Home Sweet Home!

What Aunt Betty Learned On Vacation

Sorry the blog is a bit late today, but your Aunt Betty is still recovering after a fabulous week-long vacation in San Francisco last week! The whole family went and we hit all the landmarks: The Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown­–we even ventured down to Santa Cruz (what a boardwalk!), Monterey and Carmel. No, we didn’t see Clint Eastwood, but we did see baby sea lions sunning on rocky cliffs with their roly-poly moms nestled close-by!

But like every great vacation, the West Coast adventure taught us just as much about “home” as it did about the city by the Bay.

No matter how many rolled-up balls of socks, Ziplocks full of shampoo and toothpaste, or cell phone chargers I carefully pack, there’s always that one thing I kick myself for forgetting! This time it was my Marilyn Monroe Glamour Purse! It’s the perfect size for my wallet, maps, digital camera, hand sanitizer and every other “mom” travel essential. Plus, its soft, sateen retro-style would’ve been oh-so-chic in San Francisco! Nostalgia is very cosmopolitan!

And speaking of nostalgia, healthy California cuisine is fine and dandy, but I’ll tell you–when it’s 2 a.m. in a hotel room and you can’t sleep, you dream of White Castle hamburgers! My son wore his White Castle t-shirt one afternoon, and thereafter, I couldn’t wait to get home to sink my teeth into 3 or 4 or 12 of those tiny slices of Heaven!

And speaking of snacking, getting the family together for an in-room movie over 2 mini bar packets of crackers was not exactly a cinematic event. We were exhausted after a day of hiking steep Frisco streets so we made due, but once we got home to Florida, I popped a fresh buttery batch of popcorn and filled our Disney Popcorn Bowl that includes a cute Mickey Mouse-shaped salt shaker.

I still have laundry to do and it’ll be weeks before our photos are emailed and printed, but all of that can wait. For now, I’m enjoying the best part of every vacation: relishing how much I love being home.

Grease Is The Word!

The Pink Ladies Are Back & Better Than Ever!

I feel I can admit to you guys that when Grease first came out 30 (really?) years ago, I became so obsessed with Olivia Newton-John, that I made my mom buy me a flannel nightgown just like the one Sandy wears in the sleepover scene so that I could practice singing “Hopelessly Devoted To You’ into my hairbrush night after night. I honestly don’t know how many times I made my mother take me to see Danny and Kenickie hold court with the coolest girls in the universe–The Pink Ladies!

Sure, the Frankie Valli song was great. The duets between Olivia and Vinnie Barbarino were magical. And the whole “boy meets Australian girl at the beach/disses her/wins her back at carnival where girl is painted into shiny Lycra pants” theme was mesmerizing.

But to a 9 year-old girl just entering the awkward Ugly Duckling phase of adolescence, The Pink Ladies were the girls I desperately wanted to be friends with. They were cool, tough, and funny. I knew, even at nine, that I was supposed to identify with sweet Sandy and aspire to ever-lasting love in a pleated poodle skirt.

But, honestly? It was Rizzo I empathized with the most. She tried so hard to keep her guard up when, deep down, she was a mess just like me! Besides, she was played by Stockard Channing and I thought “Stockard” was the coolest name ever besides Cher and Daphne from Scooby-Doo.

Frenchy’s hot pink helmet hair and Marty Maraschino (another great name) with her wallet-full of boyfriends were the perfect comic foils. Ask any girl between the ages of 30 and 60 to hum a few bars of “Look At Me I’m Sandra Dee,” and I’ll bet you get the whole song, complete with props!

We love those Ladies because they connect us to the fun of the 1950’s–and to our own childhoods. We don’t get to sing songs in our PJs with girlfriends much these days, but we can play with these new Mattel Barbie dolls based on our favorite Grease trio!

Sandy, Frenchy and Rizzo are more fun than ever in our set of 3 collectible Grease dolls. From Sandy’s pom poms to Rizzo’s pencil skirt, they bring back wonderful memories. My daughter had to pry them out of my hands and now she won’t give them back! She loves Grease, too! I guess it’s her turn. She just turned eight and I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure I caught her singing into her hairbrush the other night...

We go together like ramma lamma lamma–ka dinga da dinga dong!

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!

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!

She Dressed The Stars!

Edith Head: October 28, 1897—October 24, 1981

My children find it impossible to believe that there were fashion icons before Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls.

When I am poetic about Veronica Lake’s long luscious locks or Bette Davis’ moxy, they nod their heads to appease me and then go right back to blowing things up in video games. I myself shudder, and wish I could take them on a time travel trip to meet Edith Head, the costume designer for everyone from Mae West to Elizabeth Taylor, and the woman who was nominated for a whopping 34 Oscars®­—more than any woman in history!

When Edith ruled Tinseltown, she played by her own rules (unscrupulously at times, rumor has it) and matched wits and brawn with the gruffest of cigar-puffing studio heads. She was known as much for her formidable presence as her huge dark glasses and severe chignon bun. But the stars adored her because they knew she had the power to transform them from mere actresses to goddesses with a few silky swatches. Some of the icons she “dressed” were:

• Mae West in She Done Him Wrong
• Veronica Lake in Sullivan’s Travels
• Barbara Stanwyck in The Lady Eve
• Ingrid Bergman in Notorious
• Bette Davis and Anne Baxter in All About Eve
• Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard
• Elizabeth Taylor in A Place In The Sun
• Grace Kelly in Rear Window and To Catch A Thief
• Rita Hayworth in Separate Tables
• Kim Novak in Vertigo
  

If you love old Hollywood glamour and fashion as much as I do, you must must must check out our two new paper dolls sets! They combine one of my favorite games as a little girl with the most luxurious, gorgeous designs known to mankind!

The Hollywood Paper Dolls Book contains 24 silver screen sirens (with famous movie outfits) such as Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and more! The Fashion Parade Paper Dolls Book lets you dress a set of dolls with vintage couture fashions from the ‘50s through the ‘90s with iconic pieces from designers like Yves St. Laurent, Ralph Lauren and modern-day fashion iconoclast, John Galliano! Even if we wear our sweats 80 percent of the time these days, it doesn’t mean we can’t still daydream about slipping into one of these beauties!

The Witching Hour Is Almost Upon Us!

The Attic’s A Scream At Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner and I thought some of you might be doing what I do every year, which is to have this conversation with myself: Do I want to dress up this year? I never know what to be. I don’t want something boring. But not too crazy, either. But not like everybody else’s costume...Oh, it’s probably too late to find one anyway. I give up!

Fear not—Aunt Betty is here to turn October 31st into Your Costume Is Fabulous Day! Below are but a few of our many Costume ideas. The only question you need to ask yourself is just how fabulous do you want to be?

Does the thought of Lucy shoving mounds of chocolate into her cheeks give you a fun goofy grin? Recreate the classic I Love Lucy TM scene in our meticulous Lucy Candy Factory Costume. Just don’t forget to take the truffles out of your shirt before you go to bed.

Personally, I think there should be a picture of Elvira in the dictionary next to “fabulous,” and you’ll marvel at yourself in the mirror when you slither into the Deluxe Elvira Costume. Add the va-va-vampiress Elvira Wig to the sultry ensemble and get ready for gaping stares (mostly from men...and your grandmother).

Mr. Betty’s Attic and our son will be donning the Wheaties Adult and Wheaties Youth costumes this year as they make the neighborhood rounds. I’m trying to convince them both to wear hideous tube socks and throw in a pair of the Rocky Boxers, but they’ll probably wimp-out and wear jeans.

Maybe you just need a touch of make-­believe but aren’t ready to commit to a whole costume? The Herman Munster Mask is so lifelike, you’ll feel 12-feet tall! And one can never go wrong with a pair of Groucho Glasses! No one will recognize you! Not even your pets!

Whoever you decide to be this year, remember: Halloween is all about fun! And maybe stealing a few candy bars from your kids’ trick-or-treat bags to make sure they pass “inspection.” And some candy corn. Don’t forget those! And caramels...do they still make that sugary stuff you eat with the candy spoon...?

Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition!

Monty Python’s Flying Circus Debuts October 5, 1969

Of all my favorite childhood memories, watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus with my parents is right up there at the top! It was during the early '70s when the “let it all hang out” mentality was in full-swing, and even though I was too young to truly understand most of the jokes, I somehow inherently knew those irreverent wacky Brits were onto something revolutionary.

Later, as I got older, the fish slapping dance, Ministry of Silly Walks, and my personal favorite—Ricky Pule’s Mount Everest Hairdressing Salon—got a lot funnier. I realized that John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam had inspired a generation of comics. Everyone from the early Saturday Night Live cast to ‘80s innovator Ben Elton of The Young Ones to modern-day funnymen such as Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office, exhibit the influence of The Pythons.

With so much gross-out adolescent humor in TV and movies these days—humor that seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator—it’s always a joy to stumble across an old episode of the landmark series or one of their wonderfully-looney films such as The Meaning Of Life, Holy Grail, or Life Of Brian. Just about everyone I’ve grown up with can rattle off a few quotes here or there (“It’s only a flesh wound! Bring me a bucket! Nudge nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean?”) and we proudly flaunt our Python knowledge as a badge of honor.

If it’s been a while since you last encountered “The Lumberjack Song,” the killer rabbit, or the “bright side of life,” slip into a cozy sweatshirt and pop in a DVD. Their surreal, slightly-deranged take on life makes the mundane world we live in much more bearable!

Frank Stallone, We Salute You!

July 30th, Birthday Of The Italian Stallion’s Fratellino (Little Brother)

Being the baby brother of the world’s most famous fictional boxer cannot be an easy cross to bear.

Many in this star-crossed position would cower—or simply milk the free press for all it was worth. But not Frank Stallone. Oh sure...be a snob and laugh! The poor man has been the punchline of late-night comedy for decades but I ask you, have YOU been in movies with Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Mickey Roarke, or Faye Dunaway? Have you ever written a song for a movie that was nominated for a Grammy® or Golden Globe®?

Did you know that he once played in a band with John Oates from Hall & Oates? It’s true! One incarnation of his ‘70s rock band Valentine briefly featured the future “Rich Girl” strummer. Valentine also played clubs with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Ten Years After and Blood, Sweat & Tears!

Raised in Philly, Frank eventually left for New York to pursue his dreams of music. Like so many struggling artists in The Big Apple, he earned cash as a street musician. As he says on his website: “It was so cold some nights, singing on the street, that my fingers would stick to the strings. All I owned then was my guitar, a collapsible suitcase, and a train ticket to the next town.”

I ask you—is that not the stuff of Oscar®-winning drama?

These days, Frank tours behind his catalog of American Songbook standards and his singing has brought kudos from The Chairman himself, along with Tony Bennett .

Pretty impressive for Rocky’s baby brother! Speaking of The Other Stallone, be sure to check out Rocky Balboa because Frank has a song in it. And once you’re in the mood to sprint up and down 5000 or so stairs in your sweat pants, check out our collection of Rocky attire up in The Attic! You can cinch yourself into our Rocky Robe, add the matching boxer shorts or just go casual in the Italian Stallion T-shirt.

Somehow we know that Adrian would want it that way.