I got married in 1997. Since that year I have purchased a new vacuum cleaner just about once a year. I've tried Hoover, Dyson, Eureka and everything else you could imagine. They always broke and sometimes just after a few months. I decided to stop the madness and go to a real vacuum store, very old-fashioned- what wonderful service and advice you get. The owner told me that a Miele vacuum would not only pick up everything on the first pass (now that's a novel idea!) but it would last me 10-20 years or more. WOW!
I have owned this vacuum now for 5 years and it is absolutely wonderful! It works and works well. It rolls easily and follows me where I need to go without having to pick it up. It is fairly lightweight when I do need to carry it. The head swivels for tough-to-reach places and it works well on carpet, tile and hardwood floors. This vacuum makes housework go much faster and is a very powerful machine. I can't recommend this enough. If I had bought this 14 years ago I would have about $1,000 more dollars in the bank!
Welcome to my blog! I'm Jennifer Scully, a single mom, an interior designer based in Long Island, New York. Here I will be posting tips on how to be the best you can possibly be. I will post lifestyle tips and other random things like my awesome children's charity and I will share stories which will give you a peek into my sometimes crazy life. Thanks for reading!! And be sure to visit my websites www.jenniferscullydesigns.com and www.jenniferscullyinteriors.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Designer Furnishings by Norwalk Furniture
We all want high quality, affordable furniture but that doesn't seem to exist in today's market. Everything affordable seems to be made overseas and is filled with screws, pressboard and not-so-sturdy joints.
Instead of buying "disposable" furniture from Target, IKEA and the like, why not buy something that will last you through years of use and enjoyment?
Norwalk Furniture has been crafting quality, handmade pieces for over 100 years, right here in the U.S. Their line includes traditional and contemporary selections and their customizable options will fit into almost any decor.
Visit their website at www.norwalkfurniture.com and see what each upholstered piece will look like in over 800 fabrics so there is no guesswork. You can choose from sofas, chairs, ottomans, benches, daybeds and headboards.
Choose your color or pattern, wood color for the leg, throw pillows and you are done. Completely custom furniture, made for you, made to last with a turnaround time of 35 days! See how the look changes with different fabric choices:
Discounts are available through my company, ReDesign for a Dime. I buy directly from the factory and pass the savings along to you. Get the insider pricing on your quality home furnishings today.
Visit my website www.redesignforadime.com and contact me for a price quote on your favorite item. Happy shopping!!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Lifestyle Tip: Italian Cooking
The thought of Italy...ah. My heritage is Italian, Irish and Native American though I identify with the Italian culture very strongly. I have been to Italy several times and each time I go I dream of never returning. I love the people, the architecture, the history and most of all, the food.
When I have Italian food in the U.S. I am often disappointed and I have discovered why- the GARLIC!!! Italians are lovers. They love romance, passion and kisses. They do not (for the most part) eat garlic! Rather, their cuisine is flavored with garlic. Much different!
When cooking Italian food, cut your garlic cloves in half, gently saute them in olive oil over a low heat. As soon as your garlic begins to sizzle (don't let it turn even the slightest shade of brown, throw it out. Yes, toss your garlic in the garbage. You will be left with a flavorful oil that won't compromise your breath. That's Italian. ;)
When I have Italian food in the U.S. I am often disappointed and I have discovered why- the GARLIC!!! Italians are lovers. They love romance, passion and kisses. They do not (for the most part) eat garlic! Rather, their cuisine is flavored with garlic. Much different!
When cooking Italian food, cut your garlic cloves in half, gently saute them in olive oil over a low heat. As soon as your garlic begins to sizzle (don't let it turn even the slightest shade of brown, throw it out. Yes, toss your garlic in the garbage. You will be left with a flavorful oil that won't compromise your breath. That's Italian. ;)
Dating Horror Story #6: The Story of The Dimes
I believe in fate, destiny, hope, true love, romance and I often dream of being rescued from a tower by a man on a white horse, though I know I would be able to get myself out because I am somewhat of a female MacGyver or as I have been affectionately nicknamed, Martha Villa, (the biological product of Martha Stewart and Bob Villa). Just give me a bedsheet or some chewing gum and a popsicle stick and I will figure it out. But yet, I still dream. To dream is to live. And to visualize that dream makes it become reality.
So when I set out to meet someone I sat down and made a list of things I was looking for and then I visualized that list taking the form of a real-life man. He should be: tall, handsome, good-hearted, generous, fun, divorced with children so he would be able to understand my priorities and time constraints, he should be handy as all heck so we could build a life together emotionally as well as physically (always dreamed of renovating an old farmhouse) and he should live in Manhattan so he is cultured and aware. And if he is on the east side that would be great so my commute would be easier. Hey, you have to be practical sometimes, even in dreams. ;)
I closed my eyes and made a wish on my birthday. I saw this man clearly. I blew out my candles, opened my eyes, smiled and then just waited for him to come walking into my life.
Three days after my birthday I got a phone call from this man, though I didn't know it at the time. We began speaking and we found out that we had much in common. Our families are from the same two towns in Italy, we both have one young child, we are on the same visitation schedule, he is handsome, tall, doesn't drink very often (added bonus), handy as all heck as he renovated a 6,000 square foot home on his own and he lives in Manhattan on the east side! We had such an easy time talking to one another that we stayed on the phone for 6 1/2 hours! Really? I haven't been on the phone with anyone ever for 6 1/2 hours. Wow!!
Every year for my birthday I am given the same gift, no matter what I ask for. It always comes from different people but it never waivers. This "gift" is called Bronchitis. I get a cold and then an annoying dry cough. During the course of the conversation, I coughed many times and apologized for sounding gross but I knew I was at the tail end of this sickness and this nastiness would soon disappear.
As we were talking, the name of my business came up, ReDesign for a Dime. He gasped but I kind of ignored it. He said he had something to tell me but he didn't want to freak me out so he would tell me after we got to know each other. I pressed him (I can be good at that) and he divulged. He had been to a psychic 3 years ago who told him that he wouldn't meet the girl of his dreams for a few years but he would know when he was about to meet her because he would start seeing dimes everywhere; no other coins, just dimes. He had seen dimes on the street, on elevators, on the ground at random places and times that same week we were speaking. The name of my business has the word dime in it. I thought it was strange but I dismissed it until...I walked outside to get some air on my patio, sat down at my table and what was there, sitting right in front of me? One lone dime! A dime on my table and nothing else. I don't leave change anywhere. I am a neat freak and I put everything away. How did this dime get there? Holy crapola, Batman! I told this man about the dime and I actually began crying. It was so moving and yet so bizarre. We were both kind of freaked out but we had such a nice conversation and both wanted to continue so we decided to have dinner two days later and see if this dime theory held any water.
He picked me up and my, he was handsome, tall and also well-dressed. My dogs loved him (just another added bonus) and he was not bothered by my little monster Shih-tzsu Fergie who likes to jump all over the ones she likes.
We got to the restaurant he had chosen and he decided it was too bright and not romantic enough. I recommended a restaurant I had found online, got directions and off we went. We were driving around in circles because it turned out the restaurant I had found had gone out of business. We were lost and starving but things like that don't upset me and he didn't seem upset either. That was great because I have a hard time dealing with people who can't go with the flow and can't sweat the small stuff. Yet another check on my list.
I suggested a restaurant nearby so we could eat right away. Everything felt right. We had a nice dinner and a good time together, though my cough was pretty persistent. I had two glasses of wine which is a lot for me these days so I was a little more "open" than I normally would be and the wine only further dried out my throat and made my hacking worse. He dropped me off at home and I practically asked him to kiss me good night. I had to know right then and there if this chemistry was right. He seemed hesitant and I'm not sure he felt the same way I did but some people are shy at first so I overlooked that. I said good night, thanked him for dinner and went inside.
The next day I didn't hear from him and sent him a text message saying that I had a nice time and I asked him what he thought about the whole thing. He said, "You are a lovely woman and a wonderful person and we should try to get together soon." Ah, the kiss of death! You tell 900 lb. women that they are wonderful people. And with a "compliment" like that there is always an implied "but" afterward. And we should "try" to get together soon? With our children on the same schedule and with living 30 minutes from each other would it be that much of an effort?
I knew right then and there this was doomed. He didn't feel it. After the 6 1/2 hour talk, the whole dime thing, the nice evening together, something was missing for him and I would never know what it was. Was it was my cough? That is temporary so probably not? Perhaps the dimes and the commonalities, fate and destiny were all too much for him? Maybe it's the old saying, "If it seems too good to be true...?" I will never know.
I believe in too good to be true. I believe in romance and I want the happy ending, the white horse, the magic. I think it's there if you find the right person. And I still believe in destiny even though I also believe that we can alter our destinies with even the simplest of decisions. Think about the film Sliding Doors...I only wonder what would have been...
So when I set out to meet someone I sat down and made a list of things I was looking for and then I visualized that list taking the form of a real-life man. He should be: tall, handsome, good-hearted, generous, fun, divorced with children so he would be able to understand my priorities and time constraints, he should be handy as all heck so we could build a life together emotionally as well as physically (always dreamed of renovating an old farmhouse) and he should live in Manhattan so he is cultured and aware. And if he is on the east side that would be great so my commute would be easier. Hey, you have to be practical sometimes, even in dreams. ;)
I closed my eyes and made a wish on my birthday. I saw this man clearly. I blew out my candles, opened my eyes, smiled and then just waited for him to come walking into my life.
Three days after my birthday I got a phone call from this man, though I didn't know it at the time. We began speaking and we found out that we had much in common. Our families are from the same two towns in Italy, we both have one young child, we are on the same visitation schedule, he is handsome, tall, doesn't drink very often (added bonus), handy as all heck as he renovated a 6,000 square foot home on his own and he lives in Manhattan on the east side! We had such an easy time talking to one another that we stayed on the phone for 6 1/2 hours! Really? I haven't been on the phone with anyone ever for 6 1/2 hours. Wow!!
Every year for my birthday I am given the same gift, no matter what I ask for. It always comes from different people but it never waivers. This "gift" is called Bronchitis. I get a cold and then an annoying dry cough. During the course of the conversation, I coughed many times and apologized for sounding gross but I knew I was at the tail end of this sickness and this nastiness would soon disappear.
As we were talking, the name of my business came up, ReDesign for a Dime. He gasped but I kind of ignored it. He said he had something to tell me but he didn't want to freak me out so he would tell me after we got to know each other. I pressed him (I can be good at that) and he divulged. He had been to a psychic 3 years ago who told him that he wouldn't meet the girl of his dreams for a few years but he would know when he was about to meet her because he would start seeing dimes everywhere; no other coins, just dimes. He had seen dimes on the street, on elevators, on the ground at random places and times that same week we were speaking. The name of my business has the word dime in it. I thought it was strange but I dismissed it until...I walked outside to get some air on my patio, sat down at my table and what was there, sitting right in front of me? One lone dime! A dime on my table and nothing else. I don't leave change anywhere. I am a neat freak and I put everything away. How did this dime get there? Holy crapola, Batman! I told this man about the dime and I actually began crying. It was so moving and yet so bizarre. We were both kind of freaked out but we had such a nice conversation and both wanted to continue so we decided to have dinner two days later and see if this dime theory held any water.
He picked me up and my, he was handsome, tall and also well-dressed. My dogs loved him (just another added bonus) and he was not bothered by my little monster Shih-tzsu Fergie who likes to jump all over the ones she likes.
We got to the restaurant he had chosen and he decided it was too bright and not romantic enough. I recommended a restaurant I had found online, got directions and off we went. We were driving around in circles because it turned out the restaurant I had found had gone out of business. We were lost and starving but things like that don't upset me and he didn't seem upset either. That was great because I have a hard time dealing with people who can't go with the flow and can't sweat the small stuff. Yet another check on my list.
I suggested a restaurant nearby so we could eat right away. Everything felt right. We had a nice dinner and a good time together, though my cough was pretty persistent. I had two glasses of wine which is a lot for me these days so I was a little more "open" than I normally would be and the wine only further dried out my throat and made my hacking worse. He dropped me off at home and I practically asked him to kiss me good night. I had to know right then and there if this chemistry was right. He seemed hesitant and I'm not sure he felt the same way I did but some people are shy at first so I overlooked that. I said good night, thanked him for dinner and went inside.
The next day I didn't hear from him and sent him a text message saying that I had a nice time and I asked him what he thought about the whole thing. He said, "You are a lovely woman and a wonderful person and we should try to get together soon." Ah, the kiss of death! You tell 900 lb. women that they are wonderful people. And with a "compliment" like that there is always an implied "but" afterward. And we should "try" to get together soon? With our children on the same schedule and with living 30 minutes from each other would it be that much of an effort?
I knew right then and there this was doomed. He didn't feel it. After the 6 1/2 hour talk, the whole dime thing, the nice evening together, something was missing for him and I would never know what it was. Was it was my cough? That is temporary so probably not? Perhaps the dimes and the commonalities, fate and destiny were all too much for him? Maybe it's the old saying, "If it seems too good to be true...?" I will never know.
I believe in too good to be true. I believe in romance and I want the happy ending, the white horse, the magic. I think it's there if you find the right person. And I still believe in destiny even though I also believe that we can alter our destinies with even the simplest of decisions. Think about the film Sliding Doors...I only wonder what would have been...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
New Design Trend 2010: Man Caves vs. Mom Caves
We have all heard of the man cave and most of us can get a clear get a visual on that one. We imagine black leather furniture, sleek, chrome, glass and lots of electronics, gizmos and games. When men want to escape to their lairs they are looking for stimuli to take their mind off their woes. Women, on the other hand, look for a quiet retreat; a small nook or corner they can call their own; one where they can read, knit or create some handicrafts. Women tend to seek a place of reflection; of introspection. Women want to be alone with their thoughts while men want to have room for all of the guys to hang out with them and watch the game on their 1,000" TV or to play foosball.
With so many women working out of the home making as much or more than their partners, women are feeling empowered and deserving of a spot in the home they can call their own, away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and shared family spaces.
Read the full article here: http://demodirt.com/index.php/women-trends/consumer-spending/448-solutions-for-the-modern-cavewoman
With so many women working out of the home making as much or more than their partners, women are feeling empowered and deserving of a spot in the home they can call their own, away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and shared family spaces.
Read the full article here: http://demodirt.com/index.php/women-trends/consumer-spending/448-solutions-for-the-modern-cavewoman
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Dating Horror Story #5
I met this guy several months ago. He was handsome, very tall, well-dressed and well-spoken. He had this great energy and was really fun; like a kid in a candy store all day, every day, no matter where he went. He asked me to lunch and I said yes. I am always attracted to good energy.
We were just walking around NYC without a plan and walked right into one of the fanciest lunch spots I could have imagined. It was lovely, though I felt a bit out of place. I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt compared to the ladies-who-lunch who were donning Chanel suits. My date didn't seem to care. He was too much of a free spirit. Our bill was in the $150 range for two lunches and a couple of diet cokes; a little steep for me but he paid and was happy to do so. I could get used to this!
I knew he was from Maine but then I found out that he lives there full-time. Oh, no! I am in New York and I have established roots here. I can't just pick up and go. How could this work out down the road if we really hit it off and wanted to see each other again, I asked myself? I have a child, my own business and 5 pets. My dream was fading fast. I voiced my concern. He said, "Don't worry about it. I have it all figured out. I'll tell you later." That seemed a little strange to me but we were having a good time so I just let that comment go.
As we got to talking I came to discover that this man retired a few years prior. Retired? "How?" I asked. He had purchased a business while in his early 20's and grew it to the point that he was a multi-millionaire several times over and never had to work again. "Oh, my." I said. Very impressive!
We had a wonderful time together and I walked him to his hotel. It was very fancy. The doorman knew him by name. A few days later my date, still in town, asked me out again. I of course said yes. This time we had dinner which was a little sexier.
A few hours passed like minutes. The conversation was easy and fun. We got along very well and were each excited by the prospect of spending even more time together, though I had no idea how. When my date felt comfortable, he finally began telling me how things could work out between us with our long-distance issue. He told me how the rest of my life would play out. Wait...the rest of my life? Was he serious? I knew him for a few hours and he was telling me what to do? I really liked him and I was so curious that I gave him the benefit of the doubt, shut my mouth and listened anyway.
He said I would move to Maine with my daughter and pets and he would take care of me. Maine? Really? Maine is cold and there is nothing to do there. I let him go on. I would abandon my business, he said, so I would be free to travel with him wherever he would like to go. Ok, I love traveling but give up my business?! And what about where I want to go? We would have live-in help to take care of the house, animals and my daughter. Um...I want to raise my daughter and she also has a father who she sees several times per week. My daughter's father and my family all live in NY. He went on to say that I could fly back to NY whenever I wanted to as money was no object so my daughter could see her family here. However, every other week we would spend at his second home in Costa Rica and my daughter could come when she is on vacation from school. We could also travel other places, he said. How gracious of him. This is not...he interrupted my thoughts. He said, "Listen, this is my dream. I can give you an extraordinary life. If you don't want it just tell me. I am looking for a woman to fit into my dream. " I want, I need, I see, I think, I have to, I, I, I...
...I said, "No, thank you."
We were just walking around NYC without a plan and walked right into one of the fanciest lunch spots I could have imagined. It was lovely, though I felt a bit out of place. I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt compared to the ladies-who-lunch who were donning Chanel suits. My date didn't seem to care. He was too much of a free spirit. Our bill was in the $150 range for two lunches and a couple of diet cokes; a little steep for me but he paid and was happy to do so. I could get used to this!
I knew he was from Maine but then I found out that he lives there full-time. Oh, no! I am in New York and I have established roots here. I can't just pick up and go. How could this work out down the road if we really hit it off and wanted to see each other again, I asked myself? I have a child, my own business and 5 pets. My dream was fading fast. I voiced my concern. He said, "Don't worry about it. I have it all figured out. I'll tell you later." That seemed a little strange to me but we were having a good time so I just let that comment go.
As we got to talking I came to discover that this man retired a few years prior. Retired? "How?" I asked. He had purchased a business while in his early 20's and grew it to the point that he was a multi-millionaire several times over and never had to work again. "Oh, my." I said. Very impressive!
We had a wonderful time together and I walked him to his hotel. It was very fancy. The doorman knew him by name. A few days later my date, still in town, asked me out again. I of course said yes. This time we had dinner which was a little sexier.
A few hours passed like minutes. The conversation was easy and fun. We got along very well and were each excited by the prospect of spending even more time together, though I had no idea how. When my date felt comfortable, he finally began telling me how things could work out between us with our long-distance issue. He told me how the rest of my life would play out. Wait...the rest of my life? Was he serious? I knew him for a few hours and he was telling me what to do? I really liked him and I was so curious that I gave him the benefit of the doubt, shut my mouth and listened anyway.
He said I would move to Maine with my daughter and pets and he would take care of me. Maine? Really? Maine is cold and there is nothing to do there. I let him go on. I would abandon my business, he said, so I would be free to travel with him wherever he would like to go. Ok, I love traveling but give up my business?! And what about where I want to go? We would have live-in help to take care of the house, animals and my daughter. Um...I want to raise my daughter and she also has a father who she sees several times per week. My daughter's father and my family all live in NY. He went on to say that I could fly back to NY whenever I wanted to as money was no object so my daughter could see her family here. However, every other week we would spend at his second home in Costa Rica and my daughter could come when she is on vacation from school. We could also travel other places, he said. How gracious of him. This is not...he interrupted my thoughts. He said, "Listen, this is my dream. I can give you an extraordinary life. If you don't want it just tell me. I am looking for a woman to fit into my dream. " I want, I need, I see, I think, I have to, I, I, I...
...I said, "No, thank you."
Friday, November 19, 2010
Real Life Ghost Story
This is a strange story but it is 100% true. And it was the most bizarre experience of my entire life.
The year was 2007. We had just moved into our home. It was a beautiful manor by the sea, built in 1906. It is the kind of house that takes your breath away; a stately white Victorian with a 75' long front porch. The previous owners had told us the house was haunted (after we bought it) but we didn't believe it. They seemed a little odd for saying that. But they did say that the spirits were respectful. We giggled and moved on.
The house had been neglected for quite some time and so with my redesign skills and an itch to create something beautiful I immediately got to work.
The house had a small staircase to the third floor that led to a very odd, small door marking the entrance. You would imagine opening the door to find a cramped attic space but there was actually an enormous room up there; an entire third story.
The room was dark and dank with dated paneling that had been applied to the walls circa 1950 and a green linoleum floor that was cracked and well, a not so pleasing shade of avocado. There were remnants of an old billiards table (stains and dents on the floor) and some creepy dangling fluorescent light fixtures, a giant cast iron radiator and a steel storage closet. We were thinking of turning the space into a playroom for our daughter. To go from creepy to cheerful would take some effort. This was going to be a project!
The first step was getting heat up there. The old clunker of a radiator didn't work anymore. We opted for a gas fireplace to supply heat which then led us to creating a theater area with a retractable movie screen over the fireplace.
The previous owners didn't touch the house in the 17 years they were living there. Everything was left exactly the same as the way they found it. We, on the other hand, wanted to update the house a bit and make it more functional, not knowing, of course, what was in store.
The steel storage closet had to be removed in order to fit the new bathroom, wet bar and office area. Once the closet was gone, we realized that the ceiling could be vaulted. When the ceiling was removed, a 15' high roofline was revealed and evidence of a previous fire was obvious with burnt shingles and missing and damaged support beams. My uncle, a master plumber, also uncovered an old abandoned gas pipe that had been coming up from the floor. It had been cut for some reason.
One day, shortly after the renovation was completed, my daughter, who was 2 years old at the time, was on the third floor playing with her dad. She suddenly screamed and became terribly frightened of something. Her dad asked her what was wrong and she said, "I'm scared of the light!" She saw a light in the corner of the room and she had to leave immediately. She was so scared she couldn't even be in the room. Kind of strange but not a huge deal.
The next time they were up there she said that she saw a little girl in the room and the girl was telling her that she wasn't allowed to play there. The girl said, "This was my pretty play closet and now it's your bathroom and I don't like it! You can't play up here. LEAVE!" Now, my daughter was 18 months old when that closet was there and now she was two. Could she really be making this stuff up? I didn't believe it so I ignored it.
My daughter continued to be scared of the third floor. She would wake up every morning at exactly 3:30 AM on the dot (Did I say "on the dot?" So creepy!) and she would be screaming that someone was in her room being mean to her and scaring her. She also heard children running and playing upstairs very frequently when no one else was in the house. It became worse and worse to the point that none of us could function on a healthy level but I didn't know what to do.
A few months had gone by and out of desperation we sought the help and advice of a Ghost Hunter. Really? I couldn't even believe what we were doing but we had to do something to help our child or go to an asylum. The ghost hunter, a lovely medium named Joe Giaquinto, came over with a team of investigators and they took pictures, videos and audio recordings. It was to no avail. There was no concrete evidence. They held a seance and asked the spirit of the house to leave.
The next day stranger things started happening. And over the course of the next couple of months we experienced unexplained noises, countless things in the house were breaking, power outages, electrical problems, floods, sparks, you name it. And my daughter was getting worse. She was now seeing a little girl AND a little boy. Their names were Kimberly and Aidan and they apparently had been burned because she told me that their faces were black and looked melted. Oh, my! We had evidence of a fire and an abandoned gas pipe and here my almost 3 year old is telling me that two little burned children are living up there and are angry that we changed the room. I called Joe back. Joe explained to me that sometimes things get worse after a medium speaks to the spirits and he should come back for a second seance so we scheduled it immediately.
This time a woman named Mary joined Joe and his team. Mary is also a medium and she acted as the team leader that day. Fourteen of us gathered around the dining room table and held hands as Mary spoke to the spirit. Mary asked the spirit to use the chandelier above us as a form of communication. "Blink the lights twice for yes and once for no," she said. And fourteen of us sat back and watched in amazement as Mary asked the spirits of the house questions and they "answered" us with blinking the chandelier. The spirit who came forth was Aidan, the little boy. He said he lived in the house a long time ago and he was angry that we were there and made changes to the house. Mary told Aidan that he didn't have to leave but he had to respect that my daughter was frightened of him and this house was now her physical home so, "Aidan?" She asked. "Please do not show yourself to the family who lives in this house. Let them dwell here in peace." And from that day on nothing strange ever happened in that house ever again.
The year was 2007. We had just moved into our home. It was a beautiful manor by the sea, built in 1906. It is the kind of house that takes your breath away; a stately white Victorian with a 75' long front porch. The previous owners had told us the house was haunted (after we bought it) but we didn't believe it. They seemed a little odd for saying that. But they did say that the spirits were respectful. We giggled and moved on.
The house had been neglected for quite some time and so with my redesign skills and an itch to create something beautiful I immediately got to work.
The house had a small staircase to the third floor that led to a very odd, small door marking the entrance. You would imagine opening the door to find a cramped attic space but there was actually an enormous room up there; an entire third story.
The room was dark and dank with dated paneling that had been applied to the walls circa 1950 and a green linoleum floor that was cracked and well, a not so pleasing shade of avocado. There were remnants of an old billiards table (stains and dents on the floor) and some creepy dangling fluorescent light fixtures, a giant cast iron radiator and a steel storage closet. We were thinking of turning the space into a playroom for our daughter. To go from creepy to cheerful would take some effort. This was going to be a project!
The first step was getting heat up there. The old clunker of a radiator didn't work anymore. We opted for a gas fireplace to supply heat which then led us to creating a theater area with a retractable movie screen over the fireplace.
The previous owners didn't touch the house in the 17 years they were living there. Everything was left exactly the same as the way they found it. We, on the other hand, wanted to update the house a bit and make it more functional, not knowing, of course, what was in store.
The steel storage closet had to be removed in order to fit the new bathroom, wet bar and office area. Once the closet was gone, we realized that the ceiling could be vaulted. When the ceiling was removed, a 15' high roofline was revealed and evidence of a previous fire was obvious with burnt shingles and missing and damaged support beams. My uncle, a master plumber, also uncovered an old abandoned gas pipe that had been coming up from the floor. It had been cut for some reason.
The next time they were up there she said that she saw a little girl in the room and the girl was telling her that she wasn't allowed to play there. The girl said, "This was my pretty play closet and now it's your bathroom and I don't like it! You can't play up here. LEAVE!" Now, my daughter was 18 months old when that closet was there and now she was two. Could she really be making this stuff up? I didn't believe it so I ignored it.
My daughter continued to be scared of the third floor. She would wake up every morning at exactly 3:30 AM on the dot (Did I say "on the dot?" So creepy!) and she would be screaming that someone was in her room being mean to her and scaring her. She also heard children running and playing upstairs very frequently when no one else was in the house. It became worse and worse to the point that none of us could function on a healthy level but I didn't know what to do.
A few months had gone by and out of desperation we sought the help and advice of a Ghost Hunter. Really? I couldn't even believe what we were doing but we had to do something to help our child or go to an asylum. The ghost hunter, a lovely medium named Joe Giaquinto, came over with a team of investigators and they took pictures, videos and audio recordings. It was to no avail. There was no concrete evidence. They held a seance and asked the spirit of the house to leave.
The next day stranger things started happening. And over the course of the next couple of months we experienced unexplained noises, countless things in the house were breaking, power outages, electrical problems, floods, sparks, you name it. And my daughter was getting worse. She was now seeing a little girl AND a little boy. Their names were Kimberly and Aidan and they apparently had been burned because she told me that their faces were black and looked melted. Oh, my! We had evidence of a fire and an abandoned gas pipe and here my almost 3 year old is telling me that two little burned children are living up there and are angry that we changed the room. I called Joe back. Joe explained to me that sometimes things get worse after a medium speaks to the spirits and he should come back for a second seance so we scheduled it immediately.
This time a woman named Mary joined Joe and his team. Mary is also a medium and she acted as the team leader that day. Fourteen of us gathered around the dining room table and held hands as Mary spoke to the spirit. Mary asked the spirit to use the chandelier above us as a form of communication. "Blink the lights twice for yes and once for no," she said. And fourteen of us sat back and watched in amazement as Mary asked the spirits of the house questions and they "answered" us with blinking the chandelier. The spirit who came forth was Aidan, the little boy. He said he lived in the house a long time ago and he was angry that we were there and made changes to the house. Mary told Aidan that he didn't have to leave but he had to respect that my daughter was frightened of him and this house was now her physical home so, "Aidan?" She asked. "Please do not show yourself to the family who lives in this house. Let them dwell here in peace." And from that day on nothing strange ever happened in that house ever again.
One Great Reason to Hire a Designer
Did you know that interior designers get insider pricing on things like furniture and accessories, tile, flooring, kitchen and bath cabinetry and fixtures, wallpaper, fabric and more?
A good designer will have accounts set up with many manufacturers of luxury and everyday items and will very often pass the savings along to their clients. Even with paying an hourly rate to your designer for shopping services you will save a ton of money, and if you need to furnish an entire room or a whole house you will save thousands of dollars!
And with so much business being done over the internet your designer doesn't even have to live in your area. Most manufacturers will accept the order from your designer and will ship directly to you. If there is something you are interested in buying, it's worth a quick call to a designer to see if they can save you some money by purchasing it for you.
Check out this example:
This unbelievably gorgeous chandelier retails for $6500.
Online "discount" retailers sell it for $5720. I was able to obtain it for my client for $3700.
That's a savings of $2,000 on just one item!!!
Here are just a few of the manufacturers with whom I work:
Wallpaper: thibautdesign.com
Home Furnishings: duralee.com http://www.sofastyler.com/default.asp?strBrand=10 curreyandcompany.com
Lighting: www.curreyandcompany.com cyandesign.biz www.elementsathome.com
Tile: www.cancos.com
Many designer manufacturers have password encoded websites that are only available to those in the business so if there is something you need for your home ask your designer to do some research, send you photos and happy shopping!
A good designer will have accounts set up with many manufacturers of luxury and everyday items and will very often pass the savings along to their clients. Even with paying an hourly rate to your designer for shopping services you will save a ton of money, and if you need to furnish an entire room or a whole house you will save thousands of dollars!
And with so much business being done over the internet your designer doesn't even have to live in your area. Most manufacturers will accept the order from your designer and will ship directly to you. If there is something you are interested in buying, it's worth a quick call to a designer to see if they can save you some money by purchasing it for you.
Check out this example:
This unbelievably gorgeous chandelier retails for $6500.
Online "discount" retailers sell it for $5720. I was able to obtain it for my client for $3700.
That's a savings of $2,000 on just one item!!!
Here are just a few of the manufacturers with whom I work:
Wallpaper: thibautdesign.com
Home Furnishings: duralee.com http://www.sofastyler.com/default.asp?strBrand=10 curreyandcompany.com
Lighting: www.curreyandcompany.com cyandesign.biz www.elementsathome.com
Tile: www.cancos.com
Many designer manufacturers have password encoded websites that are only available to those in the business so if there is something you need for your home ask your designer to do some research, send you photos and happy shopping!
Ballard Designs Discount Furnishings and Accessories
Choose anything from Ballard Designs and enjoy a 10% discount by placing your order through me at ReDesign for a Dime.
www.ballarddesigns.com
Contact info available on my website www.redesignforadime.com
www.ballarddesigns.com
Contact info available on my website www.redesignforadime.com
Cheap and Chic Chair Makeover
We all get tired of our decor from time to time and wish we had the money to update our spaces. One thing I love to do is to take items homeowners already have and repurpose or rework them.
Here is a tired, dated chair. The fabric is ripped and worn and the legs are all scratched up. The frame is in good condition and the chair is very comfortable. No need to toss it into the trash. Let's get creative!
I found an inexpensive designer throw (blanket) at an outlet store. I tossed the throw over the chair and tucked it in. I then added a fabulous ruffled pillow for color and added texture and voila!
A new look! Here it is in the space which was formerly an empty corner:
Here is a tired, dated chair. The fabric is ripped and worn and the legs are all scratched up. The frame is in good condition and the chair is very comfortable. No need to toss it into the trash. Let's get creative!
I found an inexpensive designer throw (blanket) at an outlet store. I tossed the throw over the chair and tucked it in. I then added a fabulous ruffled pillow for color and added texture and voila!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Kids and Their Chicken Fingers
I hear it all the time, "I can't get my kid to eat anything but chicken fingers, hot dogs or pizza." And you can substitute those for cheeseburgers, Trix, Goldfish or whatever junk food you can think of.
First off, is your child working, making the money required to buy his/her own food? Is your child driving to the store or restaurant himself/herself? I tend to think the answer is no to both of those questions. Now that we have that settled, please admit that your child is eating what you are offering. How about not offering unhealthy choices? Now that is a concept. If your child never had a chicken finger or a hot dog maybe he/she wouldn't know the difference.
Now, I am not a drill sergeant so I do give my daughter treats but they are truly treats. I tell my daughter that she will not grow if she doesn't eat healthy foods. We make fun of people eating unhealthy foods saying that they will soon be sick. It is a subtle brainwashing but it works. And I also eat healthy foods in front of her (as well as behind her back) because learning by example is the best way to get through.
I have a lot to say on this topic but I will just share one little tip right now I learned from my mom. Thanks, Mom! Most of us aren't ready for a complete lifestyle overhaul so, baby steps...
Most kids are afraid to try new foods, especially veggies. One thing I found that really works: pick a healthy vegetable, whether it be broccoli, spinach, cauliflower or whatever you like. Make some pasta and throw some of this vegetable in the boiling pasta water about 3 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain as usual. Throw the veggies in the blender and then add them to your sauce, saving one or two whole pieces per person. The pureed veggies will be so well hidden that your child will probably not notice them. Then take your whole pieces of this vegetable and place a couple on everyone's plate. Your child will most likely not take a bite if they are not a good veggie eater and no need to fight about it. You eat it off your child's plate and tell them how it's so delicious and they are really missing out. By seeing this vegetable and noting your reaction, by them eating it without knowing it; by it becoming not so foreign, weird, gross, your child will eventually at least taste it. I swear. And that is a good start!
Try these healthy whole grain pastas. Much more fiber and nutrition than your overly processed white flour varieties. Baby steps!
First off, is your child working, making the money required to buy his/her own food? Is your child driving to the store or restaurant himself/herself? I tend to think the answer is no to both of those questions. Now that we have that settled, please admit that your child is eating what you are offering. How about not offering unhealthy choices? Now that is a concept. If your child never had a chicken finger or a hot dog maybe he/she wouldn't know the difference.
Now, I am not a drill sergeant so I do give my daughter treats but they are truly treats. I tell my daughter that she will not grow if she doesn't eat healthy foods. We make fun of people eating unhealthy foods saying that they will soon be sick. It is a subtle brainwashing but it works. And I also eat healthy foods in front of her (as well as behind her back) because learning by example is the best way to get through.
I have a lot to say on this topic but I will just share one little tip right now I learned from my mom. Thanks, Mom! Most of us aren't ready for a complete lifestyle overhaul so, baby steps...
Most kids are afraid to try new foods, especially veggies. One thing I found that really works: pick a healthy vegetable, whether it be broccoli, spinach, cauliflower or whatever you like. Make some pasta and throw some of this vegetable in the boiling pasta water about 3 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain as usual. Throw the veggies in the blender and then add them to your sauce, saving one or two whole pieces per person. The pureed veggies will be so well hidden that your child will probably not notice them. Then take your whole pieces of this vegetable and place a couple on everyone's plate. Your child will most likely not take a bite if they are not a good veggie eater and no need to fight about it. You eat it off your child's plate and tell them how it's so delicious and they are really missing out. By seeing this vegetable and noting your reaction, by them eating it without knowing it; by it becoming not so foreign, weird, gross, your child will eventually at least taste it. I swear. And that is a good start!
Try these healthy whole grain pastas. Much more fiber and nutrition than your overly processed white flour varieties. Baby steps!
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Cheap Cure for Flat Hair and The Best Hair Brush on the Market
Hair is dead. Let's face it. Nothing you do will truly revive your hair. There are no expensive salon products that will give you "healthy hair." The good news is there are a few things you can do to make your thin or tired hair look better and you don't have to spend a ton of money. Most products are about packaging, marketing and fragrance over quality or active ingredients so go for the cheap stuff. I have some recommendations below that really work and won't hurt your pocketbook.
One thing to try- give your colorist and you hair a break and go natural. It might take an appointment or two to get back to your birth color but every once in while your hair needs a rest and you will actually look younger. Save money, look younger, all good!
I digress...Flat hair is usually caused by the natural oils produced by the scalp and the products we use might even be making it worse. so let's get that scalp super-clean.
For a deep clean, try Pantene's clarifying shampoo. Use it about once a week. This will get rid of oils or product residue and deeply cleanses your scalp. While shampooing, concentrate more on your scalp than your hair- really scrub it to get rid of any dry or dead skin. Dead cells clog pores which inhibits hair growth.
One thing to try- give your colorist and you hair a break and go natural. It might take an appointment or two to get back to your birth color but every once in while your hair needs a rest and you will actually look younger. Save money, look younger, all good!
I digress...Flat hair is usually caused by the natural oils produced by the scalp and the products we use might even be making it worse. so let's get that scalp super-clean.
Shampoo
For a deep clean, try Pantene's clarifying shampoo. Use it about once a week. This will get rid of oils or product residue and deeply cleanses your scalp. While shampooing, concentrate more on your scalp than your hair- really scrub it to get rid of any dry or dead skin. Dead cells clog pores which inhibits hair growth.
Conditioner
should only be applied to the ends of your hair. It is really only for detangling. If you have no tangles, try going sans conditioner which might give you enough volume so you don't need volumizer- no need to spend extra bucks.
This conditioner by Suave is very economical at $2.00, gets out all the tangles and smells great:
The Best and Last Hairbrush You Will Ever Buy
This brush by Mason Pearson has been around since the 1860's and there's a reason. It works. It gets the knots out painlessly and it lasts forever, literally. Mine is 9 years old and still looks brand new. Every good hair stylist owns this brush.
Kids have tangles?
Avoid fights by brushing the bottom of the hair first. Think about a rope with a knot in it. You wouldn't start from the top and rip downward. That's what we're doing if we're brushing hair from the top down. Starting at the bottom and working your way up in sections is much less ouchy. This product from Suave works great on kids and helps with the knots. It is a shampoo, conditioner and body wash all in one so a real cash-saver! If you should need extra conditioner for big knots, use the Suave Naturals I mentioned above and only apply to the ends.
Dating Horror Story #4
I was taking an acting class at Nassau Community College. It was pretty boring so my mind often wandered. There was a guy in my class who was a few years younger than I was and he was pretty cute. He was the brooding, mysterious type; kind of a rebel which made him all the more appealing. He asked me out one day and I said yes. He asked if I could come to him. Now, I like chivalry and all that (very much) but I can be a modern girl at the same time so I agreed. No problem.
We sat in his dark basement bedroom and listened to music and talked for hours. It was really nice. I liked him a lot. He was a deep thinker and very, very cute. He asked me out again and I of course accepted. He wanted me to come to him again. Really? I thought maybe we could go and grab dinner or something but I didn't question it. We, again, had a really nice time and had the beginnings of a good relationship. I felt really happy and hopeful and the feelings were mutual.
We hung out a few more times and each time he asked me to come over his house. Now, we were in college and didn't have much money so I didn't question it for about a month but one day I said, "Listen, I love hanging out with you but maybe we can take a ride to the beach, see a movie or grab a bite to eat?" To which he replied, "Um, I would love to but I can't. I'm actually...um, I can't go out right now. That's all."
I pressed away until he finally caved in and told me the truth. I just giggled thinking about it. He was not only a broke college student but he was also under house arrest so he was only legally allowed to leave the house to go to school!!! For what crime, you might ask? I thought maybe he had some unpaid traffic tickets or something, but no. He held up a clerk at gunpoint at his local Subway sandwich shop and stole all the money in the register. He lived around the block and there were security cameras so he got caught. I was dating an armed robber and not such a smart one at that...no more. That was our final date.
We sat in his dark basement bedroom and listened to music and talked for hours. It was really nice. I liked him a lot. He was a deep thinker and very, very cute. He asked me out again and I of course accepted. He wanted me to come to him again. Really? I thought maybe we could go and grab dinner or something but I didn't question it. We, again, had a really nice time and had the beginnings of a good relationship. I felt really happy and hopeful and the feelings were mutual.
We hung out a few more times and each time he asked me to come over his house. Now, we were in college and didn't have much money so I didn't question it for about a month but one day I said, "Listen, I love hanging out with you but maybe we can take a ride to the beach, see a movie or grab a bite to eat?" To which he replied, "Um, I would love to but I can't. I'm actually...um, I can't go out right now. That's all."
I pressed away until he finally caved in and told me the truth. I just giggled thinking about it. He was not only a broke college student but he was also under house arrest so he was only legally allowed to leave the house to go to school!!! For what crime, you might ask? I thought maybe he had some unpaid traffic tickets or something, but no. He held up a clerk at gunpoint at his local Subway sandwich shop and stole all the money in the register. He lived around the block and there were security cameras so he got caught. I was dating an armed robber and not such a smart one at that...no more. That was our final date.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Cinnabon, Anyone?
How do we all feel when we walk into a mall and smell fresh cinnamon buns? Well, studies show that men get turned on, so let's turn up the heat a bit and warm up those buns. Hahahahahaha!
The Best Perfume
We all know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? Well, this translates to perfumes. Studies show that men are attracted to women that smell like food. Well, before you go searching for "Eau de Bacon Cheeseburger", consider these amazing scents from Comptoir Sud Pacifique. This French perfumer uses the highest quality fragrance ingredients available and it is by far the best perfume I have ever bought. Strangers constantly compliment me on how good I smell. Yum!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Kick-Start Your Weight Loss
A bunch of you have asked me how I lost my weight and how I continue to keep it off. I have mentioned this cereal to those of you who have been interested in the nitty gritty details.
Fiber One's original formula contains 57% of your daily fiber needs and the Honey Clusters formula contains 51%. Either of these cereals is a great way to cleanse your body naturally without chemicals and without flushing your system, which actually dehydrates you and can be quite dangerous.
Increasing the fiber in your diet actually cleans the cilia in your colon. Doing this not only promotes weight loss and healthy body function but it also can help prevent diseases that stem from having plaque build-up in your colon.
After two weeks of eating a bowl of this cereal with skim milk every morning within 30 minutes of waking you should drop a clothing size. This was the first step I took in my weight loss program and I went from a size 10 to a size 8 in two weeks without making any other changes in my diet or exercise regimen.
It worked for me. It worked so well that this cereal has been my breakfast every morning since March of 2010. Try it and see how you do. And please, let me know!
Fiber One's original formula contains 57% of your daily fiber needs and the Honey Clusters formula contains 51%. Either of these cereals is a great way to cleanse your body naturally without chemicals and without flushing your system, which actually dehydrates you and can be quite dangerous.
Increasing the fiber in your diet actually cleans the cilia in your colon. Doing this not only promotes weight loss and healthy body function but it also can help prevent diseases that stem from having plaque build-up in your colon.
It worked for me. It worked so well that this cereal has been my breakfast every morning since March of 2010. Try it and see how you do. And please, let me know!
Friday, November 12, 2010
My Brief Life As A Valet
The year was 1991.
In an attempt to make some pocket change while in the process of finding myself I applied for a waitress position at TGIFriday's in Rockville Centre. I didn't know that you needed ton of experience and had to pass these crazy tests to work there. I had no waitressing experience at this point so my interview didn't go so well. As the manager was letting the door hit me in the a** one of the valet guys approached me and said that his company was hiring so I made a phone call, had an interview in the parking lot a few minutes later and got the job. I was elated. A job; any job was great news and especially one that offered so much in cash. Singles to hand directly to John Matarazzo at Paddy McGee's? Awesome. John was a legendary bartender there. He made all the girls swoon. Ah, money. :-)
One night a car sped into the parking lot, zipped around the curve and pulled right into one of the reserved spots up front. It was a Ferrari, if I remember correctly. Ferraris, Lambourghinis and Porsches always got the good spots but we were supposed to park them. Anyway, out stepped this tall drink of man. He was very handsome, muscular and 6' 793" or at least that's how tall he seemed to me at 20 years old and 5' 3". Larger than life he was. Thick, blonde hair, piercing blue eyes and oh, my!
Just as I was catching my breath, I looked over at the guys I was working with and this giant of a man had the same effect on them. They were just as giddy and excited as I was. It turned out that this Goliath was a New York Jet and a famous one at that. I was singing show tunes in my spare time. I didn't know.
About an hour went by, customers came and went, the valet boys and I chit-chatted away as usual. This New York Jet guy came out of Friday's, bombed out of his MIND. He was sloppy and practically falling over. He came over to give one of the guys a tip for watching his car and...scooped me up, flipped me over his shoulder like a rag doll, threw me into his car, locked the door, and drove away with me. Swear to Allah.
I quickly looked around his car to see if there were things like hacksaws or tire irons because my mind was racing and at the time I was watching way too much TV but all I saw were empty vodka bottles and beer cans. Wait...all I saw? That was pretty scary too. He had a vodka cranberry in a Solo cup in his cup holder and offered me a sip. I said a polite, "No, thanks" and then I asked him where he was taking me. He said, "Don't worry about it." I started crying and demanding that he take me back to work. He just laughed and sped down Sunrise Highway headed East at more than 90 miles per hour. I became insistent that he take me back. I began yelling at him and crying even more. He became so sick of hearing me whine that he made an illegal U-turn over the divider and promptly dumped me where he found me, unscathed.
The guys were impressed. They thought it was the best thing ever.
To this day I still have no idea who he was. If anyone out there knows, let me know. Haha!
Maybe I needed this?
In an attempt to make some pocket change while in the process of finding myself I applied for a waitress position at TGIFriday's in Rockville Centre. I didn't know that you needed ton of experience and had to pass these crazy tests to work there. I had no waitressing experience at this point so my interview didn't go so well. As the manager was letting the door hit me in the a** one of the valet guys approached me and said that his company was hiring so I made a phone call, had an interview in the parking lot a few minutes later and got the job. I was elated. A job; any job was great news and especially one that offered so much in cash. Singles to hand directly to John Matarazzo at Paddy McGee's? Awesome. John was a legendary bartender there. He made all the girls swoon. Ah, money. :-)
One night a car sped into the parking lot, zipped around the curve and pulled right into one of the reserved spots up front. It was a Ferrari, if I remember correctly. Ferraris, Lambourghinis and Porsches always got the good spots but we were supposed to park them. Anyway, out stepped this tall drink of man. He was very handsome, muscular and 6' 793" or at least that's how tall he seemed to me at 20 years old and 5' 3". Larger than life he was. Thick, blonde hair, piercing blue eyes and oh, my!
Just as I was catching my breath, I looked over at the guys I was working with and this giant of a man had the same effect on them. They were just as giddy and excited as I was. It turned out that this Goliath was a New York Jet and a famous one at that. I was singing show tunes in my spare time. I didn't know.
About an hour went by, customers came and went, the valet boys and I chit-chatted away as usual. This New York Jet guy came out of Friday's, bombed out of his MIND. He was sloppy and practically falling over. He came over to give one of the guys a tip for watching his car and...scooped me up, flipped me over his shoulder like a rag doll, threw me into his car, locked the door, and drove away with me. Swear to Allah.
I quickly looked around his car to see if there were things like hacksaws or tire irons because my mind was racing and at the time I was watching way too much TV but all I saw were empty vodka bottles and beer cans. Wait...all I saw? That was pretty scary too. He had a vodka cranberry in a Solo cup in his cup holder and offered me a sip. I said a polite, "No, thanks" and then I asked him where he was taking me. He said, "Don't worry about it." I started crying and demanding that he take me back to work. He just laughed and sped down Sunrise Highway headed East at more than 90 miles per hour. I became insistent that he take me back. I began yelling at him and crying even more. He became so sick of hearing me whine that he made an illegal U-turn over the divider and promptly dumped me where he found me, unscathed.
The guys were impressed. They thought it was the best thing ever.
To this day I still have no idea who he was. If anyone out there knows, let me know. Haha!
Maybe I needed this?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Dating Horror Story #3 (with some back story)
I was 20 years old. I was living the high life. I had never loved school but mom said college was a must so attended Syracuse University for a year, froze my butt off and came running home. I then headed to AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in NYC where I did very well and I graduated and got an agent who told me I would be a soap opera star. I auditioned for a whole bunch of commercials and TV shows including All My Children and I was considered for the part Sarah Michelle Geller eventually won (damn that SMG) but only got one job in a Fedex commercial. I didn't realize being an overnight success in the entertainment business actually took 10 years so I did what any red-blooded actress does; I became a waitress.
I was the most god-awful waitress. I spilled things on customers (constantly) and forgot who wanted more bread and who needed a menu; I placed orders incorrectly and would forget when people said things like, "Can you make sure it's decaf? I have a heart condition." The fact that no one died while in my care is, well, lucky on my part. Once a woman asked me for more gravy and instead of pouring it on her prime rib I poured it directly onto the lap of her blue silk dress. I swear. I was just so nervous!
I was waitressing and going out to Mulcahy's, Chauncey's, Paddy McGee's and the like after work every single night with Janine Murphy. We were trying to meet men to save us from ourselves. Janine and I didn't realize at the time how much self-esteem we got from working and being self-sufficient. Anywho, one night (yes, I said "one night") we met this group of older guys who were extremely wealthy, educated, polished and extremely attractive. The best-looking guy exchanged numbers with me. Oh, my. He looked like Ron Reagan Jr. except much, much cuter. But the hair was equally as swoopy and adorable. He flew planes as a hobby. He, um, owned his own plane. He was fun to talk to and well, needless to say, I was more than excited to go out with him. Did ya hear about the plane? Wow.
We made plans for that Saturday night. I had to work the lunch shift but I knew I could run home, do a quick change and be ready for him to pick me up in time for us to make the movie we had planned to see so I, of course, accepted.
I raced home from work, showered, did hair and makeup as if possessed by the powers of some ungodly being. I looked good. :-) But now- what to wear? I had forgotten I had thrown all of my sexy little T-shirts in the wash. Oh, my. When I got to the laundry room I realized that I had forgotten to put my clothes in the dryer. Literally every summer shirt I owned had been sitting in the washer for...gulp...was it two days? Three? It was August. We had no air conditioning. It was humid. I had no time for these thoughts. He was coming in 10 minutes! My dream man! Must not be late! I quickly picked one shirt and threw it in the dryer. I ran up, brushed my teeth, put on a pair of hot jeans and high heeled sandals and raced back down to get my shirt, which was still wet. And with all of this running around with no air conditioning I was sweating like a wrestler trying to make weight.
The doorbell rang. I wiped the sweat from my nose and took a deep breath. I opened the door. He looked so handsome and was so polite to me and my mom. He opened the car door for me. We started driving and I started...reeking!!! Oh my God. I smelled so bad; like a rotten, stinking, dying, moldy carcass. Like feet mixed with death. I began sweating more because I was so nervous. My face was drenched. He asked me if I was okay. I mumbled as I opened my window and began fanning myself. Wait- fanning made it worse. Oh my God. He didn't know I didn't smell like this all the time. He only met me when he was drunk in a crowded bar. He thought this is how I smell when I sweat. I was so mortified that I couldn't even say one word to him. This is the man I'm supposed to marry and I'm speechless AND odiferous.
Well, I never got up the courage to tell him what happened and he went on throughout his life thinking that I stink. He never called me again. So, Mike Boosin, if you're out there, for the record, I don't have B.O. There, I said it. I feel better now.
I was the most god-awful waitress. I spilled things on customers (constantly) and forgot who wanted more bread and who needed a menu; I placed orders incorrectly and would forget when people said things like, "Can you make sure it's decaf? I have a heart condition." The fact that no one died while in my care is, well, lucky on my part. Once a woman asked me for more gravy and instead of pouring it on her prime rib I poured it directly onto the lap of her blue silk dress. I swear. I was just so nervous!
I was waitressing and going out to Mulcahy's, Chauncey's, Paddy McGee's and the like after work every single night with Janine Murphy. We were trying to meet men to save us from ourselves. Janine and I didn't realize at the time how much self-esteem we got from working and being self-sufficient. Anywho, one night (yes, I said "one night") we met this group of older guys who were extremely wealthy, educated, polished and extremely attractive. The best-looking guy exchanged numbers with me. Oh, my. He looked like Ron Reagan Jr. except much, much cuter. But the hair was equally as swoopy and adorable. He flew planes as a hobby. He, um, owned his own plane. He was fun to talk to and well, needless to say, I was more than excited to go out with him. Did ya hear about the plane? Wow.
We made plans for that Saturday night. I had to work the lunch shift but I knew I could run home, do a quick change and be ready for him to pick me up in time for us to make the movie we had planned to see so I, of course, accepted.
I raced home from work, showered, did hair and makeup as if possessed by the powers of some ungodly being. I looked good. :-) But now- what to wear? I had forgotten I had thrown all of my sexy little T-shirts in the wash. Oh, my. When I got to the laundry room I realized that I had forgotten to put my clothes in the dryer. Literally every summer shirt I owned had been sitting in the washer for...gulp...was it two days? Three? It was August. We had no air conditioning. It was humid. I had no time for these thoughts. He was coming in 10 minutes! My dream man! Must not be late! I quickly picked one shirt and threw it in the dryer. I ran up, brushed my teeth, put on a pair of hot jeans and high heeled sandals and raced back down to get my shirt, which was still wet. And with all of this running around with no air conditioning I was sweating like a wrestler trying to make weight.
The doorbell rang. I wiped the sweat from my nose and took a deep breath. I opened the door. He looked so handsome and was so polite to me and my mom. He opened the car door for me. We started driving and I started...reeking!!! Oh my God. I smelled so bad; like a rotten, stinking, dying, moldy carcass. Like feet mixed with death. I began sweating more because I was so nervous. My face was drenched. He asked me if I was okay. I mumbled as I opened my window and began fanning myself. Wait- fanning made it worse. Oh my God. He didn't know I didn't smell like this all the time. He only met me when he was drunk in a crowded bar. He thought this is how I smell when I sweat. I was so mortified that I couldn't even say one word to him. This is the man I'm supposed to marry and I'm speechless AND odiferous.
Well, I never got up the courage to tell him what happened and he went on throughout his life thinking that I stink. He never called me again. So, Mike Boosin, if you're out there, for the record, I don't have B.O. There, I said it. I feel better now.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Dating Horror Story #2
Once I was invited to brunch by a potential suitor. I wasn't excited about it but he seemed funny and funny is the best way to get in my pants. Sorry, Mom. I mean, to win my heart. So we made plans to meet at a restaurant on the east side of Manhattan. You figure on a Sunday there wouldn't be too much traffic but I live on Long Island and New York is a desirable place to go so it took me 2 hours to drive 25 miles. On to the juicy stuff...
So, I pee a lot. Those who know me well know this private little tidbit. It's one of the few things (okay, many things) keeping me from my unattainable goal of perfection. Needless to say, after 3 cups of coffee at home and two bottles of water on the way in, I was DYING!!!
I called my date and asked if we could meet downtown because I knew my bladder wouldn't hold the vast amount of liquids I has consumed so he mentioned a coffee shop in the East Village.
By the time I parked and walked there I was on the verge of tears but I politely met my date and ordered a coffee before seeking the bathroom. I asked the woman behind the counter if I could use her bathroom and she said, "We don't have one." I gulped and then a tear streamed down my face/ she told me to go to Whole Foods across the street. My date walked me there and waited outside.
By the time I navigated through the store and got back outside I had to turn around and face the traffic home in order to pick up my daughter. By the way, I was ravenous and the coffee shop he chose didn't serve food. It's a "coffee shop." Wink, wink.
He walked me to the garage. My bill was $4.75. I had $4.00 in cash on me. My date was polite enough to let me know where there was an ATM a few blocks away. He couldn't spot me 75 cents? Was he joking?!?! I would give 75 cents to a total stranger let alone someone I wanted to date. And he is a successful attorney with two offices. I say, "Oy!"
So, I pee a lot. Those who know me well know this private little tidbit. It's one of the few things (okay, many things) keeping me from my unattainable goal of perfection. Needless to say, after 3 cups of coffee at home and two bottles of water on the way in, I was DYING!!!
I called my date and asked if we could meet downtown because I knew my bladder wouldn't hold the vast amount of liquids I has consumed so he mentioned a coffee shop in the East Village.
By the time I parked and walked there I was on the verge of tears but I politely met my date and ordered a coffee before seeking the bathroom. I asked the woman behind the counter if I could use her bathroom and she said, "We don't have one." I gulped and then a tear streamed down my face/ she told me to go to Whole Foods across the street. My date walked me there and waited outside.
By the time I navigated through the store and got back outside I had to turn around and face the traffic home in order to pick up my daughter. By the way, I was ravenous and the coffee shop he chose didn't serve food. It's a "coffee shop." Wink, wink.
He walked me to the garage. My bill was $4.75. I had $4.00 in cash on me. My date was polite enough to let me know where there was an ATM a few blocks away. He couldn't spot me 75 cents? Was he joking?!?! I would give 75 cents to a total stranger let alone someone I wanted to date. And he is a successful attorney with two offices. I say, "Oy!"
Dating Horror Story #1
So, I went on a date in September of this year. A cute little place for lunch. My date was very manly and muscular, (check) very well-spoken (check) and well-groomed (check). He ordered a beer. Although I don't drink during the day I didn't judge and it further proved his manliness to me.
After about 15 minutes his beer started to kick in and he began to relax and be himself. Ah, good. No, wait! Bad! I came to realize he is actually gay, which I would normally love because I adore gay men but here I am trying to find Mr. Right.
To make matters worse, he was trying to make a deal with me to purchase my home which is in the process of a short sale. My home, which is so sad to me; a home I thought I would live in forever and create my dream life in, raise my daughter in and live happily ever after in. This guy actually made me pull up my listing on my phone and presented me with an offer, saying he would buy it, hold onto it for 3 years and then sell it for a profit.
The next day he sent the obligatory text which I assumed would say something like, "I had a nice time with you. Let's do it again." Oh, no! He instead said, "Do you think the bank would take 1 million?"
And so my search continues...
After about 15 minutes his beer started to kick in and he began to relax and be himself. Ah, good. No, wait! Bad! I came to realize he is actually gay, which I would normally love because I adore gay men but here I am trying to find Mr. Right.
To make matters worse, he was trying to make a deal with me to purchase my home which is in the process of a short sale. My home, which is so sad to me; a home I thought I would live in forever and create my dream life in, raise my daughter in and live happily ever after in. This guy actually made me pull up my listing on my phone and presented me with an offer, saying he would buy it, hold onto it for 3 years and then sell it for a profit.
The next day he sent the obligatory text which I assumed would say something like, "I had a nice time with you. Let's do it again." Oh, no! He instead said, "Do you think the bank would take 1 million?"
And so my search continues...
The Best Tweezer
We all, (yes, men I'm talking to you too!) have an unwanted hair or two or maybe in my case two hundred (hey, I'm Italiano) that seem to be, ahem...misplaced.
The Rubis slanted tweezer is by far the best one on the market. It never needs to be sharpened (sorry, Tweezerman) and it gets the teeniest little stubblies. This tweezer literally changed my life. Mine is 10 years old and still going strong. Share this with your friends and check it out!
The Rubis slanted tweezer is by far the best one on the market. It never needs to be sharpened (sorry, Tweezerman) and it gets the teeniest little stubblies. This tweezer literally changed my life. Mine is 10 years old and still going strong. Share this with your friends and check it out!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
How To Shrink Your Fat Cells
Since so many people have read this and even more of you have asked for private advice, I have decided to update it here and share my secrets. This is real, solid advice that can be helpful to people like myself who are always struggling with their weight.
If you read this in its entirety and just apply some of what I say to your daily life, you will increase your metabolism, you will lose weight and you will be healthier than you were before.
I have included a healthy eating guide as well as suggestions of specific foods to stock in your pantry and for those of you with excuses, there are direct links to foods to purchase so I don’t want to hear that you don’t know where to buy these things or that the health food store is too far away. Most of the supermarket is really garbage. As my mom always say, "Shop the perimeter." That is where the fruits and vegetables and healthy foods are. The middle with all the bags and boxes can be avoided. Just don't go. The Keebler Elves, although adorable, won't make you happy. I promise!
I have been on Atkins, Weight Watchers, The Grapefruit Diet, I have taken pills, juices, I have fasted and just about everything you could possibly imagine. Everything works, but for how long? So I would lose weight, look and feel great and then “go off my diet” and gain it right back.
The only way to keep weight in check is to not go on a diet. That’s right. No diet at all! Instead, change the way you eat. Change what you eat, how you eat , when you eat and you can change your life for good.
You will have to peek into your fridge, freezer and pantry and you might have to do a cleansing or purging. Some of the things many Americans always have on hand should just not be there. Healthier options exist but may be hard to find at your local grocery store. Instead, support your local health food store. Or, if you don’t have a health food store close to you, simply buy online. Stock up, make better choices and change your life. If you have healthy foods on hand, guess what? You will eat them!!
If you follow this way of eating you will never be hungry and you should lose 10 or more lbs in 2-3 weeks and up to 20 lbs in a month.
First things first. Get some sleep. Turn that TV off and get yourself to bed. When you wake up make sure you eat something right away, even if you’re not hungry. If you don’t eat within 30 minutes of waking up, your brain signals to your body that you are starving it and whatever you eat will be stored in your fat cells.
Does fat make you fat? Well, you are what you eat so…yes! But don’t buy fat free packaged/boxed/canned foods. Eat things that are naturally low in fat like fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, beans and whole grains.
The most important thing in the morning is to get a good amount of carbs and fiber into your body. You will fill up and you will have energy to get you going.
Drink plenty of water. I grab a bottle of water every time I leave the house. I also grab a high fiber energy bar and/or something else like nuts or fresh fruit. I never know when I’m going to get hungry and be stuck in traffic. I want to avoid the drive-thru! If I have food and water with me in my car there is no need to stop anywhere.
If I forgot to bring a snack and I’m in a hurry, I tend to go to a deli, a gas station or a 7-11 instead of a fast food joint. At least I can get an apple, an energy bar, a yogurt, nuts or even a low calorie turkey sandwich. These are all REAL food choices and are all much lower in calories and fat than anything else that’s equally as fast.
When you eat breakfast early, you get hungrier all day. Why? Because your body is processing what you eat. What to do? Eat…all day. Literally. Eating something every couple of hours is the best way to stabilize your blood sugar level, the best way for your metabolism to function and the best way to lose weight. It’s like a tune-up for your body!
What to eat:
REAL FOOD!! Though there are some healthy pre-packaged foods, you can toss most of your boxes, bags and cans into the donation pile. Call your local food pantry. There are so many people with nothing, do your part to help. Instead of stocking your pantry, how about your freezer? Frozen organic veggies are much healthier than those in cans. Healthy bread is hard to find so when you see some, stock up and put it in the freezer. A healthier bread is one that has 4 grams of fiber per serving at minimum and one that has no sugar or preservatives. READ INGREDIENT LABELS ON EVERYTHING YOU BUY! If you don’t recognize the ingredients it probably isn’t edible. Eat as many real, fresh foods as possible. And here we go:
Breakfast (within 20 minutes of waking up)
Fiber One Cereal with skim milk
Flavor & Fiber energy bar
Your favorite Fresh Fruits with a glass of skim milk, whole grain toast with jam
Egg whites with veggies (not potatoes!) and whole grain toast (not whole wheat)
Water
Snack
Yogurt
Fruit
Raw Almonds
Whole Grain Crackers
Whole Grain Pretzels
Hummus
Water
Lunch
Fresh chicken or turkey breast with fresh veggies and mustard on whole grain bread
Tuna with whole grain crackers
Soup with a whole grain roll
Any lean meat or fish with veggies and brown rice or whole wheat orzo
*Colorful Salad with chick peas or other legume and whole grain bread
Whole grain pasta with protein and/or veggies
**Take Two Tonalin CLA
Water or Unsweetened Tea (Try Stevia!)
Snack
Raw nuts
Banana
Shrimp cocktail
Low-Fat Granola
Low-Fat Granola
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Fresh Fruit
Water
Dinner
Fish, chicken, beef or any lean meat with vegetables
Salad with your protein of choice- the more colorful the salad the better- drizzle with olive oil and lemon, salt and pepper
Eat very little or no carbs at dinner
Eat very little or no carbs at dinner
**Take Two Tonalin CLA
Water
Dessert
Who needs dessert? You will be full! If you must, have a little fruit and yogurt or make your own ice pops out of fresh fruit.
Or have a glass of red wine!
Water
Exercise:
Yes, you need to move! I don’t care if you do crunches during commercial breaks or do some bicep curls while you’re waiting for your water to boil but do something. Ride your bike. Take a brisk walk. Run up and down your stairs. Weights are the best thing so if you can get to the gym or if you have weights at home, use them. Taking a leisurely stroll doesn’t count but anything helps. Get up off that sofa and get out of your desk chair!!
If you follow this for two weeks you should lose at least 5 lbs and maybe even 10-15. You will fit into your clothes better and may even go down a whole size or two. The best part is, if you eat this way you will not overeat at mealtime because you are snacking in between and you won’t be hungry enough to over-indulge. Although there is no measuring or weighing, try not to overload your plate, especially at dinner. After a few weeks you will notice your portions naturally decreasing.
Foods to Toss:
White Flour (including bread, bread crumbs, crackers, cookies, pretzels)
Sugar
Anything in a bag or a box except some whole grains or real food options such as healthy pastas, energy bars, spelt pretzels or nuts
Canned vegetables
Bottled salad dressings
Mayo
Butter
Bottled Drinks except water
Whole milk
Cheese (*you can add a little grating cheese to your pasta or salad)
Eat before you're hungry. Snack before dinner. Mom wasn't right. Spoil your dinner because anything you eat late at night will not be processed as well. Eating carbs in the morning and afternoon will help you cut down late night cravings. Drink water. Eat earlier. Eat real food. Move. Do it!
Here are a couple of things you can buy that can help you to lose weight. The rest is fresh food. Eat a colorful diet and feel better. :-)
**CLA is a natural acid found in meat and dairy products. The problem is we can't get enough in our bodies to have the effect that taking a concentrated amount can have. These pills are made from extracts of safflower, totally natural, no side effects except you are thinner!
Wood Floor Care
This is by far the best wood floor cleaner on the market. It's natural (baking soda, water and almond oil) and leaves your home smelling like cookies!! The Rubbermaid spray mop is fantastic as an applicator for Method's yummy cleaner. Eat off your floors!
Where to purchase the "good stuff"
All of these products are 100% natural and will nourish your skin. Apply to damp, towel-dried skin for best results and wait a few minutes before getting dressed. Your skin will never look or smell so good!
Mother's Special Blend is what I used during my pregnancy. It is completely natural and safe for mom and baby. It keeps the skin moisturized and promotes elasticity which helps in the prevention of stretch marks.
Mother's Special Blend is what I used during my pregnancy. It is completely natural and safe for mom and baby. It keeps the skin moisturized and promotes elasticity which helps in the prevention of stretch marks.
Basic Skin Care Tips
Great skin care doesn't come in a jar. Although I love my Creme de la Mer (hush now, don't tell anyone I spend that much money on face cream...well, one jar lasts a whole year so when you break it down...) you don't need to go crazy with all of these products everyone's always trying to sell you. There are a few simple things you can do and inexpensive products you can buy that will help your skin survive the winter.
Tip #1: DRINK WATER!!! Six 8 oz glasses/bottles per day will do the trick.
Tip #2: Don't take super hot showers no matter how chilly your house is and mine, built in 1918 complete with original doors and windows gets mighty drafty. Nevertheless, hot water dries out your skin.
Tip #3: Exfoliate. St. Ive's Apricot Scrub does the trick or just an old fashioned bath filled with Epsom Salt. "Did she just say, a bath? Who has time for that?" I know, I know. But its the best way to "slough" as they say. You can't moisturize dead skin, no matter how hard ya try. ;)
Tip #4: Use real moisturizers, not chemical-laden things. Cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, any nut oil, olive oil, or anything that you can eat is what your skin can eat as well. The petroleum stuff and lanolin crap (sorry- that might be my worst swear word) just sits on top of your skin and never is absorbed.
Tip #5: Have a lot of SEX. Oh, where did that come from? Well, having sex stimulates your circulation and gets your endorphins pumping, raises seratonin levels and all that good stuff so guess what? Your skin will look really great; especially if you're happy!! No sex? I know, me neither. :-( Okay, how about going to the gym? Working out gives your body the same effect as having sex and actually makes you feel happy. Do anything to improve your circulation, to get you all sweaty and nasty and then take a warm shower, oil up and do it again. You will never look so good!
Tip #1: DRINK WATER!!! Six 8 oz glasses/bottles per day will do the trick.
Tip #2: Don't take super hot showers no matter how chilly your house is and mine, built in 1918 complete with original doors and windows gets mighty drafty. Nevertheless, hot water dries out your skin.
Tip #3: Exfoliate. St. Ive's Apricot Scrub does the trick or just an old fashioned bath filled with Epsom Salt. "Did she just say, a bath? Who has time for that?" I know, I know. But its the best way to "slough" as they say. You can't moisturize dead skin, no matter how hard ya try. ;)
Tip #4: Use real moisturizers, not chemical-laden things. Cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, any nut oil, olive oil, or anything that you can eat is what your skin can eat as well. The petroleum stuff and lanolin crap (sorry- that might be my worst swear word) just sits on top of your skin and never is absorbed.
Tip #5: Have a lot of SEX. Oh, where did that come from? Well, having sex stimulates your circulation and gets your endorphins pumping, raises seratonin levels and all that good stuff so guess what? Your skin will look really great; especially if you're happy!! No sex? I know, me neither. :-( Okay, how about going to the gym? Working out gives your body the same effect as having sex and actually makes you feel happy. Do anything to improve your circulation, to get you all sweaty and nasty and then take a warm shower, oil up and do it again. You will never look so good!
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