There is a lot to love about Mardi Gras. There is music, celebration, drinking, and dancing. But the most important thing about Mardi Gras is the costume parade. The Mardi Gras masquerade is known all over the world. Brightly colored Mardi Gras feather masks are icon of the season. Basically, they symbolize a last hurrah before the solemn month of lent. Even if you’re not Catholic, wearing a Mardi Gras mask and dancing around in the street can be a blast.
Mardi Gras masks, however, can be expensive. Ceramic Mardi Gras masks can run you hundreds of dollars. If they are antiques, they can cost even more! Nonetheless, that is no reason to despair. In my opinion, the thing to do is to make your own costume. A good Mardi Gras costume is much better if you have made it yourself. Making costumes is a lot of fun! Why would you want to miss out on it by buying one from a store?
“Mardi Gras masks all have brightly colored feathers, so this step is necessary…”
There are many different ways to make your own Mardi Gras masks. It really depends on how complicated he wants to make things. If you have access to a kiln, you can make a ceramic Mardi Gras mask. For most people, however, making one out of plaster or papier-mâché will be a much easier option. Making papier-mâché Mardi Gras masks is easy. You basically make the masks Mardi Gras by laying strip after strip of paper on your face. You have to remember to grease it first, of course, or else the mask can stick to you. That can be an uncomfortable mistake to make!
Once you are done and the papier-mâché has dried, all that is left to do is to decorate the Mardi Gras masks. This can be done in a number of ways. The most basic way to decorate them is to glue sequins and feathers on. Mardi Gras masks all have brightly colored feathers, so this step is necessary. However, more elaborate things can be done. You can make different additions to your Mardi Gras mask out of plaster or papier-mâché. Mardi Gras masks can have horns, fangs, over sized noses, or other strange facial features. The point is to let your imagination run wild! The strangest, most unusual, and most beautiful Mardi Gras masks are the best ones. There is no point to doing something mundane. Be as wild as you can be.
March 2nd, 2007
If I’m in a bad mood while I’m out and about, and I see a few funny shirts, my mood is instantly lifted. There are some hysterically funny people out there, and they are the ones that usually have a gift for picking out the best t-shirts. No matter what your sense of humor may be, there is a t-shirt out there with your name on it. You can find them almost anywhere, and you can even make your own if you are feeling creative and witty.
“Sometimes shirts are funny for the way they look … the laughter doesn’t come from what the shirt says.”
You can find a lot of funny shirts online, and you won’t have to search too hard to find them. Some have sayings on them, some have funny pictures, and some of them have both. Sometimes funny shirts are funny simply for the way they look, and the laughter doesn’t come from what the shirt says. I know people who will think the design of a shirt is tacky or outdated and they’ll wear it just for the laughs. They get all the laughs they could every want when they wear them in public.
If you want to make your own funny shirts, you have to have an idea, a printer and an iron. You can use almost any photo editing software you have, and you can put together the layout of your shirt. Once you have that done, you can print it out on iron on paper and iron it onto a t-shirt. When you are done you will have your own funny shirts and it probably cost you less than any shirt you can find in the store or online. You can find ideas for your shirts by looking online, but just make sure you don’t sell shirts you make if you are not the person who thought of the idea in the first place.
Many people don’t like to go to all of that trouble though, and they prefer to get their funny shirts somewhere else. There is no one great place to find them, but there are many places to look. If you see a tshirt specialty shop, that might be the first place you look. Funny shirts are everywhere, and most people love to own at least one or two. If you are a little shy and have a hard time meeting people, these shirts are a great way to get your sense of humor across to someone new without having to say a word.
March 2nd, 2007
A few years back, pretty much all entertainment centers were the same. Because TVs hadn’t gotten as big as they are these days, it was easy to come up with a design that could fit all of them. All of that has changed now, and nowadays it seems you need to buy new furniture everytime you upgrade your digital equipment. Big screen TV entertainment centers have to be specifically designed to fit the modern TV.
Recently, I bought a home theater screen. I measured the big screen TV entertainment center from my most recent TV – the one I was getting rid of it. It was a plasma TV, and it was of a similar size and shape. I thought I would be able to fit the new TV, but I was wrong. Every entertainment center for big screen TVs is different. In this case, the footprint was off. The thing was just a little bit too wide from the front to back to fit in big screen TV entertainment Centers like the one I had. It almost did, and I spent an hour trying to find a way to negotiate the last few inches. After all, the difference between fitting and not fitting – although it was only 2 or 3 inches – was going to cost me another 600 dollars. In the end I lost, and had to cough up the dough.
I’m amazed at how expensive big screen TV entertainment centers have become. I never dreamed that they would cost as much as they do - in reality they’re not much more than a simple cabinet. Most of them are not even made out of wood anymore. They are certainly not handcrafted, so what is the reason behind the big expense? Whatever it is, big screen TV entertainment centers cost a fortune. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I’d been budgeting for it, but I hadn’t. I ended up spending all the money that I wanted to spend on the television screen. The big screen TV entertainment centers were an additional expense that I had not anticipated.
In the end, I had to temporarily give up the idea of big screen TV entertainment centers. Instead, I simply put the TV on a heavily reinforced table. I just could not find anything that fit the TV that I had! It was that overwhelmingly massive! I figure that in another six months, I will look at big screen TV entertainment centers again and try to find something that works. In the meantime, however, I am happy watching the TV from its new resting position on the table.
January 18th, 2007
So you’re lounging on the sofa or recliner again; just another moment of relaxation in a typical day. Suddenly one of those ads or infomercials pops on, rambling about some wonderful gimmicky product. Wow, what a surprise! My personal favorite is the Oxy Clean one. The bearded man always comes out screaming. He must assume that his microphone is broken, the way he yells into the camera. Or, maybe he’s just that enthused about the product? You’ve got to love these “as seen on TV products.” I’ll even bet that you’ve caved in and purchased one at some point or another. You know, just to see if the hype was legitimate. I know I have.
It’s sort of funny, but I’ve actually seen “as seen on TV” stores that only sell as seen on TV products. What a business they must have going on. As I stepped back to examine this bizarre store, I was in amazed. Everything looked like a bunch of boxed up junk. In no way did I want to enter and purchase anything. Now I fully understand why everything is only 19.95. One has to wonder about the profit percentage they make. This is the key to all these infomercial products. Most of them are so easily produced and packaged, that the company makes a quick killing. Imagine the potential customers. We all have televisions and most people are sitting in front of them on a daily basis. How many of us snatch the phone when we see these “miracle solution” products for a mere 20 bucks? I’m guessing quite a few.
The business of as seen on TV products is huge to say the least. Whether it’s some new grinder/mincer/dicer, or maybe a perfect tool that slices an entire pizza in one whack, folks around the world over are intrigued. They get excited by the notion of convenience at a low cost. After all, most of these products offer a money back guarantee. I can’t really argue with that logic. If you truly despise the as seen on TV products, you can apparently send them back for your cash. Just don’t go too crazy with these gimmicks, or pretty soon you won’t have any cash left in the bank.
January 15th, 2007
Though you might want to take time out of the school year to take your children on a trip, most schools want you to tell them that you are going to partake in educational travel. They don’t want children to miss any more school than necessary, so if you are planning a trip, you want to include some educational activities to keep the schools happy. Most vacations do have some educational value, and just learning about a new place by visiting it can be enough.
“When you meet new people anywhere in the world you are going to learn about them, and you are going to take those experiences home with you for the rest of your life.”
When you visit a new country, you can consider that educational travel. You have to learn how the people live, how communicate (in some cases), and you will learn about local traditions, customs, and ways of life. This is educational travel for just about anyone no matter how old you are. You may find something like a safari is one of the most valuable learning experiences you can have as a family. You could visit the capitol of a country to learn about how their government works, and how it might differ from your own country. You can also visit areas where wildlife is protected, or where events in history have happened.
You might include trips to zoos and local points of interest when you go on educational travel trips. Your kids can learn about animals they may have never seen before, and they can often see plants they may have only read about in books. You can visit local museums to learn about the culture, and festivals are always great additions to educational travel. When you meet new people anywhere in the world you are going to learn about them, and you are going to take those experiences home with you for the rest of your life.
You don’t have to go far from home for educational travel. You can find spots in your own state that would qualify. Those that live in Pennsylvania might want to take a trip to Amish country to learn about a different way of life. While there they can see Hershey. They can visit the wax museum, view a large collection of miniature trains, and perhaps find some time to just explore the capital of the state. All of these activities would easily fall under the category of educational travel, and the best part is that it will be fun as well. Best of all, your children will have so much fun they won’t even realize they are learning something.
This article was written by Duncan Wall, an educational travel advisor who specialises in helping families make family travel both a learning and fun experience.
January 10th, 2007
The Northern Territories is fortunate in having a famous city as its capital. Darwin Australia sits at the tip of the country and is the most populated city in the state with an estimated population of over 109,000. It has a tropical climate comprising of a dry and a wet season, and has to endure thunderstorms and cyclones. Cyclone Tracey was the worst recorded cyclone, occurring in 1974, destroying many buildings and killing fifty people when it hit. The city was re-constructed with stronger building materials.
Darwin Australia takes its name from the British naturalist Charles Darwin. Darwin Australia went through a boom period when gold was discovered in the 1880s. It was officially upgraded to a city in 1959. The city’s main industries are tourism and mining and its port is also important to the economy of the area, exporting cattle, minerals and gas. The area is traditionally home to the military with a large Army and Navy Base.
Something unique about the city is that it was the only Australian city to be attacked in a war. The Japanese forces conducted air raids during World War II, the worst of which took place in 1942 just three months after the attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. The city erected a memorial to the victims.
A truly cosmopolitan place, there are a large number of Indigenous Australians and South East Asians who have migrated. Citizens include people from Vietnam, Papua, China, Greece and Italy. There are also several British and Irish residents. It’s good fishing country and they are keen supporters of the local horse races and rodeos. The Darwin Festival is an annual celebration of music, film, theater, dance and comedy acts.
Recent building developments have included the Wharf Precinct, which contains shops, entertainment, and a convention and exhibition center. There are also excellent swimming facilities. Darwin Australia may be at the extreme Northern Coast but it is not isolated in any way. It’s a city with a small town feel and people from all corners of the globe have made a home there. The resident’s battle against the often hostile weather conditions and the city makes an important contribution to the economy and the culture of the country. No air raids or cyclones could keep this place down and the future looks secure for this industrious heart of the North. It’s easy to see why Darwin is world famous.
January 10th, 2007
Two. One to do the work and one to tell her how Goth she is for it.
Are you curious about the Goth costume so favored by the young today? A Goth costume can be for fun and play, good on the Clubbing scene and a natural hit on Halloween. Whatever the occasion, strive for the traditional ghoulish look.
This offbeat fashion has its roots in the early 1900’s, when elaborately embellished clothing was a sign of wealth. Traditional designs of the Gothic Germanic tribes were commonly included in both home decor and fashion. Deep dark reds, velvet drapes and satin fabrics heavily embellished with intricate embroidery patterns were the “in” signature of the time.
So how does the Goth costume fit into today’s lifestyle? Look to Elvira or the famous duo of Thee Goth and Shee Goth for inspiration. Whatever dark pot you decide to dip your finger into, make sure that the costume you choose has some class.
One of the first rules of a convincing Goth costume is dark elegance. A good Goth costume has rich color, an interesting complex texture, and is heavy on embellishments. Fabric weight is also a factor. No honest to goodness Goth dresser would ever wear a lightweight jacket. Let’s say you’re going for a traditional vampire costume. Now, maybe Bella Lugosi was the first to embody the true vision of horror; but that look has been done to death, pun intended.
Try looking in vintage clothing stores. There you may find a treasure trove of estate period clothing.
Think of the rich and crotchety old man in the mansion down the road. What makes him so frightening? He was, believe it or not, young at one time. The crotchety old man had to die sometime, which means he left his frightening attire behind.
Lounge coats and robes were prolifically common wardrobe items at the time. Hopefully you’ll find one of these little gems. The Goth look did permeate these avenues of fashion apparel. The robes of that time were usually floor length. Typical fabrics were satins and silks. A little shimmer of cherry red threads made a very convincing look when sewn over a dark, densely woven crimson red, adding to the Gothic mystique. Lapels were usually made of high quality black satin, with upward-pointing edges.
Garments with lots of intricate embroidery patterns fit well with the high-fashion Goth costume.
When looking for women’s gowns suitable to the Goth costume look, the form-fitting floor length black gowns are the little black dress of Goth. For even more of the vampish look, get a corset to show off that tiny waist.
Whatever you choose, make sure no bloody little detail is left unattended! A ha ha ha!
January 9th, 2007
A. Once in a Blue moon.
Nowadays, it seems like many parents are too busy to really take the time to do the things that parents should do for their children. I’m not talking about driving them to school, going to parent teacher conferences, talking to them about drugs, or even making dinner. I’m talking about the things that go a little bit beyond that. With Halloween coming around, my thoughts turn to children’s Halloween costumes. My mom never knew how to make a costume for kids. She would buy us costumes that looked pretty sharp, but she would never take the time to really help us make them ourselves. I know that it is a small thing, but I’ve tried to be more involved in this aspect of my kids lives.
This year, I made my little daughter Stacey a Smurf costume. She had been listening to the Smurf theme song nonstop for a week. When I asked her what she wanted for her Halloween costume, she could not decide. She is a little bit too young, and sometimes indecisive. I told her I had the perfect idea, but would not tell her what it was. I started working on the Smurf costume that very day.
Making Smurf costumes is a little bit tricky. You would think a Smurf costume would be an easy thing, until you really start on the work. It is much more than a blue outfit with white shoes and white hands. Of course, you can make it recognizable as a Smurf costume without putting in that much effort, but if you want to really make a bang up costume, it takes a lot of work. I actually had to make her a whole papier-mâché mask! It took me hours and hours to make the puffy hands, the puffy feet, and the little round blue belly. Finally, however, I had it done!
Needless to say, she was ecstatic about the Smurf costume. Not only did she wear it on Halloween, but she wore it the next day, and the day after that. She was so proud of it that she would’ve worn that Smurf costume for the whole weekend if I had not stopped her. I made her a deal that she could wear it when she got home from school. I did not want the other kids to be jealous of her, so I would not let her keep wearing it in school. After all, it was a great Smurf costume.
January 9th, 2007
I love this autumn season. The air is brisk and clean; the colorful leaves are drifting to the ground, and the heat and humidity are nowhere to be found. Okay, that didn’t rhyme on purpose. I just want you to know that. Now, are you prepared for what this outstanding season is about to bring? Because if you’re not, then you had better hit up the local drug and grocery stores for some serious candy. You will need it when all those little trick-or-treators come around. Trust me; they will be itching for some heavy duty sugar. I can’t guarantee what they will do to you if you’re lacking. Therefore, you need that candy supply! Oh, and don’t forget an awesome costume. Whether it be a superman, clown, batman, vampire, mummy, or Frankenstein costume is irrelevant. Just have one on. This occasion requires a little spirit.
Halloween Express is everywhere now. We have three locations near our home. This is probably one of the best stores to visit for Halloween costumes and props. My daughter and I were in there the other day. She wanted to try on a Frankenstein costume. I told her if she wore it that everyone would assume she’s a boy. Ah, she didn’t care. That’s the way to be. Wear whatever it is you really want to wear. The important part is that you’re happy, excited and having a blast. I know we always do on Halloween night. A couple years back I took my family to a costume party. It was a work thing. Yeah, you know; one of those. Nevertheless, it was a fun and memorable experience. I saw a Frankenstein costume there that practically blew everyone else’s get-up away. This thing looked so realistic. Just to be clear, I’m talking about Frankenstein’s monster here. Not Victor himself. Many people make this mistake. Anyway, the high-end Frankenstein costume was outstanding. I had to wonder who did this guy’s make-up. It must have cost him a fortune. Now that is what Halloween is all about. He’s in the zone.
Ah, which costume to buy this year? No worries! If there are two you really like, just go with one this year and one the next. That always works for me. Oh, and be sure you check out that Halloween Express near you. Who knows; maybe you’ll want a Frankenstein costume.
January 9th, 2007
What happened to the King of pop? No, I’m not talking about Justin Timberlake. He’s hardly the king of anything. I am referring to Michael Jackson. Remember back in the day? I mean way back in the day when that fellow was totally on top and looked normal? I know it has been a while, but can you recall the glory days. To make it simple, let’s call it the 80s. After this era, the guy pretty much went down hill. At this point he has to reminisce on the “Thriller” days quite often. Back when he actually strutted his stuff as a good looking black man. Only God knows what has happened since then. One thing is for certain; you can find a Michael Jackson costume for Halloween or any special occasion online whenever you please.
He has been reduced to the punch line of oh so many jokes. He’s the one, the only, Michael Jackson. Think back to the film “Scary Movie 3.” The Michael Jackson costume in this flick is phenomenal. I had to do a double-take just to see if I was looking at the real Michael Jackson or not. For those of you, who haven’t seen this film, check it out and you’ll see what I mean. I wish I had that state of the art Michael Jackson costume to wear next Halloween. Then again, it would probably frighten small children, and possibly even some parents. After all the trash we’ve heard about this pop star, it’s rather difficult to know what’s valid and what’s not. If it’s true, I wouldn’t be surprised, and if it’s all false, I feel really bad for the guy. At least he is still famous in foreign lands.
Not even one Michael Jackson costume did I spot last October 31st. For some reason I assumed this would be a craze, like the Harry Potter or Crow costumes were. Apparently no one wants to go out dressed as a has-been pop star for trick-or-treating. In all honesty, it could affect the amount of candy they bring home. Regardless, there have to be a few folks out there craving a funky Michael Jackson costume for some quirky Halloween party or bash. Toss one on and see what it feels like to have had five different nose jobs and bleached skin. Okay, that’s a little harsh. Then again, it’s what we all hear.
January 9th, 2007
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