Last Minute Costume Ideas

 

What are going to be for Halloween?  Don’t know?  Here are some last minute costume ideas to help you out:

• * Carry a quarter and a hammer. What are you? A Quarter-pounder.
• * Dress in pink and carry a feather. What are you? Tickled pink.
• * Dress all in black, tie a shot glass around your neck. What are you? A shot in the dark!
• * Wear all black and put a postage stamp (enlarged if possible) on your chest. What are you? Black mail.
• * Wrap yourself in wrapping paper with a tag: "From: God, To: Women". What are you? God's gift to women.
• * Draw the letter C seven times on face and arms (use safe ink!). What is it? The Seven Seas.
• * Get a small weight (e.g. dumbbell) and stare at it intently. What are you? Watching your weight.
• * Quarter (or preferably enlarged photocopy of one) taped to your back. What are you? A quarter-back.
• * Black clothes and white face paint? A mime (you can even skip the paint if it is not available).
• * Wrap yourself in some (or all) aluminum foil. What are you? A baked potato!
• * Put a piece of Styrofoam beneath an old t-shirt. Stab a fork through it (careful!!!!). You are 'done'.
• * Wear all white. Attach (or paint) yellow circle to your stomach. You are an egg. Add horns and a pitchfork and you are a deviled egg.
• * Bridal gown and sneakers? What are you? Runaway bride.
• * Paint one finger gold. What are you? Gold finger.
• * Dress normally. Pin some socks, dryer sheets, hand towels to your shirt. Static cling.
• * Catcher's glove, loaf of rye bread. Attach the bread to you, wear the glove. Catcher in the rye.
• * Wear a t-shirt with a large ? (question mark) on it. Tape popcorn to it. What are you? A pop quiz.
• * Get some cat and dog stuffed animals. Use double sided tape or string to attach to an umbrella. Its raining cats and dogs.
• * Wear normal clothes. Attach a dollar to each ear. What are you? A Bucaneer. (Buck-an-ear).
• * Dress in a nice suit. Attach legal documents to yourself. What are you? A law suit.
• * An empty box of cereal. A toy knife. Instant "Cereal Killer."

Still stuck for a costume?  Read more bright ideas here: http://www.halloween.com/halloween-costume-quick-ideas.php

Pumpkins!

 

What are your pumpkin carving secrets?  What are your favorite designs?  Share your pumpkin creations with us!  And here is some Halloween history to get you in the mood:

Without a doubt the most recognizable symbol of Halloween is a pumpkin carved into a jack-o-lantern. To understand the origins of how pumpkin carving began and what it really means we must first take a look at the holiday itself. How long has Halloween been around? Have there always been pumpkins carved? Here are some answers!

It was the end of the Celtic year, starting at sundown on October 31st and going through to sundown November 1st. It was a night to honor loved ones that had passed on since the veil between their realm and ours is at it's thinnest on that night…

On this magical night, glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits. Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, later to be replaced by candles.

When European settlers, particularly the Irish, arrived in American they found the native pumpkin to be larger, easier to carve and seemed the perfect choice for jack-o-lanterns. Halloween didn't really catch on big in this country until the late 1800's and has been celebrated in so many ways ever since!

Pumpkins are indigenous to the western hemisphere and were completely unknown in Europe before the time of Columbus. In 1584, the French explorer Jacques Cartier reported from the St. Lawrence region that he had found "gros melons", which was translated into English as "ponpions," or pumpkins.  In fact, pumpkins have been grown in America for over 5,000 years. Native Americans called pumpkins "isquotersquash."

 

Check out the whole story here:  http://www.pumpkincarving101.com/pumpkin_carving_history.html

Columbus Day is Monday!

 

Columbus Day is this Monday.  While everyone know Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, there are a lot of misconceptions about him  Here are some facts any myths about the man:

• Many historians believe Columbus was born in the Italian port city of Genoa -- but others think he was born on the island of Corsica -- as was Napoleon!
• Columbus was a fervent Catholic who believed God had chosen him for a great destiny -- but his folks may have been "conversos" -- converted Spanish Jews!
• Columbus wrote in Spanish -- not Italian! -- his entire life!
• Other experts believe Columbus's family tree included Vikings -- which goes a long way to explaining the gutsy explorer's skill with a mast!
• At age 14, while many American kids are thrilling to Treasure Island, Columbus was a real-life pirate! -- yo-ho-hoing to Greece and Iceland!
• Columbus never wanted to prove the Earth was round! -- because everyone already knew it!  His goal was to find an overseas trade route to India and China -- because Arab bandits made land travel risky!
• In 1484, Columbus gave Portugal -- not Spain! -- first crack at his plan to sail West to China -- but Portugal's King John II rejected Columbus's plans as too vague!
• King John was right!  Portugal's own Vasco da Gama discovered an easier sea route to India -- by sailing around Africa -- six years after Columbus found the New World!
• Contrary to popular myth, Spain's svelte but thrifty Queen Isabella never sold her jewelry to pay for Columbus's voyage!  She and hubby Ferdinand financed the trip partly through investors -- Italian investors!

 

Read more fun facts here.