Tuesday, October 1, 2013

October, Halloween, and Costume Anxiety

It's October, and seriously, people are enamored of this month.


This quote was the very first thing I saw in my newsfeed on Facebook today, and while I think my good friend L.M. here might be a little bit aggressive in her love of the month, she reminds me just how very psyched I am to get this whole October thing going.

So far, so good, by the way. Today, I woke up, guzzled down a pumpkin coffee like a pro, and went to my improv class at the Upright Citizens Brigade. In the weeks that follow, I'll be celebrating my girl, Emily's, marriage, connecting with some well-missed friends in Texas, and running amidst the changing leaves in Prospect Park (oh, by the way, I'm running now).

But I have to say, for as much goodness as this month promises, when October strikes, I immediately regress to an eight-year-old girl, unabashedly PUMPED about candy, costumes, and watching the Treehouse of Horror episodes of The Simpsons.

Halloween is 30 days away, and you guys, this holiday is where it's at. This is true for a million reasons and yes, most of those reasons involve the movie Hocus Pocus.

Flawless.
While my family didn't really celebrate Halloween, it was an inescapable aspect of living in San Antonio (HELLO, Dia de los muertos, anyone?) and I grew so fond of the joy with which my town reveled in skulls and corn mazes. In my adult life, I go to great lengths to honor this day.

One of my favorite and least favorite things about Halloween is dressing up. It's my favorite because dressing up is always a win in my book. It's my least favorite because I have an undocumented condition referred to as Costume Anxiety. It's the reason that two years ago, I dressed up as a Cat Nurse Practitioner. 

You know...it's like a cat...but it's also a nurse practitioner...so I can land on my feet...and prescribe most medications...?
That, my friends, is the face of a woman who decided on her costume at the last minute. I bought a bunch of dress-up paraphernalia from Goodwill, all of which were pieces that had nothing to do with the other. After a mini-panic attack, I slapped on some kitty ears and called it a day.

Around this time every year, my sister usually sends me a text message telling me what she's going to be, and it's always amazing, and I'm always left wondering why I didn't think of that. I got the text over the weekend, and surprise surprise, she's crushing it again this Halloween. Seriously, how does she do it?

Well, I'd like to be similarly prepared this year with a cute, clever costume. Right now I have nothing, but here are some ideas from an off-the-cuff brainstorm session. You will notice they follow a similar theme...

1. Zooey Deschanel as a cat

It should surprise no one that this has already happened.

2. Martha Stewart as a cat




3. Hermione Granger: Post-Polyjuice Potion after mistakingly using cat fur instead of the hair of a Slytherin



4. Couples Costume: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in denim...buuuuut they should also be cats



5. The Chair from The Voice...with a cat...and CeeLo, I guess



Minus the cats, some of these might be good ideas. 

Feel free to weigh in on my costume selection. I'm fine making this decision by consensus. Also, what are you dressing as for Halloween?

8 comments:

  1. hahahah most of the reasons ARE hocus pocus! Also this post came right when I was brainstorming ideas for myself. So yes we are in the same boat. however WHA WHA WHA you're taking classes at UCB?!?!!?!?

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    Replies
    1. Man, what WAS Halloween before Hocus Pocus? Also, yes! I have been taking classes for a while now, and I absolutely love it. Everyone should take improv classes. It is such a great life skill (future blog post, for sure).

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    2. I question whether or not halloween even existed before Hocus Pocus.

      p.s. yes pleeeasee tell all us peasants how awesome it is to do improv especially at UCB!!

      Delete
  2. 1. Martha Stewart. WHAT is happening?

    2. Please tell us more about your improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade. How cool!

    3. I literally scan Pinterest and Party City's website for costume ideas bc I'm never clever enough to come up with one. Though you should dress up like Josh Groban. You'll nail it!

    Love the blog, keep up the great work!

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    Replies
    1. 1. RIGHT?!
      2. I absolutely love UCB! I've been doing improv for a while now, so perhaps I'll write a post about it soon.
      3. And yes! I can't believe I've never dressed up as Josh Groban. A+ idea.

      Thanks so much for this comment. Made my day.

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  3. Just slap some cat ears on Britney and Justin and they'd be good to go. Also, unless I'm remembering incorrectly, weren't you Kitty Cat Nurse Practitioner?

    Last year, I was Bjork in a swan dress for Halloween. It was fun, especially when people actually knew I was Bjork and not a swan.

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  4. I think regards to the quote one reason I have such a passion for October is my birthday is the 30th of this month. It's the beginning of fall etc.....I really hate summer & still don't get what's so exciting fall though is my favorite time along with winter. People have a passion for summer some are fall & winter.

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  5. Impeccable costume dress design.

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