Less Mess, More Yes

How to Throw an Epic Halloween Party!

By Cassie Beigel of Sterilite Corporation

With Halloween right around the corner, why not get into the spooky spirit even more this year by throwing an epic Halloween party? Have family and friends come dressed in their costumes and make it one to remember, with everything from festive drinks to haunted décor. With these party ideas, all guests - kids, teens, and adults, are guaranteed to have a good time!

The first step to planning an epic Halloween party is decorating. Transform your home into a haunted house with pumpkins, streamers, spider webs and more. The Sterilite 64 Qt. Latching Box is perfect for storing away these spooky decorations. The festive Purple and Orange lids and tinted base make the stored contents easy to identify so there’s no problem locating them year after year.

The Sterilite Ultra•Seal™ 8.1 Qt. Bowl is the perfect container to make a ghoulish punch in for guests to enjoy. Add in food coloring or candy spiders to a favorite drink recipe for a fun Halloween themed twist. Along with other festive treats or candy, place this punch on the table with a ladle in the bowl to make it easy for guests to help themselves throughout the party.

It’s important to have an activity to keep the kids entertained during the Halloween party. Bobbing for apples has been a popular seasonal fall game for years. Not only is this game exciting but it is extremely simple to set up with very few supplies needed! The Sterilite 18 Gal. Tote is the perfect size for the kiddos to bob for apples in. Fill the tote about 3/4ths of the way with room temperature water, and add 5 apples or so to the tote. Have the kids take turns getting timed on how fast they can pick up an apple out of the water with their mouth without using their hands. Of course, make sure the winner gets a prize!

Let the festivities begin - Happy Halloween! 

DIY Thanksgiving Centerpiece

By Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. Eating waaay to much food, seeing family and getting giddy about the start to the holiday season. Although Thanksgiving might look a little different this year, you can still make a delicious dinner, put some fancy clothes on and have a Zoom call with family and friends. Normally my aunt makes a beautiful centerpiece for Thanksgiving but since I won’t be seeing her this year, I decided to give it a try myself!

Supplies:

• Sterilite Small Weave Basket: I used one basket but you could easily use two depending on the size of your table. Sterilite also offers two additional sizes if you are looking for baskets that are a little bit bigger.
• Fall/Harvest greenery: I picked up a bunch at my local arts and crafts store. I wanted my center piece to look festive and full so I bought a variety of styles and colors
• Candles: I had some laying around the house that were the perfect size. You could definitely do taller and thicker candles if you chose a bigger basket size
• Additional Supplies: You could also add things like pumpkins, pinecones, etc. The best part about a DIY project is that you can customize it however you want!
  

Instructions:
This DIY project is super easy! Simply, take the flowers or greenery and arrange them in the Weave Basket to your liking. Pro tip – if you are having some difficulties getting the greenery to sit “just right” try bending the stems at a 90˚angle. This will give them a sturdy base to keep them sitting exactly where you want them. This will also help the arrangement look full since everything will be overlapping. Next, just add a few candles in the center and you are done!

This DIY centerpiece was quick and simple and is the perfect way to add some joy to the dinner table this Thanksgiving!

Halloween Mummy Dogs

By Michaela Coyle of Sterilite Corporation

Looking for a super easy, family-friendly recipe to cook up this Halloween? Try this one out!

"Mummy Dogs" put a fun Halloween spin on traditional pigs in a blanket! This 4 ingredient dish is fun for the whole family and adds a little spookiness to your Halloween dinner. Grab your favorite hot dogs, crescent dough, sliced cheddar and some candy eyes from your local grocery store and you’ll be on your way to having a thrilling evening.


Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375°.

First open the crescent rolls and press together the perforated edges so the dough becomes a whole rectangle. Then grab your pizza cutter and slice the dough in strips lengthwise to create your mummy’s ‘wraps’.

Begin wrapping the hot dog with the dough strips while leaving space on one end for the face AKA candy eyes. Once you have all of your mummies wrapped and the oven is preheated, you can put them in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

While the mummies are cooking, take your sharp cheddar and slice half inch slices to fit in the face section you created for the eyes (this will help the eyes stick, and also everyone loves cheese). Once mummies are golden brown, pull them out of the oven and place the cheese in the eye area then place them back in the oven. Be careful, cheese melts fast!

Once the cheese has melted, place the candy eyes on and you have a complete set of ‘Mummy Dogs’.

Grab your favorite condiments, ketchup, mustard, etc. and enjoy!
If this is something you’re making for an event and you need to travel, the Sterilite Cake Server is perfect for transporting and serving. It fits about 10 hot dogs with a saucer of ketchup in the middle. This worked perfect for me, keeping everything secure and then was used as the serving plate at the decorative Halloween table.

BBQ Caddy

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

Summer is here and you know what that means… it’s barbecue season! Now is the time to take advantage of this beautiful weather. Invite some friends over, take out those yard games, and grill up a delicious meal!

Sometimes hosting a barbecue is a spontaneous thing – Avoid making multiple trips back and forth from the fridge with a helpful BBQ Caddy! Having all of the necessities in one place is super convenient. Here is a fun DIY tip for an easy way to hold all your barbecue needs!

Tips:

1. Condiments fit perfectly in the 3 smaller sections of the caddy. My favorites are ketchup, mustard and pickles
2. In the longer section keep the burger and dog buns safe from squishing
3. Another option for the longer section could be to keep eating utensils, napkins and even plates in there. That way everything people need to eat this delicious meal is in one place.
4. Get crafty with it, break out the sharpies, cricut, or paints and make it your own!

Keep the caddy in a easy-to-grab place for all those spontaneous BBQs this summer!

Happy Grilling!

Plan, Pack & Conquer

By Irene Vega of Sterilite Corporation

If you are like me, you know keeping it healthy in the office is a real struggle. Between the snacks in the conference room, having lunch at your desk, and the afternoon snack, finding the strength to stop eating junk food seems impossible. This year I really wanted to push myself and find better ways to create a healthier routine, since most of my time is spent at work. If you share the same struggles, here are some tips that have helped me in the past few weeks.

Plan
Taking a couple of minutes on the weekend to plan, can help save you time and money in the long run. You can even plan various meals and create a grocery list accordingly. Since I am busy with school and work, I try to plan meals that use similar ingredients in various creative ways. This week I made chicken breast in the oven, and each one was seasoned differently, giving me choices throughout the week.
Check out this recipe for a foolproof way to bake juicy chicken in the oven: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/240208/simple-baked-chicken-breasts/

All of my meals are packed in this great 3.1 Cup Rectangle Ultra Seal. It is the perfect size for portion control, keeps my food fresh and stacks perfectly on the fridge!


Pack A Lunch Bag
My lunchbox is my new vending machine, saving me money, time and trans-fats. When I can plan ahead on my snacks, I am a lot more likely to stay in line with my eating. Bananas, apples and clementines are perfect grab-and-go options; they’re naturally packaged and ready for snacking! But who doesn’t love some [healthy] chips, [organic] crackers and [whole wheat] pretzels for when that 2:00 hunger hits in the afternoon?! Regardless of the snack, pre-planning, pre-packing, and preparing to succeed helps my day stay on point in the snack department.

*Cool tip: use the Sterilite Mini Pencil Box to store and transport your utensils! It is a great way to keep your lunch bag clean after lunch.


Stay Hydrated
Having a jug of water by my desk makes all the difference in the world! Staying hydrated keeps me more productive throughout the day, plus it saves me a trip to the breakroom, avoiding the soda temptation. Track your progress by marking small time-goals to finish your water. I recommend using Sterilite’s 2 Quart Round Pitcher.


I hope these quick tips will help you get back on the healthy side, and away from junk food seduction!

Baking for Santa

By Natalie Aguilar of Sterilite Corporation

Twinkle bulbs are lighting the neighborhoods, bells and carols are filling the air, and the white fluffy snow is blanketing the streets. It is finally the most wonderful time of year! Christmas is by-far my favorite holiday. From picking out the tree to making the perfect gingerbread house, there is no cozier feeling than the one Christmas brings this time of year.

One tradition I love to share with my nieces and nephews every year, is having the ultimate slumber party right before Christmas! They love it! We spend the night watching Christmas movies, building the ultimate gingerbread house, and the best part -- baking cookies for Santa!

First, we start by mixing together our dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, and baking power. Then we mix our butter, egg and sugar together, pick some of our favorite Christmas cookie cutters and VOILA! You have the perfect Christmas Cookies for Santa!


Their favorite part about baking the cookies, is decorating them! We use all kinds of frosting and toppings. Every year, I make sure to bring the best cookie toppings in my trustee Sterilite Divided Case.


It’s perfect for packing up all of the sprinkles, M&M’s, chocolate chips, and more!


I’m always so proud of my little artists and their wonderful creations and I hope your little ones will enjoy it too! However you’re spending this incredible holiday, we hope it’s filled with lots of love! From all of us here at Sterilite, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Devilish Drinks for your Halloween Bash!

By Natalie Aguilar of Sterilite Corporation

Get excited, because the best holiday of the year is right around the corner! That’s right, Halloween will be here in a week’s time. There is something about the spookiness of this holiday that I just can’t get enough of. From the haunted houses, to the creepy costumes that come out at night, Halloween brings together adults and kids of all ages – you are never too old to celebrate! But what’s Halloween without a good party, filled with creative costumes, fun decorations, and spooky snacks and beverages?

Last year, my family threw one of the best Halloween parties ever. Our guests were talking about it for months to come! What made the party truly successful were the details we incorporated into it. For example, we decorated the outside of the house with hay bales, cornstalk, beautiful mums, and spooky cobwebs. And we even got the whole family to help decorate!


We went all out with the party snacks, beverages and of course the costumes! If you’re looking to throw the ultimate Halloween party, here are a couple of pro-tips that made ours one to remember:

       • Plan Ahead- Know the age of partygoers to make sure your party isn’t too frightening or too boring 
       • Decorations- Homemade decorations are the best, not only can you personalize them to be as spooky as you want, but they are inexpensive and easy to make!
       • Best Costume Awards- Nothing gets the crowd going like some friendly competition. Costume Awards are the perfect way to get all of your friends and family excited to share their costume creations!

The most important part of your planning is to think outside of the box! Show your guests how creative you can be by making the best decorations, snacks and costumes. If you’re looking to host one of the best parties in town, here are a couple of ideas that should spark up some inspiration:

Frightening Fanta Floats
Ingredients: 
• 2 Liters of Fanta Orange Soda
• 1 tub of Vanilla Ice Cream
• 6-8 Sterilite 20 Ounce Tumblers – decorated with spooky faces

Directions:
Step 1: Using Sterilite’s Tumblers, fill a quarter of the tumbler with Fanta
Step 2: Next, add in 1 scoops of the vanilla ice cream
Step 3: Lastly, pour in some more Fanta on top until you start to see some bubbled happening
Step 4: Throw in a straw and enjoy! 


Frankenstein Bug Juice
Ingredients:
• 1 pouch of Green Apple Kool-Aid drink mix
• Sprite
• Sour gummy worms

Directions:
Step 1: Using Sterilite’s 1 Gallon Pitcher, fill it up with Sprite
Step 2: Next, add in the green apple Kool-Aid Drink mix
Step 3: Mix it all up and enjoy! 


Glow Stick Ice Bucket
Supplies:
• Sterilite Ultra∙Seal™ 8.1 Quart Bowl
• Glow stick necklaces
• Ice
• Juice boxes 
• Mini water bottles

Steps:
Step 1: Attached two Glow Stick necklaces together and place at the base of the bowl, you may want to stack two or three high
Step 2: Add some ice to the base of the bowl
Step 3: As you move up the bowl you will need to attached 3 glow sticks together, stack a few high
Step 4: Next add more ice to the bowl
Step 5: Repeat steps 3 and 4 until bowl is full Step 6: Add waters and juice boxes


With the help of Sterilite, party planning doesn’t have to be stressful! We hope you have a spooktacular Halloween party!

Crisp Apples to Apple Crisp!

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

The fall season is in full swing - what an extraordinary time of year! The leaves are changing colors, pumpkins are being carved, and blossoming mums can be found on every door step. The abundance of apples is another welcoming sign of fall. Although apples are available year-round, there is nothing like a freshly picked apple from the orchard. Apple picking is a fun family tradition that we do every fall. It is the perfect fall activity, especially in New England! Plus it is a great excuse to get dressed up in a plaid shirt and boots and take some cute family photos while enjoying the cool fall weather. 

In my family we make it an annual tradition. We invite the whole extended family which is a great opportunity to see everyone during the busy fall season. We meet at the farm and there are hay rides that bring you back to the apple orchards.  My cousins and I run around the orchard trying to find the best apples there. We always climb the trees to the very top, because that is always where the best apples are. We pick so many different types from Honey Crisp, to Fuji, to Granny Smith. They are all delicious – but I must say that Macintosh is my favorite!

Once all the apples are picked, we can’t leave without getting some cider donuts and hot apple cider. That is arguably one of the best parts of the trip. These donuts are to die for, always warm and fresh.

The next part of our tradition is always to go back to my house, since I live closest to the orchard. All of my extended family gathers together to continue on with more fun fall activities, including baking fresh apple crisp for the whole family to enjoy!

To make this apple crisp we divide and conquer. My cousin washes the apples then hands them over to my aunt. My aunt peals the apples we picked from the trees just hours ago. Then my mom and I measure out the ingredients and mix it all together. We all work as a team to make this delicious dessert with lots of love, a main ingredient of course. Keep reading below for the step by step directions.

Ingredients:
Filling:
- 6 freshly picked apples
- 1 tbsp.lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour

Crumble Topping:
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 stick of butter
 
Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2) Peel the apples and cut into bite sized wedges
3) In a large mixing bowl, we recommend Sterilite's 6 Quart Bowl, toss together the apples, lemon juice, sugar, and flour. Pour into a baking dish and set aside.
4) Mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in slices of butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
5) Spread the topping evenly over the apple mixture, making sure to cover all of the edges.
5) Bake the apple crisp until golden brown and the sides are bubbling, about 40 minutes

Don't forget to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your apple crisp when serving for absolute perfection!
Such an amazing day full of family, food, and fall activites!

College Survival Kit!

By Natalie Aguilar of Sterilite Corporation

Searching for a personal, useful and affordable gift for a recent high school graduate moving to college this fall? Well look no further! With a little help from Sterilite you can create the ultimate College Survival Kit with all of the essentials they’ll need for their freshman year of school.

Graduating high school and starting college can be overwhelming and getting used to a different place that isn’t your home can be frightening.  Therefore, giving a gift that adds a personal touch will mean so much to them! Whether this gift is for your child, sibling, or friend the Sterilite College Survival Kit is ideal for anyone starting college this fall!

Be creative! Any of our Ultra Laundry Baskets makes the perfect base for a personalized goodie basket. Not to mention they can use this basket for all of their laundry needs while living on campus. My personal favorite is the 1.25 Bu HipHold Laundry Basket. It comes in two great colors, and the contoured shape makes it comfortable to rest on your hip. This is perfect when going up and down multiple flights of stairs to the laundry room in your freshman dorm. 

Once you pick out a laundry basket, fill it with some of their favorite treats, a little piece of home, and some college essentials. Try to customize it with some of their personal favorites. For example, if they play sports you can fill the basket with headbands, a water bottle, or any equipment needed for the given sport. You can also try adding some fun picture frames, their favorite snacks, room decorations or a warm fuzzy blanket and fun pillows to make their room feel more like home.


In addition to personalized items, every incoming freshman needs the college essentials, especially if they are living on campus. To help, simply go to your local discount store or shopping center and pick out some everyday essentials that a college student would need!

Here are some ideas to help you out:
          • Notebooks
          • Pens/ Pencils
          • Instant Food
          • Candy/ Snacks
          • Tumblers
          • First Aid Kit
          • Clothing Hangers
          • Towels

Moving away to school can be hard, so having a little piece of home can be very comforting. That is why this personalized gift using our Laundry Basket is perfect for anyone moving into campus this year.

DIY Beverage Float

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

There is nothing more relaxing than a beautiful summer day at the pool! Whether it’s your backyard pool, a neighborhood pool or a friend’s pool, it is hard to beat. The beach is amazing but it can be such a hassle. You wake up early, get the kids ready, pack lunches, and load the car up with beach toys, only to sit in a long line of traffic. This can make for a stressful day. Also, beaches are just so crowded, especially on a hot summer day. It can be really hard to find a parking spot or even a place to sit on the beach. If you go to the pool, you don’t have that problem. You can lay back and have some you time!

As your kids are busy playing in the pool for hours, you can lay out in the sun and read a good book or jump into the pool to cool off. You could also grab a magazine and a float to lounge in while the kids are splashing around. However, for ultimate relaxation, you shouldn’t have to get out of the pool to grab a drink for you and the kids. What if drinks were right by your side?

Check out our awesome DIY Beverage Float to fix this problem. This way you will always stay hydrated and relaxed. Simply follow these easy steps below to create this fun item for your next pool day.

1) Use a plastic container such as Sterilite’s 16 Quart Storage Box for the base.
2) Find a fun colorful pool noodle. Then, cut the pool noodle into 4 pieces to fit the edges of the plastic container.
3) Cut half way through the noodle pieces and then attach them to the edges of the plastic container. Use a hot glue gun for extra stability.
4) Fill with ice, add your favorite drinks, and place the float into the pool!

It is as easy as that! Now you will have a perfect floating beverage holder with you in the pool for drink access at the tip of your fingers.

Happy Floating!

Mom's Secret Guacamole Recipe!

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

Avocados are all the rage recently. From avocado toast to avocado ice cream, people are putting them in everything possible! Everyone knows that the best way to use avocados is for guacamole, no doubt about it. My mom hands down makes the best guacamole. When she brings it to parties, people are in awe of how good it is. I always hear people go around the party asking “Who made the guac?” “What is your recipe?”. She is literally famous - everyone who knows her, knows that her guacamole is the best.

So what’s her secret? I am going to tell you so maybe you can become famous with your friends for the best guacamole too!

Mom’s Chunky Guacamole Ingredients:

• 5 Ripe Avocados
• 1 Tomato
• 1 Clove of Garlic
• ½ Lemon Juice
• ½ Jalapeno Pepper (if you like it spicy)
• Sea Salt and Cayenne Pepper to taste

Instructions:
1) Peel and pit the avocados then cut them into small chunks. No need for conformity or mixing.
2) Squeeze ½ of a lemon on the avocados for a little citrus flavor.
3) Cut the tomato into small pieces and then dice the jalapeno. Add to the avocado mixture.
4) Mince the garlic then add to the mixture.
5) Add sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste. The cayenne pepper is a must, it is definitely the secret ingredient of this recipe!

Mix all of the ingredients in the Sterilite Ultra Seal 5.8 Cup food storage container so you are ready to serve. Pair it with your favorite tortilla chips and you are good to go! Now you can bring the guacamole to the party wherever you go and store the leftovers with ease. The chances of leftovers are very slim though. This healthy and delicious snack will be gone in minutes!