Happy October, Gurus! It’s that time of year again, the leaves are changing, the weather is cooling off, and it is time to start carving pumpkins and picking out Halloween costumes! October is filled with festive opportunities to find your center again after a fast-paced, fun-filled summer.

One of the best ways to get centered in the season, connect with your kids, and express your creative side is to make your own costumes! One of my favorite memories with my daughter was letting her imagination run wild and bringing her crazy costume ideas to life. I remember one year when every other kid wanted to be a firefighter or a princess, she wanted to be a Super Pig. We went to the fabric store, picked out materials to make a cape and snout and she was the most superb, content, Super Pig that Halloween had ever seen. Not only did we save on buying an expensive pre-made costume, but the time we spent together bringing my daughter’s vision to life centered us in the importance of quality family time which is what holidays are all about.

Here are some creative and unique ideas to spark you and your child’s creative juices this Halloween:

1. Raining Cats and Dogs: What you will need: a clear umbrella, scissors, black sticky felt, black poster board, fabric pencil, gray thread, a needle, and cat and dog stencils. How to make it: Trace the shapes of cats and dogs onto the sticky felt and stick them onto the clear umbrella. Next, trace cats and dogs on the black poster board, cut out, and thread the cuts outs through the bottom of the umbrella spokes so they are hanging down. Pair the decorated umbrella with a raincoat and rain boots and your child will be ready to trick-or-treat through any weather.

2. Corn on the Cob: You will need: an oversized green sweatshirt, 1 yard of green felt, hot glue, scissors, a green child’s hat, 3 paper egg cartons, green pipe cleaners, and 1 bunch of raffia. How to make it: Start by cutting the sleeves off the green sweatshirt, turn in armholes and glue the cut edge. Paint the bottoms of the 3 paper egg-carton yellow, when dry, glue to front of sweatshirt to act as kernels. Cut 1 yard of green felt in half and pull on felt to create irregular edges. Fold and glue along each side of egg cartons, as shown. Glue green pipe cleaners to the back of felt at the top to help the "husk" tips stand up. For the hat find a green fitted hat, leaving an extra inch at the top. Cut a bunch of raffia and bundle together. Wrap a strand around base of the bundle to keep it together; glue to hat for corn silk. This costume is sure to be original and you and your child will have fun putting it together.

3. Jellyfish: What you will need: a half bag of polyfill stuffing, blue satin, a child-sized straw sombrero, hot glue gun, sheer shimmery fabric, white curling ribbons, and either a coordinated color dress or shirt and top. How to make it: Arrange half a bag of polyfill stuffing around the brim of a straw sombrero and cut a circle of blue satin 10 inches larger than the brim. With a hot-glue gun, glue the satin under the hat bit by bit. Alternate sides as you go to make it even. Repeat with the same-size circle of sheer, shimmery fabric, covering the satin. Smooth top into dome shape. Glue pieces of white curling ribbon underneath to hang down. Curl with scissors. You are now a super unique jellyfish ready for trick or treating!

Although DIY costumes are fun, they are not always for everyone. Some people find their center and express their creativity by shopping for costumes. ‘Tis the season for Halloween costumes galore; whether it’s pop-up shops, the local Mom-and-Pop store, or chain retailer, the Halloween costume of you and your child’s dreams is out there!

Some of the top costumes for Halloween 2016 are: Dory and Nemo, Shopkins Dolls variety, LEGO Ninjango, ghostbusters, Powerpuff girls, Princess Zelda, Dragon Ball Z Resurrection, Clone Troopers, War Machine Captain America Civil War, Superman vs. Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Hawkeye Captain America Civil War.

All in all, enjoy this festive time that allows you and your children to explore your imagination and find your youthful and family-oriented center. Until next time, stay centered, Gurus.

Places to find materials for DIY costumes:
Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts – Vacaville Common