Halloween Costumes for Healthy Ashley

on October 6, 2011
in All Posts

You know what’s awesome? When I’m in the “I don’t know what I’m going to have for lunch” mood, thinking of my bare fridge and the fact that I’m probably going to have to interrupt my work day for takeout, and then I open the fridge and discover LEFTOVERS.

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It’s the little things.

 

I forgot I had a tupperware of baked tofu, carrots, and wild rice.  No extra Mmmm Sauce, unfortunately.  But a little coconut milk did the trick – made it all sweet and moist.

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So – do you know what my FAVORITE Halloween candy is?

 

CANDY CORN, of course!

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Hah. 

 

Did you know that ghoulish headless dachshunds are attracted to candy corn?  A little Halloween SCARE for you!  Boo!

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I have been searching for a way to help my dear friend Healthy Ashley.  As you may remember, Ashley was in a horrific bike accident nearly a month ago and shattered her pelvis.  She also suffered a severe concussion.  In a matter of seconds, Ashley went from someone who ran ultramarathons and Ironmans to a girl who could barely sit up on her own.  When I saw Ashley a few weeks ago, she couldn’t move her own legs.  Walking was totally out of the question. 

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Since having surgery to fix her broken pelvis, Ashley experienced a crush of medical bills that are further exacerbated by the fact that she cannot work for at least two more months – she struggles to walk to the bathroom, let alone run around a retail store (she worked at Lululemon).

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My friend Isaac is a partner with the website Shop for Halloween Costumes.  Isaac and his partners have graciously offered to donate 10% of total sales using the coupon code “HTP” (for Healthy Tipping Point) to Ashley to aid in her physical, emotional, and financial recovery.  

 

If you’re thinking of purchasing a pre-made costume, please consider buying it from Shop for Halloween Costumes and using coupon code HTP.  Also – please pass the word onto your friends and family! I hope that together, we can help Ashley and show her how much the blog world cares about her recovery. 

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Creepy headless dachshund not included.

{ 64 comments }

 

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday October 6, 2011, 1:37 pm

    LOL! That costume is crazy. Like a 1960s mod candy corn.

  • Khushboo October 6, 2011, 1:39 pm

    Orange is definitely your color 🙂

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat October 6, 2011, 1:41 pm

    I love the candy corn costume! What a great thing to do for Ashley 🙂

  • Carrie October 6, 2011, 1:44 pm

    Loathe candy corn, love the costume (and the headless pupper)!!!

  • Deva @ Deva by Definition October 6, 2011, 1:44 pm

    This is so great! I love the costume, it’s hilarious.

  • Rebecca @ How the Cookie's Crumble October 6, 2011, 1:45 pm

    That’s so sweet for you to organize this for Ashley! I’m sure she greatly appreciates it. I was not planning on purchasing a Halloween costume this year, but if I do, I will definitely purchase from this site.

  • katie @ KatieDid October 6, 2011, 1:45 pm

    That’s such a great idea to help out, and your costume is sooooo funny! Will that be your costume for Halloween this year? My friends and I are all doing different drinks and I think I’m doign a bloody mary with celery stalks criss crossed through my hair and a red dress.

    • Caitlin October 6, 2011, 1:46 pm

      That’s awesome 🙂 I’m going to two parties so I’m going to wear it to one! I love your bloody mary idea.

  • HTPDad October 6, 2011, 1:49 pm

    …and with a silver belt, next year you can be an alien – maybe.

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife October 6, 2011, 1:50 pm

    WHat a COOL way to buy a costume! Love this.

  • Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel October 6, 2011, 1:53 pm

    Retweeting all the way! I don’t usually buy actual costumes, but I’m definitely encouraging my friends to do it this way!

    • CaitlinHTP October 7, 2011, 7:41 am

      Thank you Julie!

  • Dee October 6, 2011, 1:56 pm

    Lol, oh my goodness, your costume is epic!

  • Taylor @ Crumbs Don't Count October 6, 2011, 1:59 pm

    Love the new look of your website! It is so cute!…so is your Halloween costume!! I love it!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat October 6, 2011, 2:00 pm

    Wow, that is quite the costume!! I think it’s great what you’re doing for Ashley. Medical bills are a crazy, totally unexpected expense, and I hope this helps her cover them! 🙂

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) October 6, 2011, 2:05 pm

    That is awesome thing their doing! I need to find out if we’re dressing up and get a costume if we are!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss October 6, 2011, 2:07 pm

    I love love that costume!! I still need to find one. Maybe we’ll go shopping today. 😛

    As always, youre such a good friend for helping out Ashley. She’s such a strong person!

  • B n B October 6, 2011, 2:09 pm

    I can’t believe what Ashley is going through. It really puts things into perspective doesn’t it. That’s not even a question.

    On another note though, the candy corn idea is cute and new to me!

  • Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count October 6, 2011, 2:17 pm

    Love the Candy Corn! Great idea to help Ashley…you’re so sweet!

  • Ellie@fitforthesoul October 6, 2011, 2:18 pm

    woww that is truly sweet and kind of you Caitlin!! Ashley~stay strong and may your healing process speed up!

    And Caitlin, when I first saw your blog I thought I was at the wrong one! It looks different but super beautiful!! 😀 Great job~

    • CaitlinHTP October 7, 2011, 7:41 am

      Thank you Ellie!

  • Casey @ Pocket Full of Sunshine October 6, 2011, 2:21 pm

    This is a great idea, Caitlin!

  • LindsayH October 6, 2011, 2:38 pm

    I think this is a great idea. I donated money to Ashley’s fund when I found out about her accident. I was just curious if you will be making money from referring people to Shop For Halloween Costumes or will all proceeds be donated to Ashley?

    • Caitlin October 6, 2011, 4:25 pm

      Nope… All proceeds go to Ashley. I wouldn’t take money from Ashley! Just trying to help out a friend.

  • J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) October 6, 2011, 2:40 pm

    Darn! My husband and I just got our Halloween costumes delivered last night. 🙁 I’ll help spread the word, though. Retweet! 🙂

  • Katie @ Peace Love and Oats October 6, 2011, 2:49 pm

    what a good idea! I’ll definitely pass this on to people I know buy pre-made costumes! (I like to make mine…)

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga October 6, 2011, 3:00 pm

    I love you all dressed up…that is the best pic of my day. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  • April @ Grits and Granola Bars October 6, 2011, 3:15 pm

    Cute costume! It’s so great that people have come together to help Ashley. She’s a great girl 🙂

  • Melissa October 6, 2011, 3:26 pm

    I think that is a wonderful idea!!! And I am obsessed with candy corn!!! I was a candy corn witch 2 years ago and made candy corn cupcakes to go along with the theme 🙂

    • CaitlinHTP October 7, 2011, 7:42 am

      Mmmmm candy corn cupcakes sound pretty good to me!

  • erica October 6, 2011, 3:31 pm

    i LOVE candy corn! you look so cute!!! that’s a great costume!

  • Susan October 6, 2011, 4:21 pm

    I think it’s a great idea, plus the costumes are not all “slutty” whatever. Hate that. These costumes are cute!

    • Caitlin October 6, 2011, 4:26 pm

      hahah AGREE. That’s what I said when I looked at the site. So many non-slutty costumes.

  • Johanna B October 6, 2011, 5:22 pm

    I retweeted your tweet with the link to this post. Every little bit helps.

  • Allie October 6, 2011, 5:34 pm

    I ordered two costumes on the website and put in the code “HTP.” Instead of the 10% going to Ashley, it appears I was given a discount of 10% off my order total. Is that right? Will the 10% still go to Ashley? Should I contact the people at the website to make sure?

    • Isaac October 6, 2011, 7:25 pm

      Allie,

      Yes, that is correct… 10% off AND 10% of sales go toward Ashley.

      Happy Halloween!

  • Ashley October 6, 2011, 5:53 pm

    I’ve been following Ashley’s recovery and its remarkable. I’m such a big fan of hers. Something you said today made me wonder something though. Last week on twitter, Ashley said her employer fired her immediately after her accident and was rather callous in asking her for the key back. In your post today you said she worked at Lululemon.

    Did Lululemon fire Ashley because of her accident?! I’m not trying to pry or anything. But I remember being sad when Ashley tweeted how her former employer dropped her so quickly. I’m a little astounded at this. That lululemon would do something like that to someone. I mean did they have to fire her? Couldn’t she just have taken an extended (unpaid) leave of absence?

    Again, not trying to pry in Ashley’s affairs. I’m just amazed when employers turn their backs on their employees in situations like this.

    • Rosie @ today I did this for me October 7, 2011, 3:42 am

      I just came back to check in case there had been a response to my own post below and saw that you had asked similar questions to those I have on my mind… I would like to hear more about this, although maybe we shouldn’t put Caitlin in such an awkward situation but I would be disgusted to hear that lululemon had treated an employee in this way. In fact any employer should be ashamed of this kind of treatment, but as lululemon pride themselves so strongly on their ethics… I don’t know. I just want to know more!

      • Ashley October 7, 2011, 7:36 am

        Rosie, I’m glad I’m not the only one troubled by the fact that lululemon just dropped one of its amazing employees. Even if they had to let her go you think they would have done something to help Ashley – donated a portion of a day’s proceeds or sponsored a 5k or something (I don’t know what corporate policy dictates on matters like these). I for one know that I probably won’t be shopping at lululemon again.

        • CaitlinHTP October 7, 2011, 7:43 am

          Hi Guys! Sorry about that 🙂 Not ignoring your comments of course. Just got home so late last night that I barely had time to hit publish on my evening post 🙂 I am not sure of what happened or why. I will alert Ashley to your comments but I’m not sure if she can/wants to answer re: her former employer.

        • Rosie @ today I did this for me October 7, 2011, 10:04 am

          Agreed. I will be writing to lululemon to inform them of the reasons why I will no longer be buying their products. Which probably will hurt me more than it will hurt them… But I’m really upset to think that a company which many of us have somewhat idolized (Ashley included!) treats its staff like this, and I don’t want my hard-earned dollars to go towards this kind of business.

    • healthy ashley October 7, 2011, 8:40 am

      Hi everyone! First, thanks for your encouraging comments. Regarding lulu- I was let go shortly after coming home from the hospital. I was only part-time, so legally their decision is okay. But personally it hurts. I wouldn’t go back to this store if an opportunity did ever open up again, but I would like to work for another store down the road. It’s sticky right now. :-/

      • Ashley @mintyhealth October 7, 2011, 8:48 am

        I know how it feels to be let go from a company rather abruptly and it is hard to not take it personally. Like I said in a tweet to you a while back, they definitely showed their true colors when they decided to fire you (it also seems like they were a little callous about it to).

        Thanks for sharing a little bit more about your situation with them. Rosie and I didn’t mean to pry. We just like to fight against injustices when we see them! 🙂

        • healthy ashley October 7, 2011, 9:25 am

          Thanks Ashley! It is a tough situation. And I blog about everything- there’s no such thing as prying 😉

  • Molly @ RDexposed October 6, 2011, 5:55 pm

    I think Maggie needs to purchase one of those costumes!

  • Sweet and Savvy October 6, 2011, 7:25 pm

    That is such an awesome cause!!

  • Courtney @ The Petite AthlEAT October 6, 2011, 7:44 pm

    I am so in love with your saucy new design AND costume! Get it, sassy pants!

    • healthy ashley October 7, 2011, 8:42 am

      LOVE that you called her sassypants 😉 Richard and I got quite the chuckle over the costume!

  • Marla October 6, 2011, 8:18 pm

    Hi Caitlin,

    Enjoy your blog!
    Just wanted to mention that I find
    the paisley-pattern in the background of your
    blog really busy and hard on my eyes.
    Hope you don’t mind the feedback, I am all for change but this makes it to busy to read clearly
    with the pattern background.(However,perhaps
    I am the only one who thinks so?!!Could be 🙂

    Bets wishes!

    • CaitlinHTP October 7, 2011, 7:43 am

      Thanks Marla! I’m going to make some changes next week and lightening the background a bit may be on the list. I really appreciate your feedback!

  • Marla October 6, 2011, 8:19 pm

    oops…that is
    “Best Wishes” of course 😉

  • Rosie @ today I did this for me October 6, 2011, 8:30 pm

    I know that this isn’t really your cause, but I’d like to know if and how Ashley’s employers are helping her. This is partly because I’m always interested in learning about how employers in the US help their workers in these circumstances, and partly because I want to know if lululemon put their (my) money where their mouth is. I am very sad for Ashley and I hope that her recovery and medical bills will not clash! But if there are such crushing costs involved, it seems likely that health insurance is not available or at least does not cover all her needs. As someone who has always lived in countries with decent universal free health care (UK, France, Australia and Taiwan are my countries of residence), I cannot imagine dealing with this drama in a country as notorious as the US! Added to this, I know my employer in Australia would have helped me financially in such a stark situation (in fact they have done so in the past).

    Sorry again to take things off topic — I’m just genuinely interested. After all, in an ideal world Ashley’s friends wouldn’t need to (very generously!) raise funds for her healthcare. Best of luck!

    • CaitlinHTP October 7, 2011, 7:44 am

      Hi Rosie! Replied above.

      Unfortunately, most USA employers are NOT great about this stuff. Some are – my former employer really helped out the secretary when she got cancer – but most aren’t. It blows. Europe’s got it going on.

      And I agree – friends shouldn’t have to fundraise to cover medical bills. It sucks!!

  • Tracy @ Tracy's Treats October 6, 2011, 9:20 pm

    I’m loving your new blog look….and your costume!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin October 6, 2011, 10:04 pm

    You are so sweet for always helping your friends out like this! 🙂

  • healthy ashley October 7, 2011, 8:39 am

    Hi everyone! First, thanks for your encouraging comments. Regarding lulu- I was let go shortly after coming home from the hospital. I was only part-time, so legally their decision is okay. But personally it hurts. I wouldn’t go back to this store if an opportunity did ever open up again, but I would like to work for another store down the road. It’s sticky right now. :-/

    • healthy ashley October 7, 2011, 8:41 am

      Apparently I’m not the best at leaving comments in the actual thread 🙂

    • Rosie @ today I did this for me October 7, 2011, 10:01 am

      Legally perhaps… But morally I am disgusted. I will be writing to lululemon to inform them as to why I will no longer be buying their products — no matter how beautiful and perfect they are. I am amazed at their attitude — if you were part-time, all the more reason to support you, as the impact on their business would have been different from if you were, say, a full-time store manager.

      On a less negative note, you are an absolute heroine, and after reading your “new goals” I am utterly in awe. Go Ashley! Best of luck for your recovery 🙂

  • Mai October 7, 2011, 9:52 am

    Haha, love the candy corn costume! And the new blog design looks fabulous!

  • Amber K October 7, 2011, 1:07 pm

    That is so sweet of you to help Ashley out. I can’t even imagine going through something like that. I hope she’s able to get all of the help she can!

  • Brooke @ Tales of A Bride-To-Be October 8, 2011, 12:40 am

    I love the costume! Thats a great way to help out, will definitely have to look into it!

  • Sophie @ threetimesf October 8, 2011, 11:22 am

    Great costume! That is such a lovely idea 🙂 I hope Ashley is doing okay!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) October 10, 2011, 11:01 pm

    Ha – love the costume!! Although, I don’t know how anyone can like candy corn – the stuff tastes like wax!

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