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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Nightmares Come True!

Halloween is around the corner, My Friends...
And this has been a big one for us!

Getting my daughter's costume together this year made me nostalgic and I started to remember fondly all the anticipation of the Big Night.  We'd wait for it to get dark enough, while my Mom would transform us all from ordinary...to otherworldly!
She would sit us down in the kitchen and make us into whatever we decided to be that year.  She wasn't a professional make-up artist or anything....but, in my mind, she was magical in her abilities....
She was up for trying anything....from Rockstars...
My Aunt Shana as a member of KISS

To Vampires....

My Uncle Corey circa 1981 or so

To Hobo Clowns....
 Yep, that's my Mom on the left...you can't see in this picture, but she stuffed her bra like Dolly Parton for this, her "Rhinestone Cowgirl" costume ;P

Me

A Bunch of Balloons.....
My Aunt Nan

...and Skeletons....

Aunt Shana again
...And Japanese Geisha Girls....

That's me :)
My parents made Halloween such a fun holiday...and still do!  They love to dress up, even now, and thrill the grandkids (and big kids, too) with their playfulness and willingness to join in the adventures! 
Dad 2009....

...and Maggie, Me and Mom same year
 Thanks Mom and Dad, I love you!

So, Maggie's previous year's costumes haven't been too demanding...
When your kids are very young, you get to pick their costumes....dressing them up to your whim...
Maybe using a hand-me-down costume or getting a cute idea from somewhere :)

For Maggie's first year Trick or Treating back in 2008 (she was 2 1/2) I found a little leopard costume at the local Thrift Store.  It was lightweight, one piece and had a tail attached.  All she needed was some ears and a bit of make-up...

 For 2009, you saw our matching Witch costumes above.  I found them at the same Thrift Store (it is closed now....and boy, I missed that place this year!) And I knew I might not get away with wearing matching costumes in the future...haha!

Last year she requested to be a puppy....
No other specifics...which made it nice.  I found a bunch of white clothes and painted spots all over them....pretty easy!
....and Daddy was the Dogcatcher...haha!


This year, though....
She wanted to be a specific character....
She asked to be made into Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas...
I started with a black dress from, where else....a Thrift Store....and rummaged in my fabric stash til I found pieces that were close enough...
I dyed a shirt and a pair of tights blue, found stripey socks, put on some blue make-up, stitches and a wig....
Here's my little Sally :D

I had so much trouble finding a straight red wig...this was the best we could do....but she LOVED it!
I was so proud and happy with the way it turned out and how much she enjoyed being transformed!

We went to Disneyland and just had to get her picture in front of the Haunted Mansion, which is a Nightmare Before Christmas attraction this time of year!



It was perfect!
Now I know how my Mom must've felt all those years....
I made her Halloween dreams nightmares come true :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND NOW.....to announce the winner of my Halloween Party Treat!
All your names were written on slips of paper...
...and dropped in the pot....
They were stirred and mixed.....
...then a winner was picked...
...and this is who we got!
Congrats to
Little Miss Hungry!
A certain little crow will be flying to you soon!

Thank you all so much for walking with me down memory lane....and being one of the reasons this year's Halloween is so awesome!

Much love...and sweets to you and your families,
Cam

Saturday, October 22, 2011

A Halloween Tale ~ with a Treat!

Dreaming in our little beds...
A crow's call "Caw, caw" in our heads...
We wake with a start, aroused from slumber,
get out of bed and nearly stumble....
The ground all around is littered with bones,
....in the distance, there are creaks and moans...
A chill runs through us, we're not at home...
We are in a garden where only tombstones grow.
Each skull seemingly peering...
into our very souls...
And inside the tombs is an eerie glow...
We hurry swiftly, quickly trying to find
a place to hide til this nightmare subsides...
Up ahead, there is a light.
A lantern on the porch of a crickety old shack
beckons us to approach...
Though a tingle says stay back.
A lump forms in your throat...
Better to go...
Then wait for him to attack!
The door opens without effort...
We peek cautiously inside...
One wall is ablaze with flickering candlelight.
A piano before us
looks like it never plays...
A broom leaned on its side...
Books and photos displayed.
A black cat sits upon the floor
near a chair and a cauldron
we swear wasn't bubbling before...
...and on a tray near the brew
are jars filled with a slew
of ingredients most bizarre,
Items like decay and spider eggs...and things grosser, by far...
Another room down the hall
to the the right
Holds even more peculiar sights...
Jewelry and candles..
pictures of a beau?
Edgar Allen Poe!
A hat stand for a Crone's cone...
And are those eyes we spy
in that ornate jar?
Plucked fresh, the tag describes
when beauty was ripe within these eyes...
Nevermore.
....and hanging on the door
Witch's tights!
Have we found her boo-doir?
What could be next,
we wonder as we step
into the livingroom we go to inspect...
The fireplace mantle is shrouded and dressed...
...and someone is trying to escape the chest...
A boneyard atrium with a warning to beware..
we dare not let out spirits locked in there...
The table is hospitably set...
with tea and chocolates just waiting for guests.
Wait! Is that an insect?!
We find ourselves relaxing
even if just a bit...
...and I giggle to myself
as I tell you my secret.

I'm the one who brought you here,
My Dear,
to have tea with me!

Every year
Near Halloween
I prepare for company.

I empty out my pantry shelf
I cast a spell...to make a switch.
I close my eyes and make a wish....
And transform to my Witchy self!
Heeeheeheeeheeee!
Thank you so for joining me...and to the Lovely Vanessa Valencia for hosting this chance at spooky mayhem and revelry!!
Don't leave just yet, I have a Treat,
That one of you soon may receive...

Please leave a comment down below
and a way to reach you in case I don't know.
A guest will be chosen on October 29th
...and this crow will find a new place to reside :)

Okay, ryhming's over...phew!
Does anyone remember where I left my broom?
(sorry)

Heeeheeeheeehee!
Cameron
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