Halloween Costumes

I love costumes. Lucky for me, Halloween comes once a year and saves me from the embarrassment of having to find Harry Potter and Jane Austen events to go to in costume. Last year, I started the tradition of having our entire family dress up as a group costume. We were characters from the Mario Brothers video games. Shawn was Mario, I was Princess Peach, and Lizzie was Yoshi…

I really love making costumes. I love coming up with the ideas, searching for materials, and putting it all together. The sad part about all this is I can't sew, otherwise I would be a costuming force to be reckoned with. I made our costumes last year from thrift store finds and super glue. This year, I want to do something along the same lines for our family costume. Something that is one part store bought, one part thrift store, and one part amateur craftiness.

So here's my brainstorm list so far. Any favorites?

Mail (in honor of Shawn's profession):
Lizzie - Mailman
Shawn - Letter
Me - Mailbox

The Flintstones (this one might be too cold for October though):
Shawn - Fred
Me - Wilma
Lizzie - Pebbles

Harry Potter (possibly too scary for Lizzie or else too hard to recognize):
Lizzie - Voldemort
Me & Shawn - Death Eaters

Scooby Doo:
Shawn - Fred or Shaggy
Me - Daphne or Velma
Lizzie - Scooby

Pirates (this one might require some sewing):
Me & Shawn - Pirates
Lizzie - Parrot

Batman:
Lizzie - Batman
Me - Catwoman
Shawn - Joker

Ghostbusters:
Me & Shawn - Ghostbusters
Lizzie - Ghost

Little Red Riding Hood (wolf might also be too scary):
Lizzie - Red Riding Hood
Shawn - Wolf
Me - Grandma

Prison:
Lizzie - Police Officer
Me & Shawn - Criminals

Genesis (definitely too cold for this one):
Shawn - Adam
Me - Eve
Lizzie - Apple

Justice League:
Lizzie - Supergirl
Me - Wonder Woman
Shawn - Batman

Sigh. So many ideas, so little time. I feel a lot of pressure to do a great costume this year because next year Lizzie may not want to go as part of the adorable family costume Mom and Dad have picked out for her. And, in only a few short years, she'll be asking me to go trick-or-treating as Dora or Tinkerbell or something else like that. So I have to have my costuming fun now!

I'd be grateful for any other input or ideas. I really need to decide in the next few days or else we'll be scrambling at the last minute to put something together.

-- Lisa

PS – Lizzie is already practically 25. Here she is expressing skepticism over one of the dresses from her costume trunk (“Um, Mom, I am so not being this. Lame.)…