Whatever happened to good old fashioned costume making, eh? Now everyone buys their ready made kid’s Halloween costumes in Aldi. Vampires, witches, skeletons and pumpkins: the costumes look like good value at just €9.99, but I think they kind of spoil the fun.
One year – oh! so many years ago – my older sister dressed me as a spider: a black bin bag and some bendy wavin pipes did the trick. Another year, a load of bandages, some fake blood, and some papier mache saw my Egyptian mummie steal the best costume prize from that smelly girl who lived down the road and went dressed as Bosco.
Not particularly in connection with Halloween, I’m having my two nephews (aged 6 and 7), my little niece (almost 3), and a friend’s daughter (aged 8 ) over with their parents this weekend for a Caribbean-style Sunday lunch. It’ll be chicken wings, corn on the cob, a treasure hunt, fancy dress, and a Pirates of the Caribbean DVD for the kids. The adults have simpler tastes: jambalaya and rum will do just fine. Once I’ll get the kids all giddy on sugar I’ll shoo them out the door with their drunken parents. I’ll let you know the results of this adult/ kids party next week, but if you have any tips in the meantime, please let me know!
Anyway… oh yeah, Aldi. With all my exhortations to help your kids make their own costumes, would I do it myself if I had kids? Not bloody likely. And at least the costumes aren’t those ridiculous Fairy Princess and Spider-man outfits; Halloween is supposed to be scary, people!
Also at Aldi this week, you can get your hands on some “scary” Halloween food, perfect for those fussy treat-or-treaters, as welll as such random items as bird feed and electric sockets and bulbs. Click here to see all the special buys.
And don’t forget the always good value Super6 – a selection of fruit and veg ranging in price from 49-99c.