I’m a mom so naturally I love Mother’s Day. Even though I consider it a Hallmark holiday, I still like to be recognized for trying my best. As every mom knows, being a mother is the world’s hardest job short of Bering Sea crab fisherman.

To mark the holiday, here are my Top 5 costumes that all mom’s will appreciate:

1. Wonder Woman – She is the keeper of peace, has amazing strength and she has a golden lasso of truth. If she wants to spy, her invisible airplane allows her to gather surveillance unnoticed.  In a way, every mom is Wonder Woman. I just with I looked as good as she does in that outfit.

2. Mrs Incredible – Mrs. Incredible’s ability to stretch in super human ways is very similar to our ability to catch a wandering toddler while simultaneous cooking dinner, helping with homework, getting the dog out of the trash and talking to our boss on the phone.

3, Mother Nature – She is the mother of us all. To harness her power would be beyond compare. Without Mother Nature, there would be no life on Earth and without us moms, there would be no inhabitants.

4. Carol Brady – We should envy Mrs. Brady. Not only did she get to stay home but she had hired help to do all the work. I wonder what she did all day while the kids were at school? I know what I’d do. Then, with all those kids, she and Mr. Brady still had plenty of energy at the end of the day to get frisky.

5. 50’s Mom – She may be very far from the norm today but the 50’s mom, in a way, is what we with we could be. She always looked perfect; never left the house with out her hair done and fully made up. When her hubby got home, the house was spotless, the kids were quietly occupying themselves and a gourmet dinner was on the table.

To all the moms out there, Costume SuperCenter wished you the most wonderful and special Mother’s Day yet

This Saturday is Space Day. Space Day is an annual event sponsored by Lockheed Martin that takes place at various National Air and Space Museum locations. Among the highlights include the Space Shuttle Discovery on display in Chantilly, VA. In Washington, DC, visitors will get to see a full scale Hubble test telescope and learn all about it.

Space Day is a family orientated event that attracts people from all walks of life. You’ll get a chance to meet a lot of important people, try hands-on activities and see amazing demonstrations.

We have a variety of authentic NASA Space Suit Costumes that will help you celebrate Space Day like a real astronaut. You might also want to demonstrate what life is like in a far off galaxy by wearing an alien costume. There are also lots of activities you can do, in costume of course, to celebrate Space Day.

1. Get some large cardboard boxes and build a rocket ship or space shuttle. Cover it in aluminum foil and give it a really cool name.
2. Go to your local sporting goods store and by some freeze dried ice cream from the camping department. Eat it with a glass of Tang – the official drink of the original astronauts.
3. Put on your astronaut space suit and jump on a trampoline to try to experience fleeting seconds of weightlessness.  Then, spin around in circles 100 times and try to walk to simulate the disorientation of space.
4. Play some Space Day Games

Springtime means getting outside after the long winter and enjoying the outdoors. Make the most of spring by attending one of the many festivals around the country. Music, food, dance and Renaissance festivals are among the choices. Here is your mini guide to Spring Festivals.

Music Festivals

Electric Daisy Carnival, Las Vegas, NV June 8-10– This is a three day long electronic music festival in Las Vegas that features theatrics, carnival rides and performance art.

Bamboozle, Asbury Park, NJ – May 19-21, 1012. Bon Jovi, Blink 182 and Foo Fighters and Incubus plus others will perform over this three-day, seven stage event in Asbury Park, NJ. Bamboozle has launched the careers of many local bands and has entertained over 1 million of partygoers over the past nine years. Have fun in the sun, party on the beach and visit the historic Stone Pony.

Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN June 7-10, 2012 – When you head to the Tennessee festival expect to experience 4 days liver performances features over 150 acts on 10 stages. Music, comedy and art are rolled into a giant, open air festival.  Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Phish are expected to headline.

Food and Wine Festivals

Disney Anaheim Food and Wine Festival – April 16 – May 31, 2012 – cooking demonstrations, seminars and food and wine tastings take place throughout the park. Enhance the experience with Disney costumes and be sure to have a glass of wine for us while you’re there.

Celebrity Chef Tour – This traveling festival visits several major cities and proceeds benefit the James Beard Foundation. You’ll get a chance to meet the world’s top culinary talents, have a delicious dinner and sample some of the best wine and beer you’ve ever had. Chef’s vary per location. For a full calendar of scheduled festivals on the tour, go to The Celebrity Chef Tour site.

Renaissance and other

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Irwindale, CA – April 7 – May 20, 2012. An interactive playground and gallery for over 200,000 participants and guests who want to envelop themselves in a Renaissance experience. Renaissance costumes, jousters, minstrels, jesters and royalty all have their special place at the Faire.

Watch City Festival – The Original Steampunk City, Waltham, MA May 12th & 13th, 2012. Sponsored by the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, this annual steampunk festival celebrates the history, ingenuity and creativity that is the Steampunk genre. The city experiences a time warp where the lines between the industrial revolution and sci-fi clash. Expect to see some of the most imaginative Steampunk costumes and contraptions ever assembled in one place.

Be a standout and go in costume. Renaissance costumes for the Faire, Steampunk for Watch City and as for the rest of the fests, anything goes.

Earth Day is marked with rallies, parades, and the largest organized fundraiser called Picnic for the Planet, hailed as, “the world’s largest and most delicious Earth Day celebration”.  These green costumes will bring you in tune with nature and help get your message across with humor.

Mother Nature is the Queen of Green. She should hold a place of honor at Picnic for the Planet.

Even the littlest children can learn a few things on Earth Day, like how flowers need fresh air, sunlight and clean water to grow.

We must embrace all of nature, even weeds like Poison Ivy, because every living thing has a special purpose on this Earth.

Even plants that are controversial are a vital part of the eco system. If you support the use of plants for their medicinal value, the Fun Leaf Fairy costume would be one that you could wear for Earth Day.

Not all green costumes are bright and earthy. Some will even show the ill effects of pollution on our trees like this costume.

On April 22, show your support for our planet. Pick up any litter if you see it, plant a tree, recycle, repurpose and get attention while doing it in a green costume for Earth Day

The sinking of the unsinkable Titanic will be commemorated for its 100 anniversary in three very distinct ways.  First is with the re-release of the epic film Titanic, which has been remastered in 3D. Second with memorial cruises, and third, with televised tributes and documentaries.

James Cameron’s Titanic will premiere nationwide on April 14^th. This film was stunning the first time around but 3D will surely bring that fateful nigh to life in an eerily chilling way. Since we will never know the true, full color decadence of Titanic, we rely on James Cameron’s recreation of the magnificent ship including the costumes of the passengers.

If you’d rather get the 30 second synopsis then watch this.

But even more astounding is the Titanic Memorial Cruise. One ship, the Azamara Journey sailed to New York on April 10^th and continued on to Halifax, Nova Scotia for a memorial cruise that included a visit to a cemetery where 150 victims of the Titanic are buried, lectures and a memorial service. The guests aboard the ship where period Edwardian costumes to enhance the experience. Yet another ship, the Balmoral, will tempt fate by setting sail from Southampton, England and retracing the exact path of the Titanic with the same number of passengers. It will even sail to the same spot where the Titanic met its fate. It is expected to arrive at the precise location on Saturday. This cruise also has guest dressed in period clothing.

A variety of television specials are devoted to Titanic this week. One of particular interest was The Titanic with Len Goodman. The Dancing with the Stars judge was once a welder with Harland and Wolf, the company that built the ship. He shares the stories of survivors and victims as told by their ancestors.

If you want to tie the 100th anniversary in with your Halloween costume this year, consider this ghostly couple:

So there you have it. There are several ways to commemorate the Titanic this week. I think I’ll check out the movie.

Kristen Stewart in Snow White and the Huntsman

While each has a very different spin on the story, equally different are the costumes for Snow White. Kristen Stewarts’ Snow White costume closely matches the familiar yellow, blue and red dress from the Disney classic. In addition, Snow White is seen like never before…in armor! Taking her queue from the huntsman, Snow White trains to be a warrior, and they form an alliance to overthrow the queen. On the other end of the spectrum, the much lighter and brighter Lilly Collins’ Snow White costume is quite beautiful in blue and white.  I find it refreshing to see Lily Collins’ Snow White in this new costume. In my opinion, she is the most fair of the two.

Lilly Collins in Mirror Mirror

Unfortunately, there are no costume vendors with the license for Mirror Mirror versions of Snow White and the queen as of yet. Such a shame. However, we can still look forward to officially licensed Snow White and The Huntsman costumes for Halloween 2012. Here is your sneak peak.

We will also sell the Huntsman costume, coming soon. What do you think of the new Snow White costumes. Which is your favorite?

You can wow the Easter Bunny by going green this year and coloring your Easter Eggs with all natural vegetable based dyes that you make yourself.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite things about Easter was coloring eggs with my mom and my brother. We always used those kits with the color tablets that you mixed with vinegar and water. While they work great, they are loaded with harmful dyes like red dye #40 and yellow dye #6.  I very much into organic whole foods. I’ve been using these recipes for many years and they really work. I’m also able to compost the dye when I’m done.

Try these recipes for all natural egg dye. Your children will better off and you will make the Easter Bunny very happy too

Yellow Easter Eggs – Mix 4 tablespoons of Tumeric with 4 tablespoons of Salt and 4 tablespoons of vinegar and add it to 2 quarts of warm water.

Pink Easter Eggs – Fill a mixing bow with 6 cups of water and 6 cups of chopped beats. Add 4 tablespoons each of vinegar and salt.

Green Easter Eggs – boil 2 packages of frozen chopped spinach with ¼ cup of salt and ¼ cup of vinegar. The longer you boil, the better.

Blue Easter Eggs – boil a head of red cabbage with ¼ cup of salt and ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 quarts of water. Yes, red cabbage makes blue dye. I know it sounds crazy but it works. Puree is in a blender, then strain.

Orange Easter Eggs – Boil carrots with ¼ cup of salt and ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 quarts of water. Puree in a blender then strain.

This natural dye will stain your clothes so wear old clothes. It is also great for making tie-dye t-shirts.

We hope you enjoy making your Easter eggs. We would love it if you posted images of your results on our Facebook Page.

No matter who tells the story, the tale remains the same. What changes is the costumes. In addition to there being so many new Purim costumes added to our website each year for, many orthodox sects are getting more lenient with regard to the types of costumes that people can wear. Where some require the costumes to be religious in nature, others will allow any type of costume as long as it respects their rules regarding conservative dress. With regard to everything else, if its Kosher, it is yours to enjoy!

One thing that the Jews do indulge in with great abandon during Purim is food and treats – yummy, delicious goodies that everyone will love. The very best Purim treats are surprisingly easy to make and are worth every calorie.  A major part of the Purim celebration is called mishloach manot which means “sending of portions.” Families will dress in costume and deliver food and gifts to neighbors, friends and family.  Here is the best recipe for Hamantashen, a common Purim treat for mishloach manot:

Hamantashen (Purim Cookies)

Ingredients

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
juice of one lemon
rind of 1 lemon, grated
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups flour
2 tsps. baking powder

Fillings:
1 pound prepared poppy seed filling
or strawberry or apricot preserves

Preheat oven to 350
Grease cookie sheets.

Beat eggs and sugar. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well. Divide into four parts.

Rolls out the dough on a floured surface and used a 3 inch round cookie cutter. Continue until all of the dough has been rolled out and cut.

Fill each round with a teaspoon of filling.

Fold the left side and right side to form a triangle, then fold the bottom up so it looks like the image shown here. Pinch the edges together.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Whether you are Jewish or not, you will find it nearly impossible to eat just one.

We hope you enjoy your day and have a blessed and happy Purim. Chag Purim Sameach and  Freilichin Purim!

The Snooki Bunny Head has changed a bit from the original. Aside from being a bit used and abused (they are washable – ever hear of spot cleaning?) she has created a more feminine look for “Lola” by adding eyelashes and blush. Now the bunny costume is Jersey-licious.

How can Snooki and Deena turn the wholesome Easter bunny into such a naughty creature? Check out this picture of the  Snooki and Deena Bunny Suit boogie:

I’ll never think of the Easter bunny the same way again. Yikes!

If Snooki isn’t living proof that here is more than one use for a bunny suit, I don’t know what.

How and where would you wear the Snooki Bunny Cosutme? Let us know. Get creative enough and you just might win a prize!

The History of St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day began as a religious holiday over 1000 years ago and has evolved into a cultural celebration enjoyed by all faiths, Irish and non-Irish alike. If you want the quick Q & A of St. Patrick’s Day, see below.

Who was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick was born in Ireland in the 4^th century. As a teen he was kidnapped and made a slave but he returned to Ireland years later as a bishop with a mission to Christianize Ireland. He did a darn good job!

Why are shamrocks the symbol of St. Patrick’s Day?

The shamrock became symbolic of St. Patrick because he used it to explain the meaning of Trinity to Irish pagans. He died on March 17, which we know as St. Patrick’s Day.

Green is also the symbolic color of St. Pat. What do you expect when Ireland is so aptly named The Emerald Isle?

Did St. Patrick really drive the snakes out of Ireland?

Evolution suggests that snakes never inhabited Ireland. It is an island and there is no way for snakes to get there. People believe it was not snakes, but demons, that he drove out of Ireland. And by demons they mean non-Christians.

How has this day been celebrated through history?

For centuries, the day was commemorated by attending religious services because it was a Holy Day of Obligation on the Catholic churches’ liturgical calander. Over time, it became more and more of a happy celebration. In 1903, the Irish declared St. Patrick’s Day an official public holiday and a source of great Irish pride.

For the past century, St. Patrick’s day is marked by parades, sporting events like the All Ireland Club Football Championships, eating and drinking. The day is so important to Catholics that special dispensation was given by the Pope to allow eating meat if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during the observance of Lent.

Other great things to read about St. Patricks Day

• Irish Toast for St. Patrick’s Day from Costume SuperCenter
• More Irish Toasts from Costume SuperCenter
• Irish Toasts Part III from Costume SuperCenter
• Where do our St. Patrick’s Traditions Come From