i am going to post some adorable sport pictures (ok, a picture) as soon as i can figure out how to get this new fangled scanner thingy to work.

i really want to see big fish.
as my mom says, 'it's by burton, he did scissorhands.'
i guess that means it must be good.

after reading my own posts from the past week...i think i was going a bit crazy. ok, not that i am not usually crazy, because i think i am a bit off-the-rocker to begin with...but i think i was driving myself to some sort of duct tape related insanity. luckily, however, that is over now. the christmas rush is entirely sent out, and i am quite excited about that! what a busy time of year! i've officially shut down the studio for the remainder of december and all of january so that i can enjoy a little r & r, some more trips to ny, dc, boston, provi and vermont and actually hang out a bit. not that i haven't been hanging out a bit lately, but now i guess i will just get to add sleep to my schedule. that's not to say i haven't already committed to a few duct tape related things for january...very very exciting things that i can't quite talk about yet because they aren't confirmed, but when they are, i will share them. yay yay yay!

there are a few things that annoy me. this website is one of them...the least of the reasons being that it has one of those annoying floaty text things that follows your cursor.

does this look familiar to anyone? hmmm.
i was cruising the ol' internet (i do have my father's genes afterall) and came across this. the text is even eerily similar. oh well, if you look at the quality, vanessa jean wins out again!
harumph...we'll see what she gets for copying me.

wow, i thought i was in to duct tape. check this out.
apparently my goods are mentioned in here somewhere, as too expensive, so the gal opted to make her own instead.

vanessa jean on the henrietta fahrenheit site. h f is a way waay cool store in ypsilanti, michigan. the woman who owns is is tre cool and a great vj supporter. and when i was in news haven (the stricktest magazine store in town, so bizarre) with a pal last week, i was looking through venus (hello natasha lyonne) and there was an article about the store and jennifer albaum who owns it. it was so cool to see this store with my stuff in it in a mag. yes, i know i am self impressed, but i just can't get over it. love it! anyhow, check h f out online. they're great.

all this air france cancelled stuff and the no-curbside traffic at lax means i might have some trouble getting back to my snuggly home in connecticut come sunday. what's a girl to do? apparently the freeway leading up to and the off-ramp to lax was like a parking lot today, and people were getting out of their cars and walking to the airport. whippeee.

yes, yes this article explains so many things. thanks for passing along dear reader. and this is also why you will never see vanessa jean in wal-mart. darn you walmart! darn you!

on a non-walmart level it's something i can relate to after doing so much wholesale business this season. there is something to be said about doing 300 piece volume in one sale, but it's so much less than doing them individually. oh well, onward and upward.

this is a fun, fun site for anyone who has a few free minutes and any interest in zip codes. i haven't figured out how to make it refresh to a blank screen after doing it once, so i just end up re-loading it, but it's cool none the less. and so far i have learned that 55555 is not a valid zip code.

merry christmas eve everyone!
home at last, after a debaucle of sickness through the week.
grrr. sickness is a big goober.
but i guess i had it coming with the incredible amount of work and fun that was going on.
and now i find myself at home, in cali
with some strep
and a lot of free time
and an internet connection...
do you know what that means?
blogging, lots and lots and lots of blogging.
all the posting i've been so good at not posting these past few weeks.
onward it comes!

almost there! the end is in sight.

pizza, coke, cake, breakfast burritos, cake, tea. rinse and repeat as needed.

what do we want?
duct tape!
when do we want it?
now!

yo! so much duct tape i think i am going crazy. going to call it quits for the night so i can get a good full day of work in tomorrow before a super rushed and full trip to the post office (thank goodness for extended holiday hours and really, really long lines!) but before that, i get to be the heroic knight-ess in shining armor and rescue jeepie from the dealership again. why oh why oh why so many car problems lately. grrrrrrrr. yes. i am clearly losing it.

rollin' rollin' rollin'
keep that duct tape rollin'
(or, i guess un-rollin' would be more appropriate!)
things are crazy busy, i've been assembling marons and danas and hannas until my finger are raw.
i can't believe christmas is so so soon!

much too late...much, much too late for this, but...

happy birthday chi!

i hope you had a fan-tas-tic celebration day and many more to come!

the orders are pouring in like a flood. where's the arc? can the clutches and mini erikas and wallets board two by two..? yes, going crazy. don't forget that the 18th is the last day to place orders...and some will be able to be filled after that...but there is such a rush fee...

ok, back to work!

there was indeed a sledding adventure on sunday, and it was much needed. the roomie came home with plans to sled with friends, we took jeepie on the adventure to the div school, and met up with her friends. we sledded a bit. the snow was flakey and not too packed yet. it was all going well until there was a sledding accident. it was neither me or the roomy, but friends. it was kinds freaky, and not the first time i've been to the emergency room after sledding. anyhow, we were going to get hot chocolate and snacks for the troops at the med center, but someone locked her keys in the car. ok, so i left them in the car, with the plan to leave the car unlocked, so i wouldn't loose the keys while sledding (as happened to my irish pal last weekend), but my habit is to lock the car and so i did, and was locked out. so we hitched a ride home, i called my roadside service for the millionth time this year, and then took a quick trip to the med center and delivered some snackies to warm up the injured (nothing was broken, thank goodness) and then got back to jeepie, but the tow truck got stuck in the snow, so i waited for a bit (thank goodness for the roomie and her warm car!) and then the really really really incompetant (i am a bad speller!) vehicle helper man came and couldn't figure out how to unlock my car...it was 45 minutes standing out in the snow with him cursing my car and his company and equiptment...on and on and on...and did i mention it was snowing and windy and cold...but fun to be outside...anyhow, while he was on the walkie to the garage asking for (cursing for) more help, i grabbed the tools and unlocked it myself. yes, i am a genius. ok, so i'm not a genius, or else i wouldn't have locked the keys in there, with the spare conveniently in the front seat, but i always feel good when i can do things involving cars that mechanics can't. end of story. and then i went for a run in the snow with my running shoes. then i worked. and worked through alias, which was a re-run, and worked and worked and worked.

it's quiet, still and snowing. perfect for cuddling up and watching pride and prejudice and work-work-working. snow is so beautiful. the flakes aren't too big, but i hope enough piles up for a bit of afternoon sledding. smiles!

you know what's great? new running shoes...and i'm going to pick mine up!

ah yes, it's that time of year again...time for rudolf the red nose reindeer punch...no, it's not quite the same without green pants and the e.s. crew around, but we'll have to make due!

sad news for yale, good news for duke.

oooops, more overdue videos.

you might think that running a small business would get me over my phone-phobia...but sadly that is not the case. oh well...i'll just be a scared little phone caller and receiver for the rest of my life! i'm trying though, i swear.

alright little chipmunks...i'm back, and clearly going crazy from all this duct taping. maybe i should start taping ducks, that sounds a lot like fun...

anyhow, note to holiday gift purchasers...
december 18th is the last date to place an order with guaranteed holiday delivery.
orders received december 19th-23rd can be delivered in time for the holidays, but will require a rush delivery and handling fee.
the studio and elves officially shut down on decemeber 24th...and will spend january recovering. more to come on this though!

so don't wait until the 12 days of christmas are dwindling down before you place your order!

aren't you all the luckiest duct tape fans in the land...

i'm on a duct tape engineering streak...and i actually have a few minutes to post. it's been so much work lately that i think i am going crazy...so maybe a little posting will keep me sane. so far this morning, a tom, a suzy q, and initial belt and a black and white clutch. still 8 gazillion pieces to go. and it's also a gorgeous day outside...so i...must....stay......put...ahhhhhh! how many days until christmas and this craziness is over?

the most exciting thing...
this monday was a fab day...fab to the max. i happened to head into the not-quite-so-daunting-anymore city for an annual reunion. phwa to the max, but totally fun! one of the coolest parts was seeing part of the vanessa jean collection in public! wahooo. new york's grand central terminal has a cute little gift show in the lobby coming in off of one of the entrances (that's the most i can give you...see how well i know my way around!) anyhow, uncommon goods has a fancy-schmancy booth there, and i cruised by and saw my stuff. it was good. my heart was racing, and i just had to point it out with everyone i was with. ok, truthfully, it was my second time seeing it, but i was just so excited and validated that i had to show everyone i was with. yay! yes, hyper. yay!

ahhh, things that are exciting!
1. a re-order for the large clutch, but this time in the black and white stripes for the valentine's edition of the uncommon goods catalog! yay. the only negatory is that they want it this week...more business for the elves.
2. possibly really great things at another, larger chain...can't give details cause i don't want to hex anything, but really really exciting, so keep your fingers crossed!
3. i think we might be up to orders from all 50 states by now. that is my goal, and i think it might now be the case...although i think alaska might be left out...if you know anyone in alaska...send them our way.

from glorious green pants and very true...find the number in your area!
Anyone Given You This Phone Number?

In Boston, it's 617-861-3962. In New York, it's 212-660-2245. In Miami, it's 305-241-0033. In Seattle, it's 206-376-9798. In Washington D.C., it's 202-452-7468. Has anyone given you these phone numbers? If so, go cry. We sympathize. You've been rejected. This is what happened: You met an exciting new person and thought you'd like to set up a date. So you asked for the phone number. And you got it! One problem: When you called the phone number, it wasn't the hot gal or guy you reached, it was the Rejection Hotline.

"Hello! This is not the person you were trying to call. You've reached the Rejection Hotline." The fast-talking male voice goes on to explain in gritty detail the many reasons why you were rejected and then jauntily tells you to get over it. How cruel--and clever. Started in Atlanta in 2001, there are now Rejection Hotline phone numbers in 30 major cities. The Rejection Hotline is hot. Each city routinely gets more than 50,000 calls a month.

"The dating scene is full of people who can't take a hint or can't take 'no' for an answer and many who apparently can't take showers, can't brush their teeth, or can't seem to go out in social settings without awkwardly embarrassing themselves by an inability to read a situation," the RejectionHotline.com Web site says. "The Rejection Hotline exists as a public service to both the rejector and to the rejectee." If nothing else, it's an easy way to get out of uncomfortable situation when someone asks you for your phone number and you're not interested. And for the person who is being rejected, at least there is no public embarrassment.

thank goodness for brian and keeping the posting going. posting slow = business busy!
the little elves and i are going crazy in the studio, hardly enough time for anything but turning out duct tape goodies for the masses. more to come...but since i have a minute...i am going to post some juicy little tidbits. ok, well, if you read these chronologically this will be last, but that's ok. can anyone tell i'm a bit sleep deprived?

it's winnie the pooh and the blustery day in new haven! yay! i love it!

ha ha! i'm at koffee, playing with my new baby. a pretty, pretty new thang it is too. see, i have a tendency to name the objects in my life...jeepie, freddie, baby...baby was my old computer who is now failing to work...so today i splurged on a new baby. i think it needs a new name, but i'm just so excited right now that i can hardly think of anything. anyhow, it's been a good day, and i can sum it up like this...circuit city = good, comp usa = bad. koffee also = good, as this is the millionth time in a row that i have ended up in a bizarre conversation involving duct tape (ok, so that's not so surprising) and vermont and kids. long story. but it's always nice to meet people. alright, back to work for me! i'm working on getting out the last wholesale order for the season (i'm working my way into ohio!) and getting out a new edition of the duct tales newsletter to remind all the nice vanessa jean customers about the duct tape wares in time for holiday shopping. so if you need to do some holiday shopping...do it here.

zeugma \ZOOG-muh\ noun

: the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one (as in "opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy")


Example sentence:
"She left in a huff and a Chevy," said Jack, employing vivid zeugma to report of Marissa's departure.

oh how the orders are rolling in. here they come...here it comes...the mad holiday rush...bring it on. i am so ready, and i have an established team of elves (really, they are elves, i brought them in from the north pole) ready to help out. the number of orders hitting the website is already noticeable higher. holy cow, what's a little duct-taper to do! just be aware, the absolute last day to place a christmas order with promised on-time deliver is december 18th!

yes, yes, i am making the biggest mistake of my life. i am going to attempt to go out and fight the crowds and try to buy a new computer today. i'm sure best buy or comp usa or one of those places is the absolute best place to be on the day after thanksgiving. right...i think i must have a death wish for myself. however...that shouldn't stop you all from starting your christmas shopping at vanessa jean dot com right now!

oh dear! most people who know me know that thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. i hate turkey, i like to nap right after i eat, and that's always hard when you are entertaining, and there's usually cooking and planning involved and either awful flying across the country or being family-less on the east coast. well, thanksgiving has been redeemed!. this was the best turkey day ever. i didn't have to cook, and hardy clean, but i got to eat a fantastic meal that had at least 4 sticks of butter, 4 cups of brown sugar, and 5 different vegetables (carrots, corn, potatoes, yams, and the best green bean casserole i have ever had), not to mention some liquid refreshment and some of the funniest people i know. i got to eat and nap immediately, and then play board games and have a dance party. when your turkey night ends with dancing on a table to ignition remix, that's a pretty good sign. it was also the most beautiful day and night ever. it was sunny and warm and i took a nap outside on the porch while the turkey was in the oven, and it was warm enough for us to hang out in the back all night long (much to the chagrin of the neighbors)!

however, i did miss my family and friends in california a lot. i got especially sentimental when i called them during their dinner and got to talk to almost everyone, but it made me wish i was there. so family...I MISS YOU! and can't wait to be with everyone over christmas. hugs & kisses. i love you guys and you give me so much to be thankful for.

happy pepto bismal day!

mucho thanks to sara from whom i just received the most incredible birthday card and gift....the coolest cd in the world by jennifer berezan. check out her website at edgeofwonder.com. thanks sar!

i'm pretty sure i know where i get my 'waste-lots-of-time-on-the-computer' genes from.

who knew cats and dogs could type?
nonetheless order cookies from mrs. fields and have them shipped across the country!

yesterday i was so SO excited when the fed ex man brought a present around 6pm. we weren't expecting anyone or any deliveries, so when i found a large, flat box from mrs. fields' i couldn't have been happier, or more surprised! but the best part was the note.
" dear vanessa,
happy thanksgiving. we miss you.
love,
peaches, em, phil (the stud cat of the world) and SPORT"
i was so touched, but even more surprised to know that the family pets were so articulate and know how to ship stuff from the internet. wow. thanks!

such a good book! blueberries for sal! i loved it as a kid, but i love it even more because it reminds me so much of this fantastic trip i took to machias, maine with some good friends. not only was it a weekend long fun-filled adventure to the machias blueberry festival, but also an adventure that continues to bring me happiness. and last weekend (thank goodness for the throngs of people who pour into new haven for the harvard yale football game) we got to have a small machias reunion, and that made me exceptionally happy! thank goodness for blueberries and machias and the good stories they bring!

test your bad ol' self with this fun left brain.right brain challenge.

if i told you i got 100%, would you call me a genuis?

just so no one worries, i'm not actually working today. i'm lounging and enjoy a festive turkey day, following a very festive pre-turkey day night on the town...and preparing for the immense meal that's coming in a few hours. i'm just treating myself with a little computer time!

oh how i wish my little computer was working so i could download some pics and post them here. in the place or real visuals, close your eyes and imagine this...(ok, read first, then close your eyes and imagine)... i just finished getting out a huge order for a store, people people. it's a huge order, the largest wholesale order by far (barring the uncommon goods order, that is all of the same piece, so that doesn't count!) and the studio is full of about 60 different colorful pieces. meri bags with adorable little flowers, a rainbow of mini maron bags, hannas galore, id wallets (pic online to come soon!), some fantasticly striped suzy q's and (my new fave!) some adorable striped alison bags. and they are just all lined up, brilliant in color, just waiting to get shipped out. but what a huge order, and what a pretty picture they all make. this is definately my favorite part of the wholesale process, looking at just tons and tons and tons of pieces all in one place!

oh dear! this will be the second holiday season in this duct tape business. anyhow who knew me through the holiday season last year can vouch that it is the craziest, busiest time of the year. and that was when the business was new and hardly know. well, it's only thanksgiving now, and the orders are pouring in, and i'm not quite sure what i am going to do with myself. i think i am going to have to enlist a few more elves at the studio. it's so fun to look back one year and think that this was all just starting and that i had no idea where it was going to go. and to think that now i am receiving orders from south boston; bartlett, tennessee; la canada, ca; new haven, ct; la; and lubbock, tx and those are just some orders that came in this week. and it's all for one reason: you! (it's ok for me to get a little mushy, it is thanksgiving after all!) this little business has grown so much because of the wonderful support of friends, family and customers who are so kind as to pass along the website and tell friends about vanessa jean. it's amazing what word of mouth can do, and i just can't say thank you enough to everyone who has showed their support. their is nothing more amazing that getting an e-mail saying thanks for the goods and 'oh, i heard about you from so-and-so in texas, and i am telling all my friends here in boulder, and my mom in vermont wants one too'. it's you're enthusiasm that makes these little wheels keep grinding and i just want you all to know that it makes me really, really happy! (yes, i am the luckiest little duct-taper in the land!)

ahhh, some e-mails are just too good to pass up. this is from my mom, writing about my dad. sorry to maybe embarass some parties in the process, but this little anecdote is too good to be true. however, i know it's true, and that makes it even funnier...(despite the fact that it's written in that anonymous forwarded e-mail tone)
i received this e-mail from my mom...

"One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his
sweatshirt.

Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, "What
setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," I replied. "What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, "Yale".

And they say blondes are dumb..."

enough said!

have you all missed me? probably not since hardly anyone reads this duct tape related blog anymore (unless they happen to stumble across it when it comes up as a google resuly for "pantyhose+feet+photo" search [don't ask]).
anyhow, i'm back. i've come to the realization that is it quite challenging to run an online business without a functioning computer. which is what i am doing. and right now i am giving thanksgiving for my roommate who left her laptop here while she went home to celebrate the day of the turkey. it's also hard to research new computers when you don't have a computer to surf mr. internet with. oh well. anyhow, apologies galore for the lack of posting, but i was up a creek without a computer...and it was impossible to navigate. but i'm back in action and trying to post more more more for these pre-holiday days, and to update from the past 2 weeks when my (loyal two) readers had nothing new to read. so, today will be a day for feasting on turkey AND worthless vanessa jean blog info! stay posted.

sale! sale! sale!

i know, i know, those are words you hear very often around here at vanessajean.com. but in the spirit of celebration of the one year anniversary of the duct tape business, we are offering our first ever sale...and on some of our most popular goods. be sure to check out the new sale belts on the website. just click here for a variety of new and limited color combinations offered at a fun, discounted price. yay! what could be better? and it's just in time for the holiday season, and we all know that these reversible, animal-free, one-size-fits-almost-all belts make a fantastic gift. so give them a check out, fer shure it's the best vanessa jean deal to date!

sale! sale! sale!

i know, i know, that's not a word you hear very often here at vanessa jean dot com, but indeed this time it is true. in this month long tradition of celebrating the the one year anniversary of vanessa jean, we are offering some 0 comments