Zombie Invasion

You don't have to wait until tomorrow for Zombies to invade.  I got to witness an invasion of  small zombies last night.   On arrival, we hit the make up booth.

The Zombie helpers did a great job.  Behold, the Best Loved Zombie:

There were many Zombies, though they were short.  They did have a tall leader. With a bucket on his head.

I'm so sad that I didn't get a good picture of this preschool teacher with his real life Zombiefied baby. What terrible purpose brought these together? They formed lines.

And then, they danced!  (To the tune of "Thriller", what else).

All were satisfied. Especially the adult units associated with the short Zombies. 

Real Life Halloween Goodies

If you aren't ready for Halloween yet, you're (I'm) running out of time. I'm amazed at how many Halloween activities have already taken place.  A costume can get a big work out these days.

Look at this family costume done by a sweet talented young friend. They are "Swamp People" with little baby Abram as their little alligator catch.  This is so my kind of costume! How? Clever idea but not a huge amount of time or money.  This busy mama is in medical school so you know she needs to study more than do craft projects. They went off to our beloved "Boo At the Zoo". An unexpected joy that comes with having a child is that you have an excuse to do this kind of stuff.  I don't know if the kiddlet cared, but I loved seeing them.

The Best Part of Halloween

I adore Trick or Treating.  It was the best thing about Halloween when I was a kid. It was the best part of Halloween when my children were young and I still love seeing kiddlets at my door.  Dressing up is just what you had to do to get the loot.  Halloween became less fun when I aged out of  Trick or Treating. Parties or other activities are a poor substitute for going door to door begging for sweets. It was so exciting to anticipate what you might get and going door to door in the dark gave Halloween a delicious bit of danger.



My favorite Halloween Candy

I would come home tired and spread out the loot on my bed. I was like a mythical dragon surrounded by gold.  The best thing to get was anything chocolate. Hershey Miniatures were the most desired and most often swiped by my Dad.  My Trick or Treating was in an gentler era. We knew everyone in the neighborhood and no one worried about tainted treats. Because of this, homemade treats would be received.  I liked getting iced sugar cookies, cup cakes and sometimes I got fudge. Unfortunately, I always had at least two popcorn balls.  Popcorn balls were very popular but I was never fond of them.  They were fun to make but after they hardened they were tasteless and stuck in your teeth.  I always got more bubble gum than I ever wanted.  I was never a big gum chewer but when you've consumed everything else, a sweet is a sweet.  My parents let me and my sibs keep all our candy and do with it what we would.  I would eat too much the day afterwards but then the "good stuff" was gone so my candy consumption slowed to a crawl until the next year. Does your neighborhood still Trick or Treat?

I've been participating in Arkansas Women Bloggers Blogtober Fest. Check out the fun.

Halloween Aspirations

Halloween can be a bit of a competition.  We want to out-do our friends, neighbors and total strangers.  I'm a bit envious of these over the top bikes I found on Columbia Missouri Cycling Cooperative blog.  I bet no one else would have as great of a decorated bike. Does anyone actually decorate their bikes?

Nothing like decking your ride out to become a "Skelly Bike". Those handle bars might be a bit hard to use.  Want to add a bunch of glow in the dark accents. 

The fish bike is a bit silly, but impressive.  You need a Halloween parade or event to show these off.  Maybe fun to accompany the kiddlets while they trick-or-treat. Shame to use these just on Halloween.

Resuable Halloween

BestLoved Hubby recalls with some envy that his aunt made his younger cousins pj's that doubled as their Halloween costumes.  Aunt Leslie was ever practical, loved to sew and found the double duty costumes very satisfactory.  I went in search of some clothing that could double as a Halloween costume and be used often afterward.

This onesie by Stitch Baby + Kids at Big Cartel is cute for every day (maybe I'd lose the cape) and perfect for the big night.  It's on sale now for $12.

The same shop has a Superman onsie, also. I just think it looks more like Wonder Woman.
Below is a hoody tricked out to double as a bunny costume.  What toddler wouldn't want to wear this all the time?

Bunny Hoody $46

It also comes in gray so pink adverse boys could be bunnies, too. The same Big Cartel Shop has hoodies in Fox, Raccoon, Owl and Deer designs.

Cheeky Dinosaur $155

 This beautifully constructed wool jacket is by Little Goodall.  Molly, from Texas, designs and sews coats for little ones that are truly future heirlooms.  Check out her version of a Wild Grey Wolf Coat.

There are lots of other animals and most are perfect for either boys or girls.

This Etsy shop below, WildthingsDresses, was an Etsy Featured Shop but they had been in my favorites for several months.  Don't you love it when that happens? It makes me feel soooo... in the know.

Little Girls Fox Character Dress $60

This dress makes me wish that the BLGrandaughter who's last name is the same as the dress was still little.  She's firmly a tween and this would be way too babyish.

Mouse Character Dress $60

Check out this Mouse version.  It makes me squeak!  She doesn't neglect the boy kids either.

Brown Bear Boys Dungaree Overall $60

Practical can be beautiful, don't you think?

Halloween Costumes - Pet Versions

OK.  Some families are so in love with Halloween that no family member is left out.  These families must also have a whole lot of energy.  Getting the kids out the door in full costume was usually all I could manage. Check out how some other family members get in the spirit of Halloween.

Dinosaur Costume for Hamster $7

These costumes are made to order so get your order in now for Halloween delivery.  No hamster in the house?  Here's how to get your dog ready for trick or treating.

Cowboy Dog Rider Costume via buycostumes.com $19

The dog might even keep it on during the evening. The hamster costume warns you shouldn't keep it on the pet for extended periods of time.  When I searched on Etsy for "Halloween Costume Pet" there are way over 1000 options.  People love to dress their fur babies.

Halloween Cat Dress via paulinesfasions on Etsy

I love how this kitty looks.  Not very happy.  I remember dressing the barn kitties in doll clothes when I was younger.  My parental units discouraged this.  They would remind us that the kitties didn't like to wear clothes. My faves are when you dress the family pet as another kind of animal.

Giraffe Dog via Spoiled Bratzwear on Etsy

One of the BLGirls had a Great Dane that could have been a giraffe. 

Bunny Dog via LupitasChicBotique on Etsy

Maybe the owner really wanted a bunny?  And on the front page of Etsy, the Lion Dog

Lion Dog Costume via KOCouture on Etsy

Do you dress the family pet?

Never Too Early for Halloween Costumes

Arkansas kids all went back to school this week.  It was fun to see my friends (and some far off relatives) post the first day of school pictures.  BL Baby Boy started his college classes Thursday.  All this means that in spite of absolutely no evidence that this summer straight from Hades will ever end, Halloween is just a few weeks away.  Time to start thinking of costumes.  The last several years have seen a lot of stores with Chinese import costumes that are rather nice and are under $20.  I've got some prejudices and issues with them but they're really very cute and you couldn't make something for that price. The problem comes is that they are usually only in small sizes suited more to preschoolers.  Especially a problem if your kids are as big for their age as are the BestLoved Kiddlets. There is also a good chance you will see several copies of your kid on the street on the big night.  I thought it would be fun to post some of the  best DIY costumes I've found.  I don't have a kid to out fit but I can dream.

via ni(D)

 When I was a kid a popular costume was a ghost.  An old white sheet or other white fabric was draped over the child and eye holes were cut out.  Vola! A Ghost.  These monsters come from a French blog/shop but looks almost as easy to DIY. Cut two matching sized pieces of a smooth, light colored fabric wide enough to go around your child and long enough to go from their head to mid calf. Seam them together, rounding the top and leaving holes for the arms. It's kind of like a tea cozy for your kid.  Then you and/or your child can draw a monster on the front (you could draw a back view, too, if desired).  It looks like these have some kind of mesh over the eye area.  You could just cut holes where your kids eyes are.  It would be great if the child's eyes were in the center of the monster eye or you could look for something see through to sew in place so your child could see. The imaginary monster can be colored with Sharpies, paint or even crayons.  If you use crayons, iron the front sandwiched between paper towels so the crayon wax melts and seeps into the fabric.  No one else will have a costume like yours. 

I love these.