Life in Pajamas

Suddenly Winter

It's 4:08 pm on Saturday October 29 and it's a blizzard in CT. Snow is accumulating fast and furious.  Seems like only yesterday I was wearing jeans, sweater, tee shirt and flip flops.  Wait, it was only yesterday.  Preparing for winter takes some time.  Bears and squirrels plan for a day like today. They store up food and ready their habitat. What have I done to plan?  I'm looking out my snowy window and see my outdoor cushions with a white layer of snow cover.  Why didn't I bring them inside while it was still Fall...yesterday? I did some food shopping yesterday.  I bought some cupcakes because they looked nice and a cappuccino.  I really should have bought wood, hot chocolate mix, oatmeal, tea, red wine, soup, crusty bread.  Maybe I should have bought a bag of potato's and a roast? 

Many will likely love the idea of today being "Suddenly Winter."  There are a lot of things about Winter I love.  I'm a lounger so I love pajama days.  I don't suffer from cabin fever.  I relish the chance to stay in, to read, to nap, to sit on the couch with my laptop, to watch TV.  Winter is cozy.  Winter is warm and festive. I like Winter, just not today.  I wasn't quite finished with Fall.  We haven't even carved the pumpkins yet. (Procrastination is sometimes a side effect of lounging.) I was planning to carve them tomorrow...honest. 

Another inch has fallen while I write this post. The town mayor has called for people to stay off the roads.  Power outages are reported, trees are down.  Might Halloween be the first "Snow Day" of the year?  

Maya Angelou said "Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, "Im going to snow.  If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough, I'm going to snow anyway.""

Hello Winter.

 

I Love Being Lazy

Today my husband purchased some weights for our upstairs home gym. The weights now join the treadmill, a crunch chair, a yoga ball and an antiquated stairmaster that everyone detests. The problem with our upstairs gym is that it's in the same room with a quite large TV and a very inviting leather sofa with fluffy pillows and super soft fleece blankets. . 

Six years ago I launched my website selling pajamas.  I've loved pajamas all my life and have always loved being lazy.  In the early years and once last week, I denied my true love of lazy and fained a slight interest in gym equipment. I must have been peer pressured. But, 99% of the time I'm not shy about embracing who I really am.  I'm lazy.  Just plain lazy.  I don't say this like it's a bad thing.  For me it's exhilarating, it's liberating. I even boldly wrote it on a medical form last week in answer to the activity level question.

Last spring I wandered into a yoga apparel store and found the clothes to be really cute for lounging.  I know that's not the intention of the design but from my point of view, it was all about comfort.  I started to look through the assortment and was interrupted by a sales person asking me quite enthusiastically what was my sport.  I said actually I don't have a sport but I still find the clothes really cute.  She seemed slightly surprised and after a bit of an awkward silence I quietly mentioned that I occasionally walk my dog. (I do play golf but insist on riding in the cart so decided not to get into that.) Anyway, she perked up at that and began to suggest a few options for me.  I left the store with some cute yoga pants and a sweatshirt.  I was happy.  I spend a lot of time in pajamas but switching to yoga pants and sweatshirt for an outing is perfect.  I was recently at the grocery checkout when the woman behind me complimented my outfit and asked me where I do yoga.  I said "Actually I don't do yoga, I just really like the clothes." The fact is I don't do yoga and really can't recommend a local place.  But, for anyone looking  to be comfy, I can recommend a great spot to buy yoga clothes and of course a great place to buy pajamas.

I feel strongly about embracing our passions. I have friends and family who love to work out, who love to run, walk, jog, lift weights, go to pilates class, spin class, yoga class, kick boxing class.  I know for many the thought of lounging seems just unpleasant.  For many, being lazy is considered a character flaw.  For me lazy is defined in many ways.  Being lazy is curled up on the couch napping, being lazy is sitting in my favorite chair with a stack of magazines or reading my friend Meg's best selling thriller.  Being lazy is reading the Sunday paper with a piping hot cup of coffee in my favorite mug.  Being lazy is watching TV or surfing the web in my cozy pajamas.

Jerome K. Jerome exclaims in his essay "On being Idle" that "Idling always has been my strong point. I take no credit to myself in the matter—it is a gift. Few possess it." Jerome goes on to say:  "It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an occupation then, and a most exhausting one. Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen." How true.

Winnie the Pooh famously said “Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering." Yet again, Pooh, you are right. 

Today I'm not planning on using the new gym equipment and probably tomorrow I'll just be a little too busy doing what I love most. Working in pajamas and maybe taking a short break to be "idle."

 

 

 

Get Ready For Irene with Flashlight Games and Pajamas

Up and down the east coast today we are preparing for a little lady named IRENE who seems to be heading our way.  We're gathering our supplies:  water, food, flashlights, candles, batteries, pajamas.  We're moving items out of harms way in our yards, homes, apartments. We are getting ready for what the weekend may bring.  We're experts on surviving "Snow Days" in our pajamas but a hurricane might bring a few new challenges. 

Let's hope we don't have power outages but just in case...it's good to have a few games and stories ready for the dark...just in case!

Flashlight Games

1.  Tag  It's a classic but in the dark with a flashlight is even more fun.  Instead of tagging the person with a tap on the shoulder, the person who is "It" tags the player with a beam of light.One person is chosen to be "It" and the rest hide.  When the "It" player has counted to 20, he/she says "Here I Come" and must tag each player with the beam of light.  The last player left is the winner.  Another version of Tag is the reverse.  For this version, every player needs a flashlight.  The person who is "It" is the only one to hide and everyone else counts to 20.  Each player than goes in search of "It." When a player finds the "It" player, her/she joins them in the hiding place.  Soon everyone has disappeared and the one left still looking has lost the game.  In the dark this version is even more fun and spooky!

2.  Flashlight Limbo It's a classic party game but with this version, instead of using a pole two players create a beam of light with their flashlights by standing across from each other and creating the beam.  Lower it slightly for each round until there is a winner.

3.  Flashlight Hunt This is kind of like a scavenger hunt but in the dark.  Hide some objects around the house, give each player a list of what they need to find and off they go!  The more creative the objects and the hiding places the better.

4.  Statues  In this game one player is the "Tour Guide" and one player is the "Tourist." The rest of the players are the "Statues."  The "Tour Guide" and "Tourist" turn off their flashlights and count to 10 while the "Statues" scatter and strike an artful pose. The "Tour Guide" then leads the "Tourist" to each piece of "Art" shining the light on the still player and describing him/her with funny names or stories hoping to get the "Statue" to move or laugh. If the "Statue" moves than he/she is out.

Games to Play in Total Darkness

1. Guess the Object This is often a Halloween game but will work great for Irene.  Gather a few items with squishy or weird shapes...nothing sharp of course.  Players sit in a circle and each item is passed around the circle until someone guesses what it is. The spookier the item, the better.

2. Scary Storytelling All the players sit in a circle.  One player shines the flashlight on his/her face and starts the "Scary" Story with a sentence, the next player in the circle adds the next sentence and so on.   It's best when the story gets more and more scary and exciting!

3. Two Truths and a Lie Sit in a circle.  Each person one by one shines the flashlight on his/her face and must tell everyone two things that are true about himself/herself and one thing that isn’t.  Mix up the two truths and a lie however you please.  Everyone has to guess which is the lie.

 

 

Today I'm Working in Pajamas

Yup, today I'm working in pajamas.  Working in pajamas is nothing new for me, I've loved pajamas for years and thinking back on it, I've done some of my best work in pajamas.  I've had some of my best ideas in pajamas.  I've written some of my best tweets and blog posts in pajamas. I thought of starting a pajama company wearing pajamas. I love to be comfy, I love to lounge.  I'm not sloppy, my pj's are fabulous.  My pj's are fun prints, my pj's are wonderful cottons. My pj's are often ironed, crisp and fresh.  I wear mascara and pink lipgloss with my pj's. 

I know I'm not the only one working happily in my pj's.  I think there are a lot of us out there creating, writing, innovating everyday in pj's.  I love to say that I'm pretty lazy, I love to lounge. Being lazy is really a state of mind, it's being comfy, it's settling into a great chair in pj's and laptop ready to work.  Being lazy is a virtue. As Pooh Bear famously said,  “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”  Sometimes slowing down the pace of life is so productive. 

So today, cheers to all of us working in pajamas.  Cheers to all of us creating, writing, thinking in pajamas.  Today is our day.

10 Things To Do In Pajamas...Plus 2 More

Here are 10 things to do in Pajamas. What would you add to the list?

1,  Write a Blog Post

2.  Shop...online!

3.  Garden

4.  Cook

5.  Watch Seinfeld reruns

6.  Work all day

7.  Go on a date...a pajama date

8.  Take The SAT

9.  Dream

10.  Sleep

+1 Open presents on Christmas Morning

+2 Pose for Christmas Picture in Matching Family Pajamas

P.J. Salvage First Annual National Seep-In Day!

One of of our favorite pajama peeps, P.J. Salvage is sponsoring it's first annual national Sleep-In Day this Saturday, February 19.  P.J. Salvage encourages us to take the morning to sleep-in to recuperate from everyday daily stresses and general lack of sleep.  P.J. Salvage hopes to highlight the benefits of getting enough sleep including:  improving overall health, strengthening our overall awareness and reaction speeds and improving physical fitness.  National Sleep-in Day is P.J. Salvage's fun and interesting way to bring light to the benefits of sleep and the influential role proper sleepwear can play in regulating sleep patterns.

In conjunction with National Sleep-in Day, P.J. Salvage will donate 500 pairs of pajamas to Pajama Program, a non-profit organization that provides new pajamas and new books to chilren in need in the United States and around the world in orphanages, group homes and shelters.  P.J. Salvage will make donations in New York City and Los Angeles as well as encourage the company's nationwide retailers to participate in the donation.

So join in the fun and Sleep-In this Saturday!  Do it for your own health and wll being!  Sleep for a good cause is just...good!

Fight the Winter Blahs by Pampering Yourself

On some bright, snowy mornings, when the ice from the previous night's storm makes your trees, your car, and your driveway gleam in the sunlight, you might feel like you are living in a winter wonderland. As in, “I wonder when this ridiculous weather will end?” or “I wonder what the job market is like in Hawaii?”

Even die-hard fans of the season know that winter can wear on you after a while. A landscape of unbroken white quickly loses its charm when you know that your day will consist of commuting on slippery roads, slogging through your workday, and—thanks to the early sunsets—driving home in the dark.

If you find yourself suffering with a case of the winter blahs, a little pampering might be just what you need. After all, if you have to endure the cold, you might as well do so in luxury. Nothing makes a winter day more enjoyable than a good cup of hot chocolate and some spa goodies from The Pajama Company. Take the day off, wrap yourself in a fabulous robe, and settle into your favorite chair. Light one of our lovely candles and surround yourself with a scent that can help you re-live your favorite memories or transport you to a another place. If you still need to ward off the chill, a pair of warming spa booties or a spa blanket is all you need to make yourself cozy. Shoveling the driveway can wait. Take care of yourself first. Show Old Man Winter the door and spend a lazy afternoon dreaming about all you want from life. If, in the midst of your relaxation, you realize that someone special in your life could use some pampering as well, than it's time to think pajamas.

Of course, if your case of the winter blahs is particularly severe, the best way to end your relaxing day is to purchase a plane ticket to some tropical paradaise where the staff of some exotic resort can take care of your pampering for you. After you book your flight online, be sure to pack some pajamas in your bag. Flannel pajamas are great for fighting the winter cold, but lounging in paradise calls for some cool cottons.

Movies Are Better in Pajamas

Movies are better when you lounge around with family and friends in your pjs. If you are ready for an evening of Hollywood magic, get the popcorn, make sure everyone is outfitted in comfy pajamas from The Pajama Company, and turn off the lights. Need some help choosing a film to watch? Try one of the titles on our short list of Best Movies to Watch in Your Pajamas.

Thrills and Chills
*”The Sixth Sense.” Bruce Willis stars as a child psychologist working with a boy who claims that he can see dead people. If you haven't seen this film, get ready for an excellent surprise ending.

*“Signs.” Mel Gibson and Joquain Phoenix star in this tense drama of a widower struggling with his painful past and trying to protect his family from some awfully angry aliens. A clever film that, surprisingly, owes a lot to Alfred Hitchcock's classic, “The Birds.”

Girl's Night In
*“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” A strong cast makes this tale of four friends determined to stay a part of each others' worlds despite the divergent paths of their lives make this film a joy to watch—especially with your own best friends.

*“Dirty Dancing.” Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze portray a pair of star-crossed lovers from two very different sides of the tracks in 1960's New York. Spend an evening with friends and relive the great dancing and the unforgettable on-screen chemistry.

Family Features
*“The Incredibles.” Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, retired superheroes, find themselves called back into action when a villain with a connection to their family threatens the world's safety. If you have not seen this wonderful film, get everyone into their pajamas and watch it tonight.

*“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”Ron Barrett's classic picture book comes to life in this animated adaptation from Sony Pictures. Creative and well-written, this is a great film for the entire family to enjoy together.

Just for Laughs
*“The Wedding Singer.”Adam Sandler and Drew Berrymore bring the 1980's back to life. The film will bring a smile to anyone who remembers the era of shoulder pads, leg warmers, and New Wave pop.

*“Hitch.” Will Smith, a man who helps hopeless guys win dates with their dream girls, needs to follow some of his own advice when it comes his relationship with Eva Mendes. Watching this fun film in your pajamas is the perfect way to spend a relaxing evening.

We suggested eight great movies, but there are tens of thousands of titles that can make your movie night great. All you need is a comfortable couch, a good entertainment system, and a comfy pair of pajamas. Which movies would you add to our list?

Snowed In? Make It a Pajama Day and Make Some Memories

When the snow is piling up outside, nothing beats staying in—preferably while lounging in your pj's and cradling a cup of hot chocolate. If you are lucky enough to find some solitude on a wintry day, time can suddenly stand still. The rush of life recedes and the terrible weather means that responsibilities will have to wait. Tomorrow it may all begin again, but today you have the luxury of wrapping yourself in the warmth of your favorite flannel pajamas and doing what you love.

On the other hand, a day snowed-in with the family is every bit as wonderful as a quiet day alone. Knowing that there's no commute ahead of you and no classes ahead for your kids means that you can focus on what matters most—each other. Playing board games, watching old movies, and sliding around the hardwood floors in your favorite fun pajamas and footies is just as magical for parents as it can for children. On typical days, the children may retreat to the solitary world of their video games and their MP3 players, but a day of pajama fun will capture their full attention. It is the kind of moment that your kids will talk about for years to come.

Street clothes—whether a sharp business suit or plain jeans and t-shirt—are not meant for these kind of relaxed  winter days. When you dress in everyday garments, you are dressing for the outside world. School and work may not appear on the day's agenda, but by dressing for them, you are playing their rules. Staying in your pj pants and letting the little ones pad around the house in their footed pajamas makes everything more special. Let the world have the other six days of the week; keep this one for yourself.

You could settle for just any kind of sleepwear, but fun pajamas—the kind that express your personality and bring a smile to everyone's face—are the best on a cold, stormy day. That's important, because a pajama day should be all about who you are.

So the next time the weather report calls for a foot of snow to land just outside your door, smile. Make sure everyone has a great pair of pajamas. Let the sun wake you up slowly. Enjoy being together. Tomorrow there will be plenty of time for a breakfast on the run in your business causal attire. Today—well—today is different.

Home Sleep Home

More Than Sleepwear: Pajamas Can Be a Piece of Home for the Holiday Traveler

Your favorite pajamas are more than sewn fabric. They are your go-to outfit for family movie nights, late night chats with family and friends, your most common attire for late morning family breakfasts, and the material that your kids cuddle up to during story time. Can there be a better way of taking a piece of home with you this weekend than packing your favorite pj's?  Thanksgiving is all about family and jumping into pajamas at the end of the day together just makes everything cozy and warm.  Kids love to see Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa in pajamas.  Memories are made over steamy mugs of coffee, conversation and pajamas.  Who's having a "Pajama" Thanksgiving this year?