I think all the plastic costumes I wore as a child in the ’80s fall into a collective “worst” category. 😂 If you had to suffer through a plastic mask back in the day, you know what I’m talking about. The eye and nose holes were always juuuuuust a little bit askew, which left me unable to see or really breathe for that matter, LOL! Every Halloween in a mask was hot, sweaty and uncomfortable.
The candy made up for it, though! 🎃
As for best, hmmm. Well, I quite enjoyed dressing up as the crazy-looking beauty queen inspired by the cover of Hole’s Live Through This album a few years back.
How about you?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. We’re home! The power is officially back on!
Anyway, I can’t tell you how relieved I am to do simple things like run a load of laundry, brew a cup of coffee and surf the web. ❤️
The past few days have felt like I’ve been waiting at an airport for an uncertain connecting flight, and now that the power is back on, life will hopefully continue on as usual, knock on wood. My nerves are sighing the most epic sigh of relief.
FaeFrau says
October 30th, 2019 at 11:08 amThat was a FANTASTIC costume!! I’m so glad to hear you’re back on home ground. I was also worried about your baking job, too, for some reason!
Yes, the worst were those lip- and eyelid-cutting plastic masks, even though I did not mind being Spiderman. My best I would say was a spider costume. I had an edgy jet black pixie haircut back in the day and made extra arms tipped with stuffed gloves and wore a black sequin bolero jacket with armpit holes, so I could stick my arms through. I thought it was pretty sharp. No photos, sadly. What is Miss Connor Claire going to be this year (in case I missed if you mentioned elsewhere)?
Karen says
October 30th, 2019 at 11:28 amHi FaeFrau,
Aww, you’re so sweet! The bakery, like all the businesses throughout the entire county, had to do a lot of improvising. We all had to figure it out as we went along; it’s been crazy!
Anyway, Connor is going to be a “Rosy Unicorn” this year, and the funny thing is, her costume really is pretty similar to what she wears every day: a rainbow tutu, a sparkly top and a glittery hair accessory. She also has a pair of colorful wings (so I guess she’s technically a pegasus?!). I’m going to draw a unicorn on her cheek with glitter and makeup, too.
Are you dressing up this year? I thought I might be able to pull something off last minute, but I don’t know if that’s gonna happen.
L says
October 30th, 2019 at 11:22 amLove those costume eyes, but more important is that you’re safe and back to normal. I’m the un-normal one now, as tomorrow will be closing on the sale of my condo, and moving. Taking a big break before resettling, hopefully Virgin Islands by the middle of next week! May even make it to Marin County one day . . .
Love, hugs
L
❤️
Karen says
October 30th, 2019 at 11:29 amMoving is HARD, girl. And always so, so bittersweet. Will you be in the Virgin Islands for good, or are you going on a trip first before settling down in someplace new?
Jane says
October 30th, 2019 at 2:32 pmGlad to hear you are back home and have power back. I hope you are all in a safe area. It looks awful on the t.v.
I can’t say that I had many creative Halloween costumes. I did the basic ones with those annoying masks. I was never big on Halloween anyway. I do however, enjoy seeing the kids in the neighborhood going trick or treating. I have seen some amazing costumes these past few years. I think Zack was going to a party in his dorm, unfortunately he has a Sociology test on Friday.
Be well. I hope you guys enjoy your 🎃!
Karen says
October 31st, 2019 at 6:35 amHi Jane,
We are back in Novato and are lucky to have power (and luckier to still have a home to come home to). It was surreal packing up our “important things” into boxes when we left. Even though we weren’t under evacuation, we took our things just in case.
Anyway, I think that it’s so cool that Zack keeps you abreast of the things happening in college. I never told my parents any of the things that happened in my every day college life (tests, parties, etc.), and so I hope Connor and I can have a relationship where we talk about the everyday goings-on in her life!
Chelsea says
October 30th, 2019 at 3:28 pmI’m glad you’re home safely! I never did plastic masks as a kid because my parents hated them. I did hate that my costumes when I was little always had to fit over a snow suit because Northern Michigan.
My worst costume was probably dressing as something no one had ever heard of from a web comic. I loved my medusa costume and makeup I did last year for a student showcase at the circus school. My grandma made me some great costumes growing up too – a banana, clown, a vampire with a sparkly purple gown (I stole the rest of the fabric from her basement after she passed away), a princess with a GIANT hoop skirt and her own jewelry and tiara…
Karen says
October 31st, 2019 at 6:37 amAs a California girl it never occurred to me that kids in other parts of the country would have to suit up to go trick-or-treating in the snow. You’re blowing my mind, lady!
Chelsea says
October 31st, 2019 at 7:49 amWe have a wind advisory and possibly snow tonight in SE Michigan, it’s going to be terrible.
CL says
October 30th, 2019 at 7:43 pmI grew up in an era where the parents just bought those cheap boxed costumes with the masks with the holes. Those things were so cheaply made that most people just threw them out on November 1st. As far as I can remember, I always went as a generic princess, since that’s what they pushed to girls in those days. I don’t remember any interesting cheap costumes for girls back then. Perhaps my best was my last, in which I used the cheap mask from the previous year and wore a black velvet jumper which my mother had sown out of an old dress of hers. The mask was particularly ridiculous because it had molded blonde hair on it – and my natural, visible hair was very dark brown.
Michele DiCola says
October 30th, 2019 at 8:31 pmHi Karen ,
Hope all is well and you safe !
I wore my dance costumes including tap shoes . But I was all about the makeup : eyeliner , red lips 👄, false eyelashes ,
I never wanted Halloween 👻 to end !
Esme says
October 31st, 2019 at 4:44 amDear Karen,
Happy Halloween! I’m taking this moment to say that I’m very happy and relieved that you’re all safe and back home with power! When discussing the fire back here in Connecticut with my husband, I often refer to you as my “friend” in Northern California even though we have never met. After these past few days, he knows who “Karen” is.
I’ve been a reader of your blog for years, attracted by the makeup, of course, and your love of cats. Now you’re making cupcakes! (Three of my favorite things.) Finally, the silver strands in your make you look even more gorgeous than you are, not to mention confident and brave for aging gracefully.
Wishing you and yours the best. Know that we’re thinking and praying for all Californians during this difficult time.
Karen says
October 31st, 2019 at 6:38 amHi sweet Esme,
Thank you for visiting MBB all these years! Your sweet comment made my morning.
Have a good Thursday (although to be honest, I woke up this morning thinking it was Friday, LOL! My clock is so off), and happy Halloween!
Anne says
October 31st, 2019 at 6:00 amThere was no Halloween in Germany when I was a kid, so I have no scarring memories of tight plastic masks. Nothing good to tell either though, I don´t think I have ever dressed up much.
Anne recently posted … Monthly Recap October 2019
Rachel says
October 31st, 2019 at 8:25 amGlad you are back home and safe! Those fires are so heartbreaking and scary. My best costume was this year. On Saturday I went to costume party and dressed as Tippi Hedren from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. Turned out really good! Now I’m already thinking about what to be next year! Worst costume…hmmm. Probably anything from when I was little, I just always remember being cold and uncomfortable!
Kim says
October 31st, 2019 at 8:47 amI’m so relieved to hear that you’re back and safe (and with power). I’m sure Connor is going to rock those unicorn wings! 🙂
We had the plastic masks, too. Or, sometimes it was just a sheet with holes cut in it. Those were pretty sad. HAHA! Like Anne, my mother is from Germany and said they didn’t even have pumpkins, forget about celebrating Halloween! So, it was quite new for her. And, like Chelsea, we often had to fit costumes over or under winter clothes. Tonight is supposed to be rainy and miserable which won’t be nice for the trick-or-treaters. 🙁
My fave costume as an adult is probably my sloth. Since it’s just like fuzzy jammies with a hood. Very comfy! The kids have had some adorable ones over the years. All store bought except for the year my mother-in-law made these AMAZING Thomas the Tank Engine & James costumes for them to wear (preschool age when they were all about Thomas). She was a very crafty and creative lady. I was very little help. HAHA!
cherie says
October 31st, 2019 at 10:55 amBest costume of all time – it was the 80’s and I was chewbacca in my plastic pullover and mask with tiny holes. I had to go home and staple the top since it split.
As an adult – I had no idea how easy it was to transform to a Vulcan. The olive golden skintone helps as well as my resting face…
Worst costume – really my everyday tired mom face….
Erica says
October 31st, 2019 at 6:00 pmBut it was like receiving a box from Tiffanys to get one of those costumes with the plastic masks. I remember going to the store to pick them out. They came in a big cardboard box with a cellophane window. I usually opted for Barbie. Not comfortable to wear and it was usually so cold so you covered up your plastic dress with your winter coat– at least where I’m at but wonderful memories still bc I looked forward to getting a new one each year!