REVIEW: Disney's Belle Costume from Costume Super Center

I was recently able to review a costume from The Costume Super Center. It's your one stop spot for Halloween Costumes.

There are tons of different types of costumes to pick from in many different categories. I chose to look at Disney Costumes.

It was a tough decision with a 3 year old and 5 year old as we could only get one dress and they (of course) each wanted a different one. I ended up getting the Disney's Child Belle Costume pictured at left.

The girls were ecstatic that they were going to be able to play dress up but I must admit that the dress didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Pros:

• The Price. $20.00 for a costume is amazing.
• It shipped without incident
• You can choose to purchase matching accessories (wand, tiara, shoes etc.)

Cons:

• The sparkle overlay was an understatement. It was like opening a can of confetti as the sparkles were just EVERYWHERE for the first 4 days. 
• The front of the dress is longer than the back (which you don't see in the photo) which seems a little strange to me.
• The Belle brooch and pink bow that sits at the chest just flops downwards on the dress on both of my girls. It doesn't show as it does in the photograph. The skirt isn't as wide as the photo either. I think the photo was a bit misleading.
• It's not made for constant wearing. (see below.)

I think the costume would have been perfect for Halloween or a Disney party but doesn't seem to be made to be worn often as a dress up dress. My youngest daughter wore it every day for 4 weeks and it already has a rip in the sleeve. It's ripped at the bottom too but that's because she's short and she keeps stepping on it.  It's not made for a preschooler to wear it all day for days on end, only taking it off to eat or sleep. 

The Costume Super Center doesn't only have costumes for kids. There are adult costumes, "adult" costumes, teen costumes and all types of themed costumes (western, nurses, horror, dance girls, cowgirls, angels, from different decades, TV and movie, witch, tween, Super Heroes, Gothic, Animals and more. 

Avon Voices - Singing Talent Search

Avon Voices is looking for women over 18 with an amazing singing voice and men and women who are great songwriters.

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Avon Voices is Avon’s first-ever global online singing talent search for women and songwriting competition for men and women. A panel of celebrity judges, including Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, Sheila E., Diane Warren and more are on hand, providing singing tips and helping select our finalists.

And if you are picked as a finalist, you’ll get the chance to TRAVEL to Hong Kong, Rio de Janiero, Paris, Hollywood, New York or Nashville, plus PHOTO AND VIDEO SHOOTS, a PROFESSIONAL MAKEOVER and coaching . The best part is, the winners may get the opportunity record a professionally produced album.

It takes 30 seconds.  Record a video of you singing 30 seconds of a hit song from the approved list that you can do right from your home. It’s a year-long competition but you only have until February 13, 2011 to submit a 30-second video clip at www.avonvoices.com

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You may be interested in checking out the You Tube Channel for Avon Voices for more information.

This program benefits the Avon Foundation for Women’s global campaign to end violence against women and girls.

New Poll: Need my readers opinions

If you are reading this in a feed reader you will need to click through to vote. The poll is in the sidebar. I want to know if you would like to see more CSN giveaways or not. Thanks.

7 Delicious Ways to Prepare Frozen Carrots

© Flickr User Color Line

If you don't have time to make your own carrots but don't want your frozen carrots to taste the same every time you make them, I have some ideas for you. These can be used with any type of frozen carrots (baby carrots, carrot slices, julienne carrots etc.)

1. Boil them to preferred tenderness, drain, then add butter/margarine and sprinkle with a vegetable seasoning (from Ms. Dash or something similar.)
   
2. If you like your carrots sweet, you can boil them directly in honey or if you don't want them TOO sweet or want to be thrifty with your honey, boil them in water first till it's just about at desired tenderness, then drain, add enough honey to coat bottom of pot and put back on to simmer. Stir so that all carrots get time to simmer in honey. Simmer at least 5 minutes but make sure all carrots get time in honey.
   
3. Put a thin coating of olive oil in oven-proof dish and add frozen carrots on top. Bake in oven at 350 until desired tenderness. If you are cooking something in oven, just add the carrot dish next to it at whatever temperature it's at and just keep an eye on them.
   
4. Saute carrots in your desired oil. This is better if you like your carrots to remain a bit crunchy. You can saute by themselves or with onion, garlic or the seasoning of your choice*.
   
5. Cook them any way you want (boiled, sauteed or roasted) but then toss with some balsamic vinegar (about 1/2 tbsp per 1 cup of carrots) and brown sugar (1 tsp per 1 cup carrots) before serving.
   
6. Have you ever had mashed carrots? Boil them long enough so that they are very soft and until water in pot is boiled almost all the way down. DON'T drain them or you'll lose lots of nutrients. Take off heat, add butter/margarine and mash. Don't add milk as you will have a bit of liquid from pot already. If you find they are too carroty, next time make mashed carrot-potatoes. Boil both and mash them together.
   
7. If you like cheese, try making cheesy carrots. You can bake them and add shredded cheese on top in last few minutes of cooking or saute them and do the same.

* Seasonings/Flavours that pair well with carrots: tarragon, ginger, parsley, cinnamon, orange, sugar, thyme, dill, butter, chili peppers, allspice, garlic.



NOTE: Why don't I include my OWN photos? I will once I figure out why my NEW camera isn't taking great photos. Need to fiddle with the settings or something. 

Pregnancy Update - 29 Weeks

I haven't done an update till now because I'm never sure what to say. The photo to the left is of me at 26 weeks but I'm 29 weeks and at least one inch bigger now.

I will be having a scheduled C-section at 39 weeks as I had a fourth degree tear with my last child that gave me a very personal problem that required surgery. Having a vaginal birth would most likely mean I need the surgery again and the problem could very well be worse or not even fixable.

So that means I have only 10 weeks left till baby. It's so strange how time CRAWLS by in your first trimester, goes a little faster but still slow in your second trimester and flies by in your third. I don't have anything ready for the baby yet!

Little Liam is about 2.5 lbs and around 15" long and likes to do acrobatics. I'm carrying VERY low, SO low that he kicks my crotch CONSTANTLY. I almost never feel movement above my belly button even though my uterus is a couple of inches above it now. I pee every hour LOL.

I"ve been reading the blogs of fellow pregnant bloggers and wanted to update you all just like they do.