Need a last-minute Halloween costume? I picked out a few office supply-inspired ideas from my pal, Google Images.

Halloween is right around the corner, and we know you're busily sticking Post-It notes to create your costume from the previous post's ideas. But what about decos for the office party? We've gathered some relatively simple ideas that will transform your party from looking sorry to spooky!

​No costume ideas yet? No big deal, check out some tips and ideas for creating a great Halloween costume using Post-it® Products.
The best Halloween costume ideas always seem to pop into your head after Halloween is already over. This year, instead of having an “Oh, I should’ve done that” moment, start planning your Halloween costume early. We have some ideas for easy costumes created from your office supply closet.
And, if you’re reading this at 11 a.m. on October 31, don’t stress. All of these costumes can be made in just enough time for the office party

​1.  Materials You’ll Need
 1 cardboard box
 1–2 pads of Post-it® Super Sticky Notes, Rio de Janeiro Color Collection  
 Scotch® Brand Scissors
2.  How to do it
 Cut three holes in the cardboard box–two holes on the side for your arms and one on the top for your head. Next,  
 select three to five colors you’d like for the piñata. Then take your scissors and make three to four vertical cuts to fray
 the Post-it® Notes. Place the notes from bottom to top on the box in horizontal rows. Plan to use one color for each row.
 Make sure you overlap the notes to create an authentic piñata look!
 Pro Tip: Cut several Post-it® Notes at a time to save some scissor snipping energy.
3.  Put on your colorful costume. It’s time to party, people!

Brainstorm Board
​

1.  Materials You’ll Need:
 Post-it® Easel Pad 
 Post-it® Notes  
 A marker
 A 2 ft. long piece of string
2.  How to do It
 Place the string between the holes on either side of the Post-it® Easel Pad and tie the two ends of the string   together. Then, use a marker to label the paper brainstorm. Place your “ideas” from the brainstorm on Post-it®   Notes and stick them to the Easel Pad. Then, connect the ideas by drawing arrows with your marker.
3.  Put your costume on and go have some fun because you look great!

​1.  Materials You’ll Need:
 2 poster boards
 1–2 pads of Post-it® Super Sticky Notes, Bali Color Collection
 2 small pieces string
 Scotch® Brand Scissors
2.  How to do It
 Use your scissors to cut out wings from the poster boards. Punch two holes at the base of each wing and use   the string to tie them together. Once you  have made your wings, use the Post-it® Notes to create the feathers.   Start at the tip of the wing and overlap the Post-it® Notes all the way to the top, to  create the feather effect.
 You can also use Post-it® Super Sticky Notes, Rio de Janerio Color Collection.
3.  You’re ready to go, have a great Halloween celebration!
 
We hope these ideas will make your Halloween great. They are simple, creative costumes that will have everyone talking at the office party (in a good way).

Thank you to our friends at Post-It for these great Halloween ideas!  This blog post was first posted at 
​http://www.post-it.com/3M/en_US/post-it/ideas/articles/three-costumes-you-can-create-from-your-supply-closet/

To feel especially festive this fall, make sure to engage in Twist's Fall Top 10: 

1. Fall Hike
2. Apple Picking
3. Corn Maze
4. Football
5. Bonfire
6. Fall Festivals
7. Jump in a pile of leaves
8. Make a scarecrow
9. Carve a Pumpkin
10. Enjoy fall flavors – pumpkin pie, pumpkin coffee (from Green Mountain), spice cake, apple cider (try this Apple Cider Pancakes recipe from the Keurig blog, caramel apples

Most of us spend a third of our day sitting at our desk.  The right chair can make a huge difference in your productivity, comfort and health.  Are you ready for a new one?  You probably are if...

• Your shoulders and neck are stiff and sore
• You have to stretch to reach your mouse or keyboard
• Your lower back aches
• The seat cushion provides little or no padding
• Your chair does not slide under your desk
• You have eyestrain
• Your chair is too narrow, long or short in the seat
• You're just plain uncomfortable!

Whether you sit at your desk for hours at a time or in spurts throughout the day, it's critical to select a chair that supports your shoulders, arms and back.  Having an ergonomic chair that offers support prevents you from hunching over or overstretching which can lead to chronic muscular problems.  Ergonomic chairs allow you to make several adjustments to the height, back, arms and lumbar region.  This is not a one size fits all, and there are many options form which to choose.

Here are a few tips on selecting an ergonomic chair that works for you.

Consider how you work. Do you spend a lot of time on the phone?  Do you need to quickly access files or other items in desk drawers?  Do you use the keyboard and remain in the same position most of the day?

Try them out.  At Twist, we carry a variety of ergonomic chairs that you can try out.  Don't become concerned if you sit in an ergonomic chair and it feels uncomfortable.  It probably just needs adjusting to your specific body type.  Once you find a comfortable one, consider the following:

Height: You should be able to sit comfortable, feet flat on the floor with your knees at a 90 degree angle. Look for a seat with a pneumatic lever you can raise or lower while seated.

Arms:  Armrests take the pressure off your shoulders and neck which is especially important if you sit at the computer for a significant part of the day.  When typing, your forearms should be just above the armrest, with your elbows resting on it.  Look for armrests that adjust for both height and position to accommodate different activities.

Back:  We all have a natural curve in the lower part of our spine, and it's this area, the lumbar region, that ca cause the most problems if not properly supported.  That's why a good ergonomic chair should include a lumbar support with adjustments for up and down, forwards and backwards to suit the natural angle of your spine.  It should be high enough to support your shoulder and neck, while allowing for movement so you can reach for items when you need them.  Spend a lot of time on the phone?  You may want to check out chair backs that recline to suit your posture.

Seat width and depth:  Look for a chair that gives enough depth in the seat so you have two to four inches betweent he back of your knees and the edge of the seat.  The width should be at least one inch wider that your hips and thighs.

Headrests and footrests:  These features aren't for everyone, but may be right for you.  Headrests provide good support and prevent neck pain when talking on the phone in a more reclined position.  If you want a footrest, select a free-standing one that allows you to rest you feet, keeping you knees at a 90 degree angle.

With so many options available, we can help you find the perfect chair to support your body and prevent muscle aches for years to come.  Give us a call today and our furniture specialist will work with you to find the chair of your dreams.

By now you’ve seen all the pink products…well here’s a Twisty spin on office supplies in light of breast cancer awareness. If you purchase any of these “pink” products, manufacturers donate a percentage of the profits to Breast Cancer Research.
 
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer). But the most important thing to remember this month is to take preventive measures and have steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. 
 

​

Call it Autumn, call it Fall…we call it Pumpkin Spice Season. Either way, at this time of year (and other times for those of us who hoard away boxes of Green Mountain Coffee® Pumpkin Spice Coffee), we can’t get enough of the nutmeg and cinnamon flavor combination that creates warm and creamy goodness in our cup! 

So brew yourself up a cup and have some fun with this trivia-focused ode to that darling of the squash family, the one who makes our hearts smile when the wind kicks up and the changed leaves start to tumble.

Which ailment is said to be cured by pumpkins?

1. Snakebites
2. Hiccups
3. Rickets
4. Dry skin

 How much of a pumpkin is actually water?

1. 25%
2. 5%
3. 60%
4. 90%

 Which of these is not a color of a pumpkin?

1. Blue
2. White
3. Purple
4. Green

 Before pumpkins, what was commonly carved into Jack-O-Lanterns?

1. Watermelons
2. Turnips
3. Beets
4. Rutabagas

 Pumpkins originally came from

1. Canada
2. China
3. Scotland
4. Mexico

 Bonus Question:
Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space starred which famous actress?
 
Answers: a, d, c, b, d, Reese Witherspoon
 
source credited to: http://www.triviachamp.com
- See more at: http://blog.keurig.com/blog/amy-2/trivia-tuesday-pumpkin-points#sthash.GZO2kD3N.dpuf

​October is National Fire Safety Month and National Fire Prevention week is October 4-10, so let’s take a hot second to review these common sense tips to keep your workplaces safe.
 
To Keep a Fire from Happening…

• Keep your work area free of waste paper, trash and other items that can easily catch fire.
  
• Check on your electrical cords. If a cord is damaged in any way, replace it. Try not to lay cords in places where they can be stepped on, as this will contribute to deterioration of the protective outside coating.
  
• Don't overload your circuits.
  
• Turn off electrical appliances at the end of each day.
  
• Only allow smoking in designated areas that have fire proof ashtrays. This will prevent a stray cigarette from starting a fire.
  
• Never leave flammable liquids out on the floors or counters. Always use and store flammables correctly.
  
• Check the batteries in all smoke detectors at least once a month.

If a Fire Does Happen…

• Call 911 immediately and don't hand up with the emergency responder until told to do so.
  
• Close doors when exiting to help limit the spread of smoke and fire throughout the building.
  
• Never use elevators during an evacuation.
• If you are in a building that is on fire check the door before you open it. If you can feel the heat then it is not safe to open the door. Find another exit if possible.
  
• Use sweater, shirt, or towel to help reduce smoke inhalation. If you can wet the cloth with water it will be even better at stopping the smoke from hurting your lungs.
  
• If you are stuck in an office high off the ground break a window and hang a sweater or shirt out of it to let allow the firemen to find your position faster.

Remember, a fire can lead to job losses. Rebuilding a workplace after a fire is very expensive and many companies can’t afford to do it. Stay safe, friends! 

Read more about fire safety in the workplace: 

http://blog.safetysmart.com/2014/01/12-fire-prevention-tips-workers/
www.osha.gov/SLTC/firesafety/index.htm
www.bullex.com/workplace-fire-prevention-tips    
www.workplacesafetyexperts.com/office-safety/fire-safety 
http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week/about-fire-prevention-week