4th of July Fun Facts
You probably knew that the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, setting the thirteen colonies on the road to freedom.
But...did you know?
The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.
Before cars ruled the roadway, the Fourth of July was traditionally the most miserable day of the year for horses, tormented by all the noise and by the boys and girls who threw firecrackers at them.
Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
The word 'patriotism' comes from the Latin 'patria', which means homeland or fatherland.
Costume Craze has a great selection of patriotic costumes for all of your Americana needs...plays, ceremonies and special events!
Hero Style
He's not your average super hero. Heck, he's hardly super hero material at all. Usually drunk, grumpy, sarcastic and unkempt, Hancock's life is a mess.
Even his well-meaning attempts to lend a helping hand to the citizens of Los Angeles turn into disaster and destruction.
But when Hancock saves the life of a public relations executive, Ray Embrey, it's the beginning of one of Hancock's toughest challenges yet.
He and Ray try to salvage Hancock's super hero image even as Ray's wife tries to destroy it by insisting Hancock is a lost cause.
Hancock crashes into theaters Wednesday, July 2nd, just in time for the July 4th weekend.
Do you have super hero aspirations? Well, you won't find any average Hancocks around here...only pure super hero costumes. From Batman to Iron Man, you'll find a super costume that fits your style of hero!
Fast Summer Adventure
The word "summer" conjures images of family road trips, clear blue pools, camping and sunny beaches.
For a costume company, summer invokes images of adventure...circus clowns, pirates and mermaids.
You can have a summer adventure any time with a Fast-Fun Kit!
You'll need a heavy duty plastic storage container filled with costume pieces and props that can be mixed and matched.
With your Fast Fun Kit, you're ready for impromptu plays or a game of charades.
The children can cultivate their imagination by creating characters and worlds that will keep them entertained for hours (Presto! A built-in babysitter!).
And...you'll have an instant family activity if it decides to rain on your summer vacation!
It's All About Robots
Today companies in Asia are producing some pretty impressive, and functional, real-life robots.
And Disney-Pixar is producing lovable animated ones like Wall-E.
Insignificant little Wall-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class), has been doing the same job for hundreds of years. But all that changes when he meets the sleek, high-tech search robot, Eve.
When Eve discovers that Wall-E has accidentally stumbled upon the key to the earth's future, she rushes back to report her findings to the humans living in space who have anxiously been waiting for word that it's safe to return home.
When Wall-E chases after Eve, it's the beginning of a fantastic adventure across the galaxy.
Catch Wall-E in orbit starting Friday, June 27th.
Other robot movies you might enjoy:
Short Circuit
Batteries Not Included
Robots
For robot fun at home, check out our Solar Robots, costumes from the animated movie Robots and look for our New for 2008 Transformers costumes...coming soon!
Mystery In The Sky
On June 24, 1947, a pilot named Kenneth Arnold spotted nine mysterious, high-speed objects "flying like a saucer would" near Mount Rainier in Washington.
His sighting made international headlines and triggered hundreds of similar reports of "flying saucers" both locally and across the nation. Thus began the modern phenomena of UFOs!
As you might guess, WORLD UFO DAY (June 24th) is a day set aside for people around the globe to join together in searching the skies with cameras and camcorders for mysterious flying objects.
Astronauts, particularly those in orbit, are invited to participate in the WORLD UFO DAY as well as pilots flying on June 24th.
If your untrained eye needs a little extra help spotting UFO's, try our Mini Science Build a Real Telescope Kit or, create your own alien invasion with Paratroopers From Out Of This World.
Happy Unusual Sightings!
Summer Solstice
Long ago, rituals took place at Stonehenge, on the plain of Salisbury, by Druid Priests.
Contemporary Druids, as well as Pagans, New Age travelers and the ordinary spectator, gather at Stonehenge during the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, to watch sunrise over the heelstone and summon the essence of archaic ceremonies.
Many believe that Stonehenge (as well as other stone structures throughout the world) was constructed with some mystical astronomical purpose in mind. Indeed, the stones seem to be aligned to the rising sun.
If you're planning a pilgrimage to Stonehenge next year -- not that you have to be in England to celebrate the summer solstice -- you might be interested to know that many of our Lord of the Rings costumes make great Druid costumes (i.e. Arwen and Gandalf costumes).
Happy 1st day of summer!
What's Your Money Worth?
It's amazing what you can find up for sale on web auctions.
How about a bad luck cane from Peru? Apparently the owners have had such bad luck since acquiring the cane that they're willing to sell the offending stick of wood for a mere .99 cents, or best offer. Puh-lease!
Or, why not bid on a one night stay in a room where a woman was hacked to death with an axe over 100 years ago (i.e. the John Morse guestroom at the Lizzie Borden B & B in Fall River, Massachusetts)?
Hey, if you like taking chances with your money, that's up to you. But wouldn't it be better to get your money's worth out of ALL of your purchases?
Right now we're selling hundreds of costumes at 60% off the regular price during our Hot Summer Deals sale. No bidding is required...but great prices are unavoidable!
Other-Worldly Tourism
Space pioneer, Wernher von Braun, predicted a "sizable operation on the moon" with "regular flights between the earth and the near planets" by the year 2000.
In 1968, Pan Am started taking reservations for future moon flights. By 1971, the airline had a list of over 93,000 interested people, including future president Ronald Reagan.
The public's enthusiasm for space tourism has never really diminished. But only the rich can afford it. Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, paid a $5 million dollar deposit on an upcoming flight to the International Space Station, scheduled for 2011.
Maybe in the year 2101, space travel will be a reality for everyone. Until then, check out our selection of Space Exploration tools and get a taste for other-worldly tourism!
Dad's Royal Treatment
Not sure what to get dad for Father's Day? This joke will provide you with a clue:
A man passed out in a dead faint as he came out of his front door onto the porch.
Someone called 911.
When the paramedics arrived, they helped the man regain consciousness and asked if he knew what caused him to faint.
"It was enough to make anybody faint," he said. "My son asked me for the keys to the garage, and instead of driving the car out, he came out with the lawn mower!"
Yes, you can get dad the same old tie or barbeque apron for Father's Day, but wouldn't it be more fun to do something heartfelt, like doing his chores while you make him "King for the Day?"
Transform a lawn chair or recliner into a throne with everything dad will need for the day within his reach. Place a small table with his favorite books or magazines and his remote control nearby. Attach a drink holder to the chair or set a cooler loaded with drinks next to it. Make a red carpet by laying red plastic or a red towel before the chair and place dad's slippers at the foot of the "throne."
Don't forget our King Robe & Crown Set to enhance dad's royal treatment!
Let the Green Out
The 2003 Hulk movie was an incredible disappointment for fans and box offices.
But this time around, 2008's Incredible Hulk will focus more on the original Marvel Comic character.
The film finds scientist Bruce Banner desperately hunting for a cure to the gamma radiation that unleashes the uncontrollable rage within him.
Cut off from the life he knew and the woman he loves (Betty Ross), Banner tries to avoid the pursuit of General Thunderbolt Ross who seeks to capture him and cruelly exploit his power.
But there's another monster on the loose: The Abomination, whose cataclysmic strength exceeds even the Hulk's power. Banner must choose between a peaceful life as Bruce Banner or a life of rage--and heroics--as the Incredible Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk crashes into theaters Friday, June 13th!
If you're ready to unleash your own green hero, check out our Incredible Hulk costumes!
Moo-velous
In celebration of Dairy Month, check out these interesting moo facts...
Cows provide 90% of the world's milk. Water Buffalo, camels, goats, sheep, horses and reindeer are also milked.
Jersey cows produce 50 pounds of milk. Holsteins produce 76 pounds of milk (daily average). Some cows can produce upwards of 100 lbs daily...about 12 gallons of milk!
A cow's udder can hold 25-50 lbs of milk at a time. Five hundred gallons of blood need to pass through the udder to produce one gallon of milk.
Cow's drink the equivalent of about a bathtub full of water daily. Milk is 87.5% water!
Milk is essential for good health and the prevention of chronic disease, but we'll leave the research and statistics to the dairy scientists and concentrate on what we do know...cow costumes!
There's nothing cuter than our Cozy Cow Baby Costume. Of course, people will really find you a-moos-ing when you wear our Comical Cow Costume. Not to be outdone, our Goth Milk Cow is udderly cool!
Amazing Magic
Sesame Street has been delighting children throughout the world for more than 30 years with its lovable cast of muppet characters, like the Amazing Mumford.
Mumford loves to perform magic tricks for his audiences in his pink magician's cape. Children love Mumford's comical expression and his wacky sense of humor. Oh, and his inability to perform magic.
Somehow, the Amazing Mumford's magic tricks seem to go...amazingly awry! But with "magic" words like "A la...peanut butter sandwiches," what does he expect?
Still, the Amazing Mumford is beloved for his antics in the world of magic.
Do you have magical aspirations? Costume Craze has Magic Kits that will impress your friends and...maybe you could teach Mumford an amazing trick or two!
Stock up on our Magic Kits now...June 12th is Magic Day!
Kung Fu Has a New Name
Po, the Panda, is the biggest Kung Fu fan around. Problem is, he's big and clumsy. Oh, and he works in his family's noodle shop everyday.
But Po's dreams become reality when he's chosen to fulfill an ancient prophesy and joins the world of Kung Fu to study alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five: Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey, under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu.
Danger awaits, however, when the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard, Tai Lung, is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone.
Po puts his heart, and his belly, into the fight, and the unlikely hero discovers that his greatest weaknesses can be his greatest strengths.
Kung Fu Panda kicks and chops its way into theaters this weekend, Friday, June 6th.
Your kids will be happy to know that we've got Kung Fu Panda costumes on order and they're on their way. Until then, why not indulge in our other martial arts costumes? Don't forget to check out our clearance items for martial arts costumes on sale...you can save 60% off regular prices!
A Wedding You'll Never Forget
Recently, MSN.com ran a story about the crazy places people get married.
One couple got married at White Castle, a fast food burger joint. Another couple got married on a hockey rink between the first and second period of a Chicago Wolves game. Everyone wore team jerseys, including the bride.
Still another couple tied the knot at Barnes & Noble, no books were sold during the ceremony.
The most interesting wedding took place in a graveyard on Halloween. The bridesmaids and groomsmen wore purple, black and orange. The bride wore a black and red dyed wedding dress and all the pictures were taken next to tombstones.
If traditional chapel or garden nuptials just aren't your thing, check out our great selection of costumes and accessories. From
Renaissance costumes to creepy
Bride costumes, we can dress you for a wedding you'll never forget!
Something You Can Understand
Are you familiar with any of Jack Handey's philosophies? Here's one for you...
"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words -- 'mank' and 'ind'. What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why, so is mankind.
Are you confused? That's what it's like trying to shop on some online retail sites. Not here! We want you to have an easy, enjoyable shopping experience. We keep our prices simple too...they're affordable.
Don't waste any more time on confusing web sites. Shop our fun, easy to navigate online costume store. Right now you'll save 60% on hundred's of costumes and accessories.
Now that's something everyone can understand!
What You Can Get Now
School's out...again. Can you believe it's almost June? That means we can't have our Super Spring Sale much longer because, well, it's almost summer.
The key word here is "ALMOST." The first day of summer isn't until June 20th so you still have time to save 60% on a great selection of costumes and accessories.
Now is a great time to stock up on costumes for summer parties (like luau's, for example) and...even Halloween which, believe it or not, is only five short months away!
Who knows what summer will bring? Concentrate on what you can get right now...Super Spring DEALS!
Costume Quotes
"I see my face in the mirror and go, 'I'm a Halloween costume? That's what they think of me?" ~Drew Carey
"If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character, would you slow down? Or speed up?" ~Chuck Palahniuk
Wear White
Did you wear white before Memorial Day? Don't worry, we're not uptight. In fact, we encourage you to wear white...anytime you feel like it.
Who knows where such a silly fashion myth originated? Such nonsense is nothing, if not seasonably practical.
Since dark colors absorb sunlight, wearing them in the cooler months makes sense. In like manner, white reflects light, which makes it a desirable color to wear in the warmer months.
The truly fashionable know they can wear white whenever the mood strikes them.
Angel's know that they can make a heavenly Impression dressed in white. Marilyn Monroe's famous white dress is now a fashion icon. And what about Elvis? He made flamboyant white jumpsuits his signature fashion statement (that doesn't mean we're endorsing jumpsuits).
So go ahead and defy "tradition." Wear white...even after Labor Day!
In Memory of Service
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
After World War I, the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in ANY war. It is now celebrated on the last Monday in May, as established by Congress in 1971.
Want to know how you can observe a meaningful Memorial Day?
Visit memorials and cemeteries. Place flags on graves of fallen heroes.
Fly the US Flag at half-staff until noon.
Participate in a "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the sacrifices of our soldiers.
Visit veterans in your community. Dress in patriotic costumes, pass out little favors.
To veterans who have served, and soldiers who serve still...THANK YOU!
The Adventure Continues...
Twenty-seven years ago, one of screen's biggest action heroes, Indiana Jones, took us on wild ride to save the Ark of the Covenant.
Nineteen years ago, we witnessed what we thought was surely Indiana's Last Crusade. But 2008 brings back the adventurer we've all been longing to see and he'll be in theaters on Thursday, May 22nd.
This time around, Indiana is sucked back into action when he must race against the Soviets to uncover the secrets behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls. Indiana will take us on a journey through the South American Jungles to retrieve the Skulls along with Karen Allen, as Marion Ravenwood, and new sidekick, Mutt Williams (Shia LeBouf).
We bet there's going to be a lot of you out there who'll want to be Indiana Jones this year so we've ordered a great selection of Jones costumes and they're on their way! If you want a peek of what will be available this Halloween season, just click on the link above.
Until then, if you need adventure, trek on over to our clearance items to save an impressive 60% on hundreds of exciting costumes!
The Imagination of a Wizard
How old were you when you followed the yellow brick road to the Emerald City? No matter your age, you were probably sucked into the enchanting and fanciful story of The Wizard of Oz. But what do you now about the story's creator, L. F. Baum?
Baum was born in May of 1856 in New York. He was a sickly child and suffered from timidity and shyness as well. Baum mostly kept to himself, creating imaginary places and playmates since he couldn't engage in strenuous activity due to his weak heart. Although he had frail health throughout his life, his creativity and talent determination remained intact.
Baum was an author, actor, independent filmmaker and newspaper editor. But he is best known as the creator of one of the most popular books in children's literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (known simply as The Wizard of Oz).
Baum believed in fostering the imagination of children. Here at Costume Craze, thousands of great costumes are waiting to foster your imagination...whether you're 10 or 40. This month, in honor of L.F. Baum, follow the little arrow trail over to our Wizard of Oz costumes!
Jetpack to Savings
Remember the movie Rocketeer? You probably thought it was pretty darn cool that a guy could strap a rocket to his back and fly, huh? But then you realized that it could "never" happen because, well, aside from your bum being singed off, it was pure science fiction.
Hold on to your space suits, folks, because recently, a Swiss man, Yves Rossy, became the first man to achieve human flight strapped to a homemade jetpack!
The fold-up, carbon fiber wings are powered by four jet engines designed for model airplanes. The wings have no steering capabilities, with directional changes being achieved through body movement. It took five years of research and trial and error to produce the jetpack and the Swiss adrenalin junkie now plans to try out his jet-powered backpack over the English Channel.
Rossy's flight flew him right into the record books. With nicknames like "Fusion Man" and "Rocket Man," he sounds like some kind of Swiss superhero, doesn't he?
Well, we don't have any Swiss superhero costumes in stock, but we do have a jetpack! And right now the Buzz Lightyear Jetpack is on sale, so fly over to our Toy Story page and start saving!
Return to Narnia
It's been a while since we visited Narnia.
Fortunately, we'll get the opportunity to slide back into that magical world this weekend, when the next installment of the Chronicles, Prince Caspian, hits theaters on Friday, May 16th!
When the Pevensie children get pulled back into Narnia by Susan's magic horn, they discover a very different Narnia from the one they left behind a year past (1300 years in Narnia time).
The Golden Age of Narnia has ended. It is a conquered land ruled by a merciless tyrant, Miraz, uncle of the exiled Prince Caspian who is the rightful heir to the throne.
The Pevensie children help restore the glory and magic of Narnia with the aid of Prince Caspian, the mighty Aslan and other remarkable creatures.
While we may not have an otherworldly wardrobe or Susan's magic horn, we do have Sir Peter Costumes and accessories that will help your child experience the magic of Narnia right here in his own world!
It's Raining Discounts
It's cold. It's hot. It's raining. It's not!
One thing is clear (and it's not the weather), the abrupt changes of spring weather are not unlike the changes in spring retail sales.
Fortunately, you don't have to be a meteorologist or a storm chaser to get caught in a sudden storm of costume discounts. But it helps if you keep your eyes on that horizon and check out our web site periodically for unexpected bursts of extra good deals!
Shop while it's still raining discounts at Costume Craze...our Super Spring Sale could sizzle like lightning, or fizzle like the rain at anytime!
#3 Finish at the Races
The family-friendly anime thriller, Speed Racer, slid into a 3rd place finish at the box office last weekend.
In its debut,
Speed Racer got passed up by
What Happens in Vegas and the
Iron Man, which was in its second week.
Iron Man has done so well, in fact, that a sequel is in the works for 2010.
Meanwhile, the fate of Speed Racer is questionable. Can it keep up with Prince Caspian? You'll find out this weekend!
A Gift Mom Can Use
Last year, the average shopper spent $139.14 on Mother's Day gifts, according to the National Retail Federation.
But it's not what you buy...it's what you do for her that matters. So here are some ideas to make her day extra special:
Mothers and housewives are the only workers who don't get regular time off, so give mom a gift she can really use.
We're sure mom would appreciate a lazy bath, free of children poking their heads in the door, or a day off from the kitchen or doing the housework (oh, and if you hire out the cleaning, it wouldn't hurt if the worker looked like Patrick Dempsey).
Prepare a family picnic (mom is not allowed to help), or throw mom a theme party based on her background or interests. Maybe mom likes pirates or fairies? No doubt she'd love to be a queen for the day.
So pull out your cooking and cleaning party skills, and give mom the gift of relaxation!
Funny Quotes on Mothers
"My mother had to send me to the movies with my birth certificate, so that I wouldn't have to pay the extra fifty cents that the adults had to pay." ~ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." ~ Mark Twain
"My mother's menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it." ~ Buddy Hackett
Spring into the Renaissance
Long ago, Renaissance Faires in England were traditionally celebrated as festivals of spring. Winters in the 15th and 16th centuries were harsh and food was scarce...few survived. Renaissance Faires celebrated the return of spring, a time of rebirth, with the promise of a more comfortable lifestyle and plentiful crops.
Originally, American Renaissance Festivals were meant to be a reenactment of these early Renaissance Faires, but of course they became more commercialized (the largest and most historically accurate are run by the Living History Centre at 2 locations in California) and the term "Renaissance" is often used loosely to include everything from Vikings, pirates, wizards, fairies and elves.
Today's Renaissance Faires occur in the spring, summer and some even take place in the fall. These fairs offer fun for the whole family with crafts, food and entertainment. Dressing in costume will enhance your experience and we can help transport you back in time with our fabulous selection of Renaissance Costumes.
You can find a list of all Ren Faires on the internet. But if you happen to be in the vicinity of northern Utah in the next two weeks, drop by the Utah Renaissance Festival & Fantasy Faire on May 9-11 and 16-18.
Adieu!
Christmas in May
You've heard of the retail marketing campaign, "Christmas in July" and you may have benefited from its great sales and the opportunity it provides to finish Christmas shopping early.
Frankly, we don't think you should have to wait until July for great prices, so we're going to give you a helpful tip...shop the Costume Craze Super Spring Sale, going on right now!
You can save 50% off on hundreds of costumes and accessories for holidays, birthdays, parties and events.
In today's tight economy where prices on consumer goods are skyrocketing, your husband will love you for being frugal...
Your kid will love you for giving them exactly what they wanted.
Christmas doesn't fall in May very often, you know, and navigating our web site is easy and fun...so why are you still reading this? Get shopping already!
Fiesta on Aisle Cinco
If the only Spanish words you know are "taco" and "burrito," or, if you think that Cinco De Mayo is a celebration of mayonnaise, it's time for a little history lesson!
There is a common misconception in America that Cinco De Mayo is Mexico's Independence day (actually September 16th). But Cinco De Mayo commemorates the Mexicans' victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
Cinco De Mayo is a regional, but not obligatory federal holiday in Mexico and is mostly celebrated in the town of Puebla.
In Modern America, observance started in California in the 1860's. It is recognized as a day to celebrate freedom, unity, pride and the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry. But happily, people of all ethnic backgrounds enjoy the celebration.
So go ahead and grab your maracas...it's fiesta time!
Get mucho grande savings on Spanish costumes now. You can save 50% off with our Super Spring Sale!
Be a Marvel
A 747 can weigh as much as 870,000 pounds at takeoff, yet, as if by magic, it manages to lift itself into the air. What a marvel, eh?
Speaking of marvels, airplanes aren't the only chunks of metal capable of flight. In fact, Iron Man is flying into a theater near you on Friday, May 2nd!
Marvel comic superhero, Iron Man, is Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist and genius inventor. Stark is kidnapped and forced to build a deadly weapon, but instead he builds a suit of power armor that not only saves his badly injured body but allows him to take revenge on his enemies and other criminals as well.
Want to be a Marvel (superhero, that is)? No need to build your own suit, just check out our great selection of superhero costumes and start saving the day!
Just be selective about where and what you do in costume. Recently, some soon-to-be graduating high school seniors, in Illinois, were suspended from school for dressing up as a gorilla and bananas, respectively, and running through the halls of the school with the gorilla giving chase.
Sounds relatively harmless, we know. But these days, you don't know who will take your fun the wrong way and we want you to be a Marvel, not a menace!
Another Place & Time
Once upon a story, in a land and time long before you were born... there lived a young boy who was sent to the court of King Henry II, where he grew up with Prince John. After a bitter childhood quarrel, the young boy became an enemy of the future King John who, when the young man reached adulthood, stripped him of his title and lands. Left with nothing, the young man was forced to give up his gentlemanly ways and become an outlaw...
You'd probably like to know more of the story, wouldn't you? But family, school and work obligations don't allow for such luxuries.
Maybe that's why someone felt the need to establish a National Tell a Story Day, celebrated in the US on April 27th and the UK on October 27th.
Tell a Story Day celebrates story-telling of all kinds, whether it's fiction or non-fiction, a tall tale, or folk lore, from a book, or from memory. Libraries hold story telling hours for children and book clubs or other organizations might host special events.
Hey, why not host a story telling event at home? To enhance the enjoyment of the story, set the atmosphere by dressing up in costumes. Dress as Tinkerbell to read Peter Pan. Become Maid Marian or Friar Tuck to read Robin Hood. When you combine the power of stories with costumes, you'll be transported to another place and time!
Costume Heaven
These days, there seems to be a convention for just about every type of "geek culture." There are Star Trek, Star Wars and Comic Conventions for the Techies and Renaissance Fairs for the history and reenactment aficionados.
But what about an arena for costume lovers in general?
Whether you're a costume hobbyist or professional, whether you're a space cadet, cosplayer, fantasy lover or living history buff, Costume Con welcomes all who have a passion for, you guessed it...costumes!
Don't worry if you exhibit no great talent for creating or sewing costumes, that's where we come in. From Superhero costumes to Pirate or Movie Character costumes, we'll make sure you're properly outfitted with a great costume so you can enjoy associating with all the other costume lovers at the convention. And there will be plenty of time to associate. Costume Con provides ample opportunities to meet, mingle, share and compete through daily workshops, social gatherings and competitions.
You won't find a broader spectrum of information about the art and craft of costuming at any other event. It's a four day smorgasbord of costume heaven, held this year at the end of this month (April 25-April 28) in California. Can't attend this year? No worries, Costume Con is an annual convention. Check out their web site for more details.
Green Thumb Not Necessary
Earth Day is April 22nd. The concept of Earth Day was born in the early 1960's with Senator Gaylord Nelson's concern for the eroding state of the environment. Senator Nelson convinced President Kennedy that a National tour to discuss the environment in many different states would help raise crucial awareness but this still left the political arena unimpressed.
The idea of Earth Day did not garner the social importance necessary to make it an official movement until 1970.
Now Earth Day is observed nationwide. It is a day to reflect on serious threats to our environment and resolve to make a change whether it's recycling or donating money to help plant new trees.
You don't have to have a green thumb, just a desire to contribute to a greener world. Why, you can even make a difference starting at home. For example, instead of using harmful chemical pesticides on those rose bushes, use safe and cost effective ladybugs. Ladybugs are an all natural way to control aphids, mites and other plant pests.
If you wish to kick your green crusade up a notch, consider a fundraiser wearing our Luscious Ladybug Costume. You'll draw lots of attention to your cause as well as some appreciative contributors! And we're sure you can find a way to recycle the costume later.
Embrace Spring Fever
Something's in the air...can you feel it? No, we're not talking about the allergens that cause hay fever. We're actually thinking of that restless excitement and laziness that you just can't shake this time of year. No doctor can cure it.
You can blame it on Mother Nature, though. Each spring, she wreaks havoc on your physiology, causing a listlessness that threatens to drive you crazy.
The shackles of your winter hibernation are starting to flake off and the birds aren't chirping like crazy outside your window for nothing.
It's spring fever.
As Robin Williams puts it, "Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's Party!" So, what are you waiting for? Open those windows, grab your flip flops and take a walk through the plush green grass, soak up the sights and smells of blossoming flowers and enjoy watching bright butterflies float on the breeze.
Heck, why not join them? When you wear our Orange Butterfly Costume you'll break through the cocoon of restlessness and spread your wings to embrace spring fever no time!
Kung Fu Fever
We know you're out there...Kung Fu junkies that own every martial arts film released on VHS or DVD. You can repeat every line and mimic every move that your hero does. You've even tried out the self defense moves you learned from Kung Fu movies on the furniture when no one was looking.
Sounds like you need to kick and karate chop your way to a theater this weekend to see the new martial arts film Forbidden Kingdom.
The Forbidden Kingdom tells the story of a young American teenager obsessed with Kung Fu movies. When he comes across the legendary stick of a Chinese warrior in a pawn shop, he is transported back to ancient China and joins a band of warriors, straight out of martial arts lore, in the rescue attempt of the Monkey King (to whom the stick belongs).
This is the first collaboration of martial arts masters Jet Li and Jackie Chan so you're bound to see spectacular fight scenes and come away with some great new Kung Fu moves. Hey, if you buy one of our Ninja Costumes, no one will ever know it was you that delivered the stealthy death blow to the table...Hi-ya!
Laugh for Health & Happiness
Now that the stress of the tax season is almost over, you're probably going to need some R & R. You're in luck. April is National Humor Month!
National Humor Month was founded in 1976 by best-selling humorist and Director of The Carmel Institute of Humor, Larry Wilde. It aims to heighten public awareness on how the therapeutic value of laughter can improve health and morale, increase communication skills and enrich the quality life.
Research indicates that laughter can relieve debilitating stress and boost the immune system.
Unlike some drugs, laughter yields immediate results. It requires no special talent or skill, makes you feel good and, best of all, it's absolutely free!
Amazingly, research shows that you'll feel the positive effects of smiling whether the smile you generate is fake or real. And there's a darn good chance your fake merriment will turn into real smiles and laughter.
Need some help generating laughter? Consider our hilarious selection of
funny costumes.
Laugh your way to good health and happiness all through the year (not just at tax time)!
At Least You Can Laugh
You might as well freak out now. April 15th is approaching faster than you can say "Wait, my taxes aren't done!"
At this point, crying isn't going to help. Laughing, on the other hand, might ease some of the stress you're feeling so we gathered up some IRS and tax humor to keep you laughing until midnight on April 15th:
There will always be death and taxes. However, death doesn't get worse every year.
Ever noticed how when you put the two words "the" and "IRS" together it spells "theirs?"
When you do a good deed, get a receipt...in case Heaven is like the IRS.
America is the land of opportunity. Everyone can become a tax payer.
About the time a man is cured of swearing, another income tax is due.
Drive carefully. Uncle Sam needs all the tax payers he can get.
If laughter isn't helping, maybe money will. We have costumes just dripping with money, like our Maid of Money French Maid costume, for example. Have a head for numbers? Try our Money Bowler Hat. If you're taking a gamble on getting audited, maybe you better try our Lady Luck Costume.
Okay, so maybe money costumes won't help you out with tax payments. Just remember that if you can't make Income Taxes go away...at least you can laugh at them (the IRS isn't taxing laughter. Yet!).
Aliens Not Worst Threat In Space
Apparently the most dangerous threat Captain Jean-Luc Picard had to face in his career as a Starfleet officer wasn't aliens.
It was his uniform.
In an article published by WENN on April 8th, Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Captain Picard in the Star Trek Series, The Next Generation, revealed that the costume he wore for the sci-fi TV series was so tight it damaged his back.
The lycra suit was one size too small for Stewart who said it was painful to wear and inflicted terrible strain on his shoulders, neck and back. Stewart's chiropractor encouraged him to take legal action against Paramount studio for forcing him to wear the uniform.
Fortunately, after two seasons of causing Stewart great discomfort, the suit was retired from space duty permanently, renouncing the status of "greatest threat in space" to the Klingons and Romulans.
At Costume Craze, we have a whole galaxy of Star Trek Next Generation Costumes. If you want to wear a costume one size too small, that's up to you and your chiropractor, but we'll let you order any size you want!
Enchanted Garden
So...what are you supposed to look forward to now that the fun of April Fool's Day is over and Spring Break will soon be just a memory? A lot, actually. No, we're not talking about the wet spring weather or taxes being due.
April is a busy month for other reasons, from Nation Frog and Mathematics Education appreciation, to Stress Awareness Month.
Admittedly, we don't know much about frogs and mathematics doesn't sound very interesting, so let's start your April education with gardens. You guessed it. April is also National Garden Month!
Every April communities, organizations, and individuals nationwide celebrate gardening. Research confirms that nurturing plants is good for us. Gardening improves your attitude towards health and nutrition, clears the mind of mental clutter and reduces stress. Check with the National Gardening Association or your local lawn and garden centers for ideas on how to celebrate National Garden Month.
Don't have a green thumb
