2010 Holiday Derby Gift Guide

It's finally here!  You're guide to the coolest skate related gifts around.  I've searched, shopped and hand picked these goods for you and with one or two clicks you can have them sent right to your door!  Get ready to set your favorite derby girl up with some one of a kind pieces for the holidays.

So without further ado, I present to you the 2010 Holiday Derby Gift Guide................

Want to add a bit of nostalgia to your holiday?  This card case from Sweet Heart Sinner is just the way to do it.

Show off your curves with this sporty hip bag from Flat Track Revolution.

Knickerocker Roller not only has a kick ass name, but cute little panties to cover your ass as well!  I had a very hard time narrowing it down to just one pair, but finally decided upon these printed pelvis sport shorts.

For comic book lovers, this full color anthology combines comic art with roller derby.  JAM!  Tales From the World of Roller Derby is a truly different item that is a great gift for both the young and old derby girl in your life.

This moleskine notepad with a print of vintage roller skates on the cover is perfect for a derby coach to write drills in or for a Fresh Blood to take notes in our WFTDA rules classes and at $8.00, Treatzone priced it right.

A derby girl's coffee table deserves to have these felt coasters from Girls Can Tell on it and while sipping your drink you can study the anatomy of a skate.

And for the hostess mixing those drinks in the kitchen, don't forget a towel to dry your hands off with.

Have your morning coffee skate style with this handmade ceramic skate cup from Circa Ceramics. Other colors available.

For the tiniest of skaters, check out these adorable little booties from Hats and Spats.  It doesn't get much cuter than these!

She'll be charmed, I'm sure when she receives this silver jammer helmet charm from Lauren Grace.

Remember back when I introduced you all to Baby Bitch and her custom made toe guards?

Well she's also got these custom made leather bracelets.  Check out her shop and choose your color and your own saying.

Caustic Threads makes it easy to stay cozy in style with these skate arm warmers and scarf.  Also available in other colors.

And finally, what Long Island Derby lover's closet would be complete without a Long Island Roller Rebels Tee

And there you have it.  This year's guide to the derby goods.  Many thanks to everyone who emailed me suggestions.

Have fun shopping!

In The Press

We're happy to be featured in today's online edition of Newsday!

Click on over to Newsday and read more about our upcoming championship bout and tomorrow's exciting movie. 

Rather hold the paper while you read?  Pick up a copy of the Long Island edition of Newsday tomorrow and find (a shorter version of) the article in the Explore Long Island section. 

Many thanks to Lauren Harrison for writing up such a great feature!

The Lovely Miss Martin

I recently wrote about the fabulous artwork for sale by Stacey Martin (former derby player) and she graciously thanked me by sending me two free prints from her collection. 

Let me just say that as great as the prints look in her online shop, they look 10 times better in person!  They are huge and so full of detail and life.

Thank you so much Miss Martin for your gratitude and for breathing new life into my apt walls!

xo
Etta

Brutal Beauty

I realize that not everyone subscribes to Nextflix, so I thought I'd let you in on a great event coming soon.

Tuesday, November 30th at 7:30PM, Brutal Beauty will be playing at the Huntington Cinema Arts Centre.  Best of all, the Roller Rebels will be there with a table stocked full of merchandise and to answer any questions you might have.  Click here for more information.

Hope to see you all there!

Add It To Your Queue

Brutal Beauty:  Tales of the Rose City Rollers is now available through Netflix!

A film crew spent over a year with Portland's own Rose City Rollers documenting their lives,thoughts and blocks on the track. 

So click on over to Netflix and show your support for roller derby by adding Brutal Beauty to your queue! 

Products in a League of Their Own

It all happens so fast!  Just as I winked, a year has gone by and it's time again for my Holiday Derby Gift Guide.  Since shopping is one of my favorite hobbies, this feature is almost effortless for me. 

I decided upon creating this guide for a couple of reasons; First, I like the fact that I can give all of you anti-shoppers a little break by bringing the goods to you here.  I figure it saves you the time of having to search and search for the right gift to buy that special derby player in your life.  Second, I think it's a great way to promote products for the people selling them.  Which brings me to the next item on my agenda.  If you would like to have one of your products featured or know of a great and unique derby or skate related item for me to show off, please email me at ettajams@yahoo.com. 

The Holiday Derby Gift Guide is one of my most read posts (and not just at holiday time - people seem to go back to it often), so shop owners and crafters, take this opportunity for some free advertising!  I plan on posting the guide around the last week in November so be sure to contact me before then.

I look forward to hearing from you and showcasing some great new items to The Rebel Yell.

Welcome Fresh Bloods!!

WHOA and THANK YOU to all of you ladies (and one gentleman - future ref) for coming to tryouts Tuesday night.  Our turnout was just as we had hoped and the presentation of skills was even better!  Doc Block was nice enough to email me some photos.  You can't tell from these, but there were over 40 women trying out!

It was a long, full and thrilling night where both beginner and experienced skaters joined together.  Our potential 2011 season Rebels showed enthusiasm, focus, effort, skill and determination.  I was happy to see that not only were there newcomers on the rink, but some returning Vets as well.  The Rebels who set up and volunteered to help out were all so helpful and organized which was what made everything run smoothly.

After tryouts, the Coaching and Recruitment committees met to discuss our new potential skaters and make the difficult decision of figuring out who we call back to join us.  By now most, if not all of you have been informed on whether or not you made tryouts.  On behalf of the Rebels, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who showed up and gave derby a shot.  I know how disappointed some of you may feel if you didn't make it and I'd like to remind you that we welcome you back for next season's recruitment night.  Keep skating and practicing and keep in mind that we are always looking for new volunteers, refs and non-skating officials who are just as passionate about the sport as the skaters are.

To all of the new Long Island Roller Rebel Fresh Bloods,

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I look forward to seeing each of you at practice next week.

Oh and one last thing, to whoever went out and brought back all of those pizzas, a million thank yous!  I was craving pizza all night and having it suddenly appear was just what I needed! 

xo

Etta

Praise Derby and Stay Tuned

I know you're all waiting to hear about The Big Night and I promise to have a recap for you to read soon, I'm just working on getting some thoughts organized. 

Anyway, I didn't want to leave all of you empty handed today, so I thought I would share with you a new item I spotted on my favorite website, Etsy.

This incredible tattoo inspired print by Whim Factory would look so great in a thick black or red frame and preferably hanging on one of my walls.  Stacey Martin, a tattoo artist from Texas, also has an amazing website of her own. 

Visit Whim Factory's shop for this and other extraordinary pieces of art.

The Big Night!

It's almost here!  This Tuesday at our annual tryouts, all of you lovely ladies (ages 21 and over) are welcome to come and give derby a shot.  With the amazing turnout at our two recent boot camps, we anticipate a large crowd coming down with skates in hand.  With that in mind, be sure to get there on time and have all of your gear good and ready. 

In case you are hearing about this for the first time, here's some more info.....

Tryouts are open to all women ages 21 and over.  You do not need experience to try out, but we do require a good attitude, commitment and good sportsmanship. 

The following are required to tryout: 
- Valid photo ID
- Quad (4 wheel) roller skates.  If you do not own skates, the rink will provide them for you for the night free of charge.
- Helmet
- Elbow pads
- Knee pads
- Wrist guards
- Mouth guard

We are able to provide some gear (with the exception of mouth guards), but please understand that our supplies are very limited and will be given out on a first come first serve basis.

Tryouts will be held this Tuesday, November 9th at United Skates of America located at 1276 Hicksville Rd. Seaford, NY 11783.  Registration will begin at 7:00 PM and tryouts will run until 11:00PM.

If you would like more information about tryouts and recruitment, click here for more details.

We look forward to meeting all of you and finding next season's new Rebels.  Good luck to all!!

25 Random Facts

Well, it's been a little while, but I'm finally back with your favorite post, 25 Random Facts. Today, I'm happy to feature a skater who's musical feats and famous meets are diverse, interesting and at the same time, a little bit funny.  This Roller Rebel shares a special bond with her sisters and is not afraid to divulge some of her personal fears with us. Read on to learn more about the beautiful and talented Missy Nigma!

1. I was born on Friday the 13th, the same day Friday the 13th came out in theaters.

2. My birth was announced on stage at Madison Square Garden a month after I was born.


3. I was a competitive and synchronized swimmer for ten years.


4. I played bass guitar in high school and was in two bands.


5. The tattoo on my chest is for my two sisters, who both live across the country.


6. I went to college for music.


7. A few years ago I jumped in a van and toured parts of the country with an all female rock band.

8. I have a tank top that Brett Michaels wore on stage when Poison played Jones Beach on my birthday in 2003.



9. I have Ornithophobia, an irrational fear of birds.


10. I have seen all the Saw movies in the same theater at the same time of year for the past six years.


11. My favorite ride is the zipper.


12. I wear a second pair of socks when I skate. I have not washed them since the beginning of the season, and don’t intend on washing them till the season is over… call it superstitious.


13. I shook hands with Elton John when I was younger.


14. I am a live sound engineer

15. I have never seen any Indiana Jones or Star Wars movies.

16. My real name means ‘guardian’.


17. The Riddler is my favorite super villain, and how I got my derby name.


18. I have matching tattoos with another Roller Rebel.


19. I am a nanny for one year old twins.

20. I have worn the same ring on the same finger for the past eleven years, my sisters have been wearing matching ones.

21. My #0G actually stands for Oprah & Gayle… maybe.


22. I rode on the back of a motorcycle when I was three.

23. When I was little I had dreams of being a stand up comedian, I was shy and not funny at all.

24. I snuck in to a locked room while Simon from Duran Duran was getting a massage, I was instantly creeped out.


25. When I was little I took figure skating lessons and quit when I was knocked down and got a concussion. Twenty-one years later I joined the roller derby.