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October 4, 2006
Candy Corn: Why?
It's a sickness, I tell you
Okay, before I get into the important and totally scintillating details of my own life, I have to take a second to mention that my friend and fellow author, Julie Kenner, has organized an eBay auction chock full of goodies for readers and writers. You can bid on signed movie posters, signed books, and writing critiques by authors/editors/agents. All the profits will go directly to Love Without Boundaries. It’s a great cause and on a totally selfish note, I am begging you--any of you--to bid on my three-pack of signed books because, well, it’ll be really humiliating if no one wants them. Come on, I’ll dedicate them to you in fancy pink ink! I’ll even draw a little picture of a dog on the title pages. Or a dinosaur, a bunny, whatever you want! You can find out more about Love Without Boundaries and the auction on Julie's website.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog, where we will be talking about: poodles, Britney Spears, and candy.
My friend Karin has an annual Halloween party, and all invitees are required to attend in costume. Karin is dead serious about this. The invitation clearly states that if you show up at her door without a costume, “one will be provided for you.” (We don’t know exactly what kind of costume is provided, because we are all too cowed to defy her.) Anyway, last year Mr. Tall and I went as Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, and many hilarious photos were taken, which I cannot share here because my agent and editor sometimes read this blog and there are some lines which really should not be crossed. Suffice it to say that Mr. Tall looks fab-u-lous in a wife beater and baggy denim shorts.
This year, we wanted to do another topical celebrity couple. But who? I was thinking Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, but Mr. Tall is just too, well, tall to pull it off. And I am not nearly lippy enough to be the Angelina to his Brad. (Plus, black leather pants are expensive.) So we decided to think outside the pop culture box and, in a moment of genius, Mr. Tall suggested that I dress up as a dog and he as a dog-catcher. Cute, right?
Except they don’t make dog costumes for adults. WTH? Everywhere you look, there are adorable puppy outfits for kids, but after searching the Internet for hours, I can’t find a single one for adults. I envision myself as a poodle (obviously my canine alter ego), but noooo! Unless you want to be a vixenish, vinyl-suited cat, you’re out of luck if you’re over the age of 5. But I’m creative—I’ll do white long underwear (or maybe just a tank top; it’s still pretty hot out here in Arizona), paint on a black nose and whiskers, put my hair in flippy pigtails with pink bows, and fashion a collar out of pink ribbon and tin foil. Except…I want the signature poodle topknot, darn it. And the jaunty little tail. Any ideas on how to make that happen?
Are you guys dressing up this year? Please share your brilliant costume ideas. Also, share your favorite and least favorite Halloween candy. When I was little, I used to curse the neighbors who gave out that taffy in the black and orange waxed wrappers. Do you know what I’m referring to? Ugh. Horribleness. Now I adore Russell Stover peanut butter ghosts and abhor candy corn, which Mr. Tall loves. He claims he is even going to invent a new drink for Karin’s party this year: the candy corn-tini. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Posted by Beth at 11:04 PM | Comments (13)
Comments
Okay, I placed a bid. I am such an E-Bay whore. I just bought a brand new suede miniskirt for 99 cents because I heard 80's fashions were coming back.
About the costume: Why not dress up as a dominatrix and let Mr. Tall wear the collar?
About the candy: Loved Reeses peanut butter cups and wax lips, hated pixie stix. What I REALLY loved about Halloween was sticking my head in the bag of candy and taking a deep whiff. There's nothing like the smell of a Halloween bag. It's right up there on my list of Top Childhood Scents along with Pla-Doh or New Barbie smell. You can't fake it by going out and buying a bunch of candy. I know, I've tried.
Posted by: Janina at October 5, 2006 1:44 AM
You know when you're forced to admit you're a grownup? When you're the one sitting on the floor sorting through the kids' candy bags.
Sigh.
Luckily, Science Boy doesn't like chocolate, so he gives it all to me! (Actually he trades it piece for piece for candy he likes . . .)
Posted by: Alesia Holliday ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 5, 2006 6:34 AM
Here's my costume:
http://www.whitneygaskell.com/archives/2006/09/spooky.html
*snort*
Posted by: Whitney at October 5, 2006 8:16 AM
What about the people who gave out boxes of raisens? You got about four to a box, they were always smooshed together like Siamese twin raisens and sometimes they were even a touch fuzzy. Ugh.
non LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 5, 2006 10:57 AM
There's some dude on our trick or treat route who actually gives away pomegranates. I'm not dissing the fruit. I love pomegranate and so do my kids, but seriously, has this guy been living in a cave since the early seventies?
Completely LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 5, 2006 1:57 PM
LC Eileen,
Pomegranates huh? Okaaaayyyy, that's different. That gave me an idea. Maybe I'll dress up as a vampire and hand out cloves of garlic.
Whitney,
Love the costume. I think you'll be a hit at the Christian nursery party. I'm sure Sam will have requests for playdates coming outta his ears.
Posted by: Janina at October 5, 2006 2:13 PM
hey beth!
i want to see those pics of u dressed up like britney spears! lol. so this year my 2 sorority sisters and i are going to be playboy bunnies! should be a fun night!
Posted by: brittney at October 5, 2006 4:19 PM
Our first Halloween together, my future DH and I went out with his friends for the evening. I had no clue as to what I should go as, so his girl friends put me in a tight body suit, tight jenas, boots, and then they did my hair and makeup until I was a punk rocker-type chick!! Holy cow! My hair was so tall it touched the roof of the car! And my DH? Yeah--he was a MONK! Right down to the brown robe and sandals... Definitely the antithesis of each other!!
Ooo--tell Mr. Tall to make me one of those candy corn-tinis!! Love the stuff! What candy did I hate? I'm with you on those nasty black and orange things--yuck! Not so big on the Dum Dums either. Loved the chocolate! Especially Reese's peanut butter cups...
Posted by: Sheri at October 5, 2006 5:19 PM
One of my best costumes was the Tooth Fairy. I even made a necklace out of chicklet's(the gum) and had pliers hanging off of my belt( for those hard to get out teeth). I won second place in that costume at my hospital's contest. I tied with the Titanic non-survivor( don't ask). My second favorite costume was Velma from Scooby Doo. I looked a little too much like her...
Fave candy, peanut butter cups. Least favorite, anything not chocolate.
Berni
Posted by: berni at October 5, 2006 9:05 PM
I miss Halloween!
You know, Halloween wasn't really something that happened in Europe until recently. It's still not big, but it is changing, though - some people decorate their yards, we get some trick or treating.
Personally, we are thinking of being Robert Plant (me, obviously) and Jimmy Page (Oh Patient One) this time around.
Posted by: Michelle C at October 5, 2006 9:58 PM
I just remembered--a couple of years ago we had a contest at work. I wore my aunt's old ratty terry cloth robe, put my hair in big ol' curlers with a rag tied around them, bright red lipstick, lots of makeup, white stuff on my face to look like that cold cream stuff or a facial mask.... Should have seen the look on the high school student's face when he went to get on my bus that morning--his eyes got wide and he started to chuckle! I talked real raspy and one of the guys was "my MANNNN!" all day. It was hysterical! I lost out to the Grim Reaper for first place (sigh). The only problem with the costume was that it was almost TOO comfortable....
My cousin went to a party and there were two guys wearing Hefty bags. When she asked what they were supposed to be, she assumed they were going to say something stupid, like "a bag of leaves". She spewed beer all over the place when they said "White trash"!!
Posted by: Sheri at October 5, 2006 10:15 PM
Just had to post on this one. There is nothing quite like the joy of Asian tourists taking your picture while you walk into the Disney's Not So Scary Halloween party dressed as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons from KISS. Ahhhh, the memories... Closest thing to a rock star moment I ever got. And this Halloween? 3 guesses to what I'm dressing up as again...
Posted by: Jessica V. at October 8, 2006 1:24 PM
There's just something about candy corn, I mean there I am, nauseated as hell, but still popping a handful into my mouth. And why the odd compulsion to bite off the white part? I should probably seek some professional help on this one...
But in other news... I started "Fashionably Late" last night (I'm home sick with a 103 degree fever) and I cannot put it down! I should be sleeping, but I can't because I'm reading... love it love it love it. Thanks.
Posted by: laurenjharwood at October 13, 2006 10:24 AM
