The elves do it; why not you?

Yeah, yeah, yeah...Santa gets the big creds for delivering those gifts for the holidays, but he knows that it's those little elves working on the gifts over time that get the job done.

Now, it's a lot of fun to "play Santa" for those we love, but sometime the old wallet needs a bit of elfin magic this time of year. Sure, you can max out the plastic, but those service charges can be very, very painful in January.... not to mention February, March, etc.

How about the layaway alternative? With layaway, you can purchase those special gifts while the selection is good, pay them off throughout November and December, and have them ready for the festivities! It's also a great way to get yourself that special something while you meter out your funds for those other holiday expenses. Things you might have wanted -- the Danbury Mint models, Harvey's Original Seatbelt bags, Chuggington trains, Byers Choice Carolers and more -- but were a bit "cash shy" to buy can be yours to gift or to enjoy yourself!

Here's how the Dog House Garage layaway plan works:

• A minimum of $75 is required for a Layaway contract.
• The Service Fee on all new Layaway contracts is $5.
• The Cancellation Fee on all new Layaway contracts is $20.
• The Service Fee plus 25% down payment is collected when merchandise is put into Layaway.
• The bi-weekly payment schedule for all new Layaway contracts is 25% of the original balance due.
• You can make a payment over the phone with a valid credit card.
• As long as the payments are made on time, the merchandise will be held for you.
• No price adjustments after seven (7) days. Nor do we offer price matching.
• No partial pick-ups or cancellations permitted.
• Custom orders for LAYAWAY are non-refundable and require a 35% deposit.
• Layaway merchandise will be returned to stock seven (7) days after a missed payment.
• If Layaway merchandise is returned to stock, you are eligible for a refund minus Layaway Service and Cancellation Fees for a sixty (60) day period.
• AACA Club, MBT or Smithsonian affiliations / memberships cannot be combined with the Layaway.
• All Layaways must be paid-in-full and picked up by the close of business on December 21^st, 2011.

Unauthorized Merchandise

The following merchandise cannot be put in Layaway:

• AACA Club Merchandise. (Anything code 3000)
• MBT Merchandise. (Anything code 900)
• Dog House Garage Store Gift Cards

So get the jump on your holiday with layaway!

What sign are you?

Sing to tune of "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine" from Hair

When you have a man cave in your house,

With a pool table, or p'rhaps a bar,

Then you will need to decorate it

With neat stuff about your fav'rite car!

(Chorus)

You know you want to buy

A tin sign or two from us,

Tin sign or two from us.

A sign from us

Is marvelous!

Made of tin or even porcelain --

Show the stuff that you think is "in"

Muscle cars that you envision,

Snacks and smokes and even some libations --

'Vettes and 'Stangs and signs from old gas stations,

Even petroleum preparations...

A sign from us

Is marvelous!

When your office space could be more friendly,

Or your kitchen needs a bit of life,

Then get yourself a "Beer served here" sign

Or "Gas today" to scare your wife!

(Chorus)

You know you want to buy

A tin sign or two from us,

Tin sign or two from us.

A sign from us

Is marvelous!

Get a slick sign, check our slick sign bin,

For one made of tin...

Tin Toy Temptations!

Many of us remember those glorious tin toys of old, those brightly colored mechanical wonders we lusted for every birthday, Christmas, release from reform school....whatever the occasion! These older original treasures are now immensely collectible -- immensely expensive -- reminders of "pre-plastic, pre-electronic" childhood.

Luckily, there is a current batch of marvelous tin toys guaranteed to delight the young and the young-at-heart today. The Dog House Garage stocks a nice selection of Schylling gems, and while most of them quite naturally feature automotive themes, we've got some that hearken back to those "Space Race" years of the '50s and 60s!

For example, we've got robots! The Robot 2008 is a foot-tall bad boy that walks and shoots ray guns from an opening door in this chest. The Mechanical Planet Robot calls to mind that old Forbidden Planet Robbie the Robot that, in it's original issue, now brings astronomical amounts at toy shows! We also offer the Robot Lilliput for a smaller dose of mechanical nostalgia.

For automobilia fans, we have several cars. For absolute grins and giggles, the Future Car (available in three color combinations) offers a glimpse of futurism as seen in the late '40s and early '50s. (Today, it looks more like a cross between an amusement park ride and a "B" science fiction flick!) The Racer hints at mid-century Mercedes race cars, while the Jet Car boasts "piston Pounding Engine Sound"!

The list goes on! The fascinating Road Race Spinning Top has "Roaring Racing Sound"; the three-car Flying Yankee Streamline Train speaks of the days of Art Deco design. Our Auto Raceway is a chameleon wonder: the car goes into the "pit stop" garage and appear to emerge in a different color! And while not tin, the chrome-look Cosmic Blaster ray gun features Saturday-matinee light and sound effects!

While really aimed at collectors rather than tots, the Schylling retro-look toys have a charm that spans many generations. Check out our website for out complete listing.

Kindle-schmindle; read a book!

We know that the Kindle and its brethren are revolutionizing the way we read. We can see the benefits of electronic readers, and yet.... Well, let's look at an analogy:

Being who we are, we can see the benefits of modern, fuel efficient, "let me park myself for you" automobiles, but we lust for the road feel and sheer presence of Road Runners, Sting Rays, Duesenbergs, and the like. Similarly, to us, books have pages, weight, a comforting feel on a rainy afternoon. They are meant to be kept in personal libraries, to be shared with enthusiastic friends, to be revisited time and time again.

At the Dog House Garage, we stock a large number of titles guaranteed to appeal to people who love transportation that wears tires. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, and the culture that surrounds them cruise across the pages of our books. Most feature fantastic graphics that simply cannot be duplicated -- we feel -- on an electronic reader.

Here's a sample of some of our titles:

• Microcars at Large -- fantastic picture-laden volume of European "bubblecars."
• Corvette: a Piece of the Action -- photos, commentary from Bill Mitchell and Allan Girdler...32 years of fiberglass dreams!
• The Iron Redskin -- the history of America's Indian Motorcycle -- lots of photos, large format
• Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives -- food Network's Guy Fieri shares highlights of his "food joint" visits, along with dozens of recipes from his travels! We have additional titles from the spiky blond chef, as well!
• Ultimate Garages -- Drop in man caves like no others!

We have dozens of others, from serious research tools to cartoon collections! Check out our listings on-line or drop in for a visit!