In an old house in Paris
that was covered with vines
lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.....
.....the smallest one was Madeline.
She was not afraid of mice--
She loved winter, snow, and ice.
To the tiger in the zoo
Madeline just said, "Pooh-pooh"......
......and nobody knew so well
how to frighten Miss Clavel her Mum.
This year was Quinn's first time trick-or-treating (we thought she was too young last year). Madeline is the only story she sort of sits still for; fitting as she's quite the fearless little one just like Madeline herself . So I assembled my own version of a Madeline costume for her, fully aware that next year she'll have an adamant & definite say in what her Halloween costume will be. Might as well relish my creative freedom now ;-)
Quinn wasn't stoked during the costume's trial run the day before Halloween. She prefers to be naked these days. On Halloween, either she believed my lie ("You love wearing this!") or she quickly caught on that candy was involved......well, she ended up not minding the ensemble. Long johns & all. Why is Halloween always frigid around here? We went trick-or-treating with a group of wonderful neighbors & Quinn had a blast. She lasted 7 houses, which was a miracle in my mind.
Also had the first Kit Kat & Twix of her life. Those are organic, right? By the look on her face, it was like she had just eaten a rainbow covered in clouds dipped in a sweet hug. Sort of like how I look when I take that first sip of wine at noon night.
I hesitate to call this a DIY Madeline costume, as there are so many great, handmade ones floating around out there in BlogLand. I didn't sew a stitch--suck it Pinterest. The blue dress with lace peter pan collar was from ebay. It's navy versus the traditional royal blue so at times I thought she resembled Mary Poppins. Madeline's straw chapeau was from a discount store. I added red/black ribbon from my stash to the ensemble. Quinn already had the Mary Jane shoes. It all came in under $20.
And that's all there is--
there isn't any more.
:-)
*excerpts from Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline
P.S. We didn't dress up this year, but here's that one time I was Waldo in 2010.
Awful maybe. Or was it awesome?

Her costume was PERFECT!!! I love that she likes wearing hats... so cute. :) And I'm very impressed that these were her first kit kat & twix bar. Strong Mama. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, friend!! And I believe we've opened Pandora's box with the candy. She's been asking for candy every day since. Here kid, eat some fruit--it's nature's candy. She's not buying it.
DeleteAwww! That was the cutest thing ever! :D
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Chris!
Deletexoxo
I love your description of Quinn eating that first piece of candy! So true! I still remember the first time my nephew had M&Ms. Can't believe she made it through 7 hours of trick or treating. Watch out now because that girl has got endurance.
ReplyDeletehttp://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com
LOL, it was 7 houses she made it thru! At which point she had had enough & demanded to go home to inspect the fruits of her labor ;-) That first piece of candy was hilarious!
DeleteWords can't even describe how cute I think this is. The kind of costume that I love!
ReplyDeleteThanks a million, gal! Me too :-)
DeleteThis is the sweetest little costume I've ever seen!! LOVE it, she's so cute!
ReplyDeleteCute cute cute!!! I love this idea! Also still laughing about the rainbow covered in clouds dipped in a sweet hug. Awesome- that's probably how my little guy will feel when he has his first taste of candy!
ReplyDeleteSuper adorable! But where was Miss Clavel? You would have made an adorable nun :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, thanks, S! I should've dressed as the nun Miss Clavel! It would've been sarcasm at its finest ;-)
DeleteShe is beyond adorable...and lucky you only had to go 7 houses!! we had to stay out until every last porch light was off!!!!!!! But you should see our haul...should last us until next week. ;)
ReplyDeleteALL the houses?!? I wouldn't last. Was whining by the 3rd house (me, not Quinn). ;-)
Deletexoxo
My girls love that book :) And Quinn is just the cutest little Madeline. Love what you pulled together for the costume!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! The Madeline books were favorites of mine when I was little, too! As for the hubby, he'd never heard of it so I made him read it. He finished, closed the book, & said "Miss Clavel's creepy." Banning him from reading the others.
Deletexoxo
Q, looks darling as Madeline such a sweet costume idea :) love it
ReplyDeleteI am sending your "lie" to my mother - that is hysterical and she'll definitely remember doing this to me. "You LOVE wearing this!" I'll eagerly await the days that brainwashing works on my daughter :)
ReplyDeleteI love it! She looks so dang cute!
ReplyDeleteShe is adorable! And that costume is so cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the sweet words!
DeleteSO so cute :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, J!!
DeleteI love this so much! I've been pinning to a board for a Madeline birthday party (for in the future, when she'll damn well appreciate it!). Quinn is adorable!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I know, I'm fearing next year's Halloween costume & birthday party.....will it be the year of Disney princesses & jumpy castles?!? Ack!!
DeleteThanks, friend!
Two things. 1. Quinn was THE most adorable thing ever. Madeline is the best! 2. Where's Waldo may have been my favorite thing ever growing up. I had a rediculous number of the puzzles. Used to keep me busy for hours. My mom used to tell me it was good brain excersise. Now I know it was just to keep me occupied!
ReplyDeleteThanks a million, friend!! LOL!! So what you're saying is Waldo paraphernalia might be the best babysitter ever....I'm about to Amazon it up & buy all the Waldo things!
Deletemuch love
xoxo
I love that she can wear her dress again. I'm not a fan of spending tons of money on something they can only wear for one night. She looked adorable! My daughter had her first Milky Way and it was pretty much the same reaction :)
ReplyDeleteI want a Quinn doll for Christmas. Or maybe a Dashboard Quinn to entertain me in the car. Hubby is right, Miss Clavell is creepy.
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Hands down the best comment ever. EVER! Thanks, friend :-)
DeleteOh my goodness!! This is seriously the most adorable thing I have EVER seen! Quinn makes the most darling Madeline!! xo
ReplyDeleteI can't get over Quinn's cuteness and her sweet costume!! And I can't remember how I found your blog but the Waldo post was the first one I read and got hooked on. #truestory
ReplyDeleteNemixtli
She is just too cute. The cutest Madeline, ever!
ReplyDeleteI love this costume and I just simply love her. She's fabulous.
ReplyDeletei LOVE this so much. just perfect.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Madeline books when I was a girl. This is such a sweet costume
ReplyDeleteMe too, adore them when I was a girl! Thank you, Melinda!
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous. Its wonderful to see kids in costumes that are sweet and innocent and not scary.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job!
Absolutely gorgeous! Its nice to see kids dressed in a costume thats not scary.
ReplyDeleteI said it on Instagram but I'll say it again - you did so good, FC! Your little Madeline is parfait (:
ReplyDelete