New Fixture

I eyed this fixture for a long time and then finally bought it. It’s from LampsPlus online. It’s a nice color and the light areas are made of mica.

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Happy 4th of July!

We’re having friends over to celebrate this afternoon. Last night I brought Lee in on the festivities! The man is a saint! I decided we were going to paint slate that I found in the yard. Lee attached wire to it so we could hang it.

 I have some stars to finish.

 I finished it this morning. Also note the cute Welcome sign under the flag.

Topics: Brooklyn | 1 Comment »

Lee’s decorating

After we cut the bottom branches on the blue spruce, Lee added this face. Today I laughed when I noticed the star. He’s been decorating again! We’re getting ready for the 4th!

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Pottery Barn Has Coupons

I have looked all over the web for Pottery Barn codes and coupons. And finally I found out where they are!  When I first moved into our new home, we were able to get the 10% off for new home owners discount coupons and those were great. But a chick like me who loves Pottery Barn and smart shopping needs more than that.

I shop at Pottery Barn all the time and have their card. Last weekend, when I saw someone post the Pottery Barn $20 off $100 coupon I was shocked. How did this happen? Doesn’t PB love me as much as I love them?

Pottery  Barn has a mailing list which you can sign up for here. Last week the coupon was for Pottery Barn outlet. Hopefully future coupons will be for the regular PB store.

If you do go to Pottery Barn, getting their store card is also beneficial because they give 10% of your purchase back – every $250 gets you $25.

Oh and Williams Sonoma reps, I see you visit this site….so how about sending some coupons to Pottery Barn’s biggest fan….and some for my friends who love it too?

Topics: Brooklyn | 1 Comment »

Perfect Baby Gift

I came across the Ladybugs & LemonDrops Etsy shop and fell in love with the Pooh prints.  I ordered them for a gift. The package was wrapped in brown paper with pink polk-a-dots. Inside was the prints on fantastic thick paper. The look like painting because of the paper that was used. Absolutely beautiful. Three prints for $16.99

She also sells Dr Seuss Cat in the Hat  prints which would make a terrific baby shower gift as well.

I do not know Steph, the owner of the Ladybugs & LemonDrops Etsy shop.

I am not affiliated and have not been paid to write this. It was just a product I like A LOT.

Topics: Brooklyn | 1 Comment »

18th Avenue Italian Feast 2012 UPDATED – Go Brooklyn!

“When is the 18th Avenue Italian Festival in Brooklyn?” or When is the Feast of Saint Rosalia on 18th Avenue happening in August or September? or simply “When is the Feast?” are the questions I get asked the most by former Brooklynites.

2012 THE 18TH AVENUE FEAST IS ON! Come celebrate St. Rosalie.

The Santa Rosalia Feast or otherwise known as the 18th Avenue Feast is on. It has not been cancelled.

August  24 to Sept. 3rd on 18th Avenue between 67th to 75th streets!  Come celebrate!

Time: 6-11 pm

People who live in Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester and even NJ love to come back and see everyone in Bensonhurst for the 18th Avenue Feast. A lot has changed of course, but the people are what made the area.

Time: 6-11 pm

Streets: 18th Avenue between 67th and 75th Street (Bay Ridge Parkway)

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Elizabeth Edwards – Quite a Woman

  My eyes stare at the computer or television screen whenever I see Elizabeth Edwards.  I often think she’s been dealt an unfair deck of life. She has breast cancer and her husband’s adultery helped caused their 32 year marriage to fall apart.

I don’t stare at her because she’s sick, but rather because her spirit is still very strong. Although her husband was not my pick for a president, I watched her during the campaigning. She knew her cancer had returned, but she continued to urge her husband to run for president. A less strong woman would have called it quits.

When her husband’s affair came and all the nastiness came out, Elizabeth Edwards continued on and now she just wants to break free from the image of being John Edwards’ wife whose been wrong. She said,“I’m not just a cuckolded wife.” She’ strong and full of hope.

Cate Edwards, Elizabeth and John’s 28 year old daughter must be very proud of her strong mother.  I imagine the last few years have been quite a rollercoaster for her as well.I am looking forward to reading Elizabeth Edwards book Resilience this summer.

“In the end, there is peace. If we are strong. If we are resilient. If we are stubborn and filled with hope. If we know how to love. There is peace before that, too. And honestly, that is enough.” ~ Elizabeth Edwards

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

The End of the School Year

I know there are many parents who probably aren’t looking forward to summer vacation. I’m sure it takes a lot of planning to keep the kids busy all summer.

This is the time of the year when I just exhale. I love to look and reflect on these last days. It’s amazing to see how much the kids have changed from the beginning of the year. Thinking about all they learned makes me happy.

I always told myself that if there came a time when I didn’t like teaching, I would stop and go do computer networks or sell real estate (I have a license for both). This year was a great year and I loved teaching my classes. I loved watching the 6th graders grow up so much over the year. As the 8th graders graduated today, I reminded my seventh graders that it was there time to shine as 8th graders :)

The summer is here and I have a lot of decorating, celebrating and relaxing to do in my home with Lee. I’ve always called it my “new” home, but this month I gave up the word new because it feels right.

I love celebrating the end of the school year. Lee and I have reservations for dinner and dancing in Manhattan this weekend. It’s a tradition we started over 10 years ago to welcome summer!

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Organizing in the Kitchen

I love to make my life easier and more organized. Shopping for organizers makes me happy. Sometimes I find some of them work and sometimes the organizers just cause more of a mess.

I found two organizers I love while visiting friends blogs.  The first was a small drawer made by RB which you can attach to any shelf in an instant. I use mine to hold dish towels.

The other was a spice rack that actually keeps the spices in the right place in the cabinet.

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

King Tut Exhibit in NYC

My friend loves Egyptian art. For her birthday we went to see the King Tut exhibit in Manhattan. I got tickets for half price on Groupon which made them reasonably priced.

The exhibit was alright. That’s it – alright. It wasn’t an amazing exhibit and I had seen a lot of similiar things in the MET and Brooklyn Musuem. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to go because the tickets are a lot and you aren’t seeing a lot in my opinion. But if you were to go, be sure to get the audio player because without it, you are missing half of the exhibits history. There are signs around the exhibit, but the audio player has a lot more info.

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

My Brooklyn Home was in a Movie with Damon, Paquin, Ruffalo & Broderick

Matt Damon, Anna Paquin, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick and others may or may not have been in my home.In late 2005 they starred in the movie, Margaret written and directed by Kenneth Lonegran. In 2007, there were two court The movie has not been released because of two court battles over the production cost. The movie was suppose to be released in 2007 or 2008, but it remains in the courts.

After purchasing the house many neighbors kept stopping and telling me what a beautiful house it was. I asked if they had been in the home for a party with the former owner. Most said no, but that they heard it was beautiful. Then one day a neighbor told me that a movie was filmed here. I contacted the original owners and they confirmed it. They said they didn’t know if the home would look the same.

More pictures here

Post production pictures show pictures around Bay Ridge, but none of my home. The main character, Lisa Cohen played by Anna Paquin supposedly lived here.I wish the movie would get out of the courts and on to the screen. Some sites are reporting that the movie still isn’t completely edited.If it ever does come to the big screen, I’ll do tours here :)

Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

My Life Shows Whose Search for you online

My creepy brother has been searching for me online since 2007.  Apparently searching for my name online is a regular activity for him. Lee and I laughed when we saw these results on MyLife.com

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »