Today's adventure!

So today.

We tried to go to The View.

We ( my best neighborhood friends, EVER- and I) had tickets. 

However, we were not willing to get to the studio and wait on line at the crack of dawn. We did leave at 7:30 am though. 

Unfortunately the Lincoln tunnel was closed all morning due to a tractor trailer accident and that made for tons of traffic at the bridge, which caused us to be delayed.

We rushed to get on line only to find, after 45 minutes of waiting in the cold that we were the cut-off and we would not be getting in. :(

The good news was that we now have VIP tickets. :)

Next time? No line. Good seats. We get to pick the show.

And then?

We had a day to spend in NYC.

Where to go first? So many possibilities...

We heard from the coffee guy parked in front of The View that  the MARTHA STEWART show had a second taping in the afternoon and that we could probably go standby...

We were off!

We jumped in a cab and headed downtown.

We were especially excited because we saw folks from the first taping leaving the studio with bags of swag. Martha was giving gifts today!

Except after much time on another line...  we didn't get in. :(

But that was OK...

Because we did a lot of fun things before and in between!

Before our wait at MARTHA STEWART, Coffee and sweets at :

 Then after  we headed over here for lunch:

Then after lunch we walked over to Union Square to the Holiday Market:

It was great! I have plans to go back and I think it will be at dusk. Isn't it beautiful then?

Sorry I haven't any pictures of our group. We were having too much fun :)

Your ski stuff? 4 boys scout bag!

This is the bag you need!  $45

 It is jumbo and perfect for all the ancillary items, helmets, gaiters, gloves, socks- all the extras!

 We call this bag our "car luggage."

And when we get to where we are going? It folds flat and fits under the bed. No tripping over suitcases and bins.
Did I mention that they are water resistant and that you can throw all the muddy, dirty gear in the bag for the trip home?
Why?/How?
Because they can be hosed out or wiped down-easily cleaned :)

The scout pocket rocket-perfect for platform tennis/paddle

With multi pockets and zippered closure on top, this bag is the right one to tote all your paddle "stuff!"

$38

The bag is water resistant so if it starts snowing or raining while you are on the court?

No worries!

                                                                           $38

$38

And the inside zippered pocket- perfect for cell phone, cash, and sunglasses?
Keeps you from digging thru all that paddle"stuff" to find what you need!

EVERYDAY IM SHUFFILIN

How come I cannot get this song out of my head?

BECAUSE during my busy season, now?

EVERYDAY IM SHUFFILIN!

New pillows, in this week!

Love these and the dozens more I have coming in!

All hand hooked wool, amazing quality-out of Manchester, Vt.

kung fu fighting - it seems I am the last one to see this...

The commercial filmed in our kitchen is on!

Happy Halloween?

Just last week I was working at Rice's market, the leaves were just turning, and it was 70 degrees out...

Today. October 29th.

The leaves are turning, turning white. Crazy weather.

So, the fire is on...

No creatures stirring, not even my mouse!

Yes, it looks like afternoon naps and and an early evening movie- popcorn and cocoa are on our agenda today.

Happy Halloween!

beach flash mob fun

blogger? am I here?

***

Thanks kids! signed up for a you tube account and accidently put my birth year as 2011.
Blogger/google shut everything down, including my BLOG as I was now considered a minor! Cost me .30 on my credit card and a few hours to undo it!
xoxo

Privacy? Shhh...

Do you have someone in your life that just has to "share?"
That tends to over "share?"
That doesn't have the word discretion in his or her vocabulary?

I do.
Everyone knows this person's business. They let folks  know when the daughter got her period, what the son's grades are, what is wrong or right about their sex life, about the family's finances, the trials and tribulations of their extended family, their troubles, and their successes.
And that's their choice. If they want their family's life to be an open book that is their business.

But here is my problem and you tell me what you think.

This person also talks about my family even though I do not share anything with her. I  have mutual friends expressing their concern that my daughter doesn't have a job yet and asking why she wouldn't take the job that offered $25,000 "because you have to start somewhere!"

I had to listen to another person sympathise with me about the "horrible childhood" our family had and other unsavory things about my parents. News to me.

There are tons of other stories with a similar theme. Recently I bumped into a friendly acquaintance at dinner out with friends, as we stood there catching up she mentioned that she heard that the "over-sharer " and I aren't getting along.

 I didn't want to bad mouth this person or tell the gazillion reasons I am keeping my distance from my "over-sharer."
Yet, I almost felt obligated to defend myself or say something derogatory to explain the distance between us. Or to explain the why a lot of people, not just me have issues with the "over-sharer."
So, I just smiled and said, " you know how it is..."

And that is the hard part for me. I am loyal. I am private. I don't want to bad mouth or gossip about someone close to me, especially someone in my family! And I really don't want to talk to people outside my family about private family matters.
And even though the" over-sharer" doesn't have that same discretion?
I wish she would when it concerned me and my family.

And by the way, your comments are not public. Feel free to share. No one else can read them but me.
In fact, I recently found out that the over-sharer reads my blog and I definitely do not post anything personal these days as I cannot trust that it wont be a topic of conversation with a different spin.
Thought of making this blog private so that I could write the way I want...
Might still.

They are rolling in!

My merchandise for all my holiday sales is starting to come in and now that the air is crisp and colder-

 it doesn't seem so silly to sell holiday pillows...

gloves

or scarves!

I may have the blues...

This color blue may be the solution I am looking for...

these walls.

Ultimate monogram!

I gotta have these!

My first thought was...

Does she have teenagers?


The headline was " Woman Ages 50 Years in Just a Few Days"

But no.  Apparently the 26 year-old woman was having problems with allergies and took medication to ease her symptoms for a month.
According to the article,
"Many doctors believe that Phuong has lipodystrophy, which is a rare condition that causes a layer of fatty tissue beneath the surface of the skin to disintegrate while the skin itself continues to grow at an accelerated pace."
This could have happened from the medication and specialists are now studying her and her condition to work on restoring her appearance.


I hope they are able to help her AND I hope they can use their findings to help those of us that have "middle age allergies!"

Paint panic!

HATE the color of this room.
My fault. I chose it.
The new carpeting came in, love it. But now hate the paint color even more!
If that is even possible.

This is what it was. Loved it with the other carpeting.
Now, I don't think it would work as well.

This blue might be a contender as the new color or perhaps...
A chocolate brown?
What do you recommend?

This will do.

I am thinking all green for next year

 And the galvanized, grey metal pot the ferns are in?
saw one at Rice's market in New Hope, Pa last week!

This fountain may join us in the near future.

I am obsessed...

Inside

and
out.

I want this!

Yes. I want this look.
My question?
How long does boxwood last in a pot?
Because this image is from an inn in France, I'm sure the shrubs in those pots are something cool like Lavender...

We were ready for our close-up! (* NHRHS alert!)

Remember a few months back when I decided I needed bank to finish off my kitchen project?
That we signed with a film location scout and hoped to rent out our house for film shoots or commercials?
See HERE
*see bottom for NHRHS alert!
Well,
WE GOT A JOB!!!!
Last Friday they filmed a Cuisinart commercial at our house for this product:

Here are some images of what went on,

 The white van was craft services, also known as the food truck! It was awesome going out to my curb anytime I wanted a cup of coffee or for something to eat all day. In fact, my fourteen-year-old would have liked that truck to be permanent.

 The crew was very organized. There were signs everywhere. Every surface was covered with cardboard or plastic to protect our home from any damage as there were over 60 people in and out of our house all day!

Our bedroom was transformed into the hair and make-up room.

 This is looking thru the living room into the dining room and onto the kitchen.

Our den was the editing room.

Our driveway appeared to be mission control...

This is the same shot from far away.

*NHRHS
Northern Highlands alumni, recognize this girl?
She was the stylist/set designer on this job.
 I walked into my kitchen I couldn't believe she was there as I hadn't seen her in about 35 years!!!
It was Ann Armstrong!!!
It was so good to see her. She looked as pretty as ever with the same great personality.

Needless to say, the whole experience was awesome. The crew left my house better than they found it, we made a nice sum of money, the client gave us a beautiful, new, Cuisinart coffee maker
AND
I was able to reconnect with an old friend.
Cant beat that!