Group Halloween Costumes

If you would like to make Halloween costumes for three or four people, here are some fun ideas.

Decide if you want to dress up as the same thing, such as a gang of pirates; as complementary things, such as Disney princesses; or as a famous three- or foursome, such as Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto.

To dress up the same, consider being members of a famous band or sports team, people of the same profession, or a gang of some type (ninjas, Pink Ladies, etc.).

Complementary Halloween costumes could be different farm animals, cowboys and Indians, or various superheroes and their sidekicks, lady lovers, or villains. Browse through your books and movies to find more characters, such as from Star Wars or Peter Pan.

Some famous trios include the Three Stooges, the Three Little Pigs, the Three Bears, the Three Blind Mice, the Flintstones, the Rubbles, Huey/Dewey/Louie, Harry Potter/Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and the Cat in the Hat/Thing 1/Thing 2 (or the two children).

Some famous foursomes are the Fantastic Four, Incredibles, Ninja Turtles, Wizard of Oz crew, children from The Chronicles of Narnia, and animals from the movie Madagascar.

For more foursomes, include other people related to the trio ideas, such as adding Ginny, Luna, or Neville to the Harry Potter team; the wolf to The Three Little Pigs; Goldilocks to the Three Bears; Dave to Alvin and the Chipmunks; and the Flintstones to the Rubbles (no Pebbles and Bam Bam).

If you have a baby or two, involve them in the Halloween costume. Or ask older children if they would like to be part of a family Halloween costume. If you are going as two couples, then read my article on Halloween costumes for couples for more ideas.

Halloween Costumes for Couples

If you and your partner want to coordinate your Halloween costumes, here are some ideas:

Decide if you want to be dressed up as the same thing, such as a pair of dice; as opposites, such as a cat and mouse; as complimentary objects, such as salt and pepper; or as a famous couple, such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Browse through your movies and books for character couples. You can find more famous couples in history, superhero comics, and TV shows. Click here for a list of famous couples.

Look through your closet to find old work, school, or sports uniforms that can be turned into Halloween costumes for couples. Some ideas include flight attendant and pilot, football star and cheerleader, nun and priest, Indian chief and princess, king and queen, photographer and model, lawyers, doctors, graduates, farmers, and ninjas.

Search your house for paired item costume ideas, like toothpaste and a toothbrush, a cereal box and milk carton, or a pillow and blanket.

Try the animal kingdom for good opposites: a wolf and lamb or bird and worm. Other ideas for opposites are angel and devil, rich person and poor person, Beauty and the Beast, mother and baby, or person and pet.

If you are new parents, include your baby in the costume. Some ideas are Fred, Wilma, and Pebbles Flintstone (or Barney, Betty, and Bam Bam Rubble); the Three Bears, Blind Mice, or Pigs (or any animals); Alvin and the Chipmunks; or Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Easier options are to be doctors with a newborn baby or farmers with a vegetable or animal. Search baby costumes for more ideas.

Be creative and have fun! Wear a different Halloween costume for every party you go to. To save money, share costumes with other couples.

How to Save Money on Costumes

Buying Halloween costumes is a lot of fun! But it can easily get expensive, especially if you have a large family or want a complex costume. Don’t let finances ruin Halloween for you. There are several ways you can save money on costumes.

~Decide what you (or your children) want to be for Halloween. Have second and third choices in case your first choice does not work. Try to choose costumes that you could wear again, convert into another costume, or wear as a real outfit. These requirements will especially save you money on children’s costumes.

~Determine if you have the sewing or creative ability to make the costume. Search your closet and house for clothes and accessories that would work with the costume.

~Go to a party, Halloween costume, or online store and look for the costume. Check prices to see whether it would be cheaper to buy the complete costume or to buy separate pieces and accessories.

~Browse through the accessories (jewelry, wigs, hats, masks, wings, capes, makeup, weapons, shoes, tights, toys, etc.) and see if there is anything you already have at home, you can easily make, or you can borrow from someone. Or just buy the accessories and make the rest of the costume.

~Shop for Halloween costumes, clothes, and accessories at thrift stores, at cheaper stores (like Wal-mart), and online to save money. Ask friends and family for old costumes, especially for children’s costumes. Many children only wear their costume for one year because they grow quickly or lose interest in the costume.

~Use coupons and buy discounted costumes. If the costumes are missing pieces or are damaged, buy or make replacements or repair the damages, but only if it is worth your time and money.

Halloween Wish List

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! I love all the cute, fun decorations, not the dark, scary ones. If my wallet weren't on a diet, I would get the following Halloween decor:

These tealight holders from Pier 1 are so stinkin' cute! And only $5 each.

This throw pillow, also from Pier 1, would look great on my forest green couches.

This Pier 1 outdoor floor lantern is awesome because it holds candles instead of using electricity.

Kohl's has several cute door signs, but this one is my favorite.

I also love this lantern candleholder from Kohl's. A little spooky but not creepy.

Jane Joss Fabric Leaves Giveaway [CLOSED]

One of the prizes I won from a giveaway by Modern Typography was a set of three fabric-leaf branches in an autumn pattern. I love them! I put them in a vase on my entertainment center. I've gotten compliments on them, including from my husband, who usually doesn't care for home decor.

I decided to check out the designer on etsy: Jane Joss, the fabric florist. I fell in love with this potted plant. I kill all live plants, so a fabric one would be better for me.

Jane Joss also sells beautiful fabric flowers and wreaths with fabric leaves.

Smiles

*Lovely, unique, bright patterns.

*Pretty stitching.

*No mess, no care, no wilting!

*Versatility (branches/flowers): Put them in a vase, add them to a fake flower arrangement, lay them down on a table as part of a centerpiece, etc.

Frowns

*Dust collector. But not as bad as other fake plants!

Jane Joss is generously giving away a set of three fabric-leaf branches in the pattern of your choice!

Mandatory 1st Entry: Like Jane Joss on Facebook.

3 entries: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar).

2 entries: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook.

1 entry: Heart Jane Joss on etsy and leave your username.

1 entry: Post this giveaway on Facebook.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, October 16. The winner will be announced on Monday, October 17. Please leave your email in one of your entries so I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

Cheap & Easy Wall Decor

A while ago I was inspired to be crafty, but I just realized I never blogged about it! My baby's room and accessories are jungle themed. I wanted to make something cute to hang on his walls. Michael's had a great sale on paper (7/$1), and I found a jungle pattern I liked. In their wood section I got two jungle animals, a giraffe and zebra, for less than a dollar each, and I used a 40-percent-off coupon too. Then I found two light-wood frames at the thrift store for 69 cents each. I borrowed Mod Podge from a friend to glue the animals to the paper. A very cheap and easy project in the end. And I have plenty of paper left over for more room decorations.

Update: I have since found four matching wooden palm trees on clearance for 9 cents at Michael's. I sticky-tacked them on either side of the frames.

Breastfeeding in America

Breastfeeding is an interesting subject in America. It appears the majority of people, even those with children, think breastfeeding is not a public activity and should not continue past the first year of life, if even that long. I would like to address these two hypocritical beliefs.

Myth 1. Breastfeeding should always be private.

I am a Mormon, so I do believe in modesty and using nursing covers at least when men are around. Even so, I also think babies have the right to eat whenever and wherever they need to whether or not their mothers cover up. When people think breastfeeding is offensive, I can't help but think they are being offensive by sexualizing or making obscene something natural and precious. Our culture is obsessed with breasts and is perfectly content allowing women to flaunt them any other time, yet finds it inappropriate when a baby eats what nature intended for the baby to eat. I am appalled to hear of public places kicking out women for nursing their hungry babies, especially when covered, yet leave half-naked women in peace or display magazines with women barely concealing their breasts. Those women's intents are sexual.

FYI, many states, such as Arizona, protect a woman's right to breastfeed in public, covered or not. Although I usually try to find a private place to nurse, such as a dressing room, I have nursed (covered) in a restaurant and on a bench in an outdoor mall. I wish all places were as baby-friendly as the Swedish home store IKEA, which has a nursing room, among other amenities.

Myth 2. Breastfeeding should cease after one year, if not sooner.

Concerning weaning, "the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends continued breastfeeding beyond the first birthday as long as mutually desired by mother and child" and states that "the simplest, most 'natural' time to wean is when your child initiates the process." They also go into detail about the benefits of long-term breastfeeding, such as boosting the child's immunity and intelligence. Yet American mothers wean much earlier, in contrast to the worldwide average of 2 to 4 years old.

There are also other reasons to nurse: bonding time and comfort. The idea of encouraging a baby or toddler to nurse for comfort bothers some people. We have no problem letting toddlers become attached to pacifiers, blankies, and other such objects, so why do we oppose a toddler going to his or her mother for comfort? The AAP says,

Your toddler may turn to nursing for comfort and reassurance, but he is certainly still benefiting from the nutritional and immunologic benefits. In any case, emotional support is a perfectly legitimate aspect of breastfeeding.

Seeking out a reassuring nursing session when he’s upset and bouncing back as soon as he finishes builds your child’s confidence and feelings of security and well-being. Certainly there is no evidence that extended breastfeeding makes a child more dependent or harms him in any way.

On the contrary, many parents proudly tell how independent, healthy, and exceptionally bright their long-term breastfed children become. As long as you are comfortable breastfeeding your toddler, there is no reason to stop.

Whether or not you are comfortable with breastfeeding is irrelevant. My hope is that you respect other mothers' choices to breastfeed in public and breastfeed for as long as they and their babies want.