Dress Up - The Power of Pretend

I've always enjoyed playing dress up.  When I started in my first full time job, I was delighted to have mufti and theme days to fuel the cosplay fire.  I don't tend to go all out these days, but I still like to participate.  I like to bring elements together, making things where possible but otherwise creating something of my own to be used over and over again in different ways.

This year for my birthday I had a Mad Scienctist themed party.  Once I set the theme I was online within moments, looking up costume ideas and food things.  It's so inspiring to pick something a bit different and to make it fun.  For me, my role as a mum has definitely coloured how I choose to party these days as well.  I would much rather a nice selection of dessert goodies, costumes and laughs than drinking all night long. Having kids is really just a great excuse to regress!

I ended up buying a real lab coat from a uniform shop in town.  I couldn't find a costume one that suited the idea in my head anywhere.  Having a real lab coat is just so cool.  Plus I'm sure I'll end up getting a lot of use out of it for dress ups and if Leandra and I happen to continue our science clips on Youtube. To the lab coat, I added some welding goggles I picked up online as well.  I already had a selection of cute dresses to go under the lab coat.  I thought preppy science chic.  A friend describes them as my dominatrix dresses.  When I protested, she re-named them the "strict librarian look". Apparently I can't escape that "look".

Here I am in my costume on the night of my party:

Here is me with my Audra or the "Surgeon General" as I nicknamed her on the night:

And here is my family:

 

 

After my party, Halloween was next up.  I decided to wear the same costume to work, with another dress under it.  I left work early that day, and stopped by the school to surprise Leandra.  She was very excited to see The Scientist in her classroom.  I took her and Audra to Treats at the Park in Nawton that evening.  A great community event we were introduced to last year.  For $2, each kid gets to visit different stations and collect treats and then there is entertainment and bouncy castles as well.  What more could a kid ask for?  Bouncing around high on sugar pretending to be whatever you want to be? Yes, Please!

Best costumes I saw last night:

• A teenage mutant ninja turtle where mum had taken one of those oval tinfoil roasting dishes, and sprayed it green for a turtle shell over black pants and black skivvy.  Plus a cardboard orange mask. 
• Medusa, where mum had weaved rubber snakes through the girl's hair and then sprayed it all green.

 
Leandra is very much looking forward to the next wacky hair day now.