Celebrate The Super ‘70s!

Go Ahead—You Know You Love It!

As my kids text their friends about what they hope they’re getting for Christmas, Mr. Betty’s Attic is putting the finishing touches on the Cart-Style Popcorn Maker we bought for the family room this year. Since he likes to do those “construction things” by himself, I thought I’d take a little “me time” at the computer to regroup before The Big Day, and as usual, I'm browsing through our Betty’s Attic ‘70s stuff!

There’s something about The ‘70s that makes me grin. Maybe it’s the memories of feathered hair, polyester pants, disco balls, and Afterschool Specials, but I feel sorry for kids who don’t know what it was like to live through that fabulous decade! Sure, it had its embarrassing moments, but it had a lot of fun times, too!

Here are a few of my personal favorites: What girl didn’t want to don that Wonder Woman cape and tiara? Forget jewelry and fancy perfume—all we women need to feel gorgeous and invincible is this bright red Wonder Woman T-Shirt! I like to think of it as what Wonder Woman wears on laundry day!

When I was in the 6th grade, I had a friend named Cindy who was obsessed...obsessed...with John Schneider from The Dukes Of Hazzard while I was more of a Tom Wopat gal. We hung out every week watching the TV show, dreaming of riding in the General Lee. With this Light & Sound General Lee Die Cast, I can dream of being Mrs. Luke Duke when no one’s around!

And last but not least, my older brother’s (still) favorite band, The Hottest Band In The World: KISS! I used to tease him and say they were “gross,” but I secretly loved them! Now that I’m older, I love them even more and delight in embarrassing my kids by bringing my KISS Beach Towel on trips to the lake and the sandy shore. If it’s too loud, you’re too old! Rock on, mom!

Maybe 2008 will be the coolest year ever? Who knows? Until we find out, I'm sticking with The ‘70s...where every day is groooovy!

Happy Happy Holidays to all of you!

It’s The Holiday Home Stretch!

Give Yourself A Snuggle Break In Comfy Robes & PJs

When holiday stress threatens to drive us crazy, some of us hit the cookies, and some hit the treadmill (we cookie people despise the treadmill people). Is there a way to survive the holiday home stretch and keep our waistlines intact? Of course! Put the sugar cookies back! Soothe yourself by slipping into a pair of super-soft PJs and your own cozy robe!

Not only do they keep you calm amidst the chaos of parties, dinners and relatives on roll-away beds, they’re a gift to yourself that keeps on giving year-round! For Mister Manly Man, there’s the thick Harley-Davidson® Robe. It’s the perfect combination of “I like to fix heavy things in the garage,” and “I want to watch cartoons on the couch with a bowl of cereal.”

And for you gals, relax inside our thirsty plush Lucy Robe. It’s like a warm fleece hug you can wear all day long! Or, if you adore Betty BoopTM and her shiny spit curls, pamper yourself in our fuzzy hot pink robe.

More the traditional type? Nothing beats the comfort of old-fashioned Footie Pajamas, sure to bring back memories of waiting up as late as you could, trying to catch a peek at Santa! You’ll make it through the holidays yet!

Get Your Yuletide Groove On!

December 1965—The Grateful Dead Play Their First Show

I hope you’re remembering to stop and sip the eggnog as we descend deeper into Holiday Mania! I’ll tell you—one thing that adds to my shopping stress is the music we’re forced to endure in some of the department stores! Nothing against chestnuts or dashing through the snow, but let’s just say that some renditions of holiday classics are in the bargain bin for a reason! My secret weapon? Why, The Grateful Dead, of course!

When I’m in the car alone (because we all know the torture of listening to our kids ridicule our golden oldies) and I’m up to here with fa-la-las, I put in my CD of American Beauty and pretty soon, the honking traffic dissipates into the stratosphere. The Dead fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, psychedelia—even gospel—for a brew no other band could dream of duplicating (although many have tried). Songs like “Sugar Magnolia,” and “Box Of Rain” are perfect introductions to their genius and, as stated above, a dreamy antidote to holiday frustration! Celebrate the anniversary of their first concert at the legendary San Francisco Fillmore on this day in 1965. It truly was, as they say, the beginning of an era!

Think Jerry’s guitar solos were “puzzling?” Try your luck at this cool 500-piece puzzle ingeniously combining individual classic photos of the rock icon to form one large mosaic sure to wind up on your wall. Fancy yourself as the ultimate Deadhead? Then our Grateful Dead Trivia Game is for you! Players collect "concert tickets" by answering interactive and trivia questions spanning the band’s history from Pigpen to Ratdog.

Judy Garland Saves Christmas!

How A Song Was Born In St. Louis

Having just caught In The Good Old Summertime with the sublime Judy Garland last night, I started thinking about the holiday gem Meet Me In St. Louis starring Judy at her most luminous. Did you know that the mega-famous holiday ditty from that film, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” started out as, well, a total bummer? It’s true! When it was originally penned for that bittersweet scene between Judy and the young Margaret O’Brien, it contained lines such as “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last...” and “Faithful friends who were dear to us will be near to us no more...”

Wow! That puts a buzz in the old eggnog, eh? Eventually (due, in part, to Judy herself), the lyrics were revised to the version we know and love, and a beloved Yuletide sing-along was born! To be sung at office Christmas parties and merry martini mixers for all eternity!

Personally, I think anything to do with Judy is a Christmas “must,” and that definitely includes The Wizard Of Oz! So slip into your party dress, freshen your lipstick and add some of her plucky chutzpah to your holiday with our Wizard Of Oz Jingle Bell Ornament Set and our Ruby Slipper Christmas Stocking. Because, with Judy, “all your troubles will be out of sight!” Keep the magic of Oz going strong throughout your holiday decor!