halloween monster mish-mash

1351714535_Monster-Mash

Happy Friday everyone and Happy Halloween! It’s nice when the kids can go trick-or-treating and you don’t have to worry about it being a school night! Here’s a few of my Halloween observations – call it a monster mish-mash. Muwahhaha!

costumes:

Do you make them or buy them? Growing up, my Halloween costumes were always homemade by my mom. And I won the school costume contest every year. Except the year I had the chicken pox. That was a bummer. But my neighbor – who borrowed my ladybug costume that year – did win. My mom was good. These were not costumes that were over the top. They were fairly simple costumes that used common materials like posterboard, brown bags, markers, paper bags, string, etc. But she took the time and made them well. Some of my costumes I remember were a shaggy dog, a ladybug, a turtle, and my sister had one of the cutest costumes – a sunflower.

I’ve made a few homemade costumes for my kids. Very few. One year my boys were Bob the Builder and Pilchert, the cat. I was Wendy {don’t ask}. All homemade. Another year, they were a fireman and a dalmation, somewhat homemade. And three years ago I made my daughter’s Smurfette costume. When I set my mind to it – I do ok. They’re not going to win any contests but the love and effort and creativity is there. This year, I walked in to the local party store and spent $80 on a batgirl costume and a hippo mask. ugh. Batgirl was ok, cheesy polyester and all. The only part that wasn’t wearable was the belt. And I got kinda excited because that meant I could make her a belt. Woo hoo! So I made the belt using a thick, stretchy black ribbon and heavy black & silver paper for the bat shape. That was it but it felt good to contribute something to her expensive-but-cheesy ensamble.

I wish I saw more homemade costumes when I open my door to the trick-or-treaters. I get it – it’s easy to buy them. And we’re all busy. Too busy to whip up some cleaver, well-made outfits. But those homemade costumes my mother made were special. And we felt special. And I know they didn’t take her weeks to make. Or maybe they did and she never let on.

Then our kids get too old to want us to make them costumes. And they just ask us to paint a t-shirt with blood and scars. Or ask to borrow our sequin dress and a wig. {yes I had a wig}. So they could dress up like a girl. Or just wear a morph mask. huh? Boy it goes by fast.

candy:

Do you hand out mini candy bars or are you the heavy hitters and give the full size? Or do you make your own goody bags? Before they go trick-or-treating, remind your kids to only TAKE ONE unless otherwise specified, be THANKFUL for whatever they are given and show that thanks by actually saying THANK YOU. We usually hand out the full size bars but went with the minis this year and I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s my annoyance with the lack of thank you’s from year’s past. Those ungrateful, polyester clad kids don’t deserve the full size bars. Bah Humbug.

pumpkins:

Did you carve a pumpkin this year? Or did you paint one? I’ve done neither. Bad blogger. But I will carve one today – hopefully, with my daughter – mainly for the seeds {I love them}. I might try painting one too – I think I can get away with still having pumpkins through November. I’m loving the color dipped trend now. Love these from Ciera Design:

halloween dinner:

Is there such a thing? I have never been able to feed my kids on this night. They are too excited, or have plans, or are busy trying to get their costumes on. Then we run out of time and they go out and end up eating lots and lots of candy. Or what I now call their halloween dinner. So I decided I’m just making picky foods and hopefully they’ll eat them while getting ready. These are a few ideas I saw online but nothing too time consuming. These are more creative than I might have time for but super cute.

creppy chili / mummy wraps / halloween veggies

So take a little extra time tonight to be involved. Make a picky-food dinner that they’ll remember – with ghost-shaped cheese if you can. Or carve or paint a pumpkin with your kids – let them do whatever design they want. And it may be too late to make a costume but you could make them their own halloween goody bag, containing a cute flashlight, glow sticks, and some of their favorite candy bars in case they don’t get enough of the good ones. Here’s my goody bag for my youngest:

And then wait for it… THANK YOU, Mom! Happy Halloween, y’all!

costumes:

candy:

pumpkins:

halloween dinner:

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lorimanzigreco