Favorite Halloween Costumes

I'm a huge pop culture fan, and since my mom always either sewed or "put together" our costumes growing up, I try not to buy my girls' costumes from the store. My daughter Helen was just over 3 years old last year, and I thought I was done picking out and making her costumes for her due to her forthcoming independence (she had been Princess Leia, Wonder Woman and Annie from my choosing). This was okay since I had my newest daughter Audrey around.

However, Helen saw a Scooby-Doo cartoon, and I had it! Luckily, Helen played along since she got to be Daphne (hardest part was finding a nonpatterned, purple, long-sleeved dress), but my favorite part was putting together my 4-month-old Audrey's Velma costume. I still giggle when I see her hair (made from a foam headband and felt) and her pipe cleaner glasses. Such troopers are my little ones.

— Rachel, Santa Clarita, California