Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Mom 4 Moms

My friend started a website recently: Mom4Moms.com

This site is fantastic because it's centered around mothers who are trying to earn a living making handcrafted goods. The items are all made by local moms (for now, LOL!) and are constructed by the moms listed, not by any contract workers.

I'm listed on there right now so head over and take a look at what we have to offer. Maybe something will interest you, or maybe you'll find a gift for someone that you haven't been able to find anything for!

Friday, November 30, 2007

Unknown Number

I got a strange number on my cell phone, and since I have the worst plan in history I don't answer it if I don't know who's calling me. I waited to see if they left a message and, surprise!, they did.

When I listened to it all I heard was, "... English, press one. Para continuar en espaƱol aprieta 5." Pretty strange, even for an anonymous caller, so I did what every other person would do: I looked it up on-line.

I usually try something like the White Pages reverse look up, but I almost always come up with a dead-end. This time I just put it in the Yahoo Search! bar and I got a great site called 800Notes, which is a directory of 800 (or 866, or 877...) numbers that people have received and have than written about so others can have an idea of the company behind the call. All you have to do is enter the phone number, and a list of people's experiences with that number pops up! I was able to find out that a lot of people received the same message from the same number and that it was a satisfaction survey from my cell phone company. I had just gotten the piece of junk serviced this week so I knew this was the case with my call as well.

I feel better knowing who called and I don't have to waste time searching all over the net to find out (I don't just let things go, isn't that pretty obvious?), so I just saved myself a bunch of time!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Trying Something New

I have this horrid cough that, if I were I child, I'm sure would be diagnosed as croup. I've been barking for three days and finally, today, I lost my voice. Yes, my husband and son are thrilled, but I do not like having to throw something at someones head to get them to listen.

I remembered reading an article about a Vinegar and Honey mixture that is supposed to cure all so I decided to try it today. I kept putting it off because, let's face it, it sounds gross! However; I'm home alone so I decided that if I were going to do it, now was the best time.

I spent about 10 minutes looking online for the correct amounts to use and I finally found a great article with all the information I needed. I am so glad that I looked it up because I was ready to use regular white vinegar, not the apple cider vinegar. Gag!

I'll let you all know how it works for me...

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Plastic Surgery Blogs

I’m very curious about the “befores” and “afters” of plastic surgery. I know that people have had great success with the different procedures, but I’ve never been able to actually see the changes first hand. I think I only know one person who’s gotten substantial plastic surgery and I wouldn’t dream of asking them to show me anything!

I’ve begun to look around at different plastic surgery information because I am considering (just considering) the thought of having some work done on myself. I want to know all I can about the procedures and I want to see as much as I can because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

I came across a very nicely done plastic surgery blog during my clicking travels and it’s pretty interesting. There are the before and after pictures I wanted to see, and the information regarding the different procedures is informative and easy to understand. They discuss things such as liposuction, tummy tucks, and nose jobs, but they also cover things such as rhinoplasty. As for the pictures: They’re great! I looked at the liposuction pictures first and they’re amazing! I can totally see myself getting that done so, of course, I read through the information there about recovery time and requirements. Then I moved over to the tummy tuck pictures and the information about those. Pretty awesome!

This cosmetic plastic surgery blog is a great place to start for those looking for general information and some pictures to really see what the information is referring to. Sometimes even a consultation at an office is too confusing; there’s a lot of information to go through in a short amount of time and, if you’re anything like me, you think of the majority of your questions once you’ve left the office! By looking at blogs that focus on the general processes involved with the more popular procedures, you can read through them and come up with all the questions you have before even stepping foot into an office.

Happy Reading!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Another Way to Save

If you're like me, you love to save money! Now, I'm amazingly adept at cutting coupons and, more often then not, I actually remember to take them to the store with me when I go shopping which is always helpful. I like products that offer rebates too, but I sometimes slack in copying the receipt and mailing all the paperwork so I miss out on the whole thing anyway.

Where I really thrive is on-line shopping. I scour the Internet, compare prices on items and on the shipping costs, then I do a search for coupon codes and promotion codes. Last year I saved about $200, but I also spent a good deal of time (like, weeks) on this project.

That's why I'm glad I found Ebates, a site that has the rebates built right in! I got my husband's anniversary gift off of the site and, about two weeks later, I got a $10.00 check in the mail. Yesterday I was looking through the site for something small for my son for Christmas so I entered the name of the store I wanted, and up popped all the offers. I made my order, and I got $3.00 credited to my account today.

Seems pretty silly to do my on-line shopping any other way than through Ebates!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Eco-Friendly Bleach

Since my son and I have such sensitive skin I've had to search for laundry detergent and bleach that won't affect us. I am also very aware of the impact cleaning agents have on our environment so I like to look for the eco-friendly products first.

Ecover Liquid Bleach is, by far, the best I've found. It's color safe (important for me because I always manage to spill bleach onto my clothes), deodorizes my clothing, and works on all the tough stains, including the stains my four year old manages to get every day. As for the environmental benefits, it has minimal impact on aquatic life, is completely biodegradable, and isn't tested on animals.

Considering how good it works and how drastically less it affects our environment in comparison to conventional bleach, you can be sure that this product is the only one that's going to be on my laundry room shelf.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Paid Site

I have another site that I love to use! I'm not going to get rich off of it, but it's so easy to do. I log in when I'm working on other things on the computer and click through the ads here and there. It doesn't take long, I can do it as I'm working on other things, and it's guaranteed money!

I put a banner ad on the side of my blog: Click on it and you'll get $10 just for signing up!

Monday, October 15, 2007

Downey Wrinkle Reducer

Another winner!

I brought it on the cruise with me because they don't allow irons in the staterooms, but I didn't expect much. I mean really; if full steam from a shower can't get the wrinkles out of my clothes why would something out of a bottle? I'd heard good things from people, but I highly doubt those people make little balls out of their clothes before they pack them!

I was shocked when I used it. I had a 100% cotton shirt that wouldn't even lay flat, it was so badly wrinkled, but I decided to give it a shot because it was either that or shove it back in my suitcase for the rest of the trip.. and I really wanted to wear it! So I hung it, sprayed it, pulled it straight, and ten minutes later I wore it to dinner. It was great and so worth the $4 I spent on it!

Monday, October 8, 2007

Career Path

Since I'm unemployed I've been spending a lot of time on different sites looking at jobs and pay rates. One thing I've been seeing quite a lot of are requests for people to fill nursing jobs which, if I had the stomach for, I'd sign up for in a heartbeat! A lot of companies are offering sign-up bonuses and other monetary incentives, plus the salary base is really high in most cases! Add that to a job where you get to help people? Well, I'd do it if I could.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Tide Pen

When I went on vacation I went through my truck to clean it out. Among the old napkins and various wrappers, I found a Tide Pen I bought a few months ago and put in my glove compartment for emergencies. I decided to put it in my purse and take it on the cruise in case I needed it.

On our first night away we spent some time in a bar where I leaned against the wall and got some black smears on a brand new shirt. I have no idea what this substance was (and I'm probably better off not knowing), and I was upset that something I wore for the very first time was ruined. I tried some water and soap but that didn't do anything but smear the black around a little bit.

When we got back to the room I remembered the Tide Pen and decided to give it a try. I took the shirt off, hung it up, and opened the pen for the first time. I followed the directions (which were really simple: Remove cap, press on fabric until area is damp, and rub until stain is removed) and was stunned when the stain disappeared! I mean, really disappeared. It didn't lessen in diameter, wasn't lighter; the whole thing was gone!

What a great product. I used it twice more on the trip, once when I dripped butter on a blouse and another time when I dripped dill sauce on my pants. In each instance the stain completely disappeared and the fabric remained in perfect condition. I used it on 100% cotton, rayon, and a cotton/poly blend, so I know it works great on those.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who ever gets stuff on their clothes, and I think it's especially useful for those of us with kids. I plan to keep one in my purse and another one in my truck!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Closing Early

I have to tell you about some of the worst service I received this week.

Back in August my DH and I scheduled a four day cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida. We decided to make a full weeks vacation out of it so we planned on staying two extra nights upon our return from the cruise. Coincidentally, we went to the Home Show in Tampa where we were offered a free night (with a $20 deposit to be returned when we arrived) at the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort in Cocoa Beach if we agreed to the 90 minute sales tour of the resort. We signed up (obviously), and we were excited about extending our vacation.

We spoke to the sales rep, Phylis, a few days before we left. We confirmed our stay and went over the dates a second time. We told her that we were going on a cruise prior to our arrival and that is was only a four day, so we triple-checked our dates. We then told her that we were going to spend a second night, and she advised us to book the room at that point because there wouldn't be any guarantee that a room would be available if we waited too long. We agreed and she put our names in to the computer.

Our cruise left on Sunday and we spent a full four days at Sea. It was wonderful, and when we returned we were looking forward to the amenities at the Ron Jon resort that we had heard so much about! After getting in to our car to head to the result, I found out that my phone had seven messages on it, all from the sales rep, Phylis, asking us to return her call in order to confirm our stay! Each call sounded increasingly urgent, and by the seventh call I got the feeling that there was going to be a problem even though we had confirmed our stay previously. We returned her call right away but all we got was a voice mail, so we headed to the resort.

We got to Ron Jon's by 10:30am and went to the desk to check in. After about five minutes of searching my DH and I began to realize that there really was something was amiss. The registration staff member could not find our names on the registration list, nor could he find any record of us at all! When we told him that we had spoken to Phylis twice before to confirm, he didn't know who Phylis was, nor did he know how we could find her. The staff member, Everett, made three phone calls to see if our reservations could have been somewhere else (?) but he had no success. Finally he called the Outside Sales Office and spoke to the manager, Yvonne, who had no idea about our scheduled stay. She did provide us with the original sales representative's phone number which we called to leave another message on her voice mail, but as for any assistance towards our stay? Nothing. Everett searched his computer again and found us a room for the first night, but they were booked for the next. My husband refused, explaining that we had extended our stay because our first day was going to consist of the tour and we wanted the extra night as an "end" to our vacation. Everett was apologetic, but there was little he could do.

After about forty-five minutes of standing around while someone tried to figure out what was going on, my DH and I left and got back in to our car. We called Phylis again, and then began to drive around Cocoa Beach to burn time. After an hour of sitting in a Publix parking lot and about four more messages to Phylis, we decided to go home.

About 15 minutes down the highway we got a call from Phylis. She was surprised at the trouble we had and asked what happened. When we explained, she said she didn't know what the problem was because she had "put your names in the computer for the night. I don't know why it didn't show up!" DH relayed the whole story again, and told her that the reception desk staff member had even spoken to her boss! She then told DH that she had no idea we were on a cruise, and that the extra room we had wanted couldn't be confirmed until the Thursday before. DH was aghast and asked how that worked since we had supposedly booked the night while on the phone with her two weeks prior, but she couldn't answer that question.

The conversation went on for over seven minutes, with my DH repeating himself over and over again. Finally she said she would call us back, so we pulled over on the side of Interstate 95 and waited. She called back and said that her boss "was working on getting a room" for the extra night and she would call us back to let us know. A few minutes later she called back again as promised and advised us that we had a one bedroom for the night we had originally paid the $20 deposit for, and for Friday they "found" a studio for us to stay in.

At this point we were done. We pulled back on to the interstate and continued our drive home. DH told Phylis that he was disappointed in the resort, our treatment, and the obvious lack of communication. He requested our $20 deposit back and she told us, are you ready for this?, that we had to go back to the resort and give them the card that came in the mail to prove we had been there! DH was beyond pissed off and asked how we were supposed to do that when we hadn't been home in a week to get the mail? He also told her, "It's obvious we were there; I just told you every ones name!" They spoke a little while longer while she refused his request for the deposit to be returned, until DH finally started to laugh and said, "Keep the twenty bucks. It doesn't mean that much to me. I can assure you that this doesn't stop here though, because this is the worst treatment I have ever received, especially from someone who is trying to sell something!"

So, this entry is my first step in making sure that people contemplating a stay at the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort in Cocoa Beach know what they are potentially getting in to! I even found a bunch of reviews about the resort that were less than favorable.

My advice! BEWARE! The left hand certainly doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Make sure you enjoy your vacation: Don't get caught up in something like this!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

All Natural Health

My son has chronic asthma. He's been hospitalized a few times and we've had countless runs to the ER in his short 3-and-a-half years. He's on a nebulizer twice a day with steroids and, when needed, his rescue medication. He's also taking allergy medication daily in hopes that he won't get the allergy induced attacks which usually lead to pneumonia.

This has been really hard for me to accept. I am an all-natural, organic type of person. I check labels for additives and nutrients. I don't don't eat meat unless it's from free range animals that are not treated with hormones. I detest medication and I don't trust Western medicine. So, when I have to pump my child full of medication it goes against the very nature of my being.

That's why I'm so pleased with a product I've found by Buried Treasure called Children's ACF. I got it from my health food store last year and I liked it; I noticed a marked improvement in my son's health. We had no pneumonia scares and we were only at Urgent Care twice and the ER once. I think he only saw his primary care doctor three times too, which is a lot better than the seven the season before!

Yesterday I noticed that he was getting a stuffy nose which usually is the start to post nasal drip, which then leads to croup, which turns into pneumonia. Then we have to add a liquid steroid to his already overdosed medical regime and that's usually my breaking point... Anyway, I started the Children's ACF last night which seems to be helping already. He's still stuffy, but that's the extent of it. He hasn't coughed one time and there is NO hint of a wheeze *knock on wood, cross fingers*.

I love this product. I also use their liquid vitamin B product in conjunction with magnesium to help him sleep better (he's changed his sleeping pattern from a bedtime of 11pm to 9:30pm and he still sleeps to 7:30am!) so I know that their products are not only good but affordable!

Pay Me Please

I've gotten some email asking me how I make money on-line. Admittedly most of it is blogging, but I've also come across some click-to-pay sites. Some of them aren't really worth the time it takes to sit at the computer unless I'm here already for some other reason, but the Mora Traffic sites pays out pretty well. Their site is easy to use and the 'click time' is quick. You won't get rich, but it's an easy way to make a few bucks!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Cost vs Comfort

I try to cut corners where I can. I try my best to economise because neither my husband or I are in high-paying jobs, nor has anyone died and left us money lately. I have let our lawn man go, have cancelled our DVD rental plan, and have cut down on eating out.

I've also been watching what I buy at the store. I no longer buy the high priced, plump-your-lips-without-botox lipsticks, or the lashes-that-finish-crossing-the-street-before-you-do mascara. I also went from using my favorite razor, the Schick Intuition and bought one of those 100 razors for five bucks deals. I was proud of myself because, lets face it, using those lotion razors sure hit you in the wallet, even if your legs really are smoother than a newborn baby's butt when you're done.

Well, I have decided that I will spend the money on the Schick Intuition razors the next time I am at the store (incidentally, I need a box of band-aids so I am going tonight come hell or high water!). I don't care if I have to forgo an evening out at our local Denny's in order for this to happen; I will never shave my legs with anything else again. Sure, my legs are smooth even without using the Schick Intuition razor, but their luster is somewhat marred by the seven Dora The Explorer band-aids...

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Codes to Live By

I am a big fan of getting things done early. Work related issues, appointments; anything that has a deadline I like to complete early.

One of the things I love to be prepared for is holiday shopping! Most everyone thinks that I’m crazy, but I like to be finished Christmas shopping by October. I used to love the hustle and bustle of the crowds around the holiday, but lately with time and money being so tight I’ve had to make some adjustments to the usual shopping. Being pressured to get the ‘perfect’ gift in a day's time just isn’t as much fun as it used to be, especially when restricted by a budget!

One of the better ways I’ve found to watch the almighty dollar is to shop online and use coupon codes. I can browse through all different ‘stores’ and find that perfect gift, plus save money in the process. Being online and using free online coupons means I don’t have to spend money on gas to get to the mall, try to find a parking place, and drag a 3 year old through countless stores while trying to maintain our santity!

My mother is a fan of fine jewelry, but I can’t stand the high pressure sales tactics of jewelry stores. I have always wanted to get her a unique necklace for her birthday or Christmas, but haven’t been able to stomach the process. After looking through these coupon codes I found a Blue Nile coupon. Now I can have the luxury of shopping over the computer and it gives me 10% off the purchase price. Can’t beat that!

My husband is impossible to shop for. Every year I get him a watch but it’s getting harder and harder to find interesting watches that aren’t mirror images to the ones he already has. I’ve been searching for over a month now with no luck until I came across a Netaya coupon. I found a great looking silver watch with a square face, and now I can get 10% off the purchase price.

It looks like I’ll be well within my budget this year!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Last night I had a new beer by Coors called Blue Moon. It was available on tap and topped with an orange slice. It was great! The orange added a nice touch and when the beer was done, eating it was amazing! It was full of bubbles and had a hint of the beer taste. I definitely recommend this beer. Even if you aren't a beer fan you should try it- you might be surprised!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

New Blog Payment Site

I recently found a Paid-to-Blog site, Bloggerwave. They're pretty new and are actively seeking bloggers now! I applied and got approved within 24 hours (amazing!) and I already have jobs available.

It's such an easy concept: Blog like you always have and get paid. Could there be anything easier? It's great getting paid for something that I love to do!




Sunday, August 12, 2007

It's a Sweet Life

I've used artificial sweetener for as long as I can remember. I have never been a fan of Sweet n' Low, but I have loved Equal. When all of the bad press started I switched to Splenda, but then I found something even better!

Stevia is an actual herb that's sweeter than any supplement I've found. It can't be sold as a named sweetener because the FDA would seize it, but it is sold as a dietary supplement. It's low in carbs and has the same fiber content as the fruit we eat. I love the taste and I only need half a packet in my morning coffee. Considering it has health benefits and it costs about the same since I use half the amount I used to, this product is going to have a permanent spot in my cabinet!

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

True Clean

Wow!

I've been struggling with my tile floors forever. Since coming to Florida I've never seen so much tile; it's everywhere you look! In Massachusetts I lived with bare wood floors or wood floors covered with rugs. Here? Tile.

So, then came the quest of cleaining them, including the grout, which is colored and that much harder to clean. I've went through product after product. I used a hand held steamer which worked pretty good, but it was tough work! I got a floor scrubber which made the tiles look good, but the grout remained nasty.

I've lived here five years now and the tile floors are the worst part of this house. It's one of the main reasons I don't have people over (well, that and my huge, messy dogs), and it's been on my last nerve for the past few months.

I got an e-mail with an all natural solution and I decided to try it. I hate chemicals in my home and I do my darndest to not even buy them if I can help it, so this was a good thing for me to try.

So, what do you think?

This is before:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


AND THIS, is after:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


The secret? 3/4 cup of Arm and Hammer and 1/4 cup hot water. Mix it, scrub with a toothbursh, and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Wipe it up, mop it if you want, and voila!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

More of Less

Just one more reason to hate Wal-Mart. Their "Organic" section? Yeah, what I joke. Granted, I am not a fan of mass-production places as a whole, so I'm sure my opinion is somewhat biased.

BUT:

Wal-Mart's first line of organic dairy is from from Dean/Horizon and Aurora . The pasture access which is a requirement for USDA organic certification is ON PAPER ONLY!!! That makes me sick. I hate the fact that something can pass by because of what is indicated in black and white. It takes away from the legit actions that true organic farmers are going through to ensure the quality of their products, as well as makes a mockery of our very certification process!

They are also outsourcing from China which kind of goes against the whole 'environmentally friendly' aspect of Organics in the first place. Are we really doing ourselves a favor by shipping products thousands of miles, thus creating even more pollution for our poor Earth to handle?

I fear that our local farmers who are TRUE organic growers are not going to be able to compete with the mass market of industry organics. Our prices will go down, but so will quality. I'm sure that the USDA organic certification standards will go down as well in order to encompass this "newly created " line of organic crap too... It's a vicious cycle!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Dating Evolution

When I lived in Massachusetts I did a lot of dating off of an online dating site. The one I used wasnt free but, considering the cost of doing anything in Boston was so expensive, I felt that I was getting my money's worth.

When I moved here to Florida I joined another dating site. Sean and I met on that site so I wasn't on it for long, LOL, but I was a bit irked that I had to pay for yet another dating site, especially since I didn't use it for the full term I paid for.

There are free online dating sites out there but they are few and far between. That saddens me because it was a lot of fun, safe, and I obviously had great success! This online dating site I found the other day looked great. I wish I had known about it before; think of the money I would have saved. I probably wouldn't have met my husband though... Hmmm....

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Bid To Win

Have you heard of this new site, http://www.bid4prizes.com/ that offers prizes and cash prizes alike? I heard about it on Fox13 news a month or so ago and I couldn't believe it!

You register (duh) on their site at http://www.bid4prizes.com/, browse what they're offering, and then send a text message with your bid amount. If your bid is the lowest unique bid, then you win it! Isn't that amazing? It's so easy to do with no complicated entry forms or 'trick' small print to follow.

I went to their sweepstakes page today and they have a plasma TV and a Scion XB. Seriously, they do. There are also Playstations, Computers... And it's always changing.

I love it when companies can come up with something new!!!! And, hey, I'm always in the mood for free gifts!

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Easter Staple

Well, for some households anyways!

Peeps have never interested me, and my DH cannot stand them. We have done the usual microwave-freeze-hit-with-a-hammer experiments, but on the whole we just ignore the little buggers. However; I have found that some people adore the little guys!

For instance, there are a lot of craft ideas out there that I would never have thought of. The Peeps Website shows you how to make a lovely Flower Topiary (my personal favorite), Mini Spring Treat Basket, or Peeps Party Dippers.

You can even join their fan club where you can enjoy VIP access to all sorts of stuff like e-cards, and you'll be privy to upcoming Peep products. WooHoo!

They even have a Peeps Talk section where you can post your favorite Peeps memories and chat with other Peep-minded people. See, there are a lot of you out there!

Who knew that there was an actual following of these stretchy little fellows? I think I'll pass, but you may find something you can relate to... Scary as that is...

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Postitive Spin

It's about time to hear the good about NFL players!

Everson Walls is donating a kidney to his ex-teammate, Ron Springs due to complications with diabetes.

It's nice to hear about the good some of these men do, rather than being bombarded by their aggression and 'entitled' attitudes.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Your Wicked, Wicked Ways!

We had a fantastic time last night and I'm hoping that we can make it a monthly event now!


We started out at 6pm and decided that, for a treat, we'd eat at Maestro's Cafe which is located in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center in downtown Tampa. I was expecting to cry when the bill came at the end of the meal, but it was surprisingly cheap! I was only $22.50 for a full buffet- the whole cost came out to less that what I spent this weekend at dinner.

From there we wandered the 100 yards to our seats and were ready to see the the show from the second row! In the beginning I was skeptical being so close to the stage, but I was enthralled by about the second line of the musical and I hardly noticed that we were close enough to the orchestra to be hit with the conductors baton...









Wicked, The Musical was nothing like I expected. The book (which I read about a year ago) was very difficult for me to get through and it was filled with underlying issues and political/social demise, and I was hesitant about seeing it performed on stage. I didn't have to worry at all, however; there was some familiarity about the production but on the whole it was a totally different experience mentally. What an amazingly wonderful piece of Broadway right here in Tampa Bay!






To be honest, it's hard for me to enjoy musicals because I'm constantly critiquing the performers (I suppose that's true when you're entwined in any sort of professional aspect of what you're watching/participating), but by the time the first song began I was hooked. A combination of fantastic stage scenery, great consumes, and fanstic voices made this a truly wonderful experience. Surprising me the most, I think, was the performance of Glinda. I was expecting a very superficial part, but she ended up being a spotlight role and she delivered a powerful vocal punch.






I would highly recommend seeing Wicked, the Musical to anyone who wants to be amazed and enthralled for an evening. If you only see one show this year, make it this one!




" Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years.

WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. With musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...), WICKED is directed by 2003 and 2004 Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Assassins, Take Me Out, Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune)."
Running time for the show is 2 hours and 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Perk up the Coffee

I love flavored coffee!


Now that I'm on this diet I have to cut back on fats so I picked up some Coffee-Mate at Publix. The one I chose was the Sugar Free Vanilla Caramel which "Now the irresistible taste of indulgent caramel and rich vanilla comes to you both sweet and sugar free. Sugar Free Vanilla Caramel is a decadent treat that evokes the flavors of "Dulce de Leche," a favored dessert in Mexico & Latin America."

Wow! I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did, but it's fantastic! I don't even have to add any sweeters to it.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Making it Right

It's funny what a letdown it can be when you've gotten yourself all worked up and pissed off and the situation ends up getting resolved easily.

I paid to have an add printed in The Flyer for an Open House on the 13th of this month. Publication date was the 10th so there wasn't a lot of time until the actual date of the event. Boy, was I surprised when my phone started ringing how much it cost in rent to own it! Upon looking into it, I discovered they had printed the add in the "Rental" section!

I was so majorly pissed off I called up the paper and was ready to get my guns ablazein'... But in an instant they asked me what they could do to make it right. I was literally speechless for a moment. I'm not used to that kind of customer service anymore! I used to people placing blame elsewhere and getting the run-around because of it. I'm used to people making it my fault somehow. I'm used to getting nowhere.

They were fantastic! We were able to come to a mutual agreement and I'll even be using them again.