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Countdown to Halloween

Written by

Robin Strong Elton

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I liked myself better when I wasn’t me.

-Carol Burnett

We’re very excited about Halloween over here! I love making costumes- I think I missed my calling there- but even more than that I love wearing the costume and playing a role.

Last year the boys were the Super Mario Brothers, and they were hilarious. They even recorded the music from the video game and would set it off each time they arrived to trick-or-treat at a new house. They spoke in ridiculous accents and jumped around really dramatically. It was fun to see kids being kids.

These were the easiest costumes ever- I just cut up a pair of Jeff’s old work jeans to make temporary overall bibs. After Halloween was over, I pulled out the stitching and voila, the kids’ jeans were restored.

Ditto for the baseball caps- the red one was reincarnated as a Phillies cap. (Hey- Phils won again last night! Unbelievable!)

The mustaches were part of a “mustache of the week” kit that the we got the kids for Christmas and is part of our extensive dress-up collection. Everyone, I think, should have extra mustaches on hand at all times. They make for really great pictures.

I don’t think Cammy reads my blog, but if she does:
Hope you don’t mind me using this picture, Cam! You look great!
Also, you should call me more often!

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I’ve always hated pre-packaged Halloween costumes. They’re expensive, they’re uncomfortable, they’re flimsy, they reinforce gender stereotypes, they encourage girls and women to dress like trollops and they take all the fun out of Halloween. In my humble opinion.

Seriously, I can’t even take my kids into a Halloween shop, because I don’t want Cassidy to cower from the gore and I don’t want my boys eyeing up the “sexy nurses”. What happened to Halloween being about family fun?

All week I’ll be posting my favorite homemade costumes of Halloween Past and celebrating all things Halloween. Got a costume you’re particularly proud of? Or maybe a Halloween craft or decoration? Email it to me at simplegreenorganichappy(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll post it too!

What was your favorite Halloween costume ever?
What are you- or your kids- dressing up as this Halloween?

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Comments

3 responses to “Countdown to Halloween”

  1. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    i can't wait to show that photo to my boys! they will love the luigi & mario! :^D)

    we make our costumes every year .. it's just not halloween if i don't make the costumes from scratch. this year my just-turned-9yo is going as "the invisible man" – from the book (!) – he had some definite ideas about getting the right effect, most of which involve wrapping himself in bandages. ;^)

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  2. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    I feel a little insulted actually, as if my Halloween wasn't as good because I bought costumes rather than made them/my mother made them. My mother can embroider but doesn't sew, and while I agree that store-bought costumes lack creativity and uniqueness, which I really hate, for some of us that's just what we have. Once I learn to sew and get some sort of imagination, maybe I'll make my own costumes then. And, even with pre-bought costumes (although not this year, trying to re-use or buy thrift store accessories), Halloween is STILL my favorite holiday ever!

    I LOVE the Mario and Luigi costumes though! And my favorite costume might be the year I decided to wear my clothes randomly (overalls over my head, t-shirt inside out, and so on) because the school said it was either Halloween or Crazy Clothes Day. I opted for the crazy clothes, because really. Someone's got to use the option!

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  3. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    lori, that is hysterical, because Jacob's first Halloween costume idea this year was the Invisible Man! I reread the book recently and it was sitting around the living room for a while, and I guess the picture sort of imprinted on his brain. When we did a dry run, though, having something so close on his face drove him crazy very quickly.

    stephanie, I did not mean to insult anyone, although I can see how my words could be taken that way. Believe me, your childhood Halloweens beat the pants off mine! We didn't "do" Halloween at all when I was a kid, and I am obviously overcompensating with my own kids.

    I really get a kick out of making the costumes (and most of them are no-sew). To me, because I enjoy the process so much, the idea of buying costumes someone else made is akin to paying someone else to do my Christmas shopping. Why not do it myself? It is so much more fun and meaningful that way, and extends the holiday anticipation that much further.

    Jacob LOVES crazy clothes day, the only day he can mismatch without his brother the clothes horse telling him, "You look stupid". He takes it right down to mismatching shoes, one sock pulled up and one sock rolled down and inside out (which would drive me batty).

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