Hi Everyone!  I have my cousin Tiara doing a “guest post” today!  She is Amazing! I love her blog she has recently been updating with some fun crafty things.  Here is her post today, enjoy!

My name is Tiara, cousin to Natalie. Who by the way, is one of my very favorite people ever! I am the mommy of a very active firecracker and the wife of a very hardworking helicopter pilot. I am a born and raised Utah girl, but has recently had my heart stolen by the Lone Star state of Texas. Being new to this stay-at-home mommy business I have found a new love in blogging @ the Reeder’s digest. I hope to share my thoughts, new ideas or just my life with whomever stumbles my way. Since the beginning of time….

Or ever since I can remember, I have been smitten by Hallow‘s Eve! It has always been my favorite holiday (except Christmas, but I mean is that even a debate?!).

Growing up in a large family, being a daughter of a farmer and a homemaker, we had to get creative when it came to Halloween. Credit given to my mom and her frugal-ness and sewing capabilities we had a plethora of fun costumes to choose from. It was like its own little holiday, getting to retrieve the garbage sacks full of Halloween stuff from the attic every year! But when I got to Jr. High I decided to take it into my own hands! And that, ladies and gents is when it all started!

So if you’re like me and hate buying the prepackaged costumes (because of the price, not because I don’t think they are cute, cause I do…well, most of them) read my tips that have worked for me over the years. Because I have found great joy and thrill in making and “throwing together” homemade costumes every year.

Here are some from the past, wish I had ALL of them to show you, but that would just take SOOOO long!

Queen of Hearts and Ace of Hearts – 2007 Brett and I were engaged

Disco Dancer and the Disco Ball (Preggo belly) – 2010 Pregnant with Azure

Chef, Waitress and Crab in a Pot – 2011 Azure 8 mo old

Cutest crab you will ever see!

• Think ahead. Try and come up with what everyone will be dressing up as early on in the month (or year, that’s how much I love it!). That will make it so that when you are at the store and you see a random item that would go perfect with a costume you can get it; and save the headache of trying to make 1 trip, last minute to Walmart and be stuck wearing an XXXL banana costume cause it was the only thing left. Or my least favorite, wearing NO COSTUME AT ALL?!!! gasp!

• Hit up the 2nd hand/ thrift and dollar stores! You can never go wrong there, as you can see with my costumes from the past.

• Make a list of what everyone’s going to be and what their costume needs, and keep it in your purse at all times. When you are out shopping you can refer to the list. I have to do this with everything in life or I can’t remember a thing. If I didn’t do this Azure would be wearing an orange wig, hot pink coat, 1 rain boot 1 flip flop and a church dress! No Joke!

• Remember, you don’t have to be “crafty” to do a homemade costume. It really is EASY! It just takes a little imagination and a little trust in yourself.

• Make a budget, it helps with getting creative! My budget this year was $20. This is the most I’ve ever spent on costumes but I think I still rocked it.

• Check your own closet, I guarantee you will find at least 2 things you can use!

• Once everyone chooses what they want to be (or if you still have the luxury of choosing for your kids) find a pic on the internet so you can envision the goal.

Now for this years inspiration….Are you ready?!………..

Azure

Brett

Me

I’m going to let you in on a little confession of mine. When I was pregnant with Azure, Brett and I were looking for ideas of what to be for Halloween that year. I saw a picture of a toddler as an oompa-loompa and I told Brett that when our (unborn) child was that age they were going to be an oomp-loompa! That was 2 years of waiting for this moment! Wow! It feels good to get that off my chest! Though I’m a little embarrassed that you all know now how weird I am!

Anyways…
To achieve this years fun I hit up my local Goodwill while out one day and with my “list” I was able to find EVERYTHING I needed. I did a happy dance of course! And even better, it was all in my budget of $20!

Purple Women’s Blazer $5.29

Blue Medical Scrubs $3.99 each

White pants and Brown Long Sleeve Shirt $2.29 and $1.79

Women’s Long Sleeve Striped Shirt $3.79

I was happier than a nerd at comic-con when I got home that day! Laying out all my treasures (after washing them first of course) and beaming in my success of the day. I then got out my sewing machine and went to work.

I cut off the legs on the pants and gave them a new hem
I took the women’s striped shirt and cut it up, making leggings wrist cuffs and a collar for my little oompa-loompa. 
Made suspenders from white elastic from my sewing junk, hot glued clamps on, and cut brown felt circles.

Grand Total: $7.87!

For Violet Beauregard all I had to do was add a red belt from my closet, and come Halloween I shall stuff myself with a pillow, and color my hair blue!

Grand Total: $7.98!

For Willy Wonka I dug through my scarves and found one for the bow-tie and one to add some frill! I just need to find a top hat and make a cane!

Grand Total: $5.29!

I’m thinking Zoo Animals and a Zoo Keeper!

Good thing we have a whole year to get her used to wearing it 😉