Spring Sports Roundup
I'm planning on attending a Tampa Bay Rays game this weekend and have "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" stuck in my head. The Lighter Side® has been located in Bradenton, Florida since 1986. One of the perks of living in this area, aside from the (usually) nice weather, is that many major league baseball teams come down here for spring training during the winter. Currently the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds call the local area home for spring training, with the New York Yankees a straight shot up the road. Though I hear the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox are exploring the idea of moving their spring training operations from Fort Myers to Sarasota!  Red Sox fans should check out our 2007 World Series baseball. It's "autographed" with the replicated signatures of the Boston Red Sox players from that winning team. The 2008 MLB® team baseballs are similar in that they feature the simulated autographs of the current team roster and are neat, affordable collectibles.
 For die-hard fans that dream of being part of the team, our Major League Baseball art print helps fuel their fantasy. Personalized for free, they'll get to see their name on one of the jerseys hanging among the other players' in the team's locker room. Just choose their favorite team!
 The nice weather we're enjoying also means more opportunities for other outdoor sports, like golfing. My brother is such an avid golfer. In fact, I'm sure he's out on the greens now, putting away. I like to tee up with him every now and then. It's led to many hilarious brother/sister bonding moments. One time, when he wasn't looking, I switched out his regulation ball with this trick golf ball. If you could have seen his face when I used the remote to make the ball spin in place on the tee — right as he swung back to drive! I was banned from golfing with him for awhile, but it was totally worth it. It's a favorite story of mine to bring up at family gatherings!
Your "Rooting For The Home Team" Gift Guru,
Linda Posted by Linda at
| Friday, May 9, 2008
Pomp And Circumstance
Ah, the spring air brings to mind blooming flowers, spring showers…and graduation ceremonies. My high school ceremony was held in a hot gymnasium (before the modern days of A/C) while my college graduation ceremony was held outdoors. Fortunately, it was a nice day with no rain in sight. Though the graduating class walked away with diplomas and scorching sunburns! With both high school and college graduations looming, I wanted to share my picks of gifts for the soon-to-be graduate in your life.  My first pick may surprise you, but it is just so cool. It's a "101 Things To Do With Ramen Noodles" recipe book. I lived on ramen and mac & cheese while I hit the books and pulled all-nighters, so this book is perfect for college-bound students as well as recent college grads suddenly finding themselves out in the "real world." Prepare to be amazed at what delicious meals they can easily (and cheaply) make with the simple ramen noodle!
 My next three picks are each personalized mementos of this special life event. There is the adorable plush bear in his graduation cap and gown that will bear (how could I not throw that pun in there?) the graduate's first name and year. The graduation pillow and throw can be personalized with the graduate's full name, year of graduation, and name of school. Pillow and throw will come in handy for those power naps between college classes!
  It doesn't matter if they graduated from public, private or Ivy-league schools. You can still tease the new grad's sense of achievement with the tongue-in-cheek Paper or Plastic T-shirt. They'll need a good sense of humor out there in that crazy world of ours!
Your "Voted Class Clown" Gift Guru,
Linda Posted by Linda at
| Friday, May 2, 2008
My Mother, My Hero
Pop quiz! Bet you didn't see this coming. Who helped raise her 8 (yes, EIGHT) younger siblings, even though it meant leaving high school early? Who saw to it that her daughter got to experience opportunities that she never had? Who did it all without losing her fabulous sense of humor?  The answer, of course, is my mother! Because of her, I got to play on the boys' basketball team in high school. That was something unheard of back then! (Okay, I'll give you a hint. It was back in the ‘70s. Whether it was early, mid, or late ‘70s, you'll just have to guess). To help put me through college, my mom designed and sewed Barbie clothes and sold the outfits on the weekends. And while it may have been easy to be bitter over lost opportunities, she never was. I've always found her sense of humor and take on life inspirational.
 Honor the special moms in your life with Mother's Day gifts that have The Lighter Side touch. Sweet, thoughtful, and sure to bring a smile to her face. Here are five ideas to get you started.
 Personalized gifts top the list! There's just something extra-special about seeing your loved ones' names and knowing the thought and time put into the selection of the gift.
- Personalized We Love Photo Frame.
- Personalized Our Special Tee.
- Personalized Top Reasons Tee.
- Personalized Top Reasons Mug.
And for the grandmothers whose ability to spoil is faster than a speeding bullet:  - Super Nana Tee.
Your "Momma's Girl" Gift Guru,
Linda
Posted by Linda at
| Friday, April 25, 2008
Earth Day 2008
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 Posted by Linda at
| Friday, April 18, 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 Posted by Linda at
| Thursday, April 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
Posted by Linda at
| Thursday, April 3, 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 Posted by Linda at
| Friday, March 28, 2008
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