FROM THE HOME FRONT
Susan Martin: Seeing double for Halloween
As Halloween approaches, the 10-year-old daughter has thrown out a new challenge.
She and a friend have decided they want to dream up a costume-for-two.
You know, salt and pepper. Mustard and ketchup. Table and chair. Well, those were the ideas that initially popped into my brain but, hey, why be so ordinary?
The last idea I heard was something about the two of them dressing up as trees with branches, leaves and a clothesline between them.
Complete with clothespins and clothing, of course.
Doesn’t that sound a little dangerous? I asked, envisioning all sorts of calamities.
I mean, what’s wrong with Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy?
Oh, right, too ordinary.
Last year, our daughter dressed up like a ’60s flower child. She wore a long blond wig. She made a peace sign out of aluminum foil and a paper plate. I pinned some daisy appliques onto her jeans.
People thought she was Hannah Montana.
Now there is no doubt in my mind that if Frick and Frack go forward with this new plan, they will come up with something fun and imaginative, after countless conversations.
Still, I found myself at the computer on Google, typing in words such as “kids’ Halloween costumes for two” and “matching Halloween costumes.”
Skipping over the coordinating costume ideas for couples, toddler twins and entire sororities, I came across some cute ideas.
You know, just in case they ask:
• Plain and peanut M&M.
• Winter and summer.
• A pair of dice.
• A pair of eyeballs.
• Moon and sun.
• Cookie and a glass of milk.
• A skyline (the idea being they would construct a couple of skyscrapers to wear as hats).
In the meantime, I will focus on other important Halloween matters, such as 1) when I should buy the Halloween candy, and 2) where I should hide it so that it does not disappear before trick-or- treating time.
As for the costumes, the girls are on their own. After all, coming up with the idea is half the fun.
Twice as nice? Double trouble? At least no one will call them Hannah.
•••
Back by popular demand (again): The recipe for Gooey Gunk, a slimy glob that kids love. The recipe is from the book “The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions” by John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel Thomas (Kid Concoction Co., $14.95).
What you need: Water, white glue, food coloring (green for slimy gunk, black for tar gunk, etc.); Borax; and adult supervision and assistance.
How you do it: In one medium bowl, mix up Solution A: 1 cup of water; 1 cup of white glue (Elmer’s); 7 to 10 drops of food coloring (or 2 tablespoons liquid tempera paint).
In a second bowl, create Solution B: 1x cup warm water; 4 teaspoons Borax laundry booster. Mix until the Borax is completely dissolved.
Next, slowly pour Solution A into Solution B, but DO NOT MIX. Instead, roll Solution A around in Solution B four or five times.
Finally, lift Solution A out of Solution B and knead it for two to three minutes. You will have leftover solution in the bowl.
Store in a plastic zip bag.
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