Thrifty Threads!

This week we welcome TAMMY THERIAULT! She's got the goods for this Halloween!

My earliest memory of thrifty costumes for Halloween was when we moved to El Paso, TX October of 1989. We were in an apartment complex, and Halloween was a few days away. So good ol' Dad put sheets over us, cut a few holes, and we all went with a pillow case in hand to each of our neighbor's doors. Granted, going to an apartment complex is nearly cheating, but who could resist 4 Ghost Girls?!

However, in this old photo, you can clearly see we knew what a good costume was way before 1989. It cut your face, was uncomfortable, and plastic. Heavily plastic.

Now, I don't spend more than $10 per kid on a costume, and I go to the thrift stores to make it happen. I can piece together anything! Or they choose to dive into our big tub full of old costumes. (Great for those rainy days). In fact, check out these thrifty ones from last year!

Scream, Superman, Snow Queen, Ladybug

My kids have never complained especially when I do the whole "$40 for like 2 hours??" gripe. Besides, it's so dark, half the time you can't show off your costume anyways!

In the end, it's not about the expensive costumes, but the free candy you get to chow down while the kids are sleeping! And that is priceless!

QUESTIONS TO THE READER:
1. Are you a thrifty costume buyer?
2. What was your earliest costume memory growing up?
3. Admit it...you cut your face on those dang plastic masks, didn't you?



Tammy's Links

My Blog - My Facebook - My Goodreads -Twitter

Guess who?

For Free for All Friday, I thought I'd give you a laugh with all my own homemade costumes. I never cheesed out in my twenties by dressing up as the sexy cat or sexy maid - I don't recall ever being sexy. I'm a cornball through and through! Enjoy!

from college - yes, I used a sheet and tin foil

crashed party with our mystery masks - that's my hair!

Calvin & Hobbes - wish I still had the Hobbes I made...

the blue MnM the year it came out!

a tourist handing out candy =)

Ah memories - what costumes have you made? share them on Facebook and tell me where to look!!

Costumes + Creativity = Confidence

Don't be afraid to be different. Make a statement. Be bold or be shy, but be YOU!

Here are some hilarious (and EASY) costume ideas that might make you think. But these folks were brave enough (and smart enough) to come up with them. See if you can figure out what/who they are...The costume names are listed at the bottom.

There are tons more, but you have work to do!! Tell me others you thought of in the comments first!
Happy Hump Day!

Answers: Cereal Killer, Deviled Egg, 50 Shades of Gray, Identity Thief, Spice Rack, Ceiling Fan (I had the hardest time figuring that one out!), Dust Bunny

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

"The players may have changed but the game remains the same." - Name that movie!

We really real women have to deal with a lot. And change happens all the time. But you know what we do with change? We go with the flow. Problems come our way? We deal with it! We do what we can with what we have. We prioritize and get things done and eliminate what we just can't do. That's how life is.

Our wonderful friend Beth wanted to be with us as a permanent hostess, but life is just too busy for her right now. We get it. Any time things get too hectic, don't be afraid to speak up! Real women understand, we've been there. It's okay.

Liz and I are determined in our drive to spread happiness through helping others with tips and laughter. We will carry on. And lo and behold, we had a newly made really real housewife volunteer to join us (she also just got married!)

I give you out newest Really Real Housewife:

Ashley Chappell-Peeples!

the Nerdy Housewife

(every home needs one)

Besides being an author and NASA nerd in Huntsville, AL, Ashley Chappell is an avid lover of nature who enjoys climbing, camping, hiking and sailing with her husband. Her favorite visitors are dragonflies. And though she's not the most social of people, she believes peanut butter should always be consumed with a spoon straight from the jar, beer should always be dark and frothy, and pizza is best served with copious amounts of hot sauce.

Ashley's links: facebook - twitter - blog


She's nerdilicious! She'll make your eyes roll faster than you can say Star Wars. We love this girl!! And we'll let her tell you all more about her in her first week of posts... (debuts Nov 2) Wait till you hear about her house!

Plus we have all sorts of guest posters coming up along with our regular segments... See how things work out?

Lemonade, people - make some!

Pumpkin Planters

I got this photo from Apartment Therapy.
Visit their blog for other good ideas. 

I totally planned to do this- you know, buy a pumpkin, hollow it out, stick a plant in it, and then snap a picture of it to show you just how easy and pretty it is. Use frost hardy plants like pansies or mums and you have a great decoration from now until Thanksgiving...or until the yellow jackets or gnats swarm it.

I've found they last quite a long time outside where they stay cool. Usually, the pumpkin is still firm when it's ready to be set aside for Santa.

If you used mums and feel like digging a hole big enough, you can plant them pumpkin and all. I'm not really into digging big holes, so I usually stick with pansies- less guilt when I toss an annual.

But as you can see by the credit on the photo, I didn't get one made. I googled someone else's masterpiece and shared it.

It's been one of those weeks where life got the best of me. I'm pretty sure the twenty-four hours that make up the seven days of some weeks are shorter than others. I believe Einstein had a theory on it...something about the relativity of time vs. diminishing brain mass of busy moms.

Okay, so I'm no physics major and can't give you scientific proof, I just know it's the truth!

But trust me, this is EASY to do. Just buy a pumpkin, a potted plant, and some potting soil.

Slice the top off the pumpkin.

Set the plant inside, add some extra dirt around it, and then water it.

And water it every few days, unless it rains. Then you just need to give nature a high five for the help.

It truly is EASY. I don't even remove all the seeds, unless I want some to bake and eat.

Speaking of which...you want a an easy, tasty treat?

Scoop out some pumpkin seeds; remove the goopy stuff; toss with a small amount of olive or vegetable oil; sprinkle with salt. Spread them out in a single layer across a cookie sheet, and then bake in the oven on 300 degrees until slightly browned. When they start to smell delicious (about 30-45 minutes), they're usually ready to eat.

photo credit: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds via photopin (license)