google.com, pub-8087192757053655, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Director Jewels: Imagination: Never Say Die

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Imagination: Never Say Die

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BuyCostumes, but all opinions (and my love of playing dress-up) are my own.

The world of imagination is unbelievably beautiful. My kids are started to reveal their love for pretend play to me, little by little, and I am so excited about all the adventures they are going to have as they grow up together. A lot of people scoff at the idea of letting a kid out of the house in a princess dress or Mario overalls, but I say this: they are not going to have this amazing sense of adventure forever. When a person grows up, they tend to never reclaim the magic of putting on a costume and becoming someone else - even if it's just for a short time.

My background in extensive imagination, followed by acting and directing has helped to retain my personal fearlessness at appearing in public dressed as Princess Leia or Princess Peach. When I was a teenager, I was usually the ringleader of costumed excursions around the Midwest.

It's possible this friend will never forgive me for leaking this photo online publicly,
so I will leave her nameless here. Hehe.

There was that time I convinced my dear friend that the only way to see Wicked was in full replica costume, including green makeup. The people in the row behind us were a little bit concerned when I sat down with that hat (I took it off for the show). We were actually told in the lobby after the performance that we "did a great job." That was an unexpected ego boost for a couple of kids who had been sitting in an expensive seat for three hours.

My Phantom of the Opera dress has seen a lot of action, as I wore it to multiple events: a performance of the show in Indianapolis, the movie release here in Kansas City, and a tea party I threw for some 8-year-olds when I worked for the library. The best, though, was when I was joined in this endeavor at the movie release by my friend Holly as The Phantom. This was a couple of years after we had put on our own full-scale (for poor teenagers) production of Phantom in the barn in my parents' backyard, so it was kind of like reprising our roles. Totally worth all the strange glances and comments. Totally.

Fun fact: my husband definitely worked at this movie theatre at this time
and was probably there this day, and it's probably good this was not the day we met.

Maybe you hesitate to make a costumed appearance because you don't have any costumes! Don't let that stop you. Costumes are available year round, but right now you'll likely find a much larger selection since Halloween is coming up soon. You can save 20% on orders over $50 at BuyCostumes right now (use the code afchalloewen2050 for the deal). Plus, now is a great time to order because of the I Want To Be Guarantee - which allows you to exchange for a different size (with no additional shipping costs) for costumes and accessories purchased through October 31, 2014. You can read more details here.

It's really not necessary to have a specific event to wear a costume, although that is what inspires a lot of people (think: Halloween, when more people than normal are willing to look like a crazy person an imaginative soul in public). Sometimes, you can just round up some friends, dress everyone as pirates, convince your brother to be "security detail" and just wander the aisles of your local supermarket at 10pm for no other reason that it will be fun.


Am I scaring you off yet? It may have been awhile since I have appeared in public in costume, but that doesn't mean I'm not always scheming about an excuse to make it happen. Maybe we'll have a costume day for preschool soon and make it a point to go do something normal while we are all super dressed up. That would for sure be a good memory for the kids, right? 

Pirates can bake, too!

Okay, I admit it. Sometimes, people are embarrassed to be seen in public with me. I don't really mind. The memories are so fun!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BuyCostumes, but all opinions are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy

24 comments:

  1. Haha, I was afraid my face would appear in this post. I'm with you, though. I still love costumes--and love gallivanting in public in one!

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    1. We should totally plan a theme and dress ourselves and all the kids up and do something ridiculous when you're up here for Christmas, friend. It would be epic. :)

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  2. I think it's great wearing costumes whenever. Snow white was in church last Sunday.

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  3. I am loving that you went to shows in costume. I just purchased our ticket to see The Nutcracker this year. I wonder what I should wear? Too fun!

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    1. Might be tough to wear a tutu in a theatre seat - haha! :)

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  4. I wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen in costume at all. Looks like you have some great times.

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  5. my kids dressed up for the renaissance faire this weekend. they fit right in through

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    1. Fun! We haven't done Ren Fest with our kids yet, but have been thinking about taking them this year!

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  6. That is so great! Fun memories for sure.

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  7. What awesome fun you must have! This is absolutely adorable! Of course, I'm the mom who still goes out with her adult daughter and plays along with anything and everything my kid comes up which may or may not include dressing her up as a baby and pushing her around Baby's R Us in a shopping cart.

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  8. ROFL I'm so happy to see I'm not the only crazy one who loves to act silly in public. My little ones love to wear their super hero or princess costumes out and about when we're running errands and I'm notorious for being a huge dork.

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  9. I love this post so much. So many people think you have to become dull to be an adult. You don't!

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  10. Having an imagination is a great thing. The fact that you're comfortable enough with yourself to go out in public like that is maybe even better.

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  11. Aww, that is so much fun! I would love to go around dressed up, however, I am most likely to do it with a friend and not alone -- and since my friends won't do it....well you get the idea. ;)

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  12. I think it sounds like you were having fun. I was thinking about getting a costume this year!

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