Short And To The Point

Holy crap!  WTF??  I can not believe I’ve let 2 1/2 weeks pass by since my last post!!  For the 5 people who actually stop by periodically to read my senseless dribble – I HAVE NOT ABANDONED MY BLOG!  Truth be told, I really have no good excuse.  I could whine & complain that things have been busy, and blabber on about my continuously evolving holiday to-do list...have I mentioned my INNATE ability to stress out about every tiny little thing??  OR, I could play you some ‘Enya’ and promptly shower you with dreary, emotional, anxious-ridden tales of woe.   BUT, what it all really boils down to is this: laziness, procrastination, and an unfortunate recent lack of brain power. 

So, there you have it.  I’ll try to get back on track ASAP!



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Connecting With The Past

Things have not been so great for me as of late, days have been a little long, dreary, and stressful.  Now, let me just preface that quickly by saying I stress out VERY easily.  It’s just who I am.  Things do not roll off my back, they just don’t, and it doesn’t take much to kick my anxiety into high gear.  Unfortunately, what sometimes makes things worse is this icky little buddy of mine, an annoying ‘chum’ that has been around for some time and has sporadically battled me head on, often with no reservations.  It starts with a D and ends with an N….have you figured it out yet?  No?  Well, let me introduce you to my dear old pal  (who likes to make these irritating surprise visits) – depression, mild to moderate, if you please.  Yeah, I know, so far this post really isn’t making you feel bright & shiny, is it?   Look, I’ve never really delved into my  deepest personal CRAP on this blog, and I don’t plan on doing so now.  That’s for another time, when the stars are aligned and I’ve had several glasses of my favorite Riesling.  Believe it or not, this story actually ends on a happy note…just stick with me here!

So, to my surprise, today has turned into a pretty decent day and has provided a nice relief from the shitty days that have piled up lately.  The peanut has been behaving like an angel, my mood has been good since I first stepped out of bed, I had a great workout, and overall we’ve trudged along quite nicely (here’s to hoping we can continue through to bed time!).  But, what has really, truly made my day is that I had the chance to catch up with an old friend this afternoon, someone who I haven’t spoken to in a very long time.  (I mentioned her briefly HERE in my short remembrance of  Dirty Dancing memories long gone).  You see, Lori was my best friend pre-high school, and over the years, as we lost touch for good,  I have always wondered how she was doing & how her life had played out.   Every now and then I would attempt to find her via some Google searches or other social media sites, but all to no avail.  I had no idea where she lived or if she had married or if she had children.  And now, amazingly,  I know!

The best part of it all was realizing that we could still chat as if no time had passed at all.  That we could reminisce & laugh about funny moments from the past, with great detail.  That our lives had actually paralleled each other almost to a T over the last several years.   That we are now both stay at home moms (our children are nearly the exact same age!), married to wonderful men, and just trying to figure it all out.  Pretty darn cool, no?



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Baby Steps

 
Yesterday we spent a majority of the day browsing through one showroom after another, looking for a new bedroom set for our little peanut.  You see, time is rapidly moving forward (despite my most valiant attempts to slow it down), and Ella’s toddler bed is no longer sufficient, just like her crib was no longer sufficient 1 1/2 years ago.  With every little step, every tiny change, my baby girl is moving ever closer to that dreaded “I” word – INDEPENDENCE!

I know, I know…we’re just talking about freekin’ furniture here.  BUT, it’s what the much anticipated ‘Big Girl Bed” represents as a whole – that time is flying by at the speed of sound, just like everyone says.  That our firstborn will be a teenager before we know it (and I’ll look fondly back at the days where I was able to call myself a 30-something), just like everyone says.  That a day will come where my little snuggle bunny, who calls me her best friend and is attached to my hip through sheer devotion & adoration, will push as hard as she can to get away from her overbearing parents….just like everyone says! 




Don’t get me wrong,  I’m completely psyched about re-decorating her room with cute girly-girl accoutrements…..after all, I’m still the shopping frugalista my husband has come to reluctantly accept love!  I guess I’m just trying to remember to hang on to all the wonderful moments now, while I still can…no matter how stressed/tired/overwhelmed I may feel on any given day.   Because wow, it all really does pass in the blink of an eye! 





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The Deal That Made My Day

This is just so fabulous that I had to pass it on as quickly as possible.  So, while perusing the latest ‘The FabuLESS Never Pay Retail Again Daily Deal Digest’ – you’ve never heard of this, you say?  well then you must immediately go sign up – I saw that Vistaprint is offering FREE!!  return address labels, postcards, magnets and sticky notes…all you have to do is pay shipping!  It just so happens that I was getting ready to order some holiday address labels, so the timing was perfect.

I was able to score a pack of 140 adorable labels (they have literally hundreds to chose from in tons of different categories/themes) for FREE, and only paid $3.70 in express shipping charges.  Now, to compare, I would have paid $7.99 for a pack of 28  PLUS shipping at another site.   The design I chose is more of a winter theme, so since we actually needed regular address labels as well, I was able to kill two birds with one stone and the quantity will last me into spring.

Go HERE for all the details….you have to click on the link provided in the post to take advantage of this offer.

Here’s to shopping frugally!



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Why, Why, Why

And now for my top 10 random list of whys:

1. Why do many animated movies meant for little kids have such sad story lines and/or somewhat scary characters?

2. Why are the Polly Pockets dolls dressed like sluts??

3. Why is it that when one of us is sick, it’s always on the weekend AND when the weather couldn’t be more beautiful??

4. Why are we, as moms, constantly wracked with some form of guilt?? Some examples include guilt for: working OR staying home & not contributing financially OR taking too much time OR taking too little time OR not being as good of a mother as ___(insert names here) OR not being the Betty Crocker type OR feeling resentful…the list goes on & on!

5. Why is the search for the perfect pair of black pants or the perfect foundation never-ending??

6. Why are the people on the board of our home owners association such small-minded numbskulls??

7. Why am I unable to master the fine art of applying eyeliner??

8. Why am I the only one who DOES NOT like the elliptical machine at the gym?? 

9. Why, even at 34 years old,  do I still sometimes feel like I don’t fit in??

and last, but certainly not least

10. Why do I never have anything to wear??



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Sleeping With Darth Vader

So, my dear internet folks,  the hubby and I have added a new element to our bedroom. And no, eww, get your minds out of the gutter and away from any lewd references to “personal massagers” (yes, I’m looking at you Brookstone..who are you kidding?).  Anywho,  tonight my darling husband was supplied with his very own CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine!  Hence, the cleverly crafted title above.

Several months ago, the hubster reluctantly subjected himself to a sleep study, where he was outfitted with a zillion gadgets and monitored overnight during his sleep (of which he actually got little of).  After years of suffering through his nightly chorus of  earth-moving snoring (yes, this is ALL about me!), and of course let’s not forget the occasional stopping-of-the-breathing, he finally gave in to my (and the ENT’s) suggestions.  Needless to say, he stopped breathing something like 200 times that night and his snoring levels were off  the charts.  Diagnosis: sleep apnea.

Now, we (again, this is all about me and my needless suffering) have the CPAP and the hope is that through a direct & constant supply of oxygen, he will cease with the snoring and actually get a refreshing nights sleep…and not die from sleep apnea.  Not surprisingly, he was a bit hesitant – it certainly isn’t a very sexy contraption –to get it, but knows it was the only answer at this point.  Of course, as is this ever shifting venture called parenthood, he will not be giving the CPAP it’s maiden voyage tonight since our sick little peanut is currently lounging between us in bed, watching “The Bee Movie” on our beloved flat-screen, and will most likely stay there into the morning.  I’m positively certain I won’t be getting a good night’s sleep tonight!

(For those of you wondering, here is what the apparatus looks like…it’s really not THAT bad, certainly not as cumbersome as these machines used to be):





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Fab Old Navy Deal – Saturday 11/7 Only!

Just saw this online:

Tomorrow, Saturday 11/7, all performance fleece scarves  at Old Navy are on sale for only $1.  You heard me, ONE BUCK!   You can choose from scarves for the whole family, but there is a limit of 5 per customer.  Lordy, I can already envision the massive onslaught of frugalistas tomorrow morning, all ready to get their fleece on!  

Apparently too, if you use your Old Navy card, you get an extra 30% off, making it one sweet deal at $.70 per scarf!  Seriously, after reading that & also hearing about the amazing sale they had for card holders one day last week (stuff as much as you can into a bag & get 50% off the entire purchase) I might just have to get me  one of those cards!  (Dear hubby…just pretend you didn’t read that last part & breathe deeply).  I am thinking though that with all the purchases I make at Old Navy for the peanut (and occasionally myself), it might be worth it.

(Thanks to The Deal Fanatic for this wonderful tip).



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Theta Mom Thursday

I’ve never done this here on my blog, so I’ll quickly explain the below post, where I TAKE TIME OUT FOR THETA MOM THURSDAY!  Theta Mom is one of my favorite bloggity blogs, about a fabulous mom and her journey through motherhood.  Every Thursday she challenges us blogging mama’s to write about how we took 1 hour of time over the last week to do whatever we want….WITHOUT the kiddos (and also link up on her blog to meet other mommy’s & see how they spent their time out). 

So, on Wednesday, after dropping Ella off at pre-school, I dragged myself to the gym to get my work-out on in Body Pump class.  Now, even though this is kind of an hour I had to myself, it’s not the ‘me time’ I want to write about.  Because after the gym (and feeling very proud of having pushed myself through class despite a serious lack of motivation), I hopped on over to one of my all time favorite place – the King of Prussia Mall.  For those not familiar with this shopping lover’s paradise, the KOP mall is HUGE and has just about every store imaginable (I believe it ranks among the country’s largest shopping centers).  I always say that if you can’t find what you’re looking for in KOP, well, then you might as well give up.  I was able to hit up Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Women & Kid’s sale and found some phenomenal deals, like a pair of Juicy velour cargo-style bottoms for almost 50% off regular price….LOVES IT!    They also had some fab 7 For All Mankind (which we all know fit AMAZINGLY well) on sale,  which  I totally should have snatched up…but alas, I ran out of time (and kept my trip a bit more budget friendly) & had to head on out to pick up the peanut.

Hopefully I’ll have another opportunity for some ‘time out’ next week!



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Yikes….Interesting Article

So, I came across this article online today and just had to write a quick post about it to express my utter             disbelief that this can even happen in modern times.  A hospital in Rhode Island was just fined AGAIN for performing the 5th wrong site surgery in 2 years!  How is this even possible with all the checks & balances that are supposed to be in place at every single hospital in this country??  The latest incident involved surgery on the wrong finger, but in 2007 brain surgeons (BRAIN SURGEONS!!) operated on the wrong  part of the heads of 3 patients!  Whaaaaaa??  I just honestly don’t get it.   We’re talking about freekin’ neurosurgeons here  - these are generally quite intelligent people with a lot of education & knowledge.  And not just the doctors themselves, but the entire surgical team should most certainly have enough wherewithal to never, ever let something like this happen.  It can be hard to find a good physician who seems knowledgeable & trustworthy, and as patients we have no choice but to entrust doctors with our lives when it comes to illness & surgery.  And then to actually have something go wrong, not due to a complication, but because of a simple & stupid mistake like not marking the surgery site, that just seems unfathomable. 

Sorry, but this story just blows my mind.  And I know we’re not talking about an easy job here – without a doubt, being a surgeon is complex stuff!  But this story is about the simplicity of making a senseless mistake, multiple times.

If you want to read more, click HERE for the full article.

PS – My mother-in-law just had actual brain surgery (to clip an aneurysm) earlier this year at one of the best hospitals in the country with a very reputable surgeon.   With all the things we stressed over during that time, I couldn’t even imagine having something like this also be in our already over-loaded & worried thoughts.

PSS – Remind me to never get sick or injured while in the vicinity of the Rhode Island Hospital, which by the way is a teaching  hospital for Brown University….NICE!



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Oink Oink

Is it just me, or does it feel like the ominous H1N1 virus is popping up everywhere suddenly, slowly surrounding us, stalking us, creeping in until there is no where to escape??    Seriously, I’m starting to feel a little claustrophobic here.  And of course if you listen to published reports (which, as we all know, are always correct & factual) it seems we are all positively doomed to face this evil monster!  Just yesterday, I learned that my nephew, and my hairdresser’s brother & niece have been infected by the villainous swine!  Add that to all the aunts, uncles, neighbor’s friend’s sister’s cousin twice removed I’ve heard about lately….EEEEKE!   It’s enough to make anyone, especially a parent, go cuckoo for coco puffs!
 
Personally, all I want is to keep my family healthy.  So, I’m trying to weed through all the crap and get to the facts all the while keeping a level head.  H1N1 vaccine appointment for the peanut?  Check.  Lots of hand washing & anti-bacterial spray?  Check.  Making sure I keep things realistically in check while facing the fact that chances are good this virus will visit our house ?  Check.  Making a concerted effort to not let news reports of the impending apocalypse drive me to the brink of insanity?  Check. 

Oy, it’s not easy being a parent!  Just needed to vent.  Oh, and GO PHILLIES!!





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Phillies Phever

Let’s go PHILLIES, let’s go!!!!

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Cheap Chicken

So, I just saw this fly across the wire and of course had to share it here immediately! 

Boston Market is offering a FABULOUS  meal deal-  only $1 for a chicken meal (includes Quarter White or 3-piece Dark Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Cornbread).  That’s right ladies and gents, one little buckaroo. 

But HURRY, this offer is only valid TODAY, 10/26, through SUNDAY, 11/1!  Why not, right?

You can go to the Boston Market website or print the coupon directly HERE!



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Can you Say ‘EMBARRASSING’?

I’ll admit that I am one of those people who unfortunately gets embarrassed quite easily.  Hell, I start to flush & have to change the channel just by seeing someone make a fool of themselves on television.  However, this past weekend I ended up in a situation with my husband that made both of us literally PRAY for the earth to open up and swallow us whole.  I mean, it was one of those moments where all you want to do is run away as fast as you can, but have no choice but to just stay there,  like you’re feet are stuck in mud.  No, this did not involve any sort of intoxicated lewd behavior (although we consumed numerous glasses of wine throughout the whole affair)!

Three words:  DECLINED CREDIT CARD!

Now hold on, let me just set the scene:  we were at dinner with friends (who WE were visiting from out of town), and another couple (who we had only met once before), after an afternoon of wine tasting & celebrating birthdays.  The chef at this restaurant was our friend’s brother.  The hubs and I had secretly plotted to pay for the whole tab, as a way to say thank you for the hospitality & for the day, and had given the waitress our card on the sly.   People were already beginning to thank us and we were reveling in our grand gesture of kindness!

So, as the waitress comes back and starts whispering to my hubby, I slowly realize what’s happening.  Dread fills every inch of my body, as I watch the wives already leaving the table to head outside with the kiddos.  So, we pass on another card to the girl….no biggie, problem solved!  Unfortunately, she comes back – DECLINED, AGAIN!!  Yikes!  At this point I am so MORTIFIED that I can’t even see straight.   I had to get out of there fast, so I abandon my darling husband by running off to the bathroom, where I shut the door behind me and breathed deeply for several minutes.  I came back to find that we had now split the bill three ways (and strangely no issues this time around).   We shuffled off to the car in silence as my stomach began to turn in knots, as if someone was stabbing me right in the gut.  I was literally physically ill and nauseas!

Now, here’s the kicker – once home (since there was no cell service the entire car ride), calls were made and guess what??  There should never have been any issues!  Plenty of money in the account on the debit card…BAM!  Plenty of cash flow available on the credit card with no problems of any kind….BAM!   So, the only conclusion we can draw is that the waitress somehow fudged things up.  Yes, in hind sight we should have had her re-try with my card or call the bank….but did I mention those many glasses of wine we had guzzled?  Yeah, they didn’t help the situation!

It didn’t matter though, the damage was done.  The IMPRESSION that we were poor slubs who obviously didn’t realize the depth of our seemingly non-existent finances was already made.  Look, I know a lot of people would say ‘so what?  it was an honest mistake’.  But here’s the thing:  having your credit card declined in front of friends after you’ve boasted about paying for everyone’s bill, is  just one of those social embarrassments that really suck ass!   No one wants to appear as if they have no money and/or have maxed out the credit cards. NO ONE!   And the more you try to explain, no matter how valid the reason, the more you look like a schmuck.

Our friends are great, and I know they don’t care & understand.  Still, ugh….embarrassing!  So here’s the question then – from an etiquette perspective, what would be an appropriate gesture/gift/expression to say ‘SORRY ABOUT THE WHOLE MESS AND THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING’? 

Ooofah, what a weekend!  As a side note, the fact that Aunt Flo came on full force that morning  (sorry, TMI) and I subsequently had an “I hate my clothes and feel like a bloated blob” kind of day,  DID NOT  HELP MATTERS!!



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Bull In A China Shop

Why is it that every, single freekin’ time I’m out running errands with the peanut it feels like we are one big, bumbling mess of a disaster just thrashing our way through the aisles, taking out whatever may come our way??!!  I mean, SERIOUSLY!  For example, whether it be a trip to the store, the mall, or Old Navy, it usually goes something like this:

Me (at grocery store) : Honey, please stop touching everything we pass.

Me: Please stop squirming and sit down!

Me: Can you please hold on to your pretzel for one second without dropping it in the cart??

Me: Sit down!

Me: For the love of God, stop touching that!

The Peanut: Mama, I have to go potty!

Now, while this is going on and my patience wears thinner to the point of non-existence, I’ve got my own problems to contend with, mainly the fact that I’m a huge KLUTZ.  Seriously, it’s a constant array of key dropping, coupon dropping, receipt dropping, sunglasses dropping, and tripping over my own two feet….. really, the list goes on & on.  Unfortunately, it already looks like my off-spring has inherited this wonderful trait (which has lovingly been passed down from my mother’s side of the family), as not a day goes by without her literally falling over  from a STANDING position & wahhh, we have yet another bo0-boo!  So, as my child begins to vault out of the grocery cart during check-out, I’m usually fumbling for the bonus card, can’t find my bank card and muttering under my breath about the ridiculousness that is the cost of groceries these days as I realize that I yet again left the reusable bags in the car!  And my fly was open.  And I forgot the milk, one of the main reasons we went to the store in the first place.

OOFAH!  No wonder I rely so much on caffeine, chocolate and the occasional alcoholic beverage.



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Slacker

Holy crap!  I can’t believe it’s been a week since I’ve last written a post – craziness!  Guess that’s what happens when you mix 1 part normal life as a wife & mother, with 2 parts laziness, 2 parts sleep deprivation and 3 parts vodka!  (Just kidding on that last part….sort of….not really….maybe, but not).   Now that the peanut is in school we are busier than ever.  I mean, there are bags to be packed, clothes to be washed, lunches to be made, episodes of  ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ to be caught up on….er, I mean dinners to be cooked…you get my drift.  I’ve also been doing a bit of volunteering at the pre-school, something that is usually so not like me.  I’ve really surprised myself by finally being the more outgoing, involved mom/person I’ve always secretly wanted to be.  And it honestly feels great!  Meeting new people, helping to organize, signing up, donating….all of it, the whole shebang.  Watch out, next thing you know I’ll be baking pies, and washing the baseboards, and sewing drapes, and polishing the silver.  Just call me Betty Crocker!!



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Fun In Pumpkin Land

Last weekend we continued our yearly tradition of heading over to a local dairy farm for some pumpkin picking excitement!   It’s a great little set-up, with hay rides that take you out to the pumpkin patch & back, and some baby animals out for the kids to see & pet.  Various seasonal harvest products, like Indian Corn bunches, gourds, squash, mini pumpkins, honey and other food items produced on the farm, are also for sale.






BUT, the most anticipated part of the day is always a visit to the Creamery, where some of the best home-made ice cream this Mama has ever tasted is served up!  To add some cuteness to this yummy treat, each delightfully rich flavor is named after one of the farm’s Holstein cows.  As my daughter would say, “deeeelicous”!



*Besides all the fun, it’s also a great way to support the local economy,  since many area dairy farms are struggling with record-low milk prices while the costs associated with producing that very milk are continuing to rise.



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Money Back For Shopping – WOOHOO!

So, I discovered this website today that I think is just plain wonderful, and of course I immediately  had to share it here!

The premise of Ebates is that you get cash back on every purchase made through their site at one of their participating stores (there are more than 1200, so chances are very good you’ll find the one you’re looking for).  What many people don’t realize is that internet retailers pay a kickback to sites that send shoppers their way…and Ebates gives you a portion of that kickback.   Most rebates range anywhere from 2 –6% of your total purchase….some pay back more, and a very limited few rebate as much as 25%.  When you register (which is FREE and takes literally seconds to complete) you can chose to have your cash back payment, which is sent every 3 months, forwarded either via check or PayPal. On top of that, many stores offer additional online coupon discounts on a weekly basis.  Not too shabby, right??  

Oh and let’s not forget the referral program – for each friend you refer to the site & who uses the program, you get $5!

So what are you waiting for?  Click HERE and you’ll also get a $5 signup bonus (and me too…...yipeeee)!



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Shameless Plug

You may have seen that Gap is once again running their HUGE  annual contest to “find the next faces of babyGap and GapKids”.  It’s basically a casting call, since the chosen winners will be featured in a nationwide ad campaign  (in addition to other perks like a professional photo shoot and a $500 gift card).   Now, I’m a realist.  I know chances of winning are pretty much none to none (I believe last year they had almost 900,000 entries).  Not that I don’t think my peanut is the most beautiful little girl I’ve ever seen & should win without a doubt (I’m not biased or anything!), but whew….that’s a shitload of contestants, all hoping to catch the eye of a judge and claim the top prize.  Numbers are numbers, and they’re not favorable.  Still, I decided to enter my sweet girl and hope that by some remote chance someone else sees the beauty & amazing personality (as much as can be viewed in a picture) that I do every day!

Check her out and vote for her as Fan Favorite – this doesn’t influence her chances,  just awards a not too shabby vacation prize :)


Gap Casting Call - Vote Now!



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Old Navy, Baby

As a self-described shopping frugalista, I love me a good deal!  Yes, I routinely give thanks to the denim Gods for giving me my Sevens & David Kahn’s, and down right crave another pair of Uggs or a new Juicy tracksuit.  However, “in these uncertain economic times”, it has become less of an option and more of a must that I shop with savings in mind.  Which is why I heart Old Navy.  You can truly find some very cute tops, tees, sweaters, and even workout gear!  The cost of course can’t be beat, and at those prices it’s absolutely no biggie if the clothes only last one season.  Personally I haven’t had much luck there with pants over the years (just capris), and I definitely sometimes walk out empty-handed.  But, most of the time it’s worth it to stop in and take a gander.  And don’t EVEN get me started on their girl’s toddler clothes!  So cute!

All this is to say, that Old Navy has this fabulous web site where they offer in-store coupons on a weekly basis.  It’s a little bit like a treasure hunt, wherein you have to click around and find the hidden coupons (each valid for only 1 week).  The site has taken on a huge following and the most valuable coupons  (like $50 off $100 purchase) are literally gone within seconds of  it being updated with new deals, which usually happens sometime in the wee hours between Thursday late night and Friday early am.  Seriously, hundreds of women across the country hover over their laptops every week at ungodly hours, just waiting until that refresh button reveals a spankin’ new web page.  As I don’t have quite that much dedication, by the time I check things out on Friday late morning, I usually end up with a $10 off $50 or 25% off total purchase.

So, if you didn’t know about this wonderful little gem already (surely most of you are totally in-the-know), then by all means….GO FORTH & CLICK TO YOUR HEARTS CONTENT!  Your husbands will thank me :)

Old Navy Weekly

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A Blog Award, for Moi?

I was pleasantly surprised this afternoon to see that Momma Such over at Raising My 4 Sons was sweet enough to bestow upon me the BEST BLOG AWARD!  How awesome is that (for a newbie like me)? ?  If you’re a fan of reviews, giveaways, and delightfully charming musings on life as a mommy of 4 (yes 4!) boys, then by all means, go check her out!  Thanks lady!

If you’re new to blog awards:  they’re given out from bloggers here and there, in various shapes and sizes, and are a fantastic way of  not just calling out some fabulous bloggys, but also of connecting with new & interesting peeps across the blogosphere!   Who doesn’t love that?!

So, the Best Blog Award rules are as follows:

1.  To accept the award, post it in your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.

2.  Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have recently discovered and think are great!  Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here we go……

• Fabulously Frugal in Northern VA
• Manic Mother
• Mommy Cracked
• Girly Mama
• Manic Mariah
• Blogging Mama Andrea
• Modern Mom at How to Survive Life In The Suburbs
• The Wannabe WAHM
• Complicated Mama
• Not Drowning Mother
• Stop Calling Me That
• The Wise Young Mommy
• Nocturnal Queen
• 2 Moms Talk
• Domestically Challenged

Tylenol Recall

Is it me, or are we getting inundated these days with recalls of various nature?  I subscribe to a notification email from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that alerts me every time an item is recalled in this country.  No joke, I get at least 2 or 3 emails a week, sometimes with lists of more than 5 items.  Anyway, I guess as consumers & parents we have no choice but to take these notices seriously, especially when they relate to children’s products.

So I saw this morning that Tylenol has recalled 21 children’s and infant’s liquid medications.  Here is a brief excerpt explaining the issue: 

In a written statement, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Tylenol's manufacturer, said it detected bacteria in an inactive ingredient. While that ingredient was not used in any packaged final products, it was produced at the same time as those products.
In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson (JNJ, Fortune 500), decided to "recall all product that utilized any of the raw material manufactured at the same time as the raw material that tested positive for the bacteria" as a precaution, adding that "the likelihood of a serious medical event is remote."
According to McNeil's statement, scientific literature about the bacteria suggests that ingesting a contaminated pharmaceutical product orally doesn't trigger an infection, but use of products such as a nasal spray with the bacteria has lead to infections.

To see a complete list of products, go here.



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Random Randomness

My brain is a bit scrambled today…so to honor my current state of mind, here are some stray thoughts for the day.

1. Yo Gabba Gabba – I mean seriously, what the hell is this show supposed to be about?  It has got to be the most bizarre, pointless children’s programming I have ever seen. 

2. Although I’m not completely challenged when it comes to all things related to housekeeping, I’m certainly no domestic diva (as my husband will attest) and have a tough time finding the inspiration to scrub a toilet.  I simply HATE cleaning, and find my daily/weekly  chores as a dutiful housewife (just threw up a little bit in my mouth while typing that part) to be less than joyous.  But, I do them….it comes with the part where I play the stay-at-home mama, right?  So what if I sometimes have to wash a load of laundry twice because I forgot about it when it was done and after sitting for 24 hours it had a bit of wet dog smell to it!

3. Peanut butter & chocolate, together, in various concoctions of deliciousness…..need I say more??

4. Modern Family = hilariousness……….Cougar Town,  not so much!

5. Last year I discovered that Clarks now makes baby & toddler shoes (or at least they are newly available in the US) and that they are absolutely adorable!  We just bought 2 pairs there for the peanut, including these Gore-tex sneakers…..I mean, how cute are they????



That’s all…..for now!



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A Few Of My Favorite Things

I’m in a giving mood……so, for those living in the Southeastern PA suburban Philly area, I thought I’d dish out some blog love and share a few places that make my little corner of the world a bit easier to enjoy.

1. Limoncello Restaurant – It’s no secret that the hubby and I always appreciate great Italian food, and that is exactly what you’ll find at this little gem located in downtown West Chester.  Every item on their menu is absolutely delish, and the rustic & charming dining room/bar area provides for a great atmosphere, even when just stopping in for drinks.  And who knows, you just might run into Cole Hamels (pitcher for the Phillies) there, who’s been known to stop in from time to time.

2. Salon 926 – My FABULOUS hairdresser!   As I’m sure most ladies who care an ounce about their hair will agree, finding someone who will give you a great cut that you actually like & can re-create is like finding the holy grail…it’s certainly not easy, and once you do, you will travel limitless miles to get there.  Not only do I get stopped at least once a week by someone who compliments  me on my hair & wants to know where I go, but Kerri (who owns the salon) was the only stylist EVER to have carried me through the pains of growing out a pixie cut with relative ease, simply because she’s that good (now if that isn’t an indication of a talented coiffeur, then I don’t know what is)!  Of course, the rest of her staff is just as phenomenal!

3. ACAC Fitness Center  -  Trust me when I tell you that once you enter this place, you will never want to look at another gym ever again.  We spend most mornings there, and it has become an essential part of my (social) life.  Besides the obvious exercise classes (which include body pump, boxing, kettle bell, cycling,  yoga & pilates), cardio and weight training equipment, what really sold us were the extra perks……1. the outdoor waterpark & activity pool that can be used year round 2. the cafe where you can enjoy smoothies, salads, paninis, and lattes 3. the spa (think massages and facials) 4. the Kids Zone, where children are not just simply thrown into a day care area…but where, under structured supervision, they can do arts & crafts, play games & run around in a large arena,   jump on a moonbounce, or maybe even cook pancakes!  I gotta’ say, getting into shape is a heck of a lot easier when you not only enjoy the classes, but get to relax with coffee & friends afterward.



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