Post Holiday Sale

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday. The Curtsy family enjoyed being together, even though it was our first Christmas without my mom. Every year I cook and host the Christmas dinner at my home. As I have downsized over the years, it keeps getting cozier and cozier. Yesterday was no exception as I had a total of 12 people for dinner in my little one bedroom apartment. Luckily I have a great antique dining room table that opens up and each end has a table that attaches on to it. It took up my entire living room with all of the other furniture pushed out of the way, but we had a heck of a lot of laughs. Our family isn't large, but over the years, I have "adopted" a lot of my kids friends and they come every year. One of my favorite nights of the year.

Danielle and her brother are off this evening to visit with their dad in Arizona, but before she left, she posted lots of sale signs on holiday goods around the store. All holiday merchandise is 50% off - even the beautiful John Toole Ornaments. It's a great time to start your own collection of Jewelry for the Tree.

Please take note that our hours through the end of January will be Monday - Saturday from 10AM - 6PM and on Sunday from 11AM - 5PM.


XOXO,
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

Have A Curtsylicious Christmas!

The Curtsy Girls thank all our fabulous customers for their support during the holiday season. Have a warm and wonderful Christmas.

We will be closed on Christmas day and will re-open at 10AM on Friday,

December 26th with our after holiday sale.

XOXO

The Curtsy Girls

Think Big

I love products that inspire me. Especially in these challenging times, I need reminders that everything will be OK. It is what it is. This Art Board Print from Papaya kinda sums it all up. Perception - it's all how you look at things. I'm choosing to focus on the positives from the past few days rather than the negatives. I was able to find a set of bad ass snow tires for the Subaru and it's now just a little beast. My brother made it here from Florida safely yesterday and we've been able to keep the store open and make some sales even on the crummiest of days. Yes, there were extreme challenges involved in each of those situations, but we're on the other side (at least for now)!

We've had a lot of people in trying to find just a little something for their elderly parent, grandparent etc... People who don't need a thing in the world and who have limited space, but who are deserving of a little remembrance. One of our favorite suggestions are the Holiday Surprise Balls. As they unwind the ball, there are little trinkets in each layer. A little package of jelly beans, a fortune, some bubbles, a toy, just fun tiny treasures.

Curtsyland will be open Tuesday, December 23rd from 10AM - 7PM and on Wednesday, December 24th from 10AM - 6PM. We will be closed on Christmas Day. If the weather turns nasty again, please call the store prior to coming, we keep the voice mail updated as to our status.

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Our day began by watching a van drive up Spring Street hill from Western Ave to 1st Avenue. The driver made it up the hill and had stopped in the middle of the crosswalk to wait for the light to change to green. I guess he sensed that it wasn't polite to block the crosswalk and decided to back up a little bit. Bad, bad idea. The hill was a sheet of ice and last we saw of the poor chap, he had done a 180 degree turn and rammed into a light pole. And he was just trying to be a good, considerate driver...OOPS! Hopefully the karma gods gave him some extra points for trying! After that I went out and put snow tires on my little Subaru, so now we have all wheel drive AND bad ass studless snow tires!

New goodies came yesterday from Butter London like the Christmas Cuticle Nail Kit. It comes with a bottle of Melt Away Cuticle Eliminator and Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil along with a spiffy little brush to clear away the debris on your nails. We also received 5 new luscious colors including gold shimmery West End Wonderland. All great for stocking stuffers or treating yourself!

It was a busy day at CB both with loads of holiday shoppers and the UPS guys and gals trying to catch up on their deliveries. Our long anticipated order of Jessica Kagan Cushman Bracelets finally arrived. I'm love, love, loving the sassy sayings with my favorite being "La, la, la, la...I can't hear you!" New from her this season are some spectacularly cool Shopping Totes. Who wouldn't love to find the Fierce warrior goddess of shopping tote under the tree?

Danielle was supposed to be heading to the airport this evening to pick up the Captain after he's been at Fort Bragg in North Carolina attending classes for the past month. Latest word is that he's stuck in Atlanta, number 7 on the standby list for the last flight of the night, which only has 6 empty seats...bummer! I'm sensing a big load of frustration on both ends, so I think I'll take her out to dinner tonight to distract her from her disappointment - it's hard waiting for your boy to come home! We know he'll get home eventually...right?

XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

Snow Day!!

So today was the real snow day! Danielle & I made it to the store this morning thanks to my fabulous little black Subaru Forrester. I love that car - it's such a trooper! A few intrepid shoppers made it in and were able to finish their holiday shopping. We closed up at 4:30 to make it home prior to the roads getting really icy. Getting back downtown was no problem, but once down there we found that most of the roads down to our apartment complex were closed! We finally made it to Pioneer Square and were able to get home from there.

Our plan is to be at the store tomorrow by 10AM. If anything changes, I'll update our voice mail to let you know the plan. We're planning on staying open tomorrow from 10 - 7, Saturday & Sunday from 10 - 6, Monday & Tuesday from 10 - 7 and on Wednesday, Christmas Eve from 10 - 6. We'll even have an extra elf to help us. Beginning Sunday, my brother Tom will be in town and of course we're making him work at Curtsyland!

Each year on Christmas morning, I make a big breakfast and serve it on special dishes - it's a tradition my kids grew up with. Looking to start your own tradition with your family? We have the wonderful 12 Days of Christmas dinner plates and mugs from Rosanna. Christmas breakfast served each year with these sets will make wonderful memories. It will also make a lovely gift for newlyweds or someone just forming their own traditions.

Still need a gift for Mom or Great Aunt Isabel? These funky Marcia Leichter Pill Boxes are perfect. The small ones are just the right size to fit into her purse and the larger one are great for travel. Truly unique!

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Paisleys & Peacocks

Oooooh how I adore coming back to Curtsyland after a day off to find oodles and oodles of new Tarina!!! I have been anxiously awaiting this order.....full of luscious fall jewel tones, paisleys and peacock adorned goodness. Curtsy Mama featured a few pieces yesterday, but I couldn't help gushing about the new stuff again tonight.....I've been head over heels all day. I often underestimate how gorgeous a piece of her jewelry might be until it is in front of my eyes. The Paisley Peacock Chandelier Earrings were just such a case.....AMAZING!!! I actually ordered these earrings in four different colors and three were backordered! We received them in a gorgeous black diamond....oh who's happy little ears will receive these Christmas morning??!?!!!

Also from the Paisley Peacock collection.....the Paisley Pendant Necklaces. Love! We have this necklace in Emerald, Amethyst, Sapphire, and Black Diamond. I was having trouble imagining how a single paisley design would look on a necklace and of course I adore them. It has a good size and length.....great alone or layered with another necklace.

And my fav....the ginormous and gorgeous Crystal Pave Heart Necklace!!! We have had this lovely in a few other colors....but the combination of the peacock jewel colors on the ones that just arrived are TO DIE FOR!! The necklace is about 2 1/2 inches wide....such a statement piece!!

xxxx

BBBRRRRR!!

It may be totally frigid outside, but nothing warms our hearts more than when UPS brings us a box of new Tarina Tarantino sparkly treasures. The Paisley Peacock Tulle Flower Anywhere Clip is absolutely amazing! We love the versatility of the anywhere clips - wear one in your hair one day and use it to bling up your jacket the next. They're so unique with the cluster of Swarovski crystals in the middle - truly blingalicious!

We are also re-stocked with her Lucite and Crystal Drop Earrings. I have these in 3 different colors and wear them quite a bit. Jeans or dressed for the theater, these are my standards. Constructed from lucite and Swarovski Crystals, they're actually really lightweight. I don't yet have a pair of the Siam color pictured above, but I'm thinking it's time to add to my collection.

The Crystal Flower Earrings make a wonderful gift for anyone. They add just the right amount of sparkle and look great on their own or paired with a Tarina necklace.

Don't forget that we're staying open Monday - Friday this week until 7PM, Saturday we'll be here from 10AM - 6PM and Sunday from 11AM - 5PM. Next week we'll be open Monday and Tuesday from 10AM - 7PM and on Christmas Eve from 10AM - 6PM.

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

First things first. Here is the promised pic of the new Shoe Zoo Beagle. That's how Snickers looked many, years and pounds ago. So cute, so innocent, no hint of the stubborn old man he's become. Stubborn, but loveable!

Poker is not just a game - it's a cultural phenomenon. Poker The Ultimate Book delves into the history, psychology and rules of the game. Did you know that the Deadman's Hand is A-A-8-8, the 4 cards showing in Wild Bill Hickok's hand when he was shot from behind? And poker players to this day never play with their backs to the door? Really, there's some fascinating stuff in this book!

Need a little teacher gift or something for the Hostess with the Mostest? These French Milled Jasmine Scented Soaps are perfect! They're pretty and they smell great.

Maybe you're on the hunt for a little something something for your office mates or stocking stuffers for your bff. Glitz Sprays come in loads of sparkly colors and add just the right amount of shimmer to whatever you spray it on. I'll spritz my clothes, or my clevage when I'm heading out for a night on the town. Ooh La La!

Don't forget that all weekend we're offering complimentary sparkling libations at Curtsyland. Reason enough to disregard the weatherman (he's usually wrong anyway) and head down to the happiest, prettiest, sparkliest place to holiday shop in Seattle.

XOXO,

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Who's There?

There is a new beagle in the building! Bruce from The Shoe Zoo brought over his 6-week old beagle puppy today. We died. THE CUTEST LITTLE MUFFIN EVER!!! We introduced her (blanking on her name right now) to Snickers. She seemed sooooo excited to make a new beagle friend. Snickers just never knows how to handle pups so small.....he totally kept hiding behind our legs like a big silly scaredy dog! Bruce is planning on bringing Her Royal Cuteness to work everyday so stop in and introduce yourself. We took pics of her but forgot to get them off the work computer before leaving so we shall post them tomorrow.

Lots of goodies from Knock Knock that we have yet to report! Knock Knock makes oodles of wonderful sticky notes.....new this year is the Pardon My French Stickies set. It is a very handy set of stickies in different sizes that come in a tray allowing you to note, flag & tag the naughty way. Knock Knock assures that this set is "ideal for total fuckers."

Knock Knock also makes some indispensable pads....many that feature multiple-choice checkboxes allowing you to easily make your intentions and wishes known to all who need to know. Popular styles include THINGS YOU DO THAT REALLY PISS ME OFF, WHY I MUST HAVE SEX WITH YOU, DON'T KILL THE KIDS & OTHER BABYSITTER BASICS, and NEW PARENT CHECKLIST FOR LEAVING THE HOUSE. Our latest style that has already been flying out the door is the ROOMMATE FYI pad. This humorous checklist will allow you "command cohabitants to do anything from washing the dishes to getting a life."


One other popular gift from Knock Knock is their vouchers. Each booklet includes 20 vouchers.....the gift that keeps on giving! Two new styles are Vouchers for Naughty Lovers and Vouchers for New Parents. Other styles we have are Vouchers for Friends, Vouchers for Family, and Vouchers for Co-workers.

xxxx

Traditions

I love family traditions. Last night was one of my favorite nights of the year. Every December, since my kids were tiny tots, I have gathered family and friends for an annual Christmas Cookie Decorating Extravaganza. I bake about 20 dozen blank canvases and make lots of different colors of icing, cover a big table with all the goods and let the creative juices flow. It's so fun to watch now that the kids are adults and so many of their friends are in the creative arts, the cookies get really interesting! Add a few classes of wine and they get downright funny!


Another tradition that I love is Christmas Stockings. I search all year for fun things to put into my kid's and my brother's socks. On Christmas morning, we all sit around the breakfast table and see what Santa left us. Apparently that tradition is shared by many as today Curtsyland has been stocking stuffer supply central!


I've posted pics of some of the great little gifts we've sold today. I've had several grown children who are playing Santa for their parents for the first time and having so much fun turning the tables.

Whether you're an old hand at this tradition or a new holiday elf, the Curtsy Girls can help you fill holiday wish lists without breaking the bank.


XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

Cookie Decorating

Sorry for a super quick post tonight....off to our annual Holiday Cookie Decorating Party!!! This is a tradition we have been doing ever since I can remember. Curtsy Mama bakes up a bazillion cookies in oodles and oodles of shapes and makes every color of frosting possible. Then we decorate and adorn and beautify until all cookies are covered! The results do get rather silly.....tune in tomorrows for a full report.

xxxx

P.S. We received the f'ing coolest toothbrush holders in today......

Be Prepared

It always gets us excited when we find something new for the guy section. We were so happy when we discovered the new HEMERGENCY Survival Kit. Loaded with goods to cover most situations from clothing stains to static cling all packed in a sleek little mesh dopp style bag. Perfect for his car, desk or gym bag.

We do, of course, have the girl's equivilant, the SHEMERGENCY Survival Kit. The kit is housed in a cool silver mesh bag with a cute little nail clipper attached. Loaded with 24 solutions for all of life's little situations, it's designed to take her from daytime to playtime.


For a fab little stocking stuffer, the minimergency Survival Kit is perfect. Sized small enough to fit into an evening bad, it has mini sizes of 16 essentials. Contents include lip balm, breath freshener, dental floss, emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, clear elastics, earring backs, hair spray, stain remover, double sided hem tape, mending kit, pain reliever, deodorant towelette, tampon and an adhesive bandage. I'm hoping Santa puts one of these in my stocking, as I am the worlds biggest klutz. Seems like I'm always staining, ripping or tearing something and always at the most in-appropriate time. Now I'll be prepared!!

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Flutterbys & Snowflakes

TGIF!! I've always thought there was something magical about weekends...even though I am almost always working....especially this time of the year! Although it seems, understandably, that everyone has been a bit slow getting in the mood this year. Filling your home with scents of the holiday season always helps, and our new shipment of Voluspa candles that arrived today will certainly do the trick. My favorite scent....and definitely a customer favorite....is Snow Flakes. Three of the big tin Snow Flakes candles got snatched up before I even got them on the sales floor....people have been waiting for this scent ever since we had it last holiday season. Two new scents this year are Frost Pinecone and Winesap Apple Spice. In each of those scents we received the large 12 oz 3-wick tin with 80 hours burn time, and the 5 oz candlepot with 45 hours burn time. What a divine holiday hostess gift to wrap up one of the Frost Pinecone candles and tie one of our glittered pinecones on top!

Also from Voluspa.....new 1 oz Room Sprays from their Seasons collection. We have six scents....Makassar Ebony and Peach, French Bourbon Vanille, Snowflakes, Frost Pinecone, Winter Cherry, and Winesap Apple Spice. These are wonderful little gift additions or an inexpensive hostess gift in itself.

We also received a new shipment of our beloved glittered butterfly garlands! These always fly out the door....they are so pretty and you can use them in so many ways other than just hanging them. You can cut each butterfly off the fishing line they are on and use them as table sprinkles to make your holiday table sparkle, or attach a ribbon to the back of each one and use as a napkin ring, or as an extra little something attached to the top of your holiday gifts. I adore the new purple & brown butterflies. We also received white with silver & gold glitter, sapphire with silver jewels and glitter, and black butterflies with sapphire & fuchsia glitter.


xxxx

The Art of Kissing

We're absolutely in love with the new little pots of Tokyomilk Lip Balms! Not only do they smell and taste yummy, each box includes a tiny guide to the Art of Kissing and a Kissing Tip. Kissing Tip 3 from the Petits Fours Glaces pictured at left: "Kissing a crush for the first time can be one of the most exhilarating feelings in the world. To send him to the moon, keep the kiss inviting by being demure."


Make City is a set of 5 postcards of landmarks of London, Paris or New York. The post cards can be cut and assembled into miniature models of famous city icons. The New York City set includes the Empire State Building, The Brooklyn Bridge, a Yellow Taxi Cab, a bagel & coffee and a typical street lunch cart. Great inexpensive gifts for those young hands always looking for something to do.

I always cook and host Christmas dinner at my apartment. One tradition we have is a gift exchange. Everyone brings a wrapped gift and then draws a number out of a hat. The person with number one gets to open a gift from the pile. Number two then has their choice - they can either open a gift from the pile or steal number one's gift. You get the general idea and there's always one gift that gets stolen the most. The person with the highest number is the lucky one as they get their choice of all the other opened gifts. Each year we all hunt far and wide for the most outrageous gifts. The Cock a Doodle will be my contribution this year (ssshhh..don't tell Danielle). I'm kinda hoping that my number is the highest :)

This time of year we get a lot of guys in here with that deer in the headlights look. Why not take pity on them this year and make their life easier by filling out a Curtsylicious Wish List. That way you're sure to get just what your heart has been yearning for and he'll just be so glad to give you something you actually love - it's a win-win situation!

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Silly Souls

It's been a busy day at Curtsyland - lots of shoppers and oodles of visitors for the Snick dog. Snickers has a devoted following and his admirers come in to visit him on a weekly basis. It's what he lives for! He really is amazing with little ones, very gentle and he seems to know who likes dogs and who is a bit fearful.
Speaking of the tyke set, Silly Souls are "footwear for the soles of the silliest babies". They come in an adorable little lunch box style metal case which can also be used as a bank (a recyclable container...very cool). The manufacturer also donates a portion of the purchase price to Feed the Children. Styles include The King, Dancing Queen, Rock Star and Rockette . Silly someone up this holiday season!

I gave Danielle an earlier version of the cookbook pictured above when she was in college. Now most parents wouldn't call their daughters a bitch but, when I found out what the acronym stood for, she just had to have it! Babe In Total Control of Herself and the BITCH can cook! Great hostess gift or the perfect addition for someone's first apartment.


A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the awesome Animal Head Shot Glasses that are perfect for the hard to buy for guy in your life. We quickly sold out of most of the styles, but I'm happy to report that we received a new shipment in today and they've added 2 new animals, the Ram and the Rabbit. OK, I know the ones pictured aren't a rabbit or a ram, it's just that their picture is so much better than what I would take and I think the moose and the bull are both pretty awesome as well :).

XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

Lucky Tigers

Hope you all had a yummy Turkey Day! We certainly did and it was nice for Curtsy Mama & I to have a day off together (only happens a few times a year!). Our Thanksgiving was much smaller than usual though....we were very much missing The Captain & Greg (who is like a brother to me/son to Curtsy Mama). Greg is traveling all around Southeast Asia for a few months and the Captain is in North Carolina for Army for a month. Since the Captain was going to have a sans turkey Turkey Day....we decided to put together some yummy goodies to send his way. We sent a big box full of sweets & treats out on Monday....two day air....set to arrive on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning comes along and the Captain is getting worried about the package actually making it to him.....the Army mail system is not always the swiftest. He suggests I have it intercepted and held at a nearby UPS location. I call that location and they tell me they cant hold packages for anyone other than their box holders (WTF?!?....we sent it UPS!) and that they are closing early anyways. I call the main UPS # to see what a Customer Service Rep recommends I do. By this time, we track the package online and see that it has been delivered. So it's somewhere on base but still not to him. We call the Family Support Center...they tell us that all the mail rooms have closed early for the holiday....he can get his package on Friday. The Captain calls & says the mail room in his building is still open! During all this, I had to make it to a hair appointment. I am sitting under the dryer with a head full of bleach texting & calling with my mom & the Captain. UPS has the driver that delivered the package call my mom....he explains that ever since 9/11 he can't deliver packages to that specific building....very high security building. He delivers packages to another building where they must be scanned before being delivered. By this point...the mail room is definitely closed....no turkey jerky for the Captain ;-(

He FINALLY got the package yesterday. He walked over to the mail room both Friday & Saturday (a brisk mile long walk to get from his hotel to that building) and found nobody there even though we were told someone would be there....oy vey. Better late than never I suppose....he called to say he was sure he would be eating better than the Pilgrims for the remainder of his stay ;-)

Speaking of the Captain.....his pottery painting skills are currently on display at Curtsyland! We recently received a wonderful new shaving & skincare line for men that goes by the name of Lucky Tiger. I recently learned that when the Captain was just a wee pirate, he used to accompany his mom to the local pottery painting place in Alaska....kicking & screaming I'm sure....pirates don't paint pottery ya know. On a few of these trips, (out of sheer boredom I'm sure)...he joined in. Well you know that his mom cherished every piece that he painted, and it just so happens that a very fancy tiger that the Captain painted resurfaced recently during a move. Now this tiger was very scary.....a pirate's tiger ya know.....with blood on his teeth as if he just finished eating a wench or a swashbuckler. I begged & pleaded and the Captain's mom was nice enough to pass the tiger along to new caretakers. Now this tiger watches over the new Lucky Tiger goods and has been Curtsyfied....the blood has become glitter.....as if he just gobbled up a Curtsy Girl!


The Lucky Tiger line has been an anxiously awaited addition to our gentleman department. Its roots go back to 1935.....by 1950 it was one of the most popular Barbershop brands in America. The line includes Liquid Cream Shave, After Shave & Face Tonic, Face Wash, Moisturizer, and Scrub, and all ingredients are 100 percent certified organic.

xxxx

Dressed Up

I love this city. I haven't lived here that long, but I never get tired of the beauty and warmth of the people and the city itself. I live downtown and my routine on Sunday morning is to walk the Snick dog on a different route than we take during the week. My Sunday route takes me past the Luly Yang store located at the corner of University and 4th. It's my favorite part of the walk and this week, it was so spectacular that it took my breath away. Her dresses and designs and attention to detail and just so awe inspiring. If you're downtown this week take the time to walk by her store and drool!!

Speaking of dressing up - this time of year it's so fun to see the men in our lives get dressed up. Sometimes they get into it, more times than not, they need a little nudging. If they have something cool to put on, it's not such a chore. These Pin Up Girl Cuff Links add a definite bit of dash to your man's ensemble. You give him these retro cuties, he'll think you're a bombshell!

Holiday season means lots of parties and fun! Most people have the perfect little black dress already in their closet that they pull out to look fabulous in this time of year. The perfect little black dress along with a fabulous Three Row Lucite Choker in cherry from Tarina Tarantino will help you make an entrance! I was listening to a news report earlier that said that research shows guys are attracted to a woman who's wearing red. Whether you're single or attached, it never hurts to have that little edge, does it?

Congratulation to Stephanie MacPherson, out Curtsylicious Customer of the Month! She always makes us feel great when she comes in the store. Stephanie will receive a $50 gift card and 10% off her purchases for the month of December. Want us to consider you for Customer of the Month? You never have to buy anything, just talk to us when you come in and make sure we put your name and e-mail in the data base.

EXTENDED STORE HOURS IN DECEMBER - WE ARE OPEN:

MONDAY - FRIDAY 10AM - 7PM

SATURDAY 1OAM - 6PM

SUNDAY 11 AM - 5 PM

XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo