Halloween is five weeks from today.  That means it's time to start thinking about costumes. 

If you are going to construct a costume, you'll need to make decisions and begin gathering supplies within the next week or so.  It is not a treat to pull an all-nighter to finish a costume.

Since this is the beginning of the costume decision-making process, here are some things to keep in mind:

• If your children will be wearing a costume to trick or treat outdoors, make surethe costume allows for warm clothes to be worn underneath and has lights or reflective strips for safety.
• For safety and comfort, think about replacing a mask with face paint.
• Make sure the costume (for children or adults) allow for easy movement.  It shouldn't be too tight, too loose, or too long.
• Accessories can add a lot to a costume. Unfortunately, one of the things it can add is annoyance.  carrying a prop all night at a party is just a pain.  Been there, done that.  If you must use a prop, see if it can be attached to the costume or set on a table somewhere.
• In the current economy, constructing a costume from things around the house or from things you can pick up in a thrift store or a dollar store.  Let's face it, a costume is for one night. Unless Halloween is your major social event of the season, it's probably not worth spending a lot for something you'll wear once.