Excellent tips to prevent lost luggage

Even though I think I know it all, I actually learned a lot from this article!

Read all about how to have your bags arrive at your destination at the same time as YOU do by clicking HERE

Become fluent in "Women's English"

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the football before helping around the house.

3. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

4. A Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer quickly to No 9 for the meaning of nothing.)

5. That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

6. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot', which is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' - that will bring on No. 7).

7. Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying, "Screw you!"

8. Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to No. 4.

9. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in "Fine".

Little Lady...Big Art!

On Saturday, our beautiful painting was delivered- we are so delighted with the result! We contacted artist Victoriya Blackhall, from right here in the NYC area to do this piece for us, and sent her a photograph.

Victoriya's art struck us from the very first time we viewed her portfolio, and we were thrilled that she agreed to take on this project! Her style is so emotional and there's a beautiful strength and passion that's visible in her work.

The result was even more than we could have dreamed! This is the only piece of art in our apartment, and I think it makes an incredible impact. from up close, it looks more abstract, and as you move farther back from the painting, the image comes into full view.

Click on the picture to enlarge


I love Dan's nose ring! :)

Signed and dated on the side as an original piece: "1 of 1" LOVE that!

I'm sure you're all dying to see more, so please check out her portfolio and some absolutely beautiful pieces of her art HERE.

Since she's a new reader of this blog, I want to give a huge THANK YOU, to you, Victoriya! We absolutely LOVE it!

Good point!

Add this to the list of the reasons why I LOVE CONAN!

Perfect Strangers Re-make

One of my favourite shows from the 80's is PERFECT STRANGERS! Remember Balki? Ha ha ha Oh man, that's why I love this YouTube clip SO much! Two guys went and re-made the intro to Perfect Strangers, but they used their hometown of Seattle. LOVE this!

Thermal Scans

Check out the difference: side by side a 250lb woman and a 120 lb woman's thermal imaging scans.

Makes me think: is there really such a thing as "big-boned?"

check it out

Cool paper art

If children's drawings were brought to life

CLICK here for more- I love this! What a cute idea!

Dr.Seuss must get his ideas here

Seriously, the most alien-looking place on earth. Wow!

The island of SOCOTRA, in Yemen. Check out the pictures

Oh I SO WANT!

Donate to help victims in Haiti

The devastation of yesterday's earthquake in Haiti is absolutely tragic. Please, take the time to donate to the Red Cross International Response fund. You can text "HAITI" to 90999 and $10 will be charged to your mobile bill, and your donation will go directly to the Red Cross.

For more information, and how to help, please click on THIS LINK

Thoughts and prayers are not enough- we all need to take ACTION! We are so blessed beyond measure and $10 is SO little for us. Brown bag your lunch tomorrow and GIVE today!

ha ha

For you craftsters

I love this website with all of these gentle and delicate vintage French home items. I really think the mobiles are SO fresh and cute! Just thought I'd share it for the moms out there who might want to get inspired and make one of their own!

Chinatown WIN!

I needed my hair done in the worst way (see my grey gardens post below!) and I still have not found a stylist in NYC. I've been to a few different salons, each recommended by friends, but I'm never happy with the results (or the cost!). The last time I had PARTIAL highlights and a 1 inch trim and the bill ended up being $380 PLUS TIP!!! I was so angry about it I decided it was worth driving back to Philly to go see MY hair guy for the past 4 yrs, Ennio; the owner of ENNIO SALON. He is simply amazing and SO affordable.

So, I called Ennio: BOOKED. Nothing available until the end of the month. And as you all could see, this grey hair could NOT be ignored for another month!!

I did some research and heard whisperings about this little hair salon in a back alley in Chinatown. I called and made an appointment to check it out. Hey, worse case scenario I figured I'd just cover my grey roots until I can get in with my own guy.

This place is so deep in the heart of Chinatown that I called upon my trusty iPhone MANY times to keep checking the maps. I finally found it: 12A Pell St, Chinatown Beauty & Styling House.







I got seated right away, pointed at a swatch book to show what I wanted, and then read my book as the non-English speaking stylist went at it with my mop of hair. She did a base color to fill my white and grey roots, then did a full set if highlights. Her technique was so precise and she worked fast but very professionally. No chit chat, which is great, because I really prefer just relaxing while I have my hair done.

After taking the foils out, she gave me the best rinse and shampoo. EVER! She massaged my scalp and neck for what seemed like 20 minutes! I almost fell asleep! Wow!

To blow dry/straighten, two ladies worked on my hair simultaneously. They flat ironed and the. Trimmed about an inch off the bottom, she even cut in some pieces to take the bulk down. Awesome job, and what was my total? $120! Sweet!

Here's the finished look!









-- Posted From My iPhone

Will someone please knit this for me?!!!!

I LOVE Super Mario Brothers! We just got the new Mario Bros for Wii at Christmas, and it brought back so many memories! We went out and bought 2 more controllers so that me, Dan, and Cory could all play together! It's amazing!

So, behold- the most awesomist sweater vest EVER! I'm in lurve!

Check it out HERE!

Cardboard Wookie Costume

I give him an "E" for EFFORT!

'Cause these are AWESOME!

Make your own snowglobes at home! Check out the article HERE

And now you know

click to enlarge

Grey Gardens

I think it's time to go back to blonde- this red hair is not doing good things for my roots! I'd like to offiially announce to the world that at 28, my natural color is GREY&WHITE!! Haha can you believe it? I didn't notice as much until I had my hair dyed red! When it's blonde, the white hairs just look like platinum highlights!

I'm OLD!!!


-- Posted From My iPhone

'Twas the MONTH AFTER Christmas

'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd not said, "No, thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt---
I said to myself, as I only can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
"Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore---
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

-thanks to my Aunt Becky for this one! ha ha ha!