One Jacket = Three QUICKIE Costumes!

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We have been loving the H&M Halloween costumes around these parts….and I was thinking, ya know you really can get SO much more use out of them than just one outfit. I thought it would be fun to see how you could turn the Pirate Coat into several different costumes! I will tell you that this isn’t a fancy photo shoot. We did NOT spend much time on this—I wanted to see if I could just grab things we had around the house to transform the looks in 15 minutes or less. Let’s go!

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COSTUME: H&M pirate coat, one crazy light up pumpkin sword from Walgreens, one hat and hook from the Halloween Party Store. I’d also add an eye patch!

{I went as a pirate wench one year and the hat and hook were leftovers from my costume…I did not look NEARLY as cool or cute, and looked more like a waitress from Long John Silver!!!!}

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This next one is especially appropriate for my little Wolfgang….

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COSTUME: Pirate coat, violin, hair in ponytail

{OK OK, so we cheated a bit here by using a real violin. You def wouldn’t want to trick or treat with that! I would use a toy violin/piano or make one out of cardboard. OR simply have them carry around a scroll of sheet music and a conductor’s wand. If your child is more cooperative, add a black ribbon around the pony tail!}

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And finally….

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COSTUME: Pirate coat, fedora, sparkly glove.

{I didn’t add sparkles to this glove, but you get the idea! I’d probably add longer pants….even jeans…and a microphone.}

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There you have it! The possibilities are pretty endless….if you were crafty, you could make a pumpkin head/mask and go as the headless horseman….you could wear a top hat and carry a stuffed animal lion/tiger and go as a circus ring master….you could even use the same pirate hat, simply powder your kiddo’s hair white and go as George Washington or Paul Revere!

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I swear I’m loving all of these ideas! Hmmm, I think I need to track down a pirate coat for ME! {get the H&M pirate coat here…)

 

Retro Round Up: Kitty Love

Hi friends!  I spent this weekend sick as a dog, banished to the back room with nothing but the TV and my good old kitty, Minnow, who is acting as my nursemaid. So, in her honor, I dedicate this week’s round up of vintage cuteness to all things kitty! Enjoy, my friends!

Meow! From Etsy seller, This and That Cape Cod.

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Who doesn’t need a pair of Garfield suspenders? From Etsy seller Robyn’s Nest.

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I love this little sweet vintage barrette.  Darling kitty witty! From Etsy seller, Rosebud Cottage.

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Check out this sweet tom cat  shirt with the fluffy ruffly bits. So darling. From Etsy seller, Oh Sydney.

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Who wouldn’t want to choo choo choose this great kitty train conductor wall hanging? From Etsy seller, Lulu Marigold.

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Lions are kitties too and they are all over these amazing pants! From Etsy seller, Vintarthromodern Kiddos.

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Who doesn’t love a kitty on a bib wearing a snappy little bow? From Etsy seller, Lovesick Vintage.

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Here is one my favorite kitty books when I was a child, but it is a heartbreaker!  Written by Bruce Waber of Lyle the Crocodile fame. From Etsy seller, Kishke Lovely.

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And then there is the Queen of all kitties, Hello Kitty!  Check out this sweet vintage Hello Kitty tin plates, cake and stove set. From Etsy seller, Moon Parade.

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Who doesn’t love a good Steiff stuffed toy? Well, I do and I particularly love this little startled cutie cat! From Etsy seller, Steiff Phyndz.

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Happy Monday, folks!

 

flashback // The Little Orange Boxes from UNICEF

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Back in the day, when Halloween rolled around, kid’s toted around a little orange box that kind of looked like a juice box (and later a box of animal crackers!). But they were so much more.

Here’s the story behind that little orange box.

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Image: Book or Treat

It started with a school teacher named Mrs. Allison who saw her children’s heavy bags of candy every Halloween and thought all that neighborly fun could be used for good—not just potential cavities. Around that time, she saw a parade led by UNICEF trying to raise money to supply milk to undernourished countries across the sea. Mrs. Allison was so inspired by the parade that she came up with the idea of having children ask for money on behalf of UNICEF as they were trick or treating on Halloween—collected in milk cartons!


Image: Washington Post

What started in Philadelphia in 1950 caught on and UNICEF started receiving checks from schools across the nation. And “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!” was born.

It became so big that TV shows started helping—there was even an entire episode of Bewitched dedicated to UNICEF. Oh, how I would have loved to have seen that!


Image: Book or Treat

Even The Brady Bunch joined in the fun.

And Betsy McCall, the famous McCall paper doll, dedicated a whole page of Halloween cuteness to the cause!


Image: ClutterShop

It has been more than sixty years since Mrs. Allison came up with her terrific idea and nearly $170 million have been raised by kids toting UNICEF collection boxes on Halloween calling out “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!” These funds that have enabled UNICEF to save and improve children’s lives by providing health care, improved nutrition, clean water, education and more.

In 2004, UNICEF took their Trick Or Treat fundraising online and as a result we don’t see too many of those little orange boxes. But Mrs. Allison’s wonderful idea, and the power of UNICEF, continues to change the world.

To see how you can get involved with Trick or Treat for UNICEF, check out their site! Did you ever carry a UNICEF carton?

Thanks to the Wasthington Post, Book or Treat and Child of the Sixties Forever.

It’s our Annual Creepy Cool Vintage Halloween Mask Tribute

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Friends,  I have to say, this is one of my favorite posts I do all year. It started back a few year’s ago when I went to one of those Halloween Super Stores and ended up getting totally freaked out by all the ultra creepy masks. Is this what halloween is all about now? Rotting zombies? Psycho clowns? That lame Scream ghost?? I remembering shaking my head and thinking, “Man, it’s not like back in the day. Costumes were so much cuter back then!” But then as I started looking for old photos I had the realization that while many of those old plastic mask costumes were under the guise of innocent characters, most of them were totally creepy. Creepy cool. Let’s take a look!

We begin with this grim duo….the jaunty bowler and capelet are a nice try at “cute-ing” this pair, up….but don’t think we didn’t notice that your face was green, little witchie poo.

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Ahhh, the Creature of the Black Lagoon! Lurker of murky swamps….and fan of Revlon’s Racy Red lipstick. It’s very drag-tastic, no?

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Hmmm, I’m not sure what’s scarier….Freddy Frog and the Startled Pumpkin….or the grim face of that lady. (You KNOW she just hissed at them to “Sit up straight for the photo!”) Even the TV looks shocked.

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When I find vintage Halloween photos I typically put them into one of two folders: “Cute Vintage Halloween” and “Creepy Vintage Halloween”. This darling group almost made it into the Cute folder. One guess who bumped them into Creepy….

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This group is a plastic delight. Nervous clown, defiant skeleton, queen who has a twin sister that’s a nurse, and crazy Raggedy Ann on the end there. Someone needs a hot oil treatment.

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Hee. I love the Banana Splits guy and even that lil devil is kinda cute. The witch is where we all fall apart. (Does it say Super Witch on her costume??) Please note the GIGANTIC buckets they are planning on collecting candy with.

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If one smoking bum is cool, then two are twice as nice! Bonus points for dainty candy containers. Not like those greedy bums above.
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These two crack me up….they look sooooooo over it all.

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OK, so these guys have the best trick or treat sacks we’ve seen thus far, but I’m taking points away for the mom jeans on ol’ Farmer Rosey Cheeks.

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Oh sweet fancy moses….I don’t really need to say anything here, do I?? Yikes.

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Meet Casper the Friendly-But-Slightly-Maniacal Ghost! I love the double face action here….And those draggy eye brows?? Lets just say I’m a BIG FAN. Hyuck hyuck.

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Oh bunny. His outfit is straight out of one of our Retro Roundups. His make up is straight up Insane Clown Possee.

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OK, seriously…..what’s with all these ghost’s eyebrows?? It’s like a master class from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Ironically that witch could do with a good pair of tweezers. And perhaps a slightly LARGER trick or treat bag, hmmm?

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This quartet is a visual delight. Let’s go right to left. Looks like someone’s spidey sense was tingling and came up with a forecast of rain. Nice poncho kiddo! Sassy shirtless Indian needs to grab that dream catcher craziness on the wall behind him for a little extra coverage. I think ol eyebrows is supposed to be the Wolfman, but really he’s soooo Zombie Joey Ramon, no? And methinks this Lone Ranger has definitely had a little work done. “Hi Ho Botox, Awaaay!!!!!!”

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The jump suit says Donny but that mask is screaming Marie. This is also a classic example of “you better wear your coat under that costume or you’ll freeze to death!”

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And finally….this sweet boy. Oh ya darling lil cowpoke, we hear ya…..

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So there you have it folks, the Halloween Countdown is Officially ON, people!!!

images: here and 5, 8, 10, 14

Retro Round Up:: Wooly Warmth

As a knitter, fall is the season that my knitting needles sing their siren song leading me to the closest yarn shop where I immediately drop a ton of cash on some pretty pretty wool to make something cozy.  But I found sometimes, it is easier to buy than put my poor RSI pooped hands through knitting the whole thing. And also, a shorter wait to get the product!  I found these knitted bits of cuteness on Etsy and wanted to share with you!

The detail on this dress skirt is so darling. From Etsy seller, The Robot Parade.

These socks rock! From Etsy seller, Simply Elegant Vintage.

This little Nordic sweater is too adorable for words.  I love the little hearts at the edge. From Etsy seller, Vintage & Diamonds.

These remind me of a pair of mittens my Mom gave to me a kid–little green alligator mittens. But these are pretty darn cute. From Etsy seller, Closet Queens.

Oh man, this darling little sweater is killing me. THAT PATTERN! From Etsy seller, Le Petit Market.

How much is that doggie on the sweater? From Etsy seller 1 Iota.

WHOA!  I want this in my size! From Etsy seller, Bombshells & Babes.

School time! From Etsy seller, Maybel57.

Or for you knittin’ kittens out there, I would like to offer you this. I know, right? From Etsy seller, Antiques Galore Gal.

Or you could teach your kiddo how to knit and call it a day. Circle of life my friends! From Etsy seller, Chemin des Muguets.