In The News

I rarely ever blog about the news, except for now. My step-dad brought in the Suntimes from outside today, and one of the cover stories was about the Snuggie! Four million sold in 3 months! You would not think the snuggie would be so popular. Snuggies are all the rage,

Chicagoans snug it out
From the cult following of a monk-like wearable blanket to the smoky siren's song of sweet bacon, the latest hot trends in online interests are all about living in comfort


January 31, 2009
BY PAIGE WISER Staff Reporter/pwiser@suntimes.com
The holidays were, at best, restrained. The economy is lousy, and the weather nothing short of brutal. So where does a Chicagoan turn for comfort this winter?

The Snuggie.



Andy Katzman (left), Josh Korin and his wife, Amy Korin, stay nice and toasty in their Snuggies at the Korins' North Side apartment.
(Chris Sweda/Sun-Times)




The ubiquitous infomercial -- for a blanket, with sleeves in it -- has been running during prime time on Comedy Central, CNN and ESPN, demonstrating that the blanket with sleeves has endless uses. Use your laptop! Enjoy a snack! Snuggle your baby in your arms! Perfect for drafty dorm rooms!

"Every time the ad comes on, I elbow my husband and say, 'You can use your arms!' " says Jennifer Vaughan Martin of Lake View. "The people look so happy, and their lives seem so much more complete with the Snuggie."

Some fans sincerely want to be warm. Others are obsessed with the cultlike appearance of the robe blankets, comparing them to druids, sorcerers and "Star Wars" sand people. They post parody videos on YouTube. They popularize phrases such as "Snug it out."

During a season when everyone is trying to cut back, the $14.95 Snuggie seems like a luxury that's tantalizingly within reach.

"We got ours at Bed, Bath & Beyond," says Amy Korin of Old Town. "With a 20 percent off coupon, it came to $11.99." Her husband, Josh, had been begging for one. By the time they got to the store, just the blue Snuggies were left.

"We love ours," Amy says. "We sit in them all night long. We've answered the door in them. We've been cooking in them."

Her only complaint: massive static.

Josh says the Snuggie experience lives up to the infomercial. He does wish it had pockets.

In tough economic times, the Snuggie is a success story. For some, the extra layer of warmth is a way to reduce heating bills. For others, it's a grownup version of a security "blankie."

The Snuggie has been on the market for about a year, and the commercial began airing in August. There are plans to expand the line to include Snuggies for children, outdoor Snuggies and patterned Snuggies.

The universally unflattering blankets are tempting for a population that's snowed in. "It's not exactly a fashion statement one would be proud of," says Virl Seribo of Barrington. Still, "I think secretly, everyone wants one."

Jennie Shrader has just been waiting for the right time. "My mom broke her ankle by slipping on the ice a few days before Christmas, and I've been telling her now I have the perfect excuse to purchase them," she says. Order them by phone, and it's two for $19.95. "I can have one, and she can have one to keep her warm while she's laying down and recovering," Shrader says.

Advertising Age reports that more than 4 million Snuggies were sold in three months.

I mean really, all this time I thought the snuggie was just a joke, but no its a great idea! A actual non depressing news story! Its amazing!

What's Next?

I've only been to school once in the past week. From Friday to Friday. Yes, because we have had a lot of days off, and yes because I have been sick. I've had it all, a soar throat. A nasal congestion. A bad cough. Some headaches. Oh yeah, and now pink eye! Plus two weeks before I got the sick streak, I got stomach flu on New Years eve! Whoo-hoo! Doesn't that rock? I am getting better though, tomorrow I can go back to normal and see my friends and stuff.It took, two trips to the doctor, no milk or yogurt for a week, many hours of laying on the couch, and many glasses of juice to get this far. All I can say is, Good Riddance my cold, and please enjoy the next body.
I've watched a fair amount of TV this week, and there are two hilarious commercials.





The snuggie is really long, and the pockets are so big you can carry a turkey in them! I have one.

First Post Of The New Year

Sorry I have not posted for a while, with adjusting back to school, and the holiday rush I have been pretty busy. i guess to start, me and my older brother got a Wii for christmas. i have to say that was definitely one of the highlights of the last few weeks. That was what I really wanted, and I got it. New Years, was decent. Except I got stomach flu and was barfing my guts out an hour before 2009's arrival. So, I guess since I never got to do my new Years thing, I'll do the year in review a little l;ate this year. My opinionated best list of 2008.

Music

In my opinion, all the music in 2008 sucked. Unfortunately Brittany Spears,made a bounce back. No one sparked very good music in 2008, but I barely managed to pull together a top five list.
5. I Kissed A Girl- Katy Perry
4. So What- P!nk
3. Gives You Hell- All American Rejects
2. Goodbye- Miley Cyrus
1. Fly On The Wall- Miley Cyrus

Now the five worst songs.
5. Womanizer- Brittany Spears
4. Disturbia- Rhianna
3. Love Bug- Jonas Brothers
2. Lolipop- Lil' Wayne
1. Low- T-pain

Movies

Best Animated Film: Wall-E
Best Chic Flick: Baby Mama
Best Action: Hancock
Best Comedy: Don't Mess With The Zohan
Best Summer Movie: Sister Hood Of The Traveling Pants 2
Best Musical: Mamma Mia!
Best Movie With A Moral: Drillbit Taylor
Best Guy Flick: Iron Man

Worst Animated Movie: Veggie Tales
Worst Chic Flick: Definately Maybe
Worst Action: None
Worst Comedy: None
Worst Summer Movie: None
Worst Musical: High School Musical
Worst Movie With A Moral: None
Worst Guy Flick: None

Movies were pretty good in 2008.