Tis the Season

Well, we have made it through 'black friday'. I can't help but wonder how many retailers actually made it into the black this year.

Halloween seemed to hang on a little longer than usual this year with the release of Twilight and the popularity of True Blood resulting in an extra pop of vampire fang sales. Not that vampires aren't always popular year round, but we've been seeing them everywhere this year. Having grown up in North Louisiana, I am a big Charlaine Harris fan myself. I have yet to check out the Twilight series.

After all the gore of Halloween (plus the extra fright of the 2008 stock market crash), it is nice to be seeing the cheerful Christmas costumes. Back in the day, you just saw Santa in his traditional red Santa Suit suit (or possibly a Victorian Santa if you were at a Dickens festival). He was accompanied by a matronly looking Mrs. Santa in her own long red dress.

Ahh, the good ole days.

What are we seeing now? Lots of Santa suits, fer sure. But for every Santa there seem to be a dozen Santa's Little Helper's. We're not talking the matronly type or short guys with pointy ears, either. Nope. Ms. Santa has updated her look and it is all glam - mini skirts, bikini sets, candy cane thigh highs - sexy Santa's everywhere!

Not that we aren't enjoying the show, but somehow it just seems wrong when red Christmas pushup bras are out-selling the traditional Nativity costumes - little shepherd boy, where are you?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Patriot Acts

Well, election season is heating up. Looks like it will be Obama v McCain. Between the campaigning and Fourth of July, there are a lot of Uncle Sams roaming around out there - everything from the snazzy, Broadway-style sequin Uncle Sam costume to the traditional red, white and blue Uncle Sam suit. The last few years it's been nice to see some indiduality. Some of the big foam Uncle Sam top hats give a funky new look.

Other patriotic favorites - skimmer hats for the campaign parties and cardboard standup posters of Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam for election decorations.

Best news this year - looks like the highest voter turn-0ut ever. About time everone stood up and had their say!

Laughter is the best medicine!

I love comedy clubs and I am looking forward to two nights in a row at Capital City Comedy!

Our funny guys, Todd and Dillon, are competing in the Funniest Person in Austin (FPIA) contest tonight and tomorrow. Hopefully we will be seeing them again in the finals!

Meanwhile, what's with all the pig noses?

Lots of Spring Dancing!

Lots of spring dance recitals seem to be going on and prom is just around the corner - what fun!

We've been looking for a lot of inexpensive top hats, swagger sticks, etc. Swagger sticks are those little straight canes that seem to be used mostly in musical productions, but lots of people carry them at proms and other formals for a little extra flair!

The most surprising prom accessory seems to be cigarette holders!

Also, there must be some very odd themes, because we had a prom decorator looking for small and large skull props .