Category Archive: Holiday’s

Mother’s Day: 5 Gifts Your Mom Does Not Want

Categories:

Holiday's, Mother's Day, Suggestions and Ideas

May 8, 2013

Think back.  For many of us, it was like our mom had this sixth sense, a high tech kind of radar that enabled her to sniff out trouble.  No matter how much innocence was proclaimed, mom could always get to the truth and before you even knew what was happening, you had made a full confession and were grounded for a month.  Yeah, moms are like that.  Even if you are all grown up now you may not be completely out of the woods when it comes to being in your mom’s proverbial doghouse.  She would never say anything.  She would just smile and say “thank you”.  But somehow you would know you’d blown it.  Mother’s Day is the one thing you don’t want to screw up and we are here to help.  Here is our top five list of gifts your mom does NOT want for Mother’s Day!

  1. Home Appliances.  Your mom likely spent years (okay most of her life!) cleaning up after you and believe me, it probably was no picnic.  Washing clothes, washing dishes, cleaning house, picking up stinky socks off your bedroom floor–well, it’s all part of being a mom, but this stuff likely was not her favorite part.  There are many joys involved in motherhood; housework is likely not one of them.  On Mother’s Day there is no need to remind her of the drudgery.  You might be thinking mom will be impressed with your ability to be practical.  Trust me, your mom does not want you to be practical on Mother’s Day in spite of what she might say.  Get her something that is a little bit self-indulgent that she may not want to buy for herself.  Chances are if it has a “plug” it’s a big NO.
  2. Lingerie.  Um, don’t get me wrong here.  I’m a big fan of the girly stuff and most women do really love lingerie.  The problem lies in the fact that lingerie is a very intimate gift with a definite sexual vibe–thus, getting a gift like this from your kid (at any age) is just (in a word) weird.  If you are a male child then a lingerie gift may even border on being creepazoidal.  Don’t put your mom through this most ultimately awkward Mother’s Day scenario–ever.
  3. Makeover.  You have to be very careful about buying your mom one of the ever-popular spa packages that are out there around Mom’s Day.  If the word “makeover” is in the advertising anywhere, steer clear.  A day filled with massage, a facial, and a mani-pedi is cool, but as soon as you send your mom to be “made over” you may have inadvertently sent her the wrong message.  A makeover gift says, “You’ve been so busy taking care of me, wiping my nose, and hauling my butt to soccer practice that you’ve kinda let yourself go”–uh, don’t even go there.
  4. Diet or Fitness Products:  These gifts kind of send the same message as the makeover does–telling mom that she needs some sprucing up on Mother’s Day is just not cool.  A better alternative would be to invite your mom on an active activity that you know she is going to love, the best part being that she gets to spend time with her special kid.  (YOU!) 
  5. Cookbooks:  Whether your mom is a great cook or a really lousy one is beside the point.  Your mom likely has already spent hours (okay, maybe even years) in the kitchen cooking all your favorite foods and probably one too many boxes of Mac ‘n cheese.  Spare her the cookbook as no matter how good your intentions really are, you are still telling her that she needs to up the ante on her cooking game.  If you have already moved out of the house, she likely just cooks what she likes, anyway.  If you are still living in her basement, you are really treading on thin ice by giving her a cookbook, just saying. 

Honorable Mention No-No’s:  Generally speaking, you may want to avoid empty picture frames (put a nice photo in that thing, you lazy child!), bathing implements or bath soaps, (she has plenty of this stuff from prior years and is likely trying to still use it up!) and lastly, purses.  Your mom is likely enjoying picking out her own sleeker styled, fashionable purses now that she doesn’t have to carry around half the house with her in order to meet all your growing up needs.

Mother’s Day gift giving doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful.  In fact, getting mom the perfect gift can even reap great rewards.  Get this right and you will remain your mama’s little angel forevermore, or at least for another year. 

“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.“
~Mark Twain

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INFOGRAPHIC: Mean, Green Drink Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

Categories:

Entertainment, Holiday's, Infographics, St Patrick's Day

INFOGRAPHIC: Mean, Green Drink Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day.INFOGRAPHIC: Mean, Green Drink Recipes for St. Patrick's Day.

Welcome the Greenest Day in March In Style!

In case you haven’t been paying attention, St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner — Sunday March 17th. The traditions and folklore that surround St. Patrick’s Day go deep into history. The legendary patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, actually lived way back in the 5th century. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Ireland can be traced back as far as the 9th or 10th century and these festivities were then, as now, a time of great revelry amongst the Irish people. The dietary restrictions that were put upon by Lent were lifted just for St. Patrick’s Day so this truly could become a time of great feasting, dancing and of course, drinking! If anyone knows how to throw a good party, it’s likely the folks of the Emerald Isle. The traditions surrounding St. Patrick’s Day continue to this day and are enjoyed by many, of Irish descent or not. Here in the United States, St. Patrick’s Day has become a day to embrace all things Irish, even amongst those who are not actually Irish themselves. So, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day 2013, we’ve put together this handy graphic of Mean, Green Drink Recipes for the occasion. Any of these recipes along with your favorite St. Patrick’s Day attire are ideal for a St. Patrick’s Day parade, an Irish party, or just great fun down at your local pub. May the Luck O’ the Irish always be with you!

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Shocking Presidential Facts

Categories:

Holiday's, President's Day

February 18, 2013

Each year in February, on the third Monday of the month, we celebrate President’s Day.  The banks and post offices are closed, and the kids are out of school, and for most this holiday rounds out what has traditionally become winter’s favorite three day weekend.  Although the stores are filled with epic sales and three day weekends are always welcome, this holiday is really meant to pay homage to the men who have served as America’s greatest leader, the President of the United States.  In honor of President’s Day (and to make it a whole heckuva lot more fun!) we’ve put together some little-known trivia as well as fun facts about the men that have held America’s highest office.  Enjoy!

Sizing them up:  The shortest and likely the smallest President was James Madison, who stood at only 5’ 4” tall and was said to weigh less than 100 pounds. The tallest president was Abraham Lincoln who was 6’ 4” tall.  William Howard Taft was by far the most rotund President, weighing in at 322 pounds.   It has been rumored that once President Taft actually got stuck in the White House bathtub after which he promptly ordered a new one to be installed.  The new tub was so large that it would actually hold 4 average sized men.  (Sounds like a hot tub party to me…)

Age Appropriate:  The oldest Pres to ever hold office was Ronald Reagan, who took office at the ripe old age of 69 years old.  The youngest elected President was John F. Kennedy who took office at the age of 43, although after President William McKinley was assassinated in New York in 1901, Roosevelt then took office and at that time Roosevelt was a mere babe at the age of 42.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!  The tradition of the Presidential first pitch that opened up baseball season began with William Taft.  Since this time, every President except one has opened up at least one baseball season by tossing out the infamous first pitch.  The one exception:  Jimmy Carter, who apparently just wasn’t a baseball fan.

You Can’t Say That Here!  Andrew Jackson’s potty mouth Parrot wouldn’t stop swearing and cursing at his own owner’s funeral and due to the obscene disruption was promptly removed! 

We Don’t Need No Education: Andrew Johnson was the only President that never attended a single day of school in his entire life.  Not one. 

Didn’t You See that Speed Limit Sign?  Ulysses S. Grant apparently didn’t and was said to have received an actual speeding ticket to the tune of twenty big ones.  His big offense?  Riding his horse (yes…his horse!) too fast.

Oh How Embarrassing: Dwight Eisenhower’s dog was apparently banned from the White House after it left a “present” on the floor of the diplomatic reception area.  Diplomatic, indeed.

Take that, Kitty Cat!  Theodore Roosevelt was said to have once killed a mountain lion single handedly with nothing but his personal knife after the lion went after and attacked his dogs.

Saved By Electoral College! John Q. Adams, Rutherford Hayes, Benjamin Harrison and George W. Bush all hold the distinction of winning the Presidential election without actually winning the popular vote.

Wayyy Too Much Talking:  William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia one month to the day after giving the longest U.S. Presidential Inaugural speech on record.  That takes talking yourself out to a whole new level.

Happy President’s Day from Halloween Express!

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President’s Day: Time to Brush Up On Your Lincoln Trivia!

Categories:

Historical, Holiday's, President's Day, Trivia

February 13, 2013

Abraham Lincoln

Next Monday, February 18, is President’s Day.  Although originally designated as Washington’s Birthday, now the President’s day holiday honors both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as well as any other man who has served as the head guy in the Oval Office.  This year, with the feature film “Lincoln” still holding firmly to one of the top 10 movie spots at the box office, it might be a great time to add a little honorary historic remembrance to your President’s Day by seeing this 10-time Oscar nominated film.  You might even learn a thing or two about this great President.  Just to help you brush up on your Lincoln trivia, here are a few little tidbits and little known facts about Lincoln–use them to impress your friends!

10.  Lincoln has no living posterity.  Even though Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln had four sons, 3 of the 4 died very young (Edward-age 4, Willie-age 12, Tad-age 18) and Robert, who was Lincoln’s only son that lived into adulthood, had his only known descendant pass away in 1985.

9. Lincoln’s son had his life saved by the future presidential assassin’s brother.  One day while at the train station, Lincoln’s son Robert fell between the platform and the train as the train began to move.  Edwin Booth, the brother of John Wilkes Booth (who later would assassinate the President), quickly pulled Robert Lincoln out of danger, saving his life.

8. President Lincoln felt he should serve in battle during the Civil War.  Although his presidential obligations obviously prevented it, word got out that President Lincoln had regrets about not fighting in battle since he was clearly the leader of the nation’s military.  J. Summerfield Staples volunteered to fight in the war in President Lincoln’s stead.  He served in (and survived) the war.

7.  Lincoln had an epic beard.  Lincoln was the first President to have a beard while serving in office.

6. Lincoln was an inventor and held a patent.  Lincoln was the only known President to obtain a patent.  In 1849, Lincoln’s patent was obtained for a device that lifted ships over shoals through a type of buoying mechanism.  This invention, however, was never put into practical use.

5. Lincoln was the first president who started speaking about women’s rights and at one point suggested that women should be extended the right to vote.

4.  Lincoln’s Inaugural portrait.  Lincoln was the first President to have his photograph taken at inauguration.  Apparently standing near the President in the photograph was John Wilkes Booth, the man who would later assassinate him.

3.  Robert Lincoln was close to 3 Presidential assassinations.  Not only was Robert invited (but declined) to attend the theatre the evening his father was assassinated but also he unfortunately found himself close by 2 other Presidential assassinations.  Robert was invited to meet President Garfield at the train station in Washington, D.C. when he was an eyewitness to Garfield’s assassination.  Robert was also invited to a New York fair where William McKinley would be assassinated.

2. Lincoln had a premonition about his death.  Not long before his assassination, Lincoln had a dream in which he heard crying in the White House.  When he inquired as to who had died, he was told that it was the president.  He peered into the coffin that was there and apparently looked down onto his own deceased face.

1. Urban Legends about Lincoln and Kennedy.  There are many odd coincidences that surround the lives of both President Lincoln and President Kennedy.

  • Both Lincoln and Kennedy were shot in the head on a Friday.
  • Lincoln and Kennedy were elected to congress exactly 100 years apart. Lincoln in 1846, Kennedy in 1946.
  • Lincoln and Kennedy were elected to be President 100 years apart, Lincoln in 1860, Kennedy in 1960.
  • Both Lincoln and Kennedy had successors that had the last name Johnson. (Andrew Johnson and Lyndon Johnson.)
  • The men that assassinated each of these Presidents were known by three names.  (John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald.)
  • Lincoln and Kennedy each have 7 letters in their surnames.  Their assassin’s names each contain 15 letters.
  • Lincoln was shot in Ford’s theatre.  Kennedy was shot while riding in a car (a “Lincoln” made by Ford.

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Mardi Gras: Fast Facts About Fat Tuesday

Categories:

Holiday Costumes, Holiday's, Mardi Gras, Masks

January 30, 2013

Mardi Gras 2013

Mardi Gras aka Fat Tuesday is celebrated this year on Tuesday February 12, 2013.  You don’t have to live in New Orleans to really get into the whole eating, drinking and being merry thing that has become a huge part of the Mardi Gras fun.   Don’t know much about Mardi Gras?  Here is our list of quick facts about the ultimate party known officially as Mardi Gras!

  1. Celebrating Mardi Gras is not a modern day invention.  The tradition of Mardi Gras (also called Fat Tuesday) actually began long ago; it stems from a medieval practice including some pretty heavy chowing down prior to the advent of lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday.  Traditionally, Mardi Gras is considered to be the last day for Catholics to really get into some heavy feasting before the fasting and giving up of certain foods during lent.
  2. Although a lot of the big hoopla occurs on Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras celebrating often goes on for weeks prior to the actual event, in many cases the parades and parties begin in early January around the time of Epiphany.  Now that’s a party!
  3. Mardi Gras is most infamously associated with New Orleans, but the holiday is actually celebrated throughout the world.
  4. Mardi Gras is known as Pancake Day in England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand…and yes, they do eat pancakes as part of their celebrating!
  5. Where’s the baby?  The traditional wreath-shaped King’s Cake has a plastic baby baked right into it.  It is said that whoever gets the slice of cake holding the plastic baby will have good luck and fortune for the entire year!
  6. Parades!  A huge part of Mardi Gras traditional celebrating revolves around numerous parades.  Elaborate floats are part of these parades and those that ride on the floats will traditionally throw out beaded necklaces as well as various trinkets to parade onlookers.
  7. The Mardi Gras official colors are known to be purple, gold and green.  Green is said to symbolize faith, gold symbolizes power, and purple represents justice.  Although many different colors of beads are tossed out during Mardi Gras celebrating, obtaining the ones that represent the official colors of Mardi Gras is considered good luck–except the beads that have already fallen to the ground, which are considered to be bad luck.
  8. The tradition of throwing beads to parade onlookers actually began back in the 1900’s when a dressed up Santa Claus riding on a float began tossing out beaded necklaces to parade watchers. (And no, the spectators were not flashing Santa!) The tossing of beaded necklaces is one of the most popular of all Mardi Gras traditions to this day.
  9. Mardi Gras draws fun-seekers everywhere, particularly in New Orleans where Mardi Gras celebrating is done on a very grand scale.  During Mardi Gras, masked balls, parties, parades and lots of general partying are commonplace.
  10. The tradition of masked balls during Mardi Gras began in the 1700’s. People were so raucous, rowdy and debaucherous during the extreme revelry of Mardi Gras that they took to wearing masks in order to conceal their real identities to avoid any future ramifications from their night of utter craziness.  At one point in the 19th century there was so much drunk and disorderly conduct occurring during the time of Mardi Gras that authorities made the wearing of masks illegal, hoping to curtail some of the shenanigans.  People were not at all deterred by the new mask-less regulations and the extreme behavior continued anyway.

 

Mardi Gras celebrations are a long time tradition that is enjoyed to this day by the masses.  Whether you are heading to New Orleans to get your own piece of the Mardi Gras action or are simply hosting a Mardi Gras celebration of your own close to home, you will not want to miss out on what appears to be the perfect excuse to have a really good time.  Don’t forget to check out our complete selection of Mardi Gras supplies, costumes and accessories to make your Mardi Gras inspired event nothing short of spectacular!

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