Fun Pinterest Pumpkin Designs

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Last year we shared with you some helpful pumpkin carving tips, so this year we wanted to share with you some of our favorite carved pumpkin (or pineapple) designs as seen on Pinterest. Be sure to follow our 'Boo' Pinterest Board for some Halloween inspiration! Share with us your pumpkin designs by hash tagging #TSSPumpkinFun. We will feature some of our faves on our Instagram page!

Happy October!

The Truth About Ebola

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The media has gone crazy these last couple of weeks revolving around Ebola. We want to keep you informed because a lot of satire and fabrications over this virus have been spreading like wild fire. Let's start with exactly WHAT Ebola is.

Ebola is one of numerous viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) transmitted through direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person or exposure to objects (i.e. needles) that have been contaminated with the infected body fluids. This virus can affect both humans and non humans (i.e.: monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Studies are showing that this virus came from a bat.

Myths

• VHF (Ebola) can be transmitted through the air.

              The Truth: VHF (Ebola) CANNOT be transmitted through the air.

• Ebola came out of nowhere this year.

             The Truth: Ebola did not just surface out of nowhere this year. Ebola was first discovered in 

             1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

•  Ebola has a cure.

            The Truth: No vaccine or medicine is available to cure Ebola. Experimental vaccines and   
            treatments for Ebola are under development, but they have not been fully tested.

• You will catch Ebola if you travel to Africa.

           The Truth: Not necessarily. The places to avoid are Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone due to 

           the high level of Ebola cases. Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo have only  

          experienced a small number of Ebola cases so as long as precautionary measures are taken, 

          exposure should be limited.

Overall, it's all about protecting yourself so that we can diminish the spread of this awful virus. How you can accomplish this is to simply keep yourself clean. Wash your hands frequently; avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any person, especially someone who is sick; don't touch bats and non human primates or their blood and fluids.

For more information on how to properly treat Ebola and other great info on this virus, please check out our source, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Favorite Things: October Special Addition *Breast Cancer Awareness*

1. Chi-Breast Cancer Awareness 1" Flat Iron
2. Tweezerman-Precision Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Slant Tweezers
3. Comfort Revolution-Breast Cancer Research Foundation Hydraluxe Cooling Gel & Memory Foam Standard Pillow Bedding
4. Anne Klein-Tone Pink Ribbon Accent Toggle Bracelet
5. Essie - Breast Cancer Collection (I Pink I Can)- Beauty
6. Manduka - Breast Cancer Awareness rSkidless by yogitoes (Pink) - Accessories
7. Eos-2014 Breast Cancer Awareness 3-Pack Assorted
8. Bicycle-The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Standard Playing Cards
9. Smashbox-Limited Edition Breast Cancer Research Be Legendary Lip Gloss
10. Sterling Forever-Gold Spike Bib Necklace

If you haven't already noticed, there's a lot of pink that comes out during the month of October! This is all due to one thing: raising Breast Cancer Awareness. Besides taking the precautionary steps like breast self exams, another great way to raise awareness is to help raise money toward breast cancer research. Every month we share with you our 'Favorite Things' and this month we wanted to share with you our favorite PINK things. Every item that is our favorite pink thing is an item where a portion of the sale goes to breast cancer research. Buying for a cause is such a great way to raise funds so we encourage you to check our favorite items out and to spread PINK!

Our Favorite Columbus Day Sales

[Piper Lime | Madewell | Club Monaco | Forever 21 | Macy's | Williams-Sonoma]

There is nothing like celebrating a holiday by shopping! This Columbus Day we are looking forward to some retail therapy with some amazing sales from our favorite stores. Click the links above to shop some of our favorites from each brand. We're suckers for sweet hats and Forever 21's Velvet Fedora Hat is back in stock! Macy's also has some trendy, Olive Pope looking coats that we are dying to try as well. It's definitely the season for lots of cooking and baking so we are really loving the different cake pedestals and cake stands at Williams-Sonoma. We are all about "shopping till you drop" so when you're done filling up your shopping cart, apply the codes we've listed above. Many of these deals end today so don't miss out on some awesome savings.

You can thank us later!

5 Over-sized Topshop Sweaters To Add To Your Closet

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As the weather gets cooler and cooler (seems like forever in Arizona, but Seattle is already feeling it!) it's time to clean out our closets of all of our short shorts and tanks and whip out those cute, over-sized sweaters we've been looking forward to bringing out again for this cool season. An over-sized sweater with some hot leggings or trendy jeans can make for the cutest fall/winter outfit. Pair it with some pointed heels or converse, UGGS, and/or Tims and you're ready to take on the world with your Fall fashion. As we were on the hunt for oversized sweaters, we found that Topshop has tons of cute sweaters!  Here's our top 5 favorites from Topshop! Check them out above!

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5 Must-Try Fall Activities

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Pumpkin Picking

• Skip picking up pumpkins at the local grocery store and make an adventure out of it by pumpkin patch picking. There are a lot of secluded farm areas that offer this fun activity. Take your friends, nieces, and nephews and it will be a fun time. After, you can do some cool pumpkin carvings.

Hayrides

• A hayride is simply going for a ride on a cart either pulled by horses or a tractor. It is typically decorated with bales of hay and it a really fun ride to do with kids and adults on open farms.

Haunted Houses

• With Halloween being a part of the fall season, you would be doing yourself a disservice {or maybe not for all of you scaredy cats] by not going to a Haunted House. It's always fun to go with a group of friends to haunted houses to scream, laugh, and see who can last all the scariness!

Apple Picking

• This fun, leisurely activity is great to do with friends as you can pick the best apples since it's the season. Afterwards, gather around the kitchen to make some tasty, homemade, apple pie or apple cider.

Corn Mazes

• Weave in and out of corn mazes for all sorts of adventure. Make it a competition between your friends to see who can successfully complete the maze first!

What are some fun fall activities you plan on exploring this season? Share with us below!

Do The Self Check: Breast Self Exam For Breast Cancer

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With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is important to pay attention to how you can not only raise money for breast cancer research, but to also raise awareness on how to know what is normal for you when examining your breasts. According to Susan G. Komen For The Cure, The signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women. It is important to know how your breasts normally look and feel. TSS Reader, Stephanie, shared that, "If you don't check enough, you won't feel the difference when you do decide to check". Therefore, the key is to make the BSE (breast self exam) a weekly routine. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Know the warning signs so early treatment can be addressed and hopefully save your life. If you notice any change, contact your health care provider and schedule an appointment.

For more facts on breast cancer, click here!