Tag: Halloween

Inspired by Brad Majors’ Wedding Look
Is this perhaps one of the geekiest posts I’ve written? Maybe. Am I super excited about it and totally serious? Definitely.

I’ll be wearing this to the midnight The Rocky Horror Picture Show screening next month. I already own everything I need for the look! Because, um, it’s not all that different from how I dress on a regular basis. *pushes up glasses*
1. Clark Cognac Tortoise Glasses, Warby Parker
  I like a lot of what you may consider classic geek glasses.
2. Olympia Dickey in Petal Pink, Le Cou
  Dickeys are back! I mean, I don’t know if that’s a larger trend deserving of such a definitive statement, but this one’s pretty great. I wear mine under sweaters or dresses.
3. Crew Neck Topper, Ann Taylor
  Simple. Classic. I wore a sweater almost like this to meet Brandon’s parents in 2001, but mine had a mock neck. This is better.
4. Scallop Stripe Silk Scarf, Ann Taylor
  Pretty! Tie it around your waist like a cummerbund for the full Brad-effect.
5. Notched Blazer, LOFT
  I have a black blazer, but it’s looking a bit tired and I’m in search of another. Dare I say this may be the one?
6. ‘Love Comes in at the Eye’ Ring, Bittersweets NY / Catbird NYC
  Brad wears a class ring, but this is way cooler.
7. Edie Tassel Loafer, Rebecca Minkoff / Nordstrom
  These are about as sexy as a loafer gets. My go-to shoes right now.
8. The Essential Taper Pants, Anthropologie
  I know. I think we all get a little scared when we hear the word “taper,” but these are awesome. Super flattering.
Yep, if you’re looking for a more literal RHPS Halloween Costume, I’ve got you covered too. Don’t forget your carnation boutonniere! Surprise engagement ring in your pocket: optional.
Women’s Tuxedo • Tortoise Glasses • Gold Class Ring • White Pocket Square • Red Plaid Bow Tie and Cummerbund Set • Black Watch • White Socks • Black Oxford Shoes
September 23, 2016
Happy Halloween from the Owl and the Hedgehog

Eleanor was an owl this year, and August was a hedgehog. I went as a mommyblogger with a large camera, apparently.

This is the shot that I got from that position. (I’ll bet you didn’t know hedgehogs could be so ferocious.)

We painted our pumpkins this year. August’s was interpretive, Eleanor’s had a smiley face, mine was crawling with bugs, and Brandon’s was a severed eyeball (which he worked on while watching Dexter at night). Together, they were cute, cute, creepy, and gross.

This was the first year that I didn’t make the kids’ costumes. Eleanor was a Katamari Damacy Prince the first year, Olivia the pig for her second Halloween, and last year Eleanor and August were the Gruffalo’s Child and the Big Bad Mouse. This year, they got store-bought costumes from Pottery Barn Kids. They were adorable and akin to what I would have made had I done them myself, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty (especially as the neighbors asked if I made them again this year). I spend just as much when I make them myself, and of course there’s a huge time commitment, but it also makes me feel really good.

But then, Halloween isn’t about the parents, is it? My little owl and hedgehog loved to go trick-or-treating, and they loved stuffing themselves with candy all night afterward.

I loved it too.

November 1, 2012
Happy Halloween from the Gruffalo’s Child and the Big Bad Mouse

Eleanor is still little enough to let Brandon and I choose her costume for her, but she’s big enough now at 2-1/2 to be excited about Halloween and the chance to dress up. August, being eight months old, goes along for the ride.

I had a hard time coming up with ideas for Halloween costumes this year. I don’t know why it took so long to settle on the Gruffalo, since Eleanor’s favorite books right now are The Gruffalo, and The Gruffalo’s Child, but E was all over the idea. With one modification: She wanted to be the Gruffalo’s child.

Happy to oblige, I set about figuring out how to make her costume. Because of course I was going to make Halloween costumes for both kids. No matter that I’m busier than ever, borderline overwhelmed with work as it is, and oh yeah… I have two kids now, not just one. And I’m not that great at sewing. And I’ve never worked with fake fur. And Halloween was coming up fast. And our house has been a hot zone with one of more persons here being sick for the last two weeks.

What? Awesome! Bring it on.

I started the costumes on Friday night. The fabric store had been pretty well picked over by the time I had gotten around to shopping for fabric. I had more than enough fleece for August’s mouse costume, but it was going to be tight for E’s. I started with the mouse so that I could get a little practice in, which helped. I made a few (mostly minor) mistakes that I learned from before starting on Eleanor’s.

I had a pattern for the costumes, but when I opened it and saw eight pages of instructions, plus confusing and tissue paper thin templates, I gave up on the pattern pretty quickly. The diagrams did help for making the hat though, so it wasn’t a total waste. I just held up the kids’ pajamas to get the sizing right on the rest of the costumes.

You guys, I did it. Yes, those costumes took hours upon hours, but it was worth it.

August’s pants were too short so I had to pull his socks up to cover his legs, but I decided he looked cute. Like Angus Young as a mouse.

Eleanor had been nursing a cold, and she exemplifies the worst toddler traits when she isn’t feeling well, so I was afraid she wouldn’t want to wear her costume. She refused to try on the hat when I asked her to the night before. She woke up feeling better though, and she wore the costume all day!

August is still pretty sick, so he stayed home with Brandon while I took Eleanor out to trick-or-treat. We had been practicing our Halloween etiquette at home (and teaching her the whole “smell my feet” song), but she gets shy and quiet around strangers so she just stood there and thrust out her bucket at each house.

August was out of his costume by the time we got back, but Eleanor stayed in hers all night. I think she enjoyed answering the door for people more than she liked hitting up the neighbors houses. She went to the door each time, yelling “hi kids!” and passing out candy. She did ask later though, “Mama, we trick-or-treat tomorrow?”

Being a parent is so good.

October 31, 2011
Self-Induced Crafty Mama Pressure

Is it hard to sew fake fur? Because Eleanor is really excited about being The Gruffalo’s Child for Halloween. Which is, you know, less than two weeks away. With no Gruffalo costume available for purchase, of course.

August will be the mouse, and I think I can make that out of fleece. Two weeks to sew two costumes… and I’m not very good at sewing. It can be done though (I keep telling myself)! After all, I did a good job on E’s Katamari costume before, and that was all from scratch. I should have suggested something easier, like last year’s Olivia costume (minimal sewing involved), but no.

Do you put self-induced pressure on yourself to make costumes? These furry monsters would have been a perfectly cute option, with no need to enter crazy-crafty-mama-Halloween-town. But I’m not the only one that does this, right?

The kids will be so cute. Assuming I can pull this off.

October 18, 2011
Happy Halloween from Olivia

Eleanor loves Olivia, so we dressed her as her porcine heroine for Halloween this year.

Eleanor’s pig nose was drawn on with liquid eyeliner, which held up surprisingly well. I made the ears with fleece, wire, and a headband, and I sewed the sailor collar to go over her store-bought dress. The collar even has stars on the back (drawn on with a marker) for authenticity.

We hope you had as great a Halloween as we did!

October 31, 2010
Getting Ready for Halloween

I’ll be doing a bit of crafting and sewing today, putting Eleanor’s Halloween costume together. I’m making it a little easier on myself this year compared to last — just pig ears and a sailor collar. I may be running out of time, but at least our front porch has been decorated (which you can vote for daily until Sunday). Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some fabric to buy.

October 28, 2010