Remember the story about Coco? Well, there’s a little more to the story. Sadly, a couple weeks ago we had to lay our dog Remmy to rest. He was ill and, after a year of trying to get him better, there was nothing left that we could do. It was one of the hardest decisions to make and our hearts were heavy with sadness in the days to follow. The house felt empty and both of us agreed that it would be a while before we owned another dog.
My spouse was in need of a new pair of flip flops. I didn’t stress about it. It was a simple task of visiting the shoe department and picking out a pair. No big deal. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and ventured to the nearest store. I roamed several aisles twice. Nothing. Was I missing something? How could the shoe department not sell flip flops. Next store. There were 2 pairs hanging on an otherwise empty rack. At the last store, a small selection of flip flops hung at the end of the aisle…mostly kids sizes. What used to be the flip flop display had been replaced with boots. I was frustrated. It’s the middle of summer and I could not find a decent pair of flip flops.
You saw the word ‘wedding’ in the title. You clicked. Maybe a little confusion as to why there isn’t a picture of a flowing wedding gown or some other fairytale wedding picture? I’ll clear that up quickly. This isn’t about an elaborate wedding with sprays of pink roses everywhere, white fabric chairs, a bunch of tables adorned with fancy tablecloths or a hired staff running around with trays of french appetizers that can’t be translated into English. There was a brief period in my life where I slightly desired such a wedding. It was right around the time that Ken entered Barbie’s world. I was about 6 or 7. They had a wedding. It took up my entire bedroom floor and I replayed it over and over and over again. It was short lived. That phase passed.
We are so pleased at the response we have gotten to zuuzStyle! If you haven’t signed up for the Giveaway yet, do so here!
Now, we have something new and exciting to announce! zuuzStyle is hosting a first-of-its-kind Fashion Design Competition! The basis of the competition is to launch promising young and independent designers into the fashion world.
Here are some details
If you are interested in entering, or want to stay up on the latest details, sign up here!
zuuzs.com is proud to partner with North Texas Food Bank to help fight hunger in North Texas during the Empty Bowls Event now through March 9. Join us in this fight by signing up at www.zuuzs.com/ntfb (It’s FREE), start shopping, invite your friends, and earn cash back. By shopping online at our 850+ retailers, zuuzs will pay you cash back for your purchase as well as pay you cash back for the purchases your friends make. Make a purchase between now and March 9th, zuuzs will double the cash back to the North Texas Food Bank during the Empty Bowls event. Your shopping will be guilt-free because, for every purchase you make, zuuzs will donate money to North Texas Food Bank, where $1 feeds 3 people. Today marks the day that your shopping can actually impact a family! Shop On!
Image via North Texas Food Bank
January can be kind of a drag. Between the weather and the never-ending talk of resolutions and change, it is easy to get stuck in the doldrums. However, one fun thing about the beginning of the year, especially if you are a movie lover, is the awards show circuit! From red carpets, to never-ending speeches, to heartfelt moments, awards shows are plain old fun…so what better way to enjoy them than with a small party? Here are some fun ideas for the BAFTAs, the Razzies, the SAGs, or the Oscars!
Whatever your plans, make sure to enjoy the big night!
Image via Fiskars
Dana also writes a vintage fashion blog at www.woodstockwardrobe.com
After much ado, we’re finally in 2012. It’s time to take down the Christmas trees, prepare your yearly budget, and most importantly, make New Years’ Resolutions. The good thing about a resolution is that it can be as personal or as broad as you like. You can choose to undertake the task of quitting smoking, losing weight, or shopping less (gasp!). If you are still stuck, here are some ideas to make 2012 the best year ever:
Earn Cash Everyday—Whether by partaking in a simple survey or throwing all of your excess change in a small jar, a good monetary resolution is to focus on the little places money can come from. Another tip is to invite friends to Zuuzs, which puts money right in your pocket!
Exercise Without Even Trying—Park your car as far away from the mall as possible (weather permitting), take the stairs instead of the elevator, and carry a basket at the grocery store rather than pushing a cart. All of these small tasks will eventually add up to a slimmer, healthier you!
Do Something New—Your mantra for the year should be YES. Dinner with an old roommate, seeing a foreign film, or going to a concert of an unknown local band can all expand your horizons and create new memories.
Happy New Year from everyone here at Zuuzs!
Image via Family Fun Shop
Dana also writes a vintage blog at www.woodstockwardrobe.com.
For those of you who entertain for the holidays, it can seem like you spend half of your life in the kitchen. But that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. There are plenty of ways to check off things on your to-do list even if you spend all day in one room.
If you have a TV (or laptop) use this time to catch up on guilty pleasure television shows that don’t require your full attention. It will make the time go much quicker, and you will associate slaving over a hot stove with the latest salacious gossip.
For a more cerebral way to spend your time, listen to an album by your favorite artist or to a book on tape. All you need is an iPod dock, radio, or CD Player to get yourself in a calm and happy state of mind.
If you would like to spend your time in the kitchen getting something more important done, take the minutes while a pot is boiling or the oven is preheating to pay bills, balance your checkbook, or organize your recipes. Cooking is an overwhelming and sometimes difficult task, but any extra minutes you have to spare can be used to relax or get more done, leading to an even more relaxing holiday dinner!
Dana Farber also writes a vintage fashion blog at www.woodstockwardrobe.com
Photo Credit: Nashville Scene
So, the weather outside is frightful and the kids are bored and heading for the TV, what do you do? Well it can be really easy to let them play video games and watch television all day; there are plenty of other fun things to do indoors!
One time-tested classic is arts and crafts. On the kitchen table or counter, spread out stacks of blank paper, markers, crayons, and colored pencils. Bonus points for popsicle sticks, glitter, and pipe cleaners, but they are definitely not necessary! Then, have drawing competitions to see who can draw the best house, tree, cat, Santa, etc. Other fun activities are word games, such as seeing how many small words you can make from Peppermint. You can reward the winner with a small prize such as a mug of hot chocolate.
As far as that tasty treat is considered, making it can be an activity in and of itself. Stock up on cute mugs, various flavors of hot cocoa mix (or make your own), marshmallows, and whipped cream. On the side, serve fruit like strawberries and bananas to add some nutrients to the day!
Dana also writes a vintage fashion blog at www.woodstockwardrobe.com
Photo via Arts & Crafts Ideas
One of the best scenarios for the holiday season is to be the guest rather than the hostess. There are none of the pressures of cooking, entertaining, and cleanup, but be sure to keep in mind the gracious duties of being a guest. First of all, before the party, always offer to bring something (especially if you have any specific dietary needs), and even if they decline, come with a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates.
After your hostess goes all out to make sure the evening is a success, it is proper etiquette to send a gift. The best way to really impress with a hostess gift is to make it as personal as possible. One way to do this is by incorporating the evening into your present. At the party, take as many pictures as possible and try to remember any funny or memorable details. Afterwards, you can turn these memories into a homemade scrapbook. Your hostess will be so honored that the night she worked so hard to make special was received that way as well.
A less involved, but equally thoughtful, idea is homemade treats. If you make great chocolate chip cookies, put all of the ingredients in a pretty jar with the recipe tied on the side. This can also work with hot chocolate mix (be sure to include marshmallows!).
If homemade isn’t really your thing, try going to the hostess’ favorite gift shop or bakery and find something special you know she would like. Make sure to have it gift-wrapped and, if they offer it, hand-delivered. The thought is in the details! If you live in different cities and you aren’t near her favorite place, send something unique from your hometown that you know she would appreciate. The possibilities are endless, and you will definitely be invited back next year!
Dana also writes a vintage fashion blog at woodstockwardrobe.com
Photo Credit: SquawkFox