If you are trying to decide on the perfect homemade costume, turn your little one into a sweet M&M. MOM Magazine reader Evonne Walls provides a a tutorial that is simple to follow, even if sewing isn't your strong suit.

M&M Costume

Materials

• Fabric (felt or cotton blend is fine) in the color of M&M you want to be. Two yards for a toddler and up to three yards for an older child
• One to two yards of batting to make the M&M a little poufy
• Small remnant or quilter's square of white or brown fabric to make the M on the front of the costume
• White thermal underwear (one or two piece)
• Velcro strips

Instructions

1. Use a piece of cardboard to cut out a pattern. Cut a large circle to the size you need your costume to be, keep in mind its better for the costume to be a little big than too small. (Cut an oval pattern for a peanut M&M.)
2. Cut out four circles from the fabric and two circles from the batting using the cardboard pattern.
3. Cut a large M (Search for M&M under Google images for to print out a template) out of white material, then glue it to the front or use Wonder Under to iron the M onto the one of the circles. Appliqué the edges of the M. This circle will be the front of the front M&M piece.
4. Select two circle pieces and sew two strips (6"-7" each) of Velcro across each piece, one about one-third away from the top and the other one-third away from the bottom of the circle. You will then sew the other side of those Velcro pieces onto the back and stomach/chest region of the thermal underwear.
5. Now you will take one circle with the Velcro and the circle with the M and place them on top of the each other so the M and the Velcro are facing each other. You will repeat this step with the other two pieces except you just need to make sure the one circle that is blank has the right side (finished side) of it facing the Velcro strips.
6. Sew around the edges of each pair of circles leaving about 4" open at the top so you can turn the circles right side out so the raw seams are on the inside of the costume .
7. Stuff the batting inside the circles through the opening so it lays flat inside.
8. Once you have stuffed the batting inside you can close the opening by folding in the edges and hand stitching it closed or sewing it on your sewing machine.
9. You're done. Have your child put on the thermal underwear and then attach the circles.

Variations

Instead of affixing the M&M with Velcro you can sew straps or strings into the shoulder area and on the sides so you can tie the costume on.

Still trying to figure out Halloween costumes for the kiddos? Think outside the box - a cardboard box, that is. Check out all the great costume ideas using cardboard here, like Mia's American Doll costume.

A breast health and cancer resource fair will be held Thursday, Oct. 20, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. The event is free and everyone is invited to attend. 

The fair kicks off at 1 p.m. with a keynote presentation by Linda Blair, a local breast cancer survivor. In her 19 ^th week of pregnancy, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had an aggressive cancer and was lymph node positive, so attacking the cancer with three rounds of chemotherapy while pregnant was a necessity. She endured 21 grueling doctor appointments in 21 days to develop her treatment plan. Blair's message and the birth of her daughter, Ava, is a powerful and inspiring story. 

Following Blair's talk, a health and resource fair will take place with experts on hand to provide information and answer questions about breast health and treatment options for breast problems including imaging, surgery, healthy lifestyle choices, support services and treatment applications. Attendees will be entered into a raffle drawing for prizes. The resource fair runs from 1:30 to 6 p.m. in the HP/Starker conference rooms. 

The day will close with a MammaCare® class at 4 p.m. in conference room B, sponsored by The Corvallis Clinic Foundation. Women 20 and older are invited to attend this class. Specialists Joann Stutzman, RN, and Sue Merrill, RN, will be on hand to answer questions. Reservations are recommended for this class. Call (541) 768-2376. 

For more information about the fair, call (541) 768-5711.

I used Random.org to generate a number based on the number of entrants. It produced number 17, so lucky blog commenter #17 - Alison Bryant is the winner! Congratulations Alison, I hope you have a blast at Disney on Ice! Please let us know how the show is.

THE TOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!

MOM Magazine is giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Disney on Ice to one lucky reader. In the comment section below, tell us if you have ever seen a Disney on Ice show, and if so, which one. We'll randomly pick a winner on October 17th.

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTSDISNEY•PIXAR'S TOY STORY 3

IS COMING TO PORTLAND, OCTOBER 27 - 30!

WHAT: Toy Story 3, the Academy Award^®-winning smash hit blockbuster, is so hot it's cool as everyone's favorite toys take to the ice in Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar's Toy Story 3! An accomplished creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are bringing Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl; and the rest of the Toy Story gang to fans and families around the country in this all-new, high-energy ice spectacular.

Inspired by the #1 animated movie of all time, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, everyone's favorite characters are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to Portland for seven performances!  Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever.  Plus a few new faces join the fun, including Barbie's groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear.  It's the biggest Toy Story experience ever on ice, jam-packed with fast-paced adventure such as Buzz's galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down on the set of  "Woody's Roundup."  Relive the humor, friendship and charm of Toy Story when Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar's Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond!

WHEN:            October 27 - 30, 2011

Thursday, October 27^th - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 28^th - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 29^th - 12:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 30^th - 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Rose Garden - One Center Court Portland, OR 97227

TICKETS:          Ticket price levels are $17, $21, $36 (VIP) and $62 (Front Row). Opening Night tickets available for only $11 each (not valid on premium seating; limit 10 tickets per order). Tickets are available at the Rose Quarter Box Office, all participating Safeway/TicketsWest outlets, by calling 877.789.ROSE, or at ComcastTIX.com. For groups of 10 and more please call 503.963.4400.