crooked house

Sylvie in Her Elsa From Frozen Dress (Made From Plastic Tablecloths)

Inspired by the four-year-old and her mom who make fancy dresses from paper, I promised Sylvie a couple of weeks ago that we would try it. She called me on it today so off we went to Walmart to buy some supplies. Although we bought some bristol board and a lot of tissue paper, this dress is actually made from just two plastic tablecloths that cost a buck each. (That and a whole lot of stick-on jewels that took a loooong time to put on. Unfortunately, in the photos you can barely see them.) I just tied the tablecloths on her. We might have been better able to mimic Elsa's neckline but I tied the knot in the white tablecloth too tight to then pull it down over her shoulders. Next time I'll do better.

The braid is made from three sheets of white tissue paper and attached to her own hair with an elastic. I wanted to use at least one yellow sheet to go for a more white-blonde look but Sylvie insisted Elsa's hair is WHITE. Although she's taken the dress off now, she's still got the tissue paper braid in.

I like the Elsa attitude here -- we got a lot of dramatic hand gestures, too, while we were taking the photos but most of those are slightly blurry.

We also picked up a copy of the newly released Frozen dvd, which we didn't even realize was out yet. I won't tell you how much we paid for it. Let's just say the dress was a lot cheaper, fancy jewels and all.

Baby World War II Fighter Pilot Halloween Costume

If I had a baby right now, and I do not, I would dress it in this baby pilot costume for Halloween and accessorize with this mustachifier:

There is nothing like dressing up your poor, unresisting newborn in outrageous costumes for a good time. (And lately I've been reading too many novels set during WWII.)

Hmm, I wonder if I could get one of the cats to don this ensemble. No, it just wouldn't be the same.

My Wonder Girl

Sylvie has decided to go as Wonder Woman for Halloween this year. I'm delighted by this switch in her allegiance to the Disney princesses. She is now obsessed with superheroes and spends a great deal of time making up new ones. If DC suddenly puts out a comic featuring Bubble Girl, Cookie Girl, or Blood Girl, you'll know they hired Sylvie. Those are just a few memorable ones out of the dozens she's suggested to me over the past few days. Oh, yes, and Princess Girl and Princess Boy, so I guess she hasn't forgotten completely about the princesses.

This is her fighting face. And this is what happens when she gets really mad:

You think I'm kidding but it's happened before.

Getting Ideas for Sylvie's Birthday Party

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Party from Sweet Paul on Vimeo.

We've been planning this Wizard of Oz party for months...

Snow White and the Leaf Monster

Sylvie wearing her Snow White false eyelashes, which she now begs to be allowed to wear everywhere. No, I don't let her.

And here is Snow White with her good friend, the Leaf Monster. What, you've never read that one?

Fairy Costume

The Halloween costumes are out in the grocery store already and once Sylvie caught a glimpse of this one, it was unlikely we'd be able to leave the store with our good moods intact. But instead of fighting her on it, I caved immediately -- it was only 14 bucks -- as I know it will get a lot of wear before and after the one big day. The problem will be getting the thing off her, to wash it. (Cross your fingers it doesn't fall apart in the machine.)

Our Paper Moon Photos

A very kind artistic friend made this paper moon backdrop for us last year and we've only just gotten around to using it. (It's actually not paper -- it's made out of a sheet of sparkly felt and some kind of synthetic silver cloth I found in the remnants bin at the fabric store.)

I can't exactly remember when Will and Kate were married, but we put this together at that time and  this hat is the one Princess Beatrice wore to their wedding.

Do you recognize the Dowager Countess's hat?

Now that we've used it, I'm selling off all these old hats and costumes and this backdrop to make room for more Halloween stuff! Cheap! (My piles of past projects are ridiculous.) Let me know if you're interested.

Find of the Century: Sylvie's Tea Party Dress

We found Vivi's Indian tea party dress for ten bucks at Kinder Klozet, a local children's consignment shop. The owner Lyn's good friend is from India and her father sends his granddaughter TEN fancy Indian dresses every Christmas. The tags were still on this one.

We were going to have her dress as Alice in Wonderland and I had a special blue full tutu skirt made for the occasion, as well as an apron just like Alice's, but Vivi took a dislike to the expanse of the skirt. (The outfit probably cost $100 in total and she preferred the $10 one -- take note, other mothers with Ideas.) I'll try to get a photo of her in it later, when she's up to it. She even has a pair of white gloves to go with it.

One Day, My Child, You Will Be

A bishop, a boxer, a bullfighter. Eric Maloberti imagines what the future may hold for his three-month-old daughter June.

And of course, DON'T MISS Lotte Time Lapse: Birth to 12 years in 2 min 45, which makes me want to weep.

Alice in "Underland" Shoes

Vivi has officially switched her allegiance from Dorothy to Alice, as evidenced by the fact that she now wears black Mary Janes all the time instead of ruby slippers. She's also been toying with headbands. Time to purchase a blue dress with a white apron coverall. Do you think she got all those cuts and bruises falling down the rabbit hole?