tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70423829258621627172008-12-01T08:46:53.212-05:00Shop Lighter Side.com for the perfect inexpensive gift. Lighter Side offers funny T-shirts, famous brand collectibles, plus holiday decorations and personalized gifts.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-73644858685779545802008-12-01T08:46:00.001-05:002008-12-01T08:46:53.279-05:00

Can you believe we’re approaching the end of another year? It seems like just yesterday I tacked my new 2008 calendar to the wall and marked off the first days of January.  Speaking of calendars, I’ve been on the look-out all year for some unique and fun styles that you will love giving as gifts, or purchasing for yourself. Is humor your style?  Comic strip fans will love starting the day out

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-20253697736424149932008-11-24T10:55:00.001-05:002008-11-25T11:30:53.595-05:00

Whenever the holidays approach, it becomes a race to accomplish everything before the big day. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, so I’ve decided to concentrate on finding some real time-savers for everyone this year. The Beer Holder Sweatshirt is the perfect warm-up gear for the guys on my list. They can tuck their bottle into the special pouch in front and flip burgers, rake

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-5184661015018745872008-11-17T08:59:00.001-05:002008-11-24T10:31:26.671-05:00

Recently I bumped into a good friend who just returned from Napa Valley. Her description of her tour of wine country had my mouth watering and my thoughts wandering to the vineyards. Since I’ve always wanted to visit Napa Valley, I invited her to my house later so I could hear more about her trip.  When she arrived, she commented on how my grape cluster lights add just the right wine country

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-71748366341869587522008-11-10T10:12:00.001-05:002008-11-10T10:12:57.570-05:00

This past weekend, I hosted a baby shower for my friend Sandy. The planning was a bit of a challenge since so many of her family members live out of town. Although some of them weren’t able to attend, they let me know that they still wanted to send a gift. Of course, I suggested they shop from The Lighter Side! Her family loved the idea, because they could select the perfect gift, and have it

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-27383785850836561012008-11-03T10:43:00.001-05:002008-11-03T10:43:55.995-05:00

Winter is on it’s way, and some of you already have snow! The chilly weather and approaching holidays mean more time spent indoors with family and friends, so here are a few ideas to make that time together even more special.   First order of business, keep the kids busy! The Cone Head Ring Toss game is great for indoors. The inflatable cones and soft rings let kids get a little crazy, but no

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-3991590951537615392008-10-27T05:00:00.002-04:002008-10-27T05:00:00.424-04:00

At this time of year, my backyard looks like a squirrel freeway. They're always scuttling about looking for and burying nuts for the winter. A lot of people think they're a nuisance, but I enjoy watching their busy activity while I enjoy a cup of coffee on a cool fall morning. I don't often buy gifts for myself, but I had to have this Nutty Little Squirrel. It's an old-fashioned wind-up toy that

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-10690705851328448832008-10-20T05:00:00.001-04:002008-10-20T05:00:00.450-04:00

The arrival of fall ushers in the cooler weather, the holidays, political stumping, and of course, football season. Everyone has a football fan in their lives, so I thought I'd show you some of our top picks for lovers of gridiron action. Our officially licensed NFL® Neon Football Helmet features the team logo of your choice surrounded by a bright neon light around the edge and a 3-D injection

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-22048674981865791142008-10-13T05:00:00.004-04:002008-10-13T05:00:00.999-04:00

You know it's fall when the leaves start to turn, the air is crisp and everywhere you look--from television to street corners--you see people stumping for their favorite political candidates. In the spirit of the season, I'd like to offer you some non-partisan gift-giving advice for your favorite politico. These Politicards for 2008 are both useful and funny. The hilarious colorful drawings cast

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-3084518507089993312008-10-06T05:00:00.001-04:002008-10-06T05:00:00.725-04:00

We've been talking about costumes for you and your kids for the last couple of weeks, but now it's time to talk about how to dress up your house for Halloween. From the outside in, here's how to haunt your house: Windows are a great place to start your decor. The Catrageous Window Cover is a poly film window poster that you trim to fit your windows. The lights inside provide a backlight to make

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-8056533479825542002008-09-29T05:00:00.001-04:002008-09-29T05:00:01.351-04:00

Halloween is a fun holiday for adults, but let's not forget the kids! I got a couple of calls this week from friends who needed some help deciding how to dress up their little ones for the spookiest night of the year. Sometimes it's really tough to find that just-right costume, so I thought I'd share my suggestions--just in case you need a little assist, too. Monkeys are hot right now, so the

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-86745571689214017922008-09-15T05:00:00.011-04:002008-09-25T12:35:38.668-04:00

When I was a little, Halloween was a kid's holiday, but these days, it's a holiday for both kids and adults. Every year the costumes get a little racier, a little sexier and a little funnier. At The Lighter Side, we want to keep up with what you want, so we decided to offer a few more fun and risqué costumes this year. Here are our top picks: Give them fits and fevers with this sexy twist on

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-27230159971626348612008-09-08T05:00:00.002-04:002008-09-08T05:00:00.194-04:00

Pet lovers are a breed apart. They're so special that whole categories of services and products have sprouted up to help them care for and understand their pets. There are pet-friendly parks and restaurants, pet psychologists, and pet day care centers and day spas. There are even dating services that match pet lovers with other pet lovers! With that in mind, I thought I'd show you a few gift

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-61039347321602983932008-08-29T05:00:00.000-04:002008-08-29T08:41:59.113-04:00

Last week I told you about a very girly birthday party. The next birthday party I'll be attending is for a little boy and I came up with some great ideas to help plan a themed party that will keep the boys busy while we adults keep the party rolling. Since this particular boy is into trains, we're planning a Thomas the Tank Engine party. A Thomas Bubble Blower is the perfect way to keep the boys

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-46778165109324972082008-08-25T05:00:00.009-04:002008-08-25T05:00:00.771-04:00

Some people are just natural party planners. Like my friend whose daughter just had a birthday. The sleepover birthday party was last Saturday, but you could tell she planned everything months in advance. The first dead give-away was the I Love You Bean. There were five of them clustered into a festive centerpiece, complete with ribbons and balloons. I was impressed. It takes time to sprout your

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-15785118975680201062008-08-18T12:37:00.003-04:002008-08-18T13:18:00.660-04:00

Where would we be without the practical, economical, and often very expressive, T-shirt? Worn to bed, to the grocery store, while chasing the kids around the yard, hanging with friends, even to work on casual Fridays. Ever try to pry that ratty old T-shirt out of your husband's hands? It's impossible. And if you just happen to toss it out when he's not looking? That's just asking for trouble. Be

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-6573916677067712362008-08-07T14:11:00.002-04:002008-08-07T14:24:40.455-04:00

It's the opening day of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing! What world records will be broken? How many gold medals will U.S. athletes bring home? What amazing against-the-odds stories will unfold?The opening ceremony is sure to be a dazzling event. It's always interesting to watch the parade of athletes—there's more fashion involved than you might think. This year, the U.S. Olympic team will be

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-64265924096293993782008-08-01T08:56:00.002-04:002008-08-01T09:11:47.219-04:00

Typically, colleges start their fall semesters toward the end of this month, so students are feeling the pressure to hurry up and fit in all the summer fun humanly possible while tackling those college to-do checklists. Perhaps one of the worst ones is the dreaded required book list. Trying to find textbooks at a decent price (and in stock) can be an art form in and of itself. Why not help the

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-32501029944678995142008-07-24T16:03:00.004-04:002008-07-28T08:01:58.466-04:00

Too early to be thinking about Christmas? Not really — we're less than six months away from the big day! Christmas will be here before you can say Black Friday. This is the time to pay close attention to the "I wish" or "Gee, that'd be nice to have" type of comments that slip out of your family and friends' mouths. They'll be amazed at your gift-giving skills when they open up those Christmas

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-68111276315935267612008-07-18T09:47:00.002-04:002008-07-18T10:01:52.441-04:00

I am so excited for a dear friend, who just a few days ago broke the news of her pregnancy to me. I had thought for some time that there was something different about her, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. And it wasn't just her trendy new haircut! So as my friend undergoes this miracle of life, I'm going to randomly shower her with gifts to help keep a smile on her face…even on days when

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-26695478439204375422008-07-11T09:53:00.002-04:002008-07-11T10:01:00.962-04:00

Do you ever catch yourself pondering some of life's mysteries? Mysteries like:What is man's fascination with fire?What's the connection between firing up the grill and simultaneously cracking open a beer?Why did the chicken cross the road?In today's tribute to men and their innate love of grilling, let's look at The Lighter Side answers to these slightly rhetorical questions.The urge to play with

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-22336705670191741322008-07-02T15:40:00.002-04:002008-07-03T09:15:44.195-04:00

As the days get hotter, the quicker we try to find refuge in the water. For some, it means sneaking off to the secret swimming hole (and finding it packed because it's everyone else's secret spot too!). Or perhaps it's spending the day at the lake, creating waves with the jet skis. Or maybe you picnic and play in the surf at the beach. Or maybe you beat the heat by hanging out at home…in your

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-34792612766934752672008-06-27T09:08:00.003-04:002008-07-01T16:29:21.085-04:00

Wedding registries are pretty commonplace nowadays. Sure, it's convenient to see what the couple has picked out, but I find that it lacks one of the greatest elements of gift-giving: the surprise factor! So I've created a best-of-both-worlds technique for these wedding gift situations. Let me give you some examples. One recent wedding was for a couple who happen to be big movie buffs. So I got

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-7522846525754574222008-06-20T10:04:00.002-04:002008-06-20T10:16:01.390-04:00

What plans do you have for your upcoming 4th of July weekend? Whether you're headed out of town for the three-day weekend or staying local, I'm sure headlining activities will include a parade, at least one cookout (if not several) and fireworks! All three events are traditional ways to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.As a child in school, we were taught many patriotic

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-73971887231384542252008-06-11T12:01:00.002-04:002008-06-13T12:11:47.394-04:00

Talking about the bridal shower last week got me thinking about another very important wedding related event. The bachelorette party! Ranging anywhere from mild to wild, it gives all the ladies (especially the bride) a chance to let their hair down. If you find yourself in charge of planning a bachelorette party, here are a few ideas to get you started.Set up a margarita station around this

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042382925862162717.post-31880838552033263572008-06-06T10:52:00.002-04:002008-06-06T11:05:05.484-04:00

I received a call a few days ago from a friend. She's her cousin's matron of honor and the cousin was starting to become a little too particular over the details of the bridal shower (of all things!).They had all the main details hammered out, but my friend wanted to hear if I had any suggestions to add. (I'm kind of known for being the go-to gal for party and gift ideas, you know). As she was

Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10897381127611510937noreply@blogger.com