So, here’s the obligatory Halloween-costume shot, though I didn’t realize it was out of focus until now. Blame it on the wine lighting.
I got off so easy this year I’m practically cringing in embarrassment just thinking about it.
Because when Kira started talking about what she thought she might be, I led her quickly down the Purple Kittycat avenue and she, good second child that she is, never veered course. I am costume crazy, but I am also lazy: for every handmade costume, there is a season, and it is two seasons long. Minimum.
I couldn’t quite figure it out, but for some reason, maybe because the whole suit was just a little big on her, or maybe because I got the angle on the ears wrong this time, she somehow looked much, much more like a Wild Thing — or maybe just a purple Max — than the sweet kitty that I swear Megan did.
I’m not sure how that happened, but with the recent Wild Things movie release, it all tied in just fine. She had whiskers and a pink nose and pure astonished delight that everyone she glanced at shyly put candy in her pumpkin.
And I swear, I was all set to hand-craft Megan’s tiger swallowtail wings using coat hangers, black stockings and who knows what all else, consuming the better part of my free hours in early October, when I happened onto a pair online that she deemed perfect. For seven-ninety-nine plus nominal shipping. SOLD, to the lazy lady with the charge card.
I already had that black shimmery bodysuit because when you are a little wacked about costuming and you find one of those at Goodwill, oh you snap it up then and there even if it is, and it was, the middle of December. Some moms shop seasons ahead; I shop Halloweens ahead.
One headband, two pipecleaners, two fuzzy balls, an inch of hot glue later and she was good to go. Criminal, I tell you.
It was such a fun evening, and completely devoid of even a flicker of last year’s Halloween meltdown. Score one in the treat column.
November 3, 2009 at 3:14 am |
Great costumes! Around these parts, us Mamas get together and bring old costumes with the size pinned on the front and name of mama/phone #. We swap and pass down. Works well. Goodwill is also a favorite, as is anything on sale (a la Princeton Tiger that you saw Ale wearing in the pictures). Hope everyone had a super spooky and fun Halloween!
November 3, 2009 at 3:40 am |
Very, very cute. I love both of them.
We do hand-me-downs around here, and it’s worked out so well. Especially for me – the craftily challenged.
November 3, 2009 at 4:08 pm |
I think hand-me-downs are the best idea ever – especially for the younger years when they don’t really care what they are, as long as they get a costume! Except for Megan, of course, who had firm ideas from the age of 3: a pink flower, then a purple kitty, then a skunk, then a bat, and this year the tiger swallowtail.
November 3, 2009 at 11:40 pm |
I am so beyond impressed with your homemade costuming! And yeah, we used to hit the Goodwill hard for old costumes to serve as dress-up clothes all the year round. We still have some of those.
And the girls look adorable in their costumes! They would look cute in paper sacks though. Which is what their homemade costumes would be if they were my kids!
November 4, 2009 at 1:57 am |
Very cute!! I love the purple cat costume–and you’re right, a purple Max is a good idea, too. I am way impressed at your craftiness. I’m sure I could find a way to screw up even the easy-sounding headband.
November 11, 2009 at 7:45 pm |
Those are very respectable costumes. They look darn good to me. I’m esp enjoying the little toenails on the cat
Goodwill! Now why didn’t I think of that?! Next year is going to be so fun….