Superbowl Madness!Superbowl XLIV will be at Sun Life Stadium (formerly Dolphin Stadium) this year. It seems whenever the Big Game is hosted in The Sunshine State, my fellow Floridians go bananas. But the frenzy isn't just building here. In Indianapolis, it seems too many bus drivers called in sick the day after the Colts' win three years ago, so they've decided to start school an hour late on Monday. Maybe they're expecting a repeat? Not so fast! New Orleans fans say the Saints' drive to the Superbowl is a symbol of the city's resilience--and inevitable triumph--over the Katrina disaster. They plan to show this country just what their city is made of with yet another unlikely--but unstoppable--victory.Team spirit, city pride and excitement is running so high this year that even I'm getting excited. I plan to plop down in front of the TV and watch the game--in between the commercials, of course. Not to miss out on an opportunity to score my own touchdown, I came up with the perfect gift for Superbowl fanatics: our framed print of the NFL jerseys hanging in the teams' locker rooms. And for the extra point, we put your fan's name on a jersey right next to the names of the world champions.   It's the next best thing to winning the ring! Your "Gridiron" Gift Guru, Linda Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Friday, February 5, 2010
Funny MoneyI collected coins when I was a kid. Didn't exactly make it public knowledge because, well, what a nerdy thing to do. Still, it was something I could enjoy with my grandmother, who would never call me a nerd. We used to search out all kinds of different denominations from actual currency back then. And later we got into specially minted collectible coins. I still collect those.Thankfully, now I'm too old for anyone to care whether I'm cool or not. My favorites are pop culture coins, especially ones that celebrate and honor my favorite comedies and comedians. Like Lucille Ball and Peanuts. Every time I take out my collection to add a few new pieces, I reconnect with those very early memories of sitting at my grandmother's kitchen table and sorting coins on her floral vinyl tablecloth. And that's just priceless. Your "Heads or Tails" Gift Guru, Linda   Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Friday, January 29, 2010
Feeling Sassy?Valentine's Day is right around the corner, isn't it? I remember getting some pretty naughty gifts back in my younger days. Just between you and me, I gave a few too. I used to scour the stores for the most outrageous boxers I could find for my boyfriend. The louder the colors, the better. They would always balk at wearing them. But we girls have our ways of making the men do what we want, don't we?Even Dad had to put up with my crazy valentines. He's an avid golfer. And believe me, there's no end to the fun you can have with balls. "Linda!" he'd say, looking over his reading glasses like he was shocked at his daughter's taste--or lack of it. But he couldn't keep the smile from playing at the corners of his mouth. And what could he do? I get my sense of humor from him! Sure Valentine's Day is a day for romance. But there's no law that says you can't mix a little sassy with the sweet. Your "Naughty But Nice" Gift Guru, Linda    Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Friday, January 22, 2010
America's Most Wanted - Recipes!I have a friend who's a gourmet chef and junk food junkie. Her birthday was last week and I was stuck, stuck, stuck trying to figure out a gift. She has a huge collection of cookbooks and every piece of cookware conceivable. Including the electric slider maker--my first choice, and the perfect brownie pan--my second choice. I was at a loss. Over lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, I presented her with what I believed was the perfect gift. Judging by her reaction, I was right. Thumbing through the book, she oohed and ahhhed over all the recipes from her favorite eateries that she could make at home. And she has the restaurant-equipped kitchen to do it, too. I love it when a gift hits a home run. Your "Most Wanted" Gift Guru, Linda Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Friday, January 15, 2010
A True American Idol What other pop star has enjoyed such longevity? New books, CD collections and other Elvis goodies are in stores and cyberstores just in time to honor his birthday. There are more Elvis imitators today than ever. From his leather-clad unplugged TV special to his Vegas days, people are still trying to recreate the King's magic. But there was only one Elvis. It seems like only yesterday my friends and I were sitting by the radio and shrieking over his latest love song. I'll never forget how he made us shiver and quiver. Teenage "love" comes and goes, but even after all these years, I still have a crush on Elvis. He's one teddy bear I will never forget!  Happy Birthday, Elvis! From Your "All Shook Up" Gift Guru, Linda Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Friday, January 8, 2010
Ringing In The New - With Baby!As we head for the new year, it seems everyone I know is pregnant. Okay, not everyone, but lots of people. At least one of the little bundles of joy will arrive just about the same time as 2010. Some have one or two cherished "rugrats" already. But the ones who are just starting their families all have one thing in common: panic!It's a big responsibility, having a baby. I mean, I was freaked out when I decided to adopt a dog! So much to think about. What would he eat? Where would he sleep? What about a vet?  Now imagine what first-time parents of actual human beings are facing! No wonder they're terrified! I dug up a couple of perfect gifts for the panic-stricken parents-to-be. I gave the baby owner's manual to my friend Anita who is due very, very soon. It was fun to watch her giggle her way through the first few pages, starting with "Welcome To Your New Baby" which gives schematics and a parts list. She called me just this morning to read me a paragraph out of "Activating Sleep Mode" and she seemed a lot less nervous. Maybe that's because she was laughing so hard.  As scared as the moms are, the dads are even worse. Oh, they're fine as long as you're talking about the pregnancy. But start talking about the baby coming into the world and you can see the terror in their eyes. So the lucky soon-to-be dads get this hilarious and sometimes raunchy guide to fatherhood. It's a manly book, for sure. (I can't even quote a lot of it here--not without blushing.) It's written by four Texan papas who answer vital questions like how to keep the baby alive until the wife gets home and why his child is so superior to his friends' kids. Helps the guys get over their fear and shows them The Lighter Side of fatherhood. Your "Goo-Goo" Gift Guru, Linda Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy Holidays The tree is trimmed, the lights are up, the gifts are wrapped, the stockings are stuffed, and the grocery shopping is done. I only have a few little tasks left before I settle in with my friends and family to celebrate the holiday.I hope you've had as much fun as I had finding the perfect gift for your special someone this year. I really love my work and I feel very fortunate to be able share it with you. As I prepare to leave the office for the weekend, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a warm, happy and safe holiday from all of us. Happy Holidays, Your Friends At The Lighter Side Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Thursday, December 24, 2009
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