Halloween Prep

less than one week until Halloween (unless tropical storm sandy comes this way and rains us out) and i'm still pulling together costumes.
this year i put my foot down and delcared, "we are not buying halloween costumes - we can be creative with what we have."

maggie has decided to be an eighties girl - i wonder if, in 25 years or so, her kids will be dressing up in the clothes of her youth? a 20 teens girl maybe?
anyway, my friend christine and i had lots of fun shopping at the salvation army for eighties wear - neon colors, ugly belts, lace, and beads.  after scoring great deals there, we ended up at claire's and justice for the finishing touches.  let's just say our deals weren't so great at those places.  after all was said and done, i probably could've saved money by going to spirit halloween or the party store but at least her costume will feel sort of homemade.

matt usually leans towards the scary/bloody/gory costume which i hate. last year i caved and let him buy the scream halloween costume.  though he hasn't seen the movie (and won't for several more years if i can help it) he wanted that rotten costume and i couldn't talk him into anything else.  since he was 9 going on 10, i decided to let that one go.

i was comforted by the fact that we ran into at least a dozen other 10 year old boys in that same costume.  he doesn't win points for originality but that isn't really important to him.

this year, he has declared he wants to be a rapper - eminem specifically.  i'm a little horrified that he even knows eminem - it's probably my fault for the one eminem song i have on my ipod (disclaimer: i only listen to it for serious hard-core cardio workouts and i always download the clean versions when available).
but at least we didn't have to buy much - i did score a great thick gold chain in the belt section of the salvation army.  he's been wearing it around the house with his puffy vest.  i guess that's what rappers wear?

i'm not a huge fan of halloween.  i know in a few years, the kids will either not go out trick-or-treating at all, or they will go with their friends like i did at that age.  i'll be left home to hand out the candy and hope they are safe.  and even though i usually dread the whole costume wearing,  candy hoarding madness that is this holiday, i'm sure i will feel at least a twinge of sadness when i am no longer needed as part of the event.