Costume Swap

In my almost four years as a mom and two as a blogger, I’d never thrown a Halloween party. It was time to change that. But I wanted to do something a little different than the average affair, something a little more interactive, something that serviced and supported my busy mom friends. So I decided to celebrate weeks ahead of time with a costume swap party.

I encouraged everyone to bring dress up clothes that their kids had outgrown or costumes from years past that no longer fit. This way, for moms with many kids or those simply stumped or too busy to wrap their brain around what to be this year, they not only had ideas but, potentially, the costume already in their hands. And instead of the kids coming in one costume and staying in it, they had the fun of dressing up in multiple outfits and accessories. I also asked guests to submit photos ahead of time of the kids from previous years (which I planned to print out and put up with different black and white washi tapes but I ran out of time, the photos printed out too large, some didn’t arrive so that part didn’t happen- next time!) so others could look at how they were styled but it also serves as a conversation starter, eliciting stories of getting them dressed or on the parade route (like the time Lilly was dressed as Pebbles and Bethenny Frankel called her Bam Bam).

I also decided to stick with a black and white color palette (orange has never really been a favorite). When I saw these spider web bath mats from Target, I immediately knew I wanted to plan my party around them, using them as outdoor rugs. I also knew these lacquer side tables ($13.99!) from Ikea would go perfectly (love that you can break them down when the party’s over and slide them under a couch, bed, in a closet) with little stools, this spiderweb runner from Paper Source and a centerpiece of, what else, white pumpkins. Still, they were a little too cream and banged up for my liking so I spray painted them extra white.

These ghost napkins from Meri Meri are adorable and perhaps one of my favorite touches from the party. Instead of using one kind of plate, I decided to use four different patterns and mix and match almost like it was vintage china. I selected: spider web, stripe scallop, star and moon and skull. And I loved these little mini witch hats that doubled as decor and accessories for dress up. The treat bags (Again, I chose 4 different kinds) are from Target as are the light up bat wands.

When I saw these boo balloons, I knew just what to do with them. Create a boutique! I ordered this rack with these hangers and this standing mirror so the kids (and moms) could easily see the clothes and, after trying them on, see themselves. The table cloths are actually curtains from Ikea that I just wrapped around the tables.

Friends contributed costumes for other mamas to swap out and I had on hand additional costumes from H&M and Melissa and Doug ensembles that kids could try on and take like cape and eye mask, bat wings and wand, Spiderman, vampire, wizard, astronaut, fireman and mermaid.

I lined a tray with black and white paper and placed all sorts of accessories like this witch hat, bat, bow tie and bony hands hair clip on it and included it on the table with some of Lilly’s already owned items like Minnie ears, a Mickey and pirate hat and Minion goggles.

We also had headbands and masks from H&M (did you know they carried Halloween stuff? I had no idea until now! And it’s so affordable!) like this witch hat, bat, glittery bat, masquerade and cat veil, (black and gold paper masks not pictured).

I used a piece of fabric (2 yards) to cover my kitchen island. It’s a money-saving, easy move (I did it for this brunch and this girls night in too.) and you don’t mind if it gets stains. I also draped white paper behind the island and in front of my stove and cabinets so you didn’t focus on my cluttered kitchen. I affixed the bat balloon to the paper to create a cute backdrop. And placed bat cake toppers on a bakery cake.

When my friend Brooke asked what she could bring, I suggested this Halloween bark cause I knew, not only could she handle it, she’d do it ten times better than I ever would.

The cutest cookies from a seller on Etsy. Love supporting small biz bakers and artisans.

Mummy cake pops from Starbucks which I propped up in a square glass vase filled with pulled apart cotton balls to look like webs.

Ghosts from Whole Foods, Bats from Sur La Table.

Salty sweet popcorn in the chicest boxes.

Ice Box Cake in tall shot glasses for mini servings.

Everyone brought a bottle of wine. My friend Jess dressed hers appropriately. I wanted to get these glasses for the girls but couldn’t find them at my local store.

Brooke also boxed up some of bark for favors, packaged in little clear containers and adorned with black and white washi and eye stickers (cut from gift tags) from Ikea.

Of course, we had to dress in coordinating colors. Lilly’s shirt is from H&M also. One-stop shopping!

These cute bottles were only $1 from Target!

For more fun, including the kids, head to page 2.