Get Your Convention Gear!

My Radiant Red Hat Sisters,

Our annual convention is just around the corner, and I am absolutely unable to contain my excitement! This year is especially rousing because it is our 10th anniversary of Red Hat merriment! There is even a special name for this year's convention, Decades of Sparkle, and as you know, it takes place June 19 - 23, 2008.

I have already started thinking about the Red Hat regalia I am going to pack for this marvelous event, and Redhatsandmore.com has all the gear we need. I have already been perusing the site, and I have found some amazing deals. I have been waiting for the longest time for the Royal Mermaid Dress to go on sale, and it finally has! I will be wearing that to the Glitz and Glamour Ball along with my brand new, and especially fancy, Calypso. Its soft red and purple fringe adorning the edges of this straw hat make it absolutely stunning. I just cannot wait to show off my new adornments while meeting my Red Hat sisters from across the globe.

Don't forget to register for the convention and get all of your convention accessories and gear. It is the place to show your Red Hat pride, and what better way to do that then to always dress your best. I will see you all at Decades of Sparkle, and I cannot wait to see what fabulous Red Hat gear you find for yourselves!

Until Next Time,

Queen Diva Dishberry

Introduce Your Mom to the Red Hat Society

I was just reminiscing about the excitement I felt when I attended my first Red Hat Society function, and I had an epiphany! I realized the perfect gift to give to my dear mother is the Red Hat Society!

You all should give this gift to your mothers or loved ones as well. Introduce them to your Red Hat Society chapter and get them involved! I just cannot think of a more rewarding gift. Not only will it give you the chance to bond with them, but you will be introducing them to so many lively and vibrant women who will surely brighten their days. Perhaps you could even buy them their very first Glittering Red Fedora and a Mini Red and Purple Fan so they may look as stunning as all of the other ladies!

Just think of the wonderful memories they will make on the fantastic outings, and all the wonderful new friends they will now have. Certainly, there could not be a sweeter thing to do for your mother or loved one than to bring them into the vivacious world of the Red Hat Society. I am going to call my mother right now and invite her to the Tea Party my chapter has planned for next week, but I must hurry up and order her a Gwendolyn from Redhatsandmore.com so that we can match!

Until Next Time,
Queen Diva Dishberry

Red Hat Makeover on The Today Show. They Made Her Wear Black!

I just saw a Red Hat makeover on The Today Show! One of our sisters was celebrating Red Hat Society Day in her beautiful red hat outfit, complete with purple dress, red hat, and feather boa. She looked beautiful!

The Today Show must have thought otherwise, though, because they put her in a black dress. A black dress...on Red Hat Society Day! Heavens to murgatroyd! I can't speak for her, but our sister didn't look very happy with her makeover. See for yourself on The Today Show's web site or watch the Today Show video.

What do you think about this?

Until Next Time,
Queen Diva Dishberry

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Hello to my lovely Red Hat sisters!

My favorite time of year is just around the corner, and I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas about this special day. Mother's Day is May 11th, and as a proud mother myself, it is certainly a day I cherish. Most of us Red Hat sisters are mothers, so this is the perfect time to load up on some of the Red Hat adornments you have been so anxiously waiting for! It never hurts to drop some hints to get the frills that you truly desire. Your kids are probably trying hard to decide what to get for you on your special day, so I thought I would offer some suggestions.

I have asked my daughter for the Baker's Hat Basket because I just love to make cookies! What better way to bake some tasty treats than with a full set of Red Hat baking accessories? If you would rather have a gift that makes you dazzle, there is some stunning jewelry on RedHatsandMore.com that will look delightful with any of your Red Hat attire. My personal favorite is the Plum Pearl Set because it would go quite well with all of my Red Hat regalia but the Red Hat Pearl Set is fantastic too! Red Hatters everywhere should be asking their children for the gifts that they truly want, so take a load off your kid's minds and tell them they must look no further! The perfect gift is one that will make you look and feel merry on your special day! I just can't wait to start baking with my Baker's Hat Basket- I can almost smell the delicious baked goods now!

Until Next Time,
Queen Diva Dishberry

Red Hat Pajama Party Fun

Hello Red Hat Ladies!

I recently went to a Red Hatter pajama party and wanted to share some ideas! I joined some of the lovely Red Hat ladies for a night of fun and dress up, and it was a regular riot! Red Hatter pajama parties are a great way to bond with your Red Hat sisters, and most importantly; have some zany fun! If you throw your own pajama party, try having a contest for the wackiest outfit and give away some Red Hat accessories as a prize! That is what we did, and the girls at this party went all out for the contest.

I must say that the new bedtime outfit that I purchased for this event at www.redhatsandmore.com was quite the hit, and I am more than fond of it. I wore my new Red and Purple Silky Pajamas with a Pajama Party Night Cap, and they are just about the most darling frills ever. The pajamas are short sleeved and loose fitting for ladies like me who like to stay comfortable and cool throughout the night, and of course- very stylish. I even one a prize for my outstanding outfit; some Red and Purple Kitten Heels, which are just the sassiest little shoes you could ever want!

If one of my Red Hat sisters decided to throw the next pajama party at her house, I am just going to have to get the one thing I was missing the last time, which is the Diva On the Go Basket to tote my dear adornments. My outfit just wasn’t complete with a regular tote bag!

The next time you are looking for something new to do with your Red Hat sisters, try a pajama party like this one. They are a time for merrymaking and all things un-serious!

Until Next Time,

Queen Diva Dishberry

Get A $5 Hat

Red Hat sisters-

I just found out some truly wonderful news! RedHatsandMore.com is offering $5 hats to promote the unity of your chapters. This means that every chapter member can afford to purchase the same wonderful hat. I happen to think this is just the sweetest idea for those of us who love to look glamorous, but are also on a budget. This is a true contribution to our sisterhood!

I urge you to tell all of your chapter members about this outstanding offer so that you can all benefit from it too. Just think of how nice it would be to see all of your sisters in such unity, wearing a red Sally at your next tea or parade. The thought of such fedora coordination and solidarity brings me glee. Take advantage of this offer, fellow Red Hatters, and bring this great prospect to your chapter!

Until Next Time,

Queen Diva Dishberry

Win A $50 Gift Certificate

Ladies, I stumbled across something and I just had to spread the word. There is a $50 gift certificate available to one lucky lady per month on the Redhatsandmore.com homepage! All you have to do is sign up for the newsletter- which I am sure you are fervently awaiting to read anyway! If you haven’t signed up yet, now is certainly the time. Why wouldn’t you want to sign up and learn about the latest and greatest in Red Hat adornments while also having the chance of winning $50?

If I win, I will buy a pair of their Silky Red Hat Pajamas, and I would still have plenty left over for some of their marvelous scrapbooking supplies! I have just been waiting to get more scrapbooking supplies so that I can finish my book, and those pajamas look so comfortable.

Best of luck ladies, and to whomever wins- I do hope you buy something marvelous! I always like to hear from you, so let me know if you win and what fantastic Red Hat frills you buy.

Until Next Time,

Queen Diva Dishberry

Show Off Your Easter Bonnets

I happen to love the holiday of Easter simply because I get to wear my Easter bonnet! An Easter bonnet is a wide brimmed hat, usually straw with wide ribbon around it. The Easter bonnet may match your dress to show off your taste and stand out from the rest.

My favorite bonnet is red with all the frills upon it. Flowers, ribbon, bows, and glitter adorn my lovely Easter bonnet. Instead of buying one, just make a bonnet of your own. In fact, make two or three and give them as gifts to your dearest Red Hat sisters.

If you are like me, making a hat is not an easy task. Just head over to www.redhatsandmore.com and check out the ultimate fun Calypso straw hat with purple and red fringe accenting the edge. There is also the Spring Fling straw hat enhanced with tulips and a satin ribbon. Whatever your taste, don’t forget to flaunt your fabulous Easter bonnet and let me know how everyone liked it.

Until Next Time,

Queen Diva Dishberry

Give An Easter Gift Basket

Ladies, I don’t believe there is anything better than receiving a great basket filled with goodies, especially Red Hat goodies. Why don’t you surprise one of your Red Hat sisters with a basket exploding with treats for Easter, what red hatter would refuse a gift basket, certainly not me.

There are some wonderful gift baskets from www.redhatsandmore.com that are waiting for you to purchase. I mean a gift basket for a chef, what a perfect idea for that special friend who loves to cook. It even comes with one of those fancy chef hats in my favorite color, the marvelous shade of red.

Alright, so what if you’re a little more crafty than I am. Well, just throw together your own basket to add your personal touch. Include some Luscious Red Rhinestone Glasses for the spring and some Red Hat Beads that are perfect for any party! Wrap it up with red and purple cellophane and curl some ribbon for the finishing touch.

I know I will be grabbing some of those dazzling gift baskets and giving them to my fabulous sisters of the Royal Reds of Rochester! Whether you purchase an Easter gift basket, like me, or come up with one by your fabulous self, I love to hear your great ideas!

Until next time!

Queen Diva Dishberry

Scrapbooking With A Red Hatter

I love living life to the fullest and so do my Red Hat sisters of the Royal Reds of Rochester! The memories that we make together through those “full” moments are simply irreplaceable, and we like to keep those memories alive through the art of scrapbooking.

Honestly, I am not a crafty gal by nature, but scrapbooking is as easy as 1, 2, 3. One, print out some great pictures from special events. Two, pick out some cute paper and cardstock, such as Red Hatter Craft Paper. Three, add embellishments like stickers, glitter, feathers, and stamps and begin building the perfect scrapbook page.

I’ve picked out some fantastic products from www.redhatsandmore.com to start you on your way to creating artistic pages and falling in love with scrapbooking yourselves. If you ladies already have the scrapbooking passion, grab a sister by the hand and show her the wonders that this glorious art can hold.

Scrapbooking can bring some great parties, and what red hatter doesn’t like a party involving food, friends, and gossip. Have everyone bring their supplies and a dessert to pass, and all you have to do is provide the house, coffee, and tea. Let everyone know that if they need a great dessert recipe to check out the recipe of the week found on the bottom of the homepage. Let me know how things turn out, as always I love to hear from you!

Until next time!

Queen Diva Dishberry

Passionate About Purple Hats

Hello lovely ladies of the Red Hat Society!

So ok, I don’t know about you, but I was SO confused about this whole “purple hat all year round” thing, that I was about to have my freshly dyed do go all in a tizzy.

But of course in traditional Diva Dishberry style, I nosed out the scoop and am now here to share it with all my lovely Red Hat sisters. So here it is; Her Royal Highness, The Exalted Queen Mother, Sue Ellen Cooper, has announced that in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Red Hat Society we are now, and going forward, for the entire year of 2008, allowed to wear purple hats any time our sweet little red hat hearts desire.

Now ladies, you all know what that means… IT’S TIME TO GO SHOPPING! So lets hit the purple hat section of Redhatsandmore.com and do a little damage! In all seriousness, I do adore purple hats so I am extremely excited. I picked out a couple of my favorite bad hair hiders to share with you gals. Be sure to check out the glorious Amelia Purple, I do love a good hat with feathers, and the swanky Purple Sequin Floral Fedora, I feel so very J.Lo in this one!

Even though I personally think my taste is fantastically fabulous, you sisters might have some other ideas of your own when it comes to red hat fashion. You know I love hearing from you, so tell me how you are going to change things up for the celebration.

Until Next Time!

Queen Diva Dishberry

Great Gifts For Valentine's Day

Make sure your sweetheart gives you something special this Valentine’s Day! As women who work hard all year long, you deserve some extra love and a shower of spectacular gifts. Give some hints to your man and make sure he knows that every Red Hatter needs to be treated like a Queen on Valentine’s Day.

• Receiving a gorgeous bouquet of blooming roses is delightful on Valentine’s Day. Whether the roses are red, pink, or white, they smell great and will let everyone know that your man knows how to treat you right.

• A Red Rhinestone Cuff Watch is indeed a gift of choice by many stylish women that want to dazzle in sparkling rhinestones. A ruby red watch will complement any red or purple outfit at your next red hat event. Keep track of time, show off your red hat flair, and be reminded of how much your beau loves you every time you check the time!

• Receiving jewelry this Valentine’s Day means you’re extra special to someone that cares about you. Opening a little black box with a sparkling ring, a dazzling bracelet, or a shimmering necklace inside will make your heart leap with joy.

• As a fun Valentine’s Day treat, give a hint that you’d like a Singing Red Hat Bear! The plush white bear is dressed up with a purple boa and red hat to match your outfit. Squeeze your new friend’s hand and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” will play and lighten up the room.

Whether you spend Valentine’s Day with your loved one or your favorite red hat ladies, make sure you remember to share these gift giving tips so everyone you know will receive something special. Valentine’s Day is about love, kindness, and thoughtfulness, and this quote sums it up, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

Tell us about your favorite gifts that have you received on Valentine's Day!

A Red Hat Tea Party

Afternoon Tea, once started by an English Duchess as an afternoon gathering for her friends, quickly spread throughout London to be the ritual we know today as the tea party. A lovely time for ladies to sit in relaxed conversation mixed with a bit of good gossip, drink delicious tea and eat. A tea party can include a simple pot of tea with dainty sandwiches & cakes, to three courses that include savory and sweet foods.

Heat things up this winter season by hosting your own tea party for your dearest red hatters. A fun and festive tea party will allow guests to indulge in excellent food and fellowship. When sending out invitations to your tea party, encourage guests to wear red and purple satin gloves along with their red hat and a mini feathered fan to make them feel like queens having tea in England.

Purple Ruched Satin Gloves add a touch of elegance to any red hat look while showing off great taste in fashion. To add an extra boost of flare while entertaining, wear the Masquerade Party Hat. This hat shows off a feathery masquerade mask and has all the glitz and drama you need as the hostess of a spectacular tea party event.

Prepare for your lovely red hat ladies by making mini bite sized sandwiches, scones, biscuits, and sweets to eat as hors’douvres. Bite sized sandwiches are a great treat in between meals and when paired with your favorite homemade sweets, they will hit the spot with every guest.

Red Hat tea parties should never be boring, spice up yours by hosting a small gift exchange between your guests. Ask each attendant to purchase a small gift under ten dollars such as a Tea Time Pin or some Red Hat Socks! Have each guest write their name on a small sheet of paper and throw it into a hat, and then they can draw names and exchange their favorite gifts.

At the close of your tea party send your guests away with something thoughtful. Purchase mugs and different flavors of tea, wrap them up in red or purple cellophane and add ribbon or bows to create the perfect going away gift for your guests to enjoy.

With these tea party tips, you will be able to host the most spectacular tea party that your red hat guests will be talking about for months. Remember to enjoy yourself and share some special memories with your closest friends!

Tell us about your most recent tea party and let us know what activities you prepared to entertain your guests!

Red Hat Resolutions

A new year can mean a new you! New Years resolutions are ways to improve yourself for the following year. Resolutions can include ways to change your life, improve your relationships with others, and help the community. Some ideas for resolutions include:

• Spending more time with friends and family- It is important to build stronger relationships with family and friends this upcoming year. Business activities and prior commitments may need to be rescheduled to make time for the important people in your life.
  

• Sparkle at the Red Hat Society's 10th Birthday Celebration- Head to Orlando Florida in June and strut your stuff with a dazzling new outfit and hat. Sparkle among the crowd with an outfit that stands out and purchase a new red hat that is sure to grab everyone's attention!

• Learn something new- Increasing knowledge is important for growth and self confidence. Try learning a new language, a musical instrument, or take up watercolor painting. Break out of your current routine and challenge yourself.

• Take a trip- Travel the world and visit places you never thought you would see. Relax and take a break from your everyday life to view other cultures and areas of the world. Take a cruise, visit another state, or even try out a new country.

• Start a garden- Take time to grow beautiful flowers or even vegetables to use in the kitchen. Vegetables and herbs will taste extra special if you grow them yourself. Fresh flowers will brighten your yard and even your home.

• Volunteer to help others- Help make a difference in other people's lives and volunteer. Mentor a child, build a house for the homeless, or even volunteer at a local library. Giving back to the community can also improve your own life.

What are some of your New Year's Resolutions? Let us know how you plan to improve your lives in 2008!

Hats for the Cold Winter Months

Since the cold winter weather forces us to bundle up, we wanted to help out the Red Hat Ladies. We are introducing six new winter hats that are stylish but also keep you warm! Felt used in our hats helps protect heat from escaping through your head. We know you ladies like to attend Christmas parties all season, so we wanted to allow you to show your style without being bothered by the cool temperature. These new winter hats will enhance your Christmas look and help you deal with the harsh winter weather! So get out there and show off your fun loving winter style!

New Winter Hats:

• Stella
• Adelle Red
• Adelle Purple
• Amelia Red
• Amelia Purple
• Holiday Sparkle Hat

A little bedtime reading this Christmas...

It's almost that time of year again, the holidays, the time you spend with your family. This year, start a new tradition with your Red Hatter grandchild with “My Red Hat Grandma and Me.” This paperback book by Hilda Principe is an adorable story about four-year-old Kit and her relationship with her grandmother. The book is great for the whole family to enjoy and is available from redhatsandmore.com. Inside, it also has a code to redeem a free audio version of the book, available from Tate Publishing.

Give a Unique Gift this Year!

Red Hats and More offers red hat wreaths in two different styles for the holidays! They will look great on your door or in your home. These wreaths are handmade and exclusive to Red Hats and More. Great way to add red and purple sparkle to your holiday season!

Click here to find out more!

Red Hatters getting Ready for Bed!

The holidays are coming and we know you have fun get-togethers planned with your society sisters! If a pajama party is in the works, check out our new styles of pj's. We have them in both solid red and solid purple and you can choose from the kind with the short sleeve top and pants or the nightgown version. We also have our signature red hat pajamas with fun red hats all over! And don't forget to pick up one of our most popular items, the Pajama Party Nightcap for only $15.

The Red Hat Society will be keeping warm while staying cool this winter

Winter is almost upon us, but that doesn’t mean the ladies of the Red Hat Society are settling down for the season. Rochester-based Red Hats and More has rolled out their winter line of apparel in the companies trademark purple and red.

“Just because the weather is getting colder, doesn’t mean that we hang up our fabulous sense of style,” said Red Hats and More President Pam Schenkel. “Many of our winter accessories will keep our ladies looking great. They’ll also make fabulous gift ideas for the Red Hatter in your family.” Here are just a few of the items for sale on their website to help prepare yourself for the holiday season:

The Sparkle Hat is the perfect way to get ready for the holiday season. This stylish hat features a poinsettia, vibrant feathers, glittering berries and even a cardinal. This hat will make it look like a holiday garden has settled comfortably on your head, and is sure to catch everyone’s eye.

The Magic Scarf Set is a fun and furry way to beat the winter blues. The set features a long wooly scarf, warm gloves, and a winter hat. The furry set is a great way to keep warm this winter. It’s available in both purple and, of course, red

In addition to these great gift ideas, redhatsandmore.com will have several different holiday gift baskets available in the coming weeks.

Red Hat Society Night Before Christmas!

Halloween has now passed, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and there are less than 8 weeks left until Christmas! Get a jump on your holiday shopping. Might we suggest the brand new “The Red Hat Society Night Before Christmas” book?

This makes a wonderful gift for your fellow chapter members and sometimes we just need to purchase a little something for ourselves. Find out how the red hatters play a part in Santa's big annual trip in this fun story written by red hatter, Connie Goss Japsen, and illustrated by Sue Ellen Cooper.