Do-It-Yourself Harry Potter Costume on a Budget

Johan has been looking forward to Halloween eversince we introduced the concept of Trick or Treat to him when he was two years old. I was inspired on his first Trick or Treat event that I DIY-ed his Russell, The Wilderness Explorer costume.

Over the years, he dressed up as different characters for Halloween. I would like to think that he enjoys dressing up as much as he enjoys getting all the treats.

Halloween 2013

At first, I thought we won't be participating in the Trick or Treat event of Convergys, Nuvali where my sister is working. This is because the event was scheduled at seven in the morning and coming from our house in Dasmarinas, Cavite would mean that we have to get up at dawn just to be able to make it on time. But a few days before the event, I found out that we have to stay with my parents in Binan, Laguna and since it is much closer to Nuvali, I decided to have Johan signed up for the Trick or Treat.

Given that I only had a few days to think of a Halloween costume, I wasn't really prepared unlike last year where I was able to come up with a Russell costume complete with all the badges and scarf. So, I searched at home for possible costumes and I was lucky to find a Batman costume handed down by Johan's cousin.I felt even luckier that the costume still fits my son!

We just have to repeat over and over, "Wow, that's cool!" and "Wow, you look reaally cool!" just to make the boy wear his costume for a long period of time. And the "pang-uuto" eventually paid off!

Johan - just before we leave for Nuvali

Arrived at Nuvali

Johan loved his Batman costume! His mask was a little bit tight but he still wore it.Anyway, do you see the people seated in front of 7/11 on the photo above? As we were passing by those guys said, "Wow, it's Batman!", raised their hands and high fived my son.I was just so proud that Johan was feeling friendly and high fived each one of them!

I thought his friendliness would carry out until the event was over but I was mistaken. As soon as we went up to my sister's floor and Johan saw the crowd, he wailed and wanted to leave. Good thing, a little convincing and permission to play with my phone made him go inside the pantry and stay. 

In between tours to the different stations

Angry Birds set-up of my sister's team

I was getting pretty stressed out with Johan's screaming and I had to count 1-10 plenty of times to keep myself from screaming too. He just calmed down when we went to the Temple Run and Despicable Me stations, both of which had apps on my phone that he is really, really fond of.

Hanging out with that "cool, big" robot

Batman pose

I guess, everybody was happy when the event was finally over. We stayed awhile in Nuvali while waiting for my sister to finish some of her tasks at work and we had plenty of time for photo ops. We weren't able to hang out at the fish feeding area anymore since the event finished nearly lunch and it was already too hot outside.

Oh and by the way, Johan's cousin, Zalia, won third place for her Hawaiian costume which me and my sister just made the day before! Woohoo!

Hopefully, next year we'd be more prepared!

Johan went Trick or Treating

It was his first time and, of course, I became a stage mom. I was so sure he'd look really cute dressed like Russell, the Wilderness Explorer, from the movie Up so just a week away from the date of the activity, the three of us trooped to SM to search for his costume. Luckily, I managed to complete Russell's uniform, had the neckerchief made from orange cloth and the sash from a brown one. I printed out badges and taped as many as I can into the sash.

Come dress rehearsal a day before the activity, Johan didn't want to put on his costume! I was so worried for I didn't know how to convince the boy to put even the shirt on. Then I had this idea, I remembered how cooperative Johan became when it comes to brushing his teeth after I downloaded cartoon videos of kids (and animals) brushing their teeth and had him watch those. I immediately went online, downloaded a copy of the movie Up and had Johan watch it a few hours before we leave the house. I also pinned all the additional details like the sash and the neckerchief onto the shirt so that'll mean less things to have Johan put on - just make him put on the shirt and his outfit is complete!

Everything I did proved to be effective because Johan allowed me to put him into his Russell costume when it was time. Boy, was I so surprised because there was not an ounce of resistance coming from the little guy. And he looked really, really, really cute!

Yes, he's missing one badge which he managed to take out just a minute
after I put it on him

Showing off his treats

Munching

It looks like he's doing a salute but he's merely "looking" for the car

It was just a short event but I'm glad my son got to experience it. However, all of his treats are hidden somewhere in the house where he can't find them. Despite that, I'm sure he enjoyed the short time that he was allowed to eat treats without me waving my finger at him and telling him, "no".

This'll definitely happen again next year. Hmm, what will Johan wear next time?

Trick or Treat DIY Project

I loved the movie Up and like most people, I find Russell super cute. Now, that Halloween is almost here and there are lots of Trick or Treating going on in the malls, I am inspired to create a Russell costume for Johan. My sister invited my son to their company's Trick or Treat on November 3rd and that'll be the first time that Johan will participate in one. I guess, I am more excited than my son!

Russell's costume is too easy - all it takes is just a yellow polo shirt, dark brown or khaki pair of shorts, an orange bandana, a yellow cap and an orange flag. The most challenging of this costume would have to be recreating all of Russell's pins. My cousin suggested I get the small ones that can be bought which are priced at merely Php 5.00 each but my problem is I don't see such pins being sold near us. I'm going to try the malls if I can find some pins there.

But, if I find none, my last resort is to print out the pin designs and attach it to a brown cloth or something. I already downloaded this template, just in case.

I am so excited!