Philosophers have long discussed the secret to finding eternal happiness, but I have a hunch the trick might be as simple as figuring out how to buy a talking Chewbacca mask just like Dallas mom Candace Payne. The 37-year-old Texas woman skyrocketed to viral fame after she posted a Facebook video of herself wearing the plastic Star Wars mask in her car, laughing hysterically at herself for almost four minutes. The video quickly racked up 127 million views and hundreds of comments, and if you haven't watched it yet, please do so immediately. I'll wait.
The pure joy emanating from Payne is infectious, and the mask itself is pretty great. It's plastic and the mouth moves whenever the wearer talks — but even more exciting is the noise the mask makes when you open your mouth. It sounds just like Chewbacca bleating, and that sound, combined with Payne's shrieks of glee, will definitely make you giggle — and wonder where the heck you can get one of these masks for yourself. Even if you don't love Star Wars, chances are you probably love happiness, and that's exactly what this is — pure, unfiltered happiness. The simple caption Payne wrote for her video explains it best: "It's the simple joys in life...." Can we be friends, Candace Payne?
So where can you get your hands on this kind of belly laugh-inducing Chewbacca mask? Payne says in the video she went to Kohl's to make a few returns when she found the mask, and couldn't help but buy it for herself. Unfortunately, though, scoring one of these for yourself isn't going to be so simple. The Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens Chewbacca Electronic Mask by Hasbro is completely sold out on Kohl's website. The mask is sold out at Target and Wal-Mart as well, but if you're really desperate to get your hands on one (and how could you not be), you might have some luck hitting up Amazon. At the time this story was published, the online retailer had five new Chewbacca masks in stock — for a whopping $194 a pop (for reference, the mask was previously available at Wal-Mart for $24 prior to its viral fame).
Star Wars The Force Awakens Chewbacca Electronic Mask, $24, Amazon
Still, if that's the price to pay for happiness, so be it; you can check out the Amazon link here. And while that Chewbacca mask is pretty dope, let's not forget that there are other Star Wars costumes to be found for much cheaper. You can pick up a Star Wars Darth Vader Mask on sale for $2 at Kohls, or this Hasbro Stormtrooper mask for $11. Heck, you can even get a Yoda costume for your dog, if you want. It might not roar like Chewbacca, but it's still pretty darn funny.
Star Wars Darth Vader Mask, $2, Kohls; Hasbro Stormtrooper Mask, $11, Kohls; Star Wars Yoda Pet Costume, $21, Kohls
Images: Candace Payne/Facebook; Amazon
