How to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day is on March 17th this year. It usually is unless the 17th falls on a Sunday in which case it will be moved to the following Monday or if it falls during Holy Week then it may be moved to the previous week or even sometimes after Easter! Whew! Anyway, this year March 17th is the day and you will need to load up on your green gear soon, unless you want to get pinched? Owe, not me, however I don’t mind being the pincher, haha.

Both of my brothers live in Chicago and I love visiting them for St. Patrick’s Day. I think it is absolutely crazy how they turn the Chicago River pea green! Have you had a chance to experience this like me? It really contributes to the mood of the city. I bet you’re wondering how much dye they need to add to the water? Listen to this…they USED to have to add 100 pounds of dye. These days, they need only about 40 pounds of food coloring. The color of the dye is ORANGE when they add it to the water. When it mixes with the water it turns green.

Because St. Patrick’s Day continues to get more and more popular every year BuyCostumes.com has hand picked new Costumes, Hats, Accessories and Party Supplies to help you celebrate this fabulous day in style. Please check us out! Just a little hint, I especially like our hats, we have tons of them!

So back to my original question…How to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day?

I’ll let you figure that out…

Please see http://www.st-patricks-day.com/ for more information on this fun event!

Cheers!

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Mask Photo Contest

Hi Presidential Mask Voters,

Here are some pictures to drum up ideas for the Presidential Mask picture contest. Just remember, there is $200 on the line!

Rules and Regulations

Thanks to the Scott and the folks at Quizno's New Berlin for letting us take their pictures!

15464 W Beloit Rd

New Berlin, WI

262-797-9522

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Costumes are funny

Check out WBAL Radio – a few of their employees dressed up in costumes from BuyCostumes.com a few weeks ago. One thing is for sure; costumes are not just for Halloween anymore!

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Barack Obama Rally - Tight Race in the Mask Poll

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are both in town for the Wisconsin primaries Feb. 19th. I attended a rally in downtown Milwaukee to promote the Presidential Picture contest starting on President's Day (Mon. Feb 18th). Here are some of the pictures I took of Obama supporters.

Hopefully more to come with the Republican Reagan Dinner and an appearance by 500 John McCains.

Happy Voting!

BuyCostumes

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American Idol's Top 24

After last night's finale to "Hollywood Week," Simon, Randy and even Paula were able to decide on the final 24 contestants who will battle it out to become America's next idol. This year, Hollywood week was different in that you could play your own instruments and they nixed the group songs / performances. I didn't even miss those, however. I don't think many did. Now, it's time to rally up those American Idol party supplies because things are really going to get interesting...

Top 12 Female Contestants:

Alex Lushington
Amanda Overmyer - this is the nurse on a motorcycle that sound like Janis!
Amy Davis
Brook White - this is the one that has never drank, smoked or seen an R-rated movie!
Carly Hennessey Smithson - from Ireland, had VISA issues two seasons ago but she's ready to rock now
Kady Malloy
Kristy Lee Cook - does an amazing rendition of 'Amazing Grace'
Ramielle Malubay - wants to be the first Asian American Idol
Syesha Mercado - lost her voice during Hollywood week but still pulled it off
Asiah Epperson - sounds very hoarse when she talks but not when she sings, she lost her daddy just days before Hollywood week. :(
Joanne Borgella - plus size fashion model with a set of lungs

Top 12 Male Contestants:

Chikezie Eze - this is a sweet name, voting for him as long as possible
Colton Berry - has really long eyelashes, beat out Kyle (Oklahoma politician) in final two
Danny Noriega - snapped his fingers with lots of attitude during his performances
David Archuleta - 16 year old heart throb who is real smiley and makes me want to adopt him
David Cook - this is the rocker with crazy hair but a hellava voice
David Hernandez - probably had the best Hollywood week out of anyone
Garrett Haley
Jason Castro - white Bob Marley
Jason Yeager
Luke Menard
Michael Lee Johns - Aussie contestant that sang Queen and actually sounded good
Robbie Carrico - he's always wearing a funky hat low on his forehead

View pictures of the Top 24 American Idol contestants here

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Easy Way to Make Dinner More Exciting for Working Moms.

Are your kids tired of the same old dinner, but you really don’t have the time or energy to make something other than Hamburger Helper? Make dinner a little more fun with hardly any effort. I’m not suggesting you stray from your tried and true recipes. Sometimes bringing home KFC is as good as it can be. You’ve had to be creative and “think outside the box” all day long at work, the last thing you need it to try and be Mrs. Creative in the kitchen after a full day at the office.


So instead just pick up some fun themed paper plates, cups, and napkins. Break them out on a Tuesday just for fun, or added spice on a Saturday night. Shrek is sure to help make the kids think Grandma Sally’s casserole is a little more exciting. Mac ‘n cheese will go from “not again” to cool when served on Cheetah Girl plates. There are hundreds of themes to choose from. You’re sure to find something to appeal to each of your kids’ unique personalities.

Plus, as an add bonus, less dishes for you to wash after! Which means more quality time with your family.

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2008 Presidential Mask Poll Picture Contest

Now that BuyCostumes.com’s the 2008 Official Presidential Mask Poll is in full effect, we want to see pictures of the candidates in action! Does Hilary Clinton vacuum your living room? Or Does Barack Obama walk your dog? Does John McCain hold speeches at your rally? We want to see creative pictures that are laugh out loud funny.

To enter, you must submit a picture that features at least one of our presidential masks as well as a caption of no more than two sentences. The entries will be judged by our highly qualified political mask experts (a.k.a. the marketing department here at BuyCostumes.com). Judging is based on originality, humor and creative captions.

BuyCostumes.com will publish all appropriate pictures on the Presidential Mask Poll Pictures page. Five finalists will receive special placement on the pictures page and be considered for the Grand Prize, a $200 certificate to BuyCostumes.com. Finalists will be announced on March 4th, 2008. The public will then be asked to vote on who should win the grand prize. Voting will take place between March 5th and March 31st. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced on March 31st, 2008.

Please keep your entries to one picture and caption. Email them to us at politicalmaskspoll@buycostumes.com. Please include the Name of the Submitter and a primary contact phone number. These will be used to contact the finalists and winners.

Official Rules and Regulations

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Read Across America

Dr. Seuss's Bday falls on March 2nd and we suggest that you celebrate it! Don't know how to celebrate it? Well, that's what we are here for! Ever since I can remember, I have had a love for Dr Seuss. I think he is a genius. How could someone come up with so many kids books that assisted in our learning while incorporating values and rhyme! I would read them over and over when I was a kid. What is your favorite book? My favorite one was Cat in the Hat and then Green Eggs and Ham. I am willing to bet, we all know these stories inside and out! Anyway, if you need to refresh yourself of YOUR favorite ones check them out here!

So here's my plan on what you should do at the very LEAST. There are only 2 things you NEED to do so get going and let Dr. Seuss know you care!

1. Make sure you have at least 3 Dr. Seuss Books. If you do not, go to your local library and pick some up or purchase here.

2. Dress Up! Why wouldn't you? Can't you just see the smiling faces of the kids as they look up at you in joy wearing their favorite Dr. Seuss Gear?


So, yes, that is it. To find more information about Read Across America, visit this site: http://www.nea.org/readacross/index.html

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Easter March 23rd This Year!

I am surprised by how many people do not realize how soon Easter is this year! After talking to many of my friends and family about this I felt it was my job to inform everyone just how early it really is this year. MARCH 23rd! Last year it was April 8th! Wow, 2 whole weeks early! You know what that means, start getting ready early for your Easter Partys and gatherings. If you haven't already please check out our new line of Easter Bunny Costumes. They are manufactured to have the best quality and the price is still the best around. Not to mention our adorable new Easter bunny costumes for your little ones...

Having an Easter party? Then also check out our Easter Party Supplies too! I'm excited to annouce we have a dedicated team working exclusively on these party supplies!

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Super Tuesday- "Voting" is the way to a clear winner

Super Tuesday has come and gone, but neither party has a clear frontrunner for President of the United States. Super DUPER Tuesday, as some have called it, didn't quite live up to what was believed to be the end of the primaries and some candidate's campaigns. John McCain did well as predicted, but Mike Huckabee was the surprise dark horse of Republican race. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama continue to duke it out for the Democratic nomination as they have been for the last few months. It has become obvious to me (even though I might be biased) that all of these so called "political experts" have no more idea who will be the next president than BuyCostumes.com does. So buy your masks and have some fun with it.

Happy Voting.

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Randamity: Boobs, Booze, Beads, and Presidents

This was the actual title of a segment by CW Arkansas news affiliate. Check out the video, she mentions BuyCostumes.com about half way through.

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BuyCostumes.com gets Sirius on the Jay Thomas Show

I had the pleasure of talking to Jay Thomas on his Sirius satellite radio talk show yesterday. It was a fun discussion about the BuyCostumes.com Presidential Mask Poll; I even got to throw in a few jokes too! If you have Sirius radio you should definitely check out the Jay Thomas Show on channel 102.

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The Initial Results are In!

The BuyCostumes.com Mask Poll has released it's first results! Not only can you see the results now, but you can share them with your friends and post them on your own blog or website. See the widget posting below

Have fun!
BuyCostumes.com

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Official Presidential Mask Poll Widget

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Firm uses mask sales to predict outcome of election

By DORIS HAJEWSKI
dhajewski@journalsentinel.com

A New Berlin costume retailer is aiming to unmask the identity of the next president ahead of the election, based on its sales of likenesses of the candidates' faces. Buycostumes.com, the largest online costume retailer in the U.S., has predicted accurately the outcomes of the 2000 and 2004 elections by tracking sales of masks of the candidates, founder Jalem Getz said.

This year, Getz saw an opportunity to generate publicity and sales early by selling 99-cent likenesses of eight primary candidates and reporting on the sales volume every week, from now until the general election in November.

"The more popular the mask, the more likely the candidate would win," Getz said.

Read all about it on Milwaukee Journal Sential Online

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Big Game Blues?

Well a field goal scored by the New York Giants in overtime sealed the deal; my beloved Green Bay Packers are done for the season. An absolutely wonderful season, I’m not complaining, but they are done none the less. So now what’s a Midwestern girl to do? Winter just dumped 9 inches of new snow on us last night, so spring is no where in sight. Football at least made January a little more exciting. Like so many Americans who don’t live in the North Eastern part of the US, the teams going to the super bowl leave little for us to get excited about. But the football season isn’t quite over… there is still one last game, the BIG GAME. One last chance to cheer, yell, scream like the players can hear us, and wait with baited breath as the that piece of pigskin sails though the air with precision and grace. One last game before we have to say good-bye to our favorite sport until August.

So how can I care about a game when I don’t care about either team? The Giants aren’t even from my division, so rooting for them seems wrong, but so does rooting for the AFC. These were the thoughts I pondered this morning during my commute, which was twice as long, thanks to last night’s snow fall. Then it hit me…

The elusive “perfect season”.

The Patriots have the chance to make history with a perfect season, 19-0. What football fan wouldn’t want to witness that? (Maybe a Giants fan.) On the other hand the Giants, or should I say Eli Manning, have the chance to make history too. If the Giants win, the Mannings, aka “The First Family of Football”, will be the first set of brothers both at quarterback to win the super bowl and in consecutive years no less. Talk about sibling rivalry! Either way, I’m sure their parents Archie and Olivia are proud.

So maybe the game will be exciting after all. If not, there are always the commercials.

Having a Super Bowl party? Afraid your guests won’t be able to play nice? Dress in a referee costume so you can throw the flag on all of their unsportsmanlike conduct. And remember as the host you have home field advantage, so you don’t have to allow any challenges, and can enforce unlimited time outs.

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