Life in Pajamas

Start a "Grab Bag" Tradition this Valentine's Day

Today we are introducing our first ever Valentine's Day Grab Bag at The Pajama Company. These special bundles come with a sweet variety of small gifts and instructions on how to share the holiday of love with friends and family.

Modeled after my own family tradition, the Grab Bags are designed to be shared through an activity.  In a recent press release I said  “Valentine’s Day isn’t just about treating that one special person. At The Pajama Company we say you should share the holiday with all the people you love.”

Now here's how it works.  Each person takes a turn closing his or her eyes and picking something out of the grab bag. But there's a catch:  the picker than has to decide who else in the group should get the gift.  This little twist makes the Grab Bag all about sharing and giving, not just "grabbing".  It's a great way to honor all the people you love and help everyone feel special on Valentine's Day.

The Pajama Company is offering three options of Grab Bags priced $50, $75 and $100. Each come with a selection of books, eye masks, chocolate and accessories all wrapped in a specialty Valentine’s Day pillowslip. Start with our bag and top it up with more goodies you know your friends and family will love.  Maybe a favorite magazine, candy bar, card game, Starbucks, Subway or itunes card.  Maybe a CD or DVD, maybe a yo yo or jar of play dough.  The fun is in the stuffing of the bag as much as the grabbing.  

Start your own Grab Bag tradition this year and let the Valentine’s Day fun begin.

Pajamas Banned at a UK Grocery Store

The Guardian newspaper is reporting that customers at a Welsh branch of Tesco grocery store are now banned from wearing pajamas. The Cardiff Tesco spokesperson explained that shoppers sporting pajamas were offensive to other shoppers.  Of course we at The Pajama Company love to see pajamas here, there and everywhere.  Just the other day we complimented a guy at a cafe wearing a great pajama pant with his fleece jacket and slip on shoes.  He told us he was a film producer who used to always wear suits but now lives and works in pajamas.  All we could say was...how wonderful and his happy face kind of said it all. 

Now what do you think about pajamas at the grocery store? Take our poll and share your views.

Sleep Talkin' Man

Finding ourselves laughing out loud at the dead-of-night utterances of "Mild mannered English husband, Adam" as chronicled in Karen Slavick-Lennard's blog Sleep Talkin' Man. We hear from Mashable that this blog has truly gone viral with more than half a million visitors, 20,000 facebook fans and 10,000 followers on twitter.  Adam seems to have something to say every night and often says five or six crazy phrases.  Be warned that some are not suitable for small children.  Here are a few of his latest:

"Babies don't bounce. They don't bounce! Shame. It'd be much more fun if they bounce."

"I think you should sit down. Surely your ankles can't take the weight."

"Come back. Come back. Come baaaaack."

"Tick tock tick tock... Everybody's waiting. It's time for me to shine."

"No, not the cats. Don't trust them. Their eyes. Their eyes. They know too much."

"I'm here! I know, I brighten the room. Everything's better."

"No dog, no play. It's as simple as that."

"Yes, I can get away with wearing leather chaps. Just not on a windy day."

"Yeah, falling in love is WONDERFUL. Especially when it's with me."

"Hooray for me! Yup, I said it. Now the rest of you can join in."

"Just look at yourself. Yeah, now look at me. You don't stand a chance. It must suck to be you, I'm sure."

So, take yourself straight to Karen's blog for more sleep talkin' man chatter. 

The World's Hippest Pillowcases

Here at The Pajama Company, we are loving the new collection of pillowcases from Snooze City Designs.  So long hum drum white pillowcases and hello "Pass Out Here" and "I Heart U" and "Paparazzi."  Launched by Michael Azria and Derek Mosher in 2007, the guys explain their product this way:  "Our mission was to take plain existing products, and to add a fun and modern element to them.  The first result...the world's hippest pillowcases!"  And that is exactly what they have achieved. We love the thought of resting our sleepy heads on buttery soft and fabulously fun fresh pillowcases.($28 for the set of standard size cases)  Our celeb gossip experts at People Magazine tell us that Gwen Stefani and hubby Gavin Rossdale chose to lay their well-coiffed heads on these edgy pillowcases.  After receiving the "Plugged In" set, the couple requested the "Bride & Groom" set as well...Here are a few of our faves.

 

  

 

 

Let's Talk Cookies!

Time to take a break from holiday shopping, cards, decorating, work and just think Cookies! Doing a google search for "Christmas Cookies" took me straight to www.joyofbaking.com where the most beautiful, inviting cookies pop off the page in vivid Christmas colors.  We love the traditional sugar cookies in wonderful shapes and colors.  Most families make cookie baking part of their holiday celebrations.  Cookies just spread happiness.  Here is the recipe for this beauty.

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure extract

Directions

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.  Set aside.

Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 to 4 minutes).  Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.  Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough.  Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for about one hour or until firm enough to roll.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Remove one half of the chilled dough from the refrigerator and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch.  Cut out cookies using a lightly floured tree cookie cutter and transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheet. 

Place the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to chill the dough which prevents the cookies from spreading and losing their shape while baking.   Bake cookies for about 10 minutes or until they begin to brown around the edges.  Remove them from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.  Frost with icing.   Makes about 20 cookies.

Royal Icing Using Egg Whites

1 large egg white

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

Directions

Beat the egg whites with the lemon juice.  Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth.  The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. 

Confectioners Frosting

2 cups confectioners sugar (icing or powdered sugar), sifted

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/3 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk

Directions

Cream the butter until smooth and well blended. Add the vanilla extract.  With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beater.  Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is nice and smooth.  

What are your cookie traditions? 

Everybody Loves Footzies!

With winter winds blowing and the holidays just around the corner, it's time to jump into a warm and cozy set of Footzies.  Choose from 8 luscious colors including our so festive Red, Pretty Pink, Warm Plum, Mint Green, Baby Blue, Tangerine, Lavender and Black.  Because Footzies are sold as separates you can mix and match the footy pants with the tee, tank or button up shirt and choose just the right size for each.  Footzies make the perfect present for women of all ages and are also loved by teens and tweens.  No more cold feet. No more socks in bed. No need for slippers. Footzies pants have a non-skid sole, and come in both Long and Short lengths. Made of 80% cotton and 20% polyester, the feel is soft velour and the price is just right, $29.99. The pant has an elastic waist with drawstring and comes in a long size for those 5'5" and above and a short size for those 5'5" or less and is sized from Small to XLarge for waist sizes 27" to 36".  The long sleeved tee and button up shirt are $19.99 each and the pretty tank top is $14.99.  Everybody loves Footzies!

 

Red Footy Pant $29.99   Long Sleeve Tee $19.99

Mint Green Footy Pant $29.99   Button Up Shirt $19.99

Lavender Footy Pant $29.99   Tank Top $19.99

Our Favorite Pajamas Today

Today, it's all about pajamas.  It's about pajamas as the perfect present.  Opening a pajama gift is an absolute pleaser, spreading grins all around. And isn't that the fun of giving?  We recommend giving Dad that pair of footie pajamas that will bring out the kid in him on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.  And how about the same for Mom, a pair of footies will spread cheer all around.  Kids love to see Mom and Dad full of fun and footies do just that.  We also love our new fun flannel pajamas from PJ Salvage, Hatley Nature and Munki Munki.  Pajamas around the holidays are cozy and relaxing.  Here are our favorites today.

Chairs from Munki Munki $86 Red Fleece Adult Footie $48

Blue Check Flannel Adult Footie $44

   PJ Salvage Womens "Popcorn" Flannel $70

Our Top 20 Stocking Stuffer Picks

What began in 16th century in Holland has become a beloved tradition...the Christmas stocking.  Finding the perfect small gifts for each stocking is such fun and here at The Pajama Company we think we've found some fabulous goodies.  We love the paper goods from Knock Knock.  Gifts that really make you smile!  Here are today's top 20 stocking stuffers:

1.  Christmas Bingo from Knock Knock  $10

2.  "Stuff This"  Sticky Notes from Knock Knock  $4

3.  "Ho" Sticky Notes  from Knock Knock  $4

4.  Holiday Remarks & Replies for all Occasions from Knock Knock  $10

5.  Aviators Pillow Case Set  $28

6.  Frankie & Johnny Sunny Sweets Cosmetics Bag  $25

7.  Hatley Nature Moose Wake Up Cozy Sleep Sock in Blue  $13

8.  David & Goliath One Tough Cookie Snap Bracelet  $5

9. Simple Ways to Relax  gift book  $5

10.  Mental Case Mid Life Crisis "Mid-Life Crisis" Soap  $8

11.  Say It With Suds You're the Best Mom in The World   $12

12.  Cherry Baby Eye Mask $20

13.  Merry Christmas Wish Candle from Primal Elements $24

14.  Polly Wants A Cocktail  Women's Boxer from Be As You Are $16

15.  Dam Tired Cozy Sleep Socks from Hatly Nature $13

16.  Chicks Rule...At Poker Playing Cards from David & Goliath $10

17.  Totally Awesome Lip Jelly from David & Goliath $3.50

18.  Ski Bum  Men's Boxer in Red from Hatley Nature $16

19.  Apple Pie  Body Lotion from Junk Food  $7

20.  The Christmas Box of Questions  $20

Make Today a Christmas Movie "Pajama" Day

Take a break from your Thanksgiving leftovers and online shopping for an early Christmas Movie.  Make today a "Pajama" Day to kick off the holidays.  No need to loosen the belt when you are having a pajama day!  We found a great list at Moviefone of the Best Christmas Movies of All Time.  See if you agree.

25. Polar Express (2004)

24. We're No Angels (1955)

23.  The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

22.  Joyeux Noel (2006)

21.  Gremlins (1984)

20.  The Santa Clause (1994)

19.  Bad Santa (2003)

18.  The Dead (1987)

17.  The Shop Around The Corner (1940)

16.  Die Hard (1988)

15.  Love Actually (2003)

14.  The Bishop's Wife (1947)

13.  The Nightmare Before Christmas  (1993)

12.  Holiday Inn (1942)

11.  A Christmas Carol (1951)

10.  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

9.  Babes in Toyland (1934)

8.  Home Alone (1990)

7.  Christmas in Connecticut (1942)

6.  Elf (2003)

5. White Christmas (1954)

4.  Scrooged (1988)

3.  Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

2.  It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

1,  A Christmas Story (1983)

Christmas Traditions + Pajamas = Perfect

Here at The Pajama Company we love hearing sweet stories of family holiday traditions that include pajamas. This is the perfect year to create some new holiday traditions in pajamas. Here are some fun family activities which are just better in pajamas.

• Holiday baking.  Put on pajamas and make yummy cookies together.
• Have a Christmas Bedtime Story Night together in pajamas.
• Have a Christmas Movie Night with hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn and pajamas.
• Decorate the house together in pajamas.
• Decorate the tree in pajamas.
• Put pajamas on and jump in the car to look at Christmas lights in your town and neighborhood.
• Go caroling in Christmas pajamas.
• Put on family matching pajamas and do your own fashion "photo shoot".  Print out your favorite "model" shots.

We love American Idol winner Kris Allen's family tradition...Every year, Allen's mother gives he and his brother, Daniel, a new pair of pajamas and a board game, which they play — no matter how long it takes — before going to bed. He already knows what game he wants this year. "The new Monopoly with the big towers," Kris says, his eyes widening. "You can build cities. It's weird." 

Give The Gift of Christmas Pajamas....Early!

We know that for many families giving Pajamas is just part of Christmas.  Giving pajamas is a tradition.  For some it's Christmas Eve, for some it's Christmas morning.  We love the Christmas Eve pajamas because everyone can jump into bed in warm new pj's, all snugly, anticipating Christmas morning.  But are there other times, maybe sooner on the calender than Christmas Eve when Christmas pajamas might just be a wonderful and unexpected treat?  We think yes.  Remember the classic song from Mame, "We Need A Little Christmas...Right This Very Minute"!  Consider breaking tradition this year and surprise everyone with Christmas pajamas now or if you must wait consider some of these suggestions of when to give pajamas this year:  

• On Thanksgiving Day
• On the Day After Thanksgiving (considered to be the beginning of the Christmas Season)
• On the Day of the first Snow of Winter
• On the day you decorate the home for Christmas
• On the day you make those first Christmas Cookies
• On the day you wrap presents
• On the day you take the Christmas card photo (and make it a pajama photo!)
• 12 Days before Christmas
• On December the 1st
• On the day the Christmas Tree is Decorated
• On Saint Nicholas Day (usually December 6th)

The gift of pajamas for Christmas is a wonderful tradition for many.  Is it one for your family?  This is the perfect time to begin.  Kids love to see their parents and grandparents wearing pajamas.  It's just happy.