Tree Hugging Family » halloween costume

Happy Halloween!

Jennifer — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:00:24 +0000

Do you know how hard it is to find a picture of a “green” pumpkin? Well, since you asked, I’ll tell you – it’s freakishly hard. Orange will have to do…

I hope you and your family have a wonderfully spooky (and eco-friendly) Halloween. In case you’re in the mood for some light Halloween reading, here’s a round-up of Tree Hugging Family’s 2008 Halloween tips:

Be safe tonight and have fun! Oh, and don’t forget to snap some great photos of the kiddos tonight; then head over to Simply Thrifty and enter the Little Monsters Costume Contest! You could win a Seagate FreeAgent Go.

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Organic Etsy Halloween Treats

Jennifer — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:00:40 +0000

I love Etsy; all those unique items,, and many of them eco-friendly. Right now Halloween is in full swing at Etsy, so I figured we’d better take a look. Here are some cool Halloween treats I found for the kiddos…

How flipping adorable is this Organic Cotton Knit Pumpkin Hat? If you have a babe, there’s no way to resist.

I’m obsessed with these…

Recycled Recolored Crayons – I’ve made homemade recycled crayons, but never in holiday molds, and it’s a stellar idea. I’d try it at home, but if you’ve got no time, these are a good deal. You could divvy them out into trick or treat baskets even!

For the hipster Halloween baby, the Skull Baby Hat is totally unique and organic.

It’s rare that I post about animal items of any kind, but these Halloween Pupcakes, are made with natural and organic ingredients, plus, honestly, they’re too darn cute to resist. Your doggy won’t fully appreciate the cute factor, but I bet he’d love a treat this Halloween.

Say it with me now – yes, Etsy rules.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in October 2008

[Images via Etsy]

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Buy Nothing New Halloween

Peggy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:34:52 +0000

When I saw Enviro Mom’s post on Precycle and Reuse: Halloween Costume Challenge!, I knew I had to send some link love her way.

She’s engaging her readers in a challenge to Buy Nothing New this Halloween. And she talks about those yucky Halloween super stores that spring up in empty retail spaces this time of year. I love Halloween, but I do wish those folks would take to selling solar lights instead : )

Anyhow, Renee goes through her plans to supply her kids with Halloween costumes (in this case Statue of Liberty and a mouse) without buying anything new. And she provides some other tips, so go check it out and strengthened yourself against Halloween Mania Superlo.

Image by L Marie/flickr. Go here for instructions to make your own croc head.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in October 2008 – that includes Blogtoberfest, (we’re giving away over $7,000 in prizes)!

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My Little Green Ghost & Green Halloween Costume Ideas

Jennifer — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:00:03 +0000

So here’s the conversation I had with my son Cedar yesterday:

Me: What were you thinking of being for Halloween?

Cedar: I don’t think I’m going trick-or-treating this year.

Me: Why not?

Cedar: Because I want to be a ghost.

Me: Um, you can be a ghost.

Cedar: Yeah, but we’d have to cut holes in a sheet!

Me: That’s fine. It’s no big.

Cedar: Mama! Why would you cut holes in a sheet? That is a BIG WASTE of resources!

Then he looks at me as if I’ve gone insane. Yeah… I’m the weird one. This just goes to show you that one, our kids are turning our way more thoughtful and green-minded than we adults are, and two, I guess recycled and reused costumes are best.

You don’t have to purchase a costume new; in fact, you shouldn’t.

In most cases your kid will only wear the outfit once or twice, and even if you give it away, most are made of non-organic fabrics and icky synthetics, and also break and rip easily. It’s a waste of resources and money. If you’re considering making your own costumes, instead of buying you can slack, or go hard core. I’m not big on the sewing, so I’d slack.

For slackers (Note that I do mean slacker in the nicest of ways): Raid the closets, use face paints instead, or buy a used costume at the thrift store.

For sewers and creative types with more free time: Visit the following links for ideas and instructions about making your own costume…

The Best Recycled Halloween Costumes on the Web – this slide show is so awesome it hurts.
Eco-fabrics for your Halloween costume
4 Ways to Green a Halloween Costume
Green Halloween Costume Ideas for Busy Parents
Spookiest, Wackiest, Most Original Homemade Costumes

Whatever you do, just don’t cut holes in a perfectly good sheet, or Cedar will get ya.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in October 2008

[images via stock.xchng]

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Non-toxic face paints for Halloween

Jennifer — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:00:19 +0000

One of the greenest ways to dress up for Halloween is to try face painting. There’s no resource draining costume to purchase, plus it’s fun, and you can use face paints for dress-up games, long after Halloween ends. Of course, you’ll want non-toxic and safe face paints. A very good choice (maybe the best out there) is a set of Lyra Face Paint Pencils.

Lyra Face Paint Pencils are not tested on animals, dermatologically tested for safety, and are certified nontoxic by the Art and Craft Materials Institute.

Available at the ever delightful and child friendly Oompa Toys.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in October 2008

[image via Oompa Toys]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family