Earth Day 2008 is Tuesday, April 22nd, and it's getting a lot of press this year as America's environmental awareness continues to grow. Just think how quickly buzzwords like "carbon-neutral," "biodiesel," and "EcoMoms" are entering our daily vocabulary. To honor this special day, here's a Lighter Side-style tribute to green living (we've always been cheerleaders for "natural" gas).
Is the only green you see in your kitchen the mold growing on your produce? Gross! Instead of seeing that food go to waste, try using a food-saving produce bag. Green Bags™ keep your fruits and vegetables fresh 10 times longer than regular methods of storage. Plus, they are reusable and use a 100% non-toxic and all-natural mineral to prolong the life of your produce.
Kids (and adults) learn green lingo as they play this fun and unique Earthopoly game. Players learn about the environment as they travel the board collecting carbon credits to trade for clean air. What's really neat is how earth-friendly the game itself is. It's made with recyclable paper and soy-based ink, the tokens are organic and even the plastic shrink-wrap used in the packing is completely biodegradable!
Toss on a cute tee (like our Conserve Energy T-shirt) and help raise eco-awareness. I've found that getting my husband to think greener is easier when I appeal to his funny bone. Which is why I gave him the Give A Toot, Don't Pollute tee as an early Earth Day gift. He's already assured me he won't have any problems giving a toot!
Interested in raising your green IQ? Check out the green living quizzes, articles and blogs over at http://www.thegreenguide.com/.
Your "Going Green" Gift Guru,
Linda
4.25.2008
4.15.2008
Birthday Party Hijinx
One of my favorite sayings is that while we may have to grow old, we don't have to grow up. One of my friends turned a Very Important Age over the weekend, and, being the good group of pals that we are, we planned a special day of torment for her.
Some of my favorite highlights of the day:
1.) Decorating the “chair of honor” with this cupcake chair cover, which had actually been used by another woman a few weeks earlier for her daughter's birthday. We all agreed it was a great tongue-in-cheek way to remind the birthday "girl" that she wasn't exactly a girl anymore!
2.) The outrageous toasts made to the long-gone memory of her 21st birthday. Then we chased shots of Bailey's mint chocolate served in iced shot glasses (made using this rubber shot glass mold) with one-liners like "So what was the name of your first boyfriend?" and "Was there even a legal drinking age back then?"
3.) Her reaction to the very sincere gift we gave her. After opening the usual gag gifts, we surprised her with a photo throw. We chose a snapshot of all of us taken at a special event a few months prior. I think we all got a little choked up as she held the tapestry throw up and said it was one of the most memorable gifts she'd ever gotten.
So, ultimately, how did my friend handle all the good-natured teasing? As we chowed down on a giant cupcake that fed all of us, cracking more age-inappropriate jokes, she laughed along and said in her best Wicked Witch voice, "Just you wait. I'll get you my pretties, and your little egos too!"
Your "I'll Never Tell My Age" Gift Guru,
Linda
Some of my favorite highlights of the day:
1.) Decorating the “chair of honor” with this cupcake chair cover, which had actually been used by another woman a few weeks earlier for her daughter's birthday. We all agreed it was a great tongue-in-cheek way to remind the birthday "girl" that she wasn't exactly a girl anymore!
2.) The outrageous toasts made to the long-gone memory of her 21st birthday. Then we chased shots of Bailey's mint chocolate served in iced shot glasses (made using this rubber shot glass mold) with one-liners like "So what was the name of your first boyfriend?" and "Was there even a legal drinking age back then?"
3.) Her reaction to the very sincere gift we gave her. After opening the usual gag gifts, we surprised her with a photo throw. We chose a snapshot of all of us taken at a special event a few months prior. I think we all got a little choked up as she held the tapestry throw up and said it was one of the most memorable gifts she'd ever gotten.
So, ultimately, how did my friend handle all the good-natured teasing? As we chowed down on a giant cupcake that fed all of us, cracking more age-inappropriate jokes, she laughed along and said in her best Wicked Witch voice, "Just you wait. I'll get you my pretties, and your little egos too!"
Your "I'll Never Tell My Age" Gift Guru,
Linda
4.10.2008
Betty Boop™ Series Part Four: Don't Call It a Comeback, She's Been Here For Years
Betty's mix of cartoon sensuality and wide-eyed innocence has made her an unforgettable figure. During an era when many of her contemporary cartoon film stars have faded out of sight, Betty Boop remains implanted in the hearts of her fans. Not only that, this original Queen of Cartoons continues to attract new fans of all ages across the world.
Entertainment Weekly has this great quote about Betty Boop: "Though Betty bowed out as a headliner in 1939, her popularity remains as intact as her boop-oop-a-doop. Maybe the appeal lies in her sassy independence, in the fact that she's the only female cartoon character who's not a foil for a male. Call it fatale feminism." Whatever it is, Betty clearly has a winning formula. She's everywhere you look!
In honor of Betty's continued status as a pop culture icon, I'll raise a toast and cheer her on to many more boop-oop-a-doop years. Raise your own toast to the international glamour star with these Betty Boop Paris-theme wine glasses. An exclusive collectible you'll only find here at The Lighter Side.
Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned that we had some new Betty Boop items to debut? I'd like to point your attention to the new fleece Betty Boop fairy robe. It is super soft and feels luxurious. Just the thing you'll want to slip into to anytime you need a little pampering!
That wraps up our Betty Boop series. Hope you enjoyed it!
Your Feeling Glamorous Gift Guru,
Linda
Entertainment Weekly has this great quote about Betty Boop: "Though Betty bowed out as a headliner in 1939, her popularity remains as intact as her boop-oop-a-doop. Maybe the appeal lies in her sassy independence, in the fact that she's the only female cartoon character who's not a foil for a male. Call it fatale feminism." Whatever it is, Betty clearly has a winning formula. She's everywhere you look!
In honor of Betty's continued status as a pop culture icon, I'll raise a toast and cheer her on to many more boop-oop-a-doop years. Raise your own toast to the international glamour star with these Betty Boop Paris-theme wine glasses. An exclusive collectible you'll only find here at The Lighter Side.
Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned that we had some new Betty Boop items to debut? I'd like to point your attention to the new fleece Betty Boop fairy robe. It is super soft and feels luxurious. Just the thing you'll want to slip into to anytime you need a little pampering!
That wraps up our Betty Boop series. Hope you enjoyed it!
Your Feeling Glamorous Gift Guru,
Linda
4.01.2008
Betty Boop™ Series Part Three: Betty’s Posse
While Betty Boop has always been the main attraction, she had a little help along the way. Here’s a quick look at Betty’s supporting cast members.
We met Bimbo last week, where we learned how Betty, very innocently, stole his spotlight. You could never accuse Bimbo of holding a grudge though. This upright, talking dog played along as Betty’s loyal companion, adoring her as much as ever.
Brought out of retirement in 1931, Koko the clown joined Betty and Bimbo in their wacky and crazy adventures. He was just as likely to be helping Betty out of trouble as he was unintentionally getting her into trouble!
Due to a policy shift in the governing film guidelines of the day, Betty’s cartoon series moved away from silly adult antics and toward more kid-friendly themes. Bimbo and Koko bid fond farewells to their friend and stepped aside to make way for two new supporting characters.
Pudgy, Betty’s cute puppy, was introduced in “Betty Boop’s Little Pal” in 1934. Pudgy was forever getting into mischief, though it wasn’t always his fault! In the end, if Pudgy was feeling blue, Betty would sing to put a smile back on his face.
If Betty had a problem, she would go see Grampy, a loveable, eccentric inventor. Grampy would put on his thinking cap (which was literally a cap with a light bulb on it) and find interesting new ways to use common household items. His solutions may have been unconventional, but they got the job done!
Each of Betty’s friends and sidekicks have their own unique charm. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite. But Pudgy is definitely one cute pup! Just look at him dancing on the keys of this baby grand piano trinket box that plays “I Just Wanna Be Loved By You.” Can his cuteness compare to this exquisite Baby Betty Boop doll? Her adorable hand painted features make her a treasured collectible for Betty fans and doll lovers alike.
Your More Betty Boop To Come Gift Guru,
Linda
We met Bimbo last week, where we learned how Betty, very innocently, stole his spotlight. You could never accuse Bimbo of holding a grudge though. This upright, talking dog played along as Betty’s loyal companion, adoring her as much as ever.
Brought out of retirement in 1931, Koko the clown joined Betty and Bimbo in their wacky and crazy adventures. He was just as likely to be helping Betty out of trouble as he was unintentionally getting her into trouble!
Due to a policy shift in the governing film guidelines of the day, Betty’s cartoon series moved away from silly adult antics and toward more kid-friendly themes. Bimbo and Koko bid fond farewells to their friend and stepped aside to make way for two new supporting characters.
Pudgy, Betty’s cute puppy, was introduced in “Betty Boop’s Little Pal” in 1934. Pudgy was forever getting into mischief, though it wasn’t always his fault! In the end, if Pudgy was feeling blue, Betty would sing to put a smile back on his face.
If Betty had a problem, she would go see Grampy, a loveable, eccentric inventor. Grampy would put on his thinking cap (which was literally a cap with a light bulb on it) and find interesting new ways to use common household items. His solutions may have been unconventional, but they got the job done!
Each of Betty’s friends and sidekicks have their own unique charm. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite. But Pudgy is definitely one cute pup! Just look at him dancing on the keys of this baby grand piano trinket box that plays “I Just Wanna Be Loved By You.” Can his cuteness compare to this exquisite Baby Betty Boop doll? Her adorable hand painted features make her a treasured collectible for Betty fans and doll lovers alike.
Your More Betty Boop To Come Gift Guru,
Linda
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