Saturday, April 26, 2014

The Unexplained S1E3 Bedtime Stories: The Legend of La Llorona

La Llorona: The Weeping Woman
Mythic Figure Throughout Time and Region

The Chira Project is covering different types of bedtime stories that will scare the pants off of little children. If you know of any kind of scary bedtime story, please share it with us. This is our Third bedtime story is none other than... La Llorona!


La Llorona is a Mexican legend that started back in 1502. http://www.lallorona.com/1legend.html La Llorona also called the weeping woman is a tale that originated from the later variants of Aztec fertility goddess called Coatlicue. More to that it originated in Mexico and was also told in Central and South America. It is about a young lady who chose love over her children and decided to drown them. This eventually caused her death and her ghost was forced to come back to the world to look for the children. Do you think La Llorona is real? 80% said yes and 20% said no. But, what do you think?

There are different version's to this story. So the following will be stories from all kinds of people across the world.

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La Llorona - A New Mexico Ghost Story

Retold by: S. E. Schlosser

Version I
Once there was a widow who wished to marry a rich nobleman. However, the nobleman did not want to raise another man's children and he dismissed her. The widow was determined to have the nobleman for her own, so the widow drowned her children to be free of them. When she told the nobleman what she had done, he was horrified and would have nothing more to do with her. As she left him, the widow was overcome by the terrible crime she had committed and went to the river, looking for her children. But they were gone. She drowned herself and her spirit was condemned to wander the waterways, weeping and searching for her children until the end of time.

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Version II
Once a poor man was married to a beautiful woman who lived in his village. The couple was very much in love, but the man insisted that they were too poor to have any children. When he found out his wife was pregnant, the man was very angry. He told the woman they could not keep the child. After the birth of his son, the man drowned the child in the river. His wife, too weak from giving birth to get up from the bed, pleaded in vain with her husband to spare the life of her child.

Several more sons were born to the couple, and the poor man drowned every one. The day the poor man took his fifth child to the river, his wife followed even though she was still weak and bleeding from giving birth. When he threw the child in the river, the woman went in after her son, determined to save the boy even though she did not know how to swim. The woman and her baby were swept away by the current and they both drowned.

The very next night, the woman's spirit returned to the river beside her home, wailing and searching for the sons she had lost. At first, the poor man was terrified by the spirit of his wife. He begged her to return to the spirit realm. But she did not hear him.

Night after night, the woman returned to the river, wailing and wringing her hands in her grief. The poor man became angry. But he could not stop the ghost of his wife from searching for her sons.

Finally, the sound of the wailing woman drove the man mad. He grabbed a knife and jumped into the river after the spirit to kill her. But the poor man did not know how to swim. The current swept him away and he drowned.

From that day to this, the spirit of La Llorona -- the wailing woman -- still haunts the waters and lakes, weeping and wailing and searching for her sons.

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La Llorona - A Hispanic Legend: The Weeping Woman
By Joe Hayes

This is a story that the old ones have been telling to children for hundreds of years. It is a sad tale, but it lives strong in the memories of the people, and there are many who swear that it is true.

Long years ago in a humble little village there lived a fine looking girl named Maria Some say she was the most beautiful girl in the world! And because she was so beautiful, Maria thought she was better than everyone else.

As Maria grew older, her beauty increased and her pride in her beauty grew too When she was a young woman, she would not even look at the young men from her village. They weren't good enough for her! "When I marry," Maria would say, "I will marry the most handsome man in the world."

And then one day, into Maria's village rode a man who seemed to be just the one she had been talking about. He was a dashing young ranchero, the son of a wealthy rancher from the southern plains. He could ride like a Comanche! In fact, if he owned a horse, and it grew tame, he would give it away and go rope a wild horse from the plains. He thought it wasn't manly to ride a horse if it wasn't half-wild.

He was handsome! And he could play the guitar and sing beautifully. Maria made up her mind-that was, the man for her! She knew just the tricks to win his attention.

If the ranchero spoke when they met on the pathway, she would turn her head away. When he came to her house in the evening to play his guitar and serenade her, she wouldn't even come to the window. She refused all his costly gifts. The young man fell for her tricks. "That haughty girl, Maria, Maria! " he said to himself. "I know I can win her heart. I swear I'll marry that girl."

And so everything turned out as Maria planned. Before long, she and the ranchero became engaged and soon they were married. At first, things were fine. They had two children and they seemed to be a happy family together. But after a few years, the ranchero went back to the wild life of the prairies. He would leave town and be gone for months at a time. And when he returned home, it was only to visit his children. He seemed to care nothing for the beautiful Maria. He even talked of setting Maria aside and marrying a woman of his own wealthy class.

As proud as Maria was, of course she became very angry with the ranchero. She also began to feel anger toward her children, because he paid attention to them, but just ignored her.

One evening, as Maria was strolling with her two children on the shady pathway near the river, the ranchero came by in a carriage. An elegant lady sat on the seat beside him. He stopped and spoke to his children, but he didn't even look at Maria. He whipped the horses on up the street.

When she saw that, a terrible rage filled Maria, and it all turned against her children. And although it is sad to tell, the story says that in her anger Maria seized her two children and threw them into the river! But as they disappeared down the stream, she realized what she had done! She ran down the bank of the river, reaching out her arms to them. But they were long gone.

The next morning, a traveler brought word to the villagers that a beautiful woman lay dead on the bank of the river. That is where they found Maria, and they laid her to rest where she had fallen.

But the first night Maria was in the grave, the villagers heard the sound of crying down by the river. It was not the wind, it was La Llorona crying. "Where are my children?" And they saw a woman walking up and down the bank of the river, dressed in a long white robe, the way they had dressed Maria for burial. On many a dark night they saw her walk the river bank and cry for her children. And so they no longer spoke of her as Maria. They called her La Llorona, the weeping woman. And by that name she is known to this day. Children are warned not to go out in the dark, for, La Llorona might snatch them and never return them. 

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La Llorona - One Woman, Many Stories
By Angelica Galicia

The eve of the conquest of Mexico -Tenochtitlan by Hernan Cortes and his Spanish army was plagued by omens that Miguel Leon–Portilla enumerates in his book, “Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico”. Based on codices as well as from memories of the period, Portilla describes a woman who the natives called Cihuacoatl (the serpent woman), who wandered among the temples of the great ‘Mexica’ capital announcing a tragedy: “O-h-h, my children, the time for our departure draws near. O-h-h-h, my children! Where shall I take you?”

However, it was during the colonial days when the legend of the weeping woman gained the necessary strength to filter into Mexican folklore, and although there are innumerable versions as to the origin of this macabre and heartrending cry, the most popular one is told in detail herein:

Every night at eleven, when the curfew sounded in the capital of New Spain, the inhabitants would shut themselves in their houses of mud and stone. The streets were left deserted. It was then that the darkness and the silence were torn by the long and distressing wails of a woman. “Oh, my children”, she repeated monotonously, causing even the bravest hearts to shudder.

Those who dared to look out from their windows managed to see the silhouette of a woman dressed in white, floating above the street’s stone pavement; she would stop at the city’s Main Square. Later, the ghostly figure would head in the direction of Texcoco Lake, where she’d disappear with the first rays of the dawn.

But, just who was this woman whose face could not be discerned? Why did she cry so pitifully? According to the story, there was once a beautiful native woman who fell deeply in love with a Spanish gentleman. The gentleman felt a great passion for her, but relations between a nobleman and an Indian woman was positively regarded with disapproval, so he maintained his romance with her in secret. Three children were born to the mother, who adored and tirelessly cared for them.

Over time, the woman sought to formalize her relationship with the gentleman, who began to evade her. She soon found out that he had agreed upon a convenient marriage to a wealthy Spanish lady. Humiliated by the man she loved so much, the woman was driven totally mad and drowned her three children in a river. She committed suicide afterwards. At the gates of Heaven, the woman was asked about her little ones. “My Lord, I don’t know where they are”, she replied.  Thus, she was condemned to search for them for all eternity.

There are those who assure that, in her zeal to be accepted into Heaven, the murderess Weeping Woman carries away the firstborn children between the ages of 1 and 5 years-old to present them before God as her children. That’s why the proximity of her cries is so feared by all.

Other versions affirm that the woman who wanders about crying nightly among the labyrinth of building in Mexico City is none other than ‘Malinche’;  Hernan Cortes’ mistress, who’s accused of having betrayed her race because of  her love for the conqueror.

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The Legend of La Llorona S1E3

















La Llorona( The Weeping Woman)
















Links: 
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?id=9307416

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Llorona

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/gh-lallorona.html

http://ambergriscaye.com/25years/lallorona.html

http://cclitgirl.hubpages.com/hub/legend-of-la-llorona-or-weeping-woman

Saturday, April 19, 2014

The Unexplained S1E2 Bedtime Stories: The Legend of Candyman

The Chira Project is covering different types of bedtime stories that will scare the pants off of little children. If you know of any kind of scary bedtime story, please share it with us. This is our Second bedtime story is none other than... Candyman!

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The Crime of the Candyman
The Dick Who Ruined Pixy Stix
Written By Michael Price

What was your favorite candy to find in your Halloween loot after you came home from a long night of door-knocking and faking adorable for the neighbors? Gun to my head, my answer would have to be Pixy Stix. There’s something about that tart rush of pure pulverized sugar that put my mind in the right loopy place for the newest Tree-house of Horror installment.

But somewhere down the line I had to kick the habit, and not by choice. One Halloween, my parents wanted to check my haul – not to beam with pride at just how much candy I’d finagled, nor to see just what kind of sugar-rush they could expect over the next several weeks – but to ditch all the Pixy Stix straight in the trash. Turns out they’d heard something on the news about a wacko replacing the crystalline deliciousness with (take your pick):

1) cocaine
2) meth
3) poison
4) anthrax
5) pure powdered Armageddon

Jumbo Pixy Stix are awesome. Right up until the convulsions, that is. And the vomiting. And the passing out. And the dying en route to the hospital.

Chances are if you lived in a suburban neighborhood with typically reactionary suburban parents, you had something similar happen to you, too. Or maybe it was razor blades in candy apples. Or acid-filled bubble gum. Or metal shavings mixed in amongst the coconut ribbons of a Mounds bar. It was an epidemic sweeping the nation! said breathless news reports with all the self-seriousness and unearned certitude that really was sweeping the nation in the late ’80s.

But did you — or your folks – ever really know anyone who came down with anything more serious than a stomachache after eating Halloween candy? Of course not. The “epidemic” was nothing more than the upswing of the eternal ebb and flow of moral panics in this country.

Sort of. OK, so the odds of it ever happening to you are probably smaller than encountering the honest-to-goodness alien ghost of Dracula (scratch that; the sexy alien ghost of Dracula) on Halloween, but a few kids really have run afoul of some poisonous or booby-trapped candy given to them by exactly the kind of madman your parents worried themselves sick over.

The case most pertinent to my own candy love affair happened in 1974. Eight-year-old Timmy O’Bryan (his actual name, not a Lifetime movie adaptation name) went trick-or-treating in his suburban Houston neighborhood like every other kid. His costume has been lost to time, but it being 1974, he was probably Sad Richard Nixon or Patty Hearst Kidnapper. Anyway, he made his rounds, knocked over some pumpkins, egged some houses – whatever mischief kids got into back then – and returned home to dig into his sugar sack and catch the Halloween special of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.

His father, Ronald Clark O’Bryan, ever helpful, suggested this big ol’ Jumbo Pixy Stix right here. Man, does that look good, and don’t you want to eat this one first, Little Timmy, son whom I adore and cherish? And Timmy, being the adored and cherish little son he was, complied. Hell, I would've, too. Jumbo Pixy Stix are awesome.

Right up until the convulsions, that is. And the vomiting. And the passing out. And the dying en route to the hospital.

When doctors autopsied the boy, they found he’d been poisoned with cyanide. With some CSI¬ trickery, they traced the poison to the Pixy Stix he’d eaten. The town freaked. Pixy Stix were tossed out by the thousands. Neighbor turned on neighbor. The police questioned everyone who’d handed out candy that night. Who was this sick creep handing out deadly goodies?

Well, if you’ve ever seen a true crime show, you know where this is headed. Ronald O’Bryan was a man deep in debt and, curiously, he’d only months prior taken out a size-able life insurance policy on his children. It didn't take Columbo to figure out what happened. The elder O’Bryan had laced a Pixy Stix with cyanide earlier in the night and surreptitiously slipped the tainted treat into his son’s bag.

The crime earned him the nickname “The Candyman,” and Texas officials eventually executed him on March 31, 1984. News reports note that college kids showed up wearing Halloween masks to cheer on his execution.

Can you blame them? That was the man that 10 years ago had caused their parents to chuck out much of their Halloween haul. But the damage to the American psyche was much deeper, and the crime inspired a moral panic that continues to this day. In a few days, you’ll see blog posts and news reports imploring parents to check their children’s stash and toss out anything suspicious. And to an overly cautious parent, those warnings will lead to the wholesale slaughter of millions of Mike and Ikes, Gummy Worms, Jolly Ranchers and Sugar Daddies. What a waste.

The weird thing about moral panics, though, is their ability to fulfill their own destinies. The panickers play the victims in their own invented tragedy, but there’s always some sicko willing to play the villain. And so in the wake of little Timmy O’Bryan’s unfortunate demise at the hands of his father, a few random pseudo-copycats have popped up, no doubt inspired by the public’s gruesome imagined epidemic. In 1988, someone poked a needle into a candy apple in Maryland. And reports pop up every now and then of kids, having heard the legends, spiking their friends’ candy with razor blades or needles as a prank. But the O’Bryan case remains the only one on record of a child dying from tainted Halloween candy.

So if you’ve got a kid, ease off the caution pedal a bit this year. Relax. No one spiked his or her Pixy Stix with cyanide. Let the little goblin enjoy some sugar in peace for just one night, damn it.

Of course, doesn't hurt to take out a life insurance policy on them. You know, just in case.

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"Resistant is futile,
When it is the
Candyman who,
Got you hooked.
Fear the legend,
Fear the Candyman!"

For more Candyman quotes, go to:
http://baronessofblades.deviantart.com/favourites/48334489










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The Legend of Candyman S1E2


















Christina Aguilera - Candyman (Edit)

















Candyman trailer

















For more information about the Hollywood Horror movie, "Candyman" please go to:
http://fascinationwithfear.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-days-31-faves-candyman.html





Sunday, April 13, 2014

5 Best Beauty Bargain Buys

We gave six skin, hair, and professional makeup experts $40 each and sent them shopping to prove that you can look great without breaking the bank. It was never so easy and affordable to get gorgeous.


This post is going to be all about multi-purpose, cheap, yet amazing products.

1) Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser:
This is a perfect face wash for people with super dry or sensitive skin. But, you can also use it as a body wash, or use it to wash your makeup brushes. It has a lot of uses, and works very well, as it is super gentle, and a great cleanser.

2) E.L.F. Makeup Brushes:
These brushes are incredible! You can get some for a dollar, or some for three dollars. They are durable, soft, and work just as well as more expensive brushes.

3) Maybelline Eyeshadow Quads:
Maybelline sells eyeshadow quads with 4 pigmented, buttery, and quality eyeshadows for around $5-6. They have many different colors, from blues, to pinks, to neutrals! Most are shimmery, so they give you a wide-eyed look. These eyeshadow quads are definitely worth it!

4) Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks:
Revlon has some of the best lip products in the business. They have a variety of finishes, from matte to pearl to cream. They have MANY many shades, and some have been around since the 50s! This is one of the best lipstick ranges, and they are all about $4-6. Definitely recommend!

5) Sinful Colors Nail Polishes:
These are pretty good quality, and have an amazing shade range! They are $2 each, and last a while too. They don’t chip for a couple days, and aren’t streaky or unpigmented. These are some of my favorite nail polishes, and they are definitely amazing!

Thanks for reading! Stay beautiful! xoxo

50 DIY Decorating Tips Every Girl Should Know

Sometimes the key to giving your home a much-needed update does not involve a major overhaul and a costly renovation. In fact, a few new pillows, reorganized bookshelves, and thoughtful DIY centerpieces are oftentimes all you need to give your space a newly decorated look. The trick to successfully updating your home without spending a fortune is thinking outside the box. For instance, painting a door in lacquer black will absolutely add an instant dose of glamour of to your home, and sometimes just changing your light bulbs can make a world of difference. To that end, we have compiled 50 of our favorite DIY decorating tips. Because seriously, there is no excuse for living in a space that does not feel like home.


1. Decorate your walls on the cheap.
Add a grid of clean, white frames displaying black-and-white photos—a cheap trick for adding a touch of glamour to empty walls.

2. Hang a shelf to create the illusion of space.
Make a narrow room appear wider with a long shelf that can also double as a mantel to display various objects of your choice.

3. A mirror will instantly transform a room.
Add a mirror into your space, which will instantly make a room look bigger reflecting the surrounding colors and patterns.

4. Add a rug to redo your space without renovating. 
For an instant update add a large sisal rug to your space, which will give it an instant modern and clean feel. Looking to do something more glam? Add a shag rug or a zebra print.

5. Pillows are your friend.
Revamp your sofa without spending a fortune changing up your accent pillows.

6. Paint the interior of your closet.
Yes, your closet deserves some attention too! Paint the interior of a closet a fun color for a nice surprise when you open it up.

7. All about the accent wall.
Painting a room with clean bold stripes will instantly update it.

8. Get creative with paint.
Wall colors set the tone of a room. Looking to add a dose of cool? Paint your doors black and the trim white.

9. Change up your lighting.
Upgrade your light fixtures with a mix of finishes like antique brass hardware.

10. To instantly transform your living room. 
An interesting DIY decorating tip: Drop cloths make great DIY slipcovers. They look like old homespun linen, but cost a fraction of the price.

11. Ombré your walls. 
Instead of painting walls one flat hue, paint the bottom one shade and the top another.

12. Organize random objects with trays.
Organize items like TV remotes and other knickknacks on a pretty tray placed on a coffee table or a side table.

13. Paint lampshades for a completely fresh look.
Buy an inexpensive paper shade and paint it red, which will add a romantic and flattering touch to any room.

14. Change up your artwork displays.
Put pieces in unusual places, like above a door, or in the kitchen or a bathroom, to add some freshness to your space.

15. Wallpaper the back of shelves.
Paper the back of a cabinet or bookshelf in wallpaper or even faux-snakeskin for an unexpected decor surprise.

16. Update your light bulbs.
Experiment with different light bulbs in your sconces and chandeliers. For instance, try using clear bulbs, or even a pink tone.

17. Create ambiance with DIY candles.
Put votive in old jam jars to create a casual, romantic centerpiece.

18. Mix and match your furniture.
Modernize your interiors adding in an acrylic table or modern side tables in chrome.

19. Don’t forget about your ceiling.
Decorative ceiling tiles can add texture to a room. On the other hand, simply paint a ceiling a different color from the rest of the room.

20. Change up the floor.
When wood floors are not in the best condition, paint or stain them.

21. Update your bathroom without renovating.
Instead of spending a fortune renovating a bathroom simply, buy new towels, curtains, and a shower curtain to update the space.

22. Create a DIY coffee table.
Are large books taking over your coffee table? Stack similar-colored ones several feet high so that they become the table.

23. Turn a side table into a bar cart.
Lusting after a bar cart but don’t want to spend the money? A side table can become an instant bar station! Place an ice bucket, glasses, and your favorite liquors on it to create the look.

24. Reupholster small pieces.
Instead of buying new furniture, reupholster an old chair to give it a completely new look.

25. Update your door.
Doors are part of your decor too, so why not paint one a glossy black or even pastel pink? It will give your room that instant wow factor.

26. Decorate with fruit.
Get some wicker baskets or nice bowls and fill them with Lady apples, pears, or English walnuts to create an easy, elegant centerpiece.

27. Start an indoor garden.
Pot plants in an assortment of vintage ceramics and line them up on a windowsill.

28. Turn your favorite book into art.
Art does not have to be a huge investment. Cut out 20 pages from a favorite book. Buy 20 inexpensive frames and place them side by side in rows on a wall.

29. Change your entryway instantly with wallpaper.
Wallpaper your front entry with a bold paper. The first impression is everything.

30. Add a luxe throw into your space. 
A Mongolian lamb’s wool throw or a faux fox throw will add instant luxury into your space whether draped over a couch or at the end of a bed.

31. Spray paint your boring old chairs.
Spray paint your boring dining room chairs black to instantly transform their look.

32. All about the dimmers.
The single cheapest makeover solution is adding dimmers throughout your home.

33. Don’t renovate your kitchen, update the hardware. 
Change out your kitchen cabinet hardware for a brand new look.

34. Bring the outside in and the inside out. 
Use indoor furniture for an outdoor gathering and bring outdoor furniture inside for an unexpected twist to your living spaces.

35. Consider wall decals.
Wall decals, which come on sheets like temporary tattoos, are a great and inexpensive way to spruce up a room.

36. Organize your books by color.
Get creative by stylishly organizing bookshelves by color, rather than size or theme.

37. Get floral.
Do not underestimate the power of flowers. Perk up any room with a bouquet (and when in doubt go straight for white peonies).

38. Give your furniture unexpected roles.
Re-purpose a chrome bath cart to serve as a side table or a minibar, stocked with drinks and snacks.

39. Create a wall of clocks.
Dream of cities you would like to visit by hanging clocks dedicated to their time zones. This is a particularly great idea for an office.

40. Create a cool vase with sequins from an old dress.
Have a sequin dress you do not wear anymore? Remove the sequins and sprinkle them into a vase of flowers. Voila, you have one of the coolest centerpieces around.

41. Freshen up your shower curtain.
Tie shower curtains on with bows, large Lucite squares, or anything other than basic metal rings to add personal touches to a bathroom.

42. Create a place for those special family photos.
Instead of framing all of your family photos, put snapshots in a bowl on a table where everyone can sift through them. Trade old images with new ones every so often.

43. Mix up your plates.
Mix together that stash of china from your grandmother, and various other plates you have collected through the years, alternating with your everyday white, to freshen up your dinner table.

44. Give your bedding a quick update with monogram pillows.
Instead of buying all new bedding, update what you have with a set of monogrammed pillowcases in a bold color that ties into your decor.

45. Use your windowsills to display cool objects.
Pep up a windowsill with some quirky accessories. Consider transforming a bunch of kids plastic farm animals by spray painting them in a bold color.

46. DIY a headboard with wallpaper.
Trace your desired headboard shape on your wall, and apply wallpaper. Voila, you’ve got an impromptu headboard.

47. Don’t save your best for the living room.
Do not save all your best decor pieces for the living room. Put a fancy lamp or painting in a more unexpected spot, like the kitchen.

48. Update a boring bookcase with some paint.
Dress up a white bookcase by painting the outside edges in black.

49. Freshen up your couch with some cool fabric.
You do not need to reupholster a couch to give it an update. Use a richly patterned fabric to cover a couch or chair without the cost.

50. Re-purpose your old necklaces.
Take those old rhinestone necklaces and turn them into curtain ties.

There you have it! We would love to hear from you, about your favorite DIY decorating tips and tricks in the comments section below!




How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger: 25 Tips That Work

It’s a problem most young women face at some point in their lives: Being forced to cram our lives into small spaces. From bedrooms that are barely big enough to fit a bed, to living rooms that have to accommodate a dining area, a home office, and a TV, fitting everything you need into a small space definitely isn't an easy task. That said, there are plenty of easy solutions which will help make your small space look more inviting, increasingly multi-functional, and utterly chic, all at the same time.

Here, our 25 favorite tips for making a small room look bigger.

1. When adding drapes to a room, make sure they’re the same color as your walls. Sticking to the same color will make your space look bigger. Another trick is to go with sheer drapes.

2. Take advantage of natural light as much as you can, which will open up your space.

3. Opt for sofas and armchairs that are raised on legs, which creates a sense of light and space.

4. De-clutter relentlessly if you live in a small space. If you haven’t used something in a year—or wouldn't buy it now—get rid of it.

5. Think in a color palette that’s light and neutral, which will expand your space visually.

6. Go for fabrics and rugs in small prints or plain colors. Unified colors will visually expand a small room.

7. Buy multi-functional furniture, such as ottomans, which can be used as both a coffee table, and extra seating, all at once.

8. Include mirrors in your space! The reflection will make a room look bigger.

9. There’s an old rule that small furniture in a small space is the way to go, but a few larger pieces of furniture in a small room will often make it look bigger.

10. Consider adding floor-to-ceiling or wall-to-wall bookcases. This trick will expand how high your ceilings look, plus it’s a great way to add storage.

11. Furniture that can be folded, stacked, or wheeled away is your friend. Simply push it out of the way when it’s not in use.

12. Don’t fill up every exposed shelf in a room. Leaving some empty space will give your small space an airy look.

13. Installing either a built-in desk that takes up the entire length of a room or expansive counter-tops in your kitchen, will create the illusion of a long room.

14. Buy some of your furniture in the same color as your walls, that way it simply.

15. Don’t automatically place your furniture against walls. Sometimes placing a piece at an angle or surrounded by open space, will make a room look bigger.

16. Opt for a dining table that can be made smaller or larger with removable or drop leaves to make the most of the space that you do have.

17. Make your room appear larger by painting the walls, trim, and detailing in different shades of one color, such as off-white.

18. Make your ceiling pop painting it in a bright color, which will drive the eye upward, and create the illusion of high ceilings.

19. Leave your windows uncovered, to create a sense of depth in a small space.

20. Color coordinate your knickknacks and books, which will make your space look streamlined.

21. Consider a striped floor, which will make your room appear like it goes on forever.

22. See-through furniture—like glass tables and Lucite chairs—do a great job of fooling the eye into thinking there is more space than there actually is.

23. Instead of overhead fixtures, which draw the eye to one spot, add several lighting elements in a small room.

24. Just because a room is small, doesn't mean it can’t be dramatic. Big pieces of art can add a heck of a lot of drama to a small space, and make the room seem bigger in the process.

25. Consider buying furniture that will fill an entire room, like a large bed that takes up an entire bedroom, and then building custom shelving around it. Half of the battle of making a small space work is thinking outside of the box.






6 Super-Easy Decorating Tips to Spruce Up Your Pad This Year

If there’s one time of year when purging and sprucing up your home is widely regarded as a typical weekend activity, it’s probably now. After all, why wait until Spring to clean out your cluttered spaces when you can do it in the dead of winter, when there’s not that much else going on?

We sat down with ultra-chic home goods site One Kings Lane co-founder Alison Pincus and Andrea Stanford, general manager of merchandising, designer, and vintage goods, who gave us some unbelievably easy decorating tips and tricks for transforming your home for the new year. Read on to get inspired!
spruce space

1. If you love an object, you can make it work.
“I always say, buy what you love,” One Kings Lane’s Andrea Stanford tells StyleCaster. “I think sometimes people get a little caught up in oh, it all has to fit together and has to be a certain style. I think if you love it, you can make it work.”

2. Know the purpose of your space.
“I always try to start with a general plan when I’m thinking about a room,” Andrea says. “What’s my idea for this room? How am I going to live in this room? I think that’s the biggest thing. Where is the TV going to go? Where am I going to sit? Am I going to entertain in here too? What are the multiple purposes of this room?”

3. Invest in a few staple pieces.
“First, I like to get the big pieces,” Andrea says. “I love the idea of buying original. There’s so many knockoffs out there right now, and it’s just a bummer, because you can get the original chairs. You can find the original design, you can really support great design by being smart about it. Look around and find those pieces. I think it’s so much better to invest in some great pieces in the room—just like an outfit. You get the great shoes, you get the great bag, the rest of it you can sort of play around with. I think it’s the same with a house. You invest in a couple of key pieces, you can do it smartly, and the rest of it can all sort of come together.”

4. Pinterest is your best friend.
“In addition to not buying all at one time and really taking your time, I also think it’s really helpful to do your research,” co-founder Alison Pincus says. “Get inspired by blogs or rooms on Pinterest, make a file for yourself and think about, what would I love to live with it? Unlike fashion, the price per ticket for home items is much more expensive.”

5. Know the cheap tricks.
“What I’m so impressed with some of the women we’ve worked with who are very focused on getting great coffee table books or great books for their bookshelves, and knowing that they can do lots of different things with books,” Ali says. “You can put books below your lamps, for example, and it makes your room feel very lived in. You can also get great throws. If you have a sofa that you don’t love, you can make it look better by throwing a throw on it. You can also change out pillows for pretty cheap.”

6. Take your time.
“Don’t be in a hurry,” Andrea urges. “Get the main pieces, but don’t do it all at once. Because if you try to do it all at once, it feels like you did it all at once. Once you start living in it, you’re like oh, you know what, I actually need a table here that should be a desk and this. Get things as you love them.

“Have your list of what you’re looking for, and then continue to add the special pieces, so you can say oh I got this on that trip and I love it. Just don’t be in a big hurry. No one cares if everything is finished, because even if they come over, that’s what makes it fun. You throw down a blanket on the floor, and as long as you’re pouring good wine, no one cares if you have enough chairs. It doesn’t even matter.”
“Most of us make mistakes when you’re shopping in a hurry,” Ali adds.

Posted by: Meghan Blalock

8 Foods That Help Your Hair Grow Faster

Whether you’re in the midst of trying to recover your strands from a misguided cut or simply want longer locks, you may have a hard time patiently waiting for your hair to grow. (We've been there.)

Luckily, unlike the watched pot that never boils, concentrating on your hair growth can yield actual results, particularly when it comes to strategic eating. Here are eight foods that help lengthen your mane, recommended by Harvard and Yale Medical School-trained nutritionist Jayson Calton, PhD, and licensed nutritionist and fitness chef Mira Calton, CN.

1. Salmon: This fish is loaded with the strong hair supporters like Vitamin D and protein, but it also contains omega-3 fatty acids that promote hair growth by keeping your scalp healthy.

2. Yellow Peppers: Yellow bell peppers have nearly five and a half times more vitamin C than oranges (341 milligrams, as opposed to 63). This is good news for your locks since vitamin C is an antioxidant that strengthens the hair shaft and hair follicles, as well as prevents breakage.

3. Oysters: Zinc deficiency has been noted to cause hair loss and poor scalp conditions and oysters are loaded with zinc — just three ounces contain 493 percent of your daily value. But not just any oysters will do: Steer clear of the ones caught in the Gulf of Mexico, which may contain unusually high levels of Cadmium due to the 2010 BP oil spill.

4. Eggs: Eggs are an excellent source of those aforementioned omega-3s, and they are also contain biotin (which many people trying to grow their hair take in supplement form). But, just so you’re aware, it’s not the egg white that will make your hair long and beautiful, it’s the yolk. Eating too many egg whites can actually block the absorption of biotin into the body, causing a depletion of this micro-nutrient.

5. Sunflower Seeds: Just a few little seeds can supply you with an abundance of vitamin E, which will enhance blood flow to the scalp and promote faster hair growth.

6. Sweet Potatoes: These are loaded with beta carotene, the precursor for vitamin A that not only promotes a healthy scalp but  promotes hair growth. But choose foods loaded with beta carotene over supplementing with high doses — like over 2500 milligrams — of vitamin A from retinol since it can be toxic at very high levels.

7.  Avocados: Due to their high concentration of essential fatty acids naturally found in skin cells (which help to keep your skin smooth and supple), avocados are an age-old beauty secret. When topically applied to the hair and scalp, they have the added ability to stimulate collagen and elastin production. Mix a little avocado with sour cream (which contains lactic acid to help exfoliate dead skin and clean up buildup on the scalp) and apply to your hair and scalp for about ten minutes before washing it off.

8. Almonds: These nuts will make your hair grow faster and thicker due to their high biotin content. One cup contains nearly one-third of your daily requirement. You should be able to see the results in a month or two of adding them to your diet.

Image via Fabrice Lerouge/ONOKY
Posted by Natasha Burton

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Unexplained S1E1 Bedtime Stories: The Legend of Bloody Mary

The Chira Project is covering different types of bedtime stories that will scare the pants off of little children. If you know of any kind of scary bedtime story, please share it with us. This is our first bedtime story is none other than... Bloody Mary!
                               

Bloody Mary is not only a drink it has a history behind that name. Bloody Mary is a ghost, if you invoke her name 3 or 13 times in front of a mirror, she will come and kill you on a very violent way. Like scratch your eyes and face to death, cut your head in small pieces, take you with through a mirror or something even worth. There is another version that if you call her she will haunt you for rest of your life. But it exist some nicer versions, if you messes her name 13 time at midnight and watching into a mirror. She will help you to talk with a dead person in 8 minutes or tales you about your future.

Nobody knows who Bloody Mary was, there are many theories. Some of them that she killed her children another is that she was burned during witch trials or was it maybe Mary the first of England, she brutally executed people for heresy. Maybe is Bloody Mary mix of all those women? But the question is…. Would YOU call her?

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Urban Legend #1: 
She lived deep in the forest in a tiny cottage and sold herbal remedies for a living.  Folks living in the town nearby called her Bloody Mary, and said she was a witch.  None dared cross the old crone for fear that their cows would go dry, their food-stores rot away before winter, their children take sick of fever, or any number of terrible things that an angry witch could do to her neighbors.

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Where are the missing girls?
Then the little girls in the village began to disappear, one by one.  No one could find out where they had gone.  Grief-stricken families searched the woods, the local buildings, and all the houses and barns, but there was no sign of the missing girls.  A few brave souls even went to Bloody Mary's home in the woods to see if the witch had taken the girls, but she denied any knowledge of the disappearances.  Still it was noted that her haggard appearance had changed.  She looked younger, more attractive.  The neighbors were suspicious, but they could find no proof that the witch had taken their young ones.

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Is Bloody Mary killing the missing girls to bath in their youthful blood?
Then came the night when the daughter of the miller rose from her bed and walked outside, following an enchanted sound no one else could hear. The miller's wife had a toothache and was sitting up in the kitchen treating the tooth with an herbal remedy when her daughter left the house. She screamed for her husband and followed the girl out of the door. The miller came running in his nightshirt.  Together, they tried to restrain the girl, but she kept breaking away from them and heading out of town.

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Does Bloody Mary cast evil spells on young ladies?
The desperate cries of the miller and his wife woke the neighbors. They came to assist the frantic couple. Suddenly, a sharp-eyed farmer gave a shout and pointed towards a strange light at the edge of the woods. A few townsmen followed him out into the field and saw Bloody Mary standing beside a large oak tree, holding a magic wand that was pointed towards the miller's house. She was glowing with an unearthly light as she set her evil spell upon the miller's daughter.

The townsmen grabbed their guns and their pitchforks and ran toward the witch. When she heard the commotion, Bloody Mary broke off her spell and fled back into the woods. The far-sighted farmer had loaded his gun with silver bullets in case the witch ever came after his daughter. Now he took aim and shot at her. The bullet hit Bloody Mary in the hip and she fell to the ground. The angry townsmen leapt upon her and carried her back into the field, where they built a huge bonfire and burned her at the stake.

As she burned, Bloody Mary screamed a curse at the villagers. If anyone mentioned her name aloud before a mirror, she would send her spirit to revenge herself upon them for her terrible death. When she was dead, the villagers went to the house in the wood and found the unmarked graves of the little girls the evil witch had murdered. She had used their blood to make her young again.

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Do you believe the curse of Bloody Mary?
From that day to this, anyone foolish enough to chant Bloody Mary's name three times before a darkened mirror lighted only by a candles glow,  will summon the vengeful spirit of the witch.  It is said that she will tear their bodies to pieces and rip their souls from their mutilated bodies.  The souls of these unfortunate ones will burn in torment as Bloody Mary once was burned, and they will be trapped forever in the mirror.
(Pennsylvania folklore)

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How Do You Play Bloody Mary?
What you need is one candle, a strong heart and a big bathroom with a large mirror.  Turn out the lights, place your candle down and light it, stand and look into the mirror,  chant slowly “Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary”. And see what happens…..

If nothing happens try spinning around three times and then look into the mirror. You may just catch a glimpse of her terrifying face.

Try it out if you dare, but don’t blame me if you find yourself trapped in a ghostly netherworld with the ghost of Bloody Mary forever!

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Urban Legend #2:
Bloody Mary is the children's game of summoning an evil and vengeful witch of the same name. This is done by standing in a bathroom, with one candle lit and calling the name "Bloody Mary" into the mirror three times in a row.

It is only the bravest of children who would attempt to participate in this game.

It is believed that by taking part in this game, and summoning the witch, it would have one of the following terrible consequences:

Eyes being ripped out by the witch,
found with claw marks all over body,
disappear mysteriously from the bathroom and end up in the mirror with the witch for eternity,
view the horrifying image of the witch appear in the mirror,
driven insane or dropping dead on the spot at the appearance of the witch in the mirror, and/or
suffer terrible claw marks all over face.

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Variations of the game are:
Calling out "I stole your baby Bloody Mary" into the mirror.
Calling out "I killed your baby Mary Worth" into the mirror,
Calling out "I believe in Mary Worth" into the mirror,
Turning around between one to one hundred times in front of the mirror, and/or
Blowing the candle out and calling out to summon the witch in the dark.

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There are also variations on the name Bloody Mary:
Mary Worth,
Mary Whales,
Hell Mary (for the appearance of Satan),
Bloody Mary Worth, and/or
Mary Worthington
These names are not so commonly used. The main name used is Bloody Mary.

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The History of the Game
The history of the children's game Bloody Mary is a difficult one to extract from the large amount of mixed up legends and history that over the years has become the main basis for the story surrounding the game.

The most common story told is that Mary Worth was a witch that lived over 100 years ago who dabbled in the black arts. She was found out and executed. However this does not tie in with a child or baby which is often mentioned in the ritual of summoning her.

The other story accompanying the ritual is a local woman was involved in a fatal car accident nearby, her face horribly mutilated. She reappears in the mirror when summoned with that same horrific face.

It is largely believed that the origins of the names "Mary Worth" and "Bloody Mary" came from a slight mix up of characters from history. There is a lot of speculation as to the names being taken from Mary I, Queen of England who reigned during the Tudor period. Mary Tudor was also commonly known as "Bloody Mary."

Her nickname of "Bloody Mary" became attached to her when she violently executed and burnt people at the stake for heresy throughout her reign of a little over 5 years.

She also was unable to bear children and suffered two phantom pregnancies, this is where it is speculated that the Bloody Mary game involving chanting "I stole your baby" or "I killed your baby" became tangled up with the now known Bloody Mary game.

There is another suggestion that the name "Mary Worth" was derived from a victim of the Salem Witch trials. There was no person involved in these trials by the name of Mary Worth.

Other surrounding additions to the "Bloody Mary" game are derived from the legend of Elizabeth Bathory, who it was rumored bathed in blood and took part in other atrocities to save her youthful beauty, of course her name was not Mary but somehow the stories of this cruel woman have been inserted into the Bloody Mary game.

However this game came about and whenever this game was first invented the one thing we do know for sure is that the ritual of spinning and chanting has evovled from quite a long time ago, when young girls participated regularly in rituals such as this to find who they would marry and when they would marry. There is also the addition of mirrors which were known as being portals to another world, especially during Victorian times. Add in a little more of the olde time spiritual beliefs including covering mirrors while in the presence of a dead person or at a funeral, some spooky ghost stories told at bedtime, and it seems to have all somehow combined over the years to form the now famous game of Bloody Mary.

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What Will Happen If You Play Bloody Mary?
After all the explanations and tales of the supernatural I expect if you've read this far you are dying to try out the game. What you need is one candle, a strong heart and a big bathroom with lots of mirrors. LIGHTS OUT in the bathroom.

Place your candle in the bathroom and light it, stand and look into the mirror, chant slowly "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary". And see what happens!

Its up to you to believe what you may or may not experience. If nothing happens try spinning around three times and then look into the mirror - see anything yet?

Its believed that most people see something after spinning around furiously which is usually the result of over indulgence of sugary, high-energy foods, and lots of friends standing outside a darkened bathroom. As for those reports and stories you hear from all your friends... those stories that involved dark figures, violent slashes, cuts and bruises- well before you believe anything... ask for the evidence and then decide for yourself.

Until then try the game if you dare... but push one of your friends into the bathroom first!

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Urban Legend #3:
Bloody Mary is a spirit of folklore and an urban myth which has inspired the legendary Candyman - sometimes refereed to as "Hell Mary" this legend is one that has fascinated young people for generations: though the exact origins of the legend or its associated customs is unknown.

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History
According to legend Bloody Mary is the ghost of an unhappy woman who either committed suicide due to having her baby stolen or was accused of murdering her children - depending on the variation used this turned her spirit mad with grief or anger and she would haunt the world via the use of mirrors (in an almost identical fashion to Candyman).

Known in life as Mary Worth it is traditionally said that "Bloody Mary" will appear if a brave (or foolish) soul chants her name three or more times next to a mirror in complete darkness at midnight - according to the variations of the legend above one is also said to be able to make the ghost appear via stating "Bloody Mary, I killed your baby" or "I believe in Mary Worth".

Of course anyone foolish enough to provoke Bloody Mary is said to pay the price, unlike many ghosts (who merely scare humans) Bloody Mary is said to be capable of physical harm and will either kill her victims via disfigurement, decapitation or scratching their eyes out - if she is in a "merciful" mood Bloody Mary is said to simply turn her victim insane or (in rarer tales) she may take a fancy to someone and drag them into the mirror (presumably to the Other Side - like the ghosts in Poltergeist did).


Although the tales of Bloody Mary are dismissed as a modern fairy-tale of sorts by most people it is still a popular "game" amongst certain groups of people and may even be a rite of passage to some, a means of confronting one's fears or a way to play a mean prank on someone.

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THE BEST BLOODY MARY RECIPE
This Bloody Mary recipe is as delicious as it is easy to make! Recipe yields four servings for your convenience.

Bloody Mary Mix Ingredients:

  • 1 quart V8 juice
  • 1 cup vodka
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 2 small limes)
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce, preferably Crystal brand
  • 1 tablespoon olive juice, preferably from Manzanilla olives
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Suggested Garnishes:

  • 8 pickled green beans
  • 8 Manzanilla olives, speared two at a time on toothpicks
  • 4 lime wedges
  • 4 lemon wedges, seeds removed
  • 4 pickled okra
  • 4 celery stalks


METHOD:

  1. In a large pitcher or mixing bowl, combine all ingredients in the Bloody Mary Mix section.
  2. Stir well, cover and refrigerate for two hours (up to overnight) until flavors meld.
  3. When ready to serve, divide the Bloody Mary mix between four cups filled with ice.
  4. Garnish liberally with your choice of suggested garnishes listed above. Add more or fewer garnishes depending on your taste.


*NOTE*: 
That this recipe yields about 4 servings which means each serving is receiving 2 shots (ounces) of vodka. Adjust to suit your taste from there.

Bloody Mary formula guided by Chow.com.
 prep:15 MINUTES total:2 HOURS, 30 MINUTES

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The Legend of Bloody Mary S1E1