VIP Valentines

Aunt Betty Plays Cupid!



The worst Valentine’s gift your Aunt Betty ever received was the pine-scented car freshener (purchased 10 minutes prior at the local quick mart), given to her by a fella who threw in a bag of chips to sweeten the deal.

Here’s a tip, guys: sour cream and onion are not the way to a girl’s heart.

What do women want? It’s not diamonds or pearls–it’s that unexpected find we never would’ve guessed. Something that says you really really know who we are—and yet, you love us anyway!

Some women never outgrow their love of stuffed animals. After all, they remind us of tea parties with bears in pink-painted bedrooms. They comfort us and take us back to a simpler time (before carpools).

My favorite fuzzies are the M&M’s® Valentine Duo featuring a lovestruck candy making goo-goo eyes at a Boyds Bear buddy; and the Chantilly Lane Love U Cheerleader Bears who move their mouths and sing the party favorite, “Shout!” A personal cheering squad is quite the ego boost!

While we’re talking childhood, remember the “Love Is” cuties? So innocent. So adorable. So...in their birthday suits! Rekindle the romance with their Comic Strip Book collection, filled with love notes for you and your sweetie (birthday suit optional).

And, finally, for the incurable romantic, Mattel has created the Barbie Titanic Doll in the image of red-haired Rose. Dressed in a breathtaking recreation of the character's crimson gown, she's a vision and must-have for fans of the film! You’re never too old to play with Barbie!

Thankfully, Quick Mart Guy was decades ago. My current better half is much smarter, so I’m pretty sure there won’t be any cheese doodles this year.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Deals Of The Week!

Fabulous Finds For My Faithful Friends!

What do a secret spy, storybook sweeties, sexy starlet, swingin’ singer, and super-small soldier have in common? They’re all waiting for you in our Deals Of The Week!

I’ve collected 5 of my favorite winter pick-me-ups and given them special sale prices just in time for some well-needed “post-holiday retail therapy!”

The Lost Files Of Nancy Drew brings back fond memories of hiding under the covers past bedtime with a book and a flashlight, enchanted by Nancy’s moxy as she foiled the bad guys while looking like a prom queen. This interactive book is packed with neat pull-out/fold-up pieces celebrating the world’s spunkiest teenage detective!

Be careful! The Raggedy Ann and Andy Nesting Dolls look innocent on the outside, but once you start playing with them, it’s impossible to stop! I keep mine on my desk at work and I kid you not, every day somebody tries to sneak off with them!What happened to starlets like Marilyn who actually looked like women? All of these itty-bitty stick figure celebutants are a tad freakish. Bring back true Hollywood glamour with the cozy Marilyn Classic Pose Throw, and celebrate the beauty of real women!Did someone order a hunka hunka burnin’ love? Of all the phases of his colorful career, The King’s reign in Vegas held some of his most exciting moments. Keep a little piece of his magic close to you with the limited edition Elvis Las Vegas Figurine.

Encourage your inner child to play! Our movie collectible Munchkin Soldier Doll is an adorable recreation of the 1939 Wizard Of Oz character who so-warmly welcomed Dorothy and Toto to Munchkinland (after that mishap where her house fell on the lady with the red shoes).

All of these familiar faces are the perfect antidote to grey winter days stuck inside the house. After all, what’s more fun than Elvis stuck inside a too-tight crazy jumpsuit?

Polyester Among The Palm Trees

January 14, 1973: Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii Concert Was Broadcast Live Via-Satellite

As a rock-and-roll fanatic, I have an ever-growing list of musical moments I wish I could have experienced first-hand:

• The Monterey Pop Festival of 1967 (featuring The Mamas And The Papas, among others)
• The Beatles’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964

And, without a doubt,

• The 1973 satellite broadcast of Elvis’ Aloha From Hawaii concert film.

You have to remember that back in 1973 (which seems so recent to your Aunt Betty), the concept of satellites beaming images around the planet was unheard of! But The King never let a challenge stand in his way—and on January 14th, 1973, his electrifying performance taped at the Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii was bounced around the globe to Australia, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Phillipines, South Vietnam and other countries. A tape of the show was later seen on American television on April 4th.

What really mattered—beyond the novelty of the broadcast, and the custom-designed American Eagle jumpsuit fitted with gemstones, and a matching belt and cape—was the magnificent performance Elvis gave. Gripping the mike confidently, he barreled through hits like “Burnin' Love,” “My Way,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Hound Dog”—and the obligatory (for his Hawaiian audience) “Blue Hawaii,” and “Hawaiian Wedding Song.” He even covered “Something” by The Beatles, further proving his incredible range.

It’s thrilling to watch it now on DVD, but the thought of seeing the world’s first-ever satellite broadcast—and it being ELVIS at the height of his game—is spine-tingling. He commanded the stage with a presence the music world has never known since. He held that audience right in his hand. And when he sang, it was like Tupelo honey.

Give in to your Elvis fascination with our Kingtastic gifts and collectibles! Feeling “All Shook Up?” So is Elvis, inside our kitschy Aloha From Hawaii Musical Glitter Globe that plays “Teddy Bear.”

Then again, perhaps all this talk of singing has you secretly yearning to don some polyester and belt out some of his tunes yourself? The Elvis Karaoke Set lets you croon to your heart’s content!

And when all that singin’ works up an appetite, enjoy a light snack with your Elvis Pez® Dispenser Set!

Because you’ll need to stay trim to squeeze into your jumpsuit...and Pez is much better for the waistline than peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

“Miss Scarlett! Miss Scarlett!”

Jan. 7th, 1911—Thelma “Butterfly” McQueen Was Born In Tampa, Florida

Fans of Gone With The Wind know there’s one character who steals every scene she’s in: Scarlett O’Hara’s high-strung, slightly-hysterical maid, Prissy. Butterfly McQueen’s endearing performance added light moments to Margaret Mitchell’s tumultuous Civil War saga. Who can forget the scene where Prissy shrieked "Oh, Miss Scarlett, I don't know nuthin' 'bout birthin' babies!”

Sadly, Mc Queen wasn't allowed to attend the gala Hollywood premiere of the film back in 1939 because it was being held in a “whites only” theater. As hard as that is to imagine now, it was that pervasive segregation and racism in mainstream culture which eventually led to McQueen retreating from the acting biz years before her passing in 1995. Her work in Gone With The Wind will forever be her legacy. No matter how many times I watch it, I’m mesmerized by the stunning costumes (although, I admit, I sometimes think about the Carol Burnett Show spoof with the curtain rod dress-- “I saw it in the window and I had to have it”).

Treat yourself to a little Old South indulgence with our sparkling array of GWTW mementos including the ultimate in domestic glamour, the ceramic Rhett And Scarlett Cookie Jar! Just imagine the endless one-liners: “Frankly, my dear, I'm snagging the last Rice Krispie Treat,” etc.

We also have a beautiful Anniversary Style Clock, Salt And Pepper Shakers, a comfy soft Fleece Throw and more! And the next time you journey back with Clark and Vivien, don’t take your eyes off of Butterfly McQueen. She created one of the most memorable characters in cinematic history.

Start The New Year By Going Backwards!

Ring In 2008 In Retro Style

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how—if you just wait long enough—all the clothes you wore in junior high will someday pop up on trendy tweens and teens across the land.

Seriously, if you’d told me in 1983 that emo kids in skinny jeans would be raiding The Attic for Mr. Bill and Gumby t-shirts in 2008, I would have laughed you all the way out of the video arcade. And then I would have played some more Donkey Kong!

Here we are, minutes from the dawn of a new year and I’ve decided to accept and embrace the recycling of my childhood heroes. Why fight fashion?

So, to help all of you Boomers and Gen X-ers out there, I’ve assembled a list of my favorite hipster-tees guaranteed to change your kids’ tunes from “Please don’t talk to my friends, Mom, you’re embarrassing,” to “Can I borrow your Underdog t-shirt for the Fall Out Boy concert?"

To which you can triumphantly say “Sorry, kid! I'm wearing my Underdog shirt to the Van Halen reunion concert!”

Happy 2008 to everyone out there! Now hide these shirts from your kids pronto!

Rocky “Italian Stallion” Tee

M*A*S*H Helicopter Tee

Dr. Seuss Sam I Am Tee

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Tee

Village People Tee

..and the Granddaddy of All Things Retro And Cool—

The Frank Sinatra Tee!

Enjoy your bad self!