New York New York here I come!!!! So, I've been dropping some LESS-THAN subtle hints about wanting to go see "The Nutcracker" this winter.. not quite sure where my urge came from, but I know that mom and dad took me once or twice when I was little and I just wanted to visit those memories again, I guess!

So, I had been looking online for when it is in Philly and it kept booking up and booking up. We already have a pretty busy December, so I wasn't really sure when we were going to be able to go. Well last weekend the mail came and I always separate it. Well I guess someone had gotten some tickets from the New York City Ballet as a surprise, BUT the NYCB was also less-than subtle with their largely marked envelope. I didn't think much of it.. ok well a little... but figured if he wanted me to know he would tell me! So yesterday he gave me the tickets and we are going up to NYC right before Christmas for an afternoon matinée!!!

UMM HOW ROMANTIC IS THAT??!?!?!?

Start the Day off Right!

"Hubby" had to be at work extra early so I got up for the send off and decided to head on off to morning spin! The instructor did a Halloween tribute with some random Halloween songs mixed in. One of my favorites was the "Ghostbusters" where he had everyone doing a little call and answer! The song would go "Who ya gonna call??!?!" and then, while climbing up our level 8-9 hill, would shout GHOSTBUSTERS! It was just really cool to see a bunch of adults having some silly fun over a "child-like celebration"... at 6am nonetheless! Love it!!!

Say.... WHAT?

"Hi DAD!! How are you?"

- "HI! Who's this?"

"It's Kirah.. YOUR DAUGHTER!"

- "Hold on please let me go turn down the music. Ok, hello?"

"Hi Dad, it' s Kirah, your daughter"

- "OHHH.. HI Honey!"

Gotta love him!

Morning Fav

Food/Drink: Oregon Chai: Vanilla Chai Tea

This is one of my go-to-fav's once the weather gets a little cooler. I do love my coffee, but you can only have so many cups a day. PLUS, I love vanilla chai tea latte's and Starbuck's tends to be a little too spicy for my liking.

I like how I can mix this "concentrate" with either milk or water depending on how I am feeling! It definitely has a MAJOR sweet factor to it, but you don't need a lot to make you warm and fuzzy!

You Never Know

OK I know I SHOULD know better, BUT better safe than sorry, right?

I was going through my SPAM emails, just in case, and found some things that didn't belong. And then I came across 2 emails from the FBI! Now... I do get those emails from Nigeria, etc. for people asking for money to help out that I know are not real and this seemed like it was combating against it! The email basically said that there was A LOT of money sitting in a bank in my name and I was going to be charged... didn't seem likely, BUT I have heard a lot of crazy, bad stuff about identity theft and I have lost more than one license back in the day!

So, just in case I decided to call the FBI myself.. clearly a good idea.. 1/2 way through holding I panicked and how ridiculous, whatever I was going to say, was going to sound!! But I stayed on the line and not even 2 sentences later the FBI operator interrupts me and is like Ma'am, Ma'am.... it's a scam... wait for the next message.... haha am I gullible or what?!?

Good Luck Phillies

Cliff Lee's big start tonight!!!!!!!!!! 3 up; 3 down Mr. Lee Please!!!!!

Can you believe all the HOOP LA going on with the Phils and Yanks? Did you see the New York Post with a pic of Shane Victorino in a skirt?!?

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091027_N_Y__Post_mocks_Phillies_as_Frillies.html

I'm so excited for the series... well not necessarily the baseball, but I hope that NYC fans really pissed off those Phillies so they go out fighting hard... rain or shine!! We obviously know it ticked off the Philly fans... everyone thinks we're stupid and ugly thanks to those annual polls people put out... but then the news just fuels the fire by putting DUMB and OUT OF CONTROL fans on the news- like umm hello no wonder we have the rep!

I hope everyone stays safe, but I do have to say that NY and Philly fans are both passionate and will do what it takes to cheer on their teams.. plus both teams have great athletes- so it should be good to see... PLUS.. if you are going to the game PLEASE look for Kate Hudson (although I am not feeling her as much now that she is with A-Rod.. nothing personal to him, I just think it's weird).

PS- be on the look out if you are headed down to the game, because apparently SEPTA is in the middle of negotiation talks for more moola- smart cookies... they know that Philly can't say know with the game coming up here this weekend... how will people get to the games? will that promote more drunk driving? will people not be able to go? So, we will see, I'll keep ya posted!!!

Morning Fav

Entertainment: Moving Up

So I am definitely NOT a TLC fan and for some reason I secretly (well not anymore) really dislike that channel, no clue why I just do! But a few weeks ago when I was down in North Carolina visiting a friend that had on this show "Moving Up" that I totally got sucked in to.. one episode turned into two and two into three. I found myself watching an episode this week as I made my grocery list, party planner, and rearranged some furniture, and it is so good!

So it is still a home improvement and 'before and after' show, but involves 3 different couples! So basically they show you each house before people move in and renovations begin. Couple 1 moves out and into Couple 2's humble abode and Couple 2 moves out and into Couple 3's pad and then who cares what Couple 3's new place looks like.. right? haha JK!

And it's cool because the 'before' the the old owners say that they will just 'die' if 'this or that' is changed and then the new people come in and are like 'this is SO tacky.. were they serious?" and then the old owners get to come back and walk through the house and give their opinions of what the new owners did... ALL THE WHILE.. the new owners watch them on a DVD so they can see what they said.... some people get SO defenseless and are ruthless, haha LOVE IT!

And the host is sort of a creeper too so that's fun!

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/moving-up/moving-up.html

Ever wonder what happens to your house after your move out?!? Well I definitely have... talk about a SUPER STALKER!!! I LOVE driving by, on occasion, good 'ole Drakes Drum Drive and seeing the old hood, brings back memories of when I was really young. Great Springs Rd is another hand... that is the house I grew up in, my baby!!! And after we moved out (the year I went to college... when I came home for fall break, my parents were in Spain and I had to fine my 'new home' and it was the PITS... nothing was the same and it just wasn't 'my home').

So, the first few years were hard I will admit, but at least the house was the same... I guess we sold it to some basketball player? I would definitely do drive bys on the cul-de-sac, but since the driveway was so long you couldn't see much... so then it required me driving up to Harriton House and looking at the back yard. In between owners I even made my friend and 'hubby' go back and try to see this like thousand pound statue and thought it would fit in the back of her wrangler... guess 'hubby' wasn't strong enough haha!!

The new owners completely tore down the house and built some monstrosity that got rid of the indoor pool, moved the outdoor pool to the complete other side.. sort of like.. oh I'll just move a pool- no big deal! Then the house basically totally got rid of the hill and one of the rooms is even over top of the pond- which they put a HUGE fountain in the middle of that lights up- WHAT?!?! I will admit they did spruce up the tennis courts- why we never took more advantage of it- like why did my parents NOT make me play more tennis (could have been a level 4.5 by now and not a meesely 2.5, thanks MOM!)... although I did utilize it a little bit when I thought I could be the next Mia Hamm in middle and high school! And whoever those kids are have a pretty cool swing set- with wood chips- so I'll give them those props! But I can't help to have my goal, one day, be to get that house back... don't sell yourself short kids!!!

Welcome Back Welcome Back Welcome Back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVS3WNt7yRU

I hope you all didn't think I jumped off my roof after Sunday morning's post.. oops heat of the moment, what can I say, I'm emotional and passionate, haha!

Morning Madness

WHAT... it's freaking 8am on a SUNDAY (nonetheless) and I'm already going to "have a cow man". I WISH I WAS AT CHURCH.... then I could get a lot more calm and peaceful!

Do you ever take responsibility for something or someone else and it isn't even your place? I'm the one that is always saying "know what you can control and what you can't" or "take a step back and put things into perspective'... so that is what I am really trying to do BUT it's definitely a struggle!

So about 2 weeks ago I went on Craigslist and found someone who will delivered "seasoned" firewood (which if you don't know seasoned is the better of the options). Checked with the hubby, showed him the site, etc. etc. and everything seemed pretty legit and we were good to go. Well last weekend we realized there were a bunch of questions we didn't ask: what type of wood; what is a chord of wood to them, etc. etc.- all legit questions. So we're all ready to go last Sunday and the guy calls and cancels and asks if he can come 'next Sunday'. So definitely annoying, but whatever.

He was suppose to be here at 7:30am and still didn't arrive one hour later! Hubby has to be somewhere in less than an hour which means I'm left to deal with the situation on my own.. which usually would be ok- I'm a tough girl I can stack wood.. BUT now there is a whole other element that I am FREAKING out about.... if we will really get 2 chords of wood... well I doubt that is likely now because after researching apparently a normal truck bed is only a 1/2 chord- so how the EFF is this guy going to get 2 chords of wood here from York, PA?!?! Hubby says the only way is if he has a dump truck... umm I'm sure the likely hood of that happening is closer to pigs flying......

But all in all I say it all worked out... they came, they dumped, they left! I think that we have enough wood, I got a receipt and we will see! I'm not allowed to stack it until the Big Man on Campus gets home, but I'm ready to get started!!!! BRING IT!

Cute Party Invitations

Well I found out a new way to start a party off with a BANG.... or pop! Yesterday's gloomy, dreary weather turned a little brighter when we came home to a cute balloon on a stick handle sitting at our front door that said "POP ME".... so we did... and all these colorful confetti sprinkled around us... it felt like slow motion! I was seriously so mesmerized "hubby" had to remind me to pick up the "main ingredient" (aka the invitation rolled up) off the wet floor.. oops! And there it was... an invitation to "Little J's" 1st birthday party!!!!!

So, I just want to give kudos once again to Ruby Flats for her creativity!!

Here are some pics from her blog:

http://rubyflats.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-i-spent-my-friday-night.html

http://rubyflats.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-product.html

Suburban Housewife

Suburban Housewife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqgRHVmF8N0

So are you sick of me posting this yet.. I think this is the 5th time in the past few weeks, but I LOVE IT! I can't get enough... my fav part, because it reminds me of me is...

"My friends area like 'Hey Suzie' and I'm like "WHAT MOTHER F*"... CLASSIC!!!!

Morning Fav

Entertainment: A Good Girls' Night Out

Now, I'm not talk Girls Gone Wild stuff, I'm talking about friends sitting around a table, drinking wine, eating yummy food, talking about everything under the moon (it was night), and really enjoying each other's company!

Luckily that's how I was able to spend my Tuesday evening.... Out to dinner with a group of girls from the 'hood. Now, not "everyone" could make it, but I really enjoyed myself! There was great conversation with the whole group as well as side conversations! And even if the conversation had NOTHING to do with you or something you could relate to, you were MORE than eager to attentively listen!

Growing up going to an all girl school my whole life the word "clique" was used a lot. Whether it was intentional or not you spent so much time judging and being exclusive to others that weren't "like you". Now, it's not like all of my friends growing up were exactly alike and had the exact same interests (we played different sports, liked different classes, even sometime hung out with a different social crowd), but we came together for a common purpose. Which is still so common today- book clubs, playgroups, mommy groups, sports leagues, Junior League :), etc.

However.... I can say that I am a lot more open to striking up a conversation with someone that may not look like "my cup of tea" if that make sense. And I'm not going to lie- I'm human and unfortunately at first sight I may internally judge (what is she/he wearing, I like those earrings, those are NOT so great shoes, look at her outfit- so cute.. that would never look good on me, etc. etc.), but after that initial thought I'm able to say to myself 'that's not fair, you don't know them.. no judging until you even try' and I find I can actually push those initial thoughts to the back of my head!

I'm not saying I'm freakin' Mother Theresa... but at least it's a start... don't judge a book by it's cover (ummm hello PRIME TIME EXAMPLE FOR ME.. TWILIGHT)

2009 NCIS CHAMPS!

GOOOOO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so proud of our Phillies! I wasn't sure how they were going to fare this season, but they have a solid team filled with great ball players!!! I asked 'hubby' last night what our stats were when we were down in the beginning (I was VERY disappointed that he didn't know that fact off hand, haha), but looks like it didn't matter! We PULLED through... clearly I did a lot!

I sorta feel bad for cutie Cole Hamels who isn't doing as well as he did last year or as well as people expected him to do post-season.... Such hard critics! Keep our fingers crossed that they continue to play as a unit and support him and he to them!

Not sure what tonight's ALCS game holds for us, but if it is a Yankees win, bring it on! The Yankees are a GREAT time and nothing like true, hardcore competition!

Breast Cancer

Before I forget......

I don't usually "watch" t.v. during the day, but I do turn it on when am in the kitchen cooking up a meal or snack.. which puts me in line with Good Day Philadelphia and then sometimes Regis and Kelly, The View, Ellen, and Oprah (depends on how hungry I am that day haha). This morning while making an early lunch I was able to catch a small segment of The View that talked about Breast Cancer.. here is a segment from the website:

"In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Dr. Kristi Funk was here to give helpful tips to women so each day they are doing their very best to prevent the risk of Breast Cancer. Dr. Funk told viewers that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in their lifetime and the key to surviving is early detection. Dr. Funk has teamed up with Yoplait for a program called "Save Lids to Save Lives" and in honor everyone in our audience went home with a pink 100% cashmere pashmina from Yoplait!"

Some of the facts she was shooting out were pretty interesting:
Green Tea can help reduce the odds
Aspirin 2x/week for 5+ years can help reduce the odds as well
Avoiding a lot of foods with hormones in them (tofu, meat, milk, etc.)
http://extratv.warnerbros.com/videos/?autoplay=true&mediaKey=b4093620-09e1-4d63-8ab4-a92dec7e5c35

Trick or Treat.. Give Me TWILIGHT!!!

YAY- "my" (ok it was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. George) first Halloween card of the season!!! Care of my mommy all the way from Spain!!! She must sure love me.. can't show you the inside cause there is all this kinky reference to being bitten by a vampire.. haha JK.. but isn't this AWESOME?!?!!? I know "hubby" will REALLY love and appreciate it!

And if you want to dissect the card I think that Edward would be the tasty treat the card is referring too! OMG- seriously I have to stop.. I am still obsessed can't help it! New Moon comes out in one month from TODAY! Let the promo begin!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting "Clothing" Term

Have you ever heard of a "Sweater Penis"???

Well I heard the term used today when I was at our infamous tailor, Sew Rob (best of the main line since 2006.... http://www.sewrob.com/Home.html), getting my bridesmaid's dress all fitted to my boddess (YAY 11/21/09 SHOUT OUT)! It was hilarious! He was tailoring this woman's pants in front of me when she asked what "this" was (it was the part of her pants where the waste line comes together and either zippers, buttons, fastens, etc. and it sticks out) and ever so casually he goes.. "oh yeah isn't that so annoying- it's called a sweater penis"! So... just remember at your next get together, happy hour, or hey business lunch.... just make sure you let someone know if their "sweater penis" is sticking out... I guess it's like the new "food on the face" rule, haha JK do NOT do that.. but wouldn't that be hilarious!!!!

Ummm Suzy Q- you MAY want to go to the bathroom and fix your sweater penis.. it's sticking out... that's why I opt for dresses or sweat pants cause you don't ever have that issue!!!!

Translator Needed

So sometimes I right myself little email reminders of things I want to blog about if I'm out and about and can't get to my computer right away... for instance last Friday I sent myself one, checked it and new exactly what it meant and today when I went back through my emails haven't the slightest clue to what I was trying to say: Son eclap cowg

I don't even know if this is English! And is it 1 thing or 3? I don't remember seeing a cow last Friday or talking about having a son (yes when I have a kid I would prefer a boy first... but a healthy child will be just fine!).... hmm if anyone can figure it out that would be great! HA!

Spray Etiquette

Bathroom Spray is a tricky tricky thing. It's suppose to help cover up and deodorize any stinkies that occur in the bathroom, but how much is too much? Cause Ladies and Gentlemen... we all know it doesn't always smell like "Roses", BUT there is such thing as WAY TOO MUCH! And not just the amount, but the scent of the spray is crucial too!

It all goes back to freshman year in college when apparently my rommie and I were too "poor" or LAZY to buy spray and we would use perfume and this scented hairspray- I know.. gross! Now as Bette Homemaker I have discovered sprays by Yankee Candle, Bath and Body works, and even Febreeze! But I even get sick of them! And then I realized I think what annoys me is when TOO much is sprayed... I mean cause clearly I spray the perfect amount every time... BUT when too much is sprayed it lingers and is very overpowering, causing me to feel claustrophobic! So last night "hubby" and I had a very grown up, reasonable conversation on how much spray is actually needed in our house after you use the potty!

Hopefully lesson learned.. haha.. coo coo!!!

Morning Fav

Entertainment/Sports: Philadelphia Phillies!!!!

So, I will NOT pretend that I'm a hardcore Phillies fan, BUT I will say that I appreciate a good game! And that's exactly what our hometown team has given us in the pre-season so far! And playing sports my whole life I know how important the regular season is there, because if they didn't do well they wouldn't even BE in the post-season. But, I will say that the Phillies have been playing all the way through to the end, most of the time with composure and poise!

I do wish the games started before 8pm.. the earlier games get a lot more of my attention (AKA 8pm impedes on my 9pm (more or less haha) bedtime!

Anyway... if you watched the game until the VERY END (or caught a teeny bit of the AM news) you would know the Phillies won last night in the bottom of the 9th with a base hit by JROLL to center field which then brought in 2 RBI's for them to win! WAHOO!!!

I myself was NOT up, but I was watching the FOX NEWS this morning when they were talking about how a few websites and newspapers cut the Phillies short, packed up their laptops early and posted that the Dodgers had won and tied the series 2-2... uh oh someones going to get in TROUBLE... ohhhhhhhhh!!!!! SNAP!

My favorite part- watching them celebrate... if you watch the clips or see the newspaper articles watching grown men tackle each other, hands flailing, running around like chicken with their heads cut off, cheering, etc. etc. it really just paints the true picture of emotion! One of the best feelings ever!

Bad Day?

I'm sure you're all familiar with Daniel Powder's "Bad Day" and that's what I've got on right now.. because you know it really does make me feel better... just like his main verse:

Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride

I know it's an odd coping mechanism, but I guess if I listen to a "sad song" it's my way of giving myself "permission" to really feel what I am feeling... feel it, express it, get it out... loud and proud.. and then get over it! With that being said I already am!!!!!!!!! But since the turn of events seemed so "despairing" at the time and once I put it into perspective, actually told someone out loud and embarrassed with myself, ha, I will now share them with you..........

You know it's NOT your day when you........

• Are outside at 5AM in the middle of October walking your beloved dog and it's 38F and raining... gross!
  
• Forget your first morning appointment
  
• Drop your new wallet in the rain
• Drop you keys in a puddle
• Find out tenant has ruined your 'new' hardwood floors
• Have to tell your 90 year-old tenant that even though she's moving she still owes you a LOT of money
• Have your dog drool ALL over your Burberry coat and new skinny jeans in the car (yes I'm a snob, so be it!)
• Start crying cause your dog is massively drooling all over you and you can feel it dripping down your leg
• Try to go a new way home because there is traffic on your usual route.... and like ALWAYS... do NOT go the right way and get lost
  
• Start crying even harder because you feel ridiculous that you're crying, with a dog on your lap, while driving in the ghetto, in the rain, because you feel selfish that you're upset about these things when in reality you have it so lucky and now you feel pathetic
• Have a puppy on your lap, that unannounced to you, is throwing up all over you, your new car, "Burberry jacket, and new skinny jeans"
• Pull over in the ghetto, have NO idea where you are, and have to figure out how to rid of your puppy's morning breakfast and make sure he is okay too
• Want to strangle your puppy
• Start crying like a baby because you feel bad that you had that mean thought about the poor sick puppy on your lap
  
• Start crying even harder because the fact that you had that thought now means you are going to be the worst mother "ever" . What "motherly figure" thinks that about her "child"?