Raisins and toothbrushes

As a kid it was always such a disappointment to be greeted by a small box of raisins or worse yet a toothbrush after shivering on a neighbor's stoop on those cold New England Halloween nights. Do those people really think a few raisins or an extra toothbrush are going to save children from the bounty of candy they've already received? Halloween only comes once a year, why not add an extra candy bar or lollipop to treat-or-treaters' bags? Even worse than people who give "healthy candy alternatves" are those who forget to get anything for trick-or-treaters altogether. I've gotten pennies, juice boxes, and ancient hard candies that have gone sticky with age. I'm curious what strange things other people have gotten on Halloween.

Maybe I'm a Hallomeanie but...

I hate how 95% of girls use Halloween as an excuse to wear as little clothing as possible. It's obviously not acceptable to dress this way in public any other day of the year but Halloween has become the exception. While guys come up with funny, ridiculous costumes, girls hike up their skirts and pull down their shirts--exposing as much leg and cleavage as possible. This trend seems to be starting at a younger and younger age too. This Little Red Riding Hood costume is from the children's section at Target.com. The dress is way above the knee and the bodice is a little skimpy as well. I have a little sister who is about this age and I would not want her wearing that little number out. I much prefer the mildly offensive costume she wore this year.

Shining Twins

My friend and I were the twins from Stephen King's "The Shining" this past Halloween. Over the years, the Grady twins have become an iconic image that most Americans are familiar with. There isn't that much to the costume so it's easy to put together at the last minute. The hardest part is finding the right dress. We bought white dresses and dyed them blue, which can easily be done using RIT dye at home in your sink.

Materials:
Light blue dress
White knee-high socks
Black mary-janes
Fake blood

Just put it on! Wooooo hoooooooo.

Most people knew who we were on Halloween. You're stuck with your twin for the night though so pick someone you can stand.

Total cost: $25

Bjork in Swan Dress

Hello all. Every year I find myself struggling to come up with a semi-creative, cheap costume. Pre-made costumes almost always end up looking tacky and are guaranteed to fall into the "slutty ______" category if you're a girl. My friends and I have come up with some above-average costumes over the years and I'd like to share a few of the best ones with you here. I'll offer basic instructions on how the costume was put together as well of the total cost of the costume.

My first costume suggestion is Icelandic singer Bjork in the swan dress she wore to the 2001 Oscars. This costume can be made relatively cheaply but it does require some sewing skills.

Materials:
Orange felt
Black felt
White boa
Nude tank top
White cloth
Stuffing/fill
White tutu or puffy skirt

Instructions: Sew a narrow, long tube for the neck of the swan. The end of the tube should be wider because this will be the head. Then stuff with filling. Cut a triangle out of the orange felt for the beak of the swan and then top with a narrow black strip of black felt. Then sew the neck and head of the swan onto the nude tank top. The white boa masks the place where the neck of the swan connects to the shirt and then serves as a transition to the skirt. The boa can either be affixed with hot glue or a few stitches. Add some white heels and you're done!

Total cost: $30