For some parts of the United States, the air is getting cooler and leaves are changing to bold fall colors, but here in Austin, TX we are still experiencing the upper 80 to mid 90 degree temperatures. I put up my Halloween decorations two weeks before October 1st, because I hoped it would encourage the cooler season to come. No such luck! However, this incredibly warm weather has not discouraged my boys from planning Halloween costumes and activities. I’m sure we can all remember when planning our Halloween costume was the most important thing in our young lives. It is so fun to relive this important decision making with my kids.
This year they have declared that we will be doing a Star Wars theme. After watching the Obi Wan Kenobi series and visiting Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge, it’s all they can talk about. Now I have to figure out how to make each boy and myself an authentic looking Star Wars costume. We prefer to make them, instead of buying costumes. Don’t get me wrong, we buy some pieces, and mix them together with my not so great, but it gets the job done DIY skills. Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Goodwill stores…here I come.
Last year I was able to make, without sewing, four pirate costumes and my boys loved them. All I had to do was find shirts and clothes in the red, black, gray, and white color palette and use my knowledge of pirates, “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Peter Pan” and we had some great looks and we didn’t spend a fortune. That allowed more money for scary decorations and candy!
Our DIY costumes were a hit and so fun! For my oldest son, I found a referee jersey, black and white striped, cut the neck, sleeves, and bottom and made it raggedy looking. I even figured out how to do a no sew lace to give it that pirate look. He rolled up his pants and wore white baseball socks and tennis shoes. He put a bandana around his head and he was ready for family pictures and a night out with his friends. My middle son wanted to be the Captain, so I bought two tee shirts from the craft store, one white and one red. I cut the neck of the white one into a “V” and made the lace up with it as well. Then I cut the sleeves off and cut the shirt right down the middle to make a vest/jacket. We tied it with a scarf and he wore black pants and a pirate hat and he loved it. My youngest wore brown pants with a white shirt and once again, I cut a black shirt in half to make his vest/jacket and he wore a black and red striped scarf around his head. As great as they looked, my brother in law might have out done them with a pirate shirt similar to the old tuxedo shirt, and he found a parrot to wear on his shoulder! Then he thought he needed a scarf, but we were low and he tied a red and white kitchen towel on his head and I’m not joking when I say he looked like Mr. Smee from Peter Pan!
The point is, Halloween and costumes are about having fun and using your imagination. In the end my family loved making and putting costumes together and they loved laughing about how we all looked. Don’t stress about making sure your costume is perfect and definitely don’t think you have to spend a fortune to enjoy yourself. It’s the one night when we can all look silly together and enjoy candy, especially Reese’s!
Happy Halloween friends! Have a safe and fun night!
