I’ve always said that to complete the look of a Halloween costume you have to accessorize, accessorize, and accessorize.  The right Halloween accessories can give your costume that edge you’re looking for. 

Some accessories you just have to have in order to complete the costume such as; a Dracula’s fangs, Darth Vader’s light saber or Superman’s cape.  Those accessories are as much a part of the overall costume as the costume itself.

In the past, a mask was considered an accessory to any costume.  However, in today’s world of Halloween, a mask IS the costume!  With Hollywood style special effects and foam latex, Halloween masks are incredibly life-like.  With any good horror mask you’re sure to find a little blood, gore and even brain matter for that lovely evil wretched look.

Check out the Top 10 Halloween Masks for 2009!

Masks can also be a simple way to create a costume.  Much of the time the mask speaks for itself in regards to who or what that person is trying to become.   With world politics as usual the political masks definitely speak for themselves and are a huge seller this year.  Barack Obama masks as well as his better half, Michelle Obama masks are flying off the shelves.  Former president’s are also popular.

The old school masks such as; Michael Myers, Scream, Hannibal Lecter or Jason from Friday the 13th films are always a classic at any Halloween costume party.  Famous faces from the big screen and television are sure to get recognized and it’s a simple matter of throwing together an outfit and away you go. 

Halloween masks are great for all ages, old and young alike!  Get yours at HalloweenExpress.com now!

I’ve never been one to get all that worked up about politics.  Perhaps I’m nieve or just not all that interested in the subject matter but it does surprise me at times how far some folks will go to stir things up.   For as long as there have been Halloween masks it seems there’s a certain segment of the public who just love to make a statement by dressing up as a political figure.  Personally I would have thought the demand for these political masks would have subsided after last year’s election but apparently not.  This season it seems there’s a new mask getting a lot of attention recently. It’s called ‘Barakula‘ and according to the manufacturer, it has a striking resemblance to a cross between President Barack Obama and a blood-sucking vampire.  Hmmmmm.  I wonder why the manufacturer chose this name?   The name notwithstanding, depending upon your political persuasion you may or may not find this mask amusing.    To each his own I suppose.  One thing  is for sure, if you’re looking for Halloween costume ideas this year and you can’t make up your mind … you’re sure to get plenty of looks with the Barakula mask.

There is nothing better then getting the latest magazines or catalogs that show us all the new trends for each season whether it’s for clothing, cars, home decorating, etc…  Women especially love to know what the cool “in” styles are going to be in the clothing world before hand so they can get their wardrobe ready!

The same goes for Halloween!   Don’t you want to know what the new trend in costumes for 2009 is going to be?  Every year HalloweenExpress.com comes out with a sneak peek at the years new costumes.  This year is no exception!  And best of all, you can check out the Halloween costume ideas 2009 right here.  There are plenty of costume ideas for everyone.

Halloween costumes for everyone in your family; women’s, men’s, kids, teens, tweens and don’t forget your pet – there’s new pet costumes for them too!  Want to get some new decorations to add to your old ones from last year?  No problem, they have new Halloween props and decorations that you just have to see!

In addition to all the ideas you get, you can also see a list of the top Halloween costume picks for 2009.  Between all these great costumes ideas and top ten lists, you’ll be more than ready for Halloween!

I’m telling you, HalloweenExpress.com has everything you need to make this Halloween the best yet!!

Every year at Halloween kids and adults alike are trying to find out what the hottest trends are in costumes!  What is the number one costume for sexy costumes, funny costumes, couples costumes, kids, teens, adults, toddlers…even your pet has his own Top Costumes for 2009 list!

• What are the cool and popular costumes?
• What will everyone be wearing?
• What is the number one costume in every category?

Well, look no further!  HalloweenExpress.com has the answers to all these questions and more!  With a simple touch of a button you’ll have everything you need to make the right decision on that perfect Halloween costume right at your fingertips.

Here is a list of the categories you’ll find:

1. Top 10 Kids Costumes
2. Top 10 Teen Costumes
3. Top 10 Toddler Costumes
4. Top 10 Baby Costumes
5. Top 10 Sexy Costumes
6. Top 10 Funny Costumes
7. Top 10 Couples Costumes
8. Top 10 Plus Size Costumes
9. Top 10 Pet Costumes
10. Top 10 Halloween Masks

So this year surprise your friends with your outstanding “knowledge” on what’s hip and cool this year when it comes to Halloween cotumes!  They’ll be coming to you with all their “what should I be for Halloween” questions and you’ll know just what to tell them.  Don’t worry, it will be our little secret!

In the coming weeks I’ll do blogs on each indivdual category so that you’ll see just how much fun the Top 10 Lists are!

The costumes aren’t the only great things happening at HalloweenExpress.com!  Check out their new and improved website!  It’s amazing and so easy to navigate through.  It makes you wish for Halloween to be sooner than October!  However it’s never too early to start shopping for that perfect Halloween costume.  Remember, the early bird gets the worm (or costume in this case)!

With today’s economic crisis, more and more people will be looking for discounted Halloween costumes for themselves and their children this year.  Well, look no further!  Even with the great low prices at HalloweenExpress.com on their costumes you’ll still find even lower deep-discounted priced costumes, masks, props and accessories in a special section on their website called “Super Saver Costumes.”  There you’ll find amazing costumes for both men and women for just $19.99.  Plus a “Closeout” section with a little bit of everything in it for a fun-filled low-priced Halloween!

Super Saver costumes for men include a Valiant Knight costume, a Vampire costume or a Scally Wag Pirate costume. 

Women can dress in an Egyptian Princess costume, a Belly Dancer costume or a French Maid costume. 

The possibilities are endless and the prices low at HalloweenExpress.com! 

Spring is always assured to bring warm weather, spring flowers, the Easter Bunny and America’s number one pasttime – baseball!  Professional baseball teams all across the country have been gearing up for their big opening day games coming up in May.  The Cincinnati Reds are my team of choice and I can’t wait for their opening day game against the New York Mets on May 6th.  Tickets are purchased, game apparel and fan accessories are bought and now there’s nothing to do but wait 11 more days!

With the weather in Cincinnati, you never know what to expect on opening day.  I’ve been before when it’s been perfect and sunny and I’ve been before when it’s been bitter cold.  I’m really hoping that Mother Nature sees fit to bestow upon us Red’s fans a little sunshine that day.  If you’re listening Mother Nature – something in the mid 70’s would be nice!

If you’re a big baseball fan, you should check out some of the awesome costumes and accessories at HalloweenExpress.com just for the baseball fan!  My all time favorite baseball themed costume is the Old Tyme Baseball Player costume.  It’s a drawback to the 1920’s when some of baseballs greats such as, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb graced our fields. 

If you want to get a laugh out of the fans sitting around you at the game be sure to check out the Game Face Baseball Sports Mask.  It’s sure to get you noticed at any game!  

Speaking of getting noticed – for all you women out there that think you can call the shots better than the referee’s just put on a sexy referee costume and believe me you’ll get more attention then the players themselves!

Well Valentine’s Day has come and gone and the stores are already getting their shelves ready for Easter.  Whether you decided to make it a romantic couple weekend or a family fun weekend, I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Now onto Mardi Gras, February 24th!  Talk about a party atmosphere in New Orleans!  Wow that is one city I would love to visit during Mardi Gras.  I’ve been there before and have done the whole Bourbon Street thing, but would love to see the parades and parties and the craziness associated with Fat Tuesday! 

If you can’t make it to the biggest party in the world in New Orleans, then by all means bring the madness of Mardi Gras to you!  Throw a Mardi Gras theme party right in your own back yard.   Decorate in the Mardi Gras colors so well known throughout the country of purple, green and gold.  Balloons, tablecloths, beads, hats, masks and noisemakers all in these colors will make your partygoers feel as if they’re in the French Quarter.  Don’t forget the music!  It can’t be a Mardi Gras party without the music!  It’s not one type of music but various sounds played together that make it unique to Carnival in New Orleans.  Rhythm and blues, jazz and brass/funk get people up and dancing.  Whip up some great Cajun cuisines like Jambalaya, Gumbo or Crawfish Boil.      

However, the ultimate Mardi Gras party, rest assured, is in the costumes!  The King’s Jesters can be found running around everywhere.  Masks and costumes made of sequins, metallic and lots and lots of feathers.  Around the necks of your partygoers will be feathered boas and multicolored beads.  Dressing up in the Mardi Gras theme is so much fun!  

HalloweenExpress.com has everything you’ll need for all your Mardi Gras party needs!  From Mardi Gras masks and jester hats to feathered boas and Mardi Gras beads. 

Surprise, surprise, surprise it’s Friday 13, 2009 and I’ll give you two guesses at what remake slasher film is being released today – and the first one doesn’t count!  Does Camp Crystal Lake and a hockey mask give you any ideas?  You guessed it – Friday the 13th, and if you didn’t guess it then you must have been living under a rock for the last 29 years.  This popular film franchise has lasted almost three decades and is still going strong.

Once again Jason Vorhees is evil reborn and is back on his old stomping ground in this grisly campsite killing spree.  As usual the movie will be a big hit with the young audience that has followed the Friday the 13th series.  Did you know that the original movie Friday the 13th was released in May 1980 and since then 12 sequels (including today’s) have followed.  My nephew went to the movie theater at midnight last night to catch the first showing and said the theater was packed!  So, no matter what the reviews say by the professional movie buffs, people are going to flock to this slasher film just because…..Jason’s back!

If you really want to get into the Jason theme of the movie get a Friday the 13th hockey mask or really go all out with the whole Friday the 13th Jason costume from HalloweenExpress.com.  The Jason trademark hockey mask is always a big hit on Halloween too!

Next week on January 20, 2009, President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States.  The first President to ever do this was of course President George Washington on April 30, 1789.  What I think is really interesting is that the ceremonial traditions that were established by George Washington at his first presidential inauguration have been followed into present day, such as;

• using a Bible when taking the oath of office
• reading an inaugural address
• attending an inaugural ball

Attending the 2009 Inauguration is a hot ticket by any means.  Hotels around the Washington D.C. area have been booked to capacity for months now.  A lot of people will be throwing parties and celebrating this historic event with their family and friends. 

If you’re thinking about having an “Inauguration 2009″ party, HalloweenExpress.com is the perfect place to get all your Presidential party needs!  With the help of some of their great presidential costumes and masks, you can actually have President-elect Barack Obama at your party along with Bill and Hillary Clinton.  How cool would it be to have President’s George Washington and Abraham Lincoln there as well, not only in spirit but with the help of an amazing mask from HalloweenExpress.com they can be there in person as well! 

This will be one Inauguration party that your friends will be talking about for years to come!     

For Halloween most people are looking for a costume that will turn them into something or someone else.  If that’s the case then there is nothing else that can change how you look completely like a latex mask. 

I remember when I was young we always wore the plastic mask with the elastic band that went around your head.  Remember those?  I hated those things!  Even before we headed out to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood my mask would be filled with moisture just from me trying to breathe out that little tiny hole they cut out for the mouth.  My dad would always have to cut the hole bigger for the mouth and eyes just so I could see and breathe properly.  Three doors down from my house and I would already have the mask pulled up and sitting on top of my head instead of down on my face. 

Thankfully the mask design has come a long way since then!  Today, latex masks are so unbelievably real looking and are much more comfortable to wear.  What I like about a mask is that really with a lot of them that’s all you need as far as the whole costume goes.  For instance with a lot of the famous faces Halloween masks all you need is the mask and people will automatically know who you’re portraying without really giving a thought to the rest of your clothing.  If  you’re going with a person in politics whether it be a President, Governor, or any other political figure, just put on a suit and tie and you’re ready to go.  Unless of course your political figure is a female, then a dress suit would be fine (anyway you get the picture).   By the way, with the Presidential race in full swing now is a great time to become your favorite Republican or Democratic nominee by wearing one of our Barack Obama or John McCain Halloween masks. 

On Halloween if you see someone trick-or-treating with a hockey mask on you automatically know it’s Jason from Friday the 13th movies without even looking to see what clothes he’s wearing.   

So this year try one of our amazing life-like Halloween masks with your costume.  We have so many great masks to choose from at HalloweenExpress.com the hardest thing you’ll have to do is decide which one you want!