RubikCuberubik'srubik,cube

Update!

Post Halloween Blow-Out Costume Sales!!!

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Box Costumes

Rubik’s Cube Costume

I just saw this costume on the Today show and thought, wow — easy and fun!  You can create it using one box or three boxes askew, solved or unsolved, large or small, with arm holes or without.  Wear tights or black pants underneath.  You can get as fancy as you want.  If you have truly waited until the last minute — simply spray paint your boxes black with quick drying paint.  During the 15 minutes it takes for the paint to dry completely, cut out your  squares of colored paper.  Now glue or tape them to box(es) being sure to leave space between the squares so it appears they are outlined in black.   If you don’t have boxes at home your local postal store or office supply store  senerally stock boxes.   If you don’t have a paper cutter or glue gun consider investing in one for the next time!

Joann

My absolute favorite craft tool …

3M Scotch Adhesive Transfer Tape ATG 700 Dispenser

Scotch Adhesive Transfer Tape, 0.5 Inch x 36 Yards (924.5)

Adhesive Transfer Tape Roll for Scotch Tape Gun , 3/4

This tape is hard to find, so be sure to buy at least 6-12 rolls at a time.  There is nothing worse than getting half way through a project just to run out of tape.)

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Gift Box Costume

Just wrap up a box and add a ribbon and gift tag!

And if you actually plan in advance, you might consider ordering personalized wrapping paper!

Personalized Wrapping Paper

Personalized Ribbon

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Lego Brick Costume

Lego Bricks

Choose a color.  Dress head to toe in that color or dress in all black or all white.  Cut head and arm holes out of box with exacto knife. Paint a box with quick drying glossy  spray paint.   Attach round painted plastic containers with glue gun.  Voila!

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Pizza Box Costume

pizza box

Wear a as much or little underneath this costume as you are comfortable with.  Hot glue as many pizza boxes together as you desire (I’ve seen this costume done  with as little as 1 box or as many as 6 boxes glued together for more coverage).  Cut a hole in the middle so that the box(es) sit on top of your hips. You might want to attach suspenders to ensure the box stays on!

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Duct Tape Quickies

Lady Bug Costume

Ladybug

Dress in red.  Add black duct tape circles.  Roll black or red duct tape into long snake like pieces and form into wing shape.  Attach with duct tape to back of shirt.  Add duct tape antennae to an old headband.  Alternatively, wear black and add a red polka dot cape.

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Tic Tac Toe Board

tic tac toe

Wear Black or White.  Run strips of colored duct tape down and across your shirt.  Add x’s and o’s.

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The Future is Now.


This is the old traditional garbage bag costume.  Wear all black or all white.  Cut  holes in black or white  garbage bag.  Step into bag as if you would step into a pair of pants.  Take a second bag.  Cut a hole for your head and 2 holes for your arms.  Put on like a shirt.  Now tuck the shirt into the pants. Take silver (or any color) duct tape and wrap around your waist like a belt so the 2 pieces stay together and stay on you.  Consider trimming the sleeve edges and color with duct tape to make the costume look a bit more finished.  WARNING! Please, do not put this costume on young children.  If worn improperly, garbage bags can lead to suffocation.  You might also want to create a headband or crown out of the duct tape for a little extra pop or even create tin foil fringe for the belt and headband.  You can also wear a single garbage bag like a halter dress as shown on the picture above.

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Accessorize

Boas

Wear any solid color leotard with tights or unitard.  Use 4 boas (any single color or mix and match) and drape loosely around neck — one in front, one in back, 1 on each side.  Tie at waist with with a 5th boa.  Take extra material and create a boa headband.

or

Simply wear any sexy dress in your closet and add a contrasting boa and lots of bling for an over the top glamorous look.

Boas

Deluxe Boas

Feather Boas

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More Bling. More Glamour.

Simply don  tiaras, and lots and lots of bling! Don’t forget your camera.

Bride To Be Tiara with Flashing Lights

Light-Up Naughty Girl Tiara

Regal Deluxe Crown

Rhinestone Tiara

Rose & Pearl Tiara Adult

Tiara Haircombs

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Red Heart Beads

Bling Ring

Diva Bling Necklace

Disco Ball beads

Disco Ball Earrings
Party Bling Necklace

Champagne Necklace

Rhinestone Bracelet

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Sunglasses

fabulous sunglasses

Now add fabulous sunglasses!

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Raid Your Closet, Your Kitchen, Your Garage … (you get the idea)

Graffiti Costumes


A simple white unisex t-shirt worn either with jeans or with white shorts or sweatpants work as a simple fashion forward costume. Just take fabric markers or even cans of spray paint (the shirts will be a little stiff if you spray them) and “tag” the shirts with just about anything you like.

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Hanes V-Neck T-Shirts

White Shorts

White Sweat Pants

Athletic Shirt

Baseball cap

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Don’t forget the

multi-colored fabric markers or fabric spray

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Cowboy and Cowgirl


Just wear jeans, denim, plaid shirt, black or white shirt with rolled sleeves, boots,  Cowboy hat, a bandana (optional), and vest (optional)

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Cook / Julia Child

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Gal:  Any apron over a matronly dress and solid shoes or even over a sexy dress and sexy shoes.

Guy:  Any apron will do, yes, even a floral girly print since just  wearing an apron gives you instant sex appeal!

Chef Hat and Apron Set

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Any Athletic Wear

Female Soccer Player Sexy Adult Costume Soccer Player

Soccer, football, ski, snowboarding, tennis, surfing, golf, baseball, NASCAR, equestrian …

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Tacky Tourist Costume

Baggy shorts, loud or bold baggy shirt, camera around your neck, ugly oversized hat to protect you from the sun. Be sure to wear socks with walking shoes.  Carry a shopping bag.

Tacky Traveler Adult Costume

Tacky Tourist Adult Costume

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Mr. or Ms. Matched


Combine every pattern in your wardrobe to create one crazy and colorful costume.  In addition to your mismatched shirts and pants, think old ties, socks, bandanas, hats, gloves, and scarves.

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Make the Party Last a Lifetime!

Don’t let this memorable event fade away with the morning sun. The next day, when all is still fresh, log onto Shutterfly.com to create photo books, memory calendars, and even photo thank you notes.

Photo Books

Collage Calendars

Photo cards

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Party hearty!

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Adopt a Bat

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Looking for a way to add an educational and charitable element to your classroom Halloween celebrations?

Adopt a baby vampire bat!

or any of these “scary” critters …

Adopt a Wolf

Adopt a Snake

Adopt a Panther

Adopt a Falcon

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National Wildlife Federation

Still Looking for a Class Pet? Symbolic Animal Adoptions from NWF are mess-free!

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Classroom Halloween Party

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Most of you are way better than me about planning in advance, but for those last minute room moms, you can skip the drive across town just to find the leftover Halloween pickings.  Order TODAY and have your paper goods and decorations delivered to your front door in time for your student’s classroom party!
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These patterns compliment your Baby Vampire Bat Adoption perfectly!  Check with your classroom teachers, even if you don’t adopt a bat, they still may be integrating bats into their lesson plans.

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Halloween Craze Paper Goods

Batty Plates and Beverage Napkins

Silly Souls

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A simple, one-click alternative …

Halloween Party in a Box
This basic party package for 8 guests includes plates, cups, beverage napkins, a table cover, cutlery, balloons, streamers, candles, and curling ribbon.

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Halloween Treats

Add  a bat or two to your homemade (or store bought) treats and you are set!

Purple and black bat cupcake picks

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Classroom Halloween Decorations

It’s a classroom party — keep it simple and cheap.  Save your money for all the little extras your classroom teacher really NEEDS!

Silver with Black Bats Balloons
Bat Balloon
Tissue Bat

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Batty Activities for your Classroom Party

Looking for something to do?  Try the always popular pinata!

Bat Pinata

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Include both candy and little bat “favors.”


Candy

Bat rings (Sorry — I could not link directly to this product.  You will need to do a quick search once on the site)
Plastic Bats
Black Bat Shaped Lollipops

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Play Games

Pass the Vampire Bat
Supplies: one black straw for each child / bat shapes cut out of  black tissue paper.  How To Play: Divide the class into 2 teams and line up each team.  Students pass the tissue bats down the line, teammate to teammate, by inhaling and exhaling on the straw to hang onto or release the ornament. No hands!  The first team to successfully pass the bats up and down the line wins! (Before the game you can get the students to make the tissue bats).

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READ!

No bat unit is complete without reading Stellaluna!

Stellaluna


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Teacher Gift

Your teacher should not only stand out but also feel appreciated.  Give her a thank you tiara!

Bat Tiara


or

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Make the Day Last a Lifetime

Don’t let this memorable day fade away with the morning sun.   Create a lasting memory for your child’s teacher!  The morning after Halloween, when all is still fresh, log onto Shutterfly.com to create photo books, memory calendars, photo mugs, and even photo thank you notes  memorializing this year’s Halloween celebration.  Halloween pictures also make for great holiday presents for your own friends and family.

Photo Books

Collage Calendars

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Resources

Halloween School Parties . . . What Do I Do?

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Party Hearty!

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Couples Costumes

Happy Halloween!

Update!

Post Halloween Blow-out Costume Sales!!!

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Update:

Be sure to also check out Last Minute Costume Ideas

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Halloween is around the corner and everyone seems to be searching for the perfect couple costume. Not only do you want costumes ideas but you want to be able to see your options all in one convenient location.  So basically we have combined all of our previous costume posts onto one page plus have added a few new ideas.  We will continue to add new couples costumes right up until Halloween, so keep checking back!  We have also made the pictures a little larger than usual so you can pretty much see  what the costumes look like without clicking back and forth so much.

We have broken down this post  into the following categories:

  • Couples Costumes

Costumes that work for most people with many also available in plus sizes.  Click on the links or pictures for details but remember, the photos below just give you the overall look. Quite often you can choose from a variety of options ranging from almost dowdy to quite sexy, so be sure to click on the “see more” links option when you visit the costume site. Some of the couples costumes in this category range from King Kong and Anne Darrow to Adam and Eve to Sugar Daddy and his Sugar Baby (my favorite!)

  • Superhero and Supervillain

Any combination will work!

  • Fomal Costumes

This style costume works for any event but is pretty much your only option if you are attending a formal even or wedding. Yes, this year there seem to be quite a few of you who have opted for a festive Halloween wedding but prefer your guests maintain the formality typically associated with a wedding.

  • Cute for her. Wearable for him.

These couple  costume ideas are designed around the guy who is uncomfortable wearing costumes.  They are easy to wear and not too complicated or fussy.

  • Sexy for her.  Sexy for him.

No further explanation needed.

  • Silly costumes

Just for the fun of it.

  • Simple. Cheap.

And finally, we have included a module for those of you who are begrudgingly being dragged to a couples costume party but would prefer not to dress up and certainly have no desire to spend a lot of money.

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We want to encourage all of you to enjoy the search. Choosing your costume and getting ready for the big night is at least half of the fun!

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The Costumes

Make it A Double …

Click on the links or pictures for details but remember, the photos below just give you the overall look. Quite often you can choose from a variety of options ranging from almost dowdy to quite sexy, so be sure to click on the “see more” links option when you visit the costume site.

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King Kong and Ann Darrow Costumes

Fred & Wilma Flintstone Costumes

Doctor & Nurse Costumes

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Marilyn Monroe & Elvis Presley Costumes

Greek Couple Costumes

Fred & Daphne (Scooby-Doo) costumes

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Danny & Sandy (Grease) Costumes

Hippie Couple Costumes

Adam & Eve Costumes

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Matrix Couple Costumes

Caveman & Cavewoman Costumes

Viking Couple Costumes

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Pirate Costumes

Little Red Riding Hood & the Big Bad Wolf

Aladdin & Jasmin Costumes

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Devil & Angel Costumes

Peter Pan and Tinker Bell Costumes

Hansel and Gretel Costumes (be sure to shorten this skirt!)

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And finally, these 2 costumes are just too “sweet” to pass up …

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Sugar Daddy Costume and Sugar Baby

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Superheroes and Supervillains

First the gals, then the guys …

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Wonder Woman Costume, Emma Frost Costume, Sexy Robin Costume, Supergirl Deluxe Costume, Girl Wonder Costume, Green Lantern Costume, The Flash Costume, Poison Ivy Costume, Black Cat Costume, Green Lantern Costume, The Flash Costume, The Flash Costume, Poison Ivy Costume

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Batman Costume, Watchmen Ozymandias Costume, Watchmen Night Owl Costume, Spiderman Costume, Black Suited Spidermen Costume, Superman Costume, Wolverine Costume, Iron Man Costume

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Or …

Create your own superhero and costume!

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Costumes for Formal Events

With Halloween soon approaching everyone seems to be scurrying to find couples costumes to meet special needs. We have had numerous requests for ideas for formal couples costumes that can be worn to Halloween weddings and other more formal events Here are a few ideas …

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Ken – Barbie’s Prom Date Ken’s Deluxe Adult Costume

Barbie – Solo In The Spotlight Barbie Deluxe Adult Costume

Don’t forget to Barbie’s signature hair!

Barbie Flip Wig Adult

Barbie Long Wig Adult

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Formalities Men’s Tux

Black Flapper Dress

Napoleon

Josephine

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Gangster Adult CostumeGangster Moll Plus Adult Costume

Gangster

Gangster (Plus size)

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Matador Designer Collection Adult CostumeSpanish Lady Adult Costume

Matador

Spanish Dancer

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Perfect for a wedding!

Queen of Hearts Elite Collection Adult Costume

King of Hearts Elite Collection Adult Costume

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Lady Luck Adult Costume

High Roller Adult Costume

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Cute for her. Wearable for him.

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Butterfly & Butterfly Catcher

I like the butterfly catcher idea so much did a bit of research and basically found no off the rack costumes except this bushman costume in very limited sizes

So even better — create your own butterfly catcher costume. Have your man wear a khaki shirt and/or safari vest, khaki shorts, safari, bushman hat or boonie hat,  hiking boots, and carry a butterfly net. If you don’t care for this butterfly costume, there are lots more options to choose from!

Clearance! Enchanted Butterfly Adult Costume

Butterfly Costumes

Adult Deluxe Fantasy Butterfly Costume

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Any Disney Princess and Handsome Prince

Just a note of caution: Unless you go with a fairly sexy looking princess costume, this concept can go bad quickly. An adult in a princess costume can end up looking silly rather than stunning.

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Handsome Prince

Snow White

Sleeping Beauty

Cinderella

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If your date prefers an even simpler look, he can wear a purple or wine colored cape over black slacks/jeans and a white or black collared shirt. Now add a crown

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Star Trek

Star Trek Shirt in blue, gold, & red

Star Trek Dress in various colors and styles

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Gunslingers

Gunslinger

Cowboy hat

Shoot em up cowgirl

For this guy look, a simple cowboy hat worn with jeans, a t-shirt or collared long sleeve shirt with sleeves rolled, and a bandana will work just fine. He can even skip the bandanna.

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Female Soccer Player Sexy Adult Costume Soccer Player

Soccer Player

Soccer Player

For this look any matching soccer uniforms will work. For her — just roll the sleeves and tie the shirt so it is shorter or better yet, cut the both the length and the sleeves with pinking sheers.

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Playboy Men's Smoking Jacket Adult Costume

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Playboy Men’s Smoking Jacket

Cocktail Hunny / Playboy Bunny

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Chef Hat and Apron Set

Chef Costume

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Sexy for her.  Sexy for him.

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Aphrodite

Spartan

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Mardi Gras Queen Adult CostumeMardi Gras Man Adult Costume

Mardi Gras Queen

Mardi Gras King

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Seafaring Sailor Male Adult Costume Captivating Captain Adult Costume

Seafaring Sailor

Captivating Captain

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Humorous (Silly) Costumes

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Plug & Socket Adult Costume

Plug & Socket Adult Costume

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Bacon and Eggs Adult

Bacon and Eggs Adult

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Bowling Pin Adult CostumeBowling Ball Adult Costume

Bowling Pin Adult Costume

Bowling Ball Adult Costume

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Banana Split Costume — The Banana

Banana Split Costume — the Ice Cream

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He can wear a black suit or a swim suit or a tennis outfit …

She wears a little black dress or swim suit in coordinating colors or tennis outfit …

Barbie and Ken — Doll Box Couple

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or

Playing Card – Queen of Hearts Adult Costume or Playing Card – Queen of Hearts Adult Costume

King Of Hearts Adult Costume or Playing Card – King of Hearts Adult

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Tacky Traveler Adult Costume

Tacky Tourist Adult Costume

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Costumes.  Simple. Cheap.

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Graffiti Costumes …

A simple white unisex t-shirt worn either with jeans or with white shorts or sweatpants work as a simple fashion forward costume. Just take fabric markers or even cans of spray paint (the shirts will be a little stiff if you spray them) and “tag” the shirts with just about anything you like.

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Hanes V-Neck T-Shirts

White Shorts

White Sweat Pants

Athletic Shirt

Baseball cap

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Don’t forget the

multi-colored fabric markers or fabric spray

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Cowboy and Cowgirl

Just wear jeans, boots, Cowboy hat, and a bandana(optional).

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Chef Hat and Apron Set — Buy one for her and one for him!

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Mr. or Ms. Matched

Combine every pattern in your wardrobe to create one crazy and colorful costume.  In addition to your mismatched shirts and pants, think old ties, socks, bandanas, hats, gloves, and scarves.  Little Miss Matched has  a wonderful zany mismatched collection for both children and adults in a wide  range of color  and patterns. So what are you — an adorable elf?


Little Miss Matched (Start with the clearance section!)

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Glamour Couple

For Him: Wear a suit and tie.  Add  sunglasses.  Start at Nifty Fits for the latest in men’s statement fashion.

For Her:  This might be the perfect excuse to buy a new fashionable dress.  Start at Nifty Fits for the latest in designer name clothes and accessories at discount pricing!

Nifty Fits

Boas

Add a boa and lots of bling for an over the top glamorous look

Boas

Deluxe Boas

Feather Boas

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Jewelry

If you really want to go way, way over the top consider renting real diamond jewelry.   I am fascinated by this concept.  Adorn Brides actually leases fine elegant genuine jewelry for special occasions for a fraction of the price it would cost to buy it.  How much more glamorous can you get than wearing tens of thousand of dollars worth of jewels!

Adorn Brides

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Party Hearty!

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Recently we came across a question on the Doctor Simcha discussion forum asking for ideas for a “good things come in small packages” themed bat mitzvah.  Seldom do we come across new great theme ideas, so not surprisingly, we were hooked from the get go especially since there seemed to be so many positive ways to incorporate a lovely message into the celebration. Although we have not developed an absolutely complete theme package, this post is fairly comprehensive and covers most elements needed to put together a great party with an emphasis on charitable giving.

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The Charity (or Mitzvah) Project

I love the idea of knitting tiny hats and booties and blankets for neonatal units. In fact even if you don’t knit, it might be worth learning! Either join a group already doing knitting, start a group of your own, or find another way to support these wonderful and fragile children arriving in the world as the tiniest of G-d’s gifts. Look at the following organizations for inspiration or maybe contact your local hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit to see if it has any particular needs:

Knit for Bliss
The Preemie Project
Hadassah Hospital
Baby Charity Knitting Patterns

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If your passion is animals, there is no shortage of endangered baby animals to “adopt.”

National Wildlife Federation

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Invitation Idea – The Smaller the Better!

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I like this Lavender reverse card by William Arthur since it is only 3.5″ x 5″ yet can hold all pertinent celebration information plus a small motif symbol on the top. I centered the text and used a second font for the name, used brown ink and added the lavender and brown Circles and Stripes liner. This particular card is engraved — a special touch which compliments the emphasis on quality in this theme. Consider packing the invitation and any other necessary cards,(ie response cards and envelopes, evening celebration cards) into a small deluxe gift box lined with plumped tissue paper so the cards are inset into the tissue paper. Then wrap the box in personalized wrapping paper.  Affix a mailing label. I can’t think of a more perfect way to set the tone for the theme good things come in small packages! Yes, it is a bit over the top but my motto is always think big and then scale back, i.e. instead of a box you might use a bubble mailer.

Lavender reverse card by William Arthur

Peace Dove Postage

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Centerpiece and Party Favor Ideas

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Bonsai is the art aesthetic miniaturization of trees …

Azalea Bonsai

Gardenia Bonsai

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To add more mass to your centerpiece consider displaying both bonsai or one bonsai and an adorned mini lucite torah (these are the least expensive I could find) on a tiered display rack.

Tiered Display Rack


The third tier can be filled with any of dozens of miniature favors.  Here are my favorites …

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present cheesecakes

Individual present cheese cakes (visually fabulous but over the top expensive)

Individual towel cakes,

Bloembox flower seeds

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Also consider polka dot favor boxes tied with beautiful  midori organdy ribbon and filled with a single  personalized Hershey Kiss and a small tag saying something like “Hadassah Hospital Neonatal Care Unit thanks you with a kiss.”

Polka dot favor boxes

MIdori organdy ribbon

Personalized Hershey Kiss

Small tag

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Place Card Holder Idea

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This  mini photo album works nicely with this theme.

Little Book of Memories

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Food Ideas

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Skip the large plated dinner. Just serve lots of courses with bite size morsels (tapas, tea sandwiches, small plates) throughout the night.

For dessert serve cupcakes, or mini brownie pops, or two tiered mini cakes.

mini brownie pops

two tiered mini cakes

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More Inspiration

There is a wonderful theme park in Israel called Mini Israel. It is probably worth a look.

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Hope this helps jump start your own take on this great theme.

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Party Hearty!

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An inspiring addition to our

Ladies Yoga Night Party


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As Featured on ABC’s 20/20 on 10.09.09!

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All of us have watched the transformation of Valerie Bertinelli from a teen star to the sexy bride of Eddie Van Halen to a middle age woman struggling with weight issues and most recently to a new svelte role model and spokesperson for the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program.

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This fitness DVD can add an inspirational element to your Ladies Fitness Night Out, especially for those of us who may need to be reminded every once in a while that change is possible.  Plus, it  is a great addition to any gal’s fitness routine whether she is simply seeking to improve her fitness level or working to look great for an upcoming celebration.  (Admit it ladies, we all do this!)

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Not willing to splurge on yourself?  Losing it and Keeping Fit makes for a great birthday gift, hostess gift, bridesmaid gift, or holiday gift for anyone near and dear to you.

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Valerie Bertinelli: Losing it and Keeping Fit DVD. Get a leaner, firmer body with full-length workouts for losing weight and staying fit. .

Now Only: $14.98.  Free Shipping

Pre-Order your copy today!

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New!

As Seen on Oprah! Save 20% off + Free Shipping on the Bob Greene: Total Body Makeover DVD. Now Only: $11.49

Save 20% off select fitness and yoga essentials during Gaiam’s New Year’s Resolution Sale! Hurry, inventory is limited.

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Party Hearty!

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