ahead and look at all of these key points, you can ensure your party is one to remember.

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So in order to prevent mood swings, lack of energy, weight gain or sleep problems, here are a few tips to stay fit both mentally and physically before spring finally comes our way. Our mind and body work as one, so it is as important to be physically healthy, as it is to have a fit mind. Keeping our brains fit will benefit us in several ways, boosting our cognitive abilities and also improving our general wellbeing.

To keep our intellects sharp we can engage in challenging games or try to solve complicated puzzles, in addition to taking online classes about subjects that interest us and that during the warmer months we would not take, tempted by outdoor life after working hours. Another option is to start learning a new language, as recent studies have shown that this may even help increase the size of our brains, in addition to having other potential cognitive benefits.

But, as we should all know by now, our mind and our body do not work separately and the best food for thought is not always metaphorical. A balanced diet, as well as a reduced consumption of alcoholic drinks, in addition to avoiding smoking or taking on other unhealthy habits and getting enough sleep can help us keep have a clear enough mind we can then train.

In addition to this, a very important factor that highly influences our overall wellbeing is exercise. During winter we tend to exercise less even without noticing it. Those long walks back home during the spring or summer months are transformed into a cab or subway ride when the weather is too cold and all we want is to go from one sheltered space to another.

If you’re an outdoor exerciser, you either have the option of finding the proper outfit and time of day to carry on with your usual routine or you might want to switch to a gym only until the temperature rises again. However, you can also do simple exercises at home that will keep you healthy – physically, mentally and emotionally – during the bluest season of them all.

Bodyweight exercise – which does not require the use of machines or free weights – is a great option in this case as you get both cardio and strength training. From doing pushups to inchworms or leg lifts, there are several routines you can choose from to meet your needs. If you’re into yoga, then you already know that all it takes is a mat and perseverance to do one hour of it on a daily basis. Both of these options can be done at home, while its cold outside.

Whatever your choice of mental and physical exercise is for the winter, remember the importance of keeping these two dimensions fit, especially during a season in which maintaining an overall balance (body and mind) is more difficult and therefore more pressing. At the end of the day, you’ll even find you’ve forgotten that spring is not here yet and, what’s more, imagine all the exercise you’ll get done in the warmer seasons if you challenge yourself to keep active during winter. Acknowledging the benefits of keeping a sharp mind and body all year long will surely bring you present and future satisfactions.

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Each year, fans of horse racing from all over the world come together to celebrate the Cheltenham Festival. The four-day festival which will take place between March 14^th and 17^th includes some of the biggest events of the year: Champion Hurdle Day, Ladies’ Day, St Patrick’s Day and Gold Cup Day. The history of the Cheltenham races is as lengthy as it is extravagant, having begun in 1815 according to the infographic below, though the first Gold Cup was not held until 1819.

Regardless of whether this year will be your first or your fifth time at Cheltenham Festival, there are always a few pre-emptive measures one must take. Firstly, you should always browse through all the Cheltenham festival races over on William Hill as they offer a comprehensive guide which goes through the horses that won last year as well as the favorites for 2017. They will also be covering each of the 28 races that will take place over the four-day festival this year, so make sure you take a look at their best odds and special offers.

Secondly, you need to have an outfit planned – and that’s where we come in. According to the official Cheltenham Jockey Club website, there is no dress code at Cheltenham due to the fact most races are held during the winter and spring months, and the weather is unpredictable. They do state that gentlemen tend to wear suits or similar dressy attire in the Club Enclosure and in the restaurants, but we think that’s a little vague. So, here are some more specific outfit and accessory ideas for every gentleman of Cheltenham Festival.

Tweed

First and foremost, the Cheltenham Festival is the perfect time to embrace all things tweed. Not only do many gentlemen choose to wear tweed accessories such as tweed trilbies and scarves, many others go the whole hog and bring their tweed three-piece suits out of retirement for at least one of the four days. As for the color of your tweed, you can stick with traditional greens but don’t be afraid to try navy or grey if you want a modern look.

Jackets

“Chat” (CC BY 2.0) by charlesdyer

As the festival takes place during the cold month of March, you will absolutely need a jacket of some sort. Wax jackets appear to be the most popular outer attire amongst gentleman at Cheltenham races, possibly because they are a staple in English countryside style. Wool overcoats are another favorite and are sure to keep you warm in those chilly enclosures.

Shoes

You may have noticed that Cheltenham festival attire is mostly made up of earth tones and rustic fabrics, so whilst you can choose whichever shoes make you most comfortable you may want to stick with this theme. Laced, brown-leather brogues, for example, are a great option as they are sure to be comfortable as well as warm. Alternatively, Chelsea boots give a somewhat vintage-looking outfit a modern twist without taking it over the top.

Hats

“Cap” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by charlesdyer

There are simply not enough events where us blokes can get away with wearing hats, so make sure you don’t pass on this fleeting flat cap opportunity. If you want to wear something a little fancier than the traditionally understated flat cap, you can always try a brown or navy wool trilby hat. Finally, if you are actually part of the Royal family you can probably get away with wearing a top hat, but we wouldn’t recommend it.

There you have it! We hope we’ve given you enough ideas whilst allowing for some personal touches, as we don’t all want to be wearing the same outfit! Let us know if you’ll be attending this year’s Cheltenham Festival and what you’ll be wearing.

The post What Do Men Wear to the Cheltenham Festival? appeared first on Be Stylish!.

I’ve talked about a few of my winter recommendations (which aren’t going to change that much over the years) but now it’s time to put the emphasis on warmth.

When Paris sneezes, Europe catches cold.

Tip #1: winter hats to the rescue

Not many guys stick to wearing the three staples that can keep them warm. I’m not entirely sure but I think this is also because their mothers nagged them about this all the time when they were little. As a result, most guys will go defenseless against cold temperatures, then wonder why they still have that cold.

Wear a pair of gloves, a wool scarf and a winter hat.

Here’s the thing. Research showed that a lot of the body heat is lost through our head. Thus, a beanie or even a simple fedora hat can stop or slow down this process if you’ll just WEAR ONE.

Hats are cool, just stay away from anything sporty or with logos on them. Go for a beanie like David Becham’s:

And if you don’t like that it’s hanging on your neck – that’s okay. Just go for something simple. The trick is to wear something other than black. Go for grey, beige, light blue or even a bolder color such as red. Choose a pattern if you want, then match the beanie to the rest of your outfit.

You may be thinking that I’m making a big fuss about a simple fashion item, but think about this: how many choices do you have to stand out when it FREEZING outside? Not too many.

By wearing a (wool) beanie you can draw attention to your facial frame and thus, yourself. you can then use color to match the beanie with either your gloves or your wool scarf.

Red beanie, red wool scarf
or
Grey and white beanie, grey and white wool gloves

Tip #2: gloves are back… and they’re more stylish than ever

Which reminds me: gloves don’t come just in leather. You have a more stylish option (though it won’t do a better job at keeping you warm):

Wool fingerless gloves.

The thing about fingerless gloves is that they give you mobility when you want to answer your mobile phone or if you want to change the tune on your iPhone. While they won’t keep the tips of your fingers warm, they do open up new possibilities to stand out from the crowd and impress women.

Tip #3: Wool Scarves with an Attitude

You saw this coming, didn’t you? Keep you cotton scarves for warmer days and get something that really keeps you warm when it’s freezing. That one minute that it takes you to fold your scarf may very well save you from an ugly cold that can keep you homesick for days.

Unless you’re wearing a lot of camel-colored coats, you should opt-in for a wool scarf in a light or even a bold color. For instance, you can pair a black or a navy blue winter coat with a wool scarf that can be: red, yellow light green, olive green, light blue, medium blue and so on.

If, on the other hand you’re wearing a camel coat, go for a darker red or even a dark brown scarf. That’s going to create that contrast you should be having between your coat and your scarf.

And if you don’t want to make a contrast between the two – that’s cool too. But keep in mind you’ll need some skill to pull that one off. As my style student, though, I’m sure you can do it.

Tip #4: Keep your autumn coats for… Autumn

Seriously. if you have a leather jacket or a trench coat, don’t wear them when it’s freezing outside. No, I don’t care how many sweaters you’re wearing underneath. Choose the right coat for the right temperature and you’ll be fine.

Go for a classic overcoat, a pea coat, a duffle coat, a parka or an aviator jacket. The parka is not one of my favorites but it does have a hood that can protect you from wind.

The post Cold Outside? Try These Tips for A Warm Winter appeared first on Be Stylish!.

Fast forward 6 hours: I’m sitting in a coffee shop exchanging jokes with the bartender who happens to be one of my best friends. It’s still chilly but I took care of that. My dark brown wool zip-up is providing me with the right level of comfort right now, layering nicely over my light blue dress shirt.

Even though it’s the beginning of October, most guys still dress like it’s the end of august. They think that just by replacing their shorts with jeans, they’ll be ok. The fact is, they won’t.

The upper part of our bodies is still very sensitive, which is why you need to add at least one extra layer of warmth (unless you wanna catch a cold really fast). Make that two. Wait, make that three.

A rock sold autumn outfit, in my opinion, consists of at least three layers: a dress shirt or a t-shirt underneath, a heavier wool or cotton top (think cardigans, turtlenecks or zip-up sweaters, jacket or a blazer and, optionally, a scarf around your neck.

And then comes the part where you want to match them in a way that makes sense.

But remember: warmth comes first. You have to wear the right fabrics, otherwise you’ll begin to wear under all those layers of polyester. Autumn is your queue to start wearing wool and thicker cotton clothes.

If you’re paying attention to when winter clothing goes on sale, you probably know that’s after January 15th. If you’ve went shopping then, now it’s time to pull those babies out the closet. If you haven’t, you’re gonna have to spend a little more to get some much needed clothing that will get you through until the next sale will happen.

Ok, let me give you a few suggestions on how to fight the cold this autumn. And it’s not antibiotics. Hopefully, it won’t come to that if you follow my advice.

A turtleneck

The turtleneck has been reinvented to make more wearable by the modern man. Forget those chunky turtleneck your grandma made you wear. Get something thinner either in wool or, of course, the eternal cotton. Add an undershirt or a t-shirt underneath it for extra warmth and you’re good to go.

With turtlenecks it doesn’t make sense to wear two (otherwise very fashionable) garments: dress shirts and scarves. This one is obvious: the shirt’s collar will feel really weird underneath the turtleneck, while the scarf won’t do anything more to prevent the cold air from sneaking in through your neck.

A scarf

I was actually out shopping for a new scarf last night and, just when I was about to quit, I found some really awesome looking ones in H&M. I was about to buy them until I checked the label. Sure enough, they were all at least 50% synthetic fibers. Imagine my disappointment when I walked home empty handed.

Finding the right scarf requires patience. Very few stores have really stylish ones and it’s worth looking around until you find one that fits your personality.

The scarves to avoid? Generic black and white checked scarves are first. Everybody has them. Secondly, stay away from those really cheap scarves that seem to have lots of wrinkles. Go for something with a higher quality weave if possible. Lastly, never go for polyester if it’s over 10% of the composition, it will eventually irritate your neck.

A hat or a cap

Did you know that a lot of heat leaves our body through the tops of our heads? A flat cap or a fedora will easily solve this problem. Just make sure you take them off when you enter a room.

Keep your overcoats ready

As temperatures go lower and lower, it’ a good idea to make the switch from jackets to overcoats. Better safe than sorry. There’s no shame in dressing for extra warmth if you feel you need it. What’s really funny (and makes a bad impression) is a guy wearing too few layers.

What are some of your own garments to fight cold temperatures in style?

The post How to Fight Cold Autumn Temperatures In Style appeared first on Be Stylish!.