Some people plan things months and months in advance. As soon as they know they have been invited to a Halloween party, they start planning their costume right away, asking everyone they know for Halloween costume ideas.

And then there's you, either you get a late invitation to a Halloween party, or you procrastinate and don't get a costume and suddenly it's the day of the party. You need to find a Halloween costume idea at the last minute, based on materials you already  have or can easily acquire.

Oversleeping Couple

This last-minute costume idea is best executed in a pair, either a husband and wife or roommates. All you need is a decent-looking set of pajamas or a nightgown, a bathrobe, and a pair of slippers. The right props are essential to make this a costumes and not a cop-out. Carry a mug of coffee, put shaving crème on your face if you're a man, or put curlers in your hair if you're a woman.

Around my home, we're always looking for new, exciting things to do; things that don't involve renting a movie, playing a video game, or watching cartoons. Thankfully, there actually still are activities that don't center around the big box in our living rooms. And for the record, it's not that I don't also enjoy those things, but limitations and boundaries are a good thing when it comes to television. One thing we like to do is to have scavenger hunts. I'd say we do this two or three times a week, depending on the season; if it's winter, you won't catch me outside much. That's what our kids' friends are for! Yes, once in a while there's a snowman or fort to be built with them, a day of sledding, etc., but summertime is when it really gets fun outside. Scavenger hunts are not that difficult to set up, really. Start with something minor like just hiding a couple toys - preferably new ones - and write a couple clues for your child. Pretend that it wasn't you who did it; that a good pirate came in the middle of the night and created a series of clues for you to follow. Go on the hunt with him/her and act like you're really into it! I've found that once I start TRYING to enjoy something with my daughter, little by little I start ACTUALLY enjoying it. Once you get there, more and more ideas for bigger and better scavenger and treasure hunts will pop into your head, and before you know it, you have yourself a little family tradition!http://www.circletees.com ,http://www.circletees.com

I went through my closet and pulled out the clothes too big for me now. I sorted them into smaller piles:

stained/toss
never wore/donate
have altered
store

When I showed husband my project, he asked, why did I want to keep clothes that are too big?   Why indeed?

The immediate, obvious answer is my fear I’ll regain the weight. I have a track record here. Since childhood my weight has been up and down; I’ve lost weight and then slowly regained it. Sigh. . .

Am I sabotaging my success by keeping fat clothes (for when I’ll need them again???)  

Maybe I’m just not ready to let go of them. I’m not a hoarder. I may be a lazy housekeeper, but I like getting rid of things. Purging stuff makes feel freer and lighter. Organizing is an ongoing process.

Recently, while cleaning out a drawer, I came across a pair of my mother’s glasses. After Mom passed away in 2002, I couldn’t bring myself to give them away. Her glasses were an intimate part of her face and something of her I could still touch.  This time, when I saw the glasses, I felt ready to donate them. My mother’s memory is safe in my heart and mind. The physical object did not have the emotional pull.

Do my fat clothes represent something I’ve not let go of?  The clothes certainly were an intimate part of me and part of my identity as a big girl. Why would I want to keep THAT identity?

Well, why do I sometimes go back to old behaviors? It’s funny; when I was fat I was so uncomfortable with my body, all I could think about was how great it would be to be thin. Now that I’m slimmer, I wrestle with old habits that could take me back to that old, uncomfortable self.

Long term weight management goes beyond calories in and out. To STAY slim it’s about developing new behaviors. It’s the day in and out details; planning meals and making good choices. It’s finding healthy ways to deal with stress and new ways to feed my soul.

As the months go on and I maintain my weight loss, I’ll sure to become more comfortable and confidant in my smaller self.  New habits will become a natural part of me. Food will not have the emotional pull.

I may put some fat clothes in the attic for now. It’s OK. When I look at them next time, I’ll be ready to give them away. I won’t need them again.

Yes, it has been months.  What can I say, I am a forgetful chick.I am once again off to Edmonton next week. Both personal and business. And after having had computer troubles for the last few months, it will be nice to get some creativity back. Ever start having those days when your life reads like an episode of your favourite shows?   Been having that a bit.   Men troubles.  Then again when do we not have troubles with them eh?Speaking of tattoos, and I realize we weren't but,  I just got myself a lovely new one and the ink ruined my yellow shirt.  Always remember when getting a tattoo to wear black.  Til next time

I’m talking about “thinking of slashing my wrists” depressed. I’m not joking. Maybe it’s the mirrors in the dressing room, reflecting every roll of flab, every stretch mark. Those times I do find something to make me wander into one - which is rare.Or maybe it’s because the clothes are just so damn - inappropreiate - for fat women! They are, really. I’m sorry, I know I keep harping on this, but no one wants to see fat, flappy, bat-wing arms! Women need to have sleeves - and I honestly mean all women cause even the skinny ones have batwings too. It’s only WWE Divas that don’t. They just have arms that belong on men. Then there’s the fact they’re all cut anymore to expose the gut roll. I have a big, pooching belly. I want it hidden. My body is something to be ashamed of. I need yards of material.Horizontial stripes, huge patterns - yes I’ve harped on these before, and I won’t stop cause they look bad on EVERYONE no matter what their size! And as for formal wear? Forget it. I can’t find any fat women’s formal wear anywhere. I even tried the mall. Ladies, stay far away from Macy’s. Their selection SUCKS. So does Sears. And Bloomingdales doesn’t even have a plus size department. At least not in their South Coast Plaza store. Or maybe it’s just because it reminds me that I’m not society’s standard of beauty. No matter how much I diet and excercise, I can’t get below 230. I’m fat, ugly, and worthless. That’s all there is to it. Honestly, I wish I had the courage to kill myself. Then I wouldn’t have to shop for clothes anymore. No one would miss me anyway.