Fantastic frankfurters! July is National Hotdog Month, a time to partake in some gastronomic gluttony wrapped up in a soft, squishy bun. Whether you like your dogs Chicago style with mustard, onions, pickle relish or like ‘em with chili and cheese or fried in corn batter, it’s time pay tribute to this much-beloved food group dating back the 13^th century. Hey, don’t you think it would be in good taste to suit up in a hotdog inspired costume while you are munching down on your favorite meal?!

Hot dog costumes are sure capture the attention of onlookers, even if you are out on the sidewalk hawking ‘em for some restaurant. These full-bodies suits of foam are made to resemble the real deal with a bun, wiener and squirt of ketchup and mustard down the middle. Hot dog costumes are so classic that they’ve made their way into many television shows. Remember when Justin Timberlake dressed up in a hotdog costume to rap in a Saturday Night Live skit. Or, when Ugly Betty suited up in a hot dog costume for a walk through Manhattan and her friend-nemesis on the show dressed up as the coordinating bun.

You can also get a hot dog costume for your pet, so classic if you have a daushaund “wiener” dog to humiliate. Also, keeping with the theme for the month, you can dress up as big bottles of ketchup or mustard (the cone-hat looks like the squeeze top) and dress up your kid as a “little squirt.”

National Jelly Bean Day is April 22^nd , a day to honor this sugary confection that dates all the way back to the mid 19^th century. The popularity of jelly beans took off when advertisements suggested sending them to troops in the Civil War; today, for the Easter holidays alone, more that 16 billion jelly beans will be manufactured.  Other than eating jelly beans, we can think of no better way to celebrate this tribute to one of the country’s favorite spring treats than by dressing up as a bag of jelly beans. And, the good news is that this fun food costume costs hardly anything to make, leaving you with more money to spend on jelly beans!

Step 1: Slip into a pair of white tights and leotard.

Step 2: Blow up smaller-sized balloons in a variety of colors. If you blow them up too large, they’ll look like gumballs, not jelly beans.

Step 3: Cut arm and leg holes out of a clear colored trash bag large enough to fit your body, leaving the opened end near the neck.

Step 4: Dump all your inflated balloons into the bag.

Step 5: Have a friend help lace up the top of the bag with a ribbon and loosely tie in a bow around your neck.

Step 6: Make a “sticker” for your package of jelly beans by drawing and writing your product information on an 8 ½ x 11” piece of adhesive-backed paper.

 Step 7: Not necessary, but add any costume accessories you think would complement your costume such as a top hat, cartoon hand gloves or white go-go boots.

As if we didn’t already have an idea; Olympic snowboarder, Shaun White, knows how to have a good time in costume (aside from those crazy “anti-uniforms” he and his team mates are wearing at the 2010 Winter Olympics). The picture, originally snapped by skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk, and posted on twitter certainly allays our concerns about what livelihood White might fall back on if the snowboarding and endorsement deals don’t work out. I’m sure that every snowboarder has flipped a burger or two in his day.

 Even if you aren’t a snowboarder who has taken too many bangs in the head, you may still want to dress up as the young burger maiden, Wendy, from the eponymous international burger chain. Named after founder Dave Thomas’ fourth child, Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas, this fast food restaurant is known for its “fresh not frozen” square patties and Frosty frozen treats. To create a Wendy’s costume, you’ll need to gather up a few key elements like the blue striped blouse with the ruffled lace bib and a red apron. If you don’t have a friend employed at Wendy’s that can help you out with the apron, just use any old apron and iron –on letters. Of course, you’ll also need a Pippi Longstocking like red wig that curls up in two perky braids; check at Costume Machine for a few good choices. Use a grease pencil to speckle in a few freckles an you’ll be a hit with all the carnivores that you know.

If you are looking for other fast-food costumes, we’ve seen larger-than-life pizza slices, soft-serve ice-cream cones, hot dogs and sleeves of French fries. Or, recreate a corporate character by going in mascot costume from other restaurants such as the iconic clown, Ronald McDonald or the slightly subversive “King” of Burger King fame.