By Corey

My dear friend, Maria, recently posted this picture on her Facebook wall:

How CUTE are these family-made costumes (not to mention the kids!) ?!?

I just had to get the scoop…

Name: The Odyssey, Halloween Adventure!

Kids ages: Max 8, Dom 5, Sophia 3

Costume/s: King Menalaus (Max), Odysseus (Dom), Helen of Troy(Sophia)

Inspiration: We had read Black Ships Before Troy, a children’s version of The Odyssey that year and decided to play it up for Halloween!

Materials used: Cardbord and any clothes we had such as dress-up and old T-shirts along with markers, paint and a wagon.

Reaction from kids: They were thrilled to re-enact such a fun story, they were heros!

Family’s costume plans for this year: Rockstars using clothes and boots we have and some of moms make-up.

More from Mom: I love to incorporate things that the kids are learning/interested in to make a costume from so that it becomes a fun family project instead of just going out and spending a bunch of money on something new.

My husband is so creative that the kids end up winning the costume contests many years!

I like to turn Halloween into a time that the kids can join with us in being super resourceful and creative and see that we can use what we already have to make great costumes that are different than anything other kids have. It is such a great opportunity to teach and get creative together.

One year my son was so bummed that we were just making do, and he ended up winning the costume contest at school and becoming the true hero of all his friends. It was such a great lesson for him! Ever since, our kids ask, “what are we making this year for costumes” they don’t even think of going to buy anything!!

Is your family passionate about celebrating a homemade Halloween? Share your stories below.

by Corey

Welcome to Day #3 of our

“31 days of {Green!} Giveaways“

Today’s question: “What was your favorite Halloween costume EVER?”

Today is day #3 of our month-long, trick-or-treating party for parents!

Just knock on our door (AKA blog) each day, answer the daily question (in lieu of shouting, “Trick or treat!” – although you are totally welcome to write that as well) and you’ll be entered to win some absolutely fabulous, ever-so-eco-friendly prizes.

Today’s prizes are worth $62!

Here’s what we have for October 3, 2011…

Gift certificate for (lead-free, mineral-based) Face Paints Set from Terrafirma Cosmetics. Value $24.99. Winner pays shipping.

Kids Konserve™ Orgininal Snak Pak. Value $22. Ships to continental US and Canada only.

Gift certificate for $15 at EcoMom.com. (Can be used at the Green Halloween® marketplace or anywhere on EcoMom.com). Winner pays shipping.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Add your e-mail address to the comment login, below. (We cannot notify you if we don’t have your e-mail address!)

2. Add a comment (one per e-mail address) with your answer to the question above.

3. Comment must post before 11:59pm PST – TONIGHT

Be sure to review our giveaway rules here. Please note shipping limitations.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog and follow us on Facebook & Twitter for daily reminders & updates for the 31 Days of {Green} Giveaways promotion.

Good luck & have FUN!

(see you tomorrow )

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

by Corey

Introducing our 31 Days of Green Giveaways!

In celebration of Green Halloween® 2011, we’re kicking off an entire month of giveaways.

Each day, we’ll post a new giveaway to our blog. And each day, you’ll have the chance to win prizes from leading and visionary health-focused and green brands.

Sound fun?

It’s like a month-long, eco-fabulous trick-or-treating party for parents!

So be sure to subscribe to the Green Halloween blog, or check back with us everyday from 10/1 through 10/31. Then follow us on Facebook and Twitter for special reminders.

Good luck, have fun and Happy Hallogreen!

***

How to win/ Rules:

• Enter by adding your e-mail address and a comment addressing the required “theme” to the blog post for that daily giveaway. (Inappropriate comments will be removed at our discretion.)
• You must be 18 to enter.
• One entry per e-mail per day. (Duplicates will not be considered.)
• Comments must be posted by 11:59 pm PST (as registered in the blog’s time stamp). Comments posted after this time will not be entered to win. Daily winner selected via Random.org.
• Most prizes ship to the continental U.S.; some may ship to Canada. Read each posting carefully. If you cannot accept a prize, it may be offered to another entrant, at the product-partner’s discretion. No alternative prize/s will be offered.
• Winners announced publicly on the individual blog posts. Winner will be notified by e-mail no later than November 15, 2011.Winner’s e-mail address will be provided to the prize partner, who is fully responsible for shipping prizes to winners. Winner must reply to the prize-partners notification within 7 days, and must be able to accept shipment in the continental U.S. (in some cases Canada).
• Green Halloween, EcoMom Alliance and The Green Year/ Celebrate Green are not responsible for winning announcements that don’t come through, lost or damaged prizes. Once a winner has been chosen, questions about prizes should be directed to the prize partners.
• Prize partners have the right to exchange prizes for items of similar value, should the promoted prize become unavailable.

Looking for where to find great, green goodies for Halloween and year ’round? Be sure to check out the official Green Halloween marketplace on EcoMom.com.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Eco-fabulous twin brothers, Tristin and Tyler, show you how easy (and FUN!) it is to host a swap for National Costume Swap Day™!

Tristin and Tyler are 7 year old city kids who host their own series about having fun and going green in New York City called “Tristin and Tyler’s Tales from the City!” In each episode these mini reporters interview people finding unique ways to be creative and/or help the environment! Visit http://tristinandtyler.com and check out all of their fun adventures!

And check out T & T’s tell-all (about costume swapping) interview with us, here.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

2010′s Green Halloween in NYC was a screamin’ success!

“Screamin’ Green Halloween” was hosted by Brookfield Office Properties at the World Financial Center in the Big Apple.

Eek-o-fabulous fun was had by all (6,000 guests in just 4 hours!) with recycled art, a costume swap, poetry reading, marching band, healthy/green goodies and more.

Here are a few of the fab photos (by photographer Andrew Federman) for more, click here.

And check out this HUGE promotion banner hanging for all to see!