Who Doesn't Love a Good Swap?

I am so very excited, I am part of the Swapoween2 Swap that is now in progress at two great sites - My So Called Chaos and The Goddess Life (which you can check out for yourself  -
  (http://www.mysocalledchaos.com and http://artemishi.blogspot.com)).

Now you ask yourself why it took so long for me to post about this?  Well - there's that small thing called Rosh Hoshana.  I've been cooking, cleaning, and working ahead (at those paying jobs) to be ready for the next ten days of awe.  If you celebrate, I wish you L'Shana Tova.

And the good news in all this is the fun Halloween shopping I will get to do for my swap partner.  So excited....because,

Who doesn't love a good swap?

Catching up with Life

So here I am wondering how it happened that I did not win the Best Blogger title - I mean come on, just because I was up against some of the biggest and most well known Delaware Valley Lifestyle bloggers?  Should that really matter?


Of course, you know that I was just being delusional.  It was really just a honor to be included in the running and to be named a finalist - well, that was too cool.


I really do want to thank the CBS Philadelphia 2011 Most Valuable Blogger contest for including me and providing me the opportunity to meet and visit with a whole lot of new readers.


And I want to thank my new readers - I know you were here - even if you did not comment!  (But I sure wish you had!)


Speaking of which - are comments dead?  I see less not only on my own blog, but on all the other blogs that I read and watch.  Have we reached the end of interactive blogging?  Is there another phase on the horizon?


Well, those are questions for another day.  And trust me, I will ponder them!

Remember how I shared the good news about Vocalpoint?  And how you should join to get some great deals that are on the way?  Well, here you go!  Vocalpoint and Del Monte are offering you a buy one, get one FREE coupon for Del Monte Fruit Cups.

About Del Monte^® Fruit Naturals^® cups:

You'll want to drink every last drop out of these fruit cup^®
snacks. Picked at their ripest, the perfectly prepared fruit
swims in 100% fruit juice packed with vitamin C.

Snag the savings:
http://www.vocalpoint.com/FruitNaturalsCoupon




Let me know what you think - cos' I know that anytime I can grab a carry around snack that is actually good for you - well, I get happy.

Thanks VocalPoint!

I Vocalpoint, Do you?

I have been a member of a great money saving, tip filled, giveaway site for a few months now called Vocalpoint.

And Vocalpoint has something special to off you this Tuesday - but in order to get it you have to be a member!  So I just think you should click here to join!

This way I know that you will get to share a special deal with me on Tuesday.

Hormones, Raging Hormores.....

Does anyone here remember the Armour Hot Dogs jingle from a few (okay more than a few) years ago?  It went something like this:

"Hot Dogs, Armour Hot Dogs,

What kind of kids eat Armour Hot Dogs?

Fat kids**, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks...."

Funny thing is this song has been running through my head all morning, except my version was more like this:

"Hormores, Raging Hormones

Why does this have to happen to us?

Hot Flash, then cold, no interest in sex..."

I could just go on and on with more verses, but I think you get the gist.  and I am more certain you know the refain: "This is getting old!".  Because just when I got used to 24 hour a day hot flashes, for the last day or two I have been cold with very few hot flashes.  Or maybe I am experiencing normal body temperature and don't recognize it because I have been hot for so long!

I am tired of waking up each day and not understanding how I feel. And not being able to explain or convey it to my hubby without him thinking I am rejecting him. I am finding that conversation to be the hardest one of all.

I wish I knew, but what I do know is that I am glad to have all of you and all of my friends to talk to you about this.  I think that without all of these outlets and sources of information, comfort and friendship I would go crazy.  And I know I need to keep laughing...and singing.

"Hormones, Raging Hormones......"

**Of course, this was before it was not politically correct to use the work "fat" when describing children.

Random Thoughts - End of Summer Edition

Back again in September with my "look behind - plan ahead" edition of Random Thoughts.

1) Wasn't this a great summer?  We had such mice weather - well, at least until the earthquake/hurricane/tornado week - that I actually got a tan!  While we did have that stretch of hot days, it makes summer so much more fun when the weather is nice and not soggy or cloudy.




2) Did you get to see this movie or have you read the book?  I first read "The Help" when the book came out about two years ago and I loved it.  I shared the book with a lot of people and eagerly looked forward to the movie and this summer was not disappointed.  I highly suggest everyone go see this and take their teenage children - there is a history lesson mixed into the story.


3) As hard as I try, it always seems like the weeks we have a vacation or getaway planned is a non-pay week.  Therefore no matter when, it feels as if we are stretching our dollars - really far - when we go away.  I really have to look at the calendar more carefully when planning a trip/vacation/getaway!

4) Was watching the MTV awards the other night and I was looking forward to hearing from Britney Spears and was disappointed that she did not get some time to talk.  It seems like the hot commodity is Lady Gaga and to be honest, it's already overkill.  Why we, as a society, continue to prop up and showcase the new hot thing - to death, is just perplexing to me.

5) Well, you know the fall makes me think of Back to School or for adult - Back to Reality.  As part of my BTR, last night I did the seasonal changeover of the purse - and the ritual removal of the ankle bracelets.  I know it's old fashioned, but I do like those fashion rules.

Don't forget to vote for me in the CBS3 Most Valuable Blogger award - voting is open until September 9th and you can vote once a day!  Thanks!!!!

Hurricane Irene Aftermath - Hightstown

I wanted to share some of the aftermath of of the Hurricane Irene flooding. If you check out the tree above you can see the mud line and how high the water was here. Below is the Water Treatment plant that was totally submerged in the pictures I posted earlier.

The two pictures above show the force of the water that came over the dam/bridge. Those walls were steel pipes in reinforced concrete posts - and they were just ripped to shreds. The photo, well to be honest, just was a nice opportunity to take a shot I might be able to use later in a decorating or staging project.

This is Main Street once the water receeded. One of my favorite places in town, Molto Bene, really suffered some serious damage and I hope they can reopen in the near future.

Below is the one during/after shot that I though showed the extent of the flooding. This is the same view - you can see how the water was above the fence and had filled in the parking lot of the treatment plant (and the greenway).