Zazu Blog

Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is

2011-10-24T13:05:00.000-04:00

On October 7th, we started giving away $50 each week to one Zazu customer.

Why? Keep reading...

That's why. It's got to start somewhere ...

So, for twelve weeks beginning October 7th, we randomly select one Zazu customer each week to receive a $50 bill. Our hope is that those $50 bills will be spent in some of our areas most loved independent small businesses. (yes, Zazu is eligible to be one of them!)

Each Friday, we will choose a winner and post on our Facebook page which local businesses earned a shout out that week for a job well done and appreciated!

There are several ways to enter, and yes, extra
points for all doing all of them!
• "Like" us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Share our 3/50 post (or share on Facebook)
•Tell us on Facebook which three businesses really trip your trigger
• Comment at the bottom of this post ... those three trigger trippers
• Email us the names of your top 3 businesses (to coolstuff@shopzazu.com)
• Write a recommendation for Zazu on Facebook

Need more details? Keep reading ... we know, it IS a long post! Just got to cover all the bases.

Terms and Conditions - What Kind of Businesses are Eligible?
What exactly is an independent?
Short answer: Someone who sleeps little, eats on the run, balances their checkbook over the breakfast table, combs through order forms in bed at night, and is capable of sorting invoices, signing paychecks, fielding questions, responding to emails, and faxing confirmations while simultaneously explaining to a new employee how to check in UPS.

Long answer: There are as many definitions for the word "independent" as there are types of retail stores. For the sake of clarity, we cull the most salient points from the most highly respected "buy local" organizations in the country, and hold businesses fitting that definition in the highest regard. Don't assume that "independent" equates to a monotone description, however. The 3/50 Project supports locally owned brick and mortar businesses of all types: retail stores, salons, dry cleaners, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. The people behind the counter and in the back office are the same ones you see at the nearby grocery store (possibly another indie business), each of which has a personal stake in the health of your local economy.

More specifically defined, Independent means:

· The majority of the business' ownership is private, by employees, the community, or an area cooperative, and is resident to the community in which it's based

· The business operates out of a physical storefront or similar and is the only business residing at that specific doorway's address (not a kiosk, home based business, etc.)

· The business relies solely on its unique name and reputation (ie, does not "wear" a regionally or nationally recognized brand name)

· The business is registered only in its home state, and has no affiliation with an out of state headquarters or corporate office

· Full decision making function for the business is held by the local owner(s), including the name, signage, brand, appearance, purchasing, etc.

· The business is solely responsible for paying its own rent, marketing, and other expenses

· It has no more than two outlets, both located in a single state, with a central base of operations in that state

· It is not a vendor (ie, does not sell wholesale)

Why don't you include franchises or regional/national brand names in that definition?

The definition of "independent" and the resulting guidelines used by The 3/50 Project were not created quickly or without thought, but are based on widely recognized standards as defined by the three largest and most highly respected Buy Local organizations in the country: BALLE, AMIBA, and the American Booksellers Association.

Unfortunately, no one can be all things to all people. Given the wide variations in the amount of corporate input and support among the thousands of franchise and chain operations around the country, The 3/50 Project supports one very specific, very unique business model-that of the independent business who does not have the benefit of a preferred vendor list, specially negotiated vendor pricing, corporate office access, and a regionally/nationally recognized brand name (which, by extension, allows franchises to benefit from the halo effect when the corporate office runs national ad campaigns).

Whether a hardware store or a burger place, a regionally or nationally recognized name provides benefits that true "independents" don't have-otherwise, why would anyone pay for the right to wear them?

Please don't feel we're tossing you out the door if you own a business that fits into this group, though. Hundreds of chains, franchises, and recognized brands agree that supporting their independent counterparts is critically important to the health of their local economies, and register with us to show it. If you look on our Supporters page, you'll see them listed on the right hand side of the page. Just our way of saying thanks for their belief in The 3/50 Project.

Why don't you include home based businesses in The 3/50 Project?

Short answer: Because they aren't brick and mortar independents.
Long answer: Because commercial property tax is one of the largest lump sum contributions a brick and mortar makes to a community (in addition to whatever property taxes they pay for their home). Businesses operating from a residence do not make the hefty contribution to a community's commercial property tax fund that brick and mortars do. That's not to say that all home based businesses are bad-just that they don't qualify as a 3/50 Project participant (sorry, but this is not open for negotiation).

And ... Ta Da! The comment box...

Week #3 of our $50 Giveaway!

2011-10-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

Each week, Zazu is giving away $50 to support our local independent small businesses.

Why? You'll find all the details in our original post.

The easy peasy entry form is right here and you can also find it on our Facebook page.

$50 Giveaway Week Two ...

2011-10-10T11:20:00.000-04:00

New week, new giveaway. Yes, we've got another $50 to give away this week in support of the 3/50 project.

Not familiar with the 3/50 project? You can read all about it on the previous post. Click here to go there.

And then, come on back and join the party!

A Trifecta of Terrific Tasks

2011-07-15T08:34:00.000-04:00

Good things come in threes, right?

I'm heading out tomorrow to wrap up the buying of Zazu's holiday season goodies and will be back on Wednesday.

Couldn't leave you hanging, so I picked three doozies...

Hey! Only 162 days until Christmas!

Just saying.

If you have no idea what this is all about, click here.

The Magic Bowl Continues to Mock Me

2011-07-14T09:16:00.000-04:00

Alternate title #1: "You Have Got to Be Kidding Me"

Alternate title #2: "This is Spooky"

Alternate title #3: "It's Deja Vu All Over Again"

Here's the background info: I have been on a diet for approximately the last 30 years. But, I have been trying in earnest to shed the remaining "baby weight" (ok, she's nearly seven) for the last four months. The last two months have been in super earnest, and the last week has been in super duper earnest.

I'm serious.

Yes, it's kind of taking over, but I am trying to keep it in perspective and not obsess too much, which as you all know by now, is not my strong suit.

Stop laughing.

Then, this comes out of the magic bowl ...

Okay, I guess fruit and vegetables make good printing tools, but I am suddenly thinking chocolate could also work.

Please stop me.

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do it

2011-07-13T10:20:00.001-04:00

I am going a little off script today.

I usually have music playing in the background while I am working. Luckily, everyone here at Zazu has an understanding of my eclectic tastes in music, which range from Broadway show tunes, to the Barenaked Ladies, to the Doors, to TV theme songs from the 70s, novelty hits, the Bee Gees and my absolute favorite singer of absolutely all time , Sir Tom Jones.

Yeah, really really. Tom Jones is my favorite singer of all time. Hands down.

Music can move me to create faster if I need to, more focused if I need to be, make me either happier or more contemplative, and untethers me from the routine.

Art does the same.

So combining the two makes perfect sense.

Today's challenge is this:

"Try to represent music visually."

Maybe this video will provide you with inspiration. Enjoy!

This is Spooky ...

2011-07-12T10:12:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, we had a power outage at Zazu and had to close a little early.

Zazu is very very dark with no electricity and although we had a few determined folks still trying to shop with the flashlights they handily keep in their purses, browsing is kind of tough under those circumstances.

So, we locked up the shop, prayed that the computers hadn't been fried and the alarm system wouldn't go blaring off in the middle of the night.

I came in early this morning to assess the damage, but before I left the house, I picked today's challenge.

You'll never in a bazillion years believe this one.

I know I say this a lot but ...

I. Am. Not. Making. This. Up.

Rejoice, Bubble Writers!

2011-07-11T11:31:00.000-04:00

I've got a surprising confession.

I failed penmanship in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades.

And when I say failed I mean as in a big fat "F" in the little square on your report card next to the word "penmanship".

I've got another confession.

I'm a lefty.

Back in my day you couldn't be a lefty. Try it and a big fat ruler would come flying out of the solar system directly on your offending left hand.

I am not a troublemaker, so I switched that pencil over in a mighty quick hurry.

And, then failed penmanship for the next four years. I just couldn't get the hang of it. It became an obsession in the most obsessive kind of way. Seriously, who fails something like penmanship? I don't even think that should be possible.

This whole situation bothered me. It bothered me a lot.

One day, my mother told me she had signed me up for a class at the library. It was called, "Calligraphy". When I asked her what that meant, she told me it was a class to learn fancy handwriting.

Really? I couldn't even handle the regular handwriting, I was really going to bomb at this. I wonder what that teacher will use to smack me in the hand? A fancy ruler?

Anyway, I had no choice but to go.

We started at the very beginning, "Okay, this is your hand. This is a calligraphy pen. You hold the pen in your hand. (Uh Oh, here it comes) Hold it in whichever hand you choose."

Is this for real? Whichever hand you choose?

Which hand do you think I chose?

Wrong!

I went with the right one. I'm kind of a nut that way. I tend to do the opposite of what most folks would expect me to do.

I was thinking that maybe calligraphy would get this hand into shape.

So I took that calligraphy pen in my right hand, placed it in my hand at a 45 degree angle, and drew a tiny line straight down.

It worked. It was straight and looked just like every one else's.

So, I did it again. And I did it again. And I did it again about a thousand more times. I went home and did it about a million more times. I spent every day after school practicing stroke after stroke until I had mastered the entire alphabet. Upper AND lower cases!

Less than 10 years later, I entered college as an ... ART MAJOR!

No kidding.

Less than 10 years after that, I financed my wedding by providing calligraphy and envelope addressing services to other brides.

Yes, I was a professional (!) handwriter!!

No kidding.

The end.

Pants on FIre!

2011-07-08T10:08:00.000-04:00

So, here I am scrambling around the house this morning - checking off all the to do stuff: Dishwasher unloaded, laundry in progress, mop at the ready to tackle that kitchen tile ... and so on and so forth.
You know, I love love love checking off to do lists. Sometimes, I do stuff and then write it down on my list afterward just so I can check it off. Weird, I know, but I love to have a true sense of accomplishment. Especially on Saturdays, when I do this catch up on all the housekeeping stuff.

What?!

You're kidding me.

It's not Saturday?

{imagine me blinking about a thousand times as this revelation sinks in}

How could I misplace Friday?

I should have put it on some sort of list and absolutely not have moved on until I checked it off.

Creative people can be weird.

But you already know that.

Here's FRIDAY'S Challenge. (I pinky swear this one was randomly chosen)

Phoning It In

2011-07-07T12:34:00.002-04:00

Due to a whole bunch of early-ish appointments this morning, I'm picking today's challenge and running.

Today's challenge for our Summer Visual Journal is:

"Drip Something on a Page"

I'll be back later to say something funny.

I promise.

And .... We're Back!

2011-07-06T09:41:00.000-04:00

Did everyone have a super holiday weekend?

In between unpacking the car, laundering the watermelon stains out of that red, mostly white and blue T-shirt, and getting recharged to take on the rest of summer - I've got a new challenge for you!

Get creative!

I normally remind you to, "Get messy!", but I suddenly remembered where I had heard it before.

So, now I'm channeling Miss Frizzle ...

Have fun, take chances, and get messy!

Just So You Don't Miss Us Too Much

2011-07-01T10:49:00.000-04:00

The gang and I are headed out for the long weekend. We'll be back sometime on Tuesday.

We trying really hard to take advantage of the lawlessness of summer.

(For y'all Down Under, it's Independence Day on Monday and that is a huge deal for us here in the States.)

But, for those of you who might simply die as a result of not having enough challenges to keep your creative juices flowing, how about we jump ahead a little?

Here's the next four challenges.

They are in no particular order because I'm not particularly bossy.

I don't know why my kids are laughing. Stop laughing.

You stop laughing, too, Mom. (I'm pretty sure she's reading this)

OK, just get on it when you can. And, puh-leeze send me some of your creations.

Here's my email caroline@shopzazu.com

The Son Also Rises

2011-06-30T10:05:00.000-04:00

I am happy.

Yellow smiley face, balloon releasing, clicking my heels kind of happy.

This One awoke before noon and agreed to pick today's challenge.

Guess what it was?

Oh man, this made me happy in a walking on sunshine kind of a way.

So, headed straight to You Tube, of course to get that video to embed into the blog. I figure if I'm craving to hear it, you are too. Right?

As I am previewing the video just to continue my happy groove, That Girl interrupts.

"I know that song! I love that song! But, who's that singing it?"

"That's Katrina and the Waves. This song was popular when I was in high school."

And then she said (this is an absolute quote, I swear), "Dude, Aly and AJ sing it faster."

What!?

Did she just call me "Dude"?

And who are Aly and AJ?

Well, I still don't know, but in the spirit of learning and growing together, I guess I can learn how to sing a little faster ...

So draw the sun and enjoy, Dudes.

Schlumpadinka!

2011-06-29T09:37:00.000-04:00

I personally think "Schlumpadinka" is the MOST appropriate word to describe That Girl and her feelings toward today's challenge. Thank you, Aunt Oprah for coming up with that one.

So, who needs Websters? Make up your own word!

I've got one.

It's good.

Megudious.

It's pronounced Ma-goo-dee-us.

It's my new favorite word.

Who Makes Up This Stuff?

2011-06-28T09:40:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, these sparks of creativity are mine. The Littles come up with some. Others come from a variety of random places and miscellaneous mines of inspiration.

Huh?

Consider me your Visual Journal Enabling Fairy.

Huh?

Well, you'll see what I mean when I post today's challenge.

Since it's a little hard to read I'll clarify. The challenge is this:

"Find an article of clothing or piece of fabric that should be thrown away. Paste it in and write a goodbye note."

That's a weird one, don't you think? I'm pretty certain I didn't make that one up. I don't remember the original source, but I would happily credit that person if I did. You know, credit where credit is due kind of stuff.

Keri Smith, author of "Wreck this Journal" has been a constant source of inspiration as has the book "Creative Juices". Generally, I read through hundreds of blogs (mostly design blogs) per week and can always glean some kind of new and exciting challenge. But, I've got to admit, I don't write each and every challenge myself.

Just your Visual Journal Enabling Fairy speaking...

Now get going! My husband's got some stuff hanging in our closet circa the Duran Duran era. That's the first to get going!

Add It to the List

2011-06-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

Monday, Monday. Can't stop that day even during the summer.

My little folks were up early bright as squirrels (squirrels are bright, right?) all chipper and ready for their first week of gymnastics camp! That One hopped in the shower in anticipation of the first day of summer school. The Other One is getting started on that laundry.

Nope. Totally making that up.

The White Sheep and That Girl moaned and carried on that camp in the summer should start whenever you actually wake up and you should not have to set an alarm. That is because they are sooooooo tired from the complete lawlessness of the weekend.

That One thinks the first day of summer school is pointless because what are you actually going to accomplish the very first day? He thinks he should jump in tomorrow.

I don't know where The Other One is. Gotta be honest about that one.

Attitudes will be adjusted.

Challenges will be met.

I will find The Other One.

And all will be right with the world.

Until then, I'm going to work on this:

BTW. See the examples at the bottom; walking, riding in a car, DDR? This challenge is a repeat from several years ago when That One and The Other One were seriously into "Dance Dance Revolution". They won't admit that now, though.

BTW Part 2. If you don't have a clue what this photo is about. Please see my explanation of our Summer Visual Journal Challenge here.

Today I got an email from Chelsea, an art and fashion student from Western Australia. Yep, that is Australia as in way way way over there on the completely other side of the world! She is jumping in with us and I, for one, can't wait to see what she comes up with. Welcome, Chelsea!

Reminder: please share your designs with us. Email your pix to me at caroline@shopzazu.com. Otherwise you will all be visually assaulted by every adorable doodle That Girl comes up with. That email again is caroline@shopzazu.com

Not too subtle, am I?

Time for Reflection

2011-06-24T09:53:00.002-04:00

Remember way back to yesterday when I said that it might get messy?

I have got to start being really careful what I say.

It wasn't because of yesterday's painting challenge - it was just because of the way life goes. Yesterday, life just kept on going and going and we never actually completed (or started) our painting challenge.

It was a day full of:
"I reeeeaallyy need purple high tops!"
"What did that dog get into? Get the hose. Stat!"
"But you called and said my prescription was ready"
"Boys, report cards came."
"Hello, Summer School? I need to enroll That One in a couple of classes."
"Would you like know how many soda cans I found under your bed? Just guess. Oh, that's right, you're not all that swift at math."
"Mom, I don't think Bandit is breathing."

Yep, we ended our day with a guinea pig funeral.

Just so you know, when you are required to preform a guinea pig funeral in the summertime it's a pretty sure bet that the ice cream truck will drive by with those crazy twinkling bell sounds at the very crescendo of tears and unfathomable grief.

After a guinea pig funeral you really don't feel like doing anything else.

A Sponge Bob push-up does lessen the sting a little, though. Thank you, ice cream guy. You came through this time.

The moral of this little saga is this: don't worry if you can't always stay up to date on these challenges. They are meant as an embellishment to your life.

Kind of like sprinkles.

Jump back in when you can.

The White Sheep is now okay with his grief and thought it should be his turn to Magic Bowl it.

Awww, that's a sweet one.

That Girl wanted to know what a childhood was. I told her that means all the time you are or were a child.

And then she screams, "BUT THAT'S MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE!!! I CAN'T PICK ONE FROM MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE!!!"

And the messiness continues...

This One May Get Messy

2011-06-23T09:09:00.000-04:00

I warned you. I did.

Things may get messy.

Now is that day.

Break out the maple syrup if that mood so strikes you.

Any kids out there joining along? Note to kids: please grab a responsible adult and very very nicely ask permission before trying this challenge.

Asking nicely will serve you well in the future. I promise. There's no crying in baseball and there's no whining in any of my challenges. Okay, moving on ...

Here you go - get to it!

This One Will Get You Spinning

2011-06-22T10:30:00.000-04:00

We're a little late posting our daily journal challenge. Our apologies to Sophia in NC who has been patiently chomping at the bit to get started.

The White Sheep gets up a little later than That Girl, and it was his turn to pick out of the Magic Bowl.

Still, he gets up way earlier than That One or The Other One, so I don't think they will ever get a choosing chance.

One good excuse deserves another, right?

The blogging gods are not smiling down on us today and are not allowing us to post a photo of the challenge we chose.

Luckily, I can be resourceful (after trying 25 times and whining like a baby) and have come up with a solution:

Here is today's Visual Journal Challenge-

"Put circles all over a page and color them in"

The blogging gods will not beat me. At least not today.

This Will Make You Hungry

2011-06-21T08:59:00.001-04:00

Visual Journal Challenge #2
(If you have no idea what I'm talking about visit here)

That Girl was so disappointed that we are not going to go out this very minute and buy her new high-tops that she refused to pick today's challenge.

Did you notice that it's not even 9 am?

And who needs a pair of high tops in the summer, anyway? That's just weird.

So, I saved the day and picked from the Magic Bowl. Have fun with this one.

All we really need is butter right now. But, I am now on a cholesterol reduced diet (hello, forties!) so I really shouldn't even get that. Then again, I do have French ancestry and you really can't claim you're French if you don't have butter in the house, right?

Lost focus again, didn't I.

Well, at least you know who you're dealing with.

Bonne chance!

GO!

2011-06-20T09:55:00.000-04:00

Day one and we are psyched. Well, some of us are and some of us are still asleep. And by some of us, I mean That One and The Other One.

We're used to that.

That Girl could not wait to attack the Magic Bowl and dove right in once she was appropriately robed up enough to take a picture.

Note to self: We've gotta do something about that nail polish.

Here y'all go - Challenge #1.

Another note to self: do something about that nail polish after all the gluing.

Have fun, get messy and please share.

You can email your creations to caroline@shopzazu.com. We'll post a round up at the end of the week. Can't start today? Just jump in when you can ...

Get Set ...

2011-06-19T19:27:00.000-04:00

We've got our journals.

We've personalized them.

We're ready to roll!

2011 Visual Journal Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

Who's joining us?

On Your Mark ...

2011-06-18T13:17:00.000-04:00

I told you I'd be back ...

I hope you will follow me, my kiddos, and some creative pals this summer as we tackle our ...

2011 Visual Journals (imagine inserting James Earl Jones' voice here)

See. I told you this was going to be fun.

My kids, This One and The Other One, and I have spent the last several summers working on this project together. This year, I will including my younger two kids, The White Sheep and That Girl. Together our ages will range from 6 to 44 years old. Not including you, of course. I don't know how old you are.

Here's the gist:

Every weekday I will post a challenge.

You will accept that challenge.

You will email me a photo of your completed challenge. (caroline@shopzazu.com)

On the weekends I will do a roundup of all photos I receive.

We'll all share.

It'll be fun. (There will probably be random prizes along the way. TEASE!)

You need details?

The challenges may or may not be artistic in nature. (How vague was that?)

You may use any form of media you like. (Go ahead, paint using maple syrup. It won't fuss me)

If you've got them, please get your kids involved.

If you've got friends that would enjoy this - get them in on the game.

Enjoy playing along and don't sweat it. Perfection is not important. Trying is.

Need an example?

One of us randomly pulls a challenge out of the magic bowl. If the puller doesn't like it they may try to sneakily chuck it back in and pick another one. Although I try to police everything - no promises on that one. Often times, The Other One decided that he has a much better idea and wants us to try it his way. As long as it doesn't involve setting anything on fire, we usually go along with it.

Here's the magic bowl.

And here's our dog. Her name is Magic, too.

And here's our other dog. We are convinced that he dreams about sleeping.

And here's our other dog. He looks ferocious at this angle, doesn't he? Never noticed that before ... no wonder the neighborhood kids are scared to come over.

Okay, lost focus there for a minute.

I do that sometimes.

Okay, a lot of times.

This is what a challenge or prompt will look like:

What materials do you need?

At our house we use a variety of journals. I feel strongly about using whatever we have on hand. I am using a book I enjoyed reading and was probably not ever going to read again. Also, it was one the NY Times Best Seller List for about 87 years, so I'm pretty sure everyone else has already read it to. Yes, Tom Hanks was in the movie. That wasn't as good.

The Other One says he is using his Middle School History/Civics binder. He did not open it the entire year of eight grade, so it's pretty fresh. (Note: you're going to hear a lot about The Other One. He's pretty fresh, himself.)

You don't have to use a bound journal. You don't have to use paper. We do because with all the people and things that reside in this house, we would absolutely lose them tout de suite. Also, we like to go back and "read" them again. Reflection is good for the soul, you know. But then again, sometimes you've got to just let stuff go. Decide that for yourself.

As for the other stuff you may need, well, that could be anything. Pencils, markers, pens, crayons, glue, glitter, collage materials - whatever makes you happiest.

We have all kinds of collected things all over our house that I hope will sacrifice themselves for great art this summer.

Yes, you may even paint with stuff you find around your kitchen.

And this is what it may look like when it's done:

Or it won't look anything like that because it is YOURS!

This challenge starts on:

Monday, June 20th

To repeat:

Monday, June 20th

A Creative Kick-Start!

2011-06-17T12:35:00.000-04:00

Hi. It's Caroline. Owner of Zazu and Trollbeads Studio.

I was just sitting here wondering how to keep all my kiddos occupied and brain-fed for the entire summer, keep the fun stuff happening at Zazu while I am at home tending to said kiddos, and start up my newest website - Trollbeads Studio. And ... how am I going to do all of that at the same time?

Meanwhile, over at the Zazu blog, it was getting pretty quiet.

Hear that?

Yup, crickets.

Posting was sparse. Comments were sparser. Ideas were sparsest.

This is me. (I swiped this pic off the internet. It sums the sitch up.)

Luckily, I know where to go whenever the "stuff I gotta do" is pulling me in a number of directions. That's right. I hit the Crayolas pretty hard.

You didn't expect me to say Crayolas, did you?

I can be funny that way.

So, in normal-person terms, I can explain it this way; whenever I get stuck, I turn my creative juices way up in a seemingly different direction. This seems to un-stick me from wherever I am and I have a pretty good time in the process.

And you get to follow along.

How'd you get so lucky?

Details tomorrow. I promise. Get your juices and your Crayolas.

Viva La Vera!

2011-03-31T13:21:00.000-04:00

Meanwhile, back at the Zazu ranch, we've had a couple of days to assess the success of our first EVER Vera Bradley launch.

How fast can you say "stampede"?

Those who know us wouldn't say we exaggerate. They may think it, but they'd never say it.

We can state, however, in total candor which of the new products in the Vera Bradley Spring Release really tripped our trigger.

1. Deco Daisy - Black and white and red all over with a deliriously fun daisy design! Simply striking, it combines both Asian and art deco influences into a bold, lively arrangement that will be a delight to carry through summer, fall, winter and spring. Inside, a statement-making, classic houndstooth pattern.

2. Tech Organizer - Techie + Organized = Bliss! Here's the sitch on this gem:

Four elastic mesh pockets hold everything from power cords to flash drives
Double-zip closure opens like a book, while the two carrying handles keep it moving
Includes an ID window
Two elastic bands can hold a power cord adapter
Great for storing a handheld gaming system and games

#3. PARTY CUPS!!!!! Maybe it's because I went to college in the South, where these are de rigeur, and by de rigeur, I mean a must must do for any and all get-togethers. Maybe it's because I've got four kids who have a constant case of the dropsies. Or ... maybe it's because I live in one of those kinds of neighborhoods where on a beautiful Friday afternoon you and your posse naturally gravitate on one another's back decks to, um, discuss HOA issues and such.

Whatever the reason, I LOVE THESE PARTY CUPS. (Did I mention that they are dishwasher washable? That's kind of the best part ...)

And that's our top picks.

For now.

There's new stuff coming next weekish and we'll be sure to send you the hot skinny on that, too.

A New Holiday Tradition!

2010-11-09T09:40:00.001-05:00

Trollbeads Trunk Show!

2010-08-10T11:59:00.000-04:00

Happy Times!

2010-05-08T11:35:00.001-04:00

Thanks for following this hot story all the way over to the blog! My saga began with the idea that maybe our family should go on a fantastic vacation somewhere this Spring. Then, my husband suggested we go somewhere really exotic ... like Asia!

So we made our plans to visit Hong Kong, then jet over to Thailand where we would stay in Bangkok, Phuket, and the Phi Phi Islands. Immediately, I started making lists of all the food I was going to eat and then I remembered something frightening.

Because of the humidity in those parts, the last time we went, every picture of me looked like this:

So, I called over to my friend:

Who owns this:

And she said, "Oh, we'll just give you a Brazilian Keratin Treatment - it'll last for 4 (!) months. No frizz, no fuzz, no worries, friend. Happy times!"

And this is the result:

And ... oh my gawd, whenever I put Anna Michelle at the helm, happy times they are! So, in honor of my marvelous magician, Anna Michelle of Modern Concepts Salon, we present the Happy Timer!

Simply post a comment either on the blog or on our Facebook page and you could win one. Post in both and it doubles your chances. Happy times!www.modernconceptssalon.com

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

2010-02-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

Any of you drive? Any of you know anyone who drives? This is too good not to share ...

Don't Go Changin'?

2010-02-22T08:31:00.000-05:00

Put on a Happy Face ...

2010-02-16T17:25:00.002-05:00

More Snow Business!

2010-02-07T11:14:00.000-05:00

Because of this ...

We are extending this ...

Which now includes this ...

And this!

Yep, Zazu's Trollbeads collection includes the new Spring releases and the Limited Edition Crazy Lace Agate!

And, yep, the recent snowpocolyptic conditions have inspired us to extend our Trunk Show promotions through Monday, February 8th. Still can't get out of the house? Just let us know ...

Call us

(703) 858-9298

coolstuff@shopzazu.com

Ready for a Trolltastic Valentine's Day!

2010-02-02T13:34:00.000-05:00

Great Stuff is in Store!

2010-01-29T13:13:00.000-05:00

Here's just one of our fab finds for 2010 - these soy-based candles are sure to lighten up your day. Give them to a special friend and brighten up theirs, too! For at least 65 hours!

Adorned with eight different icon motifs set in crystals, ranging from a bright smiley face to a big giant red heart, you will just melt. And ... they smell nice, too!

It's The Other Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2010-01-20T11:16:00.000-05:00

Zazu's intrepid buying team (ok, it was just me) has just returned from the Winter ~~Olympics~~ Buying Trip to Atlanta. Goodies were plentiful and it was exciting to feel a fresh sense of optimism. There were lots of new manufacturers and new styles and ideas from our tried and true vendors. Next stop for this adventurer is the New York International Gift Fair at the end of the month.

The "stuff" will be flowing in daily. Stop in and marvel for yourself!

Nick of Time Holiday Promotion

2009-12-21T08:21:00.003-05:00

Zazu is Open Despite the Delightful Weather!

2009-12-19T10:11:00.002-05:00

Yep, the parking lot is plowed and Zazu is still aglitter with all your holiday gifting needs? Having a gifting emergency?

Come on over!

Haul Out the Holly!

2009-11-25T13:01:00.002-05:00

Catch It While You Can

2009-05-11T12:05:00.003-04:00

We are exciting to introduce the Special Edition Butterfly from Trollbeads. The Summer Butterfly is mounted with a new glass bead reflecting the colors of the rainbow, made from the same special glass as the Eye of Aphrodite.

We are now taking orders for these beads. We will only be receiving a limited supply, so call us quickly at (703) 858-9298 before they all fly away...

I Thee Wed(nesday)

2009-02-04T13:53:00.002-05:00

What's New: a new wedding invitation design featuring Envelopments and your favorite childhood color all grown up! What little girl didn't love, love, love purple?

Where to See It: Martha Stewart Weddings

Where to Get It: Zazu

Woo Hoo, That's Cool!

2009-02-03T15:27:00.004-05:00

Guess what we found out?

Now, being an actual Washingtonian & having read this magazine for the last 187 years, this is kind of a big deal to me ...

My mom will probably think so, too!

Here Come the Brides

2009-02-03T15:06:00.006-05:00

January officially kicks off the start of the Bridal Season here at Zazu. We have participated in the Washington Bridal Showcase for the last four years, and this year's event was just as action packed as ever!

Brides flocked to our custom design portfolios, and were pleased to hear that there are invitation options for all budgets. Our design staff is comprised of professional Graphic Designers {plus one Art Director!} and can make any dream become a reality!

A Win-Win Situation

2009-01-14T13:37:00.004-05:00

Win a basket of 10 Webkinz to call your very own by buying a raffle ticket to support Virginia German Shepherd Rescue.

Of course, I am going to show you a video ... you know how I love video!!!

Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, 100% volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of the German Shepherd Dog. Serving Virginia and the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, VGSR provides a valuable service by finding loving homes for the homeless German Shepherd Dogs in our area. In the seven plus years that they have been in existence, homes have been found for over 2,400 deserving dogs.

Your contributions to VGSR are very much needed and most welcome. Zazu will donate 100% of the raffle proceeds to help VGSR purchase high-quality dog food, portable crates, blankets, dog treats, rawhide bones, collars, leashes, flea, tick, and heartworm preventative, towels, moving pads/quilted blankets, dog toys, tennis balls, and of course, cash to defray the cost of feeding, housing, and providing medical care for dogs in need of good homes.

Raffle tickets are $1.00 each, ten for $5.00, and twenty for $10.00.

We are partnering up with Doggone Natural to bring you this Seriously Special Raffle. They will have a Webkinz Raffle Basket of their very own. So, you could win two very special collections!

So, there are two ways to win ... Stop by Zazu and you will find our basket of goodies on the very front counter ... Or, get your tail over to Doggone Natural (www.doggonenatural.com) on Ashburn Road in Ashburn, Virginia.

Raffle ends on February 9th. Good Luck!

The Elves are Hunkering Down

2008-12-16T12:16:00.004-05:00

A warm a comforting holiday season to you from Zazu.

We will see you again after the holidays as we spend this next weekish attending to our customers in their quests for the perfect holiday prezzies!

May your days be merry and bright!

Gimme Dat Ding

2008-12-12T15:31:00.003-05:00

Anyone remember Zazu's first blog post?

Okay, I'll remind you - we posted a video we found on You Tube of our Zazu theme song, Gimme Dat Ding. You know, that upbeat, peppy song from the 60's by the Pipkins? Okay, I'll remind you again. Just click "play"...

We have gone and done it! We have (with major major help from Bad Weather Productions) created our first evah Zazu video!

Please enjoy!

I Thee Wed (nesday)

2008-12-10T15:06:00.002-05:00

When thinking about weddings today , all I could see was red ... I mean ... cranberry.

I hope you find today's cranberry winter collection inspiring!

Photo credits: Eddie Ross, Life Mosaics, Meredith Mascola, Joanne Bartonne, Chris Humphrey, Goodlight Photography, Rebecca Hutchins

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-12-08T11:27:00.008-05:00

Updated: Kathemc was the winner of the fabulous damask journal! Congrats!

We are the gals of 1000 lists. We list "what to do", "what we wish we would do" and "what to absolutely never do again"! We know there are more of you out there - so we are offering a list-making space of your very own for this week's Really Great Giveaway. Win your very own black and white damask graphic journal by Peter Pauper Press.

With cover art inspired by patterns from tapestries, this journal invites you to weave the threads of your life into the design of memory. Embossed with gloss highlights, 160 lined pages, and bookbound with elastic band place holder, you'll be all set to tackle those New Year's Resolutions in Zazu-style.

So, what would you list on the very first page of this journal?

Let us know in the comment section of this post. We will choose a winner next Monday, December 15th.

Last week's winner was 3squares - congrats!!

I'm Sticking with Diet Coke

2008-12-04T11:14:00.004-05:00

A long time ago, when this blog was started {ok, it was only two months ago, but that's a long time in the blogosphere} some ground rules were laid out; 1) no kid talk 2) no sex talk 3) no religion talk and 4) no political talk.

We really like to accent-u-ate the positive.

However ...

I recently came across an advertisement being run and targeted to teens by Pepsi Max. The point is that Pepsi Max has only one calorie. Good for you, but it must really suck to be that one lone calorie. It depicts this sad calorie commiting suicide in a number of ways.

Here is one ...

I would love to know how you feel about this ad. Does it make you want to run out and stock up on Pepsi Max? Do you feel that this is an irresponsible media attempt at gathering attention through controversy?

Comment away! The next time you're in Zazu, the Diet Coke is on us!

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-12-01T11:08:00.001-05:00

Got deja vu? Yep, we are reprising last week's Giveaway and offering another pendant for this week. Last week's winner was H.S. and this week it may be you!

Cousins Glena and Sabrina grew up in Logan, a small town in rural New Mexico which boasts a population of 500. The most entertaining activities in this rural area were swatting flies on their great grandmother's porch, building miniature houses out of rocks and bits of glass, seeking out hidden patches of wildflowers, and searching for the perfect smooth stone. Their great grandmother was the best playmate in New Mexico; leading them to explore a world of tiny hidden treasures, investigate abandoned houses and frontier dumps, while encouraging them to fill their pockets with sticks, stones, glass, feathers, and flowers.

In 2001, the two combined their love of family heirlooms, antique finds, and time-worn treasures with their experience in the fields of art and business to start a company of their own; Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Co., LLC. What started as a new business venture has become a way for the cousins to revisit their past and those times spent with their great grandmother in a small town. Now, Sabrina and Glena invite others to preserve their own memories via the photo charm and unique jewelry designs incorporating antique sentiment and collectible items.

Vintage images inspire this collection of collage art which is framed behind glass, encased in pewter and ready to be worn as a charm or pendant.

And now you know this week's Really Great Giveaway ... a Pick Up Sticks pendant of your very own!

To be considered in the running, please leave a comment by clicking on the tiny "comment" below. We will email the winner next Monday, December 8th and announce the next Really Great Giveaway.

Good Luck!

East Meets West

2008-11-28T13:04:00.006-05:00

By Steven (the other half!)

If you Google "Zazu", it seems we are not the only ones! A restaurant out west keeps challenging us for the top spot, so..... On a recent trip to the Bay area of San Francisco, I decided to pay a visit to the "west coast Zazu". They are not a gift store , but a "roadhouse restaurant" located in the very pretty Santa Rosa area, about an hour north of San Fran. I couldn't help but take a few pictures, one of myself by the road sign and one with the lovely owner and her manager and chef.

What struck me most were the similarities of style between us. We shared many of the same design philosophies and even use the same fonts for our branding- not to mention the level of whimsicality! The food was great, with the choices of such wonderful items as Fried Okra, Rabbit Pate and a delectable Antipasto plate being offered in the "Nibble" category. Main courses were offered as "a nosh", with delicasies such as Chestnut Fazzoletti Lasagne, Duck Breast, Venison Bolognese and Rabbit Loin Saltimboca. For the "Sideways" items, I chose "mo rockin' Orzo" from the list that also included Ruby Chard, Rapini and Roasted Squash.

For most of us, we call it dessert, but in true Zazu fashion, they just had to add the twist! In the "Save room" category, devoto and apple + Cranberry, dark chocolate fondue, butterscotch pudding and orange pistachio biscotti with Vin Santo were on offer. "Artisan Cheeses" showcased such local items as Point Reyes Blue, Laura Chenel Cabecou and Bellweather Carmody to name a few. Whilst I did not partake in the cheese or desserts, I did have an excellent cup of Flying Goat French pressed coffee.

So, if you are ever in the area, stop in to "Zazu West" and enjoy a great meal at a reasonable price. The owner and her staff are extremely nice and hospitable.

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-11-25T19:38:00.012-05:00

Cousins Glena and Sabrina grew up in Logan, a small town in rural New Mexico which boasts a population of 500. The most entertaining activities in this rural area were swatting flies on their great grandmother's porch, building miniature houses out of rocks and bits of glass, seeking out hidden patches of wildflowers, and searching for the perfect smooth stone. Their great grandmother was the best playmate in New Mexico; leading them to explore a world of tiny hidden treasures, investigate abandoned houses and frontier dumps, while encouraging them to fill their pockets with sticks, stones, glass, feathers, and flowers.

In 2001, the two combined their love of family heirlooms, antique finds, and time-worn treasures with their experience in the fields of art and business to start a company of their own; Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Co., LLC. What started as a new business venture has become a way for the cousins to revisit their past and those times spent with their great grandmother in a small town. Now, Sabrina and Glena invite others to preserve their own memories via the photo charm and unique jewelry designs incorporating antique sentiment and collectible items.

Vintage images inspire this collection of collage art which is framed behind glass, encased in pewter and ready to be worn as a charm or pendant.

And now you know this week's Really Great Giveaway ... a Pick Up Sticks pendant of your very own!

To be considered in the running, please leave a comment by clicking on the tiny "comment" below. We will email the winner next Monday, December 1st and announce the next Really Great Giveaway.

Good Luck!

ps. last week's Really Great Giveaway winner was Karen Orr - Congratulations!

Where Are We Going To Hide That Pickle?

2008-11-21T15:32:00.005-05:00

It never fails. Every December someone asks about the German Christmas pickle ornament that's supposed to have a long tradition in Germany.

Here's the pickle “legend” from one Web site: “A very old Christmas eve tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle [ornament] deep in the branches of the family Christmas Tree. The parents hung the pickle last after all the other ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew the most observant child would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck for the whole year.” This Christmas pickle story, with a few minor variations, can be found all over the Web and in print inside the ornament package. It says that Germans hang a pickle-shaped glass ornament on the Christmas tree hidden away so it's difficult to find. The first child to find it on Christmas morning gets a special treat or an extra present.

So, each and every MONDAY, one Zazu crewmember is tapped to hide the pickle somewhere in our store shelves. Hint: not on a tree - on a shelf - practically in plain sight. Whomsoever findeth such pickle gets one really great prezzie - The Pickle!

So, come on over to Zazu and get pickled!

I Thee Wed (nesday)

2008-11-20T11:27:00.004-05:00

Laure and Anis - Part Deux
Cote d-Azur, France

As blogged last week, our cousin, Anis recently wed the sinfully adorable Laure. Twice. The first wedding was in his hometown of Beirut, Lebanon. The second wedding was one months later in Laure's hometown, Pierrefeu de Val, in the South of France. My husband was lucky to snag the spot as best man and I was lucky enough to snag him a long time ago, so he had to take me and two of our kids along with him.

Wow! A wedding in the South of France is EXACTLY as you would imagine. Understated elegance, cobblestone alleyways, dappled sunlight through the chestnut trees, a sweet french dixieland band, and ... champagne!

Bonne chance Laure and Anis!

p.s. I absolutely know that this is actually Thursday. I am about to post more pix about my Wednesday adventures that took me away from posting...

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-11-17T12:15:00.004-05:00

Hey y'all! Yep, it's Monday - which absolutely means giveaway day! I've got a little question for you first...

"If you had to gain 10 pounds, what one food would you eat?"

That's the kind of inquiry you'll find in the Girl's Night Out Edition of Table Topics. One box of Table Topics can spark about a thousand conversations.

So ... what would you eat? Chocolate? Bacon? To be honest, I'd eat nothing but Bearnaise sauce. To win your very own pink box of conversation starters from Table Topics, please submit your answer to our "comment" box below. I will announce the winner next Monday, November 24.

Good Luck!

Last week's winner of the Switchflops was .... Elsie!! Congratulations!

I'm Turning Off the News

2008-11-13T13:28:00.004-05:00

Sorry, Larry, Anderson, and Maria - we are parting ways.

Going Green

2008-11-11T13:46:00.009-05:00

With all this talk of the economy and global warming, we at Zazu have made a conscious effort to reduce our impact on the environment and at the same time tried to make our operation more efficient. How you ask?

Our CBP (Chief Bill Payer, and computer guy) has kindly agreed to provide you with some ideas that we are using:

In the past several months, we have begun our paperless initiative, sounds kinda funny for a paper store to be talking such rubbish. What I mean is we have replaced many of our back-office tasks with an automated and computerized system. We no longer print every invoice etc.

Our first foray was an investment in a Neat Receipts Scanalyzer; What an amazing piece this is. It scans and reads our invoices and then saves them in an IRS approved format. We no longer have to print out any vouchers and have saved a ton of space by not needing to store the old papers.

Once we got that going, we realized that we had boxes and boxes of old Merchant copies of customer sales receipts, you know the ones. So, with the advent of upgrading our software, the makers of Quickbooks Point of Sale introduced a Signature Capture/PIN Pad device. Voila, we cut our receipt printing in half! They also released their newest version of the software, POS V8. This release has streamlined much of our day-to-day business and allowed our employees to be more efficient, to better serve you- our customers. We also upgraded our financial software to the latest version of Quickbooks 2009, now we're cooking with gas. Monthly bookkeeping and inventory tracking have been cut tremendously, thanks Intuit!

We then thought of what else was being wasted..... Diet coke! That's right, cans and cans of the stuff get summarily dismissed every day and we were just throwing them in the trash (No recycling here for some reason). So, we now have our very own bin in the office that gets taken to the recyclers once a week.

How about the temperature you ask? Well, our store has a great corner window, it lets in lots of sunlight in the afternoon, creating a warm and toasty reprieve from the cold. So, we decided to make the most of nature's free offering and have fine tuned our thermostat to account for the increase in afternoon heat. Our lights rely on timers to get them up in the morning and shut them off after the madding crowds have abated. No sense lighting up the midnight parking lot!

So, there you have it! We have started and will continue to look for ways to help ourselves and our environment. We have cut our administrative paper usage by approximately 75%, our receipt paper by 50%, our energy costs by 10% and saved the landfills from zillions of empty Diet Coke cans. Sorry Staples, our office-supplies spending has been reduced at your expense!

So, what have you done? Let us all know by commenting on how you have managed to get your kids to turn off the lights, driven a bit slower, changed your thermostat to an electronic type (far more efficient) and programmed it according to your occupancy. Let us know what fancy or basic ideas you may have for the rest of us. Remember, not all these ideas are free but an investment in the right ones can provide long lasting benefits.

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-11-10T18:02:00.004-05:00

We just loaded these onto our website!!

The entire Zazu crew parades their pedis in Switchflops by LuLu Designs. The story behind Switchflops is my absolute favorite "small town girl goes big time" kind of a thing.

Switchflops started as a high school project. Repeat: a high school project! I may be dramatizing the actual event slightly but this is how I remember it when it was told to me by Lindsay (incredible girl designer) and her mom at the Atlanta Gift Show last year ...

It was a high school project. Her teacher felt very highly about Lindsay and her project. The teacher called Linday's parents to tell them what a super job she did and that they should really consider bringing this product to market.

The parents said, "what project?"

As you can tell, Lindsay and her parents figured out all the details about manufacturing, marketing, and shipping Lindsay's high school project to hundreds of stores across the globe.

Want to see Switchflops in action? Click the little triangle below ...

Want to win your very own pair of Switchflops? Leave a comment below ...

This contest ends on Monday, November 17th. We will then announce another "Really Great Giveaway. Last week's "Really Great Giveaway" winner of the Thymes candle was FatalisFortuna.

A Day that Lives in Infamy?

2008-11-07T14:33:00.007-05:00

I will totally admit this; I was absolutely stumped for blog topic today. Stared at the laptop pretty hard, too!

Zip.

I thought I might find something brilliant somewhere on the Internet that would inspire great content for our little blog. More pondering commenced, "I wonder if anything interesting happened on this day in history?" I was hoping for something along the lines of "Take your Guinea Pig to School Day" or the day the largest ice cream soda was sipped by the entire town of Peskatilla. Straight away, I stumbled upon the website Brainy History.

Hmmm ... with the possible exception of the day the movie Bean opened, a lot of really impressive stuff happened on November 7th.

It just goes to show you, even when you've got nothing, there is always a potential something lurking around just in case you decide to go looking for it.

November 7, 2000 Al Gore wins the popular vote but loses the electoral vote to George W. Bush
November 7, 2000 Hilary Clinton is the first former First Lady elected to the Senate
November 7, 1997 "Bean" opens in US
November 7, 1996 "3 Sisters" opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater New York City
November 7, 1996 NFL/Heisman Trophy Winner Mike Rozier, is shot several times
November 7, 1996 Wasim Jaffer gets 314* in 2nd cricket FC game for Mumbai vs. Saurashtra
November 7, 1995 Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on WXDX 105.9 FM
November 7, 1995 Howard Stern's 2nd book "Miss America" released (fastest selling ever)
November 7, 1993 Betsy King wins LPGA Toray Japan Queens Cup Golf Tournament
November 7, 1992 1st NBA game at America West Arena, Phoenix Suns beat Clippers 111-105
November 7, 1991 "Brigadoon" opens at New York State Theater New York City for 12 performances
November 7, 1991 "Park Your Car in Harvard Yard" opens at Music Box New York City
November 7, 1991 1st NBA game in Delta City, Utah Jazz beats Seattle 103-95
November 7, 1991 Magic Johnson announces he has HIV virus and retires from Los Angeles Lakers
November 7, 1990 "Little Night Music" closes at New York State New York City after 11 performances
November 7, 1990 "Those Were The Days" opens at Edison Theater New York City for 126 performances
November 7, 1990 Cleveland Indian Sandy Alomar, Jr. wins AL Rookie of Year, unanimously
November 7, 1990 Mary Robinson elected as 1st female president of Ireland
November 7, 1989 Balt's Gregg Olson is 1st relief pitcher to win AL Rookie of Year
November 7, 1989 Douglas Wilder elected 1st U.S. black governor (D-Va)
November 7, 1989 New York City elects it's 1st black mayor (Dinkins) and female comp (Holtzman)
November 7, 1988 MLB all stars beats Japan 16-8 (Game 3 of 7)
November 7, 1988 Sugar Ray Leonard KO's Donnie LaLonde
November 7, 1987 Tunisian premier Zine al-Abidine fires president Habib Bourguiba
November 7, 1985 Colombian troops end 27-hr siege of Bogota's Palace of Justice
November 7, 1984 STS 51-A launch scrubbed because of high shear winds
November 7, 1983 Ali Haji-Sheikh kicks his 2nd New York Giant record 56 yard field goal
November 7, 1983 Bomb explodes in U.S. Capitol, causing heavy damage but no injuries
November 7, 1982 "Your Arms are Too Short to Box" closes at Alvin New York City after 69 performances
November 7, 1982 Liz Taylor's 7th divorce (John Warner)
November 7, 1982 Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Mazda Japan Golf Classic
November 7, 1982 Turkey adopts constitution
November 7, 1981 France performs nuclear test
November 7, 1979 Cub reliever Bruce Sutter wins NL Cy Young Award
November 7, 1978 Boston Red Sox Jim Rice wins AL MVP
November 7, 1978 CDA-chairman W Aantjes resigns due to his war past
November 7, 1976 "Gone With the Wind" televised
November 7, 1975 Kidnapped AKZO director Herrema freed in Ireland
November 7, 1974 63rd Davis Cup: South Africa beats India in (w/o)
November 7, 1973 New Jersey becomes 1st state to allow girls into little league
November 7, 1973 U.S. and Egypt announce restoration of full diplomatic links
November 7, 1972 President Nixon (R) re-elected defeating George McGovern (D)
November 7, 1970 "Purlie" closes at Broadway Theater New York City after 689 performances
November 7, 1970 Race riots in Daytona Beach Florida
November 7, 1969 John and Yoko release their 2nd album "Wedding Album" in UK
November 7, 1968 U.S.S.R. performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya U.S.S.R.
November 7, 1967 Carl B. Stokes elected 1st black mayor of a major city-Cleveland, Ohio
November 7, 1967 Lyndon Baines Johnson signs a bill establishing Corporation for Public Broadcasting
November 7, 1967 Richard G. Hatcher elected mayor of Gary, Indiana
November 7, 1967 St. Louis Cardinals Orlando Cepeda is 1st unanimous NL MVP
November 7, 1967 Surveyor 6 launched for soft landing on Moon
November 7, 1966 Jean-Claude van Itallie's "America Hurrah," premieres in New York City
November 7, 1966 Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship
November 7, 1966 Lunar Orbiter 2 launched by US
November 7, 1965 Marlene Hagge wins LPGA Tall City Golf Open
November 7, 1964 NL keeps Braves in Milwaukee in 1965, may move to Atlanta in 1966
November 7, 1963 Carole Joan Crawford, 20, of Jamaica, crowned 13th Miss World
November 7, 1963 New York Yankee Elston Howard is 1st black ever voted AL MVP
November 7, 1962 Glenn Hall set NHL record of 503 consecutive games as goalie
November 7, 1961 France performs underground nuclear test at Ecker Algeria
November 7, 1960 KNRR TV channel 12 in Pembina, ND (IND) begins broadcsting
November 7, 1959 13th Ryder Cup: U.S. wins 8 -3 at Eldorado CC California
November 7, 1957 Phillies pitcher Jack Sanford wins NL Rookie of Year
November 7, 1957 WEEQ (now WWTO) TV channel 35 in La Salle, IL (IND) 1st broadcast
November 7, 1954 U.S. spy plane shot down North of Japan
November 7, 1954 Cleveland Browns' Chet Hanulak sets club record with 7 punt returns and win by their largest margin of victory (59) beating Washington 62-3
November 7, 1953 WIS TV channel 10 in Columbia, South Carolina (NBC) begins broadcasting
November 7, 1951 Constitution of Jordan passes
November 7, 1950 Carlo Terron's "Processo Agli Innocenti," premieres in Milan
November 7, 1950 French women and children leaves Hanoi/Tonkin-delta
November 7, 1949 King Faruk disbands Egyptian parliament
November 7, 1946 "Bal Negre" opens at Belasco Theater New York City for 54 performances
November 7, 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt wins 4th term in office, defeating Thomas E Dewey (R)
November 7, 1944 Train crashes in tunnel of Aguadilla Spain; about 500 die
November 7, 1943 Detroit Lions 0, New York Giants 0; last scoreless tie in NFL
November 7, 1942 1st U.S. president to broadcast in a foreign language-FDR in French
November 7, 1942 Bicyclist Fausto Coppi establishes world record (45,848 km)
November 7, 1941 British air attack on Berlin, Mannheim and Ruhrgebied
November 7, 1940 Stravinsky's Symfonie in C premieres in Chicago
November 7, 1940 Tacoma Narrows (Galloping Gertie) Bridge collapses, Wash
November 7, 1936 Battle of Madrid begins
November 7, 1935 23rd CFL Grey Cup: Winnipeg Winnipegs defeats Hamilton Tigers, 18-12
November 7, 1934 Arthur L Mitchell, becomes 1st black Democratic congressman (Ill)
November 7, 1933 Pennsylvania voters overturn blue law, by permitting Sunday sports
November 7, 1932 1st broadcast of "Buck Rogers in the 25th century" on CBS-radio
November 7, 1932 Bradman scores 238 NSW vs. Victoria, 200 mins, 32 fours
November 7, 1931 Chinese People's Republic proclaimed by Mao Tse Tung
November 7, 1929 Museum of Modern Art opens in New York City
November 7, 1928 Herbert Hoover (R) elected president
November 7, 1925 Italians liberal-national party joins fascist
November 7, 1921 Ed Wynn's musical "Perfect Fool," premieres in New York City
November 7, 1919 U.S. police raid offices of Union of Russian Workers
November 7, 1918 Goddard demonstrates tube-launched solid propellant rockets
November 7, 1918 United Press erroneously reports WW I armistice had been signed
November 7, 1918 Vladimir Mayakovsky's "Misteriya Buff," premieres in Petrograd
November 7, 1917 British capture Gaza Palestine from Turks
November 7, 1917 October Revolution (Oct 26 OS) in Russia, Lenin seizes power
November 7, 1916 Grand duke Nikolai Nikolayevich warns czar of uprising
November 7, 1916 Jeannette Rankin (Rep-R-Mont) elected 1st woman Representative
November 7, 1916 Woodrow Wilson (D) re-elected president
November 7, 1915 Austrian submarine torpedoes Italian passenger ship (272 killed)
November 7, 1914 Japan attack German concession on Chinese peninsula of Shanghai
November 7, 1909 Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver organizes in Mobile Alabama
November 7, 1908 Dutch capture Venezuelan navy
November 7, 1907 Dynamite explodes on locomotive kills engineer Jesus Garcia in Mexico
November 7, 1907 Test tokens are struck in 1st production of Canadian coins
November 7, 1893 State Colorado accept female suffrage
November 7, 1885 Canadian Pacific Railway completed at Craigellachie
November 7, 1876 Edward Bouchet, is 1st black to recieve a PhD in U.S. college (Yale)
November 7, 1876 Meharry Medical College forms at Central Tennesse College
November 7, 1876 President Rutherford B Hayes and Samuel J Tilden claim presidential victory Tilden (D) wins election but Electoral college selects Hayes (R)
November 7, 1875 Verney Cameron is 1st European to cross equitorial Africa
November 7, 1874 1st cartoon depicting elephant as Republican Party symbol, by T Nast
November 7, 1872 U.S. cargo ship Mary Celeste set sail from New York on a journey which ended when it is found mysteriously abandoned the following month
November 7, 1865 London Gazette, oldest surviving journal, is founded
November 7, 1864 2nd session of congress of Confederate States of America reconvenes
November 7, 1863 Battle of Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford, VA
November 7, 1861 Battle of Belmont, MO
November 7, 1861 Battle of Port Royal Bay, South Carolina (Ft. Walker, Ft. Beauregard)
November 7, 1848 General Zachary Taylor elected as president of US
November 7, 1831 State Gran Colombia disbands
November 7, 1824 St. Petersburg flood
November 7, 1820 James Monroe elected 5th U.S. president
November 7, 1814 1st sitting of States-general in Hague
November 7, 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe, gave Harrison a presidential slogan
November 7, 1805 Lewis and Clark 1st sights Pacific Ocean
November 7, 1794 French troops conquer Nijmegen
November 7, 1775 Lord Dunmore, promises freedom to male slaves who join British army
November 7, 1747 Organgist in Netherlands revolt under Daniel Raap
November 7, 1733 France and Spain sign Escoriaal Treaty
November 7, 1722 Richard Steele's "Conscious Lovers," premieres in London
November 7, 1667 Jean Racines "Andromaque," premieres in Paris
November 7, 1665 1st edition of "London Gazette"
November 7, 1659 Peace of Pyreneeen: French king Louis XIV and Spanish king Philip IV
November 7, 1651 King Louis XIV of France (13) declarer of full age
November 7, 1637 Anne Hutchinson banished from Mass bay colony as a heretic
November 7, 1631 Pierre Gassendi observes transit of Mercury predicted by Kepler
November 7, 1597 Emilia of Nassau weds Dom Emanuel of Portugal
November 7, 1581 Queen Elizabeth I and Francois of Anjou wed
November 7, 1558 French king Henri II occupies Calais
November 7, 1519 University of Leuven convicts teaching of Luther
November 7, 1512 Medici's discharge Niccolo Machiavelli from Florence
November 7, 921 Treaty of Bonn: East France and West France recognize each other
November 7, 680 3rd Council of Constantinople (6th ecumenical council) opens

I Thee Wed (nesday)

2008-11-06T14:26:00.008-05:00

Alright, I realize it is now Thursday. That darned election got me all twitterpated and I seem to have lost all sense of time. Speaking of twitterpated {nice segue, huh?}, I hope you enjoy the wedding photos of Laure and Anis.

Anis is my husband's first cousin. He lives in Paris, which is where he met the glorious Laure {and ... she is ridiculously nice, too.} We did not attend their nuptials, but Anis forwarded these pictures to me.

What you see below is a typical and low-key wedding ... in Beirut.

And, yes, those are sword-swallowing, flame-spitting, uh, what's the word; sword-swallowing, flame-spitting guys? Yep, fireworks, too!

Next week, I will share with you Laure and Anis' second wedding two months later ... in the South of France.

Seriously, I don't even have to make this stuff up.

The Great Sock Monkey Debate Election Results

2008-11-05T09:58:00.003-05:00

I am really glad we are only discussing plush products here ...

The results of our recent Sock Monkey vs. Webkinz debate was so ho ho hum that we at Zazu have decided two things:

We will not be ordering any sock monkeys. Hey, even the manufacturer wasn't interested in casting their ballot. Not even one tiny little comment.
We will be having a ginormous Webkinz sale. Yep, I'd say we are done.

For a limited time, we are having a BUY ONE / GET ONE FREE Webkinz sale here at Zazu. That includes the plush toys {regular size and L'il}, clothing, ornaments, trading cards, carryalls, figurings, mouse pads, spritz and lipgloss. The whole works!!

And then they will all be gone ...

We The People

2008-11-04T08:16:00.004-05:00

Are you wearing red, white and blue today? Well, you should be. It's election day! Whether you voted absentee (while sitting on the living room floor in your pajamas), or plan to go to the booths today (in your red, white and blue outfit - go ahead, we'll wait for you to go home and change), you can feel good about being an American. Vote.

We wanted to remind everyone, not to mention ourselves, why we vote. This may or may not have involved watching a few old Schoolhouse Rock videos. Please enjoy Holiday Golightly's Top 10 Reasons to Vote, with a little help from the Preamble to the Constitution.

1) To form a more perfect union - okay, perfection is overrated and can be boring, but we love a good union! The union of two people in love, the union of peanut butter and chocolate, the union of the snake. Discuss!

2) Establish justice - yes, please! We would also like to see certain injustices rectified: guys who say they'll call, then don't; the drastically escalating cost of designer footwear; the return of leggings-as-pants.

3) Ensure domestic tranquility - because tranquility is contagious, and if we can be tranquil domestically, we can work on being tranquil internationally. Can't you just picture all of us swinging in hammocks, collectively sipping glasses of Semillon?

4) Provide for the common defense - normally we find defensiveness kind of annoying, but protecting ourselves is just good policy. Just ask the people at Kotex.

5) Promote the general welfare - welfare has become somewhat of a negative term, with loaded political connotations. The main definition is "Health, happiness, and good fortune". We're going with that one.

6) Secure the blessings of liberty - we love a good blessing; particularly when we sneeze.

7) Life - yes, because without life, what do you have?

8) Liberty - liberty = freedom, and we rely on these things to live our lives the way we want.

9) The pursuit of happiness - "Happiness" is our new nickname for Zac Efron. and last, but not least

10) Because you CAN - you know how sometimes someone says "You can't have a cupcake, because they're for the party", or "You can't just take those Christian Louboutins out of the store without paying for them"? Doesn't that just boil your butter?

Get out there and make your opinion count!

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-11-03T10:00:00.007-05:00

Ok, it's Monday ... time to offer up another sweet surprise from Zazu.

This week, we would like to introduce you to our best selling candle ever - The Thymes' Frasier Fir! Although we only stock it from mid-October through December, it is clearly the shopper's favorite. Last year, we sold out and customers demanded to be put on a waiting list in case any were returned. None were ...

We are so hot for this product that it was the first thing we added to our website. {Yep, we're working on it ... great stuff being loaded by the minute!}

Listen to the description from The Thymes themselves:

Mountain fresh and glowing with the aromatic snap of crisp Siberian Fir needles, heartening cedarwood and relaxing sandalwood. The Thymes Frasier Fir sets the mood for those special moments that make up your life stories. Creating a tradition to savor ... and to share. Burns cleanly for approximately 50 hours.

And ... here's a picture ...

To enter to win this really great giveaway, please post a comment below. Next Monday (Nov. 10th), we will randomly choose the winner and post the results on this blog.

Good Luck!

Note: Last week's winner was rainydaygirl! rainydaygirl, could you please email us with your contact information? www.coolstuff@shopzazu.com

Voila!

2008-11-02T11:22:00.000-05:00

Alternate Headline:
Who Needs NYC When You've Got Ashburn?

So, friends, this is what we've been up to all week. We've pinned, glued, glittered, tinselled {is that a real word?} and hauled out more holly than we thought was possible.

Sharing time! Our piece de resistance must be our ode to Marie Antoinette. This was absolutement{!} our most challenging and rewarding window display. Truly a group effort, there was not one member of the Zazu crew that did not have a hand in on this one.

I will let the pictures speak for themselves ... but, yes, Virginia, it is a Christmas tree!

Hey ... wait ... there's more!

We had to pull in a few ringers from the outside world. A most sincere merci to Lisa Schulz, party planner extraordinaire, owner of The Po sh Planner.

Lisa created the fabulous tablescape {with literally no notice} complete with gateau!

Obviously, we also needed a royal hairstylist. Anna Michelle Jackson, owner of Modern Concepts Salon was summoned, tout de suite! A few pins here, a little spray there, and a ton of hair {yep, its real!} and the magic was complete!

Here's how happy we were with ourselves ...

But, most importantly, here's the reaction we have been getting from our customers!

Joyeaux Noel!

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-10-27T10:35:00.004-04:00

We are keeping it pink!

Look here every Monday for another great giveaway from Zazu. This week, we chose a staff favorite - a wardrobe of stationery designed by Anna Griffin! Within the hot pink, zebra trimmed box, you will find 20 note cards, 20 correspondence cards, 20 letter sheets, 60 envelopes and 3 adhesive note pads. Wow, another great excuse to keep in touch!

Just post a comment below (click on the tiny "comment") and we will announce the winner next Monday!

Good luck and good writing!

Note: The winner was rainydaygirl! rainydaygirl, could you please email us with your contact information? www.coolstuff@shopzazu.com

Elves Hard at Work!

2008-10-21T17:51:00.003-04:00

I have had a few angry phone calls regarding the lack of posting this week. Okay, it was just my mother ...

Dear Mom,

The Zazu crew is extremely busy and focused on preparing for our annual Holiday Party, which is on Thursday. So, we will return to posting on Friday.

Cheers!

Window of Opportunity

2008-10-17T12:10:00.006-04:00

It really is the most wonderful time of the year for us at Zazu! Our creativity is at its peak and the Starbucks doth flow!

Next week, we completely demolish the joint and resurrect our sweet shop with all the tinsel and trappings we can get our hands on. The first spot we tackle is our front window, which is always spectacular!

We are channeling our inner Simon Doonan, the celebrated creative director of Barneys this year. Hoping for something even {dare we say} grander than previous years, we are pulling out all the stops.

Simon Doonan and some of his fabulous installations. Mr. Doonan is also the author of several novels, a columnist for The New York Observer, and a contributor to many other publications. On the shelves at Zazu, we have his Wacky Chicks - classic Doonan!

Stay tuned for sneeky peeks along the way...

Please Be Seated ...

2008-10-16T10:25:00.008-04:00

Your two aunts have been feuding since the 80s, you have out of town friends
flying in that know no one, and your last single girlfriend is ULTRA
sensitive about where she will sit because the last wedding she went to she
was intentionally seated next to Mr No-Way-In-Hell.

And quite honestly, you may feel you're simply not up to the task.
"If there's enough chairs for everyone, can't we all just get along?" you
ask. You have obviously never been to a wedding with no seating plan and it's a good thing because you might not have survived the mass trampling as people were jockeying for position.

What to do?

Enter Bridal Tapestry seating charts now available at Zazu.

Table assignments are slightly less work for you (lets face it, you have

enough to take care of) and your guest will still have some say in where
they sit!

Beautifully presented, your guests will immediately be assured that you have
thoughtfully placed them. These also make beautiful mementos of your special day.

Taking the time for a table plan will be well worth it and - with these charts -
beautiful to boot.

Extra, Extra, Blog All About It!

2008-10-15T17:15:00.000-04:00

We are spreading the Blog news! See today's article in the Loudoun Times Mirror chronicling Zazu's experience with this new media format.

Totally cool...

For the whole story, click here.

I Thee Wed (nesday)

2008-10-15T16:42:00.006-04:00

They call me mellow yellow, quite rightly!

It may be nearly November, but around these parts it feels as if spring will be resprung. I just feel a little yellow today (in a good way) and wondered if I could take this light and springy color and sexy it up a little by combining it with black and pewter ...

How do you like this color combination? Feel free to comment below.

Center Photo: Zazu Invitation using Envelopments Paper Stocks
Photos 1,2,12: Ballard Designs
Photos 3,6,7: Ann Taylor Loft

Photo 5: Amy Atlas and Hostess with the Mostess

Photo 9: Neiman Marcus
Photo 10: Dolce and Gabbana

The Great Sock Monkey Debate

2008-10-14T09:39:00.006-04:00

I am on the fence on this one, folks ...

I just got an email from a manufacturer's representative with great news! When the economy is sagging, you need a hot product to get everyone excited and back on track. She has that hot product, the ultimate solution, our salvation ... sock monkeys!

I'll repeat that.

Sock Monkeys.

Now, here's my situation. In case you have not heard, (while you were under that medically induced coma) small businesses have been taking quite a punch lately. We at Zazu have had to face some very difficult questions lately; (a) can we pay the rent? (b) can we make payroll? (c) will it be 80 degrees at our holiday party next Thursday (OCT 23rd - come on over)?

So, you know, I am going to leave this one up to the people to decide.

If we bring in the Sock Monkeys, something else will have to go. I'm thinking Webkinz.

So this is the part where you choose sides - Sock Monkeys or Webkinz? Webkinz or Sock Monkeys? To be fair, I have included video of both candidates below. A coin toss determined which was presented first. This is democracy at its absolute best, don't you think?

Please consider all sides of this great dilemma. Cast your vote by posting a comment below.

Enjoy the videos.

So, which is it? Please cast your vote for either candidate by posting a comment below by clicking on the tiny "comments" in light blue. We will post the voting results daily. And ...

There will absolutely be some kind of big giant prize at the end!

*Note: No sock monkeys or Webkinz were harmed during the making of these videos. I am pretty sure of that.

Keep in the Pink!

2008-10-10T13:53:00.016-04:00

Unfortunately, we all know many women who have been faced with the diagnosis of breast cancer. Don't we all want to conquer this beast? Continued medical research and care for these women (and men) will eventually lead to a cure. Believe it!

Here's where we can start. Avon hosts sponsored walks in several large cities across the country. You may form a group to participate in one of these walks. You may help sponsor one of these groups. Or, Avon absolutely needs volunteers at points along the routes to support the teams.

Our friend (and printer) Amy Pruden, is part of a team participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Charlotte, NC on October 25 - 26. The "Booby Bunch" will walk a total of 40 miles in two days!!! The training is very difficult, and a big commitment.

Closer to home, my twin cousins, Samantha and Heather and their team, Twin Power will commit themselves for the fifth year . They will pound the pavement again this year in Washington, D.C. on the weekend of May 2-3, 2009. YOU GO, GIRLS!!!

About the Avon Foundation and the
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

The Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families, and Avon philanthropic programs worldwide have raised and awarded more than $500 million. Now past the half century milestone, the Avon Foundation brings this mission to life through two key areas: breast cancer and domestic violence. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992, and Avon breast cancer programs in some 50 countries support advancing access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Funding is awarded to beneficiaries ranging from leading cancer centers to community-based breast health programs for awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and scientific research. Fundraising is through a variety of “pink ribbon” products, events, races and walks. The largest is the U.S. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series, which began in 2003.

For more information on the Avon Foundation visit http://www.avonfoundation.org/.

Give These Girls a Shout Out!

This week we are having a very special giveaway for these breast friends!

Please comment with your cheers of support to the Booby Bunch and Twin Power. Among those commenting, a winner will be randomly chosen to receive two terrific and relaxing offerings from The Thymes.

One of our favorite people from the Thymes family is a breast cancer survivor herself, so it is only fitting that we chose one of her (and our) favorite products. Kimono Rose has a girly (but not over-flowery) fresh scent and has always been one of our most popular items. The lucky winner will receive an aromatic candle and foaming bath . Femininity refined! I can feel a good soak coming on...

Please click on the tiny "comments" at the bottom of this post. The winner will be posted on Friday, October 17th, 2009.

This giveaway is now over ... Ashley was the big winnner! Thanks to all for your comments, every positive step is a step in the right direction. See us next week for our next giveaway.

I Thee Wed (nesday)

2008-10-09T14:15:00.007-04:00

Okay, got a great idea today! Actually, I have seen this done before but never with invitations actually designed and printed at Zazu. So, in that regard - this is new ...

New to the blogosphere, we figure out something special about the whole workings nearly every single day. Last week, I figured out how to do one of these photo inspiration things. I was so happy with it, in fact, I think we'll trot one out every week. Yep, every week.

Every Wednesday, (okay, I know it's Thursday, but I just thought of it today) look for our stationery showcase here. That's Wednesday, not Thursday. On "I Thee Wed(nesday).

Get it?

At our most recent Bridal Show, the most popular section of our booth was the section featuring chocolate brown invitations. It has been for a number of years, but this year the secondary color was green.

The invitation is one of Zazu's designs and this is how we imagine the rest of the event panned out.

Most photos courtesy of The Knot. Photography by: Valls Photographic, John & Joseph Photography, Stephen Karlisch, Man & Clark, Roy Liera, Amanda Kraft Photography, Anderson Photography. Flowers by Dragonfly Event

Joyeaux Noel!

2008-10-07T16:40:00.006-04:00

We so totally need a little Christmas right this very minute!

If you are already a Zazu customer, look for this in the mail. If you are new to Zazu, come on over on October 23rd!

We will be closed from Mon Oct 20 through Wed Oct 22 while we are putting on the glitz!

Zazu Puts Loudoun County on the Map!

2008-10-07T14:14:00.017-04:00

It pays to speak up.

We have been carrying the famous Cat Studio drinking glasses and pillows since the very beginning days of Zazu. In fact, on my desk I have a framed copy of an InStyle magazine spread from December 2004 where Cat Studio and Zazu shared the very same page.

Cat Studio has now expanded their geography line to include a host of products; glasses, pillows, hand towels, aprons, totes and trays. The glasses and pillows have always been a major hit with our customers. The "Virginia" design has always been the most popular (no kidding!) But ... there was one problem ...

Anyone see it?

We didn't either. Where is Loudoun County? Considering it is one of the fastest growing and wealthiest counties in the U.S., you'd think we would be getting some love from Cat Studio. So, what did we do about it?

We asked Cat Studio to add it. Truthfully, first, we suggested the Zazu logo - when the laughter subsided - we asked for Loudoun County. Got that one!

To finally lay this question to rest ..

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus.
He's got his own pillow, too!

**Note from the North Pole - this newest geographical hotspot is sure to be on everyone's list this year - the elves may not make them fast enough. Order them early, so they make it down the chimney in time.

Crane's Personalized Stationery Event

2008-10-06T19:32:00.000-04:00

Replenish your cache stationery cache - or someone else's - during Crane's personalized stationery event.

October 11 through November 8 is the perfect time to renew your reserve of notes, cards, or sheets with envelopes. When you purchase 75 or more of Crane's 100% cotton, personalized stationery, you'll receive an additional 25 FREE.

Create your signature style through choice of paper, color, lettering and monograms.

Crane's personalized stationery event is also the perfect opportunity to create a unique gift for someone special.

Really Great Giveaway!

2008-10-03T15:27:00.000-04:00

Our really great friend, Anna Michelle, is nuts about Staxx! Staxx have rings, pendants, and soon will have earrings that combine interchangeable components that allow you to change your Staxx look at your whimsy!

Start with a base, add as many disks as you like in the center, then secu

re your creation with a jeweled topper. There are hundreds of possible combinations!

So, in honor of Anna Michelle, we are holding a really great giveaway. To be eligible to win this fabulous Staxx set in Filligree and Finery, just post a comment below. Comments will be moderated and there will be a random drawing among those who comment.

You've got until Wednesday, October 8th!

Bonne Chance!

Finding Your Way In Style

2008-10-03T12:53:00.014-04:00

I remember my first experience with the Internet. Find something cool, which leads you to someplace else, to a chat room about that new someplace else, which sends you to a horoscope site, and then eventually (hours later) you forget where you started. So, you "google" your own name to see what is out there about you only to be completely bummed that there is absolutely nothing. Zip.

Blogging is kind of the same - only different. By the way, I love that phrase; the same - only different. I have heard it used a lot lately. I recently got up to speed on Facebook and have reconnected with many friends from my school days. It seems that lots of folks look exactly the same - only different.

Let's get back to the point ... Blogging is the same, except that out in the blogosphere, it is widely recognized that you give credit where credit is due. The beauty of the whole system is that everyone is connected through links.

For example, I have a subscription to Wedding Wire through Google Reader. Every time they have a new posting, it shows up in my browser. Today they had a great post about a company who hand draws maps. Many of our wedding customers would be interested in including a beautifully detailed map with their wedding invitation ensemble. This is good information to share.

Thankfully, Wedding Wire not only gave us the name of the merry map makers (Couture Maps), but also credited another blog (Ritzy Bee) for bringing this company to their attention.
To wrap the whole thing up in a neat little bundle, I am bringing all this pertinent stuff to you. With pictures!

Ginny and Matt Tie the Knot

2008-10-01T11:25:00.015-04:00

Whenever we help a Zazu customer plan her wedding stationery and invitation, we can't help imagining how the entire event will play out. We've always been tempted to send back the reply card indicating that the entire Zazu staff will absolutely be attending. I said, "tempted", we seriously have not ever done this. Yet.

So, we were thrilled to find our inbox filled with wedding photos from the super-organized Ginny. Geez, the wedding was last week! She kindly allowed us to share her joy with all.

While selecting her save -the- dates and invitations, Ginny gave us a lot of insight into her dream wedding vision. It would be an easy and elegant seaside affair.

For the invitation, she chose a stunningly simple cold press watercolor paper with a deckle edge from Vera Wang. The save-the-date was a tri-fold from William Arthur. Having three panels, it allowed room for all the accommodation information and a calendar.

Now it was time to turn our attention to the other details that would complete the picture. For her centerpieces, Ginny chose a collection of beautiful lattice -cut lanterns in white ceramic by Two's Company.

The dessert table featured plates and napkins by Caspari.

Cheers! Courtesy of toasting glasses from Two's Company.

And then, Ginny came up with a super idea of inserting place card tabs from Envelopments into wine corks courtesy of Zazu. (we've saved thousands!)

Now you have some of the details that went into creating the big picture of Matt and Ginny's glorious day. We wish them blissful seas ahead!

Let Them Eat Cake

2008-09-30T14:14:00.012-04:00

Photo courtesy of Marie Antoinette's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century

Zazu is widely known for our highly-styled Christmas tree creations, and this year will be no exception. Less known is the fact that all our themes have been planned nearly a year in advance.

It's true. The first week in January, the elves set off for the holiday markets in anticipation of inspiration. What will adorn Virginia's best dressed trees next Christmas? Is pewter going to be THE color (yes) ? Bows on top(no)? Will we get flocked this year(it's possible)?

We've got two days to see all the offerings at market, four hours to design the themes, and a day and a half to run around and actually make the buying part happen. There are nine different themes this year! Trust me, it's super fun!

Then, we keep all our plans and themes a BIG FAT SECRET until our unveiling at our annual holiday party in October. Well, not this year! We've decided to let just one cat out of the chapeau just this one time...

This ... year's ... showstopping ... window display ... will be ... (drums rolling now?) Marie Antoinette! Quelle surprise!

There were many reasons for this choice: 1) I love all things French (especially cheese) 2) my family was planning a trip to France this summer and I was already getting super-excited, and 3) it was a good excuse to have cake at our unveiling party.

Little did I know how prophetic this choice would be. It was not meant to be a social commentary, or even a little snide-aside. However, if the current economic situation does not improve, it will be off with her head come December 26th!

(There was no crystal ball in play on this one, folks. Remember, this was all schemed up back in January!)

Please come see our Marie and all her finery.

There will be cake.

Zazu's 5th Annual
Holiday Open House
Thursday, October 23, 2008
5 pm - 9 pm

20070 Ashbrook Commons Plaza
Ashburn, Virginia 20147
(703) 858-9298

Shear Genius in Ashburn

2008-09-29T10:42:00.032-04:00

I have never ever been happy with my hair. It is super-fine, limp, and I have been told that it is turning gray in parts that I can't even see. As far back as I can remember, dealing with my hair was one of the biggest challenges and most time-consuming part of my get-up-and-go routine. Did you notice that I said, "was"?

About a year-ish ago, one of our Zazu customers, Anna Michelle Jackson, let us know that she had opened up a hair salon in Ashburn called Modern Concepts.

Anna Michelle and her business partner, Cathleen, had been long-time supporters of Zazu, so I challenged them with rescuing my failing follicles.

Before and after pictures speak volumes!

Always great with words, Anna Michelle shares her own thoughts ...

The scent of fall in the air is invigorating, but when I looked in the mirror at my hair color, invigorating is hardly how I felt. Why is it that highlights look so great in the summer sun, but as soon as the weather cools so does our color! I have already indulged in this fall’s jewel toned clothing; a rich amethyst blouse and an emerald top are mocking my dull flat color from my closet. Time to get to work and formulate a new invigorating me!

I have one of the best occupations; I am a hair stylist! I am the stylist to Ashburn’s super- star Moms and Divas! I make women feel good about themselves all day long. They tell me their woes as I color and shape their tresses. Today it’s my turn to be the guest in my salon, bye-bye to my blah color.

So I stand in front of our wall of color tubes, the possibilities are endless, but I mix some copper, a little gold, and a smidgen of red to create that jewel tone look in my hair, perfect! I choose to use Schwarzkopf color, a German cream color line that creates amazing grey coverage with low ammonium and has vibrant reds. One of my stylists applies my re-growth area and then we mix a similar blend of “Personality Color” - this is also known as a glaze - for my washed out ends. A glaze is a semi-permanent color that deposits rich color with a lot of shine and conditioning. It is the answer to the damage left by the summer sun. My glaze is applied and so I wait to process with a People magazine in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

Thirty minutes later its time for the best part of my day, the shampoo! Our shampoo assistant has put me asleep on many occasions, she has a magic touch! She uses Sudzz Cashmere shampoo and Moxee conditioner, the aroma fills the air and I can feel my hair soak up its goodness. My hair feels like silk as it slides through the brush, the heat and the noise of the dryer keep me in my Zen like state. The dryer turns off, and I am turned to the mirror to reveal the new me! Invigorating is a good word it is exactly how I feel - my color is rich and shiny deep and beautiful like a garnet or a ruby.

Our make-up artist comes over and compliments me on my new color as she leads me to her station. How many times have you changed your color and used the same old make-up, or use the same make-up from season to season? She touches up my foundation with a loose mineral, flawless finish. Rich brown on the eyes, highlight the brow, and the crème de la crème a lip pluming gloss in copper. Even I need a make over from time to time. I feel great; I think its time for a new purse to match my fall mood, happy times!

- Anna Michelle Jackson

What Not To Blog

2008-09-26T10:01:00.012-04:00

We have come up with literally tens (hey, we just started) of topics to discuss here on our new blog, so the thought came up that we should have some sort of policy on what we will not discuss on this public forum. Doesn't that sound official? An actual "policy." Seriously, we don't always just make stuff up as we go along ... really.

So, here is the official list of topics we will not be discussing on the wildly popular (hey, we're now on page two of Google!) Zazu blog, The Little Blog That Could.

Politics: Since we're just a bunch of gurlz - we can't handle the complexities. We probably just need "more education and training." How about just casting our ballot for the candidate who shows up in People magazine most frequently. You know, that's how gurlz are.

Religion: Nope. Can't even come up with a funny/annoying comment about this one.

Sexual Orientation: So, you won't find a post regarding Clay Aiken's revelation that he is, in fact, gay filed under "No Sh*t, Sherlock."

Kids: We will not make you feel like less of a parent by chronicling the goings on of our enormously bright and talented kids. However, if they do something hysterically stupid (we've got teenagers), then ... "game on."

Fair enough? We at Zazu solemnly promise not to post about the above topics ever again as to not offend or alienate anyone or anything.

Probably.

Cheers!

What's In A Name?

2008-09-25T15:10:00.004-04:00

The joke is... my brothers and I were definitely supposed to be royalty. At least by our namesake. We have very regal names and I suppose my mother was grasping a little bit when she named us all. We stuck with mostly family names which always makes things a little more interesting. Throwing a last name in the middle or even as a first name is a nice twist to all the usual "Johnsons" out there (that's a little jab to our 3 unrelated Johnsons that work at Zazu!)

Here at Zazu, we do tons of birth announcements and it is always fun to see what different name combinations mean to different people. I bet every one of you knows a couple who will not share their future baby's name. And it seems the pressure gets to some people.

"What if I don't like it after I have named my baby?" They may ask.
"Should I spell it the same old boring way?"
And some people are proud of their name ideas right from the start.

So what exactly is in a name? What does "Zazu" mean?

To find the answer you must read a cute little story we like to tell about our owner's genius idea to come up with the most fabulous name ever! (Not to mention the contents inside this place!)

It starts with the first two of her four children (God bless her!)
The oldest was unable to say his younger brother's name.
Should have sounded like "Carson". Instead it came out "zazzoo"
{Channel your inner child and say it quickly, he wasn't too far off!)
Which is cute enough to have inspired a store name, but after a visit to France she and her husband were walking around and saw the cutest little shop. The window display was fabulous and it had a pretty little awning over top… The name?... "Les Zazous"

It was destiny.

Cheers!

Brooke Millard Whittington, aka

Super-Fun Time Wasters

2008-09-24T15:38:00.009-04:00

In the few extra minutes I had to spare, I decided to check out Yearbook Yourself. I thought I would be satified with one fun shot, but ... ok, you see what happened ...

There is also a celebrity face-recognition "thingy" on My Heritage that likened my likeness to Sigourney Weaver. Hmmm, I wouldn't have thought of her. I promise I will let you know when it's time to "Elf Yourself".

If you've got the time to waste, try a new era on for size at Yearbook Yourself. And, please share it with us - we love to giggle!

Cheers!

Ten Reasons You Need to Blog for Business

2008-09-24T10:34:00.001-04:00

1. Blogging is a free marketing tactic. As a small business owner, you have a limited marketing budget. 2. A blog is search engine manna!...

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Times Are Tough, But So Are We

2008-09-24T09:36:00.006-04:00

As the economic news gets even gloomier – gas prices at a ridiculous level, grocery prices that make you want to start your own crop, a real estate market bordering on disaster, and mighty, mighty banking institutions being bailed out by the government – who wouldn’t want to hide their money in a mattress?

So, how are mom and pop going to keep open the shop?

This is the question being posed to us at Zazu, a locally owned gift and stationery store in Ashburn, Virginia. Opened in 2004, we had hoped that this would be the year to see some benefit of all the hard work we put into establishing ourselves as the most fabulous shopping experience in the community. All the books we read told us that’s what would happen if we followed all the rules: develop a kick-butt brand, offer unparalleled customer service, fabulous and trend-setting products, and a moderate pricing structure. That’s when we got hit by 2008. Ouch!

So, being the creative and stick-to-it types, we needed an extension to our plan. As luck would have it, our CEO and Chief Decision Maker, Caroline Haddad, recently learned of a new marketing tool called, “the Internet”. What a fabulous invention!

When sales are down, marketing and prospecting at every opportunity is critical to get more feet pounding your carpet. On the horizon, we at Zazu see social networking and blogs as becoming the channels to shamelessly self-promote and widen brand awareness. Being creative-types (and soon to be techno-types) we have decided to embrace and conquer this new media.

On Tuesday, September 23, 2008 Zazu published its very first blog, “The Little Blog that Could”. We invite you to join our adventure as we explore this brave new world.

Cheers!

The Birth of a Blog

2008-09-23T13:13:00.004-04:00

After spending hours upon hours scrutinizing what our first post should be, I decided to handle it the way I do almost everything - just hit the button and see where it takes us!

Hope you enjoy the following YouTube video featuring "Gimme Dat Ding" by the Pipkins - every staff meeting here at Zazu begins with it. As another fun fact, it is one of the few songs I can play on the piano.

Cheers!