Well it’s official, Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow…  

According to German folklore, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on February 2, the Christian holiday for Candlemas, winter will last another 6 weeks, and that’s exactly what happened this morning in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania at approximately 7:30am.   Every February 2, people gather at Gobbler’s Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney (btw – Punxsutawney is located in Western Pennsylvania, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh), to witness Phil, the groundhog, emerge from its burrow to predict the weather.

I just love the whole idea of this “holiday”.  I’ve always known about Groundhog Day, but never really thought that much about it.  Well that’s not the case in Pennsylvania!  I had no idea that cowds as high as 40,000 people have been gathering together to celebrate Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney since 1886.  And this year they have even more reason to celebrate with the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Superbowl 43 last night in Tampa.  

Here are some more fun facts about Phil the infamous Groundhog:

• His full name is actually “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary”.
• For most of the year, Phil lives in a climate-controlled home at the Punxsutawney Library.  He is taken to Gobbler’s Knob and placed in a heated burrow underneath a simulated tree stump on stage before being pulled out to make his prediction.
• Phil is reported to be more than 100 years old.
• His wife’s name is Phyllis.

Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is in a couple weeks!  Men, it’s still not too late to pick out a sexy outfit for that special lady in your life.  From sexy to sassy HalloweenExpress.com has what you’re looking for!  And ladies if you want to surprise that special man in your life, well you’ve come to the right place.  Check out all the beautiful Valentine’s Day costumes that will make this February 14th a night to remember!   

We’ve had a pretty mild winter so far here in Kentucky, so when the weather man said to plan for snow today, I didn’t think much about it.  Imagine my surprise when I woke up to eight inches of snow covering the ground!  I know that’s probably nothing for some people that live up north, but that’s a lot here in my neck of the woods.  Unfortunately it’s not over either.  The freezing rain is starting up and by tomorrow morning we’re to have another 2-4 inches of snow on top of all that lovely ice!  Like most people I can handle the snow it’s the freezing rain on the roads that I hate!  When is Spring supposed to be here??

Unlike adults, children love the snow – the more the better!  More snow means no school and that in itself is a min vacation for them.  My teen-aged nephew, Taylor (being the little entrepreneur he is) probably loves snow more than anyone I know.  Last week he put this big snow plow on the front of his quad-runner with the anticipation of our first big snowfall.  They live right down the street so first thing this morning he drives down, picks up my son Caden and off they went to plow driveways.  Caden is the front walk snow shoveler.  While Taylor is plowing the driveways, he shovels the walk ways.  Then at the end of the day, they split the money they make so it’s a win win for everybody.  As Taylor always says, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…”, but me I’m more the “Snow, snow go away…and don’t ever come back”!  I should probably move to Florida!

However, a great way to warm up your significant other this winter is by wearing a nice little number from HalloweenExpress.com this February 14th.  You’ll have no trouble finding love in a Valentine’s Day Cupid costume! 

And don’t forget Mardi Gras is February 24th followed by Read Across America with Dr. Seuss on March 2nd and last but certainly not least the biggest Irish party of the year, St Patrick’s Day on March 17th! 

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to plan a romantic getaway with your significant other!  I realize you’ll probably be doing it along with half a million other people, but hey they don’t call it “the holiday of romance” for nothing.

Once you’ve secured the place and time for your rendezvous, you’re next step is the “wear”.  As you notice I said “wear”not “where”!  Believe me what you wear for your romantic getaway on Valentine’s Day is the most important detail that you have.  And thankfully, with HalloweenExpress.com you don’t have to look any further!  Their Valentine’s Day costumes will make any woman feel sexy! 

Let him see you in the Playboy Cupid costume and you won’t need a bow and arrow to make him fall in love.  I love Valentine’s Day because it is such a romantic holiday and after the craziness and rushing around of Christmas it’s nice to take some time alone with my husband.  He always said that Valentine’s Day must have been invented by a woman, but as we woman know, Saint Valentine was of course, a man. 

Make this February 14th a night he’ll always remember with a sexy and seductive HalloweenExpress.com Valentine’s Day Costume!

Well, it’s finally here – New Years Eve, the last day of 2008!  All the holidays for this year have come and gone and I’ve had so much fun giving my expert opinion, well maybe not so much “expert” but more along the lines of “from one mom, wife, aunt, daughter to another”.  I hope you enjoyed reading my blogs as much as I enjoyed writing them. 

Now, we’re on to bigger and better things for 2009!  HalloweenExpress.com will have more great costumes, assessories, makeup, decorations, props, etc… – I think you get the picture!  And with that in mind, don’t forget to check out all our great Valentine’s Day costumes,  President’s Day costumes and Mardi Gras costumes.  It’s never too early to find that one perfect costume for any holiday!  See you next year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (an estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) And, approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. Whether you gave your loved one a card, candy, a romantic dinner out or even a Valentines Day costume, I hope take the opportunity today to say ‘I Love You’ to those special people in your life.

Happy Valentines Day!

Wow!  Was that an amazing Super Bowl Game last night or what?  Now that’s football!  We were on the edge of our seats until the very last seconds of the game.  It’s the first time I’ve watched the Super Bowl where I was more interested in the game than I was in the commercials.  Congrats to the New York Giants - 2008 Super Bowl XLII champs!

Ok, now on to another important subject - Valentine’s Day.   It’s only ten more days away and will be here before you know it, but there’s still time to get the sweatheart in your life that perfect gift.  Or better yet ladies, why wait to see what your significant other will get you, when you can get exactly what you want today?  

Since Valentine’s Day is known as a romantic holdiay, what better time to “role play” your sexy inner goddess.  If you’re like me it would take a lot of role playing for me to feel sexy, but thank God it doesn’t take much for my husband to see it!  I really believe a lot of women feel the same way.  So I think we need to just throw out our insecurities for the night and have fun this Valentine’s Day (after that we can go right back to sleeping in our flannel pj’s)!   

Here are a few suggestions:

• beautiful ballerina
• alluring angel
• playboy bunny
• seductive lady love bug
• sexy cowgirl
• provocative candy striper
• come-hither cupid

These are just a few ideas.  Be sure to check out all our flirtatious “role playing” costumes under the heading Valentine’s Day on our home page.  Believe me, the man in your life will thank you for it!

The other day my daughter Sydney, who is in the 2nd grade, brought home a note from her teacher.  Each child needs to bring in Valentine’s Day cards for everyone in their class and a box that they decorate themselves so they have a place to put all their Valentine’s.  She is so excited!  She ran upstairs, grabbed the first shoebox she found and headed into the dining room with tissue paper, tape and scissors.  When she had all that in place I took her to the store thinking we’d run in, pick up some Valentine’s and get home in time for me to start dinner.  What was I thinking?!  I didn’t realize that this was going to be the biggest decision of her life picking out what Valentine’s to give to the boys and girls in her class!  After careful deliberation she decided on High School Musical and of course, Hannah Montana.  With the hard part over, we headed home.

Well, I thought the hard part was over until we sat down at the table and she had to decide which Valentine to give to each child in her class.  Of course you don’t want to give a “girl” card to a boy or vice versa – the world would end as we know it!  After writing her name on the back of every card and addressing the envelopes with each child’s name in her class, she finally started decorating the shoebox.  I helped her with cutting a hole in the top for the cards to slide in while she wrapped the box in pink, red and white tissue paper.  Then with any extra cards she had she cut out words and pictures and glued them all over the box.  It looked beautiful and she was so proud of her Valentine’s Day box.

Seeing all the planning and work that Sydney put into her Valentine’s for her classmates made me realize that Valentine’s Day is not just for loved ones and sweethearts, but for friends as well. 

In the United States, is a holidaycelebrated on February 14. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by giving cards, chocolates, gifts or flowers. The holiday is named after two Early Christian martyrs named Valentine.

Hi it’s Anna and I’m back with another year of “everything you need to know about costumes”!  I realize that Halloween is quite a few months away, but there is always something going on all year long that requires some type of costume.  For example, do you know what big day is coming up on the 14th of February?  Yep, it’s Valentine’s Day, and what better gift to give that special woman than a beautiful outfit for her to wear that makes her feel sexy.  Or for the ladies, if you want to be flirtatious and fun you too should check out our entire line of Valentine’s Day costumes.  If beautiful, provocative lingerie is more what you’re looking for then check out what we have at http://www.exoticwearexpress.com and see all we have to offer.

Remember, this is one gift that both parties will enjoy!