As the presidential slugfest plays out before our eyes night after night, channel after channel, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We’ve all heard the endless jokes about “change” as the buzz word for 2008. We’ve all heard each and every candidate (current and otherwise) promise to ‘fix” America, and deliver great jobs, healthy children, and a booming economy for all.
Your Aunt Betty has friends who run the gamut when it comes to politics. Some are glued to each debate; poised to cheer, jeer, and fight for their favored candidates. Others wish it would all just go away until November because they’d rather catch up on LOST.
Whichever way your voting boat floats, these treats from The Attic give very human faces to our nation’s presidents; turning dusty old lectures into scandalous gossip, adventure and intrigue!
Case in point: our Historical U.S. Presidents Newspapers. Each set of 3 reproduction vintage newspapers features a fascinating collection in 3 different categories: Elections & Inaugurations; Facts, Fallacies & Foibles; and Deaths & Assassinations.
Read about what it was like during the days George Washington was elected (we’re guessing George didn’t drive around in a day-glo motor home with a snappy slogan painted on the side). The scandals section covers everything from the mistakenly-reported “Dewey Defeats Truman,” (whoopsie daisy)–to Nixon’s less-than-glorious resignation (Buh-bye).
The final collection recalls untimely deaths and assassinations with original articles and obituaries that I found myself poring over as if they were priceless artifacts.
Too heavy?
Try the interactive pop-up/pull-out book full of neat facsimiles you can play with! America’s Presidents Museum In A Book takes you on an amazing journey through the hallowed halls of the American presidency from the George W. who started it all (Washington), to the George W. who readies to pass on the baton (Bush).
Pull out and study a mini Gettysburg Address in Lincoln’s own handwriting, a letter from Albert Einstein to FDR, and doodle drawings JFK made during a Cuban Missile Crisis meeting! (see? you're not the only one who doodles inappropriately).
As the TV anchors whip themselves into a tizzy over polls and projections, it all really comes down to people. People who are not perfect, no matter what they try to tell us. Some of them have great ideas. Some of them truly care about making a difference. And hopefully, one of them will.
We’ll find out soon enough.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride! Because once you realize how crazy it all is–it gets a lot more fun!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Led Zeppelin—The Song (Thankfully) Remains The Same!
February 15, 1969: The feverishly-anticipated, self-titled debut album by Led Zeppelin entered the album charts, going to #10.
Before The Internet, buying concert tickets was not as easy as clicking a mouse.
When your favorite band announced a show, if you really really wanted good seats, you dug out the folding chairs and camped outside the box office hours or even days before they began selling tickets.
In 1975, Led Zeppelin sold out not one—but THREE—consecutive Madison Square Garden concerts in four hours!
That’s basically the equivalent of someone today selling out three concerts in 4 seconds. Okay, not exactly, but you get the idea.
More than 30 years later, fans worldwide are crossing their fingers that the mighty Zep may roar once again.
On December 10th, 2007, the surviving members of the band, (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones) along with late drummer John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums (an established drummer in his own right) played a historic concert at London’s O2 Arena as part of a tribute to their beloved friend, Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun, who passed away on December 14, 2006.
Reviews were unanimously ecstatic!
Fans and critics proclaimed it “the concert of the century!”
Some people paid $14,000 a ticket!
I didn't get to go and may never fully recover...
As we wait with bated breath to see if the O2 appearance spirals into a “2008 reunion tour,” pledge your allegiance to one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time in our brand-spanking-new Led Zeppelin T-Shirt!
Whether you’re an old school fan of Page, Plant, Jones and the original God Of Thunder, John Bonham—or discovering them for the first time— you’re sure to become swept up in their cosmic elixir of blues, hard rock, folk, and interstellar magic.
Besides—(to borrow the line from Almost Famous) the guitar playing is ”incendiary!”
See you in “Kashmir!”
Before The Internet, buying concert tickets was not as easy as clicking a mouse.
When your favorite band announced a show, if you really really wanted good seats, you dug out the folding chairs and camped outside the box office hours or even days before they began selling tickets.
In 1975, Led Zeppelin sold out not one—but THREE—consecutive Madison Square Garden concerts in four hours!
That’s basically the equivalent of someone today selling out three concerts in 4 seconds. Okay, not exactly, but you get the idea.
More than 30 years later, fans worldwide are crossing their fingers that the mighty Zep may roar once again.
On December 10th, 2007, the surviving members of the band, (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones) along with late drummer John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums (an established drummer in his own right) played a historic concert at London’s O2 Arena as part of a tribute to their beloved friend, Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun, who passed away on December 14, 2006.
Reviews were unanimously ecstatic!
Fans and critics proclaimed it “the concert of the century!”
Some people paid $14,000 a ticket!
I didn't get to go and may never fully recover...
As we wait with bated breath to see if the O2 appearance spirals into a “2008 reunion tour,” pledge your allegiance to one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time in our brand-spanking-new Led Zeppelin T-Shirt!
Whether you’re an old school fan of Page, Plant, Jones and the original God Of Thunder, John Bonham—or discovering them for the first time— you’re sure to become swept up in their cosmic elixir of blues, hard rock, folk, and interstellar magic.
Besides—(to borrow the line from Almost Famous) the guitar playing is ”incendiary!”
See you in “Kashmir!”
Monday, February 4, 2008
I Love Lucy & Chocolate!
What Else Could We Want?
As a woman “over that certain age,” I’m easily suckered by advertising that promises me a fountain of youth. But I’m not about to fork over $75–$150 for designer face creams!
So when I read about the connection between antioxidants & chocolate, the angels began to sing!
Chocolate contains high concentrations of antioxidants. Antioxidants keep us healthy, inside and out, by canceling out free radicals–cells in our body which are believed to cause various types of damage.
Now, you could get your antioxidants from broccoli, spinach, or prunes...
Or–unwrap a succulent chunk of chocolate and plop it on your tongue!
Welcome to Lucy’s Chocolate Factory!
It’s a sweet shoppe loaded with classic I Love Lucy laughs and lunacy–with tons of chewy chocolate on top! And did I mention that all the chocolate is made from scratch by the world-famous Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory®?
Just listen to the names of some of the candies: Chocolate Clusters, Cashew Dippers™, Pecan Dippers™, Macadamia Dippers™, Peanut Butter Cup™—hang on a minute, I have to mop up the puddle of drool on my keyboard (macadamia does that to me every time).
All of this chewy, ooey oodness comes bundled in beautifully-packaged gift sets that combine the kooky cool of vintage Lucy with the greatest medicine Mother Nature ever made!
Click here and start eating your way to beauty!
Enjoy!
As a woman “over that certain age,” I’m easily suckered by advertising that promises me a fountain of youth. But I’m not about to fork over $75–$150 for designer face creams!
So when I read about the connection between antioxidants & chocolate, the angels began to sing!
Chocolate contains high concentrations of antioxidants. Antioxidants keep us healthy, inside and out, by canceling out free radicals–cells in our body which are believed to cause various types of damage.
Now, you could get your antioxidants from broccoli, spinach, or prunes...
Or–unwrap a succulent chunk of chocolate and plop it on your tongue!
Welcome to Lucy’s Chocolate Factory!
It’s a sweet shoppe loaded with classic I Love Lucy laughs and lunacy–with tons of chewy chocolate on top! And did I mention that all the chocolate is made from scratch by the world-famous Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory®?
Just listen to the names of some of the candies: Chocolate Clusters, Cashew Dippers™, Pecan Dippers™, Macadamia Dippers™, Peanut Butter Cup™—hang on a minute, I have to mop up the puddle of drool on my keyboard (macadamia does that to me every time).
All of this chewy, ooey oodness comes bundled in beautifully-packaged gift sets that combine the kooky cool of vintage Lucy with the greatest medicine Mother Nature ever made!
Click here and start eating your way to beauty!
Enjoy!
Friday, January 25, 2008
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!
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!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Deals Of The Week!
Fabulous Finds For My Faithful Friends!
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?
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?Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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:
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.
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
- The 1973 satellite broadcast of Elvis’ Aloha From Hawaii concert film.
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.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
“Miss Scarlett! Miss Scarlett!”
Jan. 7th, 1911—Thelma “Butterfly” McQueen Was Born In Tampa, Florida
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.
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.
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