M.S. Beltran
I'm a NYC native residing on the sun coast of FL with my husband and 3 homeschooled children.
Official occupation: Freelance Jack-of-All-Trades. Duties include: freelance writing, decorating, teaching, tutoring, photography, and various forms of art.
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Official occupation: Freelance Jack-of-All-Trades. Duties include: freelance writing, decorating, teaching, tutoring, photography, and various forms of art.
...
- Page Views
- 135,634
- Content
- 114
- Fans
- 15
- Contributor since
- 8/15/2008
Education/Experience
B.A. in English Literature and Education, 2007; NY, NYInterests
Parenting, education, homeschooling, holidays, art and crafts, writing, photography, occult, witchcraft, tarot, magic, religion, spirituality, womens issuesMotto
Life is what you make it.
Displaying Results 1 - 114 (of 114) for Yahoo! Voices
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Scrying for Samhain: How to Make and Use a Scrying GlassThinking about peering into the future this Samhain? Try scrying with your own home-made scrying glass, or black mirror.
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Halloween Pumpkin Craft: Recycle Old Foam Pumpkins with DecoupageEven foam pumpkins don’t last forever. If your carved foam pumpkin has gotten too ratty to display, refinish it with a chic decoupage treatment.
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Budget Home Décorating: Do it with DecoupageMake your home look rich, even if you’re not. If you learned to cut and paste in kindergarten, you can decoupage to take your home décor to another level.
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Harvest Stew Recipe for Pork LoversLooking for a hot, hearty meal? Feast on this pork recipe.
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The Lughnasadh Luncheon: Easy Lammas Recipes for Wiccans, Pagans and WitchesLooking for the perfect Sabbat feast for Lugnasadh? Being a harvest festival, it pays to go all out! Not a cook? Not a problem!
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Delicious Chili Recipe, with Fry Bread Recipe BonusIf you are a chili lover, give this chili and fry bread recipe a try. This hearty chili can be spooned over fry bread for a perfect combination. Great for pot lucks, outdoor cook-outs, camping, and casual company.
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Celebrate Litha: Easy Midsummer Recipes for Your Holiday OutingPack your picnic basket with Pulled Barbecue Chicken, Crisp Summer Bruschetta, Mango Cole Slaw, Melon Lime Fizzy Soft Drinks, Raspberry Lemon Layer Cake. Minimal cooking for celebrating the "Wheel of the Year."
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Spells for Beltane: Healing Spell for Depression, Pain and a Broken HeartEven on happy occasions, sadness can be in the air. Use these spells for Beltane to help you heal this sabbat. -
Magic and Spells for Beltane: Spiraling Your Desire into the Beltane FireBeltane is a fire festival and the perfect time to light a sacred flame to help manifest your desires.
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How to Preserve Your Fresh HerbsWhether you grow or purchase your herbs, don't let excess go to waste. There are several ways to preserve your herbs so that you can retain their flavor and vitality.
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Are You a Witch? Not Sure? This is What You Need to KnowDo you think you could be a "natural Witch?" Have you had odd things happen, strange feelings or dreams? Is Witchcraft in your bloodline? What you need to know. -
St. Patrick's Day Dessert: Rainbow Jell-OWe use sugar free jello & whipped topping, which our resident diabetic appreciated
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5 Paper St. Patrick's Day Crafts for KidsDecorate for St. Patty's Day with an Ireland-inspired paper chain; a snake; a pot of gold; a place setting; Irish kisses. -
St. Patrick's Day Dinner: Corned Beef & Cabbage Holiday RecipeReally, what else? It's easy, an Irish-American tradition synonymous with St. Patrick's Day, and delicious!
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St. Patrick's Day Recipe: Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Home-Made Sweet Cream ButterMost "soda breads" sold are more like cakes; traditional soda bread was a poor man's bread: raisins, orange zest, and yeast were hard to come by. If you want a taste of history, this is the stuff, and nothing goes better with it than home made butter.
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50 Romantic Things to Do for Valentines Day when You're BrokeBroke this Valentine's Day? Join the club... but if you are lacking in the wallet you can make up by being big on the romance and creativity.
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5 Paper Valentines Day Crafts for KidsKeep them busy with fun Valentine crafts. These Valentine's Day Crafts are inexpensive and simple, great for home or classrooms and are a fun way to make home made Valentine's Day decorations. -
Christmas Baking: Cream Pie in a Candy Cane Pie CrustCandy canes are practically synonymous with Christmas. Try this candy cane pie crust to give a special holiday flair to your favorite cream pie recipe.
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Thanksgiving "Best Maple Pecan Pie You'll Ever Eat" RecipeThis maple pecan pie has deep, rich flavors without corn syrup! It sets and slices beautifully, and is easy to make even for cooks with little pie making experience.
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Pumpkin Cup Pies with a Butterscotch Pecan LayerThese mini-pies baked in muffin tin cups can be a Halloween treat or Thanksgiving dessert, great for a snack, pot luck or company. -
Thrift Shops, Junk Stores, Yard Sales and Swap Meets: Find the Best Halloween DecorationsThink you need to plunk down a wad of cash at a party store for a great Halloween props? Think again! -
Kids Halloween Crafts Using Milk CartonsMake a Halloween trick-or-treat pumpkin for candy collecting, a Halloween lamp or a haunted house centerpiece using pint or half-gallon size cartons. -
10 Kinds of Halloween Crafts to Make with a BoxWallet a little light this Halloween Season? You can still make great decorations. Collect boxes and gather up some basic craft supplies to get creative with Halloween crafts. -
Proof of Witchcraft: It Really WorksThe problem is not that Witchcraft doesn't work; it's that people misunderstand it. You might be surprised at how deeply rooted in reality it is. -
What Your Halloween Candy Says About YouYou can learn a lot about your neighbors and how they feel about Halloween by the type of candy they distribute and they can learn about you! -
Samhain Sabbat Magic: Scrying Tools and MethodsSamhain, the holiday in which the secular Halloween is rooted, is a traditional time for peering into the future. Learn what it is and how to do it right here. -
Cheap Halloween Craft: Creepy Cuckoo Clock PropMake this excellent looking Halloween clock wall prop for pennies with a twist on the classic cuckoo clock. -
Free Halloween Decoration Craft: Gypsy LanternsStylish gypsy decorations are perfect for Halloween, and you can probably make this one with items you have lying around the house. -
5 Fun, Easy Beltane Crafts for Kids and AdultsExpress yourself spiritually and artistically with these fun Sabbat art projects on your Beltane holiday: Miniature May pole, Green Man mask, braided Goddess headbands Goddess topiary; Beltane Sun catchers. -
Celebrating Beltane: An Intimate Meal for Two- Romantic RecipesBeltane lore holds that this fertility festival is one of the most sexually charged nights of the year- a perfect night for lovers to celebrate each other. A fabulous, sensual, 4-course dinner will start off your private celebration right. -
How to Get a Job with Candle MagicLooking for work? Why not use a little magic to give your efforts a boost. Try this spell next time you go for an interview.
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Neo-Paganism and History: Why We Need to Dispel the MythsIs it ego that keeps so many Pagans clinging to romanticized myths about history? How do truths about the past diminish what we believe today?
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Dispelling Myths About Money SpellsDo you think money spells are wrong? Or that they can buy you a free ticket to wealth? Think again.
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Prosperity Spells: Magic to Draw MoneyTimes are tough, and there's nothing wrong with a little magic to help put your bank account back on the right track. Here's how. -
Celebrating Beltane: A Ritual for Pagans, Wiccans and WitchesBeltane is one of the most popular Wiccan/Pagan Sabbats of the year. If you are planning your Beltane ritual, here is one that you may like to use, or adapt for your use.
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Transitions of the Soul: One Pagan Woman's JourneyMaggie was a strong woman, a sagacious Witch, and a devoted mother. I just never expected our friendship to be so short, or for her to continue to be my mentor from beyond the grave. -
Celebrating Beltane: Recipes for the SabbatLooking for a great spread for your Beltane feast or picnic? Here are some of my family's favorites for the Sabbat.
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Magic and Ethics: Are Spells for Personal Gain Wrong?There's a buzz going around, with a lot of people saying that magic done for personal gain is wrong. If magic isn't for personal gain, what is it for?
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Ethical Love Spells for Witches, Wiccans and PagansBeen taught love spells are unethical? Consider this one. -
The Color of Magic: Black Magic Vs. White MagicWhite magic, black magic: what's the difference? What do you need to know about them? Read on to find out more. -
5 Easy Paper Easter Crafts for KidsLearn how to make a "stained glass" Easter egg, shining cross, paper tulips, Easter lamb, and Easter Bunny hand puppet. -
Ostara SpellsDon't waste the unique energies of the equinox. Cast these spells to bring prosperity, balance and cleansing. -
5 Easy Ostara Crafts for Pagan KidsLooking for more ideas than just egg dying this Ostara? Try some of these great crafts with your kids. -
Easy, Cheap Spring Craft: How to Make an Egg-Shaped LuminariesThese luminaries look like delicate, translucent colored eggshells. Line the walk with them, set them on the mantle or as a table centerpiece at your next Spring holiday. -
The Ostara Feast: Recipes to Celebrate the Spring EquinoxWhether your are hosting an Ostara feast for family and friends, heading to the Coven with a pot-luck dish, or just looking for a special meal or snack for your solitary ritual, these recipes will serve you well for your celebration. -
A Pagan Family Holiday Celebration: LughnasadhLooking for some good ideas for family activities this Lughnasadh? Try some of these.
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A Pagan Family Holiday Celebration: MabonLooking for some fun family activities for celebrating Mabon? Check out some of these ideas.
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Creating a Family Altar in Your Pagan HouseholdIf you're part of a Pagan family, some of these tips may help you in planning your family altar. -
The Wiccan Rede: Exploring it with Your ChildrenIf you're Wiccan and raising children, you may want to consider introducing your child to our main belief: the Wiccan rede.
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A Pagan Family Holiday Celebration: BeltaneBeltane is one of the four greater Pagan sabbats on the Wheel of the Year. Here are some great ideas for celebrating with your kids. -
A Pagan Family Holiday Celebration: MidsummerMidsummer is a holiday all about being footloose and fancy free. Here are some great ideas for activities that you and your family can try to celebrate the season. -
A Pagan Family Holiday Celebration: OstaraRing in the Spring with these fun Ostara activities.
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A Pagan Family Holiday Celebration: ImbolcImbolc is the second stop on the Pagan Wheel of the Year, and there are lots of great family oriented activities to commemorate the season.
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Homeschool Record Keeping: How to Create a Managable SystemWhen you begin homeschooling, the paperwork can begin flying fast and furiously. A portfolio is the perfect way to keep it under control.
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Working at Home While HomeschoolingA lot of homeschooling families give up a second income so that one parent can stay home with the kids full-time and guide their education. This is not always easy to do, or even feasible if the family's debt is significant.
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Working and Homeschooling: You Can Do BothIt can be done. All it takes is a little bit of planning. Here are some things you should consider if you're thinking of working and homeschooling.
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30 Educational Homeschooling ProjectsYou never have to be at a loss for things to do when homeschooling. The possibilities are endless. -
10 Educational Activities for Your First Week of HomeschoolingNew to Homeschooling? Wondering just where to begin? Try one of these ice-breaker activities to get you and your kids off to a great start. -
Homeschool Away from Home: Educational Activities Out of the HouseWhy stay home just because you're homeschooling? Let the world be your classroom. -
Planning an Indoor Garden Theme PartyThink you need to have a garden to have a quaint garden party? Think again. -
Shopping Tips for Your Holiday MealHoliday grocery shopping can be hectic, but this step-by-step guide for planning ahead will help you save time and money. -
Holiday Crafts: How to Make Sunny Citrus OrnamentsThese great, inexpensive decorations make beautiful, natural ornaments for the holiday season.
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8 Fun Family Activities to Brighten Your ChristmasTurn off the TV, take away the Gameboys and have an old-fashioned Christmas and enjoy these activities that will have everyone laughing and spending time together. -
How to Find and Give Used Items and Not Look like a CheapskateShopping for used items is like treasure hunting. You can find unique gifts that are eco-friendly and fit your budget. -
5 Easy to Make, Non-Food Christmas Gifts for $10 or LessTough times does not mean we have to go without, it just means we have to be frugal. There are many ideas for gifts that cost under $10 that you can make yourself, even if you're not the craftiest person on the block. -
6 Easy to Make Food Item Christmas Gifts for $10 or LessTimes might be tough, but you can still give your friends and family a great gift. These gifts will go from your heart to theirs- via their stomachs. -
A Pagan Family's Holiday Celebration: YuleIt may look a lot like Christmas, but Pagans have their own Winter Holiday. -
12 Great Decorations for a Pagan Yule TreeMake your Yule tree look uniquely Pagan this year with these decorations. -
Cheap, Easy Christmas Crafts: Holiday LuminariesWhether they light the way up the path to your home, or line the fireplace mantle, celebrate the season of lights with these simple luminaries, that fit in every decorating budget (how's free from recycled materials grab you?).
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Pagan Holidays: Why Yule Looks so Much like ChristmasChristmas, Yule, Solstice- what's the deal? What's the difference? Which came first, and why does it matter? -
5 Easy Christmas Paper Crafts for KidsA list of five easy Christmas paper crafts for kids to do during the holidays.
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5 Easy Holiday Crafts for Kids: Homemade Christmas CardsA guide to five types of holiday cards: picture frame cards, pop-up picture cards, watercolor message cards, embossed design cards, and Christmas Eve night scene cards. -
Cheap Christmas Ornament Craft: Painted Clay Cut-OutsSave money this Christmas by making home-made ornaments for your tree. These ornaments are easy to make, are made with inexpensive materials, and look great on your tree.
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Cheap Entertaining Ideas: Hosting a Holiday Pot LuckThere are years when spending hundreds of dollars for one dinner with your closest family and friends is just not possible. That doesn't mean you can't have a scrumptuous holiday feast. -
Tips for Planning a Successful Easter Egg HuntPlanning an Easter Egg hunt this year? This advice will help ensure your event is a success.
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Easy, No-Bake Holiday TreatsThese treats all make great gift items, or easy and inexpensive treats to offer guests at parties and gatherings- no cooking involved! What's best is, they're really hard to mess up. -
Toast to the Holidays with Easy Budget BeveragesTry these great recipes, full of traditional holiday flavors and spices, to help stretch your entertaining budget this holiday season.
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How to Make Inexpensive Pine Cone Tree OrnamentsLooking for a way to decorate your tree without busting your holiday budget? Here's a craft that even the lowest budgets can handle, and that even people who don't consider themselves very "crafty" can make with ease.
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How to Make Money Teaching HomeschoolersIf you like working with children and are looking to make extra money, teaching homeschoolers can be a rewarding, flexible and lucrative endeavor. -
How to Fight the Common ColdWhile there is no real cure for the common cold, there are measures you can take to stop it in it's tracks before it gets a strong hold on you. -
Jack-O-Lantern Carving: Using Synthetic PumpkinsDon't make that glorious work of Halloween art on a disposable vegetable... carve a synthetic pumpkin instead. -
Open Cast CallA writer casts characters for a new novel. -
Substitutes for Wiccan ToolsIf you haven't gotten all your ritual tools yet, or find yourself without your regular tools, try these substitutes.
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No-Sew Halloween Costumes for WomenLooking for a unique costume, no sewing required? Check out these costumes to be the Spirit of Autumn, Dark Goddess or an Apparition.
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5 Kid Crafts for ThanksgivingMake an apple turkey, Pilgrim and Indian napkin rings, "stained glass" turkey hand prints, autumn leaf place cards, and vegetable print place mats. -
10 Easy, No-Sew Halloween Costumes for Musical Theater FansIf you love musical theater, you'll love these easy to make Halloween costumes featuring your favorite characters. -
5 Easy Halloween Paper Crafts for KidsEasy Paper Crafts: jack-o-lanter, skull, witch or wizard's hat, ghost and cornstalk. -
A Wiccan Family's Halloween CelebrationWiccans are not just leather-clad teeny-bopper goths who have watched too much Charmed. They're normal people with their own beliefs and traditions. Take a glimpse into the life of a Wiccan family on one of their highest holy days. -
Crock Pot Recipes: 5 Side Dishes for Holiday MealsThese are some of my favorite crock pot side dishes that seem to be a hit at gatherings, because they are the simple staple flavors and ingredients of the traditional fall holiday menu that everyone has enjoyed for years. -
5 Things Not to Do When You Begin HomeschoolingThere are a few things that might seem like logical steps when you're trying to get started homeschooling that you later may find yourself regretting. Here are some things you should not do when you are starting to homeschool. -
Republican HaikuRepublican Haiku -
Crock Pot Cooking: Ground Beef RecipesTry making one of these easy, fast and delicious ground beef recipes in your crock pot. -
Crock Pot Cooking: Chicken RecipesTry making one of these easy, fast and delicious chicken recipes in your crock pot.
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One Parent's Opinion: Extended NursingWhile more and more people are accepting of breast feeding, extended nursers are often criticized for their choice. Does extended nursing have any benefits, or are mom's carrying breast-feeding too far? -
Homeschooling Groups and Co-Op Project: Making a YearbookWhile some homeschooling groups and co-ops have professional yearbooks made, for most medium to small sized groups, it is cost prohibitive- or at least it was. Not anymore! -
Creative Entertaining: How to Host a Stone Soup PartyEveryone is familiar with the old story Stone Soup. Use this fairytale to hold a great, casual party for friends, or as a way for a newly formed group to get to know each other. -
Fall Craft Ideas: Easy Decorative Autumn Candle HoldersThese easy to make fall candle holders make a beautiful display. Always be careful with burning candles- never leave them unattended. -
Homeschooling Ideas: Educational Scrapbooking ProjectsAvid scrapbookers who homeschool now have a great excuse for a family crop. Use scrapbooking techniques and supplies to create great educational projects. -
Education Tools: How to Make and Use Math Manipulatives for Learning GeometryMath manipulatives are tools that provide concrete examples to help children conceptualize problems better than just moving number symbols around on paper. Store bought sets are pricey, but you probably have the makings of some great manipulatives lying around already. -
Education Tools: How to Make and Use Math Manipulatives for Learning Measurement and FractionsMath manipulatives are tools that provide concrete examples to help children conceptualize problems better than just moving number symbols around on paper. Store bought sets are pricey, but you probably have the makings of some great manipulatives lying around already.
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Education Tools: How to Make and Use Math Manipulatives for Time and Money LessonsMath manipulatives are tools that provide concrete examples to help children conceptualize problems better than just moving number symbols around on paper. Store bought sets are pricey, but you probably have the makings of some great manipulatives lying around already.
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Education Tools: How to Make and Use Math Manipulatives for Basic OperationsMath manipulatives are tools that provide concrete examples to help children conceptualize problems better than just moving number symbols around on paper. Store bought sets are pricey, but you probably have the makings of some great manipulatives lying around already.
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Socialization: A Homeschooling Parent's ConcernSocialization should still be an area of concern for homeschooling parents. Why? Read on.
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Complete Lemon Chicken Crock Pot MealWith a roll of heavy duty aluminum foil handy, you can prepare your chicken, vegetable and stuffing at the same time in one pot and keep them separate so they don't become one giant pot of stew.
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Five Ways to Fail at Losing WeightHave you been carrying around a few extra pounds that you're itching to lose? Don't count on it, unless you can avoid being tripped up by some of these common pitfalls.
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10 Things to Do When You Begin HomeschoolingIf you've decided to homeschool, you're probably feeling a little overwhelmed and are not quite sure where to begin. Here are tips on 10 things you can do to help you get started. -
What Witches Do on HalloweenYou've heard there are real Witches- or at least people who consider themselves Witches. Now Halloween is coming. Should you be worried about that lady down the street with all the cats who always wears black and whose house smells like incense?
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Education Tips: 15 Ideas That Will Encourage Kids to WriteWhile some people enjoy putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), to others, it is akin to having blood drawn- a painful, dreaded process. If you have a child who hates to write, some of these activities may spark some inspiration.
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One Parent's Opinion: SpankingSpanking is one hot topic that can divide a crowd of parents faster than Moses parted the red sea-- but are the criticisms from either side valid? -
One Parent's Opinion: Child LeashesAre parents who use child leashes degrading their children? Are they covering up for bad parenting skills? Or should safety be the bottom line?
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How to Carve a Portrait on a PumpkinLearn to carve the face of a loved one- or your own face- on a Halloween pumpkin for a spectacular glowing jack-o-lantern with a personal touch. -
Why Dabbling in Magic Can Yield Disappointing ResultsPeople open-minded to occult practices, when they get desperate or curious enough, may find themselves disappointed when searching for spells online.
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Wicca and Witchcraft - What's the Difference, Anyway?It's easy to get the terms "Wicca" and "Witchcraft" confused, as even many authors have used the terms interchangeably. Though not mutually exclusive, the terms are no longer (if they ever were) synonymous.
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School Picture Day TipsHelp your child prepare for picture day with these tips so that you will treasure your portraits forever, rather than cringe every time you look at them.
