10 things to do, to RECHARGE...

Alright, so for some of you who DON'T have any time...I'm personally giving you permission to MAKE the time. We live life running around in circles, planning , prepping, working....never really enjoying our time. You know the old saying to "stop and smell the roses"....no really, it's time...NOW. Don't put it off! While running around all over town today trying to take care of my TO DO list...in between obligations...I took a minute to grab a Pumpkin Spice Late @ Starbucks with my husband and BAM! hit me....where did my day go? where did the week go...? the month?...were we not just in May the other day, then I came home to hang up my Harvest Wreath on my front door. made me think of this blog tonight....here are 10 things you NEED to do to keep your sanity...and peace of mind...immediately!

1. Get a pedicure with your girlfriends (don't forget to turn on the massage chair either)

2. take a day trip to an amusement park, fair or farmers market with your kids...or with your boyfriend or hubby.

3. Pull out your all time favorite movie grab all the junk food you can get your hands on and....lock yourself in your bedroom until it's over. (Get a babysitter for a couple hours if you have to.) Turn off your phone and don't check your e-mails or facebook.

4.Take a walk with your I pod play list set on our FAVORITE songs....and treat yourself to ice cream when the walk is over. (note, this IS not for exercise...it's for clearing your head...STOP thinking about how many calories you're burning)

5. Get your favorite coffee blend and start a new book. Read it in a quiet ISOLATED place. give yourself a good couple of hours to get into the book.

6. Go to a Jazz Bar or a Wine Bar with our significant other...LEAVE phones at HOME. Don't talk about work...AT ALL

7. Go see a movie by yourself in the theatre....trust me, it's quite relaxing.

8. Spend a day with no TV, no phone and no computer...nothing, i mean it

9. make a special home cooked meal...from scratch...something you've never tried before, have the whole family sit down and eat, no interruptions.

10. take a bubble bath and have a glass of wine, light a scented candle...and stay in until your skin gets wrinkly.

ENJOY!

Real Housewife of Beverly Hills Husband Dies

      So EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE is talking about Taylor Armstrong's husband committing suicide this past Monday evening....and all anyone can do is shake their head.
How sad is this>!? I happened to have been checking out Huffington Post and read the details...and as an avid watcher of his show I was flabbergasted!
       It brings up a great question: When do the TV shows we watch become a reflection of what we are as humans?!...Here you have these women, who go on this show...fame follows and then what happens??? divorces, failed friendships, financial hardships, substance abuse, damaged reputations...a few physical altercations...and now even a death. It kind of makes everyone take a step back and say....wow, these are REAL PEOPLE...with real lives and  real feelings....JUST LIKE US.  I'm the first to poke a joke at someones obnoxious traits or make fun of someones temper tantrum..but goodness...after Taylor's husbands death...I feel like I'm guilty of watching LIVE train collisions with multiple fatalities...for "entertainment"....Think abut it. This man must have been going through so much pain to do something like this....and what do we have left of him, but some 30 second footage of him giving a speech at his (now) ex wife's birthday party. 
     These "characters" are human....with real life heart ache and real life problems. Maybe it's a lesson in how "heart broken" we as humans  have become. We watch these shows, because the drama is entertaining...It's OUR drama...televised. We watch, because the people on TV are REAL and have worse problems...We feel better when someone "acts out" because it makes us feel justified when WE "act out"...We don't feel so bad when we've "stepped out of line"...because people "step out of line all the time on TV"...We relate...We feel their anger when they're mad at their best friend. We feel their hurt when they find themselves being miss treated...and we justify it all as...THIS IS HOW IT GOES, EVEN for those rich beautiful housewifes in Beverly Hills...They're NOT perfect, so it's okay that I'm not perfect.
      Is it kind of  sad that we no longer prefer for family problems to get solved by the end of the episode like on Full House or Family Matters. (We would never see Stephanie Tanner flip a table a Kimmie Gibbler)...We want to see it go as far as it can go, because we say to ourselves: "They took that argument WAY further than any argument I've ever had with my sibling"...."I couldn't possibly see myself act  like THAT women did after a few cocktails"  or "I would never say what that housewife said to the other...I'm far more composed...aren't I?"...
    The world....IS what it IS today...broken...and kind of the worst reality TV show ever...and we are the cast. At what point do we decide to "cancel" our own show...strip off the microphones...and turn off the cameras? Can we all take a second to BE a little bit happy? We are all so busy with THE SHOW....We are THAT uncontrolled, that undignified, that irrational, unpredictable...we eat too much, spend too much, fight too much, get too lazy, get too self absorbed...because we are PEOPLE. It's normal, agreed...but why CANT we solve the problem by the end of the episode? Lets get to the dinner party just a little late with our hair a little bit messed up, not wearing the most flattering dress..and feel comfortable sitting next to the woman that pissed us off at the grocery store. We are ALL the same (as messed up as everyone else)...maybe if everyone took a second to try to understand that...We wouldn't be so glued to that reality TV show....Maybe we could care just a little bit more when we notice someone is "down"...or take the time to encourage each others "ups!"  Lets shake off some of each other's stress and strife. Life is all about Ups and Downs...and televised or not...it might be a good idea to skip a little bit of the dramatics...and maybe....just LIVE....

Feel Good...

Brighten Someones Day

We live in a culture of "Do something to get something"...We live in a time where people are down and out, sad and stressed....why not add a little sunshine to someones life..??? how bout a few lives???...you'll find once you do ONE of these challenges you'll want to do more. Do this for a friend, a family member, a perfect stranger....better yet, someone you maybe don't really get along with. See how great YOU feel when doing something nice for someone else.I challenge YOU...yes YOU to do one of these small little "feel good" missions this week. attach a note that reads:

"Now A Days people tend to get blue...BUT today I'm making certain that doesn't include YOU. So here's a gesture to make you smile in hopes you too will go the extra mile." -anonymous

1. Mail (yes, snail mail....stamp n all) someone a $5.00 Starbucks gift card.(c'mon you have NO PROBLEM spending $5.00 on yourself every other morning for your late')  (don't put a return address)

2. Leave a Car Wash coupon or gift certificate on someones windshield (make sure the car doesn't look too dirty or they may take it as an insult)

3. Send a balloon to a co worker or colleague.

4. When going out to dinner, send an appetizer or desert to a family or an elderly couple. (lots of places have coupons for free appetizers online....put them to good use...don't forget to send the note...but remain anonymous)

5. leave fresh flowers on your neighbors door step.

6. Around Thanksgiving and Halloween..leave a pumpkin and or candy at your co worker's desk or your child's teacher's desk

7. When getting something through a drive through pay for the next person in lines order.

8. Send a bottled water and power bar to your child's coach or PE teacher.

9. Buy someone a lotto ticket...

10. Make or buy a card. Mail it to someone.

The type of friends you should *Value*

1. If they don't feel like hanging out, they wont make up a lame excuse...they'll say it like it is. "I'm tired...and don't feel like it"...."I have not been able to spend enough time with my husband/boyfriend/kids"..."I have something else going on, I just can't make it". these are all REAL reasons. If a friend doesn't "over-elaborate" they are usually being honest...a friend apologizes multiple times, because they truly would love to be around you, but just can't muster up the time, energy or something truly came up. A FAKE response would be "I forgot I have this appointment with my foot doctor because you know I have that weird fungus...it's been bothering me again, and I'd really like to make it, but i just can't"..."I'm sorry, but we have this dinner we are going to with these really important people my husband works for, and i really should be there, because the last time there were one of these ,I didn't go, and I'm not sure what time it will be done so I don't think I can make it". Do you see the difference? when someone is being straight up with you, they give you simple reasons, not huge story lines. (well, unless they are just "over-sharring" type of people.) They're honest...however blunt it may seem...they mean the 100 "I'm sorry's"...Someone is usually as apologetic as many times as they try to apologize. also, REAL friends who want to hang out will "take a rain check"...express plans to hang out soon...or attempt to re-schedule.
2. This goes hand in hand with #1. a friend who tells you like it is. A real friend will say you look good in a dress you KNOW you look good in. If you purchased this hot little Red Dress you had to work out 2 hours every day to fit into...and she tells you it's not flattering, she's jealous. If you're iffy about it, and she says she's iffy about it too...she's telling you the truth. your gut feeling is usually right...We girls usually just ask each other the "does it look good" question for confirmation. We want a complement. now if your are like "what do you think...I feel like it's not the best color on me"(and you really feel that way)...She'll probably agree. A GOOD friend wants you to go out and SHUT IT DOWN. ;)
3. Someone you have things in common with....not that you both like to shop, you like the color pink, you like the same alcoholic beverage and Mexican food.... THESE things are ALL TOO COMMON...if this were the case ALL WOMEN would be BFFS! I'm talking substantial stuff...you both enjoy period flicks, your both into community service, you enjoy the same line of work, you are both into the outdoors, you both enjoy a sense of adventure, and ONE HUGE BFF GREEN LITE: YOU LIKE and DISLIKE the same people...(people who are a lot alike tend to get turned off by the same type of people)
4. You don't have to be at some HUGE EVENT or some FIESTA like atmosphere in order to have fun. you can enjoy a cup of coffee together, you can go see a movie together or just plain sit and loose track of time talking on your couch/
5. Someone who is self sacrificing. This one is IMPORTANT...if you want to go see "Kittens on Ice" and she (an avid Cat hater)..says "okay, but next time you OWE me one"...or if your in a jam, and she offers to help out even though it's a huge inconvenience to her. She's true blue!
6. A good friend doesn't tell you what you WANT to hear...she'll tell you what you NEED to hear.
7. Someone who is genuine tends to admit or at least allude to THEIR faults. (and not just with situations with you)...if she often says stuff like: "I was so mad at what my sister said, but I do tend to antagonize her a bit"..." He really knows how to piss me off, but I tend to push his buttons sometimes too" or "Well, you know how bratty I can be"...Genuine people are their own harshest critics.
8. They won't let you walk all over them. A good friend doesn't mean a doormat. They will tell you if they disagree with you...or prefer to do something you might not like. It's HOW they communicate that to you. Example: "I'm thinking I might be allergic to "Kittens on Ice"...it's just not for me Cat Lady"... as apposed to "I DON'T want to see stupid "Kittens on Ice"...I'm over it, and you should be too...it's super kiddish...can't believe you STILL watch stuff like that"...the first phrase is playful and friendly...the second, attacking and an attempt to make a personal jab at your taste.
9. They worry about you....and not just because they NEED something. It's 12pm and you two were supposed to get together at 9. She hasn't heard from you (not even a text)...so she's called your cell phone, your home phone, e mailed you, Facebooked  you and by 2am with no response is close to calling the cops. REAL friends WORRY about the other friends well being. If ANY female has gone missing for more than 24 hrs...there's a problem...and if someone shrugs their shoulders at a "no show" with no communication after a few hours...you can bet they wouldn't be part of any "search party" if something DID happen to you.
10. This goes with number 9....aside from set plans, major events or set appointments where a true commitment has been made....there are NO EXPECTATIONS. If she says...I'll call you back in ten and doesn't call you back for an hour or two....it's no big deal...something must have come up. You invite her over for brunch, but cancels an hour before...you're friendship isn't in the shambles the next day. Sure you can be irritated...but you tell her, she explains herself an apology is exchanged, then your over it.  She doesn't expect you to answer your phone at 3am, because she found out Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson secretly got married...she'll appreciate the fact that you called her back when you got the first free moment you could the next day.

YES, we are ALL Disney Freaks inside...

photo source

     

      Maybe it's the idea of..."All your Dreams can come true"...maybe it's the churros, the Matterhorn....a mouse?! I dunno, but lets all flat out admit...We are ALL Disney FREAKS! We pay a poop load of money to eat mediocre fast food while we watch animated "cast members" dance the jig for dozens of screaming toddlers. We get teary eyed when we see the fireworks burst over Sleeping Beauty's Castle and just can't help but brave a 2 hour line to ride on a 2 minute ride. It's magic! I see it all the time! At least once a week SOMEONE is posting on their Facebook about their next trip to Disneyland. (myself included) This blog comes to you right before I leave for what might be by 200th+ Trip to Disneyland....and I'm just as every bit excited as I was back in 1988 when my parents would announce that the Magic Kingdom would be part of our vacation plans.
       So much has changed since then, but one thing always remains the same....I LOVE IT and always see the theme park through the same eyes! So in the spirit of All things Disney...I've decided to put together a list of some of the things I have learned along the way. Do's and Don'ts at the park.... some advice I've read from books...some advice I've gotten from cast members...some Disney secrets I've put to the test....and so on and so on and so on...So, go ahead...be a  little kid again...and add your favorite memories,  post your own advice accumulated from your travels, or tell us about some of the cutest moments you've experienced through your children.

• Buy a Coffee in the Disneyland park, get FREE refills ALL DAY
• Disney Cast members are instructed to always say "happy birthday" if ou are wearing the Disneyland "happy birthday button"
• You CAN carry two fast passes for the exact same ride time. Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin, runs on an entirely different counting system than the rest of the rides. So say you get a fast pass for Indiana Jones or Buzz Lightyear that reads return time between 2:15 and 3:10, you can get one for the exact SAME time on RRCTS.
• (This one if for you Liz) DON'T buy the "special seating with dinner" for World Of Color...there's nothing really "special" about it. You get cold food in a box...have to wait in a "fast pass line" with all the other people who didn't pay $15.00 and there is no "seating"...it's standing. My friend Liz said the experience was just awful and when I told her story to someone else who was a big Disney fan...they said they had the exact same thing and in fact got placed in an "overflow" area , with an obstructed view... where they could barely watch the show.
• Annual Passes are VERY worth it, if you are at the park more than 2 days a year. 1.once you have an annual pass, you'll return 5 times as much as you thought you ever would, just because you have the pass. 2. You get discounts on food and merchandise. 3. Around Christmas time you even get a bigger discount. My husband and I added it up a few times. One trip we saved 135.00!!! (in discounts not including a special rate we received on our room and the zero cost of admission.)
• There are special tours you can take at Disneyland for a "behind the scenes" look at everything. You get a tour of Club 33, Walt's personal apartment, the Fantasy Dream Sweet....it's really something awesome to see if you've already "seen it all".
• 100% BEST time to go to Disneyland....3rd week of January, The week after Presidents Day, and the Last week of September...Hands Down...
• EVERYONE is there in July, October and December...July for last minute summer vacation, October for all the new Halloween stuff (this just started being the case 2 years ago) and December because of Christmas and Christmas break.
• Rides "break down" or (temporarily close) on purpose....just recently heard this.... it's the parks way of evenly dispersing guests through the park. Space mountain has a 80 min wait time...Tomorrow Land is packed and Fantasy Land isn't....guess what happens???
• When most of your omni load rides slow to a halt (Haunted Mansion Buzz/ Little Mermaid etc) it's not because the ride broke down...they are loading someone on a wheel chair.
• The Ghosts in The Haunted Mansion  that are dancing in the grand ballroom are not projections...they're reflections...of manikins in a room UNDER you. (if you peek over as your exiting that scene you can see them)They are reflected onto the plexy glass as you look down at the dinner party scene. you'll even see that they are dancing the "wrong way" with the women leading the men...all due to the transposition.
• Mickey Mouse is watching you on Peter Pan. Look backwards as your flying over the clock tower..and you'll see his shadow in a town home window.
• The Windows on Main Street are all dedications to people who helped build Disneyland. The names on them are actual names of people.
• There actually used to be a lingerie shop ON Main Street USA. They sold corsets, bloomers , bras...etc in 1956...they closed shortly after a year...for obvious reasons.
• the Aladdin show is being replaced by...wait for it...none other than a Toy Story LIVE musical...

That's just some of the fun stuff I've learned...Have A Magical Day!

The Biological clock You want to break!

         I don't know if it's because I live in a small town. I don't know if it's a woman thing...or a "people" thing...but there's soooo much pressure to hit life milestones when "everyone else" wants you to. For example...I'm 28, was married a month before I turned 23....everyone around me has 2-2.5 Kids...and I have 0. There's not a week that doesn't go by that someone isn't pointing to their watch telling me "it's about that time!"....really? is it?! I love kids, and DO want kids....lots. (I'd even like to adopt some day) My husband and I have tried "a couple of times"...off and on. (like for a month) We've never really followed any ovulation calendars...we've never taken my basil body temperature and I've never purchased a fertility test stick...(well, not unless you count the time my husband bought one by mistake when he meant to buy a pregnancy test) all the equipment is good to go...there's nobody shooting blanks, I've got plenty of eggs and my uterus is the right shape.....yada yada yada....The time just HAS NOT BEEN RIGHT.  We go through periods where we decide....alright, we've done plenty of "selfish" stuff now...lets try...but then we get the itch to go to Vegas...or buy a new TV.....take the afternoon to head up to the mountains...go out to a movie.

So, we've come to the conclusion...it'll happen when it happens. THAT'S not good enough for OTHER people though. I constantly get: "why don't you have kids"...."don't you want kids"..."are you guys one of THOSE couples that just want to have dogs all your life"?...seriously, people say this stuff to us ALL the time! ....and it's NOT just us.

        I see this happen with unmarried friends of mine. I have a few friends  ages 28/29 that get..."who are you dating"..."don't you want to get married?"...."why aren't you engaged yet" ...."can I set you up"???....no wonder people get divorced all the time! People are constantly feeling the pressure to jump on the good boat, get married and start reproducing.  It's like....if you're Twenty something and not married, somethings wrong. If you're late twenty something and have been married more than a year and you don't have kids....somethings wrong. Why can't my husband and I just have "fun"...I have plenty of nieces and nephews that I get my "baby love" fix from....we have lots of friends who have the cutest kids in the world...I'm the first one to play "dolls vs dinosaurs" ....but I'm not "dying" to have a kid yesterday. I'm just saying. If you're a proud parent or newlywed...shout it from the roof top! I support you! BUT stop pointing to MY biological clock, because I don't hear it ticking...why do you?

10 Ways to Get Ready For Fall

So forgive me for being sluggish, and not blogging earlier today..I'm feeling under the weather. For about 2 seconds today...(as I woke up from my mid day nap after being up all night)...with my blinds tightly shut and an overcast shadow looming in my living room...I felt the familiar "cozy" of  FALL. I know we are still in summer, it's still crazy hot, and half of you are mildly irritated that my last blog was about a sweater. BUT I LOVE FALL. Think about it...you can wear soft sweaters, cute coats and boots....you can eat more...particularly sweets like pumpkin pie, because BIG sweaters are in....AND you have the holidays to look forward to! So yes, In the spirit of celebrating (and I quote Meg Ryan)...the smell of "freshly sharpened pencils"...I give you 10 WAYS to get get ready for this glorious time of year!!!

1. Get a fresh new hair cut and go darker...by mid august your hair is starting to show it's damage from chlorine and over exposure to sun. It's time to transition your look to a color that will go with deep red lipsticks and earthy brown scarfs! I REALLY want to see more RED  heads this year. Like Blake Lively in Green Lantern or Emma Stone.

2. Go buy some REALLY nice brown REAL LEATHER boots NOW! Don't WAIT mid-fall, because all the good sizes will be GONE...and right now there are lots of "back to school" sales going on...so you'll get a great deal. Also, I say REAL Leather, because Good Leather boots will be A. more comfortable B. will Last longer and C. you'll wear them more than synthetic leather boots for reasons A and B.

3. BUY some fall clothing staples NOW....so you're not looking for them when everyone else is...This can be tricky, because it's hard to get into fall shopping when it's so hot outside, but it REALLY is ideal to STOCK UP now. How many times are we out a week before Thanksgiving looking for a cute outfit and everything is picked over and expensive. Take it from someone who has been in the retail world a long time...SHOP EARLY...you won't get it on REAL sale again until after Christmas clearance. You'll also SAVE money in the winter months because you've bought everything early....more money to save up for Christmas gifts! BEFORE FALL you NEED: A simple black or brown dress/ A new scarf/ a Leather "Lady Like" bag or satchel/ A new pair of skinny flare jeans in a dark color/ and a wrap around sweater that's 100% cotton...

4. When you shop pre fall...for anything...not just clothing, take the price of what the item is...and divide it by how many times you think you'll use it. This is a way for calculating the REAL value of what you are getting. You can buy a cheap blouse, but think you'll wear it only a couple times ....there is no real value to the item
because even though it wasn't as expensive as another...you simply will not use it as much.
example:
 Dressy Purple silk top 48.00....
(i think i'll wear it twice..out to dinner)
48/2= $24 is what I REALLY PAID for it...

A Pair of Leather Brown Boots 145.00
I'll wear ALL fall and winter 145/ 35 times of wearing it=$4.14
= I MUST HAVE

5. Go out with a BANG your LAST weekend of summer. Take a random, unexpected "weekend away" to get summer out of your system. Take a weekend trip to San Fran/ Vegas/ Disneyland/ SeaWorld... whatever...just get up and go somewhere before you're locked down to all those Fall Holiday gatherings. Your kids will appreciate it too. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant if you're on a major budget...go to the zoo for the day or visit your local waterpark....go see a family movie

6. Open a Christmas savings account. (I do this EVERY year) right now (if you have not already)...put away 100.00 EVERY MONTH...no exceptions. It will make things easier TRUST me

7. Create a FALL MOVIE Premiere Party with your friends. I have a friend who plans for the New Twilight movies like it's Christmas. It's something she looks forward to EVERY Year a new one of these movies comes out. She sends out invitations...makes Twilight themed food and drinks...and watches the previous movies of the series up until  an hour or two before the midnight premiere of the new one. The party concludes at the movie. During the fall, it's fun to come up with non-event...events... things that are not obligatory among all the gatherings you HAVE to go to....it's nice to have something you can just enjoy without any strings attached.

8. FALL Cleaning...(yes, like Spring Cleaning)....clean out your closet of any old fall/winter items that are out of date...clear summer items you didn't wear this summer. (don't wait to see if you'll wear it next summer)...take your items to a local shelter or salvation army. DONATE...Do the same with clutter around your house. Clear out your make up bag/ linen closet/ kitchen/ storage areas...PURGE PURGE PURGE....this will make you feel less stressed out as the Holidays approach....and you'll have less to clean when you do the Holiday bumble bee when people come to visit.

9. Get an after summer massage/ pedicure/ facial and manicure...Do it all in one day...preferably the same day you get your new cut and color ;). Make yourself feel entirely VOID of the miles you put on yourself this summer.

10. Organize your life. This one is the MOST important. Buy a calendar (not the one in your i phone, because you can easily erase these items and you typically are not  reminded of them until your phone reminder goes off)...an old fashioned Calendar....jot down important dates and events, appointments/ birthdays etc ..EVERYTHING... WELL in advance. Make a few months worth of Check ups, Nail appointments, Hair Appointments, Oil changes, Trips to the GYM..everything ahead of time.  Write them in PEN and post it on your fridge or on the inside of your pantry. This will remind you to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! If you set aside time (for things you push around because you get so busy in the fall) ahead of time...you'll treat these things like the priorities they are.

So (cringe) farewell summer...it was nice, but not as nice as Fall is going to be =)