Costume for Romeo

He's a little NYPD cop! You have the right to remain ADORABLE!


-- Post From My iPhone

Good one!

-- Post From My iPhone

Ice Ice Baby

The rink at rockefeller center is up! And the bryant park rink is opening this weekend! Christmas is coming!




-- Post From My iPhone

2011 is here!

Stylish and affordable; nothing says "look, I'm a tourist!" like these glitter 2011 glasses




-- Post From My iPhone

Why I'm taking a break from Facebook

“Dear Facebook,

It’s not me, it’s you. I think we need to spend some time apart.”

I decided to take a break from Facebook. How long? I don’t know. Forever? Probably not. But I realized recently that Facebook has been making me unhappy.

First, because so many of the status updates in my news feed seem to be complaints. Problems, grievances, and “oh my life is so terrible” petty things. I make an effort to have very comedic, light-hearted, jovial status updates, because that’s what I would like to see when I log on to Facebook. Not be negged out with all kinds of pessimism.

Second, I think it’s compromising my efforts to actually communicate and reach out to my close friends. No need to call someone and ask how their day was, when you can see everything about it on Facebook. Right down to what they had for breakfast. I remember the days when friends would get together for coffee, send an email (not a FORWARD, an actual EMAIL!) and even go so far as to pick up the PHONE (God forbid!) to call someone and say a quick “hello.” I hope that by giving up Facebook for a while, I’ll actually be a better friend.

And third, I am tired of feeling like life is a competition. I’m finding that what Facebook is really great for, is BRAGGING, and that’s been a really difficult thing for me to deal with. I’m not a jealous person, but I find that seeing people posting about their new cars, vacations, babies, and ginormous houses causes me to start comparing my life to others. And I’m guilty of it too- it’s hard not to post exciting news about your latest accomplishments. Maybe I’m just being sensitive, and I should be able to applaud someone rather than covet what they have, but regardless, I just need a time-out from this hamster wheel.

I should be clear that it's no ONE person that made me feel this way, and I am not upset with anyone. I just want to surround myself with positivity and connect deeply with my closest friends. I want my life to be rich with memories, laughter, and celebrations, and I want to explore innovative ideas with people, not hear them complain about how long the line is at Starbucks this morning. And I’m tired of feeling like people only want to be my “friend” on Facebook so that they can cyber-stalk my profile and find out if what I have is better than them or vice versa. If you want to know about my life, then talk to me; don’t log on to Facebook to find out how I am doing.

I think Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, when she said,

“GREAT minds discuss ideas; AVERAGE minds discuss events; SMALL minds discuss people.”

Instead of using Facebook for gossip and undercover stalking, how about we start using it to enrich our lives, not detract from our happiness? How about status updates of gratitude, not complaints about poopy diapers? What if we left a message of encouragement or a comment to make someone laugh on their profile wall instead of just shadowing someone’s pictures from the weekend and clicking through in anonymity.

So for now, no more Facebook. Maybe the answer is some more “pruning” to my friend list? In any case, I’m going to focus on what matters to me in my life, and what makes me happy, instead of staring brain-dead at a screen. I deserve to live an enriched life, and I need to cut out the negativity and negative people so that I can thrive as my authentic self. 

Presidential Prank of the Day

Nice one, Mr. President! :)

Inspiring Quotes

Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.  - Leroy Satchel Paige

If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. – Mary Engelbreit

Valid argument here

Like a Giant Hershey's Kiss

This NESTREST is a great idea for functional, modern furniture! Wouldn't you love to have one? See more by visiting THIS LINK.

Getting Serious on ya for a sec- worth reading!

The Awakening


A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out...ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on.
Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon. You realize that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.


You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself... and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you - or didn't do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn't always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties... and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people... and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything isn't always somebody's fault. It's just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

-Author Unknown

Prince

-- Post From My iPhone

The truth behind re-touched photos

Fascinating! check out THESE PHOTOS showing before and after re-touching of models. huh, makes you think, eh?

Genius

I love it when the simplest ideas are the most ingenious discoveries! Take these mittens, for example.

...and hide yo husband

Not as advertised

I made these Halloween cookies last night; can't say that the box diagram is actually a good representation.

Pas fort.


-- Post From My iPhone

The colours of the Rainbow

I had a routine physical and had a blood sample taken from my right arm. Look at the mess the Dr. made of my arm!!

Here's day 1:







Here's later that evening:








And here is the bruise today!








Everyone keeps asking what the hell happened to my arm and when I tell them it's from a DOCTOR, they can't believe it! I mean, I know I bruise easily but this is RIDICULOUS!



Update: here's day 5




-- Post From My iPhone

Down on the Farm

My husband and I visited his parents this past weekend in Pennsylvania. It's a little known fact that he grew up on a dairy farm (yes, it's true!) My in-laws still live in the big victorian farmhouse and raise a few calves just for fun.

I've never seen a cow up close like this before, and I had never touched one. My father in law gave us pears to feed them. They liked Dan, despite his leather jacket! Haha

I don't know if I can ever eat beef again! I didn't realize they were such gentle and peaceful animals. And so cute! Those eyes with those long eyelashes were just looking right at me asking, "how could you EAT me when I'm so nice to you?!"

Dan said not to get too attached- likely the next time we go visit, his mom will have a nice big roast... Of one of my little friends! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!






















-- Post From My iPhone

Now we don't hate her so much

The Daily Mail has a photo of Jennifer Lopez with a less than flattering view of some extra jiggly thighs. Now we can all hate her a little less, right, ladies?

PS, what is with those extensions? Terrible! Kudos on the heels, though- they're killer!

iPhone 4

My iPhone 4 crapped out on me yesterday- since Saturday, it's been saying "No SIM CARD" or "Invalid SIM Card" and just overall getting really angry at me for trying to use him. I got a new SIM card from AT&T, thinking that might work, and it did...for about an hour. So, last night, I headed to the 5th Avenue Apple Store (which I dread, because it's SO full of tourists all the time!) Thankfully, they were really helpful and recognized it as a defect in the phone (apparently there's been lots of other people who this has happened to.) They replaced it with a brand new iPhone 4 for absolutely ZERO dollars. Nice!

Just a thought

There is no graceful way to dismount from a gynecologist table. Pulling your feet out of the stirrups, while trying to hold your paper gown together, and all the while ripping the white paper that covers the table into shreds is no one's most glamourous moment.

Cowboy!

Prince and Romeo have Halloween costumes (yes, we are THOSE people!) Prince is a cowboy, and Romeo is a cop. (Romeo also doesn't like the paparazzi and refused a photo. )





-- Post From My iPhone

What's really in your food?

Salami


"Salami, the mystery meat: Is it cow? Is it pig? Well, if you're talking about Genoa salami, like you'd get at Subway, then it's both. Most mass-produced salami is made form slaughterhouse leftovers that are gathered using "advanced meat recovery," which sounds like a rehab center for vegans but is actually a mechanical process that strips the last remaining bit of muscle off the bone so nothing is wasted. It's then processed using lactic acid, the waste product produced by bacteria in the meat. It both gives the salami its tangy flavor and cures it as well, making it an inhospitable place for other bacteria to grow. Add in a bunch of salt and spices—for a total of 15 ingredients in all—and you've got a salami."




Or How about a Fast Food Hamburger? Curious what's REALLY in that? Read on...


"It comes from a cow, yes, but before being stuffed in the bun of a Whopper or Big Mac, fast-food hamburger patties pass through the hands of a company called Beef Products. Beef Products specializes in taking slaughterhouse trimmings traditionally used only in pet food and cooking oil and turning them into patties. The challange is getting this by-product meat clean enough for human consumption, as both E. coli and salmonella like to concentrate themselves in the fatty deposits. So how does Beef Products go about "cleaning" the meat? With an approach similar to what you might use in your bathroom—by using ammonia.

See, the company has developed a process for killing beef-based pathogens by forcing the ground meat through pipes and exposing it to ammonia gas. And not only has the USDA approved the process, but they've also allowed those who sell the beef to keep it hidden from their customers. At Beef Products' behest, ammonia gas has been deemed a "processing agent" that need not be identified on nutrition labels. Nevermind that if ammonia gets on your skin, it can cause severe burning, and if it gets in your eyes, it can blind you. As an ingredient in one of the foods we consume most, our government doesn't even deem it important enough to inform eaters of its presence.

Add to the gross-out factor the fact that after moving through this lengthy industrial process, a single beef patty can consist of cobbled-together pieces from different cows all over the world—a practice that only increases the odds of E. coli contamination. So if you're set on the challange of eating fresh, single-source hamburger, pick out a nice hunk of sirloin from the meat case and have your butcher grind it up fresh. Hold the ammonia."


-from Eat this Not That, "What's really in your Food"

Seriously. Boston Pie Cupcakes. Seriously

Must be time for lunch...I'm HUNGRY, and all my posts are about food!

But this one's good... oh, yeah, baby...BOSTON CREAM CUPCAKES!

Blow up Dan

Dan was in LA during his birthday, but we still found a way to take him out for a night on the town!




















-- Post From My iPhone

NOT eating out in New York

We've had a busy couple of weeks here at Little Lady's NYC apartment! My family was in from Montreal and immediately after that, we had guests from Toronto! Needless to say, with all the hosting and touring around this lovely town, we are feeling kind of sick of eating all the junk food and rich restaurant food. That's why I'm pleased to present to you today, NOT Eating In New York, a blog dedicated to home cooking even when you're living in a tiny Manhattan apartment. Follow THIS LINK for a delicious vegetarian fall recipe for White Bean and Brassica Ragout with Creamed Potatoes. Mmmm... it's a wonderful blog. Bon Apetit!

Another good one for ya

Today's Blog 'O The Day has to be STUFF FUNDIES LIKE. If you grew up in a conservative Christian church, then you've got to check this one out.

"Whoooooo...Testify!"

Girl can SANG!

Check out my website for performances, videos, and MORE! Did you know I was a singer? Oh, well I AM!

CLICK HERE

(Oh, and tell your friends!)

Worth Re-visiting

I think this post is worth re-visiting today. Hope someone else out there finds truth in it as I do.

Family in Town

Pancake Dad

In keeping with the "awesome parents who make us all look bad" theme for today, check out Jim's Pancakes. Jim cooks pancakes for his little girl. And these are no ordinary pancakes- he makes dinosaurs, dolls, and carousels...all out of pancake batter!

Read it all HERE!

Inspiring!

I've literally just spent about an hour on this one blog: Kristin & Kayla. Their dad is a photographer and his two beautiful daughters are his favorite models. Check it out HERE (you won't regret it!)

Friday's laugh!

It's Bohemian Rhapsody...with SLIDE whistles! Would I lead you astray? No, of course not...so WATCH!

Wanna know what fast food chicken looks like?

Read this article.  to find out more about how your chicken nuggets and patties are made. And then vow to never eat it or give it to your kids again. So gross.