Creative, Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes

Only a few days left before someone tries to guilt trip you into putting on a stupid costume for a night of Halloween festivities. I can hear you groaning already. But fear not, here's the insider's guide to a fantastic DIY Halloween costume that is easy, inexpensive and memorable. It may even have you looking forward to the holiday for once!

Here are a few simple ideas to get you the "best dressed" award on October 31st:

Brain Donor: Get a simple hospital gown or bathrobe. Draw black circles under your eyes and wrap your head in gauze with some fake blood dripping down. Get a clear jar, put small amount of water in the jar with some cauliflower. On the front of the jar put a big label that says "Brain Donor." Or just carry the cauliflower and have a "Brain Donor" tag on your gown.

Nudist on Strike: Probably the easiest costume to put together on short notice. Wear whatever you want and create a picket sign that says, "Nudist on Strike." Trust me, they'll laugh.

Little Dead Riding Hood: Have the red cape/sheet and basket but then add fake scars, gashes and blood to make it look like the Big Bad Wolf got you.

iPod commercial: Dress in all black, and use black make-up to darken your skin. Strap a piece of fluorescent poster board to your back. Wear an iPod and dance your buns off. (See example)

Attack Dog Trainer: Take a stuffed dog and sew it to the arm of a long-sleeved shirt so it looks like it is biting you. Wear a name tag ("Jim's Attack Dog School). Add blood and scratches all over your body.

Chick Magnet: Attach Barbie dolls or other inexpensive dolls all over yourself.

Kissing Booth: Construct a booth using two boxes, with the opening of the top box facing forward. Add straps so the boxes sit on your shoulders. Spray paint the boxes white and then use red paint to write "Kisses $1" and "Kissing Booth" on them. Remember pockets to hold your income!

Miss Conception: Great for those who find themselves pregnant on Halloween. Get an old prom dress and fix up your hair and make-up like you're a beauty contestant. Use your pregnant belly or place a pillow under the dress to make yourself look pregnant. Add a sash across your chest that says "Miss Conception." Smile and wave! Why not get creative with this idea? I'm thinking Miss Demeanor, Miss Chievous, Miss Fortunate, Miss Erable, you get the idea)

God's Gift to Women: Find a box large enough to fit around your body. Cut some holes for your arms and head, and then cover the box with wrapping paper. Add a large bow. Attach a tag that says "TO: Women, FROM: God." You could also just wrap yourself in a white sheet with a big bow around your middle and the gift tag hanging from your neck.

Devil's Advocate: Wear buttons and carry signs that say "Devil is #1" and "Vote for Satan," etc.

Refrigerator Magnet: Paint a shoe box black and attach it to your back.

So what's your excuse? With costumes this simple and creative you have no excuse not to look fabulous on Halloween.

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About Sarah Flake

Sarah knows funny. Visit her humor website for hysterical social commentary on everything from parenting to politics. www.hollywoodflakes.org


And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Cultural Awareness - an HR perspective

The use of cultural awareness training has increased rapidly in the majority of global companies over the last decade.

My experience working in global companies in which effective cross-cultural functioning was critical, involved the devotion of considerable time and energies to ensuring that cultural training needs were identified and accommodated as necessary.

This commitment to bridging cultural gaps represents a perceptible shift in attitudes amongst British company global thinking. This is a shift from the prevalent subconscious (and sometimes not so subconscious) driver, which existed in previous years. Thinking typically held that the way in which the West did business was the norm to which to strive and that non-western citizens should assimilate into our own particular mode of cultural thinking as opposed to vice versa.

Little effort was truly made to understand the cultural differences between countries. This thinking was gradually moulded and changed by the realities of the failure of such thinking including ineffective team functioning, lack of productivity and general dissatisfaction amongst cross culturally functioning staff. It also become apparent that the financial costs of failed cross-cultural initiatives could be readily assessed and had a tangible impact on the financial bottom line.

It is also interesting to note that the view that cultural awareness is unnecessary within other western groups has also changed.

Commonality of language can sometimes be an impediment as opposed to an advantage as it disguises the differences of thinking and approach, which may underlie whole strands of business practice. When dealing with countries with obvious differences in respect to language, religion, values and behaviours etc., then individuals more readily accept the need to understand the motivations of the other party. When multicultural differences arise between western groups however, conflict within approach is often attributed to the ineptness / stubbornness of the other party. When such attitudes become ingrained within teams, then self fulfilling prophecy may kick in and poor relationships become the norm affecting productivity and hence financial gain.

Recent experiences of running cultural awareness sessions for a UK team dealing on a regular basis with the US proved invaluable to overcoming a number of issues which had become entrenched into the operating behaviours of the teams. The sessions heightened awareness within the team of operating differences and helped to generate an understanding of why these differences existed within the groups. It also presented the teams with an opportunity to understand the potential frustrations that their US colleagues may have had with their UK peers in respect to their own personal approach to managing meetings, negotiations, making decisions, resolving issues etc.

Involvement in awareness programmes across a range of diverse issues is proving invaluable in resolving numerous poor performances in international business and in enhancing day to day HR practices; for example:

Expatriate assignments, management, training and benefits

Production of international relocation guides and related support materials

International company and office relocations

International recruitment

Corporate mergers and acquisitions

Training and development

Policy development

Clearly from an HR, and hence a business perspective, cultural awareness has been critical to the success of global companies with the progression of strong acceptance within businesses for the need to enhance cultural awareness through diverse cultural interventions.

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About N. A Johnson

N.A. Johnson is an HR & cross cultural awareness consultant for http://www.kwintessential.co.uk

Permission is granted to reproduce this article as long as 'About the Author' and links are included. A courtesy e-mail would also be appreciated.