NYC and ME

Last night I decided to hop on the Amtrak and head into NYC a day early.

Let me just tell you I'm GLAD I did!!  Seriously.

As I sit here in my hotel room-an hour before my event starts this morning...I'm thrilled that I'm not rushing to get here this morning.

One of the great things about living in Philly is the close access to really amazing places.

The Ball Dropped!Traveling is probably one of my most fave things to do of all time.  I LOVE it.  Whether it's for work-or play.

I got up, checked into the hotel and hit the streets.  

Here's a bit of my fun.  

I love that they have so may different 'artists' on the streets.  And I'm 100% ok with tipping them in every corner!  It's really brilliant way to make money, ya know??! haha.  

Batman!!Anyway-I met and saw a few cool characters.  One thing missing?

My little family.  

Bubba would have loved it.  

Ahem...speaking of Bubba.  I decided to have dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp when I saw it! ha.  

When I walked by Gotham Hall (WHICH by the way I thought was a fictional location! hahahah I know.  Don't say it.) All I could think about Yes! It's BATMAN!!was 'Where's Batman?!?!?  Then.....he swooped in to save the day.  He was pretty funny too.  Can't think who he reminds me of...but was awesome and well worth the $5.  =)

Bubba Gump!Ok.  So I'm off to get moving for the Toy Fair.  A tasty Hasbro Breakfast this morning.  Bring it on.  

Joey

I want to eat him up.  Don't you?  

=)

Living the DASH

I don't know what's going on with me right now.  

I can't stop thinking about this whole 'cancer' thing. 

No, by Grace it's not me.....but just out of no where, I've got friends chasing from it in so many angles.

I have a friend who told me a couple weeks ago that she was told that she had colon cancer...another friend who just in the last week got a double mastectomy.....another friend who is in the throws of treatment with throat cancer....and ANOTHER friend who I just went back and forth on twitter not too long ago who died on February 6th from cancer.  

Yet my heart is so heavy.  It makes me so sad.  

I've not been the funnest person to be around either.  My husband tells me I have a negative attitude.  That even he doesn't want to be around me.  Even last night....I felt like all he really wanted to do was call me out for something that had nothing to do with the sadness I was experiencing.  I came home and hit the bathtub...cause that's where I go and 'reflect' often.  He came to check on me-but the entire time I truly felt that he wasn't there because he wanted to comfort me...but because he wanted to bust me on something.  

Something that has nothing to do with my heavy heart.  

He ended up walking away.  And I ended up yanking it out of him.  

But in the end.....all it did was amplify those feelings I was having.

What feelings?  The ones where I wonder if I was one of those people close to me fighting for their lives...would he be there for me?  Would he turn off the games, close the scores and actually be present with me.  I beg for that kind of relationship.  Don't we all?  I mean even with Boston I have to take away the iPad or turn off the tv to get him focused on me.  And what we're talking about.

I know we all want what we can't have.  And when things happen to us in life there are often 'I wish I would have, could have, should have' all over the place.

A few months back he came home from a funeral and shared something that resonates with me.

The pastor shared a story about 'The Dash'.  It's a great story.  Getting you to really think about the dash in your life.  You know... the year you were born DASH the year you die.  The "DASH" and how you lived it.

And I often wonder if I'm in the right place.  Right town.  Right house.  Right world.

 And if the dash that I leave my son someday is the right dash.

I'm a good person.  I do things for others.  I don't steal, cheat...

But yet..I don't care about the 'nice house', jewelry, luxury...I just don't. 

I think what it all boils down to is what I care about...isn't as important to others as it is to me.

I think this insane conversation in my head is entitled to one big thing.

That's a trip home to see my mom.  Something about moms and their love for their children.  

Doesn't matter how old you are.  It always fills your heart up with unconditional love.

Enjoy your day....

I know. You think I'm full of it. 

But in reality....I don't get to. I'm too busy.

But today, after my son said to me this morning 'Mommy-remember when _______' I realized I definitely needed to hop on the YouTube world and reminisce.

So... I have.

I'd love to share some great videos of my little-boring-old-life-with you....

Touchdown.

My little KUNG FU PANDA.

My Boston Bieber.

Hubby is a COMEDIAN.

Just a Swingin'.

My LOVE.

ProFlowers and Valentine's Day

Yes.  I know.  As I CONSTANTLY tell my husband...don't get me flowers.  They die.

EXCEPT THAT IT IS VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Chocolate covered strawberries and cakepops?  

Now that is another story. Ahem.

Now think about it. Yeah Yeah.. I don't want to be a hypocrite.  But OMGOSH is this site so awesome.

I actually ordered (what you see right there on the left) for MYSELF.

What?  You gotta problem with that??? Ahem.

I doubled the order with an additional $10.  That's IT.

Seriously though, ProFlowers has some awesome Valentine's Deals.  I bought these for me..and Boston.  (To take those cute cake pops to school since I'll be in NYC for the weekend and can't make them....OOPSIE.)

I also bought hubby the cookie bouquet.  I'd prefer to embarass the living daylights out of him with a REAL cupid....hahahah. ..... but this will do the trick.

The GREAT thing about all this?  It would have been about $140-but because I WENT HERE AND GOT 20% off my total order-it was an awesome price!

Ok... Check out their facebook page here:  And COME BACK later to WIN $50 towards ProFlowers and their awesome properties!

___________

DISCLOSURE:  Yes.  I did get $50 to use towards ProFlowers-but YES-I REALLY DID SPEND ANOTHER $50 BECAUSE I LOVE THEM SOOO MUCH!!  =)  

Sugar more HARMFUL than Cocaine?

I KNEW IT !!!  I KNEW IT!!!  I KNEW IT!!!

Research studies now are saying that SUGAR is more addictive than cocaine.  I TOTALLY believe that.  It's so bad.  I can't believe it's taken THIS long to finally bring out the truth about it.  YES.  I am an addict.

And if I really wanted to bust myself out....I could kindly tell you the truth..I'm addicted to A LOT of things.  And 99% of them are all made with sugar.

Hello Stevia.  I'm Joey. Nice to meet you.

Is Sugar More Addictive Than Cocaine?

According to the latest research Sugar is an addictive substance and far more addictive than cocaine!! It s one of the most addictive and harmful substances that affects our children from the womb to adulthood. An astonishing 94 percent of rats who were allowed to choose mutually-exclusively between sugar water and cocaine, chose sugar. Even rats who were addicted to cocaine quickly switched their preference to sugar, once it was offered as a choice. The rats were also more willing to work for sugar than for cocaine.

The researchers speculate that the sweet receptors (two protein receptors located on the tongue), which evolved in ancestral times when the diet was very low in sugar, have not adapted to modern times’ high-sugar consumption.

Therefore, the abnormally high stimulation of these receptors by our sugar-rich diets generates excessive reward signals in the brain, which have the potential to override normal self-control mechanisms, and thus lead to addiction.

Additionally, their research found that there’s also a cross-tolerance and a cross-dependence between sugars and addictive drugs. As an example, animals with a long history of sugar consumption actually became tolerant (desensitized) to the analgesic effects of morphine. High Fructose corn syrup had 10 times the effect than sugar and is 20 times worse for our metabolism.

● Obesity

● Diabetes

● Cancer

● Hypertension and hardening of the arteries

● Heart Disease and Stroke

I SWEAR I'm not in a funk.  

I'm actually feeling pretty great. 

But with the 65 degree gorgeous weather today had my blogger butt feeling the guilt and I pried myself up to take my dog on a stroll.

And well, he took ME for a stroll in reality. 

I even tried to jog.  Which brought me to tears.

I don't know if it was the Adele I was listening to or the fact that I barely made it a block.

It fries my ass that I'm so damn out of shape.

And I've cussed 3 times already in this post.

But seriously. As I'm panting walking back I got a glimpse of this.  

I mean really?!?!?! It was as if I saw myself naked.  

This is rediculous.  But my dog and his shadow sure is sweet isn't it?

Ok enough bitching.  Crabbing.  Blah Blah Blah.

Time to get up and get IN GEAR this year.

Better late than never, right?  AHEM.  It is February 1st.

Damn You Cancer

There are often times that I support a cause...and I don't really see how things go on the 'inside' of a person.

Or there are times when I hear of someone who has cancer.  And yet I never really think about other than the 'you're in my prayers'.  

Or in some cases.  I'll get a sense of sadness.  Because of someone lost to cancer.

But I've honestly never really THOUGHT about what cancer looks like.

Does that make sense?  

Sorry.  I know it sounds so vague.  Mainly cause it really is. 

But today I can honestly say....I've really seen cancer.

Yesterday, a friend went in for a double mastectomee.  

Heck. I can't even spell it right.

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA - -

Well, Adam Bailine, father of two, life-long musician and all around creative force, dreamed that dream and has made it a reality he can share with rock star wanna-be’s from tots to adults.

GROOVE, located at 380 Crooked Lane, Bldg F in King of Prussia, PA is a dream come true for Bailine who along with his wife and partner Helene, gets to combine his love for music and his desire to provide a fun, unique experience for kids and adults.

“I guess you could say that I’m passionate about music,” said Bailine who opened GROOVE  without a lot of fanfare  in November, but quickly got buzz like a wave at a rock concert, from parents looking to host parties for their kids or even themselves.

“GROOVE specializes in exclusive Rockstar Parties™ for both kids and adults. We also offer Hip Hop dance classes, musical theater and glee club classes, one-on-one music and vocal instruction, and even specialty summer camp programs” Bailine explained. All staff members and instructors are experts in their fields and work or perform in their field.

“Since we opened people who come into GROOVE say to me, you are really into this aren’t you and I say. Yeah, I mean who wouldn’t love going to work everyday and rockin’ out? It’s what I love to do,” he added.

The Lower Merion High School and Temple University Grad spent two decades working as a writer, Creative Director, jingle writer, photographer, and producer in advertising.  Bailine was also a professor of advertising for several years at Temple University and played a crucial role in helping build the new Department of Advertising at Temple University.

 “My heart and soul have always been in music. I’m a multi-instrumentalist; I play guitar, bass, drums, piano, harmonica and vocals, “he explained adding, “I’m a singer-songwriter, engineer, and producer. I have two bands: Ultrasonic Jones and The Fitch Brothers and I do an extensive amount of solo work, too. Music and video are my passion. I’m so lucky to be able to do this full time at GROOVE. I get to incorporate my background and expertise from a diverse career – as well as my love for music, video and production.”