Lovelorn man pays $1,800 for newspaper love letter

Need to make a grand romantic gesture? Take a line out of Raul's book ... er newspaper ad.

Raul shelled out $1,800 last week to tell love-spurned Megan that he still wants her. The Texas man penned a "1,000-plus-word half-page love letter/advertisement" in The San Antonio-Express News.

"As the story of the unusual advertisement started to gain national attention, the San Antonio-Express News attempted to get Raul to elaborate on the rather cryptic note. But Raul has refused, preferring that his original letter, which contains no last names or contact information, speak for itself."

Raul's words to Megan include: "I understand your life is different but my soul is still constantly trying to touch yours" and "If I really truly love you, then it's important that I look for the highest mountain to climb and shout it from the top of my lungs."

This sweet story has apparently prompted countless men to come forward seeking a similar ad for their lady loves. I hope we get some romantic prose soon inside the pages of The Enterprise.

Will you get 'Carried' away with the new 'Sex' sequel?

Confession: I loved Sex and the City when it was on HBO. (The clothes, the storylines, the many, many men were great!)

The 2008 movie tied up some loose ends remaining after the HBO finale and I was happy where the girls left off. After watching the trailer for 'Sex 2,' however, I fear the Fonz has jumped the shark. (WTF?!? Are they channeling 'Lawrence of Arabia' in Chanel bathing suits?)

This film could finally prove once and for all that some things are better than 'Sex'.

Become a 'beautiful baby all over again' with The Bundler

Behold. The Bundler! Our reptilian pal Gator shared this nifty (and totally retro) find after reading my previous post on Jumpin Jammerz.

I love that The Bundler is advertised as "the snuggly fashion that will make ANY big kid a beautiful baby all over again!" WHAT?!?! There are so many things wrong with that statement. It's no wonder The Bundler went the way of slouch socks and puffy sleeves.


I think one blogger summed it up best (and quite hilariously) with this post:
"Robe scientists have discovered the earliest known Snuggie/ Slanket ancestor: 'The Bundler.' Which is apparently just footie pajamas held on with rubber bands? 'Deliciously sexy on her, smoothly good-looking on him.' No it's not."

Get your "Crazy Monkey" on with footed jammies

It’s a Snuggie holiday conspiracy.

Retailers must have met in a seedy back alley in October and decided to collectively shove Snuggies down our throats this Christmas.

Leopard print Snuggies are falling off shelves at Walgreen’s, Target is pushing the breast cancer survivor Snuggie, and every big-box retailer in between is hocking a Snuggie made for dogs. (Dogs already have a built in Snuggie, folks. It’s called fur!)

I think retailers missed the mark this year, though. Don’t they know it ’tis the season for Jumpin’ Jammerz, footed pajamas for adults? Oh yes. You read correctly. Footed pajamas are no longer just for kiddos and weird folks with fetishes.

According to Jumpin Jammerz’ Web site: "Jumpin Jammerz is leading the way in footed sleepwear with a vast array of fun prints, styles, fabrics and colors!"
"Our Jammerz have been worn by an ever growing list of celebrities, including Joan Cusack, Dakota Fanning, Vanessa Lengies, and have been spotted on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ‘The Ellen DeGeneres’ show and made it into the ultra elite grab-bags at the 2007 Oscars!"

Something makes me think "Saturday Night Live" cast members were not wearing Jammerz in a serious sketch. And who the heck is Vanessa Lengies? (I looked her up. She’s been in a few episodes of "Hawthorne" and made one
appearance on "Medium." Jammerz might be using the term "celebrity" with Lengies a little loosely.)

Sorry, I digress.

Jammerz, with styles ranging from "Firetrucks" to "Crazy Monkey," start at $45.
Oh and ladies, Jammerz also come in "Sexy Sheer" for $60. And, nothing is hotter than fabric covering every inch of your body, except for your face.

Getting back to the Snuggie craze of 2009, Jumpin Jammerz is marketing their own version of the blanket with sleeves. You can order a Silly Blanket in Leopard Skin, Pink Cheetah or Red Camo for $19.95.

Bet that Pink Cheetah looks wild with the "Sexy Sheer" Jammerz!

The Ladies of the L'Auberge know how to roll em'

Daddy got a gamblin' problem?

Well, then move on. This gift ain't for him.

The L'Auberge Du Lac Casino Resort is revealing their 20Ten Ladies of L'Auberge Calendar, featuring "sexy employees."

With just a few days till Christ's birthday, you've still got time to get your hands on this "sizzling" find just in time for Christmas giving. According to the Lake Chuck casino, "getting into print isn't easy."

"Employees must audition for a highly coveted spot in the glossy calendar."

Wonder what that audition is like?
I bet it goes something like this:

Big Boss: "Darla Jane. Instead of wearing your gift shop uniform on Friday, we're gonna need you to come on in to work in that maid costume you wore to the company Halloween party."

Darla Jane: "Sure thing. But, do I have to sit in your lap like last time?"

Oh, I am only kidding. I am sure the whole affair is really classy.

To find out how the process really goes, log on to HERE"for a behind-the-scenes video diary of the calendar shoot, additional photos and biographies for each Lady of L’Auberge. Additionally, you can watch video interviews of each calendar girl and purchase a calendar."

Calendars are $12.99 and are sure to keep you all hot and bothered through 20Eleven.

Nothing says the holidays like suffocating a baby

Admittedly, I don't have children. So, maybe my reaction to the Princess Collection Princess Take Along Baby is all wrong:

Who in the hell would buy this for their kids!?!

Trendy reader Roxanne sent me this divine find from the CVS Web Site. For $7.99 you can teach your little girl how to kill a baby. "Yes, Sally. Babies love it when you store them in a confined space with limited air."

It's like Take Along Baby was ripped from local headlines. Remember Thanksgiving 2003 when a high school age mother stuffed her newborn in her Port Neches-Groves band bag? The baby, created with the girl's own brother, died of suffocation.

She got 12 years for capital murder and her brother got probation for having an inappropriate relationship with his sister.

Makes me wonder if good ol' mom just didn't know babies are not supposed to be zipped up in backpacks. Before you pick up toys this year for the kiddos, remember dysfunction starts at home.

Yes, Virginia there is a gift card

Tomorrow, anyone named Virginia can receive a $10 gift card to Macy's.

Weird promotion? Perhaps.

The department store has proclaimed tomorrow as National Believe Day and will give any Virginia who comes into the store a free gift card. Macy's will also unveil their new animated holiday film, "Yes, Virginia," at 7 p.m. on CBS.

For those of you not named Virginia, don't fret. Bring a stamped letter to Macy's, addressed to Santa at The North Pole, and drop it in their Santa letter box. For each letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to $1 million).

Hasbro purchase benefits Salvation Army

Wow! I seem to have offended some of you readers with my prior post on bell ringers.

For those of you who would like for me to "go stand in the cold, rain, and even the hot weather for a day" as a bell ringer, I guess I should confess that I volunteered as a bell ringer and with the Angel Tree program while I was in college. It was a truly rewarding experience in which I got to spread Christmas cheer.

And now, I hope to spread even more.

Target is donating 5 percent of your purchase of select Hasbro toys, bought now through Saturday, to the Salvation Army. For details, visit www.target.com/salvationarmy

According to Target, The Salvation Army serves more than 30 million people across the United States each year.

Bell ringers giving the gift of laziness?

Salvation Army red kettles signify the start of Christmas for me, perhaps even more than holiday lights.

I love dropping loose change and some bills into each kettle in my path, knowing I will help a family in my community have a nice holiday. I also enjoy the enthusiasm of bell ringers, the joy they seem to get from visiting with folks coming and going on their various Christmas errands.

Sadly, I have lost the spark for red kettles this year. Not because I don't want to give. Rather, I find myself dissatisfied with the bell ringers.

I know this is not their job, and many bell ringers are volunteers. But, on two occasions yesterday I merrily dug in my purse for money to drop in kettles in front of Macy's at Parkdale Mall and Market Basket in Port Neches. To my disappointment, both bell ringers were absent from their kettles.

At Macy's, a woman sat inside the store's entryway texting - both on my way in and out of the store. I understand bell ringers get breaks, but it was the lunch hour and a busy shopping day. Last night at Market Basket, the bell ringer sat 5 feet away from his kettle, quietly reading a newspaper. A friend told me he saw a bell ringer at Walgreen's this week lazily leaning on his kettle, content to not speak to anyone.

I will always give to the Salvation Army, but I am disenchanted with the process this year. If bell ringers can't be troubled to do their job, I bet a lot of potential donors will not be troubled to give this year. And that is just sad.

Easy peasy Christmas card holder

Christmas cards are flying in and I am running out of room to display them.

Here's another great tip from Melina Gerosa Bellows' "The Fun Book for Christmas:"

Collect tree branches and put them in a large glass vace. Attach Christmas cards with bits of ribbon.

Sounds fun and festive!

Do you have other ideas for how to display Christmas cards?

Give a Christmas gift to your least favorite body part

I just wracked up the savings at Macy's One-Day Sale.

Almost everything is 50 percent off or seriously reduced in price. On top of that, I saved $15 off my purchases with Wow Passes I got from several recent Enterprise papers. Grab some of your back issues and get going!

While you're there, don't forget to pick up a little something for yourself. This week, I read a great tip in Melina Gerosa Bellows' "The Fun Book for Christmas." Bellows writes: Give a Christmas gift to your least favorite body part.

Hmmm, that means some slimming jeans for me!

What are you getting yourself?

He Went to Jared! But what do I get him?

"He went to Jared!" "Every kiss begins with Kay."

I’ve heard these jewelry store slogans more than a few times recently. It seems like every holiday commercial right now is slanted towards a female audience. Yes, you read correctly.

These jewelry commercials are not to give men independent ideas. No, sir.

They are designed to make women dream the man in their life is going to present them with an engagement ring, heart-shaped necklace or diamond earrings while ice skating on a frozen pond to the sweet sounds of some Maxwell love ballad.

Instead, many of you female readers will be presented with a new microwave or vacuum cleaner come Christmas day.

The reason? Men do not watch jewelry commercials and dream of experiencing those fuzzy moments.

Marketing companies, instead, are dependent on women seeing these commercials and putting a bug in their men’s ears — subtly or not — that they want jewelry.

Honestly, I am jealous of men during Christmas. I have no idea of what to give my boyfriend.
There are no commercials that end with "She went to Gamestop!" or "Every catch begins with Academy."

Nope. I have to rely on details in past conversations with him or piggy-back off what my girlfriends are picking up for their boyfriends or husbands.

So, I ask you readers: What are you getting your significant other for Christmas? Tell me by commenting on this post.

Next Saturday, I will reveal your recommendations in The Beaumont Enterprise

Bazaar shopping starts today!

Take a break from retail chains this weekend and spend money with your neighbors.

A Very Merry Main Street Market kicks off tonight at the Beaumont Civic Center. The Junior League of Beaumont's annual shopping extravaganza includes jewelry, crafts, holiday decor and more.

Tonight, shop from 4-8 p.m. One lucky shopper will take home a diamond necklace.

On Friday, the market opens from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, visit the market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and catch a glimpse of Santa.

Also on Saturday, the Junior League will give away a 2010 BMW. Tickets are $100 and can be entered in the drawing by contacting the Junior League at (409) 832-0873.

Admission to the Very Merry Market is $5.

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Other places to get your holiday shopping on this weekend include:

*St. Stephen's Church Holiday Bazaar, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 4090 Delaware.

Parishioners will serve gumbo, chili and bread pudding during the free shopping event. Items up for grabs include jewelry, clothing, toys, kitchen items, candles, pottery, baked goods, Christmas decor and more. Call (409) 892-0178 for details.

*The Art Studio Inc. will kick off its Shop-O-Rama at 11 a.m. Saturday. Gift givers can pick up custom art pieces between $20 and $50 during the sale. The Art Studio Inc. is located at 720 Franklin St. For info., call (409) 838-5393.

'Noble Things' available on DVD this Christmas

Need a break from holiday flicks?

I caught this big news on Facebook today:

Noble Things BREAKING NEWS!! NOBLE THINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON DVD THIS CHRISTMAS!! AT MAJOR RETAILERS AND AMAZON.COM DECEMBER 22ND. PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!!!
http://www.amazon.com/

Noble Things, filmed in Southeast Texas, stars Lee Ann Womack and Ryan Hurst.

Check out Enterprise coverage of the film here and here.

Holiday deals that leave you merry and bright

You've got 22 shopping days left till Christmas!

Here are two deals I spied in my morning Enterprise:

-You can buy eight 6-packs of soy melts for $20 at Strawberry Fields Candles & Gifts, 1690 N. Major Drive. Hello? Hot stocking stuffers!

-Have a person who is hard to buy for? Yeah, me too. If they also like to eat, check out Carrabba's gift card bargain. If you spend $100 on gift cards, you receive a $20 gift card in return. MMmm! Free dinner! Carrabba's is located at 1550 Interstate 10 S.