
A special shoutout to all our fellow new mamas! It is almost time to get your Halloween costume game face on and decide what ooh-and-ahh-worthy outfits you will pull together this year. Let’s be real, at this stage our littles have not hit that way-too-cool “I am NOT wearing that!” stage just yet, so it’s time to have some fun.
Here are six DIY costume ideas for you and your baby to rock this Halloween!
Aside from being the best two characters to play with in Mario Kart, Princess Peach and Toad are classics in the world of video games and ‘80s childhoods. And since a good number of recent mamas were probably born in the ‘80s, this is a great throwback to bring out this year.
1. PRINCESS PEACH AND TOAD
What you need:
– pink princess-style dress
– felt (blue, red, yellow)
– white gloves
– yellow wig
– gold crown
– white baby beanie
– blue tank top or onesie for your baby
– white baby pants
The dress was a TOTAL score at the Goodwill, and the rest you can find at your local craft or Halloween store. For baby, finding a tiny blue vest with yellow trim was not a task that was happening, but the Gap had the perfect blue tank top onesie that I simply cut down the center, adding yellow trim. The hat? I know — it’s so good. Simply glue giant red felt dots to a white beanie with hot glue and the creation is too cute to handle.
This one is a show-stopper! The trending hot sauce has finally given me an excuse to turn my mini into a teeny tiny taco!
2. SRIRACHA AND TACO
What you need:
– sriracha dress
– green hat
– white leggings
– foam
– tissue paper (green and brown)
– felt (red and yellow)
– string
Using foam and tissue paper lined with felt, this costume left little Elijah still able to crawl and play despite all the ridiculousness happening on his backside. For mama, I could not pass up this Sriracha Dress on Amazon for $20. I am convinced he knew I wanted to just eat him up by the look on his face in these images!
You know how the song goes, and your little one really is your sunshine, your only sunshine, he makes you happy, when skies are grey. Any mama can attest to this — what better way to honor your little sunshine by pairing up as your mini’s rainbow?!
3. RAINBOW AND SUNSHINE
What you need:
– little white dress
– white leggings
– felt (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
– white cotton fabric
– yellow baby onesie
– sunshine hat
This dress literally took 20 minutes to make. Simply cut out the colors of the rainbow in an arch and glue in order using hot glue. For the clouds, bunch some white cotton fabric like a sheet or pillowcase onto the base of the rainbow with hot glue. For baby, a yellow onesie is clutch for starters. This sunshine head piece was actually from a baby flower costume that I just cut off and added some orange paint to for more of a sunburst effect.
“Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king.” Yep, we just quoted Mufasa speaking to his cub Simba. And now, time to channel your inner Mama Mufasa!
4. MUFASA AND SIMBA
What you need:
– nude body suit
– red faux fur
– lion ears + tail
– baby lion ears
– baby lion suit
If the nude onesie is a little too revealing, you can always go with something a little looser, but we have to tell you that these onesie jumpsuits from American Apparel are no joke. They might as well be referred to as giant spanx because they are thick and hold everything where it should be! Grab a pair of lion ears and tail and add red faux fur with hot glue for Mufasa’s signature mane. For your mini, you can find a ton of baby lion costumes on Amazon. Bonus, this costume is SUPER comfortable and warm.
When I think of classic books from childhood, my go-to always has been and always will be Where the Wild Things Are.
5. MAX AND A WILD THING
What you need:
– dark blue/gray/black leggings
– striped shirt
– viking style hat
– Max Costume for baby
While you could make your little babe’s outfit, it is so easy and inexpensive to order on Amazon! This one here is SO soft and ridiculously perfect, I recommend buying it for sure. For mom, I actually found this shirt at H+M and paired it with leggings already sliced down the sides for an instantly wild look. Top the whole thing off with a viking style hat and you’re good to go.
You may have caught this clever DIY costume last week on Brit.co as part of a partnership with Cotton. It’s another genius way to get cozy with your little one, and is a cinch to create.
6. LIGHTNING AND THUNDER
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.