Happy Leap Day!

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February 29, 2008

With today being February 29, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Leap Day!   Since today’s date only occurs every four years I thought it was worth a mention. 

Ok, how does Leap Year happen?  Well we all know that there are 365 days in a year, but what I bet you didn’t know is that for the earth to make a complete revolution around the sun it takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours.  Therefore, every four years an extra 24 hours has accumulated making it so that one extra day is added to that calendar to keep the count coordinated with the sun’s apparent position.  Pretty wild huh?

Here’s some more fun facts about Leap Year:

  • it occurs in years evenly divisible by four
  • a person born on February 29 may be called a “leapling”
  • a year that is not a leap year is called a common year
  • the Egyptians were the first to come up with the idea of adding a leap day once every four years
  • the Romans became the first to designate February 29 as the leap day

So there you have it!  Just a little “fyi” on Leap Day that you can think about for the next four years! 

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No “Bunny” Does Kids Costumes Like Tom Arma

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February 27, 2008

February is coming to a close and soon Easter will be upon us – 25 more days to be exact!  I love Easter.  Just knowing winter is over and spring has finally arrived is enough reason for me.  Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing the first few snow falls and how pretty everything looks blanketed in that beautiful white snow, then come February I am so over it!  As I get older the thought of becoming a Florida “snowbird” gets more and more appealing to me.  However, with my youngest just finishing pre-school I think my snowbird days are pretty much wishful thinking at this point!

Speaking of pre-school age, have you seen the Tom Arma Bunny Costume for infants and toddlers yet?  It is absolutely adorable made from soft plush with faux fur and lined with the softest fleece.  I couldn’t order mine fast enough!  Plus all the Tom Arma costumes come with an animal package insert ”critter facts” from the National Wildlife Federation so you and your child can learn more about how to promote conservation awarenss for the animal you’re portraying with your costume.  So when you order the Tom Arma Bunny costume, you’ll receive “critter facts” about the Snowshoe Hare. 

The entire Tom Arma costume line is available exclusively from Halloween Express.  Oh, I almost forgot … check out the 2008 Tom Arma Baby & Toddler of the Year Photo Contest.   Enter your baby or toddler into the contest and you could win $500 (plus a bunch of other cool stuff!)

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Whether You Are Irish or Just Wish You Were

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February 24, 2008

With St Patrick’s Day right around the corner everyone is thinking green.  Have you heard the saying, “On St Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish” – well, I believe it!  St Patrick’s Day is such a “fun” day with parades, parties and of course the drinking of the “green beer” at all the bars and Irish pubs.  When you’re surrounded by all the festivites and everyone is having a great time, you find yourself wishing you were Irish.  I’m telling you those Irish folk sure know how to have a good time!   Just in case you’re not of Irish decent but would like to be on March 17, here are a few Irish fun facts for you to know:

  • St Patrick - the patron Saint of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to the Island.  He used the shamrock with its three leaf clovers to teach the Irish about the Holy Trinity.
  • The Luck of the Irish – if you have good luck one day you can expect bad luck the next
  • Kissing the Blarney Stone – a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle in the Irish village of Blarney.  Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence.
  • Erin Go Bragh – Ireland Forever
  • Leprechaun - an Irish fairy, often dressed as a shoemaker.
  • Irish Pubs – ale is ordered by pints and quarts.  So in Old England when customers got unruly the bartender used to yell at them to mind their pints and quarts and settle down – hence the saying ”mind your own P’s and Q’s”.

Even though in the United States the tradition continues with people from all walks of life wearing everything and anything green – the custom in Ireland is just the opposite.  On St Patrick’s Day, it is not custom in Ireland to wear green ties, hats or other green clothes.  The preferred display is a sprig of shamrock in their coat lapel. 

However, since it is custom in our neck of the woods to wear as much green as you possibly can, then what are you waiting for?  If you want to be the life of the party this year, check out our entire line of St Patrick’s Day clothing and accessories! 

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The Irish Pub

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February 21, 2008

Who doesn’t love St Patrick’s Day?  Even if you’re not Irish, March 17 has become such a huge celebration that you just can’t help but join in the festivities!  St Patrick’s Day is the national holiday of the Irish people.  It is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, but in the United States even though it is widely celebrated, it is not an official holiday (I’m thinking we should change that).  However, even though it’s not recognized as an “official” holiday, that doesn’t stop the celebrations! 

One of my favorite things to do on St Paddy’s Day is to head down to the local Irish Pub.  Although it always has an Irish flair, for one day you are swept up in the traditions and customs of Ireland.  It’s like you’re transformed to a little piece of Ireland right there in your own home town.  If you’ve never been to an Irish Pub on St Patrick’s Day then you’ve got to give it a try this year.  It’s so much fun!  Good music, good food and of course good drink are all part of Ireland’s rich and friendly pub culture bringing the “craic” of the Irish to their pubs.  A little fyi – “craic” (pronounced crack) is a Gaelic word meaning fun, friendly, good times – which is exactly what you get at an Irish Pub. 

Don’t forget to check out all our St Patrick’s Day costumes and accessories.  What better way to join in the festivities at an Irish Pub then to come “dressed” for the occasion!  So this year on March 17, head on down to your local Irish Pub.  There’s nothing better than listening to the lilt of an Irish brogue while enjoying your pint of Guinness with friends!

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Happy Presidents’ Day!

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February 18, 2008

Happy Presidents’ Day!  Did you know that Presidents’ Day is celebrated to honor two of our greatest President’s, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  The holiday is celebrated every year in the United States on the third Monday in February.

I know the kids love Presidents’ Day because they are off school and what better way to get a kid to enjoy a holiday than to tell them they get the day off school.  It’s an automatic win-win situation for everybody!  Some schools (such as the New York City school district) used to close for a single day for both Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthday, but now often close for the entire week beginning with the Monday holiday as a “mid-winter recess”.  My children just have today off, but I’ll tell you what – if they could get the whole week off, Presidents’ Day would run a close second to Christmas!  

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