Halloween Rehash

I know, I know. Halloween was over a week ago and you’ve already got your Christmas tree up.  I don’t care. I made some kick-ass Halloween costumes and I want to share show them off.

Matilda decided she wanted to be a super hero. She didn’t want to be any specific super hero, just a super hero. I decided going the SuperGirl route because the symbol is so recognizable (and easy to recreate) and we could just say she was Super Matilda.

 Of course, if I had a Super Matilda I needed a Super Madman.

Last fall I bought a ton of satin during a fabric store-closing sale so that was in my stash. I spent about $9 on felt and some metallic pleather. The base for their costumes was new t-shirts and pants that can be worn again. Add in thread cost (the only downfall of these costumes is the number of different colors of thread I needed) plus the fusible web and I spent way more than it cost to just purchase similar costumes. But where’s the fun in that? And the shirts and pants are totally reusable. Minus the cost of the shirts and pants I spent about $25.

For the capes I used a pattern I purchased last year to make a cape for a birthday gift. The only thing I’d add to the tutorial is to sew the layers of felt/fabric together first then just sew the finished appliquéd the cape. Satin is delicate – the fewer needle holes, the better.

They are reversible …she wanted a “thunder bolt” on hers (his is the same with a green circle on navy satin).

 I made the shirts the same way I make their appliquéd birthday shirts, except this time I used layered felt instead of one layer of cotton.

Matilda’s skirt was made using my beloved Oliver + S Lazy Day skirt instructions. I’ve made this easy skirt dozens of times.

 The belts are scrap elastic that was part of the packaging of Matilda’s bed quilt – I’m not kidding. It was this great 2-inch wide pink elastic with Velcro already sewn on. I cut it down to size, added a felt “buckle” and for Madman, covered it with a tube of yellow felt.

The Madman’s “boots” are just tubes I sewed out of red felt safety-pinned to his fleece Old Navy pants. Matilda wore new boots (boots I was going to buy her anyway).

I love, love, love these costumes and they’ve already re-worn the shirts and pants.  Madman’s shirt got a few little holes around the appliqué when I washed, but I fixed it with an iron-on patch.

Matilda and I had fun photographing her costume. And the capes are in the dress up box ready for more use!

(Chalk idea stolen from BurghBaby)

By kakaty on 09 November 2011 / 5 Comments

Tagged crafty, magpie, The boy

LEGO KidsFest – Giveaway

If you’re in Cleveland you need to know about this upcoming event at the I-X center:

LEGO KidsFest is coming to Cleveland, Ohio!
November 4 – 6, 2011
LEGO KidsFest brings all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experiences together in one activity- and entertainment-packed family event for children of all ages and builders of all skills and interests.

 

Who doesn’t love LEGO? Below are some of the things I can’t wait to check out:
• LEGO Model Gallery: 40 life-sized models made entirely from LEGO bricks. I’m always amazed at what can be built with LEGO.
• LEGO DUPLO®: Younger visitors can explore imagination through building. It’s not just for older kids!!

• Master Builder Academy: learn skills that will make you a better builder. I have a feeling I may lose Mark to the Academy for a while.
• Race Ramps: build your own custom car, then race it down the ramp against friends. I know Matilda will love this.
• Brick Pile: a gigantic pile full of LEGO bricks for creative play and enjoyment. How amazing does this look?

Visit the LEGO KidsFest site for a complete list of activities

LEGO KidsFest tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for children and can be purchased at LEGOkidsFest.com.

Want to go for free? I have 1 pair of tickets to Sunday, Session II on Nov 6th from 3pm-7:30pm for one lucky reader!

There are 2 ways to enter the giveaway:
**You must leave a separate comment on this post for each entry**

1) Leave a comment telling me your favorite LEGO moment (either from your childhood or with your child).
2) Tweet: “Want to attend #CLE #LEGOKidsFest? @kakaty is giving away 2 tickets: http://www.kakakakaty.com/2011/10/19/lego-kidsfest-giveaway”.  (you can also just use the Tweet button below)
• You MUST leave a comment with a link to your tweet.
• You can do this 1x per day, just leave a comment with a link for each tweet.

Contest ends Sunday, October 30 at 6:00 PM. I will select a winner using Random.org and will announce the winner’s name on my blog.
**Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry**

Good Luck!

Disclosure: I was provided tickets to LEGO KidsFest for my family. As always, my thoughts are 100% my own. I only share events that my family plans to attend or has attended in the past.

Images Courtesy of LEGO® KidsFest.

By kakaty on 19 October 2011 / 7 Comments

Tagged Reviews

All the Kids are Doing It

I’m such a lemming. Some of my favorite people on Twitter have been posting this “Accent Vlog” thing and I have LOVED(!) watching them.  Seriously – isn’t Sara about the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? And I totally want to be able to have hair and makeup like Christina’s when I grow up. And Sam, well I just want to sit and have a drink with that girl. So, to be fair I’m finally adding my own voice. Mama’s very first (and probably last) vlog:

Kate’s Accent Vlog from kate davis on Vimeo.

(good god my forehead is huge. perhaps it’s time to consider bangs)

Be gentle – this took 3 takes (the first one being indoors at night and holy hell that was some bad lighting). If you want to play along here’s what you’re supposed to do:
Say the following words:
Aunt, route, wash, oil, theatre, iron, salmon, caramel, fire, water, sure, data, ruin, crayon, toilet, New Orleans, pecan, both, again, probably, spitting image, Alabama, lawyer, coupon, mayonnaise, syrup, pajamas, caught

And answer these questions:
What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that curls into a ball when you touch it?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

By kakaty on 11 October 2011 / 6 Comments

Tagged dorking out, general musings

Fall In Love With Your Skin – Sponsored post

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://moms.dailybuzz.com/channel/style.

Ahh, fall. The crisp blue skies, the cooler temperatures, the changing leaves. Apple picking, pumpkin patches, cider and doughnuts. I love fall. It’s my favorite season.

But with the change in temperature come the inevitable: the day the furnace kicks on.

I live in Cleveland – land of short summers – and in a 90+ year old house with radiant heat which means no humidifier. This translates to the fact that by Halloween I must have my winter skin arsenal in place or I will end up with lizard skin by Thanksgiving. So when the leaves start turning I head to the drugstore for my cooler weather tried-and-trues. And check out these brilliant leaves I spotted near the pumpkin fest we attended this weekend:

I had to snap this. It’s so rare to get cloudless blue skies here. And those leaves were such a vivid orange.

Looks like it’s time to shop. Here’s my typical shower and bathroom line up come fall:

Eucerin Calming Body Wash Daily Shower Oil. I love this stuff and when I follow my shower with some plain coconut oil my skin is happy. It still flakes some and I get a few itchy spots, but it’s so much better than when I don’t use it.

Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Penetrating Oil. I’ve been a long time devotee of Moroccan Oil and discovered this little drugstore alternative about 6 months ago. I can’t tell the difference but my wallet sure can. I can’t imagine getting through the cooler months without some Argan oil in my hair. (I’m also currently using the Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner and like them a lot.)

Buzz Balm. Made by a little local company and this stuff is amazing! I adore it and get nervous when I’m running low.

Oil Cleansing Method. This is something I learned about last winter and worked very well for me. It’s too much oil for the summer months but now that the air is getting cooler and drier it’s time for me to get another big bottle of castor oil and work on my ratios again.

You’d think I’d leave an oil slick in my wake, but last year it just barely kept me from having the cracked skin and brittle hair that I know from years past. And truthfully, I’m kind of excited to go shopping for new stuff…I love trying new products.

What parts of your routine do you switch when the weather cools down? Any great product that I should try?

Thank you to Walgreens for sponsoring this blog post. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

By kakaty on 10 October 2011 / 1 Comment

Tagged general musings, Reviews

Disney on Ice Giveaway!

 Matilda turns 5 this Friday. A perfect gift for a 5 year old? Taking her to see Disney on Ice presents Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey at Quicken Loans Arena (Shows daily from September 29 through October 2.)

We’ve been to 2 Disney on Ice shows in the past and she loves loves loves them.  Seriously, she talks about them for months after the show. And this year the birthday girl will be chattering away about this:

Make imagination your destination! Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a journey into the magical worlds of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Peter Pan and Lilo & Stitch. From Ariel’s enchanting undersea kingdom to Never Land with Peter Pan and his sassy fairy friend Tinker Bell, you’ll be captivated by the music, beauty and laughter in a journey so magical, you’ll never want to go home.

And here’s a gift for you: I have  Family 4-pack of tickets* to giveaway for the Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m. show!  Just leave a comment on this post by 6 PM on Monday, September 26 and I’ll use Random.org to select a winner from all entries.

Purchasing tickets in advance? Save $6 in on each ticket with CODE: FFA6 — or save $3 on each ticket on the day of the show with CODE: FFA3. Valid at the Quicken Loans Arena Box Office, online at theqarena.com, or by calling 1-888-894-9424. (Restrictions: FFA6 code valid through September 28, 2011. FFA3 code valid September 29 – October 2, 2011. Not valid on Discount Drug Mart Front Row and VIP seats. Limit 6 tickets per transaction.)

And from one parent to another – Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream comes to The Q in January… guess what Matila’s getting for Christmas?

*Winner can pick up tickets at The Q’s will-call window the night of the show.

Disclosure: I was given 3 tickets to Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey by Feld Entertainment, Inc.

By kakaty on 21 September 2011 / 6 Comments

Tagged Reviews

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