Mint Mocha Light Frappichino

today was a sad, sad day....i think i might have to cut back on my morning indulgence {{SIGH}} Starbucks just raised their prices again my grande no whip peppermint mocha light frappachino (which looks a lot better in person) now costs $5.05 Dammmmmmmmmmm - why does it have to taste so good!

Halloween Decorating

Spent Saturday night at Sherri's. After a long night - todd past out (ergo=long night) & sherri and I began our evening relaxation....building a gingerbread haunted house
While sherri knocked out the roof.....
....I created windows and a door.........

....VOILA! Damn good house from two tired ladies!
almost good enough to eat (in fact - Sherri & Neil began deconstruction two days later!!!)

annoying commuter

if you've ever commuted on an express bus, then you know that there are certain laws that all follow:
1) No extended talking on the cell phone...the phone rings, you answer, you cover the speaker area with your hand & then quickly hang up. Extended talking (especially in a foreign language is a no-no)
2) No chit chatting among yourselves above a whisper...this can be a problem when someone starts to cackle laugh
3) Keep your legs closed so that you don't squish the person sitting next to you (it's not like they want to sit next to you....it's either that or standing)

OK, so basically: shut up & get out of my space

On my ride home last night i was in the 2nd row. On my bus, the first row is about a foot lower then all other seats. Take a look at how the guy in front of me was sitting...i was sooooooooooo creeped out!

i love my neighborhood

here is my neighbor's front window (and you should see the graveyard scene on their front lawn!) Kind of freaked her out when I pulled over in my SUV & the flash went off on my camera phone

this is the bedroom windows....kinda spooky, huh?
~~decorating RULES~~

SITC - update on pics!!!!

turns out my carrie / miranda / charlotte / mr big sighting at Bryant Park was the WEDDING SCENE!!! Here is a pic of Cynthia's dress from TMZ.com:

At the time, I didnt realize what that whole big hair thing-y was on SJP's head (now that I realize it's part of her vail - what IS she thinking? ewwwwww), and with a coat one - I couldnt tell that she was wearing a wedding dress....but I can totally confirm that Kristin Davis was def wearing that black dress when she walked out

SITC movie is GONNA happen

how am i soooooooo sure????

well, on the way to the PA after work today, at approx 5:20pm in front of Bryant Park, Shannon, Lorena & I were hustled to move out of the way cuz they were about to film a movie scene. Normally I dont bother to stop - but when I glanced over - I saw a black towncar.

DING DING...could it really be Mr. Big's car?

YUP!

Of course, all I have on me is my dinky cell phone that takes "ok" still pics, but when you have NYs Finest hustling you along - this is what you get:

I know it's blurry - but it's Chris Noth in a tux (damn he's hot!)
Then a sec later the ladies walked out of the Bryant Park Hotel - I HAD to snap....here's Cynthia Nixon. The actual order was SJP, then Kristin Davis, then Cynthia...but my Charlotte pic is a complete blur....and take a gander at what happened to my SJP pic (I can tell you that she is the tinniest little thing)

Unfor, Kim Cattrall didn't emerge & I only waited another minute (guess that's my NYC impatience coming out)

Landon takes a vacation

...oh yeah, mom, dad & sis go along for the ride...but it's pretty clear who is in charge

sarah, emma & landon (guess being on the lake on a gorgeous day can make a kid pass out!)

ok, mom & dad - time to drive home...I know the way!

thought i was kidding - HA! - sarah is the backseat navigator

happy b-day to me

yes, i'm someone who likes my b-day acknowledged!

Here's how my day went: sent an announcement to Z100 for skeery to announce. Was on the bus & at 8:05 when he made the announcements - nada (bummer!)

Got into work - randy left a message wishing me a great day at 8:01 (2 secs after I walked out the door). Next message - JMa sung to me (awwwwww - not something you hear everyday, i tell ya!). Card on desk from SW (telling me it's time to buy shoes to match my new bag (not a bad idea!). Signed onto the computer: ecard from Sherri, ecard from Todd (what a talented little boy!), ecard from M&D, even got an ecard from 104.3fm! Day is going good. Really busy at work, so while the girls took me out on Monday to Pershing Square, I picked sushi to order in (such a no brainer!). During the day I got phone call singing after phone call singing. Had to work kinda late, so took a car home. Randy called around 6 to find out when i was leaving & also not to order dinner (yes, i took that as a hint).

WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE I WALKED INTO!!!!

Dining room table was set with china & crystal & the room was surrounded by candles. Aperitif to start. First course: salad & a glass of summerville (white wine picked up at the festival earlier this year). Second course: calamari & another glass of wine. Main course: eggplant rollatini (I'm in HEAVEN!!!)

Then he set up the living room for me to have a foot rub. First - soak in the water massager, then he turned on survivor for me us to watch. Uh-oh, wrong night.....he watched ANTM with me (can ya feel the love!!!!). Show ended & so did the foot rub. Next is chocolates & body massage.

Went to bed with a smile!

PS - skeery sent me an email the next day - his intern forgot to add my b-day to his list...so he announced it a day later - you can check out the sound bite on their website.

i heart halloween!!!!

10/14 - I've updated this post with a few more pics of the front of my house!

here is fred & wilma with their pumpkin patch....so sweet, huh? yeah right....you should see the pumpkins party once the lights go down ;)

here is my front window....
... and here is my buddy, pumpkinhead hanging out on my front steps (yes, he parties with Fred & Wilma)

time to decorate

i'm not gonna let this day get me down....i need to do the one thing that always gets me in a good mood....DECORATE!!!

(check back later for pics)

Pool Covering

so 2 weeks ago randy covered our pool - it was a pain, since NJ law requires all above ground pools to have the railings surround the pool (in fact - he had to jump in at one point to get the pillows to lay flat). after taking close to 6 hrs to finish, we thought we were done until next summer, right?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
we wake up this morning to a flood along the left side of our house (luckily, that side of our house is pretty wide, so no water actually touched the house).....and notice when we go into the backyard, that the pool cover has lowered about 3 feet!!!! Once uncovered, we find out that the lining split where the side lining meets the bottom lining.
oh yippee - just add that on to all the other expenses I have to look into comes the spring..........:(

Derek's Dorm

it's now been a little over a month now that we left Derek up(and I mean UP)state NY. Here is his half of the dormroom:

not a bad view, but something tells me "roof acccess" is not an option!

Bet he can't WAIT to see what Randy & I did to his room

{{{wink, wink}}}

Dining Room Makeover

after waiting over 4 months for my china cabinet, it was delivered this week...I love it - it matches my mom's dining room table (which I finally inherited) exactly! The best part was having randy go into the garage & bring up all my engagement, bridal shower, wedding, & housewarming presents to fill the cabinet.

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH

It was like chanukkah came to september - i just kept opening & opening & opening (and throwing paper on the floor). I forgot how much nice stuff I rec'd as presents

{{{thank you all - mwaaaaahhh}}

Rosh Hashanah @ M&D

as i do every year, I took the day off to cook my heart out...and it was well worth it...everyone came (except derek who is 6.5 hrs away) & had a wonderful time.

Happy New Year - from my family to yours!

LaShana Tova!

Pampered Chef / Jewelry Party

to all those who attended (and you know who you are - i mean how can you forget tap dancing on a cutting board!!!!) - I hope you guys had a lot of fun. The orders are now closed & I should be receiving delivery of the products in the upcoming weeks. Once it's all broken out - I'll pass the stuff onto all. If anyone would like to book future parties for either products - let me know & I'll pass on the info of the demonstrators.

The Evolution of Dance

I almost fell down when CottenEyed Joe came on!

labor day weekend

so far this is turning out to be a fun & relaxing weekend. Tomorrow we are heading down the shore to hang with some friends at their house & yesterday we headed pretty south to attend probably the BEST Wine Festival to date (and I've been to a bunch of them over the years). Instead of being held at the Waterloo Village in Stanhope - it was held at the Allaire State Park, which is about 5 minutes from Belmar. For one thing, I thought it was going to be just an open park - NOPE it was also a historical village, and all the building were open. The turnout was AMAZING & so was the amount of vineyards that participated. We stocked up on a few reds & whites that I'll be serving next week at my pampered chef/jewelry party.
Now it's time to go out & wash my car...I need a clean back window so I can apply the college sticker I picked up when we took derek upstate (yes, I'm THAT person!)

let's go back 5 years

...when did he go from 5'1" to 6'1" ?!?

so M&R take a mini vacation

what do you do if you are 7 hrs away from home - ya might as well enjoy the sites! By noon we left Derek (no guilt, please) and headed to Lake Placid - such a beautiful village. Here is the view from our room:

can't stay at a lodge in Lake Placid w/o riding a bobsled (with a black bear behind me)

the next day we headed over to Vermont to the Champlain Valley Fair. On the way (route 89) we passed the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Magic Hat Brewery and Ben & Jerry's

tell me this sandcastle just doesnt blow you away!!!!!

we left the fair (and yes...I had to have funnel cake) about 8pm & got home before midnight...what a weekend!

Derek moves :(

it seems like this day was always so far away....but this weekend we took Derek up to college. It was a looooooooooooooooooooooong drive (almost 7 hrs). We left Friday morning at 2:30am & got there by 9am. Then we had the tiring job of UNLOADING the car

the 3 of us unloading wasn't that bad.....

...now waiting for an elevator was another story (and fyi: the building is NOT air conditioned & it was over 90 degrees this weekend!!!!)
derek & his roommate begininning the unpacking process (hopefully I get an undated pic of the final result)
see ya Derek at thanksgiving!!!!

Todd Goes College Shopping

Todd isnt going to let his cousin derek leave for school w/o a massive box of rice crispy treats....luckily, he has a costco coupon (from his awesome aunt mishy!!!!)

Graduation / Off to College Party

Here are some pics from last weekend's BBQ - it was probably the most relaxing party i've ever thrown....I hope Derek had a great time cuz I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

here is a congrats poster for derek that randy & I made
derek surrounded by some NJ & SI friends...mostly SI though :)
tom & randy (I dont want to know where those hotdog thongs went after this pic)
they look so innocent.....trust me - they weren't!!!!
my ladies 2007 (barb, me & reenie)
me, fern & karen
mom & jessica (was that 3 glasses or 4....oh, whose counting!!!!!!!)
how the little ones need us to tell them about brain freeze!!!
Bryan & Donna / Michelle & Randy

so what happens if you fall asleep in my backyard with childrens toys & drunk adults???? You end up wearing a 3 y/o's hat, holding a baby bottle with thomas the train looking over your shoulder!
the BEST investment I ever made!!!!

DMB - N2 at Camden

last night's DMB show was AMAZING..............I'm in the SECOND ROW!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

the energy from the crowd was awesome..especially when Dave & Boyd really started jamming!
thx for taking me w/you into the pit "it's all good"!!!!!

Dave Matthews Band @ Tweeter Center

Honey, Honey...come & daaaaaaaaaaaance with me......
sing & dance...I'll play for ya tonight...the thrill of it all.....
WHOO-HOOO....I'm gonna be dancing to dave in about 8 more hours!!!!