30 September 2008

Pass the Mic... I mean Pepper...I mean...?

Gotta love the irony


Hello???

Since yesterday, I've gotten 19 separate visits to this blog but only ONE comment, from my friend Kristi!

Ok, snoopers...time to comment!

Make sure the kids are looking at the EAST side of the street...

Jenna Jameson's 4 storey BOOBS are posted for all to see in Times Square. Geez, how ridiculous is that?!

Tuesday Funny Foward

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?Do you suffer from shyness?Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about White Wine.

White Wine is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. White Wine can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.You will notice the benefits of White Wine almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with White Wine.

White Wine may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use White Wine. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine may make you think you are whispering when you are not. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine is a major factor in dancing like an idiot.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine may cause you to think you can sing.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WARNING:The consumption of White Wine may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

NOW JUST IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD ACHIEVE WITH RED WINE!!!

29 September 2008

Dan's Birthday

Dan's birthday party is THIS SATURDAY! His actual birthday is Tuesday, the 7th, but we will be at the MADONNA concert (woot! woot!) so party night is Saturday. We have reserved the VIP area in a club in Tribeca called m1-5. PLUS, my best friend Kristi is flying in Thursday from Indiana! This is the funnest night ever!

Where can I buy this MIRROR?!!!! :)


Got my hair DID



This weekend, I was in Philly to sing with the worship team at Fairview Village church. I always try to schedule a hair appointment when I'm going to be in Philly for the weekend because I STILL haven't found a hairdresser in NYC, since moving 2 years ago!
My man is ENNIO, the salon owner at Ennio Salon, on Germantown Pike. He is awesome, and if you live in the area and need a stylist or know of someone who is looking for a great salon- I recommend him 100%! I've never had any of the other stylists do my hair- just him, so I'm not sure about how the other stylists work, but he is a GENIUS. He did a process for my roots first (because they are light grey with LOTS of white strands!) Yes, it's true- I'm 27 and I would have grey and white hair if I didn't color it at all! Can you believe that? My mom (sorry ma!) started going grey at 16, and I myself started finding white hairs when I was 15 or so!
So, after the roots were filled in with color, he did a platinum/champagne highlight (super fine and thin, which is what I like. I hate streaks and chunky highlights- I like it to have texture almost like animal fur) and then he did an all over color that is a bit darker than usual- a soft coffee blond. He trimmed just the ends, for health. I told him NO LAYERS because it's chaos when I let my hair go curly when I have layers cut in- I get what I call the "mushroom effect," where the shorter layers on top end up pouffy like a mushroom.
Then, he and another stylist blowdried my hair TANDEM with two dryers (it takes forever to dry- another reason why I have been letting it air dry curly!) and then he flat ironed it and sealed it with a gloss. I had to take pictures because after I go to the gym this afternoon, it will never look the same! I can never get it this straight and shiny on my own!

26 September 2008

I've been wasting my whole day at work...


...looking at stuff on THIS WEBSITE! Who DOESN'T want garbage bags that look like strawberries! Isn't this the coolest?!!

24 September 2008

Big Deal?

Hey! Guess what CELEBRITIES I saw on my lunch break?? Big Bird and Elmo! They were filming Sesame Street on a double-decker tour bus on 42nd, near the Chrysler Building. I took this picture with my iPhone- cool sighting, right?


When they were finished filming, the puppeteer who does Elmo, took him by the head and stuffed him into a plastic bag. It was a little frightening! LOL

23 September 2008

Carmine's joke of the day

I used to have Mad Cow's disease, but I'm alright Nooooooooow

BYE BYE, SCALE!

I’m convinced that there’s some sort of relationship between standing on a scale every morning and NOT losing weight. I’m SO convinced, in fact, that I have decided to STOP weighing myself and forget about the stupid scale. Who’s with me??!!
I really think that looking at the scale affects my behavior in a NEGATIVE way. I’ve realized that historically, when I just FORGET about the stupid number, and do my thing because I feel better, my clothes fit better, and I have more energy, then I actually DO lose weight. But as soon as I start getting on that scale every morning (and I admit, even several times a day sometimes!) I start getting hung up on that stupid blinking digital display, and then all I want to do is quit.
So, my dear friends, I have decided NOT to let the scale rule my life. It’s ridiculous, when you think about it. Do you even realize how much your water intake affects your weight? Or sodium? Or sleep? I mean, it fluctuates all over the place.
I was doing SO good when I did my fitness competition- I didn’t EVER get on the scale, I just kept focusing on working out harder, faster, longer than I did the previous day. I drank 2 gallons of water, and I didn’t even WANT to eat sugar or junk food. And what do ya know, I stepped on the scale on my weigh in day and I lost 26lbs in 8 weeks!

Here’s my challenge for ALL of you- stop weighing yourself for 14 days, just 2 weeks, and see what happens. I bet you’ll lose more than if you’re on the scale 5 times a day like I’ve been doing. Screw the scale!!!!!!

NY Cares

Last night, my friend Elizabeth and I went to an orientation class for New York Cares, a volunteer organization. I’ve been wanting to get involved with volunteering in the city for a long time, and this organization has really created a system that WORKS! More than 36,000 people volunteer every year through this organization! Isn’t that incredible?! I love New York, and it’s time for me to connect and give BACK to the city that gives me so much!

Now that we’ve completed the registration and orientation, we’re anxious to start signing up for projects. We’ll be doing things like delivering meals to seniors, visiting hospitals with sick children, painting schools and playgrounds, helping serve food in soup kitchens, and taking kids who are living in homeless shelters for a day at the Bronx Zoo! Everything is done in groups of 12 volunteers, and most of the projects will be in inner-city locations. I’ll be sure to update you and post pictures on my blog- check out the website at www.nycares.org!

22 September 2008

Money is worthless in a state of lonliness

Money makes the world go round but people are what make the world worth living in. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily rush of making a living and forget that each day we spend rushing around is a blessing. The opportunity to spend time with the ones we care about is something that I overlook all too often.

sicko

Hiya everyone!

I'm at work this morning, after 3 days in BED sick! It started on Wednesday night- I had an immense headache that made me feel nauseous, and went to bed at 7pm. On Thursday, at work, I felt it. You know what that feeling is: the warm tingly throat, starting to get harder to swallow, your eyes watering, and that heavy feeling in your head. I made a comment to some people at work that I could feel that I was getting sick, and sure enough, Friday morning I could barely get out of bed. My throat was so bad I could hardly swallow. I was pale (ok, well Pale-ER than usual!) and my skin was burning. Dan told me to call out, but I know how bad it looks to call out sick on a FRIDAY (hello, long weekend?) so I told him I'd go to work and get some checks cut that needed to go out, and then come home.

I got to work and everyone was like, "GO HOME!" I did NOT look so great! I finished the checks, sent some emails, and left the office around 10:30. I went home and stripped down to a tank and shorts because I was burning up with a fever. I found a comfy spot on the couch with a blanket and a box of kleenex and a box of sudafed, and slept with the dogs curled up on me. I stayed like this for the next 3 days- drifting in and out of sleep just to get up and eat some chicken noodle soup. By Sunday, I was feeling a bit better, and Dan and I went to brunch around 2pm. Then I went back to bed!

I'm much better today, but now some other people in the office are starting to drop like flies. It's just that time of year, I guess! I've got a runny nose that won't stop, and I have a raspy sounding voice like Demi Moore, but other than that, I'm much better.

I gotta tell ya, I don't know HOW you parents do it! How do you survive being SICK when you still have babies to look after?! I'm in awe. I didn't want to talk to anyone, see anyone, even move out of bed, let alone entertain the notion that some of my friends have to change diapers and watch children 24/7 while they feel like this!

How DO you do it? I'm not convinced I can EVER have kids- I can't even take care of myself!

18 September 2008

This I KNOW...
















On Tuesday, Dan and I went to Celine Dion’s world tour concert in NYC at Madison Square Garden! She was fantastic- and it gave me chills when she sang “All by Myself” (my favorite song of the night, by far!) From beginning to end, I cried my eyes out. I was bawling! Dan looked at me at one point, and was like- “Are you ok?!”

I wasn’t crying because of the songs, or the excitement of seeing Celine live. I was crying uncontrollably because I wanted to be on that stage SO bad. It was overwhelming! I just had this awareness, and this indescribable ASSURANCE that someday, I will be performing in front of thousands, just like she was!

It was a pivotal moment for me when, for the first time, I really didn’t fear it anymore. I kind of gave in and told myself, “If this is really truly what I’m meant to do, then let’s DO IT already!” It’s not even a dream any more- it’s reality. I know it, I know it, I know it.

60%

...that's the percentage advantage that organic milk has over conventional milk! Organic milk has 60% more conjugated linoleic acid: an essential fatty acid that may prevent tumors!

It's worth the extra 50 cents, right?!

Gym Rat

I'm back to my gym rat habits- I'm happy to report that in the last 11 days, I've been to the gym 9 times! I've started working out in the afternoons, for my lunch hour. I'm getting ready to go right now, actually. The gym is only 2 blocks from my office, so I can be there in no time. If I go around 1:30 or 1:45, it's basically empty! It's kind of nice when there's not a lot of people working out, because you can put in a full effort and go non-stop, using whatever equipment you want.

Summer's over, vacation's over, and now it's back to reality. I enjoyed my margaritas, cupcakes, and french fries, but I realize that you can't have a banging body AND still eat all that junk. This week, I'm already down 2.6lbs, and my goal is to lose a steady 2 per week. The first few weeks that you start a diet/exercise program, you always lose more, so although I'm appreciative that I've lost more than my goal, I'm trying to be prepared for when the scale stops moving so fast (it's inevitable!)

Cause I'm FIFTY!!




Poor Madonna- she totally fell during her concert in Lisbon last night. Hope she gets it together before I see her at Madison Sq Garden on Oct. 7!

Educated Voters

I cannot vote in the U.S. election because, as my blog web address states: I am a Canadian citizen. However, I'm frustrated by the attitude of some people (none that are members of this blog, mind you) that somehow think that because I don't have a vote, then I don't have the right to an opinion. This outrages me, because I live and work in the U.S., I pay (way too much) taxes, and I utilize health care, banks, and contribute to American social security. Why would anyone argue that I don't have the right to support a presidential candidate?! That's ludicrous!

I'm not going to use this blog as a platform to influence your political choice, but I AM going to use it as a platform to encourage every voter to be EDUCATED about the election, and the candidates. Please, don't vote mindlessly (and Canadians, I'm talking to you too- I know this is an election year for you too!) Don't vote because of who your parents vote for, or who your spouse votes for. Don't base your opinion on the media or (God help us!) an EMAIL FORWARD. Get the facts, get all the information you can, and then vote as a COUNTRY, not an individual, and do what's best for the entire nation, and the globe.

Here's a link to a pretty detailed quiz, which is designed to BLINDLY match your view with those of a political delegate. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/MatchOMatic/fullpage?id=5542139 I took the quiz, and it actually gave me a lot of insight into political views I didn't understand before.

Oh, and it goes without saying... VOTE!

17 September 2008

bad left hand...BAD!

This week I've been really beating up my left hand- I seem to be clumsy ONLY with my left hand. I bent a fingernail back on Monday. Yesterday I paper cut the side of my hand (OUCH!) and this morning, I ran into the closet and bent my wrist back. (Maybe it's sprained...it hurts to bend it!) Then, I jammed the back of my left hand against the handle of the armoir, and gashed a big bleeding hole in it.

AND, when I was at the gym at lunch today, my heavy combination lock fell off the hook on my locker and where did it land? Yup, on my LEFT HAND! That HURT too, because it feel from a height, while I was tying my sneakers on the floor.

What the crap is up with my left hand?!

in the locker room

Today, I was in the locker room at my gym, and this lady just got out of the shower and was starting to get dressed while I was opening my lock. She goes, " Ugh, I hate getting dressed while I'm still wet" and I gave her an awkward smile and said "uh huh."

In my head, I was thinking, "Well I hate it when strangers talk to me while they're naked while standing less than 3 inches away!"

Good idea

Use adjustable spring loaded curtain rods from the dollar store to organize your cabinets!

Goodbye, 2-ply!

Researchers have invented 3-ply toilet paper. Is this really necessary? I prefer the cheap toilet paper- it doesn't disintegrate and crumble up when you're wiping.

Will YOU try 3-ply?

ANOTHER bad (I mean...great, really!) Tattoo


Show me Vegan

I’ve been experimenting with organic food and healthy living, and I found this great website FILLED with vegan recipes. Now, before you launch off about how vegan is stupid or how much you love meat, save it. I love meat too, and I think a healthy diet includes all food groups- meat included. I even like “gross meats” that some people won’t eat, like HOT DOGS (mmmm!) Give me a McDonald’s hamburger any day and I’m satisfied! But since I found out about hormones, pesticides, and the unethical way that SOME slaughterhouses treat animals, it made me think about adding some vegan/vegetarian habits into our lives. Another good reason to try meatless meals? The COST of meat and even cheese is skyrocketing!

We have decided that we would try to incorporate some meatless meals into our lifestyle once or twice a week. I found this awesome blog called “show me vegan” that has recipes that actually LOOK good! Even simple ideas like mashed potato and soy cheese quesadillas…YUM! ( And I’m sure no one will care if you use regular cheese if soy cheese is a little too extreme for you. )

Check it out- doesn’t the food look GOOD?!

16 September 2008

People vs. Souls

Yesterday, I was coming out of the subway and saw someone reading a paper that announced “24 People Dead in LA train crash.” I started thinking about that headline, and it occurred to me that we (and the media) now say “people dead” or “people killed” when referring to death and tragedy. Decades ago (maybe even centuries ago?) newspapers used to say “souls lost” when referring to death. I remember visiting the Titanic exhibit at the Franklin Institute, and the newspapers said “Hundreds of SOULS lost.”

So, then I started thinking, as I was walking home, that we don’t often think of people as souls anymore. We have kind of lost that sense of spirituality as a culture. How long until the headlines start becoming even more blatant, and saying “3 humans dead,” instead of even calling them people?

I decided right then and there, that as I continued my walk home along the street, I would think of each person I saw as a “soul” a “being” and a PERSON. It was really astonishing, how my attitude quickly changed. I immediately sensed more compassion. I saw a homeless man with plastic bags and skipping ropes wrapped around his feet for shoes, and I didn’t try to avoid him or ignore him. I saw him the way God would see him- as a SOUL. As a person with feelings, a spirit, a person who someone somewhere loves and cares about. A dad, an uncle, a brother maybe. As I kept walking through the crowds of people, I imagined them not just as faces, or OBSTACLES that I needed to get around and avoid bumping into to get to where I needed to go, but as souls in physical bodies, moving just like I was, having thoughts just like do. Sharing burdens, worries, and pain, just like I do.

I’m telling you, it totally changed my perception, and I felt this lightness, this awareness about the value of strangers, and how selfish I had become. As a New Yorker, I’m always avoiding eye-contact, blocking out the world, and just being concerned about my schedule and my life. So, I’m going to try and be more aware that people are SOULS and have value, no matter how rude they treat me.

12 September 2008

The more I look at this picture...


...The more I laugh! What's funnier, the girl dancing or the reaction of the people around her?!
LOL

Interesting hairstyle


That's FUNNY!


11 September 2008

52 meditations

Here's a list of 52 mantras or meditations; one for every week of the year. You're meant to go through the list each week and write it down where you can see it every day, think about it quietly before you go to bed, in the car on the way to work, etc. I found that just reading through the entire list was really inspiring in itself. So here's your challenge: print out this list and try to take each one for a week and see if it changes your perspective. If anything, it should snap you out of a grumpy mood or keep you focused on what's truly important. Time for comments: which one resonates the most with you?


There are people in this world that would die for me.
There are people in this world I would die for.
The truth will set me free. I will never lie.
People are not mind readers. I must never hesitate to tell someone how I feel.
Mistakes happen. I must learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others.
Life is short and people are not perfect. I will forgive myself. I will forgive others.
My smile brings happiness to the world around me.
There is nobody else exactly like me, with my exact abilities, talents, and ideas.
I can help myself by helping those around me first.
The people I care about deserve to know it. I will show them how much they mean to me on a regular basis.
I will accept compliments and criticism openly and make educated decisions based on a weighted sum of the two.
Information is infinite. There are ideas, products and cultures I do not yet understand. I will always keep an open mind to new formulas.
I am in competition with one person, and one person only… myself. I am competing to be the best I can be.
True wisdom is the byproduct of life experience. I will seek as many real world experiences as possible.
Education involves self-imposed discipline. I can only learn if I want to learn. I want to learn.
I will treat everyone with the same level of respect I would give to my grandfather and the same level of patience I would have with my baby brother.
I am what I eat. My body is a machine that must be fueled properly if I intend to make it last.
I will think before I act, but I will always act.
I will try new things for the sake of broadening my horizons.
I will never be reckless with another person’s feelings.
I will never let someone persist on being reckless with my feelings.
The three most important things in my life are my God, my health, and my family and friends. Everything else is secondary.
I will celebrate my successes. I deserve it.
Money will only make my life easier if it is mine free and clear.
If I wake up several mornings in a row and hate what I am about to do with my day, I will make a change. Life is too short.
I will never be jealous. Jealously only deteriorates possibility.
My attitude can change my reality.
If I want to remember it, I will write it down in a trusted location.
I will never spend more than I have.
I will thank the people who have helped me, and I will return the favor as soon as I am able.
I will never complain about a problem. I will supply a solution instead.
I will listen more than I speak.
If I don’t know, I will ask questions.
Everything is nothing without happiness. I must do what makes me happy.
I will never succumb to greed. Enough is enough.
Time is precious. I will manage my time effectively.
Right now is the only guaranteed moment in my life. I will make the best of it.
I will stand firm by my values without senselessly promoting them.
I will never over-promise. I will over-deliver on everything I commit to.
I will always assess the situation and provide value where needed.
I cannot make someone love me. I can only be someone who can be loved.
I will always strive to be the best I can be, but I will never try to be someone I’m not.
I will always articulate my words so people understand me.
I will slow down and become conscious of life’s simple pleasures.
Everything I do is by choice. There is always another option.
Less is more. I will get rid of the stuff I do not use.
If I never try, I will never know.
I will face my fears. I will not cower.
My habits define my life.
I will always take ownership of my actions, or my actions will own me.
I will never make decisions in a state of emotional haste.
If I don’t finish what I start, my success rate will always be zero.

Cool Shoes

These would suck when you have to use the bathroom!

What kid of fish do you think these are? SOLE? Ha ha ha I am SO funny!


"Conscious that something's missing"

I read this beautiful article in the NY Times this morning, about 9/11 and the lingering loss that New Yorkers feel. I love the quote about the skyline, "I still think it's the most beautiful city view there is. But whenever I look over there, I'm still conscious that something's missing."

I think that's maybe the point of remembering 9/11. To move on, to grow as a nation, to enjoy freedom, but to be always conscious that something's missing.

I rode the subway with Dan this morning, just like so many unsuspecting people started out their day 7 years ago on this date in NYC. But when we said goodbye and changed trains- we squeezed hands, gave an extra kiss, and said "I Love You."

You just never know.

I was the first to arrive at my office, and when I stepped off the elevator on the 34th floor, it was dark, quiet, and all the lights were off. It felt really wierd to be alone in a dark office on the top floor of a skyscraper on the anniversary of 9/11. I always think that on that day, everyone arrived at work completely normal: just another day at the office. Logged onto their computers, checked their email, went to the watercooler- just like I do every morning.

What I've learned from 9/11 is to always live in the moment, say "I love you" more than necessary, forgive, and never take freedom for granted.

What lessons have you learned from 9/11?

For your Viewing Pleasure!


I wish from Carmin Blinn on Vimeo.



Here's an orignal song I wrote- Enjoy!

10 September 2008

...WAIT a minute!!!!!







I was watching GMA this morning and Meg Ryan was being interviewed. I suddenly saw a striking resemblance to my "friend" Kojo, who I posted about earlier! What do you think, separated at birth?

09 September 2008

Oreos destroy the rainforest??

Maybe you might want to consider boycotting your double stuff indulgence. Check it out!

A new member of the Apple Family...

Steve jobs introduced the new iPod nano today. Of course it's cheaper, faster and cooler than all any other iPods that you JUST bought.

And the money keeps rolling in! See the article and read all about the bells and whistles HERE

Health Food Junkies

So, I've been researching health foods, and organic alternatives recently, and I thought this article was really interesting. Apparently, there's a new term called "Orthorexia," which describes someone who is obsessed with health food and de-toxing. The difference between anorexia and orthorexia is that an orthorexic KNOWS they're thin, but they're obsessed with making their body "pure."

Check out the article HERE, and share your thoughts!

08 September 2008

America's next CRAP model!

I used to love to watch America’s Next Top Model, and I somehow managed to avert my attention from Tyra Bank’s inability to speak a sentence without mentioning herself. However, Dan and I watched the premiere of the current season ( or “cycle,” as Tyra prefers. Why do they insist on calling it a CYCLE?) and we almost gouged out our eyeballs. Did anyone else watch?
The whole “sci-fi” theme was SO bad, and everything was so cheap looking! They were wearing plastic silver raincoats for crying out loud!
Besides the cheapness, and the overabundance of floor-to-ceiling Tyra pictures in the house, I am just so annoyed with that show! Basically, we watch it by fast-forwarding to the photo shoot, and then fast forwarding just to see how each model’s photo turned out. The whole show could be collapsed into about 11 minutes!
What do you guys think of America’s Next Top Model (or as I like to call it…Meal or No Meal! ) LOL

THIS scares the crap outta me!

Steven COJOKARU...ugh! Doesn't this guy give you the CREEPS? And how is HE a fashion authority on ANYTHING? He always looks terrible! Bad plastic surgery, bad hair, bad clothes...perfect fashion correspondant? What?

05 September 2008

Funny shirt


Wierd last name


In the Garden

Yesterday, I bought tickets for Celine Dion at Madison Square Garden! The concert was sold out for months, but they added an additional night, and I managed to get tickets for me and Dan Sept. 16th! I wanted to see her show in Vegas, and never did, so this is the next best thing (without the tackiness of the Vegas Strip... Score!) LOL

In the next few weeks, we're going to Celine, Alanis Morissette, Madonna, and Janet Jackson! Geez, when am I gonna be on tour?!

Rennet

Here's an additional posting to my blog below:

Annie's products contain no animal rennet, and although I'm sure that's a good thing, I had NO idea what it meant. So I turned to google to help me solve this mystery.

I found this article from the Whole Foods website, which explains what rennet is, and why it's controversial and in some opinions (including mine!) unethical.

Thoughts?

Annie's Homegrown

I've been reading alot about Annie's Homegrown organic food products; most recently in Shape magazine, they raved about Annie's whole wheat shells and cheddar. Basically, Mac & Cheese for health nuts.

I found this at my local grocery store for (gasp!) $3.49 a box! I figured, I can try it and if it's good, I'll find a way to buy it cheaper.

Good news: it IS good! Dan and I both enjoyed the taste, and we are excited to have found a way to eat "comfort food" that's actually whole wheat, whole grain, and organic! It was DELICIOUS!

So, I found out more about Annie's Homegrown products, their company values, and their philosophy on healthful organic food at their website .

Then, I went on Amazon.com (thanks to Cari-Jo's helpful comment on this blog a while ago) to do some grocery shopping. She was RIGHT! Free shipping for purchases over $50. I kind of went on a healthful organic food shopping spree!

Hope you guys enjoy Annie's as much as we do! Hey, did anyone ever try the Dr. Praeger sweet potato bites or broccoli bites? What did you think?

04 September 2008

Dear Republican Party...

I just can't help but notice, now that the shoe is on the other foot , you sure don't like it, do you? Now that little Bristol Palin is getting some scrutiny, all of sudden family members are off limits?! Where were you when Michelle Obama was getting torn apart by all you rabid Republican attack dogs?

I see, so viciously attacking Obama's wife, his Kenyan father, his Kansan mother, Hawaiian grandmother, Nairobian half-brother...all of that is absolutely fine...but don't dare hit back?

Website of the Day

I've decided to start saving more money. New York City is the most expensive city to live in the USA, and one of the most expensive in the WORLD, so I'm convinced that there have to be ways to cut back. Some of my recent "small changes" towards keeping more money in my pocket:

No more starbucks coffee- prices are higher in NYC, and a medium plain old coffee is still costing about $3.50! I'm drinking more water, or heading over to McDonalds for coffee.

Bank of America "keep the change"- all your purchases are rounded to the nearest dollar (easier to balance your checkbook!) and the money goes directly to your savings account.

Making meals at home vs. delivery or eating out (but I admit, we've cheated a lot this summer because using the oven makes our apartment SO hot!)

www.Restaurant.com- buy gift certificates CHEAP! You can buy $25 gift certificates for $10 (sometimes cheaper!) and print them out from your computer.

www.cellfire.com- delivers coupons to your cell phone. iPhone has an application just for this- download the application, go to the store, show them your cellphone with the coupon on it, and they type in the code from your cell to give you the discount.

So, this brings me to my website of the day: www.budgetbarbie.com It's a fun website with tons of articles and tips.

If you have any budget friendly ideas, or other ways to save me some moolah (besides moving OUT of New York!) leave your comments below!

03 September 2008

And Boom goes the Dynamite



This is woeful. I feel sorry for the kid.

I LOVE this!


Time for some COMMENTS!

Ok, it's reader feedback time! Answer the following question by submitting a comment below. (If you don't know how to leave a comment... click the "comment" button you see at the end of this post.)


"_________________" scares the crap out of me.

Prize for the most creative/funny/original comment!

A morning Poem for you

I woke early one morning,
The earth lay cool and still
When suddenly a tiny bird
Perched on my window sill,
He sang a song so lovely
So carefree and so gay,
That slowly all my troubles
Began to slip away.
He sang of far off places
Of laughter and of fun,
It seemed his very trilling,
brought up the morning sun.
I stirred beneath the covers
Crept slowly out of bed,
Then gently shut the window
And crushed his little head.

I'm not a morning person

Regrettable Tattoo of the Day

Dear Ignoramus:

Spell check would have saved you a lifetime of regret. "To funny for words."

02 September 2008

50 Easy ways to cut 100 calories!

Beverages
1. Split a 20 oz. bottle of regular soda with a friend. Save 120 calories!
2. Drink 1 cup of diet soda instead of 1 cup of regular soda. Save 97 calories!
3. Swap a 12-oz. glass of whole milk for skim milk. Save 96 calories!
4. Drink two 12-oz. light beers this weekend instead of two regular beers. Save 100 calories!
5. Instead of 1 cup of prepared lemonade, try 1 cup of a sugar free variety. Save 103 calories!
6. Eat a medium orange instead of drinking 12 oz. of fresh orange juice. Save 106 calories!
7. Prepare your coffee with 4 oz. of fat-free half and half instead of regular half and half. Save 88 calories!
8. Enjoy 5 oz. of chocolate milk instead of 5 oz. of a chocolate milkshake Save 110 calories! Breakfast
9. Spread your whole grain waffles with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup instead of 1 tablespoon of margarine or butter. Save 110 calories!
10. Top your whole grain bagel with 1.5 oz of fat-free cream cheese in lieu of regular. Save 108 calories!
11. Try 1 oz. of maple turkey bacon instead of maple (pork) bacon. Save 118 calories!
12. Ditch the glazed donut and eat a bagel instead. Save 93 calories!
13. Eat 3/4 cup oatmeal instead of a 1-1/2 cups of oatmeal. Save 97 calories!
14. Substitute 3 oz. of turkey sausage for a serving of pork sausage. Save 120 calories!
15. Grab a small bagel instead of a medium bagel. Save 99 calories! Snacks and Sides
16. Dip 1 cup celery into your favorite salsa or hummus instead of 1 oz. of tortilla chips. Save 125 calories!
17. Eat an entire medium apple instead of a small (5 oz.) candy apple. Save 118 calories!
18. Snack on 1 oz. of baked potato chips instead of regular chips. Save 90 calories!
19. Better yet, eat 2 oz. pretzels instead of the same size portion of potato chips. Save 94 calories!
20. Bake 2 oz of oven fries in lieu of 2 oz. of fast food fries. Save 88 calories!
21. Forgo a 6-oz portion of potato chips and nosh on 6 oz. of tortilla chips instead. Save 96 calories!
22. Say no to 1 oz of deep-fried onion rings and instead enjoy 1 oz. of grilled onions with your meal. Save 92 calories!
23. Try 1.5 oz. of fresh grapes instead of 1.5 oz. of raisins. Save 98 calories!
24. Enjoy a healthy 8-oz. baked potato instead of 8 oz. of French fries. Save 104 calories!
25. Choose 3 oz. of mozzarella cheese for your sandwich instead of Swiss cheese. Save 108 calories!
26. Swap 1 cup of canned pineapple in heavy syrup for crushed pineapple in water. Save 119 calories! Lunch and Dinner
27. Cut a 6 oz. steak in half and take the other portion home for another meal. Save 111 calories!
28. Order a skinless chicken breast instead of chicken with skin. Save 102 calories!
29. Substitute a fat-free beef hot dog for a regular beef hot dog. Save 104 calories!
30. Build a sandwich with1.5 oz. of deli turkey breast instead of an equivalent of hard salami. Save 119 calories!
31. Instead of 6 oz. of crispy fried chicken with skin, eat 6 oz. baked chicken with skin. Save 102 calories!
32. Choose a slice of thin crust pizza over thick crust pizza. Save 106 calories!
33. Add vegetable toppings to your pizza order and say no to pepperoni. Save 100 calories!
34. Forget broccoli cheddar soup. A 7-oz portion of vegetable soup is better. Save 119 calories!
35. Enjoy 12 oz of steamed rice (choose brown rice when possible) as an alternative to fried rice. Save 96 calories!
36. Unwrap your 13-inch tortilla wrap and make a sandwich on a 3-oz. whole grain bagel instead. Save 96 calories!
37. Eat only half of your hamburger or sandwich bun. Save 100 calories! Condiments and Sauces
38. Dip your salad in a side of ranch dressing (2 tsp.) instead of pouring 2 Tbsp of dressing on the salad. Save 97 calories!
39. Skip the 5 oz. of Alfredo sauce and eat a whopping 7 oz. of marinara sauce. Save 129 calories!
40. Add flavor to vegetables with 3 oz. of hot sauce—not 1 oz of bleu cheese dressing. Save 117 calories!
41. Top your salad with 1.5 oz. reduced-fat Italian dressing instead of regular. Save 96 calories!
42. Try either cheese or croutons on your salad—not both Save 72-116 calories!
43. Instead of 3 oz. of regular sour cream, use a fat-free variety. Save 120 calories!
44. Use 2 Tbsp reduced-fat light mayonnaise instead of regular mayonnaise. Save 102 calories! Sweets and Desserts
45. Serve ice cream in a dish instead of a waffle cone. Save 121 calories!
46. Try a healthier peanut granola bar instead of a peanut candy bar. Save 94 calories!
47. Finish dinner with 1 cup of low-fat frozen yogurt instead of regular ice cream. Save 121 calories!
48. Substitute 5 oz. of apple pie, with 5 oz. of baked apple crisp. Save 85 calories!
49. Instead of 4 oz. of regular chocolate pudding, enjoy a sugar-free portion. Save 92 calories!
50. Leave that 1/2 cup of strawberry ice cream in the freezer. Enjoy 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries topped with 2 Tbsp of fat-free whipped cream as an alternative. Save 102 calories!

Relax!

I think the term “labor day” should actually be used for the day AFTER labor day, because you’re back to laboring! The holiday should be “un-labor” or how about “de-labor” day?

We got really spoiled being lazy and sleeping in over this long weekend, and that made it really hard to wake up this morning. On Friday, our friends Davinia and Ken came into the city with their baby, KJ. We walked around the Upper West side, ate lunch at Chipotle, and had dessert from Magnolia bakery. They left around 3:30, and later that evening, I met Dan and our friend Seth on 40th and 5th at a restaurant called Salmon River. We ate and stayed out together, and then walked by Bryant Park to see the fashion tents going up for fashion week next week.

Saturday was a lazy day with the dogs- we watched CSI and Cold Case all afternoon. Prince and Romeo were passed out and stretched across us. They love weekends too!

Saturday night, we met up with our friends Ben and Natalie and got Thai food at a place in the west village called Planet Thai 212. It was delicious! We out with them after to Black Door, and caught a cab home around 3am. Sunday was spent shopping for a Wii for the Diesel kids store (we eventually had to go to the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Center to find them in stock!)

On Monday, we celebrated Labor day with a picnic in the park. The dogs were so happy to be able to run around off their leashes and play in the grass. We saw a movie: Death Race, in the afternoon. Dan picked this flick, and I had my doubts, but he argued that he always goes to see my dumb comedy movies so it’s my turn. The movie is about prisoners who race cars that have machine guns and armor and the driver who survives 5 races gets out of jail. I was surprised to find that the movie was actually pretty good! Very testosterone driven and gory, but still- not bad!

After the movie, we went to Ruby Foo’s for Chinese food and then took another walk with the dogs. It was a totally relaxing, laid-back weekend in our wonderful big city!
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