Halloween has always been a huge deal in our house. We’ve worn coordinating costumes since Mathew and I have been married. Some of our favorites have been deer and a hunter, scarecrows, Goldilocks and the 3 bears, April the Giraffe with her baby and zookeeper, and the characters from Moana. I’ve enjoyed making our Halloween costumes because I’ve been able to make them adaptive for Addie and her needs. I’m so excited though that there are SO many adaptive Halloween costumes for kids with special needs now!
Did you know that a total of 12.8 percent of children under age 18 in the United States (roughly 9.4 million children) are estimated to have special health care needs? With more awareness of varying special needs, it’s amazing to see companies like Disney and Target coming out with adaptive Halloween costumes to meet the needs of these kiddos. I hope next year I can put out another post with even more mainstream businesses providing adaptive Halloween costumes, because even more options for kids would be incredible!
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1| Disney Cinderella Adaptive Dress and Cinderella’s Coach Wheelchair Disguise– This authentic Disney Princess costume opens in the back so it’s easy to put on and has a self-stick fabric closure. I LOVE that the bodice has a flap for tube access and is longer in length for friends in wheelchairs. The dress is gorgeous and so perfectly detailed with sparkle, shimmer, and a beautiful cameo. Not to mention, the dress pairs perfectly with the Cinderella Coach. It’s perfect for any girl ready to go to her very own ball.
2| Disney Buzz Lightyear Adaptive Costume– This Buzz Lightyear costume is perfect for any space ranger with special needs. This one piece bodysuit opens in the back, has a flap for easy tube access, has roomier leg circumference, and has longer length. It comes with fun accessories like gloves and a fabric helmet. Not to mention, it’s got all the cool buttons needed to look just like Buzz! Any Space Ranger wearing this will surely defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg.
3| Incredibles 2 Adaptive Costume and Incredimobile Wheelchair Cover Set– This one piece bodysuit from Incredibles 2 includes a mask and gloves so your child will be perfectly in disguise. It has tube access, stretchy fabric, comes in longer length, and opens in the back. The costume pairs with the Incredimobile Wheelchair Cover, which looks SO cool and is sure to turn heads this Halloween.
4| Adaptive Mermaid Costume with Headpiece and Seashell Wheelchair Cover– Ready for magical under-the-sea style on land? This adaptive Mermaid costume has been thoughtfully designed and comes with a beautiful one-piece outfit adorned with a coordinating fin. There’s even a hairpiece to round out the look! It opens in the back for easy on and off. The adorable Seashell Wheelchair Cover turns any wheelchair into a cove perfect for any mermaid!
5| Adaptive Dragon Costume and Dragon Wheelchair Cover– Your kiddo is sure to have a roar-ing good time during the spooky season when they’re dressed in this awesome adaptive dragon costume. The dragon costume comes green jumpsuit complete with a scale print and orange detail at the chest. There’s an awesome headpiece that comes with it too. It comes with an open back for easy on and off. Pair this costume with the Dragon Wheelchair Cover and your kid will look extra cool.
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6| Adaptive Witch Costume and Flying Witch Wheelchair Cover– Where are my witches and wizards at? This adaptive witch costume comes with a flowing black gown, purple tulle, and sparkly stars. It also has a black hat with purple tulle. This dress opens in the back for ease of dressing. Finish this bewitching look with a very fun Flying Witch Wheelchair Cover!
7| Adaptive Pirate Costume and Pirate Ship Wheelchair Cover– Jack Sparrow better watch out because there’s a new pirate in town! This adaptive pirate costume is a whole jumpsuit with a back opening, making it really easy to put on. It comes with a hat and vest to complete the look. Don’t miss the amazing Pirate Ship Wheelchair Cover to go all out! It’s got water on the wheels, an awesome ship, and of course, a pirate flag.
8| Adaptive Plush Unicorn Costume– If you’ve got a girly girl in your house like I do, don’t miss the Adaptive Plush Unicorn Costume. I absolutely love this costume. It has a full length side zipper AND shoulder snap closures for easy dressing. It also has a hidden opening for tube access. This costume comes with a unicorn hood, wings, and tail for a complete look. It really makes me happy that the tail and wings are removable, especially so kids in wheelchairs don’t have to be sitting on something uncomfortable. Not to mention, this costume is fluffy and shimmery- two very fun design wins!
9| Adaptive Robot Costume– This 3 piece adaptive robot costume is metallic and perfect for robot fans! It comes with a helmet, shirt, and pants. It is colorful with teal, purple, orange, and green accents, making it extra fun. This costume opens in the back for easy access.
10| Adaptive Plush Shark Jumpsuit Costume– Another awesome costume with this Adaptive Plush Shark Jumpsuit. It is soft, cozy, and has so many amazing features! Size zipper with shoulder snaps and hidden opening for easy tube access make this so functional. The shark hood, fin, and tail are also easily removable. This will definitely be a great costume if it’s cold where you live on Halloween!
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Addie with her tube feed through the cool hidden flap!
So there you have it- the best adaptive Halloween costumes for kids with special needs! I hope you and your families are able to find exactly what you need this Halloween. I know Addie is so happy with her Cinderella costume! As a bonus, I’m sharing this fun Teal Pumpkin Project Printable below! Just fill out the form and it’ll be emailed straight to your inbox!
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Have a wonderful and safe Halloween! For more Halloween fun don’t miss my holidays archive.
As much as I love pumpkin spice everything, I equally love apple cider during the Fall. I love making it with whipped cream and caramel on top. On perfectly crisp days, I enjoy sitting in the backyard reading as I sip on my drink. It’s the best.
Some of my favorite colors in the Fall are apple cider inspired. Caramel, mauve, deep red, and burgundy just scream “Fall” to a home and wardrobe. The other day on Facebook I asked you if you were a pumpkin spice fan or apple cider fan, and I loved reading your responses. Some were adamant about pumpkin, many were huge apple cider fans, and then there were a few that simply couldn’t choose between the two!I couldn’t leave out my apple cider fans after writing about pumpkin spice finds, so this post is for YOU!
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1| Apple Cider Kinda Day Tee– If you’re an apple cider fan then this t-shirt is a must have. Pair with a cozy knit cardigan and snuggle up on your couch. It’s perfect for the season!2| Rusty Red Knitted Throw– This rusty red blanket is such a gorgeous color. It’s perfect for Fall weather and is nice and warm. Not to mention, it looks fabulous draped over an accent chair.3| Rae Dunn Apple Cider Decal– I love all things Rae Dunn and couldn’t pass up this cute apple cider decal. Put it on your favorite mug, or even a tumbler!4| Fresh Cider Jug Mini Wood Sign– This mini wood sign is perfect for a tiered tray. I love the 3D effect it has from the wooden lettering too!5| Fall Wood Block Stack– I absolutely love how cute this wood block stack is. It’s great for an entryway, nightstand, or kitchen! They’re super trendy, but I love that they’re neutral colors so they fit into any home.6| It’s Fall Tee– I envision this It’s Fall tee being worn at an orchard with a floppy hat, knee length boots, and jeans. Roll up the sleeves, tie it, or front tuck it- any way you wear it, you’ll rock it!
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7| CC Criss Cross High Ponytail Baseball Cap– I really love hats with room for ponytails. In Texas it can stay pretty warm during the Fall. I thought this criss cross ponytail cap was a cute way to enjoy apple colors in a wardrobe while being functional. You’re sure to get a lot of compliments on it.8| Autumn Sage Smudge Stick– I’m more of a diffuser girl, myself, but there’s something so soothing about the way a smudge stick smells. This smudge stick has Yerba Santa sage, apples, cinnamon, and oranges in it. You can practically smell it as you think about it, right? Burn this and have your home smelling absolutely delicious.9| Farm Fresh Apples Bead Garland– Wooden bead garlands are popular right now and rightly so. They’re so pretty! I love the Farm Fresh Apples tag on this garland as well as the colors. It looks pretty draped around a stunning Young Living Aria diffuser, on a tiered tray, or even around a decorated apple cider bar. 10| Red Tartan Scarf– I’m a sucker for scarves in the Fall. This red Tartan scarf is soft, comfortable, and can be worn many different ways. It’s a great staple item to have this time of year. 11| Apple Cider Served Here Sign– This apple cider sign is too cute to pass up for anyone wanting to decorate their home this Fall in apple tones. Above a pantry door, in your hall, or anywhere else, it is sure to get you in the apple cider mood!12| Fall Canister Decals– Honestly I love this whole trio of decals, so I definitely recommend grabbing all three for a complete set. If you have an apple cider bar, this will be a perfect addition for it.
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Enjoy sipping on that apple cider this Fall!
For more Fall fun, don’t miss the Fall Pregnancy Announcement we made when we told our families we were having another baby (it turned out to be Lawson!) You may also enjoy the delicious Ghost Spice Cupcakes recipe with spiced apples inside. Yum!
I remember being a kid, sitting in the movie theater watching Disney’s animated Mulan for the very first time. From the moment I “met” Mulan in the theater I loved her, and felt so empowered to be a girl. Mulan wasn’t just like the typical Disney princesses- she was a warrior- and that was nothing short of amazing. I watched that movie over and over and over, and of course, belted my heart out singing, “Reflections” by Christina Aguilera. Oh what a time to be alive, that 1998. Good times.
If you don’t know much about Mathew, you may not know that he’s a big history buff. Between his love of history and love for Disney, he too had a fondness for Mulan. It’s been something we’ve bonded over the decade (plus) that we’ve been together. We’ll randomly be cooking in the kitchen and all of a sudden ask Alexa on our Echo to play “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from the animated film. We will sing and dance and just have a goofy time, all while the kids look at us like we’re crazy. It’s the best.
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When Addie had her Make A Wish trip in December, I made it a point to make sure we stopped by to see Mulan. She was actually one of the only characters I was desperate to meet. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to meet a lot of characters so Addie could enjoy them, but there has always been something so special about her. She was such an integral part of my childhood and I wanted Addie to experience meeting her. We even watched the animated film several times so Addie would recognize her.We sped through many places in Epcot just to get all the way to China. Mulan had a line of people, and because it was Addie’s Make A Wish trip, we were able to see her in swifter time. Lawson was unsure, Addie was getting sleepy, but we made it happen because we otherwise would miss her. I literally could not form sentences. Disney magic hit me and I barely held together a conversation out of nerves. We took pictures and laughed about things that happened to her and Little Brother, and she was so very sweet talking with Addie and Lawson. It was magical and an experience I’m so grateful for.
Now Mulan is back and in her very own live action film. We were so looking forward to watching the film in theaters, but even though that couldn’t happen, I love that Disney+ is offering Premier Access. For $29.99 you can purchase Mulan before it comes out to all Disney+ members in December. You can watch it as many times as you like, and you can support all the hard working people that worked on the film that never got to see it debut on the big screen.Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of China’s legendary warrior to life in Disney’s “Mulan,” in which a fearless young woman risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father.
If you and your family are big fans of either film like we are, definitely get the movie on Disney+ and then don’t miss these 10 MUST HAVE merch for Disney’s Mulan!
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1| Mommy and Me Costume Collection 2| Limited Edition Doll 3| Mulan Warrior Funko Pop 4| Mulan Journal 5| The Art of Mulan Book 6| Mulan Ear Headband 7| Girls Tee 8| Mulan with Horse Pin 9| Backpack by Danielle Nicole 10| Tumbler with Straw
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Want even more Mulan?
Turn on your printer and download this amazing Mulan Live Action Activity Packet! There are fun activities like creating goals, creating a unique landscape, drawing a family crest, writing a poem, and tips on having a mindful mindset. This activity packet is so much fun for every person that shares the enthusiasm as Mulan.
Looking for more Disney activities?
Don’t miss the activity sheets archive where you can print out even more free stuff from your favorite Disney films! For more Disney fashion, recipes, and games, don’t miss the Disney archives as well!
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but Addie is 6. We weren’t even sure if we’d make it to see her first birthday, and here we are with a six year old. Crazy. Addie has an immune system that we need to be cautious with and she just had open heart surgery, but we wanted to have a birthday for her that was a celebration of turning six and rocking her heart surgery. I sat in her hospital room just 2 weeks before her birthday, unsure of what to do. Then it hit me- an epic drive by birthday party! What else would be better for such an amazing kid?!
Finding the Perfect Drive By Birthday Party Invitation:
As I sat and thought about a theme, I immediately thought about rainbows. Addie is the queen of colors, and in her opinion, the brighter a color, the better! I scoured the internet to find the perfect invitation and found an awesome digital download for a rainbow and unicorn invitation on Etsy. It immediately got Addie’s stamp of approval. I’m a huge fan of digital invitations because so many people prefer social media and texting these days, and honestly, with Addie’s surgery I didn’t have time to mail out invitations. I was able to edit the invitation quickly and easily and then went to Facebook.
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Spreading the Word:
Spreading the word on an epic drive by birthday party only two weeks away was actually easily done thanks to Facebook. After I had my invitation edited to my liking, I texted close friends and family and created a Facebook event. I invited everyone that I thought would be interested in joining us for a good time and shared the invitation in the event. Every other day I would post something in the event to get engagement and visibility. I wanted as many people to join us as possible so Addie would have a huge celebration, so getting the invitation seen was important. Some posts asked how excited people were, Addie and her excitement, a gift list (it was requested by several people), and more. I made it a point to share that gifts were not necessary because we wanted everyone to feel welcome to join us even if they were deciding to come last minute.
Inviting Special Guests:
We live in a great neighborhood that has a Facebook page for all of the community. I made sure to share our invitation to the drive by birthday party in there and encouraged our neighbors to show up so we could meet them. Everyone was really excited to join, and they were grateful we were warning them ahead of time about possible loud music or cars during the party.Addie is also a huge fan of the fire department and police department, so we wanted to make sure we included them in the celebration. Our local PD/FD is right down the street so Mathew and I stopped by about a week before and asked them if they would join the drive by birthday party. They happily said yes, barring any emergencies, which was absolutely awesome.Not to be left out, we know some pretty awesome people in the 501st Legion thanks to the Internet. We wanted this birthday party to be huge (I mean, Addie just had open heart surgery!) so I chatted with a friend that has connections in the 501st. One of Addie’s favorite moments on her Make A Wish trip was meeting Rey and Chewie. Mathew is a huge Star Wars fan as well, and loved meeting Darth Vader and BB-8, so I knew it was the perfect addition.
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A Little Friendly Competition:
We wanted cars to be as decorative as possible for Addie to enjoy (she really is such a visual kid) so we spiced things up by creating a contest for the best decorated car. I really think this helped make the drive by birthday party even more epic, because everyone went all out so the parade was extra special. Friends came with balloons, signs, loud music, crazy decorations, and more. It was so much fun, and everyone enjoyed the friendly competition for the drive by birthday party.
Grabbing Decorations:
If you’ve ever been to any party I’ve hosted (or seen one online), you know that I love Pinterest-type parties. The more decorations, the better, and with a drive by birthday party it was imperative that it look as epic as I hoped for her. Still, I’m on a budget, so finding things for a great price was important. A sweet friend of ours had some connections with Party City (we also had been doing a few projects with them lately that were unrelated) and Party City graciously gave us a budget to go grab some decorations and favors from there.Some of the things we bought were a balloon arch (similar), balloons (similar), party favors of glow sticks (similar), rainbow colored slinkys (similar), rainbow lollipops (similar), a cupcake stand (similar), tablecloth (similar), and paper goods (similar). I’ll tell you though- the balloon arch was the best thing we could’ve purchased. Just an FYI- if you don’t have an electric balloon pump, get one. It made all the difference in putting the balloon arch together quickly! It was a showstopper and made it so everyone knew where the party was. We also purchased a Happy Birthday yard sign from our local grocery store to really make our yard one big focus.
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The Food
Usually for a birthday party I make a big deal about the food. It typically has a theme and all the cutesy things. Because this was a drive by birthday party I decided not to have food, but cupcakes instead! We went to our local H-E-B and grabbed several dozen cupcakes and asked for rainbow colored frosting. They did an amazing job and the cupcakes were enjoyed by everyone. It was easy to pass out cupcakes to everyone in their cars with goodie bags for the kids, and families didn’t have to worry about plates and cups as they drove. Worked out perfectly.
The Drive By Birthday Party
On the day of Addie’s big drive by birthday party we got everything ready in the yard. We chose to do the parade in the evening because Addie has sensitive eyes (but also it’s Texas and was blazing hot!) It worked out perfectly for us all! Addie got dressed in the most adorable rainbow themed outfit and was ready to get the party started!My in-laws parked down the street from our house with a sign saying to follow them for the party, and everyone lined up behind them. We only saw a few cars at first and were grateful that even a few cars could come, but as things got started we heard the line got so long it was all the way out of our subdivision and down the main road! Our friends from the 501st Legion marched down the road to get the party started and came to stand around Addie as her bodyguards. It was amazing!
Everyone came down honking their horns, blasting fun birthday music, cheering, shouting “Happy Birthday” to Addie, and waving their signs. The fire department brought their huge ladder trucks and had lights going off, and the police department had lights and sirens on as well. It was AMAZING. Out of the hour we set aside for the parade, we had 45 straight minutes of continuous vehicles, and then had some others come for the last 15 minutes. It was an hour of insanity and literally, one of the best times we’ve ever had as a family (I mean- it’s close up there with our Disney trip!)
At the end of the evening, we took everything inside and couldn’t believe all the fun we’d had. What a blessing it was! Because of everything going on in our world, it’d been so long since we’d seen many of our friends. To see everyone we love, meet neighbors, and just have an amazing time- it was incredible. We couldn’t have asked for a better celebration for Addie and are so grateful to everyone that came (and for each and every gift!) All in all, this was one amazing drive by birthday party and we couldn’t have done it without all the people that love our special girl. I hope that whatever kind of drive by birthday party you have, it is just as special and magical for your child!
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Don’t miss other social distancing birthday ideas from the blog!
This post on Tips for Parents with Picky Toddlers is sponsored by Babblebox on behalf of Else Nutrition. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Where are my toddler parents at? As Lawson is now 2.5, we have gotten into the phase of being a picky eater. I really hoped it would pass us, considering we did Baby Led Weaning as an infant, but it hasn’t. One day he loves spaghetti meat, the next day he hates it. Two separate meals in a month he loves salmon, the next meal he won’t even let it touch his plate. One day he loves bananas, the next- well, you get the idea. Getting him to eat had become this struggle, and I just wasn’t sure what to do. I did a little research and found some great tips, and thought I’d share them with you. I know I’m not alone here, so at least we are in this together, right?
Picky Toddler Tip #1- Be Respectful. If your picky toddler isn’t hungry, don’t force them to eat a meal or snack. Kids know their bodies! Bribing your toddler to eat foods or clean their plate could create or strengthen a power struggle over foods. Not only that, but mealtime could start to give your child anxiety or frustration. The best thing I’ve found to help is to serve small portions so Lawson isn’t overwhelmed and it gives him the chance to ask for more of what he likes. Picky Toddler Tip #2- Turn Them Into Tiny Chefs. I love to cook and it’s a great way to model to children how to have healthy meals at home. Lawson loves helping stir, pour, choosing the color bowl or cup to use, and more. When toddlers help in the kitchen, they become proud of what they’ve done, are more likely to eat their food, and less likely to be a picky toddler!
Picky Toddler Tip #3- Introduce them to Else. Lawson loves a good fancy drink. He tries to steal my coffee, loves smoothies, and enjoys drinking his “special milk” from Else.Else is an organic, plant-based complete nutrition drink for toddlers that is dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, corn syrup-free, and non-gmo. We’ve always put Lawson’s nutrition first and made sure he’s gotten organic foods that are non-gmo, and when he started his picky toddler phase, I worried he wasn’t getting all the nutrients his body needed. Else has real whole foods in their natural form (yay!) It also has the 3 important macros (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) that help support growth and development. This was really important to us because phytonutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals are more abundant when they’re from a whole food source.I’ve been letting Lawson have his “special milk” from Else because we aren’t fans of soy and he only likes almond milk with stevia. Plus, I’m not a fan of giving him juice since they’re just loaded with sugar and don’t have nutrients. I love having an option of something that has a clean label and is plant-based to give him the nutrition he needs on those days when he wants to be picky, and the days when he simply wants something to drink!As you can see, Lawson LOVES his “special milk” from Else. He kept yelling “Mmm DELICIOUS” when he first tried it, and I would just die laughing. Lawson and I want to share the Else love with you all, so if you head to Else, you can use the code VINTAGE-ELSE25 for 25% off!
Picky Toddler Tip #4- Get Creative With Variety. One thing I’ve learned with Lawson is to not give up on a certain food if he refuses it once. Offering foods in different ways encourages a child to explore new flavors and textures! It can take 10 or more times tasting a food before your toddler’s taste buds accept it. Not only that, but spices and herbs can help make them more tasty and appealing to your toddler. Picky Toddler Tip #5- Create Family Time. Eating meals as a family is really helpful when you have picky toddlers. Turn off the tv and put away cell phones or tablets. Use your meal time to model healthy eating. Always try to include at least one food your child likes with each meal, and always provide a balanced meal- whether your toddler eats it or not.
Picky Toddler Tip #6- Make Foods Fun. It takes extra time, but if you’ve got it, making foods fun goes a long way with toddlers. Arrange foods in fun, colorful shapes using cookie cutters, sandwich cutters, or even on a plate that has a face. Kids also love any kind of dip (I know Lawson does), and could make the difference between a toddler eating or not.
Being the parent of a toddler isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s a new challenge every day, but that’s part of the joys of parenthood, right? Know that whatever you choose to help your picky toddler, you’re doing an amazing job. We hope these tips help you, and that your toddler enjoys Else as much as Lawson does! (Don’t forget to use VINTAGE-ELSE25 for 25% off!)
Want to read more about toddler life? Check out the kids archive!
