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Awesome Pop Culture-Inspired Halloween Costumes 2017

It’s time to start planning awesome Halloween costumes for 2017. TV studios have been particularly kind to those who are costume-inclined this year. Check out our list below for 7 Awesome Pop Culture-Inspired Halloween Costumes for 2017. And if you should happen to try any of these, please, please share a photo with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.

A Handmaid – The Handmaid’s Tale
This one is actually easier than you might think. Grab a vibrantly red (but very modest) long dress from a second hand store, and order yourself a bonnet to match. Advanced Handmaid’s can use poster board to create the full bonnet as seen on the iconic show. Here are a few versions of the costume to inspire your rebellion. Blessed be the fruit.
Photo credit: George Kraychyk/Hulu
A Dragon – Game of Thrones
Are you excited that Winter has finally come? What better way to celebrate than to channel your enthusiasm into an easy dragon costume for Halloween? This great blog has instructions on how to make no-sew dragon wings so that you can take flight against the white walkers or the Lannisters. You may not look as fearsome as Drogon, Rhaegal, or (gulp) Viserion, but you’ll inspire enough awe with how little time it took you to pull together this look. Dracarys!
Photo credit: Brendid
Diana Prince – Wonder Woman
Flex your amazonian muscles in a Wonder Woman costume this year. This video from Mashable gives a method for a DIY version that isn’t super simple, but doable for those inclined to spend some time with vinyl fabric. You can also do a simple version with a graphic t-shirt and a pair of cuffs (for deflecting bullets, of course). Merciful Minerva!
Redshirt – Star Trek: Discovery
Gene Roddenberry’s universe is coming back to TV for the first time in 12 years, and we expect to see many a redshirt (or even better Lieutenant Commander Michael Burnham) on October 31st. Here’s a super cute version for little kids. Live long and prosper!
Photo credit: Tried and True
Wrestler – GLOW
There is never a bad time to bust out truly huge 1980s hair and high-cut leotards. The characters in the Netflix Original show are based on a real group of pretty awesome women, and you can honour them with your Zoya the Destroya costume. Totally rad!
Your Favourite Overwatch Character
Is someone in your household obsessed with Overwatch? Ours too. This cosplay site offers links to kits that will give you a spot-on look for any of these striking characters (we’re team Symmetra and team Lucio). Certainly the DIY-ers among you can find even more creative ways to channel your favourite warrior. Catch phrase!

Don’t forget to share your photos with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below. Happy Halloween!

10 Fall Chocolate Desserts You Need to Eat Now

For some food lovers, the end of summer means saying goodbye to backyard cookouts and delicious BBQ meals. For others, the cooler fall weather is a welcome excuse to warm up in front of the oven and enjoy a piping hot mug of cocoa after dinner.

Whatever you may prefer, there’s no doubt that the following dessert recipes are bound to inspire you this fall season (and satiate your sweet tooth)! Besides – who can say no to chocolate?

1. Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

The chocolate chip cookie is beloved for a reason! And because fall is the season where you can finally dust off your cast iron skillet, this cozy take on a household classic provides the perfect dessert option on a chilly evening.

[Find the recipe at Dinner with Julie]

2. S’mores Chocolate Pudding Jars

Just because camping season is coming to a close doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to s’mores just yet! These pudding cups call for the basics – marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers and some pantry items, and allow you to enjoy a campfire treat in the comfort of your own home.

[Find the recipe at Seasons and Suppers]

3. Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Dipped in a luxurious dark chocolate sauce, the crispy cinnamon coating and sweet, soft dough make these churros to die for. A fair favourite that can easily be made at home, there’s no need for a clunky deep fryer if you have a wok on hand!

[Find the recipe at Recipe Tin Eats]

4. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

If you haven’t already heard, the pumpkin spice latte (or PSL) has made yet another comeback this fall. And whether you’re on board with the trend or not – we guarantee you’ll love this pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe!

[Find the recipe at Lemons for Lulu]

5. Baked Double Chocolate Donuts

Donuts are not only delicious, but they can be a great baking activity that the kids will love. These double chocolate donuts are a quirky (and easy to transport) alternative to birthday cake. If you don’t have a donut pan on hand, simply use a muffin tin!

[Find the recipe at i am a food blog]

6. Coffee Ice Cream Chocolate Mud Pie

Although some may argue that the fall season is too cold for ice cream, we beg to differ. Complete with an Oreo crumb crust and filled with your favourite brand of coffee ice cream, this mud pie is a perfect dish to bring to your next fall potluck!

[Find the recipe at Coco Cake Land]

7. Cherry Chocolate Crumble

When you think of a fruit crumble, chocolate doesn’t usually come to mind. This crumble, however, brings the classic flavours of black forest cake into a rich cherry crumble – loaded with fresh Bing cherries and rounded off with a coconut and cocoa topping.

[Find the recipe at Kitchen Heals Soul]

8. Gluten-Free Chocolate Pecan Tart

Nothing quite says “fall” like a warm pecan tart fresh out of the oven. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’ve found a recipe that will excite any chocolate lover! A maple pecan filling sits atop dark chocolate for a unique – and tasty – dessert.

[Find the recipe at Salted Plains]

9. Pain au Chocolat

Pain au chocolate – or chocolate croissants – are usually a coffee shop treat. Thankfully, we’ve found a recipe that’s as simple as it is delicious! With only three ingredients: egg, puff pastry and your favourite dark chocolate bar, you can have your *croissant* and eat it too.

[Find the recipe at Simply Beautiful Eating]

10. Decadent White Chocolate Brownies

Believe it or not – not everyone is a huge fan of dark or milk chocolate. For anyone who can’t eat chocolate, or prefers the taste of white chocolate, we’ve got you covered! This delectable brownie recipe is the perfect balance between rich and fluffy, and can be tweaked to whatever sweetness level you prefer.

[Find the recipe at Simple as That]

How to Take Your Laundry to the Next Level

Doing laundry is necessary, of course, but it takes time and energy—and we know there are ways to save a little of both.

You probably already know to wash your clothes in cold water to save energy and hang your clothes to dry. Now try these next-level tips to truly up your laundry game.

Vinegar Magic

Vinegar is a magical cleaning tool. You probably already use it to clean your microwave or other kitchen appliances, but it’s amazing in the laundry room too.

If your sweaty workout gear is a little too fragrant, pre-soak it in a vinegar solution. The technical, sweat-wicking fabrics that work so well during exercise are actually harder to clean; the vinegar helps cut through your body’s oils to eliminate that smelly bacteria.

And vinegar doesn’t just clean, it also softens fabrics! Add ¼ to 1 cup of white vinegar to your washer during the final rinse cycle instead of a traditional fabric softener. (You’ve already got the vinegar in your pantry—you might as well use it, right?)

Don’t forget, too, that washing machines also need to be cleaned regularly, along with your clothes. You can use vinegar to clean your washing machine itself, too–it’s easy and cost-effective!

Delicates

Hand washing is best for delicates, but when you need to throw them in the washer make sure you use a mesh laundry bag. It keeps them protected from rubbing against other fabrics that may lead to pilling while the mesh still lets in water and detergent to get them clean. There are even specially designed laundry bags for bras, with padded mesh to protect the cup shape. It’s still advisable to use the delicate mode on your washer, but the mesh laundry bags will protect your delicates even more.

When you do hand wash, there’s no handy spin cycle to remove that excess water. You can mimic your washer’s spin cycle using a salad spinner (make sure you only use this salad spinner for laundry!), or you can lay your garment flat on a clean dry towel and roll it all up. Some more gentle pressing helps the towel soak up that water gently. It’s much safer than wringing the water out.

Easy breezy

There are lots of little things you can do that will make your laundry life so much easier. Post a note by your washer to remind yourself about any items that need particular care: those that need to be washed separately, can’t go in the dryer, etc. This is especially important if you share laundry duties with a family member! You can use a dry erase board to easily update your laundry notes.

You might also try dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. They do the same thing—soften fabrics, speed up drying time–plus they’re reusable.

And those mesh laundry bags you use for your delicates? Keep your socks in there to ensure they all come out of the dryer! In fact, you can give one mesh bag to each family member to make it even easier to sort socks later. Never lose a sock again.

What are some of your favourite #laundrytips? Let us know on Twitter!

Back to Dorm Essentials Every Student Needs

Back to school shopping is arguably the best part of the beginning of the school year. It’s even more important when you’re heading off to university. But while dorm rooms have the basics covered (bed, desk, at least one roommate you’ll either love or hate), it’s important to bring those little things that will make your space feel like yours (and of course to have on hand all those essentials every student needs). After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time in your dorm room, so it’s got to be comfortable!

Whether you’re heading off to your university dorm for the first time, or returning and looking to elevate your dorm room game, we’ve got tons of suggestions to make your home base more homey.

Essential Electronics

Sure, your phone can do basically anything these days, but for some things it’s good to have a backup when the battery dies and you still need to get to class. This iHome Bluetooth alarm clock has USB charging ports, will sync to your phone to play music, and rocks a “Gradual Wake” feature to make waking up a little less awful.

An external hard drive is absolutely essential these days, and even more so for students. You will inevitably accidentally delete an essay or have your computer crash at the worst time. Make sure you have all your files backed up to keep your stress levels down!

Even if you have a cafeteria meal plan, you’ll want a kettle for late night coffee, instant noodles, or tea. Electric kettles are quiet, fast, and only need an outlet to work.

This Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 camera is is more fun than essential, but it’s way better than taking pictures with your phone and it has a “party mode” to help you take clearer photos in low light. Impress your new friends with photo memories of the party where you met them!

Wall Decor

Nothing says boring like the plain white walls of a dorm room. Consider making your room more visually appealing—and comforting—by enlarging personal photos to poster size at the London Drugs Photolab! Fill your walls with your friends and family. It will help to reduce homesickness, plus you’ll look cooler than everyone else in your dorm who all have the same Bob Marley poster.

Invest in a good long mirror. It’ll ensure you never head to class in your pyjamas and it’s great for outfit selfies. This one can be hung over a door to save space.

Get Cozy

The most important thing with a new dorm room is to make the space feel comfortable. Grab some luxurious-feeling but inexpensive Egyptian cotton sheets for the bed and a soft velvet Berber throw to turn your bed into a cozy haven. Upgrade your desk chair with a chair pad for those long nights of essay writing.

Good luck with the new school year!

6 Sensational Recipes for the Instant Pot

For those who don’t know, the Instant Pot is a multi-purpose kitchen tool that combines the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté pan, steamer, warmer, and yogurt maker.

With all that in one space-saving appliance, it’s no wonder the product is a huge success. Still, some might feel challenged to ensure they make the most of each Instant Pot feature.

Don’t worry, here are some sensational recipe ideas to get you started…

For the Pressure Cooker: The best part about pressure cookers is preparing dishes that would normally take hours in mere minutes. Meaning, whole new categories of dishes, like roasts and stews, can be added to your night-of cooking rotation.

1. Easy Chicken and Chickpea Masala

Instant Pot Recipe - Chicken Tika Masala

[Photo: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

Cook Time: 20mins.
Ingredients:

Unsalted butter
Onion, finely diced
Garlic, minced
Fresh Ginger, grated
Cumin
Paprika
Coriander
Turmeric
Cayenne pepper (as needed, to taste)
Crushed tomatoes
Spinach, trimmed
Lemon juice
Fresh Cilantro, chopped
Chicken drumsticks and thighs (4 to 6 of each)
Chicken stock
Chickpeas, drained
Heavy cream
Kosher salt

Full instructions at SeriousEats.com

2. Classic (Instant) Pot Roast

Cook Time: 45mins.
Ingredients:

Chuck or blade roast (2 inches thick)
Garlic
Small onions
Unsalted chicken stock
Light soy sauce
Fish sauce
Olive oil
Rosemary
Thyme
Bay leaves
Red wine or balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
White mushrooms
Carrots
Potatoes
Cornstarch + Water

Full instructions at PressureCookerRecipes.com

3. Vegan Curried Butternut Squash Soup

[Photo: DETOXinista]

Cook Time: 30mins
Ingredients:

Extra-virgin olive oil
Onion, chopped
Garlic, minced
Curry powder
Butternut squash, peeled and cubed
Salt & Pepper
Water
Coconut milk (or coconut cream)

Optional:

Hulled pumpkin seeds
Dried cranberries

Full instructions at DETOXinista.com

For the Slow Cooker: Sure, nearly everything you can make in a slow cooker is faster in a pressure cooker. But certain recipes may benefit from a slow approach. Plus, you can leave a slow cooker on during the day and simply sit down to dinner at night!

4. Gluten-Free Beef Stroganoff

[Photo: 365 Days of Crockpot]

Cook Time: 6-8 hours (on low)
Ingredients:

Beef chuck roast, cubed (or buy stew meat)
Mushrooms, sliced
Sour cream
Non-fat dried powdered milk
Cornstarch
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Salt & Pepper
Beef bouillon
Basil
Parsley
Dried onion
Gluten-free flour
Water
Sliced green onion, to garnish
[Can be served over any gluten-free pasta or rice alternative.]

Full instructions at 365DaysofCrockpot.com

For the Rice Cooker: A rice cooker is great for so much more than just making rice. Even if you do make rice in it, there’s no reason it needs to be plain. With just a little added technique, you can make entire satisfying meals like this paella.

5. Rice Cooker Paella

[Photo: MyVega.ca]

Cook Time: 25mins.
Ingredients:

Onion, diced
Garlic, minced
Tomato, diced
Paprika
Cayenne
Saffron threads
White wine
Vegetable broth
Salt
Short grain rice
Fennel, roasted
Artichoke, with small amount of reserved brine
Green beans
Capers
Parsley, chopped
Lemon, sliced

Full instructions at MyVega.ca

For the Yogurt Maker: This is one Instant Pot function many of us are probably still unfamiliar with. But the rising popularity of protein-rich yogurt breakfast parfaits mean it’s likely to become a more popular option soon. Ready to give it a shot? Read on.

6. Homemade Yogurt (plain)

Cook Time: 25mins
Incubation Time: 8-10 hours
Ingredients:

Milk (not ultra-pasteurized)
Plain yogurt (with live cultures, used as a starter)
Sugar (optional)
Vanilla extract (optional)
Additional fruits or other flavours (optional)

Full instructions at KitchenJoyBlog.com

You can purchase one of two different sizes of Instant Pot at London Drugs in-store or online. Have a question about the Instant Pot? Feel free to ask an LD Expert in person, or you can reach us in the comments section below and wherever you find London Drugs on social media.

ALSO SEE: LD’s Full Instant Pot Review – with Korean-Fusion Burritos Recipe

September Book of the Month

Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips
The zoo is nearly empty as Joan and her four-year-old son soak up the last few moments of playtime. They are happy, and the day has been close to perfect. But what Joan sees as she hustles her son toward the exit minutes before closing time sends her sprinting back into the zoo, her child in her arms. And for the next three hours – the entire scope of the novel – she keeps on running.
Joan’s intimate knowledge of her son and of the zoo itself – the hidden pathways and under-renovation exhibits, the best spots on the carousel and overstocked snack machines – transform her into the hero she and her son need to stay a step ahead of danger.

Book of the Month
Every month we will be featuring a new book to be showcased in our Book of the Month. Staff members and friends will be reading the book and posting their reviews. We’d love to hear what you thought of these books as well. Post your comments and let us know. Fierce Kingdom is available at London Drugs along with many other great titles and is on sale for the month of September.

September 2017 New Game Releases

Greetings gamers! Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. September kicks off the back to school season, the start of the sports game season, and the lead in to the holidays. That means a whole bunch of new titles are coming up soon. Let’s take a look!

Lego Worlds for Nintendo Switch

The hit game based on the hit complex interlocking brick system is coming to the Switch! Lego Worlds lets you build in Lego in a variety of procedurally generated worlds. Each world unlocks new quests and bricks to help you get to the next world in the game. Already available on other platforms since this past spring the game will land on the Switch on September 5th.
Pre-Order your copy at LondonDrugs.com!

Awesome Pop Culture-Inspired Halloween Costumes 2017

10 Fall Chocolate Desserts You Need to Eat Now

1. Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

2. S’mores Chocolate Pudding Jars

3. Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce

4. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

5. Baked Double Chocolate Donuts

6. Coffee Ice Cream Chocolate Mud Pie

7. Cherry Chocolate Crumble

8. Gluten-Free Chocolate Pecan Tart

9. Pain au Chocolat

10. Decadent White Chocolate Brownies

How to Take Your Laundry to the Next Level

Vinegar Magic

Delicates

Easy breezy

Back to Dorm Essentials Every Student Needs

Essential Electronics

Wall Decor

Get Cozy

6 Sensational Recipes for the Instant Pot

1. Easy Chicken and Chickpea Masala

2. Classic (Instant) Pot Roast

3. Vegan Curried Butternut Squash Soup

4. Gluten-Free Beef Stroganoff

5. Rice Cooker Paella

6. Homemade Yogurt (plain)

ALSO SEE: LD’s Full Instant Pot Review – with Korean-Fusion Burritos Recipe

September Book of the Month

September 2017 New Game Releases

Lego Worlds for Nintendo Switch

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10. Decadent White Chocolate Brownies

Vinegar Magic

Delicates

Easy breezy

Essential Electronics

Wall Decor

Get Cozy

ALSO SEE: LD’s Full Instant Pot Review – with Korean-Fusion Burritos Recipe

Lego Worlds for Nintendo Switch

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