Some goodwill around the holidays...

Fortunate one...

I am fortunate to have 3M in charge of the "media" decisions of the house. [I guess the term fortunate would be relative. For example, at 10pm on Monday nights when he won't turn over the remote to watch my one guilty pleasure, the one show I long to watch...then it's more of a curse...]

...anyways, if it weren't for him - I would have settled for the Comcast package rather than taking the Verizon Fios one when we moved in [In typical fashion, it's bit of a maverick idea, in the Red Bank area, at least].

I would have missed one of the most important NFL games of the season should we have gone with Comcast. The Jets are traveling up to New England to battle it out for first place in a key AFC East match-up. It's sad so many fans will have no choice but to miss the game.

So - what the heck, NFL network? Stop being such a monopoly. No one really likes that game anyways. It takes too damn long to finish and someone always cheats. Tons of people in the dirty Jerz are upset that they will be missing out on the game. Heck, even US senators are on board with giving the fans more access to their favorite teams!

Will there be any drama tonight, I wonder? Stay tuned: sports, it's the greatest reality show on tv. [Uh, maybe tied for the greatest with the Hills.]

Boomerayy...

Ok, maybe that's not the best play on words, but I've had a tough week and don't feel like being creative much right now.

But who knew that two of my loves [football and RR] would collide! During some downtime at work on Sunday, I opened the November issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray. There is a "how-to" column where a professional weighs in on their area of expertise. Who was it this month? BOOMER ESAISON on how to throw a perfect spiral! Not that I'm a huge fan of his [I don't quite 'get' him...he's a little egotistical and a little strange, like how he gushes over O.A.R..] but I was just ecstatic that two worlds played so nicely with one another!

Post-season accollades...

Congrats to David Wright and Carlos Beltran for earning their second and third respective golden glove awards. Quite an accomplishment given the number of decent third and center fielders in the game. If only for each golden glove a team received translated into a slash in the win column. Then the entire post-season script would have been rewritten and we would have celebrated as our team rode over the Verrazano bridge waving their bats to a Killers anthem. (Who, by the way, are coming to NYC January 25th.)


Oh well, there's always next year.

Wordless Wednesday...

Dear Santa,

Due to the nature of the corrupt leaders, businesses and people in recent times, I am led to believe that my own, personal actions over the past year qualify me to be a viable candidate for the "nice" list. Please consider my Christmas list, which can be found below. The items are in no particular order.

Should you have any problems with the files or have trouble locating any of the items, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you so much for your time and enjoy your day!
Shan

...updated for 2009, of course...

Love this...

I have to give a shout out to this mom blogger (who coincidentally is helping me out with work). Her blog is so funny [and organized] and very well-researched. I had to reference today's post to share with you [because, quite frankly, I didn't do this research and it includes some freebies! woo hoo!]...

Chefdruck Musings: Tasty Tuesday - Voting Edition

Chefdruck Musings: Tasty Tuesday - Voting Edition#links

In the spirit of the season (election season, that is)...

A house divided...

We made it through a rough heartbreaking baseball season. Fast forward to football season (nine weeks in now). I've learned very quickly that Sunday mornings are to be spent relaxed and relatively quiet. Don't disrupt 3M's thought process. Don't ask too many questions about anything. Just enjoy the company because in a few hours all hell will break loose. Expletives will fly and objects may be slammed and/or thrown. I've actually suggested that 3M visit the Smash Shack to let out his frustrations...sometimes he underestimates his strength as he slams down the butter knife onto my favorite purple plate. :(

You see, 3M is an avid Bills fan. Don't ask him how or why a native New Jersey-ian developed a passion for B-Lo, but he does. I think he enjoys the drama.

Today was a crucial game. AFC east rivals, my Jets versus his Bills. It was a sloppy game with turnovers and missed field goals; however, Brett and the boys pulled out a much-needed win. I don't think I'll gloat [too much].

Saturday haiku...

Foliage

sweater, jeans and boots

it's the perfect autumn day

to watch some football

Can I have "it's a small world after all" for $1000?...

You know that commercial where it shows people all over the nation - in the barber shop, at the local sports bar, in their own homes - yelling at the TV - "Marsupial!" only for the contestant to answer "what is a mammal"? Well a similar situation happened tonight. The answer in response to the category "Request" something like "my ring tone to this trio's hit song 'Bootylicious' just keeps me begging to hear the entire thing."

No one knew it. No one even guessed. No thumbs convulsing like crazy. Was there a cricket in the room, I wonder? But it's even more frustrating when you [sort of but not really at all] know the contestant. I was yelling like Edith could hear me - "Destiny's Child! C'mon you knooow this one, Edith! DC - Destiny's Child." I was telepathically unsuccessful at contacting her via the TV. She ended up fairing well, second place. She held her own. I think if she would have connected with me that would have been the turning point. The momentum would have then been in her court and she would be coming back to Alex tomorrow. Oh well. Most people can only hope for 15 minutes of fame and here she is with 22.

P.S. - The missing link here is 3M's former boss, the sports information director at Fordham University. Edith is his wife. Small world, eh?

Twitter me sparkly...

Twitter me! shanSparkles

Is it just me...

...or should the Mets have won the World Series?

A good friend of mine sent me this email response today: "Hey thaanks... At the paradwe! Whop whoopam talkt oy iu soon!"

I was quite jealous. #1 – because she was not at work but having a beer (or two…or three) and #2 – she was at the Phillie's phreakin parade and I was not at the Mets parade instead.

So let me be a good sport here and give a quick shout out to all my friends, colleagues and acquaintances who are basking in the success now of their favorite team (albeit they may have only begun to root for them a mere 72 hours ago). Enjoy it, savor it, wallow in it, if you will. You have finally broken out of the deep dark abyss Joe Carter created for you 15 years ago.

Welcome back!

I am back after quite a long hiatus and I must say – I missed you oh, blog-o-sphere. My pure laziness and lack of discipline has kept us apart.

Rule number one of blogging is consistency and that has been my number one fault. So thanks for checking back in and we’ll be talking soon and often. I promise.

:)

SO cute...

Love it:



Grab a hi'ya bunny of your own here...they are oh-so cute!

Wordless Wednesday...

Yes I realize it's Thursday...and these pics are from the summer...but I love them none-the-less!

...sorry babe, I had to...

...you can't tell, but we are sitting on butterfly chairs in a butterfly garden...

Labor Day weekend...(cont.)

In regards to the Labor Day post below, I found these tips on how to dress for game day on myscoop.us [or you can just click here]. I love this list. It's so amusing to me. Although I must admit I am a little less Southern belle and a little more down-n-dirty...and I know the difference between a nickel and dime formation is not five cents.

Without further delay, here are some tips to help make the average fan look truly "fan"tastic in the stands:

• Hair:
• Your hair can cause you to feel about 10 degrees hotter than you actually are.The humidity itself is enough to suffocate you during early football season not to mention the traumatic effects that it has on our hair! Often times you may ask yourself why you styled, straightened or even dried your hair.Please refrain yourself from pulling a “Brittney” and shaving your head as there are alternatives to this madness. Pony tails have come a long way and they aren’t just for keeping you cool and your hair out of your face during a workout. Most styles prove to be fairly easy to re-create without the need of a personal glam squad or even a gimmicky tool such as the “Topsy Tail” that many of us invested in during our youth. Here are a few personal favorites that should be easy to recreate:
• Side braid with pony
• Princess Laia braids
• Low sleek side bun
• Low sleek pony
• Part hair down middle and either twist or braid two strands and secure
• One last thing to be noted is to avoid using an abundance of hair products unless you want your hair to be the venus fly trap for gnats and other pesky insects that are drawn to your hair.

• Attire:
  
• One of the difficult things about the beginning of football season is dressing for the stifling heat. In the beginning it is so extremely hot that the temp is flirting with the triple digits yet all the clothing in our favorite stores are comprised of wool and other thick materials that we will later be thankful for, but not early football season. At this point in our summer wardrobe we are tired of everything that our closet has to offer so we feel that we have nothing to wear thus putting us in a fashion rut. Learn from my mistake and whatever you do refrain as long as possible from wearing your brand new wool dress unless you want to be wiping away a “sweat stash” all day!
• The best things to wear for the scorching heat and humidity are clothes that breathe such as light and airy fabrics. These will keep you much cooler and will not stick to your body as other thicker materials have a tendency to do. Jersey dresses and sun dresses are always a great choice. Opt for lighter colors if possible.
• Make-Up:
• To avoid looking like your face is sliding off go minimal on the makeup! Forgo using heavy matted powders that offer full coverage for a softer look. Your face will be perspiring and caked on powder does not fix this problem it only makes it worse as your face feels suffocated as well. A great alternative for matted powders is a tinted moisturizer. If you already have oily skin and you can’t stand the thought of going all day without powder to touch up your T-zone then switch to a lightweight translucent powder. Also, Too Faced Re-Fresh Blotting Papers from Sephora do the trick as well!
• Leave your lipstick at home. This is going to be a personal toughie for me as I do not go to the mailbox without my bright red lips. Think about it, lipstick, alcohol and scorching temps do not mix. You do not want your picture floating around the internet of you looking like the Joker with smeared lipstick all over your face! A great alternative is a soft lip gloss with a hint of color or even a tinted lip balm. Once the cool weather rolls in you can break the lipstick back out!
• Accessories:
  
• My new favorite accessory for keeping cool during football season is not an accessory to be worn better yet it is to be held. Handheld fans are making a comeback and what better timing? If you are thinking battery powered handheld fans you are thinking wrong- think Scarlett O”Hara minus the lace or Cleopatra. Handheld fans are a great and stylish way to cool off.
• As always hats are a great accessory to hide a bad hair day or hair that does not cooperate with the heat and humidity. The irony of a hat is that they are so easy yet at the same time hats give the appearance that you actually put forth some effort. Grab the big hat that you bought for the Kentucky Derby party. Yes, the one that you thought you would never be able to wear again. Guaranteed you will get more compliments while wearing the hat than not. Even if you don’t start out the day wearing your big hat or fedora take them and leave them in the car just in case you decide that you need them.
• Necklaces, bracelets, earrings- these are totally up to your discretion but do keep in mind that you mind end up with some funky tan lines especially with your necklaces.
• Shoes:
  
• Never one to pass on the opportunity to wear heels it must be noted that heels are a work out, especially when it comes to trekking all over campus tail gate hopping to meet friends. When I say work out I mean a calf burning, sweat induced work out. In order to avoid walking around barefoot like Brittney at a gas station bathroom I always throw a pair of flip flops in my purse to slip on once I decide that I can’t stand the pain any longer.
• Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate:
• No matter what you are drinking whether it be beer or your favorite game day concoction be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water! Another great way to stay refreshed is to keep a bottle of Evian misting spray in your purse. These great little bottles provide a refreshing spritz of water to your face that can rejuvenate even the warmest of fans.

Wordless Wednesday...

...sun setting on Summer and rising to Fall...

Labor Day weekend...

Ahhhh, labor day weekend. Good bye summer - hello autumn. Best time of the year for any sporty and sparkly chick. Not only do we get the pennant races of baseball, but it is also the start of the pigskin races. So much speculation during the months of September and October:

• Who's winning the wild card race?
  
• The Mets have to win the NL East the way those Brewers are playing. (Gotta shout to a former Met fave - Mike Cameron, who has been holding his own this past season despite a small setback.)
  
• Who is the most overrated team in the NFL?
• Heck, the Jets have a good chance of sneakin in the playoffs with the beefed up O-line and Favre-daddy calling the shots
• Where are my knee-high leather boots?
• No better day than a brisk run, then dressing in sweater, tight jeans and boots to watch College Gameday and finishing off with a Mets nightcap.

So here's to hanging up the bikini and bringing out the tweed caps and to the J-E-T-S Mets Mets Mets!

Veep veep, vroooooom...

Both presidential candidates have now announced to the US of A their selections for vices, for right hand [wo]men. Although the fact that Johnny Mac decided to make his announcement a few hours earlier than planned completely put the kibosh on a planned interview to go Nationally for my company (ughhhhhhhhh!), his choice was certainly an interesting one. [Yeah, they had make-up, were mic'd up and ready to go when BREAKING NEWS flashed across the producer's computer leaving us in the dust.]

Politics has not particularly struck a chord with me in the earlier elections, but as I continue to age I feel like the present issues are becoming more and more real and have more of an affect on my lifestyle. 3M has taught me the best kind of voter is an informed one. The republican appointment of Sarah Palin is especially intriguing. She truly has worked her way up the ranks, a former PTA member is now on the ticket for the 2008 presidential race. Good for her, a tough as nails former goalie maverick and mother of five running with the big boys.

For Labor Day, VH1 Classic is celebrating the wondrous decade of the my birth with 80 hours of 80's. Technically being a child of the 80's, it was only in my younger years, so much I do not recollect, but I do enjoy 80s throwbacks, nonetheless. Did you know that Bow Wow's song titled "Basketball" of the Like Mike soundtrack was a remake of the Kurtis Blow original? Yeah, me neither. I don't know which one I like better....

...I'm glued to this station for the rest of the night, Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" video is now on, a favorite for swimmers everywhere after the first 10 of 20 100's on the 1:15 are completed. [Shout out to Sayreville War Memorial HS, Alma mater of my dad!]

Wordless Wednesday...

...Mets/Phils at Citizen's Bank Park...
8.26.08
to know the result, click here, but replace the 2 in the line describing the lead before deficit with a 7

... fans don't get rowdy in Section 308...

Uncle June'll get ya...or have someone else waiting in the lot