Bad Hair Day?

Ever have a bad hair day? I tend to be challenged in the arena of hair styling. It never looks quite as great as Kim from Swoop Salon makes it look. In fact most days, I curl it then just kind of mess it up and hit it with hair spray - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We found the cutest new line of fancy crowns when we were in LA and one of them is The Bad Hair Day Crown! I love it! Instead of moping about my tangled tresses - I'm gonna wear my crown and celebrate them!!
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we have some brand new pieces from Tarina Tarantino. The Paisley Peacock Chandelier Earrings in red are fabulous! Not a red fan? We also have them in green, blue and black diamond which is a clear gray color. A reminder that tomorrow is the last day of our 20% off jewelry sale.



Included in the Tarina order were some cute new pieces from her Bambino Collection. The Ice Cream Cone Bracelet or the Cupcake Anywhere Clip are the perfect accessories for any stylish young lady.

XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

I'm blogging early today as I'm skipping out to attend a lecture at the Seattle Town Hall. A couple of my girlfriends and I have decided that we need to broaden our horizons, so we're going to see Paul Krugman speak about the current economy. Economics has never been my top subject, so I'm just hoping I can follow along without looking too lost!

Valentine's Day is 2 weeks from Saturday and Curtsyland has lots of little goodies for the loves in your life. A good night's sleep is something we all cherish, but are too often deprived of. I just read an article that said you should try to get rid of absolutely all the light in your bedroom, including your clock radio. I don't think I can go quite that far, but sleep masks really can help block out all the other sources of illumination. Sleep Masks by Mary Green can help you or someone you love look cute while catching those all important Z's.

My friends and I have lately been lamenting the fact that several of us are currently without a "plus one". It's especially hard when the Holiday of Love is looming. If you're anything like me, you aren't the kind of girl to wait around for someone to treat you to something special. Treat yourself! This little bejeweled compact is the perfect reminder that your heart is as full as you let it be - plus one or not!
XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

Icons

Sooooooo over winter! The Captain & I spent the weekend up in Vancouver courtesy of my sweet-as-a-cupcake Curtsy Mama. We had oodles of fun......I shopped and shopped (having the captain with me was like having my own currency converting calculator at all times!)....and walked all over Yaletown on Sunday. The weather was beautiful....a bit chilly still but clear beautiful skies. I called the store on our way across the border and heard it had been snowing all day! Ew. If I also hadn't heard that we received some fancy new candles in that I couldn't wait to put out I do believe we would have turned right around and stayed 'til it was done being cold in Seattle.

Anyways.....about those candles that kept me on the path towards Curtsyland. Our new Icon Candles by Primal Elements are a collection of onyx glass candles with jeweled icons on them. Each come in a matching gift box with the same jeweled symbol on the front. The icons we received include a crown, a lightning bolt, a skull & crossbones, a heart, a peace sign, a star, & a fleur de lis. All the jewels are clear except the heart is red (and perfect for La La Love Day.)




Also from Primal Elements, a jeweled Happy Birthday wish candle. This candle has two wicks set in pink smells-so-good wax with the jeweled wish set on clear glass. It also comes with a matching gift box.

xxxx

Pirate Booty

A frustrating Monday! I began the day by making phone calls to five different vendors. It's now after 5 and nobody has called me back! Grrr! One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don't return their phone calls or e-mails. OK....I'm done venting!

Yo ho ho - pirates have invaded Curtsyland. They're just tiny little pirates and cute as hell! With the economy doing what it's doing, more parents are opting for at home birthday parties. We just couldn't resist the Pirate Ship Centerpiece. Stage your own battle of the terrors of the high seas on your table. Use the Pirate Cupcake Decorating Kit to make your own matching themed treats. Simple and in-expensive.

If your child is crazy for Blackbeard or the Pirates of the Caribbean, they will love this set of Valentine cards. Included in the 20 piece set is a treasure chest Valentine for the teacher as well. Too, too cute!

REMINDER: This is the last week to score some booty of your own. All jewelry in the store is on sale for 20% off through the end of the month.

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Giving Back

Last year Curtsy Bella quit paying for advertising and instead made a commitment to increase our charitable giving. We have re-newed that same commitment this year and are adding a new twist.

Several months ago we were approached by an alumni of a local sorority asking if they could hold a purse auction and private shopping event at Curtsyland to raise money for breast cancer awareness. We agreed to host the event and agreed additionally that we would donate 10% of the evenings revenues to their cause. The event was held last night and it ended up being a fabulous success. The sorority had a great event and we felt wonderful to be able to donate money as well as the venue. With the tough economy, charitable giving has dropped off, but the needs of various organizations have not.

The Curtsy Girls have decided that once a month we will partner with a local charitable organization to hold a shopping event for it's members and donate a portion of the proceeds to that charity. It could be a private after hours event or possibly a day that's devoted to your cause. We will ask that the charity be designated as a 501 (c) (3) by the IRS. If your organization is interested in being considered for one of the events, send us an e-mail at info@curtsybella.com or stop by the store. We've got 11 spots to fill this year, including one for February, so don't procrastinate.

XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

I've spent the day working on year end tax reports. I believe they're called tax reports as they are meant to tax one's patience! A bright spot in this otherwise trying day was the arrival of a new bunch of cards from oplusd. Ok, their cards do tend to brandish the F word rather freely, but they're funny as hell and pretty to boot!

Danielle spent the day re-arranging lots of the jewelry in the store and displaying it in our antique thread chest. The chest holds a special place in my heart as for many years it actually held thread in my Grandfather's store, Shoemakers, in Napoleon, Ohio. He took over running the store from his father and uncle and the thread chest was in there during their time as well. I worked for him one summer and have fond memories of helping customers find just the right color of thread for their sewing project by looking through it's many drawers. When he retired and closed the store, the chest went to my mom who several years later asked me if I wanted it. When we were getting ready to move it, I found an old, old copy of Cosmo hidden in the bottom drawer - probably one of the sales girls had it stashed there.

I just love this Queen Mom Pin. It's the perfect Valentine gift for the woman who has been there for you through it all. When you scraped you knee, had a fight with your best friend, when someone broke your heart, cheering you on through all your crazy phases. She's quite a woman, isn't she - don't forget to tell her that often!

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Cerebral Itch

I'm not sure I even remember how to blog it has been so long ;-) Happy 2009 lovelies! I am certainly looking forward to the new year. As Curtsy Mama mentioned we just got back from shopping in LA. We found lots of exciting new lines and have oodles of ideas for Curtsyland for the new year. We are also heading down to Vegas in February to hit a few markets that we have never attended before. Sooooo glad to be home for the time being though! I have been in AZ, FL & CA over the past three weeks....no wonder my cold doesn't want to go away.....fresh Seattle air should help.

Today certainly started off exciting.....I thought Michelle Obama looked très chic in her yellow Isabel Toledo frock. Curtsy Mama surprised me with a necklace from Tarina Tarantino's Liberty Loves Company collection for Christmas. It has oodles of pearls and a crystal framed leatherette cameo medallion adorned with good 'ol Honest Abe....I adore it and thought today certainly called for it. We didn't bring any of this collection in to Curtsyland but it is of course available for special order...we have the full collection catalog at the store.




Most of our Valentine's Day goodies are out but a few things are still trickling in. We just received an order of cards & wine labels today for the lovee holiday from Cerebral Itch. For those of you not familiar with the wonderful products that Cerebral Itch supplies us with....you are missing out! Their card line has been a favorite since we started carrying them last year. Just before the holidays they started making wine labels.....ridiculously funny removable wine labels that turn your boring hostess gift into the hit of the party. A favorite & best seller reads "Don't waste this wine on the uncultured palates of other guests."

Their Valentine's Day wine labels include some that are great for exchanging between significant others, e.g., "This Valentine's Day, in light of both our demanding schedules, let's forego the romance and move directly to drinking ourselves blind and humping oh so wildly." Others are more appropriate when the holiday will be spent with other singletons, e.g., "Valentine's Day is not only for lovers. It's also for people like us who raise a glass or two in hopes said lovers see nothing but monotony and despair as their relationship decends into hell."

xxxx

So Sweet!

Back in Curtsyland after 4 days in LA LA Land. We did play a little on our first day there by going to the Happiest Place on Earth (no, not Nordstrom's Shoe Department). Disneyland was surprisingly un-crowded! We had no more than a 10 minute wait on any ride. Unfortunately, we were both still fighting the crud that's been going around, so we satisfied ourselves with once on each of our favorites.

Our first appointment on Friday was with the gals at Tarina Tarantino. So many fabulous new things to choose from, it was tough not to blow our entire budget in their showroom. We have several different orders placed with ship dates in March and April, so if there's anything you've been eyeing on their website or in the catalogs we have at the store, now's the time to let us order it for you.


Some of our favorite treats are the Chick Chocolates by Seattle Chocolates. We've just received a new shipment of Strong Chick, Extreme Chick, Nutty Chick and Survivor Chick. These make the perfect little girlfriend gifts or a nice little treat for yourself. Which chick are you?


XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

We're Going Shopping!

We're off to LA LA Land this afternoon to attend the California Gift Show. The show doesn't start until Friday, but we're sneaking off a day early to go to Disneyland. Danielle and I love roller coasters and anything that goes fast. Our very first meeting on Friday is with the girls at Tarina Tarantino to see all their sparkly new wares and we're so excited!

Our very capable Curtsy Girls Pamela and Heather will be taking care of the store and our fabulous customers while we're gone. Danielle worked her tail off this week transforming the store for Valentine's Day. Stop by over the next few days to see the new goodies and keep the girls from getting bored.

Don't forget that during the month of January all jewelry in the store is on sale for 20% off.

XOXO

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

Day in and day out you're a good person.....right? You do the right thing, show up to work on time, help friends and strangers in need, don't litter. When it all gets too much, the devil in you comes out and you just want to chuck everything, go lay on a beach and drink frosty libations brought to you by the cute cabana boy or girl. This Red Devil Bank is the perfect place to stash your pennies for when that day comes. It'll help you keep that side of you at bay until you can properly fund your wild child.

New luscious items from Honeydew arrived today. For many of us, right about now is when the January doldrums set in. The holidays are finished, the sun is still going down at 0 dark 30 and there just aren't a lot of parties going on. The Tutu Mesh Rhumba Bralette and Panty Set will help you kick those doldrums in the ass. Frilly, pretty and girlie, what more could you ask for?

XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

A Place For Everything!

Little know fact about the Curtsy Girls - we are organizational FREAKS! Both at home and at the store, we love having things in their proper places. When we find pretty (or humorous)little products to help with the job, it sets our hearts all a flutter. Knock-Knock Folder Sets are perfect for those wishing to add a little humor to the file cabinet. Organizing supplies from Papaya can make even the messiest desk look pretty. I love, love, love the Phone Messages Pad. There's worse than missing messages or having a stack of ugly pink slips thrust upon you when you return from lunch. This stylish pad will help your office avert both of those unpleasant situations.


We have a new tenant sharing our building. Welcome to University Canine Learning Academy. The instructors at UCLA are dedicated to helping dogs and their people learn together happily and effectively. They will be holding their Grand Opening this Saturday, January 17th from noon until 4PM. Enjoy games, raffles, treat for the pups, food for people, pet adoption and more. Stop by and meet their talented and caring staff. Parking will probably be a little crazy, but last time I looked, there was a large shopping center with a huge parking garage just around the corner.

When you're finished checking them out, pop into Curtsyland to take advantage of the January Jewelry Sale - 20% off all regularly priced jewelry in the store.

XOXO
Curtsy Mama
Mary Jo

We're Back!!!

We are so happy to be back in Curtsyland after a difficult week in Florida. The purpose of the trip was to clear out my mom's home after her death last fall. Not only was that a tough job, but as soon as we arrived, we all got sick. Definitely won't go down as one of our favorite trips. We're so very grateful to both Pamela and Heather for keeping the store running smoothly and looking pretty while we were gone.

Danielle is hurrying to get all our Valentines goodies displayed. We're heading back out next Wednesday to shop for the store at the Los Angeles Gift Show, so she's got her work cut out for her.

We're pretty tickled with some fun new items from our friends at Booty Parlor. We all know that it takes work to keep the fun and playfulness in any long term relationship. Just imagine all the ways that you can get creative with the pretty pink paintbrush and jar of yummy (almost fat free) chocolate. MMMMM....that's what I call delicious!

REMINDER...During the month of January we're offering a 20% discount on all regular priced jewelry in the store.

XOXO,

Curtsy Mama

Mary Jo

On Vacay!

Curtsy Mama, Danielle and the Captian are taking a little time off down in sunny Florida. The store is being manned by our 2 fabulous new Curtsy Girls, Pamela and Heather. We'll be back next week and will bring the blog up to date then.

During the month of January, all regularly priced jewelry in the store is on sale for 20% off (yep, even the Tarina!). January store hours are Monday - Saturday 10AM - 6PM and Sunday 11AM - 5PM.

XOXO
The Curtsy Girls